The case where I was gradually getting buried in the heavy love of my childhood friend who had miraculously recovered from their illness was perfect!

I was in a mysterious space once again.

A woman stood before me, appearing as if I had seen her somewhere or met her before.

She was a beautiful woman, exuding a fragility and sacredness that made it hard to believe she was roughly the same as any other human.

“…Well, well. I never thought my power would be so weak.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve seen people’s feelings — sometimes, the emotions of people can break even the shackles I’ve imposed and create miracles that should be impossible. “

“Um…”

Is this person suffering from the chuunibyou disease?

Not only did she exude an otherworldly presence, but her choice of words was not that of an ordinary person… But still, what is this feeling? This nostalgia is overwhelming.

“No, you were already like that. In the first place, everything started moving when you came to this world. I’ll tell you one thing…”

“Wai-wait a minute! What was that just now—”

The words she just spoke… could it be?

Though she seemed to ignore my voice, the woman continued without reacting to my words.

“What saved her was not her wish — it was your existence. I’m also relieved about that. The miracle of saving a person cannot happen without a significant cost. The combination of her wish and your wish, along with the presence of me, made it happen. Well, this conversation is entirely meaningless.”

Saying that, she smiled fleetingly.

That expression was somewhat similar to the smile Rion showed me in the hospital room. For a moment, I reached out to it but stopped.

“Do you care about that girl?”

“Of course.”

“…Fufu, you have no doubt about that.”

Certainly… it was strange how easily those words came out.

Looking at her happily giggling, it’s a bit embarrassing, but I didn’t say anything wrong, and above all, it’s my true feelings. Thinking that way, there’s no need to be embarrassed.

“That girl carries darkness in her heart. It has grown and attached itself to you, but it seems to have lightened in a positive direction. The fundamental nature hasn’t changed, but that’s why it will be tough for you from now on.”

“…Hey, what are you talking about?”

“Well, who knows. Well then, it’s time to wake up.”

With that, she said, and light began to shine in this space.

“Your contract is to stay close to that girl. If you, who helped her, disappear, she won’t be able to exist either… in other words, that’s how it is.”

“So… oh, come on.”

This is hopeless, I scratched my head.

Although I should be making eye contact with the woman in front of me, it feels as if I’m looking at someone else entirely… in this way, the strange feeling of this woman, whose presence seems alien, becoming normal for an ordinary person, is also there.

“Please go back to her.”

“Wait a minute…”

So, what exactly are you? Even if I try to say that, it’s useless.

Along with the sensation of being pulled, the woman in front of me fades away… at that moment, she said words that I recognized.

“Goodbye, Nagi-kun.”

☆☆☆☆☆☆

“….Uwaaaah!”

In the morning, I wake up with a strange yell.

My body feels unusually light, and it seems that I slept well last night, even though Rion was sleeping with me.

Rion, who was supposed to be next to me, seems to have already woken up and is not in the room. I felt a slight sense of loneliness when I noticed that she was not present beside me… but I didn’t feel it.

“Because I’m at home, after all.”

So it’s not particularly lonely.

However, this is something I haven’t told Rion, but I felt lonely when she was hospitalized… If something had happened to Rion while I was sleeping, I couldn’t sleep, and not being able to see her smiling face beside me, which was always the same, was also painful.

“…Haa, I definitely can’t say this.”

It’s embarrassing… no, I feel like I’m saying something even more embarrassing, but let’s not worry about it.

“Anyway…”

I nod and put my hand on my chin, gently looking at the place where Rion was sleeping.

Although she is no longer there, she should have been here a few tens of minutes ago… there were wrinkles in the cloth, a faint warmth, and even a familiar scent.

“…I am acting like a pervert.”

If I do this, I’m sure Rion will give me a scornful look.

It’s not bad to be looked down upon by those cool eyes, but I don’t have the hobby of enjoying it.

Grateful that I haven’t explored any weird fetishes, I headed downstairs to the living room where Rion is likely to be.

“Oh, good morning, Nagi.”

“Good morning, Nagi-kun.”

“Oh. Good morning, Mom, and Rion too.”

Rion was in the living room after all.

Though Mom was there, Dad’s figure was absent… Ah, come to think of it, he mentioned something about playing golf with people from work early in the morning today.

“Did you help make breakfast?”

“Yes. I didn’t want to leave everything to Misato-san, and, above all, I wanted Nagi-kun to have something to eat.”

“You’re truly a good girl, Rion-chan!”

“Wait, Misato-san!?”

Turning my gaze away from Rion, who was being embraced by Mom and looked troubled, I sat down at the table where a not just appetizing but undeniably delicious breakfast was laid out.

The appearance and aroma made me satisfied even though I hadn’t eaten yet… Nice.

‘Is it too much to feel happy just because I can have a delicious breakfast like this every day?’

No… It’s important to cherish these things every day.

Perhaps my contemplative feelings showed on my face because Rion chuckled and took her seat.

“Are you that happy? It was so obvious, like a little child’s smile.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s how it looked to me. By the way, Rion-chan made all of today’s breakfast.”

“Oh… really?”

In that case, I want to eat right away. My intention was conveyed, and breakfast was promptly served.

The breakfast Rion made was indeed delicious, though it wasn’t anything elaborate… especially the miso soup was seriously tasty.

“It was delicious… really delicious.”

“Can’t you say something a bit more clever?”

“What are you saying, Mom? While it would be good if I could say clever things, sometimes straightforward words are fine.”

“Oh, you actually said it. But well… you’re right.”

Dad often says the same thing to Mom, right? I know every time Mom is told that by Dad, she’s so happy that she seems like she might jump for joy if I weren’t there.

“I also like being told straightforwardly by Nagi-kun. Of course, from Misato-san and the others too.”

“Oh… Rion-chan is truly a good girl. As good as Nagisa.”

“You’re not going to say ‘compared to me’ or something?”

“I won’t say that. You’re my pride, after all.”

Phew… it’s nice when I don’t have to hear such things when I’m relaxed.

After a bit more conversation, Mom said she had something to do and left the house. So, only Rion and I remained alone in the house.

“…Hey, Rion?”

“What is it?”

I don’t know why, but Rion tilted her head in response.

No… it’s just that, we’re still in the living room, watching TV casually, but Rion’s distance is really close.

Huh…?

Is it normal to be this close that our shoulders are touching? Well, it seems normal if I don’t think too much about it… or rather, why am I starting to care about this now?

“Nagi-kun…”

“Were you going to say ‘you’re an idiot’?”

As I said that, Rion turned her face away with a start.

“Hit the nail on the head, huh?”

“…There’s a reason for it, you know.”

“I guess… Well, I don’t mind, it’s you.”

Well… even if someone I don’t have much connection with calls me an idiot, it might bother me a bit, but generally, even if it’s said by someone I’m close to… yeah, I don’t really mind.

Especially with Rion… I don’t mind at all.

“…Nagi-kun.”

“Oh, right…”

Rion, who had breathed out a sigh, put her head on my shoulder.

“I might want to take it easy today.”

To her question, I nodded slightly.

‘…Rion is exceptionally cute as always.’

‘I have learned that Men are weak to gestures like this… Is it okay…?’

☆☆☆☆☆☆

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