Caring for Nicole (part 1)

Despite everything that's happened today, I'm glad we've found time to relax like this, just sitting on a bench in comfortable silence and not thinking about what we have to do later. Even if I do have to make a bit of an effort to ignore the huge bonfire burning not too far away.

Now that I'm really calming down, the true weight of today's events is starting to sink in...

I was covered in blood today. My new magic is fascinating, if a little strange. I am genuinely excited about it; I really am. But what weighs on me the most is the fact that I had to heal so many people.

Sure, it is a good thing that I did it, and it was deeply gratifying to see wounds close in seconds that would normally take months or years to heal. But I hated having to do it. I don't even want to think too vividly about what I saw today, so let's just sum it up by saying that I saw way too much of the things that are supposed to stay under the skin.

I truly dislike blood, yet my new instincts forced me to dig right into it today.

And most disturbing of all are those exact new instincts! The urge to heal is fine, since that can't be a bad thing. But suddenly knowing the most efficient ways to take the life of a living thing is terrifying.

I saw a Xeno approaching me, and my mind simply supplied thoughts like...

Just kill it and it will go away forever.

Use one of a thousand possible ways to separate its head from its body.

Cut off its legs and it will stop running.

Or, can you feel that slimy thing on the side of its chest? Destroy it, and the job is done.

Ugh...

If they really are experiences from another life, what kind of barbarian life did I have? Somehow, something inside me tells me that I should be extremely grateful that I can't remember.

"You need to take a break," Nicole says suddenly.

"Mh?" I look at her. A break? Aren't we resting right now?

As if reading my mind, she clarifies. "I mean a break from everything. From academics, from your hobbies, from me, from people."

"I don't want to," I murmur... And I'm surprised by how tired my own voice sounds.

Is it because I've finally calmed down? Even though it has been over an hour since I stopped doing anything physically demanding, my mind was still on high alert. I guess the crisis has truly passed.

"Why?" she turns to look at me.

"I get depressed when I have nothing to do."

"... I knew that, but I think you'll be okay," she gives me a little smile.

I raise an eyebrow at her assurance. "How can you be so sure?"

"We are similar. I have noticed that some problems become much smaller when you get tired of thinking about them so much. I think you are exactly at that point now."

Huh, really? I think about her words for a moment before I answer... Yes, I am tired of being depressed.

"Do I look that tired?"

"Right now? You look like a mess. You usually look good, but you would look better if you smiled more, you know what I mean?"

I try not to pout at being called a mess, even if it is completely accurate right now.

"And you think that by making me depressed I'll smile more?"

"No, I think if you take a break, you'll see that it's not as easy to get depressed as it used to be," she corrects me.

Should I listen to her? Mmm... I really don't want to. But if I keep doing the same things, nothing will change.

Forget it, I will try.

"Well, I will. Anyway, I doubt there will be classes for a while." I say as I look toward the Academy. There are still several layers of buildings blocking my view, so I can't see the exact details, but I am fairly sure it had more towers yesterday.

"We have to close a wound like this before we can move on. Even if the academy had been intact, a lot of people died. The city won't be the same for a while."

"..."

"..."

It is still a comfortable silence, but it feels much more charged than before.

"Nicole, my dearest person..."

"What?"

"I really want to go home and sleep..." I think I am being way too optimistic when I assume that I'll actually be able to sleep after seeing so much violence, but if I'm going to burst into tears or something, I would rather do it in my own bed and not here.

'Assuming my eyes would even let me cry in the first place, anyway.'

"Well... Okay. I have to go to the castle now, I suppose there will be a lot to do..." Her face tells me that she really wants to come with me.

Heh, she is rarely so expressive.

"Thank you! I'll be off then." I push myself up from the bench, extending my arms overhead with a long, satisfying stretch.

A sudden tug at my lower back stops me mid-breath. I glance over my shoulder and realize that the fluffy tip of my tail had instinctively swiped right across Nicole's face. Instead of pushing it away, she wraps her arms around the thick fur, hugging my tail against her chest like an oversized plushie.

She closes her eyes, leaning her cheek into the soft fur to soak in the warmth.

'This probably looks quite ridiculous from the outside...'

Yet, as I see the lingering tension leave her shoulders and that familiar, peaceful expression return to her face, I decide to just let her be.

After a few quiet seconds, the snug grip around my tail begins to loosen, her eyelids fluttering as if she might drift off right there on the bench. I gently slide my tail out from her arms and turn to look at her.

"Are you okay?" I ask, trying to keep it down.

"Do you even know how to get back?" Nicole murmurs instead, blinking sleepily as her hands sink back into her lap.

I try to sniff the air a bit... Ugh, bad idea.

All right, one more try. Just do your best to ignore ninety-nine percent of the smells around here... Oh, there it is. Our home. It isn't actually that far, even though I spent hours running around earlier. Too many detours, I guess.

"Hehe."

Huh? I look down at my cousin.

She is looking up at me with an even more relaxed face than usual, a small, genuine smile on her lips as she rests her head on her hands and her elbows on her knees.

"What?" I ask, mimicking her earlier response.

"You look cute sniffing the air like that."

"... Bye." I immediately ignore the cheerful, involuntary wagging of my tail and walk away.

-----

Half an hour of walking later, I am back home! Before I can even step inside, Galito greets me.

"So, you're okay. I'm glad." I whisper, not even bothered that he immediately comes over to peck at my legs.

I just put him back in his garden and go inside the house.

Not really in the mood to think too much, so I just grab something nice to wear to bed. A pair of comfy gray cotton panties with a few subtle ruffles and a lightly padded black bra. Why do I even bother meticulously describing my underwear in my head? I guess it's just my little hobby.

A girl has to appreciate the details.

I go back downstairs to get some water, deciding to just take a shower in the ground-floor bathroom while I'm at it. I won't worry about the mess. I'll just leave my bloodied clothes here until tomorrow.

After a very long, thorough shower to scrub away the day, I don't bother to put on anything besides my underwear.

Hmm, actually, I think I just picked out a set out of habit, but I'd be better off sleeping in just my panties. I'm not in the mood to worry about someone walking up to the window and accidentally seeing me right now.

I just lie down on the couch in the living room, feeling way too lazy to climb the stairs again...

...

-----

I open my eyes.

... Huh, that was a surprisingly good nap. I didn't even have any nightmares! Oh well, I won't complain. I look over at the window to find it completely dark outside.

Eh, did I sleep through the rest of the day? It is unusual for me to have such a comfortable rest, just like in the simpler, older days.

Just a little bit more...

...

Unfortunately, the next time I open my eyes, it is because the freezing cold wakes me up. Ugh... I touch my stomach, only to find my skin like ice.

Or maybe it's actually my hands that are freezing? Not to mention my bare feet, my nose, my chest, the insides of my thighs, and... well, basically everything! What was I thinking? Standing up makes me realize my muscles are a little stiff from the cold, but at least it's nothing a heavy blanket won't fix.

'Don't sleep almost completely exposed in the middle of the living room, you idiot.'

Fighting that horrible feeling of being exhausted but still having to force myself up, I trudge upstairs to my room, grab a heavy blanket, and throw myself onto my bed.

"Haa..."

At least I can go back to sleep now without having to worry about anything else. After tucking myself in tightly, I hug my tail to my chest and close my eyes again.

...

The next time I wake up, it is to the sound of Galito singing at the top of his tiny lungs. I try to ignore him and go back to sleep, but my stomach gives a loud rumble. I am starving. What time did I even go to sleep yesterday? Three in the afternoon?

I freshen up a bit and peek into Nicole's room. She hasn't arrived yet? My condolences to her. I head down to the kitchen, still just in my panties feeling... adventurous, let's just leave it at that, and tie an apron around my waist.

Let's see... The refrigerator is fully stocked with turkey, chicken, beef, bacon, various cheeses, milk, and vegetables.

The pantry drawers are equally full of bread, rice, jars of jam, spices, oils, pasta, almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, black walnuts, regular walnuts... and several jars of completely unlabeled nuts. Nicole really loves her nuts.

Well, there are plenty of good ingredients here, but I am still feeling a bit lazy and a lot hungry. Some bacon, eggs, and toasted nut bread will have to do.

"The most important meal of the day~. Serving it up, Gary's way..." I pause mid-hum. Who in the world is Gary?

Pushing the strange thought aside, I quickly finish cooking, pour myself a tall glass of orange juice, and sit down at the table. A classic, perfect breakfast is ready!

Just as I am about to take a bite, I hear the familiar jingle of keys being pushed into the front door lock.

I sniff the air instinctively. Nicole is home! She must have been busy the entire night, so the least I can do is prepare something nice for her. I push my plate aside, ignoring the loud protests of my empty stomach, and decide to indulge her a little.

Knowing exactly what to make, I turn on the oven to preheat it and grab five chicken breasts, making sure they aren't too thick, and arrange them in a rectangular baking casserole over a drizzle of grape oil. I add some cream cheese, a pinch of salt and black pepper, and sprinkle bacon bits on top before surrounding the whole thing with cheddar cheese and a light dusting of parsley.

"Good night..." Nicole mumbles as she drags her feet into the living room, just off the kitchen.

"Before you go to sleep, come and eat!" I call out, placing the lid on the casserole and sliding it into the preheated oven.

I watch as Nicole weakly shuffles into the kitchen, looking completely drained. I go back to my own plate and finally start to fill my empty stomach... only to suddenly realize that I didn't exactly make the healthiest breakfast for my cousin, right?

Sighing, I push my plate away a second time to quickly chop up some carrots, tomatoes, and zucchini, tossing them into the oven to roast as well.

When I turn back around, I freeze. Nicole is eating my breakfast in silence.