Omake: Home is where your sister lies
You lay next to big sis, hugging her tightly while avoiding putting any pressure on her stomach, gently blowing her long hair out of your face as she snores quietly.
You glance at her face, yet again looking for any trace signs of frowning, of injuries hidden when awake revealed in sleep.
It isn't there. You look at her stomach, unharmed. You frown.
If it wasn't for the fact that she was brought in sleeping, if it wasn't for Morgan telling you what really happened, you'd know nothing.
For all that magic is the absolute best thing ever (besides big sis, of course), you don't like not knowing.
She shifts in her sleep, holding you tighter.
You wonder if the other monsters she fought were as easy as she claimed.
You look towards Morgan, sitting on a chair close by, her usual smile when she looks at the two of you absent, her face still puffy from tears that looked like they could return at any moment.
You had cried too, but you stopped. It wouldn't do for sis to see that.
You fall asleep in her embrace.
You awake with a squawk as Morgan spreads herself over you to hug big sis. You groggily shift as you adjust to being awake, moving to gain maximum snuggles from your now awake sister after Morgan pushes her back down from her attempt to get up. Heh. If the situation wasn't what it was, you'd make a joke there.
Finally shaking yourself awake enough to hear words, you catch the tail end of a thanks, as Sis takes a sip of soup that you can only guess came from Morgan.
Sis' smile almost makes you forget how close she came to death.
You shuffle your way onto her lap, putting your head under her chin, as you hear Morgan chuckle behind you.
"Una, I'm here."
Words of comfort, that would normally make you feel the safest in the world coming from her, but today it isn't good enough. You hug her tighter and nod in acknowledgement, before saying with all the force you could currently muster, "You were hurt."
An understatement, but the words you wanted to say you couldn't bring forth. She sighs, as she rubs her hand through your hair, "I was, but I got better."
Her voice was gentle, soothing, and all too dismissive. It was that dismissiveness that gave you the strength to push forward, as you hug her tighter, "You almost died."
You feel her attention move away from you and settle on Morgan. You can't she her face, but the sudden tension in her body can't be hidden from you. You can tell what she realized, you can tell that she isn't happy about it.
You can tell that she didn't want to burden you. That she loved you, that she would protect you from anything.
So why does it feel like it burns, even as she gently brushes your hair with her fingers?
You focus on remaining calm, on not crying, on not being weak on not being helpless.
Eventually you calm down, and you feel her hands move you so that you are no longer leaning into her, but looking at her in the eyes, "I came back, just like I promised."
You frown at the missing intent behind the letter of the promise, but nod anyway. Sis always keeps her promises.
If only you had the courage to get her to make the right ones.
You move to lie down on her lap, not content, but not having the will to push the conversation forward, to take the final step. You listen to their conversation.
"Did anything else happen when I was gone?" You let her voice centre you.
Morgan shakes her head, "Not really, your team made it back fine, not even any injuries because of you." You're not surprised, Morgan looks like she wants to say more on the subject, like she'll pass the bridge you'd never dare to, but doesn't, "We are keeping the place on watch, but it's been quiet so far. Apart from that, Daiyu has started training so she can go out, she'll make an excellent sparring partner from what I've seen. She knows how to handle a sword." You slightly perk up, your gaze zeroing in on Morgan, as images and scenes from manga popping up in your head, "She already knew how to use a sword. Well, not the sword and shield she has, but it's apparently close enough. The only spell she's shown us so far is a barrier, but it's very strong. Her armour is pretty tough, but she's not as fast as you are. Honestly, it looks like the two of you were supposed to have appeared together in a Duo, but didn't for whatever reason."
You slightly smile at the fact that Sis is now part of a magical girl team, the other girl isn't as awesome as Sis, but perhaps together they'd be strong enough for Sis to not be hurt anymore.
You look up at sis, her forehead scrunching up,"huh, that's... Yeah." she nods. "I should spar with her properly."
Luckily Morgan is on top of things as she glares at her, "not today you aren't. You are going to stay in bed and rest."
Sis doesn't respond to that. Normally she'd never just lay and rest a day when there are things to do, and she would fight against it. Today she doesn't, and it gives you comfort.
There is a way even now to tell if she is hurting after all.
.
