When she looked up, I could see tears lingering in her azure eyes. Despite how intense the fighting had been, there were only a few losses on our side and this was all thanks to the hard work of the soldiers—and the strength of the girl before me. Hakurei had talent as both a combatant and a commander...but she was too kind for her own good.
“If you keep on looking so depressed, you’re gonna affect morale. You did a good job,” I continued.
Fat tears began to well once more in her eyes and she was slamming her fists against my chest. “But!” she said. “But then... What should I do with this feeling in my chest?! What can I do?!”
After a moment, I sighed. “You’re such an idiot.”
It took time for my words to register in Hakurei’s mind. She wiped at her tears and glared up at me. “What did you say?”
I took out a white handkerchief from my pocket and dabbed it against Hakurei’s eyes. Then I winked at her. “Isn’t that what I’m here for?”
Hakurei blinked her big eyes before she sighed. “You’re such a...” She trailed off and used the handkerchief to hide her expression as she looked up at the sky.
The sun was starting to set, and I could see the slow approach of night. If we didn’t get back soon, father would be worried about us.
Without standing, Hakurei extended her left hand towards me. “Your hand,” she said.
“Huh?” I didn’t know what she meant. I stood up.
With a loud noise, Getsuei trotted into the abandoned fortress. When the horse saw its mistress, its tail flicked happily. Hakurei untied her hair ribbon and looked up at me, something sweet hidden in her expression.
“My legs are shaking so badly that I don’t think I can ride a horse. Please ride with me—all the way back to Keiyou. You rode my horse without permission, so you can fulfill this small request in return, yes?”
“Uhh...”
“Or would you like me to recommend you as a military official to my father?”
“Oof!” That was my weakest of all my weak points, and I clutched at my chest. I agonized a little bit over the decision but finally picked up Hakurei and placed her on Getsuei’s back. Then I mounted behind her. “Are you happy now?” I grumbled after we adjusted our seating.
“Yes, this is good. Sekiei...”
“Hmm?”
For a long while as we began our journey home, Hakurei let her unfinished words linger. Then, in a voice so quiet I could barely hear it, she said, “Thank you for coming for me.” That said, she closed her eyes and fell asleep, a relaxed expression on her features.
I gently wiped away a bit of dirt stuck to Hakurei’s face and started to think. That reconnaissance mission from the Gen Empire was not something we should have come across. The one leading them was none other than the Crimson Wolf—who wasn’t even supposed to be in the south. I had no idea what father would do when he heard about this.
“I might have to return to Rinkei sometime soon...”
I wrapped my arms around the slumbering Hakurei’s waist so that she wouldn’t fall off the horse, and then looked up at the southern sky.