However, before Sakura could slip away silently at the right moment as she had countless times before, her name was called—
"Come to think of it... I've actually wanted to ask for a long time—
Sakura, I don't think I've ever seen you wear those headphones?"
Sakura, who had been slightly distracted, instantly came back to herself. Looking at Alicia, she met those curious eyes.
"Can they really make sound?
Or are they... just cute decorations?"
Although she really wanted to ask which pair of ears Sakura used to listen, Alicia restrained the impulse, considering there were others present.
"Um..."
Hearing Alicia's question, Sakura hesitated for a moment before gently shaking her head and answering,
"Alicia, we are different. I would not carry something around with me merely because it was cute."
"Hmm... That really is an answer that makes one curious..."
Although Alicia did not immediately press herself against Sakura to listen with her own ears, everyone present who knew Alicia understood that day was probably not far off.
"..."
As for suddenly becoming Alicia's target, Sakura did not pay it much mind. She simply nodded lightly and said no more—
After all, it was not important, and Alicia meant no harm.
While Alicia and Sakura were discussing those headphones, the middle of the three neatly arranged Stigmata on Gwen's back began heating up again, glowing red.
If he had not still been wearing the Golden Cloth, the ordinary clothes on his body likely would no longer have been enough to conceal it.
In response, Gwen could only soothe it gently.
After all, he and Sakura could only be considered newly acquainted at the moment.
Under such circumstances, suddenly telling her that her most cherished younger sister had died long ago—died right before her eyes, no less—and had even