The reason that Naofumi said the last line was because he knew that even now, there were people who greatly despised him.

There were many who would take that woman's side over his own, after all.

No matter how much time had passed, or how much evidence he managed to gather, there would always be those who thought he was guilty.

He could do nothing about the court of public opinion.

On top of that, though, he was more worried about what the people moderating TwitchTube would say.

Ultimately, they held he view of 'this is our platform and we can do whatever we want here.' They had no real obligation to honoring anything resembling fair practice.

They might even block Raphtalia for being associated with him- or, if they wouldn't go that far, demonetize her content and shadowban it.

And this was ignoring the fact that if they found out who I was, they might be able to tell what we were doing.

Was there anyone who would pay that much attention to my plays? Doubtful, after all, my videos and presence had been scrubbed from TwitchTube after I had been banned.

However, if someone recognized me, which was still highly likely even now (after all, Atla had still recognized me meaning I likely still had 'fans' or even 'anti-fans' still around), someone might reach the correct conclusion that I was the one playing all of her matches.

It was easy enough to deny, but once rumors began to circulate, they were hard to quell.

"Ah, okay," Raphtalia said.

"Ultimately, it's up to you, whenever you think that things are right to speak up, do so," I told her.

"Fine," Raphtalia said. She then fidgeted with her hands. "Actually... there was something else I wanted to let you know..."

"Oh? As in?"

"I uh... we shoudl go on a date today!" Raphtalia said.

I was observant enough of her to realize that this was likely not what she was going to say initially. No, this was just a way for her to decide she didn't want to actually talk about what was botherin her, and deflecting it until she felt comfortable enough to share it with me.

"Well, I know a place," I told her. There was that cafe that Fitoria had taken me to- it wasn't that far off from here even if you were going on foot, and if it was the kind of place she liked maybe Raphtalia would be into it as well?

The two of us headed out, with something still seeming like it was weighing on Raphtalia's mind.

"Are you feeling nervous?" she asked me.

Me? She was asking me of all people? It should've been the other way around.

"About what?"

"What's going to go on tomorrow, I mean," Raphtalia said. "You're going up against some very powerful people, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I guess," I said. Who knows what was going to happne tomorrow? The law left much room for interpretation, and the idea that we could be thrown for a loop was still there in the back of my mind.

"Do you... want me to come with you?" Raphtalia asked.

"With me? Don't you have school?"

"Yes but... what's one day?"

She sounded like an older version of Melty to me- the kind that would take studying very seriously.

"Are you thinking something rude again?"

"Ah, no, of course not!"

"But... do you want me to be there?"

"I uh," I began, unsure of what to say.

I couldn't very well say that I didn't know what she would contribute by being there.

On the other hand, did she want to be there for me, or for Fohl and Atla.

"You really want to be around Atla after what she did?" I asked her.

"Well-" Raphtalia said, expression souring after I mentioned Atla.

We had arrived at the shop. It looked the same as it had before.

"Oh? I didn't think you would be into places like this?" Raphtalia muttered.

"I heard about it from-" I paused. I didn't want to say from 'Fitoria' as that would make things sound odd and awkward. Why introduce a controversy when there was none? "-from a friend of mine some time ago. Have only been here once- thought that it would be a place that you might like. "

"Would she like it? It was more 'classy' I guess than the usual places I went to- but then again, that was probably for the better, if not for my wallet.

My phone beeped, and I took a look at a message before frowning and putting it away.

"Who was that?" Raphtalia asked. "You look pretty annoyed at them. Was that Shindo?"

"No," I said. "This user by the name of 'lansarboy' keeps messaging me, or well you, but I'm managing our account, but basically asking when Filo will be back on the show."

"Do you think she wants to be back?"

"I doubt it- and that big bird won't let her anyway," I told her. "It's getting annoying though because he keeps donating big amounts asking for another chance to see her or more information on her."

"It's kind of odd for a fan of this game to be a fan of Magical Girl Kiiroi as well, isn't it?" Raphtalia asked.

"I guess but people are weird, "I told her. "It's kind of creepy now that I think about it. So what do you want to order?"

"Ah, I'll take a chocolate sundae!" It sounded like such a kiddie thing, like that which Melty or Filo might order. Or Shindo. Come to think of it, I really needed to stop hanging out with people who didn't seem to be fully mature yet. "Anything wrong?"

"No," I said. "I'll just have a lemonade."

"Oh... but there's all this other good stuff here! Like the coffee cake! Or the choco lava cake!"

"If you want it-"

"I can't eat all of it," she said. "Plus, I have to watch my weight now, don't I?"

I had no idea whether she was saying that because she was dating me, or because she was livestreaming now on camera. Or maybe there was some other reason entirely.