Chapter 21: The Light
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The two met and spent a great deal of time together. Of course, their relationship wasn’t good from the start.
One was a lonely boy with a wounded heart, while the other was a red-haired girl who had never had friends before. Both struggled with their sense of distance, so it was no wonder that things felt awkward between them.
However, despite the slight distance, they both took tentative steps toward each other, eager to find the right balance for the red-haired girl’s growth, conducting their research together with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
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One day, by this time, the distance between them had grown more intimate.
The research they conducted day and night with the girl tickled the boy’s heart. “What if we could do this? What if we could do that?” Whenever he made a suggestion, her excitement would soar, and she would leap into his arms, her eyes sparkling. The boy felt a rush of embarrassment, thinking, “You’re right, you’re right.”
Whether they were training, learning, or conducting research, they were always by each other’s side. It didn’t take long for the boy to realize how much he needed her.
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When the door to the room opened, the red-haired girl was sprawled out on the bed. She puffed her cheeks and said, “You’re late!” But when the boy laid out the skewers of meat and fruits he had bought from a stall on the table, she snapped her fingers and exclaimed, “Not bad!”
The boy felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. When they first met, she had worn a tense expression, but now she showed him a relaxed smile. Still, he couldn’t help but worry about the excessive physical contact in her approach, wondering if she had misjudged their distance. He silently chanted a mysterious mantra in his heart to keep himself in check.
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It was another night.
“Hey, what kind of magic should we develop next?” the red-haired girl asked, lying on the bed.
“Hmm, that’s the thing. I’m kind of stuck on it,” he replied.
“You don’t have to think too hard about it! Look, we’re the ultimate duo, right? So, we can recreate any kind of magic!”
She sat up and spread her arms wide.
“Then since we succeeded with compression magic, next we—”
“Next we what?”
At his teasing pause, she gulped audibly.
“Fusion Magic—maybe.”
The red-haired girl adored the wild and unimaginable stories the boy shared with her.
“Fusion Magic is a spell that combines two or more spells and releases them together!”
“What’s that!! It’s perfect for us!!”
“Let’s do it! Right now!” she shouted, jumping off the bed. The boy felt his heart warm at her innocent enthusiasm, which contrasted with her usual cool demeanor.
At that moment, he thought of her as a troublesome little sister, yet also as a best friend with whom he shared an unbreakable bond.
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“Hey, I’ve been really happy lately,” the girl murmured, her face clouded.
She seemed to bare her soul, revealing her thoughts. How she had no friends, and how spending time with him was the most enjoyable thing ever.
And—
The reason she pushed herself was to show those who had belittled her in the past that she could shine.
Looking inward and exposing oneself can be terrifying and difficult.
Yet, she revealed the darkest parts of her heart, admitting that she felt she was someone who deserved contempt. The boy, seeing her on the verge of tears, firmly denied her words.
“I’m the same.”
He laid bare his own heart and added, “You saved me too,” responding wisely.
Tears streamed down his face. The girl, driven by a surge of emotion, embraced him tightly. That night, they shared stories of their pasts, things they had never spoken of before.
It was also the day when the girl, who felt like a sister and a best friend, became someone irreplaceable to him.
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It was so much fun. Every day was filled with joy.
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Having created magic that far surpassed advanced spells, and with a partner by her side, the girl grew more confident and began to show a bright expression even outside. As they walked through the town together, they were met with rude remarks.
It was from her classmates from school. They had mocked the red-haired girl relentlessly, but she brushed it off without a care.
Watching this unfold, the boy felt a great weight lift off his shoulders, realizing that everything would be alright.
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His gaze was always warm and filled with affection.
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The boy called the red-haired girl “Ange.” Just that simple act made his heart swell with warmth.
The red-haired girl called him “Ichiro.” Just that simple act made her feel like she could do anything.
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That’s right, Ichiro—
Ichiro, Ichiro, Ichiro, Ichiro—
He was my special one.
I named the many spells we created together 《私の世界（ジ・ワン）》, The One.
As long as you are in my world, I need nothing else. With all my feelings poured into it, I entrusted my wish to that name.
You were my light.
Or at least, that was how it was supposed to be—
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The four returned from the Light Labyrinth to the town. When asked about his condition, Ichiro replied that he had healed his wounds with a potion. However, the fatigue from the fierce battle still lingered, and he could barely stand.
Yet—
Before him, the red-haired girl leaped into the arms of a man who called himself a Hero.
She looked up at the Hero with her eyes sparkling.
“─────Please, Hero-sama!”
She spoke in a voice that dripped with charm.