Chapter 119: Chapter 119 Growing feelings.
With the phone in hand, Soma turned his attention to Hina, who leaned her body closer. He wants to hear Hina\'s opinion regarding the problem they are facing: should they ride a cab or walk a distance that is quite far?
"Hmm, let\'s walk. I want to enjoy walking leisurely with someone".
"Okay".
Contrary to Soma\'s thought, Hina decided to use his feet to walk to the park. It seems she truly wanted to enjoy her walk. If that is what Hina wants, Soma will follow her.
Their interlocking hands were still attached as they walked on the street while catching other people\'s gaze. The male had a blank face with their jaw-dropping, seeing Hina, who dresses a bit feminine. Hina wears a red, overgrown t-shirt tucked inside her dark blue jeans and a pair of white sneakers.
As for the woman, their heart leapt seeing Soma, with his calm expression, holding her hand confidently. People around them who saw them thought that they were lovers, looking at their connected hands.
However, the people in question did not have any slight thought to that part. Maybe because it was their habit to make skin contact in the trial gate to relieve each other tension. Now, those habits have become the source of attention.
Thirty minutes passed as Soma and Hina finally saw the park with many people enjoying their time with family, sports, lovers or even pets. They stepped their feet onto the park.
The park was wide, spreading green fields with white lines created by a white stone paving a way to show the park in and out. There are many benches that are plastered on the ground beside the white line for the people to rest their tired feet.
As the two of them explore the park. Soma saw a vending machine that stood beside the bench, and there was a person who stood before it, picking the drink he chose. He noticed that after walking for about thirty minutes, both of them sweated
slightly.
"Do you want to drink something?".
"Strawberry milk, please".
"On it, wait".
Soma connected his thoughts with the storage ring he had, then took a strawberry milk and mineral water. He wonders if he should buy some of it, but why waste some money if you have the thing prepared beforehand?
"Thank you. I thought you would buy it because there is a vending machine near us".
"Nah, I already have one in my storage. Why should I buy it?".
"Fufu, you are right".
Hina and Soma moistened their throat while sitting on the bench beside the road. They took their time savoring their drink before Hina sprang up and extended her left hand for Soma to grab.
"Where are we going? We are already in the park".
"That\'s true, but this was not a good place to talk, right?".
As Hina said, in their surroundings many people are wandering the park. The bustling noise that came from them made the conversation hard to listen to. Soma stood up and grabbed Hina\'s extended left hand.
"Let\'s go".
Soma let himself get dragged by Hina as he followed beside her. He cast his gaze on the surroundings, and indeed, the place was a bit crowded. He starts to doubt that there will be a deserted place.
However, contrary to his thought, after walking for about two minutes. They entered a deep area of the park before finally arriving in the corner of the park. Upon arriving there, Soma and Hina stood dumbstruck, seeing the scenery that was presented before them.
A blue canvas that stretches far away, separated by a metal fence. There are three benches, and Hina chose the middle seat that had a good view of the ocean and a huge tree that would shield them from the sun\'s rays.
They sat on the bench, and the warm breeze brought a scent of saltines in the air, drifting toward them and brushing their skin. Their connected hands release and each of them enjoys the scene in front of them. Soma spread his lips, entranced by the view before him.
"Soma, I have something to tell you".
Hina, who saw Soma\'s entranced face, interrupted beside him, tugging at his sleeves, which made his attention turn to her.
"What is it?".
She turned her torso to the side, then bent his body to face Soma, opening his eyes wide.
"I am truly Sorry for what I did the first time we met and…".
"Wait, you don\'t have to do that. You already apologized to me at that time, so…".
"No, Soma, let me finish…".
Seeing the stubbornness that he knew as one of Hina\'s nature. Soma nodded his head and opened his ear while keeping his gaze straight at her.
"Okay, then…".
Hina starts to talk about their first meeting. She was suspicious and even asked one of her acquaintances to monitor him, which she canceled after getting out of the gate. Then, the hostile attitude she shows to him. She laid everything bare for Soma to hear.
"...Yesterday I met Kaede, and…".
She started to lay out the details and the reason for her short hair.
"Everything is for me to take a step forward. The act of cutting my hair is to show my determination to move from the place where I was being imprisoned and to pave my path to becoming strong. I want to become strong enough to stand beside you".
"Hina…".
"This is my wish, and no one is forcing me. I truly want to become strong so that I can become your strength".
"...".
"I want an unwavering strength that will not back down or break in the face of danger and despair, like you when we face those strong monsters in the gate. I want strength like that. Then, if I could, someday when I am strong enough, I could become a pillar that supports you. This is why, Soma".
Hina, who was gazing down, lifted her head and faced Soma\'s head on with strong resolve.
"Will you let me stay by your side?".
Soma, who stared at her blue eyes, felt drawn to her presence, but he shook his head and dismissed the thought of leaning on her.
"...What foolish thought you had. You can become strong on your own and go on your own path…".
"Soma, this is my heartfelt wish. I know that, with the current strength I have now. I am still far away from becoming your true pillar. However, if it\'s to support you, whatever small that help is. That is plenty enough for me".
Hina cut Soma\'s explanation, making Soma stiffen, hearing her words like pleas. He stopped his thought and muted, staring at her blazing eyes. His calm heart began to stir as a memory he sealed deep inside resurfaced along with his nightmare.
The night he loses his heart, the loneliness that almost drowns him in despair, the night he is cursed by devil\'s blood, the contradiction that still lingers in his heart tempting him to let go of his life and get swallowed by the abyss. A strong enemy he must face someday.
His thoughts start to swirl in the direction of his own future, as well as his worry about Hina\'s future, which is still on hold.
Soma shook his head to dismiss all the negative thoughts that occupied his mind. Not too long ago, he had already laid bare his background, albeit still keeping some of them hidden. He who asked for help is now being given a hand that will help him and support him in his journey in this alien world.
"Soma?!".
Without knowing the reason, his body moved itself as he brought himself to Hina\'s embrace. He placed his face on her left shoulder, making her body shudder in tickles. The distinctive scent from Hina entered his nose and calmed his stirred mind as he buried his face on her neck.
Soma\'s thread of consciousness snapped as his emotion leaked uncontrolled for the figure that proposed herself becoming a person who would help him in every path he would take. He inhaled her fragrant that calmed his heart, burying his face deeper.
Hina squirmed as she was being restrained by Soma. Her face was flushed by the situation she was in. Hina worried that the sound of her beating heart leaked. But she notices Soma\'s body quivering, which sobers her up. Slowly, she moves her hands behind his back, caressing it gently, trying to soothe his tired heart.
"...Thank you, Hina".
"...Um, Don\'t mention it".