26 Why did you disturb us, Kurz? (1/2)
His head a jumbled mess, Sousuke stared at Kaname, who appeared to have fumed herself out.
He was offended, astonished, embarrassed, amazed, and worried, all at once. He didn't totally understand what she meant, but he did grasp that she thought there was something wrong with him and also that she was probably right.
As Sousuke struggled to find words, Kaname waved him off and said, ”Forget it. I'll save us.”
”Excuse me?”
”You said there was no other way, but I think that means that you've given up. That's why I have to do it. Do you have a lighter?”
”I do,” he confirmed suspiciously. ”What are you planning?”
”To set this mountain on fire,” she announced.
”A forest fire will cause an uproar. In the confusion, we'll steal a fire truck or a Jeep or something and high-tail it to the airport, where we'll steal a plane amid the confusion. Don't worry, I'll fly it.”
”Do you have any experience flying an air jet”
”Of course not! I've played the simulator at the arcade, though, so maybe I could figure it out. Anyway, once we have a plane, we'll go to South Korea or Japan. All we have to do is go south, right? Simple. You two just keep quiet and stay with me.”
The holes in Kaname's logic were enormous, but she sounded deadly serious. An expression of courage in the face of tragedy rippled across her face.
''I'm never going to give up,” she proclaimed, thumping her chest.
''I'll never admit we can't save everyone. We'll do something. I'll get out of here with you and Kurz-and Kyouko and everyone else will be waiting when we get there. Then, we'll all live happily ever after. That's my plan. Got a problem with it?”
”Sometimes, willpower and enthusiasm won't cut it,” Sousuke said. ”Do as I say.”
”How many times do I have to tell you 'no'?”
”Forget that. Go. Make a run for it.” For good measure, he gestured at her with his submachine gun.
”Are you going to shoot me if! don't?” Kaname sounded almost sympathetic.
”Yes. You'd be better off dying here than getting caught by the enemy and turned into a vegetable.”
”Well, that's a strange reason.” Smiling,
Kaname took a step toward Sousuke.
Why isn't she afraid? Sousuke was worried. He understood there was no way left to make her obey, and he was hopeless.
”Want to know why I'm not afraid?”
He grunted.
”It's simple,” she cooed, pushing the gun aside to embrace Sousuke gently.
Sliding both hands around his back, she rested her cheek on his bloody shoulder.
”I trust you now.”
For a moment, the warmth of the girl on Sousuke's chest overpowered the pain of his injury.
Inside his body, all his blood seemingly switched directions and his muscles twitched. He didn't even notice when the gun slipped from his fingers.
”That's the reason I won't abandon you.” Kaname's damp bangs tickled the tip of Sousuke's nose.
”Chidori ... ”
”I definitely was scared of you. It's terrifying to see a classmate turn into someone else. So strong ... ” she faltered, but she battled her hesitation.
”But you asked me to trust you, right? I know you're just trying to save me, so I've told myself to trust you instead of fearing you. Isn't that great?”
”Yes, it is.”