Lonely Rock for the Blind.

"…Believe me?"

Iwashita Shima trembled.

"Shima is the one who least wants [ck Hack] to disappear, and also the one who least wants everyone's bonds to disappear."

Nekoyashiki Haru smiled.

"…I trust you."

"…Ha ha ha ha…"

Iwashita Shima laughed weakly a few times, then collapsed weakly onto the sofa.

Trust me…

"Ah."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

"...Aren't you afraid you've made the wrong choice?"

Iwashita Shima said softly.

"Just because you're afraid, you won't do it? Then I wouldn't be with everyone."

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head.

"Really... You're an adult now..."

Iwashita Shima pursed her lips.

"Hmm? If you're talking about physical health? You're definitely an adult now."

Nekoyashiki Haru paused for a moment before speaking.

"?"

Iwashita Shima was stunned, then immediately raised her upper body and looked at Nekoyashiki Haru as if she were a stranger.

"...Were you just...telling me a dirty joke?"

Iwashita Shima said uncertainly.

"Hmph, think what you want."

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head with a light laugh.

Iwashita Shima was slightly taken aback, lost in thought as she looked at that smile.

"Is Shima going to stay here? I'm letting everyone know."

Nekoyashiki Haru took out her phone.

"...Do I still need to report it?"

"Of course, I can't cheat on my partner."

"Nekoyashiki Haru said matter-of-factly."

"Pfft... You, someone like you, say you wouldn't cheat?"

Shima Iwashita couldn't help laughing.

"What I mean is, I will never develop feelings for strangers again."

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head.

"...Am I a stranger?"

Iwashita Shima suddenly asked.

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru paused for a moment, then continued pressing the keys on her phone.

"It's up to you, Shima."

"...Yes...This is my business, my responsibility...so it depends on me."

Iwashita Shima nodded slowly, then suddenly said.

“…Hey, Qing.”

"Ok?"

Nekoyashiki Haru raised her head.

"...You were always happy before, weren't you?"

Iwashita Shima asked.

"Ah."

"Nekoyashiki Haru replied without hesitation."

"...Yes...so..."

Iwashita Shima slowly stood up.

"...Qing, thank you for your trust in me."

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru faced Iwashita Shima.

"I... I really have always underestimated you."

Iwashita Shima took a deep breath.

"I will believe in you too, Qing!"

"…Yeah…"

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"So... exactly what?"

"…I'm so tired…"

Iwashita Shima whispered.

"...Too tired?"

Nekoyashiki Haru paused for a moment.

"What do you mean?"

"...Your business is your business...Qing, go find Eliza."

Shima Iwashita said.

Nekoyashiki Haru's pupils contracted slightly.

He asked after a while.

"Why did you suddenly agree to let me go look for it?"

"Because I trusted you..."

Iwashita Shima squinted.

"...Go find her, and then... whatever the outcome, it's up to you and her to decide."

"What about you?"

"I'll be watching from the sidelines. If it breaks, I'll do my best to fix it. If there's no problem... I'll come over and hug you..."

Shima Iwashita bit her lower lip.

"...I'm really afraid of you guys starting to argue."

"...Why did I argue with Eliza?"

Nekoyashiki Haru asked doubtfully.

"... "

Iwashita Shima did not answer, but looked at her own hands.

"...Can I hug you, Qing?"

"hug?"

"...just a hug..."

Iwashita Shima stepped forward and hugged Nekoyashiki Haru.

Nekoyashiki Haru did not resist, but simply let the woman hug him.

"...Actually, I wanted to hug her before, but it was always Kiku who did it, and I couldn't bring myself to do it..."

Shima Iwashita whispered in Haru Nekoyashiki's ear.

"I used to be quite stiff, and it wasn't comfortable to hug me. Now I'm just right."

"Nekoyashiki Haru replied."

"...Are your hands just hanging down there? Aren't you going to hug me?"

"Are you a stranger, Shima?"

"Nekoyashiki Haru asked."

"... "

Iwashita Shima opened his mouth, then suddenly laughed.

"Hahaha... I'm not..."

"Okay, then there's no problem."

Nekoyashiki Haru raised her hand and hugged Iwashita Shima.

"...So this counts as a hug..."

Iwashita Shima took two steps back.

"It's okay if you can hold me a little longer."