Shizuku barely suppressed the urge to continue admiring the scene, and used a hairpin to tie her hair into a ponytail.
"……how?"
Shizuku's cheeks flushed, and she asked with a pitiful look in her eyes. Hajime felt that something was wrong with her, and he only felt more confused.
"...It's not as good as regeneration magic, but it seems to be able to regenerate the body."
"That's not what I'm asking."
Of course, Hajime understood what Shizuku wanted to ask, but this conversation made Hajime feel vaguely familiar.
That’s right, it was exactly the same attitude Aiko had displayed at [Kamiyama]… At the same time, his instinct seemed to be warning Hajime to “Get out of the way! Change the subject!”
Seeing that Hajime was playing dumb, Shizuku sighed, shrugged helplessly, and held out her hands. She wordlessly asked Hajime to carry her again, seemingly unable to budge.
Anyway, Shizuku was indeed too weak to walk, so Hajime reluctantly prepared to take out the gravity stone from the treasure chest—
"If you plan on tying me to a cross and carrying me like you did last time, I strongly protest. After we get out of the Great Labyrinth, I'll spread the word that Nagumo-san is a critically ill patient."
But Shizuku got the better of her. As for the name of the disease she was about to announce, it was clear from the way Shizuku looked at Hajime. She looked at Hajime's hair, eye patch, and prosthetic hand in that order.
"..."
Hajime silently retracted the gravity stone.
For a moment, Hajime thought that maybe letting her ride on the cute rabbit-shaped gravity stone would be enough. However, seeing Shizuku's eyes fixed on him, Hajime gave up.
There seems to be only one correct answer to this situation.
Hajime felt a bad premonition about Shizuku's unprecedented willfulness. Even so, they couldn't waste time here forever.
In a sense, she was using a mental attack that was even more difficult than the one in the Great Labyrinth... Hajime's expression twitched, and in order to avoid being fatally injured by Shizuku's attack, he turned his back to her and squatted down.
With a very reluctant look.
"Well, I like the princess carry... Never mind, I'll just make do with it."
Hajime muttered to himself, "What do you mean by just making do?" He tried his best to ignore the weight and softness on his back and stood up.
In an instant, Shizuku hugged Hajime with both hands and pressed her body tightly against him.
Hajime stood up and without a word, entered the newly appeared passage and began to move forward silently.
Hajime thought to himself, hoping to meet a companion up ahead. If possible, it would be best if he could take over the person on his back who had suddenly changed his impression... Oh, it would be great if Kaori was here.
At this moment, a voice whispered in Hajime's ear, but it was not the whisper of the Great Labyrinth.
It was a voice as sweet as honey, almost melting. Its warm breath caressed Hajime's ears.
That was Shizuku's voice. She rested her head on Hajime's shoulder and whispered softly in his ear.
"Hey, Nagumo-san."
"Hmm? What's up?"
"Did you hear what I said to the other me?"
"No, because there was some distance and you were talking quietly."
In response to Shizuku's question, Hajime shook his head in denial.
Shizuku murmured, "Is that so..." Then, as if she were thinking for a moment, she slowly extended one hand forward. Shizuku spread her palm in front of Hajime's eyes.
"This hand is covered in calluses from sword practice, right? It was there originally, but the calluses have become even harder since coming to Todas."
Hajime didn't understand the purpose of her question and had a surprised expression on his face.
"You also think this isn't a woman's hand, right?"
Her voice was like a little bird, without a trace of shyness, yet she seemed a little afraid to hear the answer. Although her voice was low, it was clear that it was the loudest she could speak.
Hajime stared at Shizuku's hands spread out before her eyes.
Indeed, the skin on the palms looks thick and stiff, which is the proof of years of training.
"If a soft, scar-free hand is what's called a 'woman's hand,' then this hand certainly doesn't look like one."
"..."
"But I think they are very good hands."
"……Really?"
"Yes, your hands are much more beautiful than those who can't lift anything heavier than chopsticks."
"..."
After hearing what Hajime said, Shizuku, perhaps suddenly embarrassed about showing her open palms to Hajime, clenched her fists and hid them. At the same time, she hugged Hajime even tighter with both hands.
"Thank you for saving me, Nagumo-kun."
"But I didn't come here to save you. I just happened to meet you."
"Haha, my other self told me this is something that only happens in stories. It was the same back in Orcus. Did you come here at a perfect time?"
"Don't be silly. Every time it's thrilling... No, in a sense, I was late that time, Kaori. Anyway, it's really bad for your heart, so I want to have more time."
Although it seemed as if Hajime had won an overwhelming victory and everything was under control, in reality, as Hajime had said, he was not at ease, and every time he made a wrong move, it would be irreversible.
If he had to appear at the last moment every time to be called a hero, then in the beginning, he would rather not be a hero.
Hajime replied with an expression of genuine annoyance, and Shizuku smiled softly.
"I really like heroes who dashingly show up to save the heroine when she's in danger, don't you know?... I actually have quite a girlish sentiment."
"I know that because I've heard Kaori talk about it so much that my ears are almost covered in calluses."
Shizuku could imagine how excitedly Kaori would tell Shizuku about her after saying goodbye at the Hotel City Hallyard. While she hoped she'd consider the issue of personal data protection, Kaori's habit of talking about Shizuku wasn't new.
Shizuku said, "She really is..." and continued, looking a little embarrassed.
"Because of my personality, I actually preferred playing house to swordsmanship when I was little, and I longed for a princess protected by a handsome boy. I even experienced being a princess and falling in love with a knight when I was dragged into the dream world in the Great Labyrinth of Hartner."
As for who the knight was, Shizuku was too shy to say it out loud. Shizuku seemed embarrassed by what she said, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she said jokingly:
"After all, I'm embarrassed about this, so I can't tell anyone."
"It's really embarrassing."
Shizuku smiled wryly. After hearing Hajime's frank confession, she patted Hajime's head and said, "You should be more tactful."
"Anyway, what I want to say is that, because I'm like this, I'm very grateful to Nagumo-san for coming to my rescue so many times in times of crisis. Hearing you say 'I'll watch over you' and 'I won't let you die' really makes me happy."
"...You're exaggerating. If Yaegashi dies..."
"Kaori will be sad, right? I know."
Shizuku spoke first, her tone not one of self-pity but of ease and confidence.
She was right. Shizuku's death would have an unpredictable impact on Kaori. Just like the sadness Shizuku had shown when Kaori died, there was a high possibility that Kaori would suffer a mental breakdown if Shizuku died.
Hajime would never allow that to happen. If it was to avoid such a tragic future, Hajime would do his utmost without hesitation.
There were only five bottles of precious "holy water" left, but Hajime was willing to use one without hesitation. This was the best proof.
Having said that, if this is all for Kaori...
Now, Hajime couldn't be sure.
Everything I've gained from my travels so far.
The future I hope for from now on.
The journey was nearing its end, and the path to the future had already emerged. Although Hajime had let it go, deep down in his heart he was actually very clear.
I am indeed a monster.
He has no regrets about being a monster.
He couldn't lend a helping hand to someone he didn't know, and he didn't intend to.
However, it was also true that Hajime was not satisfied with the lifestyle of viewing the world as either black or white, enemies or non-enemies, reasonable or unreasonable, necessary or unnecessary, useful or useless, and discarding everything that had no benefit...
So regardless of whether Hajime is aware of it or not, he would definitely allow Kouki and the others to go with him, consider leaving a gift for Liliana, and as Shizuku said, he would not stand by and watch someone die.
Hajime sensed the change in his mood, an indescribable expression on his face. Even so, Hajime figured, since he'd already realized what was happening, it wouldn't be a bad idea to speak his mind a little. If he remained silent, or even remained vague... it would seem like a tsundere, and that would only make Hajime feel self-loathing. A tsundere man isn't good for anyone, let alone him.
So Hajime decided to correct what Shizuku said.
"...I did it for Kaori, but not entirely for Kaori. It's probably about 80%."
Shizuku's eyes widened in surprise. For a moment, she didn't understand what Hajime was talking about, but she was quick-witted, so she quickly understood. At the same time, a slight sense of anticipation made her heart beat faster, and a warm feeling began to build inside her.
The reason why I don't want Shizuku to die is probably because of Kaori, which means...
"What about the remaining 20%?"
"Because Yaegashi is a good person, I wouldn't want to leave you to die."
"..."
It was a really dishonest statement. However, Shizuku understood that she did feel it.
Shizuku definitely existed in Hajime's heart. She wasn't just some insignificant person; when she was in danger, Hajime would want to help her. She definitely had a place on the scale of Hajime's heart.
Shizuku made a strange sound that sounded like she was in pain, and buried her head in the back of Hajime's neck, rubbing it. Not only did she blush her cheeks, but even her ears were red from embarrassment.
Hajime complained about being itchy, and Shizuku immediately became very annoyed.
So Shizuku decided to take a small revenge.
"Nagumo-san, I really want to see Kaori soon. Not just Kaori, I also want to see Yue, Shia, and Tio, and then—"
After a pause, Shizuku mustered up a bit of courage, but she was still shy, so she pretended to be calm and declared:
“—I’m going to tell them that I’ve fallen in love with Nagumo-san. I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I’m going to be frank and try to confess to them.”
"Really? Then we should hurry up and meet up with them... Hey, Yaegashi, you just—"
Hajime was so surprised that he couldn't help but stop. Shizuku didn't give him a chance to ask questions and whispered in a charming tone:
"Nagumo-kun, I'm a little tired. You have to... protect me well, okay?"
Hajime immediately began to hear the lovely sound of breathing. It seemed that Shizuku had fallen asleep leaning against Hajime.
She dropped a verbal bomb and then left it alone. This tactic was the same as that of a certain assault-type girl. She was worthy of being her good friend.
"..."
Hajime pursed his lips into a "ㄟ" shape and frowned.
Although he wanted to say something, he closed his mouth again when he looked back at Shizuku's profile.
Hajime sighed, a wry smile appeared on his face, he put Shizuku back on his back, and began to move forward silently.
Shizuku opened her eyes slightly and peeked at Hajime's reaction.
I don't know if he noticed it.
Shizuku's heart was suddenly in turmoil, and she wanted to act willfully for no reason. She wanted to make her calm face look troubled.
So Shizuku decided to bite him like the girl he loved most.
"Huh!? What are you doing, Yaegashi! ...Yaegashi?"
I didn't see, hear or say anything, because Miss Yaegashi was asleep, so she was just drowsy.
Shizuku kept repeating this in her mind while pretending to be asleep.
After a while, I only heard a small sigh, as if saying, "There's really nothing I can do about you."
Because Shizuku had her eyes closed, she couldn't see the expression she wanted to see, but she could clearly imagine Hajime's troubled and helpless expression.
Shizuku couldn't help but smile as she chuckled to herself in her heart.
Even so, Shizuku tried hard to pretend to be asleep and talked to herself in her clear and cloudless heart.
(Kaori, wait for me. I’m going to show you how willful I am.)
The hands that were hugging Hajime's neck tightened a little.
Volume 9 Extra: Midnight Girls' Private Talk
The sky is full of stars that seem like they will fall at any moment.
The night sky shimmered brilliantly, and the air was startlingly clear, cleansing my lungs and soul as I breathed it in. The only sounds in my ears were the faint chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves.
On such a beautiful night──
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