How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 15: Chapter SS1

Bonus Short Stories

The Noise Lover and the Loner

My second secondary queen, Naden the black ryuu, acted like a handywoman of sorts for the women working on the shopping street. One day, she brought back a big daikon radish she received as thanks for her efforts. She used it to make oden, and we sat around the table with my other wives as well as Tomoe, Ichiha, and Yuriga.

Because my wives and I all have our own duties and work, it wasnt uncommon for some of us to be missing at any meal other than breakfast. It was only because Naden let us know in advance that we were all able to gather like this. It would have been nice if my beloved Cian and Kazuha could have been here too, but they were a bit too young to be eating oden, so I fed them ahead of time and left them with Carla.

It feels crowded with so many of us here, huh?

Hee hee! Youre right.

The family usually ate together at the kotatsu Ive mentioned before, but obviously it was a little small for nine people, so we prepared another low table and a second pot for oden. Still, it wasnt a very large room, so it was a bit cramped anyway.

Ah! Thats my octopus, Big Sis Ai! Roroa bemoaned.

First come, first served, Aisha asserted.

Hee hee, the broth has seeped into the daikon wonderfully, Naden, Juna said.

Youre a daikon fan, Juna? I like the boiled eggs more, Naden replied.

Come on, Ichiha, Tomoe began, if you dont hurry up and eat, youll miss out.

T-Tomoe?! Dont just dump an octopus leg in my bowl like that!

Honestly, what are you doing...? Yuriga sighed.

Here, you too, Yuriga.

Wait, dont put kombu in mine, you little kid!

And, well, it certainly made for an eventful dinner.

Maybe we should have used the long table in the royal dining hall, I murmured.

Really? I like it this way. Its exciting.

Yeah... I smiled wryly at Liscia. Its nice having everyone here and chatting, but...

But?

Her question made me think back.

Theres a girl I remember whenever I see a lively table like this.

This is a story from when I was in my old world, not long after Id entered high school.

It had been lunchtime. Tatsuya and Yoshiaki, the friends Id made after coming to school, had left right away to attend a meeting that introduced the various clubs. I had no intention of joining a club, however, so once Id finished the lunch grandma had made for me, I went for a walk for lack of anything better to do. I was still very new to this school, so I hadnt known where things were yet, and figured it couldnt hurt to take a look around.

As I headed past the shoe lockers and out through the front door, Id felt a chilly wind on my neck. Hmm... Maybe its a bit cold out?

It was spring at the time, and the Yoshino cherry blossoms had finished falling. Id decided to head for somewhere I wouldnt normally go: behind the school building, near the second gymnasiuma place I had yet to see. And as I rounded the corner of the building...

Ah

The cherry blossoms there were in full bloom. However, because the color was so vibrant, each flower had left a heavier impression on me than Yoshino cherry blossoms would. Oh right, I know these... Theyre called double-flowered cherry blossoms. There was one tree of them in the sunlit space at the back of the school.

Its prime viewing time for double-flowered cherry blossoms... As I was thinking that, Id noticed someone under the tree.

There was a corpseno, a girl. She had black medium-length hair and a plain face with symmetrical features. She was wearing her uniform properly, which was kind of unusual those days, and on her lap was a book. At a glance, she had looked like your run-of-the-mill bookworm.

Seeing this bookish girl beneath the cherry blossoms had made me think that it made for a pretty picture.

I had silently observed her until...

Ah...!

Our eyes met. After being caught like this, it would be kind of creepy to just leave.

Okay... Id thought to myself as I decided to talk to her. Are you...alone?

She gave no reply and had just stared back at me.

Whats her deal? I felt super awkward. Maybe shes mad at me for disrupting her alone time? Id thought and considered making a hasty retreat.

I like being alone... the girl said.

She had spoken so suddenly that I wasnt sure the words had come from her at first. But when Id realized shed answered my question, I hastily replied.

Oh, okay... Youd rather be by yourself than in a crowd, you mean?

Yes.

So its not that you dont have anywhere to be.

Apparently, she hadnt been eating by herself because she was a loner who had no place in the classroom. Fair enough. I hadnt gotten that sense of pathetic loneliness from her, either. If anything, shed seemed to have melded into the atmosphere of this place.

Then, like a passing breeze, she spoke again. Its exhausting being around a lot of people. I prefer to stay in a more relaxed place...like here.

Hmm... I began. Its better to be alone, huh?

After giving myself a brief moment to consider my response, I said, Im not sure I get it. I prefer things to be more...lively, I guess.

So youre a party person?

Not exactly.

I had no memories of my parents, but Id been raised by a loving grandma and grandpa. I wasnt unhappy about that, but not knowing my parents had made me feel a little lonely. That was why Id wanted to make fun memories with other living peopleas many of them as I could.

I, uh, just like feeling connected to other people.

I see... shed replied curtly, then looked back down to the book in her lap. I dont really understand that. To me, I think time alone can be just as fulfilling.

There was nothing wrong with thinking that way. Shed been fine being alone while Id wanted to connect with as many people as possible. We were different people, so we couldnt exactly see eye to eye.

Still, for that very reason, Id been a little interested in her. Will there be a day she falls in love?

Maybe someday youll find someone you want to connect with, I said.

With those parting words, Id turned to leave.

Who would listen to the bird that sings in the night...? Id heard her say.

Those whispered words still echoed in my ears even now.

So, yeah, thats a thing that happened toow, ow, ow!

As I was fondly recounting a memory from high school, Liscia pinched my cheek with a smile.

Huh? What was that for?

Oh, nothing, she said. I was just thinkinghere you are, surrounded by all your adorable wives, and you go spouting off about some romantic, bittersweet memory from your student days?

Uh, thats a nice smile and all, but I can see the veins rising on your temple.

Romantic? Nothing ever happened between me and that girl.

If you say so... Its a little vexing, I guess. You know, when I met you, I was already working in the Army. And before wed even met, we were already engaged.

Er, yeah, sorry about that.

Oh, Im not dissatisfied... Its more like if we could have met in my student daysbefore I had to worry about the country and whatnotmaybe we could have had those sorts of bittersweet memories too.

Ha ha, maybe.

What if Id gone to school with Liscia and the others? It could have been fun. Liscia and Aisha in my class, Juna in the year above us, and Roroa and Naden in the year below... Oh, actually, maybe Aisha and Naden would be in the year above us. Though, my old world was monogamous, so thered probably be some fighting. Still, itd have been lively nonetheless.

Hmm... Liscia cocked her head to the side. But do you think that girl was really okay being by herself? That strikes me as a bit lonely.

Nah, maybe not so much? I mused, giving a slight chuckle.

Liscia returned my chuckle with a blank expression.

During my second year, when Id visited the library, Id spotted her reading away while at the librarians counter. Only this time, there was a boy reading with her. And as she read, she leaned her chair to rest her back against his shoulder.

There were no words between them, but I could tell they trusted one another.

Oh, hey, there was someone after all.

She had been fine by herself, but there was still someone she wanted to be with. I left the library, thinking how Id like to find someone like that for myself one day.

Well, that wish came true a few years later... And with multiple someones too.

Looking at my family busily digging in and eating oden, I bit into a piece of octopus, and savored the flavor and this experience.