There are a few fortunate points.

First, I still remember a bit about the original work. I remember how Sota acted in the original.

He was definitely not a proper fighter, and he probably fought in ways that would have been incredibly painful—but still, he played the role of preventing Yuka from getting seriously injured at the most critical moment.

I swung my bleeding hand with all my might. The kappas seemed even more flustered by the droplets of my blood that scattered. They spat curses and screamed in horror.

.....

This is kind of hurtful.

You guys are the ones who look like real monsters. Well, I've heard that yokai often see humans as nothing but food, so conversely, they probably see themselves as normal.

Anyway, kappas, huh.

I've seen them in old stories too. They're quite famous yokai, and because of their characteristics, how should I put it, they're also famous in *that* way. While they might not be called the Japanese version of goblins, they do "take away jewels."

It's an uncomfortable story. I wonder if the victims suffered the same fate.

"You....."

Yuka looked at me with a somewhat bewildered expression.

"Yuka. In front."

"....."

When I said that, Yuka's expression became even more bewildered. No, perhaps "dumbfounded" would be more accurate.

Could Yuka have won alone without me? Well, she probably would have. In the original work, Yuka didn't die in middle school.

Still, I didn't want to see her get hurt.

We had only met for the second time, and honestly, Yuka seemed to feel somewhat uncomfortable around me, but she was still young.

There was no reason she should have to live with large scars.

I decided not to say anything more. After all, Yuka was the expert here, and I was just a rookie who had jumped in.

Instead, I simply played my role by watching her back.

*

The fight ended without much difficulty after that.

Finding my blood disgusting might not have been a big issue. Even if the opponent sprays something repulsive, there are times when you have to endure and fight when your life is at stake.

However, that "instinctive disgust" apparently wasn't something they could simply overcome in the moment.

Yuka's back was never attacked. So Yuka swept away the ones in front of her without much hesitation, and cleanly ended the fight by cutting down the others who were distracted trying to avoid my blood.

The constant chills I felt gradually subsided. I could also feel the sense of discomfort about the surrounding space slowly diminishing.

The nest's owners had disappeared, and the nest itself was collapsing.

"....."

After the fight ended, Yuka bowed her head briefly for the deceased person. This was something often depicted in the original work. I also bowed my head beside her.

Praying for their peace was sincere. They were probably someone who died simply because they were unlucky enough to be here.

After finishing that brief prayer, Yuka turned around and started walking briskly toward the stairs, but unable to contain herself, she suddenly turned toward me.

Her face looked like she wanted to blame someone, but at the same time, she couldn't easily say those words.

"I'm sorry."

Since it was my fault, I decided to apologize cleanly.

It was my fault that I got hurt. It couldn't be Yuka's fault. I was the one who got attacked after reaching out my hand without listening to Yuka.

"...Where are you hurt?"

At my apology, Yuka seemed even more at a loss for words, rolling her eyes around before grabbing my arm and saying that.

It was a bit rough, like she lacked finesse.

She probably doesn't know how to show concern.

"It doesn't hurt that much."

"No, the pain isn't the issue..."

As she said that while looking at my arm, Yuka forgot what she was going to say.

The wound was disappearing at a fairly rapid pace. It didn't completely vanish right away. But it was happening at a visible speed.

Normally, a cut this deep would require stitches at a hospital. Even then, it would obviously leave a large scar.

But my arm was healing quickly without any of that.

"See? I'm fine."

Well, that didn't erase the blood stained on my uniform.

...What should I tell Kagami?

No, rather, I should change clothes before going out next time. Would gym clothes be okay?

While I was absentmindedly thinking about that, it must have shown on my face because Yuka sighed deeply once more.

Then she glared at me and said:

"Next time, follow my instructions."

"...I will if necessary."

"If necessary?"

"Yes. But usually I'll need your instructions. I don't know anything about fighting."

"...Are you saying there are situations where it's not necessary?"

"If there's an attack coming from somewhere you don't know about, I can block it for you. You saw it yourself, right? I have a somewhat special constitution."

A constitution loved by something whose identity is unknown.

Actually, I don't know exactly what I am either. Right now, Kagami was the only person around me who properly knew my identity.

But if I asked Kagami, just asking would hurt her, so I didn't bother asking.

"...Follow my instructions."

Yuka finally chose the expression she should make.

She glared at me while gripping my arm tightly.

"You could have died. Do you understand? There are important blood vessels all over the human body. Even places that seem far from the neck or heart can kill you in seconds if cut wrong. I mean, what if your neck had been cut?"

I know.

I know all too well. Such accidents do happen in this world.

"....."

I quietly looked at Yuka.

The emotion in her eyes was sincere. Yuka was genuinely angry at me.

"...I understand."

In the end, that was all I could answer.

Yuka stared at me for a while as if trying to determine whether I was sincere or not, and finally let go of my hand. I'm not sure if she figured it out or not.

"Good, then."

Yuka spat out those words and turned around, striding toward the stairs. Up there, the police were still peacefully controlling the path down here.

Despite the bloodbath that had just occurred, the world still looked peaceful.

...Even though there was a dismembered corpse in the bushes over there.

It wasn't immediately visible, but dealing with the body wasn't my job.

Where is the boundary between the ordinary and the extraordinary? Is it extraordinary when someone is murdered? What about when someone dies in an accident?

I'm not sure.

However, one thing is certain: the fact that my childhood could be maintained somewhat properly was thanks to Yuka.

And not just Yuka, but thanks to the sacrifices of other exorcists too.

People who run around working hard without even expecting gratitude from anyone.

"Aren't you coming?"

Yuka snapped.

"I'm coming."

I answered, feeling somewhat melancholic.

*

Seeing my torn, blood-stained uniform, Kagami fell into deep thought for a moment.

Her expression looked like she was about to cry—but Kagami chose not to cry.

This is Kagami who has accepted my fate. She probably doesn't want me to worry about such things.

She only checked my arm and was relieved to find no wounds.

Kagami gently embraced me.

And while softly stroking my head, she said quietly:

"You did well, Kotone."

Without blaming anyone.

Probably only blaming herself inside.

Because she would think it wasn't my fault that I fought such battles.

"I'm glad you came back safely."

Those words almost made my legs give out.

That's right.

Although I was pretending to accept it calmly, I'm scared too.

I was scared when I ran away, and I was scared when I threatened the opponent by holding a broken toy to my neck. I was just forcing myself to endure. Because I wanted to live.

Getting cut by a knife hurts. Even if the wound heals again, the pain is unavoidable.

Honestly, I didn't think dealing with things that are clearly not human was my job—

I reached out my arms and hugged Kagami.

That warmth gave me a reason to keep fighting. A reason to endure.

It wasn't just Kagami who had endured by looking at me. The reason I could endure in this world was also Kagami.

"...Are you hungry? Do you want to eat?"

"...Yes."

Actually, that person had offered to buy me a meal—but well, I didn't really want to accept it.

Rather, I preferred Kagami's cooking. The food I've eaten all my life in this world.

The taste I've become too accustomed to now.

"Then, go wash up first. We have spare uniforms, but I'll prepare another one for tomorrow."

Kagami is always like this.

Even when she's suffering herself. Even when she's scared herself. She probably has been like this the whole time she's been with me.

"...Okay."

But that was the only answer I could give.

I understood a little bit of the attitude Yuka had shown me earlier.