Chapter 182
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When Ainika completely vanishes, the space he created begins to collapse.
Looking around, I notice most of the castle walls have already disappeared, replaced by a warped space at their edges.
The thought of being swallowed by something like that sends an unpleasant chill down my spine.
Oh crap! Oh crap!
As I’m panicking about needing to escape quickly, a beautiful voice like tinkling bells helps calm my racing heart.
「You did well, Ichiro,」 says Sena.
She leans against my back, comforting me.
「Fighting selflessly to save others without expecting anything in return—it sounds simple when you put it into words, but there aren’t many people who can actually do it.
But you did exactly that.
And in doing so, you saved everyone.」
Each of her words sinks deep into my heart.
「Ichiro, I’m proud of you.」
I feel like crying.
Her words strike straight to my core.
That alone makes all my struggles until now worth it.
Fighting back tears, I turn to face her.
「Thanks, Sena.
But I was only able to overcome this crisis because you were here with me.」
She shakes her head.
「All I did was give you a little push forward.
You acted on your own will to solve the problem. That’s what led to our current situation.」
「Sena…」
Her name escapes my lips naturally.
It carries all my emotions with it.
When I was struggling with whether to get involved in the Sealed Domain situation, she gave me that push forward.
And this time too, when I was ready to give up everything, it was Sena who saved me from my desperate situation and gave me the push I needed to stand back up.
She always believes in me.
But she never coddles me unnecessarily.
I feel that she—
「This place is at its limit. Ichiro, let’s go.」
Just like when we appeared here, Sena draws a rectangle with her crimson sword—the Scarlet Fan.
Leaving behind the space that has almost completely returned to nothingness, Sena and I step into the void that has opened up.
According to Sena, our destination is the plain where we fought the Tri-Head Dragon in the original world, and we have a brief moment before we return there.
「Hey—」
What to say when I see Sena—I already know the answer in my heart.
When I was dragged into that space earlier, and when I was fighting Ainika while carrying the despair of believing I couldn’t possibly survive, I had so many regrets.
Feelings need to be conveyed while you still can. Especially if they’re important. There’s no guarantee I’ll be safe going forward. If I were to die without expressing these feelings, I would regret it beyond measure.
Sena tilts her head at my call.
「What is it?」
Though I’d prepared myself, the words don’t come easily through my nervousness—but I manage to string them together.
「I’ve been thinking ever since we were apart.」
Sena listens intently to my words.
Looking at her familiar face, I notice my heart is beating like crazy.
「Thank you for saving me when I was on the verge of death.」
It was Sena who saved me when I was self-destructive, ate poisonous mushrooms, and wandered near death.
「Thank you for staying by my side without asking questions until I recovered.」
It was Sena who stayed with me, asking nothing, when memories of the past would resurface and I felt like clutching my head and screaming with all my might.
That warm and comfortable space she provided helped reignite the warmth in my heart.
「Thank you for encouraging and supporting me when I was lost or about to break.」
That’s why I’m able to be here now.
「Sena.」
「Yes?」
「I—」
Just as I get that far, the space suddenly twists, and we’re unceremoniously ejected outside.
The scenery that comes into view is familiar—as planned, it’s the plain where we fought the Tri-Head Dragon. Then I hear a voice.
「Heeeeeeeey!! They’re baaaaack!!」
That’s definitely Sensei’s voice.
How many times have I been interrupted at moments like this…
And she’s not the only one running over.
Shortly after Sensei, Orphe, Puru, and Angie rush over, their expressions changing as they take in my appearance.
This is going to be that thing where they smother me with worry and everything gets glossed over.
But this time, I absolutely won’t let that happen.
So I—
「I want everyone to hear this!!」
I steel my resolve.
「Sena—I love you.」
At my confession, Sena’s eyes widen, and she covers her mouth with both hands.
「If possible, please stay by my side from now on.」
Large tears well up in Sena’s eyes.
「Ichiro, I love you too.」
Sena seems to be choosing her words carefully, as if trying not to lose something precious.
「You have a place you need to return to, and someday you’ll leave this world.」
Tears stream down Sena’s cheeks.
「So Ichiro, please, please give me whatever time we have until then.」
Her words go beyond my expression of love, becoming almost a proposal. I feel tears running down my own cheeks, but forget to wipe them away as I manage to respond.
「Gladly.」
At my answer, Sena throws herself into my chest.
I hold her tight, determined never to let go.
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