(Or rather I lost. What”I don’t feel like losing at all”)
But the reason he stopped at crying silently was because of the high pride of the original work’s Harold. Or rather, the Harold who had a personality of not accepting defeat even if he died being reduced to crying showed how cornered he was currently feeling.
「……….As if I’d stand losing」
Even though he was like that, only these words came out of his mouth. Even if he wanted to whine, sticking to pride so stubbornly was actually magnificent- Harold was thinking of such things in the corner of his mind where there was some composure was present. If it weren’t for this steel like mental toughness, Harold might have already broken.
While thinking of these sentimental things, he was gazing at the cherry-blossom petals fluttering about the Sumeragi’s town. And before long, his heart started to gradually calm down. While thinking of returning back to the dojo soon, as he was about to turn around, he was called out.
「Harold-sama」
His right hand had covered both his eyes while he was facing the sky, but there was a single tear which flowed through the gaps of his fingers and down his cheek.
Erika’s feet stopped in panic. She instantly understood that she had seen something that she shouldn’t have. The reason for crying, the emotions behind the tears, Erika couldn’t understand at all. Since she didn’t know Harold well enough to do that.
Realizing Harold’s circumstance, the only thought that came to Erika’s mind was that she didn’t want to leave him, who was trying to be alone by his own choice, alone.
(……..This might be what Father was talking about, about how I should “Become a person who can truly understand Harold”)
「The match just now was wonderful. Even with me, who is ignorant about swordsmanship, I could understand that Harold-sama is strong」
「You siblings, have you come to rub salt on the wound?」
「Not at all. Isn’t it something like you lost in the battle but won in the war」
「I see, you came to pick a fight, huh?」
「Pff……….I’m extremely sorry. I said too much」
「Hmph, if you want to say some worthless nonsense, then play around with your servant or something」
「Please wait」
「Move, I don’t have any time for you. Even if there were, I’d crush them all」
「However, in that case I won’t be able to talk properly with Harold-sama」
「Right, which is convenient」
「Unfortunately, I can’t let that happen. At least only for now, please spare me some of your time」
「……….If you have any business, quickly finish it」
「Thank you very much」
Saying that, Erika bent her waist and took a posture of bowing deeply.
「I’m really sorry for the other day. Even though I was angry, it was wrong for me to hurl insults and also raise my hand. I’d like to apologize」
「Ha, you expressly came here say something like that? Pointless」
Though his words were cold, it wasn’t a lie that they were his true feelings. Harold had intentionally angered Erika, and that reaction was appropriate. Normally, one wouldn’t think to apologize for it. It was because she was Erika that she had come like this to apologize.
「There is no value in your apology. Rather, even though you cried so assertively, apologizing right after you said that, are you a real idiot? In the first place, that kindness of yours is a deception which comes from good will. On top of being nasty, it’s nothing more than nauseatingly lukewarm feeling of being friendly. And it is up to you to dance around like a clown like that, but don’t get in my way. Don’t get in my sight. You’re an eyesore and like the extremity of unpleasantness」
Showered with abusive words while being in the posture of apologizing, there was not even the slightest movement from Erika. Did I make her cry, or else did I make her angry- while he was observing timidly, Erika quietly raised her body.
Erika had already resolved herself in advance knowing that Harold would show an attitude like this regarding her apology. Because she knew that he was a person who was strong and severe, and also was a person who possessed true kindness, different from her. There were no lies mixed in those abusive words towards Erika. She was aware without even there being a need to be told that she was an existence that was a minus for Harold.
(The things that I don’t have are too much. The strength to fight against a difficult fate, and the kindness to scold the weak)
That’s why no matter how severe she would accept Harold’s words which pointed out at her inexperience, and only by using this as the source to grow would she become an existence who would be able to truly understand and support him. This was just the first step.
「………Hmph」
「I won’t say “Please wait for me”. But I’ll catch up to you for sure. There’s absolutely no way that I’d leave you alone」
Erika’s muttering was carried by the wind together with the cherry-blossom petals and went away towards the blue sky.
Felt like I was in some cringe-fest while translating the latter half
