Chapter 36 Color insert: Nia – New Year Sunrise
Fish-belly white seeps up from the far edge of the horizon, a blade of pale light cleaving the thick dark of night in two.
Little by little—ever so slowly.
As though pushing open a colossal gate, the sunlight treads with measured steps toward the city, peeling the darkness away strip by strip.
Then the morning sun lifts its head above the mountain peaks, washing sky and cloud in a thin wash of tender orange.
“Oh…”
“So beautiful…”
The Spirits couldn’t help but widen their eyes at the sight before them. Even Nia found herself utterly captivated.
“Ah… I lost again…”
After a long pause, Nia exhaled in frank surrender.
“Thank you… Bili-chan, young man…”
“…zzZ”
“Hm?”
Hearing the steady rhythm of breathing, Nia turned in puzzlement. There, shoulder to shoulder, Yumezuki and Shidou had dozed off, heads resting together.
“Ah… they finally crashed.”
“They must feel safe now.”
“You did great, Yumezuki, Shidou.”
As if they’d expected it all along, everyone breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Tohka and Yoshino unfolded a blanket they’d brought and gently draped it over the pair.
“Um…”
Still a little lost, Nia whispered, “Those two… haven’t slept since the day before yesterday. And even before that they were pulling all-nighters.”
Origami answered softly. She stared at Shidou’s sleeping face for a moment, glanced at Yumezuki beside him, puffed a small, vexed sigh, then looked away with reluctant acceptance.
“…”
Nia had no words. She knew perfectly well whose fault their exhaustion was: hers. They’d stayed awake to craft the work that would face off against her, to draw up the plan to storm DEM, to save her.
(Just what about someone like me is worth that much?)
The question floated up, but she already knew no answer would come. Smiling wryly, she turned her gaze outward.
The sunrise in front of her—this was the final thing the two of them wanted her to see.
The sun climbed slowly, and the boundary between night and day crept across the rooftop toward where they sat.
Nia closed her eyes and waited for that line of light to wash over the building.
Sunlight brushed her cheeks; the air warmed.
Warm. The simple thought filled her chest.
“Haah…”
She drew a long, slow breath of the fresh morning air, then opened her eyes.
The black, silent night was gone. In its place: a bright, many-colored world bathed in gentle sunshine.
I’m alive.
The truth struck Nia with crystal clarity.
Because she lived, she could sit here.
Because she lived, she could greet the first sunrise of the new year.
Because she lived, she could feel the kindness others gave her.
Because she lived, she could look upon this beautiful world.
“…Yumezuki, Shidou.”
Watching the distant rising sun, Nia spoke in a soft, cheerful voice:
“Happy New Year.”
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!