Chapter 148: Realization
[Maydeath's POV: ]
I have always been a conservative and very undemanding girl in both lives. I never truly desired anything beyond the point where not being able to attain it could bother me.
I just went with the flow and kept my focus on my goal, ever since the age I discovered how cruel and deceiving this world could be.
However, there was one exception to my principles.
Ryuuta.
He's the person who has stolen my heart a long time ago. Without even realizing he had made me crazed in love with him. He was just being naturally considerate like he remains around others yet I was moved by his personality and caring nature. He was the first male who didn't judge me based on my appearance or my intelligence. He just saw who I truly was. Not the outer shell but what resides within.
After jumping from that cliff, I thought that I would get a new life where Ryuuta would not be bound by his clan and family's responsibilities and there would be no bitchy little sister of his to come in between us.
However, I was wrong. That hoe of a girl who does not know her limits and what she should never touch was all over Ryuuta once again.
In the meantime when I was building my strength and expanding my connections so I could maintain my peaceful life with Ryuuta, that bitch Mayu once again took her chance and enveloped herself around someone who doesn't belong to anyone except me.
I was furious beyond my tolerance capability but I was once again stopped by Ryuuta. But when I heard that this time he is not saving Mayu because of emotional reasons but because he has some use for her, I was somewhat relieved.
However, even though Ryuuta claims to not be any more interested in that minx even not on platonically, it was not the same for the latter.
What he wanted was a stable life and I was sure that I could provide him with such. There was no need for Anabelle or any other woman to remain by his side, that was why I made a bet with him.
I intended to request Ryuuta to let go of Anabelle. I wouldn't have asked him to completely remove himself from her life but after graduation, he could have remained by my side and I would have provided him with everything my beloved desired. How marvelous and exciting that sounds to be.
That was why I wasn't holding back when fighting with the person whom I have vowed to protect.
His face, voice, and name have changed yet I still could feel Ryuuta all the same.
It pained me. It pained me a lot when I was hurting him. But to remove that bug from his life, this was a necessary step.
I thought if I show Seth how wide my range of skills and how strong I have become he would stop resisting and we could end this match on a happy note. I would have surrendered myself after this match and would have helped my dear to the infirmary where I would have patched his wounds and flirted with him to my heart's content.
But...why?
Why wasn't he surrendering? Even though I have shown him more than four attributes that I possess amongst the others, Seth was not ready to remain down at all.
Why?
Why was that? Does he want to win that much? Does he hate me that much or love Anabelle more than I initially assumed? Are they now something more than what they seemed in their previous life? Has that bitch allured him to bed that's why Seth is trying this hard to win this? Is this match just his way to show dominance over me? But that wouldn't be necessary since I am always prepared to submit to him.
'Then why... '
Tears were streaming down my cheeks, my mind fell into numbness as I saw my beloved being harmed by no one else but me. The person who should be standing by his side as his shield has betrayed him...yet why?
"What would it take for you to give up... "I couldn't help but ask. However, the response he gave me was entirely out of my expectations.
I underestimated my beloved and before I knew I went blank by the attack he shot through my barrier, rendering me senseless.
I lost. The golden opportunity to swat that pest away, I lost it. I was not able to portray how much I have grown stronger, then why would Seth believe in me?
As I thought...it's still not enough...
*****
[Arata's Pov: ]
[You woke up, partner? ]
Hearing an old man's voice, the very first thing to hear after waking up...yeah, not that great.
I tried getting up but realized I was currently paralyzed and being treated by healers.
'So...I lost huh... ' All those claims I made and the confidence I had to at least land a decisive blow and make Miyuki recognize me were for naught since in the end I was just brushed away like a fly.
Miyuki is strong, that much I was aware of but to think that she wasn't even using all her attributes nor pulling any strong attacks to defeat me was disheartening.
She not only nullified my ultimate move but a Tier 2 spell [Hell Blaze] worked as a finishing blow for me. She is capable of that much and here I was getting all hyped up just because I unlocked a mere Tier 3 sword art.
Truly shameful.
[Don't belittle yourself, brat. We were unaware of her powers and since you have spent most of your time hating Seth or dreaming about that lass, we never got the proper time to train. If not for the brief knowledge you gained in mere a week then you wouldn't have lasted that long against Maydeath. She would have crushed you the very moment the match began. ]
I was aware. I acknowledge everything...yet why? Why does this hurt so much?
'Oh, crap...... '
The stream of tears slid down my cheeks yet I wasn't able to comprehend the reason behind it.
Whether it was because I was so useless or I never actually deserved Miyuki...
*****
A/N: - Drop a comment. Any chances for Arata to become more level-headed?
Dunno.