I've always hated the rain because it looks like tears, but right now it's just right.
Because at least this way, no one can tell I'm crying.
Before I knew it, I was running and running, and I ended up here.
The graveyard behind the Seihou Church.
In front of his grave.
It's made of stone and nothing fancy, but it's his grave all the same.
"...You're the worst."
I already knew Hoss was going to leave.
But I screamed like a child and ran off like an idiot anyway.
And then I finally understood.
Running the dining hall wasn't my dream.
It was his dream.
A dream he'd wanted to make come true.
A dream he'd already made come true.
And then... a dream that ended.
His dream, over and done with.
This was just my selfish form of atonement.
I couldn't protect him. I couldn't do anything. Making amends was the least I could do.
And I turned that into my own dream.
"What's your dream?"
Had she fulfilled his dream and found happiness that way?
What even is happiness?
"Hey, Hoss. What's your dream?"
I turned around and asked.
Hoss was there.
"My dream...?"
He looked stunned.
Yeah, fair enough. It's not easy being put on the spot like that.
"Mine was an ordinary happiness. Getting married normally, having kids, building a normal family."
"You could still do that now."
"It's too late. It was a dream from way back."
A dream from long, long ago.
It was so far removed that even remembering it only gave me a faint sense of nostalgia.
"So it's not your dream anymore?"
"...Oh, the rain stopped."
Good. I never did like getting soaked.
Though at this point my clothes and underwear were both drenched and see-through, so it didn't really matter anymore.
But mentally, keeping up the rain would have been rough.
"Running the Berk cafeteria — maybe that's not Luma's dream after all."
"Yeah. That was his dream."
"Then Luma's got a different dream, right?"
"My dream? Maybe I don't have one."
I laugh weakly.
"Luma..."
"So you've got a dream, Hoss?"
"I do."
"...What kind of dream?"
"To become a first-rank delver with Axe and Rel in Thunder Fang."
"That's your dream?"
He nods. I feel deflated.
It's a fine dream, sure. But it's not just Hoss's dream alone, is it?
"So what does Luma actually want to do? I haven't got a clue."
Hoss looks troubled. Right. I guess he would.
What I want to do... even I don't know—nah.
"Hoss, do you like me?"
"I do."
"............"
"I like you, Luma."
"———"
I was surprised.
Hoss had looked me dead in the eye and said he liked me, straight up, no dodging.
"Luma, do you feel anything about me?"
"I like you."
"Huh?"
"I like you, Hoss. I've felt this way for a long time."
"........."
Hoss just sat there with his jaw hanging open.
"It's not like I could ever hate you."
"But I..."
"No buts. But honestly, when he died shielding you, I wondered... why. I've had that thought before. Whether, if it had been you in his place, I could've been happy — it's true I've thought about that too. So when you left without saying a word, it hit me hard. But... I was relieved."
"........."
At this point, I was just laying everything bare.
"I was on the verge of hating you. Out of displaced anger."
"... That's only natural."
Hoss nodded.
No. No, that's not it. It was just displaced anger.
"Hey — when we ran into each other again, remember how Vallow was trying to force you into marriage...?"
"Of course. No way I'd ever forget that."
Hoss's face twisted with bitterness as he clenched his fist.
"Back then. I... had given up. On everything."
"..."
"But then I ran into Hoss, and my feelings wavered — I didn't want to give up anymore. But that didn't mean I could burden Hoss with that. So I pushed him away."
"No way I'd let somethin' like that keep me apart from ya. I love ya, Luma. So I'd cross any dangerous bridge for ya, as many times as it takes. But someone dirty like me standin' next to ya..."
"......Stand there. Stand next to me. Stand by my side, Hoss!"
Before I knew it, I was clinging to him, crying.
I held on to him like I'd fall apart if I let go.
"I love ya, Luma. I really do. But I can't stay in Heisen. Axe and Rel are waitin' for me."
"— Yeah."
"I can't abandon those two. Besides, I wanna become First Tier too. I used to think it was impossible. But not anymore. I can say for sure that it's within reach now."
"Yeah."
"So... keep watchin' over me, Luma."
"I'll always be watching over you. Right by your side, Hoss."
Hoss's feelings. They reached me.
Thank you.
"Always by my side, Lu—"
Our lips met. Heh — we kissed.
We pulled apart slowly, reluctantly, and smiled.
"— We're both soaked, aren't we? Let's go change."
"Yeah."
"And I'm going to Hydrangea too."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Come on, let's go. We'll catch a cold like this. Take off your clothes first, then we'll warm up."
I grabbed Hoss's hand — he was standing there, dumbfounded — and pulled him along.
"R-right. I'm not a fan of catching colds, y'know."
"Together. Let's warm up."
When I murmured that, Hoss... heh. This was starting to be fun.
After the rain, it always clears up.
My heart finally felt clear too.
The blue sky was dazzling.
Morning. When I woke up, Ruma was beside me.
She kept sleeping soundly right next to me.
Her tanned skin, half-hidden beneath the sheets, was smooth and radiant.
I gently stroked her head, and Ruma smiled in her sleep.
"I'll do my best. For Ruma."
I steeled my resolve.
Something that had been vague now felt like it was coming into sharp focus.
Rank I. That'd be great. No — I'll definitely get there.
"But..."
"No 'buts' allowed."
Luma pulled the sheets close and pressed a finger to my lips, grinning mischievously.
See? Told ya.