“I lost…”
My murmur melted away into the audience’s cheers.
“I… lost…”
……
Ahaha… but, I really did my best.
I made it all the way to the semi-final! Impressive. Amazing!
As if.
Still, I tried to console and encourage myself.
“I lost… Yuno… Athena-sama… big sister…” were the miserable and sad words that overflowed into words.
I rubbed my eyes and bit down hard on nothing, unable to stop my tears.
Get into the final, and fight Yuno – then Athena-sama will become more famous, and I’ll get some self-confidence –– was how it was supposed to have gone.
So I could think ‘I’m not incompetent. I’m not a loser.’ –– that was how it was supposed to have gone.
“…”
This is so frustrating…
“…hic…”
Don’t cry. Then you’ll have lost completely.
I was the weaker of the two of us. That’s all it was.
I’m sure Yuno or big sister wouldn’t have lost.
“…”
I was gripping my spear so hard my hand began to tremble.
I wanted to hold it up into the air.
To show how hard I had worked, and for the sake of Athena-sama.
And then, and then, with my gratefulness towards Yuno, ––
“––Hey, you.”
The voice brought me back to the present.
It belonged to the boy in front of me, Maro Burn if I remembered correctly.
“R-un”
“…Eh?” I said reflexively, unable to understand what he had meant.
And then––
“H-hey!”
Maro-kun suddenly crouched down with a painful look on his face.
And, as I tried to step towards Maro-kun in a panic––
––a blast of wind hit me.
“…!”
The wind so strong I could hardly keep my eyes open scared me for some reason, making me step back.
And when I tried to get a grasp on what was happening––
–––– I froze.
“What… is that––…?”
It was black.
Black, black, Black.
It was pitch black.
That blackness spread out, overflowing from Maro-kun.
At the same time, the magic beasts that had surrounded me until then mixed together in the sky––
“…A……Eh…?”
Two red eyes stared at me.
They weren’t your usual eyes though. They were big and scary and, and, and…!
I could feel my heartbeat pick up as my mind turned blank.
But that wasn’t all.
My body began to tremble all on its own.
“Stop…”
I could tell. It was looking at me.
I’m scared.
It’ll attack me if I move.
I’m scared. I’m scared.
“I’m not tasty…?”
Each time its black wings flapped, my hair hit my cheek.
Our eyes –– met.
It was staring at me. Nowhere else.
I’m scared I’m scared I’m scared…!
“…Please… move…!”
But my legs wouldn’t move.
They just trembled, not listening to a word I said.
And not just my legs. My arms, my head, even my eyelids.
––The big black magic beast changed its posture.
That instant, I had a bad premonition.
I can’t do anything. I can’t do anything! I’m going to…!
Strength left my body. The spear fell out of my hand.
What are you doing…! That’s the one thing you shouldn’t have done…!
I felt something slide down my cheeks.
I don’t know whether it was cold sweat or tears.
“…Help.” my mouth moved.
But I doubt anybody heard that.
There were plenty of strong people in the stands, after all.
And the wind was also loud.
The sound of the wind so strong I was having trouble just staying standing had stayed.
“Help… big sister”
Still, I couldn’t help it.
It was around then when I noticed it had been tears streaking down my cheeks after all.
I’m so pitiful. But, I’m scared.
I was so scared I could hardly stand it.
“Help… Lloyd-sama… kami-sama…”
The moment those words left my mouth, the black bird I had locked eyes with the whole time disappeared.
Then –– an even stronger blast of wind hit me.
…I know it. I know it! It didn’t disappear!
It’s so fast I can’t see it…!
Help…! Help…!
“…!”
––I could see it. That clump of blackness was already right in front of me––
“Help… Yuno!”
––It’s no use anymore.
I shut my eyes, waiting for the inevitable.
Suddenly, I felt light, like I was floating.
Surprised, I opened my eyes––
What greeted my eyes was the sight of a boy’s black hair, blowing in the wind.
I could feel the warmth of his body.
I heard shouts and even cheers.
…He’s here.
He… saved me…
“Yuno…!”
“––Sorry for the wait, Tina,” he said, looking at me with a grin on his face.
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