Bonus: Girls’ Night, Again

"So, with that settled—let’s have a girls’ night!"

For some reason, Kisa, Reina, and Honoka had all gathered in my room.

Apparently, this was a rematch of the last girls’ night. We’d already finished our Connect Link for today, so it wasn’t a problem even without Nagisa-kun, but still… it felt a little bad leaving him out.

And for some reason, Kisa was hugging me again. Well, whatever.

There’s something calming about physical contact. Lately, I sometimes get hit with this sudden loneliness and just want to be close to someone. I’ve kind of turned into a weird person.

It’s like… my heart’s been left completely exposed.

Maybe it’s because I showed everyone everything about me.

…Or maybe it’s also because I can’t use my skills and haven’t been able to get rid of my headaches with healing.

If I use my skills, it could accelerate my Abaddon transformation, so I’ve been stopped from using them. Honestly, it’s a pain.

Come to think of it, I’ve stopped having nightmares. It’s strange—when I was having them, I felt like I could hold myself together a little better.

At least now, I don’t have to see things like my little sister torn apart, clutching a doll… or Yuri crawling on the ground after losing an arm.

I used to call Curse Seekers mentally unstable all the time, but… doesn’t that make me the most unstable one here?

I don’t like that.

…Back in middle school, I was always conscious of being a guy. After that, I never really had the time to think about it.

But now… what about me?

Pushed forward by Yuri, pulled along and saved by Nagisa-kun… maybe I’ve really become a proper girl now.

Even if my way of speaking slips sometimes.

"What's wrong, Sora-chan?"

Ever since then, Kisa’s been calling me "Sora-chan." I don’t really mind, but… why the cutesy suffix?

"It's nothing."

"Hmm, really?"

"Akegami Sora, have you been eating properly lately?"

"Yeah."

Reina had always been the caring type, but lately it had gotten worse. She’d show up in my room at every opportunity, do housework, and then leave. What is she, a housekeeper?

As for Honoka, who was fiddling with something at the edge of the room—our relationship hadn’t really changed. Actually, that’s not a phone, it’s the distributed terminal. Maybe she’s dealing with something school-related.

Honoka did properly join the team, but… is she really managing okay? Isn’t she the only one giving off a cold vibe? Or is it just me?

"Um… Sora-chan. Sorry."

"Huh? For what?"

"Well, back when you were Yuri, I thought, 'This person’s probably in the same situation as me, but acting all normal.' But… that wasn’t really the case."

"It's fine. I was hiding it."

"And I misunderstood that and kind of lashed out."

"I think that part’s your fault, Kisa."

"Haha, you’re really honest."

Ruffle, ruffle. She started tousling my hair. It felt like I was being treated like a kid, but… it didn’t feel bad.

"Your hair’s gotten longer."

"Has it?"

Because of the Abaddon transformation, my hair had turned silver, and it seemed to be growing faster now. Thinking about it, yeah—it was starting to get a bit annoying.

"Want to get some scrunchies or something?"

Oh yeah, we talked about that when I ran into Kisa at the shopping mall.

"Maybe I’ll have you pick some out for me next time."

"Sure."

While we were chatting like that, it seemed Reina had finished cooking.

Kisa finally let go of me, and I was made to sit down. Somehow, I felt a little lonely.

I wonder if there’s any way to deal with this feeling—like I get scared if I’m not physically close to someone whenever something happens.

I didn’t question it at the time since she was cooking so naturally, but… when did she even start?

"I made some extra for later, too."

"…Reina, you’re starting to feel like a mom."

Well, aside from Reina, I don’t have a mother anymore.

"I see. Then, shall I hold you?"

"Yeah, do it."

I went along with her joking tone, but she froze. I thought being held wouldn’t be so bad, though.

"Akegami… since when were you this needy?"

Honoka stopped fiddling with her terminal and looked at me suspiciously.

"Then Honoka’s fine too."

"Huh?"

The terminal slipped right out of her hands and dropped.

What is with these people? Since she froze up, I just sat down on her lap.

"Hurry up and hug me."

"…Huh?"

This isn’t working. She just keeps saying "huh?"

I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned around and hugged Honoka myself. Yeah… this is better. It’s calming.

"H-hey, Akegami?"

"Mm."

"Don’t 'mm' me—what is this?"

"It helps me feel at ease."

"Honoka, why don’t you just give in and hug her?"

"Exactly."

"What is wrong with you two?"

Honoka looked completely confused—it was honestly kind of funny. And with Reina and Kisa backing me up, she didn’t stand a chance.

We’re not particularly close, and we’re not really friends either. But we survived that hell together. I’d like to get along with her from now on.

…Though personality-wise, that might be tough.

Still, it was surprising how quickly Honoka recovered, considering how disheveled she used to be.

Apparently, she got mad thinking I looked like I wanted to die, so she started training right away—like rehab—so she could stop anything like that from happening.

…Honestly, I kind of feel bad.

"Jeez… fine. This is throwing me off."

Her arms wrapped around my back.

"Can you squeeze a little tighter?"

"…Your gap is insane."

"Just do it."

"Yeah, yeah."

Her grip tightened a little. That felt just right.

It was like the thorn lodged in my heart had eased, just a bit.

After that, once I came back to my senses, I was trembling in embarrassment over my own incomprehensible behavior—but when Reina said she wanted to hug me too, I ended up agreeing, and was enveloped in something soft.

No, seriously—too soft.

The fact that I react weirdly to stuff like this… does that mean there’s still a part of me that’s a guy?

…It’s complicated.