There was softness beneath her, a comforting warmth that felt distant from the agony she vaguely remembered. A cool breeze brushed against her skin, and she slowly became aware of her surroundings—a white ceiling above her, with a fan spinning lazily, sending weak gusts of air across her face. The chill contrasted with the warmth of the blanket that covered her.
The room was silent, save for the rhythmic beeping of some unseen machine, steady and unchanging. The scent of flowers mingled with the sharp, sterile smell of medical equipment. Nearby, a small white table came into view, adorned with a single flower pot. A white lilac rested inside it, its delicate petals offering a soft, calming fragrance to the otherwise sterile atmosphere.
Something else caught her attention. A mass of yellow hair was spread out across the bed's edge, its strands glowing faintly under the dim light. Slowly, her eyes followed the hair down to where a familiar figure lay. Claire was there, resting with her head on the edge of the bed, her arms curled beneath her head, covered by her cascading locks. She had been there all night.
For a moment, nothing else existed. The sight brought with it a gentle sense of relief, but just as quickly, the feeling was interrupted by the slightest tickle at her nose. The fan had blown a petal from the lilac onto her face.
"Hacchoo!" The sneeze broke the quiet, a soft, feminine sound that echoed faintly in the small room.
At the sudden noise and movement, Claire stirred. Her eyes opened slowly, blinking as if trying to adjust to the light, her yellow eyes still hazy with sleep. For a moment, she seemed dazed, but then her gaze sharpened as she noticed the figure in the bed. Recognition dawned on her, and her eyes widened.
"Rose!" Claire shrieked, her voice cracking with a mix of relief and disbelief.
Rose said nothing at first, still gathering her thoughts, her own feelings a jumble of emotions. Claire had been there, waiting.
"Hi, C-Claire... I didn't expect you to wake up, but hey, good morning. Geez, you scared the crap out of me," Rose responded, her voice trembling with a mix of surprise and awkward humor. She stuttered nervously, trying to keep the mood light despite the tension hanging in the air.
Claire immediately sat up, her eyes wide with shock and concern. She glanced at Rose, who returned her worried gaze with a nervous smile, trying to ease the tension. As Claire's gaze lingered, sweat formed on her forehead, betraying her anxiety. Worry etched deeply into her features as she watched Rose attempt to move closer. But the pain from the day before hit Rose like a wave, making her body jolt. She winced, her hand instinctively clutching her shoulder, her head bowing as she gritted her teeth against the pain.
Seeing this, Claire jumped up from her seat, ready to rush for help. But before she could leave, Rose reached out and grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. Claire stared at her in shock, her heart racing, as Rose tried to smile through the discomfort.
"L-let go... I'm gonna get help, capisce?" Claire insisted, her voice quivering with worry, her stutter betraying her fear.
"I'm fine, hehe... Capisce?" Rose reassured her, forcing a bright, albeit shaky, smile. "Just a little rusty from yesterday."
Claire's body trembled with uncertainty, her arm shaking in Rose's grip. Her mind raced, overwhelmed by doubts, but Rose's smile, as fragile as it seemed, reassured her just enough. Reluctantly, Claire sat back down, though skepticism still gnawed at her thoughts. Her worry overshadowed everything else, pushing aside any suspicion that Rose might be pretending to be okay. Claire forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil in her heart.
On the other hand, Rose felt conflicted. She knew that lying to Claire was the best way to protect her from the terrifying encounter she'd faced the previous day. Rose didn't want Claire to worry about her, not now, when Claire needed to focus on reconnecting with others after all they'd been through. Yet, a pang of guilt tugged at her for deceiving Claire—the one person she trusted the most, and who trusted her in return. Despite the guilt, Rose pushed through, keeping up the act.
"Well, how are you doing then?" Claire asked, her voice still laced with concern.
"Like the usual Rose you know! Geez, Claire, you worry too much!" Rose replied, her voice bright and exaggeratedly cheerful, trying to inject some humor into the tense moment.
"How could I not?" Claire shot back, her voice filled with exasperation and worry.
Rose pressed her lips together, forming a quiet smile. Without uttering a word, she casually shrugged off Claire's concern. Claire's eyebrows twitched at Rose's nonchalance, her mouth hanging slightly open in disbelief. But despite herself, she couldn't help but snicker at Rose's unusually energetic mood, trying to cover it with her wrist.
"You really are weird, you know that?" Claire said, releasing a mild chuckle.
"Yep!" Rose responded ecstatically, punching her fist in the air with a bright smile as she faced Claire.
Claire continued to chuckle at Rose's over-the-top enthusiasm, even though she still remembered the injuries Rose had sustained. Laughing felt inappropriate, especially considering Rose's current state, yet somehow Rose's cheerfulness managed to draw out her laughter. Still, Claire couldn't shake her concern and began to take the situation more seriously. She slowly shifted her focus to Rose, her gaze softening into a sincere look. Crossing her hands, she pressed them together in front of her nose. Rose noticed the change in mood but kept her smile intact.
"But really, are you actually fine?" Claire asked, her tone serious as she raised her eyebrows.
"Really, I feel okay," Rose replied, her voice toned down from her recent ecstatic pitch to a more mellow, softer tone. "I mean, it's not the best, but it's like sleeping on the wrong side of the bed... you know what I mean?"
"What happened yesterday in Starfield?" Claire pressed, her voice sincere and filled with concern.
Claire's mind flashed back to when they were teleported back to the starting position after she, Takumi, Liene, and Kazuki had taken down the Akumo that once terrorized them. As the blue light that engulfed her faded, her vision, though blurry, immediately spotted Rose lying on the ground, unconscious and gravely injured. It looked like something, or someone, had inflicted those wounds. Claire's body quaked, her hands forming tight fists as she remembered the terror she felt at that moment. She had screamed Rose's name, rushing over and sliding to her side, brushing away the half-burnt spruce leaves and branches covering her. She sat on the ground, cradling Rose's dirt-smeared cheek, desperate to wake her.
Takumi and Liene had pushed through the crowd of students that had circled around Claire and Rose, their faces full of concern. Other students were also tending to their unconscious classmates, whether they knew them or not. Takumi glanced around, seeing the number of unconscious students. Sweat dripped down his forehead, yet he felt helpless, unsure of how to assist. Meanwhile, Isaac had been moving among the injured students, casting healing magic with his outstretched palm. Faint lime light glowed as he treated wounds, his face full of raw sincerity.
Soon, Ann had arrived, landing gracefully after hovering in the air. She rushed toward the students, her expression one of deep concern. She had been the one who teleported them all back after discovering the wounded students, including Rose, hurt by some unknown cause. She had also begun teleporting the injured students, one by one, to the academy clinic. As she approached Claire, who was still trying to tend to Rose's wounds, Claire looked up at her with tearful eyes, a gaze so filled with fear and desperation that it could have pierced through even Ann's usual stern demeanor.
"Will she be okay?" Claire asked, her voice trembling with terror.
"You have my word," Ann responded in a mellow tone, reassuring Claire before teleporting Rose to the academy clinic. Then, with a flick of her wand, Ann disappeared once more, leaving Claire to cling to that promise.
Presently, Claire sat in the very spot where Ann had transported Rose and the other injured students. Her hands trembled as she continued to recall the terrifying events of the previous day. She tried to maintain her composure, but the memories made her feel helpless. As she waited, her thoughts were interrupted by Rose tilting her head upwards, noticing the worry etched on Claire's face. Rose pressed the tip of her finger to her chin, feigning a thoughtful expression, as if trying to remember what had caused her injuries. Then, with a shrug and a slight twitch of her head to the side, she responded.
"I dunno, I can't remember... It was probably an Akumo or something. I-I really can't remember," Rose said, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Well, so much for that..." Claire replied, trying to hide her disappointment at not knowing the cause of Rose's injuries.
Claire forced a smile, attempting to mask her fear. The terror from yesterday still gripped her, making her hands tremble. She discreetly tucked them beneath her legs, out of Rose's sight. The thought that this might not be the last time something so dangerous could happen terrified her, especially if it involved Rose. Meanwhile, Rose noticed the trembling in Claire's hidden hands and the fear beneath her forced smile. She chose not to reveal that she actually remembered the incident. While she didn't know exactly who had attacked her, she suspected it was a student. But she kept this to herself to avoid worrying Claire or prompting her to do something rash. Claire was always selfless, too selfless for her own good, and Rose knew that if it came down to it, Claire would sacrifice herself for her. Rose couldn't let that happen.
"So how are you even here? Like, during class, on the second day of the academy, in the afternoon?" Rose asked, deliberately changing the subject to steer the conversation away from the seriousness of the moment.
"I was given permission to be excused from class and stay here by Miss Ann herself..." Claire responded, her tone shifting from soft and worried to slightly more upbeat.
"Really? Hard to imagine..." Rose replied, curiosity creeping into her voice.
"I thought so too. It was really nice of her though..." Claire added, a small pinch of excitement evident in her tone. "Stay put, Miss Ann cast a healing spell on you that'll completely heal you soon."
"Hmmm... Okay..." Rose whined, though the lightness in her tone hinted at relief.
Claire smiled at Rose's whining, the sound triggering a faint memory from long ago. The scene that formed in her mind was hazy, as if glimpsed through the fractured pieces of a broken glass. There were green hedges, neatly trimmed grass, and stone paths—a place that felt so familiar yet distant, as though it were a dream or an echo of something lost to time.
It was a childhood memory. Claire and Rose had been playing tag in their childhood garden, their hair flying in the breeze as they ran with carefree laughter.
"Catch me if you can!" Claire teased, her voice light and playful.
"Claire! Come on!" Rose whined, struggling to keep up, her face scrunched in frustration.
They raced through the garden, darting between hedges and around startled maids. But as Rose continued to chase Claire, her foot caught on the uneven ground, and she stumbled, landing hard on one of the stone paths. Pain shot through her knee, and Claire instantly stopped, turning to see Rose kneeling on the ground, clutching her leg.
"Ow! That hurts!" Rose cried out, tears welling in her eyes.
With no maids in sight, Claire quickly glanced around before sprinting off to find help. Her small feet pounded against the stone paths as she ran, calling out for anyone who could assist. "I'll be back! Don't worry! Stay put!" she shouted over her shoulder.
Rose, left behind, winced and murmured, "Sure..." in a low, pained tone, her tiny body curled up on the ground as she tried to endure the pain alone.
Minutes later, Claire returned with a bandage clutched in her hand, followed closely by two concerned maids. Without hesitation, she knelt beside Rose, her face full of determination as she unrolled the bandage. Carefully, she wrapped it around Rose's injured knee. Rose winced and bit her lip, trying to stifle the tears that threatened to spill as Claire worked. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, only to be met with a warm, reassuring smile from Claire.
"Hey hey, you're gonna be alright..." Claire said gently, her voice soft and comforting.
"Y-you promise?" Rose asked between sniffles, her eyes brimming with tears.
"I promise, pinky swear, capisce?" Claire replied, holding up her pinky with a playful smile.
"W-what's that?" Rose asked, curiosity breaking through her pain.
"A sign of a promise," Claire said brightly, her smile widening.
After a moment's hesitation, Rose slowly lifted her own pinky, tentatively linking it with Claire's. They exchanged shy smiles as Claire finished bandaging the wound, the two maids watching quietly behind them, ready to step in if needed.
In the present, Claire's smile deepened as she remembered that moment. Glancing at Rose now, who was whining and groaning about the slow pace of the healing magic, Claire couldn't help but feel the same protective instinct she'd felt that day. Rose might be stronger now, but to Claire, she was still the same girl who needed her care and reassurance.
Soon, around 2 PM on September 11, 958 S.E., the rain began to fall, its gradual dripping sound filling the air. A moderate cold wind swept through, and the sky darkened as the day wore on. Claire and Rose turned their attention to the clinic window, watching as the sky filled with dark blue clouds, the rain beginning to blur the glass with droplets that splattered against the surface. As the rain continued, the atmosphere inside grew colder. Despite the healing spell having fully restored Rose's wounds, the chill in the air made her shiver slightly. She tried to suppress it, not wanting to worry Claire.
By then, most of the other students who had been treated in the clinic had left. Only Claire and Rose remained in the mostly white room, once bustling with injured and unconscious students. Their hair, yellow as sunflowers and pink as cherry blossoms, swayed slightly in the cold wind that slipped through the cracks of the window.
Noticing Rose's shivering, Claire smiled and reached into her bag, pulling out a pink sweater adorned with a cartoonish bunny head on the front. She held it up, sliding her head beside it to present it with a grin. Rose responded with an embarrassed smile, her cheeks tinged with red.
"Uh... W-what is t-that?" Rose stammered.
"A sweater! Obviously... Like it? I made it a while back... And you're going to wear it!" Claire replied with a wide smile.
"Ehh...?" Rose squealed in disbelief.
Claire stretched her arms forward, holding the sweater out for Rose, her smile growing even brighter. Rose, meanwhile, turned her head away, gazing out the rain-streaked window with her head slightly bowed to hide the smile tugging at her lips. Despite her best efforts, the sight of the cute sweater made her heart flutter, but she tried her hardest not to show it.
"Oh, come on, Rose! I know you wanna wear this!" Claire teased playfully.
"What makes you say that?" Rose asked, attempting to sound sincere, though her voice betrayed hints of excitement and eagerness.
"Because the window reflects your smile..." Claire responded with a smirk.
Rose whipped her head back toward Claire, her face flushed a deep red from embarrassment. Yet, the sight of the pink sweater won her over. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as Claire had predicted. She waved her fingers in a random pattern, almost as if she might start drooling at the thought of getting her hands on the sweater.
"Ooh! You know me so well, Claire, hihi!" Rose squealed in excitement, finally giving in to her desire.
Rose grabbed the sweater with such enthusiasm that it startled Claire, causing her to let go as Rose quickly slipped it on. Claire smiled nervously, then stood up, reaching out her hand to Rose.
"Well, let's go. We should probably head to your dorm now," Claire suggested with a smile.
"Why? It's perfectly fine here!" Rose complained, her voice tinged with a high pitch.
"We can't stay here all day, can we?" Claire responded with a rhetorical question with her hands on her hips.
"Geez, fine..." Rose relented, though reluctantly.
Rose took Claire's hand, using it to help herself stand. As her feet touched the floor, her legs and hands began to tremble. Claire noticed immediately, her eyes widening in concern. She rushed to Rose's side, placing her arms around her, acting as a support to prevent her from falling. Though Rose's wounds had healed, being bedridden for a day and a half had weakened her legs, making it difficult for her to stand on her own.
"Hey, be careful!" Claire reminded her, worry evident in her tone.
Rose smiled, attempting to assure Claire that she would be fine. This eased Claire slightly, and she helped steady their footing before they began to move forward. Pushing the sliding door to the left, Claire opened it, and the two stepped out of the clinic. Before leaving, Claire used the tip of her left foot to push the door closed behind them.
Outside, the rain continued to fall at a moderate pace, and the cold air swayed their hair and clothes. Claire observed their surroundings as they passed rooms where teachers and staff usually resided—offices, lounges, libraries, and other unidentified spaces. The absence of students indicated that classes were still in session.
"It's afternoon, after all..." Claire thought, sighing softly.
With Rose's arm draped over her shoulder, Claire led the way, though their pace was slower due to Rose's condition. They navigated the long hallways and took an elevator before finally arriving at Rose's dorm. Rose fished out her keys, slipping them into the keyhole and pushing the door open to her empty dorm room. Unlike Claire, Rose did not have a roommate. Claire guided Rose to her bed, carefully helping her sit down.
"Hnggg, C-careful..." Claire murmured as she gently lowered Rose onto the bed.
Exhausted from the effort, Claire leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. Her long yellow hair cascaded around her, leaving only a small glimpse of her face visible as she huffed in exhaustion.
"Geez, you make it seem like I'm heavy or something..." Rose teased, noticing Claire's fatigue.
"Definitely not... heavy to bear, maybe," Claire muttered, tempted by the playful banter.
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" Rose asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, if you keep being reckless, then yes, you can be heavy to bear. You were injured and still insisted on moving before you were ready. Then, when I wanted to help you to your dorm, you didn't want to go..." Claire began, her tone slightly annoyed. "Oh, don't get me started on—"
"Hehe, yeah, you can stop right there. I get it, I get it..." Rose interrupted with an embarrassed laugh, surrendering to the light scolding.
Claire smiled as she straightened her posture, finally catching her breath. As she smoothed her hair, she noticed how barren and empty the room was, almost as if Rose hadn't even bothered to decorate it, even though she loved designing things to her liking.
"You didn't unpack?" Claire asked curiously.
"Well, I got caught up with the whole no-roommate thing, so I kinda forgot to..." Rose shrugged, her tone nonchalant.
Claire chuckled as she walked over to Rose's bags, unzipping them and pulling out her belongings—clothes, books, and other personal items. She started going back and forth from the bags to the cabinets and tables, placing items and decorating the room while Rose sat on her bed, watching her friend with a contented smile.
"So anyway, how'd yesterday go? You know, aside from me being wounded and all..." Rose asked, her curiosity evident in her tone.
"We... well, like you, we ran into trouble too..." Claire began, her words vague and hesitant.
"Wait, really? Some bad luck we have..." Rose interrupted, pointing it out jokingly.
"Yeah, some black Akumo—a very large one, in fact—swooped down on us suddenly. It managed to take down three of us, despite all my planning and strategy..." Claire continued, recalling the events of the previous day.
Rose's eyes widened in shock and curiosity as she tried to imagine how the situation played out. Meanwhile, Claire continued to decorate Rose's room, hanging clothes in the closet with a clothes hanger.
"Oh, and I also ran into Takumi, by the way. He was with this blue-haired girl... who, in fact, I didn't catch the name of. I'm really stupid," Claire said, realizing her forgetfulness and face-palming at the memory.
"Well, you're socializing, that's something at least!" Rose complimented, smiling encouragingly.
"I wouldn't call that something..." Claire responded with an embarrassed smile.
"Hey, it's nice that you're hanging out with others besides me..." Rose said softly.
"You're saying that like you're trying to steer me away from you, which I'd never do," Claire replied, her voice warm.
Claire continued to arrange Rose's belongings as they talked, hanging more clothes in the closet. Rose sat quietly on her bed, unable to respond with her usual playful banter, yet she remained smiling. Her thoughts drifted to memories of Claire always being by her side when they were kids, playing together in their old play place. She glanced toward the glass door leading to the balcony of her dorm, watching the rain continue to fall steadily.
"Well, apparently, the Akumo that attacked us wasn't even meant to be there..." Claire continued, shifting the conversation back to her story, her face sincere.
"What do you mean?" Rose asked, her shock evident.
"After we were treated for our wounds, along with all of you—especially Takumi, who singlehandedly struck the thing with his weapon—we were told that an unknown user cast a spell to summon the creature," Claire elaborated, her tone growing quieter and more serious.
"Really?" Rose asked, astonished.
"Yeah, it was so strong that it even shook most of the staff after they found out. But no one knows who cast the spell. And because the Starfield was deep underground, it's suspected that whoever cast it was inside—whether a student or a staff member. There's also speculation that it might be the same Akumo that attacked you and the others..." Claire's voice became ominous, her words filled with worry.
Rose gulped, her mind racing, but she nodded in agreement, choosing to stay silent about the person who had attacked her. The rain continued to fall outside, the steady rhythm matching the somber tone in the room. Claire paused for a moment, her pulse quickening, before she resumed unpacking Rose's things.
"Yeah, I guess it was," Rose replied, her voice hesitant. "But what makes me wonder is, who defeated the creature? Was it Miss Ann?"
"No... It was my roommate, Kazuki," Claire answered, her tone sincere. She paused again, her gaze drifting upward as she recalled the events with a serious expression.
"What?! Like, the same guy who took on that group of men and saved you?!" Rose's curiosity peaked, her eyes widening.
"He jumped in front of the Akumo after being thrown off before, right after it appeared. He singlehandedly took down the creature that had defeated the three of us. Then, he defeated it on his own..." Claire's voice was sincere, but her mind was clouded with questions.
Claire's thoughts became tangled, distractions pulling at her focus as she tried to make sense of everything. She couldn't shake the thought of Kazuki from her mind—how he kept showing up, how mysterious he was, how his skills were unlike anyone else's. Guilt began to wash over her, mingling with the sound of raindrops echoing in her mind. But she snapped out of her trance when Rose squealed excitedly.
"Whoa, cool! Like, how cool is that? How he jumped in there and saved you again! Ooh, maybe he's like your knight in shining armor!" Rose grinned, her excitement bubbling over.
"Uh, no! What are you even talking about?! Of course not! That only happens in those things you watch. Besides, he barely even talks to me, let alone notices or looks at me, like I'm not even there..." Claire's tone softened, doubt creeping in.
"You never know! Maybe he's just shy or doesn't talk much..." Rose teased, her grin widening.
"I doubt it..." Claire's response was firm, her tone making it clear she didn't want to delve further into the topic.
"Geez, you're such a fun killer," Rose pouted, but then her tone softened. "Anyway, thanks for your help. I can take it from here."
"Are you sure? I still have time..." Claire asked, concern in her voice.
"Yeah, you should go and have some rest. I'm sure Mr. Mysterious is waiting for you... Hihi," Rose giggled, teasing Claire.
"Oh, you shut up, Rose... Well, I'll be on my way then, capisce?" Claire replied, a half-smirk on her lips.
She stood up, turning around and heading for the exit. Before leaving, she stopped briefly to wave goodbye to Rose, then turned again and left the room, gently shutting the door behind her.
Outside, Claire paused, resting her back against the door as she looked upward. The rain was beginning to taper off, the last drops falling to the ground, and the remnants of the cold wind swayed her yellow hair. She felt a deep sense of inadequacy. She couldn't defend against the Akumo that had attacked them. The memory of Rose's unconscious state echoed in her mind, a painful reminder of her own perceived weakness. It was always him—Kazuki—who came at the last minute when she couldn't do anything, even with all the time in the world.
Her vision began to blur, darkening at the edges, as she squeezed the fabric of her shirt over her chest. Her head bobbed downward, and flashes of blurry memories started to surface, like fractured glass shards.
"I'm such a failure..." Claire thought, the words echoing painfully within her.