The Seirei Gensouki Spirit Chronicles
Chapter 8: Bonds

The next day, Latifa brought Rio to the square where they had parted the day before.

“U-Umm .. I'm sorry for running away yesterday!” The first thing that came out of Latifa's mouth after they turned away was an apology.

“... I should have apologized, Latifa. I was wrong. I should have told you in a better way. I'm sorry.” Rio was a little surprised, but after beating, he awkwardly apologized.

“I-That's not true! It's just me being spoiled! I-I actually knew all along, sort of ... I knew Onii-chan would leave the village one day. Not having Onii-chan there even for a moment made me very worried.” Latifa rejected Rio's words and revealed her own thoughts, as if they were of interest to her.

“T .. But you know, yesterday, when I heard you say you were leaving, I went a little crazy. I made Onii-chan worried, and caused trouble for the other girls. I thought about it all night. I want to talk to Onii-chan as soon as I gather my thoughts .. ” Seeing Latifa become even more anxious as she spoke made Rio's expression slightly dark.

“Yes, I also want to talk to you,” Rio nodded, making Latifa sigh in relief.

“Sgratitude ..” said as power drained from Latifa's body.

“I should have said that. I'm afraid you hate me now.” Rio shook his head with a tense smile.

“Ti-Never! I like Onii-chan! I'm afraid you'll hate me after all. Worried that you would leave the village because I always caused trouble. I know that's not the case, but .. The thought of disturbing Oniichan made me very frightened,” Latifa said, tears welling up.

“You are not a hassle,” Rio told him.

“Hah?” Latifa looked at him blankly.

“You did not cause any problems, and you are not troublesome. I'm not sure if it's okay or not for a selfish person like me to be your older brother, but you're my younger sister. No. .. I'm honored if you accept me as your brother. Really,” said Rio wavering, looking rather guilty.

“... But I'm your sister, Onii-chan. I want to be your sister! Onii-chan is not selfish at all! Is that okay? Is it okay for me to be your sister ?!” Latifa's body trembled, tears falling as she spoke.

“You're okay with me as your sister?” Rio asked somewhat hesitantly, but Latifa nodded firmly and hugged him.

“Yes! Onii-Chan is my brother! The one who saved me. Good man to me! The one who saved me, saved me, even when Onii-chan could have killed me!”

“No, I .. I told you, right? That I don't want to kill anyone at all. To avoid getting my hands dirty, I showed false kindness. I'm not good at all, really. I'm just selfish,” said Rio regretfully, furrowing his brows. His hands did not move to hug Latifa, and instead fidgeted.

“It's real! It's a real kindness. I was a slave before, so I was really sensitive to people's evil intentions. I live my life grieving at the feet of others, observing their moods and always apologizing, so that terrible things will not happen to me … But I can't feel any hatred for Onii-chan at all. That's why Onii-chan's kindness is real!” Latifa tried to beg him desperately as she held on tightly to him.

“Latifa ..”

“By the way, I'm selfish too! You know .. Even when I have no reason to live, I don't want to die. I didn't want to be in pain, so I did everything they told me to do. With this mouth, I said my master is the best. I am the most precious thing to myself. No. .. That's still true now. Even though Onii-chan is very important to me, I keep making demands and causing trouble! ”

“No, I'm not at all comfortable. You are not selfish – it makes me really happy to hear you ask for something,” Rio said bluntly, shaking his head in self-deprecation.

“... E-Ehe. Ehe. Thank you .. I'm also happy.” Latifa looked surprised for a moment, before smiling shyly from the bottom of her heart. It made Rio finally smile as well, and he awkwardly stroked Latifa back.

“... Hey, Onii-chan. Are you really ... be my sister? ” Latifa asked once again, timidly, as she stared at Rio's face.

“Yes. If you agree with that. ”

“Yup, I'm fine! I want Onii-chan! ”

“Betulkah? Thank you,” Rio said with a conflicted expression that was partly between happy and worried.

“Yes. Ehe. ” Latifa nodded while grinning. He continued to cling to Rio for a while; he only let him do as he wished. Then, after some time –

“Hei, Latifa. Do you want me to stay in the village?” Rio asked, grabbed Latifa by the shoulder and looked into her eyes.

“U-Umm .. if-if Onii-chan wants to leave the village, I. Because I knew we'd meet again. That's why .. I won't even be spoiled and ask to leave as well. I will do my best,” he replied, giving a more mature smile than usual.

“... The reason I headed to Yagumo .. I guess I haven't told you, Latifa. This is the hometown of my dead parents. That's why I want to go to the Yagumo region. It's like visiting a tomb. ” Before he realized it, Rio laid himself down so easily that it even surprised him. This is a part of her that she never considered telling anyone, at least of her own free will –

“So it .. that's why .. I .. I guess I don't know anything about Onii-chan. However, I still ..” Latifa muttered in embarrassment, seemingly surprised.

“The same applies to me. There's so much I don't know about you either. ”

“... I guess ... it's true. I haven't told Onii-chan much. The things I need to say correctly .. The things I want on Onii-chan that I like to know about me. Is that okay?” Latifa face showed a serious expression, and Rio gently nodded his head.

“...Yes. Will you tell me your story, Latifa? ” Rio knew he had to hear it, because right now, Latifa was trying to take a big step forward. If he were to reject it here, his progress would be stalled.

“Then, I'll tell Onii-chan my secret. But it may be hard to believe ..” Latifa emphasizes as a foreword.

“Actually, I actually died once. I was human. Then, I was reborn into who I am today. Erm .. I don't know how to say it so Oniichan will trust me, but it doesn't exist in this world. I live in a country called Japan. But before I knew it, I was in this world .. ” He explained in earnest, albeit in an irregular manner.

“...Through? Onii-chan trust me? ”

“...Sorry. Rather than saying I believe you .. it's more like I already know. Because ... I'm the same as you.” Rio corrected, regretfully shaking his head.

“Hah? …uh? What means?”

“You are Japanese. I'm the same. ”

“... K-You too?” Latifa was so shaken, she barely managed to put her question into words.

” I am also Japanese, ” replied Rio seriously, using awkward Japanese. He has maintained his use of the language until now by thinking in Japanese whenever he is alone, leaving him still somewhat fluent despite being without a conversation partner for many years.

“ Japan ... Je .. pang .. Onii-chan is also Japanese ?” Latifa asked impassively in Japanese as well.

“That's right,” Rio nodded strongly.

“So, Onii-chan .. know about me ... and say nothing ..?” Latifa asked blankly. He had reached a point beyond shock, and emotions had completely fallen from his face. He had returned to using a language familiar to this world.

“Yes,” Rio replied honestly, slightly hanging his head as he stared straight into Latifa's eyes. By giving an affirmation with his words, the memories he had hidden deep in his heart when he was a Japanese man came to life again. He clenched his hands, those memories made him feel ashamed.

“Onii-chan ...” Latifa seemed to feel something in Rio's movement, and meekly fell silent.

“Sorry. I should have told you sooner. ”

“... No, it's okay. But when ... did you notice? ” Latifa asked timidly.

“When I first made pasta for you. You call it spaghetti,” Rio replied with a smile

tense.

“It was a long time ago ... But .. I understand ... it makes sense.”

“Formerly, you are still a little ... mentally unstable. So I don't think that's something I need to tell you. But, really, I just don't want to tell you, because I don't want to develop any strange regrets for my life in Japan ..” Rio said with a self-deprecating smile.

“...So so. I was protected by Onii-chan all this time. ”

“No, I just prioritize myself,” Rio said with gritted teeth, but Latifa shook her head.

“Ngak. Does Onii-chan still have regrets when you were in Japan? ”

“If I say I don't have .. that's a lie. I was really sorry when I died. Do you have any, Latifa? ”

“Ya, but .. I'm fine, now. Because I have Onii-chan.” Latifa replied, beaming with everything she had. Rio's eyes widened.

“You are really strong ..”

“That's because I have you. Since Onii-chan is here, I can be strong. That's why .. umm. I know my request to ask, but I want to know more about Oniichan. That way I won't be lonely in this village when you leave. So ... If possible, I would like to hear a story about your life before onii-chan is reborn. Is that okay?”

“...Yes well. If it's for you, I can say it. After all, you are my little sister, and I also want to hear more about you. Let's talk about everything, slowly. We still have plenty of time.” Rio hesitated a little, but finally agreed with a gentle smile.

“Good! Wait, you're not leaving immediately? Still got time?” Latifa said, nodding with a smile at first, before being surprised.

“Yes. There are still many things I want to learn from the village, and I still want to stay with you to

while time ... So at least another year, at least. ”

“E-eeeh? I ... thought you would be leaving soon .. ” Knowing that their separation is still far away in

the future, all power drained from it. And then, on that day, the two exchanged stories before they were reborn. Although Rio refrained from elaborating on his experience, they still talked about many things.

The biggest surprise was the fact that they knew each other, and took the same bus before they died. When she discovered that truth, Latifa started to blush a little. And before they even realized it, they had been talking to each other till night. From that day onward, the two of them became siblings in the true sense of the word. Then, once they get home –

“Gosh. You two look closer than ever .. I consider it to be going well? ” Ursula asks. He was waiting in front of the house.

“Yes, thank you for your attention. We are getting closer,” Rio reported with a bit of embarrassment.

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