INTERMISSION A
“I have to say, the last few years have truly been the year of upheaval…”
“Agreed. Although I’m not sure how I feel about expressing a period of multiple years as ‘the year of upheaval’—singular—I will admit that every day of waiting for you to come home is like a thousand autumns to me, so I suppose whether it’s one year or several is a trivial matter.”
“Shut up,” Celty snapped, opening her laptop and flipping through her collection of digital photos. “I know it’s only been a few months since all the uproar over my head, but it all seems like it was in the distant past now.”
“That’s true. My injuries have healed up, too. It’s like it was all a very long dream. But don’t worry, Celty—the memories of our passionate romance are all real. In fact, they’re still ongoing—in the progressive tense!” he said with a smile.
Celty, however, was aware that Shinra’s leg was far from fully healed, and there was a possibility that he might deal with discomfort and the inability to run at full speed for a long time after this.
“I see. Well, don’t overdo it.”
She felt a pang of guilt that his rosy description was meant to shield her from criticism. But he was easily able to see right through her.
“That’s a very kind thing to say, Celty… You’re not an impostor, are you?”
“So this is the reaction I get for saying something nice to you for once.”
“I’m only kidding. Of course I would be able to tell you apart from your impostor!”
“Your confidence doesn’t inspire me,” she said, annoyed but relaxed. Shinra seemed happy with the effect of his words.
“Anyway, there were several cases of impostors, weren’t there?”
“Ah, yes. The whole land development controversy involving Miyoshi.”
“And there were other times, too. I mean, you have such a memorable and easily mimicked look. They just don’t realize that, though they can imitate your clothing, they cannot imitate the appeal that oozes out of every fiber of your being!”
“Stop being embarrassing,” she said, lightly bopping him with her fists. Shinra accepted her blows with a smile. Then he was reminded of something.
“Oh, right, there was that Shizuo impostor, too.”
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