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It was when I was in the third grade of elementary school. Because my parents were transferred to different jobs, I transferred from Nagano to an elementary school in Tokyo. There, I met my best friend, whom I naively thought I would never be separated from.

Akari Shinohara, like herself, was frail and sickly at the time, and both of them liked to spend time in the library.

What he likes, Akari likes too; what Akari likes, he also likes.

He was not afraid of anything as long as he could stay by Akari's side, and Akari could smile as long as she could hear his voice. She was happy every day.

Back then, we made a promise to go to the same middle school, the same high school, and the same university, and to stay together after graduation, never to be separated again.

However, not long after the agreement was made, Akari left Tokyo for Tochigi because her parents were moving.

Just six months later, Akari sent her first letter.

Through letters, over the course of a year, he and Akari, despite being separated by a great distance, grew to like each other more and more.

He had been saving money and thinking things through. Finally, he made up his mind and, on a snowy night, without his parents' knowledge, took an unknown high-speed train for the first time, spending the whole night looking for Akari.

There were so many unexpected events at the time.

Whether it was the heavy snow causing the train to stop for a long time, or the wind accidentally blowing away Akari's letter, it all affected his mood. When he arrived in Tochigi, it was much later than expected. He was hungry, tired, and cold.

He was thinking, "Oh no, I'm definitely not going to see Akari. Akari must think I broke the contract."

But that's not how it works.

Even though he was so many hours late, when he got off the train, Akari was still waiting for him in the waiting room, believing that he wouldn't lie and that he would definitely come.

Why are there such wonderful girls and such good friends as Akari in the world?

No, not good friends.

They are lovers.

He and Akari were hugging when they exchanged their first kiss.

Although they had no money, were hungry, tired, and cold, for some reason, as long as they held each other tightly, they felt that no matter what hardships they suffered, it didn't matter.

I'm so happy and blessed.

They're lovers, that's right, they're lovers.

But why?

Since I moved to Kagoshima with my parents for middle school, even though we still keep in touch by letter and we both know we love each other, why do we correspond less and less?

It's been three months already.

For three months, Mingli did not send any new letters, nor did he send any new letters.

What did you write in your last letter?

Ah... I can't quite remember. I think it was about what I eat regularly and how my studies are going? I can't recall clearly.

But why is it that I remember every single letter from elementary school so clearly and distinctly, without forgetting a single word?

“Akari…”

Looking at the sea, the sky, and the seagulls, and feeling the air, Akari's smile would appear in his mind and before his eyes. She was so lovely, and he liked her so much.

I clearly liked it so much, so why can't I muster any interest or desire to keep in touch with it anymore?

He didn't even have the courage to send another letter. He was even starting to feel afraid. He was afraid that if he sent another letter, it would still be the same boring and uninteresting thing, not like he was talking to him. Instead, it would be the same content that could be seamlessly conveyed to any random person.

He might then want to refuse to receive it, not reply, or pretend he didn't receive or see the new letter.

Why does life turn out this way?

"Because, that's the kind of creature humans are."

"Huh?"

Takaki Tono was certain that he hadn't been talking to himself, but how could anyone know?

Turning my head, I saw a handsome, unfamiliar middle-aged man who didn't seem to have any ill intentions.

"Those who share the same ideals, or the same hobbies, or whose personalities can complement each other or have moderate friction, will give rise to all kinds of friendships, love, and aspirations."

"However, humans are also very emotional. For example, seeing a news report on TV that thousands of people have died in a certain place in one go does not bring a person the same level of sadness as seeing someone seriously injured in person."

The handsome, harmless middle-aged man sat down on his own in this spot near the sea.

She sat sideways beside him.

Takaki Tono murmured to himself, "What... does this mean?"

"In other words, regardless of shared hobbies, compatible personalities, or the same lofty goals."

The handsome middle-aged man said earnestly, "Humans, if you can't interact with each other in person, these things will definitely be gradually worn away."

"If people haven't seen each other for too long, they will feel anxious. Even if you write in a letter that you still have the same preferences as before, won't the other person worry that you have actually changed but are not saying so?"

"Even if you haven't really changed, when people are face to face, they can look at each other's expressions and faces, and a lot of things will come out of their hearts. But if they can only look at letters, after being separated for too long, what will they want to say?"

"There are very few things that can be written in letters, so few that love is easily worn away."

Takaki Tono straightened his back, a fire burning inside him. He was somewhat annoyed: "Are you trying to say that just because we haven't seen each other for so long, I have absolutely no interest in Akari, that I don't love her anymore, and that she won't love me either?"

Upon hearing this, the handsome middle-aged man did not reply.

He seemed to have suddenly noticed something, and reached out towards a certain part of the sea, his voice so anxious it could have been deceiving: "Akiri has drowned!"

"What?!" Takaki Tono exclaimed in shock, his eyes wide with horror. He instinctively stood up, making a gesture as if he were about to plunge into the sea to save the person.

Everything comes from the heart, a dual thought of body and mind.

Upon seeing this, the handsome middle-aged man simply smiled and said, "See, isn't this fine?"

"Love may fade, but if it's true affection, even if the distance between you is too long and you can only look at each other in silence when you meet again, you will still lend a helping hand when the other person is in need."

Takaki Tono pursed his lips, only then realizing that the older man was lying to him.

However, he only just realized that he was actually so scared when he heard that Akari was in danger.

The uncertainty about whether I still loved Akari seemed to vanish instantly.

"Then, let's go." The uncle stood up and extended his hand to him.

Takaki Tono was taken aback: "Where to?"

"Go find your Akari."

"Huh? But tomorrow's a holiday. If I go to see Akari now, I definitely won't be able to get back tomorrow. I don't have any money to go to Akari's place right now. Wait, I haven't even told her yet. I don't even know what to say to her now..."

Takaki Tono panicked.

Although I'm older now, I don't have the same courage and determination as when I was in elementary school, when I would resolutely go to find Akari just because I wanted to.

But the handsome older man didn't care about any of that. Like a human trafficker, he forcibly grabbed his hand and abducted him: "Don't worry about all this nonsense. I'll pay for it. Whatever you want to say will come when you meet. There's no need to think about it!"

"Wait, wait, wait... who exactly are you, uncle?!"

"Uncle, I'm just an unemployed bum, wandering around sightseeing and a busybody. Enough talk, let's go!"

Half-dragged along, heading towards Akari's current city and school, Takaki Tono stopped shouting.

Because he actually knew... he wanted to go, but he just couldn't convince himself and didn't dare to make a decision.

Whether or not I can continue my relationship with Akari will depend on the unexpected decision this uncle makes!

"That's more like it, great lad."

Seeing Takaki Tono's gradually changing expression, Kasa smiled slightly and patted Takaki on the shoulder.

Let me state beforehand that he did not intentionally pry into Takaki's mind. It's just that ever since he drifted here, he has been trying to break through the power of the Dark Spark. He had just broken through a large part of it, and the power got out of control, which is why he was able to peek into Takaki's mind.

Let's just do them a favor. If Takaki and Akari continue to not see each other, it will definitely become a huge regret for both of them.

So let's go for it.

By the way, he also just happened to fix the broken chat group!

Volume 1: Chapter 57. Towards the Infinite Land of Light

57. Towards the Infinite Kingdom of Light

【Ding! 】

[Great news! Big news! A group notification has been sent to all group members: the chat group has been restarted!]

[The proactive group members have fixed the bug and are working hard to update to version 1.1, removing the restriction that prevents group members from informing others about the existence of the chat group itself.]

[The chat group has evolved autonomously to version 1.2, adding a group owner function. The default group owner is the most vocal member. Welcome! Welcome!]

The sound of a ding—how long it's been!

I used to think it was just an ordinary thing, but in the months since I finished playing Papetua, every time I opened the chat group, it was just a jumble of characters, which made me miss it.

[Coward]: "The group is alive!?"

[Best Actor]: "That's great!"

[Dead Fish Eyes]: "As expected of Uncle Casa!"

【I am Batman】: "Although I am trying my best to find a way to fix it, it will probably take at least two or three years to fix it by myself."

【Resilience King】: "Hmph, it takes two or three years of bug fixes, you stupid Batman. If I'm in a good mood, I can fix a mere chat group bug in one or two years, no problem at all!"

Hibiki Yuta, Yotsuya Miko, and Hikigaya Hachiman seem to be the most frequent viewers of the group chat, and being veteran viewers themselves, they were all delighted immediately.

Bruce stated some facts, and after seeing them, Sasuke Uchiha immediately slandered, attacked, and bullied him!

Although Prison Bat meant well in the first place, he still remembers the pressure and suffering he endured during the special training and will definitely attack Prison Bat!

[I Don't Want to Pilot Unit-01]: "Sasuke is still so energetic, that's great!"

[Why is he still dying?]: "Well, it's that guy after all."

【Eternal Yellow Weasel】: "Hmph, hahaha, admire me, the most ancient king of mankind, a hero of history, with countless aliases, the most human of humans, Zeus the wild dog, die, hehehahaha!"

[Badge of Courage]: "Uh... what is Uncle Neos doing?"

【Eternal Yellow Weasel】: "Huh? No, why did the group chat have to open at this time? Cough—it was just a small mistake, don't look, don't look, just forget about it!"

[Why is he still dying?]: "Sigh, he's going crazy, sigh, he has hysteria."

[Pro-war faction]: "Everyone's here. Thankfully, it seems there were no accidents. So, where is everyone now? Are any of you injured?"