Volume 3—Chapter 44: Some Aftermath
“Viola… are you awake?”
There was a brief rustling in the dark before Viola’s quiet voice responded. “Um, yeah… what’s going on, Irana?”
I glanced to my side. Onee-chan was asleep, her face calm and unbothered in the faint glow of the nightlight. That peaceful expression didn’t match the turmoil twisting in my chest.
“Can we talk for a bit?” I whispered.
Viola sat up in her bed, rubbing her eyes. “Sure. What do you want to talk about?”
I hesitated. The words caught in my throat, heavier than I thought they'd be. “It’s about Onee-chan.”
“Oh…” Viola’s tone shifted, softer now. “I guess that incident left a mark on you, too.”
I looked down at my hands, twisting the blanket between my fingers. “I’m sure Onee-chan noticed it. Even though I’m trying to act normal, I can’t hide it from her. I just… I can’t face her. Not after what happened.”
“But didn’t Uncle Takeru—say that it wasn’t her?” Viola asked gently.
“You believe that?” I turned my head slightly, my voice shaking despite how hard I tried to keep it even. “You trust my father’s word that easily? He probably lied just to comfort me. Even Elizabeth-sensei lost track of her before it happened. And then suddenly, the old man claims she snuck out of school to meet with your little sister—Iris?”
Viola hesitated. “Well… yeah, that’s what he said.”
I clenched the blanket tighter in my hands. “But you know we’ve never met Iris before. I don’t even know your little sister's name. I’ve always been with Onee-chan back then. So how could she know your little sister?” My voice cracked, and I hated how small it sounded.
I bit my lip hard, trying to force back the sting in my eyes. “That day… the one who did that—it was Onee-chan. No matter what anyone says.”
My eyes drifted back to the bed beside me. She was still fast asleep, her chest rising and falling slowly. Peacefully.
“I’m afraid, Viola,” I whispered. “Terrified.”
The memory of that day clawed back into my mind—the coldness in her eyes, the lifeless way she moved, how detached she had been.
I had always brushed off Father’s warnings. I thought he was exaggerating when he said that someone like Onee-chan was once used as a human weapon during the Great War. It sounded too dramatic—it’s not like something real. But then, others started saying the same thing. And then… I saw it for myself.
Viola reached toward me in the dark. “Irana… you need to calm down—”
“I know,” I whispered, trembling. “I know… I’m sorry.” I squeezed my eyes shut, but the tears still slid down.
All this time, I thought the mission—to prevent Onee-chan from awakening—was pointless. I thought there was no need for it. Because deep down, I believed in her. I believed that even if she became aware of her powers, she’d never use them selfishly. Never hurt anyone.
But now I’m not so sure anymore.
I was too naive.
~~~~~
“TAKERU!!”
The heavy wooden door slammed open with a bang, rattling on its hinges as a sharp voice rang out through the office.
A woman stormed inside, her heels clacking against the polished floor with every furious step. Her eyes burned with rage as she threw open the distance between them.
“You better explain what the hell just happened!” Elizabeth shouted, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.
Takeru, sitting calmly behind his desk, barely looked up from his paperwork. He raised an eyebrow and replied with maddening composure, “Elizabeth, it’s hardly proper for a lady to raise her voice like that.”
“You still have time to joke around? After that?” she snapped, her voice trembling with restrained fury. Without waiting for an invitation, she slammed a thick file onto his desk—papers spilling out slightly from the folder.
Takeru finally leaned back in his chair and glanced at the document.
“Four buildings, Takeru,” Elizabeth hissed. “Four. Completely gutted by flames and had to be demolished for safety. Dozens injured. And all of it tied back to your precious daughter.”
A shadow crossed Takeru’s face. His jaw tightened, and for a moment, his calm demeanor faltered. He narrowed his eyes at her.
“We’ve already issued the report. The official explanation is a gas line leak. Someone was smoking nearby and—”
“Don’t give me that,” Elizabeth interrupted, slapping the surface of the desk with her palm. “You think I’m stupid? Do you think this whole mess can be swept away with a neat little excuse? You know that’s not what I meant.”
She pointed at the document. “I’m talking about Aria. About her powers—about the fact that she still doesn’t even know what she’s capable of. That ignorance is what makes her dangerous!”
Takeru exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “This incident had nothing to do with Aria,” he said flatly. “It was a rogue esper causing trouble in the entertainment district. We've already cleaned it up.”
Elizabeth’s fists clenched at her sides. “You’re still in denial…” she muttered, her voice low and shaking. Then louder: “You’re still clinging to this fantasy that if she never learns the truth, everything will be fine. But it won’t. That’s what makes her a ticking time bomb!”
Takeru’s gaze hardened. “I’m doing what’s necessary to protect her.”
“By lying to her?” Elizabeth snapped. “By keeping her in the dark while she unknowingly walks into situations she can’t control?!”
There was a tense silence. Then Elizabeth’s voice dropped, brittle and accusing.
“You were supposed to be the one observing her that day. You promised you’d keep an eye on her. So, where were you when all of this went down? What were you doing while everything was going to hell?”
Takeru’s chair creaked slightly as he sat forward, his calm finally cracking just a little.
“Oh, so now this is my fault?” he growled. “You think watching Aria every second of every day is simple? That just by hovering over her shoulder I could prevent every damn thing from happening? Don’t you dare pin this all on me.”
The room fell into a heavy silence, both of them staring each other down, breaths sharp in the thick tension between them.
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