Kneeling and begging to live past the age of 18

"That's all? You're just talking to me? Just a 12-year-old?"

Edogawa Ranpo almost laughed out of anger at Nozomi Miki.

"Just because of the so-called fate?"

"Yes."

Miki Nozomi admitted without hesitation.

"It's because of fate."

The brown eyes are still full of insight, as if everything has already been understood, and even at this moment, it clearly reflects Edogawa Ranpo himself.

What is he like?Shock?anger?Can't believe it?Hate it for nothing?Or is it more complicated, an emotion that even he can't explain clearly?

But most importantly, at this moment, he suddenly saw the unwillingness hidden in her eyes.

Yes, unwilling.

At this moment, Edogawa Ranpo's heart, which was still sharp, withdrew those spikes in an instant, and those things that could hurt the other party, as if they were about to say anything in the next second, were all restrained, and he pressed back. deep.

Because he suddenly realized something.

What kind of mood did she feel when she said "this is all fate"?

Obviously she wants to be younger, but how could Miki Nozomi, who is only 12 years old, really hope that her life will really come to an end?

Obviously still unwilling, isn't it?

You're obviously regretting it too, aren't you?

Obviously even more reluctant, isn't it?

The most painful person, no matter how you think about it, it should be her who suddenly knew that her life was not long. What kind of despair did she go through to say such words?

"Ashi..."

There is a rapid distance in the eyes, transparent things gather, blurring Edogawa Ranpo's vision, and even the existence in front of him becomes hazy.

"Sorry……"

He murmured, as if he wanted to feel that the hazy partner still existed, he hugged Miki Nozomi tightly.

"Sorry……"

He repeated, his voice bordering on a whimper.

"nothing."

The back was patted with a gentle weight, just like Miki Nozomi.

Even at this moment, she was comforting herself.

"I know, it's all my fault."

Almost at the moment when the voice fell, big teardrops finally overflowed from the eyes and landed on Miki Nozomi's shoulder, one drop after another, but before they could make a sound, they soaked into the fabric of the bathrobe and disappeared.

Why do you still say such things?

The real wrong person, how could it be you?

"It's not your fault at all..."

The arm holding Nozomi Miki tightened more and more, Edogawa bit his lip indiscriminately, trying to suppress his emotions, but the choked voice revealed everything.

"You don't need to do that for Mori Ogai... Aki, you have done enough for him, so the rest of the time can be spent looking for hope... Living is the most..."

"Random steps."

Before Edogawa Ranpo could finish speaking, Nozomi Miki interrupted him.Her voice is still soft, and even the tenderness inside is the same as before.

"This is my choice. Since it is coming to an end, it is best to give full play to the value of this life."

"What value! Ashi, you were fooled by Mori Ogai! What's so good about him!"

At this moment, Edogawa Ranpo finally couldn't control himself, and burst into tears.

"I hate Ashi the most!"

I hate you Even so, what I want to do the most is to open a way for that person.

The black-haired boy said such words, but still tightly hugged the existence in his arms, sobbing and shouting the opposite words.

"I like Axi the most..."

I like you, I like you very much, I like you very, very much.

"Yes……"

Miki Nozomi was rubbing the boy's black hair in his hands, his eyes were full of helplessness, reluctance, and distress, and the tenderness in his voice almost dripped out.

She said a word of apology.

"sorry."

Sorry, very sorry, very, very sorry.

Even though the distance between Miki Nozomi and Edogawa Ranbu was not close because of avoiding those people with sharp ears and eyes, it was only limited to the two of them using normal volume.

At this moment, Edogawa's chaotic cries came from a distance, even Fukuzawa Yukichi couldn't stay where he was.

Several adults looked at each other, and chose to rush over without hesitation.

Going forward, crossing the street again, and finally turning a corner, everything inside comes into view.

Presented in front of everyone was Ranbu who was holding Miki Nozomi and crying loudly, and Miki Nozomi who was comforting him.

Everyone was shocked for a moment.

What's going on here?

Fukuzawa Yukichi, who was most concerned about Ranpo, stepped forward with a serious expression.

"what happened?"

"If you walk in disorder..."

Miki Nozomi pursed her lips, covered the content, and gave a general explanation.

"I talked to him about some things, and Luanbu...he didn't accept it well, so it's like this, sorry."

"Issues?"

At this moment, other people also came over and looked at the two of them in doubt.

"Ashi, you...what did you say to Ranbu?"

After all, Yosano Akiko, who has been together for several years and already knows Edogawa Ranpo very well, feels that this matter is really weird.

Ever since she joined the detective agency, she had never seen this childish and abnormally crying, and she even cried so hard like now.

So it's definitely unusual.

"What I said... this..."

Miki Nozomi coughed lightly, not intending to reveal it in public at all.

"If I tell you guys when Luanbu goes back, Akiko will know about it. It's not easy to talk about it before then."

Luanpo was because she didn't have the confidence to conceal the success, and Lin Taro later because he was the person involved, and the less people know about this matter, the better.

Otherwise, maybe I'll say it, I'm afraid it won't be Akiko who will look like Luanbu in the next second.

A few people guessed suspiciously, but they had no way of guessing. At most, they could only guess what explosive news Miki Nozomi and Edogawa Ranpo had said, but where did the explosion go...it was impossible to guess.

"Even though that's the case... but Edogawa-kun is going to let go, right?"

Mori Ogai, who was ruthless and showed no mercy to others, looked at the sky, trying to separate the two people who were holding him.

"After all, the people outside are almost gone. If Edogawa-kun continues like this, it will be even later."

As he said that, Mori Ogai even looked at a few small ones emphatically.

"After all, there are more children on my side."

I don't care if you cry or not, but it's another matter if you cry with Xichan in your arms!

Fukuzawa Yukichi: "..."

Not to mention Dazai Osamu and Nakahara Chuya over there, that is, the smaller Yumeno Hisaku, he just...

However, at this moment, Edogawa Ranpo, who was holding Nozomi Miki, spoke sullenly.

"don't want--"

Although the crying has disappeared one after another, he still hugs Miki Nozomi tightly and doesn't say anything.

"I don't want to be separated from Axi—"

"It's a headache."

With a false smile on the corner of Mori Ogai's mouth, he made a terrible suggestion.

"How about Edogawa-kun and Xi-chan come to the port mafia together?"

"Doctor Spicy Chicken, you are good at dreaming, don't you?"

He unceremoniously turned on Mori Ogai, and Yosano Akiko kicked this person whose favorability in his heart was negative to the end, and said something completely contrary to the other party's suggestion.

"No matter what you think about it at this time, it's better for Axi and Ranpo to come to our side!"

To you port mafia?What's the difference between that and a sheep entering a tiger's mouth?You hot chicken doctor really miss peaches!

"go to your house?"

Mori Ogai glanced at his subordinates around intentionally or unintentionally.

"you sure?"

With Yosano Akiko: "..."

Don't think you can do whatever you want if you have more people there! ! !

"So the best way is to separate Edogawa-kun and 'my' Nozomi."

A certain two words are said with extra emphasis, and it is even easy for people to hear the smell of possession that belongs to him.

With Yosano Akiko: "..."

Ahhh!I'm mad, I'm mad, I'm mad!Why does Ah Xi have to follow this hot chicken lolicon! ! !

Just when several people were about to fight directly, Miki Nozomi finally calmed down Ranbu. She finally rubbed the opponent's head, and felt the boy loosen his tight embrace.

"Okay, okay, if you cry again after walking around, you will really become a big face."

"certainly not……"

Still resting his head on Miki Nozomi's shoulder, Edogawa Ranpo spoke in a low voice with a nasal voice that obviously belonged to just after crying. .

"Tears are transparent, so they won't stain your face at all."

"Yes, but if Luanpo cries like this, I will feel bad."

As if they were whispering, the voices of the two were extremely soft, as if only each other could hear them.

"If you really feel sorry for me, you shouldn't give up..."

Halfway through the speech, he thought of the "outsiders" who had gathered around him, and swallowed back the complaint he originally wanted to say.

Although the voices of the two people were deliberately quiet, they still couldn't hide it from those people at such a close distance.They listened to the key words that Edogawa Ranpo only spoke halfway, and they were puzzled.

give up?give up what?

"Anyway, why don't you say goodbye to Akiko?"

Finally raised his head from Miki Nozomi's shoulder, Edogawa Ranbu raised his hand and wiped his eyes fiercely, wanting to show a smile of vitality as usual, but he bent the corners of his lips stiffly, but At this moment of discovery, I really couldn't really laugh.

In the end, he could only try to keep his tone relaxed.

"Otherwise, be careful Akiko and remember you forever."

But if it is really known, it will be remembered for a lifetime, right?

Just like yourself.

Just like yourself.

But—it's impossible to give up anything.

"Yes."

Miki Xirou lowered her eyebrows, as if she was just having an ordinary conversation, not the life and death that followed.

"Ranbu's suggestion is of course the most important."

Besides, she really planned to say goodbye to Akiko.

Because after this time, she...shouldn't appear in the outside world again, right?

Turning around, looking at Yosano Akiko, Miki Nozomi came in front of him.

"Crystal."

She whispered Yosano Akiko's name softly, her brown eyes stared at each other without blinking, and she opened her hands.

"Can I have a parting hug?"

Even though you don't understand it now, but—may I have a hug called farewell?

"Ash?"

Yosano Akiko had doubts in her eyes, but she still chose to hug decisively. She bent down and hugged Miki Nozomi's body.

The soft feeling makes people extremely satisfied, and even brings the other party's unique, fresh breath from clothes or something, just like in the long past, in that place full of depression, the only embrace that makes people feel at ease.

Then, she heard a very light, almost hallucinatory voice coming from her ear.

"sorry."

Yosano Akiko suddenly opened her eyes wide.

sorry?

Ah Xi why should she apologize?

I... did I hear wrong?

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