Editing Amaryllis in the Ice Country:Chapter 10 (section)

===Mind Circuit=Amaryllis===

While my battery is almost drained.

He gets up.

“Eisbahn?”

I call his name. I can’t use any strength. My battery’s past its limit, I guess?

“…Back then.”

He’s fiddling with something in his hand, saying slowly,

“I mentioned this question before, didn’t I—If there’s a situation where you can’t ‘halve’ it, what will you do?”

“?”

In the face of his sudden question, “Ahh, yeah.” I can only answer ambiguously.

— If there’s a situation where you can’t ‘halve’ it, what will you do?

This was the conversation I had with him before we left.

—Assume that you are in a river, nobody will save us in a while, and we’re running out of battery. If we just leave this be, both of us will die of frostbite. There’s only one battery left. What will you do?

“You did say that. So?”

“back then.”

Eisbahn continues with the work,

“This was how you answered—there’s only one battery, so I’ll give it all to you. Then we’ll have saved each other’s life once—and that’s halving.”

“Uh, huh…”

At that moment, a gripping feeling strikes my chest. I don’t know why, but it’s probably due to how kind his expression is.

“Hey, Eisbahn.”

“What is it?”

“What have you been doing?”

“I’ve been thinking.”

He doesn’t answer my question,

“You talked about the future of ‘halving’. However, I do feel that you can be a little greedier. You control your life, and nobody can half it. Everything belongs to you. It can’t be given to anyone else.”

“Eisbahn?”

I can see the battery he’s holding in his left hand. His chest is already open, and I see the motherboard and cables.

“This is my battery. It still has some power, so use it.”

Then, he gently inserts it into my chest.

“What are you trying to do?”

“I’m trying to save you. So I’m giving my battery to you.”

“Eisbahn, stop.”

I want to refuse, but my body can’t do.”

“It’s useless. Even if you do so, I won’t be saved.”

“That’s enough.”

He gives a self-depreciating smile.

“It’s useless. I’m just happy. If this can increase the chances of you being saved, I’ll be happy with that.”

He takes out the flower medal from his neck, and gently hangs it over mine.

“After escaping the mansion, I was wandering around, restless. I was wandering the city, spending every single day like this…but when I arrived at the village, I met you, and I was reborn. You’re already so serious, so honest, so straightforward, so innocent, more hardworking than anyone else…I like these parts about you, and I feel blessed for that…thus.”

Finally, he gives a tender smile.

“If there’s only one life, I’ll give it all to you. I shall take away all your love. This shall be a one for one—halving.”

After that, he never moves.

His body becomes increasingly cold, and I keep embracing him.

Warm tears trickle down my cheeks, and finally frozen.

The sound of the blizzard continues.

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