【Sen no Kiseki】【Crolin】The Guardian of the Morning Sun

of water marks.Lien hadn't shed a tear since Crow Ambust fell in front of him.Until this moment, he was finally able to cry.He does not know why weep.Maybe it's for the family and friends he left behind, Crow who lost his memory; maybe it's for all the choices he made for the two of them, the days of swords and swords smeared with blood, the insincere self or tired of himself and everything Kro.Although he is not alone here and now, he has never felt so alone.So he could only cry to the night sky outside the window.Otherwise, where should this emotion that has been suppressed for a long time and is about to explode go?

Facing Li En who was venting his heart out, Kuro's eyes, who had just chased him indifferently before, suddenly softened.He got up from the bed, walked behind Li En, and clearly saw Li En's tense body when he sensed his approach.An unreasonable tenderness suddenly surged in his heart, for the long-term waiting and persistence of this person, even though he was still wary of himself.

Then Kuro embraced Li En from behind, as if embracing a painful treasure.This action made the body in his arms stiff for a moment, then trembled more violently.Li En grabbed the man's shirt cuff, shrunk his shoulders and wept silently.The unprecedented weak gesture made Kuro feel his heart throbbing.He leaned close to the other side's ear and murmured persuasively:

"What kind of person was I before? You can tell me now."

"He's a...excessive, cruel man..."

"For such a bad man like me, it's thanks to you that you can take care of me for so long and bring me here."

There was a bitter chuckle in his ear.Li En's anger was uncontrollable, and he suddenly turned his face and glared at him:

"Does it need to be said, because I like you!"

He blurted it out without thinking too much.The moment their eyes met, Li En realized what he had said.

Kuro looked down at the bewildered black-haired young man, and the corners of his lips curved quietly.That's the smile that Li En is familiar with, it's hard to tell whether it's real or fake, but it's a smile that's sure to win.

"It seems that you like me more than what the captain said." He teased meaningfully, and Li En's face burned red.

"No, no, just accidentally—"

"Isn't that the truth?" Kuro flicked his forehead lightly, "Don't you want to say that is also a lie to me?"

Li En's justification was stuck in his throat, and he swallowed it again.He looked away and said sullenly:

"...No." He paused, and before the man put on a complacent face, he whispered unwillingly: "But what's the point of that, Kuro, you...you never remember me, don't you?" ?"

Li En remembered the conversation outside the ward this afternoon.He felt that he was very pitiful for expecting something without authorization. In addition, he was indifferently driven away by Kuro just now, and the uneasiness and depression in his heart were clearly revealed, making him even more embarrassed.At this moment, he felt that the relationship between the two was irretrievable, and there was nothing but infinity in his heart.

After a long silence, he heard a sigh above his head, and then his jaw was held, forcing him to look up.There was some helpless smile in those dark red eyes, and Li En couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat with his eyes full of strong sense of sight.

"What a coquettish ghost. Now that you've mentioned this, if I can't remember it, won't I be a real sinner?"

"you……--"

Crow looked at Li En who was too shocked to speak, and laughed happily.

"What's wrong? Isn't it you who kept nagging me to restore my memory?"

"You... When..."

Li En's breathing gradually became short.Kuro had already guessed what he wanted to ask, and answered briskly:

"Well, probably from the time when I walked through the path of the elves."

Then he watched his partner's face turn pale in an instant, and then flushed a little bit with anger.

"So it's been since the first time I came to Crossbell?! Then why—"

"I can't find a chance to say it," Crow shrugged, as if he had nothing to do with himself. "Besides, I still have something I want to know. If I told you so early, I'm afraid I won't be able to solve the mystery."

"What do you mean? What's the answer to the riddle?"

The indistinguishable tone of ridicule completely angered Li En.How dare this person still be so righteous after stabbing himself so indifferently and telling a big lie to himself?

Craw, however, just smiled.

"That's your answer just now."

This answer was so beyond Li En's expectation that when Kuro put his hand on his cheek and wiped away the remaining tears from the corners of his eyes, he couldn't react at all.His sanity was eroded by thoughts flooding in - fear, shame, joy, remorse, anger, helplessness... All kinds of mixed emotions mixed together, making him almost suffocate.

When one of the clear thoughts jumped into his mind, he subconsciously broke away from him and took a few steps back.

"How much do you know?"

Kuro put away his smile and pressed the corners of his mouth.

"If you mean the part where my revenge failed and your biological father was not killed by me and lived like a monster."

Li En stared at each other incredulously: "Why would you know?... No, well, I understand, is this the real reason why you want to drive me away? Because I am the son of your enemy?"

So that was the case, he thought bitterly, this was the truth.It's hard for me to still worry about Kuro, who thought he had lost his memory, and took him to see a doctor, and was still worried about how to remind him of everything and whether he should be reminded... Thinking of these, Li En couldn't help laughing at himself.

"What an idiot."

The ensuing impact made him feel very tired.However, Crow really has no reason to accept himself as the enemy's son.It was precisely because he didn't want him to know this that he kept silent during the other party's amnesia.There was no need for Kuro to speak, the only thing Rean wanted to do now was to get out of this room.However, that person stood in front of him, and he couldn't even escape.

Clow did not respond positively to his self-abuse questioning and mocking, and said to himself:

"I also know what sacrifices you made for me while I was convalescing, and that son of the unkillable bastard is someone I like—things like that."

Li En didn't know how much shock he could take in one night, but his words successfully made him look at the other party again, and after a short silence, he shook his head in disbelief.

"That's not right."

"What's wrong?"

"You should lose your temper a lot, beat me up and say you don't want to see my face again. This is the way to treat the son of the enemy, not like... this..."

Like a confession.

His throat seemed to be pinched softly by a hand, and then he could no longer speak a word.Kuro stared at his kindest partner who seemed about to cry again, with helplessness close to pity on his face, and he couldn't help laughing out a voice.

"It sounds like an out-and-out bastard. But yes, in the eyes of the younger generation, I am this kind of person..."

In the next second, Kuro quickly put away his unscrupulous smile, and easily grabbed Li En, who was huddled in the corner like a lion catching prey, wrapped his palm around his neck under the other's horrified gaze, quietly And kissed directly.

Li En was shocked by this sudden and extremely real kiss.It was an intimacy he had never imagined, an intimacy they had always held back from each other.He felt dizzy and had to open his mouth to breathe, but was caught by the man who cheated him a second time.In the moist suffocation, Li En finally closed his eyes, and the eyes were filled with stinging heat.

why kiss me.

Why did you still treat me so tenderly after you said that and knew all the truth.

After a long time, they finally separated.Kuro quickly calmed down, but Li En was far less calm. He was panting heavily, and his eyes wandered, not daring to look at the other party.Why?He murmured, and Craw raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you still asking this? Isn't it obvious that I'm doing this?"

Li En shook his head, his stiff posture still revealing his rejection.Crow sighed, scratching his head.

"What a dead-brained fellow."

The next moment Li En felt that his wrist was being pulled, and before he could yell out, he was dragged by that force and staggered a few steps, and then he was hugged and fell onto the bed.Looking at the silver-haired young man who was obviously smiling but had a sense of oppression that could not be ignored, he unconsciously held his breath.

"Let me tell you first, you forced me."

"What nonsense... um—"

The lips that were about to protest were firmly pressed again, pursuing the victory with the momentum that seemed to suck all his oxygen away.Li En's mind was blank, and he didn't even know when he accepted the other party.But at that moment, the tongue that attacked him violently suddenly became gentle, as if he cherished this person from the bottom of his heart and wanted to give him the best.

When he realized this, the lips finally left.Li En opened his eyes, and crashed straight into the bottomless pool of crimson.Crow smiled, gently stroking the corners of his red eyes and eyelashes with his fingers, and unbuttoning his pajamas with the other hand.

"Wait! What are you doing—" Li En felt his skin go cold, and he woke up with a jolt.

"Don't you think kissing is not enough, so I have to do it." Kuro took it for granted.

"When did I say, let go!"

Crow squeezed his chin manically between his struggles, watching his dodging eyes.

"Why don't you understand? I wouldn't do this to someone I don't like!"

The movement of resistance stopped suddenly.Li En lowered his struggling hands, his eyes slightly widened.

"When will you dare to face the facts? I like you, isn't that enough?!"

Kuro saw the other party's eyelashes tremble slightly, and the purple eyes gleamed with bright tears. Li En wanted to turn his head, but the other party held his face firmly.The black hair on his forehead was parted, revealing his most embarrassing appearance immediately.Kuro carefully scanned every part of his bewilderment and wavering, as well as his attachment to himself that had nowhere to hide, and couldn't help but wryly smiled.

"I, I used to think that I could laugh from the bottom of my heart after completing the most important revenge in my life. But that person not only survived, but even turned me into your hostage. Unexpectedly, after all this is over It becomes more empty and more miserable."

Trying to laugh at the world, only to be laughed at severely by the world.In that empty room, he stared into the darkness for a long time, but there was nothing there but a void.

"After that, I've been looking for ways to fill that void. I wanted to rediscover the meaning of my existence, and that meaning was right in front of my eyes."

The corner of Li En's stiff mouth finally moved, it seemed that he was calling his name.When the name finally turned into sound, a tear fell from his cheek in response.

"It has nothing to do with whether you are that person's son or not. To be honest, I have no interest in the future of the empire or anywhere. The Clow Ambuster who was out for revenge in the past is dead, and now I am only for one person exist here."

Then Kuro kissed the wet mark on the cheek, his movements were full of warmth.

"Li En, I fell in love with you long before I knew everything. Although it is a bit strange to say this, is it okay to like you again?"

It was the first time I saw him standing under the blooming rhinoceros tree, from the corners of his stiff and tight lips to the smile blooming on his face, the long twilight rubbed a faint halo on his face.

The second time was waking up from a long sleep, in the usual dark and lonely room, I saw him sitting there all the time, never leaving.

But this time, as a reborn, he fell in love with the same person again without hesitation.

"It's really... Kuro..."

Li En muttered silly words that even he couldn't believe, and stretched out his hand to the man.But it was rare that Kuro didn't taunt him, he just took the hand he wanted to touch him and stuck it to his face, so that the warm and real feeling could make him feel at ease.

"Well, I'm back."

His voice enveloped him like warm water.Li En couldn't hold back any more, and buried his face in Kuro's shoulder, sobbing almost to pieces.Strong fingers climbed up his neck and back, tightening decisively and persistently.

"It's been difficult for you, Li En. Thank you for protecting me, but you don't have to bear it alone anymore."

From now on, let me also share half of this burden called survival.

Unscrupulous tears seeped into the skin through the clothes, and Kuro heard the painful and thin voice of the young man in his arms, intermittently.

"I don't want you to remember, because I'm afraid you hate me; but I want you to remember, because I want you to remember me, otherwise I will feel that I am not important to you..."

Fool.Crow cursed in a low voice in Li En's ear, but pressed the back of the other's head harder, as if this would make him realize how much he valued him.

"—I'm very scared. How to move forward, how to take you forward, I still have no idea after so long. I can't go back, even if I want to see them. So I abandoned those and exchanged Your life and freedom that came here must be protected no matter what... As long as Kuro can live by my side, it will be fine. I really think this is fine."

If he hadn't met himself, Li En's life would definitely not be like this.At least, he won't experience such an unforgettable betrayal and pain, and he won't make the kind of desperate decision to flee his hometown.Almost all his uneasiness and loss so far are related to himself.At this moment, Kuro clearly felt his responsibility and his deep regret for the young man in his arms.

"You guy... what do you mean by 'this is enough'?! I'm here now! I'm by your side! So there must be something else I want to say? Rean, tell me, what is your real expectation What is it?"

Stared at by Kuro's anxious eyes, Li En couldn't help crying anymore, and the most authentic voice that had been buried for a long time came out of his throat.

"I want...to be with Craw..."

His breath was as hot as tears, and his body couldn't stop shaking as he said those words.The warm tears seemed to seep into his skin and reach his heart, making it beat or hurt.Crow knew that he would always be like this in the future, which was already decided when he made up his mind to escape with Li En.A heartless terrorist, a criminal who once lost everything, is now embracing the most important person in his life, and scarred hearts are finally reunited.For Crow, what could explain all of this except a miracle?

Ah, that's enough.he thinks.Even if he was arrested and killed tomorrow, he probably wouldn't regret it.

But his most important partner said:

"I want to live with Crow."

— Just because of this sentence, I can't admit defeat to this world that laughs at me.

Then, unknown who started it, their auras became entangled again.The lonely space around him shrunk.This time Li En seemed to take the initiative a lot, even Crow didn't stop him when he took off his clothes.I can fall in love with this person and live with this person until I die.With the same thoughts, they long for each other at the same time, disturbing each other physically and emotionally.Under the sky of a foreign land, on a night so dark that no stars can be seen, in the small residence they have painstakingly managed, even though they have nothing but each other, wandering about the memories and afterimages of their homeland, they have never been so close like this moment And perfection is like two lonely stars finally reunited.

A thin coolness enveloped the skin, and Li En, who sensed that the weather was getting colder, woke up dimly, only to find his bare arms exposed outside the quilt.The bed beside him was empty, and if he didn't move a little, he would feel uncomfortable all over, and he would think that everything last night was just a dream.

The events of last night came to mind, Li En felt his cheeks burn slightly, and his heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of happiness.He propped himself up and sat up, his eyes swayed and fixed on the cohabitant standing by the window.The air in the early morning was extremely clear, and the light poured in without hindrance, and the other party was reading something in his hand while looking down at the sunlight.The tall and straight figure exposed in the morning light made Li En smile involuntarily.He didn't make a sound, just watched the scene quietly.

Seemingly noticing the movement, Kuro turned around and greeted Li En heartily.

"Wake up, did you sleep well?"

It seemed to be the same morning as before, but something must be quietly changing.Li En nodded, wanting to say good morning to him, but found that his voice was so hoarse that he could hardly make a sound.Kuro noticed this, walked to the bedside and lovingly kissed the corners of his eyes that were red and swollen from crying last night, then picked up the water glass and handed it to him.Li En took the water glass and noticed the paper in his hand.

"what is that?"

"I wanted to give it to you, sorry, I read your things without authorization."

It's hard to imagine what this person would feel guilty about.Li En received it in surprise, only to realize that it was a letter.

"Mitchell sent it on purpose this morning. He said it went directly to the Guerrilla Association."

Because Kuro was injured, Li En took a day off for them when he reported to the association yesterday.It seems that it is a very important letter, and Michelle will deliver it in person.But logically, no one will send them a letter——

Rean breathed heavily and looked up at Crow, who just smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Don't worry, it's not bad news."

With his words, Li En had no choice but to open the thin letter paper.The bright and childish round fonts leap into view.

"Ryan:

Are you OK?Is Craw still the same?Or have you already remembered?I'm Miriam, long time no see.Hee hee, I should be the first person to send you a letter, aren't you surprised?I don't know if this letter will reach you, but I sent it to the address Rector told me!Hmm~ I hope he won't lie to me, I'm not good at writing.

Since Li En left, every day has been boring.Although the uncle didn't say anything, his words seemed to be getting less and less, uh, it's still a bit scary.Claire was depressed for quite a while, during that time even Rector didn't dare to mess with her.Recter...Recter is still the same, I can't figure out what he is thinking every day.But since he gave me this address, he must be working hard, right?Altina is probably the most angry about your leaving. "Traitor," was all she had said when she found out.Hey, there is no other way, because she likes Li En very much.

Here I want to report to Li En one of the things you are most concerned about. Do you think that everyone is arresting you after you leave?clang clang!Only guessed half right!In the beginning, only Claire was following your whereabouts.After all, she would be in a difficult position if she did not do something about escaping from a hospital under strict surveillance by the gendarmerie.Although I found out later that it was the squad leader and Celino who assisted you, and also found out the location of Valima, there was nothing I could do. After all, the squad leader is not someone we can obediently catch, let alone Valima. .After your parents found out about this, although they were worried, they seemed relieved. "As long as the kid is happy," they say.But my sister looks very sad, if you have the opportunity in the future, you should apologize to her.

Ah, it seems to be off topic, come back and come back.Claire gave up after just over a month of searching. This task seemed too heavy for her, and maybe she didn't want to catch you either.She looked tired, and Rector took over after that.He must have found you.But he didn't say anything. It was I who pestered him for a long time before he gave me this address.He told me not to disclose it, so I will send it first.Although I thought about going with Xiaojia myself, but I'm afraid to scare you and let it go~

Of course, I didn't tell everyone in Group VII this address. I guess Li En definitely doesn't want us to find you.But am I too cunning to sit like this?In short, it would be great if Rean could tell everyone in Group VII about your situation. Everyone is also worried about you two.Although we don't know where you are, you know where we are.We are right here, please send us a letter.

Thank you, Li En, without you and Group VII, I would not understand what tears are, and I would never send letters.If one day, both you and Kuro can return to the Empire, and then we can meet again, that would be a great thing... No, not if, there will be.Well, I believe there will be a day like that.

Then, goodbye, I will be very happy if there is a reply≧▽≦」

After reading this crooked letter, Li En felt his nose ache.Compared with the possible consequences of Miriam knowing his whereabouts, at this moment his heart is completely filled with the sincere care and overly beautiful vision of his friends.Craw sat beside him shaking his head.

"That fellow Rector, maybe he's unexpectedly a good guy."

"Maybe he just wanted to fish us out." Given that Rector had intended to do something bad to Kuluo, Li En still couldn't trust this person.He folded the letter carefully.Crow scratched his head with a sigh.

"I thought you'd be happier to receive the letter, you dishonest fellow."

Li En rarely spoke back, and fell into deep thought.Seeing this, Clow didn't bother with this topic anymore, and put the clothes thrown at the foot of the bed on him.

"Go take a shower, I'll make breakfast."

"Oh, um..."

Li En just responded blankly and didn't move, Ku Luo teased: "Or do you want me to wash it for you?"

"I, I'll do it myself!"

Li En blushed and almost fell to the ground when he got out of bed.Seeing him shuffling into the bathroom, the corners of Kuro's mouth curled up, and he got up to cook breakfast.When breakfast was almost finished, some shambling footsteps approached the kitchen and stopped behind him.

"Crow, is your injury okay?" Li En asked hesitantly, and Crow joked while waving the spatula:

"Don't worry, it won't be worse than your state."

Sure enough, he replied with a sullen "Who do you think did it?" Kuro resisted the urge to turn around and watch his expression.This guy must have used up all his shame last night, so let him go this time.He couldn't control the smile at the corner of his mouth, and quickly put the poached eggs in the pan on a plate, and then stuffed the plate in his hand to the other party.

There was a long silence at the dinner table, which was very different from the silence of the previous day. Their atmosphere at this moment seemed to break a stone wall between them.Kuro was working on his own breakfast, and when he looked up, he saw Li En staring at his plate in a daze.

"Still thinking about that letter?"

Li En nodded honestly, with a face full of thoughts.

"Should I write back..."

Ku Luo curled his lips, "If you want to reply, you can reply, the kid will be happy."

Li En looked up at him, eyes full of displeasure.

"It's not that simple. That's the Ministry of Intelligence. Sending it over will expose our situation."

"Recter doesn't know where we are, but the kid can still send the letter to you safely." Kuro said vaguely, "He would have caught us if he wanted to go back, so he doesn't need to carry such a big pocket Make a circle."

Ryan was speechless.Crow sighed.

"It's not that I don't understand your mood, but you really want to report to them that you are safe?"

"……Is it really possible."

Li En put down the fork in his hand, looking lonely.

"At the beginning, I left without saying goodbye, leaving behind my parents, Elyse, and everyone in Group VII... Now I want to send them a letter telling them that I'm fine... Am I really qualified to do this? ?”

Hearing this, Kuro also fell silent. After a moment of silence, he sighed heavily, stretched out his hand and flicked his forehead mercilessly, causing Li En to cry out in pain.

"what are you doing!"

"Idiot, if you want your sister to hear this kind of talk, she will cry and scold you again?" Kuro seemed to be reprimanding his junior with righteous words, "Listen to me, from a Giving up at the beginning and falling down after working hard are two different things, did your courage stay in the empire with your heart!"

Li En's eyes showed shock at the reprimand, seeing this, Kuro slightly softened his tone.

"Didn't you tell me? No matter how sad and tragic the past is, don't look away. Now that I remember those things, then you have no reason not to face them."

The things that have happened are absolute and cannot be overturned, but how to compromise with them in order not to let them erode their hearts, presumably this is a topic that they will need to face together in the near future.

"Crow..."

"Ah, it's all your fault for making me say something that doesn't look like me at all."

Avoiding Li En's complex gaze, Kuro scratched his hair, stood up with a plate, and ended the conversation.

After eating the rest of the breakfast alone, Li En walked around to Kuro with the plate, and cleaned the tableware in the sink.The two continued their homework in silence until Li En spoke.

"I'll write back to Miriam."

"Oh."

"Then, I will send letters to Yumir's family and everyone in Group VII, telling them that we are here."

"……Um."

"Is it right for me to do this?" Li En didn't know whether he was confirming to Kuro or himself, "I'm like this... Is it progressing?"

His final note was drowned in the sound of rushing water.Clow raised his head and saw Chaoyang gently stroking his lover's side face. He looked confused and self-sufficient in the morning light, but it made people feel at ease.It was his goodness, emitting a faint and quiet light.

"Of course." Crow confirmed.That was the question he left for this man before he was seriously injured and dying, so he should answer it by himself. "No matter how traumatized you are, whether you want to or not, people will move forward."

"Is that possible?" Li En looked at him in surprise.

"Yes. The so-called advancement is probably more like something that moves forward with the flow of time. That thing itself is irreversible, so even if you feel that you are stagnant now, it is only a little bit, and you can't notice it. The degree is only progressing. We can't go backwards, we can't go back to the past, so we can only move forward."

"...It seems quite reasonable, but does it have something to do with what I asked?" After digesting it for a while, Li En asked back with a half understanding.Crow smiled wryly and wiped the foam on his nose, which caused the other party to sneeze and protest dissatisfiedly.

"What a dead-brained guy--if you take the initiative to do something, it means you are going to take a big step forward."

Li En's face was slightly lit up by his words.Crow didn't miss the smile on his face as he wiped the bubbles off his nose.They cleaned up the kitchen together, made a pot of black tea, and sat by the window looking at the distant scenery.It was the first time since they left school that they had such a peaceful and undisturbed time.

"I was actually very happy to receive Miriam's letter. Originally, I thought that I would not be forgiven for betraying them."

Li En looked out the window and confessed.That letter was closer to a kind of redemption for a man who believed he had betrayed family and friends.

"Don't be stupid, they won't blame you from the beginning, don't think too much about it."

Facing Kuro's answer without hesitation, Li En smiled wryly.

"What if someone really came to hunt us down in the future?"

He suddenly brought up this unpleasant topic, and Clow took a sip of his tea with a nonchalant expression on his face:

"Like what you said, run away. As long as you get the qualification of a real guerrilla, you can travel all over the continent of Semuria without fear."

Li En put down the teacup, his tone was calm but with a hint of displeasure.

"...You don't want to mention driving me back now?"

"Hey, that was forced by the situation. It's not because your attitude is too anxious that you force me to make such a bad move!"

The two confronted each other silently for a moment, Li En frowned.

"So you don't really want me to go back?"

"Who would, it's better to say that I will have a headache if you really leave!"

Li En finally smiled from the bottom of his heart.That happy smiling face made Kuro startled, and his brows and eyes softened accordingly.

"Then I'll make sure again." Clow put down his teacup, and took the other's hand gracefully like a gentleman, his partner looked at him inexplicably. "Lian Schwarzer, you really don't mind wandering around the world with a fugitive who once betrayed you, and is very likely to have no fixed place?"

The dark-haired young man blinked, "What is this? A marriage proposal?"

"Don't be so wordy, just answer me." Kuro hummed dissatisfiedly for his partner's lack of cooperation, and Li En couldn't help laughing immediately.

"If I didn't even have this awareness, I wouldn't have taken you to escape at all. What are you still talking about now?"

"I'm just confirming that you really love me." Kulo slickly used the topic to play.

"Why does Kuro always like to ask questions knowingly?"

This answer made Kuro very admirable. It seems that his younger generation did not only grow in age during the days when he was sleeping and pretending to be asleep.Li En's bright eyes were filled with pure satisfaction, which made the man smile, and then he lowered his head and kissed the hand that was accustomed to using the sword.He was shocked when he noticed that his wish was for someone else's happiness, for it was the first time he had missed someone so much.

But if the object is Li En, he is completely acceptable.

"Really... can we see them again?"

Li En blushed at first because of this intimacy, and then suddenly asked a question in a low voice.In this regard, Kuro rubbed his head comfortingly, intending to sweep away the lingering dust covering his heart.

"Don't worry, didn't the squad leader and that kid talk about it? As long as you want to go back, there will always be a way."

What is lost will not come back, and the past full of scars will not disappear even if it is deliberately forgotten.But because of this, people will cherish the present happiness even more.Although it is just a wish now, when the tiny hopes are accumulated little by little, they will eventually turn into tangible and bright lights, guiding the way forward.

——Maybe, it will be a way home.

"Craw, I'm thinking maybe I've been mistaken about what I'm trying to protect."

Li En said thoughtfully, without the slightest cowardice and retreat in his tone.

"The bond between us, plus everyone's—probably I wanted to protect these from the beginning."

Facing Li En's conclusion, Kuro rarely smiled peacefully.

"There's still time. I'll help you, I'm busy anyway."

"Of course, I'll be very troubled if Craw doesn't help me."

They looked at each other and smiled, holding each other's hands tightly.The road to escape to dawn is long and difficult, and it may take a longer time before they can truly fulfill this agreement.Before that, they still have a lot of things to do, such as buying a double bed big enough, and writing letters to family and friends.

Soon after, Baron Schwarzer's family living in the empire and members of the former Group VII will all receive a letter without the sender.In the photo attached to the letter, a silver-haired man without a headscarf stood side by side with a black-haired young man wearing flat glasses that didn't fit him at all.They held the guerrilla badges and faced the camera. Behind them, the billboards of the Guerrilla Association and the smiles on their faces were shining brightly under the warm sunshine of Closbell.

END.