I will swear to protect the beauty with my life

On the train, everyone was exhausted after playing for a while and working all day. They soon fell down and became drowsy on the swaying train.

Nanamiya Chion sat by the window, turned her head to look at the sun that was gradually setting, and watched the sky slowly darken as the sun set, quietly in a trance.

Now she felt that her heart was like a ball of wool, a mess, but she didn't know why, the yarn was tangled together, and she couldn't figure out what was where. She didn't know why she was like this, her heart was in a mess...

Sitting next to her was Maki Ikeuchi, who was turning her head to look at her with some worry. Maki Ikeuchi had already noticed that Nanamiya was a little unhappy, but she couldn't ask why because she herself didn't know.

Helplessly, Ikeuchi Maki had to sit beside her, ready to lend a shoulder to Nanamiya when she needed it.

Touma and Nibutani sat together as it was natural, with their heads leaning against each other and their mouths slightly open, sleeping soundly. Zhangye and senior sister Fennel sat together. Senior sister Fennel had fallen asleep, but Zhangye was still awake, but her frequent yawns, increasingly heavy eyelids, and tilted head showed that she could not hold on any longer.

After all, Zhangye had been busy all day.

And on the seats opposite Nanamiya, Rikka and Yuta sat together, of course, this was as it should be.

The cat cage containing the cat Chimera was right at their feet. The cats were lying there, sleeping quietly and comfortably, while Rikka was lying in Yuta's arms with her head tilted. Yuta's arms were slightly open along with his chest, allowing Rikka to lean comfortably, but he himself did not sleep, watching the scenery outside the window pass by bit by bit.

Thanks to practicing ripples and magic with Fang Wuwei, Yongtai has undergone many changes. He has also become much stronger physically and has plenty of energy. He is not tired at all now.

It's just that his ears were slightly red, his expression was a little unnatural, and his eyes unconsciously glanced at Rikka. Obviously, Yuta was still a little shy about Rikka sleeping on him.

Not to mention that Rikka would talk in her sleep, and call out his name in her sleep... Wow, this made him even more shy, but also very happy.

Qigong saw this little action and kept it in mind.

She was happy that Rikka and Yuta's relationship had developed in this way, and was extremely relieved that Rikka had walked her own path, the path she chose for both strength and love.

At least, she will not let the brave man down.

Strength...and love...

For some reason, looking at Rikka and Yuta leaning against each other, Nanamiya Chione thought of the choice between love and power, and suddenly, she felt a little stuffy in her chest.

At this moment, she saw a dazzling light in Rikka's hand. Looking closely, she found that it was the key to the past that was tightly held in her hand.

Nanamiya Chion was touched for a moment.

Then, she saw Yuta move his arms slightly and pull Rika into his arms twice so that she could sleep more comfortably. Rika felt herself move twice, but did not wake up. She twisted her head and burrowed into Yuta's arms twice.

At that moment, for some reason, the past scene suddenly emerged in Nanamiya Chione's mind... Among the scattered cherry blossoms, Yuta stretched out his hand towards her, holding the three coins in his hand, representing the badge of the seal key.

If...if at that time, what she held was not the badge, but the hand of the hero...

Nanamiya Chione's heart beat suddenly, and the loud sound even startled Maki Ikeuchi who had been caring about her.

"...Chione-chan?"

Maki Ikeuchi realized something was wrong and began to call out to Nanamiya Chion, but Nanamiya could no longer hear the sounds outside. She covered her chest and breathed slightly, her eyes staring straight at the ground, her vision a little dazed.

Once thoughts arise, they are difficult to suppress.

If...if she had chosen the hero...

Nanamiya Chione's mind flashed with the image of her and Yuta holding hands tightly. If that was the case, would she also be able to be so sweet...

If...if she had given up her power...

Nanamiya Chione's mind flashed with the fantasy life she and Yuta had. If that was the case, could they be like a pair of sweet mandarin ducks, sitting by the river, looking at the sparkling water, leaning against each other intimately, feeling the river breeze, and watching the sunset...

If...if she hadn't been confused...

Nanamiya Chie's mind conjured up a future of living at home. If so, could they maintain this relationship in real life, sitting at home together, watching their favorite TV shows together, laughing, playing games together, and feeling happy together...

If so, could she...

The scene of her and Yuta about to kiss suddenly emerged in her mind. The Yuta in her fantasy was so dark that she couldn't see his face or his figure clearly. Her image of Yuta in the past was already a little blurry, but even so, she couldn't break away from the thought.

Nanamiya Chione was breathing even harder and her vision became even more blurry.

"Chion-chan?!"

Now not only Ikeuchi Maki, but even Yuta noticed something was wrong. They turned around and looked at Nanamiya Chione who was covering her chest and gasping for breath, and suddenly felt something was wrong.

"Nanamiya? Hey! Nanamiya!"

The calls of Ikeuchi Maki and Yuta seemed to have affected Nanamiya Chione, but she just raised her head slightly and looked at Rika who was sleeping soundly in Yuta's arms with her eyes that were already covered with a layer of mist.

If...if...she hadn't left...

In Nanamiya Chione's eyes, Rika lying in Yuta's arms began to gradually blur, and her image and appearance were covered with a layer of mist, until slowly, the person lying in Yuta's arms became Nanamiya herself.

Looking at the girl lying happily in Yuta's arms with a little smile on her lips, Nanamiya suddenly woke up the next moment.

She was really frightened by her own thoughts, and no matter what, she would never allow herself to disturb Rikka and Yuta.

She finally saw that Yuta chose someone who could accompany him for the rest of his life. She finally saw that there was someone standing next to Yuta who would not let her down. She finally saw that Rikka confirmed her feelings for Yuta and was no longer confused.

This... should be... something to be happy about...

This should be! Something worth being happy about!

Nanamiya Chione woke up suddenly, gasping for breath and shaking her head, only to then realize that the noise she had just made might have been a bit too loud. Ikeuchi Maki and Yuta were both looking at her at this time, their eyes full of worry, but she had a flushed face and her breathing was disordered.

"Nanamiya?!"

"Chion-chan? Are you okay?"

Maki Ikeuchi poked her head out from the side, reached out her hand and touched Nanamiya Chion's face, injecting a tiny bit of life ripples into it at an imperceptible speed.

Nanamiya Chione shook her head violently, her heart, which had not yet calmed down, was still beating wildly. She looked at Yuta and found that he was also staring at her closely, and her face suddenly turned red.

"what happened?"

"It's okay, it's okay... I just... feel a little carsick! Right! I'm going to the bathroom first!"

After leaving Maki Ikeuchi's hands in embarrassment, Nanamiya ran to the bathroom and locked the door. Only Maki Ikeuchi and Yuta were left outside, staring in that direction with great worry.

Nanamiya Chiyin propped herself up on the washbasin with both hands, her heart beating non-stop, making her feel extremely uncomfortable, and it was difficult to stop breathing. She could only keep trying to make herself stop...

But for some reason, she couldn't do it.

Nanamiya Chion held her face in her hands, feeling extremely ashamed of the thoughts that had just occurred to her mind, and she felt extremely painful...

Missed love is more painful than never having it at all.

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In fact, I haven't finished writing this paragraph yet, but after taking a look at the number of words that have reached the target and the current time, I resolutely decided to put the unfinished part off until tomorrow, hehe.