Zeto

In the old service lane, Marie supports Cold Yuichi against her shoulder while Aurelio, Rosella, Lumin, and Veya hover around her glowing forearm.

The four fairies answer together. Gold, rose, blue, and green light pour into Marie’s branching scar, then flow across Cold Yuichi’s burns, bruising, and damaged shoulder.

The pain fades beneath a warm, steady radiance. Bandages loosen over healed skin, and Marie catches her breath as the mark brightens almost white.

The fairies dissolve into the branching pattern one by one. The lane grows quiet except for a distant siren, while Marie studies Cold Yuichi’s restored shoulder and waits for his response.

Cold Yuichi starts walking toward his house, his shoulder moving freely again beneath the evening air. Marie falls into step beside him, her marked arm glowing faintly.

Gold, rose, blue, and green sparks briefly shimmer beneath Marie’s skin, then settle into the branching scar. The service lane remains quiet behind them.

Marie slows at the lane’s entrance, confirming the route toward her neighborhood. The fairies remain hidden, and she gives Cold Yuichi a steady wave before turning homeward.

Night settles over the neighborhood as Cold Yuichi reaches the Yuichi residence. Warm light fills the front windows, and the familiar two-floor house stands quiet behind its gate.

Inside, Jaricho waits near the entryway in his police uniform, black hair neat and the mole on his cheek visible. Janet sits nearby, watching the door.

Jaricho studies Cold Yuichi’s restored hand, then looks toward Janet with guarded recognition. Janet rises, keeping her powerless presence composed beneath the house’s warm lights.

Jaricho gives a quiet nod from the entryway. Janet watches Cold Yuichi closely, then steps aside as he heads upstairs toward his room.

Cold Yuichi changes into pajamas and leaves the school clothes folded over a chair. The house settles around him, warm lights glowing beneath the quiet night.

Cold Yuichi lies back on his bed, restored shoulder sinking into the pillow. Downstairs, Jaricho’s footsteps move away, while Janet remains somewhere near the entryway.

The hospital, the Giant Pinno, Marie’s glowing mark, and the fairies turn over in the darkness of his thoughts. No new alarm interrupts the house, and sleep gradually takes him.

While Cold Yuichi sleeps, Janet rises from the entryway couch and moves through the dark house. She leaves a folded note on his bedside table before descending quietly.

The front door gives a soft creak as Janet slips outside. She pauses beneath the porch light, then disappears down the sidewalk, leaving the house undisturbed except for that small noise.

Her note reads: “Cold Yuichi, I am running away to protect you. The danger surrounding me will not stop while I remain near you. Do not follow. Janet.”

At the end of the block, Janet rounds a corner and nearly collides with a very tall Latino man, a broad-shouldered young adult in a charcoal coat with close-cropped black hair and a silver scar through one eyebrow.

The tall Latino man straightens beneath the porch light. His charcoal coat dissolves into a stark white uniform, its fitted jacket marked with pale seams, while a broad buster sword settles across his back.

Janet’s silver eyes narrow as she recognizes the uniform. The transformation releases a sharp spiritual pressure that rattles the porch windows and leaves a thin crack across one pane.

Janet looks once toward the dark house, then steps away from the sidewalk and falls beside him. The white-uniformed man turns toward the distant Quiche, taking her back as promised.

Just then, an arrow cuts through the night and strikes Diego high in the shoulder. The impact spins him sideways, and his white uniform darkens where the shaft bites.

Janet catches Diego’s arm before he falls. His buster sword shifts across his back, but he does not draw it, keeping his attention on the rooftops.

A second arrow strikes the pavement beside Janet, splintering the concrete. The sharp report echoes toward the sleeping Yuichi residence, carrying the danger closer to home.

A figure steps onto the Yuichi residence roof, blonde hair bright beneath the moon and blue eyes fixed on Janet. Friken raises a bow of condensed spirit-light.

More spiritual arrows streak downward. Diego smiles despite the shaft in his shoulder, plants his feet, and grips the buster sword’s hilt.

The blade answers with a deep ringing cry. White fire races along its edge as Diego draws it in one sweeping motion, cutting through Friken’s bow and striking his side.

Friken drops behind the roofline, clutching his uniform where the blade passed. The remaining arrows dissolve harmlessly, while Janet keeps Diego upright beside the cracked pavement.