ノエル: すべてをやり直すために (第二の並行世界にて)

Birthday?

　There's no electricity in this world, it's probably around what I'd call the medieval era.

　Which makes this room especially boring to think in. All there is to light it at night is a lantern. Wooden walls with a cobblestone trim.

　It's a rather simple convent, but I suppose it does its job...

　...

　I was just doing the average thing I've been doing in this world thus far. Thinking. I'm still yet to come to any conclusions on what I want to do.

　Sometime during one of the days, ミズキ comes into my room and pesters me about coming to the dining room.

　I don't know why she wants me to go there, but regardless I get out of bed and follow her through the halls.

　It probably won't be anything bad, as they still see me as a sick kid.

　When I enter the dining room behind ミズキ, I see the other sisters of the convent. That and a small cake on the table with a little 9 drawn on top with icing.

　What's this? A surprise party?

　They all look at me with excitement as if expecting me to reciprocate. But... I really don't know what this is for...

　After seeing me standing there like a bewildered idiot, the head sister, アルケミラ, tilts her head and speaks to me.

「Kai-kun... aren't you meant to be happy about a birthday?」

「Eh? Birthday...? Who's birthday?」

「Your birthday...」

　My birthday, she says?

　Is it really? I guess I got lost in time and forgot about it.

　I suppose I do remember my 9th birthday being around this time in my past life.

　Ahh... the sisters must have been planning this for a while, and I didn't even realize...

「Right, my birthday. Um... thanks for the cake I guess?」

　Of course, my unenthusiastic reaction earns a few whines from the sisters. Well, I don't know how to react, it's not my fault I was busy thinking!

　I am promptly ushered over to the table by ミズキ and アエラリア, forced to sit down with the cake while the others cheer them on.

　It really does seem like they are enjoying my birthday more than myself. Tch... they really are nuisances but in a funny way.

　I try to refuse the cake as I don't really think I can keep any food I eat down. But I get a painful ear twist from アエラリア, along with a scolding about how I should be "Grateful".

「Okay okay! I'll eat the cake!」

　Reluctantly, I blow out the candle and take a bite. It tastes alright by this world's standards... I've definitely had better in Japan, but it's the sentiment that counts right?

　I imagine this would be the time a photo would be taken, but we don't have cameras here.

　So I just give a thumbs up to the sisters.