THE FORM OF A FAMILY
“Mikoto…?”
The day after Hestia Familia returned to the surface, Mikoto went to visit Sojourn Townhouse, the home of her old familia. When she arrived, Ouka looked up from his training and noticed her, as did Chigusa and three other humans.
“What’s up?” Chigusa asked.
“N-nothing,” said Mikoto. “I just suddenly felt like seeing you all.”
Unwilling to explain her true reason, Mikoto said something vague, prompting Ouka to mumble, “What a strange girl,” and leave it at that. Still, he and the others immediately realized there was something bothering her.
Mikoto had been feeling emotional ever since she had to say good-bye to the Xenos child. So much so that she found herself instinctively returning to the place that she thought of as her home and family.
Her gaze was drawn to the ground, and Mikoto falteringly parted her lips.
“If I…If I could no longer be with you all…Say, if I committed some terrible crime and was banished…What would you do?”
As soon as she finished her words, Mikoto wished she could take them back. She had said too much and obviously given away that there was something on her mind after all. But before she could fluster and come up with some excuse…
“We’d come find you,” said Chigusa.
“What…?”
“It doesn’t matter who tries to tear us apart. If you’re hurting and in pain, we’ll come find you. That’s how it works.”
Mikoto’s childhood friend beamed, a single eye poking through her forelocks. Mikoto’s indigo eyes went wide.
“That’s what you did for Haruhime,” said Ouka, grinning. “Why would we not do the same for you?”
The feelings that she felt—that Bell and every member of Hestia Familia felt—were more complicated, blighted by the binding weight of reality. But at their core, they were not different from what Chigusa and Ouka had just said without hesitation. Mikoto felt her eyes welling with tears.
“You lot! It’s lunchtime! Get inside!”
Takemikazuchi stood at the doorway, folding his impressive arms. How long had he been standing there, watching them? A smile graced his divine lips.
“Mikoto,” he said. “That means you as well!”
“…Of course.”
Mikoto dried her tears and, just this once, allowed herself to impose upon her family’s kindness.
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