Chapter: 98. He is pursuing me
—— Calm down, calm down, why am I so nervous?
—— Becoming lovers with Kanade-kun was supposed to be planned from the very beginning, right?
While Kanade was talking with Kurokawa, Nagi turned around, facing away from them, and continuously took deep breaths in an attempt to calm her emotions.
—— I should have envisioned this kind of development more than ten years ago…
—— Why, at this point, is everything…
Nagi raised both hands to her chest, covering her heart, feeling the fluttering sensation as if a deer was running amok. This feeling was both familiar and strange to her.
The more she tried to resist looking at Kanade, the more her body uncontrollably turned its head.
The side profile of Kanade, who was talking with Kurokawa, overlapped with the image of him rushing to her side last night.
His confession seemed to echo in her mind—
Clearly, that was a moment she had rehearsed countless times, imagining countless responses for such a situation.
It should have just been a lie.
But now, Nagi was instead afraid that everything was a lie.
The betrayal mentioned by Nanjo and the End of Days in relation to the Special Ring SMEA and the three major academies, that disjointed memory of fighting with Garuda…
Nagi no longer knew what she should believe.
Right now, she was terribly afraid of summoning Garuda, afraid of hearing the truth from Him.
This was a confusion without a clear goal, as if she had lost her direction in life.
All she wanted now was to quietly stay by Kanade’s side, enjoying this moment of tranquility—
“This is just a lie.” Suddenly, the smile of the End of Days Nagi flashed through her mind.
“When Kanade discovers the truth behind all this, your final destination will eventually—”
No, no, that’s not how it is—
“——Nagi——Little Nagi!” Kanade’s shout suddenly pulled Nagi’s consciousness back to reality.
Nagi’s eyes widened with anxiety, reflecting Kanade’s worried face.
She then realized that unknowingly, she had curled up, hugging her own arms.
“Are you okay? Little Nagi, you look really pale—Huh? L-Little Nagi?” Kanade’s concerned question was only halfway through when he saw Nagi suddenly leap into his arms, holding him tightly.
Her small, soft body was trembling slightly in his embrace.
“……I’m fine, I just… felt a little tired.” Nagi murmured softly, burying her face deep in Kanade’s chest, making it difficult to see her expression.
But Kanade seemed to understand Nagi’s current feelings, using his free hand to embrace her back.
His palm gently caressed Nagi’s deep, night sky-like hair, the touch as silky as satin, making Kanade reluctant to let go.
“It’s okay, I’ll be here, I will always stay by Little Nagi’s side.”
Kanade repeated his original promise, speaking softly.
He then noticed a gaze coming from behind.
Kanade slightly turned his head.
Kurokawa did not display the disdainful look one might expect from a depraved lolicon; instead, he was looking at him with an incredibly serious expression.
Neither of the two seemed surprised by Nagi’s sudden act of affection.
Because Kanade had heard about it from Kurokawa long ago.
This kind of infantilization could cause the individual’s thoughts and actions to regress to a corresponding time point.
The misalignment of body and mind would render a person incredibly vulnerable.
The physical examinations conducted at Ark Academy were, in some ways, also meant to assess the psychological health of the affected individuals and arrange suitable psychologists for treatment.
Now that Kanade disagreed to let Nagi undergo an examination, the responsibility for this matter fell to him.
Kurokawa took out a stack of documents from the inner pocket of his coat and gently placed them on the bench.
“This is the report on the examination work, which includes detailed procedures and methods. According to the notes, complete the examination in phases, fill out the corresponding report, and finally submit it to me on time,” Kurokawa said flatly.
Although he agreed to the transaction with Kanade, Nagi’s examination report was essential for the Special Ring SEMA and the three major academies.
But the agreement allowed Kanade some operational latitude.
“As for the tools and instruments needed for the examination, I will find a way to get them into your dormitory.”
Hearing this, Kanade nodded with a smile, indicating his understanding.
After finishing, Kurokawa left with Midelash.
Meanwhile, Kanade maintained his half-kneeling position while holding Nagi—
It was unclear how much time had passed.
The words of the End of Days Nagi seemed to finally fade from her mind.
Coming back to her senses, she noticed her posture and filled her nostrils with the scent of Kanade.
It was not the sour smell of sweat, nor did it resemble perfume, but it brought Nagi a sense of comfort.
“Sorry, Kanade-kun, I…” Nagi hurriedly released Kanade and lowered her head in apology.
But her words were interrupted by Kanade:
“It’s great that Little Nagi is feeling better.” Kanade responded with a gentle smile and slowly reached toward Nagi’s face, gently wiping away the tears from her eyes with his thumb.
“No need to apologize; rather, you can do this whenever you like, Little Nagi.”
“……”
—— Kanade-kun is actually flirting with me?! Where did my innocent and shy Kanade-kun go!
—— And to think, at this point, how could there still be girls who would be pursued by lines like this?
—— But if I don’t respond now, wouldn’t that embarrass Kanade-kun…
—— Sigh, what am I going to do with you? A considerate girlfriend like me is quite rare these days, you know.
“Thank you, Kanade-kun, I like it~” Nagi’s lips curled slightly upward, revealing an incredibly radiant smile.
Faced with Nagi’s straightforward affection, Kanade suddenly felt shy about what he had just said, unable to help but blush and look away:
“N-No need to mention it.”
Kanade’s innocent reaction caused Nagi’s heart to flutter unexpectedly.
A special craving was uncontrollably spreading within her heart—
—— Indeed, Kanade-kun’s shy and anxious appearance never ceases to be charming no matter how many times I see it…
Unknowingly, Nagi leaned in closer to Kanade once more.
When she saw these little reactions from him, she could genuinely feel the satisfaction of being cherished in his heart, instantly filling all her emptiness and anxiety—
“U-Um, Little Nagi, aren’t you a bit too close…?”
“Mm? Kanade-kun just said that I could do this whenever I liked~” Nagi intentionally pouted in a feigned displeasure, asking in a coquetry tone: “Are you lying to me, Kanade-kun?”
“N-No, that’s not what I meant…”
In their back-and-forth exchange, Nagi had once again come to Kanade’s side.
But this time, she did not leap into his arms; instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing her lips close to his already flushed ears.
Nagi’s crystal-clear pink lips moved slightly, emitting a soft and sweet warm breath: “D-Daddy~”
“H-Huh!?” Nagi’s sweet voice of affection made Kanade involuntarily straighten his back, feeling a slight tingle run down his spine like an electric current.
“Hehe, Kanade-kun really feels like a daddy now~” Nagi looked at her own actions, still able to elicit reactions from Kanade, and chuckled with satisfaction.
Though she knew deep down that this behavior might be somewhat dangerous in the presence of a Kanade who might have already regained his original nature, the satisfaction that surged within her at such moments made her unable to tire of it.
—— Well, if it’s kind Kanade-kun, I just need to keep my boundaries…
—— Right? Kanade-kun wouldn’t force me to do things I dislike, would he?
Nagi looked gently at the snow-white bandage still wrapped around Kanade’s head, extending her hand toward him—
“L-Little Nagi?” Kanade suddenly felt a warm current rushing through his body.
“Don’t move, Daddy~ It’ll be over soon~”
The power of the Flames of Regeneration was being exerted on Kanade’s body through Nagi’s fingers.
Even though Nagi looked like a young girl on the outside, petite enough to merely reach Kanade’s height when he was half-squatting, her expression at this moment radiated gentle maternal warmth.
