Volume 7, Chapter 5 - Despair That Crawls Out of the Darkness, Part 4
“Don’t use words like you know everything!”
The impact seemed to rush to his face, and the next thing he knew, he was looking up at the sky.
The shock hit him in the abdomen faster than he could feel the pain, faster than he could understand what had happened. The reason for this was obvious. Liz had gotten on top of him.
“No one is going to be happy with what you’re doing! No one!”
Hiro’s chest was clenched, forcing his upper body to rise.
“You’re just being selfish!”
His head was shaken, and he could not put his thoughts together. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t.
“But why do you always try to solve everything by yourself?”
When he saw the anger in her face, he couldn’t say anything.
“Why don’t you try to rely on anyone?”
Hiro was pushed and slammed to the ground.
Seeing Liz bursting with emotion while holding back tears, Hiro remembered Altius’ words.
“…I see.”
It was as Altius had said. He thought maybe everything he had done was just for his own satisfaction.
Because Liz has not been saved from anything, and now she is blaming Hiro.
“Sorry… I didn’t mean to hurt you…”
“Shut up! Don’t decide for yourself!”
The hand that reached out to Liz’s cheek was flipped away, and she headbutted him down instead.
He even forgot to groan. When he saw her crying face, he couldn’t feel anything anymore.
“I’m so stupid; I won’t understand if you don’t tell me!”
Liz buried her face in Hiro’s neck, her hands trembling as she clutched his chest.
“Hey, tell me…”
“Eh?”
“…Am I weak?”
The voice that began to sound muffled shook Hiro’s eardrums, and the overflowing tears wet his neck.
“Am I really that weak that you can’t rely on me…?”
“……?”
When Hiro was unable to continue, she began to sob.
“If that’s the case… I’ll get stronger!”
She put her arms around Hiro’s neck and hugged him with feeble strength.
“I’ll be stronger than anyone else.”
She lifted her head, her face contorted in an effort not to cry, a firm light in her eyes.
“I’ll become strong enough to help you carry your burden…”
Tears were falling.
A very warm and gentle warmth of rain falls on Hiro’s face.
“――…Just wait until then.”
Liz touched his cheek with a gentle hand.
“I’ll be there to pick you up, and I’ll take everything you’ve carried with you.”
She stroked Hiro’s swollen cheek apologetically as she continued to shake her bell-like voice.
“So… until then, you can do what you want.”
The pain tingling in Hiro’s cheeks faded, the steaming heat receded.
“But if you feel you can’t bear it, if you feel you can’t handle the pressure, then come back to me.”
She smiled as she burst into tears and sobbed.
“Even if the world has abandoned you, I will be with you until the end.”
Feeling embarrassed, Liz smiled as she wiped the corners of her eyes, which were wet with tears.
“If you don’t understand after all this, then…”
She stood up, and the weight was removed from Hiro’s abdomen.
“I will definitely surpass you.”
It was the words of her passion that came down from above Hiro’s head.
“Wait with high expectations.”
Hiro’s shoulders shook as he felt her presence leaving him.
“Ah――…”
Hiro covered his face with his hands. The strength of her words resonated in his heart.
There’s a connection ― albeit a faint one.
If she had said something vindictive, Hiro would not have been able to argue with her. Even if all of the resentment had been placed in his fist, Hiiro would not have been able to fight back.
That’s how much he deserved it.
However, she said that she forgave him and that she would leave him a place to stay.
A feeling of joy welled up in his chest. It was an unbearable joy that filled his heart.
She was no longer looking at Hiro’s back. She looked ahead and began to walk.
(What could be more joyful than this…?)
She was no better than a spoiled child.
Unlike himself, who stopped walking a thousand years ago, she began to move forward.
She was so strong that he could genuinely respect her.
(Then I’ll start moving forward, too.)
It was not a goal.
Hiro stood in front of her as an opponent to be surpassed.
Hoping to be proud and return to that place――.
(I’ll be waiting for the day when you surpass me.)
Hiro put on the mask that had fallen to the ground again.
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