Chapter 44

Daily High Fantasy Ranking 9th Place!

Weekly High Fantasy Ranking 8th Place!

Monthly High Fantasy Ranking 5th Place!

Thank you very much!

---

Mina was standing on a sunny hill.

Right beside her was Reta.

Mina loved Reta very much.

She wasn't sure if it was as a romantic interest or as a family member, but as a child, she couldn't quite figure it out.

However, there was one thing she was certain of.

--- I want to be with Reta forever.

She loved his gentle smile.

She loved how he couldn't leave anyone in trouble.

She loved how he always watched over and cared for her.

Sometimes, people mistook Reta for her father.

At first, she felt bad and would deny it.

But lately, she sometimes thought it would be nice if he were her father.

Even though she knew it was wrong to have such feelings, she couldn't help but think about it.

If Reta were my father...

However, she knew she didn't have the right to think such things.

There was something she was hiding from him.

There was something she should have told him but didn't.

Most of all, she shouldn't be the only one to be happy.

"I won't forgive you if you're the only one to be happy."

"---Ah!"

A familiar voice, blaming her, came from nowhere.

"I won't let you abandon me and be happy on your own."

"---Stop it!"

As she screamed, someone laughed.

A laugh that mocked her, as if enjoying her suffering.

"Reta!"

Why aren't you fighting back?

With that thought, she ran to help him.

But the grass and plants tangled around her feet, making it hard to move.

Finally, Mina fell to the ground, and the small shadow glanced at her.

The shadow's mouth was stretched from ear to ear, and it smiled terrifyingly.

The shadow held two knives in its hands.

"Stop it."

The shadow mercilessly stabbed Reta in the chest.

"Stop it! Miss!"

---

Mina opened her eyes and sat up abruptly, realizing she was on the bed.

Next to her, Reta was sleeping soundly.

She tentatively touched his chest, and the steady rise and fall reassured her.

So, what she had seen was just a dream.

(Why did I have such a dream... No, I know. I know.)

Her chest hurt.

The reason was obvious; it was because of the dream she had just seen.

That dream might have been a warning to herself.

It might have been her own feeling that she shouldn't be the only one to be happy.

"... Hmm, what's wrong, Mina?"

"... Well..."

Reta, with his eyes half-open, spoke to Mina while still half-asleep.

Even when he was sleeping, he still cared about her.

It made her happy, but also made her feel guilty.

"Did you have a bad dream? Come here, then."

"Eh?"

Reta said this, pulled Mina's light body toward him, and hugged her before falling back asleep.

Mina was surprised, but the warmth of his body and the sound of his heartbeat soon made her drowsy.

"Reta, I'm sorry."

She knew he couldn't hear her, but she whispered an apology anyway.

The young girl had a secret.

No matter how much she trusted Reta, no matter how much she believed in him, and no matter how much she loved him, there were things she couldn't say.

Things she wanted to say but couldn't.

With this secret, the girl shed a single tear and closed her eyes in the embrace of the one she loved.