Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Elfen - Prince of Crema - Moon End
Chapter 7 - A Letter of Challenge
Servant: Elfen-sama...!
Elfen-san knitted his brow towards the servant that was running in a panic.
Elfen: ...What is it?
Servant: My apologies for interrupting your conversation. Just now, this came in from the employees of the coffee shops that closed due to the inspections the other day...
The moment he took the letter that the servant presented, he looked over it quickly.
Elfen: ...What is this?
Elfen-san's expression turned stern again.
Elfen: The coffee shop organization is proposing a contest... It's like a letter of challenge.
Servant: ...I-It's pretty much a letter of challenge.
When Elfen-san responded calmly after he understood, the servant tried to hide his trembling. In the last part of the letter...
Elfen: If you lose in the roasting contest... Prince Elfen won't be allowed to enter the coffee shops from then on... It says.
MC: ...!
Elfen-san was unconcerned as usual when he read the one-sided letter of challenge out loud...
Chapter 8 - The Coffee Roasting Contest
When a letter of challenge to a roasting contest has arrived, Elfen-san has declared to accept the challenge. Although...
Elfen: The coffee shop organization were the ones who sent the letter of challenge. Yet, why aren't the organizers cooperating?
Despite that Elfen-san was unable to hide his irritation in his tone as he said that...
(It seems like there are many people that antagonize Elfen-san's way of things, so maybe...)
When I made that speculation, I became hesitant to say it at that moment.
Elfen: It can't be helped. MC. Help me out preparing for the contest.
MC: Me?
Elfen: ...Don't push yourself to say that you don't want to.
When he said that softly, he sounded worried somehow...
MC: ...No. Please let me help.
Thus, I was going to help Elfen-san in the contest...
......
When the day of the roasting contest has arrived... As the sky was refreshingly beautiful, the coffee beans for roasting were being brought over one after another at the venue. Once the equipment and the prepared materials were arranged, the participants gathered around.
Host: Now then, let's being this year's roasting contest!
The townspeople that came to cheer raised their voices. Not just in the Kingdom of Crema, but the contest has riled up everyone all around.
(I'm going to do my best to help Elfen-san, even if it's just a little.)
Despite my enthusiasm...
Elfen: ...
Elfen-san's complexion changed a little when he looked at the prepared coffee beans just now.
MC: Elfen-san, is something wrong?
Elfen: ...The quality of these beans isn't good.
MC: Eh...?
Surprised, I moved my gaze from Elfen-san's hand and looked around... A worker from the café that closed down before looked away in a panic.
(Don't tell me...)
Elfen: Seems like they planned this.
MC: ! ...I'll go confront them.
Elfen: No, leave it.
MC: But...
Undisturbed, Elfen-san silently held the beans in his hand.
Elfen: In roasting, using the time and heat can change the entire flavor. No matter what kind of beans they are, they'll have a good flavor if you handle them carefully.
He told me that as he gently rubbed the beans with his slender fingers.
(Elfen-san...)
Elfen: Let's make some good coffee.
MC: Okay!
Host: Now then, let's start roasting!
After the host said that, the participants started immediately.
......
In the end... It has been decided that Elfen-san passed the first round.
(Thank goodness...!)
Despite that it was rigged, Elfen-san didn't complain once and only handled the roasting seriously. Remembering him doing that made me overcome my frustrations.
MC: Even though you told me to stay quiet...
Then, Elfen-san smiled at the workers that were looking to the side awkwardly.
Elfen: This is the result of handling coffee the fast way. Once you start out like that, you have to go through with it till the end. Then, all that's left are the results.
Seeing Elfen-san handling coffee and taking the contest seriously made my heart skip a beat...
Chapter 9 - His Dream
That night after the first screening of the roasting contest has ended...
Elfen: ...
Elfen-san was reading a report from the organization and a coffee book from afar.
(Elfen-san has been working hard during the day. I wonder if he's all right since he's still not sleepy...)
MC: Elfen-san... Why are you so fixated with coffee?
When I asked that question, Elfen-san raised his head from the documents and looked at me.
Elfen: Since I was born as the prince of this kingdom, I should know about coffee... It's obvious why I'm so fixated with it. I think about spreading this kingdom's coffee around the world. Spreading the best coffee around, that's my dream.
MC: Dream...
When I felt unexpectedly touched from how Elfen-san felt, I gradually felt warm.
Elfen: it's just that... Not everyone seems to understand.
The smile that he showed for a moment made him look like he was about to give up.
(Elfen-san...)
My heart was beating faster.
(Everyone... Even though they don't know.)
MC: I... I know this much at least. That you have a passion for coffee more than anyone else...
Elfen: MC...
Elfen-san looked at me with a heated gaze. I felt myself being drawn towards those intense clear eyes...
Last Chapter - Waking Up to a Cup
Elfen: MC...
Elfen-san stared at me with a heated gaze...
(Elfen-san...?)
For a few seconds, he looked at me as if he wanted to say something... Although, he swallowed up those words and a serious expression returned to his face.
Elfen: Hurry and rest up. Tomorrow is the final match in the contest.
Just as it felt like I touched his heart, he backed away from me again... I started to feel pain in my heart.
MC: You too, Elfen-san... Shouldn't you rest?
Elfen: I'm the same as usual.
MC: ...Are you saying that you don't rest that much?
Elfen: ...
Elfen-san looked a bit baffled.
Elfen: You don't need to be concerned about when I should rest.
(Why does Elfen-san turn down people so fast? Even though... He's a devoted person that's more passionate than anyone.)
Although, when Elfen-san looked at me after I was thinking for a bit...
Elfen: ...MC, if you want to try some first-rate coffee at this hour... It won't do any good if you do something like that before going to sleep.
MC: Uh... Then, it doesn't have to be coffee...
Elfen: You mean, something other than coffee?
MC: Ah, I'm sorry. It's not that I'm saying I don't like coffee...
Elfen: I know.
After watching me explain in a panic, Elfen-san chuckled.
Elfen: I'll warm up some milk that I use for coffee. And put some sugar in it.
MC: Eh...?
Elfen: I'll make it in my room. Let's go.
MC: Ah...
Elfen-san grabbed my hand by force and started walking. I had to jog to keep up with his pace.
(That's just like him...)
Even now, that forcefulness of his didn't surprise me...
In Elfen-san's room, most of the things in there were related to roasting. Thank-you letters that were related to the department of coffee and some kind of contest trophy that was put on display.
Elfen: How sweet do you want it?
While not looking at me, he started to warm up some milk.
MC: Eh...?
Elfen: I heard that you like hot milk.
MC: Y-Yes. Then, just a bit of a regular amount of sweetness.
Elfen: Such an approximate request. Got it.
(Elfen-san heard what I like...)
When I remembered the time of our first meeting, it gave me a strange feeling, but...
(I'm happy.)
After a while, aside from the lingering scent of coffee, the sweet scent of milk started to fill up the room.
Elfen: Drink up.
MC: Thank you.
I took a sip of the sweet milk.
MC: It's good...
As warmth was slowly spreading throughout my body, I broke into a smile.
Elfen: ...That's quite an expression you're making.
MC: Really? That's because it's really good. Ah, Elfen-san...
Elfen: No, I'm good.
Before I could finish, he declined with a wry smile.
MC: How did you know what I was going to say?
Elfen: I knew. Your expression made it obvious.
MC: ...So, my face was showing it.
Elfen-san lets out a laugh.
(Wow, how rare...)
My heart was pounding fast from the smile that he was showing.
Elfen: I can never get tired of being with you.
(Eh...?)
The moment our eyes met... Elfen-san held my shoulder tightly. When I became enveloped in the strong scent of coffee that he was cladded in...
MC: Mm...
He placed his lips over mine and hugged me. I couldn't breathe as I was being engulfed by the deep kiss. All that I could sense was the strong scent of coffee on Elfen-san and the scent of the sweet milk that I drank...
(Bitter... and sweet.)
Before I knew it, I was pinned down by Elfen-san...
Elfen: ...
Elfen-san's eyes were trembling passionately. As I felt myself being drawn towards that look... I entrusted my body to him...
......
The next morning...
(...It smells nice...)
When the strong scent of coffee reached my nose, I woke up...
Elfen: You're awake. Perfect timing, I just poured a cup of coffee for you.
As the morning sunlight was shining into the room, Elfen-san smiled with a calm expression.
(Ah...)
Once I came to my senses, it gradually became clear.
(I, last night with Elfen-san...)
I quickly put my clothes on and got out of bed. Then...
Elfen: What's wrong, drink your coffee before it gets cold.
When I noticed Elfen-san smiled with a chuckle, my cheeks became even more hot.
MC: O-Okay...
Elfen: Also...
As if he was embarrassed, Elfen-san ended his words there.
(...What is it?)
Elfen: You forgot what I said yesterday. MC, I love you.
MC: ...!
Elfen: Your face is red.
MC: P-Please don't tease me...
Elfen: I'm not teasing you. I'm just saying that's what I love about you.
When those words made me even more embarrassed, Elfen-san smiled.
Elfen: I'll make you special coffee every morning. Everyone morning from now on.
As a warm sensation was slowly spreading throughout my body, I realized my feelings towards Elfen-san. From this day forward, we still don't know if Elfen-san will win the contest. Right now, I just want to think about this happiness... When I accepted the coffee that was brewed by the person I love, I enjoyed the first taste of today...
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