nature
Himawari remained silent for a few seconds, staring at Daichi.
There was still confusion in her eyes… and something deeper.
— Daichi… that day…
She took a deep breath.
— I… don’t know if I died or not.
Pause.
— I remember the accident.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
— The car… the impact…
— After that… everything went dark.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
— But I heard voices…
— Like they were far away…
— Someone said I was in critical condition…
She opened her eyes again.
— It felt like I was between life and death.
The silence grew heavy.
— And then…
She looked at her own hands.
— I woke up here.
Pause.
— In this body.
Her voice dropped even lower.
— Lying down… all alone…
— I couldn’t move properly…
— The headaches were unbearable…
She swallowed.
— I thought I was still dreaming…
— Or… that maybe this was some kind of punishment…
She slowly raised her gaze.
— I don’t understand what happened to me, Daichi…
— I don’t even know if I’m alive…
— Or if this is real.
The air felt colder.
— And then… you appeared.
A brief pause.
— You took me out of that place…
Her eyes trembled.
— I thought… someone had finally come for me…
— That I would finally wake up… for real.
Silence.
— But I’m still here…
She gave a faint, weak smile.
— So tell me…
— What is this place…?
Daichi remained silent for a few seconds.
Thinking.
— I… don’t know exactly either.
He answered honestly.
— When I realized it… I was already here.
— Suddenly.
— Without understanding anything.
He looked around, as if trying to make sense of it.
— It might be another world…
— Or maybe…
Pause.
— We just haven’t understood yet what happened to us.
He looked back at her.
— But there’s one thing I’m sure of.
His voice gained strength.
— This is real.
— The pain… the fear… the people…
— All of it is real.
Himawari stayed silent.
Trying to accept it.
Then… she exhaled slowly.
And gave a small smile.
— Then…
A short pause.
— I’m not alone… right?
Daichi smiled faintly.
— Yeah.
— This time… you’re not alone.
Himawari slowly opened her eyes.
The weakness from before… was no longer there.
She took a deep breath.
Her body… felt light.
Different.
Stronger.
She placed her hand on the bed and carefully stood up.
For a moment, she stayed still.
As if testing it.
But there was no pain.
Anywhere.
Her eyes widened slightly.
— I…
She took a step forward.
Then another.
Firm.
— I can walk…
At that moment, the door opened.
Erza stepped in… and froze.
Seeing Himawari standing.
— Rin…?
Her voice overflowed with emotion.
Himawari looked at her.
And smiled.
— I’m okay…
Erza covered her mouth.
Tears filled her eyes.
But this time…
They were tears of pure joy.
She rushed forward and cupped her daughter’s face.
— Truly…
— You’re really better…
She hugged her tightly.
As if afraid to lose her again.
Himawari hugged her back.
Still uncertain… but accepting that warmth.
Outside—
Daichi watched.
Silently.
A faint smile formed on his face.
But then…
Erza looked at him.
For a moment—
Something passed through her eyes.
Quickly.
Subtle.
A small unease.
Almost unnoticeable.
She looked away.
As if nothing had happened.
— Alright.
She wiped her face and stepped back.
Returning to a firm posture.
— You all!
Her voice echoed through the tavern.
— Go to the back.
— Training time.
People looked at each other.
But obeyed.
Moving quickly.
As Aira passed by Daichi, she lightly bumped his shoulder.
— Let’s go.
Outside, the space behind the tavern was already prepared.
Wooden swords.
And a few real blades.
The sound of metal soon filled the air.
Erza crossed her arms.
Watching everything.
But her gaze… kept returning.
To Daichi.
And to Himawari.
Himawari stepped outside shortly after.
She stopped at the entrance.
Watching.
The wind moved her hair.
Everything looked new.
Vivid.
Different from before.
Soon, her eyes found Daichi.
Among the others.
Training.
His movements steady.
Sharp.
Even after everything that had happened.
She stayed silent.
Just watching.
As if trying to understand…
Who he was now.
And why…
She couldn’t look away from him.
At the center of the improvised training ground—
Daichi held his sword.
Steadying his breath.
But his mind…
Wasn’t fully there.
For a brief moment—
He looked at her too.
Their eyes met.
Silence.
And in that instant, something changed.
No words.
No explanation.
Only… a connection.
And around them—
The sound of swords continued to echo.
As if announcing the beginning of something new.
