We looked at each other as we measured the distance between us.
“Aren’t you going to run?”
“No.”
“You people-pleasing fool.”
“Thanks.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
I raised my arm high, and Hizumi twirled in response. She turned beautifully and stepped left and right as she moved closer to me.
“Don’t you think…you might die?”
“I’m much more afraid to think that yuri girls might die.”
“I can’t understand you.”
“You don’t have to understand me. You’re fine as you are. Live your life the way you want. Better yet, fall in love. Find a cute girl and send me a picture of the two of you on your first date. Marry her.”
Hesitantly, Hizumi let go of my hand.
“I’ll be your enemy once the attack starts.”
“Yeah?”
“You underestimate me. For your information, I’m seriously going to take you down. I’ve paid you back for saving my life once by giving you details about the attack. It’s your fault for not running. I decided once that I’d be on Alsuhariya’s side, and if you’re going against us, then as a member of the demonic religion, I’m going to eliminate you.”
“Then I’ll do everything in my power to save you.”
Smiling thinly, I looked into Hizumi’s eyes. “Because you’re destined to die happily in the sun, holding hands with your girl. Don’t defy fate. You should become a yuri girl. Together, we can witness the yuri world.”
“Sorry, but my fate already ended once.”
With a chuckle, Hizumi held out a hand.
“If we meet again, I’ll dance with you so you don’t have to dance with a vase again. Though we’re still enemies.”
“Don’t worry about it. Look, you’re targeted, so stop hanging around like some kid and perfect the ultimate self-defense maneuver near the girl you love.”
“Don’t mind me. I have a trusted fellow cult member I can rely on, so I’ll have her protect me.”
“Can you send me a selfie of the two of you later?”
I shook hands with Hizumi, then she turned around and disappeared from the dance area.
After seeing her off, I exhaled and looked around. My blood ran cold when I finally realized who was missing.
“Tsu-Tsu-Tsu-Tsu—!”
“Yeah? Are you talking about Ophelia? Isn’t she here?”
Tsukiori was enjoying the buffet with Lapis and Rei. Playing with the roast beef on her plate, she turned her attention to me as I failed to make out the words.
“Tsu-Tsu-Tsu-Tsu-Tsu-Tsu—!”
“No, I haven’t seen her.”
“Tsu-Tsu-Tsu-Tsu—?! Tsu-Tsu-Tsu-Tsu—!”
“Okay. Leave Lapis and Rei to me, and you go on.”
“What the heck, Sakura? Do you have a deciphering machine built into your brain or something?! It isn’t fair for you guys to be able to communicate between just the two of you!!! Rei, don’t you agree?!”
“Settle down, Lapis. There’s no such thing as a sister who doesn’t understand her brother’s words. I got as far as doing a frequency analysis.”
“I was just guessing from the look on his face.”
I panicked and ran, pulling out Masamune Kuki, which I’d hidden behind the curtain on stage. I initiated its enhanced projection and dashed out of the banquet hall.
I ran around the ship, single-mindedly searching for Ophelia.
Why didn’t my Ophelia Watch System get activated?! It was supposed to be a passive skill that any ESCO fan had!!!
I was tearing through the ship—when I suddenly ran into A and almost collided with her when she ducked.
“Good evening, Mr. Sanjo. We have a lovely round moon out tonight.”
“U-um! I don’t care if the moon is shaped like someone’s bottom, and you’re trying to sexually harass me!”
“I never said a word about someone’s bottom.”
“A-a girl! Have you seen this girl?! She’s like a human being attached to blond rolls in her hair that go down her shoulders!!! Have you seen her crying somewhere?! She’s a darned foil who can start crying in seconds!!!”
“Are you talking about Miss Ophelia von Margeline?”
Th-this woman…! Was she trying to insult Ophelia…?
I pushed back my anger and waited for the smiling woman to answer.
“Yes, I saw her. She was enjoying the night breeze on the Tanzanite Deck. There’s a beautiful moon out tonight.”
“Thank you for the information! I’m on my way—”
She suddenly blocked the way and stopped me in my tracks.
“I’m sorry, there was one thing I wanted to ask you.”
“The shape of my bottom…?”
“No, sir.”
Her pitch-black eyes looked into my eyes.
“The other day, you seemed to have put six girls on a boat and prompted them to leave the ship… Why didn’t you go with them?”
So she’d seen me when I let those clan members escape after all.
There was no need to lie. It might complicate things later on.
I decided to go with the truth.
“It’s to save the yuri girls.”
“…Yuri girls.”
She put a finger to her chin and smiled.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard that term. I’d like to learn more about it if time permits—”
“How about I give you a beginner’s course for three hours a day, five times a week, for a year—?”
“No, thank you. Please be brief.”
I answered.
“I guess it’s love.”
“Love.”
“You might laugh at me for being so clichéd, but if I can’t lecture you for 365 days, I have no choice but to give you that one-word answer.”
She smiled at me and stepped aside reverently.
“I apologize for taking up your valuable time. Please go ahead.”
I was about to walk past her when—
—I heard her murmur something and turn around.
Still smiling, A stood there as if nothing had happened. Remembering what it was that I had to do, I quickly put strength into my legs.