Chapter 16: The Wish Within My Pocket II
The next morning, when I woke up, I found Sena lying next to me, gazing at my face.
Her face was too close, and I felt a bit embarrassed. I could feel my cheeks heating up. I hoped she hadn’t noticed.
Meanwhile, Sena cheerfully said, “Good morning,” and after a quick preparation, she headed outside the hut.
She would dance, and I would make breakfast. This was our usual routine.
With the successful procurement of food, I was in high spirits that morning.
Omelets, crispy pizza, and hamburgers filled the table. I refrained from frying anything for breakfast, but I still managed to whip up an impressive amount of food. Yet, Sena coolly finished every last bite.
With a puff of satisfaction, she turned to me with a smug expression that seemed to say, “Look what I’ve done!”
Her eyes eloquently conveyed, “Is that all? I can still eat more!”
“Ichiro, there’s not enough sweet treat.”
Sena struck a pose with her spoons, tapping the table with the bottoms, demanding, “Give me more!”
“Of course,” I replied, having anticipated this, and I presented her with a frozen dessert made from fruit juice.
After she finished her delicious treat, I poured her a cup of milk tea sweetened with plenty of sugar, while I opted for straight tea, settling into my chair.
“Hey,” I said, gathering my courage to speak.
“What is it?”
“Thanks for yesterday.”
I couldn’t thank her enough.
“I didn’t do anything. It was you, Ichiro, who worked hard.”
Sena naturally praised me.
“Thanks again,” I said, and she replied with a smile, “No problem.”
“This is what I meant—”
I pulled out the cool object from my pocket.
It was the very thing that the Ryuguin and the rest of the Hero Party were likely searching for with bloodshot eyes right now.
It was a spherical crystal that emitted a faint glow. Strangely, the light it radiated seemed to flow like liquid.
“What is this?” Sena asked succinctly.
I steeled myself and answered.
“This is the Wish Orb.”
“I’ve been fighting in this world to obtain this.”
Being suddenly summoned to another world was an absurd experience, but I had continued to explore the labyrinth, risking my life countless times, all to acquire this Wish Orb.
“You know, I got this after conquering the Blade Labyrinth. Strangely enough, I found it in my pocket when I realized it.”
The way I obtained it was mysterious, but its power was even more so.
“This is a magic item that grants the holder’s wishes.”
I had to tell Sena. Being honest with her was the only way to show my sincerity.
“So, with this, I can return to Japan, to that time and place.”
“Ichiro, what are you afraid of?”
What am I afraid of? That was obvious—
“It’s okay, Ichiro. You have nothing to fear.”
She said this and moved a chair next to mine, sitting down. Even though we were having such a serious conversation, her actions were somehow cute and endearing.
The petite girl looked up at me, as if trying to reassure a beloved child, and said, “It’s okay, Ichiro.”
“It’s okay,” she always told me. Each time, I felt saved. And once again—
“Ichiro, you are free.”
She told me that the choices presented before me were not limited to just one.
“You might think that since your body has healed and you’ve found a way to return, there’s no reason for you to stay here.”
That was exactly what I was thinking.
“It doesn’t have to be that way.”
She gently embraced me.
“This is your home.”
She lightly patted my back as if to reassure me.
“And I am your family.”
Sena spoke slowly, choosing her words carefully.
“If you ever feel the need to leave, and if you become tired or hurt, you can always come back here.”
She spoke to me as if to instill a lesson.
“If your heart’s pain hasn’t healed, you can stay here until you are free from that suffering.”
She said it softly.
“I will be by your side until the moment you leave.”
And then—
“When the day comes that you want to return to Japan, I want to send you off with a smile.”
The small girl wrapped her arms around me tightly, increasing the strength of her embrace.
“So it’s okay, Ichiro. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
What I wanted to say. What I had to say. It was difficult for me to put it all into words.
But she forgave me. She was always sweet, pampering me like a fool since the day we met.
However, I couldn’t just leave everything to her. I had to face it myself, without running away or fearing it, and say what needed to be said.
“Sena, I want to stay here.”
Even though I knew the answer, I had to say it.
“Until the confusion swirling in my heart is gone, can I stay here?”
She released her embrace and looked into my eyes.
“Ichiro, you are free.”
Sena said it again, placing her hands over mine. Tears began to fall from her eyes.
Now, while we continued to hold hands, strangely enough, neither of us made a move to let go.
I was happy just to touch Sena, and she held my hand tightly.
We gazed into each other’s eyes, gradually—
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!! I’m back!!”
With a loud bang, the door burst open, and a commotion suddenly appeared before us.
I shrugged like some light novel protagonist and thought, “Well, well,” but I was certain that with Sena by my side, we could overcome any challenge that came our way.
This concludes this chapter.
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