The Ice Princess continued to cling to me tightly, not letting go. I gently patted her back.
"Have you been doing well?" I asked.
"That's what I should be asking you," she replied. "I've been observing everything from within Aya."
With that, the Ice Princess finally let go. I realized that while I knew Aya and the Ice Princess shared a connection, I hadn't quite grasped how it worked.
"You can see everything Aya sees?" I asked, curious.
"Yes, everything Aya experiences, I do as well, and it's mutual. Right now, she's aware of this conversation."
I waved my hand in front of her eyes, testing to see if Aya might respond. Of course, she didn't react.
I thought I'd ask Aya herself when she returned, but the Ice Princess turned toward Nina-chan.
"I suppose this would be our first meeting, wouldn't it? The girl from the remote island," she said.
"...W-Who are you? You're not Aya, are you?" Nina asked, her voice quivering with surprise as she stared at Aya's altered appearance.
Realizing I hadn't explained this part yet, I began to speak, but the Ice Princess introduced herself first.
"I am the Ice Princess, a 'Sixth Rank' monster," she said.
"...What?! Why is there a monster inside Aya?!" Nina screamed, clutching my hand with such force that it hurt.
How should I even begin to explain? I turned to Nina, trying to figure out where to start.
"Well, it's a long story..." I began.
"There's no need to soften it," the Ice Princess interrupted. "I became a monster because of him," she said, pointing straight at me.
Nina's gaze shifted to me, her eyes wide with confusion.
It wasn't exactly untrue, though it was misleading. I took one of the treasures out from my chest pocket and held it out for her to see.
"This... this is what she means."
The treasure was the crystallized magic of a monster I'd exorcised a year ago during our summer training camp. Nina's eyes were drawn to the crystal in my hand.
The Ice Princess continued, "That man was named Harunaga Akino, a creature steeped in the worst parts of humanity. Although it's not him here—only his essence carried forward in the form of a parasite."
Nina blinked, still struggling to process everything. The vending machine's low hum filled the silence around us, as there was no one else in the room.
After a pause, the Ice Princess continued, "I was made into an experiment—a stepping stone in his path to becoming a monster."
"...Then why are you inside Aya?" Nina asked, her voice strained.
She struggled to continue, but she couldn't hold back.
"Then I saw Itsuki learning magic on his own, getting stronger. If I were the one to stay behind at the swordsmith's, then maybe he would've had his sword made. That would have been my value... but, but..." Her hand and voice trembled more and more.
I wanted to tell her it was okay, that she didn't have to do any of this for me. But I knew it wouldn't be enough to make her believe it.
"I wanted to stay with Itsuki. I know it's selfish... I know I should've stayed, but I didn't want to go, even though that's the only way I can be of use to him," Nina said, her voice raw and desperate.
Then, with all the strength she could muster, Nina forced out her final words.
"I... I don't even understand my own feelings..."
Nina's body trembled as she began to cry quietly. I placed a comforting hand on her back, gently stroking in an attempt to soothe her.
The Ice Princess looked at Nina and said, "Nina, I am on your side. And not just me—Itsuki and Aya as well. We're all here for you."
"...Then what should I do?" Nina asked, her voice choked with tears.
"Cry," the Ice Princess said softly.
The Ice Princess's response surprised us all.
"Let your sorrow flow out with your tears. Cry as much as you need. And when you're done, look around you. There will be people here reaching out to you, right, Itsuki?"
"Yes, exactly," I replied, nodding.
"I'll always be on your side, Nina-chan."
"And mine too, right?" the Ice Princess added, a small smile playing on her lips.
"...I'm here for everyone," I replied, slightly embarrassed.
That's just who I was—I didn't want to see anyone close to me suffer, nor did I want to lose them.
"So, Nina, let yourself cry as much as you need," I said.
The Ice Princess's words were kind in a way I hadn't expected, and as if her purpose was fulfilled, she vanished, leaving Aya-chan back in control.
Aya-chan gently stroked Nina's hair as she cried.
"When you're sad, it's best to let those feelings out little by little, or else they'll just keep building up inside. So let it out, Nina-chan."
Then, she wrapped her arms around Nina and held her close until she calmed down. When Nina's tears finally subsided, Aya-chan turned to me, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Itsuki-kun, you know... you can always come to me if you ever need help too," she said, a bit shyly.
"Thank you, Aya-chan," I replied, grateful.
"I-I only did the same for Nina-chan, that's all..." Aya stammered, face red as she hugged me tightly too.