"Shizu, can I ask you something?"
Kaito's expression turned slightly serious as he looked across at Shizu.
"Of course, Kaito. Please go ahead."
"I can tell you've been suppressing the spirit inside you this whole time. Have you ever considered a full fusion?"
Shizu considered the question calmly before answering.
"There are two reasons I haven't. The first is that my body can no longer support a proper fusion with a spirit. The second," she paused, "is that when I leave this world, I want to leave as a human. Not as something else."
The quiet weight in her words wasn't lost on Rimuru.
"Shizu, is your body already that bad? Haven't you seen anyone about it?"
Kaito reached over and gently rested a hand on Rimuru's head.
"Rimuru. You don't need to worry. I can heal her."
Rimuru's eyes went wide.
"Really, Kai-chan?"
"Yes. When have I ever lied to you?"
Shizu watched the two of them and smiled softly.
"You really do have a wonderful bond, you two."
She turned to Rimuru.
"Rimuru, please don't worry about me. I've lived long enough. I'm tired, and honestly, being able to go like this... I think that's already a blessing."
"What?"
Elyun shot upright from her seat and threw her arms around Shizu before she could say another word.
"Shizu-nee, how could you say that? You seemed perfectly fine just a moment ago!"
"You can't just... sniffle... sniffle..."
Shizu raised her hand and stroked Elyun's head gently, her expression soft.
"I'm sorry for hiding it from you all for so long. Meeting all of you on this last journey... it's made me feel truly blessed. So please, don't cry for me."
"Sniffle... Shizu-nee..."
Elyun only cried harder. Kaval and Gido, standing nearby, both had red-rimmed eyes as they bowed their heads to Shizu.
"Shizu-nee, thank you for looking after us all this time. We really are grateful. (T ^ T)"
"Hehe. Kaval, Gido, look after Elyun for me. Boys should protect girls."
"Yes! You have our word, Shizu-nee! *2"
Kaito watched the whole scene unfold with a slight twitch of his mouth. A vein slowly appeared on his forehead.
"Everyone. Did none of you hear what I just said? I said I can fix Shizu's condition."
Elyun's head snapped up from Shizu's arms.
"Eh!!! Really, Kaito?!"
"Of course."
Elyun spun around to Shizu with shining, tear-streaked eyes.
"Shizu-nee! Did you hear that? Kaito says he can fix it! That's amazing! Sniffle, sniffle..."
Kaito let a beat pass, then spoke again, his tone quieter this time.
"That said, there's still one problem. Your body, Shizu, I can handle. But what about your heart? Do you actually want me to help you?"
He already knew the truth. Shizu's will to live hadn't been worn down by her failing body. Her heart had broken the day Ifrit forced her to kill Pirino, her only friend. Everything since then had been borrowed time, a quiet march toward the Demon Lord Leon who had summoned her.
"..."
Shizu went still.
Rimuru immediately leaned forward.
"Shizu, what's there to hesitate about? Just let Kai-chan help you!"
"Rimuru." Kaito's voice was firm but gentle. "Let her decide for herself. It's her life. No one else has the right to choose for her."
Rimuru looked at him for a moment, then fell quiet. Kaval, Gido, and Elyun said nothing either, just watched Shizu with hopeful eyes.
Shizu looked back at them. At Rimuru and Kaito. At Elyun, who was still sniffling. At Kaval and Gido with their red eyes. She thought of her students, waiting for her to come back. She thought of Hinata, who still worried her even now.
She hadn't realized until this moment just how many people were still waiting for her.
Shizu stood up slowly, straightened herself, and bowed to Kaito at a full ninety degrees.
"I've made my decision, Kaito. Please heal me. There are still people in this world who want me to live. I'm asking you."
Kaito finally smiled.
"Alright. Leave it to me."
"Yes!"
"That's wonderful, Kai-chan!"
"I'm so relieved. I was scared I'd never see Shizu-nee again!"
As the room filled with relieved chatter, something in Shizu's long-closed heart cracked open just a little. A sliver of warmth slipped through, quiet and steady.
Sakuya, seated beside Kaito, allowed herself a rare, small smile.
"As expected of Master," she murmured. "He has a gentleness all his own."
Kaito looked around at everyone as the noise settled down.
"Right then. Let's finish eating first. After dinner we'll sort out Shizu's condition, and then how about we all head over to Mrs. Kamado's place?"
"Sure!"
"Mm!"
Open ground outside the town, one hour later
Kaito paid no mind to Rimuru and the others murmuring anxiously around him. He turned to Shizu.
"I'm going to help you achieve a full fusion with the spirit and give you complete control over it. Are you ready?"
Shizu met his eyes and nodded.
"Yes. I'm ready. Please, go ahead."
Kaito didn't waste another moment. He extended his right hand and condensed a golden spiritual energy in his palm. The moment it flowed into Shizu's body, she felt warmth spreading through her from the inside, and the years of wear and damage she had carried so long began quietly knitting itself back together.
The first step was healing her body. Once that was done, Kaito let his focus turn inward, into the space of Shizu's consciousness.
Ifrit stared at the man who had stepped into his domain. Something in his core trembled the moment their eyes met, a feeling he hadn't experienced since coming face to face with the Spirit Queen Ramiris in her prime.
"You're Ifrit?"
Ifrit straightened carefully.
"I am. And you are...?"
"You don't need to know who I am. All you need to know is that Shizu is under my protection now. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
The look in the man's eyes made the answer very clear. Ifrit, who had always prided himself on reading the room, read it immediately.
"I understand completely, sir. You have my word. I will cooperate fully with the fusion, and I will protect her."
Kaito gave a short nod.
"Good. You've got potential. Work hard, and one day I'll see about giving you a body of your own."
"...Thank you, sir."
Incredible. If I play my cards right around this person, I might actually have a shot at advancing to a higher tier. I need to impress him.
Ifrit thought to himself with great sincerity: Sir, I am genuinely motivated to grow.
Back in the outside world, the others stood in tense silence, watching the two motionless figures.