“Akari isn’t gone! I think she became a fairy! I saw her!”

  “Pfft” “Pfft” “Pfft”

  My entire family, myself included, reacts with mirth to Emira’s words.I couldn’t help it!With all of the difficulties that I’ve gone through to convince people that I am still me, having a little girl identify me of her own accord is quite refreshing.I suppose that I did tell her my name, but I believe that was all.

  Of course, Emira assumes a different reason for their actions.

  “P-please, you must believe me! Y-you needn’t be so sad! She was at the toymaker’s shop and I brought her home with me and gave her a dress and there was another fair- eep!”

  *ditiditi*

  She cuts off in surprise as a water drop spshes on the top of her head and a giggling blue fairy flutters down directly into her vision.I didn’t even notice Nibi leave my side till it was too te to call her back.Thankfully, she didn’t gather a rge supply but only used enough water to surprise Emira, leaving the girl mostly dry.

  Once Nibi gets close to Emira, she stops and does a twirl in front of the girl with her dress.Is that why she came out of hiding?She recognized her as the child with all of the clothes?

  As Emira stands staring at Nibi, Mum finally answers the poor girl.

  “Yes, Emira, we know about the fairies, but as you said, it’s a secret.”

  Well, I had already revealed myself to Emira when I chose to heal her, so her visiting my home isn’t entirely unexpected.With all the talk in town about me, I suppose it wouldn’t have been too terribly difficult to connect my name with the events.Yet it must have taken no small amount of bravery for a child her age to say such things to my “grieving” mum, someone she hardly knows, simply in order to cheer her up.*Sigh*Such a difference between Marson’s daughters.Why couldn’t Sinora be more like her sister?

  Well, since Emira’s alone for now, except for my family, I suppose there’s no harm in speaking with her, especially as Nibi has already revealed herself.Letting go of the wood, I let myself fall, flip myself upright once more with my wings, and then float down towards Emira.When the child catches sight of me, her slightly bewildered expression changes to one of pure joy.

  “Priscea!!!”

  Seriously!?

  “My name is Akari!! You know this! I told you several times, and you told my mum only a moment ago!”

  “Hihihi”

  She just giggled at me!I take back what I thought a moment ago, she’s entirely as vexing as her sister!

  “Erm, why did you call her Priscea?”

  Oh no!Talia!I was wrong when I thought speaking to Emira would be harmless.These two should never have met!

  “Um, t-that is the name I gave her when I introduced her to my friends in the small home I prepared.”

  As Emira speaks, I flutter about near her eyes, wave my arms, and shout, but she simply watches me and continues talking.While I wish I could speak over her reply, my voice spell would take too long to form, and I don’t dare attempt any hasty magic directly beside a child.All I can do is listen helplessly as she continues with her response to my sister.

  “But don’t you agree that Priscea is a beautiful name for such a pretty fairy?”

  Argh!Another compliment from her that I’m uncertain how I should feel about receiving.She seems to be skilled at giving those.While I don’t mind a child calling me pretty, being praised for my looks as a fairy feels a bit…weird.Yet, most disconcertingly, that still isn’t my name!

  Turning to face my sister, I can almost see her mind working to fit this news together with what she knows about that day’s events.Then her eyes light up.

  “Oh! You mean your toys, don’t you? So you have a toy house and you…”

  She looks at me as she trails off.Then, for a moment, I catch a glimpse of a huge smile before she covers her mouth with her hands.Yet almost immediately afterwards, she breaks into ughter and her hands drop.I knew this was going to happen!

  “Talia!!!”

  Yeah, sure, she can’t possibly understand me over the noise she’s making, but she can certainly see me when I fly directly in front of her.After a few moments, it seems she manages to contain herself enough to speak a few words.

  “S-sorry Sis. I-I know you don’t…b-but imagining you in a little house, heh, with toys your size, hehe, and Emira, pfft, hahaha.”

  And I’ve lost her again.

  While Emira looks confused at her reaction, and Mum looks away to hide her smile, Nibi decides to join Talia with her giggles, though she likely doesn’t even understand why Talia is ughing.A short while ter, with Sis still cackling, albeit now leaning against Mum, I decide that I’ve had enough.Bringing forth some water energy, I begin gathering it in my hands.A waterball should get her to quiet down a bit.

  “Akari! What are you doing!?”

  Erm.Mum apparently doesn’t appreciate seeing me holding a ball of water magic.Since she probably can’t understand me at the moment over Talia’s ruckus, even if I knew what to say, I let the energy flow back into me.As I do so, she attempts to get Talia to calm down.

  “Talia, I think that’s enough. And Akari, were you truly going to use magic on your sister? She wasn’t actually harming you nor did she intend any. You must admit that what occurred is, in some ways, amusing. If it helps, try imagining Talia in that situation.”

  Yeah, sure, it could be funny…When you’re not the one it happened to!Also, I was only preparing a waterball!I may not be as skilled as Nibi with water magic, but I know they’re safe as I’ve used one on Talia before, though perhaps I shouldn’t tell Mum that.

  Talia finally settles, as well as Nibi, but before I can respond, Emira speaks.

  “D-did I say something wrong?”

  “No dear, it only reminded Talia of something. While she’s catching her breath, perhaps you could answer a question? How did you know the fairy you met in your home lived here?”

  Seems Mum is curious as well.

  “She lives here?”

  “Of course I live here! This is my home!”

  “Oh... Um, Pri-, Akari told me her name when she was at my home, and afterwards, I heard my sister speak about Talia in regards to her. T-then when I spoke to Seloras about those names, he told me Akari had gone missing and that Talia lived here. So I thought she must have found the fairies and was able to join them.”

  I have to ask.

  “Did you not consider that it could have been a different Akari? It isn’t exactly common for humans to simply become fairies, after all. What if it was a fairy who merely had the same name?”

  “Of course not! I’ve heard my sister say many times that nobody else would ever have such a strange name as you. So if there was a fairy with that name, it must be you!”

  Ugh.That does sound like something Sinora would say.And even though she likely means no ill by it, having such a young girl say it so matter-of-factly is quite unpleasant, to say the least.Which adds another reason to my long list as to why I think Mum just made up my name.This child doesn’t believe that even a mythical creature would ever have a name as odd as mine.

  “Though I didn’t expect you to be living here. I thought you had gone into the forest with the other fairies. That this one would escort you to your new home. I simply hoped you would perhaps be watching and would visit me again someday if I told them the truth for you.”

  So she just wanted to see fairies again.Yet, what kind of fairy stories has she been told to think of them as she does?Well, to be fair, Nibi kind of already did everything she said.Albeit, very much against my will.I merely returned home afterwards instead of staying in the forest.

  Ah, it seems Nibi has drawn the girl’s attention.

  “Oh! I’m sorry, I-I haven’t gotten your name yet! It is very nice to meet you. My name is Emira.”

  “Yes?”

  “…Uhm.”

  For a few moments, I’m treated to the amusing sight of two young girls staring at each other in confusion.Although one is considerably smaller than the other.I suppose I ought to help them.

  “You’re supposed to tell her your name after she tells you hers.”

  “Miep. Nibi!”

  “Nibi..? Ah, n-nice to meet you, Nibi!”

  You were about to compin about her name being strange as well, weren’t you?

  “And, do you live in the forest? In a pretty flower, perhaps!?”

  “No, Ak’ri.”

  “…What?”

  Seems I’ll have to expin.

  “She doesn’t speak very well yet. As for where she lives, she’s trying to say that she’s been staying here, with me.”

  “Oh... Do you have a pretty little house here then? Or flowers growing from the walls? Or a tiny tree!?”

  “Miep!”

  Before I can answer, Nibi waves at her to follow and flies towards my door.

  “Nibi, don’t just invite someone else into my room!”

  Before I can follow after her, Talia interrupts me.

  “Sis, since this guest seems to be yours, I’m going to continue preparing dinner.”

  Apparently recovered from her ughing fit, Talia takes this opportunity to collect the chicken and her bag, and exits the house once more.Having paused for a moment to listen to her, I quickly chase after Nibi and Emira.

  Once I enter my room, I see Nibi proudly standing beside our beds.As I nd near her, she jumps down into the slightly open drawer, returning a moment ter with her nightdress, with which she promptly flies towards Emira to show her.

  “Miep!”

  “T-this is where you sleep? On a… chest of drawers, I think? A-and is this truly your dress?”

  While do I feel like her dreams have just been crushed?

  “Miep!”

  At least Nibi seems oblivious to her apparent disappointment, for now, and Emira hasn’t said anything about these being doll beds.However, my pride as a tailor won’t let me stay quiet about Emira’s st remark.

  “This was only my first attempt at dresses after I became a fairy, which, might I add, wasn’t that long ago. It is rather difficult to adjust to being like this, after all. I do have more fabric that I pn to create other dresses with soon, but it takes time to do it properly.”

  “I…I, see. S-so, is there no fairy home in the forest?”

  “There is, and yes, it does have many enormous flowers.”

  “Truly!? But, why do you not live there?”

  “Well, for a start, most fairies are not very nice. But more importantly, my family and all of my friends live here. It would be rather difficult to see them if I moved deep into the forest, don’t you think?”

  Not to mention, my st experience in that gde was rather unpleasant, to say the least.Upon hearing my words, her expression falls, and she looks at the ground.

  “Oh...well…I suppose so.”

  Ah.That’s apparently a rather sore subject for her.Yet, while we’re on it, perhaps I should make certain her situation hasn’t gotten worse.

  “Are you alright? Sinora hasn’t been causing you any more trouble, has she?”

  “No, she hasn’t done anything to me since you helped me. Well, other than assign me more boring lessons with Seloras and my tutor, Mrs. Avita.”

  Yeah, sure, there’s nothing I can do about her lessons, but at least it seems she is okay for now.Nibi, meanwhile, has stored away her dress and is now standing atop her bed, drawing Emira’s eyes back to it.

  “But you two are far more interesting than those lessons. Do you really sleep here? Isn’t this pce too rge for you?”

  “Yes!”

  “Yes, these are our beds, even though this fairy doesn’t often stay in hers. At first, I thought this pce would be temporary, but I haven’t been able to think of a better pce to put them yet.”

  I did consider a cupboard, or even one of my drawers, but I don’t fancy getting shut in by someone while I’m asleep.And while this room feels excessively rge and open while I’m lying in bed, it’s bearable.Also, Mum won’t have to answer inconvenient questions about why she stores small beds in her kitchen cupboard next to the food.Yet, in the future, perhaps she could purchase a small chest and cut a hole in one side?

  “Hmm…”

  Emira seems to be thinking about something, but before she says anything, I hear the front door open and Talia’s voice comes through the wall.

  “Mum, I’ve finished plucking it. Here are all the feathers. By the way, I believe that man outside is getting impatient. He’s walking up our path now.”

  I’m not the only one who heard her.Emira also turned to listen before returning her focus to me.Yet now she seems a bit distressed.As if she has something important to say but doesn’t know how to say it.

  “Emira, what is it? Is something wrong?”

  “Uhm, no, there’s nothing the matter.”

  She’s obviously thinking of something of significance to her.

  “Don’t worry, you can tell me. I can keep it a secret if you wish.”

  “N-no, i-it’s not that.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “Um, it’s, erm…would…”

  Would..?I still have no idea what she wants.She’s fidgeting and I think she’s even getting a little red in the face.What is this young girl so nervous about?It seems she’s still trying to continue.

  “Wo, would…”

  Yes?

  “Would you please be my friends!?”