The morning after my conversation with Freya, I sat Lyra down to explain what had transpired. She listened intently, her usually animated face softening as I recounted Freya's true intentions.
"So, she doesn't hate us?" Lyra asked, her voice tinged with relief. "I thought… I thought she was pulling away because she didn't care about us anymore."
"No, Lyra," I said, shaking my head. "Freya still cares deeply for us. She's just trying to protect us in her own way. She's putting herself through all of this to grow stronger—for you, for me, for herself."
Lyra's eyes welled up, but she quickly wiped them with the back of her hand. "Freya's always been stubborn like that. She wants to carry everything by herself... but we'll support her, won't we, Naoki-sama?"
"Of course," I replied with a reassuring smile. "We'll give her the space she needs, but we'll be here for her. And when the time comes, we'll fight to bring her back."