And so, after we converse for a while…
…my internal clock apprises me of the passage of time.
Kei: …………
(Kei): Mm? What?
Kei: Uuu! Did you… hear that, just now?
(Kei): Well… yeah…
That Kei-kun… although he isn’t laughing aloud at me, he seems nonetheless to be having some trouble holding it in.
Uuu, if there was a hole, I think I’d wanna crawl in……
Although, I don’t have any digging equipment on hand, and no techniques with which to pacify the cries of my belly.
In which case, perhaps a tactical retreat would work to my benefit, here.
No, no, it’s not that I’m running. I’m just going back. It’s not like I’d arranged to hike my way up here in the first place, after all.
Kei: I-in that case, I think I will take my leave…
(Kei): Yeah. Be careful.
(Kei): I wish I could escort you back, so you don’t get lost, but I want to stay here, just a little longer.
Kei: You mean you don’t feel hungry at all?
(Kei): I’m actually able to suppress my hunger. Because of my training.
Kei: Training……
Did he go to some sort of fasting dojo, or something?
He doesn’t look like he’d need a diet, but maybe “I actually used to be fat,” or maybe he had some sort of disease and tried medical fasting?
If I remember right, fasting was supposed to help with certain organ disorders and allergies, right? And also with some of the more mental—
—oops, not good, not good.
If I ask questions about someone’s parting words, it’ll just lengthen the conversation even more. I know that more than well enough from those telephone conversations with Youko-chan, right?
But, regardless…
(Kei): Ahh, one more thing.
If the other party brings a topic up, it follows that familiar pattern, all the same.
Kei: Umm…… what is it?
(Kei): Just one more thing… a word of warning.
Kei: Yes?
What would he warn me about, I wonder?
Did I do something wrong?
(Kei): You shouldn’t come to this place any more.
Kei: Why……?
(Kei): No matter what.
I don’t understand his reason at all, but I can at least tell that he’s saying it for my sake.
And it has the same manner of tone as that person from my dream saying “you mustn’t”…
(Kei): Okay. You’re going back, right?
That is why I obediently depart from that place with the best speed I can manage.