Side Story: Is This What Being in Love Feels Like?

"After that, that guy would always do things for me without asking, and when it came to completing requests, he would always take on the most dangerous parts."

"At first, I wasn't used to being taken care of all the time, but gradually, I realized that I didn't actually hate it that much..."

As she spoke, Lucina couldn't help but smile. It was a relaxed, unconscious smile, like a spring breeze that inadvertently carried away the tiny parachutes of dandelions—everything seemed so natural and inevitable.

Like the changing of the four seasons, like the interplay of the sun and moon.

Is it because... you've fallen for that person?

Listening to the other person recount their story with a beaming smile, Lia blinked and, after a brief moment of thought, asked this question.

She wasn't completely clueless about relationships; seeing how deeply the other person was absorbed in it, she made up her mind.

Upon hearing her question, Lucina visibly hesitated for a moment, but quickly responded confidently:

"Yes, that's right."

There's no need to hide your feelings. Perhaps because of shyness, we sometimes find it difficult to express the love in our hearts. But the other person can't stay in one place forever. And when we belatedly realize this, often there's no one there anymore.

She thought to herself, perhaps after returning this time, she should take the initiative to express her feelings to him?

But... shouldn't this kind of thing be brought up by the boy?

Will he find my actions abrupt...?

Actually, my attitude towards Clinton has changed quite a bit recently. I no longer keep it completely buried in my heart like before. Theoretically, the other party should have noticed it too.

But Lucina did not get the result she had imagined.

Even though she could sense that when Clinton looked at her, there was an undisguised hesitation in his eyes, as if he had something on his mind and didn't know how to express it.

What would he want to say?

To be honest... I don't even know if he likes me or not...

After indulging in wild fantasies, Lucina was once again caught in a vortex of reason: what if he actually had no feelings for me at all?

But how am I supposed to explain his invitation to go shopping last time...?

Looking at Lucinalia, whose expression shifted between joy and sadness, Lucinalia suddenly realized how little she knew about this composed and mature older sister. She hadn't expected her to show such a shy and innocent side.

This feeling... it's kind of like the first stirrings of love that Galan described to her before...

"So this is what it feels like to fall in love with someone...?"

As if she understood something, Lia memorized Lucina's current appearance.

At some point, she seemed to be able to empathize with the other person... or more accurately, to understand why she felt that way.

Before, whenever she saw Galan do something to help her, she would feel a sense of happiness, as if receiving his help was... a very joyful thing.

Is that what "liking" someone means?

Is liking someone... just that?

Galan said he would teach me what "love" truly means.

Even to this day, he has never spoken about "love" in front of me.

What I know is all from what I've heard from others.

Seeing Lia deep in thought, Lucina found her appearance quite adorable and was about to say something lighthearted to ease the atmosphere when Lia suddenly seemed to realize something and abruptly turned her head to look at a corner in the Dense Fog.

"Who!"

Although there was nothing in that area except for thick, white Dense Fog, Lucina still sensed something.

The Binds that had been set up beforehand around the two of them became dazzling the moment she activated her Mana. Purple lightning rose from the ground, enveloping the two of them. From the outside, it looked as if they were imprisoned in Lightning Cage.

In reality, however, this "Lightning Cage" is only aggressive towards enemies outside of it who attempt to take advantage of it.

Even if Lucina didn't actively activate it, the [Lightning Cage Summoning Magic] would automatically activate the moment an outsider approaches and attempts to enter this space. However, now that the existence of unknown potential dangers is known, there's no need to gamble on that risk.

"If you don't reply, I'll assume you're treating it as a monster!"

Seeing that her first warning had gone unanswered Lucina became even more vigilant.

Was the lack of response to her question due to the Dense Fog, or was the object in the fog a new Copy?

... Could it be that Copy of myself has appeared so quickly?

Or someone else's...

Beads of sweat trickled down her cheeks from her forehead.

She genuinely hoped that the person who came wouldn't be a troublesome character.

Even Copy of herself would be fine. After all, with the experience of dealing with it the first time, she was more confident about doing it again. If necessary, she could just repeat the same method.

But if it's Mage I don't recognize, then I'm in trouble.

First, one must spend enough energy probing the opponent to understand their fighting style and all their trump cards.

But if she does that, her Mana will be depleted again before it has even recovered. How long can she hold on like that?

T

Is that Lia? Lia!

Just as she was tense and her brain was frantically processing the possible scenarios and corresponding countermeasures, a familiar voice came from the Dense Fog, making Lia tremble as it rang in her ears. She then peeked out from behind Lucina.

Originally, because Lucina was on alert, she had been hiding behind her out of fear. But the moment she heard that voice, the unease that had just risen in her heart vanished.

"Is that Galan's voice? They're here!"

A look of excitement flashed in Lia's eyes, as if she had been rescued.

But just as she was about to step out of the Lightning Cage, Lucina stopped her.

"Wait a little longer, the other party hasn't shown up yet, there might still be some danger..."

Lia! It's me!

A blurry figure gradually emerged from the Dense Fog, and when that face, so familiar to Lia, finally stepped out completely, Lucina could no longer stop the overjoyed girl. With a helpless expression, she watched her run towards the boy in the distance.