Second Chance

Chapter 19

Shizue POV:

To come with you..?

To a world... I can only dream of. No, i can't even dream of such a world. Where my students, who were supposed to die painfully in a couple years, lives. A world that they live happily. And became wonderful young adults. Even became heroes much powerful and stronger than me.
A world where Hinata, who only showed me her pained or uninterested expressions, smiles happily.

The world I am living now...
I slowly looked around taking everything in. I gazed upon the world I hate.
This place which has been soaked with blood and tears of the weak. Became such a wonderful place?
But how?
Then my gaze stopped on him.
Right, because of him. Thanks to him all of this happened right?

But even if I go with him can I really be part of that world? Can I live in there? By leaving everything behind? Me, who has nothing but hatred and grudge, can live in a such a peaceful place?
Then he suddenly began to talk as if reading my thoughts.
''Country I built is a place where everyone can live with a smile on their face. It doesn't matter what they did or what they have been through. As long as they want a place where they can call home. They can go there, they can live there. I built there to give a second chance to the ones who never had it before.'' He said while looking at me with a soft smile on his face. Although his smile was faint, to me it was still most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my live.

I blankly stared at him.
Even though normally there is no way for me to believe all of this. It's even harder to think of all of these as a lie, no... It this hard because I don't even want to imagine all of these as lies. Even if it is, I don't want to think of something like that...

''But what will happen to this world if I came with you?''
''Hmm... Well I am gonna leave a body double of yours. Well, even though I said a body double it's actually a technique much more advanced than that. And to prevent any problems it will be better to erase her memories about me. That's why even if I take you with me past will repeat itself without any problems.''
''So, can I actually...''
''Yeah. You can.''

I have so many questions to ask him. I don't understand and probably I will never be able to understand the scale of things he has done to came back to past and save me. So rather than asking how did he do it. What I wonder is...

''Why did you did all of this for me? You showed me everything about future, right? Even though you have given me promise. There is no reason for you to do this. Didn't you already kept your promises? So why are you still working this hard to help me?''
''Have you forgotten what I said?''
''What?''
''Well, because I like you.''

He said directly then blushed a little and added.

''Ahh... But not like what you think it, don't understand me wrong. I like you but not romantic you know. Hahh... This is complicated for me as well. But I always felt gratitude towards you. Even though you don't know it. You have done so much for me. And I keep learning more and more about how kind of a person you were even after your death. So I couldn't help but think that I should've done more for you.
But you see there was nothing I could do at that time. But after getting stronger I found a way to travel in past. I wanted come earlier but I wasn't sure how Shizue-san would feel about all of this.
But still there was something I was sure about it. And that's that Shizue-san deserved better. Much better than this... So in the end I decided to came here.''
I paused trying to comprehend all the things he just said.

''Do I really deserve better?''
There is no way that is true. For me to be able redeem myself for all the things I have done.

He hold my hand with his and looked me straight.
''Do you think your friend would hate you? I don't know much about what kind of person was she. But still wasn't she your friend? How could she hate you?''
''You can't know that...''
''What if I can?''
''What?''
''There are rules even I have to follow. So I can't just go back to past to save her as well. But she still live. In the future at least.''
''What are you talking about?''
''Well, don't you know about it? That every soul comes back to the life with reincarnation. She lives in Tempest as a monster. I don't know if it can be called same person but her soul is the same.''
What? Pirino got reincarnated in the future..?

''So are you just gonna lament yourself and ditch away the option of living a better life?
You can't change anything by making yourself suffer in this place. But you can actually change something if you come with me. It's certain, her first life wasn't happy. But still, she too can be happy in her second life. Of course if there is a someone who can make her happy. Like you. But it's not like her second life bad. She lives a regular life. But still rather than seeking redemption in here isn't it better to help her live a better life now?''

Rimuru POV:

The pause she gave to me felt like a eternity to me. I did my best to not show her how anxious I am. Then she opened her mouth just to close again. After a couple minutes finally an answer came.

''Then I'll be in your care from now on.'' She said with an anxious smile.