The moment Gematria departed, the flow of time resumed. It was hard to say whether time had truly stopped, or if I had simply been dreaming.
However, the fact that Beatrice, who had been pinned under Tsurugi's foot, was now gone was the most definitive proof that my meeting with Gematria had been real.
Tsurugi, seeing Beatrice vanish from right under her, looked around in confusion. Honestly, her intimidating aura is enough to make even me a little hesitant, but I was still grateful.
"Thanks, Tsurugi-chan! I was so surprised when you showed up. Your timing was absolutely perfect, I couldn't have asked for better. ☆"
"Keheuk...! B-but... I let her get away..."
"Hm? No, no! It's hard to explain, but you didn't let her get away. We managed to resolve everything before she could escape. Yep, and it's all thanks to you, Tsurugi-chan!"
"...I'm glad I could help, Mika."
"Ahaha! You're the Chief of the Justice Task Force, after all. You're a natural at catching bad guys."
"...Keh, keheh. Kiheheh..."
Ah, there she goes. When she's lucid, she's one of the most sensible people around, but when she loses it, it's hard to even stand next to her. That expression of hers is especially terrifying. It's a good thing I know she's a good person deep down, otherwise I'd be scared stiff.
"Ah, I have to go check on something over there, so... let's talk later, Tsurugi-chan!"
"Kihehehehehehet—!! Kyaoooooo—!!"
As I slipped away, a monstrous scream erupted from behind me. Even the Arius students, a good distance away, jumped in surprise and turned their heads toward Tsurugi.
If you ask me, they should be thankful things turned out this way. If they'd had to face Tsurugi instead of me, they'd probably be trembling with PTSD right now.
"Hey guys, how's Saori-chan?!"
A moment ago, the other girls seemed to be looking after her, but now Saori was cradled in Atsuko's arms. Her halo still showed no sign of reappearing, and blood was still flowing from the wounds she'd sustained on the altar. The Squad didn't have any proper medical supplies, so they couldn't do much for her. The best they could manage was some simple, and frankly inadequate, first aid to try and stop the bleeding.
"Waaaaah!! Mika-chan... L-Leader won't wake up! She's not going to die, is she...? Uwaaah, what are we going to do without her...? It's painful now, but if Leader is gone, it'll be more painful than I can even imagine...?" Hiyori cried.
Saori's condition was critical. As I got closer, I could see that the wounds from the altar weren't her only injuries. I suspected she'd been hurt while fighting back against Beatrice, which had only made things worse.
"Mika-oneechan... what do we do now? She's still breathing, but it's so faint... I'm scared something will happen. What if Sat-chan... hic."
"...Calm down, Atsuko-chan. Saori-chan is strong. She'll pull through. Besides, you all worked so hard to come here for her, right? So I'm sure she'll fight for all of you."
After all, you guys are everything to Saori.
I wasn't without my own worries that she might not wake up... but I had faith in Saori's life force. In this world of academies and adolescence, where miracles for students happen all the time, this was nothing.
"Hey, is there anyone from the Relief Knights who can look at a critical patient?! Please, help this girl!"
Of course, faith was something you held onto after you'd already done everything you could. My heart was pounding with worry, no different from the Squad's.
"W-wait a moment...! I'm on my way!"
A member of the Relief Knights with a familiar face came running toward us. With her pink bob and the single feather peeking out from her hair, it was the stalker... no, the light and salt of the Relief Knights, Sumi Serina.
Since Mine wasn't here, she was probably off somewhere providing her own brand of "relief."
"What's the patient's condit— Aah, how did she get such severe injuries?! I've never seen bleeding this bad... I'll start by disinfecting the wounds!"
The Squad members, who had at first been wary of Serina, seemed to relax a little as they watched her seriously tend to Saori's wounds. Only a little, though. Hiyori was still sobbing into my arms, soaking the shoulder of my uniform with her tears.
As I gently stroked Hiyori's back, I saw Atsuko, still holding Saori, tightly gripping her hand as tears streamed down her face. The sight was so heartbreaking that I couldn't just stand by and watch. I reached out and gently patted the back of her hand.
Azusa, while seemingly keeping watch, kept glancing over at Saori. She was mentally tough enough to maintain some composure even in this situation, but she couldn't hide her worry.
"Ah... um, could you get the bandages out of my bag for me?!" Serina exclaimed in a flustered tone, after disinfecting the wound and applying gauze. She must have been so focused on Saori's condition that she'd forgotten them. Misaki, who was standing right next to her, snapped out of her daze at her words and quickly handed her the bandages.
Honestly, Misaki was the one I was most worried about. Ever since Serina had started examining Saori's wounds, Misaki had just been blankly stroking her own wrist. After handing over the bandages, she seemed to notice I was watching her, and she avoided my gaze, hiding her wrist.
I really need to make sure Misaki spends some time with the Relief Knights. By force, if necessary.
"Um, could you hold the patient's arm up for me? Higher than her heart... yes, like that."
The length of bandages wrapped around the wound grew rapidly. So this was the light of the Trinity Relief Knights, the angel in white...? I'm sorry for ever calling you a stalker, O GOAT...
"Ugh..."
Just as the bandaging was almost finished, a small groan escaped Saori's tightly shut lips.
"S-Sat-chan!"
"Leader...?!"
A cross-shaped halo materialized above Saori's head. Yes, this wasn't some convenient miracle. It was the natural result of everyone's efforts combined.
"Waaaaaaah!!! Saori-onneee!!!"
"Ugh... w-wait...!"
"Ah... I just stopped the bleeding, what are you all doing...?!"
"Hic... Sat-chan..."
"...Princess."
It was only right that these kids should be able to enjoy the happiness that came from this natural result. And I was grateful that I had been able to protect that simple right.
I was so grateful that Hiyori, who had called Saori 'onee-chan' when they were little, was using that name again without thinking, and that Atsuko was smiling so brightly.
I was so happy that the storm clouds that had been blocking the sunshine of happiness from these children's futures had finally cleared, so happy that tears welled up in my own eyes. I was deeply thankful that I had been able to keep my promise of a better future and happiness for these girls, that I hadn't become another lying adult.
By the time Atsuko and Hiyori, who had been clinging to Saori and crying, finally calmed down, Saori seemed to have regained full consciousness and was hugging them back.
"Good morning, Sat-chan."
"...Yeah. Good morning, Princess."
"U-um, it's not actually morning, though..."
"Hiyori-chan, shh. That's not important..."
"Ah... yes, Princess..."
"Yah! ☆"
I squeezed into the huddle of Hiyori and Atsuko clinging to Saori. I only pretended to wrap my arms around them, though; if I used any real strength, the newly awakened Saori might just check out of this world for good.
"Mika?"
"Ahaha, I was so worried about you, Saori-chan. I'm so glad you're safe! It's like... yep, all that hard work paid off, you know?"
"Madame is..."
"Beatrice was taken away by the organization she belonged to. She broke an unforgivable taboo, so you probably won't see her again. Yep, there's nothing holding you back anymore. From now on, you're totally free! ☆ You can do what you want, live how you want!"
"...Freedom. I'm not sure yet. I can't believe we're allowed to hope for a happy future now. It doesn't feel real that there are no more adults to oppress us."
"You can just take your time and feel it for yourselves from now on, right? The time you have left is incomparably longer than the painful time you've endured! Plus, the entire Arius Squad will be with you in the future. So if you all help each other, I'm sure everyone can be happy. That's what I think, at least!"
"No, we won't be the only ones there."
"...Huh?"
"Never mind. Just as you said, Mika, we have a lot of time. Right, Princess... no, Atsuko?"
"Yep. Sat-chan's right. Fufu."
What, why are you two having a conversation only you understand? Hey, I feel a little left out...
Wait, hold on. There are supposed to be five members in the Squad, so why are there only three in my arms?
"Azusa-chan, Misaki-chan! What are you two doing over there? Get over here!"
"...I'm not sure what's going on, but excuse me, Leader."
Azusa, after a moment's hesitation, joined our huddle. I met Misaki's eyes, who still hadn't moved, and pleaded with her silently to join in just this once.
"...Sigh. I don't see what the point of this is, but fine. I'm coming."
Finally, Misaki, as if having given up, trudged over, grumbling. When she still hesitated at the last second, I snatched her hand and pulled her in, half by force.
"Wait, what are you doing..."
"Ahaha! It's okay if you don't understand now, Misaki-chan. Yep, someday you'll look back on this day and understand the meaning of this moment, and just the memory of it will be enough to make you smile. I'll do my best to make sure that happens. ☆"
Misaki's lips parted as if to argue, but then she said nothing and turned her head, avoiding my gaze. Even if she's like this now, a day will come when she'll smile at this memory.
I'll be sure to tease her to death when that day comes.
"Mika. I will never forget everything you have done for us, and everything you have promised to do. I swear here and now that I will always be on your side, no matter what."
"Ehehe... Me too. A-all I have is this useless body, but I'll do anything for you, Mika-chan..."
"Yep. Mika-oneechan is the best."
Wow, what do I do? I feel like I've suddenly gained a bunch of cute little sisters.
If I'm the eldest, Saori is the stoic but affectionate twin sister, and Misaki is the third sister who's gone astray and needs a lot of love and attention. Hiyori is the crybaby fourth sister with low self-esteem, but you can't help but grow fond of her. Azusa is the unpredictable fifth sister, who's in her own little world. And finally, Atsuko is obviously the youngest, who gets all the love.
It feels like, for the first time in this world, I have something like a family. As the eldest, I vowed to myself that I would make these children happy, no matter what.
"...What do you think you're all doing? Your wounds will get worse if you keep that up. Please separate! I'm going to get a stretcher to transport the patient, so don't move from this spot."
For the record, Serina's words were completely ignored. Sorry, Serina. But I'm really grateful for your help, so I'll be sure to thank you properly later.