*
It was only 815 pm, the majority of the 15 minutes spent was used to carry Arin to the infirmary while remaining untransformed. Their fight lasted less than 5 minutes, with how their perceptions sped up and how they were unwilling to even waste seconds in the midst of battle.
"... Ready to talk?" (Sariel)
About what you were hiding. About everything.
"... No. You're better off not knowing." (Arin)
Raising a subtle frown, she exhaled from her nose and protested gently.
" And who decided that? You? The you who lost in a fight? " (Sariel)
She didn't react to the provocation, a hint of resignation steeped in her throat. Her words were demure and low, a gentle but firm resolve that wouldn't even shudder.
" Yes. I did. In the end you want to live normally, dont you? I also want... A peaceful life." (Arin)
Sariel's demeanor became noticeably subdued. She stopped asking questions, mulling over Arin's words with patience. A peaceful life... Did that...? She spoke up after a while, and was finally right outside the infirmary's doorway.
"Did that include Lastia freed from her curse?" (Sariel)
"... Of course." (Arin)
She whispered with a little elation. Sariel could tell she wasn't lying, unlike Lastia Sariel doesn't possess the memory wiping curse. She's been carefully observing the other 2, whether she wanted to or not. It was simply traits that she would subconsciously pick up even if it wasn't intentional. Unless Arin was a masterclass actor who hid her true intentions for the better part of 2 years, her care for Lastia was at the very least genuine.
Speaking of which, the 3 of them weren't very close during the first year. Their classes stayed the same, but Lastia only kept to Arin back then. It was only this year when she discovered that the both of them were magical girls.
"..." (Sariel)
Even though she won the fight, she didn't feel that she truly won. It was common knowledge they both possessed, neither wanted to kill the other. While Sariel took advantage of this fact to defeat Arin, when Arin would be better in a fight but held back out of worry, it also meant that Arin could withhold her tongue no matter how much Sariel protested. She wouldn't divulge anything, and she was allowed to protect her confidentiality.
"Are you sulking? Trust me, it's better... If no one knew..." (Arin)
She couldn't see Arin's eyes, but they must have flickered as she finished her words. A trace of emotion clung to the tip of her tongue, only Sariel or Lastia could notice this miniscule change.
"... A secret wouldn't get worse if more people knew... At least, Lastia and I could help you with your problem." (Sariel)
"A secret becomes a problem when it becomes known. I'm sorry, but that's the end of it." (Arin)
Sariel held her breath as she listened to Arin softly apologise. She knocked on the door with with slight hesitation as she slowly formulated a reply. When it came down to it, Arin was firm in her refusal and was willing to fight and bloody herself if it meant keeping her secret safe. Was it worth it to be so tight lipped? Was what Sariel was doing really right?
However, after that fight... Strangely enough, she felt that she wanted to trust Arin. Not 'can', but 'want'. Like a gamble, whether it benefitted them or would drive a scourge in their relationship, she was willing to take her chances. Was she always this hot blooded? She felt like she established an inexplicable bond between them with that fight. Exchanging information about themselves as a form of courtesy.
"If you don't need help, that would be nice. I'm sure you'll tell us once everything is over." (Sariel)
I didn't trust you, but now I do. I don't know why, chalk it up to gut feeling. Her thoughts could be summed up this way, a firm passion burned in her heart, ready to take the future without the information Arin withheld.
Arin opened the door from Sariel's back, a stale breeze brushes their face as Sariel stepped inside.
"Did you forget? It's almost night, no one's in here." (Arin)
"... I came here for the beds." (Sariel)
Unable to hide her anguish, she mumbled in a low voice before setting her down. A bright light briefly flashed the infirmary as Arin transformed into her combat dress. Her wounds began to close up at rapid supernatural speeds. She shifted from a laying to a sitting position.
"... So, what do you plan to do? Stop her? Let her go on...?" (Arin)
As the victor, you decide. She briefly urged with a cryptic smile. Sariel understood that she was throwing the responsibility of deciding onto her. It was ambiguous if they would be working together or if they were determining who would make the decision before this, but now the consequences and anything that might be reaped on the way has been heaped onto Sariel.
Did Arin truly become indecisive when it came to this matter? Or was she feigning it to get close to Sariel and control what happens from up close? No, excessive doubt was counterproductive. Even if Arin was pretending to support Sariel, she could utilise that facade to get Arin into doing things for her too...
"... You're thinking too much... I'll make it simple. Look at that tree, do you want to get rid of it?
Whether to prevent her from going too far, to protect the people from potential harm... Or to against her tantrum, the reason did not matter. Do you want to do it? " (Arin)
"... Her pain, her despair... I can't imagine what it's like to bear so much, to the point you would feel that it'd be better if the world ended. That tree is her sorrow and resignation.
It's already past 9pm, once it hits 12 she won't remember a thing anyway. To ensure the next Lastia's life isn't disrupted, let's put down her pain... And prevent this from ever happening again. " (Sariel)
She slowly enunciated the words she took a while to formulate, each letter left her lips and the tip of her tongue full with intent. She supposed deep down, she couldn't bear to see a close friend in such a state. If it was the other Lastia, the one she first met many weeks ago, at that time what would she ha e wanted?
Her fist naturally clenched as she walked out of the infirmary. Her uniform began to glow a blinding white, before the light shattered and breezed lightly like fallen snow.