I fell back asleep, then woke up again.

‘...I took a quick nap. By now, the situation should be sorted out.’

The wind brushing against my cheek and the sound of breathing in my ears.

The faint morning sunlight seeping through my closed eyelids awakened my drowsy mind. As my consciousness slowly returned from the abyss of dreams, I opened my eyes to a silver morning star greeting me.

"…" "…"

I looked at Hilde, who was shining even more brilliantly in the morning sun.

‘She seems a bit more mature than before. No, this face actually feels more familiar.’

The silver-haired girl was still beautiful. She seemed to have blossomed even more beautifully than before. Like a silver lily grown in moonlight, elegant and graceful.

A girl like the moon rising in the night sky.

Her silver hair filled my vision, casting a shadow like the veil of night, and from within, the girl, resembling a crescent moon, gazed at me with affection. In the darkness, two silver stars sparkled like jewels.

Though it was already morning, it felt as if the moonlight of the night still lingered. It was a beautiful yet unnerving sight that defied the natural order, making me feel extremely flustered.

Very… Very flustered. Because the posture Hilde was in was... Bluntly put, a 'pouncing position.'

‘What is she doing?’

I locked eyes with Hilde.

"You're awake." "…" "I missed you." "…" "So I waited." "…"

Hilde was on top of me, staring directly at me.

She was lying on the bed, completely covering me. Her hands were positioned to avoid causing me discomfort but could easily block any retreat at any moment.

‘The way she’s adjusting her breathing and giving space to her limbs to not make me uncomfortable… it’s making me more anxious.’

Maybe it was because she was in such an uncomfortable position, lying on all fours? A faint blush was rising on Hilde’s cold, transparent face, and her large eyes were filling with tears.

‘What is she doing?’

Seeing her like this, I was at a loss for words. I wanted to clear up any misunderstandings or apologize, but my brain stopped functioning, seeing the unusual position Hilde was in.

We stared into each other’s eyes for a while.

The words were romantic, but with my brain frozen, I didn’t know where to focus my gaze. So, I naturally looked into Hilde’s eyes right in front of me.

"…" "…"

Eyes like pools of mercury reflecting the night sky’s darkness and starlight. Gazing into those beautiful eyes, I couldn’t help but think that even meeting again in such a strange position wasn’t bad...

I was startled by the fleeting thought.

‘What am I thinking?’

With my brain not functioning properly, strange thoughts crept in. I couldn’t let myself get caught up in the atmosphere now. It felt like things would spiral out of control.

I hastily decided to speak to clear the air.

But.

Drip—

"…!"

A tear fell onto my face.

"…Uh."

Hilde’s tear ran down my cheek. The coolness of the tear tracing its path on my face pierced my heart. The girl who shone brilliantly like a crescent moon was crying.

My mind went blank.

Seeing the moisture streaming down her still-cold expression was like dew on a lily’s bud, ephemeral and faint, making my heart ache as if someone had grabbed it.

Hilde’s barely moving face glistened with tears.

It was like... Like the face of an abandoned child. Like a friend now blaming me for just coming back.

My heart ached.

Facing Hilde’s wounded face, guilt climbed up my spine. I hadn’t realized how much the years apart had hurt her.

It was only after seeing her face that I realized the gravity of what I’d done.

‘Hilde…’

Hilde spoke in a voice tinged with moisture.

"I guess… I’m too late." "…!" "I found you too late." "Hilde…!"

She was crying because I had left her. Yet, instead of blaming me, she regretted not finding me sooner.

‘You were lonely… not knowing how to reach out… just waiting.’

Knowing she didn’t know how to reach out, I should have taught her how to approach others. Instead, I considered her a friend who shared similar experiences, letting her awkwardness slide by as familiarity.

As an adult, I shouldn’t have done that.

‘You were… still a clumsy child… and I was too indifferent.’

Like a child who clings to a blanket, you had something to rely on emotionally. That something was our shared friendship.

‘You were so desperate… you even wanted to smell the scent of a friend again.’

As clumsy as she was. I should have been more mature. But I was a clumsy, cowardly adult. I hastily used up even the things we could share.

‘I want to fight alongside you again. But I need to get stronger first.’

I spoke to Hilde, words I’d been holding onto for a long time.

"I’m sorry―☆" "…Lara." "I’m sorry for leaving you alone…☆" "…Lara." "I was cowardly… thinking everything would be solved if I left…☆" "No…!"

I had many things to say. But my voice cracked, making it hard to speak.

‘If only I had the strong heart of Frida-senpai…’

With that regret, I apologized to her.

"I’m sorry for being weak." "No…!!"

Thud

Hilde, unable to control her trembling heart any longer, burrowed into my chest, wiping her tears. The wetness in my chest pained my heart.

"Again…"

My voice cracked. My vocal cords were parched, making it hard to speak. So, instead of many words, I decided to show through action.

‘I’ll get stronger again, become truly strong, and walk the path to where you are from the beginning.’

Not as the cunning first-year [Spiral] who won through tricks. But as the third-year [Spiral] walking the same path as you.

‘So don’t cry. I’ll get stronger from now on.’

My arms were heavy from not moving for a long time. My elbows were bruised and sore, my hands dry and rough. But I hoped they would provide some comfort to her.

With that thought, I lifted my bruised, aching hand to wipe Hilde’s tears. She opened her eyes wide, looking at my hand.

Bruised. Unsightly. But slowly moving forward. Did she read the determination in it?

Hilde quietly watched my hand.

"Someday… someday… we can fight again…" "…" "Surely… someday… definitely…" "…Yes."

I suddenly moved and extended my bleeding fist.

"Hilde." "…Lara."

Hilde flinched, looking at my fist.

In the time we spent together. There would be emotions conveyed without many words. True girls' talk is exchanged through clashing fists.

Tok—

Hilde placed her fist against mine.

A fighter’s greeting. That’s how we expressed our friendship. Seeing that, I mumbled in satisfaction.

"Promise―♪" "…Promise."

Hilde, staring at her fist for a while.

Eventually got off the bed and walked towards the door. Before grabbing the door handle and leaving the room, she looked back at me.

"…Lara." "Yes?"

For some reason. Her face was a bit stiff. The hand holding the door handle was trembling.

Thump Thump Thump

I could feel Hilde’s heart beating wildly.

"…?"

I looked at her with curious eyes.

‘What is she trying to say…’

She hesitated for a while, then spoke solemnly.

"Come to <United Student Council>." "…" "I swear by the name of Yggdrasil." "…" "I’ll make sure you enjoy the best of the academy city, where no one can touch you." "…"

What did she mean?

‘Who would bother [Pink Spiral] or [Faded Spiral] now…’

Was she trying to offer convenience to the poor <Central Prism Academy>?

I couldn’t understand the exact intention behind her words. But even if we lived a luxurious life in the golden district now, would it really help our journey?

Moreover, I didn’t want to urge Hilde, a highly regarded United Student Council President, to misuse her authority.

‘Though the original story is broken, soon a few furries tempted by <Ratatosk> will cause trouble.’

Following the main story, <Public Bana Boarding School> and <Aesir Girls’ High School> will start a power struggle. Even if it doesn’t go that way, the academy city will be noisy due to <Ratatosk>’s unexpected actions.

I didn’t want to increase Hilde’s burden in this situation.

‘We’ll meet often from now on…’

With that thought, I quietly shook my head.

"…It’s okay―☆" "…Why?!"

Hilde bit her lip, looking at me with surprised eyes.

‘Ah… she just doesn’t want to be away from me.’

Sensing her feelings, I quickly explained.

"We each… have important things right now…☆" "…" "We’ll meet again…♪" "…"

A long silence. Then Hilde, turning her head, replied.

"…I see."

That’s a relief. Hilde hadn’t forgotten her position. I sighed in relief as I watched Hilde walk away.

"We’ll… stay friends, right?" "…"

Creak—

The door closed with the sound of the hinge. But there was no response.

＊

It was always… Always like this. It made me sad, so I turned away and left.

"…"

Brunhilde, leaving the ward, thought about the past.

"…"

The memory of her mother’s dry, sickly hand suddenly came to mind. Her last touch on my cheek was astonishingly dry.

『Tomorrow… we’ll see each other again.』

And that night. Her mother passed away.

‘Liar…’

In the family, that event was a taboo. The fact that a woman from a powerful military family died of tuberculosis would surely cause rumors.

That winter became a season when ‘nothing’ happened.

‘Liars…’

Brunhilde no longer believed in promises without a set time.

And then spring came again. After a dream-like time, the cherry blossoms she met again had withered. But even withered cherry blossoms were still beautiful.

‘Even if you’ve withered… I want to have you.’

So, she made the greatest ‘oath’ taught by her family. But she only shook her head, smiling a faint smile.

"Something precious to each of us…?"

I didn’t understand a word. Weren’t we the most precious to each other? Wasn’t our time meant to last a lifetime?

It made me sad.

『We’ll… stay friends, right?』

It made me sad to confine our relationship to those measly two words. And it made me saddest of all that I had waited like a fool without seeking her sooner, leading to this regret.

Brunhilde’s heart was burning inside.

"Liar…"

If I turned around now. Gathered the withered cherry blossom petals and locked them away forever. Would that make you look back at me?

Stiff—

When she had walked more than several dozen meters from the ward. Unfamiliar voices of female students reached Brunhilde’s ears.

-So, the senior woke up?! -When will we get to see her!!

Brunhilde saw their faces from afar.

Students with brown, orange, and navy hair. Wearing the same <Central Prism Academy> uniforms. Those who ran around the city, lit by fireworks that night.

Clara was hurt so badly to protect you.

"It was you."

And the ones who directly hurt her.

"…Ratatosk."

Ah. Now I understand. I finally understand. The things that weighed down Clara. What hurt her so deeply and made her wither.

"…I see."

Finally… I understand. Simply standing still. Achieves nothing.