The air trembled.
Hina stood frozen, her fingers still entwined with Mio's, heart pounding so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it. The glow around her body slowly faded, leaving her standing in unfamiliar clothes that shimmered like dawn mist.
Her breath caught.
"I…" She looked down at herself, hands shaking. "Mio… this is real, right?"
Mio stared at her, eyes wide, tears still clinging to her lashes. "Hina… I never wanted this for you."
Shizuku's cold laugh echoed through the alley. "Touching. Truly. But awakening doesn't mean survival."
Dark energy surged from her feet, twisting into jagged shapes that scraped across the pavement like claws.
Hina flinched.
Her instincts screamed to run.
Mio stepped forward, placing herself protectively in front of her. "You don't have to fight. I'll handle this."
But Hina's grip tightened.
"No," she said, voice trembling. "If I hide now… I'll regret it forever."
Shizuku raised a hand. "Then prove it."
The shadows lunged.
"Mio—!" Hina cried.
Her body moved before her mind could catch up.
A burst of soft light erupted from her pendant, forming a translucent shield just in time. The shadows slammed into it, cracking the air with a sharp sound.
Hina gasped, nearly falling backward.
"I-I did that?!"
"Yes!" Mio shouted. "You're doing great—stay focused!"
Shizuku's eyes narrowed. "Defensive magic already? How dull."
She snapped her fingers.
The ground beneath Hina fractured, dark tendrils shooting upward. Hina screamed as one wrapped around her ankle, yanking her off balance.
"Mio!"
Mio rushed forward—but Shizuku flicked her wrist, sending a wave of force that knocked Mio aside.
Hina hit the ground hard, pain jolting through her body.
Fear flooded her chest.
I can't do this. I don't know how.
The shadows tightened.
Her vision blurred.
Then she heard Mio's voice—raw, desperate.
"Hina! Look at me! You're not alone!"
Hina clenched her eyes shut.
She remembered small things.
Walking home together.
Sharing sweets.
Mio smiling when she thought no one was watching.
I don't want to lose that.
Light pulsed from her pendant, warm and steady.
I want to protect it.
Her eyes snapped open.
The shadows shattered in a burst of light, dissolving like mist.
Hina staggered to her feet, breathing hard.
Shizuku took a step back.
"…Interesting," she murmured.
Hina lifted her hands instinctively. Light gathered, forming delicate ribbons that twisted into a glowing arc between her palms.
"I'm scared," Hina said, tears slipping down her cheeks. "But that doesn't mean I'll stop."
She released the light.
It surged forward—not sharp or violent, but bright and overwhelming, pushing Shizuku back with a force born from pure resolve.
The dark magic cracked.
Shizuku shielded her face, sliding backward across the pavement. When the light faded, she stood still, breathing slowly.
"…You'll be dangerous," she said quietly.
Her gaze shifted to Mio. "Both of you."
The shadows around her dissolved, her form fading like a reflection in dark water.
"This isn't over."
Silence fell.
Hina's knees buckled.
Mio caught her just in time.
"It's okay," Mio whispered, holding her tightly. "You did amazing."
Hina laughed weakly, pressing her face into Mio's shoulder. "I thought I was going to die…"
Mio hugged her back, trembling. "I was so scared…"
They stayed like that for a long moment, two lights holding each other together in the quiet aftermath.
Hina finally looked up, eyes still shining with tears.
"…You're going to explain everything, right?"
Mio managed a shaky smile. "Yeah. Everything."
Above them, unseen, something watched.
And smiled.