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934 Words
Anika flew toward Shidow with a bright smile and raised her hand for a high five.
"We did it! Nice teamwork, Shidow."
Shidow merely glanced at her before teleporting beside Ben.
He rested a hand on Ben's shoulder.
"I trusted you, Ben. And I know there's more to this battlefield than what we've seen. Keep an eye on everyone. Protect the squad."
Ben answered with a confident smirk.
"You can count on me, Captain."
Anika flew over, hoping to continue the conversation, but Shidow simply walked past her as though she weren't there.
She pouted and followed after him anyway.
Shidow stopped in front of Kunika.
"I'm going to scout the surrounding area."
Kunika nodded.
"Need backup?"
"No."
Shidow's answer came without hesitation.
"I'll move faster alone."
Kunika didn't argue.
"Fine. But don't be reckless. If you run into something you can't handle, teleport back immediately. Don't try to fight a Tama by yourself."
Shidow gave a slight nod before disappearing into the ruined city.
Meanwhile, Ben continued watching over Squad Five as Shidow had instructed.
After counting everyone twice, his smile slowly disappeared.
"Where's Camille?"
He flew over to Kevin.
"Have you seen her?"
Kevin scratched his head.
"No."
He shrugged.
"Don't worry. A grumpy woman like Camille will probably outlive all of us."
Ben didn't laugh.
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
Without another word, he flew through the devastated streets, searching every ruined building until he finally spotted her.
Camille was sitting alone in front of a collapsed house.
Broken pieces of a mirror lay scattered across the ground.
"Camille..."
She didn't answer.
Ben slowly approached her.
Only when he drew closer did he hear it.
She was crying.
He stopped walking.
It was the first time he had ever seen her shed tears.
Not knowing what to say, he quietly turned around, deciding to give her some space.
Just then—
"I'm not ugly..."
Her trembling voice stopped him.
"I'm not ugly... am I?"
Ben looked back.
She lowered her head.
"I have violet hair... but that's normal, isn't it? Almost every curse has an unusual hair color..."
Her voice cracked.
"...It's just..."
"You're not ugly," Ben said gently.
Camille slowly looked up.
Only then did Ben notice where her eyes had been fixed.
The ruined house.
And lying a short distance away...
A lifeless girl.
Understanding immediately crossed his face.
Camille forced out a bitter laugh.
"Ganesse used to bully me because of my forehead."
She smiled sadly through her tears.
"She always called me 'Forehead Airlines' because she said planes could land on it."
Her smile slowly broke.
"But..."
Her voice trembled.
"She was still my friend."
She clenched her fists.
"This is so unfair."
She looked toward the sky.
"Come on, Ganesse... call me ugly again. Call me Forehead Airlines. I don't care anymore."
Her shoulders trembled.
"Just... don't leave me too."
Ben quietly walked toward her.
He gently brushed aside the bangs covering her forehead.
"So that's why you've always hidden it."
Camille froze.
Ben smiled softly.
"You know..."
He removed the cloth band tied around his arm and carefully used it to tie her hair back.
"There."
He stepped back.
"I wasn't lying."
"You look beautiful without your bangs."
Camille stared at him in surprise.
Ben scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I've wanted to tell you this for a long time."
He smiled.
"I like you, Camille."
Without warning—
THUD!
Camille drove her knee straight into his groin.
Ben instantly collapsed onto his knees.
She removed the cloth from her hair and tossed it back at him.
"I expected comfort."
Her voice returned to its usual cold tone.
"Not flirting."
Ben grimaced in pain.
"I wasn't flirting."
He forced himself to smile.
"I meant every word."
Camille folded her arms.
"I don't like love."
She looked at him without the slightest warmth.
"You're handsome. Every girl in ACA knows that. You're popular."
She turned away.
"So don't waste your time on me. I'm better off alone, I don't need your love. And I certainly don't need your sympathy."
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"If you ever say something that stupid again..."
Her voice became ice cold.
"I'll kill you myself."
Ben slowly stood despite the pain.
Instead of looking frightened...
He smiled.
He walked toward her until the distance between them disappeared.
"So..."
He chuckled.
"Is that how you talk to your future boyfriend?"
Camille's eye twitched.
Without hesitation—
BAM!
Her fist slammed into his face, launching him through the wall of a nearby building.
Dust exploded everywhere.
Camille teleported to where he landed.
No one was there.
A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind.
Before she could react—
Ben kissed her.
Her eyes widened.
The moment she recovered from the shock, she shoved him away with all her strength and wiped her lips furiously.
"You freak!"
Ben only smiled.
"So..."
He rubbed the back of his head.
"Would you like to go on a date with me?"
Camille's expression became completely emotionless.
She slowly raised her sword and pointed its blade at his throat.
Ben knew she wasn't bluffing.
Even so...
He never stopped smiling.
"If I die today..."
He shrugged.
"...then I die."
His smile softened.
"But at least I got to kiss the girl I love before I did."
He looked straight into her eyes.
"So go ahead, kill me."
Camille's grip tightened around her sword.
"I warned you."
Without another word, she swung her blade.
A massive wave of fire erupted from the s***h, engulfing Ben completely.
- Writer
