Chapter 15: The Wish in My Pocket ①
“Welcome back,” Sena said.
It seemed she had sensed my presence, as she was waiting for me in front of our home, even though the sun had already set and darkness enveloped the area.
Her simple greeting struck a deep chord within my heart.
I replied, “I’m home.”
Sena walked over to me and gently leaned against my chest.
At that moment, we both shared a silence that felt comfortable, and that was enough.
After apologizing to Milan’s family and explaining that I had some matters to attend to, I parted ways with them. From there, I ran with single-minded determination. I wanted to see Sena as soon as possible.
Having sprinted with all my might, I was now out of breath. Once I returned home, I collapsed onto a soft, mysterious fabric that felt good against my skin, lying flat on my back. Sena sat down beside me.
“Ichiro, are you okay?”
I could tell she was genuinely worried about me, a stark contrast to the expressionless demeanor I had first encountered.
I had come to understand her expressions better, and they were clearer than before.
With tears glistening at the corners of her drooping eyes, she waited for me to speak.
I thought it was very considerate of her. She didn’t directly ask me what had happened.
Until now, we had never touched upon each other’s pasts. The peculiar distance between us felt comfortable. I feared that revealing I was a summoned being from Japan would change our relationship. I couldn’t bear the thought of Sena becoming distant.
Yet, I wanted her to know about my past, even if it meant taking that risk.
With a deep breath, I stopped lying flat and sat up again. I wanted to speak to her without holding anything back.
“Will you listen to me?”
When I asked hesitantly, she replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, “Of course.”
“───That’s what happened.”
It turned into a very long story. I recounted everything that had transpired since my summoning. Throughout my tale, she listened intently, nodding softly without interrupting.
When I finally finished and took a moment to collect my thoughts, she placed her hand on my head.
Her small hand gently stroked my hair. It felt like a mother’s touch, or perhaps an older sister’s, or maybe even a grandmother’s.
Regardless, I felt Sena’s affection.
“Good job, good job.”
If left alone, she would continue to stroke my head indefinitely, and her warmth was oddly ticklish. Then she said,
“I affirm your perceived weaknesses.”
She looked into my eyes and continued, “I respect your kindness and your heart that cares for others.”
This was overwhelming.
“It’s okay. I understand, Ichiro.”
This was really overwhelming.
“Those with power can easily become lost in it. You did not succumb.”
This was too much to handle.
“You have devoted all your strength to this world, to conquering the Labyrinth.”
I felt tears welling up───
“What you have done is not something everyone can achieve. A person’s true nature is revealed in times of hardship and when they possess power.”
Her words touched a soft spot in my heart.
“It’s okay, I understand, Ichiro.”
She lifted herself slightly and reached out with both hands. Her gentle palms touched my cheeks.
“It’s alright to cry.”
After having shown my tear-streaked face countless times, I had decided not to cry in front of Sena anymore.
“People cry when they are sad, when they are happy, when they are in pain.”
Her warmth, her words, her heart were so comforting that I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer.
After dropping the Light Magic Tool and preparing two futons side by side, we lay down.
The night had fully descended, and relying only on the moonlight, I looked at Sena’s face.
I didn’t mind the silence that flowed between us. However, on this particular night, it seemed we both felt we had more to say, and we continued our conversation in the near darkness.
“You might feel guilty about fighting to return to your original world.”
How could she understand me so well?
“But there’s no need to feel guilty about that. The feelings you have about being a fake are no different from what you’ve experienced up to now; they are just as real.”
Her words were filled with compassion. Sensing the heavy atmosphere, she added,
“A fake can become real.”
She said it with a hint of humor, concluding, “Just like a character from a shoujo manga I once read.”
It was amusing to think of Sena with shoujo manga, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What?” she asked, her expression curious even in the dark.
With my resolve set───
“It’s okay, Ichiro. You don’t need to rush.”
Sena gently reassured me, stopping me in my tracks.
“No, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
“I know.”
“I’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
I didn’t ask if she would listen again. I needed to discuss the Thing in My Pocket with her for the sake of our future together.
She didn’t press for more information.
Instead, her small hand touched mine, and she firmly held onto it. The warmth of her hand brought me more comfort than embarrassment, and I drifted off to sleep.
─────────────────────
Thank you very much for reading until the end.
If you found it interesting, I would be grateful for your support through bookmarks or ratings.