“I will repay you with anything. Whatever you desire.”
Hanbun spoke. Then Luke leaned forward awkwardly.
“W-would you like a signature?”
Snowden looked increasingly troubled. In the end, he grimaced and left the café without a word. Rosa hurried after him. When Luke tried to follow, Tahyang stopped him.
“Let us wait a moment.”
Rosa caught up to Snowden in the alley before the café. When she seized his wrist and pulled, he stopped and spoke stiffly.
“What is it?”
“You’re the one running away. How do you think we feel right now?”
“Everyone suddenly started looking at me like that. What am I supposed to…”
Rosa abruptly stopped arguing and looked straight at Snowden. He subtly averted his gaze. Rosa spoke.
“Tell me. What’s the problem? You can be honest.”
“…I can’t.”
“Why can’t you tell me?”
“No, I mean I can’t do it! I don’t have that ability! I’m not Deni! I’m still young! Do I have to make you hear it from my own mouth?”
Snowden turned his head sharply away. After a moment, feeling sorry, he looked back at Rosa. He saw her face twist. She clenched her teeth and seemed to force her eyes wide, but tears fell. Snowden pressed his lips together and only watched her, murmuring something under his breath.
Eventually, Rosa wiped away her tears and spoke.
“All right.”
Her voice was thick. As Rosa turned to go back into the café, Snowden hesitated with an anxious look, but in the end only folded his arms. When she had gone, his young face took on a troubled expression as he muttered,
“When did the scrawny little girl who could only look at me grow so tall?”
A little later, when Snowden entered the café and approached Hippolyte’s table, Rosa’s party was just saying goodbye. Rosa saw him and spoke.
“Then I’ll see you next time.”
“Next time? What about Deni’s message?”
“I… think I’ll be busy for a while. I need to sort out my feelings too. Once it’s all over… Let’s talk again then.”
Rosa’s voice was still a little hoarse. The others said goodbye to Snowden as well. Hippolyte spoke.
“I’ll open a door here for you. Go carefully. The Grand Theater, wasn’t it?”
Snowden suddenly spoke.
“Make it the library.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
Hippolyte tilted her head, then tapped on the window and recited a spell. It began to glow. When she opened it, the street visible through it had already grown bright.
“It’s morning in Delphinad. Goodbye, then.”
Snowden went through first. Rosa and the others glanced at each other. With both forefingers, Luke mimed wiping tears from his eyes as he spoke.
“I’m impressed by your acting. Why not make your debut on the stage?”
Rosa shot him a look, then ducked her head through the window. The others followed. When they had all gone, Hippolyte closed the window and turned toward the mages, who were still debating.
“Listen, the poet just left. Do you realize that? Hmm?”
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