Alice's light snores fill the air. The sheets rustle as Alice turns over to face Kaina. Kaina quietly gazes at Alice, eyes roving all across Alice's sleeping face…

… Kaina's wide awake again. It can't be helped, really. Sleep isn't something Kaina's really needed after making her Pact. Her invulnerable body constantly courses with energy. Mana burns, flooding through invisible channels in Kaina's soul. Her mana reactor constantly pulses, brimming with heat and life. An inexhaustible font of energy that fuels Kaina, makes it so that she doesn't have to eat as much or drink as much.

So she doesn't have to sleep at all.

Kaina remembers making her Pact. Remembers staring into the black, beady eyes of the fluffy Contractor that appeared from on high to bestow her with this enormous strength. At that moment, soaked in blood, tears trailing down her cheeks…

Kaina felt like she'd swallowed the sun.

So. Sleep doesn't come easily to Kaina. Not these days. It became another inconvenience. Something extraneous that Kaina decided to just… Quietly cut out of her life. It was too difficult trying to go to sleep - too many thoughts in Kaina's mind. Too many nightmares when she finally did drift off. It seemed simpler to just… Not bother.

It was simple to fall asleep in Alice's lap, though. It was so blissfully simple…

… So why is it difficult to fall asleep now? When Alice is right in front of Kaina?

The blonde girl reaches out with a trembling hand, shying away before she can actually touch Alice's slumbering face. For a brief moment, her fingers ghost over Alice's luxurious pink locks of hair.

A part of Kaina doesn't believe that… This is real. That she's really lying here, right next to… To Alice. A part of Kaina thinks she might still be dreaming, passed out in Alice's soft lap. Was that real too? Is this some kind of fever dream? A hallucination?

… Infinity Princess can tell if this is real or not. Kaina's eyes flutter shut. There's a brief flash of rainbow light as she transforms…

Infinity Princess opens her eyes, raiment flickering to life around her.

Security sweep. Scan room. No observers. No cameras. No magical traps or enchantments, no visual imperfections that would hint towards the presence of illusions. Proceed.

Run diagnostics. Tactile senses okay. Olfactory senses okay. Aural senses okay. Vision okay. All senses cleared. Scanning.

Alice Takanashi is sleeping. Scanning. Breathing normal. Pulse normal. Vital signs normal and stable. Eyes flickering, REM sleep. Dreaming. Hope they're good dreams.

… Irrelevant thought. Odd.

Run diagnostic. Query, is Alice Takanashi's presence impacting Infinity Princess' combat performance?

Check biometrics. Heart rate elevated. Breathing unsteady. Skin flushed. Vision… Oddly fixated on Alice Takanashi. Unusual. Probable hormone release detected. Elevated temperatures. Abnormal thought patterns. Sense of… Euphoria. Relaxation.

Tentative conclusion, Alice Takanashi is significantly impacting Infinity Princess' combat performance. Requires further experimentation. Testing hypothesis.

Extend hand. Reach out to touch Alice Takanashi's face. Fingers cup cheeks. Soft…

Suppress flinch. Alice Takanashi has reached up to… To hold Infinity Princess' hands. Target emits nonverbal noise. Face nuzzles against hand.

… Not unpleasant.

… What is this feeling?

Data unclear. Check archives. Processing. Conversation tangent found. Replaying.

"Alright Kaina, your big sis Mitsuko is gonna tell you all about love. Now, keep in mind, there are different kinds of love. See, according to the ancient Greek model…"

Possible conclusion. Emotion Infinity Princess is feeling is… Love.

What is love?

Replay tangent. Processing. Love. Noun. Describes intense feelings of deep affection. Greek model of love – describes six different kinds of love. Agape, denotes feelings for one's children and spouse. Eros, denotes sexual desire. Philia, denotes affectionate regard, friendship. Storge, denotes familial love. Philautia, denotes self-love. Xenia, relates to tradition of hospitality.

… Feeling remains unclear. Frustrating. Attempt to process. Processing.

Alice Takanashi is conventionally attractive. Immensely so. Feeling could be related to sexual desire. Alice Takanashi is affectionate. Immensely so. Feeling could be related to friendship. Alice Takanashi has displayed excellent hospitality towards Infinity Princess. Feeling could be related to that...

Mitsuko would've known how to categorize this feeling.

... Mitsuko isn't here anymore.

… Attempt to examine this feeling further. Query: What does Infinity Princess feel when she looks at Target Alice?

Infinity Princess does not want to leave Alice Takanashi's side. Infinity Princess… Wants to protect Alice Takanashi. Infinity Princess understands now why Mitsuko wanted to make a world where everybody was happy.

A world where everybody is happy is a world where Alice Takanashi is happy.

A world where Alice Takanashi is happy… Is the best world. The most optimal world.

Log this resolution for future use. Append to Mission directives. Infinity Princess must create a world where Alice Takanashi is happy and does not cry.

… Query. Can Infinity Princess stay by Alice Takanashi's side?

Conclusion: Infinity Princess cannot remain by Alice Takanashi's side. Infinity Princess must work to create a world where Alice Takanashi can be happy. Infinity Princess must create a world where everybody is happy and nobody cries.

Paradox detected. Alice Takanashi is happy when Infinity Princess is happy. Infinity Princess' absence could lead to Alice Takanashi's sadness. Infinity Princess could make Alice Takanashi cry if she leaves.

But…

… Acknowledgement. Infinity Princess has withheld crucial information from Alice Takanashi. Infinity Princess has only ever interacted with Alice Takanashi in her civilian guise.

Probable Conclusion: Infinity Princess cannot stay by Alice Takanashi's side as long as this falsehood remains. To do so would be to lie. Promised Mitsuko not to ever lie.

Secondary Conclusion: Infinity Princess may not be able to stay by Alice Takanashi's side if this falsehood is resolved.

Supposition One: Infinity Princess has been inadvertently placing Alice Takanashi in danger. Many factors seek to prevent Infinity Princess from fulfilling her mission. Supernatural creatures. Criminal organizations. Corporations. These factors are illogical, but they remain extant. These factors will target Alice Takanashi if they realize she has been interacting with Infinity Princess.

Supposition Two: Alice Takanashi may not react well once she learns about Infinity Princess' true nature. Check logs. Access archives. 90% of Infinity Princess' past acquaintances took revelation poorly. Screaming. Violence. Accusations.

Supposition Three: The nature of Infinity Princess' operations will lead to a breakdown in the relationship between Infinity Princess and Alice Takanashi. Magical Girl career is a high-stress career. Hours worked are long. Unlikely relationship can last, if relationship even existed at all. All relationships Infinity Princess has ever had have been terminated because of this factor. Only relationships left are with coworkers.

Supposition Four: The Mission must be upheld. Promised Mitsuko. Unclear if Infinity Princess will prioritize mission parameters or Alice Takanashi if a conflict arises between the two.

Query: Is Alice Takanashi's unhappiness inevitable if Infinity Princess remains in her life?

Conclusion unclear.

Reprocess. Append Query: Is Alice Takanashi's unhappiness inevitable if Infinity Princess leaves?

Conclusion unclear.

Reprocess.

… Conclusion unclear…

… Query: What does Kaina Shikinami want?

Infinity Princess closes her eyes, her raiment blinking away…

… And Kaina Shikinami reopens her eyes. Turning to lie on her side, she continues to stare at Alice, taking in Alice's soft features, the way her chest heaves ever so slightly as she breathes, the way Alice's bow lips part just the slightest bit as Alice snoozes.

… What exactly does Kaina want at this moment…?

"… I think I love you," Kaina whispers aloud, feeling guilt stab into her chest. "I think I love you, so… Please don't leave… I don't want to leave either, but..."

Her words trail away into the deafening silence that's overtaken this room. Kaina squeezes her eyes shut.

Of course. Of course there's no reply. What an illogical thing to say. Kaina Shikinami doesn't know anything about love, not really. What a stupid, idiotic thing to say to someone who isn't even listening…

… There's one thing Kaina can do though, before she has to go back on patrol. Before she has to leave Alice. Before she goes back to another week working long hours.

Kaina can continue to watch over Alice. Kaina can continue to… To touch Alice's face…

It's selfish, but just this once?

Kaina wants to indulge in this moment.

"I think I love you, so please don't leave… Where I can't follow you..." Kaina murmurs. Whispers like a child reciting a magic spell. That statement's just a bit too wordy though. What would be better…?

"I love you, please don't leave. I love you. Please don't leave. I love you…" Kaina whispers as she continues to carress Alice's lovely heart-shaped face. "Please don't leave, I love you..."