"...!"
In the medical room, a brown-haired girl rose from her bed. She was sweating profusely. For some reason, she felt out of breath. Miyako gripped her robe, feeling her heart squeeze in pain.
"You're awake."
A familiar male voice said. A red-haired boy was sitting beside her.
"Finally, you've been asleep for a while."
"We've been worried."
Two other girls in the room, in beds, said.
Miyako stared blankly at the others. She wanted to say something but she closed her mouth and looked down with a dead look in her eyes.
She could only think about the Mage Killer. Miyako was sane enough to remember what happened. She remembered the actions that she took even when she was berserk.
Miyako clawed her bedsheet. She turned her head to her right arm. It was gone, she sighed, disheartened. The girl raised her left arm to her chest, looking at her palm.
'Where... did we go wrong?'
No, there was no point in thinking that. Not because no one would answer but because she already knew the answer.
It was from the very start. She knew where it had gone wrong, the moment she decided to hunt the Mage Killer.
There was someone, someone who wanted to stop her. That person was strong and arrogant.
'If I was... as strong as him, I could've...'
Miyako Arima.
She's the second daughter of the Arima Family which is in the Seven Great Families. They're known for nurturing great magicians in their main and branch families.
The first daughter, the oldest child, was Ayaka Arima. She's a great magician but the Arima Family wanted a male heir.
That was when Miyako was born. From the age of 4, she was a prodigy. Her Magic Seal was a disappointment, however. Despite that, she was an excellent magician.
It wasn't enough for the patriarch and his wife. They wanted her to attain absolute power. She couldn't. Because she wasn't the strongest, she was weak.
Due to her family, she hated that very word. She hated being called weak.
Recently, when Ayato became a World Magician...
'Why can't you be like him?!'
'He's powerful and is going to become the next heir to the Kyouya Family!'
'We'll have you seduce him and become his wife.'
'No, dear, with her looks, that won't be possible. She'll be lucky enough to become one of his concubines.'
'Haha, that is true.'
'I named you Miyako because you were born at midnight. I thought you'd be beautiful like me.'
The look of disgust in her mother's eyes. The subtle, yet disturbing laugh of her father. She hated it. She hated them.
'Honestly, why did I ever conceive such a girl? Narumi should've been born first instead of you, then we wouldn't have to expect anything. You should've at least been born a boy if you had the nerve to come out of my womb.'
Words that shouldn't ever be spoken from parents. Miyako silently seethed in that moment. She didn't have the guts to retort. If she did, they would have no hesitation to throw her out.
The only thing that makes her different from others is the fact that she is an Arima. If she was disowned, she would have nothing.
"So, the fools are finally awake."
The door to the medical room opened. A black-haired girl walked into the room.
"Aren't you...?"
Emika sounded.
"Kiara Kyouya, the older sister of Ayato Kyouya, at your service."
Usually, someone would bow when saying that but she didn't.
"Looks like you all took an ass whooping. It's deserved since you tried to take on the Mage Killer yourself."
She closed the door and grabbed a stool. The girl placed it in the middle of the room and sat down. Kiara crossed her arms and legs. She seemed dominant like a queen.
"What...? Are you here to lecture us?"
Miyako asked. Her voice came out as a groan. It was the first words she had spoken since waking up.
"Yes, because all of you are fools. A daughter of the Arima Family, a strong magician and a kind-hearted magician. I can't forget the fool, can I?"
She asked the latter while glaring at Retsuya. The boy lowered his eyes.
"We've already been defeated... What more do we need?!"
"Miyako, you just got up, relax!"
Retsuya held Miyako down as she shouted at the girl. Miyako gritted her teeth.
"You need to shut up the fuck up and listen."
"...!"
"I've been told that my brother gave you a warning and, despite that, you ignored it and still went after the Mage Killer."
Miyako grimaced at Kiara. She couldn't take brother and sister alike.
"What? So, it's my fault? Hehe..."
The brown-haired girl put on a wavering smile.
"If he had joined us, nothing would've gone wrong! It's his fault!"
Kiara furrowed her brows. She couldn't help but think of the girl she was talking to as disgusting and shameless.
"The Mage Killer... is an artificial World Magician."
"Huh?"
A collective sound of surprise from all three girls. Miyako grinned.
"So, he didn't tell me that? That guy... if he knew that from the start, he should've told us. That bastard, he thinks he's all high and mighty. That's why I hate those in power. They always act like they're better than everyone. It's disgusting. Stomach-churning! He—!"
Retsuya slapped Miyako.
A deathly silence settled over the room. Miyako absently felt her cheek with her left hand. Surprised, she stared at Retsuya. He looked as though he was holding back tears.
"Don't make that mistake. You went despite his warning."
Kiara smiled at Retsuya. He was using her words.
"You were the one who started assuming things about Ayato. In the end, you started acting like a victim and ended up hurting your relationship with the two of you. Emika and Saya took your side too. I think... because you're a girl."
He trailed off.
Miyako burst a vessel.
"Because I'm a girl? I was right because I'm a girl? They took my side because I'm a girl? You know how stupid that sounds. Besides, Ayato is the one in the wrong! He has power but he doesn't use it!"
"You know, he's right."
The black-haired girl agreed.