The talk with Ethan

"Hey Kazu-kun," Ai called me out. "Can you listen to something I have to say?"

"What is it?" I asked her looking down at her as she snuggled up to me under the cover.

"Can you…not participate in the battle tomorrow?"

As her words left her mouth, there was complete silence for some seconds and I looked at her clutching my t-shirt by the end. Her face was trembling and she had a sad look in her eyes. This girl…

"Sorry, but I can't do that Ai," I said stroking her hair. "This is something we have to do. I know even without me, they might be able to defeat them without my help but I can't just sit here knowing what is going on there."

"You care about others too much Kazu-kun, think about yourself a little, please," Ai said to me and I smiled and kissed her forehead.

"I don't need to think about myself," I said and chuckled. "I already have you taking care of that field."

"Bu-"