As I heard Chris's voice, I felt a shiver run down my spine.
"Em, Emil…."
She called my name once more without turning around.
'It was finally happening.'
My heart was screaming to run away.
But I couldn't do that.
Remember what happened with Mari.
I definitely didn't need to provoke her further, given her unstable mental state.
I steeled myself and turned around.
"Ah, it was Chris."
"..."
I tried hard to put on a natural smile and faced her.
Then she, who had a troubled expression, smiled faintly.
But her eyes were still dark.
They were empty eyes, just like Mari's.
"Um, Emil… I have something to tell you…."
"Something to tell me…?"
"Yes… if you don't mind, that is, you really don't have to if you don't want to, Emil. …Could you spare a moment?"
Chris was different from usual.
Not just a little different, but completely different.
Her usual sharp and cold demeanor was completely gone; she trembled slightly while watching my reaction.
She was trying hard to smile too, but her eyes were filled with endless anxiety.
To the point where she would immediately burst into tears if I firmly refused here.
"Okay, but… I need to go to school now."
"Ah, yes, that's right."
"…Would lunchtime be okay?"
"Huh…?"
"Because we'll have plenty of time then. …Let's talk over lunch."
"..."
Chris stared at me blankly for a moment.
Why was that?
As if my answer was unexpected.
A light shone in her eyes, and she smiled with relief.
"Y-yes! Then I'll see you at lunchtime…! Thank you… Emil…."
"No need to thank me… Shall we go then?"
"Huh? T-together…?"
"Yes, we're going the same way anyway, and we just happened to meet. …We're friends, aren't we?"
"..."
Chris was silent again.
And then.
She ended up blankly shedding tears.
"Huh, Chris?"
"Ugh, no… *sob*, I'm sorry… This, it's…."
Chris wiped her tears like a child and lowered her head, stepping back when I tried to approach her.
And then, with tears still falling, she glanced at me.
"Emil… *sob*, Emil, you're really, *hiccup*, …so kind."
"..."
"Sorry, *ugh*, even so, I know my place…. I'll go in a bit. You go first, Emil."
"O-okay."
Then Chris turned around.
She wiped away her tears with her back turned, as if telling me it was safe to leave.
After that, heading towards the academy, I was overwhelmed by a strange emotion.
'It must be because of the memories of the fourth playthrough.'
Honestly, I don't feel any satisfaction.
In the first place, I'm not doing this because I want satisfaction.
It's merely to resolve my grievances and resentment.
Not to feel positive emotions, but to escape from a negative past.
Even so.
'I didn't expect that kind of reaction.'
I thought she'd cling to me or confess again, like Mari.
'Then again, since their personalities are different, their reactions must be too.'
More than that, I was worried about lunchtime.
Although I'd made the promise on impulse.
…What on earth was she going to say?
Judging by the atmosphere, it doesn't seem like she's planning anything bad.
'Edric taking a break is also bothering me….'
Still, I'll only know once I meet her.
So, I went to the academy as usual and waited for lunchtime with a trembling heart.
***
"Well then, it's almost lunchtime. Everyone, enjoy your meal, and please quietly self-study until the bell rings."
*Rattle.*
*Thud.*
As the professor left, the students started chatting in low voices or doing whatever they wanted.
Lunchtime was in a moment.
"Sigh…."
I looked out the window and let out a small sigh.
Until this time came, countless scenarios ran through my mind.
And most of the scenarios I imagined were negative.
It must be due to human survival instinct.
'So Edric not showing up….'
If I had known this would happen, I should have asked Mari about Malcolm when she visited last night.
'What on earth is this 'private talk' she wants to have…?'
The most positive scenario was her confessing again.
And the most negative case was.
'Emil, Emil…! No, absolutely not…! I need you…! E-even if you're completely unable to move…! Heheheh…!'
A shiver ran down my spine.
I got goosebumps just imagining it.
'If Chris seriously attacks, she'll be difficult to stop….'
Even if it's easy mode, Chris's skills are real.
Even without a weapon, no, precisely because she doesn't have a weapon, I would be even less likely to win against her.
I'd be subdued instantly and dragged into her own space.
Summer vacation is coming soon, so hiding just one person wouldn't be difficult.
*Gulp.*
I trembled with anxiety.
And then.
*Ding, ding, ding….*
The bell announcing lunchtime rang.
*I sprang up.*
I stood up immediately.
Just sitting around here would only provoke Chris's negative emotions.
I got my lunchbox and went out into the hallway.
At that moment.
*A flurry of footsteps—*
"Ack!"
"Aargh—!!"
Sierra ambushed me from behind and yelled into my ear.
Startled, my legs gave out and I collapsed.
Sierra giggled as usual.
Students leaving for lunch glanced at me.
"Ahahah! Emil, *giggle*, you get startled so easily~!"
"Ugh…!"
This brat.
For some reason, she seems to startle me every time I'm most tense.
Does she have a sensor or something?
My cheeks flushed with indignation as I glared at Sierra.
*She extended her hand….*
And Sierra extended her hand.
This time, it was one hand.
"..."
"Are you going to embarrass me again? Come on, up we go!"
"W-what…?!"
As I hesitated looking at her hand, Sierra grabbed my hand and forcibly pulled me up.
I stood up from my spot before I knew it.
"..."
"..."
After I stood up, Sierra didn't let go of my hand for a moment.
As I blankly stared at our clasped hands.
"What is it, why?"
"Huh?"
*She withdrew her hand.*
When I asked, Sierra withdrew her hand and hid it behind her back.
And then she grinned playfully and spoke to me.
"More importantly, Emil."
"...Why."
"You still don't have any friends, do you?"
"..."
What on earth was this?
After startling me, is she going to mock me?
But it was true that I had no friends.
Besides, I had already been greatly startled once, so this much didn't make me emotional.
"Yeah, I don't."
I just turned around and walked my way.
If her goal was to tease me, there was no need to waste time now.
But then Sierra urgently grabbed my arm.
"Woah! W-wait! You have to hear me out first!"
"…What? Is there more to tease about?"
"Ugh, anyone listening would think I always just tease you."
"..."
But it's true, isn't it?
I swallowed the words that had reached my throat.
And I just looked at Sierra with eyes asking what her business was.
Then Sierra realized my intention, let go of my arm, and straightened her hunched back.
And then, fiddling with her hair, she hesitated.
"Let's just eat lunch together."
She gently extended the lunchbox she held in her other hand.
"..."
At that, I quietly gulped.
It was because I was flustered by the unexpected invitation.
"Ah, well… Sorry."
"..."
I rejected her invitation.
Though I was flustered, it wasn't that I particularly disliked eating with Sierra.
The reason, of course, was that I had a prior appointment.
"Because I have an earlier appointment."
"...I see."
Though I was the one who refused, for some reason, I felt a tightness in my chest.
Why was that?
It was just a simple invitation.
Somehow, it felt like I had done something I shouldn't have.
Sierra put the lunchbox she had extended to me behind her back and gently smiled.
"Well, then it can't be helped."
Her expression was smiling, but somehow it felt different from usual.
What was it?
A slightly downcast feeling.
Normally, she'd giggle awkwardly and tease me out of embarrassment.
"Enjoy your meal. I'll get going."
Sierra turned her back and walked down the hallway.
*A squeeze….*
For some reason, I felt a stuffy feeling in one part of my chest.
Was it because of that feeling?
*Quick footsteps!*
*Grab!*
"W-wait a moment!"
I grabbed her arm as she walked away.
"Tomorrow!"
"Huh…?"
"I don't have an appointment tomorrow. So, tomorrow."
For some reason, an embarrassing feeling surged up.
I felt heat in my face, making it hard to look directly at Sierra.
So, contrary to my intentions, I frowned and avoided her gaze.
But my mouth continued to blurt out what I wanted to say.
"Let's eat together… tomorrow."
"..."
I stole a glance, checking her reaction.
Sierra had her eyes wide open as if startled.
Because of that, her already large, pretty eyes became even bigger.
And her startled expression…
*Pfft.*
Soon changed into a bright smile.
"What, you wanted to eat together that much?"
"...*Ugh*, don't get cocky."
"Hey, hey, hey."
*Poked my shoulder.*
Out of embarrassment, I let go of her arm, and Sierra approached me and poked my shoulder.
And with her hands behind her back, she spoke to me, taking light steps backward.
"But at least you were honest this time!"
"..."
"Tomorrow, it's a promise. You can't break it."
"...Okay."
As I nodded, Sierra grinned playfully and spun around.
And she walked down the hallway, her light footsteps bouncing.
"..."
*Thump, thump….*
For some reason, my heart wouldn't settle down.
However, it wasn't bad.
No, rather, I should say I felt more at ease.
'My worries about Chris have become meaningless.'
The strange uplifted feeling caused by Sierra eroded the anxiety I had about Chris.
Thanks to that, I went up to the rooftop feeling at ease.
***
*Creak….*
"Emil…."
Chris was already on the rooftop, waiting.
I smiled and waved at her.
Then Chris, whose face was dark, also approached me with a relieved expression.
My mind felt calmer thanks to Sierra, making it feel like I could smile more naturally.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"Y-yes, I, I just got here too…."
Chris answered cautiously and looked at me.
"Shall we sit down first?"
I offered my lunchbox, and we leaned against a wall on the rooftop and sat side-by-side.
So, for a while.
We ate our meal together and chatted.
Not knowing what she would say, my intention was to calm her down beforehand.
'Because I didn't want her to suddenly explode….'
The conversation was simple.
Like how the weather was nice, or if she felt sick after taking two days off.
As we had such a simple conversation.
*Click.*
Chris put her spoon down on her lunchbox and glanced at me.
And then, as if she was about to get to the main point,
she cautiously opened her mouth with trembling eyes.
"Emil… I… I remembered."
"..."
"Why Emil… rejected my confession, I know everything now…."
"..."
*Drip, drip….*
Tears fell from Chris's eyes.
I carefully swallowed.
It was starting now.
What was she going to say?
Although it didn't seem like she would suddenly change, those empty eyes, similar to Mari's, bothered me.
"*Sob*, I-I'm sorry… Emil, *gasp*, because of me… *sob*, because of me, that…."
"..."
I didn't say it was fine, or that I forgive her, or anything like that.
Because in reality, it wasn't fine, and I didn't want to forgive her.
Smiling at her and eating together now was solely because my revenge against her was now complete.
The resentment of my past self who died in the previous regression was resolved by that.
However, that didn't mean I had any intention of accepting her confession again or trying to make things work again.
Therefore, I listened to her words without saying anything.
And then.
"Emil…. I, so I have something to tell you…."
"...What is it?"
*She moved her head.*
She, who had only been cautiously glancing at me, turned her head and looked directly at me.
Chris still had a pained expression, shedding tears with her empty eyes.
"I'm not asking for forgiveness. I don't think words alone will earn me forgiveness…."
"..."
"So, I just… have a request…."
"A request…?"
"Yes."
Chris, who nodded,
with her empty eyes still shedding tears,
smiled faintly and leaned her upper body slightly towards me.
Her deep eyes stared at me as if to draw me in.
"I… want to be your tool!"
"...What?"
What Chris said was something I hadn't thought of in the slightest.