The sensation of plummeting was abruptly interrupted.
Suddenly I felt a pain in my arm that jolted me to awareness.Someone grabbed my arm and tried to pull me back.
I opened my eyes and saw Ash holding the railing with one hand and firmly gripping me with the other.
"Let me go," I said calmly.
Ash clenched his teeth.His eyes turned red, either from exertion or for some other reason
He managed, "Luna, you've won this round. You played your part well, but it won't change anything. Darius—he—"
"Let go!" I couldn't bear hearing Darius' name and began to thrash.
Ash had half of his body leaning outside the railing when he jumped to catch me.As I struggled, his grip on the railing grew precarious.Both of us were on the verge of falling.
He couldn't help but shout, "Stop shaking! We will fall!"
Seemed to completely disregard his words,I kept shaking.Ash took a breath and said in a pleading tone, "I wouldn't watch you die without doing anything. I believe that you will have the same feeling for me. But if you keep doing this, I'll fall too. Do you really want us both to die, Luna?"
This affectionate tone reminded me of the time when we relied on each other for survival.
At that time, I considered Ash my only kin in this world.
I spoiled him.He tends to cozy up to me at that time.
Now, I looked up, meeting his star-like eyes.
He looked calm but with an underlying... anticipation.
Was he waiting for my reply?
The thought almost made me laugh.
And I did laugh.Gazing directly into his eyes,I said each word deliberate,
"Your life or death, who cares?"
His face lost all color instantly.
As if unable to digest my words, Ash stared at me blankly.
The strength in his grip began to fade.
Hope flared in my heart once more.
