Story:

Peach’s relief broke beneath a sudden, familiar fear. She had held them too tightly.

Before they separated, Bel’s alterations had left the twins vulnerable to touch and overwhelming sensitivity. At Yamato Shrine, even an affectionate embrace sometimes required care.

Peach loosened her arms immediately. “Ai-chan. Mai-chan. Are you all right?”

Mai tilted her head. “What’s wrong, Aunty Shiro?”

“Did I hurt you?”

“No.”

Ai shook her head too, then studied Peach’s frightened expression. “Why would you?”

Peach looked between them.

Neither girl was trembling. Neither had withdrawn into the careful stillness she remembered from their bad days. Mai reached for her hand without hesitation; Ai shifted closer on the tatami.