Chapter 237: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat
Chapter 237
“I think it was because I was scared.”
As I told Sylvia that it was fear, I continued, remembering my parents, who were the most precious people in my life.
“I’m the type of person who gives everything to the people I care about. But usually, the people I end up caring for are like me. Just like I would do anything for them, they’re willing to do anything for me.”
I thought of my father, who sacrificed himself to protect our family.
And I remembered my mother, who, despite being sick, hid her pain to keep working and not be a burden to me until the day she passed.
The people who were dear to me had never hesitated to sacrifice themselves for my sake.
Perhaps that left a deep impact on me, something like PTSD.
“I guess I was scared of that. Scared that the people I care about might sacrifice themselves for me. That I’d lose someone important to me.”
Even here in this world, Yoon Si-woo, someone I came to treasure,
had sacrificed himself for me.
“And you, Sylvia, you’re the same kind of person. I was scared that you’d end up doing the same thing…”
I opened up to Sylvia, sharing feelings I had kept hidden deep inside.
Sylvia, listening to me, seemed surprised and spoke.
“Miss Scarlet, you’re a much more fearful person than I thought.”
“Yeah, I guess so. I’m a complete coward...”
“And a total fool, too.”
Sylvia chuckled softly as she muttered that.
“If I had known you were so similar to me in that way, you shouldn’t have risked your life to save me in the first place. Did you really think I’d just watch that and not feel anything?”
“...Really?”
“Of course. In Astra, we never forget our debt.”
Sylvia smiled gently, her expression proud as she continued.
“Besides, that feeling of caring for someone deeply? You can’t stop that, even if you try. I understand your fear, Miss Scarlet. It’s natural to be afraid of losing someone precious. But drawing lines won’t erase that bond. So let’s make it clear.”
Sylvia looked directly into my eyes as she said this.
“Miss Scarlet, when I help you, it’s not because I expect gratitude. And it’s certainly not because I want you to apologize. I want it to feel natural, like it’s only right for me to help you. Just like you’ve always helped me without hesitation. I want us to have that kind of relationship where we help each other with no expectations, just because we care.”
Her words made me realize something.
The fear of losing someone dear to me.
And the contradictory feeling that lay beyond that fear.
In the end, despite my fear, I had been longing for it all along.
A relationship where we help each other without keeping score, where we both cherish one another.
A bond of true mutual care.
As I came to that realization, Sylvia asked me,
“Miss Scarlet, you know you did something wrong today, right?”
I nodded, and she smiled.
“I’ll give you a chance to make it up to me. Instead of an apology, say the words I want to hear right now, and I’ll forgive you… But I wonder if a fool like you can figure it out?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Even though I’m a fool, I could understand this much.
With those sparkling eyes and that eager expression.
I looked into Sylvia’s eyes, meeting her gaze, and said,
“I might cause a lot of trouble because I’m a witch.”
Sylvia nodded with a bright, carefree smile.
“I might create situations that will make you angry because I can be selfish.”
She nodded again, as if to say that she, too, would act selfishly sometimes, so it was fine.
“But if… if you’re okay with that…”
With Sylvia still nodding, I finally spoke the words.
The words I had once said.
The words I had once accepted.
The words I had once rejected.
“Would you be my friend?”
At my words, Sylvia’s face lit up with joy.
“Yes, gladly!”
She nodded enthusiastically.
And so, after all this time, Sylvia and I had finally become true friends. She smiled brightly as she pulled something from her pocket, muttering,
“It took me a long time to return this to you.”
When I saw what she had taken out, I couldn’t help but laugh.
In her hand was a ring, the same ring with a red gemstone as the one on her left index finger.
“You still had that?”
“Of course. Ever since I got it back from you, I haven’t let it out of my sight. Now, give me your hand. I’ll put it on for you.”
“...This feels a bit like a proposal, doesn’t it? It’s kind of embarrassing.”
“Don’t say weird things like that, or you’ll make me embarrassed too!”
Smiling at the playful banter, I extended my left hand. Sylvia, holding my hand with a somewhat ambiguous smile, spoke as she slid the ring onto my finger.
“There’s one good thing about you becoming a witch. I can finally put this ring on your finger.”
Her words brought back memories.
It was during that time when a monster had invaded the academy, and my arm had been cut off.
I remembered Sylvia crying when she saw that she couldn’t put the ring on my missing hand.
I chuckled softly at the memory.
“Haha... At least I didn’t make you cry this time.”
“...Can we just forget about that, please?”
Sylvia blushed slightly, clearly embarrassed by the memory of her tears, but soon, with a more serious expression, she carefully slid the ring onto my left index finger.
As I looked at the ring now on my finger, I noticed that Sylvia’s expression seemed emotional, as if the sight brought back memories for her as well.
Not wanting to embarrass her further, I pretended not to notice her discreetly wiping away a tear and raised my hand to look at the ring.
It was a friendship ring, a garnet set in a red gemstone, meant to symbolize true friendship, worn on the index finger of the left hand.
By itself, it might have seemed like a simple ring, but the inscription inside made it special.
First, And Best Friend.
The first and most precious friend.
The first friend I had made after coming to this world, though it had originally been for the selfish purpose of extending my life, had now become my most treasured friend.
When I glanced over at Sylvia, she proudly showed me her own left hand, the ring gleaming on her finger as she smiled.
Seeing the pair of rings, a symbol of how much she valued me, made my heart swell with warmth.
And for the first time in a long while, I was able to smile genuinely, free from worry.
Then,
"Ah?!"
Suddenly, flames softly flickered to life on my body.
I instinctively knew that this was the kind of flame that wouldn’t burn anything.
Sylvia, startled by the sudden fire, let out a small shriek but soon realized that there was no heat coming from the flames. She gazed at them in awe, murmuring,
“Huh… It’s fire, but it’s not hot at all?”
She curiously reached out to touch the flames, and I answered with a sheepish smile.
“It only appears during special moments.”
“Special moments?”
“Yeah… It happens when I feel really happy or joyful.”
Sylvia, understanding, nodded with interest as she continued to admire the flames.
But then, she seemed to realize something and looked at me, asking,
“Oh? So that means you’re really happy and joyful right now?”
“...”
I chose to stay silent, not commenting on her words.
“Hee? Is that so? You’re really that happy to be friends with me, Miss Scarlet?”
It was already too late to deny it.
Sylvia teased me with a mischievous smile, clinging to me playfully, saying, “You’re that happy, huh?” She teased me for quite a while before finally whispering in my ear with a bright smile,
“Me too.”
As my face flushed red, so much so that even the flames couldn’t hide it, I noticed the flames spreading around us.
I began to worry that the light from the flames might attract monsters.
But then,
“If they come, Miss Scarlet can chase them away, right? You’re a witch, after all. You can protect at least one person, can’t you?”
Realizing the truth in Sylvia’s words, I left the narrow shelter we had been hiding in and lay down beside a small fire outside.
The flames from my body spread to the giant, dead tree we had used for cover. Even though the tree was already charred, it still glowed brightly with the fire.
Sylvia, watching the glowing tree beside me, muttered,
“Miss Scarlet, I’ve always had one dream since I was a child.”
“What is it?”
When I asked, Sylvia smiled and replied,
“In fairy tales, there’s always a scene where friends who share a special bond go on an adventure, camping under the stars with a bonfire. I always wanted to do that at least once.”
Sylvia rested her head gently on my shoulder and continued,
“I thought it was a dream I’d never achieve, but thanks to you, Miss Scarlet, I’m getting to experience something close to it.”
Hearing Sylvia’s words, I smiled softly and gazed at the quietly burning flames.
The sky, covered in dark energy, had no stars to be seen.
But perhaps because of the dear friend beside me, or maybe the glowing flames of the fire,
“This isn’t so bad.”
“Yeah, it’s not.”
The starless night didn’t seem quite so dark after all.
Tfnc :33
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ReplyDeleteSo cuuuute
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