The Power of Heart

After a moment of silence, Aya Tone forced a strained smile.

“Heh heh, Big White, what are you talking about? Your master, me, afraid of… what…”

By the end, his voice had inevitably faltered. The crescent moon of his smile vanished, sinking below the horizon of his face. He seemed utterly stripped of all pretense, collapsing weakly onto the sofa, his gaze lost on the ceiling.

He murmured softly, “Big White, what if one day I became someone else? Would you notice?”

“No,” Big White replied, circling around him before settling down beside Aya Tone.

“Because I won’t let Master disappear. Big White’s Master is only you!”

“Big White…” Aya Tone spun around abruptly, his lips pressed together, gazing at Big White beside him with disbelief and a hint of a sob in his voice. He had been saddened by Big White’s initial ‘no,’ never expecting such a profound conclusion.

Big White offered a gentle smile. “Can you tell me what’s truly bothering you, my Master?”

A haze swam before Aya Tone’s eyes. He felt a sudden warmth well up in his heart, a sensation he hadn’t experienced in all his years in this world.

‘Could this be it!’

“Mom…” he murmured unconsciously. But his voice was too soft, and Aya Tone quickly snapped back to reality, collecting himself. He shook his head, trying to banish the surreal thought.

“Even if I tell you, you can’t help me,” Aya Tone said, turning his head away again, refusing to look at Big White.

In response, Big White could only roll her eyes exasperatedly. ‘This Master of mine is so unforthcoming, just like a child. Both in temperament and actions, he unconsciously reveals a childlike stubbornness. Since Master won’t listen to reason, then she can’t be blamed for… taking matters into her own hands!’

“Whoa!”

Aya Tone yelped in surprise. He instantly lost his balance, falling directly onto Big White’s lap.

His head suddenly rested on a pair of soft, cool thighs, bringing a sense of calm to the still-warm September day. Glimpsing the ‘peaks’ in his vision, Aya Tone was momentarily stunned, his mind blank.

‘Was he just… pressed onto Big White’s lap?’

“Master, can you tell me now, what is it you’re afraid of?” Big White’s voice, as gentle as water, pulled Aya Tone’s thoughts back.

He stubbornly retorted, “Afraid? There’s no such thing.”

“Master, telling lies isn’t what good children do,” Big White said, gazing kindly at the master on her lap, her small hands naughtily gripping Aya Tone’s cheeks. Then she pulled them sharply outwards. ‘Naughty children must be punished!’

“Ow, ow, ow, ow!” Aya Tone grimaced, trying to resist. But he suddenly realized his body was immobile, leaving him to watch helplessly as Big White stretched his facial skin.

‘What’s going on!?’

Aya Tone ignored the pain in his face; if his body couldn’t move, wouldn’t he be like fish on a chopping block? The next second, he understood why he couldn’t move. ‘Wasn’t the truth right in front of him?’

“—Big White!”

“Big White, you dare use magic on your master? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get angry and melt you down to rebuild you?” Aya Tone’s eyes blazed with fury. ‘He was the master! How could he be tormented by his own magical creation!?’

“Master, I’m doing this for your own good,” Big White said, gently rubbing Aya Tone’s reddened face, her eyes openly filled with concern. “Just tell me what happened.”

“…” Meeting Big White’s worried gaze, the anger in Aya Tone’s heart suddenly extinguished. “Er… just let me go first, and I’ll tell you.”

‘Perhaps Big White wasn’t wrong,’ Aya Tone sighed internally. ‘She never changes; she’s always… so meddlesome.’

“Master, just stay lying here. I’m afraid you’ll change your mind if you get up.”

“Ah, no! Am I that kind of person?” Aya Tone grew anxious, hearing Big White say that.

Big White said nothing, merely giving Aya Tone a pointed look. At that moment, silence spoke volumes.

Aya Tone’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. ‘Slander! This is all slander! I’ll sue you for defamation!!’

“Fine, it’s quite comfortable lying down anyway.” Seeing he couldn’t argue with Big White, Aya Tone relaxed completely onto her lap. There’s a saying: if you can’t resist, you might as well enjoy it. Perhaps when you stop resisting, you’ll discover a different kind of beauty. (Except for matters of principle.)

Seeing her master finally relax on her lap, Big White sighed in relief, gently stroking his messy hair. ‘She knew that if Master truly wanted to break free from her control, ten of her wouldn’t be able to stop him. She only controlled Aya Tone’s body. And merely the surface of his body. The immense magical power within Aya Tone, for Big White to try and restrain it alone, would be a fool’s errand. The moment Aya Tone activated the magic within him, Big White’s control spell would be nothing but a joke. So, Master really is a tsundere… He says harsh words, but deep down, isn’t he still reluctant to truly resist?’ A smile touched Big White’s gentle eyes, and her hand movements grew even more soothing.

Aya Tone: ‘Ah? Is that how it is? I just realized.’

****

“That’s it. I’m afraid that one day, the one controlling this body won’t be me…”

‘Just like me…’

This was what Aya Tone left unsaid; only a soul not belonging to this world could truly understand the insecurity of a cuckoo usurping a nest. Initially, he had no regard for living, just as he had spent three years muddled in a dead-end company, unwilling to use his abilities. But now… He realized he didn’t want to disappear! He had everything precious in this world. Aya Jiu! And other… friends. He was afraid; he was a selfish person.

“…”

After listening to her master’s worries in their entirety, Big White’s expression grew increasingly strange. “That’s it?” She paused. “Master, have you ever considered that this might actually be a symptom of your power going out of control…?”

“Power out of control? Me?” Aya Tone’s pupils contracted slightly. But he quickly dismissed the possibility, refuting, “Impossible. The magic within me is dormant as always; there are no signs of it being out of control. Besides, when I used magic yesterday, there was no…”

Suddenly! The words died on Aya Tone’s tongue, unable to continue. ‘Yesterday… his power, the Power of Heart!’

“It seems you’ve remembered something. That power of yours is very formidable, and very difficult to control.” As Big White had personally experienced Aya Tone’s power, she had the most authority on the matter. ‘That power… it belongs to Aya Tone himself, and yet it doesn’t.’

Aya Tone fell silent. He could guarantee that his magic would achieve the desired effect, just as he intended. But the Power of Heart—that, he couldn’t and wouldn’t guarantee. It was a power that automatically triggered when his emotions fluctuated too strongly. A power named “Miracle.” He had once simply believed this power was controllable, even jokingly calling it “The Power of My Own Thinking.” Yet, this power had only been triggered a handful of times.

What Big White didn’t know was this: When it came to this power, she *truly* had the most authority. Not just because she had personally experienced it, but because—! She herself *was* a “Miracle.”