Claustrophobia (Part Two)

"Reilo."

As Lola's oxygen supply was restored, the weakness in her face gradually faded. She regained consciousness and called out instinctively.

Reilo hurriedly helped her sit up.

"Just now, I..."

Lola was about to say something, but Reilo gently pressed a finger to her lips, his face full of apology.

"Don't say anything. It was my fault. I know everything. I didn't rescue you from that claustrophobic environment in time because I didn't want you to live forever with that worry, always afraid you might fall into that unknown isolation at any moment."

"Mm."

Lola didn't blame Reilo. She simply nestled gently against him and slowly closed her eyes.

"Reilo, just before I passed out, I admit that I was scared. I was really frightened when I was suffocating from lack of oxygen. I was afraid I'd never see you again..."

Reilo spoke softly to soothe her.

He wasn't good at saying such tender things and didn't know how to elevate the tenderness of the moment, so he changed the subject.

"Just as I suspected, the Superhuman who descended this time is fundamentally different from the Superhumans I've studied and observed before. He actually left your body on his own just now, to show me his power."

Reilo took the other being's confirmation as a show of force, just like all the Superhumans before him. They seemed to look down on him the way they would an insect at their feet, with utter disdain.

Lola slowly opened her eyes and looked at Reilo.

Having another hostile, terrifying life-form parasitizing her body—an alien ready to devour and replace her at any moment—was not a pleasant feeling.

If Reilo had shown even a trace of panic or terror, as if he didn't know what to do, Lola knew she would have succumbed