Chapter 223 - Coping

The Mist Kingdom Two Days Later

Kazuya did as Lyn asked and didn't meet with her. Nobody has noticed that anything is wrong with their relationship, though. They simply think they are both busy. Naturally, he had a lot of work to do when he came back, and Lyn is preparing for a banquet. It pained him not to see her though, they've been spending so much time together and then suddenly…

A deep sigh escaped his lips, the moment he returned, they bombarded him with work. He even had to write that lengthy apology to the Queen. Indeed, it was his job to escort Lyn safely, but not only did Lyn have to fight, their stay ended up longer than it was meant to be.

He spun the umbrella in his hands; he longed stopped caring about the heavy rain. To be precise, it was a thunderstorm. Something of this magnitude would not affect him though. Kazuya had been walking around for a few minutes when he hears a familiar voice. There stood Lyn not too far from where he was. Lyn was with a crying little girl who was scared of the storm. No, there was another child there too.

"I want to protect you and touch our fate

Overflowing with tears, the dent in your heart

I want to fill it with happiness

It's a tender rain

May this song

Reach you

No matter how far apart we are

I believe that it will be conveyed

Singing in the rain

The raindrops are beautifully

Shining

That time, all the sadness will go away

And the world will start moving

Please come the tender rain," Lyn sang.

Kazuya's gaze softened, truly that girl can be a real fool. But regardless, he watches as the frightened kid's eyes brighten.

"Big sister is amazing! Like an angel."

Lyn bends down and smiles, " Hurry home safely with your grandma, okay?"

"Yes," the two chorused. The old lady thanks her and walked off with the two kids.

As Kazuya approached her, he heard her say something in a quiet voice. Almost like a murmur. But to him, it was loud and clear, " Stay safe...and don't disappear..."

The maroon colored haired boy grips his hand, curling it up into a fist. She's really hurting. This is why this is why he didn't want to appear in front of her again. It would have been better if she thought he had died back then. If so then none of this would be happening now. Yet even now he couldn't do it, even now it's impossible for him.

To be apart from this girl. Kazuya approached her and wrapped his arms around the black-haired girl from behind.

"Kazuya?"

"I'm here."

She seemed to be slightly shaken up, and Kazuya noticed that she was shivering. " You usually notice it, don't you? When there's a storm about to come. Why didn't you stay inside?"

"But I saw the doctors and.."

Kazuya shuts his eyes, so that's it. That's why the redhead was being sneaky around him. Go figure. Lyn must have found out about that.

He laced their hands together and realized that his girlfriend's hands, too, were shaking. He didn't know whether or not it was because of the weather. But either way her usually frail hand seemed even frailer than usual. Cold, too cold, almost like ice.

"Sorry. I should have said something." Kazuya murmured against her hair, " Yeah I definitely should have said something. But you looked like you were serious about it. That's why I didn't want to say it," he half lied.

It wasn't a complete lie because that's true he did think all that. But it's not the main reason he didn't think about it. It isn't.

"Two weeks.."

It hurt him just as much as it hurt her, hearing those two words.

Death really is something that can creep up unexpectedly from the corner. That's why people really ought to learn to treasure their everyday life more.

"Lyn, look.. I..maybe we should..."

At that point, the black-haired turned around, and his eyes widened, seeing the girl's expression. A serious look, yet tears were threatening to fall from the girl's eyes. Her face color was clear drained, and he could tell that the puffiness in the girl's eyes was evident enough. That she had been crying a lot.

"I don't want to. I don't want that... I don't want to leave your side. I'll stay by you to the very end. I promised you that much," Lyn trails off, " I promised you that I'd stay with you even if it's painful for me. Even if it hurts, I'll stay. But I..I ....I didn't...think.."

Yeah, he too didn't think it. He didn't think it was possible. Though it was something that he knew was coming, though he was well aware of it coming. Now that the date was approaching...

He cups her face with his hands, as their foreheads gently brushed against each other. "Ssh. I get it. I'm sorry, Lyn," Kazuya apologized. He didn't want to keep apologizing. It pained him a great deal seeing her like this. It really did. But this was all he could do.

"Kazuya, I love you."

His eyes softened.

It's the first time she said it out loud.

Even though it was somewhat of a common understanding already, even though it was something, he already knew without it being said and hearing it now, hearing it in such a situation - despite the seriousness of it. Despite that, it made him happy.

"I love you too."

That's when he kissed her and noticed that he had longed let go of the umbrella that was now at the floor beneath his feet.

…

Oak Quarters

"What the hell were you thinking?" a booming voice echoed down the hallway and Kazuya sweat fell. Has the lecture started already? He better save Lyn.

"What were you thinking?!! It's not just a normal storm. There is thunder, thunder!!"

"But we didn't have time to finish that conversation from after the selection. That's why…"

"That is still no excuse. . "

"Uh but I got run over by a beam and stabbed and yet still lived?" Lyn said, confused.

The General hits the girl's head. "Idiot girl! You can't always get this lucky. This isn't like the previous ones. There would have been a high risk of death. Really, why didn't you bring a parasol? You're the one who predicted the weather earlier. Geez, why are you so careless?"

Even from outside, Kazuya could hear the General's echoing voice.

Kazuya wanted to enter the room and stop the General from shouting at her. However, it was then when he saw Lyn crying again. His heart clenched in pain. Whenever he saw Lyn cry, something inside him would stir.