Hey there! As you can probably guess from the title, this piece is about everyone's favorite Kansai speaking, airhead healer. After reading chapter 252, I just had to write this.

Truthfully, I meant for this to be out before 253, but in the middle of writing I just suddenly drew a blank and didn't really recover until now. Whoops! XP

Anyway, hope you enjoy this little piece!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Secchan, when I'm with you, I feel truly happy.

You worrying about me, you having fun beside me, you helping me with chores and what not, everything you do makes me so, so, happy.

You're everything to me. You are a classmate, a fellow Partner, a guardian, a best friend, a sister, and a hero.

That's right, to me, you are a hero. Because you've told me that, for my sake, just for me, you'd walk to Hell and back.

You can't even begin to understand how happy that made me feel. To know that there's someone willing to go to any length for you, that is something most people can only dream of finding.

You, Secchan, are not perfect. You can be overly serious when there's no need. Just the smallest things can make you flustered and embarrassed. You sometimes smother me with protection.

But it's all right.

Because that's who you are. And in spite of, no, because of those flaws, I care for you all the more.

Still…as far back as I can remember, you've always placed both my happiness and safety above even yours.

For you to do something like that, I can't stand it. I'm happy you feel that strongly towards me, of course, but I can't accept it. For you to sacrifice everything, for me, I…I don't want that.

You are my best, dearest friend, Setsuna Sakurazaka, and I can't bear the thought of you being hurt or unhappy any less that you could bear the thought of me, particularly if it was for my sake!

We're friends, and that is an unchangeable fact. Even if you weren't strong, even if it wasn't your duty to protect me, it would still be true.

But you are, and it is.

That's why I want to become strong as well. Just as my wellbeing pushes you, yours pushes me. Just as you protect me, I want to protect you.

Because you are precious to me. Not as a sword or a guardian, but as a friend. A beloved, irreplaceable friend.

My wish is that we can always be together, no matter what happens. Even if times are hard, or the very world itself should turn on us, I want to be together with you, until the last of our days.

I know you worry about me as well as the question Eva-chan gave you: sword or happiness.

You don't have to worry about it. For I know that you are strong, and this happiness we share will only help you grow stronger.

To be happy doesn't mean you are weak. To be happy is to be human, and you, Setsuna Sakurazaki, are human.

Not a sword.

Not a demon.

A human. A fourteen-year-old girl still confused about what life holds for her.

It isn't a sin to be lost in life's maze of choices. It is that very struggle, in fact, that brings about true strength.

You will conquer that maze.

This I believe.

This I know.

And, just as you will acquire your true strength, so will I. I, too, must acquire strength, the strength to protect you, to be able to walk along side you, to see your smile.

Though my desire is to be come a Magister Magi, to do so without you by my side would be meaningless.

I know I've already said this but, to me, you're irreplaceable. And that's why, that's why I can ask this of no one but you!

Aside from you, I have no one else that I desire as my partner.

So, please?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Well, what'd you think? I tried to capture more of the best friend/sister angle rather than the one I had in my last KonoSetsu piece. Think I did all right?