Chapter 387: Circulating Kindness
Lux’s Side
“Good morning, Florence-san.”
“Good morning, Lux-sama.”
As usual.
When I arrived at the noble academy, I exchanged morning greetings with Florence-san.
And once I took my seat,
As usual, I was about to start some casual conversation with her, when.
“…”
It wasn’t like her expression or demeanor was any different than usual.
Florence-san wore her usual gentle, kind expression.
“Lux-sama…? Is something the matter?”
But when I looked at her, I felt something.
So I put that feeling into words just as it was.
“Florence-san… I might be mistaken, but is there something troubling you?”
“…!”
When I asked that, Florence-san, unusually, widened her eyes in surprise.
Then, after a brief silence as if she had lost her words, she spoke.
“I didn’t think it was showing on the surface, so I’m surprised you would ask something like that just from exchanging greetings.”
“I can’t really explain it, but we’ve been seeing each other almost every day for the past few months, so that’s probably why I felt that way.”
More importantly than that,
Knowing it might come across as a bit rude, I asked her anyway.
“Florence-san… if you don’t mind, would you tell me what’s troubling you?”
Up until now, there have been countless times when Florence-san helped me when I was troubled or worried, but
Since it’s rare for Florence-san herself to be troubled or worried in the first place, I’ve hardly ever had the chance to help her.
I didn’t know if someone like me could solve whatever it was that even Florence-san was troubled by.
Even so, I wanted to help, so when I asked, she paused briefly before speaking.
“I’m truly grateful and happy that you would say that, Lux-sama… however, just this once, it may be best for me to find an answer without relying on your help…”
“…!”
Those words felt familiar.
It’s not that Florence-san had said the same thing before.
They were words I myself had been thinking, and even said not long ago, but
When I was struggling, unable to find an answer beyond them,
The one who made me feel a new possibility was.
“Florence-san… do you remember what you said to me when I was troubled over something not long ago, thinking I should first find the answer on my own?”
“Of course I remember… the kinds of answers that are difficult to find alone… ah…!”
At that point, Florence-san widened her eyes as if something had just occurred to her.
But I didn’t mind.
Just as Florence-san had done for me back then, I placed my hand over hers and spoke.
“That’s right… if it’s something that’s difficult to find an answer to on your own, then please let me search for it with you… I’m sure it’ll be easier than searching alone.”
“…! Lux-sama… you really are…”
Florence-san murmured that, then quietly gazed at me for a moment.
It was as if she were searching for something new within my eyes…