The Things I Dream Of
One day, after several sessions of training with Seira...
Seira mentioned she'd always wanted to see the city, so I decided to show her around NOA.
So this is NOA... It's amazing.
Is it really that interesting to you?
Yes. It's a city where so many people live together... where all kinds of dreams are born and fade away...
I've always wanted to visit NOA... at least once.
It's exactly as I imagined it would be.
I'm glad to be part of the Journey... Thank you for bringing me here, Captain.
Seira clasped my hand with genuine joy.
Her hand was still as light and cool as a feather—it felt nothing like a human's.
It reminded me of that time...
I've... been waiting for this moment to begin our Journey together.
...She had said the very same thing on the day of our first meeting, holding my hand all the while.
Seeing Seira smiling so brightly while holding my hand made my face flush, so I quickly changed the subject.
Seira, what made you decide to join the Journey?
The reason I joined... the Journey?
Mm... well...
I needed to become stronger.
I...
I need... the power of the Star Savior.
I was caught aback by the unexpected answer from Seira. To think that she wanted to become stronger.
However, the way she spoke carried a quiet determination...
Not as someone craving power, but as someone who needed it
Why do you need such great power?
...Because I'm too weak to be allowed around others.
Even though I hadn't known her for that long, I'd never thought of Seira as particularly fragile... What did she mean by that?
Then, if you gained that strength, what would you do with it?
If I had great strength... then...
...I'd like to live here in NOA.
I want to make friends...
And have a favorite little shop I can visit every day.
Those are things you could start doing now, aren't they?
...
Seira didn't answer and only smiled quietly.
That was when...
Hey, wait for me...!
Oww...!
*Thud*
A young girl running toward us tripped and fell.
Are you all right? That must've hurt...
Oww...
Hngh...
Seira hurried to help her up, but the girl kept crying.
The pain will fly away soon.
I'll send it off on this butterfly.
So it's all right now... hush.
*Sniffle...* *Sob...*
See? The butterfly's flown away.
It doesn't hurt anymore, does it?
Seira made a gentle motion, as if releasing a butterfly from her fingertip.
...Wow... Yeah! It doesn't hurt anymore.
Thank you!
The girl brushed the dirt off her knees and got ready to run again.
...Huh?
Wait, have we met before?
...
I think we have. It was the last time I had a scary dream...
There was a monster, but you chased it away—
Hey, come on! Hurry up!
Oh, my brother's calling me...
I need to go. Bye!
The girl waved several times before running off toward the voice that called her.
Seira watched her go, her gaze soft with something like longing.
Seira, what that girl just said...
...People dream every night.
Inside those dreams, there's joy, sadness, and longing, too...
But when people wake up... they forget most of what they've dreamed.
Even though those dreams are full of so many emotions...
Once you open your eyes, they all fade away.
That's... what dreams are.
I was on my way back to the quarters after parting with Seira, when...
Hey. Got a moment?
A suspicious-looking man stepped into my path.
What's this about?
Whoa, no need to look so wary. I'm doing something that helps the public, you know.
Helps the public...?
I'm a succubus hunter. Been tracking them down for a long time.
I heard rumors one's been spotted near NOA recently...
You wouldn't happen to know anything, would you?
Anything helps.
...No idea.
The rumors started spreading right after that Journey thing began...
The succubus' influence has already reached around Candle Square. I can tell that much.
...No one suspicious around you?
Don't know.
...Hmph, fine. Maybe you just haven't noticed yet...
If you see anyone suspicious, come find me here.
The so-called succubus hunter handed me a roughly scribbled note with an address and left.
I thought about crumpling it up, but ended up slipping it into my pocket instead.