38 Endless Days

"Ah, scary... "

The experience points of Shu were still insufficient to face that final boss.

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes did not smile at all.

Now, his legs trembled.

And more frighteningly, in the near future, Shu would have to confront an opponent like that.

"…Let's not turn into ash."

As if summoned by urgent business, Shu turned to a woman unfamiliar to him—Edelweiss—and entrusted her with something before leaping again into the hyperloop terminal.

In a way, he had narrowly escaped death. If that gaze had continued unbroken, Shu might have perished from sheer pressure.

"Could that stare kill a person...?"

Only Shu received that gaze.

A hateful form of special treatment.

Put differently, no one else even registered as a threat in Jin's surveillance parameters.

For now, with the stopper gone, Shu could finally approach Mio.

Already, Emissa and Ya were smiling as they spoke about something, and Mio’s face was crimson.

Approaching them, puzzled, Shu noticed Emissa turn toward him.

“You’re doing it, aren’t you?”

She slapped his back with considerable force. It hurt.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Um, impressive, East Valley. Good job.”

Ya also tapped his back, as if offering comfort. Not painful, but unnecessary.

“…What? What’s going on?”

“Uuu… sorry.”

Mio apologized, and Shu was thrown into confusion.

“Nothing at all?”

“Nothing’s wrong!”

They both laughed, wide and unguarded. Shu wanted to point out that if they were laughing like that, it couldn’t be nothing.

“Mio was talking about what happened that day.”

Edelweiss revealed the truth.

"That day, I was helped by you. Shu, East Valley."

"Um... Who are you?"

A faint resemblance to Mio lingers, yet Shu is further confused—this is undeniably a first meeting.

"Edelweiss."

"Oh. It's my turn to thank you... Wait."

Shu is thrown into confusion by the gap between the image in his memory and the one before him.

"Then, since the future husband has arrived too, we'll be heading home now."

"Travel. We'll definitely go together."

Both have already graduated.

Only Mio didn’t attend graduation. To say she felt no sorrow about that would be a lie.

Yet they still held hands, refusing to let go.

"Emissa."

"Hm?"

"Ya."

"What?"

"Both of you—thank you."

Mio embraces them both.

To convey even a fraction of her gratitude.

For still being friends with her, even now.

"What are you saying?"

"Yeah... it smells like water."

"Yeah... thanks."

Mio was truly, truly happy.

She was certain she would never forget this feeling, not even after a lifetime.

Watching the three of them like that... she had wanted to speak up, but stayed silent, afraid of being scolded.

(What does "future husband" even mean!?)

Why had that comment come out?

She wanted to interrogate Emisa and the others, but before she could, the two had already waved goodbye and walked away.

She wanted to chase after them, demand answers—but if she did, she wouldn't know when she'd get to talk to Mio again.

She gave up on pressing further and turned back to Mio.

"Ah, it's been a while."

"Yeah..."

After that battle, Sō had been recalled to the convoy soon afterward, so this was the first time they'd spoken properly since then.

"What were you two talking about? Something about that day, right?"

"Um..."

Mio hesitated, her gaze drifting.

The long-time partner knows this gesture.

A gesture searching for an excuse.

"……Sorry. I ended up telling Toya about what you said."

"Me? You really didn't—"

"I was happy. I just couldn't help it."

That once-in-a-lifetime confession.

Knowing that the entire sequence had been revealed to the two of them, the partner clutched his head.

"Uwaaah…… What’ll I hear when we meet again…!"

"Sorry…? Was it really that bad?"

"No, it’s not bad… I didn’t lie about anything, so it’s fine…"

It’s just embarrassing.

"…Hey, Toya."

"What?"

The partner fanned his flushed cheeks, trying to cool them.

Mio, watching him.

"Hand out."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

"Fine, whatever."

Unsure, the partner extended his right hand as told.

Then came a correction.

"Palms up."

Orders are increasing...

While thinking, 'What am I doing, following instructions like this?', Mio took hold of the guardian's hand.

Smiling shyly, she laughs.

"Since it's a promise, we'll apologize together, right?"

"Ah"

Mio’s intent—what she wished to achieve—had become clear.

On that day, Mio failed to take the hand that Shu offered.

That was what I wanted to do over again.

You should've said that from the beginning.

It's just… embarrassing.

Mio does not let go of Shu’s hand, even as she speaks.

Holding it firmly with his left hand.

Besides, if I ask and get refused, that’d be unpleasant...

I'm not doing something like that.

Perhaps he might have hesitated if he had met Jin’s eyes—but now, there is no such surveillance.

Thus, there was no need to restrain Shu's actions—.

It should not have been possible, yet a chill ran down her spine.

Turning around, there stood Edelweiss—eyes identical to Jin’s moments before, gaze sharp enough to kill a man with a single look.

“East Valley Guard.”

“Yes.”

The feeling was like awaiting execution.

“You know this, but Mio-sama is a significant figure to us as well.”

“Yes.”

“If you wish to stand shoulder to shoulder with her… then recognition by our clan.”

“Specifically…?”

“That’s right… the quickest way is to demonstrate strength. If you surpass me, they will have no choice but to acknowledge you.”

Guard thought, Edelweiss, weren’t you the strongest among the Terminus people? The words slipped out, as if his soul had fallen from his mouth.

It felt like an impossibly high wall.

“Remember this clearly. If you act recklessly before being recognized…”

The rest was understood without words.

The body and neck parting as if in sorrow—Shu wondered within. He did not read the thought, but Edelweiss nodded.

“It’s fine.”

Mio spoke with certainty.

In the next moment, she looked up at Shu with hesitation.

“Fine, right?”

“I’ll give it my all.”

They must surpass the peak combat strength of both races. The threshold was impossibly high.

Yet if they failed, they would never be able to protect Mio again.

“You’re the one who should be fine.”

Still holding hands, the two began to walk.

Edelweiss seemed mildly displeased, but reconsidered—well, it was acceptable. She turned her attention back to the surrounding vigilance.

Their casual protection of the area seemed absurdly peaceful.

Anything else you’ve been holding onto? I already know how you blow things out of proportion when you keep things bottled up—just say it now.

I won’t do it again.

Mio pouted at Shu’s mocking tone.

You really sure you’re okay? No more secrets.

…Just one more.

She pouted further, dissatisfaction clear in her voice.

There you go, Shu thought, smirking.

So? What’s the big secret now?

…Actually…

It wasn’t so much hiding it as it was simply never getting around to saying it. Nothing compared to her past deceptions.

My real age is ten.

…Seriously?

Yeah.

Minus five years. The person she’d thought was her equal in age was actually younger.

Shu reacted—more startled, more shaken than Mio had expected.

More than when she’d told him she wasn’t human.

“Yes! Why are you so surprised!?”

“I mean, I’m surprised… I mean… no, never mind.”

With his free hand, Shu presses a palm to his mouth. His cheeks are flushed.

“Hey, what were you going to say?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

“You were shocked that much—there’s no way it’s nothing. Why? Come on, why? You said yourself there’d be no secrets.”

After persistent questioning, Shu finally gives in, turning his face away.

“It’s not really a big deal.”

“Then say it already.”

“Just that… I thought about how, by the time I’m old enough to marry, I’ll still have to wait five years.”

His ears burn red as he says it. Mio widens her eyes. Her own cheeks flush.

Gripping his hand tighter, she whispers.

“Um… legally, we’re the same age, so it’s fine.”

“S-so… really?”

They glance at each other and laugh, despite themselves.

What exactly are they worried about now?

Mio must apologize to those she inconvenienced during this incident.

Suke must clear the high, high hurdles prepared for them both.

Yet, what should come before such worries feels increasingly absurd.

"Hey, Suke."

"What?"

Naturally, they call each other by name. A faint, ticklish warmth blooms within Mio as she speaks.

"Stay together... forever."

Until the final day arrives.

I think this is enough, but there will be two more chapters to follow.