All the strength in my body slips away.
　My knees were wobbling and laughing, and I could barely stand.
　I felt like if I let my mind wander even a little bit, I'd just fall down and never get up again.

''Still........was........''

　Desperately trying to hold on to his consciousness, he looked forward.

　Suzu was the first to show a defensive stance against Kamui's blow.
　I remember that much.
　I also remember that there was a definite response.
　But I don't know much more than that.

　Right now, the dust from Kamui's blow had left me with poor visibility, and I couldn't see anything.
　I wonder if I could reach Suzu?
　Will this be the end?
　I can't fall down until I see the results.

'Lane, are you okay?'
Somehow... but more importantly...
Mother...

　Soon, the dust cloud has cleared.
　I scolded my body for not listening to me, and set up my Kamui as if there was nothing I could do.
　If it comes down to it, I'm going to shoot you in rapid succession.



　When the dust clears...
　There, Tin-san was standing there.
　Although she was battered all over the place.....
　But he seems to be rather healthy and is treading the earth firmly.

　........give me a break.
　Is it a real monster?
　I don't mean to be rude, but I can't help but think about that.

'I'll do it. That one worked pretty well.
I would have liked you to fall down if I could...
I have one question for you, if you don't mind.
What is it?
All of a sudden, Mr. Lane is moving better, what was that all about?
''Well I used an ability enhancement spell.

　Maybe I shouldn't do anything that would reveal my hand.
　However, I found myself saying it honestly.
　Maybe it's Suz-san's personality that makes it so.

''I see.......but it was divided into several levels, wasn't it?''
I put a layer over it.
How is that possible?
It's my first time doing this and I'm kind of improvising. Well, I guess it worked out.
'But from the look on Miss Lane's face, isn't that pretty outrageous?
Well....

　It hurts everywhere.
　Even the slightest movement of a fingertip causes pain as if it was pricked by a needle.
　It was probably a reaction to overworking my body beyond its limits.

''You are being reckless. You don't know what will happen if you do such a thing.......why do you go to such lengths?　Do you want to be with Kanade that badly?
Of course.

　I answered immediately.

　Do you want to stay with Kanade?
　Don't you want to leave Kanade?

　The answer is always the same.
　Of course we want to be together.
　Of course we don't want to be apart.

　We are the first 'real' friends we've made.
　When I was at my wits' end after being expelled from the party of the brave....
　Kanade greeted me with a bright smile.
　It may be an exaggeration, but I could say that he saved my life.
　That's how much I felt indebted to Kanade.

　Well, let's not get into those formalities.
　Apart from the ingratitude and all that stuff........

I want to continue to be with Kanade. I think so.

　I want to be with you.
　That's all I want to do.

Oh, I see...
?

　Mr. Tin keeps asking questions to make sure he knows what's going on.
　For some reason, he doesn't want to resume the fight.
　What's going on?

　Could it be that Suzu is suffering a lot of damage, just like me?
　Can barely stand?

　...or not.
　Looks like he still has some energy left.
　Unlike our wounded counterparts here.

　So, then what is it...?

...phew.

　With a small exhale, Suzu looked somewhat sad.
　And yet, she smiled happily.
　It might be a contradiction, but that was the expression on her face.

''Children grow up without their parents, don't they?
Meow?　Mother?
Wow, I'm dead.

　With a bang, Suzu collapsed with a ridiculous barb of dialogue.
　I don't understand.
　Suddenly, not to mention me, everyone else was taken aback by the suddenness of the situation.

"Well...?
What's going on?　You're not pleased?　Mr. Lane and the others won, right?

　No, you don't have to look so cheerful to say that....
　I'm not convinced, or rather, the development is too abrupt to understand in the first place.
　What does it all mean?

Hey Mom.
What is it, Kanade?
Mom, I hope you're still alive and well.　You're not getting screwed over, are you?
'No, I'm hit! The blow you struck earlier was incredibly powerful. I can't stand anymore. 'Quickly.'

　It's tremendously deliberate.
　Mr. Tin may have overwhelming power, but he doesn't seem to have any acting skills at all.

'Hey, hey, mom. What do you mean?　I don't know what to do when you suddenly start joking around like that.
I'm not kidding, sir.

　Suz-san looked very kind as she said that.

''I'm losing.
But....
'I thought Kanade-chan would be better off in the village but.......apparently, I was wrong. When Kanade-chan was in the village, she wasn't this healthy. She hadn't grown up like this. They say to let a pretty girl travel, and it seems that they were right. Because of her exposure to the outside world, Kanade was able to grow up. Then I won't try to bring her back.
Mom.....

　Kanade was touched by Suzu's understanding, and was a bit teary-eyed.

'You know, let me make one correction.'
What is it?
'I didn't grow up because I went out into the world. It's because I met Rain.
Mr. Lane....
'I'm the person I am today because I was with Lane. Mom.

　Kanade smiles at me.
　Could I have been useful to Kanade, too?
　I'm so glad Kanade said that.

'I see. If that's the case, even more so, I can't bring Kanade back. I guess I was wrong.''
Mom thank you.
'I have to say thank you too. Thank you for bringing Kanade up to this point. Mr. Lane.
No, I didn't...
You're welcome at times like this, you know?
That being said...

　I'm always getting help, and I'm not doing anything about it...

Rain, Rain.

　Kanade stands in front of me and smiles.

'I'm so glad you fought for me,'
Kanade...
'They've helped me with a lot of other things and it's not like I'm doing anything unilaterally, you know?　Rain has helped me too. She's given me a lot of things.
I see.
Thanks, Rain.
You're welcome. And.....
Meow?
Keep up the good work.
Yeah.

　Kanade smiles happily.
　I didn't lose this smile.
　Oh, thank goodness.
　I'm really glad.

''Hmmm....................I brought this on myself, but I guess it's all settled.
That's it, really. Don't tell me that.
I'm sorry.
Moo.

　Kanade and Suzu were so close and laughing together that it's hard to believe they were fighting with all their might earlier.
　For what it's worth, they're good friends, aren't they?
　I'm a bit jealous.

''Meaning........Oh no.......''

　The tension has been lifted.
　Instantly, pain and fatigue and all sorts of other things came crashing down on me at once.
　I could barely stand up to begin with.
　There was no way I could bear the burden of those things....

Meow, Lane!

　As he became distantly aware, he heard Kanade's voice in the distance.