[Alice manages to smile then, in spite of her worries and just how tired she is. That, at least, felt totally natural when Mana said something like that.]

Mana-chan... as I said, you know you need not ask that of me. I'd never doubt you, and I'll never not stand by you.

[She then disengages her hands from Mana, and reaches forward to pull her into a hug. Which is not entirely natural, perhaps, but... she's still kind of getting used to the new standing between the three of them, isn't she?

That the hug, for a moment, feels slightly possessive is another matter... and one that doesn't register with her for longer than a split second.]

Nothing will hurt either of you.