Chapter 87 – NTO
One.
Whenever the fighting inside the city intensified, Ceres became concerned about Netoru. As bad as the situation was, it was obvious what the man would do.
······Probably overdoing it.
The reason Ceres told her not to act like a hero when she broke up with Netoru was because she now had a vague idea of what kind of person Netoru was.
And that his condition is not as good as he thought.
Of course, he didn’t show off in front of Ceres.
Sometimes, it’s okay to pretend to be weak without being bluffed, Ceres’ honest feeling…
“They said he wasn’t conscious yet.”
“···Is that so.”
Soon after the battle was over,
On the way to the city in a vehicle from his unit.
Ceres let out a low sigh as she quietly closed her eyes at the news she had received from Asuna.
It seemed that what he was worried about had become reality.
How on earth did he overdo it, to the point of fainting while vomiting blood due to magical exhaustion? I don’t know if it’s someone else, but since Netoru said that, it’s hard to imagine.
He is a man who can treat female knights as he pleases.
The fact that such a man lost consciousness due to magical exhaustion must mean that he repeatedly fought fierce battles.
‘…A stupid man.’
Besides, from what I’ve heard, it seemed like they were overdoing it to save one person at the end. Is that why I couldn’t take care of myself? I am… You should have known what would happen if you pushed yourself like that…
As much as overheating, mana exhaustion is not something to be taken lightly. If not, it could have been a real disaster.
Ceres didn’t want Netoru to be like that. So it was at the time when I unknowingly squeezed the hem of my clothes and looked anxiously at the city that was getting closer and closer.
“Are you worried about Netoru?”
Asuna suddenly asked such a question. Ceres glanced at Asuna for a moment before slowly nodding her head. Then, Asuna smiled softly.
It was a smile as if looking at something interesting.
“Ceres, if you look like that, it seems that our relationship has improved a lot. It’s the first time I’ve seen you worry about your partner like that since I came to Unit 393.”
“···Is that so?”
“If you are curious, look in the mirror. Then you will know.”
At Asuna’s words, Ceres unconsciously looked in the car mirror. Inside the mirror, raindrops that had just begun to fall run down the surface.
“·······”
There was a woman with a worried face.
Purple hair… Purple eyes…
Her face definitely matched her own, but Ceres felt that her face was unfamiliar. In addition, the fact that the corners of her eyes are drooping more than usual makes her look weak.
Seeing Ceres like that, Asuna hinted.
“I guess I’ve finally found a partner I like.”
“A partner you like?”
“Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to make that face. Especially you who don’t like men.”
That kind of face… I do not know. However, Ceres, who was lost in thought for a while, smiled lightly.
“… At least now I don’t hate it as much as I used to.”
Maybe this is the first time you really care about your partner like this.
It was a strange thing.
When did the walls of my heart break down like this? It’s been a few days since you started coupling with that guy.
Really… I’m unfamiliar with this
How many times have you watched your reflection in the mirror? Eventually, the vehicle finally entered the city.
The scenery in the city was bleak.
That’s why Ceres blinked in surprise at the ruined streets. He couldn’t help but stiffen his expression because it was more than he thought.
The city she knew is no more.
“······This is Prasion?”
For a moment, I thought I was in another city. However, the half-destroyed clock tower dimly visible in the distance was telling us that this was Prasion.
Why···. What kind of battle was there?
To be honest, this was the first time Ceres had ever seen a city attacked by bugs. In the past, even when she was a member of the Knights, she only occasionally saw combat materials or photos in newspapers.
As Asuna’s vehicle drove into the city, she saw the holy cavalrymen clearing away the rubble of collapsed buildings one by one, and the bodies of the people who couldn’t bear to move began to be trampled on.
Ah···.
Ceres couldn’t bear to see it.
Many. Did so many people die?
Thanks to her, she was convinced.
Why is that man so unreasonable?
Maybe she didn’t want to see these urban landscapes. Even if she had to abuse her own body like that.
The sight of the city resounding with the sound of rain seemed pitiful and lonely somewhere.
Because of this, she somehow quickly wanted to see the man.
It seemed that he would not be able to suppress this nervousness unless he saw how the man was.
“Okay, it’s arrival.”
So, as soon as her vehicle arrived at the hospital, Ceres had no choice but to hurriedly move her steps.
Fortunately, his troops were inside, so it wasn’t difficult to find out where his hospital room was.
Hearing the story, he busily crosses the hallway.
That’s when Netoru arrived at his place.
───Druck
When Ceres arrived, someone opened the door to the hospital room and quickly ran out.
It was a face I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“… Natsuo?”
I inadvertently called out your name,
Perhaps he hadn’t heard that voice, the boy passed Ceres with a face about to cry.
Because it was so sudden, Ceres couldn’t bear to catch up with such a boy.
2.
Dip-dip-dip…
The sound of rain is getting stronger. Karen wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, sensing Natsuo’s disappearance. However, her tears did not stop, and no matter how many times she wiped it, there was no point.
It has to be. My heart hurts so much.
She felt like she knew something she wasn’t supposed to know.
Was it shocking that Natsuo lied to that extent? No, she might have been better off if she had simply lied.
The expression Natsuo showed me earlier was really…
That wasn’t the Natsuo Karen knew. She had such a cowardly expression on her face that I wondered if it was someone else for a moment.
At least, the existing Natsuo Karen knew didn’t make that expression. She would not have cowardly tried to hide her wrongdoing. It was Natsuo whom Karen knew who apologized honestly for her mistakes.
But why?
It was only a month, but Natsuo became like this.
In fact, he might have expected a little. He said that something might have happened to Natsuo.
In fact, as the guy just said, if he had really been in the clock tower to save people, Karen would have been convinced.
But that wasn’t it.
I don’t know why the hell he was there, but when the lie was finally caught, he didn’t say anything.
Rather, he fled cowardly.
A person became like this because of him…
The appearance of not being able to face one’s faults and turning a blind eye to reality really made him look like a grumbling child.
It would have been better to beg for forgiveness than to tell such a clumsy lie. He’d rather have said sorry to your Tohru.
No···. He’d better come back and apologize now.
While the sound of rain still echoed loudly, Karen, who had been sobbing, just stared blankly at Netoru.
As if he had no idea what had just happened, the unconscious Netoru had a calm expression on his face.
Maybe that’s why it felt even more unfamiliar.
Was Netoru originally a man who knew how to make such a calm expression?
Thanks to that, Karen was afraid that Netoru would continue to do this. I wish she would quickly stand up with her usual impudent face and tell me not to worry.
Imagining that.
How could she have looked at him like that?
There was the sound of the bedroom door opening again.
For a moment, I wondered if Natsuo had come to apologize belatedly, but that wasn’t the case.
“Karen. What happened with Natsuo just now…?”
Voice of Ceres… I turned around and saw Ceres looking anxiously from the side of the door. Karen shook her head, unable to hide her teary expression.
“No, nothing.”
“······Is that so.”
Fortunately, Ceres didn’t ask in detail. He just walks into the hospital room with a bitter smile. So Ceres stood quietly in front of Netoru and asked.
“How is Netoru?”
“···I don’t know.”
Karen shook her head. Of course she asked her doctor too. But the answer she got back was that she didn’t know.
I don’t know if it’s traumatic.
This is why the treatment of sexual cavalry pilots was so difficult.
If there is a problem with the magical nervous system, it is difficult to accurately determine the extent of the injury.
Mana nerves are not something that can be seen by others. It was an intangible pseudo-nerve that no one could touch or see.
Therefore, it is possible to accurately estimate the state of the body,
She was only herself.
This is why experienced veterans had fewer overheats and magical exhaustion. The more experience you have, the more you know how far you can use your body.
So, Karen couldn’t help but feel even more upset.
Although she knows her own body better than anyone else,
Yes, Toru did not hesitate to abuse her body even in the end to save Natsuo.
3.
Natsuo left the hospital and ran like crazy.
The sky is hazy. Rainwater hits the body hard. The sound of her pounding thunder resounded.
The rain was getting stronger and the smell of human and bug blood still hung in the city.
Blood of unknown origin. Remnants of a collapsed building. Bugs’ gooey chunks of flesh.
Trampling on those things, Natsuo continued running. She felt like she would go crazy if she didn’t clear her head like this.
Why did this happen?
I didn’t want to do this
I can’t figure out where I went wrong.
Why did I lie there?
I should have told Karen everything. Even if she hates her, that’s right.
A deep sense of regret is cutting through my heart. The boy suffered from the pain, but just ran ahead. He screamed and ran. Eventually, Natsuo reached an alleyway and stopped his legs.
A silent scream emanates from her chest.
Natsuo couldn’t hide his tears.
“·······”
No one here
As if relieved by that fact, Natsuo sat down on the floor, dazed and soaked in rainwater.
And how long did it rain like that?
Thump
Suddenly, footsteps were heard,
“… Kid. Why are you crying?”
A woman put an umbrella over Natsuo’s head and asked insinuatingly.
