CHAPTER 7 (PART 2):
I TRIED GIVING A FRIEND LOVE ADVICE
“You have someone you…like?”
I couldn’t believe my buddy Raven wanted to ask for love advice while we were having dinner together.
“Sorry, Youki. You’re the only one I could ask…”
Since he didn’t speak much due to his voice, Raven came across as a cool and taciturn character.
If the people around him heard that he had done something so out of character like falling in love, he’d be a laughing stock.
“Yeah…”
And now he’s seeking love advice from someone who’s struck out on every single love confession over the course of two lives, much less actually gone out with someone.
…Man, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
He’s asking the wrong person for advice, you know? But I’m still the only one he can ask.
“Tell me, what kind of girl is she?”
I didn’t want to give him the cold shoulder since we’d just become friends, so I’ll take a shot at giving him advice just this once.
“…She didn’t make fun of my voice. She actually thought it sounded nice, and said she was jealous. And then…”
TL Note: Doesn’t laugh at voice = BFF or Love Interest…sounds legit
I see. Raven has such a big complex about his voice, I’m sure it made him really happy. Usually people laugh or are surprised at the gap between his appearance and his voice.
“I see, so that’s why you fell for her.”
It’s a more normal love discussion than I thought it would be.
Raven’s embarrassment was written all over his red face and cheeks.
“…What do you think I should do?”
From his red face and nervousness, it seems like he’s fallen pretty hard.
He’s like a middle schooler going through puberty. But because of his voice, forget girls, he couldn’t even make a single guy friend. He’s just lived by the sword all this time.
He’s never had anyone to talk to about things like this before.
“If you like her, have you tried confessing?”
He was a member of the Hero Party that saved the world.
He’s good looking, and he’d already cleared the hurdle of his odd voice, so I can only imagine he’d get a positive response.
“…I don’t think I can. Since I was born I’ve only ever lived for the sword. Girls are…”
I figured it was something like that.
Geez, you’re a good-looking guy, have more confidence!
It can’t be helped; I might die a little inside, but it’s for a friend.
For the first time in a while, I switch up my game.
“Heh, Raven, you haven’t realized it yourself yet, have you?”
I make a grand gesture, pointing at Raven.
Raven is confused by my sudden change of character.
But I don’t stop there.
“A handsome visagé, tall in stature, saving the world as the knight of the Hero Party. So what if your voice is a little strange? You should be capable of ignoring anyone who might laugh at you!”
Raven was listening, but looked like he’d been blindsided.
However, I’m not done yet!
“Why, just look at me! A boring face, an average build, working for a guild. Even so, I’ve confessed countless times! Gotten rejected countless more! But look at me now! Do I look miserable to you? Not in the slightest! …Raven, you’ll do great. Believe in yourself!”
Of course I finish it off with my signature pose.
…Aaah, that was refreshing.
I turn off my Chuuni-mode, and wait for Raven’s response.
“…Heeh. I see. So it was something like that.”
Raven calmed down, and was laughing a bit.
“…I guess I was overthinking it. Thanks, I’m glad I asked for your advice, Youki.”
Oooh!
Seems like my plan worked.
Thank goodness.
I didn’t know what I would do if he gave up.
“Hahaha… If you say it like that, I’m the one who’s glad I gave you advice.”
“…Actually, I’m taking tomorrow off as well. I’ll try to confess to her. If it’s okay with you, I’d really like you to come with me.”
I see, he was worried about that.
He had been in a very negative frame of mind.
He had gathered up all his courage and opened the very depths of his heart to his friend.
I was so moved, how could I not support him?
“You’ll be fine. …Give it your best shot tomorrow.”
With those parting words, we went our separate ways.
The next day, I waited for Raven at the reception desk in the Guildhall.
The Guildhall was noisy and bustling with activity, more so than usual.
The excitement of Raven being there yesterday still lingered. When he comes today, he should be properly disguised so there won’t be another riot.
“…Hey, ain’tcha gonna take a quest today?”
Clayman asked me. His happy-mode from yesterday had been replaced by his usual lackadaisical-mode.
“I’m waiting for a friend today. No quests.”
Normally, all the other adventurers would ask the pretty ladies at the other reception desks for quests. I was pretty much the only one who came to the apathetic receptionist’s, Clayman’s, desk.
That’s why no one would complain if I loitered around Clayman’s desk.
Rather, I was their savior yesterday.
“Well that’s just great, no work for me. Why don’t you just stay there all day doing nothing?”
“Why do you sound so bummed about spending all day not having to lift a finger? I’m just waiting for a friend.”
Clayman and I yak about nothing in particular, when suddenly I’m grabbed by the shoulder and turned around.
There stood Raven wearing the disguise I gave him yesterday.
Maybe it’s because he’s nervous, but his expression is awfully stiff.
Hey now, we haven’t even gotten to the girl’s home yet, is he really gonna be okay…?
“You okay? Did you sleep at all last night?”
Raven nodded his head, but even that gesture was stiff.
If we stayed in the guild like this he’d be found out, so I hurry us outside.
Raven is frozen solid, so in order to loosen him up, I take a deep breath and say,
“Listen up, Raven. You’re a member of the hero party and a leader of knights. That already makes you a really amazing guy. You can do this, Raven!”
On our way to his sweetheart, I give him some encouragement.
If he can just get a little more confidence, he should be able to confess naturally.
“…Should I really be doing this?”
He’s still debilitatingly shy.
I gave him encouragement all the way to the girl’s home.
And then, after Raven finally became resolved, our destination turned out to be…
“Eh…?!”
No way, we’re at the Aquarain mansion?
Does he like Cecilia?!
She’s so nice, there’s definitely a chance.
I can think of a million things that might have happened between them on their mission to defeat the Demon Lord.
Did the death flag he raised yesterday mean I was gonna kill him for taking my girl?!
“…You have my gratitude, Youki. It’s thanks to you that I have the courage to confess. …I’ll go by myself from here. Please wait for me, Youki.”
Raven entered the Aquarain manor alone.
…This is bad!
Would Cecilia accept his confession…what would she do?
I have no idea what kind of relationship they have, so I have no idea how she’ll respond.
I panic for a few minutes while I wait outside the Aquarain mansion. But when Raven returned, he had a pretty grave look on his face.
“…She turned me down. She said it was ‘impossible’. …Youki, I’m so sorry, even after you went out of your way give me all that advice. …As I thought, it wasn’t meant to be with her…”
This isn’t good, his eyes are as dead as Clayman’s.
His first broken heart dealt quite the emotional damage.
I totally understand, I’ve had more than my fair share of broken hearts.
But he’s my friend, I can’t just leave him like this.
“Don’t let it bother you too much, man. Anyway, why don’t we go somewhere? You’re still on holiday, and we didn’t get to pal around town much yesterday…”
He heard me, but just shook his head, and said sadly,
“…Let’s just call it a day. See ya…later…”
Shoulders drooped despondently, Raven headed back to town.
I couldn’t help but watch him as he got smaller in the distance.
…What do I do?
I should be celebrating, but the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth.
I should be happy to have one less rival, but those feelings never surfaced.
Friendship or love…I couldn’t bring myself to give up either.
I was both relieved that Cecilia wasn’t stolen away from me, and sad for my friend whose love couldn’t come to fruition.
“…I gotta talk to Cecilia.”
I have to know why my friend was rejected.
I might be meddling, but I enter the mansion to find out the reason my friend was turned down.
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