One Slow Step at a Time?
After countless training and practical combat sessions, Kyra was finally getting the hang of controlling her Kotodama.
Rise.
Gah...?!
I-I'm floating?!
P-put me down! I-I'm afraid of heights! Gaaah!
You're getting the hang of it.
Yeah... I still get nervous when they're far away, but...
You're getting there.
Right! Until then, you have to keep helping me, okay?
Kyra will also do her best!
Just then, a scream echoed from a distance.
W-whoooaaaaa! Heeeeeelp!
Hey! Please help me!
Human! Hand over all your stuff!
Give me all your shiny things!
Is she being chased by Raiders...?
Hey! Don't just stand there! Help me!
Just my luck running into a whole gang of Raiders on my first solo quest—
Huh...?
K-Kyra...?
N-never mind! I can handle this on my own!
I'll just keep running, so...!
D-don't say a thing!
...They're going to catch her at this rate.
It was unlikely that I would make it in time. But if Kyra used her Kotodama...
I looked at Kyra while trying to come up with a plan.
As expected, Kyra was staring at the fleeing girl with anxious eyes.
I-I'm not ready yet...
I can't hurt someone again...
Grrr! Human! Weak! Slow!
Ngh...!
Should I tell Kyra to use her power...?
Just as she said, she still can't fully control her Kotodama.
Maybe it is best if I step in myself.
Get be—
At that moment, Kyra stepped forward.
Kyra, will try.
Kyra looked straight at the charging Raider, removed her mask, and opened her mouth.
...Fl—
...
Fly away!
*Fwoosh*
At Kyra's shout, an overwhelming force surged toward the Raider.
With a deafening crash, an invisible force hit the Raider leader head-on...
Krrrraaa!!
...sending the Raider flying far into the sky.
NOOOOOO!!
Please, stop—
...Huh? I'm... okay?
Kyra's Kotodama perfectly avoided the girl and only hit the Raider.
You did it...!
B-but... it was so close to me...?
And you said, "Fly away"...
...
...I, practiced a lot.
Kyra, still trembling, approached the girl, who was still dazed.
...I'm trying my best.
To learn to control properly, my Kotodama.
So... I can keep people around me safe.
R-really?
Hey...
...K-Kyra's sorry for what happened back then.
I just...
...I just wanted to play with everyone.
I just wanted to be friends.
And hang out with you guys.
...
So... next time.
Once Kyra can completely control the Kotodama...
I want to apologize to the others, too.
...Okay.
Well, I don't know when that'll be, but...
It seems like you've... improved a lot.
A-anyway... thanks for saving me today.
Then...
Yeah. See you around.
You did great, Kyra.
...Yeah.
It's all thanks to you, Captain.
This is all you, Kyra.
No. It's all because of you, Captain.
Kyra won't back down on that.
Without you, Kyra would still be a cowardly, useless, lonely kid.
Scared that my Kotodama might hurt someone again.
Thinking it was only natural that someone like me was worthless.
You changed Kyra, Captain.
When you suggested training to control my Kotodama...
Back then, I thought it was impossible.
But I did it, didn't I?
And come to think of it, when we first met, you said this too.
"You won't know until you give it a shot!" And you were right.
I couldn't do it because I never tried.
And I was scared because I couldn't do it.
Kyra could do it, but she just... never tried.
Say, Captain...
Did you know Kyra could do it all along?
Nope, not at all.
Ahaha. Is that so?
But...
I still think it was fate that you came to me.
But hey, Captain...
Why doesn't my Kotodama work on you?
I dunno...
Hmm...
When I finally learn to control my Kotodama perfectly...
Maybe then...
Ahaha. Forget I said anything.
Captain, give me your hand for a second.
And close your eyes. I've got a gift for you.
A gift?
Kyra fished around in her bag and placed something in my hand.
Captain.
Kyra knelt down and snapped a leash around her choker...
And holding the end of that leash was...
It was my hand.
W-what is this?!
You see, Captain...
I read it in a book.
This means that I'm entrusting myself to you completely.
It's a sign of absolute trust.
...What sort of sketchy book were you reading?
Noooo... Don't let gooooo.
This is a gift from Kyra to you, Captain.
From now on, Kyra is yours.
My body, heart, the rest of my life—all of it.
You can do whatever you want with Kyra, Captain.
And...
It's not because Kyra is nothing without you, Captain.
...It's because I chose to.
Kyra looked up at me and gently pulled down her mask.
You'll end up falling for me, Captain.
So deep that you won't be able to escape.
Now that you've got me, I'll make sure you can never get rid of me.
...It's still not working... Hmm...
Huh? Your face is all red, Captain!
Are you embarrassed?
Ahaha! You're red because you're happy!
I... ran without looking back.
The sound of Kyra running after me echoed loudly behind me.
I thought I had done my best to establish a healthy relationship with Kyra...
But is this okay...?
I mean, is it really okay...?!
Did I accidentally choose the wrong path without realizing it...?
Captain! Don't run away...!
Wait up for meeeeeeee...!