kscans

Chapter 433 - Running

It's not like I'm trying to do a rehash of what happened with someone else. I'm not trying to intentionally create some fantasy experience where we clash swords to connect our hearts.

This is truly just my own selfish whim.

Before I lay bare everything I want to say, I wanted to do more than just remember—I wanted to clearly reclaim the feelings of 'back then.'

Sora must be completely bewildered. Even compared to my usual sudden whims, this is a spontaneous event of unparalleled vagueness.

The fact that she's going along with it at all is a kindness in itself.

And what's more—

"Hmph—… Hah!"

"Gah… whoa!?"

Even though I had adjusted my stats beforehand to make us even, she was coming at me with the ferocity her words promised… It was more than I could have hoped for.

Ever since she overcame her old 'habits,' her natural sense for combat had always been superior to mine. The reason I started honing the kind of precise body control I have now was because, though she never intended it, I was captivated by Sora's movements.

Now, after she's polished her skills and overcome even the grandest of stages—

"No, seriously…!"

"Not yet!!"

Even with all the special rules restricting us… it was a fact. It was no surprise that she could match me with pure swordsmanship alone.

Her strikes were fierce, without a hint of hesitation. The iron sword I used to block her head-on attack groaned under the pressure. When I tried to deflect it, her blade slid in instead, nearly taking my fingers with it.

I took a step back—she read it. From a half-turned stance with her sword swung back, she executed an unbelievable throw with just a snap of her wrist. I instinctively took another step back, but she scooped up the straight sword that had pierced the ground where my foot had just been, switched it from her left hand to her right, and continued her assault.

My body doesn't feel as light as usual. I can't dodge in time.

I made an instant decision. Predicting the trajectory of Sora's next attack, I swung my sword from an awkward stance to preemptively crush her move—and the girl's knees buckled, then,

"—Hh!"

No. She buckled her knees herself and slipped right under me.

That was, without a doubt.

Those moves were, without a doubt—a reflection of the figures Sora had watched.

"…Hh………… I-I'm sorry…"

The girl, who had stopped moving, spoke, her breath ragged.

Her own eyes wavered in surprise.

Her voice trembled slightly, but the hand gripping her sword neither wavered nor shook.

"…………"

It remained perfectly still, the blade pressed against my throat.

"I guess… I really am not good at PvP."

A clean hit from a store-bought starter weapon wouldn't be enough to one-shot even me—Sora knew that much.

But just as she herself had once said, 'I could never truly point my sword at you,' it seemed this was still her limit.

Still, there was one thing that was different from that time.

"I was being serious, you know."

"R-really? It felt like you were moving a little slower than usual…"

"That's because I set my stats to match yours for this."

"Huh? What… Huh???"

Well, that part doesn't really matter. I did what I wanted, and I can just change them again in a month anyway.

And when I say they're the same, I only matched our STR and AGI, which directly affect close combat, so it wasn't a huge change… at least, it wasn't a problem to move around.

Anyway, what I wanted to say was—

"That was magnificent, really. It feels a little late to say it, but… I'm officially retiring as your teacher."

"………………"

What were her amber eyes thinking as they stared at me?

What lay behind the smile she offered after a few seconds of silence?

"I suppose so."

Really, and I know I'm repeating myself, but.

"—Want me to guess what you're thinking right now?"

"Eh…?"

I already know.

"One of our 'connections' has vanished."

"——————"

With a soft gasp, ever so faintly, Sora's expression stiffened.

It probably wasn't because I had guessed correctly—but because I had put it into words, right to her face.

Just as I know, Sora knows too.

We've known each other's hearts for a long, long time.

And in this very moment—I had carelessly stepped over the 'line' we had drawn together, a 'line' we both trusted would never be crossed.

To her, it must feel like a sudden, unexpected betrayal without any warning.

But I don't think so. Sora must have known.

"………………"

My partner, who stood motionless, just returning my gaze,

the girl, whose eyes wavered as if in fear,

Sora, whose face was so sad she looked like she was about to cry,

"………………I'm sorry."

left behind just a single, trembling phrase.

"…I'm going to be alone for a bit."

She tapped her window and cut her consciousness before I could stop her. I watched her go, catching the avatar as it collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, and then,

"………………Alright."

I gently lifted the girl's empty shell and turned back towards the city.

This was more or less what I expected. She probably didn't think it would be right now, but there's no way she hadn't considered that 'the time' would come.

I recall the look on her face at the end.

"She'd probably say 'we're in the same boat,' but I'm the older one here, so…"

Even if both of us should have made a move, if neither of us did, there's no doubt that I'm the more pathetic one.

And so, to the half of me in my arms, I spoke, knowing my words wouldn't reach her.

"—Wait for me."

The words I spoke were a manifestation of a resolve long, long overdue.

"I won't leave you alone anymore."

These running legs exist only to go and get you.