Once the bright light settled and Ririi’s vision returned, she saw her magic had burned and blown away the thick forest in a considerable distance, and the gentle sunlight could now pour down from the blue sky.
The big bouncy was nowhere to be seen, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“…This is like a nightmare.”
Lain turned to the forest (if it could be called that), and whispered. Ririi’s magic was way more powerful than she imagined, and the fact that it was unleashed right next to her took the wind out of her sails.
If Ririi’s aim had been a bit off, Lain would have lost her life for sure.
“…Lain!”
This time Ririi really ran towards Lain. Lain for her part tried to hide her shock, and straightened her back. Not that Ririi cared at all.
“Are you all right Lain!?”
“Y-yes. No problem… Even though you almost killed me.”
She did not mean to say that, but it slipped out as she tried to act tough. She had lost her composure so much that her mouth was not working as she wanted.
“S-sorry… Ririi overdid it…”
She said as she turned her eyes to the burned trees, and looked sad.
Lain let out a laugh without thinking, because of how different Ririi was than you would expect a sorcerer who burned a forest would be.
“Fu, ufufu…! No way, thank you for saving me. And… Sorry about this morning. I said very bad things to you.”
“Bad things?”
Ririi tilted her head. She was so taken aback by Lain wanting to move out on her own, that she did not really remember what she actually said to her.
“I told you you’d just be a burden, right…?”
“Hm… Hn… Ah!”
Ririi tried her hardest to remember what Lain said that morning, and she eventually remembered hearing that.
“Eh, wai… did you forget!? I was so bothered by it.”
“Ririh just remembered! What’s a burden?”
Ririi had never heard that word before. And since she did not know what it meant, it left very little of a mark.
Lain looked at Ririi as she tilted her head, and took a long sigh.
…She noticed that in the end, she was the only one who cared.
“Forget it… By the way, did you follow me all the way here?”
“Yes! The teacher said to stay together.”
Ririi said, as though it was natural, but it was clear to Lain how tough it was.
Ririi’s clothes were dirty, and her long pale blue hair had grass on it.
Lain felt bad about troubling Ririi like that.
It was clear as day that this was all the result of her actions, and she meekly dropped her head.
“…Sorry for being selfish.”
“No no, the adventure was fun!”
Ririi shook her head, and looked excited with flushed cheeks.
Exploring the forest was fun, and if anything, she felt as though she did not have her fill of playing. She used up her magic energy, but her body was still brimming with energy.
To her, the adventure would truly begin now that she was reunited with Lain.
She imagined walking through the forest with her… And remembered that Lain was hurt, and that she had not got up even once since Ririi got there.
“Lain… Can you get up?”
She said as she extended her small hand to her.
Lain looked at that hand for a bit… But pulled back, thinking she was not worthy of it.
“…U-uh… What’s wrong with me…”
Suddenly, Lain noticed she was crying.
“Wah, hum, what hurts!?”
Ririi panicked and crouched down next to Lain, and took a shot in the dark and started rubbing Lain’s shoulder. That kindness just brought more tears.
“Hahaha. It’s weird… Why am I crying…”
“Uu… Don’t die, Lain…”
Ririi started rubbing Lain’s shoulder harder. Lain’s angel bear fur rob was fluffy, and felt smooth on Ririi’s hand.
Where Ririi touched, it felt nice and a little ticklish to Lain, and a sensation as warm as the sun flowed to her entire body.
It felt as though emotions Lain was ignoring deep within her heart were being melted away.
(…So that’s it.)
Lain had been living on edge all by herself, and no one ever tried to reach out to her. Lain felt as though Ririi’s kind touch was making her realize her real feelings.
She realized she wanted that all along.
“…Thanks, Ririi.”
Just as fast as they came, the tears stopped.
“Can you give me your hand again?”
This time, Lain put out her hand, shaking a little with uncertainty.
Ririi grabbed Lain’s hand with a strong grip.
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