Silver Wish

Kiryu froze when he heard her say those words. It is not the words that surprise him. But he felt surprised how she hadn't changed. She is still the same Terashima Lila that he knew and grew up with. Her appearance and demeanor may differ now, but her personality remains the same.

That is such a Lila thing to say that he doesn't know whether to laugh or not.

Her blunt honesty was one of the things he liked about her. Lila never beat around the bush. If there were something on her mind, she would tell him head-on.

His thoughts broke off when Lila ran her fingers through his hair. "You know you don't have to be so awkward. I won't bite."

"Sorry, I'm just trying to be a decent guy."

Lila rolls her eyes. "Austin Kiryu, let me rephrase this question. You don't have to be so careful around me."

"You might not bite, but I do."

Every time he is with her, he wants to do something. These thoughts drive him crazy. Kiryu turned his head and leaned forward. He gave her a light kiss on her cheeks but made his way to her lips instead. It was brief - but after he kissed her, Kiryu looked away.

Lila's gaze softened. "I'm hungry, is there anything to eat here?"

"Kotori brought some food over." He pointed to the tray she left by the bedside table.

"You call her Kotori now."

"Uh.." Kiryu trailed off when he saw her expression. Could she be jealous? It's difficult to say. "Were friends."

At that comment, her eyes brightened. "Kiryu has friends now? Good boy."

'This girl…' A deep sigh crosses his lips. "I thought you were all mȧturė and grown-up now. But I guess some things don't change." He removed the cover on the food and pulled out the mini table. He placed the food on the table.

Her beautiful laughter fills the air. "I don't think I have changed that much."

"Well, you're prettier." Kiryu did not want to lie about this. She looked pretty before, but the past few months?

"I guess this is what training does to you."

"Training?" He feigned ignorance. But of course, he knew what she had been up to the last few months. Even though he did not appear before her, he watched her silently.

Kiryu hated it whenever she trained at night. Surely Lila understood how dangerous it was training at night during this situation? Those creatures, the people turned into monsters, attracted to the darkness of the night. This was why at the slightest sign of night, people would rush to their homes now. Nobody stayed out late anymore.

Nobody would think of going out past six o'clock or even four. But Kiryu recalled coming back from doing his rounds around the town. He realized there was somebody out. Sure he would occasionally see one or two people but in the forest? In the middle of the night, during the darkest hours?

When Kiryu saw who it was - he remembered wanting to rush up to her and hug her. He had not seen Lila properly in months. When he saw her like that, he wanted nothing more than to embrace her in his arms. Nothing more than to kiss her.

His gaze fell on the girl who was with him now. Those feelings haven't changed even now.

"Is there something on my face?" Lila was eating the pastry Kotori cooked.

"No."

"You keep staring."

Kiryu nodded. "Yeah."

"Why?"

"For visual interest." Kiryu regretted being so honest when Lila suddenly leaned forward.

This girl has not changed in that aspect at all. Kiryu already knew she would say something foolish before she even said it.

"How long is this interest?"

"Forever."

Lila laughed. "You're honest today, huh?" She trailed off; her voice turned quieter. "I thought you would be fine, Kiryu, even without me. But I see that isn't the case, that's why I blocked Haruka from coming here."

Kiryu is not surprised at this revelation. A part of him understood since he watched her this entire time. Lila missed her husband a lot. But she did not do anything to try and get him back. He was not one to judge, but this behavior of hers puzzled him.

"Lila." His voice croaked, and he struggled to keep the tears in. "You don't have to—"

She does not have to do this. She does not have to sacrifice her happiness for him. But truthfully? Kiryu felt happy that she would go this far for his sake. It is wrong for him to have these emotions. Kiryu understood that very well. But he could not help it.

Kiryu felt her lightly brush her forehead against his. "I had to."

No explanation or anything but three simple words instead.

"Why are you like this?"

"Im sorry, Kiryu, for everything. But I want you to know that from now on, I will stay with you. I won't leave you alone." She trailed off. "You see, Kiryu, I don't have a lot of time left. That's why that remaining time, I want to make it up to you."

At that comment, his eyes widened. He felt his entire face turn cold at her words. What does she mean? Not a lot of time? Kiryu recalled the test results he saw in the hospital months ago. He recalled sneaking in more blood for her when he realized the ones he secretly gave her ran out quickly.

The increase in blood dosage, more test results. Kiryu thought it was due to the child in her stomach. Lila didn't want anything to go wrong; that was why she acted cautiously.

How could he have failed to notice the signs? Kiryu pulled her into his arms and shook his head. "No."

Lila laughed. "Im sorry, Kiryu, but we know what will happen."

"No, you cant."

There is no way he would allow this to happen. How could he let her? How could he let her die?

She lightly brushed her lips against his. It was dangerous for them to be like this, and Kiryu understood that she wasn't doing this to reciprocate his feelings. But it took him a few minutes to pull away. It was light contact, but this was the first time in so long since she got close to him. So he treasured that sensation for a few extra seconds, even though it was wrong of him to do so.

Kiryu pulled away. "No, that won't convince me."

Weak laughter escaped the girl's lips. "I guess not, forget it.. It was stupid of me."