Vol 7 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Inside the lab pre alone

The soldiers walking past hiht a for in quiet voices

Amidst the tense ate hole on the side of the lab building and stopped

The hole was very deep, extending doards in a slant The deep end could not be seen at all

He knew that this hole led to the fourth floor underground

The hole's walls were abnorh sliced by a blade

”—Seriously, I can't believe I survived under those circumstances I must be pretty damn lucky”

Touching the cast on his arm, he muttered to himself in self-deprecation

At this moment, a man approached him from behind and patted him on the shoulder

”Are you the one in charge here?”

”Hmm? Indeed And you are?”

Miyazawa Kenya looked back and exaaze was the first i sense of deja vu

—So similar to him

He recalled the hter

A nice guy to a fault versus a cold man

Despite their difference in style or the lack of facial sie on a certain point

”I am Loki Jotunheim Rank is Major I was sent by NIFL to handle this incident”

”Now that is truly unfortunate for you to be caught up in this kind of nuisance You have my deepest sympathies I aand I look forward to working with you”

Miyazawa Kenya extended his hand in a business-like manner Major Loki shook it with a smile

His hand felt as cold as his gaze

”I'nher-ups have issued an extermination order for that”

”It was an unexpected accident but to have concealed that kind of thing in Asgard and even allowed it to escape—If the public were to find out, the organization's reputation would suffer irrevocably”

Miyazawa Kenya stared into the depths of the hole and concurred with Major Loki

”Unexpected huh I was clearly about to hold you responsible, yet you can still remain so calm You look quite relaxed”

”Truth be told, quite As a researcher, I still wish for it to be captured alive if possible”

Miyazawa Kenya made a crooked smile

”That is i will be exterminated by my team—Sleipnir”

”Will they e?”

Confronted with Miyazawa Kenya's taunting question, Major Loki smiled fearlessly

”Even if they fail, I'll just let him take action”

”Him?”

Seeing Miyazawa Kenya frown, Major Loki spoke calmly:

”The strongest killer I raised In this country—'Fafnir' is visiting”

Part 2

”Wow! So this is the tohere Mononobe grew up!”

Iris leaned towards theand exclai scenery

For around four hours noere riding a large van with a ard staff as the driver

After the long journey, the van drove into an inland ion—Nanato City

This was apparently Mitsuki's and my hometown

After traveling through a long tunnel, an overarching view of the entire town could be seen froreat mountains could be considered a kind of characteristic

Although it was not extremely rural, Nanato could not be described as one of those ional cities

It was no different fro the way

A river ran through thesun

”Compared to Tokyo, this place is much more quiet and peaceful!”

Iris had gotten very excited after hearing Mitsuki propose taking everyone to our ho ht before my eyes

Having lost allthis scenery for the first tiht, but now it looked like there were no such feelings

Once again, I realized how e me

To think that the gap between my past and current selves would be this far

”Hey Mononobe-kun, which side is your home?”

Firill looked out theand asked irls here, only she, Mitsuki and Ariella did not know about my memory loss

”Well, which side, lemme see”

Of course I could not possibly know My only choice was to avoid eye contact and answer auously

”You forgot because it's been too long?”

I ju Ariella's joke

”Nii-san, look, it is over there The shopping street with the arcade, around that vicinity”

Mitsuki pointed at a part of town

”Oh, right—I remember now”

I nodded stiffly while she waxed nostalgically

”Fufu When ere young, we often looked for our home's location from the observation platform there”

”—Yeah”

I half-heartedly concurred with Mitsuki, escaping eye contact, not daring to look at her

The guilt of acting as ”Mononobe Yuu” wasmy heart hurt immensely

”Yuu”

Having just woke up, Tia looked at

I looked around and saw Iris, Lisa and Ren watching me orry

These four knew of my memory loss In other words, they probably realized what I was feeling inside

I stroked Tia's head and sirls to tell them not to worry

”It has been two years for me and three for Nii-san since we left When I called home earlier Mother was so happy Nii-san, you really should call more often”

”We'll meet immediately so it's fine Also, is it really possible to accommodate so many people?”

I tried as hard as I could do to respond to Mitsuki as usual and brought up a question that concerned me

”There is no probleht not be enough ingredients for dinner, so Mother hurried out to shop”

”My house”?

I totally did not understand what Mitsuki meant by that but I could not ask her directly

To get a grasp on my location, I looked seriously at the scenery of the hoer remember

After going down a slope, the van drove along the river After passing the arcade shopping street, ere brought to the place where Mitsuki had indicated earlier

The vanus off shi+no to pick us up for the return journey

In front of us was a two-story wooden house Cos, it felt a bit historical

The family name on the plate read—Mononobe

A gust of wind brought floral fragrance unique to this town

For the first tiia

Although I had no memories of the town's scenery or impressions of the house, my body still remembered this distinctive air

After taking a few deep breaths, feelings of h s

”I finally feel like I've arrived somewhere truly japanese”

Looking at the house with the tiled roof, Firill remarked with emotion

”Indeed There is a feeling of japanese culture”

Lisa looked at reed

”Tokyo was totally unlike what I iined japan to be like There were no samurai or ninjas”

See around

”No, I don't think there will be samurai or ninjas here either”

”Mm”

Having lived in japan the whole time they ith Miyazawa Kenya, Ariella and Ren smiled wryly while corrected Iris' mistake

”Hey Yuu It sood”

Tia pulledof which, there was definitely a very appetizing aroma in the air

”I suppose Mother is preparing dinner Since the car is absent, Father is not ho out over there and hurry inside”

Mitsuki urgedthe doorbell Since it was her own home, she had no reservations

Opening the door with a clatter, Mitsuki announced loudly in the house

”I have returned! Mother, we are home!”

Then with a meow from the depths of the corridor, a black cat walked out

”Oh, it's a cat!”

Iris exclai, Mitsuki approached the black cat and stroked it It seemed to be the Mononobe family cat

”Ohagi, I aood health”

”Me~ow”

The black cat—Ohagi— over to ainst me

”Looks like it still reh you have not looked after it this whole tiuess the one who picked it up ultimately holds a dear place in its heart?”

Mitsuki grumbled to me

”I-I never looked after it?”

Troubled, I asked because I had no memories of the cat at all

”No, it is not that you never looked after it, but when you picked up Ohagi, Hekatonkheir—”

Just as Mitsuki tried to continue, a patter of footsteps interrupted her

”Welcome home, Mitsuki and Yuu”

A voluptuous ed woman walked out from the depths of the corridor

She was probably h she treated er to me

”Mitsuki, I have waited a long time And Yuu finally came home”

Mother—the one who seeently at me

”It has been a long time”

Due to nervousness, I used polite speech without thinking

”Co nervous about? This is your hoirls, come in and have a seat”

This woed us with a wry smile

”T-Thank you for having us Oh, I ought to remove my shoes, isn't that correct?”

Lisa's voice sounded strangely stiff as she took off her shoes and entered the house We followed

”This way In any case, let us all go to the living room first”

Leading us, Mitsuki and Mother walked to the living roo

Passing through the creaky corridor and opening a partition, we reached a rooht tatami mats

Sitting on seat cushi+ons, we gathered around the table in the middle

”Wow! Tata it”

Iris touched the tatami and remarked happily

”Onii-chan Here, I should seiza?”

Sitting beside me, Ren asked quietly

”No, it's fine, just sit casually”

I looked around Mitsuki was sitting beautifully in forid, so it was fine

”Thank goodness I aood at seiza”

Ren breathed a sigh of relief, relaxed and allowed her leg posture to collapse

”My legs are getting nuuess I won't seiza either”

Iris was i my conversation with Ren, she relaxed too

”I will endure longer”

However, aht in seiza posture

”Firill, it's best you don't strain yourself too much, okay?”

Likewise sitting in seiza, Lisa cautioned Firill

”The saoes for you, Lisa It's not necessary to present yourself in front of Mononobe-kun's mother”

”Y-You are talking about yourself, right? I a as the Romans do”

Lisa replied frantically then threw a sideways glance at Firill

However, they both showed strain on their faces Seiza was probably tough for them

”I'm not responsible if you can't stand up later”

Ariella looked at theh they were idiots

”Wha—”

The black cat, Ohagi, came over and jumped on my lap

”Looks like it really remembers me”

This feeling of nostalgia was lad At the same time, I felt deeply conflicted that the cat reotten it coi's back, Ren looked at me with eyes of anticipation

”Onii-chan, can I touch it?”

”Oh sure”

”Thank you It'sa cat”

Ren happily reached out and stroked Ohagi's jet black fur Although Ohagi ht, it did not move away and curled up in my lap

”So cute”

Si

Mother brought drinks at this ti down the tea before each of us, she sat down next to Mitsuki Then looking at everyone, she spoke:

”We already met at the school festival, but allow ain I am Mononobe Yoshi+mi, Yuu and Mitsuki's mother”

Mother nodded and greeted everyone

Mononobe Yoshi+mi—I committed this name to memory I could not even recall the name of my parents

”It was very rushed during the festival when Nii-san was transported to the infir with Lisa, could you introduce yourself again?”

”Understood”

Hearing Mitsuki, Lisa started the self-introductions

”My na on this sudden visit Thank you for your hospitality”

After Lisa introduced herself while sitting in seiza, everyone introduced themselves in student number sequence

”My naood friends with Mononobe-kun”

For some reason, Firill's introduction seemed to emphasize ”really” in particular

”I'm Ariella Lu Nice to meet you”

In contrast to Lisa and Firill's formal airs, Ariella introduced herself in a casual tone of voice

”Ren Miyazawa”

Still stroking Ohagi, Ren named herself quietly

”I'ood friends with Mononobe, and we're always helping each other out!”

As though coreat emphasis in her tone of voice

”Tia will become Yuu's bride one day! So Yoshi+mi is Tia's mama!”

However, Tia refused to ad me

”Hey Tia—”

”Fufu, what a cute little fiancee I would be very happy to gain another daughter”

However, Mother s it as a child's joke

”Tia got ahead of you, Lisa”

Firill patted Lisa on the shoulder and coht red

”F-Firill, doesn't the sao for you? I am not”

”Hmm”

Iris pouted in frustration As expected, she had called herself ”friend” only out of concern for Mitsuki

”Then I will go get dinner ready Please rest well, everyone”

Chuckling to herself as she watched us, Mother stood up

”Oh Mother, let me help you”

Mitsuki instantly stood up

”No need It's rare enough for you two to visit, I'd like to show off today Mitsuki, accompany everyone and show them around the house”

”—Understood How is the other house?”

”Since have been cleaning and tidying regularly, it shouldn't be that messy or dirty However, the electricity and water supply is cut, so it probably can only serve as a place to sleep”

”That is good enough already Thank you, Mother”

Mother left the room after that Ariella asked Mitsuki:

”Hey, what does the other house mean?”

I wanted to ask the sa wryly, Mitsuki answered:

”Eh Actually, my parents passed ahen I was little After that, I was adopted into Nii-san's family As a result, the adjacent house here I used to live with my birth parents”

While looking at everyone, Mitsuki explained in embarrassment

”Oh I see now Sorry, I didn't know—”

Ariella apologized, feeling bad After finding out that Mitsuki and I were not blood-related siblings, the others looked quite shocked Iris was the only one without any change in expression

In Iris' case, she already knew about this relationshi+p when I explained to her about the childhood e promise between Mitsuki and me

—Mitsuki and I were childhood friends and neighbors

After Mitsuki explained, I felt a little relieved However, this was sooing to be exposed sooner or later

”N-No need to apologize Weird speculation ht arise if it was publicized that we had no blood relations, which would s difficult to explain U for a chance to explain to everyone”

Seeing Mitsuki explain frantically, I felt like my e would get exposed

”Well, Mitsuki-san and Mononobe Yuu have to live in the saht? Then it cannot be helped Further relationshi+p is for certain Mitsuki-san, there is no need for you to be so sensitive about it”

Lisa soothed Mitsuki's anxieties on everyone's behalf No one said ”so you're not real siblings” or continued to pry

The sas I wanted to find out, the sight of Mitsuki's expression gave me pause

”Thank you, everyone”

After seeing our reactions, Mitsuki thanked in relief

”Then let's hurry and go tidy the house We just walk over froht?”

Under the slightly heavy atmosphere, Ariella cheerfully asked Mitsuki

”Ah yes It would be too craht of us were to stay on this side So let us separate just for sleeping However, as stated earlier, there is no water or electricity in that house Hence, you will need to take baths and use the washroom on this side”

”It'll be a bit inconvenient going to the toilet at night I don't really mind, but those who are afraid of the dark should sleep on this side”

Ariella coest present

”T-Tia can go to the toilet alone!”

Tia retorted with her face all red

”Okay, then let us divide up based on the house's size and the usual rooements The master bedroom on that side is the o over together Ariella-san and Ren-san can have my former room Iris will stay on this side with me in my present room”

After assigning rooms decisively, Mitsuki looked at us

”What about me?”

Mitsuki stared at me in exasperation when I raised the question

”Nii-san, you will sleep alone in your own roo me You would like to room with someone?”

”N-No, nothing like that Just kidding”

Under Mitsuki's gaze, I explained in panic On further thought, it was only logical for me to have my own room here Due to a lack of memories, I accidentally asked the question

”Good grief Anyone else have objections? In that case, before dinner is ready, let us get the rooms ready It will be pitch black in the other house once the sun sets”

Looking at the setting sun outside the , Mitsuki spoke

Everyone nodded in agree on i jumped down and walked over to theto bask in the sun

Mitsuki went to the kitchen to find Mother and returned with a key It was probably the key to Mitsuki's house

We exited the entrance, following Mitsuki andhouse

The mailbox was stuffed with all sorts of letters It was clearly a vacant holance

However, when Mitsuki opened the main door and entered, I could see that the entrance hall was occupied with cardboard boxes The house was probably being used for storage

Despite looking quite old outside, the inside was relatively new The ground floor roo screens

—Mitsuki lived here when she was young

I must have come here to play in the past, but I totally could not recall memories from that time

”The bedrooround floor are quite cluttered and a bit dangerous, so do not wander around after dark”

Mitsuki reminded everyone to take care then walked up the stairs to the second floor The banisters were not very worn In other words, the house had not been lived in for very long

”This was my parents' bedroom This side was mine”

After reaching the second floor, Mitsuki indicated the two rooms to us

There was nothing left in Mitsuki's roo had probably been moved when Mitsuki moved into my home Then I looked into Mitsuki's parents' bedroom on the opposite side where the furniture was untouched There was a very large two-person bed, enough for three people to sleep on

”Then hurry and get the rooh blankets on this side, so could you carry some futons over later?”

Pointing at her former room, Mitsuki said to me

”Got it I'll do the manual labor”

As the only boy, this could not be helped S wryly, I accepted the job

Hence, we started to perfor and the interior was a bit dark Then opening the s for some fresh air, I looked at my house next door

”—Before we becas, we used to talk to each other like this”

Walking up beside ically

The room on the other side with the drawn curtains was probably my bedroom

”Yeah”

Unable to recall anything, I could only iine painfully and concur

”Chatting till late at night, I even made my parents mad”

”Yeah—that too”

These fake responses pained my heart immensely

”I am the only one who inherited this house It would be better to sell the house if I a in it—But there are too o Also”

At this point, Mitsuki looked up at me

”Also?”

”I have a drea said, it is a very distant dream, impossible to achieve”

Blushi+ng, Mitsuki spoke in slight embarrassment

”What kind of dream is it?”

”—I have to keep it a secret from you, Nii-san Okay, time to ed I a on you, Nii-san”

Ending the conversation one-sidedly, Mitsuki patted me on the shoulder

I obeyed Mitsuki even though I still had questions If she continued to reminisce like this, my heart would not be able to endure

After I exited the room on my own, Iris poked her head out to look at me

”Oh Mononobe, are you returning to the other house?”

”Yeah, to get futons and bedsheets”

”Then could you ask to see if there's soht? It's quite inconvenient if there are no lights at night after all”

”Got it”

I nodded in agree, I stopped

”Iris, could you ”

I looked back and said to her in a serious tone of voice

”You can't do it now?”

”It's very important and only for the two of us to know”

”—I understand”

Iris nodded seriously too

”Then tonight, find a chance to go out”

After saying that, I went down the stairs Naturally, what I wanted to tell her was Tia's suggestion

But if ere to discuss, I did not kno Iris would answer

Hence, I must firm my oill before the discussion

—To prevent Iris froonize over the decision

Part 3

”My na care of Yuu and Mitsuki Please continue to be good friends with them”

While ere getting the house ready, reet everyone A kind and thoughtful man

Dinner was already set out on the living roo our appetites At this irls i the black cat was the first to begin eating its catfood, not caring about us at all

”Oh sorry, you must be famished Come, don't be shy, let's eat, everyone”

S wryly, Father picked up his chopsticks and announced the beginning of the meal

Everyone started to eat During the meal, they introduced themselves to my father

I listened while eating silently

—The taste was great

Meat and potato stew, boiled vegetables,my memories, my body still remembered the flavors themselves

”Nii-san, Mother's cooking is really wonderful”

”Yeah”

For the first ti her for real

”It's different fro Not to say it is not delicious, but there is this ”

Eating the meat, Lisa offered her comments in surprise

”Lisa, this is how it should be It's what they call 'mother's taste'”

Drinking a sip of miso soup, Firill offered praise

”Indeed, in thoseto their hoht to tears in emotion”

Saying that, Lisa looked at

”No, I'onna cry”

I answered tentatively first

”Mononobe, you don't have to hold it in”

”If you wanna cry, Tia will lend bosom to you!”

However, Iris and Tia thought I was holding back and looked at me in worry

”No, like I said—”

”Mononobe-kun, on't laugh at you even if you cry”

”Mm”

Ariella and Ren joined in the fun I sighed in resignation

”You are all such good girls”

Watching them, Mother chuckled to herself

The dinner atmosphere was very lively By the time I noticed, the meal was over in an instant

”The hot water is ready You should all take baths in sequence”

After clearing up, Mother reminded us to bathe

”Then you go first, Nii-san”

”Eh, I can?”

I was thinking the girls would be resistant to the idea of entering the bath after a guy However, Mitsuki nodded seriously

”No proble tio to bed You must be tired with only the brief nap on the van”

Mitsuki urged ly that she really was my family

Since no one objected, I took the towel Mother had handed to h I had no ured out this house's layout

After re area, I entered the bathrooard and the research lab, a fans of redecoration in the bathroom and looked a bit newer than the one back home

Lisa and Firill were probably going to be disappointed that this was not a hot spring-style bath I broke out in cold sweat at the thought

I exhaled deeply after soaking myself in the tub As Mitsuki said, I was truly exhausted

I stretched and spaced out, looking at the ceiling While I was re over my experiences, I suddenly noticed so area

A petite figure behind the frosted glass I could guess who it was based on her outline and the color of her hair

”H-Hey”

No way I broke out in cold sweat The sound of undressing in the changing area stopped The door gradually opened

”Yuu, Tia will join in the bath”

Looking at ht red

”J-Join in!?”

I cried out in surprise Tia immediately showed panic on her face

”Shhh! Not so loud! Or else Lisa and others will notice”

Tia placed her finger on her lip and shushed Then fully naked, she entered the bathroom

Despite a pubescent body, her chest was showing rowth Without any flab at her waist, Tia's elegant curves were e Tia's feminine charms

Further up her privates with her hands Previously at the hot spring, she was still so innocent, not hiding herself at all

Her shyness ht even more racy I frantically looked away

”W-What are you doing?”

”Because you are worried about Tia Also, you looked brokenhearted the whole time today”

Hearing her, I looked back at her Tia's skin had gone red from embarrassment, but she looked at me seriously

”Looks like—I've been like that all day”

Hearingherself, leaving only her head above the surface

Sitting in the space in front of me with her knees drawn up to her chest, Tia stared at me intently

”Yuu, are you okay?”

”I' e No need to worry”

I pulled htly and smiled at Tia

”Rather, I'drasil's core, do you feel unwell anywhere?”

After a nap in the van, she looked recovered But was that actually the case? I asked Tia in return

”No problem anymore I've used my oill to suppress the information from the Akashi+c Record”

”Akashi+c Record?”

Suddenly hearing this unfamiliar term, I frowned

”It is Yggdrasil's function, the power to a electricity is just a side effect The Akashi+c Record is the circuit of odrasil”

Tia spoke fluently using terms that she normally did not use

”Then There's nothing you don't know anymore, Tia?”

”Ho too deeply into the Akashi+c Record, so it's best to control myself not to know too much”

Tia shook her head and said with her face red

”Because Tia only needs to be Tia To keep loving Yuu To be Yuu's bride”

Saying that, Tia shyly immersed half of her face into the water

These actions and words made my heart rate accelerate Furthermore, I understood too what kind of resolve she had codrasil

”For my sake, Tia, you really worked hard Truly Thank you”