—–
“…And when I tried to find girls-only parties, they hated me for being popular with the handsome guys… so they never let me in…” sighed Emeraldine.
“E-Eh? What’s that kind of nonsense? These people are really stupid,” I sighed.
“I wouldn’t call them stupid. I guess I understand them… I just wish everyone wouldn’t simply judge me for my appearance… Guys only saw me as a sexy woman before seeing me as the person I was… and women also only saw my appearance as a nuisance without trying to know me better… My abilities were useful, but I was still a low-rank Adventurer too, and I didn’t have any fame other than being attractive, apparently… Ugh…” she sighed once again.
“Well, I have to agree with them in some of what they thought… You’re indeed a very pretty woman… But they should have tried to learn more about you. People are often very superficial, and I can understand that pain very well….” I sighed.
“Haha… Yeah… It is quite painful when you think about it… People think that because I was pretty, I had everything easy for me… but that wasn’t the case… things were hard… I tried to work hard on myself… in my strength, and in becoming a better person, but the first thing they judge in the end by looking at me is that I am some kind of whore…” sighed Emeraldine.
“Calm down… That happened long ago. We all know how you are here, and we love you for who you are, Emeraldine,” I said.
Emeraldine blushed a bit as she nodded.
“Y-Yeah… I know… Maybe I went too hard in my rant…” said Emeraldine.
“Hahah… it’s fine. It always feels nice to get out all the things you save inside for a while… It makes you feel freer,” I said.
“Yeah, you’re right…” said Emeraldine.
“Anyways, now that you’re here with us, how do you feel? I’ve always wondered if you’re comfortable, even when we move around way too much,” I said.
“Yeah, I feel comfortable… Since you saved me, I’ve decided to help you out, Maria… I worked very hard because I really wanted to stay at your side,” Said Emeraldine.
“And I am very glad I let you come with us! If I didn’t, everything might have gone awry and would have become way harder….” I sighed.
“Hehehe, I am glad I was useful! I worked my ass off… Ah! I-I shouldn’t have said that…” said Emeraldine.
“Hahahaha! Don’t worry! I like it when you talk more roughly. You don’t have to be so polite when you’re around your friends, dear,” I said.
“I-It still makes me feel a bit bad… But… I am glad I am not judged by talking more carefreely. Even if we end up being chased by the entire world, I like being with you and with everyone else, Maria… It feels like I’ve finally found the family I’ve been looking for since my mother’s death…” said Emeraldine.
“Really? I see… That just makes me want to hug you a lot, you know?” I sighed.
I hugged Emeraldine from her back, giving her a big bear hug and letting her head rest on my chest.
Emeraldine smiled warmly back at me while looking into my eyes from below.
“Thank you, Maria… For everything, you’ve done… I am happy with how things are, so don’t worry about me….” she said.
“I-Is that so? I-I wasn’t worrying or something….”
“You’re blushing….”
“I-I am? Well… I just wanted to tell you that I will always be there for you whenever you need a friend to talk with- No, a family… I-I want to become your family….” I said.
“Family?” she muttered.
“Yeah… I just want you to count me for everything… A-As long as it is not something overly complicated like doing Math….” I said.
“I am sure I will not ask stuff like that, so don’t worry about that either…” said Emeraldine.
She lightly touched my hand and then held it tightly.
I looked at her hand, filled with life and light. Her aura was of pure radiance, the complete opposite of my own.
She was very warm too.
Touching my phantasmal hand must feel bad… since, as a ghost, I am extremely cold.
As a ghost… I cannot give warmth to anyone…
“I am sorry for not being able to give you the warmth you deserve… I am only but a ghost… I wish I could do more than this….” I sighed.
Emeraldine looked at me with a surprised expression.
“I-It’s fine… Don’t worry about it! I am just happy was things are… Even if you’re a ghost, even if you were whatever other thing… I am sure I will still be with you, Maria… It doesn’t matter if you can’t give me warmth… I will make sure to warm you with my own body if you want,” said Emeraldine.
“O-Oh… Y-Your own body?” I asked.
“Yeah, like this… Don’t you like to be hugged?” she asked.
Emeraldine then hugged me tightly over the floor. I ended up realizing we were resting over my bed already.
She was very warm… it was very comfortable to touch her.
“I like it… It feels nice… You soothe my heart, Emeraldine….” I said.
Emeraldine blushed a bit, growing redder.
“I-I do?” she asked.
“Yeah… I like being with you.” I said.
“I-I like being with you too…” she said.
“…”
“…”
An awkward silence came out of nowhere, and it became more and more awkward as we continued resting without talking…
“M-Maria…” she said.
“Y-Yes?” I asked.
“I hope we can continue having nights like these… Would you mind if I came here to sleep like this with you from time to time? Hugging you?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t mind….” I said.
“That’s nice to know…” said Emeraldine.
And like this, we ended up sleeping together, cuddling while holding hands.
It wasn’t until the morning of the next day that I realized we slept in such a lewd way… as the sun of the sky illuminated our day.
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