Chapter 33
○○○
I wake up the next morning to find Sena lying next to me, looking at my face.
Her face is so close, it’s a little embarrassing.
I feel my cheeks growing warm. I hope she doesn’t notice.
As usual, Sena says 「Good morning,」 gets ready quickly, and heads out of the hut.
She dances while I make breakfast.
This is our daily routine.
○○○
Perhaps because we successfully gathered food supplies, I go all out with cooking from the morning.
Omurice, crispy pizza, hamburger steak and other dishes cover the entire table.
I refrain from deep-frying in the morning, but still manage to cook a considerable amount.
Even so, Sena eats it all with a cool expression.
She exhales heavily through her nose as if to say 「I did it!」 and gives me a smug look.
Her eyes eloquently express, ‘Is this all? I can still keep going!’
「Ichiro, there’s not enough sweets.」
She taps the table with the bottom of her spoon, wielding two spoons, and strikes a pose demanding ‘Give me more.’
「Of course,」 I say, having prepared for this very moment, and present Sena with a sorbet made from fruit juice.
○○○
After she finishes eating delightfully, I brew a sugar-packed milk tea for her and a straight tea for myself, then sit down.
「Hey,」 I muster up the courage to bring it up.
「What is it?」
「Thanks for yesterday.」
I can never thank her enough.
「I didn’t do anything. You did your best, Ichiro.」
Sena praises me as if it’s only natural.
When I express my gratitude again with a 「Thank you,」 she replies, 「You’re welcome,」 and lifts the corners of her mouth.
「It’s about this—」
I take out the cool object from my pocket.
Ryūgūin and the other members of the Hero party are probably searching frantically for it right about now.
It’s a spherical crystal emitting a faint light.
Strangely, the light radiating from the crystal appears to flow like a liquid.
「What is that?」 Sena asks concisely.
I answer with determination.
「This is the Wish Orb.」
○○○
「I’ve been fighting in this world to get my hands on this.」
Being suddenly summoned to another world was an absurd experience, but I’ve continued exploring dungeons, repeatedly facing life-threatening situations, all to obtain this Wish Orb.
「You know, I got this after clearing the Blade Dungeon. Strangely enough, when I realized it, it was already in my pocket.」
Not only was the method of acquisition mysterious, but its effects were even more extraordinary.
「This is a magic item that grants the wishes of its owner.」
I have to tell Sena.
Telling her without hiding anything is an act of sincerity.
「So, with this, I can return to that time and place in Japan.」
○○○
「Ichiro, what are you afraid of?」
What am I afraid of?
That’s obvious—
「It’s okay, Ichiro. There’s nothing to be afraid of.」
She says that and moves her chair next to mine, sitting down. Even during such a serious conversation, her actions are somehow cute and endearing.
The short Sena looks up at me, as if trying to persuade a disobedient child she loves.
「It’s alright, Ichiro,」 she says.
It’s alright, she always tells me.
And with that, I’ve been saved.
And this time too—
「Ichiro, you are free.」
She tells me that the choices presented before me are not limited to one.
「You might think that now that your body has healed and you’ve found a way to return, you have no reason to stay here.」
That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.
「You don’t need a reason.」
She gently embraces me as we sit face to face.
「This is your home.」
She lightly pats my back as if to convince me.
「And I am your family.」
Sena speaks slowly, choosing her words carefully.
「If, for some reason, you were to leave this place—and if you ever become tired or hurt, you can always come back here.」
She tells me, as if making sure I understand,
「If the pain in your heart hasn’t healed yet, you can stay here for as long as it takes for you to be free from that pain.」
Gently, she continues.
「I will be by your side until the moment you’re gone.」
And then—
「Someday, when you want to return to Japan, I want to send you off with a smile.」
The small Sena embraces me with all her might, tightening her grip.
「So it’s okay, you don’t need to worry about anything, Ichiro.」
What I wanted to say.
What I needed to say.
Putting it all into words was difficult for me.
But she forgave me.
She’s always sweet. She spoils me like a fool. It’s been that way since we met.
However, without leaving everything to her, there was something I had to put into words myself, without running away or being afraid.
「Sena, I want to stay here.」
There are things that need to be said even when the answer is known.
「Can I stay here until the turmoil swirling in my heart subsides?」
She releases her embrace and looks into my eyes.
「Ichiro, you are free.」
Sena says it again and places her hands over mine.
Large teardrops spill from Sena’s eyes.
○○○
Now, we continue to hold each other’s hands, but strangely, neither of us makes a move to let go.
I’m happy just being in contact with Sena, and she firmly grasps my hands as if she never wants to let go.
We gaze at each other, and gradually—
「I’m baaaack!」
With the sound of the door being roughly opened and a loud 「Bang!」 a commotion abruptly appears before us.
Although I shrug my shoulders and say 「Good grief」 like a light novel protagonist, I’m convinced that Sena and I can overcome any hardship together.
If you enjoy it and wish to see more, please consider giving it a 5-star rating for the series on NU. Click Here.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link