The girls felt a sense of relief after hearing Ryuji''s reassurance. They were well aware of how strong Nanako and Mimiko had be, so having them around for support eased their concerns.
"We''ll also work hard to be stronger!" one of them dered with determination.
Even though their current strength was stillcking, they were all motivated to grow and improve.
"That''s right! We''ll keep training," another added.
"Someday, we''ll be strong enough to help you, Ryuji," Miko said with quiet confidence.
The idea of being able to protect Ryuji, instead of always relying on him for protection, was a dream they all shared, even if it felt a little far-fetched.
Ryuji smiled warmly at their optimism, nodding in encouragement. "Alright," he said simply, acknowledging their resolve.
The atmosphere around Ryuji and the girls was filled with lightheartedughter and a sense of camaraderie.
---
Meanwhile, back at Arisu''s home.
Masumi had just returned from school to find the house eerily quiet.@@novelbin@@
"Still sleeping?" she muttered, ncing around and noticing that Arisu wasn''t anywhere to be seen.
For a moment, Masumi debated whether she should head upstairs to check on her, but before she could make a decision, the sound of a door creaking open caught her attention.
Arisu stepped out of her room, her movements casual as if nothing had happened. She didn''t seem tired or sluggish at all. Instead, she walked straight to the kitchen, her demeanorposed and unbothered.
"You''re back," Arisu said calmly, retrieving a bottle of water from the fridge and taking a long sip.
"Uh…" Masumi blinked, momentarily unsure of how to respond.
"Are you okay?" she asked tentatively, watching as Arisu leaned against the counter, looking perfectly fine.
"Me? Of course, I''m fine," Arisu replied nonchntly, shrugging as if the question were unnecessary. "Why wouldn''t I be?"
Masumi''s eyes narrowed in suspicion. "But…"
She trailed off, recalling how frail Arisu used to be. With her congenital heart condition, even walking too much or drinking cold water would have been a problem for her. Yet here she was, casually sipping ice water like it was nothing.
A realization dawned on Masumi, and her eyes widened slightly. "Your heart condition… has it been cured?"
Arisu''s lips curled into a small smile, and she nodded without hesitation.
"That''s right," she admitted. There was no point in hiding it.
She took another sip of water, then added with a faint sigh, "I always knew sorcerers had incredible powers, but experiencing it firsthand is something else entirely."
She paused for a moment, her expression thoughtful.
"A condition that had countless doctors at a loss… and Ryuji fixed it with a simple touch. If someone had told me that a year ago, I wouldn''t have believed it."
Masumi''s gaze softened slightly. Though she didn''t show it often, she genuinely cared about Arisu, and knowing her friend was finally free of her illness was a relief.
But then Arisu''s tone shifted, her voice tinged with a mix of amusement and nostalgia.
"Not only that… I experienced somethingst night that I''ve never felt before," Arisu said, her expression turning faintly wistful as she reminisced.
Her words,bined with the glint in her eye, immediately caused Masumi''s face to stiffen.
"…" Masumi stared at her, speechless.
Was this really the same sharp, calcting Arisu she''d always known? Because the way she was acting now…
"You''ve gotten so lewd," Masumi muttered under her breath, unable to hide her disbelief.
Arisu nced at her, her calmposure intact. "You don''t understand," she said simply, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Masumi bristled at her tone, crossing her arms defensively. "What don''t I understand?" she shot back.
"Sure, I haven''t experienced it myself, but I''ve been online before. I know what it''s like. It''s just… a few minutes, right?" Masumi''s voice carried a mix of skepticism and defiance.
Arisu raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile ying on her lips. "A few minutes?" she repeated, her tone dripping with amusement.
"What''s that supposed to mean?" Masumi asked, frowning slightly.
Arisu chuckled softly, leaning forward slightly as if to emphasize her point. "Let me exin something to you," she began, her tone light but firm.
"Last night… I didn''t sleep at all."
"…"
For a moment, Masumi waspletely stunned. Her eyes widened as she stared at Arisu, her mind racing to process what she''d just heard.
"That''s impossible!" she finally blurted out, her voice tinged with both disbelief and shock. "No one can go all night! He''s… he''s not human!"
Arisu shrugged casually, clearly enjoying Masumi''s reaction. "You''ll understand when it''s your turn," she said, her tone teasing.
Masumi''s face turned bright red. "What kind of obscene nonsense are you spouting?" she snapped, ring at Arisu.
Arisu simply shrugged again,pletely unfazed. "What can I say? I couldn''t handle it by myself."
Masumi''s breath hitched, her face growing even redder as she realized the full implications of what Arisu was saying.
Her heart skipped a beat as her imagination started to run wild, and she quickly shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away.
"Stop fantasizing," Arisu said suddenly, her voice cutting through Masumi''s spiraling thoughts. "Next time, I''ll call you to join us."
Masumi froze, her mind going nk for a moment.
"W-What are you even saying?!" she sputtered, her voice rising in both embarrassment and anger.
Arisu smirked, clearly enjoying herself. "I''m being considerate," she said simply, her tone as calm as ever.
"I don''t need your so-called consideration!" Masumi shot back, her voice sharp. She spun on her heel and stomped back toward her room, mming the door shut behind her.
The loud bang echoed through the house, a clear sign of her frustration.
Arisu, however, simply smiled to herself, her expression rxed and unbothered.
"Ha," she chuckled softly, shaking her head in amusement.