A boy and girl sat atop a building, the boy of that world and the girl of that world, in each other's arms as he lay peacefully on her lap. Their expressions held a complicated sadness, but nothing entirely hopeless.
"This is it, huh... I guess this is what our efforts amounted to. Frankly, I'm not feeling as sad about it as I should. I wonder why that is," the boy said as he reached out with his other hand to touch the girl's cheek.
"No, it wasn't in vain. There was meaning in this. I will find meaning in this... even if it kills me," the girl said as she brought her face close to his despite her position.
The boy turned to his side, staring at the city below him. His gaze remained fixed there for a while before he finally responded.
"Is that so... hm."
He let out a short chuckle, despite his voice growing increasingly hoarse.
"How is she? She's safe, right?"
He asked, facing the woman once again. In response, she squeezed his arm, her own arms trembling slightly. She took a bit of time before answering.
"She's safe. She's with her big auntie, after all. Probably pretending to be a magical girl and giving Onee-san a headache."
There was a warm look in the girl's eyes as she spoke those words. A bit of happiness, a bit of regret, and finally, determination.
"That's how it should be... my girl. I want to tell her I'm sorry, that I couldn't do it. But..."
"Shhhh..."
The girl placed a finger against his mouth, though the angle was awkward with his head resting on her lap.
"I can't help but feel frustrated... I'm going to die soon, after all."
At those words, the girl brought her face much closer to his and kissed his blood-stained lips despite the inverted positioning. Tears dripped from her eyes onto his cheeks.
"Don't worry. I won't let you."
†
"I....."
"Eii?...."
"Mei!!",
His voice jerked her back to reality. "Uh... Ryo-bai? You're here." She seemed lost in thought, like someone just waking from a dream. Concern crossed his face. "Are you crying?"
Surprise flickered across her features before she quickly shook her head and wiped her cheeks. "You're imagining things. Now, let's get down to business."
He sensed her reluctance to delve deeper, and he didn't want to push. "Yeah, you asked me to find this room, but it's eerily quiet at night. I've checked my back so many times, worried someone might jump out at me."
Her skeptical gaze pierced through him. "Really? Is that how men are these days?"
"Don't underestimate dark places. Caught off guard, gender doesn't matter."
She sighed, "If you're scared, just say so, no need for excuses."
He held his tongue, knowing they needed to focus on the conversation, not the teasing.
she wanted to talk right? Not berate me.
"Okay since you're here, I'm sure you already get the gist of why we're having this conversation, and why our current situation is a predicament", she eased them back into the conversation they were supposed to have, before he could, which in a way stung him more,
Which conversation do you mean? The one where you belittle me or the one that questions my very existence?
Ryo's stoicism was legendary, yet she somehow knew how to push his buttons.
"Well, we're in uncharted territory," he continued, nostrils flaring. "We need every lily from each isle for this page.' We lack information, power, and a coherent plan. Right?"
Her shocked expression was comical, her hands clapping rhythmically as if he'd just performed magic. "Wow, Ryo-bai, you've really outdone yourself!"
"Like I'm ever that careless to deserve praise for stating the obvious," he retorted, irritation bubbling beneath his calm exterior.
Her laughter danced in the air. "Yeah, I know, I'm just messing with you. You're not clueless, at least not in my experience." Her confidence unsettled him; she seemed to know him better than she ought to, despite her façade of distance.
"And don't call me that."
She held up her hands in mock surrender, her smirk challenging him. "Anyway, understanding our situation is different from navigating it. Aetherion says we need allies, but trust isn't built in five months, especially when everyone here has their own agenda. Just look at us, you're skeptical of me, and I'm still unsure if you're worth trusting, considering you look like... well, you know, that."
—Hk.
She wasn't wrong; he would never trust him either, but the same could be said for her. Dismissing his offended expression, she pressed on. "But even so, we're here now because circumstances have forced us into some kind of alliance. Still, that method isn't practical not in this safe haven of an isle. You understand what I'm trying to say, right?"
He knew exactly what he had to do, yet the notion of forming connections felt foreign to him. For someone like him who valued little and respected even less, it was profoundly difficult to reach out. also factoring in the age differences of the people summoned here.
"So, what you're saying is we need to break out of our shells and talk to people?" he replied, frustration lacing his words.
She shook her head, her tone firm. "I'm not suggesting you suddenly become all buddy-buddy with everyone. But if we can gradually ease into alliances with multiple people, our chances of survival will improve. Imagine being surrounded by a couple of allies we can actually trust to watch our backs when things go south. Though, I admit, it might not be that easy."
He nodded slowly. "I get it. But that's not the only thing we need to think about."
As she moved toward a table in the corner of the room, she grabbed a notebook, her demeanor shifting to one of determination. "We need a workout plan," she declared, her posture radiating confidence.
He blinked. "A plan? Are you serious? What do you mean by 'workout plan'? Are you on a diet or something?"
Her expression shifted, a hint of uncertainty creeping in. She exhaled slowly, "I'm not suggesting we start a bodybuilding routine. What I mean is we have to train, really train. This facility offers us a chance to refine every aspect of our scenario. Given our experience so far, we should focus on sharpening what we know. A little physical conditioning wouldn't hurt, either. Our scenarios push our bodies to adapt, and a solid workout would complement that."
Ryo raised an eyebrow, a teasing lilt in his voice. "So, what you're really saying is that you just want to hit the gym? Kind of ironic, considering that from what I remember, you never struck me as the 'gym rat' type."
She chuckled softly, a genuine smile breaking through. "I've always wanted to try it! Is that so strange? Just because I haven't done it before doesn't mean I shouldn't want to. Plus, I've read that exercise can really improve our mental focus."
He made a face that suggested he was unimpressed. "Sure, you go for it, you daredevil. But why do I have to tag along? Anyway, let's get back to the matter at hand. We need to figure out how to make the most of our… experience."
Her playful demeanor returned as she nodded. "Alright, let's start by listing everything we know about our scenario progression and kardiamagia. From there, we can develop a plan."
"Sounds like a plan to me," he replied, his eyes glinting with renewed focus.
Ryo had been reluctant to bring it up, but the weight of it hung over him throughout their conversation. "Before we go on, I have to ask, what was that back there?" He studied her face, watching as she fought to suppress a tide of emotions. "You seemed like you were holding back a lot."
Her expression hardened into something more distant. "I don't know why you feel the need to pry," she replied coolly. "Whatever it was doesn't concern you. Let's continue with the plan."
He hesitated, sensing the finality in her tone, but couldn't shake the nagging feeling that beneath her facade lay something deeper. "I get it. I won't push," he said softly. Yet, as she turned away, he caught a fleeting glimpse of uncertainty in her eyes, hinting that maybe, just maybe, there was more she wasn't saying.