Seirei Gensouki's
Chapter 55: Ayase Miharu

Amakawa Haruto's first love is when she reaches the age of wisdom.

And it was a cute girl who was the same age as him, named Ayase Miharu.

With their house accidentally next to each other, and accidentally born in the spring of the same year.

Haruto, since he was born in spring, and Miharu since he was born in spring.

Both were born, raised, and played together since they were babies.

They were childhood friends.

Nothing strange at all.

Exactly their relationship.

But, to Haruto Miharu, he is a special existence.

At that time, she still did not know the meaning of words like "Pity" or "Love" but, Miharu was truly a special existence.

She was indeed a somersault for Miharu.

He did not even care about the kind of mechanism that caused him to love her.

His happiness is also his happiness.

His anger is also his anger.

His sadness was also his sadness.

His smile is also his smile.

(Again, because she loves him so much, because Haruto is fascinated by Miharu)

Especially when it comes to love, she is fine for whatever reason.

But, their time together was only until they were seven years old.

Amakawa Haruto was born in an ordinary family.

There was his father and mother, and a younger sister.

It was an ordinary family.

But, the family collapsed when Haruto became seven years old.

His parents separated, Haruto with his father, and his younger sister with his mother.

Haruto heard the reason for their divorce when he had already become an adult.

He heard from his father that the reason for his divorce was because of his mother's adultery.

Haruto's younger sister is not his father's daughter.

But, that reason had nothing to do with Haruto back then.

He couldn't even imagine being separated from Miharu.

Therefore, Haruto begged his father and mother while crying.

Please don't divorce.

His father did not say anything, but made a sour face, and his mother apologized to Haruto while crying.

Although her younger sister had not reached the age of description, not knowing anything, she remembered that she, who loved her mother very much, also cried when she saw the sad figure of her mother.

Their divorce is final, Haruto is shaken when he finds out that he cannot do anything to that fate.

Haruto just wants to be by Miharu's side; although he is happy with just that much, even that is not fulfilled.

He mourned for his own helplessness.

He knew that it was reality, it was annoying, futile; he could not even stop his body from trembling.

「Do not leave Haru-kun!」

When she said that to him, Miharu cried.

She cried and begged him not to move.

He doesn't know what he's supposed to do.

He doesn't even know what's going to happen to him.

Although Haruto unintentionally cried as well, he frantically pretended to be formidable, even if he did not know the reason.

We'll meet again or, because I'll come for you.

She said many things to make Miharu stop crying.

Even with that, she didn't stop crying -.

「Let's get married when we meet again!」

That's what he said.

After which, Miharu suddenly stopped crying and dazedly looked at Haruto's face.

「......... What is it, not good?」

Haruto asked in a timid voice.

「. Yes Let's do it! 」

Finally Miharu laughed.

That makes him really happy —-.

(I will definitely keep that promise)

That's what he thinks.

No matter how many years it takes.

He will protect that promise.

He'll protect that smile.

With that oath, Haruto separated from Miharu.

☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★

And now, Miharu was right in front of Rio.

There is absolutely no mistake in it.

No matter how many years, even after she reincarnated, because she easily remembered the picture of her face, which she had caught a glimpse of in high school.

「…… !!!」

Rio regained his senses due to the wet feeling on his cheek.

She didn't know why, but now, Miharu was right in front of her.

He felt happy and his chest became hot just because of that.

"Dokun", he could feel his heart throbbing.

Even though he almost lost himself to this happiness, he somehow managed to stand on the ground.

Then, he decided to get Miharu out of that coach.

He has to protect Miharu.

He would protect her from anything from then on.

Because that's Amakawa Haruto's oath when he was alive.

Entering the track carrying the coach's burden, Rio went to Miharu.

Maybe he couldn't move because of fear.

That's why, Rio, smile lightly —-.

「I came ..... To save you」

He said it softly.

With great love, it is as if it does not cause fear to Miharu, as she is unable to do so, because of her love.

"G …… . Yes yes . Thank you very much"

Rio gently handed his hand to Miharu who was looking at him, as if being blown away.

The slave girls around them were astonished at the sight, as Miharu grabbed Rio's hand.

His hands are soft and warm.

It was a white, slender, beautiful hand.

It was different from his own hands, which were rough due to his sword practice.

His own hand, which he had just used to kill someone ……….

That person's expression, at the moment of his death, the sickening scent of death, the feeling of killing someone for the first time, was unforgettable and instilled in his mind.

But, he can't come back.

It was something that he had decided firmly.

He would carry that burden no matter what kind of hell awaited.

Moreover, it was something he needed to protect Miharu from the cruelty of the world.

Shaking his head slightly, he smiled at Miharu.

And then, gently pulled Miharu's hand.

Section 2

「Aki-chan and Masato-kun are already waiting somewhere else. Let's go"

Saying that, after that he took her out and —–.

「Ah, uh ~ m, the girl is …. . 」

Miharu said that while looking at the other slave girls, who were left inside the coach.

Rio smiled as if feeling annoyed by her.

「They are slaves. Maybe they are slaves who undergo normal procedures, unlike in your case. It was a crime to save them in my own comfort 」

Slaves are treated as goods.

That is why, if he steals them, he is a thief, if he cheats them he is a fraud, if they are kidnapped with threats, he will become a robber.

「It ……. . 」

Miharu's staring at them with a dumbfounded face.

Their line of sight was attached to Rio and Miharu.

"Let's go"

Rio pulled Miharu's hand, as if trying to separate her from that line of sight.

He did that while walking silently with Miharu.

Just like that, Rio left the coach while bringing Miharu along with him.

To ensure that he would not look back, he decided to take him to a nearby rock.

「Wait a minute in this place. Since it is dangerous, please, you absolutely must not see 」

After saying that and hiding Miharu behind a rock, Rio returned again to the coach.

Although the convoy and the slave traders continued their actions with awkward movements, they were shocked when they saw Rio coming again.

「A-What's the problem …. . ？ 」

The slave merchant asked, with an obviously confused expression.

The man had just tried to sell Miharu as a prostitute.

It really is unforgivable.

Rio really wanted to kill him.

But, she must return to Miharu immediately to finish her task.

If he killed the man, he could not do that in the area, because it would scare Miharu.

But he still needs to be punished.

Rio poured a terrifying killing intent towards the slave merchant, as if trying to stab him to death.

「H-Hyiii」

The slave merchant let out a pitiful cry.

The fear that Miharu received was not even at that level.

That's good as long as he's scared.

That's what he thinks.

「You are holding the luggage carried by the three people you are holding, right？ Restore」

Rio ordered it, with a terrible voice.

「A-AAH！ I'll give it back! I will return it soon! 」

The slave merchant replied like that, while running frantically towards the coach.

Then immediately she returned carrying the third item, and handed it to Rio.

「This is all, right?」

When he received the luggage, Rio asked the slave merchant while looking at him with emotionless eyes.

「O-Of course it is！ Everything that is inside! I-I even put money in it! Trust me! 」

The slave merchant replied while nodding his head excitedly.

After taking a quick glance into the bag he received, naturally, there was not a hint of gold crammed into it.

"I saw . I'll be back if you lie 」

After leaving those words, Rio left that place.

After Rio's figure could not be seen anymore, the slave merchant fell to his knees.

"Let's go"

When he returned to where Miharu was, he called out to her with a faint smile on his face.

The cold-hearted impression he displayed in front of the slave merchant could no longer be felt.

It was a warm smile.

「Y-Ya」

Seeing Rio's figure, Miharu felt relieved, as if she was finally, completely saved.

「Ah, my luggage, thank you very much！ Let me carry that bag! 」

Miharu thanked him when she realized that she took back their luggage.

And then, half running, went towards Rio.

Section 3

「No, let me take him. Because it's only a few steps from here 」

「But ……. 」

「It's okay. Please leave it to me. 」

「Uhm, sorry to bother you. Then, may I ask you to bring it? 」

「Yes, leave it to me」

Miharu asked Rio while lowering her head when she realized that she showed no intention to give up the task.

And then, they started walking.

Before they noticed, the sun was already tilted to the west, although the sky was still blue and bright when he left Almond, the sun began to be dyed in a warm deep red color.

It was a beautiful sight that could not be seen in Japan.

That's what Miharu thought.

After walking with Rio since a while ago, Miharu chased after him afterwards.

Miharu walked three steps behind Rio, who was walking slightly in front of her.

Somehow, it became a reasonable distance.

Miharu had to do half-running to catch up with Rio's walking speed and every time she kept some distance between them.

「…………」

There was no conversation between them during that time.

Although she noticed that, when peering, on her and Rio's glittering figure [TL: Really because of the twilight effect] since a while ago; Miharu did not know what she should say to him.

Same with Rio, sometimes, except when he looked back, he was somehow awkwardly staring at the sky.

Is it a dream? .

Right now, Miharu felt as if she was inside a dream.

(I mean, because the incident just now felt unreal.)

Before they noticed, they were already in the middle of a meadow, with no signs of civilization, wandering around the place and being captured by ancient-looking people, and, in fact, being slaves.

It's very hard to believe.

But, even if that world was a dream, being saved by Rio was a fact.

(That's why I at least wanted to say thank you.)

Although she thought that she was strong, she was scared, because she felt that she would wake up from that dream as she spoke to Rio.

(Gruesome?)

Miharu thought about what she was afraid of.

There was no way the young man before him would disappear, just like that, without him saying his thanks.

It was of course an unwanted result for him.

Even so, he somehow noticed that it was something a little different from it.

Suddenly, Miharu remembered when her eyes met that young man's eyes for the first time.

Thinking the young man was muttering something, unfortunately he could not hear what he said.

Somehow he really wanted to know what the young man had said at that time.

How, when he daydreams about those things -.

At an unexpected moment, Miharu noticed that she no longer needed to run to chase after him.

(Maybe .... ).

Miharu stared intently at the back of the young man in front of her.

He glanced at his back from time to time, since a while ago, it was probably to understand Miharu's walking speed.

Rio's current walking speed was loosening compared to before; he knew that he adjusted his pace to his.

（Does he match his steps mine）

Miharu unintentionally smiled as she realized her awkward kindness.

For some reason it made her feel melancholy.

Why that?

But, put that aside for now.

(No I ……… . ）

He had only been worried about Rio since a while ago.

Miharu felt embarrassed at her own immaturity when she realized that.

There was something he had to do on his own, before thinking about this and that.

First is to say thank you and then ask for his name.

After deciding that, Miharu took a slight breath while looking at the back of Rio, who was walking, some distance away, in front of her.

「A-Uhm, excuse me. Can I ask you something? 」

Rio's body trembled when he was suddenly accosted by her.

He timidly looked back; the two faced each other.

「Errr, yes. Whatisit? 」

「Sorry for suddenly being so. Uhm, my name is Ayase Miharu. May I hear your name? 」

Miharu asked while holding her heartbeat, who had risen for some reason.

「Ah, Yes. Erhm ………. . My name, Haruto 」

Rio replied with an awkward Japanese pronunciation.

There was some kind of hope in his eyes.

「Haru ...... for ……. 」

Alias Rio made Miharu dumbfounded, no, she had mentioned that name before.

It was the name of the boy who was Miharu's childhood friend.

「……. Is there something about my name？ 」

「Ah, no, this is similar to the name of my childhood friend …. . 」

Miharu replied while letting out a melancholic smile.

There seemed to be a hint of longing in his smile.

No, that's what Rio wanted to believe.

「Do not, I understand ……. . That's an incredible coincidence 」

Rio replied while smiling faintly.

He accidentally almost said that he was that childhood friend.

I am Amakawa Haruto, I am dead but reincarnated, I live while thinking of you in this world.

Of course, she had no choice but to give up if Miharu loved someone else, but, this feeling had to be conveyed to make sure of that.

Because Amakawa Haruto always regretted the fact that he ran away even before conveying his own feelings to Miharu.

(But, will he believe me if I suddenly throw a silly story at this place?)

(Wouldn't he think I'm a freak?)

(If things don't go well, I might even be treated as a pervert.)

(Or he'll at least be confused.)

(Even if she believes me, my feelings might be too heavy and Miharu might not be able to accept it.)

Rio has a deep-rooted paranoia about himself towards Miharu.

Although her feelings towards Miharu would not be lost for anyone, she knew that such one-sided feelings made her no different from a stalker.

It caused extreme discomfort, just by thinking of hitting Miharu with that kind of feeling.

He suddenly wavered when he thought of such things.

Section 4

Even though she had a strong desire to convey that, after meeting Miharu, she couldn't even walk properly.

(What a clumsy guy I am)

The man, who could do nothing but smile, just because he became one of the adult humans *.

Rio was entangled by his own self-doubt.

It seems he needs to calm himself down a bit.

(In the meantime, it should be fine to get on good terms with her slowly, little by little)

(Because Miharu is right in front of him now.)

(Because I will be the one who will protect Miharu after this)

(No need to be impatient anymore)

"……… Yes . Right"

After a short silence, Miharu replied while showing a lonely smile.

Rio was attracted by that smile.

「Then, uhm, Haruto-san」

Rio was trembling as he called out his name.

Although the way he said the name was a little different to in the past, he did not know why he was happy to be called by her by that name.

「Y-Yes!」

Rio was extraordinarily excited and answered excitedly his call.

Miharu faltered as she was overwhelmed by that spirit.

「Ah, uhm ………. . Is there anything？ 」

When she realized that she surprised Miharu, Rio replied while smiling awkwardly.

Somehow, Miharu, who was amused by that Rio, started laughing by herself.

"I'm sorry . …… . I just don't know what would happen to me if there wasn't Haruto-san. For Aki-chan and masato-kun as well. Very thanks very much 」

After apologizing for her giggling, Miharu bowed deeply to Rio.

「No, it's reasonable」

Right, that's natural.

To him, the act of saving Miharu was something as natural as breathing.

As long as Miharu was there, as long as there was Miharu, she was happy with it.

(Maybe the reason for my reincarnation is to protect Miharu on this day.)

(Isn't that a reason for me to live in this world?)

He can't not think like that.

「Truly thank you very much」

Miharu's smiling gently at Rio, while saying thank you again.

That makes him really happy.

"Can we go . We can't make them wait for us forever. We will arrive soon 」

Sensing the throbbing in his chest, Rio said that with a somewhat too high spirit.

"Yes nih . Of course"

Miharu smiled while nodding her head.

After that, they walked silently once more.

But, there was no awkwardness from a while ago, somehow a warm atmosphere floated between them.

The sunlight that shone on them gently changed their color to a perfect deep red color.