“But... I have people I have to protect no matter what. And I need power to be able to protect them. I don't care whose power that is, as I don't have the room to pick my means”
If Koutarou only grieved at his powerlessness, he wouldn't be able to protect anyone. He had to make full use of his powers, even if they were borrowed from someone else. Koutarou had something he wanted to protect more than his pride.
“What about you, landlord-san? What do you want to protect?”
As Koutarou was saying these words, he began thinking that he was being a little mean. Shizuka sought strength because of her regret from losing her family. That's why to her, power itself wasn't a goal, but a means to an end. Knowing that, there was only one answer from the beginning.
“... I want to protect everyone. I want to be with everyone forever...”
“I see...”
Koutarou nodded. He was satisfied. Like he had thought, Shizuka had something more important than her pride as well.
“That's about all I can teach you”
“Satomi-kun...”
Tears began spilling out from Shizuka's eyes. Shizuka felt like she now understood why Koutarou was so strong. It wasn't because of his powers. He was strong because he knew that he was weak. And there was one more thing that she understood.
“Hey, Satomi-kun...”
Shizuka wanted to tell Koutarou. She wanted him to understand. That's why she forgot to wipe away her tears and ardently appealed to him.
“You said that you had never saved anyone, right?”
“Yes. I did...”
“But... but you know, that's not true”
“Eh?”
Koutarou let out a puzzled voice. Shizuka was looking at Koutarou, but she couldn't see his expression because of her overflowing tears.
“You just saved me right now, without borrowing anyone else’s power, just your own”
“Landlord-san...”
“You are not powerless. Stay confident, you are someone who can save others”
Shizuka took Koutarou's hand and squeezed it tightly. As she did, her tears fell onto the back of Koutarou's hand.
It's so warm...
Feeling Shizuka's warm hand and tears, Koutarou sensed that there was truth in her words. That's why he squeezed her hand back, just as strong.
“Then that's true for you too landlord-san. You just saved me too”
“... Satomi-kun!!”
In that moment, Shizuka let go of Koutarou's hand and moved to hug him. She knew that suddenly hugging Koutarou would probably surprise him, but she was unable to contain her emotions. She had been convinced that the place she belonged was here.
“Landlord-san...?”
“Don't forget. Even if you're strong or weak... I love you”
But she was confident that Koutarou wouldn't reject her even if she acted like that.
“... Thank you, landlord-san. I love you too...”
That's because Koutarou had said so himself.
That Shizuka should rely on others more.