SWNOVELXO Chapter 48 - Couldn't I just lock you up?
“A closer relationship…”
“……”
Upon hearing WuYue words, YouYu fell silent for a moment before attempting to withdraw his hand from hers.
However, at that moment, WuYue’s grip tightened like an iron clamp, holding his hand firmly in place, making it impossible for him to move.
Since YouYu couldn’t afford to reveal his strength here, after trying a few more times and confirming that he really couldn’t pull his hand free, he sighed and said:
“WuYue, can you let go of my hand first?”
“It’s inconvenient for me to talk right now, and you’re squeezing my hand, and it’s starting to hurt.”
“……Ah! Sorry!”
WuYue didn’t react to his earlier words, but when she heard “hurt,” she instinctively loosened her grip, allowing YouYu to retract his hand.
Watching YouYu lower his head and shake his wrist, now reddened from her grip, WuYue embarrassing said:
“I’m sorry… YouYu, I got a little too excited, and without thinking…”
“…It’s fine. It’s not that big of a deal anyway.”
Feigning the act of stretching out his sore wrist, YouYu looked up at WuYue, who was now too embarrassed to meet his gaze due to her guilt and sighed inwardly.
“At least for now, she doesn’t seem to have any intention of hurting me… but there was definitely a sign just now.”
“…”
He had to keep her calm. If things really went south and she stabbed him, everything would be over.
After thinking for a while, YouYu said:
“Ahem!”
“Alright, WuYue, first of all, I want to ask you something.”
“When you said a ‘closer relationship,’ what exactly did you mean by that?”
“And… why do you want our relationship to progress further?”
Although YouYu knew the questions he was asking sounded a bit strange, it was necessary to uncover her true thoughts.
Only then could he decide what response to give next…
“……”
Hearing his questions, WuYue didn’t answer immediately. She kept her head down, seemingly lost in thought.
After a while, she finally raised her head, and by then, a blush had already spread across her face.
With her face flushed, WuYue, in a shy and hesitant tone, said what she wanted:
“A closer relationship… is… well, it’s…”
“……”
She stumbled over her words, pausing for a moment before continuing:
“It’s… something like… being a couple… I guess?”
“……A couple.”
Upon hearing her words, YouYu showed no signs of shock or surprise. He simply nodded calmly and then followed up with another question:
“And what about the next question? Why do you want our relationship to become something like that?”
“…Why?”
WuYue fell silent for a moment.
Was there even a why for such a question?
Taking a deep breath and having already confessed earlier, WuYue felt her embarrassment fade. With newfound seriousness, she replied:
“Because I like you, YouYu.”
“In every way… I like you very much!”
“So, no matter what, I want to be with you!”
“This is my reason, nothing more.”
“……”
“I see.”
YouYu nodded, but instead of offering an immediate response, he looked at WuYue with a seriousness she had never seen before. His gaze intense, he asked:
“Let me confirm again—are you sure you really want this?”
“Y-yes! Is… there a problem?”
Seeing YouYu’s reaction—so different from the joyful response she’d anticipated, with a serious expression instead—WuYue’s excitement, which had only just started to build, was once again suppressed.
“……”
This wasn’t right. Something felt off.
Shouldn’t he be happy? Why was the situation… turning strange?
YouYu must be joking around, like he had before; that must be it.
WuYue consoled herself with this thought.
Because… perhaps without even waiting for him to speak, she could already predict what his answer would be.
But, with a sliver of hope still lingering, WuYue decided to hold on until she could hear YouYu’s answer.
“……”
After receiving WuYue’s firm confirmation, YouYu took a deep breath, leaning back against the sofa and staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
For WuYue, the silence that followed was agonizing.
But she held back her urge to say something, fearing any impulsive action might worsen things.
“……”
And so, after what felt like an eternity of unbearable waiting…
YouYu finally gave his answer—
“…I’m sorry, WuYue, but I can’t do this.”
With an apology, YouYu said to her.
“……”
“Why?”
Her eyes were vacant, and her tone was calm as she asked, even though deep down, she knew there was no longer any point in questioning his decision.
Yet, she still wanted to know why YouYu had rejected her.
“Because I can’t give you lasting happiness, and I can’t guarantee anything else.”
Shaking his head, YouYu answered frankly.
“…You know, WuYue, you’re a magical girl now. Whether it’s in terms of your existence or your responsibilities, you’re completely different from someone like me, an ordinary person.”
“…Maybe I’m just old-fashioned, but I believe that once a relationship is confirmed, it means staying together for life, to see it through to the end.”
“While I have promised before that I would do my best to help you all… but when it comes to being a couple, forgive me for being blunt, but I don’t think I can do that.”
YouYu sighed, looking at WuYue’s lifeless eyes and then glancing at the untouched cup of water before her. He continued:
“If things hadn’t turned out this way… maybe I would have agreed to be with you, WuYue.”
“But now, it’s no longer possible.”
“……”
“Because… I might die.”
“As a magical girl, you’re going to fight—against monsters, against cadres—you’ll constantly be in danger.”
“There’s no way I can just stand by and watch you suffer and face hardship.”
“Because I’m just like you… an idiot who’s willing to give everything to help others.”
“So… that’s why.”
“Maybe, sooner or later, I’ll end up dying in some accident.”
Aside from the possibility of dying, there was also the fact that he wasn’t from this world. Eventually, he’d have to find a way back, and staying here permanently wasn’t an option.
Agreeing to WuYue’s request under these circumstances? Leaving aside the issue of whether he could even return to his world, his ‘conscience’ wouldn’t let him make that promise lightly…
“……”
Seeing WuYue remain silent, YouYu took a sip of water, preparing to finish his explanation:
“…Of course, this isn’t your fault, WuYue.”
“Just think of it as me being a coward.”
“Without being sure I can stay with you until the end, I can’t promise you lasting happiness, nor can I guarantee anything.”
“…But, don’t worry, until I die, I’ll always—mmph!”
Just as YouYu continued with his “noble reasoning,” WuYue suddenly reached out and covered his mouth with her hand.
In that instant, those once lifeless eyes… finally lit up, but with a terrifying glint.
“All this talk about dying and whatnot…”
“The premise is that you’re the one who decided to come out and ‘help me,’ right?”
“Then… isn’t the solution simple?”
“Couldn’t I just lock you up until you admit you were wrong?”