A Token for Your Time Pt. 2

"Whoa there, Aikami," Alice said, catching me effortlessly as I stumbled over my own foot.

"Oh. Uh… thanks," I muttered, trying not to sound as dead inside as I felt.

"Are you alright? You don't seem to be holding up very well today."

"Wouldn't call that surprising. I was yanked out of bed against my will after barely scraping five hours of sleep."

Alice brought a finger to her chin, thoughtful. "Hmm… I suppose that won't do. Would you like us to call it a day here?"

"Huh? But…"

I turned my head to look behind us, where Chloe and Lana were completely absorbed in their own chaotic world—laughing, poking, bickering...

Wait, is Lana pulling Chloe's hair now? And Chloe's pulling back?! What even started that? Whatever the case, I have no intention of getting involved. That's a battlefield I'm not equipped to survive.

"The others seem to be enjoying themselves," I said quietly. "I'd hate to be the reason we cut things short."

Alice gave me a small smirk. "Still thinking about us first, as always. You know, it's okay to be selfish every now and then. We're not going to think any less of you."

"Right... Because that worked out so well the last time I cracked a tiny joke."

She flicked my arm with zero hesitation.

"Ow? What was that for?"

She gave me an innocent smile that I absolutely did not trust. "Nothing. I just felt like it. Anyway—Girls!"

Chloe and Lana froze mid-tug, looking over like two kids caught in the act.

"We're gonna wrap it up for today," Alice announced.

"Eh?! But we only just started!" Lana whined. "I was super looking forward to this!"

"I know, I know," Alice said with a sigh. "But Aikami's running on fumes. We wouldn't want him dying of exhaustion, now would we? And let's be honest, the whole surprise outing is our fault… Well—yours, since it was your idea."

"Ugh… you don't have to say it like that."

"Because of that, he didn't have much time to prepare. It's only fair we cut him some slack."

"When you put it that way…" Chloe mumbled. "I guess we can stop here. The day wouldn't feel right without a fully energized Aikami, anyway."

"S-sorry," I said instinctively, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Ah! Don't apologize, Aikami! It's not like you did anything wrong."

Alice let out a gentle laugh. "Exactly. No harm, no foul."

I should've felt relieved. Grateful, even. And for a moment, I did... but that lingering weight in my chest refused to go away. I didn't want to be the weak link. I didn't want to slow them down. At the same time, though… I really don't think I can go on.

Ugh. This guilt is doing cartwheels in my stomach, and it is not a pleasant feeling.

"Well, I suppose that settles it," Alice said, brushing off her coat. "I'm heading out first. I need to pay a visit to Aunt Persephone."

"Oh! I'll come with you!" Chloe chimed in, practically skipping over with her usual cheer.

"Sure, I don't mind. Lana? You coming too?"

We all turned to look at her. Lana's usual energy had dulled. Her shoulders were slightly slumped, and her gaze was low. That unmistakable brightness in her expression had faded, replaced by something far more subdued. Quiet disappointment clung to her, even if she tried to hide it.

Then, as if flipping a switch, she drew in a breath and flashed us that familiar wide grin—the one that always made everything seem fine.

"I'll stick around a little longer," she said, voice light but not quite carefree. "Our day might be over, but mine's still going. Besides, someone's gotta give Aikami a ride home, no? I'll take care of that."

Alice hesitated for a second, then gave a slow nod. "Alright then. Take care, Aikami."

"Bye, Aikami!" Chloe waved with a sunny smile.

"…Bye," I replied, a bit more quietly than I meant to.

In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the crowd. Or maybe they'd already teleported off to wherever 'Aunt Persephone' was. Who knows?

Lana let out a small sigh, stretching her arms above her head. "Well, that's that. Come on, Aikami. I'll take you home now."

I lifted my hand slightly, trying to say something as she walked past, but the words just wouldn't come out. All I could think about was that look she wore earlier. That faint, fragile expression I'd never seen from her before. A girl who always laughed, who turned everything into a game, who never seemed fazed by anything... and I was the one who made her sad.

"…L-Lana," I finally called out.

She paused a few steps ahead, her back to me. Then she turned slowly, eyes meeting mine with a smile that felt foreign on her face.

"Don't feel bad, Aikami," she said gently. "It's okay. Like Alice said, it was my fault. I thought a surprise would be fun. It just… Heh. It just didn't go the way I imagined. That's all. No big deal, really. You didn't do anything wrong, so don't go beating yourself up over it. I'll just have to plan better next time."

Her words were light, almost casual. But behind them… there was something softer. Something bittersweet, buried beneath that smile.

If I'd known it would end like this, I would've just pushed through. Forced myself to enjoy the day, no matter how tired I was. Because in the end, what hurts more than exhaustion… is seeing Lana like that.

That's my biggest crime here. But... Maybe it's not too late to take it back.

"You said you were gonna stick around for a bit longer, right?" I asked, my voice a little steadier now. "If it's alright with you… I'll tag along."

Her eyes widened instantly, lips parting in stunned silence. If my wake-up call earlier was a surprise for me, then this was a full-blown surprise party for her.

"What...? R-Really?" she gasped. "Are you being for real?!"

This time, there was no hesitation in her expression—just pure, unfiltered joy blooming across her face. The kind of smile that could light up an entire street. It was so contagious I couldn't help but smile back.

"Yeah," I chuckled softly. "I'm being for real."

"B-But! Aren't you tired?! That's the whole reason we cut the day short! Alice said you'd drop dead from exhaustion!"

"Okay, that... She was exaggerating. It's just fatigue, not a life-threatening condition. And if it's just another hour or two, I can manage. Honestly… I'd rather be a little tired than leave you feeling disappointed. You had a whole plan for today, right? I want you to at least enjoy part of it."

Her smile only grew—brighter, wider, almost dazzling. Then she stepped toward me and hesitated for half a second... before breaking into a full-on sprint and throwing herself onto me. Had I not stiffened just a little bit, we would've been on the ground by now.

"Yay~!" she beamed, practically bouncing with excitement. "Thank you, Aikami! Trust me. I'll make it more than worth it. Way more than just a few hours of sleep! I promise!"

"I… Y-yeah," I managed.

"Oh!" She suddenly backed away and placed a finger to her chin, eyes darting as if flipping through a mental list. "Hmm… Um… Ah! I got it!"

Before I could ask anything, she grabbed my hand and started pulling me along. But this time, unlike her usual whirlwind pace, her grip was gentle. Maybe even a bit thoughtful, as if she's trying not to wear me out more than I already am.

"Where are we going?" I asked, chuckling as I stumbled behind her.

"Hehe~! You'll see!" she replied with a wink.

So much for the nap I was planning to take. But seeing her like this... those bright eyes, brimming with joy... Yeah. I guess this was worth it.