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Noah and Iris started a small telepathic conversation.
"So you've made up your mind, dear? You want to keep this world, not to destroy it, but to protect it and find another solution, right?" Iris asked.
"You read me too easily. Am I that obvious?" Noah asked.
"Your heart is always closed except to me," Iris smiled. "I am the only special person to you. Ever since that time we met, remember? When I was a little, nerdy, and bullied girl at school?"
"…" Noah sighed, remembering the past once more with eyes of sorrow. "Iris, we shouldn't dwell on the past."
"I know, but like you, I was also someone without parents," Iris said, admiring the world around her. "I was bullied and abused as well, not just because I was weak, but also because I was a coward. At that time, when they beat me to near death, you found me, and you fed me your blood."
"…Yeah," Noah said. "At that time, I only did it to manipulate you. I didn't do it out of goodwill."