A Change

When we woke up, it seemed on the surface that we're back to how we were before, but I couldn't help but notice that even when it comes to clothes, Charlotte lets me dress myself. Of course I still have no idea how to put on a bra so she does end up helping me with that still, but when it comes to the clothes she brought me, I end up putting them on myself.

"Pfft, hehe. You got it back to front, Shiro."

"Huh?"

"See here?" She then moves closer to me, pulling on the neck part of the crop top that I've come to like, and with a twist of her hand, something pops out something from the inside of the top. "This tag, you're meant to have it on the back.

"O-okay." She still seems to be smiling, acting like how we used to, but even as she shows me it, she doesn't help out and instead finishes getting ready herself.

I end up taking off the top before putting it on the right way. With the opening of this top being open, even exposing my shoulders, the mask doesn't get in the way at all. Yeah, I think this is my favorite.

"Alright, you ready?"

"Nn." I nod as we both make out way downstairs.

Lisa was nowhere to be seen, so Charlotte and I went straight to the room with the magic circle on the floor. Charlotte then took my hand in hers, catching me a bit off guard. So we can still hold hands? I'm glad...

But soon enough, my training session with Charlotte's mother began. Just like last time, Charlotte and her auntie Luna stood behind me. Although unlike last time where Charlotte was holding me, instead she simply places her hand on my shoulder. Yet another change...

"I'm taking it off now. You ready?" Her mother speaks to me softly as I brush away my thoughts and instead look directly in her eyes; through the mask.

"Yes." I shouldn't worry about those things, not right now. This is what's most important right now. I want to stand by Charlotte's side, and in order to do that, I need to focus on what's in front of me.

And after a few moments, Mell gently lifts off my mask, resting it on top of my head as almost immediately, the scorching pain comes flooding back like yesterday. My body's still unbelievably hot, but right now it feels like someone's trying to forcibly rip my heart out of my chest, but from the inside instead, not like in the white room...

"Shiro, try and breathe, okay?"

"Y-yes..." I do as I'm told, trying to breathe in, but it feels like I'm breathing in the sun itself. It's painful...

I continue to stare into Mell's eyes as she also doesn't waver, staring intently at my own as I desperately try and smother this pain in my body by gripping onto my chest over my top. In that moment, for a split second, I felt like I saw Mell's eyes flicker, almost like she was in pain before her face returns to normal.

"Th-that'll be enough for now." She says while putting my mask back over my eyes. The pain coursing through my body now gradually disappearing.

"M-Mell? Are you okay?!" Luna sensing something's wrong, rushes to Mell's side.

"I'm okay. I thought today would be easier than yesterday, so I was surprised by how much is left inside." I knew it. So she's saying I almost killed her?

"I-I'm sorry..."

"It's not your fault, Shiro. You did very well today." It was Mell who then reach up and gently patted my head. It felt nice, but for some reason it didn't feel the same as when Charlotte does it... That said, it still makes me happy as a small smile gently grows on my face. "We can continue this later today if you like."

"I-is that okay?" Seeing in her pain just a moment ago, I can't help but be worried about continuing this early.

"Mhmm! I just need a bit of rest."

"Then I'll go make some more tea!"

We moved to the dining room where we all sat down on the table. Just like yesterday, Luna poured everyone some blood tea, including me. The tea was just like I remembered, but instead of downing the whole thing like before, I tried to savor it a bit, only drinking about a third of it before stopping. Looking at Charlotte in the corner of my eye, she also seems to be taking her time drinking the tea.

"Alright, what happened?"

"Eh?" At her mother's question, Charlotte looked over in surprise.

"I felt it earlier, but it's obvious now."

"What do you mean?"

"I can feel the tension between you two. You feel it too, right, Luna?"

"Y-yes..."

They're talking about me and Charlotte? It's not like anything bad happened between us, but-

"This all happened because of your little remark yesterday, mom."

"Hmm? What did I say?"

"About Shiro being my girlfriend."

"Ahhh~ Fufu, I guess I did say something like that."

"Thanks to that, it led to a whole new set of problems."

"Hmmm~ But it sure looked like the case to me. Right, Luna?"

"...No comment." Luna says in a hushed tone before going back to sipping on her tea.

I guess this did all happen after first meeting Charlotte's mother, when Charlotte said I wasn't her friend. Which now it seems like we are friends, but it's not what I expected at all. Friends who don't bath together or change clothes together. I still feel like what we had before was better than this, but that also leads me to wonder what exactly our relationship was before...

"Look, Shiro doesn't understand any of those sort of things, so it's better if she can properly understand without the unnecessary teasing."

"Hmmm~ Fufu, okay~"