"Mm... mm."
After Yae Sakura had put her clothes back on, she said with a slightly strange expression, "I am the Miko of Yae Shrine. No matter what happens, I have to protect the village."
Kallen did not notice Yae Sakura's subtle change. Instead, she said, "That has nothing to do with whether you're a Miko, Sakura. You need other people's protection too... If no one else is there to protect you, then let me protect you."
Kallen said this earnestly to Yae Sakura, making Yae Sakura raise her head to look at Kallen, surprise shining in her eyes.
"I need... protecting too?"
Yae Sakura clenched her fists at Kallen's words.
"But I..."
Yae Sakura hesitated before saying, "Thank you, Kallen."
"You don't have to be polite with me. The Kaslana family is the shield of the people."
Kallen continued, "And a wonderful girl like you, Sakura, naturally deserves someone to protect her too."
"Oh, right, Sakura. You're injured, so leave dinner to Kiana and me today."
Rolling her shoulders, Kallen said, "We'll make something delicious to help you recover."
"Mm... thank you, Kallen." Yae Sakura nodded as she sat on the tatami.
Completely unaware of what exactly she had agreed to.
"Great! I'll go get Kiana and start preparing right away."
Kallen happily rose from Yae Sakura's side and left the room.
Leaving Yae Sakura alone in the room.
Once Kallen had left her field of vision, Yae Sakura looked out the window.
From this room, she could see a cherry blossom tree far in the distance.
Yae Sakura placed a hand over the wound on her shoulder that Kallen had just bandaged.
A faint purple glow appeared over the wounds on Yae Sakura's shoulder and leg.
It lasted only a brief moment before vanishing.
Yet the expression on