Vol. 5 - Chapter 35

Something Keiko hadn't anticipated that she probably should have, was the fact that tonight, she'd be going to sleep alone. 

Well, she wasn't entirely alone. Recently, Metsumi had brought Kaori back and placed her on the same bed Keiko was in right now, but without Ash here, there was a borderline eerie silence as Keiko stared at the ceiling. 

Even now, as the night had arrived a little while ago, Magia was outside, in Ash's body doing who-knows-what. Sighing, Keiko turned toward Kaori. Even in the darkness, she could see how her girlfriend's blonde hair had nearly turned white after almost being transformed into a demon. 

Not just a demon, but a Nightmare, actually. 

For a moment, Keiko wondered what would have happened if the transformation had gone through. The thought of someday having to engage Kaori in battle felt so sad that as soon as it appeared in Keiko's mind, all she wanted to do was push it out.