Chapter 104 - She’s Like a Bright Red Flame That Burns Quietly (4) (1/2)

I was fiddling with my smartphone that was low on battery on top of Rouge’s shoulder.

Rouge was still carrying me with plenty of room to spare, and she was also jogging.

“Rouge, it seems like Aoi and the kids are at the place where we’re currently going to.”

“Really? Yay. I’m looking forward to it.”

It didn’t sound that way because I couldn’t feel any intonation in her voice, but she must really be looking forward to it.

Her running speed increased.

It’s partly because of the swaying, but I’m also not accustomed to using it, so I’m having a hard time operating the smartphone.

10 of the 14 texts were from my father.

The previous text was the latest one, and the first text was concern for Shouhei and my safety.

Since I didn’t reply, it seems he sent several confirmation texts.

With my father’s situation at that time, I could tell that he was gradually moving away from the workplace.

The remaining four were from Yuri-san.

Since she couldn’t get in touch with me, it was about how they were evacuated to the community center as directed by the fire department and that they were with Shouhei with the twins and they were safe.

And also about how Aoi was very worried.

She reported everything in four separate texts: the incident, Shouhei returning home, the start of the evacuation, and the arrival at the community center.

I did a bad thing.

If I had remained calm and quietly stayed in the classroom, I might have been able to reply to this email.

Aoi must still be worried.

I hope she’s not crying.

Shortsighted thinking as usual.

I hate myself.

On top of that, my back is full of wounds.

There’s so much to reflect on.

But because we were there, Hina-chan and the children were saved.

That was the only good thing that came out of it.

“Has Makio and them already arrived?”

I said out loud for some reason.

“It’s okay. We’re almost there, right?

Gasaraio, who was running behind Rouge, worried for me.

“Hey, that’s it right? The community center.”

Gasaraio’s arm came out from the side of my field of view.

He was pointing straight in front of us.

I raised my neck and followed his finger.

There was a T-junction at the end of a wide tunnel of trees, and the community center was just in front of it.

It was designed to be entered from a small parking lot, and there were several people standing in the parking lot.

“Rouge, over there.”

“Yeah. I’ll be meeting the twins soon. Let’s start with a greeting. I have to be careful, what if they dislike me.”

“That won’t happen.”

Nana may be a little shy, but Jaja will definitely be pleased.

If you play with them properly, my daughters shouldn’t hate people for no reason.

The only option is to communicate patiently with Nana, but it should be okay.

But what a day it’s been.

It felt very long.

Like Rouge, I can’t wait to see the twins.

As long as I can see Jaja and Nana’s faces, the wounds on my back are nothing to worry about.

Shouhei will be pretty pissed though.

“H-huh. Isn’t that Aniki?”

I looked carefully at the community center again in response to Gasaraio’s words.

Looking closely, there was a large man with familiar gray fur and a bird tribe woman with multicolored feathers.

There were rocks laying around that area.

“I knew they were around here. There are some monster-like bodies around, so they must have been sent to guard the evacuation center. That’s why I couldn’t get in touch with them.”

Gasaraio’s siblings seemed to notice us and waved their hands.

“Oh Aniki!”

“Lion! Behind!”

Rouge raised her voice and interrupted Gasaraio.

“Hah?”

I can’t see behind me from the way I’m being carried.

“Hey, hey, hey! Are you joking!

“What is it! Hey Gasaraio! What is it!”

I twisted around at the sound of Gasaraio’s panicked voice and tried to look behind me, but I couldn’t turn around due to my limited mobility of my joints and the pain in my body.

“Watch out! Dodge!”

“Kunpei, hold on tight.”

“What? Woah!”