As for the furious glares behind her at this opportunistic "jumping the queue" behavior... Akane naturally ignored them. We were only comrades who fought together, after all, and there was only one Ashu.
Besides, if they got the chance, they would do exactly the same without hesitation! Thinking that, Akane felt even less burdened.
"Alright, alright."
Feeling guilty, Ashu only thought Akane was overly excited, finding her rare display of coquettishness endearing.
"Didn't I come back?"
"Then... you won't leave again?"
Another pair of hands clasped his. Nao pressed her palms tightly over his, her eyes filled with nothing but deep affection.
"You'll stay with me... with all of us forever!"
"As long as Ashu stays with us for the rest of his life, I'll help him utterly destroy any enemy, no matter what kind!"
"That's quite the claim. This wildly arrogant blade really has a bit of my old style, huh?"
Naturally, Ashu chose to encourage Nao Midorikawa's passionate declaration... No, wait. Was that killing intent in her eyes practically becoming tangible?
I knew Nao cared deeply about her friends and family, but isn't this a little... too far?
"Is everything really alright...?"
Something just felt off.
"Of course everything's alright! What could possibly be wrong~?"
Reika immediately caught his quiet murmur and gave him an impeccable answer. Before Ashu could say anything else, Yayoi had already joined Nao in grabbing his hand, seeming impatient to lead him somewhere.
"So where exactly are we going?"
"Nowhere in particular. We just want to spend time with Ashu!"
We want Ashu to spend more time with us, so it should be a nice place!
"I don't mind, but—oh! Slow down!"
At that thought, Miyuki, whose face had been smiling all along, revealed such delight in her eyes that she briefly looked