8 Debts and Promises

I asked the question, but her face and the way she sighed... it looks like I'll be hearing silence. Since it came to this, I should change the topic. I trust that she has a good reason not to answer. It's probably personal. I haven't gained her complete trust yet, so I'll take it slow.

"It looks like you're still uncomfortable about it, sorry... you don't need to answer that, instead answer this."

"Answer what?"

I should've asked this earlier, but it's not too late.

"Why'd you bring me here?"

"W-Well... this was mo-... this is my favorite place to read my favorite book."

That's the second time she stopped midway. I want to know, and I want her to trust me completely, so I'll have to do this. It's a bit cheesy, but If I want to protect her...

With all my might and emotion, I stood and yelled, "Alright! Riaru. I've decided,"

"Decided what? This a bit sudden? Did something happen?"

"You're an idiot."

"That's harsh, Mil-"

"You're an idiot, and that's why I'll protect you,"

Ahh! The embarrassment. I want to be a bear in the next life.

"Miles..."

Don't present me with that shy face now! You're just adding to my embarrassment!

"I'm the first person you've talked to, right?"

No reply, huh? Just a slow nod.

"I don't know what you've been through in the past seventeen years of your life, but it was lonely, right?

Same silent reply, but she nods eagerly.

The following words I'm about to say is perhaps all talk, and it may be a bluff, it may be too arrogant, and it may be too much for me to handle, but it's something I will devote my life to if necessary.

I've decided! The reason I came to this world is to grant my parent's last wish and to do that, I'll create my own little world, and Riaru has to be part of it even if it's temporary.

It doesn't even need to be an "if." I know it'll be brief. There's no way anyone would want to spend their life with me. Once I've fully repaid my debt, I know she'll move on as if nothing happened, no matter how kind she is.

Once I've repaid it, I'll be a mere memory, I'll be a short flashback played in her head, but it isn't a crime to want that, right? Perhaps it won't be temporary. It's doubtful, but now is not the time for that. I'll cry when I need to grieve.

"Riaru... I'll try to make up for the past seventeen lonely years in your life, so please, give me your trust!"

"Miles..."

"Ahh! Sorry, I got caught in the momentum, s-so you d-don't have to answer!"

Now I'm starting to regret it, and damn! I didn't know getting emotional would be this embarrassing. She'll probably be uncomfortable after hearing that. I'm not sure she'll answer, but it's not like I expected one.

"This was mother's favorite book, and she used to read this to me,"

Well, that was unexpected! she said, "it was," right? And used to read? Don't tell me...

"This was mother's favorite place, and she used to bring me here,"

Used to again? My condolences. So she lost a parent too, huh... Recovering her past seventeen years of life is a high mountain to climb, but I know what it feels like, so that mountain got a tad shorter.

"Her last words..."

There's a droplet of water on the book. No, it's a tear...

"That's enough, but can I ask one more question?"

"Y-Yes."

"Have you seen the last page?"

"I haven't."

"Do you want to see?"

She nods her head with teary eyes... Now I'm itching to help her.

"Then I'll help you see."

"..."

She's staring into my soul with an adorable, shocked face! How long is she going to do that?!

"Miles... that's unfair,"

Eh?! Did I say something wrong?!

"I'll be a burden."

Oh! So that's what she meant. That's a relief.

"I don't mind."

"I'm strong, but I might be a problem."

Strong? Does this world have magic or something? I guess I have to find out myself!

"I don't mind,"

"I'm greedy and a bit spoiled,"

"I don't mind,"

"I want to hold your hand all the time,"

Eh?!! I heard that right, right?! There's no mistake, right?!

"Thank you... Uh, I mean, I don't mind,"

"And finally,"

Finally? About time, I guess.

"I need this."

"..."

Ehhhh?!! She... she hugged me?! This bed-like sensation! I can die right now... Is this okay? Do I deserve this? Even though I said all those things about romance! Now I look like a fool!

Come to think of it, I've always been curious, why do people go as far as throwing away their lives for the sake of someone else who may not feel the same. I think I found a fraction of the answer. It's only a gist of it, but people throw away their lives for moments like this.

"A-Are y-you done?"

"Not yet."

If I ever ask, "are you done" again, please keep saying not yet, and mother... father... look at your son! I'm a grown man now!

"Thank you... Miles."

"You're welcome."

"What about you miles... what do you want?"

"Nothing... I want nothing."

"You really are unfair."

It seems like it's about time I come back down to earth after this heavenly occurrence. Now I need to ask myself, how do I make up for the past seventeen years of her life?

First is a place to live. Riaru can't live here, and I doubt she's the only person in this world, so we should look for a village, city, or any form of human settlement.

If we were to find one, it'd be best to settle down there, and after that, I'll start teaching her how to protect herself, and once that's done, we'll start looking for the last three pages of the book.

Once hell has been frozen, my debt ends there. Who knows what happens after that... maybe it won't stop there.

"You're spacing out again!"

Of course! I'm plotting the future in my head, and it's a hobby for me at this point,

"I told you it's unfair!"

Unfair? She keeps saying that like a child complaining, but this time it feels different. This time, she meant it. The sudden change from a cheerful face to a worried one is proof of that, but why?

"If I'm going to trust you, you need to trust me!"

That's unanticipated. Even though Ria is an idiot, she speaks some enlightening words every now and then... this reminds me of a particular old man. But, unfair? Trust her? Why is she saying that? I already trust her, and it's not like she's hard to believe.

"You should rely on me too. I told you I'm strong, right?"

So that's what she meant. I should apologize. Her future is involved, so I should've talked with her, yet I disregarded her presence. Although she's a dense idiot, she has a good sense of morals. It was selfish of me to overlook her.

"Sorry... I should've asked you, so what do you want to do?"

She stood up and said, "Jump."

"Jump where?"

"There!"

She's pointing down...

Hold the fuck up! We're going to jump there?! I take it back! I can't trust her! That's not even a suggestion the devil could make!

"Excuse me... can you please repeat that?"

"We. Jump. There."

"Riaru?! Shouldn't we be discussing plans right now?!"

"We'll discuss on the way,"

"How can you say that so calmly?!"

Now she's glaring at my soul! And she snagged my hand!

"You trust me, right?"

Ha! That cute, innocent face isn't going to work on me this time.

"I do, but-"

"Three... Two-"

"Oy! Riaru! Wait! I'm not yet pre-"

"One!"

|...|

What's this feeling? Is this the afterlife? Did I die? And why am I getting a strong sense of Deja vu? I feel like this happened before.

I'll try to remember what happened... so I got transferred to another world.

Fell from the sky.

Landed on an archipelago in the heavens,

Got nursed back to health by a dumb angel,

Had a conversation with her about a book that led to an oath,

She snagged me and jumped... and now I'm freefalling with that idiot.

|...|

As I regret my decisions, I opened my eyes and was met by an idiot.

"Good morning, Miles!"