Accel World Vol 3 Chapter 12 (2/2)
When he returned to the real world, the time was still 7:15am. While feeling the slight remaining heat and excitement after the direct connection plug was removed, Haruyuki drank all of his Oolong tea in gulps. Sky Raker also emptied her coffee, then while showing Haruyuki a smile in her eyes, stood up.
While feeling exhilaration from gaining the new power, concern about comfortably using that very perky thing, and other feelings, Haruyuki walked to the station following to the left behind of the older girl.
He noticed that sound, when they were about halfway through a long crosswalk.
When the feet in dark brown loafers peeking out from grey tights extended forward to kick off from the ground, a slight—— however certain servo sound hummed. He was drawn back from his musings, and listened for a while with wrinkled eyebrows, then Haruyuki realized it.
They were artificial legs.
Sky Raker's two legs, were electronically controlled artifacts. Connected to the Neuro Linker, motion commands sent from the brain move internal actuators and dampers. It should allow walk and run that would not hamper normal living, but even so, that certainly has limits.
Right after they finished going through the crosswalk, Haruyuki stopped, deeply hung his head, and tightly held both hands.
The reason Sky Raker desired the sky, and wanted wings, was probably not unrelated to these prosthetic legs. Then that motivation, would be a depth that Haruyuki could not even think of, and should be something crazy.
——Even so, this person.
——Helped me who lost my wings because I didn't know the reason I was given them... and for encouragement... gave me her own wings. My motivation, was in no way something big. I just wanted to escape the ground where all the bad things happen, that was all.
The inside of his eyes grew hot, and the inside of his nose had some tingling pain, 'I can't cry here', while telling himself that he should not do that, he desperately endured. The height of Sky Raker's pride, compared to any Burst Linker Haruyuki knew—— yes, even compared to Black King, Black Lotus, she would not lose. Thinking of understanding that person's circ.u.mstances in his chest, and easily cry, something like that is absolutely not permitted.
While looking straight down, he pinched his right cheek hard to stop what was going to overflow, then the tip of a loafer stepped into his view.
”...You are very kind.”
To the considerate words said from above his head, Haruyuki strongly shook his head many times.
”Th...That's not it. Something like that... not it.”
After his trembling words with strange guttural sound at the end, Haruyuki again wanted to pinch his cheek with his fingers.
That hand, was caught by the extended white hand, and was strongly pulled to her.
Sky Raker squatted down, held Haruyuki's hand to her chest, and looked straight at him eye to eye.
”Listen, Karasu-san. I definitely did not help you because I pity you, and also understand that you are not pitying me. Those tears, are proof of existence of your truth in the accelerated world.”
”Tru..., Truth...?”
After a slight nod, Sky Raker moved her face close to a distance where both of their noses were nearly touching. They were showered by stares from the people who were commuting to the station, but she did not seem to care about that, and said with a secretive yet firm voice.
”People who use «Brain Burst» as a tool to accelerate their thought process for fun in the real world, will definitely not cry like that. For them, «Duel» is just a way to earn points, and the «Accelerated World» is only a hunting ground to trick and trap someone. But for us, we know that those are not everything. Even in that world, we believe there are real encounters, friends.h.i.+p, love, and also bonds. Isn't that right?”
”...Yes. ...Yes.”
No longer able to endure it, while his tears fall in drops, Haruyuki deeply nodded.
After wiping the tears from Haruyuki's cheek with her right hand fingertip, Sky Raker continued with a slightly emotionally shaken sound.
”For me, because of my foolishness, my friends.h.i.+p... and bond was lost. The reason she threw herself into an ultra reckless fight against other Kings, was partly due to me, something I deeply regret. But, I do not want you to make the same mistake. I want you to fight to protect what you should really protect.”
”...”
Haruyuki closed his eyes tightly, and strongly thought.
——How blessed I am now, even though my wings were robbed, I should not forget them. This time for sure, I should crave them deeply in my mind. The many people I encountered, and bonded with... Ash Roller, Sky Raker, Scarlet Rain, of course Tak.u.mu, Chiyuri, and then... Kuroyukihime. Those I should really protect.
”...Yes!”
After another nasal voiced answer, Haruyuki wiped his face and looked up.
”Thank you, very much. I..., will definitely once more, fly with my own power. At that time, I will definitely, come return it... your, wings.”
”Yes. Do your best, Karasu-san.”
He stood up, bowed to the smiling Sky Raker once, and set off to the station, then Haruyuki stopped. Turning around, he said in a small voice.
”Ah... That is. I, don't think you lost it. That person, for sure, is still waiting right now... for your, return.”
When Sky Raker heard that, she opened her eyes wide, then blinked many times.
Eventually, she showed him a slight, but true, smile, to which Haruyuki also awkwardly smiled back, then this time he really started running towards the crowded central line platform.
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