Meanwhile, as Life went to meet with Manabu and the other teachers, Seiza and Yoshino found themselves a few feet away from the secret entrance to the lab, huddled around a campfire. They had created it using Yoshino's lighter and dry wood that Seiza had scrounged from the nearby woods. Beside Yoshino, Nozomi lay unconscious, recovering from the recent battle.
The fire provided much-needed warmth, its crackling flames casting comforting shadows around them. Smoke rose through a large hole in the ceiling, disappearing into the vast night sky above. The glow of the fire reflected in their tired eyes, the comforting warmth helping to soothe their frayed nerves.
Yoshino sighed, her breath visible in the cool air. "Phew, okay, this should be enough until she wakes up."
Seiza, seated by Yoshino's right side, peered curiously at her. "Yoshino, if you don't mind me asking, where did you learn to make a campfire?"
Yoshino perked up, a small smile of nostalgia forming on her lips. "Oh, well, Uncle Henry taught me. When Mom, my brother, and I went on a camping trip up the mountains, he showed us how to light a campfire and how to properly extinguish it to prevent wildfires. Sadly, I didn't get much practice since it rained a thunderstorm on the second day, forcing us to leave early." The memory of her uncle's wild stories around the campfire brought a flicker of warmth to her eyes.
Seiza smiled a little at that, his tail wagged a little."I see...well, at least you had fun."
"Yeah, I did. And, honestly, I'd argue the storm forcing us to leave early wasn't all bad. Uncle Henry taught me how to shoot a gun to compensate for the failed trip—as long as I promised to keep it a secret from Mom." Yoshino chuckled, pulling out the revolver from her school bag, ensuring the safety was on. She remembered her uncle's serious face when he made her promise not to provoke her mother's wrath.
Seiza snorted, trying to imagine the scene. "Yeah, I can see how your mother wouldn't approve..."
With no further questions arising, they remained in companionable silence for the next twenty minutes. Yoshino grew impatient, her gaze frequently shifting to Nozomi. "How much longer is she going to stay like this? It's already been almost an hour." She reached out, placing her hand on Nozomi's forehead to check for a fever.
Seiza sighed, feeling slightly exhausted from having to reassure Yoshino and, in a way, himself, repeatedly. "Anytime now, just... wait a bit longer."
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As Seiza watched over Nozomi, a wave of frustration with himself surged. Thoughts of his impulsiveness, which had almost led to his death and would have surely resulted in Nozomi's demise without his healing abilities, bubbled up. 'Seriously… What was I thinking pulling a stunt like that?! If I died, who would...'
"Thank you."
Seiza blinked, turning to face Yoshino. Though she hadn't elaborated, the gratitude in her eyes spoke volumes. Overwhelmed, Seiza closed his eyes and turned away. Not able to face her directly after hearing that, figuring he didn't deserve it.
Sensing his turmoil, Yoshino gently rubbed Seiza's back, her hand movements awkward but genuine. Though she remained silent, the wagging of Seiza's tail, unnoticed by him, was enough encouragement for her to continue.
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After another few minutes of silence, Seiza broke it once more. "Yoshino... what are your thoughts on Outsider?"
The question caught Yoshino off-guard. After a moment of contemplation, she answered honestly. "I'm... not sure." She paused, then elaborated. "He gives off a sketchy vibe, to say the least, but he's proven dependable with his actions. That's a fact."
'Or at least more dependable than me,' she thought bitterly to herself.
Yoshino shook her head. "I'm not naive enough to believe that a complete stranger would risk their life for two teenage girls they've never met without any compensation. But a small part of me wants to believe it's true... I mean, I have just about the same amount of evidence for either case, so why not? It's not like we have the luxury to deny his help anyway." She shrugged, then turned to Seiza. "How about you?"
Seiza slowly nodded. "I think I'm in the same boat as you. Although, I found him more scary than sketchy."
Yoshino thought about Outsider's intimidating appearance and voice. "Yeah... I get that."
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As Nozomi slowly regained consciousness, she opened her eyes, her vision filled with the flickering light of the nearby campfire. Yoshino's face came into focus, bathed in the warm glow. Memories of how her friend had learned to make a campfire flooded back to her.
Sensing movement, Yoshino and Seiza turned to Nozomi. Yoshino's expression softened into one of relief before it turned teasing. "Wakey-wakey, little star!~"
Still dazed, Nozomi blinked a few times before the memories of the recent battle hit her like a tidal wave. She shot up, frantically looking around. "Where's he? Did I get him? Is he dead?!"
"Y-yes, he's dead," Yoshino reassured her, trying to calm her down. "We won't have to worry about him ever again."
Realizing how startled Yoshino looked by her outburst, Nozomi took a deep breath and sat down. "Oh... good. Sorry about that."
"It's fine." Yoshino waved it off with a tired smile, not entirely truthful but too relieved to care.
They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the warmth of the campfire warding off the night's chill. Yet Nozomi's mind couldn't settle. The haunting memory of watching her own light bullet inch toward Yoshino's head—knowing she was powerless to stop it—resurfaced with brutal clarity. Despite Yoshino's reassurances, that gnawing guilt she felt deep down refused to be absolved.
Little by little, her self-loathing grew back, dragging her deeper into a pit of despair. Every bitter thought replayed in her mind: the crushing realization of her own stupidity, the arrogance that made her think she could protect anyone, and worst of all, the near-fatal mistake that almost cost her best friend's life. The word that had echoed inside her mind back then returned with a relentless fury: 'killer, killer, killer, Killer, Killer, Killer, KILLER, KILLER, KILLER, KILLER...'
"Nozomi!" Yoshino's urgent voice broke through the dark haze, snapping her back to reality.
Nozomi's eyes widened, meeting the flickering light of the campfire through a blur of tears she hadn't even noticed. Soon realizing she had been hyperventilating, caught in a nightmarish memory. It felt like a weight had been lifted, allowing her to breathe deeply and slowly.
Glancing down, she saw Seiza, his eyes closed, using the calming side effects of his healing magic to help her relax. His presence was a grounding force amid her storm of emotions.
Nozomi then turned to Yoshino, who still had her hand on Nozomi's shoulder, her face a tapestry of concern and relief. Without saying a word, Yoshino pulled Nozomi into an embrace—awkward but heartfelt, filled with the unconditional sincerity only those who had been friends for years could offer and understand.
As they hugged, Nozomi's tears flowed even more freely. This time, they were not tears of guilt or self-loathing but of relief and joy. Despite not deserving, she was surrounded by friends who supported her unconditionally.
When they finally parted, Nozomi felt a semblance of calmness wash over her. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them with resolve. "I... need to tell you both something."
As Nozomi began to explain the troubling side effects of her powers, she kept her gaze on the campfire, the dancing flames reflecting her inner turmoil. She wasn't confident that she could face her friends directly while recounting each painful detail.
"...and that's everything. I think." When she finally turned to see their reactions, the horror and shock etched on their faces made her heart sink. Their wide-open mouths spoke volumes, instilling regret for having burdened them with her truth.
After a few unbearable seconds, Seiza was the first to recover. "I-I'm fixing it!"
Nozomi blinked in confusion. "W-what?"
Seiza took a deep breath, his small frame trembling with the weight of his own emotions. Despite the haunted look in his eyes, a new determination shone through. "I... I don't know what this is or how to fix it, but I won't stop until I do! You won't suffer like this again, I promise!" Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke, but the fervent glint in them filled Nozomi with hope.
Her eyes widened in shock before softening into tired happiness. She reached out to pet Seiza's head, her touch gentle and full of gratitude. "Thank you. I know you will, Seiza."
For a moment, the night seemed less daunting under the warm glow of the campfire, as they found solace in each other's presence amidst the encroaching darkness.
After sharing a few more minutes of tears and comfort, both Nozomi and Seiza calmed down. Nozomi took a deep breath to collect herself when—
GROWL
The loud sound of both her and Yoshino's stomachs broke the tension, causing their faces to turn pink.
"Sorry," Nozomi mumbled.
Yoshino and Nozomi stared at each other, an unspoken understanding passing between them before Yoshino burst out laughing. "Pfft, ahahaha!!" Her laughter was infectious, soon followed by Nozomi and Seiza giggling along.
When the laughter died down, Yoshino stood up. "So, are you ready to go now?" She extended her hand to help Nozomi up.
Nozomi thought for a moment before nodding and accepting her hand with a smile. "Yes, I think I'm ready. Thanks."
For some inexplicable reason, Yoshino averted her gaze, her cheeks tinged with pink. "Good... that's good."
Before Nozomi could ask what was wrong, Yoshino spoke again, flustered. "S-so, Seiza, do you mind giving us a lift home? I can tell you where my place is."
Seiza nodded eagerly. "Yeah, just hold on to me, and we'll get there in no time."
"That's fantastic!" Yoshino exclaimed, giving the dog a thumbs-up.
With their transportation arranged, they carefully extinguished the fire. Under Yoshino's guidance, they ensured it was done correctly. Then, they left the building and soared into the night sky, heading to Yoshino's home.
The cityscape below looked like a sea of twinkling lights. Yoshino's eyes sparkled with amazement at the view. Nozomi couldn't blame her; the sight was mesmerizing. If someone had told her a week ago that she'd be flying with her best friend thanks to a magical talking dog, she would have laughed it off or called the police.
When Seiza arrived at Yoshino's home, she pointed to a discreet spot in an alley where they could land unseen. "There, that should do it!"
After landing, Yoshino took a few moments to compose herself. "Phew, that was... amazing!" She chuckled. "It sure beats walking!"
Nozomi smiled in agreement, glancing around the alley. "Are you sure you'll be okay? Do you need us to walk you home?"
Yoshino waved off her concerns. "Nah, no need. You also need to get home on time, right? Unless you want your brother to stay up late worrying?"
Nozomi rolled her eyes, the mention of her little brother eliciting a groan. "Ugh, don't even get me started on him." She sighed. "Alright then, good night."
Nozomi took off, leaving Yoshino alone in the alleyway. As Yoshino whistled a familiar tune from a childhood commercial, she approached the door to her home. Taking a deep breath, she opened it. "I'm home!"