393 390. Running horse light.txt (2/2)

The future of ”living happily ever after” was within reach.

In the midst of this warm sense of security, I blurt out a few words.

I hope you won't miss ...... anymore.

I now understand correctly the longing of Ms. Hein, who was a substitute parent.

I guess this is what it means for a girl called me to escape the mission of taking the place of a saintly tiara and get my life.

'Ah, finally ....... I guess this is a happy ending to a chapter of my story: ......

I said the story, thinking I had taken the first step in my new life.

At the same time, I relaxed from my entire body and surrendered to this warmth. We stayed in our embrace for an immeasurable, ethereal moment.

And the moment we let go of our bodies, we both came to ourselves at the same time.

'............!'

............!

I was fine as long as we were in close contact, but not when we made eye contact. I realized that we were holding each other as if we were lovers.

'Yeah, no, um, what is it?　It's nice to see these things, but it's tough to do!

'Ah, ah. It's a story, the kind that does that a lot, but it's weird when it's over!　I knew it was a test.　A trial!

Yeah, it's a test!　Oh no, you're not going to try this out, this!

Oh!

We breathed together and made excuse after excuse.

But because we were on the same page, it was also the right time to break off the words at the same time.

We had no idea what to say or do now.

We let our gaze wander around, as if seeking salvation - and that (...), I'm the only one who finds it.

A strange red line, tangled in my little finger.

And that 'thread' like thing is connected to Kanami's little finger in front of me.

--Huh?

The sheer directness of the scene startled me to the point of not being able to speak.

I saw the red 'thread' fluttering through the air and penetrating Kanami's torso, and I knew immediately that it wasn't material. Out of habit in battle, I immediately checked to see if it was magic, but nothing that falls under my knowledge.

--this was not real, nor was it magic.

When I got that far, I thought of the large amount of love stories I'd read and heard from Mr. Hine in my head. At the same time, I remembered the conversation I had with Serah before I left the cathedral.

It was ”The story of being united with a high lord who was linked by a red 'thread' of fate. ...... I think it's wonderful,” followed by ”The young lady will one day (...) find a suitable high lord--” and then an idle chat. In conjunction with that, the story of the ”Gentile” and the noble girl falling in love with the ”Gentile” in Ragne-chan's hand also came to mind and--

What--what is this?　What is this?!

The moment I realized that the kind of 'thread' I had just found was the goofy (often) 'red thread of fate' used in romance novels, I was in the biggest mess ever.

Shaking Kanami's shoulders from side to side with all my might, I checked my own status.

Oh, it can't be ......!

The Red Thread of Fate is a hallucination--no, a delusion!　Clearly you've been reading too many books to have these fantasies!　I know somewhere in the back of my mind, I've longed for a love story!　I'm also aware that what I've been fooling around with the word 'hot' is 'love interest'!　But I can't believe I'm having this fantasy: ......!　You're like a kid who just had his first love: ......!　I can't believe it's ”The Red Thread of Fate”, no way, no way, no way, no way. ......!

I understood both my original age and the fact that I had inherited Mr. Hein's theatrical tastes.

Still, I was embarrassed by that delusion.

Most of all, I bit my lower lip, feeling the inexplicable arrogance of being the only one connected to that 'red thread of fate'.

'No (...) ......, this is different (・・・・・) ......!　This won't work (・・・・・・) ......!

Being mentally young, I'm most likely just admiring the romance novel itself, not Kanami herself.

If I compare myself to everyone else, I can clearly see that.

As I turn my face down, I remember the 'love interest' of my friends.

I will never forget Maria's murderous, wet eyes as she stared at me in front of the burning house on that nativity day.

After that, in my life as a fugitive, I was almost killed many times by Dia, who had become unstable with the skill ”Over-capture Protection”, using the ”Flame Arrow”.

The battle with Snow in the ball competition was the most intense I can remember.

Compared to those 'real' people, my 'love interest' is not enough......!

Too warm (lukewarm) ......!

So you can calmly analyze it yourself, even though: ......!

--Hot (...).

I'm supposed to be warm, but the words hot, hot, hot (・・・・・・・・・) hot, hot (・・・・・・) keep repeating in my head for as long as I can, and I can't think straight.

I shake my head, trying to control those hot or warm feelings.

But it was all ruined as Kanami, who was the one in charge, tried to look into my face.

'Look, don't look!　Kanami, don't look at me!

As soon as I could, I paid off Kanami's hand and pushed her away.

Just in time, we're now within striking distance of each other's faces.

Kanami is right in front of me, just as upset as I am, and even his ears are red.

I'm even redder than he is in those dark eyes. And his mouth was definitely loose, even though he was slightly teary-eyed.

The moment I see it, I hide my face with my hands.

'Ahhhh--, ah, ah, oh my god!

After all the chaos, I ran away from Kanami as fast as I could.

I run out to bounce and pass through the nearest window.

Using the magical buoyancy of the wind, I climb up the side of the ship.

When he reaches the deck, he immediately slaps himself hard on both cheeks.

'Aaaaaaahhhhhh--!　Ahhhh, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!

I slap them so hard it's hard to tell if they're flushed or swollen, then open my arms and let the cold nighttime sea breeze wash over me.

I move to the bow of the boat where the wind is more likely to hit me and chill the words that come out of the pit of my stomach in sequence.

'...... No, it's not, it's supposed to be. Because I'm .......

What comes to mind now are the faces of the friends I'm traveling with on the boat.

When I think of Maria and everyone else, I feel the same passion for them as I do for Kanami.

To me, Kanami and everyone else are equal.

This is another reason why I don't seem to have enough heat.

My biggest wish right now is to travel 'together' on this ship, including Kanami.

Unlike everyone else, I don't have the enthusiasm to just stick to just one person.

'Yes, that's right ....... Unlike everyone else, I'm fine with 'everyone together'. I think that's enough for me ....... I don't want to be tied to Kanami, I just want to have an 'adventure' .......

I hit the wind and my true wishes are reaffirmed.

When I looked at my little finger, the 'red thread of fate' was already completely gone.

'Oh ....... I knew it was a delusion .......

The embrace (hug) made me very confused, but now I can give you a calm answer.

--the one just now is different (...).

Above all, unlike during the ”Nativity” and ”Dancing Competition”, I have plenty of time to think now.

Even after dealing with the enemy at hand, the Palinkron one, it's still enough time to come up with an answer. At the very least, it's too early to make any decisions in this state today.

Having decided that, I tapped the bow of the nearby ship with my palm thirty times with a peck on it for now. I then nodded twenty times to say it's all right, it's all right, and took ten deep breaths before moving slowly.

I walked into the room where Kanami was waiting and tried to talk calmly about the rest of what I just said.

'Well, um, well, Kanami: ......'

When it came time to get in front of Kanami, I couldn't speak well, but I managed to squeeze the rest out of my throat.

''--That was just a surprise earlier, so don't get me wrong!

Ah, yes ......

I saw Kanami nodded in surprise and continued to fold up.

'I was trying to do something a bit heroic, and I got caught up in a situation!　Absentmindedness: ......!　That was not fair, that was not fair!　So no!　None!

I know I sounded like a child, but this was the most important thing I could say.

'I know ....... I was just about to do without too .......

Kanami agreed with that opinion.

Judging from his expression, he seems to regret his earlier embrace (hug) as much as I do. Furthermore, it looks like we have come to the same conclusion that we still have time to think about it.

So, with our mutual approval, we go back to being us as usual.

'Yeah, none!　Well, I'm sure it was a heroic reference: ....... But that's not something to do lightly. I've reflected on it.

I hope it added a little something to your life. ......

'I knew it was a bad idea to trick Kanami, who has no memory, into demanding ....... I have a great deal of regret: ......

If you think that's the case, then I suggest you refrain from doing so in the future: ......

Yeah, I won't. That's it. That's it, that's it, that's it--

--and thus we choose the harsher path.

If we had just lightly discussed going out with each other here, being drawn by the ”red thread of fate”, the book would have been much thinner.

But that didn't happen.

I chose to let the pages of the book pile up even more.

And two days later.

No matter what path we choose, we will not be allowed to escape the red thread of fate, and we will be reeled in again.

The power of the red thread of fate is most effective in the labyrinth.

As if to say that if it is an underground space, nothing else will get in its way, the accident happens suddenly.

While exploring the 34 layers of the flooded labyrinth, I suggested that we defeat the labyrinth's boss with a light heart.

Kanami reluctantly agreed to that, and stepped into the area where Galfrad Jerry was, and coincidence led to coincidence.

It was definitely a predetermined page.

”-- By getting past the two of them, the 'Nativity' and the 'Ball Competition', the boys and girls finally realized how they felt about each other. But the hated Palinclone and the skill '??' The two decide to keep their faint love for each other a secret in the face of the wall of ”I'm in love with you,” but they can't take that chance.

However, they cannot afford to take such a leap of faith.

By attracting the Red Thread of Fate, Kanami and her friends come across the aquatic boss, Garfuddled Jelly, who is known as the ”passing army”. As its two names suggest, this monster is a difficult foe in the aquatic world, with the power to fill the gap between levels. Above all, the most terrifying skill was the 'Great Flood'.

With the power of Gull Flood Jerry, the labyrinth's corridor was instantly filled with water.

Kanami and the others were forced to fight an underwater battle. However, 'The One and Only Fated One' Rustyala Hoozeyers was unfortunate, heck (...) - how unfortunate it was that he couldn't swim. Despite having infinite knowledge and experience imprinted in his blood, he had not mastered swimming alone. Kanami hurriedly approached her, who was about to drown to death, and held her close to save her. Then, after the two of them communicated eye to eye, they slowly put their lips together--