"Kayo, why are you telling me all this?" Tina paused, looking at the playful yet slightly detached girl before her.
"Because I'm afraid you'll do something that goes against your heart. We're very alike, Tina! I used to be a tool that could be discarded at any moment. To keep from being thrown away, I would risk my life carrying out even Mr. Shogen's decisions that I knew were wrong. For example..." Kayo leaned close to Tina's ear again. "Killing people!"
"Tina, killing people is terrifying, isn't it? Neither of us wants to kill. That's why we're alike. I did the wrong things because I was weak and didn't want to be abandoned, while you're so strong that you're forced to do the wrong things. So, Tina!" Kayo pressed her forehead against Tina's. "Neither of us has to struggle to save ourselves in the darkness anymore. The light has already illuminated the road ahead. All we need to do is keep following it."
"Kayo, thank you!" Tina gently hugged her. "I've been so unfortunate. All this time, I've never had any luck. But today feels like such a lucky day. I met you, and Big Sister too. May the world treat us both gently from now on."
At that moment, two young hearts that had once been swallowed by darkness found salvation in each other.
The Holy Light Clerics nearby smiled as well. Although the children spoke softly, the clerics' powerful senses let them hear every word. They had not gone over to comfort Tina because they believed children of the same age would find it easier to open their hearts to one another.
"All right, children! We're getting ready to leave!"
"Okaaay, Aiki!" the children answered, drawing out the word.
Time slipped quietly by as the Holy Light Clerics