Chapter 468: Stay By My Side

“Alright, look over here!”

The Receptionist clapped her hands, saying this. Beside her stood a photographer holding a camera.

“Huh? Huh?”

Himekoji scrambled to wipe his tears. He turned his head in a fluster, making confused sounds.

“It’s time to take anniversary photos! And of course, it’s free~~”

The Receptionist explained with a smile.

She didn’t pry about why Himekoji was crying.

From her perspective, it was easy to think his tears were tears of happiness.

Many couples did this; she had seen it plenty.

Plus, the bride beside him wore a satisfied and sweet smile, didn’t she?

Such a happy couple!

She couldn’t help but think.

Although, they were both quite young for this.

But for now, she turned a blind eye. Anyway, it wasn’t a real marriage.

Thinking this, the Receptionist couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

She remembered what the “bride” had said earlier—

Claiming she was here as a substitute for her sister.

Such a clumsy and childish lie couldn’t fool her, a fellow woman.

“Okay, we’re taking the photo now! Groom, look at the lens. Smile more naturally. Yes, yes! The bride is doing great! Okay, I’ll count! 1, 2, 3— Cheese!”

Click!

The instant the photographer pressed the shutter, the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye leaned in. She took Himekoji’s arm, her movement light and natural.

That softness—whether padded by three centimeters or five—boldly pressed entirely against him, tightly touching his skin.

Before the lens, Himekoji hurriedly forced out a smile.

No guarantee he could manage a pleasing expression in that rush.

…

Click!

The photographer had already put away the camera, but the shutter sounds kept coming.

The noise came from the guest seats to the right of the red carpet.

Himekoji’s gaze followed the sound. He saw something and froze slightly.

“Okay, okay, groom! Don’t just stand there! The bride has already gone to change clothes. Hurry up!”

Snapped back to reality, Himekoji felt the Receptionist shove him hard in the back, pushing him off the Ceremonial Stage.

The Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye had already been led away by another staff member sometime earlier.

“Change clothes?”

Himekoji asked, confused.

“Seriously, Mr. Himekoji, you weren’t listening at all just now! We’re taking another set of wedding photos with you both wearing Yukata next.”

“O-oh.”

Himekoji, dazed, was pushed forward by the Receptionist.

He noticed Hiratsuka-sensei in the guest seats from the corner of his eye. She wore an ambiguous, teasing smile and waved her phone at him—its camera function activated.

Standing beside the Female Teacher was Yukinoshita Yukino, rubbing her temples as if suffering a headache.

Why were they here?

This question surfaced in Himekoji’s mind just as the Receptionist firmly pushed him out of the Chapel without waiting for an explanation.

…

Of course, Himekoji changed into his Yukata faster.

He was the first to return to the Chapel after changing.

The Receptionist, however, muttered about needing to prepare something and left for a moment.

This actually suited Himekoji. He had much he wanted to ask the oddly appearing duo—teacher and student—who’d calmly watched the ceremony.

Topics involving “Rikka’s disappearance” and “the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye” weren’t meant for others’ ears.

“Sensei? Yukinoshita? Why are you here?”

Himekoji walked to the guest seats. After stopping before the two women, he asked.

The stylist had fixed his makeup; tear tracks were perfectly covered.

Who knows when these two had arrived?

What if they’d seen him bawling, the most embarrassing moment?

Worse than being seen taking wedding photos in a suit?

“That’s what we should be asking, Pervert-kun. Why are you here?”

A cold voice, barely hiding its anger.

Unsurprisingly.

They’d come together, but Himekoji had excluded them. Then, on the phone, told them to go home.

With Yukinoshita’s personality, anger over this was expected.

“I don’t know how to explain. It’s complicated.”

“Complicated things?”

Hiratsuka-sensei cut in then.

“In that case, I’ll allow you to give a complicated explanation.”

“Huh? B-but what happened these past few days… isn’t something explained quickly.”

“These past few days? It’s barely been hours since you ran off by yourself without a word!”

Frowning, Yukinoshita corrected the flaw in Himekoji’s words.

“Huh?”

Himekoji blinked, confused.

“Alright, alright. I get it. Himekoji is in a rush to get back to his bride and continue the wedding. That’s why you don’t want to explain. Don’t want to waste time on us meaninglessly, right?”

Strangely, even Hiratsuka-sensei seemed angry. Her voice practically growled when she said “wedding.”

That resentful vibe Himekoji sensed? Probably just an illusion.

“N-not a bride! And not a wedding! Just trying on clothes! Trying on!”

Embarrassed and flustered, Himekoji waved his hands dismissively.

“So, was that ‘bride’ earlier Takanashi Rikka?”

When it came to the commission, Yukinoshita was as serious and dedicated as ever.

“Yes.”

Himekoji answered instinctively, then suddenly remembered something and couldn’t help but show a bitter smile.

“But not really…”

“Hm?”

Yukinoshita raised an eyebrow, narrowed her eyes, examining Himekoji while pondering his words.

“However, it seems like we’re no longer needed. Himekoji has successfully saved Rikka.”

“Saved…”

For some reason, Hiratsuka-sensei used such a heavy word.

Recalling Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye’s content, regret-free, tranquil smile earlier, Himekoji suddenly felt as if he couldn’t breathe.

He clenched his fists and lowered his head—

“No… I… I can’t save anyone. No one… needs me to save them.”

Strangely, he spoke such discouraging words.

“No, they do need you. Not just need—they must.”

Hiratsuka-sensei’s voice was quiet and slow, as if stating something obvious.

“Himekoji, who longs for salvation more than anyone, surely understands how to save others better than anyone else.”

Hiratsuka-sensei gently ruffled Himekoji’s hair, just as he had ruffled Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye’s all those times before.

The Female Teacher whispered softly into Himekoji’s ear—

“In truth, I’ve always believed that someday, Himekoji will become kinder than anyone else. Isn’t that right? Because… he’s faced more agonizing choices than anyone, endured more inescapable hardships than anyone, and tasted more unavoidable pain than anyone. So… surely he can do it? Becoming kinder than anyone in the world.”

“Even if his methods of showing kindness are always clumsy, always awkward, always flawed and messy.”

“But without a doubt… someone will be saved by his clumsy kindness, saved by his awkward kindness, saved by his messy kindness. And the one he saves… will save him in return.”

“That… is the meaning of kindness.”

Having said this, Hiratsuka-sensei smiled silently and placed her hand lightly on the back of Himekoji’s head.

Himekoji’s head trembled suddenly.

Sometimes, humans truly are strange creatures—

Longing to be understood, yet afraid of being seen through.

Not wanting her to see his face right now, Himekoji sulkily leaned his whole body into the Female Teacher, pressing his forehead tightly against her shoulder.

“Sensei, what are you saying? I don’t understand! Not one bit!”

He spoke such unbecoming words.

“My Himekoji insists he doesn’t understand, yet deep down he knows everything. That part… troubles me quite often.”

The Female Teacher smiled warmly, her expression showing no signs of actual trouble.

“You know what to do, right?”

“…Yeah!”

Himekoji squeezed the answer out from his dry throat.

……

When Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye said she was content and felt no regrets, Himekoji had been terrified.

Because even if he followed through with the plan… even if he truly killed the Brave… what would it matter if Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye herself had given up before that?

No matter how hard or desperately he tried, it would be pointless.

Himekoji felt lost, then utterly helpless. He’d even disgraced himself by crying until his face was a mess.

But now, thankfully, that panicked and bewildered heart finally calmed again under the female teacher’s comfort.

He really should’ve realized it once he calmed down—should’ve realized it long ago.

How could a life with no regrets even exist?

Our lives are built from all kinds of regrets!

Some beautiful, some painful.

So… Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye…

Don’t lie.

Don’t leave.

Don’t die.

Stay by my side.

As Rikka.

And as the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye herself.

……