Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

To You, Savior of the Lost

— | 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐤𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐔𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫 | — | 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎 | — | 𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 | —

Hour after hour— How much time has passed? How many hours has she been lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling of her lavishly decorated room? She can't find the words to explain it, but it's not exhaustion that keeps her there, nor is it any physical ailment she can name. It's something intangible yet overwhelming, like a heavy and unseen weight pressing down on her entire body.

''. . .''

Beyond everything, with those foreign eyes constantly watching her, even the simplest tasks feel impossible—especially here, in her own room. It's been going on for a while, but only now is she beginning to grasp just how annoying it might be.

Raising her head from the pillow she had buried herself in, the maiden cast her gaze toward the silhouette standing silently and solemnly in the distant corner of the room. ''You know you don't really have to do this, right? I'm...okay.''

''Your mother's order, Madoka-sama. I cannot leave your room until I am sure of your safety and you are asleep. I shall take care to keep the noise to a minimum so that my presence does not disturb you.''

''I think... that's not the main problem here, Minori.'' After an empty sigh, Madoka turned over onto her stomach and looked at the ceiling once more. Her hand kept drifting toward the phone resting on the edge of her pillow, hesitating between picking it up or leaving it be— a dilemma. She lightly pressed the power button on the phone. ''...1:04 A.M? Curses, when did it get so late?''

The presence at the other end of the room interjected once more, like the past 78 times already. "If you're having trouble sleeping, Madoka-sama, I would be glad to bring you a glass of warm milk."

''I'm not a child, and that only works on hyperactive children.'' Madoka rolled her pupils. ''I am neither active nor hyper.'' 

More than twenty-four hours have passed since the events she experienced, but she kept thinking about them over and over again. And that was precisely why those hours had vanised away without her even noticing. Now, with everyone else asleep, the only sound was the distant song of crickets outside her window. ''Wonder what happened to her eye?—I want to talk. Ugh! But it would be rude to call, it's midnight...''

Calling now would be selfish. No one would answer, and it was well past the hour for idle chatter. Yet, the desire to connect, to break through this unsettling quiet, pressed on her even more forcefully than the others.

Finally, she let out a frustrated groan, sitting up and pulling her knees to her chest, her gaze still shifting back and forth between her phone and the silent, watchful figure in the corner. Minori hadn't moved an inch, almost blending into the shadows as though she were deliberately suppressing her presence, careful not to disturb her mistress. Whatever the reason, Madoka couldn't bring herself to make the call— Not with the hour so late and not with the quiet observer in the room. Therefore, Madoka decided to use the second best strategy she could;