Chapter 454 - Let's Keep it a Secret that I Thought She was Cute

After quarreling with Luna-san, we were walking together to the restaurant where Lilia-san and the others were... But it seems like not everything is settled yet.

[...Ummm, Luna-san? Isn't it about time you cheer up already?]

[...Huh? What in the world could you be talking about? Doesn't that make it sound like I'm mad at you?]

[...No, I mean, you had been looking away all this while... Rather than mad, aren't you sulking?]

As if she was really frustrated that I had teased her earlier, Luna-san kept her head away and her words were somewhat sharp.

Moreover, the person herself was adamantly not admitting it... The situation was becoming quite troublesome.

[Huh? I'm sulking? You're really saying strange things, aren't you, Miyama-sama? Are you implying that I'm being played with by a youngster who's only been alive for about 20 years, and I wasn't able to refute him? There's no way that could happen. That's quite conceited of you!]

[...N- No, I mean, that's the truth.]

[Listen here, "only sulking people call people sulking". In other words, isn't it you who is actually feeling defeated, Miyama-sama?]

[...I- I guess so.]

Are you a child!? Isn't that totally a child's "only stupid people call people stupid theory"!? I've always known that she was childish, especially with her fondness for pranks... You're childish even when you're angry huh, Luna-san?

However, I give up. With the way she was sulking, it didn't like she was going to be in a good mood anytime soon. If possible, I'd like it if she were to somehow cheer up before we meet up with Lilia-san and the others...

[L- Luna-san, it's my fault, so could you chee... Arehh?]

[...…..]

I turned to angry Luna-san, trying to calm her down as much as I could... but there was no sign of Luna-san in sight.

And right after that, for some reason, I could feel hands clinging on my shoulders from behind.

[Eh? Wait, Luna-san!? Is something the matter?]

[...Help me...]

[...Huh?]

[...Please help me, Kaito-san...]

[A- Are you alright? Are you hurt somewhere...]

I don't have any idea what was going on, but Luna-san's hands were shaking as she clung on my shoulders, and when I turned my head towards her, Luna-san's pale face was tightly clinging on my back.

She was clearly acting strangely, calling me "Kaito-san" in a voice weaker than usual. I called out to her, wondering if she might not be feeling very well, but with her head held down, Luna-san shook her head.

When I tilted my head at her reaction, Luna-san pointed somewhere with her shaking hand.

[...T- T- T- That...]

[...Unnn? That is... "a caterpillar"?]

[Hyyiiiihhh!?]

What Luna-san was pointing at was a tiny... a really tiny caterpillar.

Could it be that she was scared of that caterpillar? I mean, she let out a shriek and was clinging on my back... wait, if I remember correctly, Lilia-san told me that Luna-san isn't good with bugs.

[...I don't like bugs... I don't like buuugsss... I don't like "wooooooorrrrrms"!]

[L- Luna-san, please calm down! I- It's alright! I'm here, okay? I'll remove it now...]

[Uuuu, Kaito-shan... Q- Quickly... Crush it already...]

[A- Alright. That's why let go of your hands for a moment...]

[Don't wanna! Don't go!!!]

[...]

What the heck am I supposed to do then!? Luna-san has completely turned into a big baby! How am I supposed to get that caterpillar out of the way when you're still clinging to my shoulders? Should I use my feet? Should I move it away with my feet?

No, but doing that would require me to get close to it, and I don't know what would happen if I put Luna-san, who is in such a state, near the caterpillar.

[...Alice, help.]

[No, no, seriously, Kaito-san? You can't just ask a "maiden whose beauty makes flowers blush" to deal with caterpillars...]

[It's alright. You're not categorized as a maiden whose beauty makes flowers blush after all.]

[You're saying mean things to me again... No, well, I'm actually fine with doing this.]

Even though she was complaining, Alice plucked up the caterpillar and threw it far away before disappearing. Unnn, she really is very dependable. I'll treat her to something next time.

[L- Look now, Luna-san. There are no bugs anymore! It's alright already, okay?]

[Uuuuuu... R- Really?]

[Yes, it's alright already! Even if bugs appeared again, I'll be here to protect you, okay!? I won't let them touch Luna-san, so please be relieved!!!]

[K- Kaito-san...]

As I frantically called out to the trembling Luna-san, she finally looked up and looked at me with her moist eyes.

Seeing her expression made my heart unconsciously skip a beat. Even though she had such a personality, Luna-san was an incredibly beautiful woman, and the gap between how she usually acts and her current vulnerable appearance made her look like an ephemeral beauty.

Luna-san stared at me for a few moments, before looking surprised, she hurriedly moved away from me.

[...I- I'm sorry you had to see that.]

[N- No... Everyone has their weakness...]

While moving her hands to dust off her maid uniform, Luna-san turned her face away, blushing red to her ears. I never expected that she would be this bad with bugs.

She was uncharacteristically frightened, saying things like she didn't like worms... I wonder if she is particularly bad at worm-type bugs? She might have some kind of childhood trauma regarding them or something like that.

[L- Let's go!]

[Y- Yes...]

I hurriedly chased after Luna-san, who, perhaps too embarrassed to look on me, said a few words without looking at me and quickly started walking away.

Then, Luna-san, who was walking a little ahead of me at a fast pace, turned her red face down and muttered in a voice that was barely audible to my ears.

[...M- Miyama-sama.]

[Eh? Yes?]

[...T- Thank you... f- for protecting me. Errr, ummm... You l- look slightly cool...]

[...Ehh?]

[I- It's nothing! Let's not keep My Lady and the others waiting! Let's hurry!!!]

[Wait, Luna-san. Wai... You're too fast!]

Dear Mom, Dad————- I had hated that Luna-san hated bugs, but I didn't expect that it was so bad that she would regress to a baby. Well, I don't mean to be rude... Looking at Luna-san, looking so vulnerable and frightened by bugs, unlike her usual self———– Let's keep it a secret that I thought she was cute.