I woke up to the sensation of someone caressing my head.
It was a gentle hand.
I felt something flowing out from that hand, almost as if it was reducing the bad parts of my blood circulation.
There was that sort of sensation.
After moving my gaze to look at the owner of the hand, Fitts-senpai was there.
The one rubbing my head was Fitts-senpai.
Fitts-senpai's hand was warm.
And then it was slender and delicate to the point where you wouldn't think he's a man.
Without thinking I grabbed that hand.
"Ah, Rudeus-kun, you're awake? I was worried, you suddenly came tumbling down from above."
"...I saw a terrible dream. It was a dream where I was about to be killed by a woman wearing a white mask."
"Umm.."
Fitts-senpai made a troubled face.
What is it?
In the first place, where is this?
It's not my room in the dorm.
In the first place, it's not the dorm.
But I've seen it before...
Behind Fitts-senpai beds were lined up.
That's right, this is the medical affairs room.
While lifting up my body I circled my neck.
There's no one in the medical office.
It's just Fitts-senpai and I.
No, there's the healer that is stationed here as well.
After turning my head around even further...
"Uooh???!"
On the opposite side of the bed.
I looked at the person sitting there.
It was a woman wearing a white mask.
Unintentionally, I fell off the bed.
And then that guy let out a sigh and glared at me.
"How rude!? Why are you that afraid? Didn't I save you last time? Ah, you must not remember since you were dead."
Since I was dead last time.
After all. There's no mistake this guy is the one from that time.
The one standing beside Orsted.
"O..Ors..Orsted is!?"
"He's not here. He's a busy person."
The masked woman said it without care.
He's not here.
Orsted is not here.
Really?
No, I can't help it even if it's a lie.
I see, he's not here huh.
"Don't worry. He won't target you for a bit longer."
"A bit longer, meaning if he has time again he might come to kill me?"
"I don't think he has such plans though... But, there is that sort of possibility. It depends on you."
It doesn't seem like it will happen anytime soon.
The instant I understood that, I felt blatantly relieved.
I sure am a selfish guy. [5]
After seeing my state Fitts-senpai was scratching the back of his ear and asked the masked woman.
"Umm, I can't understand the conversation, but is it okay for me to ask for an explanation? For starters, what kind of relation do you have with Rudeus-kun?"
"We have no relation."
The masked woman flatly responded to Fitts-senpai like that.
I understood that Fitts-senpai was openly displeased.
"But, it's the first time I've seen Rudeus-kun in this much of a panic. Didn't you do something?"
Fitts-senpai's tone of voice when saying that was strong.
He must be trying to protect this failure of a kohai.
Thank you, thank you.
"The last time we met, he was severely beaten by the Dragon God, so he's probably remembering that."
"Dragon God!? Of the Seven Great World Powers?"
"That's right."
"You are the Dragon God?"
"How could that be, before I just traveled together with him."
The masked woman declared that in a tone like she didn't care less while shouldering her hair.
I just realized it but, what she was wearing was this school's uniform.
"In any case, I didn't think we would be reunited here."
The gaze coming from beneath the mask was strong.
"However, I guess since we triggered the flag by meeting at 'Red Dragon's Lower Jaw', we would be reunited at this school. It must be that sort of fated route." [6]
She took out a single piece of paper from her chest pocket.
"I have three things to ask you. Answer honestly."
That tone was one of a Yes or No.
I swallowed and nodded.
"First. Do you have any recollection of this?"
After receiving the paper she handed over.
There was,
『Shinohara Akihito
Kuroki Seiji』
Is how it was written.
In... Japanese.
I quickly realized it was a person’s name.
And simultaneously.
The feelings of "after all" sprouted.
She is after all.