Side Story :
Ever-Changing Iris-chan Part 3
Translator : PolterGlast
In the midst of Nozomu
being momentarily mesmerized by Shina, who was smiling under the moonlight,
Shina opened her mouth as she gazed into Nozomu's face.
"Are you alright?
Feeling a little better?"
"...... O-, oh,
yeah. Wait-, not that, how's the store?"
"It's thriving
quite well. I'm taking a break right now. The other two are still downstairs
taking care of customers, so you don't have to worry."
Looking around, Mars
has disappeared before he knows it.
From downstairs echoes
a boisterous hustle and bustle that is even more lively than usual. Probably, a
lot of people rushed to the restaurant after hearing that Irisdina, Lisa, and
Shina were working as waiters.
"I hope
Victor-san doesn't go out of control......"
As far as Nozomu was
concerned, Victor is a nobleman who loves his daughter more than anything else.
If any of the guests
saw Irisdina with illicit eyes, he would immediately kill them. Even if he did
not, it was obvious that he would make a lot of fuss.
"Don't worry.
Irisdina-san and the others are keeping everything under control. Besides, even
if things get noisy, the customers won't mind it so much since it is a usual
night in a tavern."
Apparently, the
Francilt family is still at Ox-head Pavilion.
The image of Irisdina
getting tossed around flashed through Nozomu's mind, and he couldn't help but
let out a chuckle.
"Fufu......"
Following Nozomu's
reaction, Shina also let out a chuckle. This is when Nozomu came to realize.
The two of them were
alone in a room with the moonlight shining dimly on them. His heart was
thumping and beating loudly.
Shina, whether or not
she knew that Nozomu was flustered, moved her face even closer to Nozomu's.
Even her quiet
breathing could be felt up close.
"Wha......."
"Your complexion
looks a little better."
Nozomu, who was choked
to sleep by an out-of-control Irissina, was able to recover from the damage.
However, his heart was
not.
The beauty of the elf
girl smiling in front of him is comparable to that of Irisdina.
Such an exceptionally
beautiful girl gazes at him with eyes full of relief and affection. It would be
impossible not to be conscious of her.
"Gosh, I'm fine
now, so can you please step away from me?"
"Ah, I'm sorry.
Did I give you a fright?"
"What do you
mean?"
"I mean this.
Nn......"
Shina, who smiled
meaningfully at Nozomu's question, reached out her hands and embraced his head.
The sweet, refreshing
fragrance spreads gently. The smell, reminiscent of a peaceful forest,
stimulates his nose.
Then a soft sensation
spreads across his face.
Unlike Irisdina, they
were modest, but had their own assertive bulge to them.
"Wha!?"
Although stunned for a
moment, Nozomu hurriedly grabbed Shina's arm to escape from her embrace.
While he was in a cold
sweat, Shina, the culprit, was smiling happily while her beautiful white face
was dyed vermillion.
"Sorry, I just
couldn't resist."
"Couldn't resist,
huh?......"
"I mean, the
person I love is this close to me, and this conscious of me, you know? I really
wanted to hug you tighter and kiss you."
"Oioi......"
"But if I kissed
you, it would be bad for Irisdina-san and you would feel guilty, wouldn't you?
As expected, I don't want you to feel guilty about it."
While Nozomu was
bewildered by the straightforward affection she was showing him, Shina stood up
and moved to the table beside him.
"Since you
haven't had dinner, I know you must be hungry. So I brought you some
food."
On the table was a
tray on which were placed plates and bowls that were still steaming.
She brought the tray
to Nozomu, who was still unable to move.
The contents were a
simple stir-fry, soup, and bread.
The aroma tickles his
nose, and his stomach rumbles.
He was probably so
hungry because he had been through so much since this morning that he had not
had time to eat.
Despite what had just
happened, Nozomu looked down in embarrassment at his own body for not being
able to stand up to his hunger.
"You're still
feeling a little sore, aren't you? Here, let me feed you......"
"N-, no, I can
eat it by myself ......!"
"Too bad. It was
such a great opportunity for me...... fufu."
Seeing him like this,
Shina chuckled.
She places the tray on
Nozomu's lap, who was embarrassed by the affection directed at him, and then
she sat down on the chair beside the bed again.
Shina watched him with
expectant eyes, and despite his bewilderment, Nozomu began to take a bite of
his meal.
He started with the
soup. The soup, with beautifully chopped vegetables floating in it, is a
perfect combination of thin saltiness and the umami of the vegetables, and it
dances on the tongue.
"It's delicious
....... But, huh? Something in the seasoning is different?"
While unintentionally
letting out a breath of admiration at the delicate taste of the soup, a
question escaped Nozomu's mouth as the seasoning was different from the usual
dishes served at the Ox-head Pavilion.
Perhaps because
Ox-head Pavilion is a tavern, many of the dishes on the menu have a strong
flavor.
However, the dishes in
front of him were lightly seasoned, and it was obvious that they were not the
same as those prepared by Dell, Ena, or Hannah.
"Yes, I tried to
season it with the flavors of my hometown. The ingredients are different, but I
think it turned out pretty well."
"Eh? Did you make
this, Shina-san?"
"Yes, I did. I'm
glad you like it. ......"
To his surprise, this
dish was cooked by Shina.
Perhaps she was quite
pleased with Nozomu's reaction, she clasped her hands together and put on a big
smile.
As if to get away from
her delighted gaze, Nozomu brought the stir-fry dish to his mouth.
Thinly sliced meat,
root vegetables, and roughly chopped leafy greens are stir-fried together.
When he bit into it,
the mellow aroma filled his mouth along with a crunchy texture.
It was probably made
with some kind of fruit oil. There is no stench of meat or animal smell at all,
and the texture is rather light, probably due to the considerable variety of
vegetables in the dish.
To be honest, this was
a very tasty dish as well.
With such a delicious
dish, a hungry Nozomu naturally began to eat more and more.
Nozomu found himself
devouring the entire dish in less than a minute. And Shina kept smiling at him
as he showed such a voracious appetite.
"Thanks for the
food. It was delicious."
"Fufu, this is
nice, going like this ......"
"What do you
mean?"
"We're like a
family. You see, I lost my family ten years ago, remember? I'm glad. Mimuru is
the only other person I've ever cooked for......"
"O-,
oh......."
Shina lost her family
during the Great Invasion.
Being forced to leave
her hometown and live in a hidden village, she had to live with difficult
circumstances because she had lost the ability to communicate with spirits.
That is why she is so
happy to be with people who understand her.
"But I suppose
the reason I am so happy is because I was able to make it for you."
Nevertheless, Nozomu
couldn't help but feel bewildered by her attitude of conveying her feelings
beyond affection without hiding them.
Her beautiful,
unadorned smile.
Nozomu, unable to hide
his embarrassment, unintentionally let slip his true feelings.
"~...... You're
too straightforward, you know?"
"Since I can feel
your heart but you cannot feel mine, if so, it would be unfair if I don't
express my feelings properly, wouldn't it? Besides, this way you would be more
conscious of me. Like this ......."
Shina once again leaned
closer and ran her hand along Nozomu's cheek.
Shina's hand seemed to
be slightly heated as she touched him.
Nozomu's heart began
to beat loudly again.
"W-, well, I'm
glad you feel that way, but I'm ......"
"I know that,
deep down in your heart, Irisdina-san is the only one you have feelings for.
But it is only by my own will that I will continue to think of you. I told you
before, didn't I? And you kissed me."
"Ah, that was you
who-......"
"But I don't hate
it. I'm glad you feel that way. I'm also happy to be with you like this.
......?"
Shina once again
brought her face close to Nozomu's. With pure and deep affection in her eyes.
Then, her pure white,
beautiful face and moist lips slowly close in on him.
Nozomu involuntarily
winced from embarrassment, but the elf girl seemed pleased with even his
reaction.
As expected, he could
not resist. The moment Nozomu thought so, Shina quickly removed herself from
Nozomu. Then, the door to the room was opened with a loud bang.
"Nozomu
-----!"
"I-, Iris......
-eh, What's with that outfit!?"
The one who opened the
door was Irisdina, who was supposed to be serving in the tavern downstairs. But
for some reason, she was dressed in a ridiculous outfit.
She was dressed in a
two-tone apron dress in black and white.
On her head, she wore
a frilly headband, and her white, sexy, bare legs stretched out from the skirt
above her knees.
Her breasts, while
firmly hidden by the black fabric, are tautly attached, revealing the shape of
her rich and beautiful twin hills.
A maid's uniform. And
a very revealing one at that. Nozomu involuntarily held his breath and turned
away at the sight of his lover's provocative figure.
"Uu......"
"Ara,
Irisdina-san, are you taking a break already? Or rather, why are you wearing
that dress?"
"M-, Mena forced
me to wear this ....... And if I left it in the back, Lisa-kun was going to
take it without my permission ...... N-, no, more importantly, Shina-kun, what
were you going to do to Nozomu!"
While turning her face
bright red, Irisdina, with her face flushed red, pointed her finger at Shina.
Shina, on the other hand, only tilted her head.
In addition, she
looked strangely adorable, partly because of her pure, untainted appearance.
"What? ...... I
was just telling him how I feel, just like before."
"B, before!? W-,
what do you mean!?"
Irisdina was agitated
by Shina's meaningful words.
"Don't get me
wrong. I told him how I felt about him before you and he became lovers. Even
then, he firmly rejected me."
"I-, I see.
That's goo-...... W-, wait. Then why are you hitting on my Nozomu again!?"
Shina calmly informed
Irisdina that she had been rejected by Nozomu.
Irisdina was
momentarily appeased by these words, but shortly afterward she remembered that
Shina had been getting close to Nozomu.
Leaning forward on the
bed and even reaching for his cheek, this is not normal behavior. It was
clearly an act of flirting.
"Why, you say? Of
course, it's because I'm still in love with him."
"T-h-a-t-'s-w-h-y!
I told you he's my lover!"
"You don't have
to tell me again and again. I know. He loves you and you love him. But it
doesn't matter if I continue to love him, does it?"
"H-, he's already
got a partner, you know!"
"Yes, but it is
up to that person to decide whom he loves."
Shina replied to
Irisdina's question in the same tone as before.
Shina's
straightforward, unhesitating tone rendered Irisdina speechless for a moment.
"Well, that's
true, but ....... B-, but don't you have to stay in unrequited love
forever?"
"I'm not doing it
for romance. I told you. I'm just in love with him."
Shina, who had been
sitting in a chair, stood up quickly.
Bringing the fingers
of her hands together at her chest, she smiled at Nozomu.
"The love of an
elf is different from that of a human being. It lasts forever and ever. Elves'
love transcends the passage of time."
Her gaze was crystal
clear, yet filled with overflowing feelings. The smile on her white cheeks,
coupled with the moonlight shining through the window, was so mysterious that
it left Nozomu and Irisdina speechless.
"As long as this
connection exists...... No, even if it disappears, I will surely continue to
love him. Fufu~, saying it out like this makes me feel very embarrassed, but
also very happy."
Shina, who had been quietly
but passionately expressing her feelings for Nozomu, quickly turned her gaze
back to Irisdina.
"And don't get me
wrong. I have no intention of tearing you and Nozomu-kun apart. It's just, I
will continue to love him with my own will."
She then made her way
toward the door of the room while Irisdina was at a loss for words.
"It looks like
Irisdina-san has taken a break, so I'm going to head back downstairs first.
I'll see you later, Nozomu-kun."
And with a light wave
of her hand to Nozomu, she left the room.
"U, uuuu!
Muuuu……!"
"Bufu~!?"
While Nozomu, who was
left behind, was stupefied, Irisdina's jealousy exploded once she came to her
senses.
She dove toward
Nozomu, who was still on the bed, and wrapped her hands around Nozomu's neck.
Then, fueled by her own jealousy, she began to hug him tightly and with all her
strength.
"What's wrong
with her!? She knows that Nozomu is mine, doesn't she!? No, it's not that
Nozomu is my property, but she's just too close! And while she says she doesn't
want to tear us apart, she's being very aggressive! Liar! What a liar elf you
are!! Talking like you're so pure! Look at you, you're so impure! And Nozomu,
you too! Why didn't you tell me that she had already confessed to you!"
"Umm, sorry
......"
"Uuuu, uuuuuuuu
~~~~!"
He was troubled by
Irisdina, who stared at him with tearful eyes from a close distance next to his
neck.
Shina had indeed
expressed her feelings for him. She also declared that even if Nozomu fell in
love with someone else, she would continue to love him.
Nozomu could not deny
her feelings, nor did he have the right to do so.
(Come to think of it,
I never told Irisdina that she had confessed her feelings to me.)
In a sense, it could
be said that this situation was caused by Nozomu's lack of communication.
He was happy to see
her hugging him so tightly, but at the same time he felt sorry for her, so he
twisted around on the bed and put his hand on Irisdina's back.
"Yotto~."
"Ah~."
He then took her by
surprise and led her straight to his lap.
The so-called
"princess carry".
He peered closely into
the face of the dark-haired girl dressed in a rather revealing maid's outfit.
Irisdina's cheeks
flushed with vermilion and she shrank down. She has gone from watchdog mode to
puppy mode, and Nozomu couldn't help but smile at the cuteness of the girl.
"Iris, she
certainly told me how she felt about me. But I confessed my feelings to you
myself. And I wanted to kiss you then, too."
"......Then just
kiss me no-...... Nn!?"
As soon as she said
so, Nozomu closed her lips. Quietly, as if to convey his own feelings.
Two shadows overlapped
for a while.
Ten seconds, twenty
seconds. Then slowly their lips parted.
"Do you get it
now?"
"......
yes."
Perhaps the fire in
her cheeks has increased even more, and they are now as red as a boiled
octopus.
"I'm sorry, I
didn't tell you about her."
"Umm, I somehow
knew that she had feelings for you, Nozomu. And I had a vague idea that she had
already expressed her feelings to you."
"But I'm
......"
"And you chose
me. I knew that from the very beginning."
Irisdina is a very
perceptive person by nature. She had somehow guessed that Shina had confessed
her feelings to Nozomu from the previous atmosphere.
However, this was the
first time she had seen Shina expressed her feelings for Nozomu from the front,
so Irisdina was just a little upset.
Conversely, Shina's
words and actions were strong enough to agitate her, even though she had been
somewhat defensive about the situation.
Irisdina took a big
sigh of relief, as if she were releasing the stagnation in her chest, and then
smiled with a clear expression on her face.
In response, Nozomu
smiled back at her.
"What can I say,
I need to do my best too."
"Eh?"
"I've got to keep
telling you how I feel. I can't directly feel your feelings like Shina does
after all."
"Well,
umm......"
Irisdina expressed her
agitation. Nozomu once again hugged her tightly.
He brought her face
close to his and looked into her deep purple eyes. Her eyes were shaking with
happiness and embarrassment.
"That outfit
looks good on you. Though it's a little too stimulating for me."
Perhaps being moved by
the feelings of someone he loved, and prompted by such joy, Nozomu said words
he would never normally say.
"How-, how
stimulating is it?"
"Well, a lot ............."
In fact, Irisdina's
current outfit was a bit too stimulating for Nozomu.
Her emphasized bosom
is particularly vicious, and when she is being hugged like this and viewed from
above, the abundance of her twin mounds can be clearly seen.
Her legs, which extend
from her skirt, are white and slender, and she does not look like the same
swordsman who fought a battle against Vitora.
"Y-, you can
touch them if you want ...... Or if you prefer ...... should I become your own
personal maid?"
"Bufu~!?"
Prompted by the sweet
atmosphere filling the room, she, too, began to act differently than usual.
With one hand, she
undid the buttons on her closed bosom. *Snap, snap.*
The clothes covering
her bosom opened, revealing her rich, white cleavage.
While Nozomu was
shocked by her lover's unexpected behavior, Irisdina smiled and wet her lips
with her tongue.
"E-, eh?"
"Nn......"
She then pressed her
lips against Nozomu's in retaliation for what he had just done to her.
"Would you like
me to call you Goshujinsama? Or maybe...... Danna-sama?"
His sweetheart looking
up at him. A beautiful face, illuminated by the moonlight streaming in through
the window. An inviting, yet somewhat pleading, purple gaze. And then, hit by
the sweet atmosphere, something snapped in Nozomu's head.
Lips approaching from
either side. Three times the two shadows merge into one. At that moment .......
"Kyaa!?"
"Uwa!?"
"Ararara……"
The door of the room
was opened with a loud *bang!*. And three shadows came crashing out, tumbling
to the floor.
The three shadows
piled on top of each other, and their gazes met with Nozomu's and Irisdina's.
"Somia-chan,
Ena-chan, and Mena-san. What on earth are you guys doing there ......?"
"W-, well, umm...
I'm a little concerned about my brother's condition ...... Then I missed my
chance to leave......"
"I was just
making my rounds at the inn to see if anyone was doing anything inappropriate
......."
"I did this out
of genuine interest and to record ojōsama's growth. So please don't worry about
us and continue ......"
(T-, there's no way we
will continue ----!!)
The whole thing was
being watched. Realizing this, Nozomu let out a muffled cry as his face turned
bright red.
Irisdina, on the other
hand, is .......
"Somia .......
Mena ......."
Before anyone knew it,
she had left Nozomu's lap and was standing before the three of them with a
Hannya-like face.
Her black hair shook
with the magic that flooded her entire body.
In particular, her
gaze toward Somia and Mena was fierce. Her whole body was radiating a fury that
would make even a dragon run away barefoot.
"Ena-san, please
tell your parents. ...... These two need to be punished. Especially
Somia-san."
"E-, ehh. Umm,
nēchan, are you mad at me? You are angry, aren't you!? But as the next head of
the Francilt family, I want to learn about love and romance for my own future
education ~~ Or so I thought ...... That's why, Ane-sama."
Although Somia turned
to Nozomu with a pleading look for help, it seemed as if he was indeed unable
to protect her this time.
Irisdina has been
tormented a lot since childhood, and she seems to be very stressed about her
own family.
As Nozomu gently shook
his head, his future sister gave him a look of despair.
"I-, I'm so sorry
----!"
And then Somia's cry
of apology was heard in the Ox-head Pavilion.
"Muooo! Let go of
me ----! My daughter is in danger ----!"
By the way, the
father, who would be the first to interfere in this kind of situation, was tied
up and hung in front of the tavern by his squire.
As a side note, while
being laughed at by customers coming in and out of the tavern, he was the
center of attention in his own way, and thanks to the participation of this
gentleman and the beautiful waitresses, the Ox-head Pavilion achieved record sales
for the day.
