DAY 24: LATE NIGHT

DAY 24

LATE NIGHT

♦

INTERLUDE:
OMUI CITY

 

EVERYONE WAS EXHAUSTED—on the verge of collapsing into restless sleep. We sobbed and cried helplessly. None of us could bear to think of tomorrow…

I can’t stand this! I decided that I would go alone. It didn’t matter that I was the Class Rep, I couldn’t lead anyone else to certain doom.

I just wanted to be with him, even if it meant that we would die together.

Tanaka was after my skill, Hijack. I’d sooner die than let him have it.

I’ll kill myself with my own hands if it’ll stop him from killing anyone else, I thought.

Then Haruka-kun wouldn’t need to die. That was the real reason why Haruka-kun didn’t tell me what he was up to. That’s why he left without a word.

I didn’t know if I could reach him in time. But I needed to run to the cave as fast as possible. Haruka-kun—he was the only thing that mattered.

 

I snuck out of my room and passed through the dining hall.

Everyone had laughed together here. We smiled even as we scolded Haruka-kun for whatever ridiculous thing he’d said last.

I slipped outside. The first time I saw this inn, Haruka-kun had tried to burn it to the ground. Everyone used to be so lively!

I hurried through the town gates. Haruka-kun was always up to his usual antics here. He caused so much trouble that I just had to laugh, even when I was furious a moment before.

I was still mad at him, even now.

Why the hell was he trying to get past the gates at this hour—Whaaaat?! I couldn’t believe it. There he was.

“Uh, hey. I’m back. Kind of…y’know?”

I didn’t know what to say. He looked awful. I couldn’t begin to imagine what had happened. But Haruka-kun was standing there. He came back. He made everyone worry so much!

For now, I’ll give him a good lecture on his behavior!

His return filled everyone with hope. We all reprimanded Haruka-kun together. Even as we yelled at him, we couldn’t stop giggling.

 

Haruka-kun, welcome home.