CHAPTER 41: CH 41: CANNOT IGNORE - PART 4

Irielle pouted the entire evening. She didn’t speak much, only offered one-word answers when Kana tried to coax her into conversation.

At dinner, she sat glued to Kana’s side, refusing to move even when Lysera tried to join them. And when it came time for bed, she crossed her arms and announced.

"I’m not leaving Kana alone tonight."

Kana blinked at her.

"You... don’t have to sleep with me, you know. I’m not going to disappear."

"That’s what you said last time. And then I woke up, and you were not here and all this problem occurred."

Irielle said darkly.

Kana sighed and looked toward Lysera, who had been watching with a carefully neutral expression.

"I think it would be best if both of you just stayed in my room tonight."

Kana said.

Lysera raised a brow.

"You want us both in your bed?"

Kana flushed.

"I didn’t mean it like that. Just—there’s no need to make things weird. Irielle obviously won’t leave me alone, and I don’t want you sleeping on the couch."

Lysera hesitated.

"I can sleep outside. It’s really not a problem."

But the moment her eyes flicked to Irielle, already practically clinging to Kana’s arm, something sour twisted in her chest. She let out a sigh.

"Fine. I’ll stay."

—

The bed was just large enough to fit the three of them—barely. Kana lay in the middle, sandwiched between Irielle and Lysera, both of whom had inched progressively closer over the past few minutes.

Irielle had latched onto Kana’s arm in her sleep, while Lysera had curled slightly inward, her breath brushing Kana’s shoulder.

Kana stared at the ceiling. She could feel the warmth from both sides. Her thoughts began to wander.

’This is... fine. Perfectly normal. Just sleeping.’

She told herself.

But the tickle of Irielle’s hair and the subtle pressure of Lysera’s leg brushing hers made her feel anything but normal.

She shifted slightly.

Immediately, Lysera moved. A hand came up and gently covered Kana’s eyes.

"Stop thinking so much,"

Lysera murmured, voice low and close to her ear.

Kana swallowed.

"O-Okay."

—

Morning sunlight poured in through the window, casting a warm glow across the bed. Kana slowly blinked awake, blinking groggily as her mind registered the tight grip still around her waist.

"Irielle..."

She mumbled, trying to pry the girl’s arms off gently.

Once free, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. She looked to her left—Lysera was no longer there.

Yawning, Kana climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Her eyes were half-closed as she pushed the door open, still thinking about last night and Lysera’s oddly gentle tone.

She stepped in and blinked once.

Then twice.

Then fully froze.

Lysera was standing under the showerhead, water dripping from her bare skin, her long hair plastered to her back. She hadn’t heard Kana come in. Their eyes met.

"Ah—!"

Lysera gasped and immediately reached for a towel.

But it was too late. Kana had already seen her—all of her.

And not just the expected. Iridescent, scale-like patterns shimmered along her sides and lower back, faint but unmistakable.

They hadn’t been there before. Or perhaps they had—hidden beneath illusion or uniform.

Kana’s cheeks burned. Her legs gave out slightly.

"I—sorry—I didn’t mean to—"

Lysera caught her just before she hit the ground.

"It’s fine. We’re both girls. It doesn’t matter."

Lysera said stiffly, cheeks red despite her composed tone.

The last thing Kana saw before everything faded was Lysera’s flustered face, still dripping wet, and the feel of strong arms holding her steady.

—

When she opened her eyes again, she was lying on the sofa, a blanket draped over her. Her mind was still spinning.

Lysera stood nearby, fully dressed now, her expression calm and unreadable.

"You fainted."

She said simply.

"I... yeah. I’m sorry."

Kana replied, her voice hoarse.

"No need to apologise. It was an accident. Drink. Then get changed."

Lysera knelt beside her and placed a glass of water in her hands.

Kana took the glass and sipped. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting—awkwardness, maybe, or teasing—but Lysera was acting like the whole thing never happened.

Part of her felt disappointed.

She had noticed those scales, hadn’t she? What did they mean?

Kana opened her mouth to ask, but before she could, Lysera held out a sealed envelope.

"Your summons arrived this morning. It’s from the Defence Department."

She said.

Kana stared at the letter.

"It’s official?"

Lysera nodded.

"You’ve been formally called in to assist with the temple case. As discussed."

Kana sighed and let her head fall back against the couch.

"So much for avoiding trouble."

"You were going to accept anyway."

Lysera said, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"...Yeah."

She sat up and gave a soft, rueful chuckle.

"Still, I kind of wish I had a little more time before jumping into things."

"You’ll be fine. I’ll be with you every step of the way."

Lysera said, standing.

Kana looked at her, the image of the scales flashing once again in her mind. There was more to Lysera than she let on—far more.

But for now, she nodded and stood as well.

"Then let’s get ready."

______

The morning sunlight filtered gently through the curtains as Kana and Lysera moved around the small kitchen, working in quiet tandem.

Kana whisked the eggs while Lysera chopped vegetables with practiced ease.

The comfortable silence between them felt like a fragile but pleasant thing, broken only by the soft clatter of utensils and the occasional sizzle from the pan.

Kana stole a glance at Lysera, who stood by the stove now, flipping the omelette with practiced grace.

Despite what had happened earlier in the bathroom, Lysera hadn’t brought it up once. She was acting like everything was completely normal. Kana, meanwhile, was trying very hard not to think about the scales she’d seen.

Or the way Lysera’s arms had felt around her.

"Irielle’s still sleeping?"

Kana asked, trying to steer her thoughts elsewhere.

"She was curled up like a cat. I didn’t want to wake her."

Lysera said.

"I’ll go get her after breakfast."

Just as Kana set the plates down, they heard the door creak. Irielle walked in, yawning and rubbing her eyes, her hair a mess and her face still drowsy. She blinked at the breakfast table and smiled faintly.

"You guys made food? For me?"

"You’re welcome."

Kana said, amused.

After breakfast, the three of them cleaned up, and Kana went to retrieve the letter from her room. It was time.

"We should go."

She said.

Irielle, without hesitation, grabbed her jacket.

"Alright. Let’s go."

But Lysera turned to her with a firm expression.

"No. You’re staying."

Irielle froze.

"What?"

"Don’t you have work? What are your girls going to do if you abandon them for the day? Run around panicking?"

Irielle opened her mouth, then shut it. Her eyes darted to Kana.

"But—"

"Your business needs you. Kana will be fine."

Lysera said simply.

Irielle looked torn, clearly itching to argue, but the weight of responsibility won out. With a reluctant sigh, she pulled Kana into a hug.

"Come back safely. And if anything seems wrong, you leave immediately, alright?"

Kana nodded.

"I will."

With one last look, Irielle turned and left.

Kana and Lysera watched her go, then shared a look.

"Ready?"

Lysera asked.

Kana took a breath.

"Yeah. Let’s go."