Later that night, while the tavern grew quiet and the children fell asleep, Mira slipped into a tiny back room lit only by a single candle.
She closed the door gently behind her.
The room was empty.
But she sat down anyway — in front of an empty chair.
She exhaled.
"…Alright.
I know you heard everything today."
Silence.
Mira leaned forward, elbows on her knees.
"He's connected to him.
The boy."
Her eyes softened with worry.
"Arkhamis."
The candle flickered violently, as if reacting.
Mira spoke to the darkness as if someone were sitting there — someone she could see, even if nobody else could.
"I knew the moment he stepped in that this wasn't normal magic.
It wasn't a curse.
It wasn't modern filth.
It was him."
She rubbed her forehead slowly.
"I don't know why he's back.
I don't know why the demon latched onto a child."
Her jaw clenched.
"But Haruto is innocent.
He didn't choose this."
Silence again.
Mira whispered, softer now:
"…What do you want me to do?
Protect them?
Kill him?
Watch him?"
The room gave no answer.
But Mira nodded slowly.
"…Alright."
Then she blew out the candle.
Darkness swallowed the room.
⸻
Sataro & Nova's Room
Meanwhile, Nova and Sataro entered their shared room extremely awkwardly.
Nova set her hands on her hips.
"…Well. Guess we're stuck."
Sataro crossed his arms.
"I'll sleep on the floor."
"Relax. We're adults," Nova muttered.
She stretched — then casually pulled off her shirt.
Sataro's brain shut down.
He accidentally stared—
Nova froze halfway through unbuckling her pants.
"Uh—
S-Sataro—! Don't stare!"
Sataro whipped his head around SO fast he almost snapped his neck.
"I WASN'T— I DIDN'T— I MEAN—"
Nova turned bright red.
"Oh my god…
I forgot you were even in the room—
I always sleep in my underwear—"
She covered her face with her hands.
"This is embarrassing…"
Sataro swallowed hard.
"It's… fine. I wasn't— I wasn't trying to—"
Nova cut him off, flustered.
"Well it's not fair if I'm almost naked and you're dressed like a winter soldier."
Sataro blinked.
"…What?"
Nova pointed.
"Take off your shirt."
"WHAT?! No—"
"You have to be in your underwear too!"
"I— WHY?!"
"Because I said so!"
Sataro sighed deeply, face red, but he did it.
He pulled off his shirt, then hesitated with his pants.
Nova crossed her arms.
"Don't be shy. We're both doing this."
Sataro muttered:
"This is ridiculous…"
But he stripped to his underwear too.
Nova peeked and smirked.
"Well damn," she teased quietly.
"You actually look good."
Sataro turned red to his ears.
"…You too."
Nova froze, blush exploding on her cheeks.
"S-Shut up…"
⸻
Sataro Attempts to Sleep on the Floor
Sataro grabbed a pillow and blanket.
"I'll sleep on the ground."
"No," Nova said.
"It's fine."
"No."
"Nova—"
"Sataro, get your ass in this bed."
He blinked.
"…Did you just—"
"Yes. GET. IN. THE BED."
He climbed in.
Back-to-back, both stiff as stone statues, neither daring to move.
⸻
Nova Is Cold
After a long moment, Nova whispered:
"Sataro…?"
"Yes?"
"…I'm cold."
Sataro stared at the wall.
"So… what do you want me to do?"
Nova hesitated, her voice soft.
"…Come… warm me up."
Sataro froze.
"…Are you sure?"
Nova's voice cracked nervously.
"Y-Yeah. Just for warmth. That's all."
Sataro slowly turned around.
He wrapped an arm around her from behind.
Nova inhaled sharply.
His warmth sank into her.
"…tighter," she whispered.
Sataro pulled her closer.
Her back pressed to his chest.
Her fingers touched his.
His breath warmed the back of her neck.
Nova whispered:
"Thank you…"
Sataro whispered back:
"…Yeah."
Little by little, both of their tense bodies relaxed.
Their breathing synced.
Their shoulders loosened.
They melted into each other, warm, safe, and closer than ever before.