When Kagura returned to her dorm room, all she wanted was a quick shower and to collapse into bed—but now she saw something unfamiliar placed squarely in the center of the room, a large, square table-like thing draped in thick blankets. Ardan was crouched down, poking around beneath the cabinet near the window, her fluffy tail waving in the air. Kagura suddenly felt a mischievous impulse to go over and give Ardan's rear end a playful smack.
"Ardan-san, what's this thing? And what are you looking for...?"
Suppressing the inappropriate urge, Kagura decided it'd be safer to ask first.
"Ah! Kagura-san, you're ba—ow!!"
Ardan jolted in surprise at Kagura's voice, lifting her head sharply—and collided hard with the underside of the cabinet, falling back down in agony, clutching her head and whimpering softly.
"A-Are you okay?"
Kagura hurried over, crouching down anxiously to check on Ardan, who waved her away gently.
"I-I'm alright...just bumped my head...nothing serious..."
Rubbing her head gingerly, Ardan emerged from under the cabinet. Kagura saw she'd been searching for an electrical socket, connected to the strange new table-like object in the room's center.
Plugged in? Could this thing be the legendary kotatsu—killer of British productivity?
Kagura immediately recognized the item from countless anime she'd seen.
"Be more careful next time you crawl under furniture, Ardan-san. If you hurt yourself, your Obaa-sama might come after me, you know."
"It's fine! Obaa-sama even complimented you recently—said you've finally fattened me up nicely!"
Ardan had been slender due to her long hospital stays and weak health, but under Kagura's diligent care, she had clearly become plumper and healthier. She'd mentioned that when she went home this morning, Old Mejiro's brows had immediately relaxed upon seeing her, visibly delighted and thoroughly inspecting her granddaughter. That afternoon, Kagura had inexplicably received an extra payment into her account.
So that's where the extra money came from... I thought Mejiro's finance team had accidentally given me a bonus.
"It's been getting colder lately. Since we'll both be living here for a long while, I figured we might as well buy a kotatsu. Back when I lived in China, people in the north used all sorts of heating devices to stay cozy."
"I see… I never knew you stayed in northern China before, Ardan-san."
"Yes, I lived near Beijing's suburbs for a while. Wudi-san's home wasn't far away, and she often took care of me. Ehehe…come to think of it, I've always been pretty lucky to have caring friends like Wudi-san and Kagura-san wherever I go."
Ardan nodded, then suddenly clapped her hands in realization.
"Oh! I was just about to test the kotatsu. Would you like to join me, Kagura-san?"
"Eh… Me?"
"Yes! Come try it—it's really comfortable!"
Thinking about it, Kagura realized that crawling under a warm kotatsu sounded incredibly appealing in this cold weather. As long as Ardan didn't mind sharing the space, Kagura had no objections.
Still, Kagura decided she'd shower first. She disliked lying down while feeling sweaty and grimy, and Ardan would likely mind as well. Thus, Kagura took her pajamas and went into the bathroom.
…
"Kagura-san~ Over here!"
When Kagura emerged from the bathroom, hair freshly dried, Ardan was already happily settled under the kotatsu. Spotting Kagura, Ardan immediately lifted the edge of the blanket, inviting her over with enthusiasm.
While normally only one person could comfortably lie on each side, thanks to Ardan's petite build, there was plenty of room to spare—enough to fit two Kaguras if needed.
Kagura sat by the kotatsu, slipping her small feet beneath the blankets. Whether it was Ardan's warmth or the heater having been on for long enough, Kagura instantly felt a cozy heat warming her cold limbs.
There really is a reason so many anime characters obsess over these things...
Kagura curled up beneath the blankets like a comfortable raccoon, eyes narrowing in blissful relaxation. The gentle heat enveloped her, giving her the illusion of soaking in a hot spring.
Next to her, however, Ardan was far from relaxed. It was the first time she'd invited anyone besides family into a kotatsu, and her heart thumped nervously.
She slowly moved closer to Kagura, feeling the same gentle warmth and calming presence from when she'd hugged an exhausted Kagura back into bed that night. Her nervousness gradually melted away, replaced by an irresistible urge to wrap her arms around the small girl lying next to her. Ardan didn't know why she felt this way; it was as if Kagura had some magical charm about her.
"Kagura-san…"
"…If you want to hug me, please go ahead."
Before Ardan could finish, Kagura suddenly spoke up, eyes still closed comfortably.
"Eh?! How did you know…"
"I heard you shuffling around. Besides, Ardan-san isn't the first person to have that impulse. I'm already used to it."
Thinking carefully, Kagura realized that whether it was the dignified Rudolf Ojou-sama, the clingy Nice Nature, the affectionate Maruzensky-san, or even elders like Speed-sama and Old Mejiro, everyone close to her seemed to enjoy hugging or petting her. Over time, Kagura had gotten used to these peculiar yet harmless gestures.
"Is it really okay? Then...I'll hug you now?"
"Mmm, go ahead."
With Kagura's permission, Ardan cautiously extended her arms, gently encircling Kagura's petite waist and carefully drawing her closer. Perhaps due to her fresh bath, Kagura had a pleasantly clean, comforting scent—something distinctly different from a child's usual milky sweetness, though Ardan couldn't quite identify it.
"This is the first time I've ever asked anyone to do something like this… If it bothers you, please tell me."
"Hehe~ Ardan-san sure is cautious."
"Of course! Once, I was half-asleep… and accidentally crawled into bed with Wudi-san next to me… She told me later that I started vigorously petting her head, mumbling something like, 'Good girl, good girl'… I rubbed her head so hard it woke her up. After that, Wudi-san never dared sleep near me again."
"Pfft... Ardan-san, did you treat Wudi-san like a child? Were you always in China before? Why did you end up there?"
Snuggled comfortably in Ardan's arms, Kagura couldn't help giggling. In an unexpected way, Ardan represented one of Kagura's few remaining connections to China, piquing her curiosity about Ardan's experiences there.
"It was a good place for recuperation… I went there for medical treatment and stayed for a long time. Recently, my health improved enough that I decided to return."
"Ardan-san's condition…really sounds difficult."
"Yeah… I really wish I could be like Onee-sama. She's already training for next year's Triple Crown. Even if I'm not talented like her, at least…at least I want the chance to debut. Right now, I can't even participate in training. Onee-sama and Obaa-sama can only watch helplessly…"
Ardan's voice was tinged with deep frustration. Kagura could sense her quiet, painful longing. Perhaps recognizing Kagura as someone she could trust, Ardan shared these deeply held feelings aloud for the first time.
"In two or three years, I should be ready to debut. I should've been taking Onee-sama's place, bringing honor to the Mejiro family. But my condition…two or three years might still not be enough…"
Kagura felt Ardan trembling slightly, tightening her embrace.
She couldn't speak. She hadn't anticipated this conversation growing so heavy. Held closely from behind, Kagura found herself unable to turn around or find suitable words to comfort Ardan.
"I keep wishing…that I could experience a miracle like Onee-sama did. Onee-sama was also born with fragile legs, yet she healed miraculously…"
"But maybe…I'm being too naive. Miracles are miracles precisely because they don't happen twice…right?"
"My parents always opposed me running. Just a few days ago, they called again, crying, begging me to give up. They can't bear the fear of losing me…"
"Before I was born, there should've been twins…but my sister didn't survive long enough to be born. Her flame quietly went out…and my parents never want to endure that tragedy again."
Having spent years in hospitals, Kagura had encountered such heavy topics before—families grieving, colleagues with grim expressions. It was partly these experiences that made her respect Trainer Tojo's cautious philosophy.
"But…even if that's the case, even if compared to Mejiro's legacy I might be nothing…even if I disappear instantly, at least once, just once, I want to burn brightly, to shine like a star…"
"Ardan-san…"
Kagura knew she should urge Ardan to abandon this dangerous dream—her medical instinct told her that safety came first. Yet somehow, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Sorry…we were supposed to be relaxing, but I ended up dumping all these depressing thoughts onto you…"
Snapping back to herself, Ardan hastily loosened her hold, embarrassed.
"It's alright. Thank you for trusting me enough to share this. Your dream is beautiful… Your heart burns so brightly that your frailty can't extinguish it."
"Haha…" Ardan smiled shyly, realizing she'd unconsciously wrapped herself around Kagura again. Blushing furiously, she quickly retreated.
Kagura only chuckled, used to these odd incidents by now.
"By the way, Kagura-san…may I…hug you again?"
"You really like this, huh? Go ahead—just don't wrap your legs around me again, please. I'm still young and fragile…"
"T-that was an accident! Forget it ever happened!"
With permission granted, a blushing Ardan carefully embraced Kagura once more, heart filled with warmth.
Kagura-san truly is an angel, freely giving her gentleness to everyone around her…
She tightened her hug slightly.
If someone could have a little more of Kagura's kindness…how would that feel, I wonder?