It happened again.

Another kekkai has been destroyed.

Naturally I'm furious, even horrified, although I'm not sure if anyone knows that I feel anything.

So many people have died. So many families have been destroyed.

Perhaps the reason I'm so angry, yet so stationary, is because I understand what it feels like to lose a family, but feelings only make it worse, so I suppress them.

Lately, though, it's been getting more difficult. Sorata-kun is visibly angered. You can really see it in his face- every kekkai destroyed is like a personal attack. Neither of us feels like a Dragon of Heaven. We feel like bystanders... as if we are powerless to stop this. But we are not.

Before I can even wonder why we did not know this was going to happen, Sorata-kun answers my question for me; the Princess Hinoto is unwell. She has been unable to inform us of her dreams... I almost forgot. How foolish.

Sorata-kun says that after Kamui returned from his meeting with the princess, he looked so thoughtful.

He says, something must have happened inside the dreamscape. And all of a sudden, his voice sounds so far away.

He brings me back quickly though, asking why I look so startled. I didn't realize I was that obvious... and I'm not even sure why I was so startled anyway. Because perhaps the Princess is in trouble? Because she gave Kamui a troubling message?

Or because I was so unobservant?

All possibilities are equally disturbing.

I simply say I hadn't noticed Kamui's expression.

He smiles and says Kamui is easy to read. Sorata-kun is definitely smarter than people give him credit for. An innate curiosity that I thought had disappeared suddenly consumes me, and before I can stop myself, I ask him...

"Can you read me too? What am I thinking right now?"

I quickly realize how absurd and even rude my question is, and shut my mouth, but it has already escaped my lips. Sorata-kun only smiles.

"This guy looks frivolous, but he can be quite observant, too."

That was what I was thinking. He continues.

"However, there are things that I can't say for sure. For example, what do you think of me?"

I only stare. I don't say anything, and he continues.
"I love you. I'm not teasing you. I'm serious. I've decided that if I have to die for someone, that someone will be you. Are my feelings nothing but trouble to you? Am I still merely one of the Dragons of Heaven in your eyes?"

Suddenly, I'm filled with a million different feelings. I'm sad, and angry, and guilty, and everything all at once. I'm angry because I don't want Sorata-kun to want to die for me. What a selfish thing to tell somebody... now, if he dies, I will feel responsible, and I don't want the weight of his death, or anybody's death, on my shoulders. I feel guilty because of the questions he asked me. He says he loves me, and yet he doesn't know me well at all. I'm sad because...

Because I don't know why. I don't want to know why. I don't want to feel these feelings.

And he doesn't even stop.

He takes some of my hair in his hands and holds it to his lips.

"I think that you are becoming more relaxed around me. Have I gotten the wrong impression?"

I feel... I don't know. I've not very good at reading other people. Apparently I'm even worse at reading myself. And Sorata-kun stills awaits an answer.

Why do I have to put my feelings into words? Why?

I drop my head. I can't look at him while I think of an answer, but without even having one, I lift my head and look him straight in the eyes.

"I..."

"Arisugawa-san!"

It's Imonoyama-san, flanked by Takamura-san and Ijyuin-san. Somehow I find that my legs have carried me away from Sorata-kun; I glance back, and predictably, he appears shocked. I turn away again, but I can still hear him talking to Imonoyama-san.

"It seems that I have interrupted you."

I can hear Sorata-kun laugh.

"Not at all. It was a one-sided courtship. To her, your arrival must be a timely rescue."

I cannot lie... it was a timely rescue, but not because of the reason Sorata-kun thinks. Imonoyama-san saved me from having to start a sentence that I did not know how to finish. What was I supposed to say... "I love you too?"

The words would have sounded stupid coming from someone like me.

I look back at Sorata-kun. He's pushed me out of his mind for the moment and is concentrating on his work with Imonoyama-san. He can sometimes seem a bit 'frivolous,' as he put it, but he is a very gentle person.

Sorata-kun sometimes acts like he thinks he is unworthy of my love... but perhaps it is I who is unworthy of his.

I'm so confused.

I grasp the bit of hair Sorata-kun held to his lips and twirl it in my fingers. I stare at it. Thoughts are flowing through my mind a mile a minute.

But for a moment, I just smile and hold it to my cheek.

Maybe, sometimes, things are not as complicated as they seem.