Chapter 26

“... The girl? The one that I rescued all those years ago?”

Carol nodded. “Yes, it’s me.”

“... You two look like you have a lot to discuss, so I’m going to leave you to it.” Nadia picked up her bag, waved at us, and then left. It was just me and Carol, sitting across from each other, staring face-to-face.

“... I’m… surprised. Did you just recognize me now or…?”

“I realized when you first told me that story.”

“... Oh, during the second year of middle school, right?”

I had mentioned it during a club meeting. One of our seniors had been talking about dreams, so I mentioned it, as I did have that dream before. Now that I think about it, Carol did begin growing closer to me during that time.

“Wait, so Nadia?”

“I actually told Nadia about how you rescued me.”

“I see…”

Now it made sense how the story seemed so similar.

“After hearing my story, a burst of inspiration hit her, and she began drawing it. She showed me her work two days after that.”

“Wait, so you have seen the story?”

I remember Carol also looking at Nadia’s manga in surprise… or rather, her sketch. She seemed engrossed in it, like it was her first time reading.

“Nadia had improved the story a lot compared to when she first showed me. It was practically a different manga.”

“Maybe because she tried reaching Rizka.”

It was unfortunate that their relationship ended up broken, but we couldn't do anything about it.

“... Do you like someone like Nadia more?” Carol asked all of a sudden.

“... Didn't you ask this question before?”

Back then, I had answered that they're equal in my eyes.

Carol reached out and tugged on my sleeves. “... I'm not like Nadia,” she said while looking down.

“... Are you talking about the aftermath?”

In the end, Carol managed to control the damage to Nadia's reputation by pulling the facts Rizka tried desperately to hide out into the spotlight. She didn't lie or trick anyone; she just played dirty. I guess some might consider it blackmail.

In Carol’s defense, Rizka wasn’t good at hiding it. It would be exposed, eventually. She only quickened the process. It didn't damage her career too much, but it did force her to publicly apologize, damaging her reputation in the process.

“... Nadia won't do what I did. She'll try her best to resolve it peacefully. When she can’t, she’ll sacrifice herself.”

True. To be honest, I couldn’t see Nadia doing what Carol did. Still…

“... Didn't you already try?”

“Huh?”

“You've read a lot of books, right?”

Carol lifted her head. “What does that have to do with this?”

“You'll know the story in novels is often biased based on the point of view of the character. You asked Rizka about events from her point of view, and you concluded that Nadia is the correct one.”

“...” Carol stared at me, wide-eyed.

“You called her before, trying to discuss it, but what she told you didn’t make you happy.”

In the end, confronting someone like that had its own risks. Carol had been recording the conversation, but a recording could be manipulated. There was no guarantee that the conversation would pay off. Her own recording might be used against her. Had she not had the support of the director, who knows what would have happened?

“If I didn't do so, people wouldn't notice what Rizka was doing.”

“There are more effective and cleaner ways, yet you decided that you need to be involved, all for your friend.”

Carol fell silent.

I gave her a smile. “You said that I'm your hero, right? You just did the same thing as me. You jumped into that fire to save a burning Nadia.”

“...”

“As for your question… No, I don’t like Nadia more. Why?”

Carol took a deep breath. “... To tell you the truth, I like you.”

“As a friend?”

My reaction caused her to tense up. She took another breather. “As a boy.”

“...”

I understood perfectly well what she meant.

Is that why…

Now that I thought about it, she had been showing me tons of signs, but I didn't think much about them.

“I like you, I want to go out with you. I want to know more about you, Harto. Not because you’re my hero, but because I really like you, from the bottom of my heart.”

“... Can I ask you something?”

“Yes?”

“Since when have you liked me?”

“Ever since I realized you were the boy.”

Four entire years since then.

“You… rescued me, yet you never asked for something in return. And… When you saw me again, you treated me kindly. You didn't even know that I was a voice actress. You treated me as a friend because you see me as one.”

I… couldn't remember any of the things she talked about. I still remember when we met for the first time, but I didn't remember the details. Maybe that's proof that I didn't treat her differently? I mean, why would I?

“I… wanted to tell you my feelings, but I’m afraid you’ll assume it’s just because of the fire, and you won’t take me seriously.”

So she waited, keeping her feelings for four entire years. I… couldn’t imagine myself doing that. Had it been me, I might have confessed and gotten it over, the results be damned.

“... Can I tell you the truth?”

Carol clenched her fist. “I’m prepared for it.”

“Carol… You’ve been by my side for so long… So it’s hard for me to imagine you not there for me.”

She had been supportive for all these years, standing by my side, even if as a friend. She had kept her feelings to herself, and it stayed true after four years.

“Remember our conversation after the sushi celebration? I… don’t know if I feel romantically for you. I don't even know the difference between romantic feelings and the feelings I have now. But I want to give it a go.”

“You mean?”

“I want to know more about you.”

Carol smiled. “Should we start going on more dates, then?”

“Well, our trip to the theme park was fun, and I enjoyed it when we went to the library.”

“The former is a theme park, the latter had Nadia involved.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at this observation.

“But, if I don’t enjoy your company, then I won’t like it, even if you take me to the world’s best theme park.”

“You have a point.”

“So… yeah. I don’t mind dating.”

“Thank you, Harto. I’ll be in your care, then.”

“Same here.”

I would be lying if I weren’t sure about my feelings, but I feel happy. I’m glad to know Carol will continue being by my side. And, to be honest, knowing she liked me made me feel honored. Because ultimately, Carol is a great person. She protected her friends, and she valued the people around her. I could tell.