Why
why why why!
Why are you working so hard to protect me at all costs? Why can't I even move a finger at such a critical moment? Why is it not me who is lying in a pool of blood at this moment
Yes, I understand now that you were right all along.
I am too stubborn, too arrogant, and too stupid. I should not forcefully insist on helping Maka; nor should I think that as long as I work hard and be careful, I will always succeed; nor should I run to Maka just based on my inner impulse. Maka confessed and made the matter known to everyone, but in the end she became a living target.
What "We already have the power to help Maka"; what "Maka is too tired, I hope I can at least share a little bit of it for him"; what "not for Maka, but for my own future" …
And you are right, Luna - if I had understood your thoughts earlier and stopped this unnecessary pace earlier, perhaps something like this today would never have happened in the first place.
So Luna, I know I was wrong, you... can you open your eyes and look at me? Just like when you usually doze off in class, you suddenly wake up and tell me drowsily that there may be pudding or avocado salad for breakfast tomorrow
No, even if you can open your mouth and curse me a few words, that's fine!
Hermione was actually able to move, but she seemed to be completely numb. After being handed over by Maka into the windbreaker wizard's arms, she had been leaning there stiffly, her eyes staring blankly at Luna's face.
She saw that although Luna's face was covered with blood, her long, soft and light golden hair was also mixed with dazzling scarlet.
But at this time, there was no pain on Luna's face. She just closed her eyes slightly and looked like she was sleeping normally. There was even a soft and calm smile at the corner of her mouth as before.
Looking at that face, Hermione seemed to have forgotten everything. She couldn't hear the words Halbo said before leaving, nor could she see any changes around her. Even Maka's presence couldn't make her look away from Luna for half a second.
Even though tears had already blurred her vision.
Until suddenly, a clear and loud voice finally pulled her back from the endless confusion and self-condemnation, and then she saw the slightly red palm marks on Maka's face.
What happened? Was it...did she slap Maka
Obviously, apart from herself, the only person closest to Maka here seems to be the windbreaker wizard. As for Pansy, she had already retreated to the corner since just now, and now she was also in a daze.
When Hermione saw Macca's lifeless eyes, she finally vaguely understood why the windbreaker wizard slapped her in the face.
"Maka..."
Hermione suddenly found that her voice had become extremely hoarse.
…
On the other side, Maka was still silent.
In fact, the slap from the windbreaker wizard only made Maka stop the useless movements of her hands. It did not completely bring Maka back to her senses.
Because that question was still circulating silently in his heart.
"Luna, is she really dead?"
Maka didn't know, or in other words, he didn't want to think about it at all - even though the reality at this moment was falling in his arms, warm, soft, but also a little heavy for no reason.
Therefore, he allowed this question to float in his mind, but refused to think about it.
However, this actually means that Maka has already understood everything in front of him. He is just lying to himself and does not dare to face it.
There is no doubt that Maka is a coward at heart, and this has never really changed.
However, Maka, who was unable to wake up even with a slap from the windbreaker wizard, slowly raised her head because of Hermione's hoarse call.
"Hermione..." He blinked and suddenly said calmly, "Are you okay?"
It can be found that Maka asked her almost subconsciously. Although his mouth was moving, his eyes were still unfocused.
"I-"
Hermione couldn't answer Maka's question for a while. Although she was indeed fine physically, Luna's incident almost made her breathless.
But even though her eyes were full of tears, she still took a deep breath and said:
"I'm fine, Maka... I'm fine."
While responding softly, Hermione stood up straight with some difficulty on the ground. After nodding slightly gratefully to the windbreaker wizard who had been supporting her, Hermione moved little by little to Maka, who was still a little sluggish. .
Then, Hermione stretched out her arms and gently pulled Maka into her arms from the side. She didn't say any words of comfort, she just hugged Maka gently and let him lean on her shoulder quietly.
At this moment, Hermione's every move seemed to suddenly have a hint of Luna's quiet feeling - it was gentle, plain, but inexplicably full of maternal flavor.
To be honest, Hermione didn't really know where Luna's somewhat inconsistent personality came from. But after having more contact with Luna, I gradually understood that if it was Luna, she would do this at a time like this.
"That's right," Hermione gently hugged Maka's shoulders and arms, rested her chin in his hair, and secretly said to herself, "If it were you, you wouldn't want Maka to become like this. . And although we will always have differences in one way or another, in this aspect alone, I must be the same as you."
By now, Hermione no longer thought about whether she liked Maka more or Luna liked Maka more. Because she understands that there is no longer any entangled meaning and value...
I have to say that the current Hermione really resembles Luna's calm and gentle side. The warmth coming from her body seemed to be melting Maka's almost frozen thoughts little by little, allowing his brain to finally start functioning again.
After a moment, Maka's eyes moved slightly and she saw a few strands of brown hair hanging from the top of her head. It always has some curly long hair, who could it be if it wasn't Hermione's
"Hermione?"
Although he had already spoken to the other party just now, in fact, it was only now that he realized that the warmth that enveloped him came from Hermione's arms.
And it was at this moment that Maka suddenly remembered something.
Yes, Hermione's arms - it was a very familiar feeling. He remembered clearly that he had never been hugged by Hermione like this, so where did this strange feeling of familiarity come from
It's "The Book of Sin"!
Not the one he uses now to record the source of those evils, but the "original version" he got from his future self.
In that book, he recorded a series of diaries about his tragic future, and finally returned to his past self.
And it was in those diaries that it was mentioned that when the whole of Europe fell into a terrible disaster, Hermione gave her wholehearted care to the self who had closed her heart because of the loss of Luna for five years.
Although the diary only used the phrase "shamelessly pretending to be crazy and acting stupid" to describe himself in those five years, Maka now understands that such a heavy blow is indeed unbearable for him as a coward.
At this moment, thanks to the diaries filled with despair and disillusionment in the "Book of Sin", his experiences in the past few years that were completely different from those in the diaries, and even more so thanks to Hermione's hug, he did not fall into the trap. As in the diary, I completely gave up thinking and sank in.
Because the original "Book of Sin" and the past of saving Hogwarts from the desperate situation caused by the Devouring Mirror, made him instantly think of a very important thing -
"Yes, that's right..." Maka suddenly shook Hermione's trembling hand tightly and said suddenly, "There is still a way! As long as the rules of time are still running normally, there must be a way to save it! "
"Maka?"
Seeing that he suddenly seemed like a different person, talking to himself in a firm and clear voice, Hermione was immediately a little scared.
She was worried that Maka was mentally disturbed because of the heavy blow she had endured.
However, Hermione was still in great pain in her heart, and even had a kind of self-blame that was hard to shake off. But even if it was just for Luna, she would stay by Maka's side and let him get better gradually.
"Maka, calm down... With your intelligence, you should be able to understand that Luna will definitely not want to see you become like this because of her."
"You know, she is a girl who loves to laugh - no matter what happens, she is happy every day. I believe she also hopes that you, like her, will not be blinded by sadness and pain. eyes."
"Maka—"
"Oh, no, that's not it," Maka quickly grabbed her other hand, pulled her to sit in front of him, and said seriously, "I know what you are thinking, but... look at My eyes, trust me, I’m fine.”
Hermione, who was kneeling next to Maka, was pulled by him and immediately fell to the ground. But her numb and weak legs did not affect her at all. In the next second, she suddenly met Maka's gaze.
Immediately, Hermione saw that Maka's eyes no longer had that dull look of death, and actually revealed a feeling as clear and deep as before.
"Really?"
"Yes, of course," Maka nodded, "I've thought about it, actually-"
Just as he opened his mouth, he suddenly paused again and quickly shook his head as if he realized something.
"No, I'm sorry. In order to ensure a greater success rate, I can't say any more... But please believe me! And then there is... "
"Hermione, thank you so much just now! Your embrace was so warm."