Chapter 296 - Moon's Guidance, Starlight Lantern
(1)
"Good morning, Toya-kun."
"...Good morning."
I replied and stroked Airi's head.
"Hehe~"
Airi laughed and clung to me.
"It's morning already, time for our daily routine."
So she hadn't forgotten.It wouldn't be fair to let Airi carry too much stress either.
"Here we go!"
I put some spirit into it, lifted my upper body, and got out of bed.I changed clothes and told Airi I was going, but she seemed down.She looked troubled. She was sitting on the bed, hugging her knees.I sat down next to her and put my arm around her shoulder.
"What's wrong?"
Airi shook her head.
"Did I do something?"
"It's not that~... It's my problem, so it's got nothing to do with you, Toya-kun. Don't worry."
Airi's problem, worrying since morning... Makoto said something about that, now that I think of it.
"Don't tell me you're pregnant, Airi!?"
Thump
"It's nothing like that! When I'm seriously worrying about something... Ah!"
Airi quickly covered her mouth.
"I told you before, didn't I? I'll listen to your complaints properly, so let's think about it together, okay?"
"...Ugh. Can it wait until after I get ready in the morning?"
"Anytime is fine."
"Then let's do our routine first, okay?"
We finished our routine, ate breakfast, changed, made coffee, and waited for Airi in the room.Airi came back from her shower, changed, and started putting on makeup.The news was in an uproar about the car chase.The incident was being handled as a violent act by a biker gang, but the Red Society ended up having all its branches raided.Still, it seemed there were some branches they hadn't fully identified yet.They did know the parent company of the Red Society.Apparently it was a joint investment by the Takahashi Group and the Sudo Group.That was something discovered by investigating IRIS.That information had already been leaked to the media.The Sudo chairman had apparently been admitted to a major local hospital.They also knew that was just a cover to disappear.Having Makoto around helped, but even so, weren't they revealing their hand too easily?That question arose when I heard the keyword, "Truth needs no love."It was probably some kind of code.But I still couldn't grasp what the "truth" even was.
"Ugh..."
I noticed Airi grabbing my arm and sitting down next to me.I'd zoned out again.I was supposed to listen to Airi's complaints.I stroked Airi's hair and gently hugged her.
"What's wrong, my cute bride?"
"Um, it might trouble you, Toya-kun, but is that okay?"
Compared to the problems I was dealing with now, Airi's worries were nothing.
"It's fine. Go ahead and tell me."
"Okay, it's about this morning..."
Hearing that, I laughed.Airi pouted a little, saying, "You don't have to laugh! I'm seriously worried here!"Airi's worries were always really cute things.She was troubled that I didn't wake up easily in the morning, but also that when I did get up and get ready quickly, she felt lonely. She just wanted to cuddle more.I put my head together with Airi and thought.
"How about waking up a little earlier?"
"Then you'd die from lack of sleep, Toya-kun."
"That would be a problem. But I can't just ignore you being troubled, Airi."
"Ugh... I knew it, I troubled you after all, didn't I?"
Airi seemed a bit down.
"Then there's only one way, isn't there?"
"What is it?"
"I'll finish getting ready as fast as I can and make time to cuddle with you."
"Can you really do that?"
"No phone in the morning. That alone should make a difference, right?"
"Can you really?"
"I promise. I'll even accept a penalty game."
"A penalty game, huh~"
Airi was thinking.I thought she might say something like confiscating my phone.
"Okay, I've decided... I won't do a penalty game~. Let's look at your phone together, Toya-kun?"
"Huh?"
"Let's cuddle while messing with your phone~. You don't have anything on there you wouldn't want me to see, right?"
"Ah, no. From Makoto..."
I never know what that guy will send.
"You don't, right?"
In times like this, it was probably best to obediently comply.
"Alright."
"Then it's settled."
Airi said that and immediately clung to me.I gently accepted her.Then my phone rang right away.It was probably from Makoto or Watanabe-kun, right?I could deal with it at lunch.I thought that and left it alone.But Airi picked up my phone and started fiddling with it.And there it was, already sent this morning.
"Watch this together and get in the mood."
With that message attached.Airi's good mood soured visibly.She switched to her own phone and started typing.
"Stop sending weird videos to Toya-kun! That's always what starts our fights!"
"Toya, why are you snitching to Tosaka-san! If Kanna saw this...!"
You're the one who wrote to watch it together, Makoto.And even if you think that kind of thing, it's better not to say it out loud...Kanna would probably see it anyway, right?
"Sorry, Airi! This idiot still doesn't get it. I'll give him a piece of my mind."
A message came back from Kanna.
"Come on, butting into a guys' conversation like that is a bit much, don't you think? You wouldn't like it if we butted into a girls' conversation, right?"
Watanabe-kun stepped in to mediate.
"Girls don't send videos like this to each other!"
"I thought we'd established last time that it can't be helped for guys..."
"Makoto goes way over the line!"
"Eita!! Don't think you're off the hook just because it's not about you! I've got dirt on you too!"
Even Ai-san?Seems like there's a Judas among the guys.
"Is that from Sakura?"
Hiyama-senpai spoke up, practically outing himself.
"Yeah, but Hiyama-senpai, you've seen it too!?"
"I was just talking with Sakura about how stuff like that gets posted in the guys' group chat. We were laughing about it."
So Hiyama-senpai was the Judas after all.
"Well, let's all get together at lunch break or something."
Watanabe-kun said, but everyone was still arguing heatedly.This lunch break was going to be a mess...
(2)
"You idiot!! I told you before, didn't I!? Think about how your girlfriend feels when she sees her boyfriend looking at weird stuff and doing weird things!"
Kanna started right away.
"I wasn't doing anything weird."
"Then why is Airi mad?"
"I made a promise with Toya-kun~. He said he'd cuddle with me slowly in the morning, so I suggested we look at his phone together. Then Makoto-kun sent a message saying to watch this and get pumped up, so I just told him off."
When Airi said that, Watanabe-kun remarked, "Tosaka-san, you're so lucky."
"Toya, you're fundamentally wrong, aren't you? For morning... stuff, Tosaka-san is more than enough, right?" Tasuku said, and Airi happily replied, "Toya-kun says he doesn't want to use his wife just for that~♪ He says he wants to do it with real feelings~."
"You're one to talk, Tasuku. You know Sakura-san's body so well you could probably point out where her moles are," I said, and Airi added, "Toya-kun said he remembered them before too, didn't he~."
"What about Ishihara-kun, Sakai-kun, Nakajima-kun, Manabe-kun, and Takemoto-kun?" Watanabe-kun asked.
"I prioritize Saki's feelings over my own desires," Takemoto-kun replied.
"I'm not really sure about that part. The other person is an adult," Manabe-kun seemed troubled.
"We rarely get to spend nights together. So when we do meet, I make sure to do it properly," Nakajima-kun said.
Ishihara-kun and Sakai-kun apparently rarely did it. That seemed to bother Emi-san and Akira-san.Still, Emi-san seemed satisfied that he at least did it on special days.Ishihara-kun must have it tough. Studying, part-time jobs, and suddenly dropping in missions. Plus dealing with Emi-san.When I said that, Ishihara-kun laughed and said, "Missions pay, so they're basically like part-time jobs."I definitely wouldn't want to take on dangerous part-time jobs like that.Sakai-kun was in a similar situation, but apparently Akira-san was usually the one to initiate. He even complained that he wished Zen-kun would invite him sometimes.
"What about you, Watanabe-kun?"
"I take care of her on my days off. Though Mika's the one who initiates more often."
"Doesn't Mika-san complain about that?"
Sakai-kun seemed worried about it.
"I think of it as a good sign. It tells me Mika's in the mood. So I make sure to be gentle with her."
"I see~"
Sakai-kun still seemed troubled about something.
"I've said it before, but guys just have a nature they can't help. I hope you all understand that."
Watanabe-kun said.
"I understand~ That's why I watch with Toya-kun~. But sometimes Makoto-kun sends really bad stuff~."
Airi said that watching those videos with me was embarrassing and troublesome when he sent really bad ones.
"That's up to Toya's judgment. You should make a rule not to imitate anything you think Tosaka-san wouldn't be okay with."
Watanabe-kun said.
"Yeah, you're right," I replied.
Kanna had been quiet for a while. What was wrong?
"I thought I was accepting of Makoto, but is it still not enough?"
"You're doing plenty, Kanna. I would have started a fight by now."
"It might be necessary to correct Makoto-kun's habits."
Airi and Emi-san said.
"That kind of thing is their problem, so basically they have to solve it themselves. It's not for us to say this or that."
Watanabe-kun said.
"Still, the women in our group are really strong. In many ways."
"That's not right, Watanabe-kun. Isn't it more that the men aren't reliable enough, so it looks that way?"
Emi-san replied to Watanabe-kun.
"Well, I guess that's true too."
Watanabe-kun gave a wry smile.
"But it's been a while since we had a talk like this, hasn't it? We haven't had one recently."
Ishihara-kun said.
"I guess that means we've got some breathing room now."
Watanabe-kun replied.
"I like this kind of topic better. It's peaceful, above all."
Airi said.
"They say the viewing will be best around the end of this month, so I'm tentatively arranging it for that day..."
"Basketball should be over by then."
Sakura-san said to Watanabe-kun.
"Then let's work hard to get everything settled by that day. What, we've got all the cards we need. All that's left is to attack."
"Are you sure about that?"
I said to Watanabe-kun.
"What do you mean by that, Toya?"
Watanabe-kun asked me. Everyone was staring at me intently.
"Did you see the morning news?"
"The car chase thing? They can't even cover it up on public broadcasting, can they?"
Emi-san answered.
"Is that all? It was on commercial stations too. They're showing too much of their hand."
"Isn't it just that they can't hide it anymore since the IRIS thing was exposed?"
Saki-san said.I nodded.
"Right. It's like they're selling out information on Urbanity, the Red Society, and the Sudo Group to try and distract from the IRIS information."
In fact, reports about IRIS had completely stopped. Was it because other topics were flashier? Or because the IRIS information was being suppressed?
"When we were fighting Egoist, we got attacked by Nidhogg and they disappeared in the confusion, right? The situation feels similar to that."
"When you put it that way, Toya, it really does feel that way."
Watanabe-kun nodded.
"Come to think of it, the IRIS reports have stopped... It should be a huge story. I thought it was just pressure from the agency, but it's strange, isn't it? Especially since the file also contained the connections of that agency."
Takemoto-kun said.
"The Red Society has four units, right? So there are two left?"
"No, just one."
I answered Manabe-kun's question immediately.
"Why? Because 4 minus 2 equals 2, right?"
"No, Airi. It's 3 minus 2 equals 1. They made it look like there were four cards, but one is a dead card."
"How can you be so sure?"
Akira-san said.
"Considering the meaning of the cards, Pentacle probably has a different role."
"I see... So that's it. The only one left is the Rod, huh."
When Akira-san said that, I nodded.
"This is all assuming they've been using all their cards every time, though."
Besides, the main threat was the Death unit.Death would attack over and over.Exactly, Death that kept coming again and again.The quickest way would be to suppress the Devil, but that would still take time.Think, me.If I were the Devil, what would I aim for?A new bargaining chip?Or... steal the opponent's cards?Both were effective.But why target IRIS?
Truth needs no love.
Did "truth" refer to IRIS?If so, I had a vague grasp of the keyword's meaning.But the specific word it pointed to wouldn't come to me.Rising Sun?I'd heard that was a term for Japan.Was it something that big? Could an organization that large really exist in just a local area?I was lost in thought while listening to everyone talk.
"What do you think, Toya-kun?"
Airi suddenly turned the conversation to me.
"Huh? Sounds good to me."
I thought I'd just gone along with it.But apparently, it was obvious to Airi.
Thump
"I was talking about Kanna! How to fix Makoto-kun's bad habits!"
"Ah, right. Sorry."
"Boo~. You weren't listening after all! The real topic was 'Why is he so fixated on IRIS?'..."
I'd been thinking the same thing.
"Toya seems to have some idea. Got any leads?"
"It's not that I have nothing... but it's not solid enough to say with confidence yet. I'll tell you when I figure it out."
"So there are things even Toya-kun can't figure out even when he racks his brain."
Airi looked troubled.Rack his brain...?At that moment, I caught a glimpse of the electronic dictionary Ishihara-kun was holding.Come to think of it, "ritter" meant knight in German, right? Then the "S" was...?
"Toya-kun, it's almost time."
Was it already that late?We hurried to the classroom.
"Thinking too much is bad for you, you know?"
Airi was worried about me.
"Thanks."
I lightly stroked Airi's head, and she happily linked her arm with mine.While keeping Airi company, I sent a message to Makoto.
"Find the important-looking ones from the RS keywords."
"Got it. Can we meet tonight?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
Thump
"What's wrong, Airi?"
"Making plans for tonight without asking me again. Aren't you going to spend time with me?"
"You're coming too, Airi."
"Is it another Unity activity?"
"Well, yeah."
"You really can't be helped..."
"Sorry."
"It's okay. It's your role, Toya-kun. Can't be helped."
Airi's expression as she said that looked somehow lonely.I wasn't strong enough to just say "yeah" after making her say that.I whispered in Airi's ear.
"Are you free tonight?"
"Huh?" Airi turned to look at me.I smiled.
"Am I being selfish again?"
"Didn't I tell you not to make fun of a guy's sex drive?"
"You really can't be helped..."
Airi's face as she said that was smiling.
(3)
At lunch break, on the school rooftop.
"I heard he was safely transported last night."
"It's hard to call it safe, though."
"I thought Makoto-kun was perfect, but I guess not. He apparently didn't notice they were being detected."
"There's nothing easier to break than someone who thinks they're perfect."
"True... That applies to you too, my beautiful one."
"I've told you before, haven't I? You're never going to change that way of addressing me."
Naru didn't seem to dislike it as much as before. Maybe she'd just given up.
"But there's something that bothers me, along with yesterday's incident."
Naru said.
"What is it?"
"Why are they so fixated on the Emperor and Empress, and the Pope and High Priestess? As if those two still have cards to play..."
"I wonder about that. It might be a way to divert attention to those four while hiding something important."
"Did you tell Unity about that?"
"I did, for now. Katagiri-kun seemed to understand."
"You understand too, don't you? What they're trying to hide?"
"Well, I think it's probably about IRIS."
"That card has already been discarded, hasn't it? What value could it possibly have now?"
"Maybe there's a secret we don't know yet. I can't tell that far."
We were meeting tonight, so I'd discuss it with everyone then.That was when it happened.Motorcycles and luxury cars came screeching through the school gate, cutting their tires.
"Kosei and Naru!! Come out here!! We're the Red Society's special unit, 'Sword'!! You bastards!!"
Again...
The teachers seemed to have a plan ready. They immediately called the police.
"All students outside, evacuate into the school building immediately. I repeat..."
Everyone rushed into the school building.We couldn't be sure we wouldn't be targeted either.I glanced at Naru's face, and we slipped into the building, checking the situation outside.A girl who hadn't made it in time was caught.The crying girl was screaming.
"If you don't want this cute girl's face to get hurt, hand over Kosei and Naru now! I'll give you three minutes!"
Can't be helped.I went to the entrance hall to get my shoes and headed for the front door.Naru followed me.
"I can't let you face danger."
"We've had this exchange before. I'm not scared if it's the two of us."
We exchanged that look. Then we walked out the front door together.The leader-type man seemed to notice us.
"You caused us trouble last time. But this time, you're dying quietly."
"What if I say no?"
"Too bad, but I'm ordered to kill you."
"By who?"
"The boss."
"So there's someone higher up than you?"
"I didn't come here to chat. Die!!"
The man swung down a Japanese sword.A large man grabbed his arm and punched him in the face with his other fist, sending him reeling.
"Naru, Kosei. You okay?"
Haruto looked at us and said he'd come on Katagiri-kun's orders.He told us to go back inside the building, then turned around and taunted the stunned men, beckoning them.
"Kill them all!"
A large group of men attacked.Haruto dodged them while landing blows.Shiratori-san, who had been covering his back hidden behind his large frame, also took them down one after another.By the time the police arrived, they had subdued every last one of them.She explained the situation to the police.But even the police found it hard to believe.That just two people could subdue this many men in such a short time.We also explained the situation.The men were taken into police custody for now.
"Are Kosei and the others okay?"
Haruto said.So he'd read that... which meant?
"Are Katagiri-kun and the others also investigating IRIS?"
"Truth needs no love. I was told to pass that on."
"So that's the Emperor's trump card?"
"Seems like it. Do you understand? The seniors seem to be struggling with it too."
I didn't understand at all. I got the intent, but it took a little time to grasp the meaning.
"There was one more thing."
"What?"
"'The Hermit' is still just one. That's what he said too."
I had a hunch about that meaning.If so, the next step was identifying the Hierophant.I had a rough idea.Because I knew the Dragon's identity. Considering the Hierophant's position, it was obvious, right?Just then, I heard a car explosion.When I stepped out of the school gate, I felt like I'd wandered into a bizarre world.A large woman in armor was driving a chainsaw into the engine of a burning police car.Police officers fired at her, but the bullets bounced off her armor, and she didn't even flinch.The woman seemed to notice us, slowly turned around, and grinned.The moment she smiled, she charged at us with incredible speed.Her momentum alone seemed enough to shatter rocks.
"Kosei, get back!"
Haruto firmly caught the charging woman.He slid back a few meters but stopped her charge.
"Haruto... What do you mean by hugging a woman other than me?"
"It couldn't be helped!"
"Then let go already."
Saying that, Shiratori-san aimed her Beretta 92FS.
"I'd love to punish a wicked femme fatale who seduces countless good men right here, but I'm busy today. I'll let you off this time. My name is Ando Natsuko, also known as the 'Steel Lady.'"
The woman said that, then got on her motorcycle. The tires seemed about to scream under the weight, but she sped off nimbly.
"Wicked femme fatale...? Is she talking about me? Am I wicked, Haruto?"
"No way. Haruna is an innocent girl. I guarantee it."
The exchange between these two was out of place too, but one monstrous person after another kept appearing.After that, all students were ordered to go home as an emergency measure.
(4)
At the family restaurant.
"Toya, I looked into it. That 'RS' thing you mentioned... but nothing came up."
"I figured..."
Makoto said, and I replied. So "racking my brain" was the right approach after all.
"Toya, what is RS?"
Makoto and Kanna asked.Then Kosei answered.
"IRIS is the truth. There's no doubt about that. And it doesn't need love, right? Think about it a little."
"Doesn't need love...?"
"Ah, that's it! So that's what RS means!"
Makoto seemed to get it.
"I thought so too, but it seems different."
"Toya doesn't think so, right?"
"Well, yeah."
Watanabe-kun said, and I replied.
"That's your bad habit, Toya. Stop being so roundabout and just get to the point."
Tasuku said, so I moved to the next step.
"Makoto, can you search for 'ritter'?"
"? Ah, got it."
Makoto started searching.
"'Ritter' means 'knight' in German, right?"
Ai-san said.
"That's right."
"Why did you choose that word?"
"It was a flash of inspiration."
"Huh?"
Ai-san made a sound?
"Toya-kun, are you sure that kind of wild guess is really going to work~?"
Saki-san said.
"I hear inspiration is necessary for deciphering codes."
Airi explained.
"The trigger was Ishihara-kun opening his German electronic dictionary at lunch."
While I was explaining, Makoto seemed to have found something.
"Found it! A word that hit. 'Sonnenritter'... Would you read it as 'Zonnenritter'?"
"It means 'Sun Knight' in German."
Ishihara-kun translated.
"Then, I'll open it..."
"Wait!"
I stopped Makoto.
"Just to be safe, I'll ask. The information from here on is probably more dangerous than the Egoist info. Only those who are okay with that..."
"It's too late for that now, Katagiri-senpai."
Manabe-kun said.
"We can't get off the train halfway now. Right?"
Manabe-kun said, and everyone nodded.
"Makoto, open it..."
When Makoto opened the file, it asked for a password.
"What do we do? Force our way through?"
Makoto asked.
"The world of the end, huh... 'Endia.'"
Airi suddenly uttered a strange word.
"Ah, it was in the lyrics of an old song. It just came to me."
"Then I'll try that... Bingo!!"
Makoto seemed to have broken through the gate.
"Good job, Airi."
"Hehe~"
I stroked Airi's head, and she was delighted.
"Amazing... this... It's got almost all the major local companies!"
Makoto gasped, looking at the laptop screen.
The list on the screen was lined with famous companies, led by the ones rumored to be the three great evil corporations of the area.It would be faster to list the famous companies that weren't shown.Next, major local politicians were listed regardless of party affiliation.
"In local politics like this, getting support from companies is more important than getting support from political parties," Emi-san explained.
Hiyama-senpai was speechless. Which made sense, since the first thing listed was the local bank.The three great evil corporations of the area, the local bank, the joint newspaper, and the department store—all four were there.
"I need to ask my father about this..."
Hiyama-senpai muttered.
"A file that could overturn the local foundations from the ground up... That's exactly what it is..."
"We can't back down now..."
Watanabe-kun said.That's what I said from the start.
"I never planned to go back anyway! If it's come to this, I'm seeing it through to the end!"
"Don't worry about jobs, everyone. I'll get you hired at companies under my family's umbrella," Emi-san said."I'll support you too, if it's that kind of help," Akira-san said."I can do it too, that kind of support," Shiratori-san said.
I guess I'd have to give up on working at the local bank too?I gave a wry smile.
"The question is where to leak this data."
"Not yet."
Makoto said, and I answered.
"But if they notice, they'll delete it!"
"You can make copies, right?"
"Well, I did. But if they call it a fabricated file, that's the end of it."
"Even if we leak it now, the crucial part isn't there."
"What is it?"
"The Hierophant's true identity."
"...I see. If we're going to do it, we need to take them out in one shot, huh."
Makoto seemed convinced.
"But taking too much time isn't a good strategy."
Shiratori-san said.Shiratori-san told us what had happened at Kosei's school today.
"So another monster-like person showed up."
Sakai-kun sighed.
"We should probably assume Death has started moving in earnest. We can't underestimate the opponent's hacker skills either. That villa is dangerous too. It's not a place we can stay for long."
Kosei said.
"All the more reason to be cautious. If they stop caring about appearances, they might try to escape midway."
"But it's also true that the danger to us is increasing. Wouldn't it be better to cut our losses soon?"
Opinions were split.What should we do? I could understand both arguments... Should we give up on catching them all? Or...
Bang!!
"Everyone, please calm down~! If we panic now, we're playing right into their hands~. ...Have you forgotten~? That we have the advantage."
Sakura-san said.It was true that our position was overwhelmingly advantageous. But to achieve a perfect victory without any casualties...
"Katagiri-senpai said we're one step away, so let's do our best~. It'd be embarrassing to lose to just one old hag."
"Right. We're one move away from checkmate. That's why we need to be careful. Death is just a desperate last resort. We've pushed them to the point where they can't afford to care about appearances anymore. It's a short fight left. Let's do our best."
When Sakura-san and Watanabe-kun said that, everyone quieted down.I needed that one last step. But that step felt so far away.
"The commander won't get any good ideas if he's tired, right? Let's go home and rest for today?"
When Airi said that, everyone agreed.
"Then, I'll contact you if anything comes up."
Watanabe-kun said that, and everyone dispersed.We went home too and returned to our room.
"So, Toya-kun, what should we do?"
"Huh?"
"You've already decided on the next move, haven't you? Even if you're not sure it'll be the finishing blow."
"...Well, yeah."
I stroked the head of Airi, who was cheering "Yay, I was right~!"
I sent a direct message to Naru's ID.
"The relationship between Urbanity and Egoist is as written in IRIS, right?"
The reply came after a while.
"Yes, that's correct."
"The Hermit is one person... That's certain too, right?"
"Yes."
"Is the Hierophant protected by the Dragon?"
"...Humans cannot control dragons."
"I understand. Thank you."
"No, but how did you know that?"
"I just wanted to confirm it. It looks like I can finally clear the last tower."
"When will judgment be passed on the world?"
"Soon."
"Understood."
"Well, goodnight."
That cleared things up.Now, let's get some good sleep for tomorrow.
Thump
"It's unfair to figure it all out by yourself! I couldn't understand a word of it!"
"In the end, a dragon is also a parent. And children don't just dance in their parents' palms."
"?"
"The rest is how to drag those two onto the stage."
"I still don't get it~"
Airi hugged me.
"I'm sure you'll understand soon."
"I want to know now!"
What a troublesome bride.I explained it carefully to Airi.
"...So that's what it was!"
She finally seemed to understand.
"As expected, Toya-kun is amazing. To get there without any hints at all."
"I could see it. The guidance of the moon shining in the night sky. The starlight lantern led me to the answer."
"I couldn't see anything~. It's because you're Toya-kun that you can see it!"
"...Maybe so."
Airi hugged me happily.
"Ugh..."
Now what?
"What's wrong?"
"...It's nothing. I said I'd let you rest early because you're tired. Let's go to bed soon?"
Airi's voice sounded lonely.
"Well, goodnight."
"...Goodnight."
Saying that, I turned off the lights, and we both got into bed.
"Ah..."
I could hear Airi's voice along with her breathing.No matter how dark the night, if you focus your eyes, you can see the moon's guidance, the starlight lantern.All that's left is to act on the flash of inspiration.Surely, that is the path without regrets.