On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Four Hundred And Sixty-Eight

Leaving the side room where we were performing our experiments, I was a little surprised to discover that the parents and the older patients, including Shinohara-san, were having an impromptu celebration, some Korean beer and local liquor… Soju, I think it’s called, if I remember? …having turned up. Seeing my expression, Aliyah shrugged.

“The soldiers shared some with us. Apparently some of them knew the guys you brought in earlier, and since we’re near the big city here, the larder’s well stocked. Besides, both misery and joy love booze as company.” She sighed, eyeing it regretfully.

“We’re on the clock, sis.” Trey warned, and she snorted sourly.

“Shit, I know it. But looks like we’re nearly done. When I get back to Tokyo I’m getting hammered.” she replied, before smirking at us. “You were making some interesting moans and groans in there. It scared some of the kids, so be more careful in future, boss.”

“Sorry.” I apologised. “Testing new abilities can be painful at times. Hopefully it hasn’t spoiled the mood.” Haru was eager to head to where the families of the Choe-Museon students were, so I spoke rapidly, only to find a somewhat red-faced and tipsy man stepping in front of me, his expression sombre. Oh, he’s the father of that brave young girl. “Do you need something? I’m in a hurry.” I asked, and he paused, looking troubled, glancing back at his daughter, before swallowing and addressing me.

“I… wanted to say something.” He began. “I… when I saw you on TV, I resented you, maybe even hated you.” He admitted. “My poor precious angel, and many like her, suffering unfairly, dying… and you could save her, and those like her, but you didn’t.”

“That’s hardly fair…” Hinata began, but I raised a hand to stop her, meeting his eyes. He’s got the right to speak. It’s the true paradox of power. How to use it, and what I should be forced into…

“It’s not so simple.” I said calmly, honestly answering the man. “I’m not a monster, of course I don’t want children to suffer… but then, think of all the starving children of Africa and less fortunate parts of Asia, while we have luxuries, they have nothing.”

“I know.” The man looked terrible, his face ashen, as he took a swig of soju, grimacing. “I know. Even you can’t solve the suffering of everyone in the world, can you? But when you look around, when you see the happiness here… don’t you want to do more?”

Of course, but… “I’m not a Kami or a God. Even they can’t stop all the suffering in the world.” I glanced at Shiro, and I saw her nod. It’s obvious, otherwise the Pantheons wouldn’t be doing any of this… “Even if I dedicated all my time to helping the sick and injured, there would still be more created in Japan every day than I could fix. And if I did that… what of the joy of those I love? Should I, can I ask them to sacrifice their happiness with me? And… it’s selfish, but what of mine? If all I am is a machine to help others, won’t I break down?”

“It’s rather damn hypocritical to expect salvation just because someone might be able to do it.” Shiro agreed. “I was sick and going to die young, before all this. I never had much of a life until I met Aki and my friends, and everyone here. Yes, I’d have leapt at the chance for someone to help me, but… I’m not enough of a bitch to expect someone should.”

“That’s not entirely the point. Just as you could make an argument that we should live on bread and water to help feed the hungry, and you could even go further, and say that if a healthy person can save several lives by dying and donating their organs, shouldn’t they sacrifice and do that…?” Hinata pointed out in her rather merchant-like fashion, weighing profit and loss. “…everyone has to value themselves and their own family, friends, loved ones more than others. Else they aren’t a human being, but a fool. However…” she smiled impishly at me, before addressing the man seriously. “…that doesn’t mean we’re heartless. Far from it. Akio is soft-hearted. Didn’t you see the tender care he offered your dear daughter, and how happy he was to see you laughing and crying together?” She glanced at the girl who was playing with several other kids. “But life isn't so simple, unfortunately. We don’t want panic, so our government has kept a lot under wraps, but… danger is coming. And it does no good to use all of Akio’s time helping others, if in a few years that leads to disaster, and the happy times are gone for good. Besides… far better to spend time teaching others to help, so that more can be saved, without great sacrifice of happiness. But rest assured, we’ll be doing more to help the unfortunate, I promise. It’s just we all have limits.”

“I know. And I’m grateful. How could I not be?” He looked at his daughter fondly. “Which is why I wanted to apologise. And thank you. I wanted so desperately for my little angel to grow up healthy. And now she can, I want others to know that happiness too.”

“I get you.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “And obviously we’ll save who we can. But if your daughter wants a safe world to grow in, then we have to fight, and to face such dangers time and time again… I couldn’t do it without those around me, supporting me. Just… I’m prepared to take the curses of those I wasn’t able to help, so long as I can protect all within my reach. As I grow stronger, as my allies do, my reach grows, but even in fiction, heroes can’t save everyone.”

The girl suddenly saw her father talking to me and tottered over, still a bit unsteady on her legs as she hadn’t grown used to being healthy again. “Dad, mister, are you all right? Dad’s making a scary face.”

Smiling suddenly, he scooped her up in his arms and spun her, making her giggle. As he patted her on the back, the man turned to me and bowed. “Once more, this is my darling Ami, my angel. Thank you again for saving her, even though you don’t know us. I… just wanted you to know, to understand, that those you don’t or can’t help will resent you, no matter the good you do for others, wishing, believing it should have been them you aided. I was the same. I’d do anything for my angel, right?” He hugged the girl, who giggled happily. “Just… remember that I’ll always be grateful, and… I understand. I can’t deny Ami food or luxuries, even if it was to help others, nor could I sacrifice my life and happiness for anyone but her. So I don’t think your choices are wrong. But… people pray to the Gods for miracles, and you’re a living miracle right now. And when the Gods don’t answer, all we can do it cry and wail, but… you’re here. And it’s easy to grow resentful of something we know exists, and we can reach.”

“Don’t worry.” Hinata smiled, patting the head of the admittedly adorable little girl, who squirmed happily, a bright, innocent smile on her face. “We are definitely aware of that. Any potential dangers are being mitigated. But those who cry the loudest that ‘someone should do something’ need to take a long, hard look at themselves and what they’ve achieved, compared to the good Akio’s done, and will do in the future.”

“Yes, which is why I’m sorry.” The father of little Ami-chan said softly. “That’s… all I wanted to say.”

“It’s fine.” I said, and Hinata agreed.

“Yes, it was obviously fate or destiny that your daughter was healed. Otherwise the letter wouldn’t have found its way to me. So just be happy.” She patted Ami-chan’s head again. “Now you be a good girl, all right?”

“I will.” She agreed happily. “Goodbye mister, goodbye miss.” she said politely, and with that we headed for the exit, only for Shinohara-san to stop us.

“I know you’re in a hurry, I can tell.” she apologised. “But I just wanted to say a few words myself, since the subject is one I’ve thought about a lot. I understand how everyone here was feeling. The majority of people wish no ill on others, and will even help out the unfortunate if it doesn’t inconvenience them… but when we suffer ourselves, we cry out for help, bitter and resentful.” She flexed her arm again. “Just… do as your conscience dictates. Nobody should be allowed to do callous harm to others, but conversely, nobody should be forced to sacrifice their own happiness for others. Do good when you can, but above all, be good to yourself.” She paused, smiling ruefully. “Don’t mind the words of an old woman, just… remember these happy smiles and tears.”

“I will.” I promised. “And there’ll be plenty more in the future. Just… everyone I love needs to be among them, because to me, the world’s only worth saving because they are in it. Now, you’ll have to excuse us.” As she apologised and stepped aside and we ourselves left, heading to the other building, Shiro spoke up.

“That’s basically the answer to your current problem, Aki. Don’t overthink it, and communicate honestly, and you’ll find the answers. Shit, it’s been really annoying watching you flail about on it. Eri’s no less in love with you than any of us, and she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to hold onto that. Now…”

There were some smartly dressed people waiting outside, faces wearing a mixture of relieved and aghast expressions. I expected they were important Koreans, and Hinata seemed to agree, as she greeted them in English. She nodded to us to go on ahead, and we entered inside. Soon we reached a private room where Kim Eui was sitting on a bed, blanket pulled up around her shoulders, covering her body, and two people who looked like older versions of her, the woman pretty, the man handsome. They were looking sympathetically at her, speaking rapidly in Korean, but as they spoke Kim Eui’s facial expression grew gloomier. She spoke back sharply, and her mother looked sad, while her father clutched his forehead, exasperated. He said something back, and she barked out a short phrase, before seeing us arriving, and lapsing into English.

“I don’t want to dad, I told you! I can’t face people right now, but… I don’t want to just hide away either!”

Her parents seemed a bit puzzled, addressing her, but she ignored their words, until her mother finally switched to passable English too.

“Eui, my poor girl, why are we suddenly speaking English…” She suddenly realised we were here and tugged on her husband’s sleeve. They turned, him frowning at us outsiders being here and listening to their private family business, and Kim Eui spoke up.

“It’s because I want them involved. They… they were the ones who came to save us, who saved me.” Her tone was trembling, and Haru smiled, letting a little soothing light leak from her hands, and Kim Eui shuddered, her expression softening.

“It’s all right, Eui…” Haru addressed her in the familiar way she had asked us to when we first met, perhaps as she saw a lot of herself in the girl. “We’re here.” She turned to the parents and bowed deeply. “I’m Suzuki Haru, I work for the Japanese government, in charge of the rescue operation from our end, and I’m also… the mental healer? A sort of psychologist, I suppose.” She laughed self-deprecatingly.

“I see. All this talk of magic and impossible things dismays us.” Kim Eui’s father frowned, and his wife nodded. “It’s hard to believe, but unfortunately it seems to be true.” He glanced at us, wary. “I thank you for helping save Eui, but this is a Kim family matter. We will find her suitable help for her ailments, so your help is not needed.”

Kim Eui’s mother reached for her soothingly, but Kim Eui batted her away. The mother recoiled, hurt, and spoke again in Korean, getting no response, before, with a resentful look at us, she switched to English again. “It’s all right, my dear Eui, it’s over now. We’ll get you the care you need, and no matter what you’ve done, what’s been done to you, we’ll get through this together.”

Good sentiments. Her parents do care for her. Kim Eui felt the same, even if she was clearly worried what her parents would think of her. She squeezed shut her eyes, only for her mother to continue speaking. “It’s going to be hard to go to school for a while, and… your reputation would suffer, so it’s best to keep you at home, but… we’re your parents, dear Eui, and we love you. It doesn’t matter if you’re stained or dirty, we’ll always be your parents and…”

Kim Eui tensed, as did I. That’s exactly the wrong thing to say, but it’s exactly what Kim Eui feared. I opened my mouth to rebut that, but Haru was faster, her eyes flashing with anger. “Eui isn’t dirty!” Haru spat vehemently, though her hands were trembling again. “You’re her parents, you should understand that!”

“But she… she did things, and killed people, she told us.” Her father said, confused by Haru’s sudden temper. “Society won’t accept that, accept her…”

“You think so?” I disagreed, placing a hand on Haru’s shoulder. She flinched for a moment, before realising it was my touch, and relaxed, looking at me with her brown eyes solemn, yet sparkling with a mixture of anger and self-loathing. “I think that what Kim Eui did…”

“I told you that you can call me Eui…” she whispered softly, her own expression crestfallen yet knowing, as if she was satisfied her parents reacted the way she predicted, at some level.

“What Eui did…” I corrected, giving in. I was getting much better at being informal with people, rather than the artificial distance I used to put in with everyone. Maybe I should change the way I call Hayato-san and the gang too… “…wasn’t dirty, and even if the worst happened…” I squeezed Haru’s shoulder reassuringly. “…anyone who holds that against her is the one who’s wrong, not Eui.”

“Hey bro.” my sis spoke up suddenly, her expression unusually solemn. “If I was in her shoes, and had to do those things, what would you do?”

“You mean after I made sure to send everyone who hurt you down to whatever Hell exists?” I didn’t even want to think about such things. Though my sis knew when she accepted a Divine Favour, no, even before that, that she would end up having to fight and likely kill others. I didn’t want that for her, for anyone, but better she defended herself, fought for herself and others, than ended up harmed or killed herself. Just like Eui did. “Sis, I hate thinking about it, the thought of you, or Eri, or anyone else… or you, Haru… having to suffer. But once I’d enacted a revenge that would make even a devil tremble, I’d spend as long as it took, your whole life if need be, helping you get over it. And anyone that looked down on you, mocked you, didn’t understand you… would be my enemy. And that goes for any of you.” I looked around at my companions, resolved to prevent such terrible things, but knowing if the worst happened, like with Haru, I would never blame them, only try and heal their hearts.

“Akio-kun…” Haru said, touched, before her eyes narrowed, as she addressed Eui and her family. “Eui, no matter what anyone says, I’m proud of you. You survived. I didn’t…” she snorted, drawing confused looks from Eui’s parents. “Shocked? As it happens, I understand Eui more than you know. I was in a similar position, and unlike your daughter, who fought with all her might, who did whatever she had to do to survive, and also protect others… I was a coward, I didn’t resist, and I suffered terrible abuse and was killed.”

“Killed?” the man said, puzzled. “I don’t understand.”

“Akio, if you would?” Haru said to me, and I smiled. My sis grinned, grabbing a nearby chair.

“Me too!” She took a swing at Haru, and the chair passed through her harmlessly, bringing gasps from Eui’s parents.

“I’m a ghost.” Haru said. “Because I didn’t fight, and I died. If anyone is soiled, it’s me.”

“No, I told you this before. It wasn’t your fault. Bad people do bad things. Just like what happened here.” I squeezed her trembling shoulder again reassuringly. “You’re just Haru, just like you’re just Eui. Some things are hard to live with. When I killed a human for the first time it was tough. But they’d just attempted to murder innocent people and were threatening me and Shaeula, so… sorry, the world isn’t back and white. But what is black and white is that neither of you are soiled or dirty. No more than you’d blame someone for getting scarred in an accident.”

“But…” Eui’s father said hesitantly. “Whether someone in an accident is at fault, the scars remain, and society sees those…”

“Society might, but you shouldn’t. Wow, this isn’t hard to understand.” My sis complained, looking at Eui compassionately. “But don’t worry, it’ll be fine. The worst is over, I promise.”

“There’s no hiding what happened here. Too many powerful people send their children to Choe-Museon. It’s why we wanted our Eui to go here and were so proud when she got in.” her father continued. “The things done to her, the things she’s done… no, this will shake Korea to the core. So many promising young lives destroyed… and our Eui at the centre of it all…” His voice caught, and despite their clumsiness and bad way of handling the situation, it was just like Eui had predicted. Her parents still loved her and were glad she was alive, but they couldn’t fully accept what she’d been through, and the consequences of that, especially in how society would perceive her now. But there is another way…

“Eui is a fighter, and that’s to be respected.” I insisted again. “Besides… the situation at Choe-Museon was immensely complicated. Yes, some descended into evil through their own will, but the majority had little choice. So for those few who held fast and managed to survive… again I only have respect.”

“I understand Eui. I have been hurt in the past.” Haru said. “I am not alone in that. Asha, Hyacinth…” she smiled. “You might know Hyacinth as one of the Heroes of Britain, like Akio-kun here. She has been hurt so much she forgot who she was entirely, until Akio-kun gave her a fresh start. I don’t minimise your pain, Eui. But I think you should be proud despite how much it hurts. That said… have you considered my offer?”

“Offer?” Eui’s mother asked. “Just what do you mean?”

“You’re right that society might judge her.” Haru agreed sadly. “And worse, Eui will judge herself, just like I do. I don’t even entirely believe it when kind people like Akio-kun and his friends tell me the truth. I’m better than I was, I admit, but deep in my heart, I don’t accept it fully, I don’t feel I can ever be who I was before, or be loved again…”

Shiro made a troubled face at that, while my sis looked sad. I opened my mouth to speak, and Haru stopped me. “I know you are going to say something like ‘I’m a brave girl, and my past doesn’t matter to you, and that I’ll find someone who loves me for who I am, not what I endured, right’?”

I nodded, having been about to say something exactly like that. Eui looked at me, and I shrugged. “She knows me pretty well. And she’s right. But honestly, any guy would be a fool not to take an interest in Haru, just because of an incident in her past. She’s pretty, smart, a hard-worker, and she’s even got the added bonus of not aging.” At least I assume ghosts don’t age, being dead.

“No woman ages. We’re forever twenty.” Haru chuckled gently. “But do stop flattering me, or I might get the wrong idea.” She winked at Shiro, who shook her head, snorting. Haru then addressed Eui again. “Maybe you didn’t go through exactly what I did. I don’t want to compete on who had it worse. That’s just stupid, and I expect Asha or Hyacinth would have us beaten in short order. But I want you to know it’ll take time to heal, to accept what you did, what was done. But you aren’t just what you’ve suffered, but… I think you have what it takes to be a very effective student.” Haru turned to Eui’s parents once more. “You said she’d have to drop out of school, go into isolation. I tried that when I first awakened my powers, when I thought I was mad. Hiding from the world, alone… the bad thoughts just fester. But now… now I’m too busy to dwell on things.”

“Sorry about that, I work you hard.” I admitted apologetically, and Haru snorted loudly, amused.

“You certainly do. But I like to work. You work everyone hard, yourself as well. But… I think Eui would benefit from being under my wing. She’s young, but under the Ministry legislation, anyone with certain abilities gets many of the privileges of adulthood, such as being able to work. She can finish her studies remotely, as well as taking any needed courses for further education.”

“But Eui, you don’t have any power, do you?” her mother asked, puzzled, and Eui shook her head.

“If I did, I’d not have suffered so. Or perhaps I would. That bitch Chae Cho-Hee was insane, but also very clever and ruthless…”

“It just so happens such a matter can be resolved.” Haru promised her. “We talked about this.”

“Yes, but… I don’t entirely believe it. I… find it hard to trust anyone anymore. But I want to believe I can put all this behind me, that this whole nightmare was for a reason. Mom, dad…” she sighed bitterly. “I know you both love me, but it must be hard. I’ll ruin the reputation of your company, we deal with other Chaebol who had children here. Perhaps… perhaps I even killed some of them with my own hands. And when you protest that it was because they were trying to assault me or worse, their parents will take it as an affront, an attack on their honour and memory. Truth be damned. But… I don’t want to hide away, stew in my own suffering. I had enough of that, living in fear here for months, surviving on scraps of stale food, scared of every movement…” As the words poured out of her, her father looked crestfallen, and her mother started crying, hugging Eui, whose eyes also reddened, though tears didn’t come. “…I want to be sure I never suffer like that again. And I hate them. Those that would get such amazing abilities, and only do evil, satisfy themselves!”

“Oh my dear Eui…” her mother continued to cry. “I’m sorry. I… I know you’re still you! I just felt so bad for you, what you had to endure…”

“Yes, perhaps…” her father looked at me, chagrined. “…perhaps we have not been supportive. I hate the thought of my precious daughter going through such horrible things, and I grieve, but… I admit, I worried what impact it would have on us, our family, our business. I… I don’t know what to think. Of course I’m relieved my beloved daughter is alive, but…”

I patted him on the shoulder soothingly. “I get it. It’s not something we’re able to understand. But all you need to do is put Eui first. If this incident doesn’t show you that family is more precious than mere wealth and status, there’s no hope for you.” I turned to Eui then. “I want to fulfil Haru’s wishes. And if helping you helps her deal with her own pain, all the better. Besides, I agree. You survived with only wits, determination and luck. You’d have been far more worthy of a Favour than the Chae siblings, who wasted their gifts on petty evil.” Though we’ll never know just how much that fragment of Akoman was involved in their mess.

“I… you’re complimenting me?” Eui said, surprised, and my sis laughed.

“Wow, we’ve been complimenting you this whole time. But I get why you aren’t listening. You’re down on yourself right now, I understand it. We understand it. But if you let this chance go you’ll regret it, trust me, I know.”

“Think of it like boarding school.” Haru said to her parents. “Though with the resources at our disposal, commuting back and forth from South Korea once a week isn’t that hard to arrange. And there aren’t any fees, like I bet the Academy charged.”

“Our Eui was always smart. We got a partial scholarship.” Her father said proudly, causing her to look at him in shock. Smiling ruefully, he apologised. “I’m sorry Eui. I wasn’t understanding. I… I’m just happy you’re alive. That’s all that matters. Eui, our miracle!”

“That’s the way!” my sis approved. “She crawled her way back to you through something that would have broken most people, let alone a girl my age. So there’s something you both should say to her.”

Eui’s parents exchanged glances, before they both wrapped their arms around her. “Eui, our precious daughter. Welcome home.”

“I… I’m glad to be home.” she managed, before her reddened eyes erupted in tears, and for a while they held each other, sobbing, finally true emotions on display, not the wary dance of misunderstanding and self-loathing. We should give them a minute…

********

“I’m sorry you had to witness something so undignified.” Eui’s father said solemnly after they calmed down.

“No, it’s fine. If anything, I’m happy that you worked it out. The one thing I can’t stand is those idiots who think that their daughter, sister, lover is ruined, just because of some misfortune or evil.” I said firmly.

“I understand. I’ll never say such again.” He said, and his wife nodded, while Eui looked on, more composed, as if she had made up her mind on something. “But…” he continued. “We weren’t lying or mistaken when we said this will cause a massive problem within the upper echelons of Korea. Eui is going to be attacked, hated, and the blame will spread…”

“Let them talk. But I don’t want to be a burden to you, mom, dad.” Eui took a deep breath, before looking at Haru and me. “If I was to work for you, you wouldn’t let people talk badly about me, would you?”

“Whether you work for us or not, I’ll be more than happy to tell the truth and praise your survival.” I promised, and Haru agreed.

“It’s not a matter of that, it’s a matter of what’s right. But… it certainly would be easier to brush aside criticism if you were under our protection. And besides, I’m not lying when I say I need help. Akio-kun is a slavedriver!” She looked at me sideways, though her smile was amused. “It seems we’ll be setting up a presence in Korea anyway, so it’s not like you’d have to emigrate. It’s a job with great prospects.”

“I’ll do it.” Eui agreed. “I’ll damn well do it!” At her parents’ shocked looks, she giggled, and looked her age for a moment. “Sorry, my language got filthier as I survived. Swearing and cursing made me feel better briefly. It’s hard to go back to the elegant way I spoke before.”

“So, just what does this entail?” her mother asked. “I don’t want my Eui to suffer anymore!”

“Mostly administrative work. You’ll need to learn Japanese, though we do a lot of our communications in English, which you’re rather fluent in, so while you learn we can make it work. In addition… basic training in how to use aether and elements. Magic, basically.” Haru said, and Eui looked interested.

“Wait, it can be learned?” her mother asked, and I took over.

“In theory yes, anyone can learn, though it’s far from easy.” If an ordinary person ran through the sort of aether-raising exercises I did at the start, it might work even without the sort of aid Shaeula gave my sis and Eri. Though I suspect it’d take a long time and the resulting Chakra network would be trash. Although as the overall ether density of the Material increases, I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes much easier, and the results more impressive. “But then, we’re not an ordinary group. Rest assured, we could make it happen for Eui. I’m not saying she’ll be able to match the Chae twins, or us, but… enhancements to overall strength, speed, intelligence and reaction times, as well as a little something for self-defence… yeah, no problem for us.”

“It’s not an opportunity mere money can buy.” Shiro joined in. “Aki’s pretty much got a monopoly on it. Only his friends and family and those who work with us have access. It’s a great deal. But in exchange, you’ll have to work hard.” She told Eui, who nodded.

“I always did what I had to do at Choe-Museon. My grades weren’t the top of my class, but I was always near the top. And…” she swallowed. “…I’m not the naïve and innocent girl I was before all this. I know the dark side of life. I won’t shy away from it.”

“In that case…” Haru and I both agreed. “Welcome aboard, Kim Eui!”

As Eui looked down shyly, a small, weak smile on her face, her father looked at me, troubled. “Are you sure? I mean… we’re grateful you are thinking of our daughter.” His wife nodded beside him. “But… she’s still just a girl in school…”

“Just like me. Hinata-chan’s even younger.” My sis chimed in. “If you’ve got the drive, you’re old enough to seize your own destiny. Besides… anyone who goes through something like Eui-chan…” my sis gave her a Japanese honorific. “…isn’t someone ordinary.”

“It’ll look very good on her resume, having worked with Akio-kun here.” Haru persisted with a bright smile. “And I think both of us can help each other… recover.”

Eui nodded slowly. “I… don’t want to bring up your bad memories, but… if I could talk to you about it? And maybe those others you mentioned? Asha and Hyacinth?”

“Just Asha. Hyacinth… she doesn’t want to remember. And I respect that.” I insisted, and Eui nodded. Seeing that, her parents exchanged a look, before agreeing.

“If it’s what you want, Eui… we support you. But we realise our mistake. You nearly died away from home, out of our reach. We don’t want you separated from us again.” Her father said, and her mother followed up.

“Yes, please, stay with us. We promise we’ll try and understand what you went through, and we won’t judge, and we won’t let anyone else, either!”

“Mom, dad!” Eui said, touched.

“Is there… anything we can do to support her?” her father asked us. “We’re grateful, for everything. For the life of our precious daughter. But we’d feel so wretched if we can’t be of help to her now…”

“In that case, I suggest speaking to Hinata-chan.” Haru explained. “She’ll be extracting as much political gain and support from the families of those we rescued as we can get away with. If you want to make your daughter’s future a brilliant one, I’m sure we can come to some arrangement, but…” she looked at me, waiting for me to speak.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be sure to look after her, and as Haru says, if you work with us, you’re our precious ally, and we never abandon them or let them come to harm. It’s not just a job, but… a way of life?” I said a bit uncertainly, and Shiro laughed loudly.

“Sure, Aki. He makes it sound so dramatic. But he’s not wrong…” she snorted, and as we exchanged laughter talk turned to the specifics…

********

The door opened, and Yu-mi came in, followed by Hinata. Seeing us all talking, the atmosphere far calmer, Hinata spoke. “Everything’s taken care of then?”

“I would speak to you, regarding making provision for our Eui’s living expenses and other matters…” Eui’s father said, and Hinata nodded, suddenly all business.

“That’s excellent. But before that…” She gestured, and another girl entered the room. On seeing us, Eri gave a bright smile, the long and heavy-looking wooden box in her arms being carried with the sort of ease her frame shouldn’t have allowed, barring her enhanced abilities. “Delivered as promised.”

“I’m here.” Eri agreed. “I’m glad to see everyone isn’t hurt. Not that I doubted our preparations.” She addressed my sis then, checking she hadn’t caused any trouble, and as they bickered happily, Yu-mi came over to me, exchanging a nod with Eui politely.

“So, as promised, we’ve brought over your girlfriend… no, your fiancée, right?” At my nod, she continued. “So, just leave everything to me. I’ve got it all planned out. Besides, I think you could do with having some fun. This couldn’t have been easy.”

It wasn’t, it most certainly wasn’t. Seeing the remains of young men and women, the age of my sister and the others, having to fight an insane girl… but… I looked over at Eri, whose smile broadened, her black eyes looking into mine, and I nodded. Everyone’s right. I have changed, everyone’s changed. But at my core I still can’t stop worrying about Eri, just like when we were kids. But she’s not a child any longer, and neither am I. It’s time to face reality head on, for good or for ill…