Though everyone was deeply saddened by Miho's departure, they could do nothing to change it. All they could do was spend as much time with her as possible before she left.
Tristan finally worked up the courage to confess to her this time, and everyone helped him come up with ideas and create an opportunity.
Tristan gripped the hem of his shirt, his face bright red as he stumbled over his words. "Miho, I... I know you're leaving, but I still wanted... wanted to tell you..."
He suddenly took a deep breath and blurted out a few lines as though reciting a textbook passage. "My first sin... was meeting you; my second sin... was getting to know you..." His voice grew quieter and quieter until it was almost inaudible, and his palms were slick with sweat. He had copied these lines after poring through romance novels last night, but his nerves had made him forget most of them.
Yet Miho stared at his reddened ears and suddenly laughed, reassuring him, "Don't be nervous. Take your time."
His flustered behavior instead let her see the sincerity hidden beneath his awkwardness.
"Little Ribbon, I... my princess... please allow me to call you that one last time. Your servant has committed ten sins.
"My first sin-meeting you.
"My second sin-getting to know you.
"My third sin-befriending you.
"My fourth sin-delighting in you.
"My fifth sin-missing you.
"My sixth sin-caring for you.
"My seventh sin-watching over you.
"My eighth sin-protecting you.
"My ninth sin-falling for you.
"My tenth sin-loving you.
"Guilty of all ten, your servant deserves a thousand deaths. I'm sorry. Your servant... takes his leave. And this farewell will last a lifetime..."
Snap! His friends, who had been encouraging Tristan from the sidelines, suddenly felt something snap inside their heads.
It was