A confession between life and death

"L-Lin Feng? No... please, no!"

"How could this happen..."

As that sweet, lilting voice reached him, Lin Feng kept his eyes closed and felt his battered body being slowly lifted. A wonderfully smooth, soft sensation cradled the back of his head, accompanied by the faint floral fragrance unique to that girl.

"Lin Feng... it's all my fault for being so useless. If you hadn't been covering for me, you might have escaped, right?"

"Lin Feng... I'll always remember your bravery and carry on your spirit..."

Arlan knelt on one knee, looking at Lin Feng, who resembled a broken doll. His face was filled with guilt and sorrow.

Even after Dan Heng and March 7th had withdrawn, Lin Feng had shown no intention of fleeing. Instead, he had used himself as bait to draw the attention of every soldier in the Antimatter Legion, until he could no longer resist and the monsters trampled him mercilessly.

To Arlan, Lin Feng must have done all of that without hesitation to cover his escape.

They had only met by chance, yet Lin Feng had gone this far for him. How noble and selfless he was.

Suddenly, Arlan felt that Lin Feng was the true warrior who embodied the Path of Preservation.

"Even after all the long years I've lived and all the cruelty I've witnessed, Lin Feng... you are still the human I respect most!"

"Rest in peace, my dear friend... the stars above will remember everything you were."

With remembrance written on his face, Dan Heng bowed slightly, placing one hand against his shoulder to pay Lin Feng his final respects.

At the cost of his life, Lin Feng had protected not only Little March, but Dan Heng as well.

So even someone as cold and aloof as Dan Heng could not help being moved by the loss of this dear friend.

"That unnamed Star Destroyer... let's call it the Lin Feng from now on..."

"What a shame. Such a wonderful young man, and I never even had the chance to meet him before..."

Looking at Lin Feng, who lay quietly in March 7th's arms with wounds all over his body, Asta's beautiful eyes filled with sorrow too.

It had also surprised Asta that the man behind such heroic feats was so young and handsome.

After all, sacrificing oneself for one's companions without regard for life or death was usually a path chosen by older, more experienced people.

"If only... but there are no ifs in this world..."

"In all the years ahead of me, will I ever have another chance to meet someone like Lin Feng?"

Asta pressed her rosy lips together and drew herself out of her wandering thoughts. For some reason, as she looked at March 7th, she felt a little envious.

They were the same age, both girls with pink hair. Why was March 7th lucky enough to have such a wonderful young man as Lin Feng willing to risk his life to protect her?

Could this thing called love really give someone that much courage? Asta did not understand, but she was deeply shaken.

At that very moment, March 7th, who stood at the center of it all, could no longer contain her emotions.

Her slender, delicate hand gently stroked the horrific wound on Lin Feng's chest. Kneeling on both knees with his head resting on her soft, snow-white thighs, March 7th bowed her head and sobbed quietly. Her beautiful pink eyes held an indescribable sorrow.

Drip, drip... Warm tears slid slowly down her exquisite cheeks like pearls from a broken string, falling onto Lin Feng's pale face.

"Lin Feng, you big idiot... why did you go so far for me?"

"To Dan Heng and Himeko, I'm just a stupid girl who rushes into things. I'm not worth you giving up so much..."

"Do you know... I regret it so much now. Why wasn't I the one who stayed behind?"

"And forgetting you... I could never do that. Never..."

"Your kindness, every little moment we spent together... I'll remember them forever. I won't forget a single thing."

"Lin Feng, you irresponsible jerk... how am I supposed to face all the years ahead..."

As she quietly poured out her heart in a choked voice, March 7th's body trembled uncontrollably.

Her tangled grief surged like a raging tide, utterly swallowing the fragile little boat of hope in her heart.

"Lin Feng, I love you..."

Her rosy lips parted, releasing a voice barely louder than a whisper. A resolute light shone in her tear-clouded eyes.

People said that only after losing someone did you learn to cherish them. Only now did March 7th truly understand her feelings for Lin Feng.

Only Lin Feng, who was playing dead, heard the girl's confession clearly.

Well... looks like I took the act a little too far.

Still, it worked pretty well. At least I got plenty of tears out of Little March, along with my first confession...

Resting his head on Little March's warm, soft, snow-white lap and feeling the soft jelly that occasionally brushed his cheek, Lin Feng was actually quite comfortable. Incidentally, he had also gained a whole new understanding of Little March's size. She really was pretty big.

"March... you have to accept this. No matter how much you say, Lin Feng can't wake up or hear you anymore..."

"Living your life well is the only way to honor his sacrifice..."

Dan Heng stepped up and patted March 7th's shoulder, his face full of emotion as he spoke.

Since there was no undoing what had happened, Dan Heng only hoped March 7th could pull herself together soon, rather than sink into endless guilt and regret.

"That's right. Lin Feng is gone... what we should be thinking about now is making proper arrangements for him."

"If there's anything I can help with, I, Arlan, will gladly do my duty on behalf of the Herta Space Station Security Department!"

Still kneeling on one knee, Arlan's eyes were filled with sincerity and earnest resolve.

"Sigh... I'll contact Ms. Herta personally about this. With her vast knowledge, she'll surely have the best solution!"

"Lin Feng died protecting Herta Space Station. He's a hero who defended Herta. None of you need to worry about these matters. I'll personally take care of his funeral arrangements."

With her delicate hands clasped in front of her chest, Asta wore an utterly sincere expression.

Even if she had not been the lead researcher of Herta Space Station, she would have taken full responsibility for these matters and all the associated expenses.

Because even though Lin Feng was gone, Asta already considered him a dear friend.

W-wait... they're already arranging my funeral?

Are they going to throw in the coffin dance too? Come to think of it... Arlan really could pull that off.

All right... I've acted long enough. Better quit while I'm ahead, before they actually haul me off to be cremated...

Asta really is a good, dependable girl too...

Hearing their words, Lin Feng made a slight mental adjustment to the Super Holographic Image Creator. A faint heartbeat appeared, along with breathing, and his previously rigid body grew a little less cold.