chapter 40

As soon as he entered the classroom, I glared at him with dissatisfaction and then talked to him .

“Wait a moment, you! I have something important to talk with you so can you follow me to the roof?”

We moved to the rooftop and I was still glaring at him .

“Now, how are you going to explain yourself about that?”

“About what?”

“Your relationship with Abeno Kaguya, that’s what I’m talking about!? Aren’t you two just mail friends!? Why are the both of you holding hands while coming here!?”

I know that I’m losing my cool .

But, I can’t stop for some reason . I can’t stop…

“It was a request to hold hands in public, however, I didn’t hear if it was only just for today . ”

“That’s not an answer to my question! There’s no reason for mere mail friends to walk while holding hands!”

“Well… that’s… I and Abeno-senpai moved past being just mail friends…”

It felt like my blood was drained from my head and I was about to fall .

“Hey, Morishita Daiki?”

“What is it?”

“You… You’re a hero who has returned from the different world, am I wrong?”

“Why do you know that?”

I struck out my chest pridefully as much as I could to him being surprised by it .

“Don’t make light of my information network . By the way the source of it is a secret . ”

“…It’s a lot of things to think about . So?”

“As a hero in your mid journey, you helped a small blond-haired girl . Does something come to your mind with that?”

“Strange thing you’re asking . ”

“Just answer!”

He thought for a bit and then opened his mouth .

“Nothing comes to mind, I don’t even know what you asked . ”

“…Is that so?”

I understood in that instant that my eyes were weiling up with tears .

I turned my head around so he won’t see my tears and then started running— Leaving only a sharp remark .

“Unbelievable! You’re truly— the lowest!”

After that—

I left the school buildings and wandered on the streets .

It began raining some time later and I still walked while being drenched .

“Haha, truly a bad story . ”

I was the only being happy about it .

I was the only one who remembered .

He totally about me has…

I just mindlessly wandered and kept walking .

Crying in the rain… It’s fitting .

People walked around me .

A girl with half-hollow eyes and being drenched was walking… Probably, that’s creepy for them .

The rain also increased and the sky became mixed in blue and crimson .

“Fuu”

If I say so myself… I’ve been a fool .

I ran from that place like a child and wandered around like I didn’t have any place to go .

But, my heart was calmed down a bit due to that .

“Allright . Time to go home . ”

And then I noticed .

I left my bag at the rooftop .

My hotel’s card key was also in the bag so I can’t go home like this .

On the way to school—I met Abeno Kaguya .

“Oh, I wondered who it was and it’s the friendless Lela-Sakaguchi? Why’re you drenched?”

“That’s right . I have no friends . That’s why I don’t have anybody to consult when it’s hard . ”

“Wait a moment, you . What happened?”

“There’s nobody else who comes to mind so that I can complain to . That’s why—- Please can you listen to my story?”

And then .

I explained the gist of the situation to Abeno-senpai who should be my rival in love .

By the way, they were not going out however, it seems they were more than friends but less than lovers .

I understand that it’s not right to open my heart to her about these things and that you shouldn’t really tell anybody that you’re from a different world .

However, my chest was about to burst… and I wanted to speak to somebody “That’s not it… That’s not it…” so I couldn’t help it .

“Fumu . Basically you think that Morishita-kun has betrayed you . ”

“That’s right . ”

She laughed crispy on that .

“Are you an idiot? A big idiot, is that it?”

“Haa?”

“How did you ask him?”

「As a hero in your mid journey, you helped a small blond-haired girl . Does something come to your mind with that? Like that . 」

“And what did he answer?”

“Nothing comes to mind, I don’t even know what you asked . Is what he said . ”

And once again she laughed this time with pride .

“As I thought, you’re an idiot, aren’t you?”

“What are you trying to point to!?”

“How many people do you think he has saved in the different world?”

「……？」

“I who am a slutty virgin, he came to save such a person without even knowing the power of the Nine-Tails, remember?”

I finally began to understand what Abeno Kaguya was trying to say .

“Perhaps…”

“He’s a man who saves others everyday and at the end saved the world, right? He’s not able to remember every person he has saved . Can you remember everything what you ate in the morning, afternoon and evening these past 3 years?”

“But, even so there’s a promise with me . That’s why I’m special to him and he’s special to me . ”

“Oh my . You’re not just an idiot you’re an unsavable one . ”

Abeno Kaguya’s tone got dropped and she looked at me with clear contempt .

“Unsavable? Why?”

“Please make me your wife such words are tit-for-tat words on the verge of death, right? Right now even… Bring that promise from that time do you have intentions of terrorizing him?”

“Terrorizing?”

“That’s, since he’s kind he won’t mistreat even if you use the promise as pretext . However, he definitely won’t accept you . He won’t say words of love . ”

“What… do you mean?”

“Consider the positions changed . To make a child near death go with a smile… Approaching him now with that promise of long time ago… Where would you find a person who doesn’t see it as troubling? The only one who was excited and happy was just you . ”

Certainly… now that she says it like that, it makes sense .

「……」

“Well, I have no intention of stopping you, however . You should do as you like, and there’ll be trouble . Aah, that’s right, I have one more thing to say in advance . ”

“In advance?”

“If you use the promise as pretext for approaching him, I’ll despise you . ”

“Despise, you say… My and Morishita Daiki’s promise is not such a light thing as a folklore?”

“It’s not wrong to call it folklore, is it? However, making that promise into reality and pressing it for something is so ridiculous . ”

She brushed her long black hair . (TN: ? I’m not doubtful of the meaning I’m doubtful of the meaning the Author tries to convey with this meaningless sentence . )

“Do you have have no intention to win by yourself? Do you really have no confidence in the person Lela Sakaguchi that has been refining herself these 10 years since she has come to this world?”

*Thump* and I had a feeling like my head was tapped .

I don’t want to recognize it but no matter how I look at it Abeno Kaguya’s argument is correct .

It’s as she says… I alone have been excited and happy .

“Certainly, it could be like that . However, is it fine giving me advice?”

“Why?”

“You want to become that man’s lover, right?”

“Oh my? Do I look like an intolerant woman?”

“What do you mean?”

“Morikita Daiki himself will choose his lover . I can’t intervene with that . ”

Abeno Kaguya nodded to affirm it… I thought it was a bit cool .

“As a result, I’ll obediently quit in the case he chooses a different woman . ”

She nodded and then smiled comfortably .

“Yeah, I’ll quit . And then in the same moment I quit I’ll kill him . ”

An absolute smile from the bottom of her heart .

However, her eyes weren’t joyeus, not even one bit .

—-Scary

That was the first time since I was born that I was afraid of Abeno Kaguya .

I was contemplating over what Abeno Kaguya had said .

Honestly, I was thinking about other things, too .

I passed the blue road where the sun was setting and then I arrived at the rooftop

“Aa…”

Resting upon the rooftop’s fence he was carrying two bags mine and his .

“Yo . ”

“Why are you here?”

“Because your bag has your key card . I thought that Sakaguchi definitely can’t go home without it . I couldn’t leave your bag as it was so I just waited . ”

“Since when?”

“In the class from lunch break to after school . After that I came back here and waited . ”

I confirmed on the watch and it’s 7 hours .

This fool had been waiting for me on the rooftop for more than 3 hours .

“Also you know, Sakaguchi-san?”

“What?”

“Was it about the… blonde-haired girl? I remember she had angel wings however, there is about me helping her on that side . ”

*Throb* my heart was beating .

“And?”

“She died . I couldn’t save her . It’s really painful . ”

—-That girl is me… Just as these words were to come out from my mouth I remember the words of Abeno Kaguya .

『Do you have have no intention to win by yourself? Do you really have no confidence in the person Lela Sakaguchi that has been refining herself these 10 years since she has come to this world』

“There are things even heroes can’t do . ”

“Things just don’t go as you intend them to go . Truly . ”

“So, what did you think of that child? Especially since you’ve saved so many people… Was she one of the many pitiful weak people?”

“No way she’s like that . I thought that she was really sad . Despite me wanting to protect her… She lost her life in return for me living on . ”

“Un, and?”

“She’ll never be one of the many for me… never . ”

“… Is that so? Un . ”

Something warm was born in my heart and then with the circulation of the blood my whole body was warming up .

I took my bag from Morishita Daiki like I was robbing it .

And then, after confirming what’s inside is not wet I lightly nodded .

“Hey, you!”

“Hm?”

“Here, have this . ”

“Sweet potato?”

“In the end at the Nine-Tail… I was saved as well with Abeno Kaguya, right?”

“Aah, that might be right . ”

“It’s my gratitude for that . ”

I really wanted to eat together with him while talking about old times, however…

I can’t say that in this situation .

“Eh?”

“I didn’t make it specially for you so that you’ll be happy! I made it simply because I’m grateful!”

My cheeks were slightly red and I know that my face was becoming red .

Aah, I’m truly saved by the time being evening…

“Haha”

“What’s so funny!”

“Sakaguchi’s line is really… like the heroines of light novels . ”

“If you say that then you’re like a hero from video games from a few generations ago . ”

“Haha, you’re right . ”

“So, will you eat it or will you not eat it!?”

“Thank you . ”

Morishita Daiki put the sweet potato in his mouth .

“Is it delicious?”

“Yeah, very delicious . ”

“So…”

“Hey”

“What is it?”

“Do you have bentou for tomorrow’s lunch?”

“No, tomorrow I’ll buy sweetened buns from the stand . ”

“Then, won’t you eat together with me at the dining hall?”

“That again, why? Rather, doesn’t Sakaguchi always have her slaves go buy bread?”

For now, I thought .

It’s not because of what Abeno Kaguya has said however, I’ve decided to not fight as Ariel until he himself has remembered it .

Well, for the current being… Should I do it at a steady pace like eating lunch together?

“You’re noisy! That’s something I decide for myself! Without rumbling on and on you’ll have lunch tomorrow with me!”

“Why are you always going so self-important!?”

“Rather, quickly go home! It will be very dark soon . ”

“Aah, that’s right . ”

Morishita Daiki started walking towards the exit .

I presented my right hand .

“Is it about holding hands?”

“It’s dark in the staircase, right? It’s fine until to 1st floor, so just escort me . ”

“Why do I… fine… “

He reluctantly said that and took my right hand with his left hand .

And then, while we were descending upon the stairs in a really small voice I said something to back .

“Niini…”

“Hn? Did you say something?”

“I didn’t say anything . Hurry and descend, idiot . ”

“You’re really harsh for some things . ”

“Somebody had told me to live as selfishly I could want, after all . Thanks to them I grew up to b cheeky . ”

*Fufu* I laughed and then clenched his hand harder .

“Does it hurt? Did I clench too hard?”

“It’s just right . ”

That’s right, it’s just right to hold with all my strength .

I won’t let him go, definitely .

—Never to be separated again .