"Do you remember where you were before you came here?" Sasame asked the girl.
She frowned, swallowing the porridge thoughtfully.
"All I remember is a lot of light," she replied.
"Hayate, did you find her in a Leafe shell?" Sasame asked, turning to look for Hayate.
"He left a while ago," Kei said in a matter-of-fact voice.
"I see," Sasame said, sighing.
"Well, once you're done eating, I can give you a little tour of our home, if you'd like," Sasame offered. The girl nodded.
"I've found you a change of clothes," Go said happily, coming back into the room. He held a school uniform in his hands, complete with baggy socks and plain brown shoes.
Sasame got to his feet, his eyes blazing.
"That is not for her," he hissed, grabbing the clothes from Go. A flicker of anger ran through Go's eyes.
"You can't be in denial forever—you and Hayate," he said sharply.
"Forgive me," Sasame said, turning to the girl on the bed who was watching the entire interaction in confusion, "But I'll find something else for you to wear, okay?"
The girl nodded, watching the school uniform carefully. It seemed familiar somehow…
She suddenly felt sleepy and placed the half-eaten bowl of porridge onto the table beside the bed.
"Rest. It seems you've used a lot of your leafe coming here," Kei said. She nodded and curled up to sleep once more.
"There's no way it's not her!" Go cried out.
"Himeno is dead, you know that as well as I do. Whoever that girl is, she's only resembles Himeno on the surface," Sasame said.
"Just because she disappeared into light doesn't mean she died!" Go resisted, "She could have been transported to Leafenia…"
"Leafenia doesn't exist. If it did, would our world be in the state it is now?" Sasame countered.
"Damn, you've been like this since Takako disappeared. If I didn't know better, you've become more bitter than Hayate has," Go replied heatedly.
"You're going to wake the kids with your shouting," Kei said as he walked past them. They both fell silent. Go turned away with a huff to return to the living room, while Sasame stood rooted to his spot in the hallway.
"Kei, what do you think about the girl Hayate found?" Sasame asked.
"There's no doubt that she's the pretear. I could taste the leafe flowing through her when I kissed her. As to whether she is Himeno or not, I'd say it's too early to tell," Kei said in a matter-of-factly.
"Everything's always been so cut and dry for you, hasn't it?" Sasame asked, managing a small smile.
"That would be because everything is that simple," Kei replied, picking Hajime up off the couch.
Sasame started as he heard the door click open. Hayate walked in, blood staining on his clothes around his abdomen.
"Where the hell did you go?" Go asked when he saw Hayate's wound. Sasame pulled out the few bandages and cloth they had and placed some whiskey onto a small sheet of clean bedding.
Hayate removed his shirt in silence, ignoring Go. He winced as Sasame placed the alcohol-soaked cloth on the gash that ran across his stomach.
"I know you like your midnight walks, but it's been getting more dangerous recently," Sasame said softly, gently disinfecting the wound.
Hayate indicated to the bag he had brought in with him. Kei opened it up and pulled out several cans of food.
"Where did you find this?" he asked. They had been running dangerously low on food recently, but were doing their best to manage. This sudden wealth of food would keep them going for a month at least, even with the girl.
"Went into the Upper City," Hayate replied, inhaling sharply as Sasame pressed into his wound.
"You could've gotten killed!" Go said loudly, waking Mannen.
"Wha…who…" he said sleepily, when he saw the bag of food.
"Food!" he said happily, sitting up. Hayate managed a small smile when he saw Mannen's enthusiasm.
"You can have a whole can if you want today," Hayate said.
"Thanks!" Mannen said, racing over to the bag to pick a can of food. He turned to face Hayate and realized that he was injured.
"What happened?" he asked, holding the can in his hand tightly.
"It looks like a bullet grazed his skin," Kei said with clinical detachment.
"But only the Upper City police have guns…" Mannen said, realization dawning on him.
"You went to Upper City!" he said, "Take me with you next time!"
Go whacked him on the head and said firmly, "You're not going anywhere, you brat!"
"I'm not a brat!" Mannen retorted, unsuccessfully trying to punch his older brother, Go.
"Where's the girl?" Hayate asked, although he didn't want to know the answer.
"She's sleeping again. Oh and Go tried to give her Himeno's old school uniform to change into," Sasame said.
Hayate rose to his feet in anger.
"Who gave you permission to touch her clothes?" Hayate hissed.
"I don't need permission! Himeno doesn't belong to only you!" Go yelled.
Hayate grabbed a roll of bandages and left the room, seething. It was true, no one owned Himeno—no one ever could…or ever will, he thought, his anger subsiding into sorrow and guilt.
She was dead because of him, a fact that he could never erase. He had failed his duties as a knight. As her protector. If this girl was indeed the pretear, she had the potential to change this world. But Hayate was not willing to sacrifice another pretear again. He would fix this world and atone for his sins alone.