A week later, the time for exams finally arrived. Hikari stared blankly at her test paper. Even though her heart still felt shattered, she forced herself to answer the questions.
Days passed, and eventually the exams ended. On report card day, the students gathered inside the classroom. One by one, the teacher handed out their reports, and each student checked their results.
Arou opened his report card, his face turning pale. Rank 24 out of 24 students. He lowered his head slightly in embarrassment.
Haru checked his report card next. Rank 6 out of 24. A faint smile appeared on his face.
Lumina opened hers calmly. Rank 4 out of 24. Her expression remained serious.
Tomo glanced at his report card. Rank 15 out of 24. He frowned a little.
Hikari looked at hers quietly. Rank 1 out of 24. Yet despite being at the top, her face remained empty and sorrowful. Even with the best score in class, her heart still felt hollow after losing Airi.
From time to time, Hikari glanced toward Airi's empty seat. Tears welled up in her eyes and slowly rolled down her cheeks, but she quickly hid them before anyone noticed. The weight of longing and loss pressed heavily against her heart every second.
She sat silently for a moment, staring at her report card while thinking about everything that had happened. The sadness inside her overshadowed any pride she should have felt.
Eventually, the school day ended. Students slowly left the classroom and headed home. Hikari walked quietly through the hallway, still thinking about Airi and all the painful memories.
Arou walked beside her. After a few moments, he looked at Hikari gently and asked,
"Hikari, if you don't mind me asking… what rank did you get?"
Hikari glanced at him briefly, her voice flat.
"First."
Arou's eyes widened in surprise.
"Eh? Seriously?"
Hikari nodded without changing her expression.
"Yeah."
Arou smiled warmly.
"You're really amazing."
Without saying anything else, he lowered himself slightly.
Hikari blinked in surprise, her face turning a little red.
"Eh… Dad?"
Arou smiled casually, yet full of affection.
"Dad wants to carry you."
Some students passing by stared at them with mixed expressions of admiration and confusion.
Arou gently lifted Hikari and started jogging lightly down the street, a big smile on his face. Hikari lowered her head and covered part of her face with her hand in embarrassment, yet deep inside, she felt warm and safe.
The evening breeze blew softly as the sunset painted the streets orange. Together, Arou and Hikari made their way home, enjoying a quiet moment after such a long and difficult day.
Arou continued carrying Hikari while walking beneath the glowing sunset sky. The soft wind brushed against them, but Hikari kept her head lowered, struggling to hold back the tears threatening to spill again. Occasionally, she looked up at the sky, almost as if she were searching for Airi's presence.
"Are you tired, Hikari?" Arou asked softly.
Hikari nodded weakly, her voice slightly hoarse.
"Yeah… a little."
Arou smiled gently.
"Don't worry. We're almost home. You can rest once we get there."
Hikari lowered her head again, covering her face with one hand as sadness tightened around her heart. Yet Arou's warmth made her feel a little safer.
Not long after, they arrived at Hikari's house. Arou paused for a moment before stepping inside while still carrying her.
The house was quiet and warm. Arou sat down on the sofa with Hikari still resting on his lap.
"We're home now, Hikari," he said softly.
Hikari looked around the room before whispering quietly,
"Thank you… Dad."
Arou gently patted her back.
"You should eat something and get some rest. Everything will be okay."
Hikari stared out the window at the evening sky and let out a long sigh.
The pain of losing Airi still pierced her heart, but having Arou beside her gave her strength.
I have to stay strong… for Mom… and for everyone else… Hikari thought silently.
Arou smiled warmly and patted her shoulder once more.
"We'll face everything together, Hikari."
Hikari nodded slowly while holding back tears, comforted by Arou's presence. Even though the pain of losing Airi remained, she was beginning to find the strength to keep moving forward.
Night soon fell. The house became silent except for the sound of the wind outside and the ticking of the clock.
Arou looked at Hikari for a moment before speaking.
"Hikari…"
She turned toward him hesitantly.
"What is it, Dad?"
Arou smiled gently.
"Dad should head home now."
Hikari looked at him with a slightly disappointed expression.
"You're not staying with me?"
Arou blinked in surprise.
"Eh…"
Realizing what she had just said, Hikari quickly corrected herself.
"E-Eh… I mean, be careful on the way home."
Arou smiled warmly before walking over and patting her head.
"If that's what you want, then Dad will stay here tonight."
Tears formed in Hikari's eyes as she smiled faintly.
"Okay…"
Arou glanced around awkwardly.
"Then… where should Dad sleep?"
Hikari thought for a moment.
"In my room… maybe?"
Arou immediately looked flustered and smiled awkwardly.
"Eeh… no, I think Dad will sleep in the living room instead."
Hikari smiled faintly before suddenly remembering something.
"Oh right, Dad. There's actually a room for you here too."
Arou looked surprised.
"Eh? Really?"
Hikari walked over to the room and opened the door for him.
"Here. You can sleep here tonight."
Arou stared at the spacious room in amazement.
"Wow… this room is huge."
Hikari smiled softly before closing the door and returning to her own room.
That night, they slept in separate rooms. Hikari still felt the lingering sadness of losing Airi, but having Arou in the house made her feel safe.
The next morning, warm sunlight filled the house. Hikari and Arou went outside for a relaxing walk to enjoy their day off. The peaceful atmosphere helped ease the sadness in their hearts, even if only for a little while.
That morning, they strolled quietly around the neighborhood. The air felt fresh, carried by a gentle breeze flowing through the trees. Hikari looked calmer than the night before, though the longing for Airi still remained inside her.
Arou smiled as he looked at her.
"You should try to relax today, Hikari. Don't keep carrying everything by yourself."
Hikari lowered her gaze and occasionally looked toward the sky again.
"Yeah…" she replied softly.
Not far from home, they spotted Lumina, Haru, and Tomo gathered near the park beside the school. Hikari and Arou approached them.
Lumina looked at Hikari with concern.
"It's supposed to be a day off… but you still look exhausted, Hikari. Are you okay?"
Hikari nodded slightly.
"Yeah… I'm just a little tired."
Haru and Tomo exchanged glances before making light jokes, trying to ease the mood without forcing Hikari to smile. Hikari glanced at them briefly. Her expression remained serious, but their presence made her heart feel a little lighter.
However, in the distance, a student suddenly stared toward the school with shock.
Monsters had appeared at the front courtyard.
There weren't many of them, but their presence alone was enough to put everyone on edge.
Arou looked at Hikari seriously.
"Hikari… looks like we can't relax for long. Look over there."
Hikari stared at the monsters, her face calm but sharp.
"Alright… let's check it out carefully. I don't want what happened before to happen again."
Lumina, still partially disguised, nodded.
"Don't worry. I'll help however I can. But we need to stay cautious."
Haru and Tomo stared nervously at the monsters, ready to follow instructions.
"We need to move now," Arou said firmly.
Hikari glanced at him before nodding.
Together, they approached the monsters, preparing for another battle.
Even though the morning sky remained bright and peaceful, tension filled the air. What should have been a calm holiday turned into another moment of danger. Still, Hikari and her friends stood together, ready to face whatever threat awaited them.
Hikari, Arou, and Lumina moved toward the monsters standing in the school courtyard. The peaceful morning atmosphere quickly turned tense as everyone prepared themselves for battle.
Hikari stepped forward first, gripping her spear tightly.
"We need to end this quickly. Don't let them attack first," she said firmly.
Arou drew his sword beside her.
"Got it. Hikari, we attack together."
Lumina stayed hidden in partial disguise while observing the monsters carefully.
"Be careful… some of them are physically strong," she warned.
The monsters suddenly charged forward.
Hikari blocked the first attack with her spear while Arou struck from the side with his sword. Their movements synchronized perfectly, creating an effective combination attack.
Hikari could feel a strange new strength flowing through her body—perhaps a lingering effect from her previous battle against Slenderman.
Her spear felt lighter. Her movements became faster, allowing her to react to the monsters more easily than before.
Lumina attacked barehanded while maintaining her disguise, using her agility to confuse and disrupt the monsters. Meanwhile, Tomo and Haru stayed farther back, watching carefully to make sure no additional enemies appeared.
The monsters gradually became overwhelmed by the coordinated attacks of Hikari and Arou. The combination of spear and sword left little room for the creatures to move freely.
"Good… we're pushing them back!" Arou shouted.
Hikari nodded sharply.
"Yeah… don't give them any openings!"
After several coordinated strikes, the remaining monsters finally retreated and fled.
Silence returned to the area, though the tension still lingered in the air.
Hikari lowered her spear, breathing lightly but keeping her sharp gaze forward. Arou approached her with a relieved smile.
"You were amazing, Hikari. Our teamwork was really effective."
Hikari lowered her eyes slightly, caught between relief and lingering sorrow.
"Thanks… but we still need to stay careful. They could come back."
Lumina nodded quietly while Tomo and Haru watched from afar, relieved that the monsters had been driven away.
What should have been a peaceful holiday turned into another day of training and vigilance. Hikari, Arou, and Lumina all realized that their powers still needed to grow stronger if they wanted to face the even greater threats waiting for them in the future.