When she opened both of her eyes, she's looking at the ceiling she doesn't know. The next thing she realized was a warmthness she can felt on her right hand.
(... Mom?)
She thought inside her mind when she noticed the middle-aged woman before her. The sky is dark it was a starless night as the moonlight is coming inside the room through the windows. On the white sheets, Runa is lying as she looked around.
(... Where am I?)
She asked that to herself. Next, she noticed that if her mother was in front of her, that meant she was on Japan. She tried to grip the hand that is holding her right hand. But, the power won't come out. She tried to talk, but moving her lips is all she can do.
She tried to put all of her power into her right hand, and it resulted with her finger moved a bit. But, her mother doesn't miss that small movement on her right-hand finger. Her body twitched as she noticed that her daughter just moved even for a bit.
Slowly, she raised her head to look at her daughter. The moment their eyes met, light's returned to her eyes as her tears falling down from it. Next, she gripped her daughter right hand as hard as she could.
"... Haruna?"
Runa tried to say something but, her voice wouldn't come out. Moving her mouth is all the thing she could do. And when her mother realized that Runa is conscious, it made her panic and tried to call the doctor. But, a bit power is holding her right hand and doesn't let go, as if saying "Don't go," and this made her realized what her daughter wants as she looked at Runa at her eyes.
Runa eyelids are already so heavy, that it can fall anytime. But she did her best to prevent that from happening as long as possible. Runa just staring blankly at her dear mother with a smiling face, just staring at each other eyes blankly. When she realized her limit is coming soon, Runa smiled, and move her lips.
Her voice still doesn't come out. But her mother understood what her daughter cute lips movements are trying to say as she smiled back at her daughter. Seeing that smile, Runa made a face she usually made when she goes to school.
"Okay, I'll welcome you with your favorite food later." Runa's mother with her motherly smile.
But Runa is already fell unconscious when she said so. It made her realized that all of this time her daughter is watching her, knowing her daughter may be she tried her best to accomplish something big, she thought. For Runa's mother, this short meeting gave her a lot of strength so she didn't make her daughter worry for her.
This meeting made her realized there's still a long way for her to become a good mother. "I shouldn't make my daughter worrying me like this," she thought inside her mind as she slaps both of her cheeks turned to red. But she can't help it, she kept on worrying her knowing her daughter personality.
"But that girl is easy to get lonely, I wonder if she's gonna be fine?"
But she throws away that thought as she reminded of what her daughter lips movements are trying to say.
"I'll be back soon mom, wait for me. 'huh?"
***
Pain, she can feel it on her back. Then, she opened both of her eyes to realize that she was inside the library. The first thing she realized after that is the tears at the tips of her eyes.
"I see."
She said it as she wipes the tears at the tips of her eyes with her sleeves. "So, I met my mom," she said inside her heart. Her meeting with her mom gave her strength, with this she can do things without any need to worry about her mother. Determined, she slaps both of her cheeks in the same way as her mother did, "There are many things I need to do," she thought...
(But first I have to do something to this mountain of a book.)
So she takes the book 1 by 1 trying to turn the book to its shelf, just to realize that Shizuku is right beside her the whole time. But, for some reason, she doesn't get surprised by her, she's blankly looking at Shizuku.
"... What's with that boring reaction? Even though I was hoping to see your surprised face." Shizuku said with a face of disappointment.
"Haha, I don't know why too but, I don't have the urge to get surprised just now."
"What kind of reasoning is that?"
Runa said it with a wryly smile. And move her hand back to work,
"Just now... What are you dreaming about?"
It was Shizuku with a face full of curiosity. this made Runa looked at Shizuku with a face as if she expected this.
"So you were watching the whole time?"
"Nn, I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay." she paused for a moment, then take a glance at Shizuku, "I just, dreamed about my mom."
"... Your mother?"
"Yeah," Runa replied as she keeps her hands moving to arrange the book.
"I see." she stops asking, thinking it would be rude to ask any further.
She takes one of the books, the book title is The Endless War. When she opened the book to see what's inside, It was the record of the battle inside this endless war between human and devil. The cover of the book is a man in knight armor, and a devil fighting each other. By the human side, there is a light beside them as if supporting them. And by the devil side, there is darkness beside them, supporting them. The cover catch Shizuku eyes and she stared at it for a moment.
"Hey, Runa," Shizuku said as she keeps looking at the book cover.
"Yeah?"
Runa replied as she looked at Shizuku.
The moonlight that shone through the window illuminates her. It seemed like there was a halo around her glossy black hair, she looked like an angel. Without any deep feelings, Runa was fascinated with Shizuku's softness. He recovered herself when she heard Shizuku place down the book.
"It's about the trip into the dungeon tomorrow. I want you to stay here. I will persuade Brian-san and the others. So, please!"
She looked straight to Runa eyes as she pleaded. Runa was perplexed. Even Runa is useless, wasn't this a little too much?
"Um, what's this suddenly Shizuku? I'm aware of how useless I am in combat but, I'll think of another way to contribute to the party."
"Are you really saying that someone that can see through the camouflaged Treant useless?" Said Shizuku as she taped the book with one of her finger.
"Then what is it?"
"I'm aware this is weird. But I can't throw this feeling of mine aside." Shizuku said it with a serious face,
And this only made Runa think of something that shouldn't be done among two girls.
"I had this terrible feeling." She paused for a moment, and this phrase made Runa signed in relieve, "When I was sleeping in my room earlier, I was dreaming and you were there. When I called out to you, you did not even notice. When I chase you, I never caught up. At the end..."
Runa could saw her worried expression, and her bitting her lips.
"You disappeared."
"I see."
They sat in silence. It really was an ominous dream, but it was just a dream. With just that, they wouldn't permit a hero to stay. And she can't tell what kind of problem would come if she were to be permitted. She had no choice but to go. To reassure Shizuku, Runa spoke as gently as possible.
"A dream is just a dream, Shizuku. We have Brian and his veteran comrade with us. A lot of strong people like you, Arata, And Yamato are coming with us. Rather, our whole party is amazing. Actually, I feel sorry for the enemies. Maybe the reason for the dream you had is because you see my desperate face when we go home from the dungeon."
Shizuku just stared at Runa with an anxious expression while she spoke.
"Even so, I'm still worried."
"Then." Runa paused for a moment with her cheeks somewhat blushing, but she stared straight into Shizuku eyes. "Will you become my sword?"
"Eh!?"
She was aware of what she's saying, and as a person, she's feeling this shameful feeling from saying a line that's so chuuni-ish. Her face is already red with shame. In the room that was illuminated with the moonlight. Shizuku understood the situation well.
"You are a damage dealer right? Swordsman is a class that fights at the front line. No matter what, as long as you clear the path I'll be able to stand beside you with a smile. So, will protect me with your sword? If so, I believe I'll be fine."
Shizuku just stared at Runa for a hile. Runa just desperately enduring the shame she felt as she kept her eyes from breaking contact with Shizuku's. Even though her body is writhing.
The biggest cause of person insecurity is the unknown. Shizuku right now is worrying about what could happen to Runa. So, it would be soothing, if they had the confidence to face the unknown.
For a while, they stared at each other. The silence was broken when Shizuku smiled.
"... Runa."
"Yes?"
"Are you always saying this embarrassing line when people worrying about you?"
"Ugh.. Shut up! I'm aware of it."
"That's why the girl called you with Onee-sama you know?"
"I know!!! I'm aware of it. so stop making me recall the things I don't want to remember."
"But..." Shizuku paused for a moment, with an angelic smile she said. "Thanks for giving me the confidence to face my worry."
Looking at her smile, Runa responded with a gentle smile as she said.
"You're welcome."