"Hey, Leon." Irene said quietly. "You all saved us."
Leon shrugged.
"It was all possible because of you."
Irene slumped down onto the grass outside her house.
She patted the spot beside her and gestured for him to sit.
Leon followed. As he sat down, he felt something soft against his shoulder.
He glanced sideways.
Irene had rested her head against him.
"I believed in you, Leon. Thank you very much."
She paused.
"And also... I love you."
Leon's body jolted slightly.
Irene felt it too.
She knew he had reacted. But she did not mind it, it was not like it was his first time hearing—
Wait!!
It actually was the first time.
The previous timeline had been rewound.
Her confession at the pond, the cave, the shouted "I love you" through the forest.
None of that had technically happened to this Leon in this timeline.
The version of him sitting next to her had only ever heard "I love you" through her memories transferred via the device.
Which meant.
