Lately, there are times when I just can’t fall asleep.
In the past, that would have been impossible. Sure, I could control fatigue with meditation, but to have so much energy left over that sleep eludes me? That’s just laughable.
I’ve been struggling to survive, thinking about how to protect the people I love, practicing something, and trying to turn back time.
Turning back time wipes out physical fatigue, but if I don’t sleep, mental exhaustion keeps piling up.
It’s not great to be physically relaxed but constantly stressed from working without rest.
So, I decided to sleep. I’d be grateful for any time I could sleep and would do my best to stay awake when I needed to.
But now, there was no need for that.
Having so much energy that sleep escapes me? That’s just hilarious.
As I sat by the window, looking down at the scenery, I heard someone fidgeting behind me.
“Are you not sleeping, big sister?”
It was Claire.
When I turned to look, I saw Claire lying and looking at me.
“I can’t fall asleep.”
I replied to her like that.
“Why? Don’t you want to go back tomorrow?”
“That’s not it.”
I answered Claire, who was teasing me, with a smile.
“I just have a little energy left. It seems like my stamina has increased a bit.”
“Really?”
Rustle rustle, Claire got up from her spot.
Since Claire’s place was right by the window, she could sit next to me without moving much.
“I’m glad to see you like this again.”
Even at midnight, the city was bright. Sure, if I went down, there would be more closed shops, but it’s something to see people still wandering about.
“I think so too.”
“……”
We sat quietly.
“Don’t you want to go see your family again?”
Claire whispered softly.
I paused to think for a moment.
“Maybe one day I’ll feel that way. But not right now.”
“If you want to, just say so. I’ll help you anytime.”
“Thank you, that’s kind of you.”
I replied like that.
“Hmm….”
It seemed Alice woke up from the sound of our conversation.
Alice was sitting next to me. So, technically speaking, the order of our lying down was Claire, me, and then Alice.
I was just sitting by the window, having climbed over Claire.
“What’s up…. You two aren’t sleeping?”
“Well, tomorrow’s a day off anyway.”
“The date has passed.”
“Right? But today is still a day off.”
I shrugged at Claire’s remark.
Alice crawled over while yawning, covering her mouth with a blanket over her shoulders.
“What were you talking about?”
With her voice, it sounded like she was still half-asleep. No, it was actually a time when she didn’t even need to wake up.
We had all watched a movie late into the night, so it made sense that she couldn’t even open her eyes properly. In fact, more than half of us had fallen asleep during the film.
“We didn’t talk about much. Just… a little about this world.”
“Really?”
Alice didn’t seem to be trying to share anything specific; she just came over after seeing the two of us awake.
“It was really fun.”
Alice said.
“It was really enjoyable. I’d want to play like this again next time.”
“I’ll help you.”
Claire confidently pounded her chest and announced.
“But after graduating from the academy, things will be tough in many ways. Getting everyone together will be difficult. Besides, time flows the same now.”
“That doesn’t mean we can abandon the people waiting for our show, right? We have sequels to do too.”
That’s true.
Since it had come to this, I wanted to play through the entire series properly to the end.
“Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to gather you all.”
At that, Alice laughed bitterly.
“The moment you try to kidnap two princesses, you’ll become a major criminal.”
“Who’s gonna know? I already ran away to another world; there’s probably no evidence.”
Hearing that, I chuckled snicker.
“I’ll be counting on you when that time comes.”
“Can you really say that?”
Alice shot me a sideways glance.
“If my workload becomes too much, I’ll make a clean getaway.”
“Well then, I’ll just pile on more work and wait.”
That’s a bit scary.
The three of us laughed quietly.
Ugh.
Charlotte, who had been sleeping next to Alice, let out a sound and woke up.
She rubbed her eyes and looked at us when she saw the slight reflection in the window.
“What’s everyone doing? Aren’t you sleeping?”
Well, there goes the neighborhood.
Charlotte sat next to us as well.
“What were you talking about so intently?”
I heard the same question again. I guess it can’t be helped.
“We didn’t talk about much. Just some stories about this world.”
Alice repeated my answer word-for-word.
“Right.”
Charlotte smiled softly.
“It sounds like a dream. I thought I had given up on coming back, but hearing I don’t have to give up again… feels a bit strange.”
“Don’t worry. Even after you become the queen, I can easily kidnap you.”
“Are you trying to start an international incident?”
Thinking about it, Claire had a point.
In the world where Claire is a princess, her role was what it was after all. Of course, she wouldn’t appreciate hearing that.
“…… Yeah.”
“Looks like Mia is up now too.”
Finally, all the original five members were awake.
“What were you talking about…?”
“It’s nothing special, just talking about this world.”
How many times am I going to hear the same thing?
In the living room, there were other kids sleeping besides us. If they get woken up, it’d feel like it was such a waste. If that’s the case, we should have just stayed up all night from the beginning.
“……”
The five of us sat together in silence, looking out.
I could see cars sparkling with lights passing by. If you looked closely at the sidewalk, you might see some people wandering too.
“When I first came here, it was overwhelming.”
I spoke, somewhat unexpectedly.
“I’ve survived because of you all. Honestly, if it were just me, I would have lived like this alone and died old.”
I probably wouldn’t have been able to afford this apartment either. I wouldn’t even think about buying a lottery ticket. I wouldn’t have thought to stream online.
It was thanks to these five that I could endure.
I think about it many times, but no matter how many times I think about it, I’m grateful.
“Eh, you don’t need to be that grateful.”
Claire waved her hand without a flinch.
“…… If your sister says that, can’t you at least take it a little sentimentally?”
“Originally, that’s what sisters are for.”
Saying that, Claire stuck out her tongue at Alice.
“Hasn’t it been less than a year since you two reunited?”
“Time doesn’t matter. The bond between us is strong enough it won’t be weakened by such things.”
Claire insisted against Charlotte’s words.
Well, I do agree to some extent. Claire recognized me immediately when she saw me.
“I also… If you all weren’t here… I wouldn’t be able to live this positively…”
There are a lot of ellipses, but it wasn’t because I was shy. Mia looked incredibly tired. After all, she had stayed awake through the entire movie.
Maybe that’s why she could speak so honestly?
“…… Why are you staring at me like that?”
Charlotte felt the gazes on her and asked.
Charlotte, who was sitting hugging her knees, eventually sighed deeply at our unwavering stares.
“Y-Yeah, I also enjoyed a happy school life thanks to you all. I’m sure my time at the academy will be enjoyable and happy as well. Is that enough?”
It was dark, so I couldn’t see well, but her face probably turned a little red.
The five of us turned our eyes back to the front with satisfaction.
The weather was a bit cold. Though the heating was on, sitting by the window, I could still feel a chill.
Yet, at the same time, I felt warmth.
I paused for a moment, and then—
“If, at this moment, this is the conclusion to a long story…”
—I unexpectedly brought that up.
“Can we call this moment a happy ending?”
The four of them looked at me simultaneously.
There were no words from anyone.
As my face started to heat up slowly, Claire was the first to speak up.
“Of course.”
“I think so too. It couldn’t be a better way to end a story.”
Alice chimed in.
“After long trials, is it a story of finally living happily with friends? It’s a happy ending, of course.”
Charlotte said with a smile.
“…… Finally, everyone lives happily ever after.”
Mia finished with a sleepy voice.
“……”
A smile I couldn’t suppress appeared on my lips.
Yep, it was a long story.
Though our story would continue in some form or another, for now, one grand chapter of that great tale had come to a close.
And, I would say, even I could call that end a happy ending.
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