Become What You Want to Be (15)

She wondered why Kagami had entrusted her to the Hero’s party and gone to fetch Takako. At first, she’d thought she would only get in the way of him finding Takako quickly. In an emergency like this, it was only natural to do things as efficiently as possible, so she’d assumed that was why he’d left her with the Hero’s party.

She’d thought he had given up. There was nothing they could do now that things had come to this, so she’d assumed Kagami was simply trying to do the best he could under the circumstances.

But she was wrong.

Kagami hadn’t given up. If the city were taken, it would be almost impossible to heal the wounds that would leave. But if it wasn’t taken, there was still a chance things could be salvaged. The people’s hatred wouldn’t consume them so completely that reconciliation became impossible. The fact that the city had been attacked wouldn’t change, but the humans’ victory would be celebrated, and their hatred would subside. After all, no one should have lost anything yet.

Kagami still hadn’t given up on the relationship between demons and humans. That was why he had entrusted her to the Hero’s party. That was why, when they hesitated to agree, he’d asked them sincerely, wearing a troubled expression. He wanted to do everything he could.

“He’s so kind... Kagami-san really is...!”

Kagami was doing everything he could to support her dream. She felt pathetic and ashamed for having been anxious and half given up herself, and she regretted it. As if to pour all those indescribable feelings into her run, Alice charged toward the western gate.

“With strides that small, it’ll take you ages to get there.”

A moment later, Takako raced up behind her and said this. Alice was scooped up in a single smooth motion and cradled in Takako’s arms. Even carrying Alice, Takako didn’t slow down at all.

“Takako-san... Kagami-san!”...