The setting sun finally sank into the horizon, leaving only a final, tragic, and magnificent glow, adorning the sky with a purple and golden edge.
The evening breeze, with a bone-chilling coolness, swept across the empty path, kicking up a few fallen leaves and bringing forth silence.
Air Groove had been carefully led back to rest by members of the Student Council who had received prior notice.
In this vast expanse, it seemed that only Kaito and the undefeated "Emperor" — Symboli Rudolf — remained.
Upon hearing Kaito's declaration, which was almost an act of war, Rudolf was stunned for a rare moment.
Immediately, her calm and powerful aura, belonging to an "Emperor" and seemingly innate, surged like a tide again, instantly making the surrounding air thick and heavy.
Once again, she displayed her characteristic and flawless smile, as if she could encompass all things in the world.
But Kaito knew that beneath that smile lay the most formidable city wall, erected after being provoked for the first time.
A silent war had begun. It was not a clash of forces, but a confrontation of wills and minds.
"My 'ailment'?"
Rudolf gently brushed away the bangs from her forehead, ruffled by the evening breeze, and took an elegant yet extremely oppressive step forward, shortening the distance between them to three steps.
She showed no tension; instead, she looked like a mentor standing at the peak of wisdom, gazing intrigued at the bold student before her.
She laughed softly, with a hint of condescending amusement in her deep amethyst eyes.
"Kaito-kun, I truly appreciate your confidence"
"So, I am very anxious to hear, from your perspective as the miraculous Rehabilitation Specialist known as the 'God's Hand'" her voice was firm and full of power, every word attempting to regain control of the conversation.
"What incurable disease have I, the undefeated 'Emperor' in whom everyone places so much hope, actually contracted?"
She threw the question as if it were a scalpel, attempting to place Kaito in the passive position where he had to "answer" and "prove"
However—
Kaito was not intimidated by her imperial aura. On the contrary, he also took a step forward. One step, and the distance between them was reduced to a single, oppressive step.
He did not answer her with the name of the supposed "disease." He directly began to "set the condition."
"You do not need my diagnosis, Your Majesty, because you feel it at every moment" Kaito's voice was terrifyingly calm, yet sharp, straight to the heart.
"Your «ailment» is not in your body, nor in your technique, but in... the very title of «Emperador» that you hold"
A minuscule, almost imperceptible rigidity appeared in Rudolf's perfect smile.
"You guide all the Umas lost on their path forward, but who can clear the fog that lies ahead for you?"
Kaito's gaze did not waver or show reverence, looking directly into her deep eyes, which had begun to fluctuate.
"You bring one trophy after another to Tracen, but who has ever asked you if that arm, which always holds the trophy high, might also... feel tired?"
Rudolf's pupils contracted sharply, almost imperceptibly. She wanted to speak, to say reflexively: "This is my responsibility," to use her imperial authority to interrupt this disrespectful offense.
But Kaito gave her no chance.
"You are so kind to everyone, you smile at them, listen to their concerns, and solve their problems; you are like a perfect, infallible deity walking among humans"
"But, Your Majesty..."
Kaito's voice, in that moment, suddenly dropped, filling with a supreme and enchanting magic.
"Deities also get tired"
"Deities also have... moments of loneliness"
"When you find yourself alone by the highest window of the Student Council, gazing at the brilliantly lit academy, what do you really see in your heart? Is it the vast empire you are so proud of...?"
"Or is it a larger and more magnificent cage...?"
The word "cage," like a heavy invisible hammer, struck fiercely and directly at Rudolf's heart, which was wrapped in layers of armor.
Her flawless facade, like that of an emperor, finally showed a clear and undeniable crack! For the first time, her breathing lost its rhythm!
"No... I..."
Kaito saw the immense hesitation in her eyes and knew it was the right moment. He took another step forward, the distance between them so small they could almost feel each other's hurried breaths.
He formulated his last and most lethal question in a voice that was almost a whisper, yet incredibly clear, like a final judgment.
"You exhausted yourself to heal Air Groove, hoping she could reach you, become your true opponent, so you wouldn't be so alone"
"But deep down, do you not also yearn for—"
"Someone who does not humbly chase you or look up at you with adoration from below"
"But someone who can, naturally, be by your side, without any awe, without any expectation, simply looking at you and then telling you—"
Kaito paused here intentionally and cruelly. Letting every word engrave itself into her soul like a red-hot iron.
"Rudolf, you have done very well, you have worked hard"
"Rudolf, you don't need... to always be so perfect"
"These words..."
"Have you not been waiting for them for a long, long time?"
Boom—!
This passage was not a debate, nor a lecture, and certainly not an attack.
It was... understanding. It was her deepest desire and her vulnerability, which even she did not dare to face, exposed brutally and completely to the evening breeze by a seemingly ordinary mortal, with the simplest and most unadorned words!
Rudolf's body swayed slightly. Instinctively, she took half a step back.
This was the first time in her life she showed signs of retreat when facing someone.
Her proud composure and imperial smile had completely vanished.
In their place was an extremely complex expression, a mixture of shock, bewilderment, grievance, and a touch of relief at being discovered.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something to maintain her last crumbling dignity... but found that not a single word could escape her throat.
In that moment, she was no longer the all-powerful "Emperor."
She was simply an ordinary girl, Rudolf, almost suffocated by the heavy and magnificent crown, longing to be understood.
Seeing her on the brink of collapse, the sharpness in Kaito's eyes instantly vanished.
In its place appeared an unprecedented tenderness and compassion that could melt all ice.
He extended his hand toward her slowly and firmly.
Then, with the softest voice, he made that fatal invitation, capable of melting everything.
"Then, Your Majesty"
"Are you willing to let this unconventional mortal..."
"Help you share the burden of that heavy crown?"
This invitation was no longer a provocation, no longer a challenge.
It was... salvation.
Rudolf stared blankly at the hand extended toward her.
That hand was long, warm, without rings symbolizing power, without scars from victories obtained.
It was just the hand of an ordinary man.
But to her, this hand was more attractive and moved her heart more than any trophy she had ever received.
The evening breeze blew again, lifting her soft, long hair.
The entire world seemed to be waiting for her answer.
She fell into the most important and sweetest... longest deliberation of her life.