Like a child tired of playing, Shtel slept peacefully in her sleep.
　After giving Yamata a stopping blow, Shtel fell asleep as if a thread had been broken, and remained soundly asleep until the sun hung over the middle of the sky.

　It had been a lot of strain, but her mother had told her that there was nothing wrong with her body.
　Now she was just sleeping to relieve her exhaustion.

　Hyuki takes Shtel's hand as she sleeps peacefully.
　To be honest, Hyuki wouldn't be able to get rid of his fatigue at all after a night's sleep, but when he did this, he felt somehow at ease and his exhaustion would be blown away.

　It was a small hand.

　They were so small that I was afraid they would break if I squeezed them.

　This little hand had saved the hiyuki time and time again.

　I want to say thank you so much, so much, and I hold his hand.

...?

　As I was grabbing Shtel's hand, she opened her eyes and said so with sleepy eyes.
　With a snap, she blinked repeatedly, and yada yada yada, her wide open eyes reflected the figure of the hijuki.

'...........Ah, it's Hyuki Auntie, good morning~'

Good morning, Shtel, it's past noon now.

　Stel's eyes, which had been dazed, opened with vigor.

''Tatakaiha!　Shtel, wasn't it cool!　Right?

'-- Yeah, I won, thanks to the hard work you did, Shtel.

Well, that's good news.

　What a heartfelt, happy Shtel said.
　It's a good thing that you're not the only one.

''Hey, Shter-chan. Why did you fight for me, Shtel?　Did you help me?

　When she met Shtel, she was barged in one way or another and played with her, and she was definitely the first friend that Hyuki had made, and she was a special person for her.
　She was the one who made Hyuki want to fulfill her mission as a princess priestess for the sake of her loved ones and for Shtel's sake.

　But that was just what Hyuki thought.
　So I wanted to ask her why.

　You'll be able to find a lot of people who are willing to risk their lives, even risking their lives by using their tiny bodies too much, but why did you take the risk?
　Such a question from the hiyuki.

Because Stern wanted to fight?

　What a question mark in return.
　As the dumbfounded Hyuki was about to slip away, Shtel opened her mouth again.

'Well, I don't know--maybe it's because Auntie Hyuki wasn't smiling.

What--?

The sunny lady was clean, but she wasn't!　You never smiled during the festival, when you were asleep, when you played and when you went out, so I wanted to help you.

...wasn't that funny?

"Love.

He was worried about you.

"Love.



　She squeezes Shtel's hand and says to him.
　I have tears in my eyes, and I think to myself that I'll always be more of a child in front of her.

''So, smile, Hinoki-chan,''

　Shter says that to the hiyuki who is about to start crying.
　Smile, he says.
　That's all I want, he says.

　To make a little child's wish come true.

　Hyuki's face remained tear-streaked.

　He gave a hearty smile.