Dimensional Descent

Leonel was dazed for a moment before he blinked, a hint of confusion coloring his handsome face.

He had expected that once they came back, Aina would start avoiding him again. Now that they weren't in a Zone and couldn't enter one for a long while, she wouldn't have to feel bad about leaving him behind. But, he could have never imagined that she would actually come to seek him out first.

Aina was really too confusing to him. Did she want to avoid him, or not? Maybe she was moved by the words he spoke in Paris? Or, it was also possible that she decided that since he wouldn't give up on her, she might as well use him?

Leonel might have been infatuated to the point of causing others to raise an eyebrow when it came to Aina, but he wasn't a fool. The matter of her lying about the entry quota had definitely stirred something within him.

A part of Leonel wanted to believe that she wanted an excuse to spend more time with him, but he wasn't so vain. It was more likely related to her family…

Aina clearly had an even stronger motivation to grow powerful in comparison to Leonel. The most likely explanation was that she wanted as many rewards to herself as possible. Logically, then, entering with as few people as possible was the most beneficial to her.

Though Leonel knew this was most likely the answer, he didn't hate her for it. He too made selfish decisions without asking for her opinion first within the Zone. In addition, she wasn't trying to harm him. They did indeed have the capability to clear it alone. The only variables were related to the Zone teetering on becoming a Unique Zone, but Aina hadn't known this until they entered.

"… Young miss!"

Leonel, who had been dazed to the point of staring at Aina for several long moments, was startled awake by a familiar voice.

Yuri, while holding up her skirt, ran forward like a delicate lady.

Leonel glanced in her direction, then looked toward Aina, then back toward Yuri once more.

Aina: "…"

curled into a

picked a mission near where your Paradise Island might have fallen, you want to check it out, right?"

or sadness. He knew that his father was fine now, so he hadn't been as stressed

who was still running toward them with all

grabbed Aina's. It seemed it was Aina's turn to be

"Let's run, then."

behind and sprinting through the streets with his arm, linked

thin layer of sweat. She panted for a moment then

left her more than exasperated. In fact, she had

It's too

But, only she and Aina knew that

**

this smile had nothing to do with being with

on the gas pedal, winding through the wreckage of buildings

had never had the opportunity to learn to drive. Cars were too rare due to the densely populated cities. Everything had been boiled down to

take out one of these armored jeeps thanks to his level of privileges, he practically