Editing Kami-sama no Inai Nichiyoubi:Volume6 Chapter1 (section)

===Part IV===
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Seven days have passed since their return.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice felt that yesterday turned out well.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai had been depressed for a long while, but after talking to others and being appreciated, she seemed to be back on track.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">So Alice thought that Ai would be more energetic on this day.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"So why is this happening …?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">At the main entrance, where he had been kicked out like yesterday, Alice held his head in his hands.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">He was looking at a girl who was seated there, not moving at all.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">+</span></p>
<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yo."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……Oh, Mr. Alice."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">We're leaving."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai slowly looked up at Alice, slowly stumbled to her feet while her legs were numb, and looked as frail as a newborn deer.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">On this day, Alice did not wait, and walked quickly to the market.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ah, wait…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There was a voice behind him, and those who knew of that owner would surely be shocked.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"P-Please wait. …</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What…?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Eventually, Alice slowed down.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was a bad decision.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Wargh!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">With a slight impact, Ai hit his back.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"So-sorry."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…What are you doing?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"W-woah, I-I'm sorry. I'll move…move away immediately…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But Ai's legs were numb and she could not stand up straight, and her right hand would not leave her back like a drowning man grasping at a straw.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Tch…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"S-Sorry…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The tongue click was immediately misunderstood. Alice was merely expressing his own unhappiness, but Ai had assumed it was her fault.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Lots of gears were disoriented.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice did not want Ai to feel unbearable.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…I’m sorry. I’ll stand up right away. …"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai appeared to be in pain, but there was no sign of tears. She was trying to stand up on her own as quickly as possible.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…It's fine."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Eh?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…It's okay to lean on someone when you're tired."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Then Alice did something that surprised even himself.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Let's go."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Where?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">He held Ai's hand and started walking.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">They walked through the main entrance, down the main street and into the market. At all of these places, familiar faces were looking at them, wide-eyed. Some of them were even whistling. Alice wondered which idiot did so, but unfortunately, it so happened to be the mayor of this city. It was a real shame.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"M-Mr. Alice, I'm totally fine. …"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Shut up, can I believe what you say?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Auu—but, erm."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I told you to shut up!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice dragged her forcibly by the hand through the marketplace, got dinner just as they did the previous day, and went home.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"… Are you angry?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai said as soon as they left the market.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'm not angry."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…I'm sorry. I know it's troublesome for you…to have to wait in a place like that…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'm not angry at you!"</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pii,</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Ai lowered her head with a squeal.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Oh.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">He did it again.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Y-you're angry though, aren't you …?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"No, I'm not. It's true that I shouted at you, but it’s a different kind of anger! Do you understand!?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Y-yes, I understand—erm, I'm sorry…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You don't know what I’m talking about!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry!</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was hopeless.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice gave up on explaining and hurried down the street. He knew that this attitude of his was making Ai feel uneasy again, but at this point, he did not care anymore.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">He felt that Ai should just keep dwelling on it, be increasingly dejected, continue to misunderstand others, and continue to live with her head lowered.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Let's go…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ah, yes."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice could not find the chance to let go of her hand, but at this moment, it was squeezed tightly.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The strength of the grip was so weak compared to her usual monstrous strength, so much so that he would not have noticed it otherwise.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was as if she hesitated to hold his hand. It was like the hand of someone that was about to fall off a cliff, but could not muster the strength for fear of involving the other person.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was like a swallow that was starving but could not coo its other siblings. It was like the last claw marks of a cat dying in the dark, hiding its wounds.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">(Again…)</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice wanted to do something about this, to ensure that she could regain her prior confidence.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But he said all he could. He ran out of tricks the previous day.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">What more could he do?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ah…I-I'm sorry. Did I squeeze too hard?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Furthermore, Ai tried to let go of his hand. She kept quiet. She wanted to conceal what she did.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…I’m fine now, really…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">As if her heart was leaving her, the weak strength in the hand suddenly disappeared, and each finger slowly slipped away.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was as though Ai was letting go of her last lifeline.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">And as for that hand,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice grasped it tightly.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"E-erm, Mr. Alice?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…What?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You’re asking me what…can you please let go of my hand?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"No."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You refuse me…erm, what…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice did not know either.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"! Ow…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Enough, we’re going back."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Erm, Mr. Alice, that hurts!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Shut up."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Uuu~!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai made a face of a bullied child.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What's wrong with you… If you're angry, just say so. I don't know what's going on anymore…"</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">That is why!</span></i>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I’m the same!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Eh?—Wait, kayaa!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai got forcibly dragged along by Alice, and tripped over. Alice lifted her with his right hand, the bowl soup dinner in his left hand shaking violently.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Oops."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I-I'm sorry. See, it's still dangerous…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It's because you're not putting in the strength."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">He squeezed her right hand again.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Squeeze it harder."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"We’ve known each other for so long, don’t hold back now."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice did not hold back at all, and squeezed Ai’s hand as if he were holding a 45 caliber gun or grabbing a person that was hanging from a cliff.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">He hoped to convey something that could not be conveyed by words or attitude. He prayed that the tip of his right hand would connect their hearts through the tip of his body.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……Ah."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">He had no idea if it was conveyed.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But Ai put just a little bit of strength into her right hand, as if she were a wild bird drinking water from a human hand for the first time.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The weight of her trust was less than one kilogram.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was enough.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Let's go."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There was no reply, but this time she obeyed him honestly.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice was finally relieved.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">+</span></p>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Whooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was supposed to be the case.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"CCHHHEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOO!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This runaway locomotive caught them from a hundred meters behind, it reduced the distance to zero in eleven seconds and smashed through the space between them with a machete-like chop.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai saw the numb right hand and left hand swim through the air in slow motion, and thought to herself.</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Julie's an idiot.</span></i>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"AAAALLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCEEEEEE…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Julie tumbled a few rounds forward before his chop could follow through, but his eyes were glowing as he caught sight of Alice who was preparing to run away. He was so fast that she was worried, wondering if they could communicate properly with him.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You’re mistaken, old man.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yoouuu doooonnn’tttt gggeeetttt tttoooo caaalllll mmmmeeee an old man!!!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Eh? I’m a stranger now? No, wait! You’re already at this age aren’t you!?—Ow ow ow ow!! "</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice was dragged down to the ground, his arms latched behind him, and he was raised up.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What are you doing, old man!? What if you break my arms!?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I’m trying to break them off. Of course I can."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Oh dear…"</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">This old man is serious…</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Alice mumbled in a rather calm voice.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Alice…I've warned you many times…that anyone who messes with my child will die…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I think it definitely won’t end at dying though…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The arms were tied tighter than before, but Alice’s voice remained calm as though he could no longer feel pain.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"This is bad, Mr. Julie. He’s already prepared to die. You should stop..."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"And I thought you said 'I'm not a lolicon' every time I advised you…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai decided not to stop Julie..</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"To think I trusted you when you said that…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You wouldn’t be asking me all the time if you believed me. What do you mean, ‘every time I advised you'?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice sounded like a convict on death row, and was in turn not afraid of anything anymore.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"And yet! And yet, you!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Julie said in anguish, like a parent who just had a terrible misfortune befall her daughter, the cause of it being someone she trusted.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Of all people, my daughter! Ai! I can't believe you’re holding hands!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">No.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">At first, Ai was a little panicky, but once he said so, she felt it did not seem like such a big deal.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You're exaggerating, Mr. Julie."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She tried to say so with a nonchalant look.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It was because my feet were numb, so Mr. Alice had to help me out. There was no such…erm…thing like…that. Yeah…it’s just business."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She was a little self-conscious at the end, but she did explain properly. The worst reaction for her to have would be to get flustered. As long as she remained calm, everything would be alright.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But Julie did not stop.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"No! That’s not it!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Y-You’re wrong, Mr. Julie. Stop—"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"That’s what I’m talking about! You know, like trust and fear mixed together at the crucial moment, holding hands at such a place! It’s worse when you’re holding hands like that!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Awawawawawawa!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai flailed her limbs as though she was scrubbing something.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"M-Mr. Julie!? Wait! N-No more—"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"See! Ai shows a look of trust to that bastard other than us, and now she’s showing such a face—"</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">""CCHHHEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOO!""</span></i>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Two chops smacked Julie front and back , and the big man fell to the ground without a sound.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">And while the man fell over, Alice remained guarded against the attack on the other side.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"That was a formidable foe…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yeah…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Both of them looked down at the big man, as though they were comrades who finally defeated a sworn enemy.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…There’s no greater enemy than him in our tough travels thus far…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I’ve lived thirty-plus years of a bizarre life, and I never encountered anything like this. This old man has become more than just an airhead these days…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You’re right."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">At that moment,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ai~, Alice~."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Oh, Miss Scar."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">They turned around to see Scar carrying Celica not too far away, and a small group of people surrounding her.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Just then, Scar came running through the group. The hem of her flared skirt fluttered, and Celica bounced on her chest.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The others in the group chide the young mother, "Take note of this." But the mother and child were both smiling happily and not worried.</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Daw, </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai high-fived the giggling Celica and asks Scar from up close,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Are you on your way home now?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yes, since we are here, let us go together—can you please wake him up?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course, she was referring to Julie.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"He actually left the luggage and started running. Goodness me. Do you agree, Celica?"</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Daw,</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Celica agreed.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Though unwilling, Ai had no choice but to give the big man a good shove. Alice ran five meters away.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Haa!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ugh!...Ugh, this place is…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Are you awake?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yeah……anyway, why am I sleeping here?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You’re tired, old man."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Apparently, Julie’s memory was erratic. Seizing this position, Alice returned at the speed of light.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You've been on the frontlines, helping the recovery. Got to take a break once in a while."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Aren’t you being caring now, Alice? Well, thanks…but why do I feel like punching you…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Hahahahaha, you're a weirdo, old man."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"More importantly Julie, please get up and grab your stuff."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Scar said unhappily, and Julie hurriedly did as told.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Do not leave us and go running off now."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Hmm? Y-yeah—alright, come here Celica."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">With a bear-like smile, Julie stretched out his arms to Celica. But the baby turned away with a pouty face, as if she had been served old milk.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The others who had walked with Scar chuckled at the sight of her, probably finding it bemusing.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Oh my. Looks like this child doesn’t want to."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yep yep, papa’s so dirty after all."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">They were the ladies doing the laundry, cooking and other domestic work. Scar had been spending most of her time with them lately, and likewise, Julie has been driving around on the frontlines of the recovery effort.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Th-that’s not true. I just bathed three days ago…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Do you wish for papa to bathe every day, Celica?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Grr, Scar…where do you learn to use your daughter for your opinions…?"</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">From where, I wonder? </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scar replied with a smug look. The old women behind her snickered away. It seemed they got along really well.</span>

[[Image:Kamisama v06 Illustration 03.jpg|thumb]]

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Well then, everyone—see you tomorrow."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">With a little wave of Celica's hand, the group left them.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What a coincidence."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">After leaving Celica in Julie's hands—or rather, Julie forcibly snatched her away from Scar—Scar looked a lot more relieved, leaned forward, and smiled at Ai.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yes, Miss Scar, what did you do today?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Just laundry. Ah, but we started from making detergent today. Ai, do you know how to make detergent?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Scar began with her lecture before she heard the answer. Basically, they put lots of oil, ashes, and some kind of unfamiliar medicine in such a big pot and…</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Scar seemed to be enjoying herself.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She wore Gravekeeper boots, the shirt Julie had given her, and a flared skirt that she had personally stitched. She was living happily neither a Gravekeeper nor a human being.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…By the way, I did see what happened just now, you know?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Bffftt!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai was completely caught off guard. Scar really should be underestimated these days. No one would have thought at first sight that she was a Gravekeeper.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……Is there a need for such an intense reaction? Were you not holding hands?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But she was not thinking of anything different in particular.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Y-yeah. That's right……that's right…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai was deeply relieved.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yes, I sometimes hold Julie's hand firmly."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Wait a minute."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai turned her head to the left like a rusty doll. Julie was trying his best to stop Celica from escaping towards Alice.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"… Is there something wrong? I've been told by people in the washing area that I should do this once in a while…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"No, it's nothing strange. Nothing at all…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was really a sticky situation to explain their way out of. One had to wonder what the folks at the washing area thought of their relationship and more importantly, what did Scar think of Julie? What did she think of Ai and Alice? Ai had the urge to ask, and yet not…</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai had a lot on her mind, and in the end it felt that it did not matter, so she pushed the responsibility to the person closest to her.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"… Maybe Mr Julie is the worst …."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"That is probably true."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She agreed with great seriousness. Ai could not help but laugh at that.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Scar had become truly human. She was able to understand and care for people's hearts. That was why Ai was able to laugh, and why Ai was able to...</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She froze.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Thank goodness …"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Scar said, gently raising her scarred right eyebrow.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Eh? What’s good?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"The fact that you are smiling, Ai."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">If warmth and gentleness could melt a person's heart,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Those words would be most appropriate for this situation.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…Eh?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai gently patted her own cheeks. Incredibly, the smile that had been missing had returned.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Happiness had returned.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You've been feeling moody for a while now."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Scar smiled warmly, and Ai's heart froze cold.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"But it is a good thing now that you can smile again..."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What…?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Eh?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What was I smiling at …?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Sorry, I did not hear you. Could you repeat that……Ai?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was as though Ai woke up from a dream, or was returning to one.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Her vision was clearing up. The October sky was clear enough to the point where it felt like it would snap. The air was clogged with the buzz of reconstruction, bustling. The shattered town caused an increased amount of information, putting pressure on the visual cortex.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai took a deep breath, wanting to swap out the oxygen in her body. The upcoming winter air was frighteningly cold, robbing warmth from her body and her heart.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">What was she doing?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">What was she being healed of?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">What happened to her pride? Did she not say that </span><b>she wanted to make the choice for herself?</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ai…what is the matter?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……What do you mean?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Scar was unable to respond to the reflexive question.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…Sorry, Ai, did I do something wrong just now?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"No."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai shook her head slowly like a well-made automaton.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You didn't do anything wrong."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai was the one at fault.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Wah, wait, don’t cry, Celica. All right! I'm going to take a bath! I'll shave too!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Just then, Celica threw a tantrum and almost fell out of Julie's arms.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…Wait a minute, Ai."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Scar felt that something was amiss with Ai, but she went over to pick up Celica.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Left alone, Ai was surrounded by a chilling air. Her heart was ripped open and her mind was bleeding.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Sorry to keep you waiting…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Scar returned. At this moment though, Ai was sinking in a large heap of snow, and could no longer melt. Luckily for Ai, it appeared Scar noticed something as well, and Ai was spared of more questions, but…</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Daw."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead, another pair of terrifyingly impassive eyes stared at her.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…What?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Celica was strangely angsty to the point where she nearly fell out of Scar’s clutches and started swinging punches at Ai.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Daw!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Thud.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The punch hit Ai in the cheek.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was light as a mosquito bite,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But with a thud, Ai found herself falling on her buttocks. She raised her hand and placed it on the cheek where she had been hit.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was so hot and painful, it was a wonder it did not leave a mark.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"A-Ai!? Are you okay? Goodness, Celica, what are you doing!?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It's okay…I just slipped."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Saying that, Ai stumbled to her feet. Her body was heavier and more difficult to move compared to when Hampnie had kicked her, or when she had run around Ortus all night.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It seemed Celica’s mood improved after delivering the punch, and she no longer threw a tantrum, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Goodness, you"</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that was the expression she showed as she leaned forward again.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Uu!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She handed Ai a pacifier that was sticky with drool.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Daw!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Her face was basically saying, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Here, have a bite."</span></i>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…I appreciate the sentiment."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai said, and returned the pacifier. She then hopped and pulled away from the group.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ai?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'm sorry. I just remembered something. Please go home first."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Julie was understandably reluctant.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Now?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yes. Go ahead and have dinner without me."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Oi—"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai ran off without listening to what the others said.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She could not allow herself to remain at such a warm place.</span>

&nbsp;