kscans

Chapter 543 - The Send-Off

—I woke up early in the morning.

The moment I did, a knock knock knock came from the door. I stood up with an exasperated smile at the timing, which would have been impossible unless they were waiting for me.

Only one person came to mind as the visitor. I opened the door, and the golden color that jumped into my eyes confirmed my guess... Once again, I let out a sigh of exasperation.

"It's five in the morning, Sora-san. I told you you don't have to force yourself to see me off."

"...But I said I would see you off."

Her first words were in a sulky tone. But the way she immediately headbutted me and started rubbing her head against me suggested she wasn't so grumpy as to forbid touching.

Well, you know.

Sora-san had said something to Arshe like, 'I don't mind lending him to you at all,' but as the day approached, she seemed to have accumulated a lot of jealousy.

Even I can't read her heart in detail, and she wouldn't allow me to decipher the intricate progression of her emotions.

So, all I can correctly read is the forefront of Sora's heart. The single, strong phrase of emotion she's directing at me now as she acts spoiled.

'Still, I'm your partner,' it said.

I know. I know. Of course I know. You're an utterly adorable person.

"Once this goes well, I'll be a free man with no particular plans again. Let's go to all sorts of places together then. I've got an infinite number of places I want to go."

I'm also aware that there's something beyond her jealousy. Therefore,

"If she's free, we could even go with Arshe, the three of us."

If it were anyone else, I might have been slapped for that remark, but... the amber eyes that looked up at me from my chest shone with a hint of dissatisfaction—but also with happiness.

"...It's a promise. I want to hang out with the three of us, too."

"Of course. Arshe loves you too, Sora-san. She'll probably jump at the chance and set up a plan in a heartbeat."

It's not just towards Arshe, who will have me all to herself today, but also towards me, who will have Arshe all to myself today.

As the three of us who once dove into that 'hellish hole' and walked a unique fairy tale together, Sora must have some indescribable feelings for Arshe as well.

That's why she doesn't like being left behind alone—it's a very childish, selfish, and adorably precious jealousy.

Anyway, if she doesn't let go in about thirty seconds, I'll be seriously late for my meeting... Just as I was starting to worry, Sora, with a little "hmph," as if shaking something off, took a light step—

"Well then, take care!"

With a magnificent maneuver, she got behind me and gave my back a strong push.

When I turned around, her smile was as clear as the blue sky, without a single cloud.

"Yeah, I'm gonna go raise some hell!"

I raised my fist and replied cheerfully, and Sora puffed out her cheeks with just a hint of dissatisfaction.

Sorry, I apologize, partner.

For some reason, I was just incredibly embarrassed to simply reply, 'I'm off.'

◇◆◇◆◇

—I woke up early in the morning.

And as soon as I did, a knock knock knock came from the door. I stood up with a slight smile at the impeccable timing, which would have been impossible unless they were waiting.

Only one person came to mind as the visitor. I opened the door, and the black that jumped into my eyes confirmed my guess... Once again, with a faint smile, I prepared a word of appreciation.

"Good morning, Helena. Thank you for your hard work so early in the morning."

"Good morning, Iris. It is as usual."

Her speech was sharp and detached, clearly different from her real-life self.

I had worried about my friend, who wouldn't take off her mask even when we were alone, several times in the past... but after learning that she herself was enjoying the whole thing, including the gap between her real and in-game personas, I tried not to mind it.

However,

"Today is the day. How are you feeling?"

"In top form."

A gesture I wouldn't have made a little while ago. I playfully showed her a bicep curl with both hands—

"That is splendid. I shall await good news."

An expression she wouldn't have shown in the virtual world a little while ago. A genuine smile escaped from her relaxed cheeks, and it made me happy.

I was so happy that I wanted to say something more—but at this moment, I felt that my feelings would be better conveyed by not putting them into words.

"Helena."

"Yes."

"I'm off."

A simple, single greeting.

When I said it, she stared blankly for a few seconds, then,

"...Take care."

she replied with a gentle smile.

◇◆◇◆◇

"—...Been waiting?"

"Nah, just got here."

"It's like a date."

"It's not 'like,' it is one, isn't it?"

"...Is it okay to call it a date?"

"The final judgment is up to you, but I do have my doubts about whether it's okay to call a boss fight where I plan to go wilder than ever before a date."

"Then, it's a date. I want it to be a date."

"Is that so? Then that's what it is."

Early morning, at the meeting place.

Both were dressed for stealth, wearing cloaks. At the very top of the tallest clock tower near the 'Great Bell Tower,' the center of the safe area.

On a cramped foothold that was probably not even designed for people to stand on, let alone be a meeting place. Two shadows stood side by side, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, exchanging words as calm as the quiet morning.

"Is the schedule as planned?"

"Mhm. Final adjustments on-site."

"Okay. Then let's get going before someone spots us."

"Mhm—...Hmm...?"

And at the hands that were offered as if it were a matter of course, the girl tilted her head. Seeing her reaction, the young man who had acted out of habit froze time—and after a bit of back and forth, the girl's body was held in the young man's arms, as if she were a 'princess.'

The young man, simply regretting his mistake.

And the girl, who looked not just not displeased, but quite satisfied, had a complex expression on her face, filled not only with happiness and joy, but also with jealousy and other emotions.

The two, contrasting in terms of the amount of information they were conveying, exchanged a few more words—

"Alright, let's go, let's go—ah, good morning, Arshe."

"Yes, let's go—mhm, good morning, Haru."

The young man's legs kicked off into the air with great force, and in the blink of an eye, their figures disappeared.