"Phew..."
She woke up.
Abby was a morning person; she had never once overslept in her life.
Rising smoothly from her bed, she headed straight for the washroom. After a quick shower to fully rouse her senses, she brewed herself a cup of coffee.
This was her morning routine.
Today was her first day off in quite a while, and Abby spent a moment considering how to spend it.
The Magics Chevalier had concluded safely—though there had been the matter of processing the Grim Reaper remnants behind the scenes—and she intended to fully savor this rare holiday.
Yet, habit was a formidable thing; she had awakened at the exact same time she did for work.
It was currently seven in the morning.
"Now then, what to do..."
Having finished her breakfast and drained the last of her coffee, Abby sank into thought.
I’ll spend the morning working through my pile of books and head into the city this afternoon.
She didn't need to buy anything in particular, but the prospect of staying home all day felt a bit too dull. A stroll seemed like the right choice.
"Right."
She set three books on the table.
They were all romance novels. She occasionally chided herself for still reading them at her age, but she couldn't help what she liked.
As she immersed herself in the narrative, imagining a heart-stirring romance of her own, the world around her faded away.
"Oh. Is it already that late?"
When she finally looked up, the time was nearly noon.
The rhythmic ticking of the wall clock finally registered in her ears.
Abby had been so completely absorbed that she had finished all three books in a single sitting.
"Well, time to get moving."
She stood up and opened her closet.
Since she had no plans to meet anyone, she opted for a simple white shirt and a pair of trousers.
While she did own skirts, Abby’s personality made her lean away from them. Whenever she had the freedom to choose, she picked a pants-based style without hesitation.
Sliding her wallet into her pocket, she headed out the door without bothering with a bag.
◇
The Central District.
Being a holiday, the streets were packed. Abby was well-accustomed to crowds, so the bustle didn't deter her in the least.
She was on her way to a bookstore to restock when she spotted them.
Lydia and Carla.
Judging by their behavior, there was no doubt about it—they were stalking Ray.
Sigh. At it again, are they?
Exasperated, Abby approached the pair.
"Hey, Lydia. Not this again."
"Is that you, Abby? I’m busy. Talk to me later."
Lydia was unusually focused.
Her eyes were wide and fixed intently on a single point in the distance. Abby followed her gaze and understood immediately.
"I knew Ray was here, but is he on a date?"
As soon as the words left Abby’s mouth, Lydia began a rapid-fire tirade without ever looking away.
"Elisa Griffith. She’s brilliant. To think she understands Dual-Code Theory at her age... it’s truly admirable. She’ll likely be a great researcher one day. But the problem is... that! That ephemeral charm of hers!"
Lydia clenched her fist, glaring resentfully from the shadows at the two students as they shopped.
Abby didn't quite follow, so she asked for clarification.
"What do you mean by 'ephemeral charm'?"
"That innocent expression that makes you want to protect her. That beautiful smile she shows every now and then. And the way she looks at Ray—it’s not colored by desire yet. To me, an Elisa who remains a pure friend is almost a perfect score."
"Isn't that a good thing? Ray looks like he's having fun, too."
Abby glanced at Ray and Elisa. The two were laughing and chatting as they browsed the bookstore. To any bystander, they looked like a perfectly matched couple.
They’re a good fit for each other, Abby thought.
But for Lydia, that seemed to be the issue.
"Nngh... What should I do? What should I do...?"
"Well, you could start by letting your 'son' leave the nest."
Abby tried to walk away, but she was dragged into listening to Lydia’s complaints. In the end, she was even made into a scapegoat. It happened the moment Ray described Lydia as a "gorilla."
"Hey, that killing intent! Lydia! Ray noticed you!"
"What?! It was an accident! Abby, help me out!"
"Huh?!"
With that, Abby was forcibly shoved out from the mouth of the alleyway, stumbling right into Ray.
"Abby? What are you doing here?"
"Ray. And Elisa Griffith. Well, I ran into a persistent flirt just now. I was just dealing with him in that alley. My killing intent might have leaked out a bit."
"I see. So that was you, Abby? You surprised me. I didn't expect to feel that kind of bloodlust in broad daylight."
Ray looked at her with a suspicious tilt of his head. Abby scrambled to make her excuse sound plausible, and she felt a wave of relief when he didn't press the issue.
"Dammit... that Lydia... she owes me for this..."
She couldn't help but mutter the complaint under her breath.
Why do I, who hasn't done a single thing wrong, have to cover for that overprotective idiot? I suppose it can't be helped. It’s always like this.
Abby was so used to the routine that she hadn't realized how much their antics had rubbed off on her.
"Abby? Is something the matter?"
"No, it's nothing. You two enjoy your date! See you later!"
Raising her voice with forced cheer, Abby beat a hasty retreat from the front lines.
Wanting no more to do with Lydia for the day, she vanished into the crowd.
Later, after finishing her own shopping, Abby sat alone on a park bench, staring blankly at the orange glow of the sunset.
As she relaxed, she reflected on the day.
"Sigh... I wonder how things turned out for them."
Ray had surely continued his date, but she wondered if Lydia was alright. Ultimately, Abby’s nurturing side made her worry.
Ray will be fine, of course, but Lydia gets so sulky when she’s shocked. I hope she isn't moping too much...
Despite her grumbling, Abby truly cared for her friend.
"Hah... today went by in a flash."
The sun was on the verge of disappearing completely.
Beside her was the bag containing the new novels she had picked up.
Stroking the paper, she let her mind drift back to the past.
"Has it really been three years already?"
An ordinary daily life.
A peace she could now take for granted.
It was a future that had seemed impossible back during the Far East Campaign.
Abby had always assumed she would be a soldier for the rest of her life. And she wasn't the only one.
She had believed Lydia and Carol would walk that same path alongside her forever.
But their roads had diverged.
While their bond remained the same, the lives they led had changed.
After the war, Abby had lost many things, but by re-evaluating her life, she had found her current place in the world.
"Well then."
She stood up, brushed the dust off her trousers, and tucked her bag of books under her arm.
As she started toward home, she caught a glimpse of Ray, Lydia, and Carla walking together in the distance.
The sight felt like a reflection of their shared past, but the sense of tragedy was gone.
Watching them laugh as they walked, a faint smile touched Abby’s lips. She continued her walk home, moving serenely through the fading light of the dusk.
A few days later.
"Waaaaahhh! Abby! Help me! Ray... Ray is...!"
Looking at Lydia, who had barged into her home first thing in the morning, Abby let out a long, weary sigh.
Still, I suppose this kind of daily life isn't so bad.
With that thought, she ushered Lydia inside.
Abby, too, was finding joy in the small, chaotic moments of her present life.