Chapitre 20: Their Bond(edited)
Silver light illuminated Haru's room, creating a magical atmosphere as he emerged from the teleportation magic circle. Haru briefly surveyed her room and noticed it was somewhat messy.
"It seems Sora came here after I left," Haru murmured.
He stepped toward the window and saw the soft light of the sun almost rising. A new day had begun, and although he had spent months in the dungeon, only one night had passed here, at home.
"It's truly amazing," he whispered, recalling everything that had happened in the dungeon.
"After over half a year in the dungeon, only one night has passed here."
"Oh, right, Sora should be waking up soon. I need to prepare breakfast!" Haru hurried toward the kitchen, eager to welcome his younger sister who had been waiting.
In Sora's room, the situation was very different. Sora hadn't slept at all. Throughout the night, she anxiously waited for Haru, worried for her safety. The noticeable dark circles under her eyes showed just how tired she was. She felt like she couldn't afford to miss a single second; every second felt like a century when Haru was gone.
As the sounds of activity from the kitchen began to echo, Sora felt her heart leap. She knew that Haru had returned safely. Without a second thought, she ran with all her strength to the kitchen. Upon arriving, she saw Haru busy cooking. Pure joy radiated from her face, and tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks.
"Haru!!!" she shouted, running and hugging Haru from behind.
"Haru... Haru... Haru..." she repeated, her voice full of emotion as she buried her head into Haru's back. The fear that had been pent up all night transformed into a warm embrace.
"Do you know? I was so scared. I was afraid you wouldn't come back," she sobbed, her tears soaking Haru's clothes.
"Don't worry, Sora. I promise I'll be okay," Haru turned and hugged her tightly. He could feel how fragile Sora was and how worried she had been.
"Did you not sleep?" He asked gently yet worriedly, wiping Sora's tears away with his fingers.
"How could I sleep when you weren't here and might be facing danger?" Sora replied, her voice trembling. The pain in her expression made Haru feel the weight of her words.
"I'm sorry, Sora, but I had to go into the reincarnation tower. I need to gain enough power to protect you in this dangerous world," Haru said, his voice firm though laced with regret.
"I know. Thank you, Haru," Sora replied softly, lying in Haru's embrace, feeling warmth and safety. In that moment, she felt secure, as if all the fears that had enveloped her heart had vanished.
"Hah, silly girl. No need to thank me; you're my younger sister," Haru said playfully, stroking Sora's long silver hair, which felt soft in his hands. Haru's hand moved slowly, easing the tension between them.
"Younger sister..." Sora murmured quietly, her face pouting in dissatisfaction at hearing Haru consider her just a younger sister. Deep down, she longed for something more, something deeper than just a sibling relationship.
"What did you say, Sora?" Haru asked, seemingly catching the soft whisper, but it was too quiet to understand.
"Nothing, let's help with the cooking!" Sora shook her head, trying to change the topic.
"Alright, help me wash the vegetables," Haru said, pointing to the fresh vegetables laid out on the table. They began to work together, preparing a simple but loving breakfast.
Haru and Sora spent time in the kitchen, creating a warm morning atmosphere. Sora carefully chopped the vegetables while Haru cooked rice and made broth. Their cheerful voices filled the room, signaling that their togetherness was whole again.
"So, what are your plans for today after breakfast?" Haru asked while stirring the broth.
"I want to go to the garden; there are some flowers I want to plant. And maybe we could take a little walk?" Sora replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Sounds great! But remember, don't overexert yourself," Haru emphasized, worried about Sora's health.
Sora only smiled, feeling warmth in her heart. She knew that Haru always protected her, even if it meant he had to fight in the dungeon.
After breakfast was finished, they both sat down to enjoy the meal they had prepared. Sora savored every bite with gratitude. "This is delicious, Haru! You always know how to cook my favorite food," Sora praised, her smile radiant.
"Thank you, Sora. But all of this means nothing without you by my side," Haru replied, feeling proud to bring happiness to his younger sister.
Once they finished eating, Sora helped Haru clear the table. "Let's get ready to go to the garden," she exclaimed, excited.
They walked toward the garden, Sora's hand gripping Haru's arm. A warm feeling flowed between them, and Sora felt as if the world had become brighter. When they arrived at the garden, Sora immediately ran to the area she had chosen to plant flowers.
"Look, Haru! I've prepared the soil here. Let's plant together!" she shouted, running to the spot she had set up.
"Alright, what are we going to plant?" Haru asked, following Sora's steps.
"I want to plant roses and lilies. They always make me feel happy," Sora replied, taking flower seeds from her bag.
Haru helped Sora prepare the soil and carefully plant the seeds. They laughed and shared stories, enjoying their time under the sunlight. Sora couldn't help but smile, seeing just how happy she felt being alongside Haru.
After finishing planting, they sat on a garden bench, enjoying the beauty of nature around them. Haru looked at Sora affectionately. "I want you to know, Sora. No matter what happens, I will always protect you," he said seriously.
Sora gazed at Haru, her heart trembling. "I know, Haru. And I will always love you. No matter what happens, you mean everything to me," she replied, her voice soft yet full of hope.
Haru paused for a moment, feeling the intensity of Sora's emotions, unsure of what to say. Part of him still felt bound by morality, but he couldn't ignore the reality that he felt the same way.
After a day full of activities, they returned home. Sora felt tired, but her heart was filled with happiness. They spent time together, talking about their dreams and hopes for the future.
In the evening, they sat in the living room, enjoying the quiet time. Haru decided to play their favorite board game.
"Come on, Sora! Whoever loses has to wash the dishes!" He challenged with a smile.
"Alright, I'm going to win!" Sora replied ambitious, feeling energized and determined to beat Haru.
The game was intense, and both competed passionately. In these small moments, Sora felt that their love as sibling was more than just a blood relationship; there was a deep emotional closeness.
After several rounds, Haru finally lost. "Alright, I'll wash the dishes," he said while laughing, realizing she had to keep his promise.
"Don't worry, I'll help you!" Sora exclaimed, eager to assist. They both went to the kitchen, and Sora quickly started washing the dishes.
"Thank you, Sora. You always help me," Haru said while drying the plates.
"Because I love you, Haru!" Sora replied sincerely, and as those words came out, she felt her heart race.
Haru looked at Sora as if he had just realized the depth of those feelings.
"Sora..." his voice was gentle, but Sora was already holding her breath, waiting for what her older sister would say.
However, before Haru could continue, a knock at the door distracted them.
"Who is it?" Sora asked, puzzled.
Haru opened the door to see a striking young woman with fair skin and hip-length blonde hair that had pink tips, bright blue-green eyes, and a red ribbon tying her hair back. The cheerful atmosphere returned, and Sora felt as if their important moment had been interrupted.
"Kirisaki, when did you come to this town?" Haru asked Chitoge Kirisaki, who stood at the door full of cheerfulness and vitality.
"I just arrived this afternoon. I initially wanted to stop by earlier, but I had a lot of things to move," Chitoge said while looking into the house and seeing Sora walking toward her with a pouty expression.
"Chitoge, you're here," Sora said, forcing a smile.
"Ah, did I come at a bad time? Well, I'm sorry, Sora, I didn't know," Chitoge apologized, but her mischievous expression suggested otherwise, making Sora want to slap her friend for interrupting the important moment.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll take my leave. I'll come back tomorrow," Chitoge said, running away as she sensed Sora was about to explode.
Watching Chitoge flee, Sora took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Haru, I'm going to bed," she said as she turned toward her room. Her mood was now sour because that important moment had been cut short.
*Sigh* Haru sighed, watching Sora leave. He knew that sooner or later, he would have to face his feelings.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone