Chapter 190 - 190. I Don't Want to Lose

Afterwards, Eisel, who had regained his composure, continued asking one-sided questions.

Questions such as how she was able to get out of the gap in her Pandemonium so quickly, how and when did she realize that she was a regressor, etc. Were difficult questions to answer.

Among them, I had to express a deep doubt when asked what happened to the curse.

In the meantime, I came to the conclusion of 'tears of the dead'.

Naturally, 'You were mistaken.' Couldn't say

It took quite a bit of effort to cover it up, but even after ambiguous answers, they didn't pursue me harshly.

Eisel was conveying her feelings that she just hugged me tightly and didn't want to let go of me anymore.

I wonder if it felt good right now.

So, Eisel was held in my arms and she continued to talk.

"...I asked because it was the first time I'd seen him. It was really the first time I'd seen him... Do you know what Jetto said?"

"What did you say?"

"It's the entrance ceremony, so it's only natural that we're all seeing each other for the first time... Hehe... Well, I didn't mean anything wrong, so I laughed. It's where we saw the fireworks, remember?"

"I remember. Miss Eisel said it was her favorite place?"

"It seems like it's been a while since I've gone alone because it's kind of lonely."

"Then, let's go again next time. The surroundings were quiet, so I liked it too."

"Together... Just the two of us like last time?"

I nodded at her question.

"...Yeah, fine."

Eisel was talking to me.

As if I should remember too.

As if you want me to remember.

"Again... Again..."

Memories of the previous episode that I do not remember, that I do not remember.

"...Zetto said he liked the scent of Obshion back then. It was so amazing... I was able to realize that it hasn't changed, and that Jetto is still Zeto."

Listened quietly

She piled up her memories she recited and kept them.

It seems that quite a lot happened.

Maybe it was because they were a little closer than Eisel in this episode.

Eisel's behavior changed in this episode, but the fact that he didn't feel that kind of question in the previous episode must have played a big role.

Eisel's voice, after she had stopped crying, was occasionally conveying loneliness.

No wonder she walked a lonely road, not understood by anyone in the world.

I just hoped that loneliness and emptiness would be soothed by sharing memories with me.

"...Those things happened."

Soon, Aizel's lips closed.

"Aren't you going to hear more?"

It looked like she still had a lot to say, but Eisel shook her head.

"Um, there are a lot of things I want to tell you, but there are too many, so today is not enough. Because there will be plenty of time in the future... I will make better memories with Zeto... For now, this is enough."

"Enough... That's it too."

I responded with a smile.

Eisel, who was no longer a regressor, had time to build her memories, 'tomorrow'.

"Are you still going to the academy?"

"Yes, I have work to do."

"What is Jetto supposed to do...?"

"...Well."

Happy ending.

I just looked at it vaguely and ran.

However, as I listened to Heneris talking about this and that, I began to think a lot.

Anyway, just like the game, graduating from the academy doesn't mean everything is over.

If you break the 'bridle', will you be able to reach a happy ending?

I'm not sure yet.

While that brief silence continued, the door to the infirmary opened.

ㅡ Kikkiik.

I saw familiar faces.

Amon, Lucia, Crank, and even Orpheel, who was so quiet that we didn't have much conversation.

"...It seems like my turn has ended here."

Eisel gave up her seat without noticing.

She felt unwilling to interrupt her reunion with others.

Eisel wasn't nervous.

Should I say it's a good change?

On the other hand, as much as she was sad and as lonely as she was, I also thought that I wanted to make her laugh more.

It was around the time that she was talking with Amon and his friends, who had been looking at me with pity since then.

"...How can you smile like you normally do?"

"Haha, didn't a miracle happen? It's a joy, so you should laugh."

"Zetto-san...! You're still going to the academy, right...? Right? Without Mr. Zeto, our A class... A class..."

At Lucia's weeping voice, everyone's eyes turned to my left arm.

It was said that he was miraculously resurrected, but he couldn't shout out that everything was prosperous.

It seems that they were also concerned.

"Don't worry. I will continue attending the academy."

"Are you thinking of wearing a prosthetic hand?"

"...Well, that's how it should be."

"If you're short of funds, tell me. The Caligus family will apply. The head of the family also had a good impression of you, so it shouldn't be too much."

"Eh, our Windless too...!"

"..."

Orpheel quietly put his hand on my shoulder.

"I... I... Yes, do you have any bread you want to eat?"

Crank, who was looking around to check the atmosphere, spat out those words.

"Haha... Thank you everyone. But I'll only accept that thought. Oh, I want to eat bread. Let's eat together next time, Crank."

"Uh, uh...! I'll prepare only the bread you like..."

"Poohyong."

Crank's flirtatious answer finally made Lucia burst into laughter.

The frozen atmosphere is relieved by the sudden story of bread.

She, too, thought it better to laugh.

It may seem serious to them, but it wasn't a big problem for me.

In the midst of such trivial chatter.

"Come to think of it, other people..."

I asked and blurted out the end.

"Perhaps soon..."

The moment Amon spit out those words.

There was an urgent sound of running in the hallway.

She shouts as soon as she arrives at the door that was wide open.

"Jetto...!"

"...You just appeared."

Amon shrugged.

Red hair, neatly braided, caught her eye.

The red flowers in her eyes were about to light up again.

***

It seems that I have been sleeping deeply for a long time.

She had met Jeto in a dream.

Zeto, who had been revived like a lie and continued to breathe calmly, was hugging the saintess.

Well, after I opened my eyes and saw my father's worried face, I knew right away that it wasn't a dream.

After the funeral, I fell as if I had lost consciousness and didn't wake up.

That it was a shocking thing.

Father said so.

Fortunately, time didn't go by that much.

"Haha..."

I was running down the aisle.

When I heard that I was able to meet Jeto, I ran out without looking back.

We have now reached the end.

"Jetto...!"

"...You just appeared."

There were already passengers, but others were not even visible.

My gaze was exclusively on him.

'Zetto is alive.'

She let out a rough breath and looked at him.

It was an outrageous miracle that could only happen in a children's book.

Soon, those who visited him first leave the infirmary.

With the sound of the door closing, I suddenly recall the words of my father that I had heard before coming here.

'Don't miss it this time.'

It was an opportunity given again like a miracle.

A chance to keep him.

A chance not to miss him.

A chance to undo wrongs.

An opportunity that I thought would never be given again.

He immediately jumped at Jeto.

I hugged him tightly so as not to miss him, not to miss the opportunity.

"...Zetto..."

Before long, his warmth embraces me.

Zeto's warmth was warmer than the morning sun, hotter than any flame.

"You said you would definitely come back."

Jeto's voice, which he wanted to hear so much, whispered in his ear.

I felt like I was about to burst into tears.

At the same time, something feels empty.

He hurriedly groped Jeto's body.

There was nothing to be there.

Finally, he lifted his head.

"Jetto... The arms..."

I realized it belatedly because I was distracted.

Zeto, who kept his promise and returned, could never come back intact.

As if to prove this, there were still bandages around his eyes, and the sleeve of his left arm was empty.

"Haha... I didn't come back until this."

Jetto smiles as if nothing is wrong.

I was pretending to be fine.

It's probably something you don't want to worry about.

"...I'm sorry."

Tears welled up in my eyes because I felt like I knew something about him now.

"...Sobbing..."

However, tears flowed because he could not understand the pain and suffering he must have endured.

"Sorry to startle you, Miss Yuri."

"...Not at all. You don't have to do that. Why are you sorry, Jetto? Just because Jetto came back alive..."

Just because I was given another chance.

Just being able to hold your hand now.

"That alone is enough..."

"..."

"I'm more sorry... I'm sorry for acting coldly... I'm sorry..."

It pained me that I would never be able to take back the last words I said to him.

He has always been invaluable to me, and I just couldn't accept that he had the worst possible finish.

"You acted cold..."

Jetto grabs my hand.

Then bring it to his cheek.

"...So warm?"

Everything melted in his sweet voice. My blurred vision and frozen heart were all... Melting.

"I know what you mean."

"I... Got angry. I got angry with Eisel. There was nothing wrong with Eisel... I blamed him..."

He cried like a child who did something wrong.

Now that he was in his arms, he was able to reveal everything in a childish way.

"It must have been difficult for everyone."

Jeto, who stroked my hair, continued his words.

"But, it wouldn't have been any different if it had been Miss Yuri instead of Miss Eisel."

Even in the midst of sobbing, Jeto's voice could be heard so clearly that his sincerity was conveyed.

"I would have saved Miss Yuri without any hesitation or hesitation."

If I had been in Eisel's place, would Jetto have made that choice?

There was no certainty.

"It's just that Miss Eisel was like that this time."

Jetto comforted me as if he had penetrated my heart.

"Miss Yuri is that kind of person to me."

Was it the tears of sadness or joy that flowed down my cheeks? I couldn't tell exactly.

Tears flowed down without knowing how to stop, like rain pouring through the memories with him.

Jetto was still kind and affectionate.

His embrace was so cozy and comfortable that I didn't feel like leaving.

"For me, Jetto is that kind of person."

"..."

"That's why... I've become strong enough to protect Zeto, so that Zeto doesn't have to come to rescue me..."

I wanted to become strong enough to protect the present moment and the future with him.

"I will never let Jeto go through this again..."

Because the momentary loss was terribly painful.

The fighting spirit flared up even more.

Then Jeto, who stroked my hair, replied.

"...Then I'll have to wait patiently."

"Yeah, Jeto wait patiently."

"Do you really have to come to get me?"

Jeto quietly raises the corner of his mouth.

"...Huh."

Even if he answered like that... He knew very well that Jeto was far from the word 'gentle'.

So even if he were to leave my arms, all I had to do was be strong enough to hold on to him anytime.

I didn't want to lose that innocent smile that was engraved in my focus ever again.