After getting off the car, Elfaria was leading Koutarou and Clan down an unpopular alley. Past the alley was their destination. It was a shop that Elfaria had used to obtain some research material and the shop might bend a little for their requests. They were planning on having them order in the part they needed for the Cradle.
“Even though science advances, these kinds of alleys have the same feel to them.”
Compared to the futuristic and colorful main roads, this place had a feeling of life to it.
“Geez... again...”
Clan felt embarrassed as she saw Koutarou looking around once more. That was when Elfaria pulled on her sleeve.
“... Uhm, Clan-san.”
“...What?”
Since Elfaria was whispering, Clan whispered right back.
“... Are you and Reios-sama going out?”
However after hearing what Elfaria said next, Clan instinctively raised her voice.
“O-O-Of course not!! We are not!!”
“Hm? What's wrong, Clan.”
Reacting to Clan's shout, Koutarou looked in her direction.
“It's nothing! It's just girl talk!”
“You guys have a lot of those...”
Because of his life with the invader girls, Koutarou knew that it was best not to touch on those kinds of topics. That's why he quickly lost interest in Clan and looked around the area again. Right now, this future city was more important to him.
“... Phew... that surprised me...”
“... You are not going out?”
“...Bertorion and I are just stuck together. Could you not just blurt out something so surprising all of a sudden?”
“... I see, I'm sorry.”
“... But, why are you asking about that?”
Clan considered herself and Koutarou as being stuck in the same boat. But she was still interested in this topic.
“... Actually, I wish to go out with Reios-sama.”
Elfaria blushed a little as she looked at Koutarou. She was embarrassed, but she didn't try to hide her feelings from Clan. Elfaria was honest with her feelings.
“... Eh?”
In that moment, Clan felt like her heart was being squeezed by someone. She was far more surprised than before, but because it was a different kind of surprise she couldn't let out a shout.
“... I didn't think it would be possible if Reios-sama was going out with Clan-san, but if that's not the case, I have a chance too.”
“... Please wait. That man is the Blue Knight, but what's told in the legends is not everything to him.”
Clan assumed that Elfaria's words were because of her admiration for the legendary hero. But Clan knew that wasn't all there was to Koutarou. He would worry, suffer and shed tears at times. While he was a legendary hero, he was also a normal person. Any relationship born from admiration would end up with both parties becoming unhappy.
There were also more problems. If Elfaria and Koutarou were to connect, history would greatly change. Also, though Clan herself might not want to admit it, she needed Koutarou. For the problem regarding her grandmother, and for the journey to come. Those complex feelings were what made her try to stop Elfaria's feelings.
“... I know. That's why.”
“... Eh?”
“... That person knows the pain of living in accordance to his fate...”
As Elfaria spoke she had a very serious expression. She had feelings she couldn't abandon.
“... Elfaria-san, you...”
Elfaria knew that Koutarou was suffering, knowing that he wasn't the real Blue Knight, yet taking all the achievements for himself. Knowing that, Clan could no longer oppose Elfaria.