Ch. 6: By Your Side, Always (SUN)
After the embrace that had felt like a farewell…
I continued to wait for Kairi's return at the hideout.
Kairi…please be safe.
…
……
And then the next morning came…
I had unintentionally fixed my gaze on the entryway, and then the door opened without a sound.
OO: "Kairi? Kairi, is that you!?"
Kairi: "…!! Why …are you still here?"
Kairi's eyes opened wide in shock.
OO: "I'm so glad you're alright!"
I felt tears well up in my eyes from relief as I smiled at him when…
Kairi: "Geez, you're hopeless!"
OO: "…!"
As if giving into his emotion, Kairi put his hands on my shoulders and shook me.
Kairi: "…knock it off. Why do you trust me so much? When I look at you, I can't help worrying. But I want to be alone, and not trust in anyone because I don't ever want to lose someone precious to me again…! Just like with my sister…I didn't want to lose someone again. That's why I've been living solely for revenge, and having nothing to do with anyone."
His words continued to tumble out, as if a dam had broke, and they made my heart ache.
OO: "…because I was worried. Probably in the same way your sister would have."
Kairi: "…"
The strength slowly faded from Kairi's hands as they held me, and I saw myself reflected in his eyes.
OO: "…what happened to your sister's killers?"
Kairi: "I shot them."
At his words, the room went deathly silent.
Kairi leaned against the wall, and quietly closed his eyes.
Kairi: "I thought I would feel relieved…but I still just feel empty, like I did before. I wonder what I should do now."
Kairi looked as if he wanted to disappear, along with his words…
OO: "Then, what about if I stayed at your side?"
I spoke without thinking.
Kairi: "You?"
OO: "Yes."
Kairi: "…"
Our eyes reflected each other.
He remained silent, and we stood there with our gazes locked on each other, when Kairi's expression relaxed.
Kairi: "Up till now, I had always been worried about you because I thought you were like my sister. But you're totally different. She at least had some good sense in her."
I never thought I would hear Kairi speak like that. His tone was gentle, without any barbs.
OO: "…what does that mean?"
Kairi: "It means you're bound to get into trouble."
OO: "Just like you then."
Kairi smiled, though he was clearly unaccustomed to doing so, and I smiled too.
Kairi: "…don't disappear from my sight OO."
OO: "Alright Kairi."
Our gazes met again, as if to confirm once more the promise we'd made to each other.
Those eyes were no longer the pained eyes of an assassin from a ruined country.
END