The light and shadows swayed.
"Face!" LAYER shouted. A flash of swordlight left a bright afterimage in PAREO's eyes.
LAYER panted heavily and lowered her sword. "I think... I've got it..."
"Mm, you did." PAREO was genuinely happy for her. She stepped outside and glanced at the sky from the corridor by the window before returning. "It's getting very late. Let's call it a day."
"Okay." LAYER sheathed her sword and looked at Kita, who was still meditating. "Kita, are you staying here?"
Kita did not answer.
LAYER's expression turned serious. Only then did she notice that Kita's posture had not changed for a long time. At some point, the flame in her hand had stopped condensing inward and was merely burning normally.
Yet Kita's eyes remained tightly shut, and beads of sweat the size of beans covered her forehead.
She crouched down. "PAREO, go get Nijika-san."
"Yes!" PAREO realized that something was wrong too. Holding up her torch, she hurried away.
LAYER tried pushing Kita's body.
Kita immediately toppled backward. The flame in her hand went out, and she fell unconscious.
As long as we can reach that place
Everyone gathered around Kita's bed. It was not Kita's room but Ichiri's, since it was closer to the window and had slightly better ventilation.
Nijika withdrew her hand from Kita's forehead. "Her temperature is normal." She had no other symptoms, either.
But Kita had been asleep from daytime until midnight.
Ichiri looked as though she was about to cry. "What... what's going on...?"
Shiko pulled her into her arms and comforted her softly. Yet Shiko herself watched Kita's face gravely, silently calling for the giraffe in her heart.
"(What's going on?)"
As usual, there was no response.
Nijika had no choice but to continue pouring starlight into Kita's body. Lisa