Chapter 274 - The Heart's Scales
—, —, —, ————
"—…Yes, Kasuga speaking."
"Hey, we just spoke. Got a minute?"
"I'm free, but… is something wrong?"
"Just a little thing. It's about the other tenant I mentioned… I was actually planning to introduce you tomorrow, but things got complicated and I'm being rushed."
"Huh… okay?"
"They want to meet you as soon as possible. So, sorry to ask, but could you spare some time later today?"
"Whoa… hold on… Today's a little, uh… well, you see, I have plans to meet up with Sora in the virtual world again soon."
"Hmm… —Kasuga-kun. This is just a piece of well-intentioned advice."
"Yes?"
"It's better to just get it over with. I underestimated the situation myself, I didn't think it would be this bad… If you make them wait too long, the backlash could be scary."
"…………Um, who exactly am I being made to meet?"
"Sorry, surp—confidentiality agreement. I can't say yet."
"Hey. You were about to say surprise."
"—Anyway, I really need you to make some time today if you can."
"…………Well, I guess that's fine… but I'm prioritizing my promise to Sora. There are things I need to talk to her about personally."
"I don't mind. The other party said 'anytime is fine,' so."
"'The other party,' huh… Roger that. In that case, it'll be late, but how about around eleven?"
"OK. I'll let them know."
"Ah, yes… thank you. Uh, well then."
"Yeah, sorry for the short notice. I'll see you later."
I hung up, secretly relieved that I'd secured the appointment.
A few minutes ago, I'd had no choice but to reply 'YES' to a certain 'request.' I gazed at my device with an unreadable expression—
"He's gone and gotten himself into something again, hasn't he."
I let out a wry smile as I recalled the listless, somewhat exhausted tone of his voice.
He was now guaranteed to be hit by another massive event. Would he be able to face tomorrow with his sanity intact?
'Probably not,' I laughed as if it were someone else's problem, and picked up my device to get back to 'work.' I quickly typed out a message… and the reply was instant.
Behind the curt, seemingly blunt text simply confirming their understanding… I could practically see an irrepressible eagerness seeping through.
Reality, which was steadily descending into chaos, had no intention of letting Haru Kasuga escape.
◇◆◇◆◇
"—Are you all right…?"
That was the first thing she said after we met up using the partner skill `Meltraction, Door of Bonds`.
Sora, who had teleported to some unknown forest, had reflexively asked the question upon seeing her partner's unexpected state.
All the greetings she had prepared were forgotten, left unused.
"…………I didn't think you'd see through me that fast."
In response, Haru's perfectly crafted smile crumbled into a wry one. Caught having faked his composure in mere seconds, he scratched his cheek, looking troubled.
Because I'm your partner—after a moment's hesitation, I swallowed the lighthearted quip.
I could tell something was wrong, but I couldn't read the specifics. Was he troubled, or just worn out…? Normally, we could understand what the other was thinking.
It was a connection that felt both ticklish and something I was secretly proud of—our telepathy. Sora had a vague understanding of how it worked. And Haru probably did, too.
And that's precisely why…
"Come on, let's go!"
"—Whoa…?!"
I took my partner's hand and, paying no mind to the unfamiliar forest scenery, started to run.
I gave a firm tug, and Haru, though letting out a surprised cry, followed suit. With him letting me lead the way, I ran through the trees, which were growing dim as the sun began to set.
"Hk… Sora, where are—"
"It doesn't matter where."
Even with me pulling him along without reservation, his movements were as nimble as ever. He kept pace without any trouble, but I cut him off as he opened his mouth with an understandable confusion.
I turned back and gave him a smile.
"I've had my fill of difficult conversations for today. So—"
That troubled face, that weary face, that face that looked like it was wrestling with something.
It's not that I want to see you smile all the time… I have no intention of just forcing such a selfish feeling on you.
"I want to go on an adventure with you, Haru."
I'll do whatever it takes to try and draw out that smile.
—The reason our telepathy works is because we never hesitate to show each other how we feel.
That thrill, that excitement—as long as we were adventuring together, we were always baring our hearts to each other.
Lost in the 'fun,'
Fired up by the 'frustration,'
Together, like children.
It was only natural that we knew what the other was thinking.
As Sora, living in this virtual world, and as Haru—we had shared the raw emotions that surfaced in our hearts, time and time again.
So, even now, I know that I don't know.
When I think of it that way—
"Shall I be your escort today? Or maybe…"
Maybe our telepathy was working just fine after all.
"Will you—like always—take me somewhere, Haru?"
"……………………Haa… You've gotten pretty formidable too, Sora."
It was still prefaced with a 'troubled-looking' quality—but if I managed to draw out a smile, I'd call it a passing grade.
In that case… it was time for the quip I'd swallowed earlier.
"Ehehe… Because I'm your partner."
He took my outstretched hand, pulled me in—and I found myself in his arms for what felt like the dozenth time.
"Alright then… it's a bit far, so be ready for an all-out dash."
"Your 'all-out' has too many variations for me to understand."
"That's a fair point—…There's something I need to talk to you about later."
"…Okay. Then, we'll talk later."
So for now, we head off on an adventure, our first in a while.
I leaned into my partner as he began to run without a sound, holding down my hair as it blew in the wind—
"—…………"
As I secretly glanced up at his face, all I felt was an irreplaceable sense of relief.
Trust >>> [ ]
Trust ≈ [ ]