318 – The Way of Love -3-

Smiles blossomed on each other’s faces. They were smiles tinged with tears, yet distant from the emotion of sadness.

“…Really.”

“…”

“You’ve truly worked hard.”

A trembling voice escaped, riding the throat. The journey had been long, but the fruits borne from it were so beautiful.

Memories surged like a rushing stream.

The moment when the young lady chose to seclude herself after losing her legs.

– I’m not going out.

– …The weather is really nice today.

– I said I’m not going out.

– There’s delicious chocolate…

– Do you think it would be good for you to go out looking like this? It’s embarrassing.

The laughable memory of almost becoming a boiled Olivia in the bathtub.

– Gurgle.

– Young lady?

– Hic… I’m sinking.

– Young lady!

Like film, countless moments passed by.

Along with an overwhelming surge of deep emotion.

“…Hehe, yeah.”

Hope dreamed of a small future.

The future danced, longing for happiness.

As if to say, it was time to be happy now.

“Ricardo had a tough time too.”

They were dancing.

*

An afternoon where years of effort blossomed.

“Ahem!”

“The weather is nice.”

“Right.”

The young lady and I were sitting on a bench in the mansion’s courtyard.

We were facing each other.

It felt a bit awkward after crying, but the sunny weather was washing that feeling away.

“…”

Slowly, indeed.

I looked at the shy young lady and thought how admirable she was.

“…”

As our eyes met, she gave me a small smile.

“Hehe.”

“…What’s with that cheeky smile?”

“Hehe.”

I smiled back at the young lady who was laughing for no reason.

“Why?”

“Hehe… Ricardo.”

“Yes.”

“I walked.”

“Well done.”

The young lady leaned forward slightly, pouting her lips.

“Is that all?”

“You’re wonderful.”

“Right? I’m amazing, aren’t I?”

“Yes.”

“I’m cool, right?”

“Of course.”

“Hehe… praise me more.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the shy crown of the girl with white hair leaning in. She looked so innocent, almost too innocent.

-Thud.

“Well done.”

Her hair brushed against my fingers. The sensation felt like petting a fluffy puppy, tingling through each joint of my fingers.

“You should be very proud.”

The girl seemed pleased by my gentle touch, softly closing her eyes and inching closer to me.

“You are the coolest in the world.”

“Hehe, I know.”

I continued to stroke her hair until she was satisfied, indulging in her childishness.

‘This is nice.’

It was good that my body was getting better.

But what was even better was the fact that she had taken the first step herself. She had always been a passive girl, someone who never did anything on her own.

‘…’

Knowing that some things cannot be rushed, I felt even more moved by her heart.

Courage, perhaps.

Or passion.

Those things don’t just appear because someone tells you to have them.

I was grateful and deeply touched that she had taken her first steps, even knowing she might stumble.

Honestly, I didn’t expect to cry.

-Oh…?

‘…how embarrassing.’

When I recalled that moment, my face felt like it was burning. I never thought I would cry in that situation, being someone who wasn’t close to tears.

What was certain was.

“Hehe…”

That I was happy.

After a while of stroking her hair, I bent my knees to meet the girl sitting on the bench and looked into her eyes.

-Swoosh…!

“What?”

As their eyes met, the young lady turned her head away. Conversely, the lady who would flee with a swift ‘whoosh’ wore a small smile at my bewildered expression and teased, “Crybaby.”

“Crybaby.”

I wondered who was calling whom a crybaby, considering I had seen her cry more times than I could count. At her words, which felt like a jab in front of a chrysalis, I let out a chuckle and looked up at her.

“But you cried too.”

“I cried because I fell.”

“That’s still crying.”

“But Ricardo just cried.”

“Not true.”

“Eeeek.”

I smiled softly at the young lady, who was pouting in annoyance, and replied.

“I cried because I was happy to see you get up.”

“…Eek?”

“Hehe.”

The young lady clenched her fist and shouted.

“Why are you admitting it!”

“Why not? It’s the truth.”

“Eek…! Eeeek… Eek!”

I gently tugged at the young lady’s cheek and burst into laughter. Then, taking a deep breath, I faced her directly and asked.

“So, my lady.”

“Yes?”

“What are your thoughts?”

“What thoughts?”

“I mean, your thoughts on standing up after such a long time.”

“Hehe…”

The young lady, shyly smiling with her eyes, hid the corners of her mouth that had lifted in a grin. She was embarrassed.

She glanced at me subtly.

“Well…”

Wiggling her fingers and nodding, the young lady answered brightly.

“It felt good.”

That was her way of expressing her bashful feelings.

I nodded slightly at the lady’s bright response, expressing my gratitude.

“I’m good with that too.”

“Hehe.”

I took the lady’s hand and looked into her eyes, filled with the hope that perhaps it was time to take a step further.

“Then, my lady.”

“Mm.”

“Shall we give it a try now?”

-Nod.

“If it gets too hard, please let me know. We’ll have meat today.”

“Meat…!”

“Then…”

“Wait… just a moment.”

Her trembling voice still hadn’t calmed down. Her heart was still pounding. The excitement of the lady walking again made my heart thump. Seeing her treasure pouch made my heart race, and after enduring the trials, it felt like a dream to see even a little progress now.

Though it must be the lady undergoing rehabilitation who is the most exhausted and weary.

“Shall we try it together?”

I wanted to cheer her on.

I wanted to move forward, offering help and encouragement with each step she took.

The lady nodded heavily.

“Mm.”

Our hands touched.

Her cold hand met mine, which was drenched in sweat.

“I’ll pull. Please try to stand as much as you can, my lady.”

“…Mm.”

The lady squeezed her eyes shut.

“One…”

“Haah…”

“Two…”

“Heeek.”

“Three,”

I remember.

The day I first tried to lift the young lady.

It suddenly comes to mind—the day I stubbornly pushed to show her that there was, somehow, a better future awaiting her, despite her deep melancholy.

That day, the young lady had cursed at me.

That day, I had cried in the room.

Sad.

Gloomy.

Because I thought I could no longer bear to see her like that.

In the bleak future where I would no longer witness the young lady, who people called a madwoman, in her mischievous spirit. And in that moment, I felt anger towards my own helplessness.

So.

“Haah.”

“Ricardo’s hands are all sweaty.”

“…Haha, I guess so.”

“What if Ricardo gets even more nervous?”

“The young lady, who says such things, is trembling her hands, though?”

“Ugh!”

The two cowards had tried to muster great courage today.

“Then, let’s start again.”

“Okay.”

I firmly grasped the young lady’s hand once more, applying just enough strength for her to be able to rise on her own.

“Ugh…”

With her eyes tightly shut, the young lady strained, her body trembling slightly as she furrowed her brow. It had been a long time since she had used those muscles, so the response wouldn’t come quickly, but one undeniable fact remained: she was putting in more effort than anyone else in this moment.

“Ugegegegege!”

It was somewhat loud, but.

“Good.”

“Ughhh!”

“That’s right!”

After sitting in place and repeating the effort several times, the young lady, having sweated profusely, was panting heavily.

“Heh… Heh… Hiiik…”

At this point, she should have been exhausted and ready to collapse, yet, taking a sip of water, she reignited her passion and looked straight at me as she spoke.

“Again.”

“…”

“I’m going to do it again.”

“Yes.”

“Huuh.”

The sight of the young lady giving her all was impressive.

And then.

“Keheung.. kuhihihing.”

She was adorable.

“Huuiiiik!”

With a loud shout, the young lady’s gaze lifted higher.

“Uh…?”

“Oh…”

The flustered young lady looked at me with trembling eyes. She stared blankly at me, wearing a confused expression as if she didn’t know what was happening.

“Ricardo.”

“Yes…”

“Right now, you’re not using all your strength, are you?”

“Yes…”

“You didn’t magically lift me up, did you?”

“You know that magic is a bust, right?”

I looked at the young lady with a small smile.

Shaky legs.

Trembling eyes.

Really…

“You’ve stood up….”

“…Yes!”

“Really…”

I shouldn’t cry again.

In that moment, holding back tears that were about to spill, I smiled and said to the young lady,

“You’re amazing…!”

“Thank you.”

Though no words were spoken, we were both surprised.

I was taken aback by the lady’s will.

She was delighted to see the fruits of her own determination.

Of course, the touch of rehabilitation was like a seasoning added in. If only a little more of that rehabilitative touch were applied.

“…”

I felt certain that the lady would be able to stand up.

Because it was the future I had envisioned.

I would make it happen.

I was convinced that one day, she would be able to run.

“…”

Though it may seem like a modest beginning now, good days have a way of finding us eventually; happiness doesn’t come only to the protagonists.

I thought it was time for the beautiful light of the world, which had only shone on others, to shine upon us.

I tightened my grip on the lady’s hand, her eyes glistening with moisture.

“…Lady.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“You’re so amazing.”

“I know.”

She truly was a lady who knew no humility.

In the slightly relaxed atmosphere, I playfully tossed a remark her way.

“I guess I won’t be able to carry you anymore.”

“…Huh?”

“You’ll be walking on your own.”

Pouting her lips, the lady shook her head and replied.

“No… I don’t want to. I’ll be carried.”

“…Haha! Are you planning to drain me dry?”

“Yep. I’ll suck you dry.”

Her bright smile and playful complaints made me laugh.

“That sounds nice.”

We looked at each other and held hands.

I don’t know how long this journey will continue, but I believe that there is an end to it.

“Let’s try again.”

“Okay!”

“Alright…! One. Two. Three.”

– Crash!

“Ugh!”

***

In a dark room.

Apostle Elisia was trembling with her eyes wide open.

“I… didn’t see it wrong.”

In fear.

In overwhelming terror.

Elisia was shaking.

The man’s death lingered countless times.