“noah!”
As soon as Rubia spotted me sprawled out on the floor, she urgently shouted my name and rushed over.
It was a distance I could have covered in a single step, but for Rubia, limping her way to me, it felt like light-years away.
Still, there was no need for such shock. I simply tripped and fell because my feet got tangled while running.
So, I quickly tried to get up and reassure her that I was fine. Just then…
Thud!
“Ugh…”
For some reason, the arm that was propping me up gave out. Once again, my body crashed back down to the ground.
“noah, noah!”
Seeing me like this, Rubia’s voice shifted from panicked cries to sobs.
W-wait… this wasn’t right.
I had to get up quickly…!
Shuffling. I tried to move and stand, but I couldn’t.
…Have I lost too much blood?
Was it because the tension had eased?
“noah… please… p-please…”
Then, Rubia’s voice came close beside me. I managed to turn my head to look at her face.
I saw a face twisted in tears—her eyes, nose, and lips all distorted from crying.
Though she was wet with sweat and covered in dust, I could still see her hair flowing beautifully.
In her blue eyes, now glistening with tears, I saw only me.
Her lips were a perfect shade of pink—not too red, not too white.
Pretty Rubia.
The prettiest Rubia among anyone I knew.
“I-I’m fine…”
I smiled brightly at her, reaching out my hand. But her face twisted even more horrifically.
Why, I wondered…?
Oh, right.
I was extending my right arm.
The right arm that had suffered the most damage.
“…Hehe.”
I hastily hid my arm and awkwardly chuckled.
“Aah…”
Rubia’s lips, unable to continue, let out a painful sound.
Tears that had been dripping steadily began to pour out.
Then, her gentle hands wrapped around my injured arm. Cautiously around the uninjured parts.
And, in my dark divine realm, light began to dawn.
Divine Power. Rubia’s Divine Power.
But…
“W-wait… why is this…?”
The light didn’t last long.
Rubia’s hand touched my body again, and light flickered once more. But just like before, her divine power did not heal me.
No, Rubia could not use her divine power.
She had become unable to.
*
Zzzrip—
Tearing her clothes, Rubia tightly wrapped it over my bleeding wound and wiped her cold sweat from her cheeks with a bitter smile.
“I’m sorry… This is all I can do right now…”
“Y-You have nothing to be sorry for…!”
I pulled her into a tight embrace…
Well, I ended up the one being cuddled, but I still wrapped my arms around her back, shaking my head.
Rubia didn’t need to apologize for not being able to use divine power. It was simply because the source that allowed Rubia to use her power was extinguished.
If anything, the situation was much better than before.
“…But now, I want to help noah—”
“Rubia.”
I interrupted her and raised my head sharply. Her blue eyes were still brimming with tears.
Rubia’s words didn’t finish, but I knew what she wanted to say.
So, I spoke clearly to her eyes.
“That won’t be necessary anymore.”
It won’t be necessary.
It wasn’t that Rubia wouldn’t help me. It was that her divine power wouldn’t heal my injuries.
It might not always be this way, but at least for now, I was able to say it proudly.
“So, don’t worry anymore.”
Now, don’t worry anymore.
From now on, starting tomorrow…
You don’t have to worry.
“It’s all over now.”
All of it.
Upon hearing my words, Rubia stared at me with her mouth slightly agape for a brief moment.
Then, she nodded quietly.
“…You’re right.”
Squeeze. Gently, to avoid hurting me, Rubia wrapped her arms around me, and tears slid down her cheeks.
I reached up to wipe those tears away, carefully detangling her silvery hair from my lips.
For a moment…
Rubia shuddered and released me from her embrace.
“noah.”
“Yes…?”
“W-What if…”
Suddenly, she looked around nervously, trying to find the right words.
Sensing this, I smiled and nodded eagerly.
“Uh-huh.”
With her eyes wide open, Rubia covered her mouth with both hands.
“W-What if… forever?”
“Forever…”
“My goodness…”
In that state, her blue eyes glistened with fresh tears as she hurriedly fixed her hair, wiped her tears, and forced a smile onto her trembling lips.
She was beautiful just as she was.
Of course, I didn’t say that.
Saying that would be disregarding Rubia’s attempts. I just kept my mouth shut and watched her.
Stealing glances at me, Rubia said,
“Don’t stare at me like that…”
Trying to prep herself without a mirror in this grimy puddle, she sighed deeply.
After a few more sighs, she finally shook her head, lowered her hands from her face, and showed me a bright smile.
It was a smile that made my heart stop.
Behind that smile, instead of asking why I could see her clearly, came the question…
“Still… am I pretty?”
A question about her face mixed with playful charm.
More lethal than any attacks from ‘me’ or the surprise assault from the Nameless One. I was momentarily stunned.
So, my response was delayed. For a while.
In reaction to that, Rubia’s expression sharpened.
“Am I not pretty?”
“N-No… you’re gorgeous… so beautiful.”
“Right?”
Chuckle, still grinning, Rubia pulled me in for another hug.
“You did well, noah.”
And then, she began to cry again.
“And thank you. Really… thank you so much…”
Given that she hadn’t had any water for a while, I thought, is she going to dehydrate herself if she keeps crying like this? Rubia sobbed profusely.
I did not cry.
While looking at Rubia pouring her heart out in tears, I said proudly.
“Rubia. Didn’t I tell you?”
“Waaah… huh? What did you say?”
I wiped her tears.
I pushed her damp hair behind her ear.
I gently brushed the bangs from her eyes.
Looking into her blue eyes, I said,
“I told you I would win.”
Snicker!
When Rubia heard my words, she smiled brightly.
With a smile that seemed to say ‘When did I cry?’
“Crying and then smiling… will get hair on your butt.”
I chuckled along and pressed my cheek against hers. At the same moment, Rubia turned her head away.
Warm lips touched my cheek that might have some scabs, producing a smooch sound.
“If you do that, will you hate it?”
“…Not at all.”
I too turned my head.
But unexpectedly…
“Oops… It’s your nose that touched first, huh?”
Our noses bumped first and…
…Haven’t we been here before?
Giggle, giggle. That teasing laughter filled the air.
Once the laughter faded, in a moist tone, sweet and seductive, Rubia said.
“That’s why people lean in to kiss.”
Twinge! Rubia’s fringes tickled my face. Her image clearly reflected in my eyes as she leaned closer.
With gracefully curved eyes.
Slightly parted lips.
As I took all of that in, I just slightly parted my own lips and closed my eyes.
However, the sensation I anticipated never came.
…Why is that?
Just a small, slight peep.
What if the timing is off and it gets awkward, so I barely opened my eyes.
There was Rubia, laughing mischievously.
“…Why aren’t you doing it…?”
I reflexively asked.
After asking, I felt embarrassed and tried to turn my head away.
But quickly, Rubia’s hand shot up to stop my head from turning.
“R-Rubia…?”
Softly whispers of her name escaped my lips.
There was no need to say it louder.
We were so close that we could feel each other’s breath, body heat, and heartbeats distinctly.
So close that if I stuck my tongue out, it would reach her.
In that moment, Rubia remained silent, just smiling at me.
…This must mean. Yeah… she wants me to make the move.
Pouting my lips out, I saw Rubia’s eyes widen in delight.
“…You’re being overly demanding.”
Her pouty lips slightly parted.
I held my breath and made my move.
Just a tiny, tiny movement, and our lips finally touched.
Smack!
Softly grazing lips. The gentle tip of my tongue brushed against her.
At the same time…
“Ump—?!”
Like a hungry beast, Rubia’s tongue intertwined with mine. Surprised, my body lost its balance, and I fell backward.
There was no shock. Rubia’s arms wrapped around me gently, preventing me from falling.
While she held me in such a warm embrace, she didn’t give me a moment to breathe.
But it was fine.
Because her feelings of love were fully revealed.
I could feel the emotions erupting from her.
So, I too embraced her back.
I wrapped my arms around her neck. My legs entwining around her waist.
We drew even closer.
Feeling each other’s heartbeats, Rubia’s heartbeat resonated beyond her chest, connecting with me.
Listening to her heartbeat. Breathing in her essence.
I thought.
Had it been Rubia’s intention to touch noses then, just like now?
*
“So, uh… and then, Kwahahaha! I did this and that, and I whooshed- and then I retaliated with a sucker punch!”
“Wait, so you were saying you Kwahahaha-ed, then Whooshed, and after that you landed a blow, right…?”
“Um… it’s slightly different, but yeah…! Cool, right?”
We were done crying.
With smiles plastered on our faces, we shared stories of the time we spent apart.
Of course, most of mine because Rubia had been unconscious.
Among those stories, the one I rambled on about the most was.
The battle with the Nameless One.
Of course, it was truly sad that Cartia’s sword broke… but there had been changes, so the mood didn’t remain somber.
“So, does that mean a Great Sword pops out from your body?”
“W-Want to see…?”
“If it won’t strain noah… then yes, I want to see.”
Rubia carefully responded.
And I nodded without hesitation.
Even if it risked my body, if Rubia asked, I would do anything.
“Hehe… just watch.”
I leaped up from my spot. I wobbled a bit, causing a startled squeak to escape Rubia’s lips, but it soon settled.
The space we were in—
My Divine Realm shook fiercely according to my will.
“Noah…?”
“I’m fine.”
I gave Rubia a reassuring smile and placed my hand over my chest. I clenched it firmly.
Pull!
Boom!
A thunderous sound tore through the air, shaking the very ground below.
The space distorted. The horizon fell into a haze.
“…Are you sure this is okay?”
For a moment, the look of relief on Rubia’s face turned to one of concern.
“…Huh.”
My expression also contorted with worry.
No, it twisted even further.
Because my Divine Realm began to shatter.
…What’s going on?
