They had really mastered the art of lying in wait...
Elsewhere.
In a certain familiar little grove.
"Kanao, you can stop now. We've already gotten away from them."
Su Chen's voice suddenly rang out, and Kanao Tsuyuri, who had been running desperately ahead, finally stopped in a daze.
"What's wrong?" Only then did Su Chen notice that, for some reason, Kanao's...
Face was flushed, and she kept panting.
She looked as though she had done some heavy labor and was utterly exhausted.
"Are you too tired?" Su Chen asked with concern.
At his words, Kanao's face grew even redder.
"I... I'm not..."
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Kanao simply couldn't get them out.
Her face grew as red as a ripe apple, one that seemed ready to fall.
The girl lowered her head, burying it against her chest, her cheeks burning.
Su Chen gently patted Kanao's shoulder. "It's all right. I'm back, aren't I? Don't worry."
The moment those words reached Kanao's ears, tears streamed down her face.
It was abrupt, but Kanao really did feel terribly distressed.
Su Chen had been captured because of her.
And she hadn't had the ability to bring him back.
All this time, Kanao had felt empty inside every day.
And she was always consumed by an overwhelming sense of guilt.
But now.
Su Chen was standing right before her.
Why couldn't I bring myself to speak?
There was so much I wanted to say.
Yet in the end, she couldn't say a single word, and Kanao suddenly felt utterly useless.
The sun slowly climbed to the mountaintop, casting dappled light and shadow through the grove.
Su Chen raised his hand, lightly cupping a patch of golden sunlight.
He offered it to the girl.
His voice was gentle.