Kei was surprised by what I just said.

Kei: What exactly do you mean?

Hikai: Do you remember our promise when we met for the first time?

Kei: Yes.

Hikai: I don’t think you’ve noticed but I also forgot about it.

Kei: Eh?

Hikai: I also forgot about it.

Kei didn’t answer. Her face looked surprised.

Kei: I see.

Then her expression changed and she looked depressed.

Kei: I’m such an idiot.

She then spoke to herself. I listened to her.

Kei: He already forgot about me so why was I expecting him to remember about that?

She then looked up to the ceiling.

Kei: Ahhhh, I’ve been waiting this whole time. I’m such an idiot.

I could see a single tear flow on her face.

Hikai: I…

Kei: Shut up.

I wanted to say something but she stopped me.

Kei: It’s fine already.

She then started to walk towards me.

Kei: Our talk is over. Go, someone else is waiting for you.

She passed by me and I could hear a very weak voice.

Kei: Hah

I couldn’t clearly hear it but I could feel her sadness emanating from her as she walked pass.

Hikai: I…..

Kei didn’t stop and kept walking.

Diana: What are you going to do?

Diana suddenly spoke to me.

Hikai: I don’t know.

Diana: Are you just going to let her go?

Hikai: Then should I stop her? What would be the point?

Diana: It won’t matter if you’re not the one who decides. You should decide while you still can. Doing nothing is the worst feeling.

Hikai: But I..

Diana: Just remember. At least the one you made a promise to is still alive. So you can still do something about it.

I could feel Diana’s sadness.

Diana: Sorry, I don’t feel well. I’m going to go now. I hope you make a choice that you don’t regret. Both of us have already lost a lot.

Hikai: I see. Thank you, Diana.

Diana made me realize what I should do.

Hikai: Let’s do this. I can do this.

I resolved myself and ran towards Kei. I grabbed her hand.

Hikai: Please wait.

Kei stopped. After some time, she turned and faced me, looking at me with that glare that she always had.

Kei: What?

She asked as she continued to glare at me. I breathed in deep and bowed down low.

Hikai: I’m very sorry.

Kei remained silent as I apologized.

Hikai: I know that I can’t turn back time. I know that I can’t do anything about it so at the very least I want to apologize.

I stared at Kei as she glared at me.

Kei: ….

Kei didn’t speak for some time. She then turned her back and walked away.

Kei: Then I’m going now.

I was stunned from what she did. I quickly recovered and held her hand once again.

Hikai: Wait, I’m not done yet. I still have something to say.

Kei: We’re done here right? What else do you want?

Hikai: I’m not done yet. Please, just wait.

Kei: You’ve said your piece right?

Hikai: Please listen to me. Just listen to me.

I resolved myself and stared at Kei eye to eye.

Kei: Fine.

She finally gave up. I let go of her hand and she stood facing me with her hands crossed in front of her chest.

Hikai: I know I’ve forgotten my promise and the only way that I could make it up to you is if I will make another promise with you.

Kei: What?

Kei was visibly surprised.

Hikai: So I will definitely find a way for us to go back.

Kei: No Kei, stop it. You already know what you felt.

I didn’t hear Kei as she spoke to herself.

Hikai: Then when we get back I will.

Kei: Stop it Kei. You’re over this. Don’t do it. You finally got over it just now. Its going to get worse if you fall again.

I still didn’t hear her whispers

Hikai: I promise to fulfill my promise to you.

 I stared at her eyes.

Kei: Ah .Damn it. She fell.

I stared at Kei and Kei hung her head down.

Kei: Ah~ Ah~

Kei then raised her head and looked straight at me.

Hikai: What?

I was also surprised by what just happened. Kei’s demeanor suddenly changed. I could feel that there was a change in her.

Kei: You can’t be like that. I won’t be able to stop myself anymore you know?

I took a few steps back but Kei took a few steps forward as well.

Kei: Why are you backing away? Why? Why? Why?

Even though I kept stepping back, Kei took more steps than him and now their faces were close. Way too close that their noses were touching. Her expression was something that Kei would never have.

Kei: Really, I can’t stop it now~.

Hikai: Wh-what is going on?

Kei: You see~ When I can’t stop my feelings anymore this happens~.

I tried to step back but my head was suddenly held.

Kei: You can’t escape me now~.

Hikai: Eh?

I was panicking about what was going on.

Kei: You see, I’m a selfish girl~.

She closed up once again.

Kei: When someone I like gives such a passionate speech like that, I can’t stop myself any longer. Well, more like I have to since she can’t do this by herself.

I didn’t hear the last part of what she said.

Hikai: Someone you like? Don’t you hate me?

Kei: You’re so silly~.

She let go of my head for a moment and poked my nose but before I could back away my head was held once again.

Kei: No~ No~ No~, I’m not letting you go ju~st yet.

I still couldn’t move.

Kei: What did you ask? Did I like you? Of course I do.

She had the biggest smile on her face as she said that. Her smile was very weird. It was perverse in some way. I don’t know how I thought that.

Kei: Do you really think I’m going to spend time like that with someone if I hated them? I’ve liked you this whole time. No.

Kei shook her head and then she looked at me once again and said.

Kei: I love you. I really, truly love you.

She then kissed me. I could feel her embrace. She was embracing me with her full strength. Even wrapping around me for a short while.

Kei: Kyaaa~

She suddenly let go of me and pushed me. It wasn’t a strong push so it was not enough to knock me down. It didn’t help me to recover from the shock.

Kei: I did it again. I did it again. I did it again. I did it again. I did it again.

Kei ran around the room as she repeated those words again and again.

Kei: I told myself that I won’t do it anymore, first to Beatrix and now to Hikai. Why can’t I get rid of this bad habit of mine?

Hikai still didn’t move. Kei finally noticed.

Kei: What should I do now?

Kei approached me but I didn’t respond.

Kei: This is my fault. Argh! Whatever, I’m going to see this through to the end. Hikai!

Hikai: Yes!

I stood up in attention as Kei shouted.

Kei: So now you see that I am a incredibly selfish woman. If Beatrix didn’t say anything then I probably wouldn’t let you go.

She said this as she was embarrassed by what she just did.

Hikai: Eh?

Kei: If you resisted, I would probably tie you up and lock you away somewhere for just the two of us.

I felt cold sweat run down my body.

Kei: But remember this, Beatrix isn’t enough to stop me from doing that. What’s really stopping me is your strength.

Hikai: Strength?

Kei: Yeah, at the very least right now you’re stronger than me.

Hikai: What are you talking about, how am I stronger than you? My stats are clearly way too low compared to yours.

Kei: What are you talking about? You of all people should know that in this world stats don’t determine strength besides that’s not what I’m talking about.

Hikai was confused as to what Kei was talking about.

Kei: It’s here.

She then placed her hand on his chest.

Kei: Your real strength comes from here. The will to never give up, the will to stand up no matter what, that is your strength.

Hikai was shocked by what Kei just said.

Kei: That is why I won’t do anything to you but remember this.

Kei suddenly had a serious expression on her face.

Kei: If I ever see you when your heart is weak, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself anymore.

Hikai: That means I just don’t have to lose heart.

Kei: That’s right, now go. There’s still someone else waiting for you.

She walked away towards the stairs to the third floor.

Hikai: Where are you going?

Kei: Someone needs to stop those guys down below.

Hikai: I see.

Kei: Remember, don’t lose heart alright? Please, I don’t want to do what I just said. See you later.

I watched Kei’s back as she walked away. I felt Kei return to normal after she pushed me away. It was something that I didn’t understand and the shock made me forget the change in her attitude. The moment I couldn’t see her back was when Diana spoke to me.

Diana: Good for you.

Hikai: Thanks a lot for the help Diana.

Diana: It’s fine, you’re the only one who remembers Grandfather with me so I have to take care of you.

Diana puffed out her chest.

Hikai: Is that so? Hahaha.

We walked towards the stairs.

Diana: I wonder why they are doing this?

Hikai: What do you mean?

Diana: If they wanted to talk to you then they could’ve just done it after you’ve escaped right? So why do they have to do it now?

Hikai: Hmm? That’s true, I wonder why they’re doing it now of all times?

Hikai and Diana climbed the stairs and was now in the first floor.

Hikai: Let’s think about it later.

Diana: Right, only one floor to go. Okay, bye bye.

We walked towards the exit.

Hikai: So now it’s you.

Princess Jeanne was also with her. They stood side by side and the other person suddenly said.

Beatrix: Will you have a Naginata match with me?

It was Beatrix Reichhart.

~Chapter 31 End~