XXXVIII

                                    

                                          
"(Y/N)?" I hear through my thoughts.
"Yea?"
"This is really fun...all of it. This is honestly the happiest I've ever been since...s-since me and Negumi were younger...you're treating me so good it's...making me so happy..thank you (Y/N)! You're literally the best thing in my life!" I hear her sob as she's saying this through my head and I pull her closer and hug her tight.
"Shhhh it's okay," I say comforting her in my arms. "You deserve this for being such an amazing girlfriend to me."
                          
I feel Aura's body tensed up and I smile to myself. I could almost hear her pouting. "I'm glad you're apart of my life," she mumbles through her lips.
"I'm glad you're apart of mine. I wish my mom had met you."
Aura gets silent after that.
"Uh..I'm sorry it's just...a thought I didn't mean for it to hu-"
"Me too.."
"Huh?"
"I wish I met her too. Met her sooner to save her..."
I smile carassing her head.
"I could...change reality so that your mom lives again...e-even though it'd might change some other person's life but-"
"Aura, it's okay. I wouldn't want to potentially ruin somebody's life just to get my mom back...it wouldn't feel right...and I'm sure you'd agree too."
She nods in agreement. "I do..."
                          
"As much I do want her back, I much rather she's back in the peaceful reality you're creating."
"I...rather her there too. So she's in no more danger."
"That's right. And she'll be most happiest."
"Just like everyone will be. I will certainly take Celeste down. I won't screw this up again."
"I know you won't Aura. You got this, we got this."
"Yes." 
"So Aura, ready to go further?"
"H-Huh?! I thought you said hip level and that's it!" Aura starts getting afraid again.
"You said it's not as cold now s-so-"
"I don't want to go any further-"
"Well that's too bad. Hip level is only disrespectful to the water so you need to have fun in the water."
"(Y/N)-!"
                          
I take hold of Aura and sink further down in the water with her and she screeches in my ear whilst wrapping her legs around my waist. She shivers from the cold but it shortly passes.
"See? It's not so bad right?" I ask teasing her lowkey.
"Meanie meanie meanie, my hair is wet. That's not funny (Y/N)!"
I chuckle. "It is when you react like that hahaha."
"Hmph! You are right though, this feels nice too."
"You can move around too you know? And even swim if you want me to teach you?"
"Mhm. You can either swing your arms and legs around like propellers on a plane or motion your hands like you're opening a two-handled door along with your legs."
"I want to try! But i don't want to let go..."
"It's okay, if you sink too low I'll draw you back up. You trust me?"
"W-With every inch of my life."
I blush to that and she blush just after. "Right s-so, you have nothing to worry about. G-Go on, I'll watch over you."
                          
Aura then takes her time unwrapping her legs off my waist but clings to my waist. "What do I do?"
"Alright I'm going to hold your hands while you float on your stomach. Don't be afraid, it's only going to make you sink. Just take deep breaths, let your body free, loosen all tension. Okay?"
Aura nods in compliance. "Okay. deep breaths, loose tension."
She takes deep breaths and I hold her hands and walk back to give her some space for her to float properly.
She gets scared again. (Y/N) don't leave me!"
"Aura it's okay, I'm not leaving you. I'm just giving you enough space so you can do this properly. Aura."
She looks at me with a bit of a frown.
"I'm not going to leave you, nor your side. Ever; I promise."
Aura looking like my words covinced her slowly gets back to taking breaths and begins to float on her stomach while I'm holding her hands still. "I did it!" She says in glee.
"Great job now keep focus. Now start slow, kicking your legs."
She abides and kicks her legs in a slow pace.
"Nice nice, now keep at it. The same speed."
Aura keeps kicking and a smile appear on her face indicating she's having fun now.
"Getting it?'
"Mhm!"
"Okay sweet! Now we're gonna test it out okay? I'm gonna let go of your hands and you're going to keep kicking to propel yourself to me-it's okay, don't be afraid."
Her face immediately shows discouragement. What a way to ruin her fun.
"Ready?"
"H-Hmm! (Y/N) wait! I can't do it I can't!"
"You can Aura, I believe in you. We'll try this once okay, only this once."
".....Okay.."
"Ready and...go!" I let go of her hands and give her a little distance for her to swim to me.

                          
Aura starts propelling to me but immediately sinks into the water and I quickly dive in the water and pull her back up. We both gasp for air and Aura clings to my waist real tight. 
"Aura...want to go again?" I ask in concern.
She shakes her head in response.
"Okay, I'm sorry if it shook you."
"It's okay. Can we swim like this?"
"No, we can move around though."
"Can we do that..please?"
"Of course Aura," I say as I hold her really close to me and move around in a slow pace with her.

                          
______________Time Skip______________


                          
The bus reaches our stop and we get off and make our way to get Aura home. It was late night and we walk for about 3 minutes as I look at Aura half asleep and walking as if she's a walker from the walking dead. I snap my finger waking her up and I kneel down on the floor. "Come on," Aura complies to my request and she gets on my back as I hold her up by her thighs standing up. I carry her while she's fast asleep on my shoulder. I reach close to her door and realize that I'm going to witness her mother again. W-With those deadly and imtimidating eyes, oh god..am I ready for this?
                          
I swallow my pride down my gullet and knock on the door. Shortly after, the door opens revealing her mother. Surprisingly she was less imtimidating now and has a dearing smile.
"Can't even stay up to get home can she?" Her mother says.
"Y-Yeah, I have no problem carrying her home so it's alright."
"You're walking all the way back to your house in this time of night? You know it's really dangerous to walking alone at this hour."
"Yeah you're right but, I-I gotta get home somehow.."
"Or you can stay here for the night. I can't have my daughter's treasure getting hurt."
"E-Eh?! Really?"
"Did I sound uncertain about this?"
"No no! Not at all-"
"Good, then come on in. Take your shoes off before you enter."
I take mine and Aura's shoes off and enter inside the house closing the door behind me.

                          
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