Story 3-15:『Resignation』
I will make Katsuragi fall in love with . For that reason, I have no choice but to first obtain Katsuragi’s trust. For that, I thought that the best thing was probably to recognize Sajima as an enemy together.
Therefore, I suggested it. If it’s Katsuragi he’d definitely agree to it.
Although he would hate at first, I won’t mind even if he abused . The process was important.
“… Oi, Tamaki.” (Daichi)
“What?” (Tamaki)
“Though you talked about defeating Sajima… can sothing like that really be done?” (Daichi)
He bit!
My prediction ca true. Katsuragi still wanted to defeat Sajima in his heart.
“It is possible. If Katsuragi perseveres it will be enough.” (Tamaki)
“… persevere?” (Daichi)
I nodded.
“Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Force for force.” (Tamaki)
“… Challenge him to a fight?” (Daichi)
“Yeah. You’d win against Sajima in a one-on-one match. He would be looking down on Katsuragi.” (Tamaki)
“Hey, are you being serious here…?” (Daichi)
“I’m serious.” (Tamaki)
I returned Katsuragi’s stare. Our stares t for a while, before Katsuragi looked away.
“… I understand. Let’s assu that I can defeat Sajima. How would you benefit?” (Daichi)
“I’ve said it many tis. I want to spend school life together with Katsuragi.” (Tamaki)
“It’s difficult to believe what you’re saying.” (Daichi)
“I know.” (Tamaki)
I wrapped my hands around Katsuragi’s hand. I didn’t let go. I faced him.
“However, it would be nice to start from zero.” (Tamaki)
“… How?” (Daichi)
“I don’t know.” (Tamaki)
“Huh?” (Daichi)
“I an, isn’t that right? I don’t know how I could earn Katsuragi’s trust. So, please tell . About Katsuragi. Lots, lots, I want to know about you.” (Tamaki)
Katsuragi’s dark eyes were moving about in confusion. I wondered if my words reached his heart. I wasn’t flustered, but I was taking into consideration the atmosphere.
“… … Understood.” (Daichi)
He said the word I was waiting for. I naturally smiled.
“Then, I will-!” (Tamaki)
—also work hard in order to defeat Sajima together, is what I was trying to say.
“Are you misunderstanding?” (Daichi)
“… … Eh?” (Tamaki)
“Though I understand what you’re saying I don’t think it is worth going through with your plan.” (Daichi)
Katsuragi shook off my hand that had lost its strength like an annoying bug.
“… Where was it no good?” (Tamaki)
I found that my voice was trembling. However, my feelings were limited by being damd down to a muddy stream.
“I certainly hate Sajima. So extrely that I want to kill him.” (Daichi)
“If that’s the case-“ (Tamaki)
“However.” (Daichi)
He gazed towards the heavens, and for a mont his eyes looked sad and distant.
“It’s unreasonable. I’m trash. I have no choice but to accept it, it’s reality!” (Daichi)
“… …” (Tamaki)
It was painful. Very painful, Katsuragi calling himself trash. I clenched my fists, fingernails digging in.
However, that was because Sajima’s acts, sohow or other, had made him accept that claim.
“How much effort did you think I used? How much trial and error do you think it took? You! What do you know!?” (Daichi)
Stop it. It hurts. I don’t want to hear anymore. Please don’t say it.
… However, I didn’t stop.
“… Giving up won’t do.” (Tamaki)
“It’s not possible! I can’t win! No matter how much I struggle!!” (Daichi)
Katsuragi spat it out, his breathing beca rough and his shoulders rising up and down.
“… And I can’t trust you. What’s with that? Suddenly waking up to a sense of justice…” (Daichi)
“T-that’s-“ (Tamaki)
“Just… leave alone already…” (Daichi)
After exhausting his words, he looked like a soldier who had finally been released from service.
If I continued like this any further it would wound him. Of course, I understood that the future held joy for him.
My chest tightened.
… … I hardened my resolve. I reminded myself that this was not the real Katsuragi. This was only an illusion that Lily created.
The real Katsuragi wasn’t having to taste this suffering.
“… I don’t want… to give up. I recognize that Katsuragi has worth as a human being, and until Sajima is defeated… I won’t give up.” (Tamaki)
“… … Do whatever you like.” (Daichi)
Katsuragi sighed half in amazent and started to get off of the roof.
I had to tell him sothing imdiately.
“I will be waiting here. During lunch breaks and after school. I believe that Katsuragi will co.” (Tamaki)
“… So persistent.” (Daichi)
Katsuragi left the roof.
When I heard the sound of the door closing, I sat down on the floor as though I had no waist.
… It can’t be helped, can it? That I could only do that much is a fact. Having co to this, I can’t complain.
I was able to learn a little more of Katsuragi’s feelings. I understood it again.
The fact that I didn’t know anything about Katsuragi.
I had to advance before being depressed.
What I can do is to believe in Katsuragi. Unless I believed in him from the bottom of my heart, there’s no way he would open up to .
I had to stick to my word, to show that he wouldn’t be abandoned. Katsuragi will co here sooner or later.
… From now on I’ll be eating lunch on the rooftop, huh…
“… What do I do about this?” (Tamaki)
I still had two lunchboxes. It would be wasteful to throw them away, so do I eat them?
I leaned against the door so that no one could co out onto the roof.
… Is it okay now?
Today’s lunch was a little salty.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
About two hours have passed since I went through the transfer magic formation on the 30th Floor I think?
It wasn’t possible to know the ti because I didn’t have a clock, and was guessing by how fatigued I felt.
“Damn… those tenacious guys from a bit ago.” (Daichi)
I descended six floors since then to the temporary provisional 37th Floor and had spent the past thirty minutes on this floor alone.
It was due to the Iron Rabbits I’ve been fighting.
The rabbit could temporarily cause its body to beco tal, and would be in groups of no less than three.
In other words, every encounter against them was many-on-one. Additionally, their bodies heated up because of the hot temperature.
Getting hit would beco a considerable wound. They were small and quick.
“Kyui!!” (Iron Rabbit #1)
The head of Iron Rabbit #1 who was in front of the others had a shining luster and it flew towards my abdon. Being in such a low floor they had satisfactory speed and a high physical strength too.
However, I’ve already fought them many tis. To so extent, I’ve morized their patterns. Seeing their white afterimages in both sides of my vision, I sidestepped the decoys.
“Ra-!” (Daichi)
I leapt, changing my posture so that my back was skimming the ceiling. With both rabbits’ heads approaching from the left and right, I put my hands out in front of and fired Wind at them.
“Kyu!?” (Iron Rabbit #1)
“Kyuki!” (Iron Rabbit #2)
Both rabbits fell down from the sudden gust, there was no way I’d overlook it. I took the dagger out of its case and threw it at the Iron Rabbit on the left, while I slashed at the Iron Rabbit on the right. [TN: Double-edged military dagger.]
“This is your end!!” (Daichi)
I turned around in order to strike Iron Rabbit #1, who was trying to rocket head butt from behind, with my sword.
An earsplitting tallic sound rang out. Because the Iron Rabbit took the vibrations directly to its brain, its movents beca slow.
I seized its neck and put all of my strength in the grip to break it.
Three light particles ascended towards the sky when it died.
After confirming its death I wiped the sweat that had gathered on my brow with my arm.
“It’s hot!!” (Daichi)
I imdiately redeployed the Ice Wind that had been stopped during it because I beca too focused on the battle.
I-I thought I’d die…
I’d really hate to be dissolved and absorbed by this dungeon like sli. If I died I wouldn’t be able to touch Shuri’s body.
… Oi, no, wait up. I won’t die. Thanks to the power that goddess gave .
… I was becoming very tired…
“Capturing a dungeon without taking a break is intense…” (Daichi)
Just in case so monster appeared, to be able to deal with them I sat in the middle of the pathway, sword in hand.
As expected, I felt the value of companions at tis like this… back then, I didn’t try to rely on anyone. Since everyone around were enemies.
Thinking about it, I’ve co far from back then by continually going through so unbelievable days.
Living with and liking a girl, depending on the idiot committee chairman, and laughing with a demon. Most recently a book girl started giving her affection.
“… …” (Daichi)
My eyes were closed and I was recalling many things.
They were all indispensable. I want to protect them.
Those feelings stirred .
“… I’ve got to quickly reach the bottom layer, to et up with everyone.” (Daichi)
Standing up, I did so light stretched and started walking to the door of the room that was connected to the next floor.
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