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Whimpers came in response to Tsubomi’s kicks and proclamations. Somewhat predictably, instead of helping Sylvia process her issues, the hits served only to stir up deep-seated emotions and memories, plunging her deeper into the darkness… at least until something shifted at the last kick and Sylvia actually caught Tsubomi’s leg with both of her hands. She held it firmly in her grip, so that the other magical girl risked tripping with every move she made.

[color=teal]”Please stop kicking me,”[/color] spoke the protector. Her voice barely carried, but it contained the smallest hint of resolve one could imagine. [color=teal]”I… I don’t know. But please stop kicking me.”[/color] She repeated her response. She could not say she did not deserve it, because she truly did not know. But she did not like it. It felt like it fed the bonfire of hurt inside of her. The one the liars and deceivers had made. The one grandmother and grandfather made.

Was Tsubomi also a liar?

Sylvia did not know. Not all people who hurt her were liars, were they? She truly did not know. But she promised Haruna she would be all right. And if something felt wrong, she was not being all right.

It felt like her head swam in a pool of molasses. Half-finished questions collided with half-finished thoughts inside her head, spinning her around and making it feel like she were standing on a bouncy castle determined to expel her from its premises. A part of her wanted to raise her hand and hit Tsubomi in the face with all the force she could muster, then keep going until she begged for mercy. Exactly as Sylvia had to beg a long time ago. Another part of her did not want to hurt anyone.

[color=teal]”I’m not all right,”[/color] she spoke again. [color=teal]”I will be less all right if you keep kicking me.”[/color] Was she even saying the right things?