Lumina looked at Airi longer than before.
Her expression wasn't suspicious—but it was filled with quiet concern.
"…If that's the case," Lumina said softly,
"we just want to make sure you're not pushing yourself."
Airi blinked.
"Pushing myself?"
Akari spoke next, her voice calm but sharp.
"…Lately, you've been alone after battles."
Airi froze.
She hadn't expected anyone to notice.
Chika leaned back against the wall, smirking.
"See? They care."
Airi turned to her immediately.
"The way you say it is completely wrong."
Chika shrugged.
"Facts are still facts."
Arou, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"No one is forcing Airi."
Everyone turned to him.
"She fights because she chooses to," he continued.
"I was there. I saw it."
Lumina looked at him.
"Is that true?"
Arou nodded.
"…Even when she hesitates, her decisions are always clear."
Akari studied him for a moment.
"…You talk like you've known her for a long time."
Arou paused briefly.
"…We've been through quite a lot."
Chika's grin widened.
"Oh? Quite a lot, huh."
Airi: "Sis—!"
Lumina blushed slightly.
"…I didn't know there was that much."
Akari looked at Airi.
"…Then you're not alone anymore."
Airi raised her head.
"…I was never alone."
She looked at Lumina, then Akari.
"I'm just… not used to being seen like this."
Silence lingered.
Chika straightened up.
"It's simple," she said.
Everyone turned to her.
"Everyone in this room is worried about her."
"Just in different ways."
Airi sighed.
"…Please stop making people misunderstand things."
Chika smiled lightly.
"I promise. For the next ten minutes."
"THAT'S NOT A PROMISE!"
Lumina let out a small laugh, the tension easing.
"…I think we were overthinking things."
Akari nodded.
"…Maybe."
Arou let out a quiet breath.
---
After things settled a bit, Airi's mother brought drinks from the kitchen and called Chika.
"Chika, give me a hand."
"Coming~"
Chika glanced at Airi with a meaningful smile before leaving.
A few seconds later, the living room felt quieter.
Lumina stepped closer to Airi.
"Can we talk… just the two of us?"
Airi looked surprised, then nodded.
"…Sure."
They moved toward the window, a little away from Arou and Akari.
Morning light filtered gently through the curtains.
Lumina looked outside for a moment, then turned back.
"Airi," she said softly,
"you don't always have to look strong."
Airi was silent.
"…I'm not trying to look strong," she replied honestly.
"I'm just doing what I have to."
Lumina exhaled quietly.
"That's exactly what worries me."
Airi turned to her.
"Worries you?"
"You're always the one standing in front," Lumina said.
"And when it's over, you just smile… and disappear."
Airi clenched her hand slightly.
"…I don't know what to do after that."
Lumina smiled gently.
"That's okay."
She looked into Airi's eyes.
"You're not a weapon. You're human."
Airi lowered her gaze.
"…I know."
But her voice was small.
---
A few steps away,
Akari watched… then slowly turned to Arou.
"…You," she said.
Arou looked at her.
"Yes?"
"You're always near Airi."
"Is that a coincidence?"
Arou paused.
"…No."
Akari crossed her arms.
"Then?"
"I just don't want her to be alone," Arou answered honestly.
"That's all."
Akari stared at him.
"…What if one day she doesn't want to fight anymore?"
Arou replied without hesitation.
"I'll still stay by her side."
Akari fell silent.
For the first time, her expression softened slightly.
"…I see."
---
In the kitchen, Chika peeked through the doorway.
"Heh~ interesting."
Airi's mother glanced at her.
"Don't cause trouble again."
Chika covered her mouth, holding back laughter.
"I'm just watching."
---
Back in the living room—
Lumina spoke again.
"Airi… if one day you're afraid—"
Airi lifted her head.
"…I'm already afraid."
Lumina smiled warmly.
"That's better than feeling nothing at all."
Airi gave a small smile in return.
---
Outside, near the window,
a small frog hopped into view.
Airi froze instantly.
"…That—"
Lumina blinked.
"What is it?"
"D-don't look down."
Too late.
The frog let out a soft croak.
Airi turned pale.
"…That's not fair."
From the kitchen, Chika's voice rang out:
"WAIT, THERE'S A FROG?!"
---
Airi didn't move.
Her body stiff.
Face pale.
Breath held.
"…Airi?" Lumina called softly.
Airi pointed with a trembling finger.
"D-don't let it come near me…"
Akari blinked.
"It's just a frog."
The moment she said "frog"—
"WHA—?!"
Airi jumped behind Arou.
"WHY IS IT HERE?!"
Everyone froze.
Chika stared—
then slowly grinned.
"…Oh."
"OOOOH."
"SO THIS IS IT."
She burst into laughter.
Airi turned bright red.
"SIS! STOP!"
"So it's true," Chika laughed,
"The Demon King slayer… is scared of frogs."
Lumina and Akari exchanged looks.
"…Seriously?"
Arou sighed.
"…Unfortunately, yes."
Akari stared at Airi.
"You faced a Demon King… but retreat from a frog?"
Airi looked like she might cry.
"Don't put it like that…"
The frog hopped again.
Airi: "AAAA—!"
She crouched, covering her head.
Chika clapped.
"This is more entertaining than the Demon King story!"
"THIS IS NOT FUN AT ALL!!"
---
Then—
BRUUM.
A deep sound echoed from the sky.
Everything went still.
The sunlight dimmed.
Dark clouds swallowed the morning sky.
Click.
The lights went out.
"Power outage?" her father muttered.
The air turned cold.
Airi slowly stood.
Shadows covered her face—
no, not shadows.
Her skin darkened.
Her eyes and mouth turned white.
Like a mask.
"A… Airi…?" her mother's voice trembled.
From Airi's eye—
a thin golden thread appeared.
Then more.
They trembled—
then shot forward.
SHUT!
Wrapping around Chika's neck.
"W-what—?!"
Chika froze.
She couldn't breathe.
"Airi!" Lumina shouted.
"Stop!"
In an instant—
Airi vanished.
And appeared behind Chika.
Her hand raised—
just centimeters away.
"AIRII!"
Her parents screamed.
Arou stepped forward.
"Airi, control yourself!"
The golden threads tightened.
Chika struggled.
"H-hey… Airi… it was just a joke…"
No response.
Only a soft, unfamiliar laugh.
---
Then—
Plop.
A small sound.
Airi froze.
Slowly—
she turned her head.
A small frog sat near the door.
Still.
Silent.
The golden threads vanished.
Chika dropped to the floor, coughing.
Airi stared at the frog.
Silence.
Then—
SHUT.
She moved.
Faster than the eye could follow.
Golden threads struck.
The frog vanished—
turning into tiny particles of light that faded into the air.
---
Silence.
The sky cleared.
The lights came back.
Airi's face returned to normal.
She lowered her head.
"…I'm sorry."
No one spoke.
Chika stared at her—
pale.
For the first time…
she didn't laugh.