> Kira PoV

Hmm… Huhuhu… This is nice…

Huh? What’s with this incredibly warm thing that’s pinning me down? I open my eyes and look around. I see, I fell asleep with Ellie in my arms…

This is the first time something like this has ever happened to me! I had no idea sharing a bed with someone was this comfortable! I’ve been missing out! Ah, but then again I don’t really trust other people easily…

Ellie is different though. I felt an instant closeness to her that I’ve never felt before. Even though we just met, it feels like I’ve known her my whole life. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I’m not going to let that stop me!

"Nyaaa, mnyaaa" (Ellie)

Her voice leaks out as she nuzzles slightly into my chest. I see, she’s still sleeping. She looks so peaceful... Well, my breasts are pretty soft, if I do say so myself, so they must feel really comfortable.

Hmm? Shouldn’t I be more embarrassed about this? I usually electrocute anyone stupid enough to try and fondle me, so why is it I don’t seem to mind Ellie doing it? Ah, it’s the intention, isn’t it? All those men were simply thinking with their lower halves, while Ellie is just looking for companionship! Alright, I’ll let her snuggle up with me as much as she wants!

This decision has nothing to do with the fact that I can’t bring myself to wake her up. This and that are completely unrelated.

The blissed-out face she’s making is likewise unrelated! So what if it’s so unbearably cute! Kyaa! I can’t stand it! I had no idea I was capable of making such an expression! It’s my own face, yet she looks much cuter than I do! Is it the shoulder-length blue hair? It may be the hair.

Yes, it’s my face. So what if yesterday was completely absurd? I’m already past that. That was then, this is now.

Today, I am a stronger person.

Today, I will not make another pathetic scene like I did yesterday.

Today, I will properly hear out her story and take it all in stride.

“Hunnmmm…” (Ellie)

Oh? She’s stirring, isn’t she? Alright, let’s wake her up appropriately! I gently wrap my hands around her back in a loose hug and call out to her.

“Good morning, Ellie!” (Kira)

Her eyes snap open and she jerks a bit, rocking the bed a little. She looks panicked for a second, but that disappears the instant she sees me.

“Ah! Kira! You’re still here!” (Ellie)

“Fufufu, where else would I be, silly?” (Kira)

“... You’re not going anywhere, right?” (Ellie)

Please don’t stare at me with that pleading look!

“Nope! I’ll be right here. We still have to get to know each other, yes?” (Kira)

“Yes! That’s right! Thank you so much for not leaving me behind!” (Ellie)

She rubs her face up and down against my chest in joy. Okay, that’s starting to get a bit disturbing, not to mention it’s beginning to hurt a little...

“Ah! Sorry! I was just- I didn’t mean to-” (Ellie)

She pulls away while making excuses. I didn’t really say anything though, right?

“Ellie. Are you reading my thoughts again?” (Kira)

“... Yes. I’m sorry. It’s a habit… I don’t feel right if I shut it off… It’s like walking around with my eyes closed.” (Ellie)

“I see… There must be something we can do about this, though.” (Kira)

“Nano? Oh! Great idea! Yes, let’s do that!” (Ellie)

“Huh?” (Kira)

“Nano said there’s a really easy way!” (Ellie)

“... Who’s Nano?” (Kira)

“My friend! You can’t see or hear Nano right now, but- Oh! There it comes!” (Ellie)

She points to the edge of the bed. The white spider-like thing from yesterday is approaching with an eerie gait that’s almost like a glide. There’s a small box on its back.

“Come Kira, lay down for a second.” (Ellie)

She sits up and pats her lap. I guess… I should put my head there?

“Okay…” (Kira)

I lie down on her lap as she takes the box from the spider-thing.

"Please stand still." (Ellie)

She turns my head to the side, facing her stomach. I can’t see anything but the worn out and blood-soaked clothes she had yesterday. I feel her playing with my right ear for a bit… It feels weird but I can’t say I hate it.

"Ow!" (Kira)

A sharp pain shoots through it! I reflexively jolt away from her while clutching it! Huh? The pain is already gone?

"All done." (Ellie)

"What was that? What did you do?" (Kira)

"I just attached one of these." (Ellie)

She points to her own ear. I didn't notice before but she's wearing a silver-colored ear cuff. My fingers tell me a similar-looking cuff was just put on mine. It’s attached at the base and snugly wraps around to the top of it. How strange, I didn’t think getting my ears pierced would be this… painless. There’s also no discomfort, like it’s a part of my body.

{Ahh, testing, testing, is this thing on? Can you hear me?}

“...” (Kira)

I hear a disembodied voice. The tone is oddly neutral. I seriously can't tell if it's a man or a woman, old or young. Also the way it speaks is a bit… uncanny. Like something is trying its best to sound human.

{Hmm, no good? Ellie, I think we failed.}

“Kira, I think something went wrong. Can you come back here for a minute?” (Ellie)

Ellie pats her lap again.

“Oh, sorry! I was just surprised! I can certainly hear… someone?” (Kira)

I look around, but there’s nobody around except me, Ellie and that spider-thing.

“It worked on the first try!? As expected of Nano!” (Ellie)

{That was a surprise. It’s my first time trying this with anyone other than Ellie.}

“So… you’re Nano?” (Kira)

{Oops, that’s my bad. Sorry miss Kira, I got carried away a bit. I am indeed Nano.}

“Oh thank goodness! For a moment I thought the person Ellie was talking to wasn’t real!” (Kira)

{Well, you were half right. I’m not really a person you see.}

“... Okay?” (Kira)

{Hmm, I guess explanations are in order. However, this language doesn’t seem to have the right words. Well, basically I’m something like Ellie’s guardian - I watch over her and make sure she’s safe.}

Okay, so this Nano is an ally to Ellie. I guess that’s good enough for now.

“And the thing on my ear?” (Kira)

{It lets me talk to you. The material also wards off Ellie’s mind reading. I agree with you by the way - the mind is a very private thing, but Ellie doesn’t feel safe without doing it all the time so please forgive her for it. Ah, you can also use the ear cuff it to talk with Ellie if you’re too far apart.}

“Really?! If that’s true then isn’t this really convenient!? I’ve never heard of magic like this!” (Kira)

{Well, it probably just looks like magic, but it’s not quite right.}

“Hmm… You have a point. I don’t feel any mana flowing through it.” (Kira)

{Excuse me, mana?}

“Yes, mana. You know, the thing that powers magic tools and spells?” (Kira)

{Uhm… care to show me?}

“I would but… where are you?” (Kira)

{Ah, don’t worry about that, just show it to Ellie.}

“Okay. Here, watch.” (Kira)

I hold out my palm and focus my mana gathering in my fingertips.

*Snap*

*Fwoosh*

I snap my fingers and a plume of flame gushes out from them before disappearing into nothing a moment later.

“Wow! That was amazing! How did you do that?!” (Ellie)

“It’s just raw mana being formed into a flame. I’d show you more, but I lost my staff earlier.” (Kira)

I really should find a replacement soon…

{Fascinating. It completely appeared out of nowhere! So magic is real here!}

“... I’ve been meaning to ask, but where did you two come from?” (Kira)

{Hmm, another world, basically?}

“Okay, makes sense.” (Kira)

{Really now? How come?}

“There are stories of travelers from other worlds. It’s not common, but it’s not unheard of either. Besides, you literally fell from the sky. It would be more suspicious if you told me you weren’t from another world, to be honest.” (Kira)

{I see. Well, that’s good. Wouldn’t want to freak people out too much. Still, where we come from we don’t have the thing called magic, but the things we brought with us probably seem like it to someone from this world.}

“So it’s something like Star Magic, huh?” (Kira)

{Oh! That’s a very nice way of putting it, miss Kira! Yes, Star Magic. That works!}

That was a joke. Please don't casually confirm my imagination as reality.

“So back to the topic at hand… Nano, who or what are you, exactly?” (Kira)

{That's a very difficult question, miss Kira.}

Mmmhm. Somehow I think I can figure it out though.

“Mind if I make a guess?” (Kira)

{Be my guest.}

“So, I can’t see you, and these cuffs are the only way I can hear you. So you probably don’t have an actual body. Yet you also seem to be connected to Ellie. Just now, you saw my magic through her eyes, yes?” (Kira)

{Hoho! Very good, miss Kira! What else you got?}

“Let’s see… I’m guessing you made some sort of deal with her. Or she released you. Well, it’s some circumstances that I won’t pry into, but you have a cooperative relationship. She acts as your eyes and ears and you look after her with advice and knowledge in return. Normally something like that would be impossible, but you’re from another world so anything goes. Where you come from, this sort of thing is probably nothing special since you have this so-called [Star Magic] to rely on. How am I doing so far?” (Kira)

{Miss Kira. Those guesses of yours were so spot on that it’s honestly a bit scary! Are you sure you’re not a mind reader, too?}

“Fufufu. Thinking up these outlandish and impossible scenarios is child’s play for a veteran adventurer like myself! You’ll never make it in my line of work if do silly things like minding the small stuff!” (Kira)

{Wow! You were right, Ellie. Miss Kira really is amazing.}

“Right? Right? It’s the first time I’ve met someone as great as Nano!” (Ellie)

“Huhuhuhu, don’t underestimate an adventurer’s ability to ignore common sense! Ah, I do have one question I’m not sure about though.” (Kira)

{What is it, miss Kira?}

“Also, can you drop the ‘miss’ ? It’s too formal! For the record, my full name is Kiressara mil Quasse. I don’t mind if you call me Kira for short, though.” (Kira)

Somehow that nickname already stuck, huh? Well, it’s short, sweet and a lot more polite than the most of the things people call me...

{I understand. Once again, it is a pleasure to meet you Kira. Now, your question?}

“Right. Where did this bed come from? I’m pretty sure we fell asleep on the ground.” (Kira)

{Oh! That was my doing. This little guy on your left and his friends carried you over here while you were asleep.}

The white spider-like thing waves its claw-like limbs at me. There’s more like it, huh?

“... But why?” (Kira)

{It’s not befitting to have a young lady sleep on the floor like that. Let alone two of them.}

“You have a point there. Thank you for looking after us.” (Kira)

Despite being a no-body, Nano still knows how to look after people, huh?

{You’re very welcome.}

AN: I won't be putting Nano's name after its dialogue. Laziness had very little to do with this decision.