The morning began with Bell's yawning voice.
"Good morning, Papa~" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she stumbled into the kitchen.
"Good morning," White smiled, turning a sizzling pan. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mm-hm!"
"I already packed most of the lunch. Just let me know if you want to add anything," he said.
Her expression instantly brightened, her drowsiness vanishing. "Lunch? Oh right—the picnic! Yay!" She ran over, clinging to his arm. "Papa, can Bell help?"
"Nah. Papa's got it covered. You wash your face and brush your teeth first. Then I'll serve breakfast."
She paused, staring at his face closely. "…Papa, are you okay? You look tired."
"Don't worry." He tousled her hair gently. "I'm fine."
But the truth?
He hadn't slept at all. The thought of the "price" looming ahead gnawed at him. Aisha's words echoed like warnings. Wishes had costs. And his hadn't been paid yet. That scared him more than he dared admit.
"Are you worried about it?"
The voice came from behind. Turning, White found Aisha leaning against the doorway, arms folded. Her shadow stretched long across the floor.
"This has nothing to do with you," he said flatly, knives hidden under his words. "And I'm not in the mood to talk to a… no, a witch like you."
Her smile didn't falter, but her eyes dimmed briefly. "A witch, huh… Maybe you're not wrong. Someone like me, who isn't supposed to exist—what else could I be?"
There was sadness beneath her practiced smirk. For a moment, White almost apologized. Almost.
But then Bell scampered back in, radiant as ever.
"Good morning, big sis Aisha!"
"Morning," Aisha said warmly, brushing aside her earlier tone. "You're lively as always."
"Hehe~ Papa made sooo much food for today! We're gonna eat and play until sunset!" Bell announced proudly.
"Oh? Then maybe he's excited about going with you," Aisha teased, patting her head.
"Big sis, are you coming? Bell packed a ball and everything—"
Aisha hesitated. "Sorry, Bell. Not today. I have… urgent work. Besides," she whispered, almost to herself, "I don't want to ruin it."
Bell's glow flickered out. Her lips trembled; her eyes glossed with sudden hurt. "…But you promised. You promised you'd come with me and Papa. Why?"
"Bell, I—" Aisha reached to comfort her.
Before she could, White cut in, firm. "Hey. If you make a promise, you keep it. No excuses." He turned to Bell. "Remember how you punished me when I broke mine? Same for her."
Bell's tears paused. A spark lit in her eyes. She puffed out her cheeks, stomped the ground, and pointed angrily at Aisha. "Right! Big sis, if you break your promise, Bell won't ever talk to you again!"
Aisha blinked, stunned. White added with a grin, "No rejection allowed."
For a long, quiet second, Aisha studied Bell's cute but determined pout. Finally, she sighed—defeated. "…Alright. I'll go."
"Yay!" Bell jumped happily, hugging White's legs before darting to pack toys. "Let's go, let's go!"
Aisha lingered, glancing at White with curiosity. He kept his eyes on the counter. "…If you're wondering why, it's simple. Bell's been waiting too long for this. I won't let her joy be shattered. And you?" His voice lowered. "I don't know if what you said about not knowing the price was truth or lie. But I do know one thing—you'll never hurt Bell."
Her expression softened, just for a moment, before she turned away silently.
They rode the train to the lakeside. To White's relief, the place wasn't crowded. Quiet ripples shimmered across the water, reflecting the wide blue sky.
Bell ran ahead, the wind tugging her dress. Laughter spilled from her like sunlight as she and Aisha knelt on the bank, trying to catch fish with their hands. Watching them—just for a moment—White allowed himself to breathe.
He spread open the mat, unpacked containers, and called them over.
That's when it happened.
"Excuse me…"
Two college students—a girl and a guy—approached hesitantly. Their eyes lingered a bit too long on White talking to thin air.
"If you don't mind… want to join us?" the girl asked with forced politeness.
"Yeah, you don't have to sit all alone," the guy added kindly, although his undertone carried pity.
"I—uh—I'm fine." White's words stumbled. "I only came to… to explore myself."
A dead silence.
Aisha's muffled pfft broke it, and White felt his ears turn crimson.
The two college students exchanged looks—trying not to laugh. "Well, good luck with… that," the boy said, barely hiding his smirk, before they walked off.
Face burning, White slumped down.
"I didn't know you were here for… e-x-p-l-o-r-i-n-g yourself," Aisha mocked in a singsong.
"Shut up! I panicked!"
Bell tugged his pants. "Papa, what does 'exploring yourself' mean?"
White hid his face in his hands. Aisha roared with laughter, wiping tears.
The rest of the day was kinder. In a secluded clearing, the three of them played volleyball, hide-and-seek, tag—until Bell finally collapsed into peaceful sleep against the picnic mat.
White carried her gently, packing up, when he spotted Aisha by the shoreline. Her eyes reflected the sinking sun—hollow, distant. Almost fragile.
For a moment it was mesmerizing to him, seeing her like that.
He walked up slowly. "Hey," he said softly.
She turned, looking startled. "…What?"
"Don't do that," he said, searching her face. "Don't act like you're not yourself."
Her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
He exhaled. "I mean… you're supposed to be the wicked one. Always smirking. Always teasing. That's the Aisha I know."
She tilted her head—then laughed, genuine this time. "So, you prefer the annoying version of me, huh?"
White blushed and looked away. "…At least it's honest."
She leaned closer. "Then tell me… how do I usually act?"
"…Like a pest. A devil. A greedy, demanding pain."
Her laugh rang out. For a second, the sunset glowed across her features, making her look strangely… human.
White bit his lip, then bowed. "Aisha. I—"
"Nope. Rejected." Her face flushed as she cut him off, flustered.
"You didn't even let me finish!"
"And I don't want to hear it."
"But… I just wanted to say I'm sorry." His voice lowered. "…For calling you a witch. Even if you weren't hurt, even if you laughed it off… I'm sorry. That was cruel."
A silence. Then, unexpectedly, she broke into soft laughter. "Silly. You don't need to apologize. Witch fits me just fine. I've always been one."
"…So, you forgive me?"
"There was never anything to forgive. But…" Her tone shifted, almost tender. "…Thanks for saying it anyway."
Relief flushed through him as the weight eased. She walked past him, pausing just enough to glance over her shoulder with that mischievous smile.
"I'll keep helping you. But in return… you'll have to fulfil my demand."
"…Please tell me it isn't outrageous."
"You'll know when the time comes." Her grin widened.
And then, as the sky dimmed into dusk, she vanished in her usual dark mist, leaving White alone with Bell's soft breathing against his back.
He held her tightly, whispering into the cooling air:
"Whatever the price is… we'll face it together."