Chapter 319 - Because our Hearts are Connected

After Eden-san left, Alice and I spent our time together only with each other again, leisurely looking after the store.

[Fuhehe For white gold coins, theres one, two so many Fueee Fugyaaahhh!?]

[You really are]

[Isnt it fine? Its been a while since I sold a lot. With this much money I could lose about 200 times Fugyaaahhhh!?]

[Why the heck are you trying to lose on purpose]

I knocked Alice on her head, as she counted the large number white gold coins she received from Eden-san with an ugly grin on her face.

Even though you dont have to lose on purpose anymore, why the heck are you calculating on the instance that you would lose purposely How should I say this Alice really is Alice huh.

[Ahh, speaking of which, I almost forgot. I had something to give Kaito-san.]

[Something to give me?]

[Yes Errr, I think its around here somewhere Ahh, found it!]

[Whats with this money?]

Saying that she has something to give me, she hands me a cloth bag full of gold coins.

However, I dont know why shes handing me this Or rather, I cant get my head around this unusual situation where Alice is giving me money.

Seeing my expression, Alice explained with a smile.

[You see, I got the idea for the futon that I made before from Kaito-san Those futons were selling like crazy. No, well, this shop isnt getting any customers as usual but I heard that Kuro-sans shop theyre selling so much that they cant keep up with the production. So, thats 20% of the profit.]

[Fumu Hmmm. I dont really know what I would do with them even if I get more money]

[Kaito-san should learn how to be extravagant too~~ Like you know, buying Alice-chan a meal, buying Alice-chan clothes, or buying Alice-chan some accessories Something like that.]

[All rejected.]

[Cant you at least think about it for a little bit!?]

I threw a tsukkomi at Alice who was joking around again. Somehow, even though this is just our usual exchange, it was strangely fun.

It seems like Alice was feeling like that too, as Alice and I looked at each other and laughed.

[Ahaha, ahh~~ As I thought, its this feeling. However, I feel like its been a rather long time.]

[Thats just because Alice turned a bit strange.]

[Ahh~~ Im sorry about that. But you see, Im also growing up to become the new Alice-chan, you know?]

[Fumu, and what exactly changed?]

[I didnt hit that stupid G.o.d.]

[H- Hmmm.]

Thats quite the subtle growth you have there. Or rather, if you hadnt become the new Alice-chan, you would have hit her huh

As I looked at her with a doubtful expression on my face, Alice chuckled again and lightly snapped her finger.

Thereupon, I heard the sound of the door of the miscellaneous goods store being locked. And then, I dont know if its the sign that changed from Open to Close, but I heard the sound of something hitting the door.

After that, Alice takes off her mask to reveal her face, and as her cheeks blushed red from embarra.s.sment, she spoke.

[Well, all jokes aside If it had been the me from before, I would have been more acrimonious with that G.o.d. Thinking that I need to protect Kaito-san But thinking about it like this, I could clearly see it. That I had lost my presence of mind back then.]

[And now, its different, right?]

[Yes. The thought of protecting Kaito-san hasnt changed but even though its just a bit, something has changed.]

As she said this, Alice gently laid her hands on mine. Holding each others hands with our fingers interlocked, she continued.

[Now, I stopped pus.h.i.+ng myself. What I want to do is to protect this happiness I have together with Kaito-san That means I also have to make sure that I myself am safe.]

[Unnn. Thats right]

[Well, but as Kaito-san knows Im an idiot, so Ill be needing Kaito-san to save me a lot of times too.]

[Yeah, me too I dont think its impossible for me when it comes to situations that need strength, but I want to be able to support Alices heart. I want to protect the feeling of happiness Alice has for being together with me.]

Hearing Alices determination, I tell her my thoughts, tightly squeezing back her hand.

Thereupon, without saying a word, Alice slowly leans against me.

The gentle warmth I feel from my hands and shoulder, and without saying a word, I also lose myself in the happiness that seems to spread from the depths of my heart.

Our first meeting was a coincidence for me, and something contrived by Alice. The impact I felt when I first saw her, wearing that stuffed cat costume, in the miscellaneous goods store is still very clear in my memory.

Looking back on it now, it may have been partly because she wanted to leave an impression to me.

In fact, I continued to visit Alices miscellaneous goods store afterwards and developed a friend-like relations.h.i.+p with her.

I was repeatedly taken aback by her idiotic behavior, and I even lectured her for not planning ahead. But when I think about it, Alice is the second person, after Kuro, that Ive talked to in a natural way without any pretense since I came to this world.

Was that the reason why? As for Alice, she was planning to sever our connection when I was abducted when Alice betrayed me. But even when that happened, rather than resent her, I was more inclined to forgive her.

Perhaps, at that time Alice has already become very important to me.

Even after I found out that Alice was the Phantasmal King, my att.i.tude towards her didnt change No, I never planned to change my att.i.tude.

To me, Alice is more than just one of the Six Kings As expected, my impression of her being my important friend was stronger

At least, not at that time, I didnt expect that I would become lovers with Alice.

I thought our relations.h.i.+p where we make silly snide remarks and chuckle together would last forever No, I may have just been convincing myself that it is the case.

Ive been aware of Alice as a woman for some time now, and not once or twice have I thought that her casual gestures were cute.

The reason I pretended not to notice it was because with the change of our relations.h.i.+p to one of lovers It was because I was subconsciously thinking, and perhaps, Alice as well, that the easygoing relations.h.i.+p we had before was going to change.

However, in the end, it turned out to be just needless fear and the relations.h.i.+p we had changed for the better. Even now, we are still carefreely talking and laughing with each other and with the addition of love in our relations.h.i.+p, everything we do with each other brings us happiness.

Im sure it will continue to be like this in the future. My easygoing friend, my beloved lover Shes protecting me, while I protect her, the both of us walk side by side..

Needless to say, thats happiness Thats why Im also going to do my best to protect Alices heart.

I wish for this relations.h.i.+p filled with happiness to last forever

[Kaito-san.]

[Unnn?]

[I just want to call your name.]

[What the heck?]

[Fufufu.]

[Hahaha.]

[Kaito-san.]

[Unnn?]

[Please stay with me forever. Please dont leave me alone.]

[Its alright. I wont let you be alone. I promise you that.]

[Yes.]

[.]

[.]

[Kaito-san.]

[What is it now?]

[I love you.]

[I love you too.]

Dear Mom, Dad She would sometimes say stupid stuff with a smile on her face, and even utter things that makes me feel astounded. I think Ive let out a lot of sighs after I met her, and I think I will still be sighing in the future. However, I dont dislike it. Thats because, indeed Alices heart and mine are connected.

This is the end of Alices arc. I think this is the longest and the sweetest arc Ive ever written.

Next, I think I need to apologize Sorry, as you can see in my Activity Report (T/N: which english readers probably didnt see), Ive only written 9 chapters of the Valentines Day Extra Chapters yet.

So, after taking a survey, I will publish them on the 16th when all of them are completed.

Sorry for the delay. I think this will be more than the Christmas Extra Chapters.

T/N: I wont be skipping the Valentines Day Extra Chapters this time. It was pretty troublesome when I skipped the Christmas Extras.

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