The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
Kanade, Tania, Sora, and Luna gather in the living room.
I sit down on the sofa too, forming a circle with them.
The others aren’t here.
I asked them to step out because we’re about to have a very important conversation.
I really wanted Iris to be here as well, but...
Unfortunately, she was nowhere to be found today, so it’ll have to wait until next time.
That said, I never really heard anything definitive from Iris herself.
I don’t think she’d do something like that with just anyone...
Maybe she sees it as a form of repaying a debt—that’s the impression I get, which makes things a little complicated.
“Hey, Rain. What’s this all about? You called us here and said it was important...”
“Hm. I can't think of anything in particular. But if it’s about what’s coming next, it makes sense to gather everyone.”
“Could it be... a surprise gift to show appreciation for all our hard work? If so, I’d like some sweet treats.”
The three of them didn’t seem to have any idea, but—
“…Unya.”
Kanade, however, seemed to understand what I was about to say.
She blushed and looked away, her tail restlessly swaying back and forth.
“Uh, so... about what I wanted to talk about. I mean… gah, how do I even start this?”
“Mmm? Why are you hesitating? Is it something complicated?”
“In a way, yeah. It’s really complicated… and kind of embarrassing.”
“You’re being so vague. I don’t know what it’s about, but whatever it is, we’ll listen. So just tell us, properly.”
“Yeah… you’re right. Okay. I’ll say it.”
This isn’t just their issue—it involves me too.
If I don’t explain it clearly, they won’t understand, and now that I know… I can’t just run away from it.
As a man, I need to face them properly.
“It’s about what happened in Kagune… You all got pulled into Alpha’s dream, right?”
“I truly apologize for that… it was a moment of complete failure. For a familiar like me, to be caught up in Rain’s illusion and be toyed with so easily...”
“Ah, no—I’m not blaming anyone for what happened. I’m not mad or anything.”
“Then… what do you mean?”
“Well… basically, thanks to Iris, I woke up from the dream before the rest of you. That gave me some freedom to move around, and… during that time, I ended up seeing what was in each of your dreams.”
“““...Eh?”””
Tania, Sora, and Luna all stared blankly—not because they didn’t understand, but because they didn’t want to understand.
Meanwhile, Kanade turned an even deeper shade of red.
“Wait. Wait, wait, wait. You saw our dreams? As in… those dreams?”
“You know how we feel…?”
“Everything was laid bare?”
“That’s… pretty much it.”
“““……”””
Silence from the three of them.
Kanade’s tail twisted into jagged shapes—a dramatic reaction.
“““!!!???”””
Then, almost simultaneously, the three of them turned bright red.
Kanade too—her ears went completely red.
“I’m sorry for peeking into your hearts like that! But I swear, I didn’t do it on purpose. I was just worried about you all, and I had no idea things had gone that far…”
“““……”””
Including Kanade, all of them stared down, red-faced.
Maybe their minds hadn’t quite caught up to the sudden confession and turn of events.
“Hehehe…”
After a short silence, Luna let out an evil-sounding chuckle.
“Fuhaha! As expected of you, Rain! To have seen through my feelings so clearly. Truly, you are worthy of being my master.”
“Luna, maybe don’t go overboard with the bravado to hide your embarrassment. Rain looks completely lost on how to respond, and honestly, I have no idea how I’m supposed to deal with it either.”
“Yeah… to be honest, I was just yelling to cover my own feelings, and now I have no clue what to do next.”
“I can sympathize, but still—stop it, okay? Try being the older sister watching her little sister act weird in public. That’s how I feel right now.”
Sora and Luna, despite their embarrassment, seemed to be holding it together.
They were flustered, but not trying to run or hide it.
"Own it," might be the best way to describe their approach.
On the other hand, the one having the most dramatic reaction was Tania.
“Ah… ahhhhh… I can’t believe it. That Rain saw that part of my dream… That he knows about it… No. It’s over. I’m too embarrassed—I can’t go on. That’s it. I’ll just go live quietly, far away from here…”
“Wait wait wait!”
Overwhelmed with embarrassment, Tania sank into a pit of negative thoughts.
If I left her like that, she might really go off to live in some remote mountain village, so I quickly called out to her.
“Don’t go running off to some faraway place! Please don’t do that!”
“Don’t stop me! After being humiliated like this, I can’t stay with you, Rain!”
“That’s a terrible way to put it! And if you left, I’d be the one in trouble.”
“Why would you be in trouble?!”
“Because I want to be with you, Tania! Obviously!”
“!?”
Just like before, Tania’s face flushed a deep, glowing red again.
“…Rain, that’s exactly the kind of thing that’s the problem with you.”
“Huh? What part of that?”
“Geez…”
Still visibly embarrassed, but seemingly more composed, she returned to her seat on the sofa.
“So then, Rain. Was the point of all this just to tell us that you found out about our feelings?”
“Ah, no. That’s not it. I actually had a similar talk with Kanade already…”
“““……”””
“Nyan!?”
Kanade began to sweat nervously as the other three turned to her with cold stares.
If I had to put their collective thoughts into words, it would be something like: You sneaky cat, trying to make a move before the rest of us?
“That was before we saved Iris, so we decided to think about it later. But now, things have calmed down a bit... and I realized I really need to think about all of you properly.”
“““Gulp”””
They all swallowed hard.
What kind of answer was I about to give?
It was probably driving them crazy not knowing.
They were hoping… I could feel that.
But I was sure they were anxious too.
And I might disappoint them.
Still, after all the thinking I’d done—
After wracking my brain day and night—
This was the only conclusion I could honestly reach.
“I’m sorry! I still don’t have an answer.”
I really had thought about it.
To the point of sacrificing sleep.
But I couldn’t reach a conclusion.
I think of all of them as important companions.
I’d risk my life for them without hesitation.
But I hadn’t considered them in a romantic way before now.
So even I didn’t know how I really felt.
“I could force out an answer right now, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be the one any of us really want.”
“Because you’re all so important to me… truly important, I don’t want to give some half-hearted answer. I want to take the time to really think it through. To think until I’m sure.”
“So, I know this is super unfair of me, but… can you give me some time?”
“I know it’s selfish to ask you to wait. And if you grow tired of me while you do… I’ll accept that. But if possible—please. I just need a little time.”
“““……”””
Silence.
Was that too selfish of me?
Had I just disappointed them all?
While I worried, Kanade let out a soft giggle.
The others followed.
“Nyaaah, that’s so Rain.”
“What do you mean?”
“The way you’re seriously thinking about us—that’s what makes you so ‘Rain.’ Most people would’ve just given a half-baked answer, or picked someone right here on the spot.”
“But the fact that you didn’t—that means you’re taking our feelings seriously. Asking for time isn’t just an excuse.”
“Indeed. It’s a sign of sincerity. That is precisely why we fell for you, and why we wish to spend our lives by your side.”
“So please don’t worry so much. We’re not going to rush you for an answer. In fact, we want you to think about it as much as you need. That would make us the happiest.”
“You guys… Thank you.”
We all shared a smile, and for now at least, the tension eased.
...Or so I thought.
“Now then.”
Tania smiled sweetly.
Sora and Luna smiled too.
Kanade looked around, puzzled.
“Well then… we need to punish this sneaky little cat for jumping ahead of us, don’t we?”
“Nya!?”
“Hehehe. I’ve been meaning to practice my magic.”
“Sora thinks it’s time to test a few new inventions.”
…After that, the four of them caused a huge commotion—
—and all ended up getting scolded by Tina.
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