Chapter 35: We walk along the sandy beach, just the two of us.

I was startled. It had been a while since Sora had hugged me like that out of nowhere. Somehow, I managed to suppress the urge to jump out of my skin.

And then… she fell asleep just like that. I carefully carried her so I wouldn’t wake her and left her with Kotozuka.

…Honestly, having someone cling to you in a swimsuit like that is way too much for my heart.

I sat down under the parasol as well.

"She’s sleeping so peacefully—Sora-chan looks adorable."

"Hey, if you poke her too much, she’ll wake up."

Even while asleep, Sora was being poked by Kisa. …Though she really was sleeping deeply. Maybe she was just exhausted.

The standby order was still in effect. Apparently, we were to remain in this area and wait in case any Deep Calamity appeared.

The hybrid-type Deep Calamity had shifted slightly, but since the area was still under lockdown, we weren’t going on the offensive—for now, at least.

"Looks like you’ve got it rough too."

With a sly grin, Shishiba nudged me, then sat down beside me.

"...It felt like Akegami went back to how she used to be."

"I wouldn’t know. Does Akegami like you or something?"

"...Even if you ask me. She said she didn’t know before."

"Hmm. So even in her current clingy state, she still ‘doesn’t know,’ huh?"

Akegami liking me, huh.

Even if that were true, it would probably be dependency. Not something romantic.

…And if you asked whether I like Akegami, I’m not really sure about that either.

After lowering her gaze as if thinking, Shishiba looked back at me.

"Hey, there’s nothing to do right now, right?"

"No, we still have to stay alert for Deep Calamities."

"Then come with me. You’re bored, aren’t you?"

She said it lightly, but her eyes were serious.

"Alright."

This probably wasn’t just about killing time. It felt like there was something more, so I decided to go along with it.

"For now, let’s change. It doesn’t look like anyone’s playing in the water anymore."

Before I knew it, Kotozuka and the others were gone. It seemed they had taken Sora to get changed. …She was asleep, though—was it really okay to carry her like that?

"Yeah."

"I can’t keep staring at you half-naked forever, you know."

"Half-naked…? I’m the one having trouble figuring out where to look."

"Oh?"

Something soft pressed against my face.

Hands. Shishiba grabbed my face with both hands and forcibly turned me toward her.

"S-Shishiba…?"

"Then go ahead. Look all you want."

After turning my head, she let go just as suddenly.

Her swimsuit and pale skin filled my vision. Instinctively, I looked away.

…What was that all of a sudden? That completely caught me off guard.

"You’re fun to tease. I get why Akegami did stuff like that. …But yeah, being stared at like that still feels kind of uncomfortable."

"Isn’t that unfair?"

"Shut up."

"Ow—!"

She flicked my forehead.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shishiba’s cheeks slightly flushed.

…If you’re embarrassed, why do it in the first place?

"Anyway, let’s go change. You should hurry up too."

"Uh, yeah."

"What a dumb response. …Just so you know, it’s not like I’m interested in you or anything."

"...What kind of clarification is that?"

"I’m not about to go after something that belongs to Akegami."

"I don’t belong to Sora, though…"

"Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that."

…Is that how people see me?

Shishiba stood up and headed off to change.

Still, it’s rare to spend time with her like this. Come to think of it, we’ve barely talked before.

…Now that I think about it, I talk to Sora a lot, but not so much with the others lately.

I used to go to Kotozuka for advice often, but she’s been busy looking after Sora too.

That’s probably not great for a Connector. I should try to get closer to Shishiba.

…Anyway, time to change.

I changed back into my regular clothes. …Even though the Fourth Deep Calamity Disaster is already in motion, we’re out here having fun like this. It feels… strange.

"What are you spacing out for?"

"Oh—Shishiba."

"Come to think of it, we don’t really see each other in normal clothes like this."

"That’s true."

"Apparently Akegami got changed while still asleep."

"That’s… impressive."

As we talked, I found myself following Shishiba as she began walking.

I glanced at her from the side. Her brown hair was tied to one side.

Since she returned from the Abyss, whenever she fights seriously, her hair grows longer and turns blonde. Apparently, her hair ties snap off on their own, which is inconvenient.

"What?"

"...I was just wondering if you have to keep buying new hair ties every time you fight seriously."

"Yeah. I don’t have to tie it, though."

"Then why do you?"

"Intimidation."

"...I see."

…I can’t even tell if she’s joking.

Just like that, we walked side by side along the sandy beach. The sunlight was dazzling.

"My family and friends are already dead."

…She finally spoke—and it was something incredibly difficult to respond to.

"That’s why I don’t want to lose anyone else in front of me."

Her serious gaze pierced into me from the side.

"So I figured I should do what I can now."

"What you can do?"

"I realized I haven’t really talked to you much."

"...What do you mean?"

"If we Connectors understand each other better, maybe we can avoid letting anyone die, right?"

I looked straight at Shishiba. Our eyes met.

"Yeah. I don’t want to lose anyone either. …That includes you, Shishiba."

At that, her eyes widened slightly, and her expression softened.

Then she let out a quiet, amused laugh.

"That sounded like you were hitting on me."

"I didn’t mean it like that…"

"I wouldn’t mind being courted. As a comrade."

"Is that how becoming comrades works?"

"Why not? But I’m not so weak that I need you to protect me."

With a snort, she quickened her pace, walking ahead of me. …She’s a complicated person.

"I don’t want Akegami getting jealous, so let’s head back."

"...You always bring it back to that."

"You’re the only one besides Kumoyama Yuri that she might actually fall for."

Kumoyama Yuri—Akegami’s friend.

If she were still alive, would things have turned out differently?

The voice I heard during the Fifth Deep Calamity Disaster… I’m sure it belonged to Kumoyama.

I wish I could have talked to her, even just a little. I’m also a bit curious about what Sora was like back in middle school.

Lost in those thoughts, I followed after Shishiba.

"If you feel like it, you can call me Hoka."

I didn’t yet have the courage to nod at those final words.