The Testament of Sister New Devil: Daily Life Contract
By [Author Name]
---
*"If you want to protect them, then protect them. If you don't want to, you can refuse. But those girls have nowhere to go."*
Toujou Basara has been alone for a year now. His mother is dead, his father is always overseas on photography assignments, and the fifteen-year-old has learned to fill the silence of an empty house with the rhythm of his own cooking. He's left his violent past behind—or so he tells himself. The mark beneath his eye and the strange pattern on his wr
The Testament of Sister New Devil: Daily Life Contract - The Bracelet of Reversal ~I've Decided to Protect You~
The air in the intensive care unit was frozen at the bottom of the night.
Only the ECG monitor traced its steady green waves. Beep, beep, beep. The sterile electronic sound was swallowed by the walls and faded away.
Naruse Mio sat on the round stool beside the bed. Her long black hair clung to her back, and her purple eyes were swollen. She had cried countless times, dried out, and cried again.
Both her hands cradled Toujou Basara's left hand. Her white fingers trembled faintly.
"Please, wake up..."
Her voice was hoarse. How many hours had she repeated those words?
"I want to apologize properly. Because of me, you ended up like this... I'm truly, so sorry."
Another tear fell onto Basara's hand.
Mio gripped Basara's fingers one by one, as if confirming each. Cold. As if the warmth was slowly escaping.
"There's so much I want to tell you. That the food you made was delicious. That I was happy you protected me. That I'm glad you were there."
The words caught in her throat.
"So please. Open your eyes. Don't leave me alone."
Mio pressed Basara's hand against her forehead. As if praying. As if clinging.
"...I've only ever leaned on you. Because you were kind. Because you forgave everything. I never gave anything back."
Mio's shoulders shook slightly.
"So please. Wake up. Let me give back. Let me protect you. This time, I'll—"
That was when it happened.
In Mio's hands, Basara's finger twitched.
Mio's head shot up.
"...Basara?"
—Light.
The contract ring on Basara's left arm. Its pattern began to emit a faint pale blue glow.
Mio's eyes widened.
"The ring... it's glowing."
The light was weak, but it was definitely pulsing. As if in place of Basara's heart.
In Mio's hands, Basara's fingers moved again—stronger this time.
"Basara! Can you hear me!? Can you hear my voice!?"
Mio clutched his hand. Tears overflowed without end.
"Please, answer me! Basara!"
As if responding to Mio's cry, Basara's heavy eyelids slowly lifted.
His deep brown eyes stared vaguely at the ceiling. Unfocused. But definitely open.
"...Mi... o...?"
His voice was thin as worn-out paper.
"Basara! It's me! Do you know who I am!?"
Mio peered into his face. A tear fell onto Basara's cheek.
Basara slowly moved his eyes. He caught Mio's face. Her tear-swollen eyes. Her blotchy cheeks.
"...Are you crying?"
"I'm not crying!"
Mio wiped her eyes with her sleeve. But the tears wouldn't stop.
"I'm not crying, but... I'm just so happy you woke up..."
Mio said between sobs.
"Idiot... you really are such an idiot...! You got like this because you protected me...!"
Mio's words were so muddled with tears that barely half were intelligible.
But Basara understood them perfectly.
Basara moved his dry lips, just slightly.
"...It's not your fault."
Mio's shoulders jerked.
"...What?"
"I decided to protect you."
Basara spoke each syllable as if confirming it.
"To protect you. So it's not your fault."
Large tears spilled from Mio's eyes, one after another.
"...Why, why would you say that...! You almost died because of me...!"
Mio clung to Basara's hand.
"Because I'm a demon! Because I was targeted! Because I was by your side, you—!"
"Mio."
Basara's voice cut off Mio's words. Weak, yet strangely clear.
"Because you were by my side, I was able to want to protect you."
Mio gasped.
"So don't apologize. You are my precious... family."
That was the moment.
The contract ring on Basara's left arm blazed as if exploding.
Pale blue light filled the hospital room. Mio shut her eyes against the blinding brightness.
"What is this...!"
The light enveloped Basara's body, then flowed into Mio's as well.
Deep in Mio's chest, her own pattern grew hot. Her heart pounded strongly.
"...Warm."
Mio murmured with her eyes still closed.
The power flowing from Basara's ring slowly but surely calmed Mio's raging magical energy.
It felt as though she were being gently held in a pair of large hands.
"This is... the power of the contract..."
Mio placed a hand over her chest.
Her magic, on the verge of running wild, quietly settled.
"Basara... you really are amazing."
When Mio opened her eyes, Basara's gaze was fixed straight on her.
"...The amazing one is you. Your magic called out to me."
Basara smiled, just a little.
"Thanks, Mio. Because of you, I woke up."
Mio felt like crying again.
"...Idiot. I'm the one who should be thanking you."
Mio gripped Basara's hand once more, tightly.
■
The hospital corridor.
The smell of disinfectant mixed with the night air, stinging the nose.
Nonaka Yuki stood leaning against the wall. Her light blue short hair reflected the fluorescent lights, looking pale. The cowlick on top of her head drooped limply.
The communicator in her hand vibrated faintly.
Incoming call. The displayed name read "Mr. K."
Crescent Watcher, Kirigaoka Branch. Yuki's superior.
Yuki hesitated for a moment.
But she couldn't not answer.
"...Hello."
"Nonaka. Report the situation."
A low, emotionless voice.
"...The subject's condition is stable. He hasn't regained consciousness yet, though."
"I see. Now, about that matter."
Yuki's fingers tightened around the communicator.
"The surveillance target's threat level is maximum. Termination authorization is in effect. If there is further contact, execute it."
The cold voice pierced Yuki's ear.
"...What did you just say?"
"Did you not hear me? Termination authorization is in effect. If there is further contact—"
"Why now, of all times..."
Yuki's voice trembled.
"What?"
"Right now, Basara is in the ICU with life-threatening injuries. Mio-chan is crying her heart out thinking it's her fault. And at a time like this, termination...!"
"Nonaka. Don't let personal feelings interfere. This is an order."
"It's not personal feelings. This is about whether you're in your right mind."
Yuki gripped the communicator. Her fingers went white.
"...Nonaka. You are a watcher of the village. Carry out your mission."
"...I know. I know that."
Yuki closed her eyes.
The village's orders. Mio's termination.
Since she was small, she had wanted to protect Basara. She had obeyed the village and become strong.
But now, the one Basara was risking his life to protect was Mio.
"...I."
Yuki pulled the communicator away from her ear.
"I'm going to protect Basara."
She murmured it quietly, but clearly.
Then she cut the communicator's power.
A sterile click echoed down the corridor and vanished.
Yuki slid down against the wall until she was sitting on the floor.
"...Sorry, Mr. K. I'm going to disobey orders."
Tears spilled from Yuki's eyes.
"But I'm staying by Basara's side. That's what's in my... my true heart."
Yuki hugged her knees and cried quietly.
■
First floor of the hospital, in front of the vending machine.
Naruse Maria reached for a can of coffee, then stopped.
Her pink twin-tails looked dull under the fluorescent lights.
In her hand was a single photograph.
A photo of her mother, smiling gently.
Sheila.
Maria held the photo softly against her chest.
"Mom..."
Her voice trembled.
"I promised I'd protect Big Sis. But I couldn't protect Big Bro."
Maria's pink eyes wavered with tears.
"Big Sis was crying so much. Big Bro was bleeding so much. And I couldn't do anything."
Maria clutched the photo.
"But I won't cry anymore. I'm going to get serious. I'll protect Big Sis. And Big Bro too. I won't lose anyone else."
A fierce light kindled in Maria's eyes.
That was when it happened.
"Have you made up your mind?"
A quiet voice came from behind her.
Maria turned around.
Standing there was Toujou Jin.
A tall man in a black coat. Basara's father.
"...Jin-san."
Jin looked at the photo in Maria's hand.
"Sheila, is it. Your mother."
"...Yeah."
Maria nodded slightly.
"I made a promise with my mom. That I'd absolutely protect Big Sis."
"I see."
Jin said briefly.
"Then take this with you."
Jin pulled a small key from his coat's inner pocket.
An old, silver key.
"A spare seal key."
"...Huh?"
Maria's eyes widened.
"Your seal key is nearing its limit. Use this. It'll extend the time you can stay in adult form a little."
"But this is yours, Jin-san..."
"I don't need it. You keep it."
Jin pressed the key into Maria's hand.
"...Jin-san, thank you."
Maria cradled the key carefully in both hands.
"I'm going to get serious. I'll absolutely protect Big Sis and Big Bro."
"Good. I'm counting on you, Maria."
Jin lightly patted Maria's head.
"I'll come again tomorrow. Until then, take care of Mio and Basara."
"Yeah!"
Maria nodded vigorously.
■
Before dawn.
A shadow fell on the hospital's emergency stairwell.
Black robe. A hood covering the face.
An assassin of the Valgrind faction.
"...Found you."
A low voice dissolved into the darkness.
The assassin slipped soundlessly into the hospital corridor.
Outside the intensive care unit.
It was the moment Mio stepped out of the room to buy water.
"—!"
A black shadow stood in Mio's path.
"W-Who are you...!"
Mio backed away.
"Naruse Mio, daughter of the Demon Lord. I'll be taking your life."
The assassin drew a dagger. The poisonous purple blade glinted in the darkness.
"No...!"
Mio cried out.
That was when it happened.
"Get away from Mio...!"
The door of the intensive care unit opened from the inside.
Standing there was Basara.
Still in his hospital gown. He must have ripped out the IV needle by force—blood seeped from the back of his hand.
"Don't touch Mio...!"
Basara braced himself against the wall and stood in front of Mio.
"Basara! No, you can't move yet—!"
"I'm fine."
Basara shielded Mio behind him.
His legs were shaking. His vision blurred.
But he couldn't back down.
"Hoh. What's a dying man playing at?"
The assassin sneered.
"If you get in my way, I'll kill you first."
The assassin raised the dagger.
At that instant—
"Like hell you will."
A pale blue light streaked down the corridor.
Yuki leaped in front of Basara and Mio. In her right hand, a blade of pale blue light.
The spirit blade Sakuya.
"Yuki...!"
"Get back, Basara. Mio-chan too."
Yuki raised her blade.
"A watcher. Don't interfere."
"The one interfering is you."
Yuki's voice rang cold.
"I won't let you lay a single finger on these two."
Yuki kicked off the floor.
Clang!!
Dagger and spirit blade clashed violently. Sparks scattered.
"You little girl!"
The assassin swung the dagger wildly. Yuki dodged by a hair's breadth and countered.
But her opponent was a Valgrind faction assassin. A skilled fighter.
Yuki was gradually being pushed back.
"Kuh...!"
The dagger grazed Yuki's cheek. A red line appeared.
"Yuki!"
Basara tried to step forward.
"Big Bro, stay back!"
A pink light raced down the corridor.
Maria held up the silver key.
"Seal key, release!"
The key radiated light.
Maria's body was wrapped in light, and the next moment—
Maria in her adult form lunged at the assassin.
"I won't let you touch Big Sis or Big Bro ever again!"
Maria's fist caught the assassin in the side.
"Gu...!"
The assassin staggered.
But didn't fall.
"A succubus brat...!"
The assassin swung the dagger down at Maria.
"Watch out!"
Yuki shoved Maria out of the way.
The dagger slashed Yuki's arm.
"Yuki-chan!"
"I'm fine, this is nothing...!"
Yuki, bleeding, readied her blade again.
But even with the two of them working together, they couldn't reach the assassin.
The assassin was skilled enough to fight them both at once.
"This is the end."
The assassin raised the dagger high.
"Damn... I still don't have the strength...!"
Basara cursed his own body.
The poison was eating away at him. His limbs wouldn't obey.
(I decided to protect them. To protect Mio, to protect everyone—!)
The ring on Basara's left arm blazed brightly once more.
Pale blue light coursed through Basara's entire body.
"—This is...!"
Power surged forth.
Mio's magical energy flowed into Basara t
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