August 17, AD 2092

Okinawa

Naha Airport

As I listened to the announcements of plane arrivals and departures, I recalled what had happened six days ago.

After Miss Sakurai went to back up Brother, there was nobody to control the screen for me, so I was stuck watching nothing but videos from the news.

An intense light, brighter than the sun, had suddenly erupted on the water’s horizon.

Enemy ships had disappeared in the glow.

Waves had crashed onto the beach, scrubbing it clean, changing its shape.

Triumphal, victorious songs.

Those were the events we shared with the world.

What we didn’t share with the world, and what only we knew, was that the light that had destroyed the enemy had been Brother’s power.

He was now a strategic magician who could use a strategic-class spell, Material Burst, that converted matter into energy, then use that immense energy to consume all things in fire. Only we knew the extent of Brother’s power—his true form.

Only we knew that Brother was the hero who had driven off the enemy.

And only we knew of the sad event that had accompanied it.

Miss Sakurai had never returned.

Her remains, submitted to the mass cremation at the combined funeral service for all the victims, were scattered out to sea, in accordance with her will.

Brother was the one to return her to the sea we all came from.

His face never betrayed a hint of pain.

He gently consoled me as I broke down crying.

Wasn’t he sad? Or was that something he couldn’t be?

No, it didn’t matter either way.

I’d made up my mind.

As I watched Miss Sakurai reduced to ashes, I understood.

I had died back then.

I had lost the life Mother had given me and gained a new one from Brother.

All that I have, then, belonged to him.

“Miyuki, we’re going inside soon.”

“Yes, Brother.”

At the sound of his voice, I stood up from the lounge sofa.

Mother didn’t even seem to care about me calling him that anymore. I was sure it was distressing for her, but I no longer cared for her feelings on this matter.

As always, Brother carried everyone’s things in and sat by himself in the normal seating, but I didn’t care about that anymore, either.

Because Brother said he wanted to.

And what he says goes.

As my physical state was still not perfect, I took Mother’s hand and we followed behind him.

Right now, my voice still wouldn’t reach him. My words couldn’t reach him.

But I’d already made up my mind.

Brother, I will go with you anywhere