The Crisis World XX

Chap. 142: Goodbye

The birthday surprise we gave Herlin was a huge success— or so Herlin said. But I didn't feel that Herlin really enjoyed the surprise we prepared.

I know that he is a person whose face is flat or usually called a poker face. But sometimes I can tell if he's happy or feeling something else, even if it's not shown directly. I think it's an advantage always being with him.

And now, I don't feel at all the feeling of pleasure from his face. His flat face this time was more towards him being a lot of thoughts and not focusing on what was in front of him.

Is the incident in Nagoya still in his head? Unlike usual such a thing can affect someone like Herlin for quite a while. Even during Oita-san's death, she only cried for a while and then acted like normal again.

Is there anything else?

I tried to remember everything that happened in Nagoya that was related to Herlin. But I didn't find anything specific. Did it happen when I wasn't with him?

"It seems, his nature changed with the woman who approached him on the roof at that time."

A female? On rooftops?

Uh! You mean him! The person who suddenly came approached Herlin and then left just like that. Cecilia's words reminded me of the incident. Damnit. I'm sure they were talking about something back then, but because it was hurt and it was too far away, I couldn't hear it.

"Are you sure because of that?" askaku.

"Okay, that's just my guess. There might be something else," replied Cecilia indifferently. I can imagine her shrugging her shoulders a sign of not knowing.

So I now pay attention to Herlin. He was talking to that Anna-san and Hanasaki-san while eating the birthday cake piece. Maybe it's just excessive worry, but I'll find the cause of him being like that.

I then ate my cut in one go.

**

It was now half twelve in the evening, the party was over and the orphanage children were all asleep as well. They had fun until they were tired and slept carelessly in this dining room.

There was something around her mouth that still left the crumbs of cake, some were still holding small plates and forks, but there was a happy look on their sleep all that made Yuuki-san smile. And he took them to his own room.

Then for the others, they will also be home soon. Anna-san and Mei-senpai also fell asleep due to her full stomach, especially Mei-senpai who was very excited to comfort the orphanage children.

"Anna-san, Anna-san." Herlin shook Anna-san's body gently but that didn't wake her up even though she was delirious.

"Ah, let me drive her home, please" Hanasaki-san said.

"Is it okay?" ask Herlin.

"Just calm down, my house with him is also unidirectional. So I won't be too far from my house either. Besides, if anyone bothers me. .., I'll call my friends."

Hanasaki-san grinned as she imagined the fate of the person who would have disturbed her while she was coming home.

"You're the devil, are you?" said Herlin flat.

'The 'friends' that Hanasaki-san meant here were ghosts and spirits that he could see. It seemed like Herlin had also given him some The Unseen to look after him.

"We will also go home" said Hira. "Yes, it's too late and my parents can worry later," Kudou continued.

"Go home safely, will you?"

The four of them then went home. Anna-san had also woken up even though her consciousness had still not fully gathered. "Be careful of you all." They waved their hands while continuing to walk away.

Mei-senpai is difficult to wake up. "Mei-senpai, you're hard to wake up, aren't you?" my spoken.

"so. The last time I woke her up, I had to water her with water."

"Is such a thing really necessary?"

"Yes, don't you want me to drive him." Caramel then rubbed it like he was lifting a drunken man, but there was no sake or alcohol at this party. "Are you coming, Iraya?"

"Ah, you can go home first. I have to help Herlin and Yuuki-san to clean up first."

"All right then. I just warned you that I'd lock the front door, so find another way in, huh?" Caramel waved as she walked away.

"Oi!" But he ignored me and kept going. "Huh .., that kid."

"We'll go too."

"me too. There's still so much to do."

Nigiyaka-san, Akihito-san, and Ishikawa-san then stood up and walked away. Lately they have become more reliable than usual, especially Ishikawa-san. He seems to work hard and I rarely meet him. Well .., I guess that's a good thing for her and us too.

For Nigiyaka-san and Akihito-san, I heard rumors that Nimis and Ardenter had already begun to be seen again in the underworld. After leaving Astaroth's organization, they became the famous Assassin duo mercilessly and rarely failed in their mission.

It seemed like the abilities of the two of them were increasing every day. There is a sense of relief in my heart that he is not my enemy now, even though I do not want to search for an enemy forever. But if peace is hard to achieve, I don't think there's any other way but to strengthen yourself.

Herlin then stretched his body achy. "Now, can we start cleaning up?" ask Herlin.

"Come on!"

We are passionate about cleaning everything from washing dirty dishes to mopping the whole room. If you imagine us cleaning up cheerfully and with laughter, that is not the case here at all.

We cleared up quite a while in silence because everyone in the orphanage— except the two of us and Yuuki-san were already asleep, moreover my voice was also exhausted to sing in the show earlier.

For almost an hour, we had cleared the dining room and Herlin just mopped it up. She tied her hair into a ponytail model to make it easier for her to move while mopping.

And after Herlin mopped, the cleaning was finally done. He then gave me two plastic crumbs full of trash. "Dispose this to the trash can in the kitchen, I'll take a shower first."

"Good~"

I then threw it away quickly and the sound of the shower had also rung a sign that Herlin was taking a bath. Tired of waiting for him to finish, I went around inside this orphanage.

Although I have been here quite often, but practically I only often to the yard, living room, and also the dining room. And the hallway full of rooms I'm exploring right now I've never been.

Looks like this is the nursery room that is here and there is a signboard that shows the owner of the room. There are three, two, and some are alone.

My attention was on one of the signboards. Haruka Sai. I smiled looking at him, he was the child that Herlin and I saved first while completing the mission in Shibata Village. Villagers there perform a strange ritual that sacrifices children less than ten years old for the fertility of their harvest.

But luckily we managed to save him before anything bad happened. And when I shifted to the next door, there was the name of the person who saved him.

So this is Herlin's room, yeah. Not that I'm curious about what's in it or how, but ....

I shook my head to take away my brain's imagination, after which I looked around. The atmosphere is quiet and dark. After gulping and feeling quite safe, I opened the door slowly.

"If it's just a little I think it's okay" I murmured.

I knew that I would be battered by him if caught in his room, but my curiosity overcame my fear. So I ventured to keep going in.

And I went into his bedroom. There are no fancy or funny interiors. The design is very minimalist with a study table, a small table as a bed lamp mat, and a closet as a large furniture in this room.

Many people say that a person's personality can be seen from his room and it is proven here. Simple decorations and some photos on the shelf show that Herlin is not a complicated person.

I also looked at the photos and took one of them. There is a photo of Herlin with Yuuki-san, with Oita-san, and a photo of her bustling with the orphanage children.

There is also a picture of her when she was smaller— is likely to be the same age as SMP. His face remained expressionless from long ago. I wonder since when he's been so expressionless like that.

"If I ask, he'll tell her or not, yeah?"

"Iraya?"

"Uwaahkh!"

I was shocked when someone called and from his voice, I already knew who he was. "I-it .. I don't mean to—" I tried to explain with a sigh of forgiveness for my life.

"Don't turn around."

"Eh?"

"I'm just wearing a towel now."

Poofs...

When Herlin said that, my face immediately reddened and smoke rose from above my head. Why are you telling her so lightly anyway, you stupid Herlin!

"Ma-ma-forgive me. I'll be out of here soon!"

"I told you not to turn around."

"Hkkh!"

He's not yelling. The tone is cold too. This proves that he is angry. Even without seeing his face, I knew he was angry.

"E-etto ..., what should I do?" many doubt.

"Close your eyes and face the wall. I'll tell you I'm done getting dressed."

I followed his words, because there was nothing else I could do. For a while I closed my eyes as my cheeks continued to turn red.

And after that, Herlin was done and he called me again.

"You can open your eyes."

I opened my eyes and saw Herlin sitting on the bed with a plain white shirt and pajama pants. He tilted his head waiting for me to open his eyes and face towards him.

Whether this was just my feeling or not, but the moonlight that escaped through the window of this room made Herlin look more beautiful than usual. Especially with her expressionless face.

"So ...."

"D-yeah?!"

"... What are you doing in my room?"

That's her! A question I've been waiting for but don't want to hear! What am I supposed to do? A lying answer is the same as dying sooner, so I have to be honest with him.

"I-I saw your room open and got a little curious, so I went in. But I swear I didn't touch anything!"

He did not immediately respond to my answer, rather deciding what he would do for me. Hopefully not too heavy. Please, please.

"So that's it."

Eh? The answer was more calm than I expected. Does that mean my life is safe? It's not a calm sea before a storm hits, is it?

He called me again. But what I thought I was going to be punished severely, turned out that he was patting the mattress softly beside him, seemingly telling me to sit there.

"Eh? Me? Sit there?" I pointed at myself then to the bed next to him to confirm this strange phenomenon. And he nodded too. I still don't understand what's going on here, but whatever can keep me from getting scolded, I'll obey.

After that I sat down next to Herlin, the atmosphere became even more awkward than usual. Is it because it's nighttime and we're just the two of us in the room? Wait, what kind of absurd situation is this?

And something that almost blew my heart out again happened without warning. Is correct. Herlin suddenly put his head on my thigh and his eyes immediately looked at me who was looking down.

I was sure that he could see a red face as well as a stupid expression that I could not bear right now. "He-Herlin-san? What's the matter?" Reflexively I spoke to him formally because I no longer knew what was going on.

"Elus my head."

"Se-seriously?" He nodded again. Is he drunk? Why is he suddenly so spoiled? But I still stroked his head rather slowly. And it seems like Herlin is enjoying it.

"Iraya ... When you first started, what did you think of me?"

Now he's asking. "First time? I feel like you're such a heartless monster killer. I mean, you slaughtered those little humans in front of my eyes mercilessly." While continuing to stroke her, I answered Herlin's question.

"You still remember that, huh?"

"Of course, it's traumatizing me enough if you want to know."

Herlin's eyes softened. Then he ... smiled? He was smiling, right? The tip of his lips lifted up a little. Did I just witness a rare phenomenon?

"I didn't expect you at all. I was just wondering why you didn't faint when the others fainted, but your aura was so weak and not much different from that of a normal human."

"Ah .. that's because there's Cecilia inside me."

"And it looks like Cecilia wasn't in your body for long, huh?"

"Yes that's it. And after that, everything went on until now.

"Yes ...." If I think more deeply, this togetherness has been established for quite a long time and is great also because I have no feelings for it.

But do I really ... have no feelings for Herlin? I saw her face looking at me and enjoying my elusan. What if I let it be with another man I'll be okay with that? Of course not!

So maybe .. I do have feelings for her.

"Hey Herlin, is there someone you like?"

"Hmm? Why are you suddenly asking like that?"

Gawat! I slipped and my feelings came out of my mouth. You stupid Iraya! "A-h ...! It's okay, it's okay. You can forget about that. It's even better if you melu—"

"There, really."

"Eh?"

"There, really. The one I like."

Don'tdon't. Don't say it like that. If you answer like that, I won't be able to bear to ask who it is. Damnit. Why do you answer like that.

"Can I know ... Who is it?"

My face is flushed. Arhh! Caring for the devil with my pride! I wonder who Herlin likes! I don't expect the answer to be me, anyway. But if not .... Akh! Goddamnit! Goddamnit! Goddamnit!

I looked at Herlin's face seriously. I really want to know the answer. But Herlin did not answer him immediately, he stopped my elusan and got up from my lap. Eh? What the hell does this mean?

"You want a walk out? It's hotter than I thought." He didn't answer my question.

"Y-yeah ...."

We finally walked out. Herlin put on his Hoodie back and we walked in the middle of the night until we finally arrived at the familiar place, which was the hill behind where we used to practice. At night, it turns out this place is darker than I imagined.

Herlin who walked first then stopped and turned his body to face me.

While I took the initiative to snap my finger and instantly some spirit particles came out from there. Illuminate this place with a greenish glow.

"You can do something like that now?"

"Yes, just recently. The Spirits inside my body have accepted me, so I can utilize them as I please."

Herlin was still watching the particles flying around us with a look of admiration and trying to grab one of the particles. "It's so beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it."

But even though his words sounded amazed, Herlin's eyes inexplicably looked glum. Is it just my feelings?

"If now ...." Herlin suddenly spoke. "If now, how do you think of me?" He still asks about it.

I didn't think about it much, anyway. Because I meet him almost every day. But if I'm asked so .... I always thought of him as the perfect man. Coupled with its clumsy and quiet nature.

But after knowing him for a long time, he wasn't always like that. "You are someone I want to protect, Herlin. I know that you are still stronger than me, but other than fighting, you are nothing more than an ordinary girl. You go to school, have friends, and play with them.

So I want to protect that, I want to protect your normal days as much as possible. I'll protect that clumsy and hard-smiling girl. Because I made a promise to Oita-san and it was also my promise to myself."

That's the feeling I have for him. No one can deny that I like it.

But he even laughed amusedly. While covering her mouth, Herlin could not stop her laughter until tears were created at the end of her eyes.

"What the hell is funny?!" I don't know why after saying that I was so embarrassed.

"Sorry, your face is very serious when you say that. So I can't hold my laugh." After being satisfied, he finally continued his words. "Huh ... You've always been first, you know?"

"meaning?"

"You who first made me laugh amusedly, feel proud, you are also my first partner and first student, you can also make me angry, also sad. You're always first ...."

He paused for a while and then smiled saying the next word.

"... Even the first person to make me fall in love."

My eyes widened and my cheeks flushed. I can't be wrong in hearing her words earlier, because it's so quiet here.

"It was weird at first, but now I realize. I love you, Iraya. Can I tell you that? Tightness in the chest when you're with another woman and the desire to be with you. It seems to be a feeling of love. It's embarrassing, but I'm relieved that I can tell you now."

Ahh .... So this is what it feels like to be a coward? Though I can express it first, but I even first by him. I used to be a loser, anyway. But even so, Herlin had already expressed her feelings. So I have to pay it back.

I love her too. I want to be with him longer. Even if I had already graduated from school and if I wasn't in Black Rain anymore, I would still want to be with Herlin. And I'll tell him that.

"Herlin, I'm also—"

"But the one who loves you is Herlin's Ririsaka."

"What do you mean?" Suddenly he said something strange. His originally gentle gaze now turned back to be full of sadness.

"While on the rooftop of the radio building, when our fight was over, a woman approached me. The woman who looked so much like me then told me my real name."

It turned out that there was indeed something Herlin was talking about while on the roof with him. "real name? Are you sure that's not just the bitch?"

"Herlinias. That's my real name. And this Ririsaka Herlin's name is a fake name someone gave me so I could live in Japan."

No. gabe. Not likely. Our lives are just about to begin. Herlin has already expressed his feelings to and I will also do the same. Why should anything hinder us? Why is it always this way?!

"You don't need to think about it further, huh, Herlin? I'm sure he's just talking nonsense. So let's go back to the orphanage."

"I can't."

"What?"

"I have to find out about my parents. And that means I have to go. Oita-san also said before her death that my face is a combination of the faces of my parents. I can't help thinking after that. Father, mother, and the woman .. I have to find out about them."

"It's not fair ...." I suddenly muttered. Because my head can't think anymore. "Why did after you expressed your feelings, you even want to leave here?!" I'm yelling.

"That's .... I'm sorry."

"Sorry?! Do you think 'sorry' can solve this?! You just destroyed the hope I had! Aren't you thinking about how I felt just a moment ago?!"

"Then what should I do?!" Herlin shouted back. "What am I supposed to do with this unbecoming feeling?! Tell me! I can't even enjoy my own birthday party because I keep thinking about it. I am the worst! Though you have tried hard .. you have tried hard ...."

Now tears of sorrow fell on Herlin's cheeks. Apparently he wasn't having fun. And his head wasn't at the party either. I approached her and extended my hand.

"If you say you need help, of course I'll help you, you idiot! You're always quiet and don't talk about anything, where maybe people know what's on your mind."

Herlin's slow sigh had subsided enough and now he looked at my hand.

"Geez, you're something, aren't you?"

"Don't I tell you I'll protect you. So lay your head as often as possible on my shoulder."

Slowly Herlin began to stretch out her hand to accept my helping hand. "I am truly, truly, grateful from my deepest heart. And also ...."

Craash...

Suddenly something invisible pierced my stomach. That sharp thing is pretty slim. What is this knife— no, there are five punctures simultaneously. Is this someone's nail?! I then looked towards Herlin. I could see Banshee in front of him.

"... Good bye."

Banshee then pulled the nail that stabbed me. The stab was deep enough to even pierce my back and I was also directly slumped to the ground moistened by my own blood rushing through.

"Iraya! Hang in!"

I could hear Cecilia screaming in panic inside my head, but I was too focused on Herlin who was saying something.

"I'll leave Anna-san and Black Rain to you, Iraya. Then .... This name 'Ririsaka Herlin', I'll throw it away." Herlin then turned around and walked away.

While I was still trying to reach out my hand grabbed Herlin. But it's free, he's gone too far. My body was no longer strong and slowly my consciousness disappeared.

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