Chapter 230, The Scarlet Rays of Farewell

"Morning Will!" Mayumi calls out to William and he turn to see her with May, Lina and Diana.

"Morning." He answered as he stopped walking.

"Are you okay? You look worn out." Lina stated as she looked at his face.

"I'm fine..." He brushed her off. "I'm going to class."

Without waiting for an answer William walked down the corridors to his class.

"Looks like the rumors were true. The eight of them have been acting weird since Arata left." Diana stated. "I can't even foresee what kind of future is waiting them."

"Leave them be." Van stated. "This is also a trial of sorts, they must overcome it by themselves."

"If you say so." Mayumi stated.

The eight Braves have been experiencing mood swings and changes since Arata's departure. While Arata contacts them often to reassure them that he is fine, they have been growing colder and colder as the days pass by. As if returning to their old distant selves, the eight Braves lack their usual radiance and light.

"What do we do? Even if it's a trial there must be something we can do..." Yuuki says as they gathered at the dining table.

"What's wrong?" Hinako asked as she was with the girls.

"It's William and the others, they've been acting strange since Arata left." Hattori stated.

"Is that so? I think we can help." Hinako says as she nods to the seven girls behind her who nodded. "Leave them to us."

The others were unsure what Hanako and the girls were planning but they decided to just accept whatever help they could get.

"We'll talk to them." Shinono stated.

Elsewhere, Arata had just crossed the Western Bridge to the Zephyrus Gates. He was very worried as to what has become of the school but his mind was focused on his task at hand.

"Up ahead is Zephyrus Gate and the surrounding cities. Each one had it's own purpose during our time." Felicia explained. "When the ship was pushed into the void after my actions, the four winds who guarded the gates retreated to the ship's heart along with Lémianile."

"When the ship is fully activated, you should be able to summon them back to this world." Velti stated.

We move swiftly as they teach me about the city, if possible after this war is ended, I want to use this ship for the benefit of the worlds.

----

Sitting empty mindedly, William gazed at the skies. As if devoid of emotion, all he did was gaze at the skies and the distant floating island-like ship.

"What are you doing, William?" Hinako, who walked towards him asked.

"Hinako? Nothing..." His emotionless answer made Hinako a bit angry but she calmed herself.

"Then care to tell me why you look like a dead man?" She asked with a sharp tone.

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" He asked with a somewhat irritated tone.

"I'm just saying, right now in my eyes you look like a dead man, with those lifeless eyes and blank expression for yours." She answered with a mocking tone. "I wonder what Arata sees in you."

"What did you just say!" William finally snaps and draws his gun.

"What? You're gonna shoot me?" She asked even more mockingly. "You can't. You don't have it in you. After all, you're a coward. All seven of you are!"

"What did you say!" William was about to draw the trigger when Hinako slaps him and he falls to the ground.

"Hmph. It only took a slap in the face and you're already on the ground." She mocked him. "I wonder why Arata would care so much about a coward."

"That's what I'm asking myself!" William shouted. "What am I supposed to do?! Arata's going somewhere I can't see him, I've been by his side for twelve years, can you comprehend what it's like?!"

"I can't. Because after all, it's none of my business. But I owe it to him to at least say this." She snarled. "If you're that afraid then talk to him about it instead of moping about it here. If anyone can put you at ease then it won't be us or yourselves it's Arata."

"What are you saying?" William asked.

"I'm saying talk to him about what you're feeling! You've been together for twelve years, you've been through thick and thin, you've risked your lives for each other!" She shouted at him. "Surely after all that time you've seen how much you mean to him and how much it'd upset him if he saw you now. Especially if he knew you were doubting him! Arata trusts you and he wants you to trust him too. And if you're feeling worried about something then talk to him about it!"

"But!" William hesitated.

"Tch! If you think he's going somewhere you can't reach him then stop him! If you can't even do something like that then what was the point of choosing him!" She shouted. "If you love him so much you can do that much for him and for yourself! Otherwise what was the point of me... Of me giving up this love?!"

William froze, he saw the teras that dripped down Hanako's cheeks as she was both angry and sad.

"Arata loves you so much, and if you love him that much then isn't it your job to stop him from doing something he'll regret?!" She cried. "Not as his gun, not as his brave, not as his petal, but as his brother!"

William froze and with her words he finally understood what she was trying to tell him.

"Thanks Hinako." William says and hands her a handkerchief. "Here. You need it more than I do."

Hinako accepts and whipes away the tears from her eyes. As she sobbed, William simply stood there focused on what he has to do next.

"Thanks. And this a farewell from me." With a kiss on the cheek of William, Hinako takes her leave from his side.

"I'm sure Arata won't mind if I take a small kiss from him. After all this is farewell, to my foolish love and pointless pursuit." She thought to herself as she ran away. "The rest is up to you girls. Let's put an end to this love that will not bear any fruit and let the flower bloom."

The scarlet rays began to shine on his hands as William stood underneath the tree where Hinako and he met. He sighed and turned to the floating island-like ship behind and and then turned away and looked at the school.

"I'm coming, Arata." William stated and walked into the school, with a new expression on his face and a new motivation in his heart.

In his mind he thanks Hinako and bids farewell to his past self. And as he opens the door of the school, he opens the next page of his life.