kscans

Chapter 435 - Crossing the Border

She's like a sister and a mother to my precious partner. She gave me all sorts of advice and help. She gave me her blessing, more or less—

Taking all that into account, I'm still going to say it. That maid needs to get a grip.

I had expected Sora to run from me in the virtual world, and it was prearranged that in that case, a 'venue' would be set up at the Yotsuya residence.

I was once again indebted to Chitose-san for driving me here, all according to plan—however, launching an 'assault' like that was, no joke, completely unplanned.

And to top it all off….

""………………………………""

Being left alone like this, in Sora's room, was beyond anything I could have imagined.

Is she sane? Hey, is that maid sane? After telling me to my face that she 'doesn't like' me, what is she thinking, throwing a guy into her beloved young lady's private room and then making a swift retreat?

No, maybe it's precisely because she doesn't like me… maybe she actually hates me. In which case, it's not impossible that this is all a ploy by the maid to sabotage me—

"…………………………This is the second time, isn't it?"

"Hh… ah, what?"

I'm sorry, but my resolve is currently fully occupied with another matter. I don't have the composure to calmly deal with sudden irregularities.

…………But, calm down. It's okay.

"…Sorry, the second time for what?"

It must be because Sora and Natsume-san are basically the only two living here. The Yotsuya residence is grand enough to be called a 'mansion,' though it's smaller than Shijo's.

This was my first time even setting foot in the residence, so of course, it was also my first time seeing Sora's room. I couldn't exactly stare, but at a glance, it was sparsely furnished.

In terms of size, it couldn't compare to Kaede's room; it was about the size of a 'normal room.' The only furniture was a desk, a bed, and the Arcadia machine.

"Meeting in the real world, I mean."

In the middle of that room, I asked the question while sitting on a provided cushion. Sora, huddled at the edge of her bed as if for protection, gave her answer.

Unlike the maid in question, she seems to possess a healthy sense of caution, which is excellent.

"Oh, right… We haven't seen each other in person since then, have we?"

That day I met her—Sora Yotsuya—for the first time. A month ago, after the Four Pillar War, when I was being swallowed by reality in every sense of the word.

A month, has it only been that long? The thought made me smile for no reason, and the sky-blue eyes staring at me narrowed slightly.

She's angry. Or rather, that's what she wants me to think.

"What did you come here for?"

I swallow the laugh that's trying to escape again. Her narrowed eyes, her stiff tone, her harsh choice of words… really, this girl never changes.

No matter how much time passes—she's still bad at being angry.

"I came to see you, Sora."

"…………I said I was going to be alone for a bit."

With those words, she had also told me, 'Please leave me alone.' Of course, I understood that.

But,

"I refuse."

My answer is already decided. Or more accurately, it's not an answer, but—

"You're the one who said it, Sora."

"…Wh-what are you talking about?"

"'Please be my partner forever,' you said."

—a mission I must fulfill, based on a promise we made.

"And you were the one who said it over and over again. That partners stand side-by-side and support each other. I haven't forgotten, you know."

That was true in two senses.

Her ideal of what a 'partner' should be. And the fact that she had lived up to her own words, supporting my heart time and time again.

"So we have to support each other. It's just my turn now. It's only natural, right?"

"…………, …I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

We can see each other's hearts—that's what's strange.

Because we are strangers who know nothing about each other. I don't know Sora Yotsuya, and Sora doesn't know Haru Kasuga.

And yet, in that world, we connected. So deeply that those around us were exasperated by how far beyond a mere partnership it went.

And that's why it became distorted.

We know nothing about each other, yet we understand each other better than anyone. On top of that, we sensed that the other was carrying 'something' without exchanging a single word, and continued to be the person the other wanted us to be—it was beyond abnormal, it wasn't right.

And that's why we grew apart.

And that's why I won't be timid or hesitant anymore.

"I… hated love."

"————……Wait."

That was one half of the 'something' we had both protected as inviolable.

"And the thing you're carrying… I don't know the details, but I pretty much get it."

"No, please, stop…"

That was the crossing of the 'line' we had drawn, supposedly to protect each other.

And again—I will not hesitate.

"—You're terrified of loss. To be more direct, you can't let yourself have someone 'important.'"

"——————Hh!"

Sora shot to her feet, walked straight up to me, and raised her hand.

No matter where that slap landed, I had no intention of complaining. But the reason I didn't look away or try to dodge wasn't because of that.

"Hh… hh…!"

It was because I knew she, with that tearless, crying face, would collapse helplessly. That small hand, which had nowhere to go from the start,

"…Why?"

would reach for me as if to cling to me. I knew it.

Yes—

"…You knew, didn't you? In the virtual world, and here in the real world."

The [Telepathy] skill was something we never needed from the start. Even though neither of us had ever spoken a word about ourselves,

"You know everything I'm thinking right now, don't you?"

"…………"

Our fantastical connection isn't a one-way street. That's precisely why we needed to get to know each other.

Not pretend to believe that we could understand each other without knowing.

"…………I don't know everything."

"Well, sure. But I have a pretty good idea of what you want me to do right now—whoa whoa whoa, wait, don't start thrashing around! I won't, I won't!"

At least for now, the most I can do is catch her small body in my arms.

…If, beyond that, she wishes for more.

"Sora."

Even without a reply, my will is conveyed.

"I won't force you to talk about your side of things. But I'm going to lay everything about myself bare, so I want you to listen."

"…But Haru…"

"I'm not forcing myself. I'm talking because I want you to listen—I'm talking because I want you to know me. Well… it's not exactly a happy story, though."

So, though it's incredibly late—

"Will you listen?"

"…, …………………………Yes."

Let me finally give you the self-introduction of Haru Kasuga that I've been putting off for so long.

"You see, I had a brother."