Back at Alice 12, the evening was quiet.
The soft hum of the refrigeration units filled the inconvenience store, accompanied by the occasional rustle of packaging and the faint ticking of a wall clock.
Behind the counter, Mako rested her head on Mei’s lap, arms folded as she pouted stubbornly.
She hadn’t forgiven her sister for sending her away like that.
Even if… she understood why.
Mei absentmindedly ran her fingers through Mako’s hair.
“Onee?”
“Hm~?”
Mako shifted slightly.
“…What happened to her?”
A small pause followed.
Mei blinked once, then leaned back against the chair.
“Tria? Well… I don’t really know either~”
She spoke casually, as if recalling a strange afternoon rather than a battle that shattered a tower.
“I did tell her that we were already friends.”
Mei giggled softly.
“She seemed pretty disgusted by that idea though~”
Mako groaned quietly.
“You’re unbelievable…”
Mei continued, unfazed.
“But one thing’s certain.”
“The Tower of Temptations is gone.”
“When it started collapsing… I didn’t see her anymore.”
“…Is that so?”
Mako’s voice was quieter now.
Mei shrugged lightly.
“Under different circumstances, she probably would’ve been someone I’d get along with.”
A small smile appeared on her face.
“…Honestly, I still kind of consider her one now.”
Mako slowly lifted her head and stared up at her.
“You’re such a weirdo…”
She sighed.
“I seriously don’t know what trait we even share.”
Mei leaned down slightly, grinning.
“Heh~ Mei Jr.~”
Her fingers gently scratched under Mako’s chin.
“Your complete devotion to me says it all~”
“…Tsk.”
Mako turned her face away.
“Stupid Onee…”
But she didn’t move from Mei’s lap.
The store fell quiet again.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Outside, the night passed by in distant waves of light.
Mako eventually relaxed, her annoyance fading as Mei continued idly playing with her hair.
“…You scared me back there,” she muttered.
Mei blinked.
“Oh?”
“You sent me away like I was just luggage.”
Mako frowned.
“I thought… maybe you weren’t coming back.”
Mei paused.
Then she leaned down and lightly tapped Mako’s forehead.
“Silly Jr.~”
Her voice softened.
“Didn’t I promise I’d come home?”
Mako muttered something unintelligible.
“…Still stupid.”
Mei chuckled quietly.
Ding.
The doorbell of Alice 12 Inconvenience Store rang.
Both sisters looked up.
A customer had entered.
Mei turned toward the entrance—
And immediately smiled.
The figure standing there was familiar.
Very familiar.
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