Vili, however, felt no qualms about it.
The mountain path was a bit bumpy, and after taking only a few steps, he instinctively grabbed Yukimura Masashi's forearm to prevent himself from falling to the ground.
The seemingly aloof boy glanced at him, remained silent for a few seconds, but did not shake his hand away. Instead, he deliberately slowed his pace so that Willy could catch up.
For a moment, the two remained silent, but the atmosphere was strangely not awkward; instead, it was relaxed and comfortable.
Perhaps the road is a little longer... but that's fine too.
After walking for about ten minutes, Masashi Yukimura suddenly stopped and looked up at the clear blue sky.
The weather was sunny today, and although it was close to August, it wasn't hot. A few white clouds drifted lazily by, and a gentle breeze brought some coolness.
Willy stopped with him, staring blankly up at the sky, but couldn't see anything.
Ah, but that cloud looks a lot like a swimming fish.
...I want to eat sashimi.
Before he could express his own ideas, Masashi Yukimura spoke first.
"There's going to be a downpour soon, we need to speed things up."
He grabbed Willy's wrist and was about to run with the boy when he felt an unexpected resistance.
Masashi Yukimura looked at him.
"What's wrong?"
Don't you trust my judgment?
Before he could finish speaking, Vili shook his head rapidly as if he had anticipated it, puffing out his cheeks.
I'm hungry.
"I'm so hungry I have no energy!"
"..."
"We'll be there soon..."
This was the first time Masashi Yukimura had seen him like this. It was as if a soft, warm kitten had suddenly been placed in his arms, and he was at a loss. He couldn't maintain his indifferent expression, and even his voice was in complete disarray.
Seeing that Willy was squatting on the ground and refusing to get up, he hesitated for a moment and then squatted down to look him in the eye.
"I'm not sure when this rain will start. If we're running late, we can stay at the guesthouse for a while..."
Willie buried her head in her knees, and upon hearing this, she secretly glanced up at him. Her once smooth hair was slightly disheveled from her earlier movements, and a sly glint flashed in her jewel-like eyes. Her voice softened:
"But I've never walked this far before... My legs are so sore, my feet hurt so much, and my head is starting to spin, otherwise..."
You go first, and I'll follow later?
Of course, when that time comes, Vili will happily use teleportation magic, instead of foolishly walking around here for tens of minutes.
If it weren't for the fact that Yukimura Masashi was a decent person, he would have run away long ago instead of pretending to be something he'd never do.
Oh dear, I'm just too kind!
Unexpectedly, after a moment of contemplation, Masashi Yukimura turned around, then turned his back to Vili and bent down slightly.
"Come."
The boy behind him didn't move for a long time, so he urged him:
"I'll carry you on my back."
With my physical strength, jogging all the way to Twilight Village shouldn't be a problem...
Looking at the broad, sturdy back in front of him, Willy hesitated for only two seconds before nimbly climbing up and tightly embracing Yukimura Masashi's neck.
Since I don't have to walk myself... why not?
Despite walking on such a bumpy road, and carrying an extra weight on his back, Masashi Yukimura seemed to be walking on flat ground, moving as swiftly as the wind.
He seemed cold and aloof, but his movements as he carried Willy were very steady, bringing a strange sense of security.
Masashi Yukimura... he's such a good person.
Thinking this, Vili relaxed her body, turned her head slightly, and nestled on the other person's shoulder. Strands of her hair brushed against the pale neck, bringing a slight tickle.
He entrusted all his weight to Yukimura Masashi with peace of mind, and because of this, he did not notice the aloof boy's slight pause in his steps, nor the slight unnaturalness that flashed across his face.
"Speaking of which..."
Looking at the unchanging, withered weeds by the roadside, Willy started looking for something to talk about out of boredom.
"You seemed surprised when the driver mentioned the missing boy's camera and photos. Why was that?"
"This is important, shouldn't it be written in the mission intelligence?"
"Although it wasn't mentioned at all in the mission notification you gave me..."
However, I heard that this strange tale was actually commissioned by the people of Twilight Village. Logically speaking, they shouldn't have concealed such obvious information.
If this is true, then everyone will know just by asking around in the village.
The driver had no vested interest in them and therefore had no reason to lie.
Upon hearing this, Masashi Yukimura paused in his tracks, surprised by the boy's sharp reflexes.
He didn't show the slightest abnormality in the car before...
Amami-sensei previously said that Kii Kanade spoiled Willy too much, but isn't he the same way?
Vili was not an ignorant child, but he only told Yukimura Masashi the mission information separately. Although he did not say it explicitly, the latter could tell his attitude.
—Keep everything a secret.
He might have been worried that the boy would be uneasy if he found out about this, but in Yukimura Masashi's opinion... despite his usual carefree and nonchalant appearance, Vili was by no means a sheep without claws.
The signs were already evident from the very first day of school.
Masashi Yukimura seemed to be taking a little too long to think, so Vili stretched out his slender, white index finger and quietly poked the aloof boy's cheek.
He turned his head abruptly, the soft sensation vanishing in an instant, like an illusion, and his deep voice trembled slightly.
"...Stop fooling around."
"You still haven't answered my question?"
Vili, who had been teasing him, withdrew his hand, but continued to nag.
After a long silence, Yukimura Masashi adjusted his position slightly to make the boy on his back more comfortable. Then, as if organizing his thoughts, he softened his voice and revealed everything that Tenkai had secretly instructed him to do.
He didn't feel any psychological burden in doing this.
A well-intentioned deception may seem like a form of protection, but it also subtly conveys another message.
That is, the protected person is vulnerable and distrusted.
Masashi Yukimura disagreed with the way Kanade Kii and Amami treated Willy. He believed that the boy had the right to know everything, rather than being in danger while completely ignorant.
As he listened to his story, Willy gradually quieted down. Unable to see his expression, Yukimura Masashi felt uneasy and couldn't help but speak up:
"Although there is a conspiracy behind this mission, and some people have even deliberately withheld information... there is no need to worry."
"I will stay with you."
"……Um?"
As if startled by his voice, Willy's reply was somewhat muffled and his speech was slow.
"I wasn't thinking about those things..."
But based on what Yukimura Masashi said, this ruthless, vicious, and clandestine style of doing things always feels...surprisingly familiar.
It reminded him of the couple he had met in the first world.
Perhaps this is also a common trait among the protagonists in the main god script?
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