Ah... the sun is rising.

It is quite a sight, but I'm suffering from a persistent ache in my chest so I can't fully appreciate it. I grasp Michael white knuckled and sigh. The city sits eastward from us, and the cracks of a sun can be seen struggling in rays behind it.

Our group has been walking to Hal-Castemour for about an hour from the dungeon, and it isn't too far now.

Michael isn't very happy for some reason. I normally feel relieved holding him tightly, but the last few hours, he has been... deathly quiet and very reluctant to help me. I feel more tired when healing. And it feels as if...

Yuuzu slinks up next to me and I grimace. She has that annoying mischievous expression she has when she finds something funny, so I recoil a bit.

Even so... I'm so glad I got to see her again. I love Yuuzu alot. Taking care of Aria made me cry sometimes, and Dad never coming home much did as well. We always stuck together. In school. At home. I was like an annoying little sister, I'm sure. It’s really... But she never...

Yuuzu suddenly hugs me.

"I'm here, Rish."

Tears are spilling from my eyes! What is this!

"J-jeez... I said I would b-be strong." I choke out.

"You were." She assures me, hugging me tighter and rubbing my back. I sigh, letting my tears run silently into her big chest. I don't hic or let out any embarrassing whining noises. It would be unbecoming of a lady.

I let Yuuzu go after a moment, and suddenly Elijah is there behind her. I gasp reflexively and my chest ache returns.

What is wrong with me!?

"Rishya-chan, Are you..." He begins.

"Shut up! I am perfectly fine! It's not your concern! I was just relieved over Yuuzu!" I storm at him.

He visibly deflates as if just slapped him. I feel my chest twist tighter at this. Why!?

He takes a breath, smiles, and says "That's good then. I'm happy it all worked out."

He pats me on my shoulder, and then he turns and walks back over to where Aria is. She has a wry smile, and then also turns away. My chest pain only intensifies and my shoulder itches.

This douchebag! He is so inconsiderate!

But he did save Yuuzu. And Aria. And even me.

I almost crumple on the spot, but Yuuzu holds me again.

"Are you truly just grateful? Or do you like him?" Yuuzu whispers to me.

"W-what is there to like!? He's an irredeemable pervert! I hate him!" I snap at her in a restrained hiss.

"And yet you didn't want him to hear you say that?" She grins. I suddenly hate her as well.

What is wrong with me...?

I was supposed to be objective! Aria is clearly in love with that horrible man! And I...

What kind of friend am I... all I can think about is...?

Pressing my chest against him like that one time and whispering under my...

NOOOOOO!

It hurts. My head is blank. My hand holding Michael burns like I was putting it in a furnace.

I squirm and feel feint, but Yuuzu holds me like a vice.

"Rishya..." Yuuzu suddenly says. She... she is so serious.

"You cannot hold this back. Your spirit. It will kill you." She continues, her voice urgent.

My tears keep falling and my legs buckle.

"B-b-b-but... I n-need... to be... s-strong... I-I need... to... protect... Aria f-from him!" I grit my teeth as I hiss. Pain wracks me all over.

"Isn't the best way to protect her from him not to take him for yourself?"

Yuuzu kills me.

She might as well have slipped a knife right down my throat.

My resolve was truly paper thin after all, was it?

Why!? Why does that idea fill me with such sinister joy?

Am I... jealous!?! Why!?

What is wrong with me!

What is wrong with me...?

Ah.

Nothing is wrong.

I just love Elijah.

My heart explodes. But for some reason, it stops hurting. I stop quivering and squirming, my back straightens, and I find my feet suddenly.

Michael suddenly erupts with power as well. I feel a rush of blood to my head as my heart thumps with new resplendent fury. It's intoxicating.

"Sendervil loves people to love. The light is with you again." Yuuzu suddenly whispers, sighs in relief, and then lets me go.

The sun comes up fully now. Rays of light suddenly shine directly in my eyes.

The light is blinding. The future is terrifying. I am following a disgusting lolicon pervert into hell. I even have no chance of winning, do I?

But I don't close my eyes.

What a blind fool I am. It hurts. It hurts so much.

But I will walk by his side.