Chapter 74 (1/2)

Chapter 74: Countdown (1)

I was groggy when I woke up and noticed Gin sleeping beside me I watched hi on the cave wall and our hands still clasping each other hands I sat properly and slightly toke his hands away on htly dropped

I watched the surroundings Dark Thethe entrance of the caven I thought about Luna Where is she? Did she not arrive yet? I was a bit startled when I felt s Someone entered the cave

”Oh, you're awake”

I blinked when I saw Luna She dropped the water container she was carrying

”How long have you been back?” I asked

She shook her head ”I just came back I just went to fetch some water in the river nearby Sorry I didn't wake you up”

I noticed her looking Gin as sleeping It seems like she wanted to ask me a question But she chose to keep silent This is one of the reasons why I ad is up But she understands There's no need for words because she's sensitive enough to know

”How are you? Did you have a hard ti?” I asked ”It would e better if you take a rest first”

”This is easier than expected because I remember the road” She was suddenly silent She focused on the container of the new plants in front of her I feel like she was avoiding to talk about so happen?”

There's a hint of uneasiness inSeveral seconds passed before she looked at ain

”I saw him”

I froze ”W-who?” The moment the words are out, the answer to my own question enteredto tell me ”Lucas I saw Lucas”

I feel like I suddenly stop breathing I don't knohat I feel was either relief or fear that's overwhel me A feords and a wave of emotion crashed into me Concern Fear

”How is he?” I asked with a weak voice ”Is he okay? Is he injured?”

Luna seemed shocked and my continuous questions She wasn't able to iame, it's impossible if you are not injured But he's okay We didn't talk I just saw hi each other He probably knows me Then he turned back and walked away”

I don't knohat to say There are so s in my mind but it's so chaotic to ask Luna I stopped myself to ask her where I could find him

”shi+a, why didn't he hurt me?” Luna asked ”This is the phase where every point is crucial Our groups are ene ”

It gradually sinks in what Luna wanted to say She looked straight atto win? ”

An unexplained feeling engulfed me Even I wanted to know the answer We haven't able to talk I don't knohy Lucas is here and why he isn't fighting

”shi+a, when the game ends-”

I cut her off ”Take a rest”

I know the consequences of Luna's question It's aboutthat will happen to both of us when the Ga in front of Luna

”shi+”

Luna stared at me Trace of concern and intense fear can be heard on her voice Not for herself but for me Does she know about my plan? Did she feel it that's she's this nervous?

I leaned against the wall again and turned to Gin He moves a bit But continued to be in a deep sleep Gin looks so cal in pain It was so peaceful to look at his every breath I smiled I want this one I want it to be my last memories of him I want to remember this moment

”You've fallen for him, haven't you?”

I suddenly turned to Luna She's looking at both Gin and I ”You know our Captain” she pointed out She knows it or maybe it's her mere assumption I wanted to deny but I'round with a loud thud

She leaned against the wall opposite toeach other” Luna, thank you” I said She see

”For what?” she asked

I shrugged ”I don't know,” I answered I looked at the wall behind her unconsciously ”You are like a sibling, do you know that?” I said ”Cheerful, kind, thoughtful”

I saw Luna stunned ”In the world, we live, it's hard to see someone like you So every time you worry about hed superficially ”I see all your efforts, but I don't kno to repay it I'ize to the things that I did ere together”

She slightly s ill-tempered? When you suddenly turned silent? Or is it that usual look of yours that I'

”What look?” I asked with a frown

She suddenly laughed This is the first tih at this place, andor staring seriously, but often no e a fact here” She said while restraining her smile ”Especially in your early days at the Acade at a blank wall You rarely showed e hard to suppress a s her head in agreement ”You were that cold”

In the ht, are our quiet wails can only be heard inside the cave I would miss this

”But did you know?” she said I noticed her voice suddenly turned serious ”I'roup I know it's a product of a cruel by chance but I can't iine Team Hesperia without a shi+a Sheridan ”

I don't know if that's how I also feel If I did not go to the Acade the sa in the e for it is without knowing Luna, the group, Sir Apollo and Miss Aura, Gin

There's no use in regretting things like a failed decision and i the alternative Maybe I'm meant to be here, to meet them, to see that there is a life way beyond the dirty don streets, rusty rooftops, and people with unrealized drearound Maybe the circu I'm supposed to find or understand

And I did

I noticed Luna was yawning She is definitely tired ”Luna”

She snapped back in my attention ”Yes?”

I watched her I didn't speak immediately In that time I didn't knohy I said it Maybe I felt it that it would be our last conversation

”I didn't regret that I met you,” I said ”Where ever all of these leads, reet this- I will never forget the group ”

She smiled at what I said ”Me too”

I tried to s that made every liht, shi+a”

I watched Gin beside ht”

A strange thing woke reetedin opposite toI feel the surrounding Howfrom when Luna and I spoke? I stood for an unknown reason There, I realize that there's so on my wrist I looked at it I al the total The coroup The speed of my heart accelerates automatically I felt a mix of fear and nervousness It justwrist I wasn't able to breathe at what I saw next I covered my mouth with my shaky hands

It's written in red onti inside the cave Still and unresponsive I don't knohat to do It seems all my preparations are suddenly erased infast I tried to breathe deeply I went outside withI looked up and watched the dark sky A teaht Dione Dione holds the ain I say to ain If Dione is leading and Lucas is still alive, it roups that are sure to be still in the arena and has a hope to win The Hesperia, Boran, and Dione Lucas, I have to talk to Lucas

I returned inside the cave again I watched Luna and Gin When they wake up they will know that the countdown has begun The points I hold will no longer help them from this point in time I need to hurry up I want to leave and to never look at both of theain But I still can't stop myself

I stare at Luna and mu deeply I watched the countdown onfast I watched Gin's face I took all of my efforts not to touch hied to s at theto live Go back home”

And in that time, I kneas the last ti to be calm and alert when I went out of the cave I have no time to feel pity for myself, to be afraid, or to be nervous I do not need e back to the place where Luna saw Lucas I need to hurry I don't hold h I told myself that I would be okay, this ison the dark forest, I couldn't stop h I looked above the trees and the sky where you could see the sun rising in a distance

”I'm shi+a Sheridan and fuck you, Linus Cup! Screw all of you in the systegy when I woke up and noticed Gin sleeping beside me I watched hi on the cave wall and our hands still clasping each other hands I sat properly and slightly toke his hands away on htly dropped