The conversation between the three of us continues in a more relaxed manner after that moment. I feel that somehow a big gap between us has been closed and we are closer than before.
I guess secrets are bad after all. With people you trust, you should be honest with them. Thinking that, I blame myself for hiding many things from them.
To be honest, I don't want to hide anything from them. But at the same time, I'm a little afraid of how they will react. But maybe someday I can tell them my secret? After all, if I hide things, it's possible that sooner or later they will get involved in something scary because of me and die, losing them forever.
I don't know much about this world and all the secrets it holds. Maybe Touka knows. I need to meet with her and ask her what she knows. Only then will I be better prepared, since knowing the enemy is the key to victory, or something like that? I don't remember.
Hah... let's stop thinking about those things and enjoy the moment.
So we finally reached snack time, and both Saya and Rei got up to bring the cake.
I saw them leave the room together, and a few minutes later they returned carrying a huge cake between them. It was three tiers with elaborate decorations of white cream and red strawberries. It must have been quite heavy because they both had expressions of effort on their faces.
"Be careful, Rei! Don't drop it!"
Saya shouts as she takes small steps.
"You be careful, Saya-chan! You're going too fast!"
Rei responds in the same tone.
As the two shout, neither of them pays attention to what's in front of them because their eyes are focused on each other or on the cake.
Um?
I watch with alarm as they approach a chair that is out of place near the table.
"Watch out!"
I shout, trying to warn them.
But it's too late.
—Crash!
Both girls' legs collide directly with the chair.
"Ah...!"
They both exclaim in unison with voices of surprise.
Rei and Saya manage to stabilize themselves by maintaining their balance, but the huge cake along with the silver tray that was holding it has already completely left their trembling hands. It flies forward in slow motion, spinning in the air.
The two of them are paralyzed by shock, their eyes wide open.
Before the girls' incredulous eyes, my body moves.
I jump up from the sofa at high speed, grab the silver tray flying through the air with my right hand, and immediately put it in the exact trajectory of the falling cake. But instead of letting it collide with force, I use the downward speed of the cake to retract my arm with the tray at the same rate. In this way, using basic physics and balance, I manage to land the cake on the tray without deforming it.
Um. Perfect! I praise myself as not even a strawberry moves from its place.
'Ah... crap'.
I accidentally just used physical dexterity and coordination that are not normal for a ten-year-old human boy.
The two frozen girls finally manage to react again.
Rei's eyes shine brightly, and with her cheeks flushed with excitement, she begins to clap.
"That was great, Arata! You looked like a protagonist I saw recently in an action movie, grabbing a tray with lots of full glasses. Not a single one spilled! But that's a movie, and you did it in real life! Hehe!"
While Rei looks proud for a reason I can't understand, Saya narrows her eyes behind her glasses as she watches me before nodding.
"For you to catch it... In fact, you must have very good coordination of your body, along with fast eyes, brain, and hands working together. Have you been doing some kind of exercise regularly?"
I scratch the back of my neck nervously.
"Well, I do a little exercise from time to time to stay in shape."
As I say that in a flat tone, I put the tray with the cake on the table. Then I sit back down on the sofa before looking at them.
At my vague answer, Rei approaches me with a curious expression and takes my arm.
"What are you doing, Rei?"
I ask her, confused.
She flashes me a mischievous smile before rolling up the sleeves of the new coat Miss Marikawa gave me this morning. With my bare arm exposed, she curiously touches my muscles with her small fingers.
Her expression becomes thoughtful.
"Um! As always, your skin is cold to the touch, even with this coat? Anyway! You don't seem to have any developed muscles at all despite that impressive movement. How does that work?"
From her seated position with her arms crossed, Saya looks at Rei and clicks her tongue.
"That's obvious, Rei. He's just a ten-year-old boy. And considering his malnourished condition, he obviously won't have developed muscles even if he exercises regularly. But since he trains his physique, he has good body coordination and quick reflexes. Although on second thought, those movements are quite strange for someone his age since it's very difficult to execute something like that without years of practice. Hmm..."
Hey, don't look at me with those analytical eyes.
"Ah, that's right!"
Rei nods several times in understanding as her cheeks flush pink.
"I'll give you lots of nutritious food from now on so you can grow up healthy and strong! And develop strong muscles!"
She says this in an excited voice. I get the feeling that this little girl has discovered her new purpose in life.
'Eh. Please don't. I sincerely appreciate the intention, but please don't.'
I think while keeping a smile on my face.
I really don't like having to pretend to eat normal food, let alone endure the feeling of throwing it all up afterwards.
After chatting a little more about random topics, the moment I had been dreading finally arrives.
×××
20 advanced chapters on Pá treon.
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