Chapter 45: The Protagonist Prepares for Deployment

The training institution informed us that deployment would begin as early as tomorrow.

On the last day before deployment, I happened to have the day off, so I got called over to Sora-san's house.

...It’s not my first time here, but Sora-san is honestly pretty defenseless. She could’ve invited Kototsuka-san or someone else too.

"What?"

I felt the warmth of her hand tighten around mine as Sora-san shot me a sharp glare.

...Feels like this happened before too.

Compared to back then, Sora-san feels much more stable now.

And if she keeps becoming more stable... does that mean she’ll stop depending on people too?

At the very least, she’s not clinging to me with that lonely look anymore. ...If anything, she seems a little embarrassed about us holding hands right now.

The moment our hands linked, she turned her face away, her cheeks flushing red. Even though she’s always been the one to initiate things like this before.

Then again, we practically connect every day for Connect Link anyway.

"You’ve been staring at me this whole time. Why?"

Sora-san narrowed her eyes. Was I really staring that much?

"Just because."

"What, mesmerized or something?"

"Maybe I am."

"Huh?"

Her shoulders jolted.

For someone who loves teasing people, Sora-san is seriously weak to counterattacks.

Honestly, it was kind of fun.

"Just kidding."

"...You’re so mean."

The way she turned away with a huff was kind of cute too.

...Cute?

Had I ever naturally thought that before?

Sora-san has always been cute. Ever since the day we met.

But now it felt more like... affection.

This is bad. My thoughts are going in a weird direction.

"...Mmh..."

A soft sleeping breath reached my ears. Her hand slowly slipped from mine.

She fell asleep. She really is defenseless.

Her head bobbed slightly, like she was nodding off in her sleep. My eyes drifted to her slender neck.

We’re always together, but seeing her like this, she really does seem small... fragile enough that she could disappear at any moment.

Before I realized it, I was touching her hair.

I gently ran my fingers through it, almost like combing it. Her silky hair slipped smoothly between my fingers.

"Mnh..."

She shifted slightly in response to my touch, her swaying body leaning against the bed.

I pulled my hand away from her hair and touched her cheek instead. My fingers brushed over her smooth skin.

I slowly traced along it with a fingertip before resting my whole hand against her cheek.

Warm.

Alive.

...Only now did it truly sink in that I had saved Sora-san when she nearly died back then.

Maybe saying this is a little dramatic, but...

I really do want to keep living together with this person.

...What am I even doing?

Touching Sora-san without permission while she’s asleep...

Doing something like this is almost—

Almost what?

...Well, whatever.

Slowly, I laid her down properly on the bed.

Watching Sora-san sleep peacefully, I held her hand again.

I told myself it was just because maybe today’s Connect Link still wasn’t enough.

"...Morning."

"Morning, Sora-san."

Apparently, Sora-san had no idea what happened while she was asleep. Well, obviously. If she’d been awake, she probably would’ve made a huge fuss.

Somehow, it felt like my own feelings were getting a little strange too.

"How long are you planning to keep holding my hand?"

Sora-san glared at me after finally noticing we were still holding hands.

"So today you’re more on the masculine side, huh?"

"I was a guy."

"...Huh?"

"Ah—sorry. Forget that. Anyway, how long are you planning to hold it?"

"...Well, I figured it was fine while you were asleep."

"Isn’t something wrong with you?"

"You’re imagining things."

"Hm."

Muttering, "Whatever," Sora-san brushed my hand away.

"You didn’t have to be so rough."

"It’s embarrassing, okay? What’s your deal anyway? You wanna hold hands that badly?"

She said it jokingly, so I decided to tease her a little and answered, "Yeah."

She froze instantly.

"Huh? R-Really...? Uh... why?"

"Maybe your hands feel nice to hold?"

"...Nagisa-kun, you’re joking, right?"

"Haha, you figured it out."

"What, are you getting payback for everything before?"

"Maybe. You give really good reactions, Sora-san."

After all, she was the one who’d said things like dating me or being half-serious about it. Teasing her a little in return should be fair, right?

...Though I guess it was a little mean.

More than anything, I wanted to distract myself from how I’d felt while touching her earlier.

So I spent a little longer enjoying Sora-san’s reactions before heading home.

Still... I kind of wish she’d stop being so defenseless around me.

At this rate, I might end up doing something weird again.

◇◇◇

The next day, we gathered alongside Sora-san and the rest of Blue Sky.

It was finally here.

The same tension I’d felt during the Fifth Deep Calamity Disaster crept back over me.

This time, we still didn’t really know how dangerous things would be.

I took a deep breath and steadied myself.

"U-Um...! I-I’m gonna do my best today too!"

Nishizono-san clenched her fists with determination.

Mountains of rubble stretched out before us. Just beyond them, I could already see the beast-type Deep Calamities.

Curse Seekers and Connectors were gathered everywhere too.

All the teams participating in this operation.

Maybe this really was an all-out battle.

—BZZZT BZZZT

The deployment order came through on our terminals.

"Let’s go, everyone. "Connect Link.""

We tapped hands with one another, establishing our Connect Links.

"Shinozaki-kun, let’s do our best again this time, okay?"

Kisa-san smiled brightly as always.

It was forced cheerfulness—I knew she still carried an emptiness deep inside herself.

But lately... it felt like her smiles were becoming genuine.

"Shinozaki Nagisa, you don’t need to push yourself so hard."

Kototsuka-san wasn’t the expressive type, so even today her face remained nearly emotionless.

But she’s kinder than anyone else. Compared to when we first met, she’s grown much closer to everyone, and even her expressions seem softer now.

"Not Connector... Shinozaki Nagisa, I’m leaving Akegami in your hands."

Shishiba-san spoke bluntly, but she’s basically the tsundere type.

She’s lost family and friends, yet she never lets even the slightest hint of weakness show.

I wish she’d allow herself to, sometimes.

...Still, after that day at the beach, I feel like we became a little closer.

If she trusts me even a little, then I want to live up to that trust.

"U-Um...! I’ll do my best!"

I still didn’t really understand Nishizono-san. She mostly just seemed connected to Sora-san somehow.

I’d like for us to get along moving forward too, though maybe we won’t end up especially close.

"Let’s go, Nagisa-kun."

What about Sora-san?

I still don’t really know how to describe the connection between me and her.

But at the very least, she’s someone precious to me.

"Everyone, let’s move."

That’s why I have to defeat this enemy safely too—so all of us can continue living peaceful lives together afterward.

I’ll have to use Abaddon’s power...

But no matter what, I’ll make sure Sora-san comes back alive.

With my resolve set, I tightened my grip around the hand connected to hers.

""Saint Arts" — "Lance.""

Spears of light rained down like a storm.