This was my first official date with Kuro since we became a couple. I was a nervous wreck for most of it, and her unexpected reactions kept making my heart skip a beat.
Kuro mentioned that even the scenery she’d seen a thousand times before looked like it was sparkling today. I felt exactly the same way. Just having her by my side transformed the familiar streets of the Royal Capital into something far more beautiful than usual.
Sampling street food, window shopping, or even just sitting down to rest—it was all so gentle and warm. I realized, from the bottom of my heart, that this was what happiness truly felt like.
But time flies when you’re having fun. Before I knew it, the setting sun was painting the streets in shades of crimson, signaling that our time together was nearing its end. The thought of this happy date coming to a close filled me with an unbearable sense of loneliness.
Kuro, walking beside me, seemed to feel the same way. She interlaced her fingers with mine, giving my hand a tight squeeze in what people call "lover’s hand-holding."
"Kuro, there’s somewhere I really want to go after this."
"Somewhere you want to go?"
"Yeah. It’s a bit far, though..."
"In that case, I’ll take you there. Where is it?"
Kuro had been wearing a lonely expression, but when I spoke as gently as possible, she tilted her head and promised to take me wherever I wished.
"...I want to go back to that riverbank where we had the barbecue. Is that okay?"
"Eh? Y-Yeah, that’s fine. But... the Light Trees won't be glowing this time of year, you know?"
"I know, that’s okay. Can you take me?"
"Yes, of course!"
The trees I’d seen before, which stored magic power to glow once a month... it was a shame we wouldn't see the Light Trees, but they weren't my goal today.
When I told her that, Kuro nodded, and her black jacket transformed into the shape of large wings. Instead of grabbing me under the arms like she used to, she hugged me gently from behind and slowly beat her wings.
We floated up softly as the city streets began to flow away beneath us. As I gazed at the beautiful cityscape dyed in shades of red and felt Kuro's warmth against my back, we made our way to our destination.
When we reached the riverbank, Kuro retracted her wings into her jacket and stretched.
"Mmm, the wind feels nice."
"It really does."
A faint breeze blew across the riverbank, carrying the scent of grass as it brushed against my cheeks. It was incredibly pleasant.
"So, Kaito-kun, why did you want to come here?"
"...Actually, the truth is... I originally planned to confess to you here, Kuro."
"Fueh?"
Kuro’s eyes went wide with surprise as I spoke with a small smile.
Yes, when I was first putting together a plan for our date, I had intended to end the day here and tell her how I felt. Because of what I’d heard from Alice, I’d let my emotions get the better of me and moved the schedule up, but I still wanted to come back here with her. Because this place...
"...This is a very important place to me. It’s the place where you saved me, Kuro. The place where you gave me the courage to look forward and keep walking."
"Kaito-kun..."
The location was right, and the timing was perfect. I had first met Kuro at this exact time of day, when the sun was setting. I found myself feeling grateful for the unexpected coincidence.
"At first, you know, I wondered why I’d been caught up in a Hero Summoning. I thought it was just a massive nuisance."
"Ugh... I-I'm sorry."
"But now, I’m truly, deeply grateful for it."
"Eh?"
To be honest, I had been consumed by anxiety at the start. I’d tried to cope by telling myself it was like a light novel, but being in an unknown land with a foreign culture and people I didn't know... it was terrifying.
But that was only at the very beginning. Now, I felt nothing but sincere gratitude for being summoned.
"You might have realized this already, but I went through a lot in the past. I’d shut myself away in a shell for a long time. I spent my life desperately patching up my outward appearance, making excuses, and running away... I was a pathetically weak person."
"..."
"When I first met you, I actually thought you were a total weirdo."
"Ahaha... that’s mean."
Kuro gave a wry smile at my confession. The atmosphere wasn't awkward at all; it was slightly embarrassing, yet incredibly comfortable.
"You were forceful and erratic... and yet, it was like you could see through everything. You gave me the words I needed right when I needed them. You reached out and touched my heart."
"I didn't do anything that amazing. I just gave you a little nudge, Kaito-kun."
"That nudge meant everything to me. You pushed me when I’d been standing still, unable to move, and you gave me the courage to try my best again. If I hadn't met you, Kuro, I’m sure I’d still be looking down at the ground today."
These words came from the very bottom of my heart. Meeting Kuro had saved me. If the greatest tragedy of my life was the death of my parents, then the greatest miracle was meeting her. That was how much she meant to me.
"When I worked hard, you were happy for me. When I was down, you comforted me. Your smile has always supported me, and I can truly feel that you've always been right there by my side."
"Kaito-kun...?"
"Kuro, thank you. For meeting me, for saving me... and for letting me stay by your side to keep seeing that smile."
"Ah...!"
I reached out, took her hand, and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"So, I’m saying it one more time... Kuro, I love you. Truly, with all my heart."
"Ah... hng... Kaito-kun..."
As I looked into her beautiful eyes and declared my feelings, her eyes welled up with emotion. She threw her arms around me, hugging me back with all her strength.
As our warmth blended together and our hearts connected, Kuro spoke, her voice thick with tears.
"I’m the one... who should be saying thank you."
"Kuro?"
"I thought I was the one helping you grow, the one supporting you... but after meeting you, Kaito-kun, I realized that I was the one being saved."
Tears spilled over as she buried her face in my chest, her words heavy with emotion.
"Your wings are so beautiful and large—far more than I could have imagined. You saved my heart, even though I’d been lying to myself for so long."
"..."
"If I hadn't met you, I would have given up. I would have lived my life thinking the things I wanted were impossible, and that my wishes would never come true. But you gave me everything I wanted. I thought I was going to help you find your treasure, but I was the one who received a treasure instead."
"Kuro..."
Her love and her feelings hit me with an intensity that almost hurt. And I knew, with absolute certainty, that my feelings were reaching her just as clearly. At this moment, the bond between us was stronger than anything else in the world.
"Thank you, Kaito-kun. For finding me, and for falling in love with me. Meeting you is the greatest miracle of my life."
"I feel the same way. I'm so glad I met you, Kuro."
"Kaito-kun..."
"Kuro..."
No more words were needed. Drawn together by an invisible force, our faces moved closer until our lips met. We pressed against each other, refusing to allow even the slightest gap between us, as our shadows merged into one beneath the setting sun.
Time seemed to vanish. We lost ourselves in that happy moment until the sun finally dipped below the horizon, and we slowly pulled apart. A thin silver thread stretched between us, a vivid testament to how long we had been lost in each other.
"Kaito-kun... I don't want to leave you yet. I want to feel your presence for as long as I can, even for a second longer."
"I don't want to let go either. So let's just stay like this for a while..."
"Yeah..."
"Kuro."
"Kaito-kun."
""I love you.""
Dear Mother, Father—The greatest miracle of my life in this otherworld has become a reality. Feeling her warmth and this love welling up inside me, I know that the future I’ll walk with her will be... brimming with happiness.
It was the special move known as the Second Confession.
Serious (lol)-senpai: "Finally... it's finally... over..."
Tap "Next up is the Isis Arc."
Serious (lol)-senpai: "I can't take this anymore! I want to go home!!"