Several months passed. Now Ray, Yuno, and Deya were cooking dinner. Sam had recovered, and today she and Kira would visit.
Rocky still hadn't given up his intentions of winning her over. Deya had been waiting a long time for the opportunity to ask Kira for advice.
Even knowing his presence wouldn't help much, Ray wanted to be near Sam. These months had been very difficult for him.
Every time he shared a bed with a woman, his possessiveness awoke. He didn't just consider her his — he tried to protect her. That's why it took him so long to overcome this barrier after losing Lily.
Ray had always seen sex as something more than just sex. It seemed to him that it was a bond between two people, and even if it was just his delusion, he wasn't ready to give it up. That's why, as soon as Sam entered the house, he pulled the girl onto his lap, sat her on his knees, and hugged her tightly.
Ray was consumed by guilt. He knew that if Sam had died, he would never forgive himself. Besides that, he wouldn't be able to look Kira in the eye.
Part of him wanted to abandon all his plans and live with the three girls who were ready to give their lives for him. He was sure Yuno would accept such an outcome, but Kira and Sam wouldn't. They, like him, burned with the desire to change the world and were ready to give a great deal.
Only when she found herself in Ray's loving arms did Sam realize how much she had missed it.
"I'm sorry," he whispered quietly in her ear, his voice mixing sadness and guilt.
The girl's heart almost broke. She herself was a unit commander, responsible for other lives, so she understood Ray perfectly. But unlike him, he was forced to send the girl he loved on dangerous missions.
After their first night, even though she didn't regret it, she had doubts about his sincerity. But these months, even though he wasn't physically there, he stayed in touch, calling every day, so her doubts gradually faded. And when she heard his whisper, there was no trace of them left.
"Brother, I understand you're happy to see her, but don't get too carried away. There are children here after all. Yuno is too young to see such things," Deya joked to lighten the mood. She seemed able to sense her brother's emotional state. The house filled with laughter.
"Life without your cooking had lost its meaning, but now it's back," Samantha said.
"It's good that Brother cooks himself. Considering how much he eats, I think you wouldn't handle the load and would run away," she added with a smile.
The girls didn't want to admit it, but among Ray's lovers, none had a particular passion for cooking, and their skill levels were far from Ray's, though Yuno loved cooking with him.
Dinner, as always, passed in a very warm atmosphere, but Ray was still gnawed by guilt.
Catching a moment, Deya saw Kira go to her room and followed her to talk and ask for advice.
As soon as they left, Sam placed her palm on Ray's hand and said:
"You don't need to blame yourself. Even if I die one day, it will be my choice. This path can be hard — we've already lost many — but I believe we're on the right road."
"In the future, I'll be careful, I promise I'll do everything possible to return to your arms. But if one day I still can't, you must keep moving forward. It might be hard for you, but I believe that among us, you're the only one who can handle it."
The girl's words mixed unshakable faith, sadness, and sincerity. Looking into her blue eyes, Ray couldn't help but nod. It was a moment when words weren't needed.