Chapter 70

── I can hear voices. The gentle voices of the people I love.

《Good morning. I planted your favorite flowers in the garden.》

《Ah, you've always loved them since you were a child.》

《Today, Neil tried to buy all the cakes from the café because they only had Sadi's favorites.》

《Sadi, listen! I finally got the qualification I've always wanted! I came straight here because I wanted you to be the first to know!》

《The boys said they want to see Sadi too. They made a charm together to help you wake up faster, so please let us put it up.》

Thank you, I'm so happy, congratulations—I want to say all these things, but I can't even open my eyes.

And everyone always calls my name with a sad voice at the end. It's so frustrating and painful, and it makes me feel so sad.

《Sadi》

《...I'm really sorry I couldn't protect you.》

The voice I hear the most is Rufus's, and I can feel how much he worries about me and cares for me.

No matter how hard I struggle in the darkness and try to scream, no sound comes out.

The moment I strongly wish to return to everyone, I hear laughter from somewhere.

I immediately realize that it's my own voice.

── Really? Don't you want to stop feeling so much pain? Wouldn't it be easier to stay like this?

Indeed, my life has been much harder than most people's.

I spent most of my life being controlled like a slave, and even when I finally got my body back, I was treated as a hated villain. I was even betrayed by the friends I trusted.

Still, I have never regretted being born as Sadi Arkwright.

Being born to kind parents, surrounded by important people, supported by trustworthy friends—and meeting Rufus, whom I love so much—has been the happiest thing in my life.

《Please, wake up.》

Rufus's voice comes again.

I can tell he's probably crying right now, and I know it's because of me.

《...I love you, I really do.》

Rufus's sincere words of love make me so happy that I want to cry.

I'm sorry for causing you so much worry, and I want to tell you that I love you too. I have the confidence that with Rufus by my side, we can overcome anything.

── So I'm absolutely going to be okay.

The moment I firmly decide to return to everyone, the world in front of me brightens.

◇◇◇

I slowly opened my eyes but had to close them again due to the brightness. After repeating this a few times, I got used to it, and my vision became clearer.

“──Sadi?”

Even in the blurry, swaying scene, I immediately recognized who was in front of me.

“Are you... awake...?”

My throat was dry, and I couldn't speak, but I wanted to let him know I was okay, so I squeezed his hand with my fingertips.

Feeling the warmth of Rufus's palm, I realized I was alive and had returned to him, which made my vision blur even more.

“Sadi...! It's okay, really...”

Tears fell from his eyes, wetting the back of my hand. My voice still wouldn't come out, but I slowly raised the corners of my mouth, and Rufus, crying like a child, hugged me tightly.

I wanted to apologize for causing him so much worry and to thank him for waiting for me.

And I wanted to tell him how much I love him, over and over again, for the rest of my life.