Episode Two

The main street after dark was packed with people as though it were midday. Everyone passing through looked happy, and that alone conveyed the energy of the founding festival.

“It’s incredible this year.”

At the edge of the street, travelling bards were spinning poems, and street performers were working the crowd, not to be outdone. Yellow and red magic woven together into vivid light illuminated the black night sky, and even though this was the same capital we always knew, it felt like somewhere I’d never been before.

“Yes. I’ve been looking forward to this so much.”

Selene, in a jet-black dress, murmured it with the corners of her eyes softening.

Selene in jet black. Me in the opposite — pure white. I thought it was the wrong way round, but apparently it was something she cared about, so I decided not to worry about it.

“The White-Black Bulletin is definitely going to write something strange about this, you know. Is that all right?”

“That’s fine. If we’re doing this, shall we kiss right here on the main street?”

I caught the mischievous smile from the corner of my eye, let out a small sigh, and moved my feet wherever her hand pulling mine led me.

Not caring about anyone’s eyes, fingers laced together as we walked around the capital. Partway through we bought skewers and ate them side by side, bought sweet juice and tried it. The same capital as always, doing the same ordinary kinds of things — and yet my chest was noisy and wouldn’t quiet. It must be that anything is good as long as Selene is there. I am quite a simple, romantic sort of person, I think.

“Oh!! Sion! Selene!!”

An involuntary frown crossed my face.

“What kind of reaction is that!! Isn’t that awful?!”

Rizett came running toward us, swinging the hem of her short skirt, and I moved on instinct to pull my hand free. But as if to say she wouldn’t let me go, the laced fingers only tightened.

“Good evening, Rizett. The person with you is from the Association?”

“Yes! I got turned down by Sion this year, so we’re going round together, two people with no one to be with.”

She made an exaggerated show of crying, and Selene laughed softly.

“Ahaha, I’m sorry. Tonight, just… forgive me.”

“Well… all right. I can’t exactly interrupt the two of you.”

Rizett glanced at the joined hands as she said it. I had the feeling Rizett’s companion had been sending burning looks our way for a while, but I decided not to notice.

“Tell me everything. Later.”

Rizett drifted close to my ear and murmured it in a voice only I could hear.

She wasn’t going to dig any deeper right now, but she was clearly planning to get it all out of me eventually. It would be tiresome — but I owed her more than I could ever repay.

“Yes, yes. Well then. See you later.”

Holding back the sigh that was trying to escape, I said goodbye to the two of them and turned my eyes toward the main street ahead.

If we stayed with her any longer, she’d only keep collecting ammunition to use against me later, and Rizett aside, I didn’t want this time interrupted. I’d make it up to her by treating her to the biggest cake on the menu. That would be enough to satisfy her.

After that, we were called out to by fans several times, and at one point we spotted Verna at a distance, being completely run ragged by Kiaran and Uno — but Selene looked happy the whole time.

I’d been ready to go straight home if she seemed bored, but since she was enjoying herself, that was all I needed. It wasn’t that the founding festival was fun. The founding festival with her was fun. That was how I felt.

When the noise of the main street had started to thin behind us, Selene opened her mouth softly.

“Are you tired yet?”

I nodded to Selene peering at my face with a worried look.

“I’m fine. Is there somewhere else you want to see?”

“Would you walk a little more with me?”

I didn’t ask where we were going, but looking at the direction her feet were moving, I had a feeling I already knew. The founding festival itself was mostly done, and it seemed like the right choice.

We walked in silence for a while, climbing the long slope slowly. I had a feeling I was sweating on this hill the last time we came here, but now the air felt slightly cold against my skin. The season was quietly shifting.

“Oh… it’s beautiful.”

Beyond the capital in the distance the world was dark, but the capital itself shone with colour before our eyes. The light of the street lamps, and the special light of magic woven in for the occasion.

It was a different view to the sunset sky of last time, and I found myself catching my breath.

“I thought so. I knew it would be beautiful.”

We settled onto the bench made for two — the same bench as that day.

“As expected of the White Witch. Wonderful taste.”

I murmured it, gazing vaguely into the distance.

The first time we came here, I was moved by the capital spread as far as the eye could see. The second time, I was confused by a Selene unlike herself, but it was the day something came clear. The third time now — what kind of feeling is this?

“Right now, I’m so happy.”

“Are you, Sion?”

She was looking into the distance the same way I was. Not being able to see each other’s expressions was a little lonely, but perhaps there were things easier to say precisely because the face wasn’t visible.

“…I’m happy. I wish we’d done this sooner.”

We’d been together all this time, and what had we been doing until now? That thought moved through me — but if Selene hadn’t been hiding her real self and we’d been together like this all along, would we have ended up here all the same?

“I don’t really understand why I fell for a Selene who did those kinds of things to me, but.”

My small laugh dissolved into the night sky.

“…Yes. I won’t do those things anymore.”

“No matter what happens, I won’t let go of your hand.”

“We’ll be together always.”

Oh…

If I let my guard down, tears are going to spill over. I’m in a very precarious state right now.

“…Thank you.”

My voice nearly disappeared, but here there are only the two of us and our sounds. Surely it reached Selene.

At the edge of my vision, the silver hair seemed to shift slightly. Perhaps she was turning toward me.

“Sion.”

“Are you really going to keep using magic? Going forward?”

A voice trembling from the throat, stained with guilt — I don’t like that voice very much. I want to hear the voice that can’t quite hide its happiness and warmth, the voice that is genuinely her.

“I’ll use it. Even if Selene tells me to stop, always.”

“It’s painful, and there are times it gets to me, but I found out there’s something more painful.”

“So I’ll keep using it. If the day comes when I stop… I wonder when that would be.”

I turned toward Selene, and moonlit golden eyes met mine. She had been looking at me after all.

“The White Witch needs the Black Witch, doesn’t she?”

I said it, and leaned my shoulder against hers. Through the fabric no warmth should reach her, and yet I was worried the heat from deep inside me might be spilling out without my noticing.

I would be happy if Selene were carrying the same warmth.

“…Yes. The White Witch alone isn’t enough.”

“We can’t be apart. Always, until we die.”

“…Yes.”

Using magic means suffering, and fighting monsters is always life-threatening. Verna’s research might end without answers. So I probably shouldn’t use magic.

But if not using magic leads to a happy ending, I don’t want it.

Selene told me her true feelings, and our twisted relationship ended quite simply. Even so, I think what we are now is still bent out of shape. Crooked.

But that’s all right.

Being a neat, clean shape is less likely to hold than being bent. We’re going to be together from here too, so this way is better.

The White Witch and the Black Witch.

The name that binds the two of us will surely go on living in this capital, long into the future.

I put strength into the fingers holding hers, and called her name.