23 Conclusion and Another World (1/2)

As he said it, the girls were suddenly paused their small talks. They were focusing their gazes on him gently as Rafi finally was willing to tell them his story. Even though they didn't really mind his past nor his origin as they cared only for his person. But sometimes, the girls couldn't helped feeling anxiety over not knowing anything about him or his origin. Because he already etched his mark deeply in their hearts, they were afraid that their happiness all these times would suddenly bursted like a popping balloon when he left them silently, like how he came.

”Actually, I am...” Rafi, sensed their gentleness, braved his heart once more as he revealed his secrets to them.

He told them that he was a traveller from another world. His meeting with Athena, her big brother Ares and his eventual death by Typhoon. Because of an unexpected event, a higher existence(the Bead/System) granted him an ability to travel to another world and gave him some quests. As he died, he was sent to Afterlife world. He told them about Kanade, Iwasawa, and his promise to meet them again later when they had been reincarnated.

After he was disappeared from the Afterlife, he was sent to their world. He also told them that he knew about the girls, long before he arrived there. He explained that he knew them from something similar in nature to Second Magic(though it was only from anime, manga and visual novel games). Beside their world, he also watched and observed many other worlds as he could only look at them silently while he couldn't reach them yet. As he had watched them for a long time, he began to develop feelings for them. When he arrived in their world, he couldn't resisted to meet and teased them. As things stood by, he arrived when Illyasviel was dying to his surprise.

”That's...incredible, Rafi! Second Magic?!! Show me, please!” Illyasviel was stunned as she heard about a thing similar to Second Magic in her mind. She grabbed his hand excitedly as her eyes were sparkling. Unknown to her, it was a lie. Hmm, a white lie.

”Athena...Aries...and Typhoon...how it looks like the names of Gods and Monster from Mythology, hm?” Artoria was thinking about Rafi's meeting with them that changed his life. She wondered what conflict Rafi had been pulled to and if they might be his enemies or allies in the future.

”Master is really surprising isn't he. But those two women, He He, how can they seduce Rafi. I really want to see them later, fu fu fu.” Minamoto no Yorimitsu was surprised hearing his origin. But then she was jealous of Kanade and Iwasawa for meeting him first. As for Athena, she was only a child in her opinion, so it was safe.

”Kanade-san and Iwasawa-san, are they your girlfriends there, Rafi? Would you go to another world again later?” Sakura asked him in low spirit. Knowing Rafi could travelled to another world, she realized that he might left them later.

”...” Rafi was agape at first, like he wanted to say something. However, he was then silent as he could not replied to her. It was not a hard question, but he couldn't lied to them. Being silent might be a best answer for them at that time.

'That is...I have to. I still want to return to my world, to settle things with Typhoon and meet Athena again. Even if it was a coincidence, but my first meeting with Athena is the one that changed my life before. It allows me to meet you all, to let my dreams come true. If I just forget about her, about Kanade and Iwasawa, I really can't face my own conscience.'

Seeing his silent, the girls understood that he also couldn't left his past and his promises. They were feeling complicated as they also wanted to be with him. But, knowing he might left later, brought sadness to them. The girls became downcast as they thought on that. If Rafi left to another world, what should they did? They already had the answer, but it depended on him, whether he would agreed to it. So, the girls look up seriously at him, as though transmitted their meanings through their gazes.

”Wait, why are you all so serious. It isn't like I want to leave you all here. He he, do you think I will let you go easily? I will keep you by my side as long as time passes. I have missed the chance with Kanade and Iwasawa, so I don't want to miss it this time.” Rafi explained as he sensed their serious gazes.

”Adventuring to another world?! Then let me in. I wonder how another world magic and magecraft will be, he he.” Illyasviel quickly recovered from her sadness as quick as a flipping coin.

”Fu fu, wherever Master is, I will follow Master.”

”Ahem, I think that will be a good journey. I wonder how is another world's cuisines?” Artoria was coughing slightly as she thought of the journey and foods in other world. After resigned from her kingship, and all her journeys with Rafi previously, she felt her spirit of adventure flared when he mentioned going to another world together.

”Leaving here...? Onee-san has senpai already, so it is fine for me right?” Sakura was facing down as she murmured in low voice.

”Now, we need to rest first. It is not like I will leave immediately. Besides, I still want to wait for Sakura's graduation first.”

”Why are you waiting for my graduation first? Although I am happy hearing it, but if it is bother for you, I...”

”It is because, um, how to say it...just...it is not a bother, Sakura. Let's talk about it later. We need to rest first now.”

As night was approaching its late part, Rafi wanted to rest at one of its guest room. However, Sakura asked him to rest in her room for that night, much to Artoria and Illyasviel annoyance. Sakura, Artoria and Illyasviel argued with each other as they wanted to spend more times with him. Berserker was unusually silent as she calmly smiled when she saw their arguments. In the end of their argument, Sakura won as she claimed to be his first as Illyasviel and Artoria blushed hearing it.

As she heard Sakura's claim, Artoria remembered about her times with him in those three years. Although she didn't crossed that final line with him, as she still felt some guilts to Sakura. Sometimes, she had kissed and also did some ambiguous things with him in their times together before. Now, after she knew Sakura hadn't been too opposed to her relationship with Rafi, she didn't feel so reserved about it anymore. She blushed when she thought what she might do with him in the future.

While Artoria was absorbed in her thought, Illyasviel was throwing a tantrum as she looked pitifully to Rafi. With her watery eyes, she asked him to accompany her for a rest that night. Rafi could only smiled wryly upon seeing Sakura was smiling rather darkly to him. Somewhat suppressed his tender feeling for Illyasviel, he patted her silky snow-white hair lightly as he promised to accompany her next time.

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