A Long-Overdue Reunion
Looking at Harpy, who still seemed unable to fully relax, I decided to focus on my desire to support her—even if it was something of a shortcut. The moment I stepped into her mind without permission, her emotions came rushing in like the tide, without the slightest hesitation. I steadied myself, thinking that one wrong move might drown me, and tried to remain unshaken amid the tension, guilt, regret, and wistfulness staining her feelings.
It was just like that time before, when I had forced my unbearable hatred and rage onto the team leader and used the field team leader’s hand to send her flying hard enough to smash a wall. If it was me now, I could manage to impose emotions without relying on resonance to amplify them. Even as a tension so intense my hands and feet trembled washed over me, I sat quietly within it, breathing deeply and waiting patiently for it to pass. The risk that getting swept away would only heighten her anxiety made it difficult to stay calm.
“Hoo…”
“…”
After what felt like an endlessly long moment, Harpy’s cute face appeared before me, her eyes no longer trembling.
“…I’ve… calmed down…”
“I’m glad.”
Seeing that Harpy had settled, I felt relieved, but I knew I couldn’t overuse this method. Empathizing deeply with her and embracing everything had been fine, yet a lingering aftertaste of those emotions remained in my chest, aching faintly. I hadn’t been able to devour even the guilt and sorrow welling up from deep inside. Emotional sharing resonated and amplified when feelings were similar, and pulled toward the stronger side when they differed, but the weaker emotions never completely vanished. So this was the pressure Harpy had been feeling. I was impressed she had managed to board the boat without running away.
“As we cross the wetlands on the airboat, you’ll see quite a few alligators, but there’s no need to worry too much. Of course, please refrain from any dangerous actions like jumping into the water.”
While I had been helping Harpy relax, the fairy’s explanation had already moved on, and the guide’s standard introduction to the wetlands continued. Harpy, however, spoke up without being intimidated.
“…Aren’t you… scared of the alligators?”
She was still holding tightly onto my hand, her gaze directed forward where the boat was heading, yet I felt strangely moved that the shy Harpy had spoken first.
“Huh? Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared. But when you watch them, they have a stupid side, so they’re not just terrifying.”
“On the day you were stranded… you said you got startled by an alligator crawling out of the water and ran away in a panic.”
“That’s… wait, how do you…?”
It was a blunt question, though not entirely straight—there was a slight curve to it. Harpy was revealing herself by talking about that day, something she had never told her before.
“Did you hear it from Henry? Now that I think about it, you said you specifically requested me as your guide.”
“…I don’t know anyone named Henry.”
“Then…”
“Dora. It’s me.”
Harpy let go of my hand and turned to look at Dora. She was facing her directly.
“…Huh… Ah?”
Dora, who had been hiding behind me the whole time, saw Harpy’s face for the first time. Her eyes were still half-suspicious, yet she looked startled, stumbled, and let go of the handle.
Thud…!
The one who caught Dora before she fell from the boat was none other than Harpy’s sturdy hand. I hadn’t expected Harpy to reach out first. Dora’s face went pale for a moment when she noticed the long black claws protruding from the sweater sleeve as Harpy extended her hand, but after checking where her tilting body was headed, she didn’t reject the pull.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble…
Whoosh…
The airboat stopped in the middle of the wetlands. The engine and fan noise that had filled the silence died down thanks to the President, who had reached over with a sly grin and turned off the ignition. In the middle of the wetlands teeming with alligators, with nowhere to run, this reunion took place on a small boat.
“Are you okay?”
“…Thank… you…”
Dora stared at Harpy, who was still holding her hand, with trembling eyes. Harpy looked slightly hurt by the reaction, yet she raised her other hand and tore off one sleeve of her sweater with her claws.
Flutter…!
Her arm and wing were freed from the confining sweater and spread out straight. Seeing this, Dora finally realized it wasn’t some prank or light joke.
“…Fairy…?”
“Yes, it’s me. Dora.”
I thought she had been holding it in well, but in the end, tears rolled down her cheeks. I wanted to wipe Harpy’s eyes as she smiled at Dora, who had called her “fairy” once more, but this was a moment I needed to simply watch.
“I’m sorry for coming to see you again so late.”
“…”
Dora, who had spoken without shrinking even under the President’s teasing, now kept her mouth quietly shut.
“…I hurt you and ran away. I thought it was only natural to be hated. But… I was scared of being hated by the first friend I ever made… scared of finding out for sure…”
“…”
“I was scared, so even when I had Dora right in front of me, I hid… and only after hearing that you wanted to meet me again did I finally feel like I could speak…”
If Harpy could hear Dora’s inner voice like I could, she would surely feel a little more at ease. But this courage of Harpy’s included all of that.
“Can you forgive me for making you wait all this time?”
“…What are you saying, Fairy?”
Dora smiled just like her. It was a bright smile that suited her perfectly.
“I’m the one who’s been wanting to apologize all along. You must have been really surprised back then, right? I wish I hadn’t played such childish pranks. After that, I couldn’t really come to this park to play anymore…”
“Dora…”
“Still, I’m really grateful you came looking for me like this. Thanks to you, I think I can finally put down the burden I couldn’t let go of.”
Tears were still streaming from Harpy’s eyes, but her mouth was smiling so brightly with relief that it made anyone watching feel like crying too.
After safely finishing the boat tour, we gave Harpy and Dora some time alone. Strictly speaking, regulations said we shouldn’t leave them by themselves without me or the President nearby, but we were certain neither Harpy nor Dora would hurt the other. I walked a little behind them, matching the President’s pace while watching the two walking side by side ahead of us. Of course, Luke’s field team was probably following in formation at a distance, out of sight.
“Not a bad outcome, considering you went ahead and did things your own way.”
“…You think so?”
Hearing the President’s voice, I realized the tension I had been holding had only just now released. I must have been just as restless while their conversation was unfolding. I remembered the first time I met Harpy. Back then, she couldn’t even speak properly in front of others, and walking so close to someone would have been impossible. Now she was walking normally with someone else, laughing and chatting. What was this feeling? It was more than just finding the lovely Harpy admirable… Was this the satisfaction of being a counselor? The sense of fulfillment from finally resolving someone’s problem smoothly and tying it up neatly for the first time since starting this job.
“…If someone else is suffering like this because they can’t tell anyone… I want to save them no matter what.”
“That’s a good mindset.”
When I looked to the side, the President was wearing her signature refreshing smile, gazing at me as if I were praiseworthy. Yeah, that look… that atmosphere. If there was one thing that truly suited the name “Alice,” which she had disliked for not matching her, it was probably this expression right now. Of course, that gaze soon began to fill with mischief.
“Ehehe… Since we’ve resolved one thing, I suppose I have to give you a reward.”
*
Even as they walked side by side along the path, Harpy kept glancing sideways at Dora’s chest. Of course, it wasn’t a lecherous look—she was worried about the scar.
“That scar… it must have hurt a lot back then, right? I’m really sorry…”
“Uhehe, I don’t really mind the scar anymore. After all, you’re my lifesaver, Fairy. If it really bothers you, let’s just say we’re even now.”
Harpy tried to hide her hands that had hurt her by clasping them together, but Dora noticed the sky-blue nail polish on the tips of her long claws instead.
“Fairy, who painted these for you?”
“Ah… this is… well, you see, so…”
At the sight of her flustered expression, Dora grinned mischievously and casually linked arms with her.
“Eek…?”
“Was it that person who was beside you earlier? Is he your boyfriend?”
“M… me, me, boyfriend…? Ung-ssi is… I mean… ugh…”
Seeing Harpy flustered and stumbling at the unexpected blow, Dora smiled brightly, just like when they used to talk and play together long ago. Though it had been a long time since they reunited, the joy of meeting an old friend far outweighed any awkwardness.
“Fairy… I thought this back then too, but you really are so lovely. You’re so cute I want to bite you.”
“Eek… ihihi…?”
“I’m jealous. You get to keep such an angelic fairy all to yourself.”
“Th… that is, boyfriend is…”
Harpy, experiencing her first casual same-sex conversation, was blushing and unable to collect her thoughts, looking every bit like a girl in love. Dora found it adorable and continued.
“You were holding hands the whole time, and since you’re so cute and pretty, I thought to myself that you two looked good together.”
“R… really…?”
She liked him more than anyone and even wanted his child… and had done that much, yet Harpy was still unfamiliar with the concept of “boyfriend” that Dora mentioned. Question marks and exclamation points floated above her head as she panicked. Come to think of it, she suddenly wondered what exactly her relationship with him could be called.
“Dora… you said you have a boyfriend, right?”
“Yes, his name is Henry. See this ring?”
“A ring…?”
Just then, an easy-to-understand example appeared right in front of her.
“Don’t tell me you don’t know? This is a couple ring. In simple terms, it’s like proof that you’re lovers. Henry is wearing the exact same one.”
Harpy looked enviously at the small ring on Dora’s left ring finger, then glanced down at her own hands. Compared to Dora’s soft, small, pretty hands, her own two hands looked like they might not even be able to wear a ring in the first place.
“Proof that we’re lovers…”
It was the first time desire had taken root in Harpy’s heart.