Hope

Eita clapped his hands and began a silent prayer. That was the most he could do. He'd kept a straight face as long as he was in Sammy's presence, but seeing Ramiel die, and knowing he'd had a hand in that, was something he had only thought that he was prepared for.

This was the nature of the fight he'd engaged in, and if he hadn't fought, that would probably have only changed who died and not whether or not someone did. All the same, if there was anything out there better disposed towards people than the Weaver, Eita hoped it would forgive him for his part, especially since he had the nagging feeling that this wouldn't be the last time.

“Now that's unusual,” Yua said, “I'm not used to seeing you visit so earnestly.”

Most of the time, of course, he was here to visit Yua, and offering the shrine's god pleasantries was courtesy only. Today was different, and he added a wish that Yua stay safe.

Finished, Eita lifted his head, giving a small clap. He then turned to face Yua.

“I guess I've just had a lot on my mind,” he said.

“That so?” Yua asked.

“Is it really that odd that I'd want to clear my head?” Eita asked.

“I'd say so,” Yua said. “Things have been... odd, lately.”

She shook her head.

“Maybe I'm just projecting, missing club and all. And with the newcomers, too.”

“You seem to be getting along pretty well with them,” Eita said.

“Really?” Yua asked, “I thought you were managing a little better.”

That was probably the case, and it wasn't like Eita could simply say that it boded well for Yua that she still had that distance.

Yet, even thinking that caused Eita a pang of guilt. He'd called Sammy a friend, and he meant it. If he had to choose again, he'd still want to meet her and take her side, so was it fair to either of them to be happy that Yua was left behind in the normal world instead? To Eita, she might have been an anchor to sanity, but that was ultimately selfish thinking.

“Anyway,” she said, “Is your head clearer now?”

“I think so,” Eita said.

Perhaps all these contradictions were why he shouldn't have been praying in the first place. Find an answer before asking the gods to support it.

“Walk with me?” Yua asked.

Eita went to her side like it was the most natural thing in the world, and she began to lead a meandering course around the grounds.

“Ever since Golden Week,” Yua said, “something has felt off.”

“It's been pretty crazy,” Eita said.

“I mean it,” Yua said, “and I don't want to just blame the transfer students. Even if we're only getting along so-so, they've been more than nice enough, especially Sammy.”

“Then what do you think it is?” Eita asked.

“I don't know,” Yua said, “that's what's so frustrating. But you've noticed it too, right? You've mentioned being out of sorts more than once.”

“I guess I have,” Eita admitted.

“I'm thinking that we should hold a purification ceremony,” Yua said.

“Spoken like the daughter of a shrine family.”

“At least it would be something,” Yua said, “besides, if you're being serious, I can be too.”

Eita sighed.

“I'm not opposed,” he said.

“Then what?”

Eita hesitated. The image of Ramiel's blackened form crumbling to ash was seared behind his eyes.

“Take care of yourself,” Eita said, “If something bad happened...”

This time it was Ramiel. It could have been Sammy, or Eita. That was the kind of trouble he'd agreed to help with. If it were Yua on the line...

Yua smiled sweetly.

“I won't overdo it,” she said, “you can count on that. I just want to do what I can.”

Eita laughed a little. That was about the same thing he thought.

“We really are hopeless, aren't we?”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Yua asked, but Eita dodged the question until he had to start dodging Yua's gohei instead.

When it came to lifted spirits, Eita's prayer had ended with some effect.

It wasn't until Monday that Eita saw the Fallen again. They were all in attendance, at least those who came to school, and while Eita had anticipated some manner of victory celebration, their mood as a whole seemed to be dour, and he remembered that Ramiel had been a friend and compatriot who was deceived.

Sammy sought Eita out at lunch time, one of the few times he was alone.

“So,” Eita said, “Has... everything worked out?”

“Probably not,” Sammy admitted, “but we should be safer for a while. Ramiel was leading the hunt, so the rest should return and regroup. Maybe they'll even decide we aren't worth the trouble.”

“But you doubt that.”

Sammy nodded.

“Not all angels are kind,” she said, “and there's unfinished business besides.”

“You mean Cassiel?” Eita asked.

“Not just her,” Sammy said, “I think all of us left someone behind, a teacher or a friend or for Gadreel maybe even a student who won't be able to let go. And even if they can... maybe we can't.”

“Sammy...”

“Don't tell any of the others,” she said, “but I've been thinking if I can really leave the Weaver to its own devices. It's a thing that lies and steals souls, if there's something I can do, shouldn't I?”

There were those words again – something I can do – that seemed to bind everyone Eita and his friends one way or another. There had been something Eita could do, and he'd done it. Yua was looking for her something to do. And Sammy saw hers, but not if she could actually manage.

“Oh,” Sammy said, “And, um, maybe don't mention how things started.”

“How things started?”

“I... It wasn't to plan, and I was rushed, and practically screamed the mantra on the way down, and...”

Sammy covered her face with her hands, and Eita noticed a faint golden tinge to her cheeks.

Was she blushing? Best to not let the nurse see that.

“Not a word,” Eita promised.

From there, it seemed like the events of the weekend were ready to be forgotten, and school life again prepared to reassert itself, at least until Thursday afternoon brought a new shock.