Chapter 15: Behavior

「What the hell…」

Wiping away her spilling tears with the back of her hand, Inis muttered weakly.

「Inis-san, why are you crying…?」

Worried, brows knit, Chryse stepped closer to Inis.

「Chryse. Could you head back to Nina’s for a bit?」

I patted her head and said it.
She hesitated a little, but nodded obediently, slipped out the window, and headed for the clinic. It was probably a busy time, so I felt a bit bad for Nina, but she’d forgive me once I explained. Chryse isn’t a baby anymore, so she shouldn’t get that much in the way.

「First, wipe your tears.」

When I took a handkerchief from my pocket, Inis snatched it and scrubbed at her tears.

「Mind if I sit here?」
「…Do what you want.」

I pointed to the chair by her reading desk as I asked; Inis answered with her face still covered by the handkerchief. Now, how to begin…

「Long ago, I saw a few kids with eyes just like yours.」
「…Eyes?」

Inis lowered the handkerchief and, as if to check their shape, lightly touched her eyelids with a fingertip.

「Eyes that say it hurts, there’s nothing you can do, and yet you just can’t throw your feelings away.」

A sharp gaze pierced me—so strong I half thought if it were magic it would’ve skewered my heart. But I haven’t lived thirty times her years for nothing. I wasn’t thin‑skinned enough to flinch at that.

「You like Ara, don’t you?」

With a crash, a forest of spears sprang from Inis’s sofa.

「Protection.」

The sorcery I snapped off stopped those points in mid‑thrust. Wind sorcery, Fifth Tier—an invisible wall of a lesser spirit that shields you from all attacks. Not that I really needed it; Inis had no intention of truly hurting me.

「…That’s the first time I’ve seen you get this emotional.」
「Shut it! What are you trying to say!?」

Inis hurled a pillow at me, then grabbed the comforter off the bed and curled up under it on the sofa to hide.

「Ara and Mel aren’t the kind of thing you’re imagining.」

I led with my trump card.

「…No way.」

Even so, Inis lifted the edge of the comforter a little and glanced over.

「It’s not just today. Those two stick together like that… every single day.」

I nodded. I see them almost every day myself, so I know that well.

「That’s just… their species’ behavior.」
「…Huh?」

Pop—Inis’s face poked out from under the comforter.

「There aren’t many centaurs in Hiiro, so it’s no wonder you didn’t know. Provato Centaurs are clingy. They’re herd‑dwellers by nature and always move pressed close to one another—and when danger appears, they bolt all at once.」

In that respect, the Provato are just like sheep on Earth.

「So Mel wants to cling to people right away. She hugs you all the time too, doesn’t she?」
「That’s… well, true, but… I’m a girl, and she doesn’t cling to you, Sensei.」

Inis looked at me with a doubtful eye.

「That’s because—」

I gazed off into the distance and answered.

「I asked her from my side not to stick to me too much. My self‑control wouldn’t hold.」
「What’s that even supposed to mean.」

At last, Inis showed the slightest smile.

「Incidentally, Lycos Centaurs are similar. Not as much as the Provato, but they’re herd‑livers too—they don’t mind being in close contact. As far as I can tell, neither Ara nor Mel has romantic feelings for the other.」

Not that my stamp of approval is worth much—I completely missed that Yutaka and Light Blue liked each other—but in this case the info came from Nina. When I offhandedly mused that Ara and Mel might make a nice couple, she branded me “blind as a post.”

「…Even if that’s true—」

Inis’s expression clouded over again.

「I’m not exactly a match for Ara, am I? I’m such a little pipsqueak… and besides—」
「He’s a centaur and you’re human. Your builds, lifespans—everything’s different. You can’t have children together.」

At my blunt words, Inis looked hurt.
But that was an unalterable fact.

「Exactly…! What, did you come here to finish me off!?」
「Of course not.」

As Inis’s eyes welled again, I shook my head.

「I told you at the start, didn’t I? I’ve seen kids with the same look in their eyes as you.」

Startled, Inis looked at my left hand.

「I’ve been married twice. Both times, to humans.」

At the ring on that finger—glinting red on my fourth finger.

「But… Sensei, you’re not human—at least not to look at.」
「When I married the first time, I couldn’t take human form yet. I was a fire dragon.」

At my confession, Inis let out an honest reaction.

「Uh, wasn’t she kinda crazy?」

I’m going to get mad.

「Anyway! As someone who’s been there, species and lifespan gaps aren’t simple—but they’re not an unscalable wall, and they don’t doom you to misery. It takes resolve, but I don’t think there’s any need to give up.」
「…Mm…」

Looking a little unsure, Inis bobbed a nod.

「There’s no need to decide in a rush. Finding happiness with a human is one path, and being a man and woman together isn’t the only form of happiness. You could ask Yuuka about it sometime.」

When it comes to interspecies love, Yutaka and Light Blue’s story is closer to home than mine.

「…Got it. Thanks, Sensei.」

Her worries weren’t solved, surely, but Inis bowed with a far better face than when I’d come in. …Still, I hadn’t imagined she felt that way about Ara.

「Ah, can I ask one more thing?」

As I was about to leave the room, Inis stopped me.

「What is it? If it’s something I can answer, anything.」

With the most serious look she’d worn yet, Inis asked:

「Do you think Ara likes big boobs too…?」

How should I know.


* * *


「I’m hooome…」
「Welcome back.」
「Welcome home, Daddy!」
「Welcome home.」
「Welcome back, Onii-chan—」
「Ah, Sensei—welcome baaack!」

Feeling oddly worn out, I made it home to find Nina already back from work. A chorus of colorful voices greeted me.

「So Yuuka and Rin are here too.」

Maybe because she’s concerned about Chryse, Rin hasn’t been traveling much lately. Even when she does go out, she’s back within a few weeks. I’m delighted, of course, but she and Yuuka have been dropping by so often I’ve half a mind to add rooms for them.

「…Hn? Sounded like there were more voices than usual.」

I took off my shoes and headed for the living room.
As expected, Nina and Chryse were there, with Rin and Yuuka as well.

And then—one more person.

「Uh… and you are?」

I cocked my head at a clearly unfamiliar, dark‑skinned woman.