Sasaki opened his eyes.
He was alive.
She hadn't killed him.
Mao opened her umbrella, using it to cover half of her face.
"Stand up, will you?" she said.
Sasaki slowly got to his feet, holding his stomach.
Mao noticed.
She raised her hand.
A faint light surrounded his wound.
Slowly, the pain began to disappear.
Sasaki stared at her.
"You can heal?"
"Obviously."
She lowered her hand.
"Also, I'm sorry about that. I did tell you to stop resisting."
Sasaki remained silent.
"Can you sit down again?"
He complied and sat back down.
Mao began creating bandages and carefully wrapped them around his remaining wounds.
Sasaki sat there in confusion.
Why is she doing this?
Mao stopped for a brief moment.
She looked at him.
Then, she continued bandaging his wounds.
Once she finished, Mao stood up.
"Ahem."
She straightened herself.
"I am Mao. One of the Four Architects."
"What's that?"
Mao stared at him.
"You seriously don't know anything about this world, do you?"
She sighed.
"How do you expect to find your sister if you're this dumb?"
"The Architects are basically gods. We each control our respective powers."
"..."
Mao looked at Sasaki.
"You don't even remember me? We met before."
"I remember you trying to kill me, if that's what you mean."
"No, you idiot."
She crossed her arms.
"When you were a child."
"..."
Sasaki thought for a moment.
Have I ever met a cute girl back then?
He looked at Mao.
She was blushing.
"Why is your face so red?"
"Huh? It's nothing."
Mao quickly raised her umbrella and covered his face with it.
"...Oh."
Sasaki suddenly remembered.
"I remember now."
Mao peeked from behind her umbrella.
"You do?"
"You're the one who sealed my Essence, right?"
"Y-Yes. That was me."
"But why do you look exactly the same?"
"..."
Mao stared at him.
Thwack.
"Oof."
Sasaki rubbed his head.
"That's rude!"
She glared at him.
"Are you saying I still look like a child?"
"You're very short."
Sasaki breaks.
"I'm sorry."
Mao stared at him for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"I forgive you."
She turned toward him.
"So, Sasaki."
"Hmm?"
"Would you like to become an Architect?"
"..."
"You'll get information about your sist—"
"Yes. I will join."
Mao blinked.
"That was fast."
She smiled.
"Great! Hold my hand."
"Huh?"
Before Sasaki could react, Mao grabbed his hand.
A faint glow surrounded them.
And in an instant—
They vanished.