Chapter 341: ‘Cause I Love You (2/2)
“You came because she asked you to?”
“Indeed.”
“So this was not voluntary.”
“…What exactly are you getting at?”
“I was simply wondering how I could get you to give up.”
“You want to make me give up?”
“I know what you are trying to say. However, I do not think of this as a particularly bad thing.”
“Particularly?”
“Right.”
Sakura nodded, and he could tell that she was being upfront about it.
“I feel like how a man would if he had led a happy life and then suddenly got sent overseas in order to find work. Sure, it’s a bit sudden, but it is work after all, and after completing said work, he may very well be set for life after a few years.”
“…I see.”
“So it’s actually troublesome to get in the way of this.”
“I understand.”
“So can you do me a favor and leave now?”
“No, I think not.”
“…Oh? Why not?”
Her face stiffened.
“If this were only about you, then I would have left by now.”
“Is there some other reason, then?”
“You see, Youran has blocked me on her phone.”
“…”
“I don’t want to constrain her. In fact, I want her to be more free than she is now. But as of right now, she wants to call me ‘Master’ and rule over her. So it has got to be something serious if she, of all people, blocks me on her phone.”
“…New Moon-sama?”
“…All right, I’ll just go ahead and abduct you.”
“Huh?”
Sakura’s face was filled with astonishment at what he just said.
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing will be resolved if we stay here. I don’t understand what is going on, but there are too many things in this world that become too late to take back once they’re in motion. I will first put a stop to this, then think about what to do next.”
“You can’t just—-”
Sakura half-rose to her feet. This was the first time that she had moved since they had intruded.
“Don’t bother. There is no one here who can stop me.”
With Shirokiyami in tow, Taiyou charged at Sakura, lifting her up onto his shoulders. He turned around, looking at Akiha.
“Are you okay?”
“‘Course! Who d’you think I am?”
“Any injuries?”
“It’s all fine, nothing to worry about.”
“Okay…but I’m glad.”
“Hmm?”
“When she tried to kill herself, the force of her mouth must have been seriously strong. I’m amazed that all you got from that was a slight injury.”
“Heheh.”
Akiha snorted.
“What kind of a reaction was that?”
“Look at this.”
Akiha held out the hand that had not been bitten. There was a ring through her ring finger.
“Isn’t it because of this?”
“…Ah.”
When he realized what she was trying to say, Taiyou’s face flushed just a bit. It was the ring that converted feelings into protection, originating from ‘Blood Soul’. Taiyou felt a little bit embarrassed to hear that her wound was light because of that.