Tension
Lux’s Side
The day of the luxury cruise ship party.
I rode in a carriage to the port where the luxury cruise ship party was to be held, as mentioned in the letter I had sent to Elina-san.
The party on the luxury cruise ship was scheduled to start at 7 p.m., and since it was just a little before that now, I had arrived at a good time.
As I walked toward the meeting spot with Elina-san, I glanced at the people doing business at the port and muttered to myself.
“…I hardly ever get the chance to see the port in general, but coming here at night like this feels especially new and exciting.”
Thinking that, I continued walking toward the meeting spot with Elina-san. When I arrived, I saw someone wearing a red hood standing there. It was Elina-san.
“Lux~!”
Elina-san noticed I had arrived, called out my name, and came closer to me. Even though we were about to attend a luxury cruise ship party that would host royalty and nobles from other countries, and even though she had an important role as the pianist, she showed no sign of nervousness and seemed completely her usual self.
“Good evening, Elina-san.”
“Good evening! We’ve met in the evening before, but this is the first time we’re meeting at this exact time of day, right before night falls.”
“That’s true… I don’t often have opportunities to go out at night, so between being at the port and boarding a luxury cruise ship soon, everything feels so fresh and new to me.”
“Is that so~! But Lux, you still shouldn’t be wandering around too much at night, okay? Even though there aren’t any visible uprisings in this country, there might be bad people lurking around at night.”
“That’s scary to think about. I’ll be careful.”
When I lightly responded to Elina-san’s warning, she said,
“Someday, I’ll create a country where Lux can live happily without having to worry about things like that…”
“Elina-san? Did you say something?”
Her voice had been so quiet I couldn’t catch it, so when I asked, Elina-san shook her head and put her hands behind her back as she replied.
“Nope, didn’t say anything! More importantly, shall we head to the cruise ship now?”
“Yes!”
With that, Elina-san and I began walking through the port together… and after a short while, she raised her left hand and pointed in a certain direction.
“There it is, coming into view! That’s the luxury cruise ship we’ll be boarding!”
When I looked in the direction Elina-san pointed to… it was, quite literally, a luxury cruise ship.
“Th-That’s what we’re… about to…”
I couldn’t help but be stunned by the sheer size of the luxury cruise ship. It looked to be dozens of times larger than a normal vessel, and on its upper decks, there were hundreds of windows that appeared to be guest rooms. There might have even been more than a thousand.
“If this is your first time boarding one, I’m sure you’re nervous, but don’t worry! I’ll be right there with you. If anything happens, just tell me, okay?”
“Th-Thank you very much, Elina-san.”
If I were alone, I don’t think I’d have had the courage to step aboard that ship. But with Elina-san beside me, peeking out from under her hood with a gentle smile, I felt like I’d be okay.
When we reached the front of the luxury cruise ship, we both stopped for a moment. I stood frozen in place, gazing up at it, and Elina-san gently asked,
“Lux, are you nervous after all?”
I didn’t want her to worry, so I replied,
“…I’m fine. Thank you.”
That’s what I said, but after a short pause, Elina-san said,
“There’s no point in lying to me. Honestly, it worries me more when you try to hide it… You’re nervous, right?”
After she said that much, I had no choice but to nod. Elina-san, showing a kind expression from beneath her hood, reached out her hand to me.
“Then, give me your hand. I’ll hold it for you!”
“M-My hand!? Th-That’s…”
I started feeling a little embarrassed, but before I could offer my hand, Elina-san took my right hand with her left and said,
“There, now you’re good to go!”
“…! Y-Yes.”
“Alright, let’s go!”
After that, Elina-san and I boarded the luxury cruise ship together and began walking down the hallway.
Even though I was so nervous just from holding hands with a girl, especially someone as beautiful as Elina-san, she didn’t seem shaken at all.
She really is amazing… As I was thinking that, Elina-san pulled her hood lower over her head with her free right hand.
“…”
She always seemed to keep her face hidden from others, so maybe she adjusted it again to be extra cautious since we might be meeting a lot of people soon.
I can’t just keep relying on Elina-san. I need to carry myself with confidence too.
I told myself that firmly in my heart.
Elizalina’s Side
I’m holding hands with Lux. I’m holding hands with Lux!! What do I do, just this alone makes my whole day perfect. Wait, maybe he wouldn’t even notice if I switched to interlocking fingers? No way, can I really? Seriously!? What should I do!? I’m so glad I pulled my hood down more because my face is definitely red!! Also… just this time holding Lux’s hand… it’s way too happy!! I want this hallway to go on forever!! Please!!