Pretending To Have A Girlfriend?

"Huff... Huff..."

Vienna's rough breathing echoed in the hospital room.

The other two apprentice saintesses who had been helping her and energizing Starchis had already gone to rest, exhausted.

But Vienna didn't stop, not even for a moment.

Even after using all of her holy power, she did not rest.

She endured the hardships and spoke to Starchis, squeezing out every bit of her energy for him.

-Swish

Already the seventh time. Her energy, which had slightly recovered, hit rock bottom again.

Vienna felt dizzy as if she was about to lose consciousness, but she forced herself to endure.

She feared that if she collapsed now, Starchis would cross the river of no return.

She feared not only his death but also missing the scene of his death-a contradictory fear. She was too terrified to leave his side.

"... I'll let it slide this time, so get up quickly..."

Vienna, who had endured the feeling of her energy being drained, spoke to Starchis.

Within just a few hours, Vienna's face had turned as pale as Starchis'.

Even Luss and Lily began to worry about her.

"Vienna..."

But they couldn't bring themselves to tell her to stop.

They were afraid that if they did, Starchis might actually.

-No! Get up!! Aaahhh!!

A scream could be heard from outside the door.

It was a desperate scream, a sound that seemed like a beast's roar.

It seemed like someone in another ward had lost their life.

Every time that happened, Luss, Lily, and Vienna felt their hearts tighten.

They empathized with the person screaming like that, as they realized that they, too, could become like that at any moment.

Perhaps they would howl even more.

Because even now, they were clinging only to the fact that he was still alive, with a heart that felt like it could go crazy at any moment.

Luss reached out her other hand to massage Starchis' arm. She had already been massaging him for quite some time, but she didn't have the thought of taking a break.

Something glittered in her hand as she approached him.

"Ah."

And then she let out a short sigh.

It was a friendship ring that was worn on her left index finger.

Not made of gold or silver, just a cheap ring.

Since they exchanged rings, it had always been her treasure, symbolizing and encompassing their six years of friendship. It always brought warmth with its presence, as if encapsulating their bond.

Even when she heard that Starchis had found a lover, the preciousness of the ring didn't diminish.

But now, the feeling that the ring gave off was different.

It was both incredibly precious and incredibly shabby.

It looked so pitiful.

It encapsulated their six years of friendship, but from a different perspective, it was just one friendship ring they exchanged in six years.

Luss looked at the pale Starchis.

Perhaps at this very moment, her bond with Starchis would be severed.

Luss and Starchis. It could be the moment right before the end of their relationship.

And all that was left was just one ring.

Not even a couple's ring, just one friendship ring.

During the six years they spent together, the result of her agonizing, struggling, and being jealous was just this one ring. 

This was the outcome of her efforts to obtain him: She liked him but did nothing. She liked him but kept drawing lines. She claimed to like him but only brought him pain.

Starchis might not be able to wake up again.

It was said that the ecstasy of the emotion of love, which had been told in countless stories or books, was of a different class.

Even experiencing love through superficial actions like linking arms or hugging was enough for her. She couldn’t even imagine the true feeling and emotions that love brings.

Just the thought of missing out on all their 'first' experiences with him had felt like it would kill her.

The pain in her heart was so intense at that time that she had thought she could never stand it.

Still, she gradually accepted that fact and hoped for the next opportunity. She would love Starchis for a lifetime, so she believed that someday it would be her turn as well.

But she didn't expect it to turn out like this.

She never thought that the next opportunity could disappear like this.

The thought that their kiss, their night together, their whispers of love could all vanish without experiencing them never crossed her mind.

And the emotions these facts conveyed to her heart were not pain.

It was an immense fear as if her heartbeat would stop. A cold, heavy sensation.

It was despair as if she would lose a crucial sense that was always naturally there, like sight, hearing, or touch.

Knowing that she could become insane if she thought about it for too long, Luss reached out her arm again to massage Starchis' arm.

Vienna and Lily were also caught up in similar thoughts.

They realized that the desire to wait for the next opportunity was as foolish as the Starchis’ Pact.

He had never waited for them.

It was the same this time too.

‘Give me just one last chance.’

That's what they desperately thought.

If he could just get up, they wouldn't wait anymore.

They couldn’t help it if Starchis didn't like them. They would just push enough to not receive hatred. Because…

They had to act selfishly.

They shouldn't be ashamed.

They shouldn't leave any regrets.

'Be a little more honest, but be pretentious in certain aspects. Be a little more proactive, but be discreet in certain things. And be a little more lovable. Be able to receive a little more love.'

That's what they thought, that they would act that way from now on.

But of course, the first step was Starchis getting up.

Once again, they prayed and prayed.

"Starchis... please get up."

Luss spoke in a forced cheerful tone.

"...Huh?"

And perhaps hearing her words, Starchis reacted. His body started trembling, and his eyes slowly opened, revealing the whites.

“Why..! What’s wrong, Starchis!!” Lily exclaimed.

Starchis began to repeatedly exhale shallow and rapid breaths, in pain. His body jerked strangely with a whimpering sound.

"Here!!! Help here!!"

Luss cried out for help. Her body trembled with anxiety, just like Starchis.

Vienna had witnessed this situation multiple times. That's why she couldn't believe the current situation.

Her body, having exhausted from using her holy power, abruptly jerked.

"Ah...! Ahh...!! No... No...!! Starchis!! Starchis!!"

To prevent her trembling body, she embraced Starchis's cold body. His heartbeat, audible in her ears, was becoming irregular.

"No...! No...!! Please, please, please, please... Don't go! Don't go!!"

She thought such a sudden farewell couldn't happen.

‘I didn't even properly say goodbye.’.

‘I couldn't even say I love you.’

Whether he accepted it or not, she should have conveyed her feelings at least once.

But his heart didn't respond to her words and wishes.

Starchis' body, tightly held in her arms, came to a sudden stop - its tension released.

- Haah…

A warm, deep sigh flowed out of Starchis' mouth, sending shivers down their spine.

For a moment, silence settled in.

No more sound of heartbeat could be heard in their ears.

"Uh…?"

Vienna couldn't believe or accept what it meant. She didn't want to believe it, so she blinked her eyes and shook her head.

"Uh...? Uh...??"

"...Aaaahhh!!!!!"

Luss slumped on the floor, screaming.

"Aaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!"

That beast-like cry she had heard countless times bursts out from Luss’ throat.

Upon realizing that he, who was her best friend, first love, and last love, had left, no human sound could come out of her mouth.

"Aaaahhhhhh...!"

Her strength suddenly gave way, and Luss fainted.

"...Ha... Hahaha..."

Lily leaned against the hospital bed, her eyes glazed over, and let out a laugh. The laughter grew increasingly terrifying and creepy.

‘Bang!!’ - A sound like something stepping heavily on the floor suddenly echoed.

Someone shook the whole building, as they entered the room. However, the two of them paid no attention, as they had no capacity to do so.

****

I was in a deep darkness where nothing could be seen.

There was no appearance of anyone or anything, and I couldn't engage in deep thinking.

I wasn't curious about why I was here or where it was.

I was simply in this darkness, and even my consciousness was hazy.

Within that vague consciousness that felt like an eternity, I briefly thought about my whereabouts.

I still couldn't see anything, and the darkness weighed heavily on me.

Unable to think of anything, I didn't really know, but instinctively, I wanted to rest.

Energy drained from my body.

I let it flow away.

At that moment, a stimulus jolted my senses.

-"...Sta-"

A barely audible sound, as if a curtain had fallen.

But once I heard it, I focused all my attention on that stimulus.

-"...Star… thank-"

With concentration, it became a slightly more distinguishable sound.

It was a familiar sound. The voice I heard almost every day.

Who was it again?

...I didn't know for sure, and I couldn't confirm since I couldn't see, but it felt like they were by my side.

It was a warm and reassuring feeling.

As I drifted into the darkness, energy returned to my body.

At the same time, I heard the familiar voice again.

"Wake up... Starchis."

I turned my head to find that stimulus, but there was still nothing to be seen.

My neck didn't move either.

I still lacked strength.

The surroundings quieted down again, and the darkness enveloped me.

I didn't feel the desire to resist that flow.

"......What... are you... saying?"

This time, a voice filled with regret reached my ears.

When I heard the voice filled with regret, discomfort stirred around my chest.

I didn't know what it was, but if only they didn't feel sorry.

I tried to open my mouth to respond, but nothing came out.

Instead, the words I wanted to convey echoed in my mind.

‘Don't be sorry, Lily Noona.’

Ah, yes. This voice belonged to Lily Noona.

Before her, it was Vienna, and before Vienna, it was Luss’ voice.

It felt as if they, who had spent countless hours with me and accumulated many memories, were by my side.

With that fact alone, my heart felt at ease.

Energy seemed to return to my body.

However, in this situation, I couldn't properly perceive the passage of time.

Was the voice I heard just now the same as the one a moment ago? Or was it a voice I heard a long time ago?

I didn't know.

Once again, darkness engulfed me.

*****

Weight returned to my body soon - or perhaps, not soon - as I floated through the depths of the darkness.

I felt like I was lying down.

I suddenly wondered how long it had been. As if on cue, my last memories came back to me.

My last memory was... being stabbed by the demonic sword and heading toward the dungeon gate.

Ah.

I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids moved sluggishly.

Slowly, my eyes opened.

"He woke up!! He woke up!!"

"Aaah!! Hic-cup!!"

"Ch-Chis, do you recognize me?"

The voices of three women reached me in an instant.

My blurry vision gradually became clear.

My party members who held onto me came into view.

Even in this bewildering situation, seeing them made me laugh.

"...Haha..."

Vienna still cried like a child, and Lily Noona jumped around with a mix of happiness and uncertainty.

Luss continued to hold my cheeks and asked questions with a trembling voice.

“Uh..? Do you remember me, Chis…?”

"... Luss."

Finally, she let out a deep sigh and rested her head against my stomach.

"I really... thought you were going to die... Huh..!"

She suddenly stopped speaking, as I gently stroked her head with my right hand.

A giant needle was stuck in my right hand, and red blood was flowing into my body.

In that short or perhaps long period of darkness, I was really grateful for their words.

Perhaps if I hadn't heard their voices there, I might have really died.

"Vienna, you too stop crying."

I let go of Luss’ head and now touched Vienna’s face.

I placed my hand on her cheek and used my thumb to wipe away her tears.

"Wha..!"

Vienna, who had been crying, was surprised and looked at me with wide, round eyes.

Seeing her reaction, I realized: Oh, right! I lied that I had a girlfriend.

Having almost died once, I’d momentarily forgotten that lie. Maybe it was because the time in our relationship was longer than the time I maintained that lie.

As I remembered it, I flinched and removed my hand from Vienna.

"Ah..."

Vienna let out a sigh. I was worried for nothing.

"Starchis, can you stroke my head too?"

Lily Noona, who had turned to my left, spoke up.

"Yes...?"

"I was so scared... My heart is still pounding... Just once, please... Yes...?"

Lily Noona, who could cry any moment, was cute in a way. Since she constantly talked to me while I was unconscious, I decided to do it as a way of showing gratitude.

There's no need to be so strict in such a situation.

With Lily Noona on my left, I looked at my left hand - at the arm that was pierced by the demonic sword. The same arm that kept bleeding. 

Now, apart from the giant scar, it looked just like my original arm.

As my gaze shifted to my arm, the gazes of the three also shifted to it.

"Ah, Chis. Sniff."

Luss, who raised her head from my stomach, wiped away her tears and sniffed as she spoke to me.

"That… that scar couldn't be helped..."

However, the reason I looked at my arm was not that.

Slowly, I raised my left arm. I turned it back and forth, examining the scar.

It felt strangely heavy.

"Starchis?"

Lily Noona looked at me with a puzzled expression, calling me. But her words never reached my mind.

No. This can't happen.

"...Why?"

A shocked sound escaped my lips.

No, if that were the case, what would happen to my dream?

Unable to believe it, I clenched my fist with all my strength - the same way I held a weapon. But… 

My left hand remained stiff and didn't move.

– – – End of Chapter – – –

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