Blue Eyed Souls, Epilogue

"You sure were quiet during that whole battle. Were you scared of [Hakagoshi] or something? Did you stop watching when you realized I'd win it without you?"

Aramasa throws her head back.

A~hahahaha! Scared? Of that mangy courier?! In my prime, I would have blown it to bits with a flick of my finger and puppeteered the corpse with its own entrails for my amusement!

Entrails this, guts that, do you have no new material?

As if sensing my thoughts, her laughter cuts off abruptly, blue eyes fixing on me.

I did not care to interfere because its defeat was inevitable, written in its methods. Relying on petty tricks such as hostages. And worse...

She sneers, the expression a hideous mockery on [Simply Red]'s features. Underlings to do its work.

I push myself up, glaring at the demon. "It discarded its own—"

BOOM!

My jaw disintegrates with a wet, grinding crunch. Countless teeth shatter inside my mouth, fragments of enamel and bone slicing into my gums and tongue. I'm airborne, hurtling backward through the blood-stinking air until my body smashes through a thicket of thorny bushes.

"Ghhk...!"

It hurts. It hurts. It hurtsithurtsithurtsI'mgonnadie—

Footsteps. Deliberate. Unhurried. She could kill me right now. I didn't even see her move earlier—!

I scramble to my feet. Hot, coppery blood pours from my ruined mouth, a torrent that splatters down my chin and chest, pooling at my feet in the damp earth.

[Aramasa]'s blurry figure steps into the clearing, and I put up a guard.

I already knew what you would say. That it discarded its underlings, and that is why it lost. Tsk.

Vision returns. She looks down on me, disappointed.

However, once the cannon fodder fulfilled their purpose, several of your allies collapsed. Had that courier embraced the proper mentality from the start... the battle would have been a slaughter. And had you done the same... well, we would not be in this position, would we?

... stupid... idiotic... pretzel logic... I wouldn't be forced to take your power... if I had taken your power...?!

... but I cannot talk back to her. She... has seen to that.

Even if I could, she would not listen to me.

Fine... that's fine...! If you can only listen to violence—!

"Rgghhh!"

I let out a mangled noise and swing at her chest.

She looks down at my fist, then back at my eyes, and leisurely reaches for my throat.

I duck under the grab, nausea rippling through my vision.

My leg lashes out at her shin. Nothing.

I pivot, driving my elbow hard into her side. Nothing.

I scramble backward, putting more precious meters between us.

Nothing works. It's like I'm hitting a mountain.

"Kkh! Kkh! Kackh!"

With a wet, hacking sound, a sharp fragment of tooth finally dislodges from my throat, clattering to the blood-soaked ground.

Can't see the forest. Can't run. Can't call for help. Can't win—

Come. Die with honor.

Honor? You dare utter that word?

A demon who tries to claim my past actions as a result of your blood? A demon who wants me to throw it all away for petty strength? A demon who can't defeat me at my best and has to resort to an ambush after the real battle?!

I'll kill you! I'll slaughter you! Even if I can't win, even if it's my last act, you're going down with me!

I see red, and I charge.

Once, twice, thrice, countless times, my fists bang against the mountain.

My knuckles split.

My fingers crack.

My arms push.

It does not move.

"Hgnghhhh!"

A hand snaps out and closes around my neck, lifting me effortlessly off my feet. I dangle, still kicking at her chest, then at her chin.

"ARGGHHHHH!!!"

Thick, powerful fingers pry at my shattered jaw, forcing it further open.

She brings her other wrist to her mouth and bites down. Dark, viscous blood pours from the self-inflicted wound, splattering over my face as she holds it above me.

I can't close my mouth. I can only let out a choked gurgle as her dark essence floods my lungs, then my throat...

And the worst part... the absolute worst part...

Is that it tastes so incredibly, undescribably divine...!

My jaw snaps back into place, bones knitting together with an audible crack. Shattered teeth regrow. Pain vanishes, replaced by monstrous strength, and a pulsing, dark vitality.

I plant both feet on her chest and kick with all my newfound might.

This time, she staggers back, her grip loosening.

I can do it now. I can hit her. I can make it hurt. I can win—

"Hahhh... hah..."

Something's wrong. There's something sharp poking at the inside of my lip every time I close my mouth

With trembling hands, I reach up. My fingertips brush against my teeth.

They're long. Sharp. Like... like fangs.

My fingers come away red-tipped. No... they're claws now.

"Y... You...."

Even my voice...!

"You tainted me...!"

I charge again, but this time, it's different. I'm faster. Stronger. Demonic, but still human enough to know I have to kill her!

Our fists meet in a clash that shakes the forest. The ground trembles. The bloody bushes around us are flattened by the shockwave.

Tainted you?! I saved you, ungrateful wretch!

Aramasa roars, blocking my next flurry of blows.

The sole reason you are not a corpse lies in the energy we cultivated! And that pathetic little sapling allows my blood to bloom in you now!

I'm still not her equal in raw strength or speed, but I have flexibility while her movements are clumsy in my [Idolon]'s form.

"If that's the problem," I snarl, my new fangs making the words sound vicious, "I'll rip that energy out by the roots!"

[Metal]!

[Fire]!

I duck under her wide swing and land an uppercut past her guard, sending her spittle flying everywhere.

[Earth]!

[Wood—

"Argghhh!!!!"

My insides ignite. I drop to my knees, howling as I melt from the inside out.

Too much! It's too hot!

Precocious child! You were working with the barest dregs of my existence before! Your paltry constitution cannot refine a single drop of genuine [Oni] blood!

"I... don't care!" A geyser of superheated steam bursts from my lips, carrying the scent of my own cooking flesh.

Desperate [Metal] and searing [Fire] meet at [Water].

Aramasa picks me up again, and the soup forming from my organs swirls from the motion. I'm helpless as her claws dig into my cheeks, prying my jaw open once more. The dark blood wells on her wrist, ready to drown me.

No.

My trembling hands come together, clutching at nothing, clutching at everything.

I shove it at the demon's chest. It is not [Tsuzumi Masamune]. It is not [Kagutsuchi Masamune]. It's something yet to be named, will given shape, the unrefined product of my [Metal] Qi.

The imaginary blade sinks deep into her chest, earning a grunt of genuine surprise.

But her grip only tightens, her other hand forcing my head back, pouring more of the intoxicating, damning essence down my throat. I choke on it, feeling my muscles burst once again.

I twist the blade. Drag it upward, carving a vicious path through her torso.

She doesn't let go. I pull it out. Swing again, again, and again! Againagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagainagain—

My sword stops meeting resistance.

I land on the bloody earth.

[Aramasa] stands steps away. Countless gashes mar her torso and face, weeping dark energy. Her tattered rags are gone, torn to nothing by my assault.

Naked, raw, and bleeding, she smiles proudly at me.

We clash, separate, twist around each other for an opening, then clash again. We trade blows that would shatter concrete, our feet tearing great furrows in the earth. I duck under a swing that decapitates a tree, my own blade slicing a deep cut across her thigh. She backhands me, sending me flying through a thicket, but I'm on my feet in an instant, leaping back into the fray.

[Metal]. [Fire].

[Earth]. [Wood].

[Water].

Again and again, over and over, I re-temper myself in this hellscape, carving away the [Wood] Qi she had rooted upon me, purging her influence with each cycle, honing myself back into a human.

The green of the forest drowns in sprays of red, and I can no longer see my opponent, only track her bloodlust and answer in the same direction.

Then, when I can no longer breathe internal alchemy, my vision clears, and my blade of intent no longer carves into her. Instead, it phases through her form, ethereal, translucent like smoke in the rising dawn.

[Aramasa] looks down at the harmless blade, then at me, a grudging respect in her bright blue eyes.

You held out until dawn... good stamina, I will grant you that. But without the [Oumagatoki] sustaining our battle... this is as far as you go. A draw. Take pride in it.

I fall flat on my ass, my body screaming in protest. "It's not a draw..!" I gasp, the words ragged. "I... I won...!"

She chuckles, a low, echoing sound. The victor is decided when only one is left standing. I will still be here when you wake.

She blinks, and her cruel features melt away, replaced by a familiar, confused pout.

"Ora?"

The blood-soaked forest begins to crumble around us, dissolving into motes of light. A deep, resonant CRACK echoes through my soul, followed by an intense, pounding headache splits my skull—

I blink.

The textured white of my living room ceiling swims into focus.

It's hot. My body is slick with feverish sweat.

Every muscle aches with a deep, profound exhaustion. I struggle to push myself up on my elbows—

Thump.

Something hard lands on my lap.

No... no, no, no, no, that was all dreamscape bullshit—

I look down.

It's long. Almost the size of my forearm, curved, thick at the base and sharpening to a wicked point.

I pick up the horn, my hands trembling. My fingers are still tipped in red.

Solid. Real. It's the same color as my skin. I dig a nail—

A claw, it's a claw—

I dig a claw into the base of the horn, and a bead of dark blood wells up.

"Hahh... hahh..."

My other hand flies to my mouth. Fangs.

"Hahh... hah..."

I reach up, feeling my forehead. There's a single, tender, aching bump.

Well? Still believe you won, little vessel?

Still think you're in charge?

My chest seizes. I can't breathe. No, I can, but it's not enough. My vision's swimming. I'm about to pass out, I'm going back to the forest, I'm fighting her until this is gone or I'm dead—

"Shhh..."

A figure in white kneels before me. Her hands, so soft and human, gently cover my own.

"It's alright now."

It's not.

"The battle is over."

It's not!

"Everyone is safe."

They... they are?

"Yes... everyone has been healed... the talismans were completed..."

Ah... I'm glad...

I can live with that... even if I'm tainted... all that fighting meant something... my promise wasn't broken.

Her thumbs stroke the back of my hands. She doesn't flinch at the roughness of my demonic flesh nor the feverish sweat that covers my palms.

"This fear you feel... this anxiety over what you've become... it is proof. The clearest proof that you are still you. A demon wouldn't care. You are still human, Boss."

"Hahh... hah..."

The room returns to focus. I meet her gentle eyes and try to thank her, to say something, anything, but all that comes out is a dry, rasping cough.

"... Let me get you some water," Sukemori... Parfaite urges me.

"No!"

She flinches, and I slowly pull my claws from her skin, not forceful enough to draw blood, but still enough to keep her soft hands on mine.

She doesn't let go.

I let my gaze drift slowly around my living room.

The ratty old couch has been shoved aside, tilted vertically against the wall to make space for the futon below me.

On the opposite wall, the faulty TV flickers through a morning news segment, the sound a low murmur.

From the kitchen, I can hear the soft, rhythmic bubbling of water on the stove.

I grab my horn. With my other hang still clinging to Parfaite's, I push myself off the futon and onto my knees, crawling towards the fridge and pulling her with me.

She doesn't resist and keeps rubbing slow, soothing circles on my reddened skin.

I reach up, open the fridge, and grab a half-full pitcher of water, tilting my head back and pouring.

It sloshes into my mouth, over my chin, down my neck, soaking into my shirt. A full-body shiver wracks me, but I don't care.

Draining the last drop, I put the pitcher back in, shut the fridge, fetch my horn, and crawl back to my futon, dragging Parfaite with me.

"... where's Granny?"

"She left to buy groceries for breakfast. There will be many visitors today."

... wait. Granny left me alone in the house with a virtual stranger? While I was passed out?

Parfaite must have worked some serious magic on her.

"... who's coming?"

"Madoka-san, Rodionova-san, Furukawa-san, Sola-san, Renka-san, Koujin-san... and Jinguuji-san."

Kana-p?

She barely comes here. Only hangs out with the gang when Madoka drags her out from school.

... Ah. She's not coming here as a friend. She's coming as a priest.

I turn to Parfaite again.

"... why are you wearing that?"

She's not in her uniform. Or her maid outfit.

It's a nurse's outfit. A classic, pure white dress that contrasts starkly with her dark hair and purple eyes. It's modest, but still hugging her form, and the little cap perched perfectly on her head just tops it all off...

Madoka-san suggested it. She said it would... cheer you up."

She looks down. "... did it work?"

"... yeah... a bit..."

She looks... disappointed?

Should I have said more?

Shit, I should have. Madoka's always pestering me for commentary after she goes clothes shopping.

This girl took the time to dress up for me and nurse back to health, and the best I can do is "a bit"?!

"... you look..."

Immaculate. Serene. Beautiful.

"... really pretty...?"

What are you, a middle schooler?! Use your words, dammit! You're just praising her outfit, nothing more, nothing less!

Parfaite smiles, a faint blush touching her cheeks. Her hand squeezes mine again, and the horn on my lap becomes a tad lighter.

"Thank you, Boss."

... she really is too nice for her own good—

A sharp knock at the door makes me flinch, but I hold back before my hand crushes Parfaite's.

She glances at me, wanting to answer the door formally.

I shake my head.

"Come in," my maid calls out instead.

The door opens, and Madoka bursts in, Dawn silently behind her.

Lilac eyes lock onto mine, and she's across the room in a heartbeat, arms wide for a hug. I try to shove my other hand under the futon, but it's useless. There's a horn on my lap, a bump on my head, and fangs in my mouth.

There's no hiding it.

"..."

She stops short of the hug and instead kneels to my right, hand finding mine under the covers.

"It's okay, Momo," she says, her voice soft but sure. "It's going to be okay. We'll find a way to reverse this. I promise."

I know that. I believe her. The fact that she's even here, speaking, talking, no longer pale, means that everything is right with the world. But...

"... school..." I croak out, the word alien thanks to my new teeth. "... how am I supposed to go anywhere like this?"

Being the local thug was one thing. But if people start pointing, calling me a demon—

Or worse! A delusional weirdo wearing fake fangs for attention...!

I might lose it. If [Aramasa] tells me to let her out to correct them, I might listen.

"Tomaki-kun has been managing alright with his," Madoka offers, though she doesn't sound entirely convinced.

"Increased intimidation factor," Dawn chimes in flatly.

Neither thought is even remotely comforting.

Madoka, seeing my despair, shifts gears. "Okay, but think of the fashion! We could totally work with this! There are so many styles that would accentuate the fangs, make them look—"

Another knock at the door cuts her off. Dawn gets up to answer it.

Parfaite squeezes my left hand.

"I must turn down the stove, Boss. Before it boils over."

I let her go reluctantly, my skin cold and exposed.

She sashays to the stove, and the new arrivals reach my futon alongside Dawn.

Alyona and Renka.

Blue eyes sweep over me, from the horn in my lap to the fangs in my mouth.

A fresh wave of nausea washes over me.

I must look like some specimen. Disgusting. Deformed. Demonic.

The other three were just too kind to say anything.

"... may I?"

She kneels to my left, where Parfaite was. Her fingers hover near my mouth.

I want to tell her no. But with each second, her blue eyes feel less judging and more curious, so I end up nodding.

How weak.

Her fingers gently reach one of my fangs.

"Nngh...

She traces its length, her brow furrowed in concentration, and I have to hold back the urge to bite down. They shouldn't be this sensitive, but they're new, so they are.

"..."

After a moment, she pulls away, murmuring something under her breath.

"... what?" I ask, my voice tight.

She meets my eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on her lips. "I said... it's a bit cool." She gestures vaguely at my face. "You could pull off a very convincing cosplay with these."

"See?! I told you! We could totally do a dark fantasy look! Or an urban vampire! Think of the possibilities!"

"...a high-collared black coat..."

"...with red accents to bring out the crimson in your eyes..."

Alyona and Madoka blend into a dizzying hum of fabric types and color palettes. I tune them out, focusing on the steady bubbling from the kitchen instead.

Cool. She thinks they're cool...

"Momofuu-ki."

Renka's voice, low and focused, cuts through the fashion noise.

I look over. Her single eye hasn't left the horn resting on my lap since she sat down.

"Would you be willing to part with it?"

A cold shiver crawls down my spine.

"... what do you want to do with it?"

Her eye finally lifts to meet mine, gleaming with a disturbing intensity. "The alchemical applications are vast. A powdered [Oni] horn, when combined with powdered pearl and infused in a solution of—"

"Gimme the highlights," I interrupt, not sure I want the details.

"It can be used to fortify the bones, sharpen the senses, or, in one particular preparation, significantly increase performance in the bedr—"

"Absolutely not!" I snap, my face flushing hot.

I am not having a piece of my body floating around in some... some love potion!

Renka actually has the gall to look a little disappointed. "I solemnly swear I would not use it for that particular recipe."

"Speaking of recipes," I boldly change the subject, turning to Madoka and Alyona. "How are you two even here? We didn't have enough... Millennium Ginseng Ash?"

Renka nods. "Fortune smiled upon us. The [Kasha]'s remains left behind a quantity of high-grade spiritual ash. With some alchemical adjustment, I was able to transmutate its elemental affinity from [Fire] to [Earth]. A suitable substitute for us, and the people Mei-dono wanted to help."

"What about the council?"

"They came back from their expedition after we were finished. Their members seem to be stable."

Okay. Good. At least something went right. I turn my attention back to Madoka and Alyona.

"Hey... what happened after I passed out?"

Madoka shrugs. "I passed out right after you."

Alyona nods. "I also lost consciousness shortly after you began your... healing attempt on her. It seems your new power is contingent on your own awareness."

"... noted."

"Now, how about fingerless gloves to show those claws?"

"And nail stickers to make them look less demonic?"

I can't take it. "Parfaite... please..."

She jolts slightly, and oh yeah, I've swapped to her first name.

Still, my maid is here in an instant, expression attentive. "Yes, Boss?"

"You got a mask?"

Without a word, she produces a simple, black medical face mask.

I nod. She leans forward and gently loops the elastic bands over my ears, her fingers brushing my skin. The soft black fabric settles over my nose and mouth, hiding my fangs completely.

I let out a sigh of relief. "Gloves for the claws. That'll do for school."

Madoka lets out a sound of pure despair. "Mou! A boring medical mask? We could at least get one with a cute design! A little skull? Or a cat? Ooh, a chibi [Simply Red]!"

I slump further into the futon. There is no escape...

Knock. Knock.

Wait. There's my chance!

"Conserve your energy, you lunatic."

"You need to rest, Momo!"

"Any exertion could destabilize your inner equilibrium."

Three pairs of hands immediately press down my shoulders.

I can only watch, helpless, as Dawn pads over and opens the door.

Kanae and Koujin step inside. They exchange quiet greetings with everyone, their eyes quickly finding me on the futon. Soon, they complete the semi-circle of concerned, and in Renka's case, intrigued faces.

Kanae stares at me for a long, silent moment, her expression unreadable.

"You look awful. Inside and out."

Madoka gasps. "Kanna-p! You can't just say that!"

I let out a weak, hoarse laugh. After all the forced cheer and fashion tips, the lack of any sugarcoating is a bit refreshing.

"Tell me something I don't know."

"Take off that mask first."

I don't have the energy to argue. I pull the black fabric down, letting it hang around my neck.

I bare my fangs and lay my clawed hands on my lap.

Koujin leans forward, her eyes wide. "Whoa. It's the opposite of Tomaki-kun's. His are on the lower teeth."

Kanae, however, looks me up and down before letting out a long, weary sigh.

"When Warumachi knocked at my door about [Aramasa] being active, I hadn't expected the corruption to fester this much... I was too late..."

"Stop saying ominous shit," I grumble, the words slurring slightly. "Just tell me if there's a way to reverse this."

"By the fever you got on ya, I can tell you prevented a full transformation through... cultivation, I guess?" She folds her hands in her lap. "Still, the only way to go back to your human mug is to destroy the source, or sever her link with our world."

"But [Aramasa] can't be killed.

She nods. "Yep. That's why they sealed her near Mt. Musan. I checked the main seal yesterday. It's up and going, which means..."

"An unnatural degradation caused by the other world," Renka proposes.

"So... if we just keep fighting to restore the barrier, we also save Momo!" Madoka finishes the thought, her voice soft but clear.

A sigh escapes me.

It's not a potion or a ritual. It's not a fight I can win with my fists. The solution to my problem is to solve the single biggest crisis facing the entire city.

No pressure.

"Do not fret, Boss," Dawn murmurs. "The main quest is normally easier than a dedicated side-quest like this."

"... right..."

"By the way, I'm joining the Fujiwara Senki."

Kanae's announcement lands with the grace of a lead balloon.

"Yay! Welcome, Kanna-p!"

"Whoa, hold on," I interrupt, holding up a hand. "Don't decide all on your own. We have a rigorous recruitment process over here!"

Kanae raises a single finger, her expression unchanging. "For starters, I'm not fighting or playing turf war." She raises a second finger. "And I'm absolutely not putting on a tacky maid outfit."

"But would you do it if it was fashionable?"

Neither of us turn to Madoka.

"Then what the hell are you even doing? We were already working on pushing back the [Idea World] before your fussy ass showed up."

"Well, [Aramasa] was sealed near Mt. Musan, so she's kind of like a generational pain in the ass for us. I already know you won't sit in a temple for monitoring—"

Alyona snorts, the brat.

"—And I'm the only one from the temple who goes to school with you, so there."

Ah. No one is putting her up to this. She just wants to help but doesn't want to admit it.

Mistaking my exasperation for disapproval, she keeps going.

"Look, I've been trained to hear and see her as well as you do. I can check on you better than anyone else and make sure you're not killing yourself to manage her."

"Hmph. So, what's she doing right now? What's she saying?"

Hah... A~hahahahaha... Musan? In this girl? How ridiculous... is everyone attached to some pubescent chit in the current era? What has that lunatic Seimei done...

"Laughing at my [Kami]. Pretty rude, ain't she?"

"...tell me about it..."

Her eyes sharpen, focusing on me with unnerving intensity.

"She is... dormant. Half-asleep, leaning against a tree within you. Waiting for the next battle. This hangout is pretty much starving her of what she wants."

"And that would be?

She holds up her hand, counting them off on her fingers.

"[Violence]."

"[Intoxication]."

"[Abduction]."

"[Cannibalism]."

"[Theft]."

"[Invasion]."

"[Isolation]."

"Too much of any of these, and you go from Momo to... Shin Momo?"

"Momoni?" Madoka offers.

"Super Momofuu-ki 2?" Koujin chips in.

"... that all sounds easier than expected." I tell her, ignoring the terrible nicknames. "I mean, [Cannibalism]? Really?"

"It's a sevenfold path, not a bunch of gates one after the other. Going too far down one path doesn't stop you from stepping to the side and walking with something weirder."

"Alright, I get it," I huff. "You know your stuff. You're in."

The other members instantly chime in with their welcomes.

"Welcome to the crew, Kanna-p!"

"Welcome, Jinguuji-san."

"Welcome."

Koujin grins, looking genuinely pleased. "Sweet. My rookie phase didn't last long at all."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Five pairs of eyes stare at Koujin... then me.

Oh. Right. I never actually told them.

"Uh... yeah." I start eloquently. "She joined yesterday. After our fight."

Madoka blinks, then shrugs. "Okay! Welcome to the gang, Saya-chan!"

Bless her heart.

But Alyona's brow is still furrowed in utter bewilderment. "I… was there for the entirety of that confrontation. I did not hear of any such recruitment offer."

"That was during it," Koujin and I say in unison.

Our eyes meet.

"In the space between heartbeats—"

"—where we were stripped down to our cores—"

"—and reached a mutual understanding."

Wow.

Alyona puts a hand to her forehead, looking pained. "Please. Stop. I am begging you. Do not develop your own impenetrable dialect."

Impenetrable? It makes perfect sense!

The door creaks open.

Granny walks in, followed by Fumiko. I yank the mask back over my mouth, and thankfully, the bodies kneeling around me block the view of my clawed hands.

"Good morning, girls."

A chorus of cheerful greetings erupts from everyone, but I'm staring at the bulging sacks of groceries Fumiko is carrying.

That's enough to feed everyone, but... "Oi, Granny... how did you pay for all that?"

She gives me a knowing look. "Oh, Alyona-chan here was a dear. She insisted on covering the costs for our little breakfast."

My eyes snap to Alyona, who suddenly finds the pattern on my futon utterly fascinating. "It... a gathering of this size calls for something more substantial than rice crackers," she murmurs, her cheeks tinged with pink.

A weird, warm feeling settles against the fever-heat in my chest.

"Oh. Well... thanks."

She gives a sharp, jerky nod, still refusing to look at me.

Fumiko drops her bags by the sink and plops down next to us, completing the circle around my futon. "Alright, lay it on me. What's the good news and bad news?"

"The good news is that I'm joining you idiots," Kanae tells her. "The bad news is that I'm losing my free time by joining you idiots."

I'm about to tell her exactly where she can shove her free time when my eyes land on Parfaite. She's still hovering by the stove, quietly and efficiently starting to put the groceries away.

"Oi, Parfaite," I call out. "Stop working. Get over here."

"But Boss, the perishables—"

My grandma gives her a gentle but firm shove towards our circle. "The food can wait, dear. The company cannot."

She relents, smoothing down her pristine white nurse's dress as she kneels demurely between Madoka and Koujin.

Fumiko's eyes widen as she finally gets a good look at the outfit. She lets out a low whistle. "Whoa, Momo. I see you've moved to a new level. That's... kinda sinister, to be honest."

"It was Madoka's idea!"

After minutes of bravely defending my reputation from these chatterboxes, they orchestrate the movement of the kotatsu over my futon, and soon we're all squeezed around it, the low table laden with more food than this apartment has ever seen before.

... and I can't eat any of it.

Parfaite sneaked me some gloves to cover my hands. But I can't exactly take a bite without flashing Granny my fangs.

My only saving grace is the fever killing my appetite as an excuse.

... It's only a matter of time until she sees them. I know that. But I'd like to at least have a good explanation for when it happens.

Madoka finishes chewing on her rice. "So... Is it true you two had to get away from the police?"

"I did no such thing! I was only a passenger in a vehicle operated by a reckless maniac!"

"You were laughing it up with me when we lost them, don't even start..."

"It sounds cool, though! I wonder how a fight on motorcycles would go...!"

"I can let you use my designated vehicle next time, Koujin-san..."

"... next time...?"

"We're becoming a biker gang, Dawn-chan!"

"I didn't sign up for that either, by the way."

"I'm afraid it's imperative to avoid [Isolation], Jinguuji-dono."

"No, no, I wanna ride with someone else. Otherwise I can't use my fists properly."

"That's all you, Momo. I'm not letting a maniac like this on my ride."

I lean back against the couch propped against the wall. The horn is a constant weight, poking under my blanket.

The bickering ebbs and flows and overlaps. The room is full, cramped and loud and messy... but I don't mind.

... it's warm. Far gentler than the fever burning me up inside and making me dizzy, it seeps from all around me, keeping me awake.

I spot Renka talking to Granny about something, and take the chance to reach for my chopsticks, tugging on my mask and nibbling on some tamagoyaki.

... it's warm.

... this is good.

Edit

Pub: 26 Nov 2025 02:40 UTC

Edit: 05 Dec 2025 21:36 UTC

Views: 136