Night Without Heaven or Light

She had gone several days without closing her eyes.

By the time she finally fell asleep, Su Youzi's consciousness was already close to fainting.

When Su Youzi awoke from her dreams, it was already the afternoon of the next day.

During that time, even the Calamity Beasts' massive nighttime invasion hadn't managed to wake Su Youzi.

However~~~

It was also possible that Kujo Iruka and Auroria had protected her too well.

Seeing the girl's tranquil and adorable sleeping face made people unable to resist the urge to reach out and gently touch... caress... rub against her—or perhaps entertain even more--

More, more, and more forbidden, outrageous thoughts.

Kujo Iruka and Auroria had nearly given it their all.

The Emerald Star blooming across the earth.

The Azure Arrow streaking through the pitch-black eternal night.

Kujo Iruka and Auroria had once again shown the world the ultimate power of the 'Ability Users' who stood at the peak of the Seventh Sequence and were infinitely close to the Eighth Sequence.

And inside the room where Su Youzi was resting--

Soga Toyura looked at the peacefully sleeping girl before her, her brows tightly furrowed.

Far too much of this world's unease had been forced onto the girl before her.

Sometimes, it made Soga Toyura feel helplessness welling up from the depths of her heart. That feeling of being able only to watch the girl's back, watching her gradually walk farther away and slowly depart, left Soga Toyura deeply upset.

Sometimes, she even thought that it would be wonderful if she were the one bearing all of this.

Youzi only needed to grow up happily under her protection... and spend every day doing happy things with her.

But Soga Toyura also knew that was impossible.

It was utterly impossible.

All she could do was watch