Chero looked at her Dino in a new light.
“Dino…you were falling apart…I think that is the first time I have seen you…act like that…”Chero said, “I have never seen Hime get so mad at you…nor have I seen Dante get that mad before.”
Dino covered his red face, “I’m so embarrassed with how I acted back there. I wish a big hole would open up and swallow me.”
Chero laughed, “You, Dino?”
“Chero?” a voice questioned.
“Oh!” Chero cried as she realized the Dino from the past had spotted her.
“Don’t over react, ok?” Dino whispered.
“But Dino! You!”
“Amore…you were here all along…I knew you were alive…” Past Dino said.
“Oh…er…” Chero said, “GOMEN’NASAI!”
Chero then took off running down the hall. She grabbed Dino’s hand along the way, leading him to the room where their safe house would someday be.
“H-Hey! Don’t go! Wait!” Past Dino called.
Chero jumped up and down when they made it to the room.
“Noooooo!!! Dino saw me!” she cried.
“Calm down, bella. Why did you come here anyways? Our safe house had not been made yet,” Dino said.
“I knooooow! But my feet just took me here! What are we going to do? What are we going to do?! We have to hide!” Chero said, still jumping.
“Let’s hide behind the curtain, ok?”
“There’s not enough room for us both!”
“But!”
“You just hide there! It will be worse if there is a second Dino!” Chero said pushing him along.
“Ok ok! I’m going!”
Chero looked around the room for a spot after Dino was safely hidden.
“I know! Under the bed!”
The door opened as Chero moved closer to the bed. She froze as the other Dino walked in.
“C-Chero?” Dino questioned.
“AUUUAGH! What am I going to do? I’m surrounded by Dinos! Normally this would be a dream come true! BUT NOT NOW!”
Dino hurried over to Chero and took her hands.
“Th-thank God! I thought you were…dead. Hahaha! It was just…a…dream…”
“No…I…” Chero tried to say.
“Yes…you couldn’t possibly die! You’re strong and not one of us would have let you die. …It was a dream! Isn’t that right, amore?!” Dino asked, his eyes clouded over with insanity, he squeezed Chero’s hands harder.
“Ow!” she winced, “Wait! Hey Dino! Listen to me!”
“Yes, that’s right. I found it odd that someone as kind and sweet as you could…Hahah! That’d be odd, Chero….Everyone thought you were dead.”
“Dino…”
“Everyone thought you were dead…Hime…my sisters…even our own daughters! Everyone…Right? Isn’t that odd?”
“Um…” Chero said.
“Let’s go back, amore. We have to prove to them that you are still alive! Come on, let’s go back, ok?” Dino begged.
“Dino?”
“There’s something different about him…”
“Let’s go back, Chero. We made a promise, right? You promised you would wait for me…and I promised I would come back. When we get out we can go lay in that field of crocuses like before….or we can walk on the beach and I can steal your clothes like I did before.”
Chero’s eyes went wide at the mention of memories she shared with other past important people. She gasped and slapped Dino.
Dino looked at Chero shocked and held a hand to his swollen cheek.
“HMPH!” Chero crossed her arms.
“C-Chero?”
“DINO CAVALLONE! You are not like this! You would not say things like that! You would not bring up memories you know would hurt me!”
Dino looked at the floor.
“Y-You! You’re incredibly kind and serious. But you know how to have fun. You are willing to protect your men no matter what! You are a huge klutz but you don’t realize—That’s the Dino I know! He’s not that WEAK!”
Chero looked away and caught her breath.
“You…” Dino started, “You…you did die…”
“…..yes…”
“I see…I’m sorry…” he said.
“What?”
“I’m so pathetic…I…I couldn’t even let you rest in peace…” he said.
“Wait…What? Does he think I am a ghost? Hmm…this could work in my favor…”
“Dino…I…I just wanted to protect everyone…”Chero said.
“I promised…” he said.
“Hm?”
“Beds for everyone. A large table…kitchen…and what else?”
“Oh well…” Chero tried to say.
“It’ll take some time…But I want you to wait. I’ll definitely keep my promise to our friends,” Dino grinned sadly.
Chero nodded and smiled, wiping tears from her eyes, “Yes! It’s a promise!”
“I ended up falling behind. I have to go join the other now…” Dino said, “They will be worried.”
“Yes. I’ll be fine. I can go back,” Chero smiled.
“I see…Mi dispiace…I made you worry about me…I’m fine now.”
Dino took one last look at Chero before he left.
“I know…Goodbye…Dino…I love you,” Chero said.
“Ti amo…” he said softly before shutting the door behind him.
