“Why the hell do they keep coming?” Hikaru grumbled in frustration. “What am I supposed to do when I don’t have anything that can kill them?”
“To answer your first question, they must be drawn to something. As for your second question, you’d have to find another mage with offensive powers and support them. That IS your role.”
Hikaru took this chance to clarify things with the book. Where did it come from? How did it find him? Why did it choose him?
“My previous owner had died. I
Nozomi eventually left the toilet without a solution. She could not stay inside forever. Night came soon. This time, Hina volunteered to make dinner and insisted that Hikaru rest for the day because he had just “recovered”. With Hikaru asleep, Nozomi kept the monsters at bay by herself. She had her dinner on time then returned to Hikaru’s room. With BaoBao as the lookout, Nozomi whiled her time away in Hikaru’s room and kept the area clear of monsters, hoping to leave less work for Hikaru.&n
When the light faded, Yosuke was behind Hina and a safe distance away from Nozomi. “Nozomi, please, I don’t want to fight.” Hina wanted to get Nozomi back, not only for herself, but also for her brother. She could tell that her brother treated Nozomi differently. Although she was still not sure of her brother’s feelings, just in case, she would bring Nozomi back. “All the times we’ve spent together, don’t they mean something? And my brother-” “You already know my condition. That’s the only thing
Hikaru cast his barrier, but it trembled under the sheer force of the monsters. Fire blazed as Yosuke provided support, while Hina tried to restrain Nozomi again. However, Nozomi melted away before Hina could complete the cocoon. “You’ll never catch us again!” Nozomi laughed shrilly. Her voice echoed throughout the stadium. The lights flickered and the electricity buzzed noisily.&nbs
“I didn't think you’d actually, literally, come and find me. And so soon? You FREAK.” Her shadow’s voice echoed all around her. The way Nozomi could not see anything but herself in the dark reminded her of the previous state of her heart space. Nozomi snorted. It was a little nostalgic. She had come so far from then. The feelings and dreams she had now, were things she would never have back then. “But what do you think you can do to me in my world?” Her shadow mocked. Her shadow
Nozomi silently resumed her departure, pulling her finger out of Hina’s grasp. “Can we not fight anymore?” Hina hurriedly asked. “Please?” Nozomi paused again. She looked back at Hina from the corner of her eyes. Seeing Hina sorely reminded Nozomi of Erica, further tugging at Nozomi’s heartstrings. Nozomi sighed softly. Just as she thought she was beginning to cope with it… “Why do I need to?” Nozomi’s tone softened considerably. “You did as I asked.”
Not wanting to worry her mother about her magic, Nozomi took the long way home. Hina had tried to question Nozomi about it, but Yosuke pulled her away in time to shut her mouth and explain his guess to her more privately. Nozomi’s mother took in the sights around her with bright eyes like she was a tourist. Despite her fatigue, her relief and excitement kept her going. “It’s so peaceful, isn’t it, Mi-chan?” Nozomi nodded with a faint smile. A new monster with empty eye sockets and a ga
“Why… Your big brother…? My daughter…” Aiko frowned in concern, as her gaze shifted between Hina and Nozomi. “Hina knows I like him and she’s trying to indulge me, a sister she never had before…” Nozomi flatly explained with an equally flat expression. This time, everyone’s stares stayed on Nozomi. Did she just confess? But the person in question was lying unconscious in the hospital. Hina was just thinking about how happy her brother might be if he had heard Nozomi, but Nozomi’s pier
“If I’m meant to die, there’s nothing you can do but accept it.” Nozomi softened her tone but sounded just as serious. Hikaru could no longer hold his smile. He looked down and seemed to contemplate what Nozomi said. “Wouldn't you have done the same for me, though?” Hikaru gently rebutted. He looked at her solemnly, andhis eyes seemed to pull her into them. Meanwhile, Hina’s mind tumbled down a rabbit hole.