Come Into My Arms
I stood by the bed and grabbed the wrist of the sniffling Aria in a firm grip.
"Uh, wh-what?"
Without a moment's hesitation, I yanked her straight toward me.
"Come here."
Caught off guard by the sudden force, Aria lost her balance and tumbled forward. I twisted my body just enough to pull her onto the bed—right onto my chest, to be precise.
I wrapped my arms tightly around her defenseless form, hugging her waist like a giant doll clutched close.
"H-Hiiik?!"
Aria, her face buried in my chest, freaked out and started thrashing around. But I didn't let go—instead, I pulled the blanket up over us both, completely covering our bodies.
In an instant, our vision was cut off, trapping us alone in the narrow, dark space under the covers.
"L-Lady Elise! Wh-what are you...!"
"Just stay still."
"L-let go! Y-you're heavy!"
"Heavy, my ass."
"Th-that's not it! I-I'm on top of you, Lady Elise...!"
In the darkness, we couldn't see each other's faces—only feel her futile struggles as she grunted and tried to push away from my embrace.
But a frail magic academy student like her couldn't break free from my hold. Instead, I looped my arm behind her back and pulled her even tighter.
"Can't breathe? Want me to loosen up a bit?"
"It's not about breathing! If I'm sprawled like this on top of someone who's hurt..."
"I'm fine. The wounds have healed. And you're making it worse by squirming like that."
At my firm tone, her resistance eased a little.
The cramped space under the blanket quickly filled with stifling heat. With sight blocked, my other senses sharpened several times over.
It felt just like when we'd hidden together in that narrow box. Aria's cheek pressed against my chest, her ragged breaths rising and falling rhythmically through my thin nightshirt.
The faint scent of lavender soap filled the tight space. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I could vaguely make out the silver crown of her head trembling just below my chin.
Thump, thump, thump.
Our heartbeats mingled so indistinguishably that I couldn't tell whose was whose.
"Lady Elise..."
Aria's voice softened, growing misty.
"Why are you doing this... really..." A petulant whine laced with resentment—and the sorrow she'd been bottling up all this time.
I slowly, gently stroked her back.
Swoosh, swoosh.
Like soothing a frightened child, with a tender rhythm.
"Because you looked like you'd just keep digging yourself into a hole forever."
"..."
"I've told you a hundred times I'm okay, it wasn't your fault—but you won't listen."
Her shoulders twitched faintly with every touch.
"B-but... you bled so much because of me..."
"There you go again."
I cut her off with a deliberately stern voice.
"Keep it up, and I'll really get mad."
"Hngh..."
Hot droplets pattered onto my chest.
Ah, crying again. "If I'd just cast my spell a little faster..."
Her voice grew thick with tears.
"You wouldn't have had to block that beast for me and get hurt. I was too slow, too useless..."
"Aria."
"Always needing help. Always a burden. I really don't deserve to be by your side..."
"Shut up."
I hugged her waist harder, hoping my unyielding will would transmit through our pressed bodies.
"Who said you're a burden?"
"B-but..."
"Today, you did exactly what you were supposed to—perfectly." In the darkness, I murmured right by her ear, enunciating each word.
"You didn't run from those terrifying monsters, not even at the end. How brave is that?"
"..."
I patted her back and whispered softly.
"You did more than enough."
Silence fell under the blanket.
Her sobs stopped, replaced by rough breaths tickling my chest. I could feel her cheek burning against me like a hot coal, thanks to my earnest comfort.
"Ugh... Lady Elise, you're just..."
Aria mumbled in a mix of resentment and something else.
"You say the weirdest things..."
"Weird? I'm just stating facts."
"Th-that's what makes it weird...!"
She bonked her forehead against my chest. It didn't hurt—a gesture more cute than anything.
I chuckled softly and rested my chin on the top of her head. "Gonna stop crying now?"
"I wasn't crying..." Her stuffy, nasal reply sounded just like a kid worn out from tears.
"A grown girl, bawling in someone's arms like this?"
"Y-you pulled me in by force!"
Aria bristled and tried to sit up. But with my arms still around her, she flopped right back down onto me.
"Ack! Let go already! You must be heavy on top...!"
"I'm not heavy. You need to eat more."
As we bickered, the temperature under the blanket kept rising. It was stuffy enough to want out, but strangely, I didn't.
There was something comforting about this narrow, dark space.
"Hoo..."
Aria finally gave up resisting, sighing deeply as she relaxed into my arms. With the tension gone, her soft, pliant warmth pressed fully against me.
"Um... Lady Elise."
"Yeah."
"I really can't breathe now. It's too hot..."
She was right—sharing body heat under the covers felt like a sauna. Sweat beaded on my forehead too.
"Alright. That's enough."
I slowly unwrapped my arms and threw off the blanket.
Whoosh. The moment she was free, Aria scrambled backward in a panic.
She'd fled straight to her own bed. Her tousled orange hair, red cheeks streaked with tear tracks—she fanned her face with both hands, catching her breath.
"Seriously... you scared me."
She pouted, grumbling. "How's someone hurt packing that much strength...?"
"It's not that I'm strong—you're just weak."
As she huffed indignantly, I slyly reached out with my right hand.
The small drawer by my bed. There was something I'd pulled from my pocket and hidden away when I first returned to the dorm.
I opened it and took the item in hand.
"Aria."
"Y-yes?"
She turned, pausing her fanning. Her face still flushed with heat.
"Come here a sec."
"No way. You'll just yank me again."
Her voice dripped with wariness.
"I won't. Got something for you."
"Something for me?"
She tilted her head curiously, then shuffled a hesitant step closer.
"What is it...?"
When she was within reach, I opened my fist and thrust my palm toward her face.
"Here."
A small accessory lay in my hand. I extended my arm fully toward her.
"Wh-what's this?"
Aria blinked, glancing between the box and my face.
"Open it."
She edged closer and gingerly lifted the box from my palm.
Click.
The lid popped open with a soft sound.
Nestled on white silk cushioning inside was a familiar item. A hairpin with intricate silver filigree framing a brilliant blue gem that sparkled like a slice of night sky.
"Uh...?"
A dumb noise escaped her lips. Her eyes went wide as saucers.
"Th-this..."
"Like it? Remember it?" It was the exact one from the accessory shop a few days ago—the one Aria had stared at in a daze.
The one she'd pressed her nose to the display case for, fiddling with forever, gushing over the color—until she spotted the price tag and dropped it in shock.
"You... how did you...?" Her voice trembled violently.
She stared at the hairpin in the box, too awed to even touch it.
"How? Paid for it, obviously."
"Y-you bought this... for me?"
She looked up at me. I'd thought she'd cried all her tears out under the blanket, but her eyes were misting over again.
"Who else would it be for?"
Facing her expression of pure emotion up close felt oddly embarrassing. I couldn't bring myself to add sappy praise or comfort.
In the end, I averted my gaze and played it cool.
"Picked it up on the way."