Disclaimer: Hello again. A promised the last part of his series in here today! All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. Enjoy!

逢瀬日和

A Fine Day For A Rendezvous

Part Five

Gorouza x Kasane

"...Thank you for everything today, Gorouza-san."

"No… I apologize for making you experience such awful things, Kasane-dono…"

By evening, they have reached the gates of the castle.

Kasane fiercely shook her head.

"It's not Gorouza-san's fault… Besides, I had a lot of fun walking around the village with you…!" she said with a beaming smile.

Seeing that smile with the combination of her unfabricated words, Gorouza felt his heart skip a beat.

"I-I… also had an enjoyable time with Kasane-dono." He smiled and hesitantly laughed.

It's best if she doesn't know of his turmoil.

"...Gorouza-san… is really a man, huh…"

Today she realized that even that mild-tempered, gentle, and cute youth was also a man.

He was truly a reliable, strong, and kind man.

She knew her heart fluttered faster around him.

It was hard to look at him in the eyes.

"Could it be that Kasane-dono had always seen me as a woman?" Gorouza raised his brows as if a bit vexed by her words.

Before she could hurriedly deny, "That's not what I meant…!"

"..I am also a man, you know."

In a low mutter, as if whispering into her ear, Gorouza blissfully wove out his words.

"I am only a man who doesn't want to let other men touch the woman he loves."

"...Heh? Go-go...rouza… Right now, wh-...at…."

For a moment, without comprehending his words, Kasane widened her eyes.

It can't be, she must be misunderstanding something.

As she wished to avoid the misunderstanding of his affections, Kasane once more looked up at Gorouza.

He slowly opened his mouth as if to say something-... And then.

"Katane~! Gorouza~! Welcome baaaaaaaaack ! ! !"

Inuchiyo abruptly jumped onto Kasane with all his might into a tight hug.

Kasane, due to Inuchiyo's weight plus momentum from his crash, tumbled to the ground.

"Oi, you guys are pretty late."

A rather irritated Kuranosuke also appeared at the entrance. Gorouza plainly furrowed his brow at their sudden arrival.

"You've monopolized Katane more than enough for yourself today! Gorouza's turn is over already!"

As Inuchiyo called out to Gorouza as he continued to fawn over Kasane.

However, in response Kuranosuke yelled out to Inuchiyo, "Like I said, you're too chummy with her!" and punched him in the head.

"Uuu~. Kura is so mean… Katane! Katane doesn't hate it when I hug your, right!? Kata… Katane?" He shook the girl who was trapped in his arms. However, it seems there was a huge bump on her head so her eyes swirled before she lost all consciousness.

"Ka! ! Katane~!?"

"You! What are you doing, you idiot dog! !"

Kuranosuke once more wacked Inuchiyo in the head.

"Kasane-dono!? Kasane-dono!? P-please get a hold of yourself, Kasane-dono! !" Gorouza glared at them as she shook Kasane.

In between the thin veil of consciousness, Kasane pondered over the meaning of his words.

"...What was it… Somehow I feel like there was something I was really concerned about earlier…"

By the time she woke up the next day, she had lost all of that fragmentary memory. An unknown indigestion-like sensation burned in the pit of her stomach as she cradled her head in pain.

I hoped everyone enjoyed this chapter. I will be moving on the 10 Strays, and will post the new arc to the story as soon as possible, so I hope everyone looks forward to it. Well then, I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend!