Sunday, September 19
Koutarou and the others headed through the forest, relying on the information sent to them from the modified automated weapons. The group proceeded with Koutarou and Theia, and Shizuka and Ruth in the front and rear to make it easier for them to react to any surprise attacks. The others were lined up between them, with Yurika in the middle of their ranks. Yurika would sometimes catch glimpses of Kiriha's back.
She really is amazing... if she wasn't here, what would have happened...
Yurika stared at Kiriha's back and thought to herself that she was really happy that Kiriha was on her side. Kiriha's brain had turned the tables several times during these chain of events. Kiriha was most likely the most dangerous person to Darkness Rainbow. While there were many among them who were skilled at fighting, magic or science, nobody was a match for Kiriha's brains. Clan would be the runner-up, but in her case she was biased towards knowledge and inventions, and wasn't on Kiriha's level overall. When it came to finding who one needed to ask to what to resolve something, an overall balance was required. In that sense, Kiriha was the absolute number one.
“What is it, Yurika?”
That was when Kiriha sensed Yurika's glance and turned back towards her. She had her usual calm smile on her face. Just looking at her face, it was hard to believe she had the brains to corner magicians.
“No... uhm, Kiriha-san, if the time comes, I will protect you”
”What now, all of a sudden?”
Kiriha couldn't understand the intention behind Yurika's words and looked at her in confusion.
“I was just thinking that I might be the commander, but you are really the one moving us. Unlike me, there's no replacement for you”
“If you say something like that, Koutarou will scold you. He'd say that there's no replacement for anyone”
Kiriha smiled slightly and indicated Koutarou up the front with her glance. Yurika thought to herself that Koutarou would probably get angry.
“As people that might be true, but... looking at bigger picture during battles, we need you to stay energetic until the end”
Yurika believed that she had no replacements as a person, so she didn't believe it was okay for anyone to die. But when it came to the order of people getting knocked out in a battle, Kiriha should be one of the last. As long as she was fine, the chances of everyone surviving increased. That was what Yurika meant with no replacement.
“Keeping that from happening is my job. But I'm happy you feel that way. Thank you, Yurika”
Kiriha now understood what Yurika meant. But by the time her allies began falling, she had already failed as a general or an advisor. In order to prevent that she needed to come up with various schemes, making sure Yurika didn't have to protect her. That was her job. That said, she was still happy over how Yurika felt. They were words that came from admitting Kiriha's abilities. So Kiriha smiled at Yurika once more.
“No... it's nothing to thank me for...”
”That's not true”
”Uhm... Kiriha-san”
There was something that Yurika wanted to ask the gently smiling Kiriha. Being able to see through anything, she probably had an answer.
“Hm?”
“... Can we win?”
Unable to see what would happen next, Yurika felt anxious. That carried on to her worries for Kiriha's safety. That's why she wanted Kiriha with her excellent brains to say that everything would be fine.
“I wonder...”
However, Kiriha couldn't see the future either. All she could say was that to give it their all.
“However, we have to win. For everyone's sake”
“Yes”
If they worried about losing, they might let their chances of victory go. If they couldn't afford to lose they needed to focus on winning. That was all they could do to create a better future.
“Stay strong. Just focus on winning”
“... Yes, I'll try”
Darkness Rainbow's stronghold was near. The decisive battle that would determine Yurika's fate was ever closing in.