Behind him, Adrian heard hurried footsteps.
Then came the loud slam of a door.
Apparently, Yukino had grabbed a towel and bolted back to her room.
😳
With nothing else to do, Adrian sat down on the sofa and waited.
His mind kept replaying the rather… eye-catching scene.
Before he knew it, he found himself comparing Yukino to Exusiai.
Both were slim, fair-skinned, soft, and delicate.
But Yukino was clearly less… well-endowed than Exusiai.
What surprised him most, though, was that they were both completely natural.
With the discerning eye of a gentleman honed over many years…
He was absolutely certain.
Completely untouched.
Not a trace of “landscaping.”
“Are all anime girls like this?”
The question came straight from the bottom of his heart.
Maybe if he had the chance to admire a few more examples, he’d finally find the answer.
…
A little while later, Yukino’s bedroom door opened.
She had already changed into casual clothes.
The blush on her face hadn’t faded in the slightest.
If anything, it deepened the moment their eyes met.
Even so, she carried herself with her usual composure.
She poured a cup of black tea for Adrian, then one for herself.
Since there was only one sofa, she had no choice but to sit beside him.
As she sat down, her arm instinctively crossed in front of her chest before she realized what she was doing.
Only then did she pretend everything was perfectly normal and ask,
“…Thank you for helping me again.”
She paused briefly before continuing.
“What exactly was that evil spirit?” 😨
Adrian blinked in surprise.
He’d expected her to ask him to forget what had happened in the bathroom.
Instead, she didn’t mention it at all.
Her only concern was the evil spirit.
Not bringing it up suited him just fine.
Taking a sip of the tea—
Not bad.
He patiently began explaining.
“It’s a monster formed from the lingering resentment and obsession of the dead.” 💀
“Ordinary people can’t see them. Only those with spiritual sight can.” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
As he spoke, he pointed at her.
“And you… you’ve probably awakened spiritual sight along with your ability.” 👁️
“These spirits usually ask whether you can see them. If you answer yes, they’ll attack. Seems to be one of the rules they follow.”
“Of course, not all of them are the same. Some have become strong enough to disguise themselves as humans, like that girl you saw the other day.”
Shrugging, Adrian said,
“So sometimes, ignorance really is bliss.”
“So… are these evil spirits everywhere?”
The memory of what had happened in the bathroom resurfaced.
That spirit had kept asking if she could see it.
Instinctively, she’d stayed silent.
Pretending not to see it had somehow felt like the right thing to do.
That instinct had probably saved her life.
Of course…
If she’d immediately thought to use her new power, she could have destroyed it herself.
But she’d only just obtained that ability.
She hadn’t yet developed the reflex to use it.
“Pretty much,” Adrian replied.
“I’ve already killed over a thousand of them, and there’s no end to them. New ones keep appearing.” ⚔️
Even so, he tried to reassure her.
“You don’t need to worry too much. At least with your current abilities, dealing with ordinary evil spirits shouldn’t be a problem.”
“…Okay.”
Yukino nodded.
After several seconds of hesitation, she finally summoned the courage to look him straight in the eyes.
Her voice was sincere and solemn.
“Thank you… for telling me all of this. And for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Heh. I’ll gladly accept your thanks.”
Adrian wasn’t the type to act modest.
Did he help her without any motive?
Nope.
He’d already admitted it before.
He was attracted to her.
“And everything about the apocalypse and these supernatural events… I won’t tell anyone. I’ll shoulder all of this together with you.” 🤫
“…”
At first glance, it almost sounded like a confession.
But to Adrian…
Ever since learning about the coming end of the world—
Since the days of constant tension, endless running around, and carrying everything alone—
This was the first truly heartfelt promise anyone had ever made to him.
In its place was something far deeper.
“If you really mean that…”
“Then be prepared to die alongside me.” ⚰️
Three Twelve-Star world-ending disasters.
Even the world of the Little March, where Aeons themselves existed, was only classified as an Eight-Star apocalypse.
So what did a Twelve-Star apocalypse even mean?
He couldn’t imagine it.
He didn’t know whether this world could still be saved.
He was just an ordinary man stumbling forward through the unknown, doing everything he could.
Yukino didn’t hesitate for even a moment.
Instead, her gaze grew even firmer.
“I made that decision the moment you helped me.”
“The moment I learned the truth, I was already prepared.”
“You’ve saved my life more times than I can count. Without you, I’d probably already be dead.”
“The least I can do… is face the end of the world together with you.” 🤝
Some words remained unspoken.
As Adrian’s classmate…
Yukino had always thought of him as someone brilliant, yet indifferent.
He never seemed to care about anything.
First in academics.
First in athletics.
Not because he chased those achievements—
But simply because they were easy for him.
Everything that had happened recently had completely changed her impression of him.
After learning the truth behind the apocalypse…
She had finally begun to see the real Adrian.
He wasn’t naturally carefree.
He was simply carrying an unbearable burden.
🥺
That lazy, easygoing attitude…
It was the only way he could keep himself from being crushed by it.
She could see the loneliness hidden deep inside him.
And at this moment…
She wanted to step forward.
To walk beside him.
If nothing else…
She wanted to become a companion traveling with him on the road toward the end of the world.
🖤
“…..”