Shizuka didn't stop crying until the sun had begun to set and the cityscape was being dyed orange.
“I'm sorry, Satomi-kun. I've kept you waiting for a long time...”
Having returned to normal, Shizuka hurriedly wiped her tears away. However, that didn't wipe it all away, so Koutarou gently reached out with his hands to wipe away the rest.
“It's fine. I think you should be allowed to cry when visiting your parents' grave”
“Ah...”
Shizuka was surprised by the warmth coming from Koutarou's hand on her cheek. The thought of rejecting it didn't cross her mind at all, because that warmth was one of the things she desired.
“Besides, if we went home with you still crying, there might be a riot”
“That... might be, true...”
However, Shizuka began feeling something different from that warmth.
Shizuka had come into contact with Koutarou countless times before through exercising and practicing. It was because she trusted Koutarou that she had never thought much of it.
Something's strange...
However, that wasn't the case now. The warmth touching her cheek gave her a sense of fullness and security that she had never felt before. She began feeling that if she entrusted herself to this warmth, she would surely find happiness.
It's not like something's supposed to have changed...
It wasn't like something had changed on the surface. Shizuka and Koutarou were still the same as they always had been. But the vague feeling that Shizuka had been feeling deep inside changed into conviction.
Koutarou understood what Shizuka treasured, and he would treasure them with her.
That was what Shizuka now believed. It was a slight change, and it had sparked from a small chat. It might just be obvious, but feeling that small difference completely changed Shizuka.
A wish to be happy, expectations of the future, an elevated heart rate and unsettling feelings.
Something Shizuka had never felt before bloomed inside of her, growing ever larger. She had a vague understanding of what that feeling was. Since she loved gossip so much, she wasn't so thickheaded that she wouldn't notice. But she couldn't so easily accept it. Like Koutarou, when it came to herself, she became a lot more timid.
“T-That's right, Satomi-kun, there's something I want to ask you”
Mustering all of her remaining will, she pretended to be normal. Fortunately, this succeeded and Shizuka was able to talk to Koutarou like she always did. Of course, whether that really was fortunate or not is up to discussion.
“Sure, what is it?”
Koutarou didn't hesitate to agree. He also didn't think Shizuka seemed off. It was only obvious for one to be a little shaken up from visiting a grave.
“Uhm... actually, I kind of want you to give Aika-san some attention”
“Aika-san? That's true... she probably still hasn't gotten used to her new life”
“It's not just that...”
Shizuka shook her head. By now she had returned to her usual self. It was something she had struggled to bring up, but she was really worried.
“Satomi-kun, do you remember the other day when Aika-san wanted you to place a curse on her?”
“Yes. While it was to deceive the enemy, that sure did surprise me”
The other day, Maki had asked Koutarou to deprive her of her freedom. If they did indeed do so, they would be able to fool Darkness Rainbow. But because the means she had mentioned were too dangerous, they decided to fool them using a different way.
“Actually, Aika-san had one more hidden objective”
“Another objective? What would that be?”
“Aika-san was originally an orphan... and Darkness Rainbow was the only place she belonged to. She's now left them and come to stay with us, but she still hasn't gotten her feelings in order”
Maki was currently sharing room 206 with Shizuka. The two sympathized with each other’s circumstances and shared a lot between each other. That's why Shizuka understood Maki's feelings better than anyone else.