"Why would you suddenly ask that question?"
Walking beside him, Mirajane paused, tilting her head to ask with some curiosity.
She had heard many similar questions before, but without exception, the ones asking were her suitors. After all, no one would be idle enough to ask others if they had someone they liked.
At this thought, Mirajane's breathing gradually hitched, and her heartbeat suddenly quickened.
It can't be, right?
"No—I have someone I like."
She had just opened her mouth to tell a lie, but the words changed involuntarily, causing Mirajane's beautiful eyes to widen in surprise.
The pill's effect hadn't worn off.
Noticing her abnormal behavior, she instantly reacted.
Wasn't that thing only supposed to last for 20 minutes?
But it had been over half an hour since she swallowed the honesty pill.
Why...
Gradually slowing her pace, Mirajane looked up at Roland beside her, the doubt in her heart growing stronger.
"I remembered the time limit on that bottle of pills wrong. It's actually not twenty minutes, but an hour."
Roland took the bottle of white pills out of his pocket and shook it gently under the moonlight, the pills making a crisp sound as they collided with the glass.
This thing was surprisingly useful.
"...Are you sure you didn't remember it wrong on purpose?"
Mirajane looked at him suspiciously.
She felt like he was lying, but she had no proof.
After all, among the three of them who had played, Roland was the only one who hadn't taken an honesty pill.
"No."
Roland shook his head, his expression extremely natural as he replied.
It's no use, I can't tell if he's lying at all.
Mirajane stopped, her beautiful eyes staring at him intently for a while before she finally gave up and looked away.
"Although I don't know who the person you like is, if I ask so directly, you probably won't tell me, right?"
Roland poured a pill from the glass bottle, held it between his index finger and thumb to show her, and said with a smile, "Anyway, we still have a ways to go before we get home, so are you interested in a game of truth, Mirajane?"
"The rules are simple. We ask each other questions, and the person asked must answer. Fair, right?"
"...Alright!"
Mirajane, who was about to refuse, thought of the answer Levy had given not long ago. After a moment's consideration, she agreed as if bewitched.
She didn't know how far Roland and Levy's relationship had progressed.
At the same time, she didn't know what kind of attitude Roland would have after getting her answer.
"Let's start with you, Mirajane!"
After swallowing the pill, Roland sat on a bench by the riverbank, pinching his chin.
"Okay, for the first question... Hmm, did you intentionally remember the pill's duration wrong?"
Holding down her skirt that was being blown by the evening wind, Mirajane sat down beside him unhurriedly and asked, tilting her head.
"...Are you sure you want to ask that?"
Roland was silent for a moment, unable to resist confirming.
Shouldn't she be asking something about personal privacy at a time like this?
"This question, I'm just curious if you're lying or not."
Mirajane nodded with great certainty.
"No, it wasn't on purpose."
Roland answered smoothly, his tone not faltering in the slightest.
It was true, it wasn't on purpose; he had done it deliberately. It was a clear twisting of concepts, but it was surprisingly successful.
"You really didn't forget it on purpose?"
A trace of surprise appeared on Mirajane's face, as she clearly hadn't expected the answer to be the same as before.
"Next, it's my turn. Let's see... Mirajane, what color clothes do you like?"
"Black. Of course, sometimes it changes due to the weather or my mood, and I'll like other colors."
Mirajane responded without thinking.
"Then... just how strong are you?"
"I don't know how to answer that, since I haven't used my full strength yet." Roland scratched his cheek and said hesitantly, "But destroying more than half a country is something I can do."
He was trying to be as tactful as possible.
—His sun magic at full power was practically a human-shaped natural disaster, especially when it was close to noon. Overturning and destroying the entire Kingdom of Fiore was only a matter of time.
"More... more than half a country? What exaggerated power!"
The shocking words made Mirajane's eyes widen subconsciously, a cry of surprise escaping her lips.
Not even the Ten Wizard Saints had such destructive power, right!?
So Roland was this strong.
"That kind of power comes with a price. Alright, alright, let's continue the game."
If they dragged this on any longer, the effect on Mirajane would wear off.
Roland looked at the star-filled night sky and continued with the next question without pause.
"Who is the person you like, Mirajane?"
No more probing, no more hiding. The young man's magnetic voice rang out in the silent night.
"..."
It's here. That question is finally here.
When he first introduced the game, Mirajane understood his purpose. It was just that the earlier probing questions had allowed her to relax a little.
The renewed sense of nervousness made her unconsciously rub the knuckle of her left index finger with her right hand as she looked up slightly at Roland.
"Who could it be..." she murmured thoughtfully. This time, she chose not to answer, instead asking softly, "Roland, don't you already know who I like?"
"Probably—that's right, I know."
He was about to be vague, but the pill's power made Roland instantly change his words, speaking his true thoughts aloud.
Tsk, can't I even give a vague answer?
"...Then do you like Levy?"
Mirajane showed no surprise. She lowered her head slightly, her silver-white hair falling like a waterfall, and continued to ask.
"That's a second question. How about you answer my previous question first?"
"Really? Didn't you already say you know?"
"Knowing and hearing it from you are completely different. Besides, what if I guessed wrong?"
Guessed wrong... how could you possibly guess wrong?
Mirajane took a deep breath, as if about to risk everything, and said in a small voice, "The person I like... is you."
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on : patreon.com/Kaizo247
~ Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]