Chapter 42: Awareness (part 2)

“It’s thick! Do you want to see this?”

She leaned forward, extending her hand where the Blue Bird rested. As she did, her bre*astbone naturally came into view, drawing my gaze.

The real problem was that the Blue Bird in her hand and her ch*est were in a direct line of sight, making it impossible to avoid without looking away. If I looked elsewhere, she’d likely tease me about where my eyes were going, but if I kept looking, she’d have an even better reason to tease me.

I stared blankly into the air, feeling flustered, my vision overtaken by a flesh-toned blur. When I refocused and looked ahead, I noticed Syrah watching me with a sly smile.

“D*mn it,” I muttered.

“What were you thinking?” she asked.

“…Nothing.”

“Oh, liar. Is this—?” She tugged on her b!kini strap, causing it to snap playfully. The twang of the b!kini string echoed in the dining room, creating a little melody.

Luckily, no one else was around to witness this; otherwise, I would’ve stopped her immediately—it was far too embarrassing. 

I sighed heavily and glanced over at the terrace as she had done earlier.

Lights sparkled both on the ground and in the sky, creating a truly dazzling sight. I remembered something Earth’s scientists once said: the reason starlight wasn’t visible was due to the excessive ground light. 

Thinking back, I knew it was a blatant lie.

Stars shone regardless of Earth’s light; they traveled millions of light-years just to make themselves known. The idea of voyaging through a sea of stars was always inspiring.

“Ian,” Syrah’s tone shifted, her voice turning serious. 

Sensing this change, I straightened up and looked at her. Her cool, amethyst eyes held mine with a piercing gaze.

“What would you do if humanity were in danger?”

“Why so sudden?” I raised an eyebrow, surprised at her abrupt question. Any tension faded as I recognized the topic—one that seemed out of place, almost like a joke.

Humankind in crisis? Such a silly question. My answer was obvious.

“Why would I worry about that?” I replied nonchalantly.

“…What?”

“If it’s a problem so dire that someone like me could fix it by just thinking about it, then humanity wouldn’t be in trouble in the first place.”

One superhuman solving everything? The idea was straight out of a fairytale or a philosophical treatise. Reality didn’t work that way.

“Right… I suppose I worded it wrong. Let’s say humanity is in crisis, and only you can save it.”

“Is this some kind of personality test? One of those things popular with kids these days?”

“Are you saying you’re part of the ‘kids these days’ too?”

“…I guess so.” I pretended to think it over before letting out a sigh. She was trying to get a serious answer, but how could I respond to such a hypothetical?

It wasn’t long before the answer became obvious. Humanity in crisis, with only me to save them—it wasn’t so different from my situation now.

The answer?

“Just don’t let a crisis happen in the first place.”

“Hmm-hmm..”

“Oh, I see. Is this really some personality test?” I asked.

“Something like that,” she admitted. “The answer you gave? It’s one for getting caught cheating. I’m glad, Ian. I don’t think you’re the type to cheat.” Syrah chuckled.

Then—hoo-oo—the soft hoot of an owl sounded. 

A bird flew down from the sky, and Syrah raised her hand, letting it perch on her arm instead. She untied a small note from its ankle and began reading it with a serious expression.

“What’s it say?” I asked.

“Oh… it’s a girl’s secret letter. Want to see?” she teased.

“No, that’s alright.”

She laughed softly, a smile tugging at her lips as she finished reading, folded the note, and tucked it back into the owl’s beak. The bird, now bearing her reply, flew off and disappeared into the night.

As Syrah’s mood shifted, her earlier subdued expression brightened. Whatever the letter contained, it was enough to lift her spirits.

She leaned in close to me, a soft smile on her face. “Ian…”

At that moment, fireworks began lighting up the sky from afar, casting Syrah’s face in a warm glow, her back framed by the dazzling display.

“Today was fun,” she said.

“…Yeah,” I replied, though her words left me uneasy. Her demeanor hinted at a certain melancholy, like a terminal patient savoring each moment. But she merely watched the fireworks quietly, enjoying the spectacle. Once the display ended, she waved and returned to the dormitory.

I stayed behind a little while longer before heading back.

***

Syrah chuckled to herself as she read over a letter from her family:

‘Confirmation of the survival of the head of the Eritz family.’

‘As a result of the investigation, the charges against Stella Eritz and three others have been dropped.’

‘Gather information on Ian Clark to uncover the secret.’

‘All for humanity.’

“For humanity,” she murmured.

The Marquis Acacia’s motto, “All for humanity,” was one of noble pride, devoted to supporting mankind from the shadows. But right now, Syrah cared more about the fact that Ian didn’t have to be sacrificed.

‘Oh, I see now.’

She realized, with a hint of surprise, that she liked Ian. 

Syrah glanced back at the place where Ian had been, though he’d already left.

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