The Legend of Level 0 in Academy City

And when she woke up, Kanzaki Kaori thanked her shyly.

Thinking of Kanzaki Kaori, a saint with overwhelming strength, showing a shy and demure demeanor, Inoue Hideka couldn't help but feel eager to try it out and planned to go and see her later.

After getting up and washing up, Inoue Hideka put on the clean clothes that Saten Ruiko had brought yesterday and went to the door of Shokuhou Misaki's ward.

After knocking on the door and receiving no response, Inoue Hideka opened the door and went inside.

On the hospital bed, the girl lay quietly with her eyes closed.

Her slightly rising and falling chest and even breathing indicated that she was still asleep.

Her messy blonde hair was tidied up by the nurse and returned to its usual smoothness.

Her calm face once again regained the elegance she had shown when she first met Inoue Hideka.

Standing at the door of the ward, Inoue Hideka quietly watched for a while.

He smiled slightly, then pushed open the door and left the ward.

After finding the Underworld Soul and asking about the ward where Touma Kamijou was, Inoue Hideka went to a nearby breakfast shop for a quick breakfast before returning to the hospital.

He was ready to act now, waiting to admire Kanzaki Kaori's shy and bashful appearance.

Of course, it's unwise to just go to the ward and wait.

No one knows whether Kanzaki Kaori would react the same way if others were present.

Quietly walking to the outside of the hospital, Inoue Hideka placed her palm on the wall and crawled along it toward room 303.

"Hmph~~ That's really a low-class, perverse sense of humor!"

Inoue Hideka chuckled self-deprecatingly, but the excited expression on his face showed no sign of reflecting on his own taste.

Climbing to the window of room 303, Inoue Hideka rolled over, braced her hands against the wall, and pressed her back against it.

I leaned close to the window and listened carefully to what was happening inside.

"You! You really are injured! I happened to be in the same hospital, so I came to see you. It's not too much to ask, is it?"

Unexpectedly, Inoue Hideka heard a voice that was also very familiar in real life.

At the same time, the smiling expression on his face suddenly froze.

This is...Shokuhou?

You were just sleeping, and you've already woken up in the time it takes to eat breakfast?

Moreover, as soon as she woke up, she couldn't wait to see her Prince Charming.

Inoue Hideka knew that since she remembered that Kamijou Touma had been admitted to this hospital on this day.

So, the girl who saw her own memories would naturally remember them as well.

But why?

What is this inexplicable feeling of tightness in my chest?

His instincts told him he couldn't stay there any longer.

What is he afraid of...?

He wanted to escape...

However, the muscles seemed to be stiff, and the whole body couldn't be moved at all.

He remained frozen, pressed against the wall, as Misaki Shokuhou's gentle voice reached his ears, word by word.

That was the gentlest voice he had ever heard.

The girl seemed to be pouring out all the emotions she had suppressed, revealing endless tenderness and affection.

Like a whisper, like a lament!

"Well, even I sometimes think about just giving up and finding another source of support. But now, it seems like I have a glimmer of hope. Although I don't really have any hope, and he's probably already forgotten about that promise, hasn't he?"

The girl's voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of waking the boy in the hospital bed, and she murmured to herself.

"Anyway, I want to tell you that even if you never remember me, I am not alone now."

"And at least this time, let me say these words to your face..."

The girl paused for a moment, her expression suddenly softening, a strange light flickering in her starry eyes as she stared intently at the boy on the hospital bed.

Chapter 203 Love or Dependence

"If one day you completely overturn the rules of the game that adults have set for us, and you can recall our past and remember my words again."

"When that time comes, I have something very important to tell you. It will be the sweetest, gentlest, and most important thing I can say!"

Speaking the sweetest words in the sweetest voice, the girl revealed the sweetest smile that made even the flowers and birds outside the ward pale in comparison.

"However, before that, whether you call it cunning or consider it a reward I've been waiting for, at least let me collect some interest. That's not too much to ask, is it?"

As the girl spoke, she slowly bent down.

Mwah~~

The slight sound, though audible to Inoue Hidekazu, sent shivers down his spine.

"Well~~ this time, the forehead will do. I'll save my first kiss for you forever! If you want it..."

After that, the room finally returned to calm.

However, Inoue Hideka, pressed tightly against the wall, was not as calm as she was in the hospital room.

At that moment, he was in great pain, extremely painful.

He didn't understand why.

I just feel like my heart is bleeding.

Even when he was pierced by a Western swordsman, even when he was torn and gnawed by Misaki Shokuhou, he had never felt such pain that he was almost suffocating.

However, every word spoken by the girl he had once been so fond of now felt like a knife being plunged into his heart.

The pain was unbearable.

how come?

Clutching the clothes tightly at her chest did nothing to ease the pain in her heart.

Do I... like her?

How could I possibly like her?

Didn't you always know that?

He loves Touma, forever and ever, that spiky-haired boy!

The boy couldn't help but question himself, wondering if his feelings were like a moth drawn to a flame.

Every smile and frown of the girl, every trace of her voice and appearance, flashed through his mind.

The smile of the stunningly beautiful girl seemed to Inoue Hideka like a mocking toad trying to eat swan meat—it was so glaringly offensive.

No...no way?

Could it be that I really like her?

Mwah~~

"Well~~ this time, the forehead will do. I'll save my first kiss for you forever! If you want it..."

The sound of lips touching skin, like a vow from the girl, resounded in the boy's ears once more.

The scene that had just appeared in my mind came back to me.

The girl's expression at that time must have been incredibly gentle, right?

Back then, Misaki Shokuhou must have shown her most beautiful side for her Prince Charming.

"Hehe! Just like you, I've also received a love that will never be reciprocated!"

The boy chuckled self-deprecatingly, muttering to himself as if talking to himself.

Well... that's fine...

that's it.

Didn't you think in your past life that no matter what, you must save that girl if you have the chance?

If someone has to bear this heavy burden of emotion in this world designed by the hippopotamus, then let it be me.

In that case, wouldn't you be free, Misaki?

No matter what kind of feelings I have for you, whether it's love or dependence.

As long as you are happy, isn't that enough?

Yes!

I knew it!

I want to see her happy smile, and I want to see her reach a beautiful ending.

Regardless of who that smile is for, regardless of whether she is the male protagonist of that happy ending, as long as her tragedy can be ended, that's enough, right?

"Ah... if I could, I really wouldn't want to be some tragic male lead!"

Leaning back against the wall, the boy forced a bitter smile.

From his slightly bitter mouth came low, self-deceiving words.

Are you awake?

"It's Kanzaki!"

"I was just about to leave..."

Suddenly, a girl's clear and beautiful voice came from inside the room, as well as the familiar voice of Kamijou Touma that Inoue Eika knew.

Hehe~~

With a soft laugh, Inoue Hideka had lost all interest in watching the spectacle.

He suddenly let go of the wall and jumped straight down from the third floor.