episode_0037

I fell asleep again, then woke up.

‘… I took a quick nap, so the situation must have been resolved in the meantime.’

The wind caressing my cheeks and the sound of my breathing ringing in my ears.

The faint morning sunlight seeping through my closed eyelids awakens my dazed mind. I feel my consciousness slowly coming back. Escape from the abyss of my dream, I slowly open my eyes and the silver-white morning star greets me.

“… ”

“… ”

I looked at Hilde, who was shining even brighter in the morning sunlight.

‘I think I’ve become a little more mature than before. No, ‘this side’ is actually a familiar face.’

The silver-white girl was still beautiful.

It seemed to bloom much more beautifully than before.

It had a noble and elegant appearance, like a silver lily growing in the moonlight.

A girl like the moon rising in the night sky.

The silver hair that fills my vision casts darkness like a curtain of night, and within it, a girl resembling a crescent moon looks at me with affection. Two silver stars were twinkling like jewels in the darkness.

Although it was already morning, the moonlight in the night sky still seemed to spread out. It was beautiful, but I was very embarrassed because it went against the laws of nature.

very…

I was very embarrassed.

Because the stance Hilde is taking now…

This was because, in slang, it was an ‘attacking posture’.

‘Why is he like this?’

I made eye contact with Hilde.

“I woke up.”

“… ”

“I missed you.”

“… ”

“So I waited.”

“… ”

Hilde got on the bed and was looking straight at me as I lay down.

A posture that completely covers my body.

Both hands were slightly spread at an angle that wouldn’t be uncomfortable for me lying down, but they were placed in a space where they could be extended at any time to block the escape route.

‘The consideration of controlling my breathing so that I don’t feel uncomfortable and leaving some extra space in my arms and legs… It’s more burdensome.’

Was it because I was lying down in an uncomfortable position, like crawling on all fours?

A faint blush was slowly appearing on Hilde’s cold and transparent face. And water was gradually filling up the big eyes.

‘Why is he like this?’

When I saw that, I was speechless.

I wanted to clear up some misunderstanding or apologize.

My brain stopped when I saw the extraordinary posture Hilde was taking.

We looked into each other’s eyes like that for a while.

The sentence itself was obviously very romantic, but due to my frozen brain, I didn’t know where to set my sights. So naturally, I looked into Hilde’s eyes right in front of me.

“… ”

“… ”

Eyes that seem to sparkle as the darkness of the night sky and starlight reflect in the spring water made of mercury. Looking at those beautiful eyes, I somehow feel like it’s not a bad idea to meet again in such a perverted position…

I was startled by a fleeting thought.

‘What are you talking about?’

I have strange thoughts because my brain isn’t working properly.

At this moment, I shouldn’t have been caught up in the atmosphere.

It really seemed like it would degenerate into an irreversible situation.

I hurriedly opened my mouth and decided to settle the situation.

but.

Again-

“… !”

Over my face.

A drop of tear fell.

“… ”

Hilde’s tears fell on my face and flowed down my cheeks.

The coolness felt where the tears passed pierces my heart.

She, shining brightly like a noble crescent moon, was crying.

My head feels dizzy.

Water flowing down his still cold face.

It is somehow fleeting and faint, like the dew on a lily bud, and it makes my heart ache as if someone is clutching my heart.

Tears formed on Hilde’s barely moving face.

It was like…

It’s like the expression of an abandoned child.

It’s like an expression of resentment towards a friend who has just come to visit.

My heart ached.

As I faced Hilde’s wounded face, a feeling of guilt went up my spine. I never imagined that a breakup for several years, which I thought was no big deal, would leave such a big scar.

It wasn’t until I faced this face that I realized what I had done.

‘Hilde… ‘

Hilde said in a watery voice.

“I… I guess it’s too late.”

“… !”

“Too… I guess I found it late.”

“Hilde… !”

I was crying because I left her. However, rather than blaming me, he was regretting finding me too late.

‘alone… You were lonely. Because I don’t know how to approach… ‘You just waited.’

I knew that she was a clumsy girl who didn’t know how to approach others, but I couldn’t teach her how to approach others. I thought of them as just friends who shared similar experiences, and I shed that inexperience with familiarity.

As an adult, I shouldn’t have done that.

‘you also… In the end, I was a clumsy child… I was too indifferent.’

Just like a child holding a blanket in his hand and not being able to let go, I should have known that you too had something to lean on. I should have known that was the friendship I shared.

‘To the point where I want to smell my friend again… ‘You were desperate.’

As clumsy as she is.

I had to mature.

I’m also very clumsy… He was a cowardly adult.

Even the things that could share the same view were hastily written down.

‘together… I want to fight again, but I need to get strong again for a while.’

I told Hilde something I had been thinking about for a long time.

“I’m sorry―☆”

“… Lala.”

“Leave me alone… sorry… ☆”

“… Lala.”

“Because I am a coward… If I just leave… In the future… everything will be resolved… ☆”

“No… !”

There’s a lot I want to say.

The more I spoke, the more my throat cracked and I couldn’t speak easily.

‘If I were a person with a strong heart like Frida… ‘

With that regret in mind, I apologize to you.

“Because I am weak… Sorry.”

“No… !!”

dump

Hilde seemed to be no longer able to control her shaking heart, and was wiping away tears as she snuggled into my arms. As much as the moisture I feel on my chest, my heart burns and hurts.

“Again… ”

My voice cracks.

Due to thirst, the wide open vocal cords do not move well.

So rather than saying a lot, I decided to show it with action.

‘From now on, I will become stronger again, and as the true strongest, I will walk back to where you are from the beginning.’

This is not the [Spiral] of a first year student cowardly winning through expedient means.

It will be a third-year [spiral] where I walk the same path as you again.

‘So don’t cry. From now on, I will become stronger again.’

Perhaps because I hadn’t woken up for a long time, it was difficult to even raise my hand.

Even though my hands were extremely dry and shabby, full of dark red bruises up to the elbows. I hoped it would at least give her some comfort.

With those thoughts in mind, I lifted my hand, which was still throbbing with bruises, and wiped away Hilde’s tears. Then Hilde opened her eyes wide and looked at my hand.

Covered in bruises.

It’s ugly, though.

Hands moving slowly.

Did he read the will contained there?

Hilde just looked at my hand quietly.

“Someday… someday… again… If we can compete…

“… ”

“Obviously… someday… certainly… ”

“… Yes.”

I moved suddenly and held out my fist, which had an open wound.

“Hilde.”

“… Lala.”

Hilde flinched as she looked at that fist.

As much time as we spent together.

Even if you don’t say much, there will be feelings conveyed.

Because true girl talk is shared by clashing fists.

Took-

Hilde placed her fist against mine.

A fighter’s greeting.

Our friendship was like this.

I looked at it and mumbled with satisfaction.

“Promise―♪”

“… Medicine, genus.”

Hilde looked at her fist for a while.

She eventually gets off the bed and trudges towards the door. And before I grabbed the door handle and left the hospital room, I looked back.

“… Lala.”

“Huh?”

somehow.

A slightly stiff face.

The hand holding the door handle is shaking.

Exciting

Exciting

Exciting

I can feel Hilde’s heart beating as if it might explode.

“… ?”

I was looking at her with puzzled eyes.

‘What are you trying to say… ‘

After hesitating for a while, she opened her mouth in a solemn tone.

“Come to .”

“… ”

“I swear on the name of the World Tree.”

“… ”

“I will let you enjoy the best things about Academy City in a place where no one can touch it.”

“… ”

What does it mean?

‘Now, who is going to touch [Pink Spiral] or [Faded Spiral]… ‘

no way… Is this to provide convenience to the poor ?

I couldn’t tell the exact intention behind those words. But now, even if I took my juniors and lived a luxurious life on Golden Street, I wondered if it would really be of any help in our journey.

Moreover, he did not want to encourage Hilde, who had a high reputation as the student council president, to abuse her power.

‘I’m not sure because the original work has already been ruined, but soon some of the furry beasts that fell for Ratatosk’s trick will start a fight.’

According to the main story at the beginning, a power struggle begins between and . Even if things don’t go that way, Academy City is going to be in turmoil due to Ratatosk’s sudden actions.

I didn’t want to increase Hilde’s burden in a situation like this.

‘We’ll be seeing each other often from now on anyway… ‘

With that in mind, I quietly shook my head.

“… It’s okay―☆”

“… Why?!”

Hilde bites her lip and looks at him in surprise.

‘ah… ‘You just don’t want to be far away from me.’

I felt what was going on and quickly made an excuse.

“Each of us… now… What’s important… Because there is-☆”

“… ”

“We… We will meet again… ♪

“… ”

Silence continued for a while.

Hilde quickly turned her head and answered.

“… I see.”

thank god.

Hilde did not seem to have forgotten her position.

I said with relief as I opened the door and watched Hilde walk away.

“We… Are we still friends?”

“… ”

Squeak-

With a sound of hinges, the door closed.

But there was no answer.

＊

always…

It was always like this.

I was upset by that, so I turned around and left.

“… ”

As Brünnhild left the ward, he recalled events from the past.

“… ”

What suddenly comes to mind is my sick mother’s parched hands.

The final touch that caressed his cheek was surprisingly dry.

“tomorrow… please… I can see you again.』

And that night.

Mother passed away.

‘liar… ‘

The family considered it taboo.

The fact that a woman from a family of warlords who controlled the country passed away from a simple lung disease was sure to spark all sorts of rumors.

That winter, ‘nothing’ happened.

‘Liars… ‘

Brünnhild no longer believed in indefinite promises.

And spring came again.

After a dreamlike time, the cherry blossoms I met again had withered.

But the withered cherry blossoms were still beautiful.

‘Even if it has withered… you… ‘I want it.’

So the family told me… The greatest ‘oath’ was delivered. But she only shook her head and smiled fleetingly.

“Each person is precious… ?”

I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Aren’t you and I the most special things to each other?

Didn’t our time last a lifetime?

That was upsetting.

『We… Are you still friends?』

I was upset by the attitude of trying to confine our relationship to just those two ugly letters. And I was most upset because I had waited like a fool for something I would regret like this without going to see it sooner.

Brunhild was just upset.

“Liar… ”

Just turn around like this.

If you collect the withered cherry blossom leaves and lock them away forever.

Can you make me look back a little bit?

Stand tall –

Before I knew it, I was more than a dozen meters behind the temporary ward.

The voices of unfamiliar female students came to Brunhild’s ears.

-So the senior woke up?!

-I’m planning on letting you see it sometime!!

Brunhild saw their faces from afar.

Students with brown, orange, and navy blue hair.

Students wearing the same uniform as her.

That night, those beggars running around the city center lit up with fireworks.

Clara was hurt so much to protect you.

“Was it you guys?”

And the group that directly hurt her.

“… Ratatosk.”

iced coffee.

Now I know.

I felt like I finally understood.

The things that were weighing down Clara.

The things that made her feel so hurt and withered.

“… I see.”

Now… I get it.

Just by staying still.

Nothing can be achieved.