There Was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party, So I Tried Confessing to Her (勇者パーティーにかわいい子がいたので、告白してみた。)

Ah... I wanna see Cecilia...

Captain! Let's get going to Celia's mansion!

Cecilia's not there. I'll pass.

What?!

I haven't seen her in a whole week now.

From what she said, everyone in the hero's party is pretty busy.

Cecilia goes to different towns and villages to heal their wounded...

Raven is the captain of the knights...

Mikana is a palace mage...

and Yuga does diplomatic work as well as dealing with high-rank monsters.

They're all scattered all the time.

I bet they don't get many chances to talk.

And this is all because of me.

I wish I could do something for them.

This is boring! I'm bored!

Man, if only Duke was here...

Look, you...

I can't believe he joined the knights after their captain scouted him.

Come in.

Hi.

Hey, Happy!

Oh, hey. What's up?

Message from milady.

"I'll be at home this afternoon,"

she says.

Really?!

I'll finally get my chance to give her the necklace!

What should I do until the afternoon?

Shiek went ahead to the mansion with Happiness, so...

You there.

You are doomed to have terrible luck today.

I'm not falling for that nonsense.

I get to see the girl I love.

It's obviously gonna be an awesome day!

Welcome!

Where's the lady who's usually here?

My sister had other stuff to do,

so I'm looking after the store today!

R-Really?

Then... I'll take these. They're a gift.

Thank you very much!

Come again!

Please hurry back, little sister.

Hey, they're all crushed!

Don't put so much muscle into packing cakes.

They still taste good, though.

I'm sorry.

Whoa, close call!

Maybe today really is my unlucky day...

Whoa!

My skewer!

Hey, c'mon, don't cry.

Thank you.

Here. I even got you an extra.

Watch where you walk from now on, okay?

Okay!

Thank you, mister!

Sheesh.

Oops!

Now I get pickpocketed?!

He won't get away!

Man, I can't believe I got pickpocketed.

A robbery in broad daylight?

Return the wallet you stole from him!

Yuga!

Actually, this is my wallet...

Liar!

My money!

Halt!

Hang on!

Just listen to me!

Give up and confess your crime already.

My luck really is awful today...

This sucks.

Were you starting to miss your shut-in lifestyle?

Duke!

Captain, what did you do?

Did you turn delinquent because Cecilia wouldn't give you the time of day?

No, I did not!

Relax. I know.

Raven's verifying the facts right now. Just hang in there a bit longer.

What a relief.

Hey, you should be calling Raven "Captain."

You're a knight now.

You're my only captain, Captain.

Oh, come on...

I call him "Captain" in public, so it's not a problem.

Pardon me.

Irene.

Duke, you need to return to your training.

The vice captain is angry with you for leaving on your own.

Her ears... Is she an elf?

Forget about that. Give me the key.

The captain did his interrogation, didn't he?

That should've cleared this guy's name.

Yes, Yoki is innocent.

Yes!

And the hero says he'd like to apologize to you.

Wha?

I caused you all that trouble. Let me make it up to you!

Go on! Eat all you like!

Yow! You're blinding me!

Thanks for treating.

The food here is great, isn't it?

So I hear you're friends with Raven?

Huh?

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU DID!

He's never scolded me this much before.

I didn't notice before,

but you're the guy who was with Cecilia the other day, right?

Yeah.

What's your relationship with her?

Huh? We're just friends. Why?

Oh...

So you managed to become friends with Cecilia...

Please! Could you give me some advice?

I just want to know how I can get on better terms with her.

I'm your rival in love, you know!

Sorry, but I only met Cecilia recently.

Maybe you should ask someone who's known her longer?

NOT ME.

Raven, you don't need to worry about your voice.

Discover some tact, hero!

HOW ABOUT MIKANA?

I can't ask Mikana.

I think she hates Cecilia.

Did Mikana say that herself?

You might not believe this,

but Mikana tried to leave Cecilia behind in a certain battle we fought.

Thankfully, Cecilia was fine in the end,

but it's too cruel. Even if she does hate her...

Wait.

Huh?

Are you serious about that?

It wasn't Mikana who abandoned Cecilia.

What would you know?!

You weren't even there!

You're right. I heard the story from Mikana.

She wasn't the one who said to leave Cecilia behind.

It was a powerful demon you'd fought countless times, but you kept losing.

Yes, but I tried to refuse,

and Mikana said we should take him up on the deal!

She couldn't have done that if she didn't hate Cecilia.

She left her because she hated her?

Mikana was crying when she said that!

She felt that guilty about it!

What? Mikana cried?

But she's the one who told me to agree!

It was all her fault!

Get real!

Remember what happened that day!

When Cecilia told you to go ahead,

it was you who made the final decision!

Did Mikana tell you that, too?

Why does that matter?

Is what I just said wrong?

It's true, but it's not what you think! Please understand!

I wasn't the one who abandoned Cecilia!

I couldn't!

I could never...

You're the hero, aren't you?

Don't dump the blame on your allies.

Face up to your own actions.

If you can't do that...

that's a really bad look for you.

I-I'm sorry! I went too far!

Just calm down, okay?

I'm sorry I lost my composure.

I've known Mikana since we were kids.

She's a really hard worker.