In any case, the cake with plenty of sugar was more expensive than I had expected, but I was willing to pay for this moment that would remain in Albert’s memory.
…I had borrowed some money from Emmett because I was a bit short on cash, but I would repay everything to Albert when I returned to the future.
I was somewhat skeptical though about whether future Albert would need my money.
“…Did you buy this cake?”
Albert chuckled. Emmett quickly responded.
“I didn’t buy it.”
He definitely didn’t want any misunderstandings. I raised my hand.
“I bought it.”
“Ah…”
Emmett seemed to feel awkward as he watched how Albert reacted, but Albert was convinced right away. Emmett changed the topic.
“It’s been a while since we celebrated Noire’s birthday.”
“Birthdays are always worth celebrating.”
Even if today was Noire’s last day alive. As long as you’re alive, that was reason enough to celebrate being born.
I wondered if she wanted to live longer like Blanc, but Noire was resolute.
She wanted to end her life for Emmett’s sake.
And it was her own choice, not just for Emmett.
“Living for a long time dulls one’s sense of such things,” Emmett explained, as if justifying it to himself.
He gestured to the sofa for us to sit comfortably.
“Please, have a seat.”
Albert and Emmett sat facing each other. Today was essentially the last day they would be able to see each other.
By the time Albert saw Emmett again, Emmett would already be dead.
However, neither of the two men seemed to have any intention of speaking, so I eventually took the lead in their conversation.
“Now, didn’t you mention that you have something to give to Albert?”
First, to alleviate the awkward atmosphere between the two, I brought up the topic of gifts.
Emmett handed a neatly wrapped paper to Albert.
“…This is payment for allowing me to stay this time. Please use it when you need it.”
“No, it’s more like a gift, isn’t it?”
“If you insist, then yes.”
Why make it sound like it’s a transaction! I tried to turn it around, so Emmett just grudgingly added that last part.
Maybe he was feeling awkward about giving a gift. I changed the subject to Albert, who was the one receiving it.
“Albert, how does it feel to receive a gift from your teacher?”
“…It’s quite surprising. I didn’t expect you to prepare a gift.”
Emmett chuckled.
“Was my impression that bad, Young Count? It’s the last time, but you’re still surprised that I prepared a gift.”
“It’s not that your impression is bad, but well…”
Albert glanced at me and answered honestly.
“It’s because you’re more or less indifferent, isn’t it?”
Honesty was good, but it didn’t seem to carry a positive meaning in this context!
I was left speechless, yet Emmett nodded in agreement as if he understood.
“Well, that’s true.”
…I was surprised that Albert’s fastball didn’t seem to leave him with complete shock.
In fact, he looked at Albert with interest. I guess I’ve said enough.
I would never be able to fully understand the relationship between these two in my lifetime.
Anyway, the conversation continued, thankfully… Nope, never mind.
After that, the two fell silent again.
I sighed heavily and decided to open the way for them to bring out the stories they had kept hidden within themselves today.
“Albert, you mentioned earlier that you have something you want to tell your teacher, right?”
You said you felt sadder than you expected earlier, right? Albert nodded in response to my words.
Finally, Albert lifted his head, and his ears turned a deep shade of red. He seemed embarrassed to speak so openly about it.
Shaking his head in an attempt to cool his burning ears, Albert faced Emmett with determination and spoke.
“…Finish your ordeal well and come back. I’ll be waiting.”
Emmett blinked in response to Albert’s encouragement.
The faint hint of a youthful smile that had been on his face disappeared. I knew exactly why.
Because Emmett never had any intention of successfully completing the ordeal in the first place.
…Did he hope that Albert wouldn’t find out that he deliberately chose death in the end?
I didn’t step in because I felt like I understood his feelings.
Emmett, silently staring at Albert, muttered softly.
“I’m sorry.”
Albert blinked in surprise at the sudden apology.
“…What?”
“For the things I did wrong in the past. And for what’s to come. Everything.”
“…What could you possibly have to apologize to me for?”
“You’ll understand later. After a very long time.”
Emmett chuckled lightly.
“Now that we’ve brought the cake out, let’s eat.”
He cut a piece of cake and placed it in front of Albert.
“Young Count, death is a natural thing. Even if I don’t come back alive, please don’t be too sad.”
“It’s too early to say such things.”
“…Anyway, I mean to do my best for you.”
Emmett casually passed over Albert’s words and gave me a brief glance. After a moment of silence, he also cut a piece of cake, placed it on a plate and handed it to me.
“Let’s eat together. It’s the last time.”
The phrase ‘the last time’ struck me particularly hard. It seemed to imply that our time together with the current Albert was running out.
We all ate the cake together. It was our last meal.
At least, I thought it would be the last.
But before the trial began, Emmett sought out Albert once more.
In any case, the cake with plenty of sugar was more expensive than I had expected, but I was willing to pay for this moment that would remain in Albert’s memory.
…I had borrowed some money from Emmett because I was a bit short on cash, but I would repay everything to Albert when I returned to the future.
I was somewhat skeptical though about whether future Albert would need my money.
“…Did you buy this cake?”
Albert chuckled. Emmett quickly responded.
“I didn’t buy it.”
He definitely didn’t want any misunderstandings. I raised my hand.
“I bought it.”
“Ah…”
Emmett seemed to feel awkward as he watched how Albert reacted, but Albert was convinced right away. Emmett changed the topic.
“It’s been a while since we celebrated Noire’s birthday.”
“Birthdays are always worth celebrating.”
Even if today was Noire’s last day alive. As long as you’re alive, that was reason enough to celebrate being born.
I wondered if she wanted to live longer like Blanc, but Noire was resolute.
She wanted to end her life for Emmett’s sake.
And it was her own choice, not just for Emmett.
“Living for a long time dulls one’s sense of such things,” Emmett explained, as if justifying it to himself.
He gestured to the sofa for us to sit comfortably.
“Please, have a seat.”
Albert and Emmett sat facing each other. Today was essentially the last day they would be able to see each other.
By the time Albert saw Emmett again, Emmett would already be dead.
However, neither of the two men seemed to have any intention of speaking, so I eventually took the lead in their conversation.
“Now, didn’t you mention that you have something to give to Albert?”
First, to alleviate the awkward atmosphere between the two, I brought up the topic of gifts.
Emmett handed a neatly wrapped paper to Albert.
“…This is payment for allowing me to stay this time. Please use it when you need it.”
“No, it’s more like a gift, isn’t it?”
“If you insist, then yes.”
Why make it sound like it’s a transaction! I tried to turn it around, so Emmett just grudgingly added that last part.
Maybe he was feeling awkward about giving a gift. I changed the subject to Albert, who was the one receiving it.
“Albert, how does it feel to receive a gift from your teacher?”
“…It’s quite surprising. I didn’t expect you to prepare a gift.”
Emmett chuckled.
“Was my impression that bad, Young Count? It’s the last time, but you’re still surprised that I prepared a gift.”
“It’s not that your impression is bad, but well…”
Albert glanced at me and answered honestly.
“It’s because you’re more or less indifferent, isn’t it?”
Honesty was good, but it didn’t seem to carry a positive meaning in this context!
I was left speechless, yet Emmett nodded in agreement as if he understood.
“Well, that’s true.”
…I was surprised that Albert’s fastball didn’t seem to leave him with complete shock.
In fact, he looked at Albert with interest. I guess I’ve said enough.
I would never be able to fully understand the relationship between these two in my lifetime.
Anyway, the conversation continued, thankfully… Nope, never mind.
After that, the two fell silent again.
I sighed heavily and decided to open the way for them to bring out the stories they had kept hidden within themselves today.
“Albert, you mentioned earlier that you have something you want to tell your teacher, right?”
You said you felt sadder than you expected earlier, right? Albert nodded in response to my words.
Finally, Albert lifted his head, and his ears turned a deep shade of red. He seemed embarrassed to speak so openly about it.
Shaking his head in an attempt to cool his burning ears, Albert faced Emmett with determination and spoke.
“…Finish your ordeal well and come back. I’ll be waiting.”
Emmett blinked in response to Albert’s encouragement.
The faint hint of a youthful smile that had been on his face disappeared. I knew exactly why.
Because Emmett never had any intention of successfully completing the ordeal in the first place.
…Did he hope that Albert wouldn’t find out that he deliberately chose death in the end?
I didn’t step in because I felt like I understood his feelings.
Emmett, silently staring at Albert, muttered softly.
“I’m sorry.”
Albert blinked in surprise at the sudden apology.
“…What?”
“For the things I did wrong in the past. And for what’s to come. Everything.”
“…What could you possibly have to apologize to me for?”
“You’ll understand later. After a very long time.”
Emmett chuckled lightly.
“Now that we’ve brought the cake out, let’s eat.”
He cut a piece of cake and placed it in front of Albert.
“Young Count, death is a natural thing. Even if I don’t come back alive, please don’t be too sad.”
“It’s too early to say such things.”
“…Anyway, I mean to do my best for you.”
Emmett casually passed over Albert’s words and gave me a brief glance. After a moment of silence, he also cut a piece of cake, placed it on a plate and handed it to me.
“Let’s eat together. It’s the last time.”
The phrase ‘the last time’ struck me particularly hard. It seemed to imply that our time together with the current Albert was running out.
We all ate the cake together. It was our last meal.
At least, I thought it would be the last.
But before the trial began, Emmett sought out Albert once more.
