Chapter 131 - Yet, So Things Could Not Be Let Go
In truth, when I decided to tell her those words, I had also considered the possibility that they might not be properly conveyed to Yuna.
Whenever I communicated with Yuna lately, I felt that she would try to create distance whenever the atmosphere turned serious.
I wondered if she would start stuttering and avoid the conversation if I spoke seriously this ti as well.
I had expected it, but…….
“……”
Yuna's reaction after hearing my words was calr than I thought.
She seed to be contemplating what I had said, or perhaps mulling it over.
‘I wonder what she’s thinking.’
I had always thought I understood many aspects of the person nad Yuna, but upon reflection, I realized I hadn't grasped her feelings all that well.
There were many tis I failed to catch the monts when she was provoked or felt awkward.
Thud, thud.
The conversation paused for a mont, and only the sound of Yuna's and my footsteps echoed through the passage.
And a short while later.
“You know. Whenever I’m anxious, you always……”
Yuna slowly opened her mouth again.
“You always reassure like that.”
“……”
Always, she said.
I did wonder if I had ever done anything that remarkable, but… if Yuna herself felt that way, then I suppose it was true.
“Well, there were quite a few tis my heart pounded because of you, you know?”
Yuna added with a grin, as if to lighten the sowhat heavy atmosphere.
“For that… I can only apologize.”
“Forget it, do you think I brought this up to hear an answer like that?”
She playfully stuck out her tongue. Seeing that, I felt she wasn't so different from the person I used to know.
“Anyway, I’ve told you sotis, even if not often. That I’m grateful.”
-…Just, thank you.
Hmm. I certainly had heard that.
“But you know, thinking about being grateful made rember sothing else. The fact that I only ever receive help, while I’ve never done anything for you.”
“……”
Is that so. Perhaps Yuna had been carrying a greater sense of debt toward than I had thought.
From my perspective, my actions were just things I did out of necessity, but from Yuna's point of view, they must have seed like favors with no reason.
Receiving sothing undeserved without giving anything in return.
And the person nad Yuna was soone who wanted to repay such kindness sohow.
I didn't know everything about Yuna, but of that much, I was certain.
The fact that it wasn't pure kindness pricked my conscience… but well, it was true that I had helped her.
“Did that make you feel impatient, Yuna-ssi?”
At my guess, Yuna awkwardly scratched her head, then nodded.
“Serene-ssi, you know… she really feels like she’s sparkling every ti I see her. To the point where I wonder if it’s okay for soone so amazing to exist, and if it’s okay for her to be my friend.”
On that point, though likely unintentional, Yuna had pierced to the core.
“……Indeed.”
It made think that her words might be touching upon Serene’s very essence—her solitude.
“And Serene-ssi is always, how should I put it. She’s always helping you, right? As an equal friend.”
…Well.
It was true I had received quite a bit of help from Serene. Enough to make my conscience ache.
“More than just the difference in skill, I think I was envious of that. Thinking that if I were that strong, I could have given sothing back to you……”
“……”
I couldn't easily respond to those words.
What was I supposed to say in a situation like this? It was for the simple reason that no suitable answer ca to mind.
As I fell silent, Yuna rubbed her face as if the atmosphere had beco embarrassing.
“……Aish, this feels a bit cheesy.”
Yuna wasn't wrong. It had certainly… beco a much more serious atmosphere than usual.
Honestly, I thought it was impressive that Yuna had held on this long, but she didn't stop.
“Anyway, that’s it. I was envious of that… and you said it was okay again.”
Thud, thud.
As we walked and talked, we soon reached the end of Car 4. We hadn't reached our destination, Cars 6 and 7, but since Car 5 was impassable, we had to go over the roof.
Clank.
We climbed onto the roof and resud our conversation. A fierce wind raged, but the body of a knight was sothing that could allow for a leisurely conversation even in such a gale.
“I thought about it for a mont, but still. No matter what, I don’t think I can let go of this impatient feeling. Wanting to give back what I’ve received, that’s not wrong, is it?”
That was the conclusion Yuna had reached.
“You might suffer if you beco impatient. Your object of comparison is Serene-ssi, after all.”
“Of course, it would be great if I could hold on to that feeling without getting impatient… but thinking about myself, I don’t think I can.”
“Even so……”
“Then what should I do? I don’t want to live shalessly.”
Good grief. I thought she was a stubborn one, but as the one answering, I didn't feel particularly bad.
Why was it that watching her be so disobedient was rather enjoyable?
“You might fall if you try to rush.”
“I’ll just get back up. It might hurt a little, though.”
What an incredibly stubborn person she was.
“Even when I'm trying my best, I can't see how I can be of help, so when would I ever be helpful if I let go?”
She would rather be in pain than let go of her desire to repay .
‘Right. She was always like this.’
It was so typically Yuna. The fact that I, her fan, hadn't realized that was, in a way, embarrassing.
She seed reckless and without a plan, yet she was an incredibly upright and honest person.
Wouldn't most people at least say, ‘I won’t be impatient,’ in a situation like this?
“Honestly, it’s not like I gave you any great help……”
“Shut up, it’s my decision.”
“……Haha.”
As that exchange ca to an end, I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
“You’re laughing again. You always laugh at tis like this.”
It seed Yuna had also gotten used to the laughs I sotis showed.
“Isn’t it a good thing, to laugh?”
“Well, that’s true. So try to smile and live a little. You look better smiling than being all gloomy.”
Suddenly hitting where it hurts.
“Thank you for saying that.”
But they were welco words.
***
After that, well, nothing much happened. We proceeded to Cars 6 and 7, explained the situation, and since we couldn't move everyone to Car 4… we had to detach the cars with the people left inside.
“Does that make any sense! Who knows when rescue will co!”
“What are we supposed to do if we’re attacked again while we’re just sitting here!”
Of course, the passengers of the Railroad Mysterium were a rather high-nosed bunch, so the eruption of complaints was an expected outco.
“We plan to leave guards to protect your safety for now.”
“Even so, that’s…!”
In that case, what worked best on those drunk with authority?
“This is a matter directly ordered by Her Highness the Princess.”
“……”
Yes, that was right. A stronger authority. Although not all these passengers were part of the Princess's Faction, such was the weight carried by the na of the princess.
To deny the princess's authority would be to deny their own authority beneath her.
In any case, after gaining the passengers' consent, we decided to detach the train cars.
And as for the aforentioned guard duty, it was ti to part with Yuna here for a while.
We were standing on the roof between Cars 5 and 6. The fierce wind was still blowing, and the scenery, so beautiful it could be called fantastical, was also the sa.
“Well then, it’s ti to go.”
“So it is.”
I scratched my head. Although it was the result of our discussion, leaving Yuna among complete strangers bothered a little.
It felt like sending a daughter off to the waterside. One might ask if I was feeling so sort of paternal love, but I couldn't help but feel concerned.
“Will you be alright? Even now, if I……”
“Nn-nn.”
As I was about to offer to switch places with her, filled with that sentint, Yuna shook her head.
“You still have sothing left to do, don't you?”
“Sothing to do……”
“Convincing Serene-ssi.”
“……”
-…I’m still not quite convinced by your words, Rain-ssi. May I give you my answer after I’ve absorbed the engine’s magic?
Serene certainly had seed unsure. If I didn't persuade her a little more, she might give up on that thod.
…But that was my perspective. How on earth did Yuna figure it out?
As I looked at Yuna with a sowhat curious gaze, she shrugged her shoulders.
“Go, go do what you have to do. I believe the thod you ca up with will work. You’ve always been right, after all.”
Yuna gave her characteristic smile and patted my shoulder a few tis.
“……Thank you.”
I expressed my gratitude.
“Don’t ntion it. See you at the academy.”
Yuna waved her hand as if it were nothing.
Fwaaat-!
Yuna drew her sword and infused it with magic. As a result, the blade of her sword was dyed in a pure white light, and its length more than doubled.
Her intention to sever the connection between the train cars with this was clear.
And as if to prove my obvious expectation.
Kaaang-!
Yuna swung her sword between the cars, and the coupling located there was sliced through like tofu.
What happened after that?
Thump.
The train cars separated. They gradually grew farther apart.
The gap was very narrow at first, but it steadily widened.
Yuna’s shining golden eyes were disappearing from my sight.
Just as I was about to turn around, having said our final goodbyes.
“Hey-!!”
I heard Yuna shout one last ti from far away.
“……?”
Was there sothing else she wanted to say? I strained my ears and…….
“Stop only being so good to -!! You bad guy-!!!”
The words that reached in that loud voice were, truly…….
“……That sounds like sothing I’ve heard before.”
The line felt strangely familiar, but from where?
I couldn't quite rember.
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