"My mother?"

"Yes, I am very curious about it. I wonder what kind of person your mother is?"

Ryuto couldn't help but prop his chin with his hand, thinking carefully.

"...In that case, she's probably similar to your mother."

"Huh? Similar to my mother?"

Anna made a rather surprised sound.

"Oh, always smiling, and quite clumsy in her actions... In that sense, they are completely the same."

"Listening to Ryuto saying that, it seems like your mother is a very interesting person. I really want to meet her."

"Well, about that... She's not at home right now, so..."

"Is that so..."

Anna sighed slightly disappointedly.

Is it really necessary to be so disheartened just because you can't meet her? Making her own mother seem like a celebrity, and even if she were at home, she wouldn't be in this country anyway.

"But here, I must apologize to Ryuto."

Anna suddenly dropped this bombshell.

"Apologize?"

"Yes, about this afternoon."

"This afternoon?"

"Yes, in the end, it's because of me that Ryuto went this afternoon, it's all because of my request, without asking Ryuto, and even though Ryuto is my lifesaver, I keep bothering Ryuto..."

As she spoke, she lowered her head towards Ryuto.

"..."

Are you still feeling embarrassed? The way you acted was practically coercive. Do you even know that you put me in a tight spot?

Even though Ryuto was silently criticizing in his heart, he ultimately didn't say it out loud, because this was the enemy's headquarters...

"No, it's nothing..."

So, Ryuto could only respond with a wry smile.

"I have no other friends, and when I found out that the terrorists' target is me, I was scared. At that time, the only person I could rely on was Ryuto. I know it's entirely my own fault, but I had no other choice, because besides Ryuto, I can't find anyone else I can trust. But...even if it sounds nice, it can't be an excuse to involve Ryuto, so no matter what, I have to apologize to Ryuto. Moreover, Ryuto is my friend now, I can't pretend not to know."

"No... let's forget about that incident, I don't mind anymore."

"Really... That's great, I thought Ryuto would distance yourself from me because of this, it's really great that it didn't turn out that way."

Saying that, Anna let out a relieved sigh.

"Huh? Did you originally think I would blame you?"

"No, I thought that if it was Ryuto, you wouldn't blame me, because Ryuto is a very gentle person, but..."

"But?"

"Although what I said is factual, I can't completely rule out the possibility that Ryuto would blame me. Although that's not what I hope for, no one can guarantee that it won't turn out that way."

"...If you know that, why still say it? Aren't you afraid of the worst outcome? You could have just acted like you didn't know."

In response, Anna closed her eyes and said slowly.

"No, even if it leads to the worst outcome, I can't pretend not to know."

"Why?"

"Because Ryuto is my friend now. Although I didn't have friends before, I know that friends can't be deceived. Therefore, even if Ryuto might blame me, I have no intention of ignoring it."

"..."

God, I am a sinner. She clearly considers me a true friend, and yet I had so many complaints about her just now. I am a deeply sinful person, I feel ashamed of the thoughts I had just now, please grant me death.