"I told you the director when I was in Chakdis City————"
The girl quickly passed Animusfia, then turned around in front of him and showed a smile.
"I will definitely help you next time."
Animusfia had anticipated many reasons in the past few days.
But he never thought that Fujimaru Ritsuka would take the words he said at an unknown time to his heart.
Although he remembered such a thing, he had always thought that the girl was just talking about it.
"That's right. Thank you so much."
In the end, I could only squeeze out a few dry words of thanks.
"Hey————~"
The girl was obviously not satisfied with Animusfia's reaction.
She stepped out of the way in front of Animusfia, allowing Animusfia to move forward, and she followed him again, walking side by side.
"A certain person was bold enough to say that 'verbal thanks are never enough.' Now he just wants to get away with it?"
"Don't write down such trivial things. Use your memory on more meaningful things."
"Is the director saying that what he said has no meaning?"
"Don't be so understanding."
There was a hint of success on Fujimaru Ritsuka's face.
"Then, the director will still repay me?"
"...What are you going to do?"
Seeing the expression on the girl's face, Animusfia suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Don't get me wrong, Director. I will only make a small request, nothing more."
Fujimaru Ritsuka raised his hands, grasped the air in mid-air, and slowly approached Animusfia.
"If you have something to say, please say it, but don't do anything!"
Animusfia, unable to use her hands and covered in bandages, was in trouble with the sky and the earth.
His ribs, which were barely aligned, prevented him from vigorous activity.
.....
It's over.
His reputation as Animusfia I will be ruined here.
Unexpectedly, this was his final destination.
Animusfia closed her eyes.
.....
However, the imagined doomsday scenario did not come.
Instead, there was a slight heaviness on his shoulders.
"Um?"
Confused, Animusfia opened her eyes.
What caught the eye was the girl's short orange-red hair.
Fujimaru Ritsuka did not attack him, but also closed her eyes and gently leaned her body on Animusfiya's shoulder.
"...Ritsuka?"
Without replying to Animusfiya's question, Fujimaru Ritsuka continued to talk about his request.
"Next time, don't push me back again."
After a brief silence, Animusfia slowly opened her mouth.
"That's not easy."
"I'm not seeking the director's permission. This is a requirement."
"He is really a tyrant..."
The two walked towards the medical room again.
"Then Director, you can only admit that you are unlucky. It was a tyrant who saved you. After all, verbal thanks for saving your life are never enough."
As the two of them walked away, the sound of conversation gradually diminished and eventually disappeared.
***********
Want to feel like standing next to someone?
【I also want to stand beside the director. 】
***********
Dr. Roman finally eliminated the last grain of rice in the bowl.
When he raised his head, he realized that he was the only one left in the previously bustling cafeteria.
Have they all gone back?
Roman began to look around in the cafeteria, but in the end he couldn't find anyone.
Is it possible that they are all gone?
when?
The living people around him just disappeared, and he didn't even notice?
"ah!"
Like some kind of frightened little animal, a strange noise came from the pile of bowls not far from Roman, and several empty bowls fell to the ground.
"Who is there?"
Roman, who heard the noise, walked over to take a look.
"Doctor Roman, have you finished your meal?"
A figure suddenly appeared from the pile of bowls. Maybe he had been bending down before, so Roman didn't notice her.
"What, it's you. Looking for something?"
It was the Chaldean clerk who lived across from Animusfia's room.
"Huh? Looking for something? No, no, no, I'm not looking for anything."
"Huh? Really?"
Roman always felt that there was something hidden in it.
"Of course, I didn't throw anything away. Speaking of which, Doctor Roman, have you finished eating?"
"Well, I've just finished eating -"
Before Roman could finish speaking, the staff pushed him out of the cafeteria.
"Now that we've finished eating, let's go. Speaking of which, I still have many questions that I would like Dr. Roman to give me advice on."
Roman just passively stayed away from the canteen.
No one noticed that the pile of bowls in the canteen suddenly collapsed on its own without any external force.
In a space that seemed to be Chaldea but not Chaldea, in a maze composed of bowls and plates, a figure was exploring around.
**********
After returning to the medical room, Animusfia and Fujimaru Ritsuka finally sat in front of the screen, ready to start playing the game that the girl had always wanted to play.
【Yes, indeed.】
(Yes, it's true.)
The game screen appeared in the fog.
A hoarse lady slowly told the background of the story.
【It is called Lothric, where the transitory lands of the Lords of Cinder converge.】
(That is called Lothric, the temporary residence of the kings who inherit the fire.)
【The fire fades and the Lords go without thrones.】
(The first fire gradually died down, and the kings left their thrones.)
.......
"Director, is this game really that fun? Why does it feel a bit depressing?"
Since there was no sofa in the medical room and the girl was unwilling to sit directly on the floor, she sat on Animusfiya's lap.
"Hey, why do you always have to ask me? This is your choice, right? Is it really okay to ask me?"
This daily routine has been going on in the medical room for several days.
"Don't answer questions with questions, it's very rude."
"This is a rhetorical question! It should be understood as a statement. And if you go down my leg, it will be numb."
"Hey~~~No, I've obviously been sitting here before."
A row of black lines appeared on Animusfia's head.
"So I have been bothered by leg numbness before. Can you be a little considerate of others?"
"Oh, hush! Director, the game is about to begin."
Fujimaru Ritsuka once again put aside the topic perfectly.
.....
The animation on the screen finally came to an end.
【Namless accursed undead, unfit even to be cinder.】
(There are countless nameless immortals, some of whom cannot even become firewood.)
【And so it is that ash seeketh embers.】
(So there it is, ashes seeking embers.)
"Oh! Come in!"
The girl is still immersed in the novelty of the game.
Animusfia listened to the familiar script and sighed silently.
Are there countless nameless immortals, some of whom cannot even become firewood?
But why seek fire?
This problem has troubled Animusfia before.
