When Akari woke up, she felt that the place was familiar to her. Just as an idea crossed her mind, someone interrupted her thoughts.
"Akari." Akari turned her head and realized it was Shunji. She seemed to be lying in a bed, but her surroundings were those of a cave.
"Mmm..." Her throat hurt, so she didn't speak anymore. Shunji noticed her discomfort and offered her a glass of water.
Akari finished all the water and felt revived.
"Is this your cave?" Akari asked. She had been in his cave sometimes, but she had never been here.
"Yes, it's my room. You've been sleeping for a day and a half." Akari saw the worry in his eyes, and she smiled, saying.
"I'm fine now."
Shunji sat down next to her and said nothing. Akari knew he was angry, but Akari didn't tell him not to worry or that she wouldn't do it again because both were lies. So she decided to change the subject and ask.
"What happened with the people in the amusement park?" Shunji snorted, but still answered.
"After Naoki disappeared, the array weakened and was destroyed. All the souls were freed. I erased everyone's memory, and they just thought there was a technical problem with the Ferris wheel, but no one was hurt."
"Thank you." Akari said while taking Shunji's hand and smiling at him. Shunji blushed and turned his face away, but he didn't let go. Besides, he couldn't stay angry with her for long.
**
Akari rested for a little more before Shunji took her to the college. Shunji made her promise not to exert herself before letting her go. Akari found his behavior amusing because that brat was becoming increasingly adept at ordering her around. Akari thought with a smile on her face. Suzume, who had come to find her, saw her smile and approached her with the intention of gossiping.
"That little smile means things went well, huh?" Akari chuckled. She wouldn't call that good.
"Did you bring the photos you promised me?" Suzume asked, and Akari thought that she couldn't just say 'I couldn't take them because a psychopath attacked us'.
"No." Before Suzume could get upset, Akari said.
"But you can see my final painting in compensation." Suzume hesitated. She wanted to pretend to be angry a little longer, but she also wanted to see the painting. Akari had started working on it a few weeks ago, but she hadn't let her even glance at it. She was very mean. Clearly, Suzume had shown her hers.
Finally, she gave in and told her.
"Okay, show me." Akari turned the easel over and removed the protective covering.
It was her final semester exam assignment, but it was also a gift for someone. Akari hadn't planned to show it to anyone until it was finished, but she didn't mind letting Suzume see a little bit to make up for it.
Suzume kept silent for a while before asking.
"Is he your boyfriend?" Akari raised a brow and asked.
"Why do you think that?" They appeared to have nothing to do with each other. In the painting, an imposing blue dragon stood in the middle of the blue sky. Akari was really curious to know how she related it to Shunji.
"Don't be offended by what I'm about to say, but even though your boyfriend seems like a kind and gentle ordinary person at first glance, the second time I saw him more closely, he gave me a dangerous impression, like a sleeping beast with its claws and fangs hidden, ready to rip out your throat at the slightest slip-up." This time, it was Akari's turn to remain silent; Suzume's intuition was sharper than she expected.
Suzume blushed and scratched her head sheepishly, saying, "Don't pay any attention to it. Maybe it's just my imagination." Akari shook her head and smiled.
"Don't worry, I wasn't offended or anything like that." I'm only surprised that you guessed Shunji's true personality, Akari said in her heart.
Suzume felt relieved and quickly resumed her normal behavior, inviting her to eat and congratulating her on her wonderful painting.
Akari covered the painting and put it away, thinking that she should renew her understanding of her friend.
In the following days, Shunji came to visit her every night to observe if she was resting properly. He would often bring her food and snacks, and they would talk about other things. However, after a week, Akari felt it was time to ask.
"Any clues about Naoki?" Shunji remained silent for a second before speaking.
"Can't we just not talk about it?" Akari chuckled.
"It's not like I enjoy doing it, but I can't just ignore it." Shunji sighed and said.
"I've been searching these past few days, but I haven't found anything. Unlike before, when rumors about strange things were rampant, now everything is silent.There's no news from his previous hiding places either. He must be hiding, scared because of what happened last time." Akari bit into a cookie and looked at him.
"You didn't go there alone to check it, did you?" Shunji hunched his shoulders and didn't respond.
"Don't underestimate him, Shunji. Precisely because he's lost all his cards, we must be even more careful. You have no idea what someone cornered to this point is capable of. If you're arrogant just because we cornered him once, next time you might be the one pushed to that point." Shunji remained silent and thought that, of course, he was being arrogant since he had the maximum protection he could want granted by the person in front of him. That was the reason for his confidence.
Akari saw him sulking and smiled, saying. "Just keep in mind what I said. After this is over, you can be as arrogant as you like."
Shunji thought she was right, and his mood improved.