Although his heart sank, the fear that gripped him wasn’t the same as before. This was just heat stroke, not an actual inferno bearing down upon her. She would live through this, no sweat. (Or lots of sweat, whatever it took to keep her cool.)
"Hah, very funny. Just sip on this, okay? Tell me when to tilt more." He’d rely upon a tap from her finger for further instructions: One meant ‘yes’ and two meant ‘no’.
But no taps were necessary. Akane felt the danger coming upon her, engulfing her heart the same way it had when she was younger, and so she connected with her brother easily. She mentally told him that she was glad he was with her, that she'd do her best to overcome this obstacle. It wasn't the incinerator after all; it was just the sun.










