It was a summer when both were still young. Shion, with her lively and mischievous personality, dragged Nozomi everywhere to play. They roamed nearly every corner of their small town, but for Shion, it was never enough. So, she pulled Nozomi toward a nearby forest. Back then, they lived in a quiet town, not the bustling city they'd later know.
"Nomi-chan, I heard there's a beautiful stream nearby. Let's go check it out!" Shion's young voice bubbled with uncontainable excitement.
"No way. Our parents told us not to go too far," Nozomi replied, as always, the calm and rational one. She was the one who reined in Shion's reckless ideas before they could spiral, and this time was no exception.
"Come on, you promised if I got good grades, you'd grant me one wish!" Shion ran over, tugging Nozomi's hand and pouting playfully.
Nozomi frowned. She had made that promise, and now she felt foolish for it. But a promise to Shion was unbreakable.
"Fine, but just for a bit. We have to be back by dinner."
"Yay! Let's go!" Shion cheered, yanking Nozomi along.
Nozomi, trailing behind, could only smile and shake her head. If she couldn't stop trouble from happening, she'd at least protect Shion when it did.
The memory flickered in Shion's mind like an old film reel—summer sunlight filtering through the leaves, the hum of cicadas, and Nozomi's small hand being pulled along amidst laughter.
They ventured deeper into the forest than planned. The stream was nowhere in sight, and the path grew increasingly treacherous. By the time Shion realized it, they were surrounded by dense trees.
"Uh… this doesn't look like… the path we took?" Shion slowed, glancing around and scratching her head in confusion.
Nozomi stopped, sighing. "I knew it…"
"Sorry…" Shion mumbled, guiltily staring at the ground.
Nozomi let out another sigh, then stepped closer and took Shion's hand. "Don't cry. Follow me. We'll head back the way we came."
Even at a young age, Nozomi was always calm and steady. When Shion panicked, Nozomi's grip was enough to make everything feel okay.
Somehow, after wandering, Nozomi led them to the very stream Shion had wanted to see.
"Wow, it's gorgeous!" Shion ran over, crouching to admire the crystal-clear water.
"Don't get too close," Nozomi said, stepping up beside her like a bodyguard ready to intervene.
"Look, a fish!" Shion pointed at a small fish darting beneath the surface.
"Huh, there are fish here? I thought there usually weren't any," Nozomi said, crouching beside her.
"How do you know there aren't usually fish here?" Shion's mind wasn't always quick, but this time she caught the slip in Nozomi's words. "And how did you know exactly how to get here!?"
"Uh, well… I…"
Now it was Nozomi's turn to scratch her head, her eyes darting away.
"Hmph, have you been here before?" Shion puffed out her cheeks.
"No way…" Nozomi lied casually, but Shion noticed her pinky twitching slightly—a habit only Shion knew, a telltale sign of Nozomi's fibs.
"You jerk!" Shion pounced, tackling Nozomi, and both tumbled onto the ground.
They rolled through the dry leaves, their laughter echoing through the quiet forest. Under the cool shade of the trees, the afternoon sun cast dappled light that danced across their faces. Shion pinned Nozomi down, her mischievous face hovering close, eyes sparkling.
"So you snuck out here alone without me!" Shion wrinkled her nose, pretending to be mad.
"I didn't sneak!" Nozomi tried to push her off but couldn't help laughing. "I just… wanted to make sure it was safe before bringing you."
"Ugh, you sound like an old lady," Shion stuck out her tongue, but her heart warmed.
They lay there a bit longer, hands clasped, gazing at the blue sky through the leaves. No worries, no fears—just the hum of cicadas and the peace of summer.
"Hey, Nomi-chan, if I ever move away, would you miss me?" Shion asked out of the blue.
"Why ask that all of a sudden?" Nozomi countered.
"Just answer!" Shion pressed.
Nozomi paused, then nodded slightly. "Yeah, I'd miss you."
"Would you come find me?" Shion asked again.
Nozomi nodded again.
"Wow… I guess I'm pretty important to you, huh?" Shion grinned, scooting closer to Nozomi.
"Don't get too close, it's hot!" Nozomi pushed back, but her hands lacked any real force.
"What's this? Are you embarrassed?" Shion teased, noticing Nozomi's ears turning red and leaning into the mischief.
They played and teased a while longer until Shion's curiosity pulled her to explore. This place had been her dream destination, and now she wanted to discover everything.
Shion sprang up, scampering to the stream, her eyes gleaming like she'd found treasure. She picked up a smooth, round stone and held it up proudly. "Look at this! It's even got a light purple tint!"
Nozomi sat up, brushing leaves off her dress, and walked over. She glanced at the stone, then at Shion's beaming face. "It's nice… but not as nice as the goofy look on your face when you picked it up."
"Hey! Who're you calling goofy!?" Shion protested, but soon burst into laughter, clutching the stone to her chest like a precious gem.
After that, she darted around, touching trees, peering into the water, and catching tiny insects. "Nomi-chan, look! A red dragonfly!" — "Whoa, that one looks weird!" — "This tree smells amazing!"
At first, Nozomi stood watchfully, like an older sister minding her hyper sibling. But soon, Shion's infectious energy pulled her in. They explored mossy tree roots, splashed in the cool stream, and even competed to see who could skip stones farther. No prizes were needed—just their laughter ringing through the forest.
Finally, as the sun dipped westward, painting everything golden, Shion plopped down by the stream, dangling her feet in the water.
"I wish this place could stay like this forever…" she murmured.
Nozomi sat beside her, saying softly, "As long as you remember it, it won't disappear."
Shion looked at Nozomi, her eyes reflecting the sunset on the water. "So, if I ever get lost… would you wait for me here?"
Nozomi didn't answer right away. She watched the flowing water, her hand unconsciously tightening around Shion's. "Yeah. I'll wait."
Shion giggled, and they sat together a bit longer until the sun began to set. Nozomi noticed clouds gathering, signaling an approaching storm.
"We need to head back. It's not safe here anymore," Nozomi said.
"Wait, just one more… I want this stone!" Shion leaned forward, reaching for a stone under the water, but her arms weren't long enough.
Suddenly, the wind picked up, and the weather shifted in an instant. Nozomi sensed danger and moved to grab the stone for Shion when a bolt of lightning cracked across the sky.
The sound startled Nozomi, but before she could recover, Shion's scream pierced the air.
"Nomi-chan, help me!"
The lightning had spooked Shion, causing her to lose balance and fall into the stream. The normally gentle stream now roared like a beast ready to swallow her.
"Shion!!" Nozomi rushed forward, grabbing Shion's hand to pull her up, but the current was too strong.
Nozomi held Shion's wrist tightly, but the icy, raging water fought to tear them apart. She gritted her teeth, clinging to a nearby rock for balance, but the rain began to fall, making the ground slick and her footing unsteady.
"Hold on, Shion!" Nozomi shouted, her voice nearly drowned by the pounding rain and howling wind.
Shion flailed in the water, her eyes wide with panic but still clutching Nozomi's hand. "I don't want to leave you… Nomi-chan…!"
"We're going home together!" Nozomi yelled, her body trembling from cold and fear. Her eyes burned with determination, and in one desperate moment, she summoned all her strength to haul Shion up.
"Nomi-chan!" Shion gasped, barely pulled to safety, when she saw Nozomi's body slipping toward the water.
"Nomi-chan!!!"
Shion reached out, but her hand missed. Nozomi was swept away by the current, flashing a reassuring smile before disappearing.
"Nomi-chan!!!"
Shion's scream echoed through the forest…
…
What happened next was a blur to Shion. The townsfolk, noticing the girls hadn't returned, sent out a search party. Nozomi was found that same night, her breathing faint, her body covered in wounds, the worst being a long gash across her waist.
Shion, seeing Nozomi, felt like her world was shattering. Nozomi looked as fragile as thin glass, ready to break at any moment.
For days, Shion stayed by Nozomi's bedside, sobbing endlessly, her words a torrent of apologies and self-blame.
Nearly two weeks later, Nozomi finally woke, her condition stabilized but a large, gruesome scar now etched across her waist.
"Nomi-chan, I'm so sorry…" Shion threw herself at Nozomi, her emotions overwhelming.
Nozomi only chuckled weakly, her frail hands ruffling Shion's hair. "Did you forget our promise? You're my princess, and I'm your knight… A knight will always protect their princess."
…
Shion snapped awake, unaware of when she'd drifted off. Those memories were ones she'd never forget. She owed her life to Nozomi, and now, she'd do anything to keep her friend safe.
She glanced at Nozomi, still deep in sleep, her face occasionally contorting—whether from nightmares or pain, Shion couldn't tell.
"Nozomi, even knights get weak sometimes. I may be a useless princess, but I can do something for you!" Shion whispered to herself. She reached out to touch Nozomi, but her hand was stopped by the cold handcuffs.
At that moment, the door swung open!