The Collecting Habit Struck Again

Higashino Makoto looked down at the pink head in his arms. The White Agate face was pressed against his chest, the crimson eyes were half open and half closed, and a satisfied smile was on the corner of the mouth.

Her arms were around his waist, and her fingers were gently circling his back, as if to confirm that he was real.

"Are you Byakuya or Agate now?"

White Agate raised her head, her crimson eyes looking at him. She tilted her head, and her long pink hair slipped down her shoulder.

"As long as Higashino- kun is here, none of this matters."

Higashino Makoto looked into her crimson eyes.

Those eyes held neither Byakuya's madness nor Agate's composure.

There is only one kind of dependence, like a newborn chick recognizing its mother as the first moving thing it sees.

"We need to have a name for each other."

White Agate thought for a moment, then smiled.

That smile was so sweet, like a piece of candy that had been gently held and melted in someone's hand.

"I am both Byakuya and Agate. Let's call Higashino -kun White Agate. What do you think? Doesn't it sound great?"

Peach got up from the ground, her eyes vacant.

Why?

Why did it turn out this way?

I was here first.

Whether it's cultivating alongside Agate or executing Lost One together.

I was right first!

Her hands were still bleeding, and her socks had a hole in the knee, revealing scraped skin.

She stood there, looking at the White Agate.

She watched as the man she had chased for so long, admired for so long, and even dreamed of becoming was now nestled in the arms of a strange man like a docile cat.

"Agate..."

Her voice was very soft, so soft that it was almost inaudible.

Countless images flashed through her mind.

Agate taught her how to use a sword on the training field, Agate bandaged her wounds after a mission, Agate sat by the window at night, staring blankly at the moon.

Those memories were like a dull knife, slowly cutting into her heart.

She wanted to go forward, but fear prevented her from moving. She could only weakly call out, hoping for a response.

What did you do to the Agate? What did you do to Agate?

White Agate didn't look at her, still leaning against Higashino Makoto's chest, her fingers gently stroking his collar.

"This is Agate."

"This isn't true! Agate wouldn't do this! Agate wouldn't... wouldn't..."

Peach's voice trembled, her lips quivered, and tears slid down her cheeks and into her mouth, tasting salty.

"Give me back my Agate!"

She rushed forward.

Without weapons or any particular technique, he simply raised his fist and smashed it towards Higashino Makoto's face.

Higashino Makoto didn't move, but the White Agate did.

She released her grip on Higashino Makoto's waist, turned around, raised her right hand, and slapped Peach across the face.

A crisp sound echoed through the ruins.

Peach's body flew out like a kite with a broken string, tumbled twice in the air, then crashed heavily to the ground, bounced once, and finally came to rest in the pile of rubble.

Her left cheek was swollen, and blood was seeping from the corner of her mouth.

She lay there, looking at the sky, tears streaming down her face, dripping onto the gravel.

White Agate withdrew her hand and leaned back into Higashino Makoto's arms.

"Don't bother Higashino- kun."

Peach's tears flowed even more fiercely.

It wasn't because of the pain, but because the person who hit her was Agate.

He was the one she vowed to follow for life, the one she was willing to give everything to protect.

That person hit her, because of a stranger.

She closed her eyes.

I don't want to see anymore, I don't want to hear anymore, I don't want to live anymore.

Higashino Makoto looked at Peach lying in the pile of rubble, then at the White Agate in his arms, and then at the bewildered Akari standing to the side.

Hmm, it seems like the main trio can be assembled now?

Well, although he wasn't particularly fond of those three people.

But there was nothing he could do; his collecting obsession had taken hold.

He reached out his hand towards the Peach.

"Hey, are you still alive?"

Peach didn't answer. Her eyes were closed, her breathing was weak, but her chest was still rising and falling.

"If you want to be with Agate, then follow me as my maid. How about it? Get up if you're willing."

Peach opened her eyes.

She turned her head and looked at Higashino Makoto with her swollen, tear-filled green eyes.

Her left cheek was swollen badly, and the blood at the corner of her mouth had dried and formed a dark red scab.

"What did you say?"

"I said, if you want to be with Agate, then come with me, as her maid."

Peach's lips were trembling.

The sudden "gift" caught her somewhat off guard.

"You... you're not lying to me?"

I don't usually lie.

Peach struggled to get up from the ground.

Her legs were trembling and her body was swaying, but she still managed to stand up.

She looked at Higashino Makoto, then at White Agate, then back at Higashino Makoto.

"I'm willing, I'm willing to follow you. I'll do anything to be with Agate."

She bent down and bowed deeply.

The movement was too forceful, pulling at the wound on her face, causing her to wince in pain, but she didn't straighten her back.

"Thank you, Higashino, you're a good person."

Higashino Makoto's lips twitched slightly.

"There's no need to issue 'good guy' cards."

Peach straightened up and wiped her tears with the back of her hand, but before the tears had even dried, new ones started flowing again.

She walked over to White Agate, stood behind her, and acted as if nothing had happened, just like before.

"Agate, I will always follow you."

White Agate turned her head from Higashino Makoto's arms and glanced at Peach.

His crimson eyes were devoid of any emotion, as if he were looking at a stranger.

Then she turned her head and leaned back into Higashino Makoto's arms.

Higashino Makoto looked at the three of them.

The White Agate was hanging on his body, Akari stood beside him, staring blankly at the White Agate. Peach stood behind the White Agate.

Three women, a drama unfolds, and the stage is set up on him.

He sighed.

"Let's go find a place to stay first. We can talk about all this other stuff later."