Trial (4)

Daily life continued. The date that began at the aquarium proceeded no differently than any ordinary couple's typical date course.

Even though I knew full well this was all a lie, the happiness welling up in my chest refused to fade.

To the point where I could understand why Yurp and the Pope had tried to stop me from undergoing this trial.

'...The people who became cripples probably didn't want to give this up either.'

It must have been terrifying - abandoning this sweet fantasy to return to cold reality.

Had it not been for Ria perched on my shoulder, I too might have ended up trapped here forever like them.

After all, my Infinite Regression ability only activates when I die or by my own will.

'In a way, you could say this is my counter too.'

Of course, I had no intention of staying trapped in this fantasy. Because something more important than this sweet lie - the real thing - was waiting for me in the real world.

Yurp, Lily, Silpi, and Abel. Though I'd known them for less than a year, they were all precious to me.

'...This is no time to be intoxicated by fantasy.'

Regardless of my thoughts, the date continued uninterrupted.

Conversations at a cafe, a movie theater date watching a beautiful romance film we'd booked in advance. And finally, we arrived at an observatory.

Abel handed me a pamphlet labeled "Free Observation Event."

The design was identical to those at museums or tourist attractions. No matter how much I flipped through it, there was nothing unusual - just information about being able to observe at the observatory for free over several days.

"How is it? Not bad for our final date spot, right?"

"Yeah, it's nice."

It was certainly a romantic choice. Ending the day by stargazing at an observatory.

One of my few cherished hobbies as a child had been observing the night sky.

I'd even gotten scolded once for secretly working part-time to buy a telescope.

After that, my father got so excited he bought additional telescope parts, only to get a smack on the back from my mother.

Looking back now, maybe I was more ordinary than I thought.

Though my mother and father clearly favored my unnie more, and though I received plenty of scoldings too...

They never held back support for the things I truly wanted to do.

"You said you've liked this since childhood, right? Stargazing."

"That's right. I only mentioned it in passing - you remembered?"

At my words, Abel grinned and replied, "Of course." Seeing him nod proudly, I unconsciously let out a chuckle.

Could the real Abel ever speak like this? Just imagining that noble in his aristocratic attire saying such things made me laugh uncontrollably.

Honestly, the thought seemed utterly incongruous.

'That Abel, called the Iron Blood Duke?'

The mere idea made my head shake automatically at the absurd image.

"What? Why are you laughing like that? Now you're making me curious."

"Oh, just had a funny thought."

Saying "Let's go," I extended my hand, and Abel grumbled but took it anyway.

Seeing Abel's face make the most un-Abel-like expressions was more amusing than awkward.

Entering the observatory, we first saw the exhibition hall. According to the pamphlet, they normally operated ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠focusing on these exhibits rather than observations.

Only during these special days were they offering actual observation opportunities.

The exhibition hall displayed various astronomical science explanations and models.

Though most were familiar concepts, Abel seemed interested and kept asking me questions.

"What's a red giant?"

"Ah, that's..."

I tried to keep my explanations as concise and understandable as possible.

If I got overexcited and started spewing information, the listener would just lose interest.

One of an otaku's flaws is boring people with TMI.

How had my unnie endured listening to my excited explanations back then?

She must have cared for me that much.

Back then, I was too foolish to realize that. And the result... well, you know how that ended.

"Now just the observation deck remains."

"Right."

Before I knew it, after spending considerable time viewing the exhibits, we'd reached the observatory's observation area. Despite being a busy weekend, the observatory wasn't crowded.

Perhaps because it was slightly remote, or maybe this fantasy was just setting the mood that way.

Either way, it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't matter.

This place was a fantasy after all - a place I needed to escape from to return to reality.

"Look, the sky is full of stars."

Raising my head, the vast expanse of the Galactic River filled my vision.

Stars twinkling like eyes embedded in puppets, and a single stream of light flowing toward some unknown destination—my gaze was involuntarily stolen by them.

"...Yeah. It's incredibly beautiful."

The night sky I used to look up at in my past life whenever things got hard.

It was exactly the same. Not a single discrepancy—the positions of the stars, the flow of the Galactic River, everything matched.

To an almost eerie degree.

As I stared at the sky for a long while, I suddenly sensed a presence behind me.

"Huff, ha. I'm not too late, am I?"

A rough, panting breath—as if they had hurried up the stairs—and a voice that wasn't unfamiliar. My entire body stiffened at the familiar tone and cadence ringing in my ears.

Against my will, my head slowly began to turn.

Right now, this was the voice I least wanted to hear. At the same time, it was also the voice I had desperately wished to hear just one more time.

A face identical to mine in the mirror.

A short bob that fell just past her shoulders, and a beauty so striking it would draw admiration from anyone. A confident posture and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠expression.

My twin sister from my past life—the one I had lost.

If she had grown up without that accident, she probably would've looked exactly like this.

Not the youthful, childish appearance from back then, but this mature and dependable one.

"Sorry. I've been so busy lately that I'm a little late."

"Just showing up is more than enough. Adel missed you so much."

"Oh, really? You missed me that much?"

My lips wouldn't part. My throat tightened, and no voice could force its way through. My eyes were growing hot.

There were so many things I wanted to say.

But not a single word could leave my mouth.

"Huh? Wh-what's with the tears?"

My flustered sister, stumbling over her words. It was always like this back then too. Whenever I, the crybaby, started tearing up, she'd panic and try to do anything to make it better.

Even if this was a fantasy, I couldn't suppress these emotions.

There were too many things I wanted to say. But more important than any of them was one phrase—the one I had desperately wanted to tell her.

"...I missed you."

I hugged her tightly and spoke in a trembling voice. The tears didn't spill, but the burning sensation in my chest was impossible to ignore.

I thought I'd grown numb to emotions, but apparently not yet.

Even after witnessing so much death, my heart remained unchanged.

"I see."

She answered softly, gently stroking my back. Even though I knew it was a lie, her touch was so warm I couldn't help but choke up.

So this is why they call it a trial.

Even knowing this was a fantasy, the desire to stay surged up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to my throat. If even I felt this way, what about those who didn't realize this was an illusion?

...Squeak.

Ria, clinging to my shoulder, cried quietly.

She didn't rush or pressure me. She just fluttered in the air for a moment before perching on the railing, silently watching me. Maybe it was because she believed I'd break free from this fantasy on my own.

"Sorry, Unnie."

"Hm? What for?"

"I always end up acting spoiled around you."

"It's fine. I'll gladly indulge my cute little sister's whims anytime."

...Unnie always said things like that.

She tried her hardest never to show weakness in front of me. Maybe it was because of the hero movies we watched together as kids.

"I'm sorry I never did anything for you."

"Hey, I told you it's fine."

I wasn't expecting an answer. These were just meaningless ramblings, after all.

Things I had buried in my heart, telling myself I'd say them if Unnie ever woke up again.

"That day... I'm sorry for what I said to you."

"..."

The voice that had been answering me just moments ago fell silent. Maybe even this fantasy hadn't anticipated me bringing that up. Not that I could know.

"I just... feel sorry for everything..."

The tears still wouldn't come.

Like a river blocked by a dam, unable to flow any further. Yet the trapped water still surged restlessly behind the barrier.

Even so, I felt a strange sense of relief. Even if these words would never reach the real Unnie, the emotions behind them were genuine.

Only after saying everything I wanted to say could I be certain.

That I couldn't stay in this fantasy any longer. That in the end, a fantasy was just a fantasy.

"I think... it's time to wake up now."