Chapter 1146 - Meanwhile, and Then
"────Sora-chaaan?"
"Fue... mumble"
I was spacing out again. I noticed it when my cheek was poked.
Not as much as my partner (Haru), who shows his face and stays whenever he has free time, but it was a room I had become somewhat accustomed to visiting. While it was a craftsman's workplace, it was decorated with a stylish cuteness using an aesthetic sense I didn't have... in the personal workshop (atelier) of the [Blue Fairy (Milmarinus)].
When Sora, who had been sitting in the guest chair and being looked after, was poked and called, and regained consciousness,
"Are you okay?"
"N-No, um, I'm fine."
Blinking in front of me were her trademark large sapphires—I guess I had been called many times before I noticed, but it was a form of unintentionally ignoring her.
However, Nia didn't seem to mind,
"As I thought, are you tired? Want to take a nap?"
"I-I'm fine, so... wait, um... ..."
Poke-poke, rather, as if this were the goal. Not to reproach her for being absent-minded but simply for entertainment, she repeatedly poked Sora's cheeks like a child with a kind, older-sister-like face.
She looked very happy.
...And, if Sora were to confess, she didn't mind this kind of teasing. Therefore, she always, always, always ended up letting her do as she pleased without limit.
"It's fine, it's fine, you're off school today too, right? Just leave that certain someone who flew off somewhere since morning alone, and it wouldn't be bad to lounge around with your big sister—"
That was the norm when it was just Nia and Sora.
"────Nia, work."
"Ah, yes."
With the addition of one more person there, an indescribable, exquisite balance formed from a certain amount of association was the norm for the "three" of them, including Sora.
"Thank you very much..."
"Mm. But, it's better not to say thank you."
And so, toward Sora, who was settled on the high work chair for guests... namely, the chair for the 'requester,' the third person who was sharing the place while relaxing on the luxurious single-person sofa.
Iris, while smiling at Sora who said thanks as usual. For some reason, she shook her head, stood up, and approached Sora and the others with brisk, beautiful steps...
Or rather, she approached Sora.
"Ah, she's taken."
"Mm, mine."
"............I don't belong to Nia-san, nor to Iris-san."
Pushing Nia aside a bit, she began to play with the girl's cheeks, squishing and poking them.
She looked very happy.
And thus, as expected, in the 'usual' atmosphere, harmoniously... truly, in a relationship where they sometimes surprised themselves or couldn't stop chuckling when they recalled it, harmoniously.
Nia frolicked, Sora was troubled but didn't mind, and Iris moved between the controlling side and the mischievous side on a whim—in a form that had already become completely natural, time didn't stop but passed very, very slowly and peacefully.................. and a few minutes later.
"Mm, okay! Seems like there's no problem, how is it!"
"It's perfect. Thank you very much."
Nia raised a voice of achievement, and Sora politely bowed her head.
With this, the request brought in while finding free time... ────the maintenance work for the limb equipment that required adjustment upon the growth of the Anima, the [Atiomart -Ele=Memento-], was successfully completed.
It had already been a fair number of days since the [Cradle] achieved its evolution to the Fourth Tier. Meaning, it was the same since Sora acquired her fifth Magic Sword following 'Sand,' 'Flame,' and 'Ice,' but because of various things that followed, everything had been pushed back.
...And that,
"I think I've said this several times already, but don't hesitate to call me, okay? A-ny-time!"
"Y-Yes... um, I'm sorry............"
Nia noticed it, and today she was here in the form of a semi-forced summons, saying, 'You're off today, right? You're free, right? Come over?' It would be rude to say she's not as good as Sora's maid... or rather, the person she's being compared to (the maid) is what she is, but Nia is also quite sharp, or rather, she watches people.
Because she could find that happy, Sora once again bowed her head and said, 'I'm sorry.' ────Lowering it, and then raising it, Nia, who saw her face, smiled and nodded, saying, "There, there."
I noticed that her cheeks were relaxed.
It likely wasn't the face of someone making an apology.
She didn't even think to try and hide it.
"............Now then."
And, just as frolicking was about to naturally occur again. As if to call back the conclusion of the work, Iris, who had been settled in the sofa again and quietly watching Sora and the others, stood up.
And,
"In that case────shall we go out to play as well?"
She said such a thing with an expressionless face.
However, seeing the [Sword Queen] looking as if she couldn't completely hide the air of a 'child who had been waiting obediently,' the Amber and the Sapphire blinked—
"Ahaha..."
"Nff, the Princess is also cute, you rascal—let's go, let's go!"
The Angel and the Fairy each took one of the Princess's hands and ran off, saying there was no longer any need to wait. And each, not forgetting, donned their concealment robes...
Where were they headed, I wonder.
It wasn't Nia's words being put into action, but they would leave that certain someone who was likely soaring through the distance right now alone. Today's plan, which started suddenly, was none other than────
To temporarily set aside all the work and tasks each of them held. Even in the sense of preparing their hearts for what was to come, the three of them would just go out to play as they pleased.
Just that.
Just with that, truly──── they looked very, very happy.