[That’s because right now is not the time to be sleeping. …..Casualties, dealing with the loss of beloved people, disposing buildings which collapsed, confirming missing people, repairing the great barrier and the outer wall, reports and communication with each district, deploying soldiers to investigate the surroundings, reorganizing…..this is serious, they’re all things that need to be done. Even if I whine about it, there’s no other way. Mother has also shared the burden, so I can still go on. …….The people who are truly suffering are those who lost important people and their property…….]
[If you’re saying that then, even you’ve…..]
From what Ririana had said, Kouki tried to point out that even she’s lost the King which was her father but, even if he said it, nothing would change, so he shut his mouth. Riri sympathized with Kouki’s feelings and said, [I’m fine], with a smile once again, then changed the topic.
[How’s Shizuku holding out?]
[......She hasn’t changed. Usually its the same usual Shizuku but, without noticing it she looks up above for a long time]
As Kouki was saying so, he glanced towards Shizuku who was talking with Kuzeri at the center of the drilling grounds.
The two were probably friends through Ririana, they seemed to be discussing something rather intimately. However, the conversation was suddenly interrupted, and naturally her eyes glanced upwards, in other words, you could tell she was looking towards the top vicinity of [Kamiyama].
[She’s…..waiting for them huh]
[That’s right. …..Being honest, the thing that Nagumo said is too...untrustworthy...although I’d like for Shizuku and them to meet…*I think? this lines one of those lines where I get confused as to what they’re really saying, 雫には会って欲しくないと思ってるんだけどね*]
Ririana had a slightly surprised expression as she turned her glance from Shizuku to Kouki. Kouki’s expression had a complicated color, it was clear that what he said was not according to what he thought. Jealousy, suspicion, fear, pride, gratitude, antipathy, various feelings were mixed in impatiently, his expression was difficult to express.
Ririana couldn’t find the right words to say to Kouki, she looked up towards the top of [Kamiyama] where Hajime and them should be.
The sky was clear, it’s as if the crisis of extinction from a few days ago never happened. That sky looked as if it was in a happy-go-lucky mood, Ririana held slightly bitter feelings towards it and continued looking up at the sky.
Then at that time, she began to see a few black dots in the sky. With a doubtful look Ririana narrowed her eyes and she noticed that those black dots were gradually growing bigger, she noticed that something was falling down and panickingly she called out to Kouki by her side.
[Ko, Kouki-san! There! Isn’t something falling down!]
[Eh? What are you suddenly….~, everyone! Watch out! Something’s coming from above!]
Ririana’s attitude surprised Kouki but, as he looked up in the sky, he confirmed that something was definitely falling down, [Get down, it’s an enemy attack!], he warned out loudly with an impatient expression.
Shizuku and them were panicking and quickly evacuated the drilling grounds and went beside Kouki and them, simultaneously something landed onto the drilling grounds.
Zudo~oon!!
The earth trembled when whatever was falling crashed, as the dust clouds danced about, what appeared from it was…...Hajime, Yue, Shia, and with Teio it was 4 people.
[Nagumo-kun!]
The first one to take off was Shizuku. Exactly like Hajime said, she believed in them and waited. Having excess momentum was unavoidable. However, within Hajime and them, Kaori’s appearance was no where to be seen, her expression gradually became uneasy and darkened.
[Yo~o, Yaegashi. Are you living properly]
[Nagumo-kun…..where’s Kaori? Why is Kaori not here?]
Shizuku relaxed somewhat after Hajime’s joke, however it was the truth that Kaori was not in front of her, as expected, it must have been too hard to overturn Kaori’s death, she was already unable to hide her uneasiness and asked in a trembling voice.
On the other hand, Hajime had an indescribably vague expression.
[Ah~, she’ll be here soon? It’s just that.......her appearance may have changed a tiny~ bit…..because of that see, it’ll be troubling if you placed the blame on me, un, it’s not my fault so don’t get mad?]
[Eh? Wait a bit. What? What is? It makes me extremely uneasy though? What do you mean? What did you do to Kaori? Depending on the circumstance, with the black katana that you gave me…….]
Towards Hajime’s words which only further fanned the flames of uneasiness, Shizuku’s highlight in her eyes disappeared and she slowly began to extend her black katana on her waist. [Dudu], Hajime was suppressing Shizuku, suddenly, they began to hear a scream from the sky.
[Kyaaaa!! Hajime-k~un! Catch me~!!]
When Shizuku and them were wondering what it was and looked up, they saw something with a silver shadow falling down at blistering speeds.
With Shizuku’s excellent kinetic vision, she saw a woman with silver hair and blue eyes who had the beauty that could compete with a beautiful work of art that a historically named artist produced, and against her cool appearance, she was falling down while awkwardly flinging her arms and legs with tears in her eyes and a miserable expression.
The silver haired, blue eyed woman came straight down plunging towards Hajime. From her eyes you could see that she trusted that she would be caught.
But, betraying such things were Hajime’s quality. In the place where he was supposed to catch her, the moment before they collided he suddenly jumped back, [Eh?], his glance averted from the womans eyes and she crashed into the ground as if she was being consumed by the earth while becoming dot eyed.
Everyone had trembling expressions as they looked towards Hajime who had no intentions of catching her, [She’s dead right?]. However, after the sand of cloud cleared up again, the beautiful woman with silver hair and blue eyes appeared, Aiko and Ririana both raised out a warning-like scream.
[Wha, why, are you……]
[Everyone! Get back! She’s a dangerous person who kidnaped Aiko and lent Eri a hand!]
Towards those words, Kouki and all the other classmates at the spot, Kuzeri and all of the other knights all simultaneously picked up their weapons. Especially Shizuku who was close to Hajime and them who immediately prepared to performed a quick draw on the spot, she had piercing eyes filled with murderous intent for the person who had lent a hand in Kaori’s death. If an opening appeared, she would immediately cut her down.
Towards the other party which glared at her, Nointo who had a pretty face like a work of art and silver hair with blue eyes, as if she didn’t suffer any damage at all from the crash, moved agilly and easily stood up. Then for a moment she glanced at Hajime with reproachful eyes, and unbelievably she who had no emotions or expressions like a machine now carried them and panickingly she spoke towards Shizuku.
[Wa, wait! Shizuku-chan! It’s me, me!]
[ ? ]
Shizuku had a suspicious expression towards the woman who called her name on their first meeting appealing for themself.
Hajime who was by the side muttered out, [you look like shady scammer……], the woman Ki’ed! at him with a glare then looked away. It was impossible for Aiko and them to not think of her as an enemy. Although the appearance and voice was different, the strange woman’s casual gestures and atmosphere when calling out for herself was like a shadow of her best friend.
While gently relaxing her quick draw position, she spaced out and suddenly muttered the name of her best friend.
[......Kao, ri? Are you….Kaori?]
Was she extremely glad that Shizuku had noticed that it was her? The silver haired blue eyed woman had a bright face! and replied in a lively bright voice.
[Un! I’m Kaori! Shizuku-chan’s best friend, Shirasaki Kaori. Although my appearance has changed…..I’m properly living!]
[......Kaori…..Kaori~i!]
Shizuku was stunned for a bit. Although she has no idea how things turned out the way they did, even still, with the fact that her best friend was still alive and in front of her, finally soaking in, she embraced Kaori who had obtained a new body of a silver haired blue eyed woman with all her might as she cried out tears like rain.
Kaori was also sobbing like a baby and like Shizuku she embraced her back tightly and quietly whispered gently.
[I’m sorry to have worried you? I’m fine now, I’m fine]
[Hi~gu, gusu~, I’m glad, so glad~]
They both buried their faces in each others necks and Shizuku and Kaori firmly confirmed each other's existence.
Everyone who saw it was completely stunned, for a while, the cries of warmth and tenderness resounded throughout the drilling grounds.