[Few hours Later]
Mmm...
Soft... Warm...
My cheek is pressed against something incredibly soft.
It's almost like...
"Onee-chan?!"
I quickly open my eyes and find myself staring directly into Touko's... Breasts?!
"Kyaaa!"
I try to move, but my body hurts all over.
"W-What are you doing?!" I shout, my cheeks growing hot.
I'm lying on top of Onee-chan's thighs?!
"Mou, Kita, you're finally awake," Touko says, her voice soft and relieved.
"You had me so worried."
"W-Why am I lying on you?!"
"Easy, Kita, you're still hurt," Touko says, gently pressing me back down.
"Just rest. Onee-chan will take care of you."
"But… your breasts…"
"Ara, should I pull away my kimono more, Kita~?" Touko teases, her silver tail swaying playfully.
"You seem to like them so much."
"N-No! Don't you dare!"
"Hehehe," Touko giggles, her hand gently stroking my hair.
"You're so cute when you're flustered, Kita."
I glare at her, but the warmth of her thighs beneath my head and the sight of her soft, round breasts above me is undeniably comforting.
I sigh, defeated, and let myself relax against her.
"Where are we?" I ask.
"Last stand."
A voice I instantly recognize. It's Lenah.
I lift my head slightly, trying to see her.
"You've been unconscious for several hours," Lenah says, walking into view.
Her violet eyes are soft with concern.
"Master..." I try to get up, but Lenah gently pushes me back down.
"Rest, Horikita. You are still recovering."
"I... I don't know what happened... I just jumped away... and then..."
"It's okay. I'm not mad at you," Lenah says, her voice surprisingly gentle.
Lenah hesitates for a few seconds, but in this moment—in this very moment, she reaches out with both arms and hugs me.
"I'm just glad you're safe."
I freeze.
Lenah never hugs me. Never.
Her arms wrap around my shoulders, pulling me into an embrace that is both firm and surprisingly gentle. It's… awkward. Stiff. But it's also… warm.
I can feel the slight tension in her muscles.
She's not used to this. Neither am I.
"I was… worried."
The admission is so quiet, so un-Lenah-like, that for a moment I think I imagined it.
But then I feel her grip tighten slightly, and I know it's real.
I don't know what to do. I just… let her hold me.
It's… nice.
"Mou, Lenah, you're stealing my Kita time," Touko whines, pouting.
Lenah pulls back, her face flushes slightly as she realizes what she's done.
"I'm just... doing what you told me to," Lenah says, her voice firming slightly, though her blush betrays her.
"You said I needed to 'see' you. To 'connect.' I am… attempting to apply that logic to Horikita as well."
Touko's pout melts into a slow, knowing smirk.
"Ara, ara... So cute, Lenah~" Touko teases, her silver tail swaying playfully.
"I was merely..." Lenah begins, but then cuts herself off with a sigh, slightly shaking her head.
"Never mind. The important thing is that Horikita is safe."
I'm not sure what to say. The whole situation is… strange. Lenah hugging me, Touko teasing her about it…
Wait... Safe?
That's right!
"Kotori! Is she okay?!" I ask, my voice filled with sudden urgency.
Haruka's voice cuts in from the right side, and I look towards her.
"She's fine, ace," Haruka says, her tone casual but her eyes holding a genuine warmth.
"Kaito took her back to our base so she could rest."
I exhale in relief.
"What about that girl?" I ask, my brow furrowing.
"The one we were fighting?"
Haruka's expression turns serious.
"...She's lying over there," Haruka says, her gaze shifting towards a quiet corner of the room.
I follow her line of sight...
"Is she…?"
"Alive," Haruka confirms.
"But she's not conscious," Haruka continues, her voice lowering slightly.
"She's been in that state since you… did whatever it is you did to her."
I try to get up again, but my body protests with a stab of pain.
"Easy, Horikita," Lenah says, gently pressing me back down.
"You need to rest. You pushed yourself too hard."
I look at Lenah, then at Touko, then at Haruka.
They're all looking at me with concern.
I sigh, relenting. They're right. I'm exhausted. And I still don't understand what happened.
"Horikita, what do you plan to do with her?" Lenah asks, her voice cutting through my thoughts.
I look at the girl lying unconscious in the corner.
What do I do? I don't even know who she is or why she attacked us.
But the voice... it said she was in pain.
(You must free her.)
"I don't know,"
"But I can't just leave her like that."
Haruka nods slowly, her expression thoughtful.
"I'm also interested in her," Haruka says, her eyes alight with scientific curiosity.
"I suggest we take her back to our base for further analysis."
"Agree," Lenah says, nodding.
"We cannot simply abandon her. If she is a victim of the corruption, we have a responsibility to do what we can."
"It's settled, then," Haruka says, clapping her hands together.
"Kotori and Kaito can keep an eye on her while we try to figure out what to do."
I can't help but feel a sense of relief. At least now, I'm not alone.
Lenah places both her arms around me and lifts me from the floor.
"I'll carry you to Haruka's base," Lenah finishes, adjusting her grip to hold me securely.
I don't have the energy to protest, so I just give in, resting my head against her shoulder.
"Touko, carry the other girl, and make sure to bring her weapon. It might be useful." Lenah says, her voice firm with command.
Touko nods and doesn't argue with her.
"Alright, Lenah~" Touko replies and walks towards the unconscious girl.
...Something's different. Since when does Onee-chan just... agree with Lenah? Without a fight? Without a single tease? What happened between them while I was gone?
Whatever. I don't have the energy for that right now.
I close my eyes and let myself relax in Lenah's arms.
I'm so tired... It's nice to be held like this.
I feel safe.
...