When Sora wished her good luck, she nodded back. “It’ll be fine. And we’ll do our best to find something out.”

In the end, striking out in as many directions as they could manage was about all they could do. Although she was worried for Sora as her friend, she didn’t want to continuously nag him about being careful while the investigation went on. He already knew that. And he had to know his friends were behind him until it was over.

It was because Tsubaki considered him a friend that she said, “It’s nothing! I’m sure you’d be there for me or someone else who needed it. Whatever you decide to do tonight, don’t bother going at it alone. We’re stronger when we’re together.”

It was true for everyone, no matter who they were or where they came from.