Chapter 41: Clichéd Reasons

"Beautiful... incredibly so."

I couldn't help but say it aloud.

My cheeks were wet.

Tears.

I hadn't even realized I'd been crying.

In that instant, it felt as if I'd been struck by lightning—everything suddenly became clear.

—Please take up your weapon.

That voice, which I had always believed to be an illusion, now felt like a sacred mission bestowed upon me.

"Y-you're okay... right?"

Midou-senpai, who like me had been left behind in the school building—effectively declared non-combatant—asked hesitantly.

"I'm... I'm okay... I'm fine..."

――Please take up your weapon.

"…………………………!!"

It was perhaps at that moment I first became aware of the feelings long hidden within myself.

A world on the brink of destruction.

A humanity nearing its end.

And one girl fighting against it all.

The sight of her swinging a sword wreathed in flames was like a page torn straight from myth.

I love that person.

I want to be with that person.

I want to kiss them, hold their hand, and—want to bear a child with them.

Even if I might not be worthy of such a person.

Still.

"Actually, maybe you should rest a bit? Leave this to us..."

My senior speaks to me with gentle words.

But I couldn't even listen.

Wasting time like this here—

That, in itself, felt like a waste of life.

Now, one thing was crystal clear.

A life without "her" meant absolutely nothing.

—Please, take up your weapon.

Then, what I must do becomes obvious, doesn't it?

"Midori-senpai... Can you please, for the rest of my life, hear my one last request?"

"What's wrong?"

The boy's expression caused Senpai Nakata to straighten up and respond seriously.

"Please... lend me a gun."

"Is this it?"

Senpai Nakata looked at the pistol handed to him by Kin'ichi, almost as if it were being shoved into his hands.

"I don't know how to use it, and it doesn't matter to me either... but..."

For a brief moment, Senpai Nakata's expression turned bewildered.

He was beginning to doubt his own sanity.

I couldn't bring myself to hand over a dangerous weapon to someone like him. That's just human nature.

But precisely because of that...

"Senpai Nakata... please."

I didn't want to take it by force. After all, Senpai Nakata was much larger than me. If we fought head-on, I wouldn't stand a chance.

To the boy, the passage of time felt like an eternity.

Eventually,

"You once convinced Mr. Asada, the father of the girl named Asada, to let me train you, didn't you?"

"...Yes."

"That's not all. You believe you're someone who puts others before yourself."

Mr. Nakata gently handed the gun to the boy.

"Thank you."

"So, what are you planning to do?"

"I'm going to go help you, Senpai."

"...That's... But you're not..."

I know.

I once had to be carried to the infirmary just from running a short-distance race in elementary school.

I'm not good at sports.

In team events, I've always been the one holding my teammates back.

I prefer reading books, playing games, or chatting nonsense with friends.

Still, there are times when I must do what needs to be done.

—Eliminate the hostile life forms in the vicinity.

With trembling legs scolded into motion, the boy began to walk.

I want to protect the one I care about.

Just for such a trivial, clichéd reason.