The white whale, the Lord of the Three Realms, rules the seas of the Wa no Kuni, and is the largest creature in the world.
　It is the largest creature in the world and is feared in the Land of Wa, a monster that can reach three kilometers in length.

　A lazy giant fish, a moving disaster, a swimming island, it has been called many names, but once the beings sleeping at the bottom of the sea move in search of mana, a tsunami is said to engulf the harbor and change the ecosystem in the Land of Wa. It is also the factor that led to Haruka's mission as a princess maiden.

''I don't understand something........''

　Looking at the way such a monster was being served as sashimi on a plate, Haruka muttered.

''Hmm, both red and white meat are moderately tasty, but are they not to your taste, Haruka?''

'Not that!　

　An exhausted-looking Haruka blurted out.

'Don't be so depressed, there's no crime in good food, you see, ah-hah.

　With that, he offered the whale meat he had picked up on his chopsticks to the sulking Harka.
　Haruka, half-burned, bit into the meat.

.....
　For Nacht, it was a light play on playing with the depressed Haruka.
　But.

Master Na-Ha-To?

　Aisha didn't think so, apparently.

''Well no, Aisha, can't you do that too?''

'No - and I'd like to say no - but I'll forgive you if you do the same for Aisha.

　Nacht picks up the fruit with his chopsticks instead of the whale meat and brings it to Aisha's mouth.
　Seeing Aisha chewing and smiling, Nahat also smiles.

''Aisha-chan, you're really quick to recover........''

I've done it before.

　With her small body, Aisha says forcefully.
　Just a moment ago, what is this, Levi-san is too reckless, really, Nacht-sama was in a hurry, but within a minute, Aisha returning to a smile can be called a quintessential example.

''Really........I'm so jealous........''

　Haruka's voice was kidnapped by the waves and disappeared.
　Haruka gently held Aisha's defenseless body.

''Huh...?　Uh, um, Haruka-san?

Hey, Aisha. Haruka-chan is ~ I don't care what number you are.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no, you can't do that, you can't--

　Haruka laughs at the flustered Aisha.

'Ehhh, don't say that, let's just get along.

　Harka understands.
　That no matter how much, no matter how sweet Nacht put on his face, he would never put anyone but Aisha next to him.

'If you want to shoot the general, shoot the horse first--so, Aisha, you see, ah, ah,'

No, no, Master Nacht--

　Haruka says to Nacht with a glossy smile.

''Haruka-chan is not one to give up, so be prepared for that, Nahat-chan.






◇






　The twin moons shone in the starry spring sky, as if they were huddled together.
　The Spring Lightning Hall, the residence of the Princess Maiden, is large and has an extra guest room.
　In the midst of all this, an intruder was in the room given to Hyuki.

''Welcome, Shtel-chan!''

　It's a scary thing to get used to, Hibiki thought, when words like that come up.
　Shtetl welcomes the sunshine as if she were the owner of the room, tapping the futon with her foot.

'Ehehe, I'm here.'

　What a huff and a puff, and all Hinoki can do is accept it now.

'What's up, this late in the evening?'

It's time to say goodnight, so I'm going to sleep with my sister Hinoki today!

　To-morrow we will leave Iwate, and the day after tomorrow Shtel and the others will leave the Land of Harmony.
　As if to say goodbye, Shtel said.

'That's fine, but has your mother given you permission to leave?

Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on!

All right, I'll sleep with you.

Aye!

　Shtel squirmed into the futon of Hyuki, which originally had only one futon.
　The faint light of the twin moons shining through the shoji screens illuminated Shtel's hair in layers, reflecting it like an illusion.
　An illusory child that would disappear if you tried to grab it.
　But such was Shtel, indeed, beside Hyrule. With her outstretched arms as a pillow, she happily huddles up to me.

''-- Hey, Shtel-chan,''

　Hyuki struggles to keep her voice from trembling and says

'Thanks,'

Hmm?　What?

Various.

　I felt like if I said too much, the words would be lighter. And even more than that, because he couldn't seem to suppress the thoughts that were coming in, so he said so, and that's why he said it.

''Well, thank you too, Shtel!

What?

Well, you know, they play together, go out, hit each other, and... well, you know, stuff.

So we're even now.

Yeah.

　The truth is, it's not.
　She's always saving me, and Hyuki hasn't been able to give me anything back.
　But I can tell that kind of answer, I can tell that Stel doesn't want that kind of answer, so she says so.

'Hey, sunshine sister.

What?

Can I come back?

Yeah, anytime you want to come back to visit.

Aye!

　Shtel says happily.
　Hyuki mutters the words that almost became a voice in the back of her mind.

(---- If it's okay with you, Shtel, you can stay here forever...) (e.g. "I'll be back")

　How could I say that?

　She would run again.
　Her curiosity got the better of her.

　And then, when she's in the mood, she'll pop up when you least expect it, and surprise you again.

'Shtel-cha--'

　Hyuki's words stopped as he was about to call out to her.
　

'Really, you're free.

　Hyuki lovingly strokes Shtel's hair once.

'Good night, I'll sleep with you again, Shtel.

　Tired as he was, the hijackers fell asleep right away.

'Gfft..........'

　I was woken up by Shtel's elbow, which was slammed into my face.

''Eh........Shtel-chan.......?''

　Shtel remains sound asleep.
　He closed his eyelids as he tried to sleep again.

'Ugh...'

　A little foot dips into his stomach.

'You didn't do it on purpose, Shtel.........'

Nuh-uh, I'm full, well.............

　Shtel answered in his sleep and continued to sleep.
　In return, the hijuki worshipped the sunrise without sleeping a wink.

'With the last word.........'

　Beside the happy Shtel, Hyuki said with regret.