"So, how have things been with you lately, Lotte." Hanako asked.
"It's fine but... I think Reinhardt really isn't interested in dating." She answered sadly. "But even so, I wanna be his friend at least."
"Are you sure you wanna give up?" I asked her. "I can try asking him."
"It's fine, Arata." Lotte assured me. "You've done so much but... I think Reinhardt is too focused on his current love for me to reach his heart."
"I think it may be for the best." Felalona smiled. "Knowing when to let go is important too."
"What are you guys talking about?" Liam suddenly popped up and joined us.
"We were talking about Arata's lovelife!" Hanako exclaimed.
"Eh? My lovelife?!" I exclaimed and suddenly we were flocked by everyone.
"I have to know, what is Arata's type!" May exclaimed.
"Eh? My type?" I thought for a bit.
My type of lover... would be... what would the person I like be?
All my time has been consumed by my mission as a Le Fleur. I never gave myself time for romance and dating. And if I'm suddenly asked that... what would be the type of lover I would like. The only affection I've ever recieved were from my friends and family. My first kiss was even with Will... so I'm not sure what kind of lover I would like.
"You okay?" Theo asked snapping me back to reality.
"I'm not really sure..." I answered. "My kind of lover..."
"Hmmm? Really, you've never given it any thought?" Rein asked as he sat beside me.
"Well... usually people look for a lover because they seek affection. This is just my opinion about dating." I said. "But because everyone around me has always showered me with love I don't feel like I'm particularly interested in dating."
For now that is. I know that I will have to look for a lover someday. When this battle is over, when everyone goes on their path. When Will finds a wife and starts a family. I know I can't always be his number one priority.
"Oi, Arata, you're turning pale!" Ethan grabbed me to keep me from falling. "Looks like you're overthinking."
"Sorry, that one question just caused a lot of things to come into view." I answered. "Haha. I didn't think that one question so simple would did so deep under."
"Don't over think it." Rein hugged me.
"Thanks." I said as I lost myself in his embrace.
"So, wanna tell us what you were thinking that made you so anxious?" Will asked as he gently caressed my cheek.
"Hehe... it's really nothing..." I answered but Will frowns and I answer. "I'm just thinking, what would I do after the war? After everything is over. So much of my time has been consumed by my mission as a Le Fleur that I'm not sure what I'm going to do after everything is over."
"We could travel the worlds for a while, see the sceneries we couldn't see." Liam smiled as he held my hand. "I wanna see all the beautiful scenes we haven't seen."
"I wanna try all the things the worlds have to offer." Al said as he patted my head.
"But no matter what, we want to enjoy them with you." Rein hugged me tighter. "We'll always be by your side so you won't be lonely, today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life."
A warmth fills my heart and it is so pleasing. So much that I begin to tear up.
"Arata...?" Rein brushes away a tear. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I am now." I answered as I hugged him. "All it took were you few words and the pain in my chest was gone."
"Arata..." Andrew gently tucked my hair aside.
"There's a warmth I've never felt before spreading from my chest and I'm just so happy." I smiled as I tried to brush away my tears.
"Did you... get scared thinking we'd leave you alone in the future?" Rein asked as he hugged me and hid my face in his shirt. "If so, I'll tell you now. We won't leave you alone."
His words broke the last wall in my heart that I had put up. My tears flow endlessly like I've never seen before.
"Losing Growth, and that question just now, did it perhaps make you aware of the future and of your own?" He asked as he hugged me closer.
I can't answer, my throat hurts, my tears won't stop and I can't stop myself from letting the anxietyand fear that I had locked away swallow me.
"G... Growth was... more than... just my... familiar..." I cried. "He was... a part of me... and every Le Fleur's... familiar... follows them... till the... end..."
"It's alright, let it all out." Alexis's hand gently caresses my back.
"But... but Growth... my familiar... no... my friend... is gone..." I cried into Rein's shirt.
"It's alright. We're here." Zhen assured me. "We won't go anywhere."
"Arata, the pain of losung Growth, the unsure future you don't know of, the uncertainty of tomorrow and the fear of being alone in the future... did it scare you?" Rein asked as I pulled away from his shirt and he stared me straight in the eyes.
"I..." I can't answered, I only cried.
"If they did, let me make this promise to you." He said. "No matter what, I won't let you be alone in the future. I'll be by your side, through the sun and rain."
"Rein..." I held tightly to his clothes.
"All eight of us do." Ethan said as he held my hand. "So, Arata, there's no need to be afraid."
"All of us will be with you." Theo smiled gently as he patted my head. "You can share it all with us. The pain, fear, everything."
The warmth in my chest that they have given me, it feels so nice. Losing Growth, the question of my future, the unknown path that lies ahead of this. It all makes me anxious and afraid of tomorrow. But if everyone is by my side... I think I'll be able to accept everything, the happiness and despair that lie ahead of me.
"I think... as long as everyone is by my side, I can accept the unknown future." I smiled.