Nozomi: Fufu…
In the tiny distance that she moved her gaze to the source of the laughing voice, her expression makes a drastic change.
Yumei: Step away from Kei-chan!
Bearing a burning light as she sends one, two shining butterflies aflutter, she speaks with a severe tone.
Nozomi: Fufufufufu!…
Even in the face of her strong words, Nozomi-chan faces her off with a sadistic giggle of submission.
Nozomi: Very well…
She gives a positive answer, but doubtlessly has no intent to obey.
Leaving my body in Mikage-chan’s care, she calmly steps forward.
Surely, that is the extent of her “stepping away.”
Glancing at Onee-chan’s sullen face, she smiles gleefully.
Nozomi: Fufu! A joke in poor taste.
It really is.
As if to express confidently that she’s sucked my blood to her fill, or grandstanding in light of holding a hostage…
Whichever the case, it’s my fault.
And at this rate, there’s little doubt Onee-chan will be in danger.
That’s why I scrounge together every fragment left from the emptiness within, and cry out.
Kei: Onee-chan……
Hoisting together my consciousness as it threatens to fall into someplace dark, to pass on what I remembered, what I learned.
Kei: Onee-chan, the mirror……
Yumei: Mirror?
Kei: Destroy the mirror! The mirror I found in the shed… it’s where they came from!
Yumei: Mirror—
The only mirror in this room…
…is held in Tsudzura-chan’s hands, as she stands shock still with unfocused eyes.
It is the mirror whose seal I broke.
Reflecting the setting sun shining in, it shines with the exact same red of the oni twins’ eyes.
Glaring at that light with a scowl, Yumei-oneechan thrusts her fingers in its direction.
Yumei: I see… So you’re spectres with that mirror as your focus!
The flapping of innumerable butterfly wings overlaps, and the sound one normally would never hear reaches my ears.
The blue wind races.
Nozomi: Mikage!
As Mikage-chan obeys and rushes to do something, unconsciously, I grab a hold. The body I thought incapable of movement moved.
Nozomi: ——
Her cries will avail her nothing, now.
The swarm of butterflies forms into one mass of light, and strikes the mirror.