A temporary camp—actually, it was just a bunch of skinny refugees lying scattered on the ground, surrounded by a circle of stout Imperial Soldiers. But this was already the only chance for a break in this dangerous world.
Within the protective circle, in an isolated clearing, Kazuo Komuro, the Little Strong seven-person group from the academy, and the big sister-like policewoman Minami Rika were having a reunion after a long separation, exchanging their separate experiences since they last saw each other. Meanwhile, I was idly looking up at the sky, teaching Little Loli Alice to play Bubbles's PNP, and absentmindedly combing through Mercury Lamp's wings—a habit I acquired from Alaya, who had a thing for feathers and combs. Last time, when Anwina turned into a crow and rested on the balcony, I instinctively ran a comb through her feathers, scaring the little maid so much that she dropped feathers all over the place.
