The voice was the last thing Shiro heard. And then he slowly opened his eyes.
He was sleeping on a plush, comfortable sofa. The room was unfamiliar—cozy, clean, and distinctly feminine. There were picture frames on the wall, but not of people; they were delicate paintings of flowers and scenic landscapes.
Shiro slowly sat up from the sofa, a dull ache permeating his entire body, and started looking around the place, his senses on high alert. And then—
Oh. Looks like you're awake.
A voice came from the other side of an arched doorway. Shiro peeked in to see who it was, and then through the door, a girl entered.
Man, you are nothing but a problem after you leave, right
The girl said, her tone a mix of exasperation and deep familiarity.
The girl stood nearly as tall as Shiro but was still a little shorter. If we talked about her hair, she had the longest hair of any person we had ever seen. Her long, rich brown hair flowed like a river down her back, nearly reaching her knees. Her eyes were a pure, warm brown, and she was wearing a simple, elegant long dress that covered her down to her ankles.
She put a hand on her hip, studying him.
Feeling all right
It seemed Shiro knew her, considering how he wasn't asking who she was or what he was doing there. Shiro replied to her question. He raised his left hand, rotated it, and flexed his fingers, testing the connection between mind and muscle.
Shiro It's dead. That means I'm okay.
Is that so Well, your power system is a mess, like always.
And then, Shiro's mind quickly processed things, and he remembered something crucial.
Shiro What happened to Arien
The girl Shiro was talking to now pointed a finger upward toward the ceiling.
That girl Well, she's resting upstairs. Oh, and I took care of the Stormclaw's body. So no worries.
Shiro left a small but satisfying smile on his face.
Shiro Thanks, as always. Akari.
Akari Ahh. Didn't I tell you to call me Aki
Shiro tilted his head and smiled softly, a genuine, unguarded expression Arien had rarely seen.
Shiro Well then, thanks as always, Aki.
And then, both Akari and Shiro started to walk to where Arien was resting.
Akari She woke up way earlier than you, you know. But as soon as she got up, she fell over again.
Shiro Well, that sounds like her.
Akari Do you know why it happ-
Shiro cut in, his voice flat.
Shiro Probably 'cause I used Pandora's Box near her.
Akari Did she step inside the field
Shiro I don't know. As soon as the Stormclaw fell, I got knocked out.
Akari stopped near a door on the upstairs landing.
Akari This is it. Let's go inside.
Both Shiro and Akari thought Arien might still be sleeping, but as soon as they entered, they were welcomed by the sight of Arien already awake and sitting on the edge of the bed. She was eating an apple she'd taken from the basket Akari had placed on the desk nearby. As soon as Arien saw them, she quickly hid the apple under the bedsheet.
Arien Oh, oh. Sorry.
Akari smiled warmly.
Akari Well, eat as much as you want. I placed it there so you would eat it.
And then Arien saw Shiro standing behind Akari. As soon as Arien's eyes landed on Shiro, her face lit up with relief.
Arien Shiro! You- you're alive You're all right
Shiro Well, duh. Who do you think I am
Arien Thank-
Shiro Well, you helped too. If you hadn't come back, I might be dead in that spot.
Arien then looked at Akari, whom she didn't know. Her gaze darted between them.
Arien Sooooo-
Shiro Oh.
He gestured from Akari to Arien.
Shiro Well, this might be your first time talking to her, but this is Akari Asahina. And Aki, this is Arien. One of my friends at the academy I managed to make.
Akari Wow. You have friends
Shiro looked as proud as ever, puffing out his chest a little.
Shiro I have two, actually.
Akari was just as happy as Shiro, clapping her hands together lightly.
Akari Wow! Way to go! That's how you do it, Haku.
Arien was caught off guard by what she had just called Shiro.
Arien Ha-ku
Akari Yes. 'Shiro' means 'white.' And so I call him 'Haku,' which also means 'white.'
Arien was confused by how these two acted together, so she asked the question she'd meant to ask as soon as she saw Akari's face clearly.
Arien You... are the girl that we saw a few days ago in the city, right You came to talk to Shiro. If I'm not mistaken
Shiro gave a disappointed look.
Shiro You only realized it now
Arien spoke up, defensive.
Arien Well, what do I do She's like a different person right now. In a cute way.
Akari clapped her hands together again, her laughter light.
Akari Well, if everyone's good now, why don't we head downstairs
As Akari and Shiro turned to go down, Arien also got down from the bed, smoothed the sheets a little, finished the apple she'd hidden, and quickly followed them down.
All three of them sat down in the cozy living room. Arien asked the first question that had been burning in her mind.
Arien I'm sorry, but... why are we here Well, both Shiro and I were in the Grimwood just a few hours ago
Akari Well, you two were really in the Grimwood, and I was the one who brought you two here. And I'm not sure it's just been a few hours.
Arien What do you mean It's still light outside.
And then Akari delivered the unexpected news.
Akari Well, that's because this is the next day.
Shiro Really
Akari Really.
Shiro Oh.
Arien OI! You look way too fine with that answer! Are you really okay
Shiro Well, the beast died, so that means I'm okay.
And then Arien remembered. Shiro was badly injured in that moment. All she clearly remembered was Shiro bleeding massively and cracking up like a madman.
Then, Arien suddenly got confused about an answer she had received a moment ago.
Arien Wait. Didn't you say you saved us both Then that means-
Without Arien ever expecting it, Akari told her the thing they all needed to know.
Akari Yes. Well, I don't look like it, but I am one of the four S-Class adventurers in Kaisen City.
Arien was really caught off guard by that answer. And then Shiro chimed in, matter-of-factly.
Shiro It's good Aki came there. If not, the whole city would know what happened.
Akari Well, as soon as I heard that a student from Shikai Academy was fighting an AA-class beast, I thought, 'Well, if a student is fighting it, that probably means it's Shi-chi.'
And then Shiro suddenly yelled at Akari.
Shiro OI!
Akari Hehe. Why Still don't like that name
Arien was dumbfounded by all the things that had happened, and she also had a growing suspicion about the relationship between Shiro and Akari. It was like they had known each other for so long.
And so, Arien asked it.
Arien Ahm. May I ask... what is your relationship with Shiro
Out of everything that Akari and Shiro had said till now, the most unexpected thing—well, Arien had had a thought about this, but she never believed it.
Akari Well, I am Shi-chi's first friend and-
It was the last part that Arien needed to hear, and the worst thing she could hear at the moment.
Akari -before he entered the academy-
And Arien thought, please don't say it, please don't, but this time, God wasn't with her.
Akari -he lived with me.