The Death Game System
Chapter 33 - A Covenant That Has Meaning

"I mean, why should I be of all the people in this world? Did I have such a big mistake to be punished like that?! Hey, big brother Kanata, please tell me!!" minori's tone of voice now sounded pushy.

The sound of the wind, that was all that appeared. While Minori was still waiting for Kei's reply expectantly.

After getting rid of his troubled face, Kei finally opened his voice.

"You... You're not wrong. What you did was right. You really are amazing." said Kei slowly, bowed.

Minori just kept quiet, smiling towards Kei. It seemed, he was already used to smiling when there was difficulty.

But contrary to that, that smile made Kei's heart ache.

"I can say it again. You're really amazing. You can survive in that environment until now. Even you can be superior to people who live in ordinary neighborhoods."

"You're really amazing. I can't say anything but that. If you ask what's wrong with you, your fault is only one" Kei said.

"One?"

"You didn't search and find a figure you could tell me about like now. Wh-wh-what for? Look at you now. It seems like a smile is not something used to describe feelings anymore" Kei replied.

"Eh? Whatchu mean?" ask Minori.

"Well, how to say it.... You keep smiling while you tell me all that. It seems to be ingrained in you, that under any circumstances you should keep smiling. But sometimes, crying is also a good thing, you know?" obviously Kei while pulling his cheek, formed a smile.

Minori was surprised, not expecting that answer. He felt his own face, looking to feel what his face was like now.

While both were silent, Kek could only stare at the sky, slightly cursing himself who could only be a listener, a spectator and could do nothing. Because he knows one thing.

And Minori, she was still stunned by Kei's reply.

("Searching friends for stories? Can it be? Are they not going to stay away from me? Besides, all my problems will only add to their burden!!") minori shouted in her heart, trying to dodge.

But Minori finally understood it, and took a deep breath.

("*No. This is my mistake. It doesn't matter whether they're going to be burdened or not, I just have to take out the ducks I have. That's it.")

("I was too arrogant to think that I could handle everything myself. In other words, I need someone I trust now*..") Minori's mind gets her composure, and manages to conclude.

Too long silent, Kei started to fidget. Afraid that he would say the wrong thing to Minori.

"Where are you going from here?" ask Kei.

Minori did not reply, only looking towards the guardrail.

"Actually after this I betniat to end it all by jumping from here.... But Kanata came and saved me. Honestly, now I don't have any plans." replied Minori lightly.

He seemed to have resigned, accepting anything. It might be because of her strong feelings, or maybe even losing hope.

"What about your neighbors? What's going on?" ask Kei.

"Well, like I said, my neighbor was run over by my mother a lot, and now he's moved on. I don't know why he moved, but he apologized to me just before he left." Minori.

"God... No need to apologize either... Nnnnope. I should be the one... I should be the one to thank... I must thank you for being able to live until now." sobs Minori began to leak.

Maybe Minori was a strong person, but there were some weak sides of her that were able to make her cry.

Kei doesn't know what to do. He had accidentally interfered into a really serious matter right now.

Everything could not be finished just by saving Minori's life. Kei often reads a story, which many protagonists love to save others, and are praised for. Kei thought so.

But the truth is, there are many people who do not ask to be saved. They ask to be saved in a different way, namely by ending their suffering.

"I who originally interfered and could not help, it only added to the problem. I thought I was too arrogant to feel like a protagonist." - whispered Kei, looking down, annoyed.

Kei wants to take responsibility for Minori. He thought, it was him who forced Minori to return to this heavy life. At least he should be able to make Minori not regret to be able to stay alive.

That's what Kei thinks.

But Kei realized, he was just an ordinary High School boy. He was unable to support people of his age. The needs of his family alone were already quite burdensome, but in order to sustain others himself, Kei was sure he would not be able to.

Kei knew, he would not be able to become a protagonist. But, he did not want to leave Minori. His actions were purely actions driven by his own desires.

"Uhun... Bagaimana kalau kau tinggal sementara di rumahku? Yahh, aku bilang begitu, tapi ada ibu dan juga adikku. Kau bisa tinggal di sana sejenak sampai kau memiliki rencana selanjutnya." kata Kei sedikit memalingkan wajahnya.

Minori was stunned for a moment, but then she showed a difficult face.

"Do you invite a woman to spend the night at your house, brother Kanata? Isn't that a little disrespectful?" asked Minori in a condescending tone.

Kei knew, Minori was not serious, so she just laughed lightly.

"Well, I have no other way, you know? You know, I wouldn't say that I'd find a place to stay for you. At least, looking after my underclassman is an obligation that I have to do after knowing it all." Kei continued.

Minori was silent for a moment, looking at Kei with a hopeful look.

("Can I trust this guy? Can I depend on him? Nnnnope. I seem to have to try to open up. This is not the time to choose, is it?") minori's heart whispered.

"But, it seems like there are some things that become a burden on your heart if you just stay in my house. So, you'll help me when I ask for some things. How I said it.... I'll ask for a few things, and you'll do them." Kei continued.

And immediately, Minori's gaze turned cold, piercing towards Kei.

"Sister Kanata, you're the same, aren't you? It's just, you're really bright right now." Minori replied flatly, hugging her body, seemingly protecting her own body from Kei.

Kei was startled, understood the meaning of the words he had said just now, and immediately raised his hand while shaking his head.

"No no no no! That's not what I mean!! I won't ask for anything weird!!! Aghs... I just-"

"I understand."

"Eh?" Minori suddenly interrupted Kei, making Kei tilt his head.

"I will obey you. At least I can do some housework. And as for the request, it looks like Kanata's sister will ask to keep this a secret, right?" minori replied, with eyes pointing towards Shiori who was still unconscious as well.

Kei rang his brows for a while, but knew that it was not a bad offer.

"And also... How say... I don't hate him. You say everything straightforwardly. Wellh, that's good. I don't want any hidden intrigue, though I admit that I do it a lot" Minori said, keeping a smile.

But unlike the previous, Minori's smile now looks lighter, there is no compulsion in it.

"alright. Are we in agreement?" Kei reached out his hand.

"OKAY. Understood." replied Minori welcoming the hand extended to her.

("Well, things are going pretty well, aren't they? I will try to explain everything later to mother and Yuna. It would be easy when Minori was willing to tell her a little bit of the problem.") Kei's mind was full of plans that flowered flowers.

Until tina arrived came an announcement from System appearing in Kei's head.

...Trust in the players has increased. The affinity level was enough for the next level....

...The agreement has been made by the individual "Sakahara Minori" with Player "Kanata Kei"....

...The individual "Sakahara Minori" from now on will become the [Subordinate] Player "Kanata Kei". Affinity level, {1}...

("Heh? What'sthis?! Wait wait wait wait! What the hell was that?!! No, I can't trust her!!") kei shouted hysterically in his heart.

"Sister Kanata?" minori asked confusedly. Apparently, the mental attack had reached out to Kei's face.

"No, sorry for a second. I just discovered a new problem." Kei replied as he raised his index finger, holding Minori to silence and not asking anything.

Minori also seemed to understand that, and did not continue.

Meanwhile, Kei opens the transparent screen of the System, and looks into the menu section, and selects the log of the notes. Here, the latest activities are always recorded, and Kei wants to see what he last gets.

("Well, where do I see.... What is this..") Kei's heart wondered as he looked at the writing lined up at the bottom of the activity log.

The writing has not changed, there are still 3 sentences that appeared just now.

("What is this what is this what is this?!!!")

("I understand... Me and Minori made a deal. And after all this, I also believe his judgment of me has also increased. I know that..")

"But I didn't know that he was going to be my subordinate."