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Natalie had always felt scared of Julian.
It was because Julian’s eyes were not smiling.
Julian often says that he loves his sister.
It was a phrase that had been said to her for a long time.
It was a phrase that Natalie hated.
She could not feel the love in his heartless words.
In fact, it sounds like he’s mocking her.
And I feel as if I am being mocked.
I have been preparing for tomorrow’s fight to win against Julian.
So even though I didn’t go to see the second round, I knew exactly what he was capable of.
But I was scared.
The more I thought about countermeasures, the more scared I became.
No matter how many times I simulated it in my head, I couldn’t see a future where I could win.
There was no way I could beat Julian.
It was like a spell that stuck to Natalie.
She couldn’t help but feel anxious.
“I want to fly.”
That’s why Natalie wanted him to take her out, just like that time.
She wanted to be taken out of her small world, just like she had been when she first met Owen.
She wanted him to release her from her spell.
(No good. When did I start to think like this?)
“I’m weak, just like my brother says.”
I fell into self-loathing.
Owen had taken the trouble to invite me out to play.
I knew it was to cheer me up.
But I couldn’t help but feel better.
Even though she was flying in the sky, her mind was not as clear as before.
To her, Owen said;
“I care about you. I care about you and I believe in you.”
He said.
Then he lifted Natalie into the air.
Suddenly, she felt like she was floating.
She was flying!
Natalie felt happy.
“Flying feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Yes! It feels so… so good!”
Natalie opened her arms and filled her lungs with air.
“It’s a feather that can fly anywhere. Under this big sky, Natalie can go anywhere!”
Owen said vigorously.
It was as if she had really grown wings.
It’s a feather that can fly anywhere.
It made me feel like I could go anywhere.
Oh, yeah.
There was no curse.
There was nothing to bind Natalie from the beginning.
It was something she made up on her own.
It was an illusion.
The truth was that Natalie was free to fly.
“Thank you, ……, for letting me fly.”
I felt refreshed.
Tomorrow’s match.
It’s not that the situation has changed.
It’s not like the fight is over, and my opponent, Julian, is still strong.
But it would be okay.
Natalie felt better than she had ever felt before.