When the ultimate dream exists before one’s eyes, a person reaches out for it.

That is only natural—so obvious it hardly needs to be said.

If there are wings and there is sky, then birds will fly.

So, if there is a dream within reach, why hesitate?

……Well, I guess some people would.

“K-Kei, you okay? Here, I made you some porridge…!”
“…cough”

I was lying in bed, half-crushed by despair, when a visitor arrived at eight in the morning. The one person I both desperately wanted and didn’t want to see right now.

Yes—Kirara Clam.

“Clam, I did send a message to the Fectom group, right? That I wasn’t feeling well and would be resting in my room today.”
“Yep. That’s why I came.”

Are you serious?

Your eyes are glazed over.

“…You haven’t eaten breakfast yet, right?”
“I had an apple.”

I pointed at the empty plate. Clam stared at it for a moment before speaking.

“That’s not enough. Here, just a little. I made this porridge with bonito broth—put a lot of care into it.”
“…You went through unnecessary trouble.”

Since when does porridge need bonito broth? Isn’t it just soft rice?

More importantly—

“Here, say ahh~.”

UWAAAAAAAAH!

KINDNESS IS TRYING TO KILL ME!

“Ghk—!”
“What’s wrong? Oh, are you sensitive to hot food? …Tch, fine. I’ll blow on it for you.”

With that, Clam scooped up a spoonful and began blowing on it.

No, that’s not it.

It’s not the heat that’s throwing me off.

The problem is this situation—a beautiful girl being fed by another beautiful girl.

A mysterious beauty showing rare vulnerability when unwell, being tenderly cared for by the devoted Clam.

How magnificent…! BRAVO!

This is a moment that should be preserved on film for future generations.

The sight of a beautiful girl nursing another beautiful girl is too sublime, too precious.

If I saw this scene in a theater, I’d be weeping while giving a standing ovation.

That’s how much value this holds—

“Ghk—cough cough… Ugh—”
“Are you okay!? Are you worse off than I thought!? We should get you to the hosp—”
“Absolutely not.”
“Huh?”

What am I supposed to say if the diagnosis reads “Defeated by ASMR”?

I’d be too ashamed to face the sun after that.

Even the doctor would tilt their head in confusion.

“…Was it Zero? Did it do something to you?”
“…No.”
“It was, wasn’t it? Hey, you don’t have to hide it from me! It’s okay to show weakness around—giggle… sorry.”

I just said no.

Clam, you’ve got a bad habit of jumping to conclusions.

Not a good look.

Though, all Zero can really do is corrupt Sorciera’s body…

…Okay, fine, maybe her misunderstanding isn’t completely unfounded!

But right now, Zero isn’t here, so blaming them isn’t the best move.

Might as well use this chance to set up some “Zero ally flags” for later.

If we keep treating them like a monster, the Starreader’s Staff might end up dead one day.

And we can’t let that happen.

“That child… Zero hasn’t done anything wrong. In fact, because of them, I’m still alive right now.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, really.”

I patted Clam’s head as I spoke.

Beautiful girls are innocent! Beautiful girls are innocent!

Heheh, in the end, the justice system is this shallow!

But what kind of cool lie should I spin here…?

Hmm, maybe I’ll say I fought an angel or something.

“A few days ago, I fought an angel. But I couldn’t finish it off.”
“…!?”

Clam gasped at my words.

Haha, just kidding.

A joke! A mysterious joke!

“An angel… You mean, like the one you fought before?”
“Yes. An angel that brings ruin to the world. I had it cornered, but… well, it is called a calamity for a reason. It got away.”

I lowered my eyes mournfully.

BEAUTIFUL GIRL POINTS FOR THIS MOMENT!

Clench your fist just enough to be barely visible, grip the sheets a little!

That’ll make it look like you truly regret it!

“…Kei.”
“Its poison has eroded my body. Right now, I’m useless in a fight. So, I have no choice but to rely on that child.”
“…That’s Zero?”
“Right. As long as I supply it with magic, Zero can fight. Its high-density informational body is immune to the angel’s poison. So this time, it is the optimal solution (explanation tone).”

Gotta sync stories with the Starreader’s Staff later…

But well, she should buy it now.

At the same time, she must realize that Zero is fighting the angel for us.

“Zero… doesn’t fully understand people yet. That child was alone in a dimly lit research facility for so long. It couldn’t even look up at the stars.”

I absentmindedly stroked my Dive Gear.

Then, I relaxed my expression.

“Everything it does is its own way of showing love. So, I accept it. All of Zero—as its contractor.”
“…And this is the result? You’re hurt, Kei. Are you really okay with that?”

Clam’s face twisted in pain as she spoke.

Seeing a beautiful girl make such an expression naturally made me feel even worse.

Ugh, my head’s spinning…

But I’ve still got enough composure to pull off a mysterious smile!

“Because that’s my wish.”
“…!”

Ah, crap.

My brain’s overheating.

My body feels like it’s burning up—did Mizuhi-senpai show up? Did Mizuhi-senpai set my insides on fire?

“—Then I’ll hurt with you. If you’re going to fall into the depths of hell, I’m falling with you.”

Despite her terrifying words, Clam clung to me.

Th-This is a still shot…! No matter how much I try to divert my thoughts, my beautiful-girl brain keeps finding and creating beautiful-girl demand on its own…!

“Ghk—cough cough… Ugh—”
“Kei! Stay with me!”

Clam desperately called my name.

But my head was already spinning.

Starreader’s Staff… I’m sorry.

And while I’m at it… mind if I eat this porridge?

Now that things have come to this… right?

“I’m… fine.”
“But…”
“More importantly—that. You’re going to feed me, aren’t you? You’re a good cook. I’m looking forward to it.”
“R-Right. Hikari taught me, so I’ve gotten better. I… I want to make you happy.”

STOP ADDING BEAUTIFUL GIRL POINTS, CLAM!

My body’s gonna explode!

If that happens, beautiful-girl particles will scatter across a 10,000-kilometer radius!

Just stick to “ahh~” and nothing else, okay?!

“Then, let’s eat.”
“O-Okay. …Ah… ahh~”
“—!?”

In stark contrast to her earlier pushiness, Clam’s cheeks flushed slightly as she hesitantly offered a spoonful of porridge, looking up at me through her lashes.

At that moment, my heart stopped.

“—————”

Death came suddenly for me—the one even an angel couldn’t kill.

But it wasn’t the end.

The beautiful-girl particles coursing through my body instantly activated, restarting my heart.

My love for beautiful girls acted upon my flesh, dragging me back from the brink of death.

It was the true light of life—like the radiance of the stars.

A miracle born from my will to not die before receiving a beautiful girl’s “ahh~”.

“H-How is it? Good?”
“Yes. Delicious enough to die for.”
“O-Oh… okay. I’m glad.”

I’m glad too.

Glad to be alive.

And what a sweet bite it was.

The porridge Clam fed me surpassed Michelin three-star dining by far.

Yeah, my body’s adjusting now. At this rate, I’ll only die a few more times under Clam’s care!

“O-Okay, next bite—”
“Giggle, why are you so nervous? Relax.”

My condition’s terrible, but I’ll manage.

Though if another beautiful girl shows up, things might get bad.

I’ll be doing shuttle runs between this world and the afterlife.

“Kei, open up.”

Clam held the spoon as she spoke.

Just as I opened my mouth—

“—Kei, I heard you were sick, so I came. Can I come in? I’m coming in (fast talk).”

A rapid-fire voice rang out, and the next second, the door swung open.

Someone stepped inside.

It was Rinka—with intense eyes.

WHY????

“I’m good… at nursing. So, leave it to me…!”

Her bloodshot gaze locked onto me as she declared this.

A soft tch came from beside me.

“…Thanks for coming. But it’s fine. I’m taking care of Kei.”
“No no no, it’s tough alone, right? I’m saying I’ll help.”
“Heeh…”
“Ahaha.”

Rinka and Clam smiled at each other.

They get along so well! Nice!

But damn… I didn’t expect Rinka to show up too…

This is getting out of hand.

At this rate, I’ll die several more times.

Hang in there, my body…!

“Cough… giggle, you two seem like you’re having fun.”

I steeled myself.

This battle—I must win.

Now begins… the OVER-MYSTERIOUS NURSING TIME!