Sorry for no updates for some time. We are sorting out our schedule. Here is the chapter. Enjoy~
“And the other option?”
Lay asked.
“The two of you must work together to find another way.”
Lay and Misa looked at each other.
“So, if we fight, one of us can definitely go on, but if we try to go on together, we may not find a way?”
“That is correct, yes.”
“Well, um, what should we do?”
Misa chuckled in annoyance.
“If I lose on purpose, Lay-san will be able to proceed without fail, so that might be a better option.”
Rina then said to me,
“Don’t worry, they can both go.”
“Both of you can go. I’m pretty sure I know where the other road is.”
I informed them through the <Thought Communication Leaks>.
They both nodded.
“I guess we’ll have to work together.”
“Mmm. Then I’ll give you a hint. The way forward lies somewhere in between these choices. The time limit is five minutes. If you can’t find it by then, you will fail. You will have to return to the Trials Room, so think carefully.”
Eniyunien’s presence disappeared as soon as he announced this.
Rina immediately said.
“You see those two stone pedestals between the choices?”
There were pedestals at the top and bottom of the circular room.
“I think one of the pedestals has a stone statue on it.”
The pedestal at the bottom end had two stone statues on it.
“If they both get on the other pedestal and strike the same pose as the stone statues, it will open the most direct pathway to the Sky.”
I sent those exact words to the two of them in <Thought Communication Leaks>.
“That seems to be the idea.”
“Eh, umm…”
Misa stared at the stone statue, as if she was shying away.
“What’s the problem? You’d both better hurry up.”
“Yes, I know, but… but the pose of this stone statue…”
The two stone statues on the pedestal at the bottom end are embracing.
One had its hands around the other’s waist, and the other had its hands softly resting on the other’s face.
Both of them had happy smiles on their faces.
“…Well, but I guess it’s a good thing that Misa is the one who came here…”
Lay said with a wry smile.
“Indeed. If I had been there, it would have been quite a challenge.”
Huffing, Lay smiled refreshingly.
“I guess I would have had to go all out against Anos again.”
“Eh, let’s see. Which tournament are you talking about again?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m sorry. It’s nothing.”
Misa waved her hand hurriedly, as if to get rid of her thoughts.
“Misa!”
Lay jumped up on the pedestal and reached out his hand to her quickly.
“Come on. It’s okay.”
“Ah…ha, yes…”
Misa grabbed Lay’s hand and climbed up onto the pedestal.
“Um, guys, don’t look, please…”
“Hmm. Unfortunately, that’s hard to do. There’s no guarantee that he won’t try to do something when I close my eyes.”
“…Ah, yes, that’s right…I see…”
“Don’t worry. I won’t, so chill out.”
“Yes, yes…I know that, but…”
Misa turned over with a bright red face, fidgeting and rubbing her hands together.
Even while she was doing this, the time limit was ticking away.
It looked like she couldn’t make up her mind, so now she would have to leave it to Lay.
Well, I guess there’s nothing to worry about.
That man, Hero Kanon, had given courage to others many times in the past.
I’m sure he would be very good at this kind of thing.
“How many times have I said that?”
Lay said casually.
“I didn’t count…”
“Forty-seven times.”
“Ah.”
Misa blushed.
“…isn’t that Forty-eight times…?”
“Hmm?”
“Well, forty… eight times… well, Lay-san… if you count the time we passed each other in the hallway the other day, when we were light…”
Lay quickly placed his hands gently on Misa’s face.
“I knew it, I remembered.”
Lay smiled at her.
“…Ta, it’s not fair to test me…”
Misa said, fearfully putting her hands around Lay’s waist.
“I’m sorry. You lied to me about not remembering, and I just wanted to be mean to you.”
Misa hugged Lay even tighter.
The two of them were in roughly the same position as the stone statue.
“…Oh, what? Nothing’s happening, is it?”
Then Rina’s voice echoed in <Thought Communication Leaks>.
“Maybe it’s the expression?”
“…Ah…”
Misa’s face tensed up, as if she was nervous.
“Is it okay if it’s like this?”
She tried to smile, but it didn’t quite work.
It was far from the happy smile of the stone statue.
When I think about it, this ordeal was quite a challenge.
Aside from the posture, a happy smile was something that not many actors could imitate.
“Misa.”
Pulling her face closer, Lay stared into her eyes.
“Le, Lay-san… aren’t you too close…? This isn’t like the posture of the stone statue…?”
“I’m sorry. I was just trying to make up for earlier.”
“What…?”
Misa looked over at Lay with a puzzled expression.
“I’ve missed you so much during this exam.”
It couldn’t have been more than an hour, though.
“…I’m sure I missed you a lot more…”
Hmm. They do say that those who are in love don’t want to be separated even for a moment, but I didn’t expect it to be that much.
Love was a profound thing.
“…Lay-san…”
With those words, their shame seemed to have flown away, and their faces drew closer as if they were being sucked into each other’s gaze.
It was as if they were about to kiss.
“I don’t want to leave you anymore.”
“It’s okay. I won’t let go.”
With those words, Misa smiled a big smile.
Lay smiled along with her and returned to the same position as the original stone statue.
It was probably the path to the upper floor.
That’s what I call a brave man.
I’m not surprised you were able to break Misa’s tension so easily.
It was quite a brilliant move.
