“So? What’s her actual condition?”

  Narumi was so happy to see Hecate moving again that she immediately dragged her outside to take her back to Katja and the House.

  Carol and I stood behind, near the room Hecate was in. After a while, a familiar face also left the room.

  The girl named Reia, who was about our age. Katja’s friend/acquaintance and a so-called child prodigy of medicine. She wore a black and white hoodie over her head, and she had the most bored look on her face. Didn’t you just finish performing a surgery, girl?

  “Th- the girl with the black dress? Her condition? She’s alive…? Didn’t you talk to her?” Reia stared at Carol like she just asked her a trick question.

  Right… I forgot… She may be a genius, but she’s still quite dense in some ways.

  “Huh? We know she’s alive… That’s obviously not what I meant! How is her eye after the surgery? Will it recover?” Carol raised her voice.

  “Hmm…” Her eyes wandered through the hallway as Reia came up with how to answer her. “Can’t tell you… I think there’s a rule about patient privacy.”

  “Are you serious?” That caught me by surprise… I know that doctors aren’t supposed to talk about patients’ things without their permission, but… “Can’t you make an exception?”

  “She’s right. We’re her friends! You don’t have to hide anything from us.” Carol and I hounded her.

  “More than friends actually…”

  “Hey!” Carol elbowed me. “Go ahead and spill all our secrets to her, why don’t you? You don’t have to tell her that!”

  “It’s okay… Look at her face. She has no clue what I meant. Not that I meant it like that…”

  Carol and I paused to check her face. Reia’s head was tilted to the side, and she seemed kinda lost… “Even if you say that… I’m not sure I can…”

  “*Sigh…* Listen, aren’t you some kind of big shot? Who’s gonna yell at you for breaking the rules? Just tell us… How is her eye?”

  “Her eye is lost.”

  She said with a flat tone.

  “Lost…?”

  We knew it… We saw it coming… With the wound she received, it was hard to imagine any other outcome, but… Hearing it laid out like that… So matter-of-fact… It hurt…

  “Recovery was impossible, so I tended the wound to prevent any complications.”

  “Impossible… I see…” Carol strained her voice. Her eyes were turned to the floor, and she weakly rubbed her right arm. “Th- thank you…”

  What was she being thanked for? Reia was confused again.

  Hecate lost an eye… She lost an eye protecting me… I can’t believe it… Is it my fault? It’s all my fault, isn’t it? Me and Ayumu… What now? Did Reia actually try? Is there really nothing she can do? All Hecate ever wanted was to stay at the House together with the others… If she loses an eye, will she still be allowed to stay? I might have caused her to lose what’s most important to her… “Is… is she still able to fight?”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “That girl’s matching weapon is a sniper, isn’t it? It will be up to her.”

  “Don’t worry, Iroha… Hecate’s not going anywhere…” With a reassuring smile, Carol threw a weak punch at my shoulder. “She can learn how to use her other eye… Some day for sure…”

  “Carol… Thank you…”

  After tapping my shoulder, she looked at Reia again. “Well, we’ll be going back. Thanks for taking care of her.” We turned around, then Reia stopped us.

  “Wait wait… Uhmm… Iroha… How is your sword?”

  “My sword?”

  “You matched with the unstable silver flower, remember? Now that you’ve had it for a while, have you noticed anything interesting?” She seemed strangely enthusiastic.

  “Right… When we spoke with Professor R, you were the one who gave me my Matching Weapon…”

  “We- we’re different people… Just so you know…” Reia hid her face under the hoodie. I’d probe, but I don’t feel like it right now… “So? Any strange effects?”

  “Hmm… It’s an unstable core, that’s for sure. Hallucinations maybe… The sword can make me see things.” A cute little hallucination named Endell… Sorry for calling you that… She’s real, I know… Well… Kinda real… She’s residing in my soul. Meaning she’s just a manifestation? Wait… She can hear these thoughts, can’t she? I better stop before she shows up…

  “Oh… Hallucinations… Plenty of other materials cause similar side effects on unsuccessful matches, but yours was successful. How interesting. What kind of hallucinations have you been seeing?”

  “Oh , just this white-haired cute little th-”

  “Shut up! We don’t have time for this! Let’s go!” Carol yanked my arm and dragged me out of there. Was this as easy for her as taking candy from a baby? Because Reia looked just like a child that had their candy stolen.

  …

  Eventually, we returned to the House. It was morning again, and today the sky was cloudy with the sun barely shining through. We’ve been awake since the morning of the tournament, and we were all exhausted by now. Hecate was the only one who was doing better now than before, but she was still just putting on a front to not worry anyone.

  “How are you feeling, Hecate? Does it still hurt?” Narumi asked.

  “It’s fine, you silly… How many times are you going to ask that?” We were hanging out on the couches. Narumi was next to Hecate and clung to her.

  “It’s not just physical pain.” Katja’s eyes focused on her. “How are you dealing with it emotionally? Surely, losing an eye was a huge shock to you. You can talk to us about it. You must be upset.”

  A somber mood loomed over the dorm. That was what we were all really worried about… Hecate’s strong. Pain wouldn’t hurt her, but losing something so important? That can’t be easy…

  “Upset? Why would I be upset?” Hecate still smiled. That calming and elegant smile. “Aren’t eyepatches the coolest thing ever? I’ve always wanted to wear one! Doesn’t it suit me?” She stood up and showed off her dress. “What do you think? Doesn’t it just look amazing?”

  “It does…” If we forgot about everything and were honest for a second, it did look amazing. Goth-loli dresses and eyepatches have gone hand in hand since time immemorial. Add a gorgeous girl like Hecate to that, and you get a look that can give anyone the chills. Who could say no to that?

  Still… If she wanted to wear an eyepatch, there are probably better ways to do it. Less costly ways…

  “So? Is anyone hungry? You’ve been up all night because of me, so you haven’t eaten anything yet. I’ll make you something right away.” Hecate stood up with a single clap, taking a few steps towards the kitchen. We got up after her.

  “You’re gonna cook right now? I don’t think you’re good enough for that… You should just rest for today.”

  I tried to stop her, but she smiled, glancing over her shoulder. “But you’re hungry, aren’t you? Just sit tight… I’ll bring you something soon.”

  She went into the kitchen before anyone else spoke up. Nothing had been moved since she last cooked, and she still knew where everything was. The sounds of drawers and cabinets opening and pots and pans moving filled the room, and after a second… *Chop chop chop chop… Pause…* Hmm? Wasn’t that a little too soon to stop? “Hecate?”

  “Hmm? What’s wrong?” She held a finger with her other hand and tried to smile, but the twitch of an eyebrow gave her away.

  “D- did you cut yourself?” I asked.

  “Geez… We told you not to overdo it…” Carol pushed past me and grabbed her shoulder. “Get out. Go get a bandage and take a nap.”

  “But…” Hecate insisted. “If I don’t make something for you, you’ll go hungry…” She worries too much… We can just get some food delivered… Or…

  “Hey, how about I cook this time?”

  “You know how to cook?” Katja looked at me with a surprised face.

  “I had no idea… That’s funny. You don’t look like the type.” Ouch! That stings, Narumi… You can’t say that to my face! Worst part is that she’s right…

  “Well… Technically, I’m not that great of a cook… But Hecate can help me.”

  They both sighed in disappointment. “Sorry, Iroha, but didn’t we just agree not to burden her anymore? I don’t think that’s gonna work.”

  “That’s not true, Katja. Might be a good idea.” What was Carol thinking? How could it be a good idea? Katja didn’t know. “You know, we’re never going to convince this stubborn woman to sit down and do nothing, so we might as well let her give Iroha instructions. In return, Iroha will make sure Hecate doesn’t get to touch a single ingredient. How’s that?”

  I see… Just like the time I cooked for them…

  “I guess that will do…”

  …

  After an early lunch, we were back on the couch. We were all exhausted, and Narumi fell asleep on my lap. Katja walked over and scooped her up. Without even asking… I’ll have you know that cutie was mine for the moment… Unlike Carol and Hecate, who are mine all the time.

  “I think we should turn in for the day.” Katja’s eyelids were heavy, and she didn’t bother waiting for a response. “At least I will, and I suggest you do the same. I’ll take Narumi to her room. Good night.”

  “Just a second. I’ll give you a hand.” Hecate stood up and went after them.

  “Good night. We’ll be right behind you.” Carol answered for both of us and stared at me. Waiting a few seconds until they were deep into the hallway. Then, she stood up. “We’re going, right?”

  I did the same. “Of course… I’m too tired for anything else.”

  “Yeah… Well, go sleep with Hecate.”

  “Ehhh…?”

  Is that an order? “Why do you look so confused? Go cuddle with her or something. She clearly needs some support. Are you blind?” Is Carol of all people seriously telling me to do this?

  “Are you sure? Won’t you get mad?”

  “Iroha… Hecate’s important to me… I still want you all to myself, but I won’t deny Hecate the support of her girlfriend when she needs it the most.” Her cheeks turned rosy, and she averted her gaze. “Just go.”

  “Okay… I guess you’re right…” Carol waited in the living area while I went for the rooms. Straight to Hecate’s room. *Knock, knock…* Twist the handle, and I gently push the door open.

  “Hecate? Can I come in?”