After listening to Alice's story, I can't say that I understand.......all of the pain she's had to deal with and all of it.

"...Alice. I'm sure you can understand a little bit of the pain of the people who are left behind, because I lost my parents a long time ago. But the years I've spent in this world are not even close to Alice's footsteps. So I can't say that I understand how Alice feels without being casual about it.
Yes, sir.

　A little over 21 years.......that's how long I've been alive, at most. Still, I had lost my parents and had given up on many things.
　If you don't come to this world, you might get tired of being alone every day for a long time, and the possibility of choosing the worst possible future is not zero.

　How many years had Alice been holding onto those feelings?　Tens of thousands of years in my former world, tens of thousands of years in this world... I can't even begin to imagine the long, unimaginable years I've been suffering, using my best friend's wishes as the only reason for living.
　I couldn't even talk about how I felt.

I know I said I wanted to be cool and protect Alice's heart, but the truth is, there's only so much I can do for her.
....
But, uh, yeah, we can still have that "we can still be together" thing.
...ahh...

　I put my thoughts into my words, and at the same time, I strengthen my hands that are holding Alice.
　I hug her small body, the warmth of her body, trying not to let go...........................tightly.

I've got the impression that Alice is an idiot, a no-good, joking, troubled person, but........
...It's terrible. Mr. Kite.
...but he's so bright, so dependable, so dependable, so easy to be around and so important to me that I can't imagine not being around him anymore.
What?

　I hear a breathless, unspoken voice and Alice in my arms move slightly.

I'll never leave Alice alone, I promise. So from now on I want you to continue to be by my side as 'Alice' without any strange decoration.
"Um ... yes ... if you'd ... if you'd ... if you'd like ... I'll ... I will always be there for you.

　With a trembling voice, a small hand is passed around my back. I'm sure their feelings are the same as mine, and I'm sure they feel the same as I do, like they're holding on to the warmth of the here and now, like they're holding on to it...like they're confirming that they're in this together.
　A promise not to leave Alice alone, that may be difficult for me, a mere mortal, but I will keep it.

''Well I'm not immortal, so it might be difficult for me, but Noin-san is changing from a human to a demon race, that way or something...'' ...
"...what?　Kite, you're 'ageless', right?
...What?

　Huh?　Strange?　Now, I was prepared to quit my job and declare my intention to stay with Alice, even if it meant quitting my job as a human being, but I was like, "What is this guy talking about? Do you get a response like that?
　I'm immortal?　Haha, he's so annoying that he's even screwing around at this point in time.......what?　Seriously?

Didn't Lord Shalovanal tell you about it?
...what?
No, no, so.....................
She tilted her head at me and said, "Well...

　
　I mean, does White's blessing even have the effect of making you immortal?

''........Is that so? No, I heard from Black-san that Sharovanar-sama's blessing is completely above the blessing of the entire divine race, so I heard that you can get all the benefits you can get from the blessing of the divine race.
'Really?　I mean, is there any blessing that makes you immortal?
'That's what the Duke of Lyria received, Miss Cronor's book blessing.
....

　The effect of becoming immortal is due to Kuronoa-san's blessing, and Lilia-san seems to be immortal.
　Anyway, I seem to be immortal. Hey guys, natural goddess I didn't hear anything about that....

(The effect of my blessing is a high ranking 'apparently' of all gods.)

　What's taking so long?　And apparently, he's the one who knows better than Black does.



　Hey, why do you keep saying that he has something else planned?　My body has been super-modified without my knowledge!

　I look at Alice's face, which is scowling, while poking Shiro-san in my mind.

''I see, I'm an immortal.......''
Well..........yes.........
.........hahaha.......what's this, I'm not tight at the important part......
Well, that's just like you, Kite!
Wait a minute, hey...

　

But if you say you're immortal, then you don't have to make Alice sad, is that a good thing?
But you're not immortal, are you?
That's the... you know... 'to protect' me, right?
Yes, please leave it to me. I'm undefeated only when it comes to protecting people. In exchange, I don't want to be overstretched or in a hurry, so please protect me, right?
Yeah, I promise.

　I tell Alice that I want her to protect me and she tells me that she wants me to protect her heart.
　The words seemed to complement each other, and they were very gentle.... a reassuring promise.

"...Alice. I love you. I want you to continue to be with me.
"...Kite. I love you. Please let me stay by your side.

　Then they exchanged words of confirmation, and as they were drawn to each other.......softly, they kissed each other.
　Softly and comfortably, they exchanged their warmth with each other as they communicated their thoughts to each other.

　And when they separated their lips from either of them, tears were floating in Alice's eyes.

''........I was so scared that I lost it.''
Yeah?
'I was going to fall in love with my best friends to get to where they were... to die. So I was afraid that if that came true, I would have a strong desire to die... and I couldn't find the courage to take that step.

　With tears streaming down her face, Alice puts her hands around my neck and hugs me as if she's clinging to me.

'But I don't seem to be able to go where my best friends are... I've fallen in love with you, Kite, and you've taken those feelings into account... and the thought of dying has gone away. ... I want to be with you for a long time to come and I 'want' to live the future that you walk in.
Yes.
'....Kite, could you call me this name just once?

　Then Alice whispers one name in my ear, and then she pulls herself away from me and looks straight into my eyes.
　I immediately understood what that name was.
　This name is the name of the hero who once saved one world, the name of the hero she will now truly part ways with.......her past self.

''........Alicia.''
....

　When Alice hears the name I told her, she softly closes her eyes and is silent for a little while.
　And then Alice's beautiful blue eyes, which opened her eyes, had a strong and firm intention in them.

''........Thank you. As of now, the girl who was called a hero in the other world the girl who was called a hero in the other world Alicia has died in the true sense of the word. And from now on, the name of me who will walk with you is 'Alice'. Once again, I look forward to working with you in the future.
Yeah. The same goes for...

　Saying goodbye to her past self, Alice smiles with a big smile on her face.
　Not a hero of another world, not a piece of illusion, not a faceless king, but a girl living in this world, Alice....
　It was like a smile as bright and powerful as the sun - a smile from the bottom of her heart that her best friend had wished for.

　Dear Mom, Dad - I was able to accept Alice's thoughts and express my own honest feelings. The bond we had woven was stronger and more solid. Together with the new girl - she will continue to shimmer by my side.