“……”
After our conversation, silence lingered between Yoon Si-woo and me for a while.
Stealing a glance, Yoon Si-woo’s profile showed a sulky expression as if he wasn’t pleased.
From what I had observed, Yoon Si-woo had quite a few similarities to me.
He had a warm-hearted personality, always trying to help those he cared about.
Perhaps that’s why my request to prioritize others over him seemed to hurt him deeply.
I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pain because I understood how he felt.
If it were me, I would probably feel quite hurt if a friend asked me to do the same.
Not to mention, Yoon Si-woo and I were more than just simple friends.
In this world, we were more than just friends; we were the only ones who knew each other’s flaws and understood each other on a deeper level.
Thus, downgrading the priority of such a person must have been difficult for him.
But I felt it was something necessary, and I had no choice but to ask for it.
Now that Yoon Si-woo was in a position where he had to support numerous people, he also had to bear the responsibility that came with it.
He had to prioritize his responsibilities over his own feelings.
Responsibility always comes with pain.
And so, people grow up, getting accustomed to such pain.
I stopped my furtive glances and silently fixed my gaze on Yoon Si-woo’s face.
He looked troubled, grappling with dilemmas.
Though still a boy, he had to grow up forcibly, enduring growing pains.
Even if he tried to cling to being a boy, he probably knew deep down what was right, making it all the more difficult for him.
Yet, I believed in him.
I knew Yoon Si-woo would surely become an admirable adult, leading everyone along the right path even amidst confusion.
So, for now, shouldn’t I comfort that struggling young boy?
With that thought in mind, I cautiously spoke to Yoon Si-woo.
“……Sorry, did my request upset you?”
“……It’s fine. You were right. If I’m going to be a squad leader, it’s only right to do as you said.”
He answered, but his expression still seemed quite displeased.
What could I do to cheer him up? Just as I was pondering this, Yoon Si-woo, staring at me intently, muttered.
“Instead, can you grant me one request?”
“Uh? Uh-huh. What is it?”
Perking up at the mention of a request, I nodded eagerly.
Then Yoon Si-woo, with a serious look, held my shoulders tightly and said.
“……Even if I know you’re in danger, I’ll prioritize saving everyone else first. So until I come back, don’t push yourself like you did this time. Whether you run away or whatever, just stay alive, I’ll figure out a way to save you. Got it?”
I felt his hands gripping my shoulders tremble.
From that tremor, I sensed how much Yoon Si-woo valued me.
Seeing how worried he was after I almost died made me feel a bit pleased, and I couldn’t help but smile as I replied to him.
“…….Okay, I understand.”
“……Don’t laugh. If you die when I’m not looking, I won’t let it slide. This isn’t a joke.”
“I get it.”
Nodding as I replied to Yoon Si-woo, who was grumbling about how serious he was, I noticed a small smile creeping onto his lips like a sigh of relief.
Had his mood improved a bit?
Relieved, I was lost in my thoughts when I suddenly felt like I had forgotten something important.
What was it again? As I pondered, I noticed Yoon Si-woo’s arm still on my shoulder and the words I had wanted to say came to mind, so I shot him a glare and said.
“……Right. By the way, didn’t you say you got your limbs mangled saving me?”
“Uh…? What are you talking about?”
At my words, Yoon Si-woo flinched and immediately started sweating.
……This guy has no talent for lying.
It was obvious from his face that he was trying to pretend it didn’t happen, and I shook my head in disbelief.
“Don’t play dumb. I heard it all from Dwight. Thanks for saving me, but you need to take care of yourself too. What if you lost your neck instead of limbs?”
“No, it was just… I was really in a hurry back then.”
“……Still, after hearing that, I feel both sorry and grateful. I have something I want to give you.”
“……Give me something?”
I scribbled a few words on a piece of memo paper in the kitchen and handed it to the puzzled Yoon Si-woo.
He took it with a dazed expression and muttered.
“……What is this? A wish ticket?”
“Exactly. If you write a wish on that and ask me, I’ll do my best to grant any request within my capacity.”
As I said that, Yoon Si-woo was startled and waved his hands in rejection.
“No! You really don’t have to give me something like this. I didn’t do it for a reward!”
With that reaction, I let out a sigh and replied.
“……Every time you help me without asking for anything in return. Even after saying it’s fine to ask for anything, you never do. So I’m giving it to you. I want to repay you, even a little. If you have it physically, it’ll remind you to ask me when you think of something.”
“No, but still…”
“Too bad. Refunds are not accepted. If you say you won’t use it, I’ll get angry, so keep that in mind.”
I spoke firmly, causing Yoon Si-woo to make a complicated expression and mutter quietly.
“……What if I ask for something unreasonable…?”
To that, I answered without hesitation.
“Hmm? I don’t mind!”
“……What?”
“If a wish ticket won’t grant unreasonable requests, then it wouldn’t truly be a wish ticket, right? Isn’t that right?”
At my response, Yoon Si-woo looked quite flustered, but I was serious.
Yoon Si-woo’s eyes shook.
But I unwaveringly gazed at him and said.
“You’ve always granted my unreasonable requests. So it’s okay to make unreasonable requests. That’s exactly why I gave it to you. I hope you’ll ask me for something.”
I reached out and gently held Yoon Si-woo’s hand.
The hand he always extended to me whenever things got tough.
How grateful I am to you, and also how sorry I am.
You probably don’t know that.
Yoon Si-woo, oblivious to my thoughts, asked in a small voice.
“……Is it really okay for any wish?”
“It’s okay.”
I sincerely hoped my feelings would somehow reach him, squeezing Yoon Si-woo’s hand and smiling.
“Because it’s you, Yoon Si-woo, and no one else.”
“Uh…?”
As soon as I said that, Yoon Si-woo stepped closer to me.
As he got nearer, I lost sight of his face.
But I could feel his gaze boring down on me from above.
Did he want to ask for something?
“……What’s wrong? Do you have a wish you want to make?”
“……”
“……It’s okay. You don’t need to be polite. If it’s what you want, I’ll grant any request.”
Yoon Si-woo’s hand gripped mine tightly.
“Haa…”
I could sense Yoon Si-woo letting out a sigh from above.
It felt like the sigh was releasing a pressure built up in a furnace.
I couldn’t help but feel a hint of tension in the strangely suffocating atmosphere.
W-What exactly could he be wishing for?
Please don’t say something crazy, like giving up all my assets or something terrifying.
No, if he really asked, I would give it, but…
If it’s something serious, it could be a bit stressful…
As those thoughts raced through my mind, I felt Yoon Si-woo slowly withdrawing his body again.
As he pulled away, I saw him glaring at me with bloodshot eyes.
Yoon Si-woo, who had been staring at me, eventually closed his eyes tightly and said.
“……Don’t say that kind of thing to anyone else, even by mistake.”
“……Huh? Uh… But it’s not a mistake. I really think it’s okay if it’s you, Yoon Si-woo…”
“……Haa. Seriously, what am I going to do with you?”
Muttering a sigh, Yoon Si-woo pulled his hand away and stepped back.
Seeing him like that, I asked, perplexed.
“Uh, I mean, weren’t you trying to make a wish?”
“……I’ll use it later when I need a wish ticket.”
“Why? If you have a request, you can do it right now…”
Yoon Si-woo slowly opened his eyes and gazed at me.
“……Today, I don’t think I can hold it in.”
“……Huh? Hold in what…?”
At his vague words, when I asked, Yoon Si-woo finally let out a sigh and placed his hand on my forehead, murmuring.
“……It’s nothing. Scarlet, you still don’t seem like you’ve cooled down completely, so you should probably go in and rest more.”
Only after that did I realize my body felt strangely warm.
Was my physical condition not fully recovered yet?
My head felt a bit hazy, but I was still concerned about the request Yoon Si-woo was about to make.
So, I whined to Yoon Si-woo.
“Still, you just wanted to make a request earlier—”
“Scarlet.”
Then Yoon Si-woo smiled widely and said.
“Go in and rest. I’m saying this nicely.”
“……Yes, okay.”
……That scary smile is totally cheating.
Following Yoon Si-woo’s words, I quietly went into my room and tried to sleep.
I guess my physical condition really wasn’t good; I seemed to have fainted as soon as I lay down.
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