My Normal Life Now Has Another Wake-up Montage

When Tama told the story at the hospital to normal people, she had to leave out all the cool stuff, claiming she ran away from home due to usual teenager problems (which she knew was gonna get her yelled at by her parents, but she chose to put that out of mind for now). But even when members of Society Prime dropped by to wring her for details, she liked to leave out the ending—Tama collapsing in the snow seconds after fleeing the base, found half-dead with a stupid expression and frozen drool on her face.

At least Sarine made it through okay, having the comfort of Tama’s pocket to trap warmth in. Tama blamed Izumi for making a shitty snowmobile that blew up after being driven for two days straight. Obviously it was all her fault.

At least Society Prime footed hospital says. Not to mention covering up her school absences—somehow. Maybe it was something they had experience in.

If Tama’s life was just a drop in the bucket…yeah, she understood everything.

Not.

After being interrogated by the police for the second time, the staff cleared Tama for visitors. The first being—

“Hello! Hello, hello, helloooo!” Aoi threw the door open and pulled Tama into a crushing hug, Sarine giggling from her windowside bed made of gauze and cotton. “You’re not super super injured, right?”

“I am! Let go!”

“Oops, sorry.” Aoi released Tama, who shivered and shook as she put a hand to her heart.

Sarine stopped laughing and flew over, administering more healing to the problem spot before Tama’s breathing steadied. “Thanks,” Tama said. “Uh, hey, Ohzora. You here to ask me more questions?”

“Oh, nah.” Aoi waved a hand. “I’m sure you’ve been bugged enough about your little adventure for a lifetime. I don’t need the details—just the idea that my sister’s killer is buried under freezing snow is all I need to sleep tonight! You made it painful, right?”

“Fuck yeah I did.” Tama smiled.

“Really really painful?”

“Of course.”

Aoi gave Tama another light hug. “Good. You did great—now just rest up and get better. And, oh, before I forget…”

A pink phone popped out of Aoi’s equally pink purse. “Can I get your email? Any friend of my sister’s is a friend of ours. If you get into any more magical trouble, just call us, ‘k? And if you gotta go to the mountains and kill some piece of shit, then invite me along next time.”

She laughed. “I can use magic too, y’know.”

“…Wait, you can?” Tama said.

Sarine sighed. “You should’ve mentioned that earlier!”

Aoi dismissed them. “All the women of the Ohzora family do, but only the youngest earns the most blessed powers. Though, I guess if the men wanted to, they could learn it…? The gender divide thing is more of a choice than a destined role kinda deal—you know, my great aunt was actually—”

“Can we talk about this later?” Tama said, hand to her forehead. “Too much talking makes my head hurt.”

“Oops, sorry.” Aoi took Tama’s phone and added herself as a contact, fluffing her pillow while she was at it. “You cozy now?”

Tama sighed, shuffling back under the covers. “Yeah. Keep in touch?”

Aoi smiled. “Mhm. I mean, I still gotta bill you for when you stayed with us.”

“You what—”

She waved, slipping out the door. “Byeeeee!!”

Blink. Blink. Tama groaned and fell back on her side, Sarine flitting close. The little faerie hung off the edge of the bed, kicking her feet back and forth as she snapped her gaze between the floor and Tama.

“…Sorry,” Sarine said.

A groan. “This is like, your tenth apology. Get over it, it’s fine.”

“Hey, shut up! Let me be nice!”

“Shut uuuuup.” Tama sat up again, frowning. “I should be apologizing. I should’ve known you didn’t want me to—I mean…it was stupid. I was stupid and in my head, and it made everything worse for you.”

“You made things worse for yourself, too,” Sarine said. “And I made it ten times worse not saying anything before we both went off the deep end. I don’t know why I thought handing you over to Pleasa was a good idea, ugh, am I stupid?”

“Uh—”

“Shhhh, don’t answer that.”

“But what if.”

“Noooo. Nope. Don’t you dare.”

“Buuuut—”

Sarine shut Tama’s mouth. “Stop! We’re done talking about it!”

“Weren’t you still crying and apologizing like, five seconds ago!?”

“I take it back.” Sarine crossed her arms. “You don’t deserve it.”

Tama flicked Sarine’s forehead. “You don’t deserve it.”

Sarine fumed, flicking Tama back. A war of flicks and harmless slaps ensured, up until Tama’s headache came back and she waved the white flag. The two laid down, looking out the window where a clear blue sky shone through.

The clear sky would give way to night, soon, stained by hues of orange and purple washed away under a tide of black. And eight hours later, the black would make way for a dull blue, another splash of orange, until everything returned as it was meant to. Each day, the same as the next.

“I think I’m done apologizing,” Tama said.

Sarine nodded. “So am I.”

“….Sooooo.” Tama sat up again, flexing her hand as a shimmer of light accompanied the gesture. Chiho’s gift showed no signs of dissipating. Whether it would remain forever, no one knew, but Tama wouldn’t forget what’d been given to her—nor would she let anyone take it away from her.

“What next?” Tama said.

Sarine barked out a laugh, collapsing into the pile of blankets and making ripples as though she slipped through still water. “Next? Are you kidding me?”

“There’s no way Chiho’s duties ended with the Nachts. If we’re deep in weird shit, then it’s just gonna keep coming.”

“Yeah, in fiction! But…uh…”

“You realized you have no argument.”

“Shut it.”

Whatever came next, it was fine.

Whatever came next—they had each other. Chosen and faerie; no, partners in combat. Neither more or less than. Neither expendable.

Tama let herself fall once more, into a slumber no one could take away from her. She dreamed of her room, of school, and of the forest swaying overhead, leading the path forward no matter where she ended up.