Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 33: The First Smile
“I understand everything, Kenya-kun. Knowing that… will you trust me?”
Reina’s words were vague.
But she was on her way here.
She asked only that he hear her out, without hostility.
“I see… Sorry. I kept it from you—I’ve been working as part of the Resistance.”
“No, it’s fine. But I see… we were enemies. I never thought we’d end up fighting in real life instead of just in a simulator.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“There’s someone who wants to speak with you. My father and I are on our way with them.”
“……”
“Mitsurugi? It’s me—Sieg.”
“Sieg-san… I’m sorry for betraying you like this.”
“…I see. That’s a relief. You’re still yourself, then. I was afraid even your personality had been a lie… But there’s nothing to apologize for. You had your own reasons. So let’s talk. We have no intention of fighting. If you don’t trust us, you can wait inside your machine.”
Kenya understood what a huge concession that was.
If he had any ill intent, he could kill unarmed men in seconds.
“Tanaka-san…”
“Sieg… he’s someone you can trust. He’s a citizen of the Asgard Empire, but he’s also a friend to the Japanese people.”
“I see… I feel the same way.”
Tanaka nodded.
If Tanaka, who knew Sieg well, trusted him, then Kenya could too.
Kenya didn’t know why Sieg was so kind to the Japanese.
But he had seen Sieg’s character time and again.
He showed no discrimination. He never acted dishonorably.
That was just the kind of person he was.
“Alright. It might be rude, but I’ll wait inside Takemikazuchi.”
“Ah! Thank you, Mitsurugi!”
Still, trusting completely would be foolish.
That’s why he would wait inside Takemikazuchi.
If things went south, he could break through by force.
Kenya and Tanaka waited inside.
It was cramped, but still had enough space for the two of them.
Then, in the distance, a military vehicle approached.
Kenya had no idea what kind of conversation was about to take place.
The car stopped in front of them.
Sieg seemed to be the one driving.
Reina stepped out alone.
(Reina…)
How was he supposed to face her?
Even if his goal had been to disable her rather than kill, he had still pointed his blade at her.
Not in a simulator, but with a real weapon that could take a life.
“Kenya-kun… you’re in there, aren’t you?”
Reina slowly approached and touched Takemikazuchi.
“You were incredible. Really. I’ve never seen a fight like that before. Kenya-kun, you truly are amazing. Even though I fought with everything I had—even with a custom machine—I still couldn’t win.”
She was trembling.
“I was terrified. I truly felt like I was going to die… You really are something else.”
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Seeing her like that, Kenya stood up.
Hearing her speak in such a dejected, sorrowful voice—
“Tanaka-san, excuse me!”
“Hah… Yeah, go ahead.”
Kenya opened the cockpit and climbed down from Takemikazuchi.
Maybe he was an idiot.
But looking at her now, there was no way she had come to kill him.
Not with that sad expression.
Emotion drove Kenya forward.
(Seeing him like this, he really is just a kind-hearted boy…)
Tanaka watched his back as he climbed down.
It was hard to believe this was the same boy who had defeated the mightiest empire in the world.
“Kenya-kun!?”
“Reina… I’m sorry. I pointed my blade at you. I wasn’t trying to kill you, but… I fought seriously, and I accepted that injuries were unavoidable.”
Kenya climbed down the ladder from the cockpit.
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Reina was startled—she hadn’t expected him to come down.
Standing before her, Kenya bowed his head.
“I-If you’re apologizing, then I should too! I fought with everything I had!”
“No… You didn’t know. But I did. I knew it was you, Reina. And for a moment… I even thought about taking your life. That’s why I wanted to apologize.”
“I see… Wait, you climbed down just to apologize!? What if I had come here to kill you!?”
“Yeah… Sorry, Reina.”
Kenya looked at her like a child waiting to be scolded.
Reina was even more surprised.
The legendary pilot who had taken down a hundred enemies—he looked like he was afraid of getting yelled at by someone much weaker than him.
And then—
Her frozen expression melted.
“Heh… Honestly…”
For Kenya, it was the first time seeing it.
For Reina, it was a smile she hadn’t remembered in a long time.
Without thinking, she smiled back at Kenya.
“You’re a strange person.”
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“……”
Kenya was speechless.
Seeing Reina’s smile for the first time, his mouth hung open, unable to close.
It was a smile he had never seen, even in his previous world—carefree, innocent, and full of joy.
“Then I forgive you. Out of respect for your sincerity.”
“T-Thank you, Reina!”
Just then, as the conversation reached a natural pause, Sieg approached.
“Mitsurugi, we have a lot to talk about, but…”
“Sieg-san.”
“Right now, there’s someone else I want you to listen to first.”
Sieg then opened the backseat of the car.
From inside, a young boy stepped out.
“Y-You…! Why are you here!?”
“Hey, Kenya-kun. Or perhaps I should call you something else?”
His golden hair was slightly long.
His small frame still carried an unmistakable presence.
“A member of the Resistance ‘Amaterasu’… and the first to ever defeat me.”
The very enemy Kenya had been fighting to the death just moments ago—
The ruler of the world—
Lord Asgard stood before him.