This... this was going too far...
It was such a trivial little thing to begin with. Why did she have to take it so seriously...
Lynn lay wistfully in her arms, gazing into Miss Azephala's beautiful eyes, filled with complicated emotions. He drew a deep breath and spoke as though he had seen through exactly what she was thinking:
"But... you're my friend."
Azephala pressed her lips together and lowered her head without a word.
Lynn closed his eyes and weakly shifted his body (finding a more comfortable position), speaking in a tone that sounded both teasing and utterly sincere:
"Of course, if Miss Sea Spawn could give me a kiss... that would be even better. Then... no matter how badly I was hurt... I'd feel it was all worthwhile... even if I died, I could probably die happy..."
Clown: "?!!!"
Colossus: "???!"
Everyone's expressions changed drastically. Colossus and the other Origins went pale.
No! No!
How had he suddenly steered the conversation toward this?!
Was this bastard starting to push his luck?! This... this routine felt horribly familiar!
Azephala's body visibly trembled as well. She stared blankly at Lynn lying in her arms. His expression was so earnest, as though he were trying to fulfill one last wish before dying, that she could not detect the slightest trace of acting.
She murmured dazedly, "That's what you want..."
With his eyes closed, Lynn said weakly, "It's... it's fine. I was just saying it. You don't have to take it to heart. Even if there aren't any outsiders here, and it's very quiet, we're friends. How could I... ask you to do something like that..."
Everyone trembled and clenched their fists.
They turned toward Miss Azephala at almost unimaginable speed.
A flicker of conflicted hesitation clearly crossed Azephala's eyes. She gently