Vol 2 Chapter 3 (2/2)

Kotoris eyes turned to her right hand side, and the crews that were fiddling with their consoles, without looking away, replied back

”The resolution is a little rough but…………we can e somehow”

”Then bring it up on the monitor”

Kotori said that, and on one part of the <fraxinus> bridge es of the area from around the time of yesterday's battle between the AST and Yoshi+no were being projected

It was like it was dragged into the aftershock of the battle, the caet a better picture of the area, and coe quality　noas quite bad

”She no longer has the puppet—— in the ie of when the Spirit was lost”

After a while, the ied and close-upped on Yoshi+no

”——Turn it back, the ie from just before the AST attacks land, we are able to confirht to think that it was lost during that attack”

”So, where's the important puppet?”

”Because of the sh I can't say that it is for certain but…………I can confir off, I think the worst case scenario of it being burnt up because of that attack has been avoided”

”Fumu……………”

Kotori used her hands and hit her jaw

”Right after when Yoshi+no was Lost, aren't there anys?”

”I-I will try looking for it”

And, at thatsuch a sound leaked out and she heard it

”Yoshi+no?”

”……………!”

It had been al for the puppet

While shi+dou was co up his wet hair, he looked at Yoshi+no beside hi for the puppet

It would seely cute voice echoed

Yoshi+no once again as she was scared, she twitched her shoulder— ot a little used to shi+dou's voice, this time she didn't make needle water bullets and shoot them

”………Are you hungry?”

When shi+dou asked, Yoshi+no face turned red and pun pun swung her head from side to side

But, at that tirumbled

”………………………!”

It would seery too

He heard that for the life fory but… …speaking of which, after Tohka's poas sealed she becaluttonous

”…………What am I supposed to do”

Although he doesn't kno long it has been since Yoshi+no started searching for the puppet, but since it was already past noon, it would be weird not to be hungry shi+dou's stomach was a little empty too

Using his finger, shi+dou gave his intercauessed what subject he was about to raise:

”——H lunch?”

”Un………I guess you're right”

After ht stretch he said to Yoshi+no

”Yoshi+no, let's take a rest, okay?”

When shi+dou said that, Yoshi+no swung her head sideways And then her stoain

”………………!”

And, after Yoshi+no had pondered for a while, she finally consented with hesitation

”Okay, well then…………”

After saying that, shi+dou rearranged his thoughts

He had his wallet just in case but if he was this wet, it would be difficult to enter a shop

shi+dou placed his hand on his face for a while, and then he poked the intercam

”………………Hey, Kotori If it's about a resting spot, is our home okay?”

And right after saying that Kotori erated shocked voice

”Wow Haven't seen you for quite a while and you turned quite daring If you are planning on pushi+ng her down please be careful”

”……Hey”

”I know …………Well, there is no other place to go anyway, I will specially permit it then”

”Roger”

shi+dou made a short reply and then, talked to Yoshi+no

”Well then………let's go”

Yoshi+no while reave a small nod

Part 4

”……Umu”

While Tohka was rubbing her sto Reine as they walked through town in the rain

She was feeling so yesterday afternoon, and for not having slept much

But, the reason for this uneasiness was not from her lack of sleep or from her empty stomach—Tohka somehow understood that

”………………”

Tohka clenched her teeth, and splash kicked the wet ground

But even if she were to do so in the bottom of her stomach would just end

And Reine alking in front of her suddenly stopped walking Tohka stopped right on the verge of bu into her

”……How about we go and have our lunch first Is this place okay?”

Right in front of thenboard If she wasn't mistaken, this place was a family restaurant

Tohkanod

”Un…It would help if you were to do that My sto to die”

”……Well then, let us enter”

When both of the the shop attendant, they settled down at the end of the non-s area

Ih the menu and placed an order

While waiting for their orders to come, in order to calm her stomach, she drank the water the attendant placed on the table in one gulp

”……Tohka”

Reine, faced Tohka with her pair of eyes decorated by thick and cloudy eye bags

”What?”

”……Before the food gets here, I would like to have a little talk……is that okay?”

”Nu…Well, I don't mind but……What kind of talk is it?”

Tohka, in order show that she was alert, she lifted her body from the table and nodded

The woman known as Murasame Reine was ………hard to understand because she see—and because of that habit, it felt like she could see through anything—it felt a little irritating

Whether or not she realized what Tohka was thinking at that moment, Reine remained in a drea, and then unfolded it on the top of the table

”What is that?”

”…………Aah, please don't mind this”

While saying that, Reine was using her other hand and click click……and lightly operated it

She focused intensely on the ternore it, and returned her sights back to Reine

When she did that, Reine returned her eyes back to Tohka and opened her lips

”……Well, I aht to the point Tohka, the reason you are irritated—no, it would be better if you could— can you tell in of it?”

”—Kuh”

Froasped

”Uh, I am not really—”

”……As expected, you can't forgive shi+n forup with another woman”

shi+n A nickna to shi+dou

”Wha, why did shi+dou appear right there…”

”……Oya, is it not related to him?”

”…………”

Tohka placed her elbow on the table, and then scratched her head in a sign of surrender

And aftervoice

”…I don't understand”

”……Don't understand what?”

Reine tilted her head to the side as she replied And Tohka whose face was down, lifted her face up

”Umu………Even I don't know ”

She seemed to be troubled as she continued her words

”Yesterday……shi+dou, left the school and——that, kissed or whatever it's called, that girl”

Kiss Just that single word, caused pain around her chest area

”……Aah, it would seem so”

”It's not reallyIt isn't any of my business who shi+dou meets with and where, and whoever he kisses I am not supposed to find any faults in it …But, the moment I saw that, it was already—How should I put it? It was rather—yes, it was a rather bad feeling”

”……………Fumu”

”When I realized what had happened…………I started raising ht after that, the rabbit said that girl was much more important to him than me……I was already—sad, and scared, to the extent that I couldn't do anything, and I became unable to understand what happened at all…………I don't even understand what this means………this is the first time this happened”

And once again she h

”As expected……………Is there so with me?”

”…………No, you are not sick or anything That is a normal and healthy response”

”I-Is that so?”

”……Aah, it is nothing to worry about But——it is better if we clear thatfirst”

”Misunderstanding…?”

”……Aah, regarding that kiss, that was a total accident, and……it doesn't irl is more important to shi+n than Tohka”

After Reine said that, she glimpsed at the machine, as Tohka raised her face

”Uh, re-really…?”

”……It is true”

”Bu-But shi+dou was…”

”……If he doesn't think of you as soo to the extent of putting his own life in danger just to save you?”

”——Ah…”

After being told that, Tohka was at a loss for words

She coot about the weird and indescribable swirl of e her heart and stomach

—Yesterday, didn't shi+dou protect Tohka? Just like last month?

And what'sshot by an assassin

Tohka, while pushi+ng her hands around her chest area, sed her saliva

”……………, I—”

I've been so stupid

Tohka shook her throat to ain

And after that, immediately stood up from her seat

”……Tohka?”

”Sorry, can we postpone today's shopping to another day?”

Tohka bit her lips before letting out her voice again

”……I have to, apologize to shi+dou”

After hitting her jaith her hands, Reine made a small nod

”……Then go”

”I arateful”

Tohkathe u town

”…………Fumu Well, that is one problem solved……maybe?”

Reine h so displayed on the small terminal

The fact that Tohka's mind and body would be disturbed by this incident was expected

Although she was pouting like a spoiled kid………If Tohka, really did think badly of shi+dou, she would not have hated the girl that shi+dou met up with

Speaking in either ways, fro that she couldn't calm down herself, she learned a weird and indescribable terror and uneasiness………speaking of which would be the closest to the truth

Because of that, even without herTohka's consciousness itself, was not really that difficult

Yes—but, it was better if she could realize it by herself

That fact—shi+dou protected her, and what kind ofthat holds, and when the time came, when she found that answer, she would knohat she really felt

”Well, jealousy is also a fine part of love”

Shethe terminal

”……But, we have to be careful loveThat could also be, the emotion that will destroy the world”

And then,

”——Sorry for the long wait! Here is the double cheese burger set rice with large servings of fried chicken, fried oyster set, naise And please be careful of the hot iron plate”

”……Un?”

And froh calorie meal was lined up on top of the table

”Please take your time and enjoy”

The attendant lowered his upper part of his body by an angle of 45 degrees like he was used to it thusa bow, and then left the spot

Reine as left alone, scratched her cheek in front of that abundant amount of food

”………This is……troubling”

Part 5

”Let's see…………we have eggs, ah, there is also chicken uess Oyakodon[2C 2] is okay”

He roughly detere, and right after taking out the needed ingredients, he took a s room

Over there was Yoshi+no as curiously looking around things near her while sitting on the sofa

When shi+dou returned, he ied his clothes but Yoshi+no's dress was still the same rabbit coat fro bathed by rain, she was not wet at all

Saht dress, this was probably that AstralDress or so

”Could you wait for a few moments I'll be done soon ——Ah, if you are free you could watch the television”

”…………?”

shi+dou said that while peeling and chopping the spring onions, Yoshi+no tilted her head in curiosity

”Un, there is a remote control there—yes yes, now push the top left button”

Following shi+dou's instruction, Yoshi+no pressed the remote control button

When she did that, the television along the wall turned on, and Wahahaha! such a voice echoed

”——!”

In that instant, Yoshi+no's body cowered; the water accu into bullets and were shot at the television screen

”Wha…?”

”You idiot, even though I told you not to scare her”

In his right ear, he heard Kotori's criticizing voice

And speaking of Yoshi+no, she opened her eyes that was shut tight, and lowered her head at shi+dou　in panic

”N-No…………Don’t worry about it Sorry to have scared you”

Right after shi+dou

He heated up the pot that has water measured in it, and tossed in the sliced chickenonions And when it reached to a boil, he put in the beaten eggs

And then he let it flow on top of the rice filled bowl Finally he scattered japanese parsley on top of it, and it was complete

Since he was accustomed to this sort of work, it did not even take 10

”Here you go, it's done Let's hurry and fill our stoo and find Yoshi+non okay”

While talking, he held the boith both his hands and headed into the living room

He put one in front of Yoshi+no and right across her he placed his own portion, and he entered the kitchen again to get a chair, so to the living room

”Now then, Itadakimasu [2C 3]”

shi+dou clapped his hands together while saying that, and Yoshi+no imitated that movement then lowered her head

Then she grabbed the spoon with her hand, took one scoop of shi+dou's specialty oyakodon, and transported it into her mouth

”…………………!”

When Yoshi+no did that her eyes i the table

”Un?”

But when shi+dou faced toward her direction, she turned her eyes away in embarrassment

Afterwards, Yoshi+no looked like she wanted to tell hi, but instead sheit into words, gu she gave shi+dou a thumbs up

”O-Ou……………”

shi+doua thu

She was probably quite hungry; Yoshi+no opened her s down

And—by esti the moment when Yoshi+no would be finished her

”Do you still want to rest? I still want more inforood chance, why don't you ask Yoshi+no how old is she?”

”A question?”

And when shi+dou was asking back, Kotori iested him to ask questions

”………Aah, I get it”

shi+dou, as he had finished his bowl he exhaled a satisfied breath and then turned his eyes towards Yoshi+no

”Hey………Yoshi+no There are soh—can I ask you a few questions?”

Yoshi+no tilted her head in curiosity

”Err…you seem to take care of it very preciously That puppet—Yoshi+non, what kind of existence is that to you…?”

When Yoshi+no got asked that question, she timidly opened her mouth with difficulty

”Yoshi+non, is …………a frie…nd, and also……………a he…ro”

”Hero?”

When asked again, Yoshi+no nodded

”Yoshi+non is… …s of… …myself Unlike , and cool…”

”Your ideal self…huh”

shi+dou scratched his cheeks, and recalled back the time when he met Yoshi+no inside the department store

Well, certainly the current Yoshi+no coh the puppet, from the tone to the attitude it was like she was a different person But—

”I…like this current Yoshi+no better though…”

During the time when Tohka appeared, he remembered the numbers of jokes accumulated from the puppet, he made a bitter smile

Certainly, during that ti cheerfully but—he could not bear it anymore

Although it was hard to hear what she was saying, though she ard, Yoshi+no has been honestly answering his questions, and it was a good feeling

But the moment shi+dou said those words, Yoshi+no's face went poof, her face was blushed red She then hunched her back and used the hood to cover and hide her face

”Yo-Yoshi+no…? What's wrong?”

shi+dou said that while was trying to peek, Yoshi+no lowered the hands that was holding onto the hood and, gradually raised her face

”………Tho, those words, because… …it was the first time… …I have been told”

”I-Is that so…?”

Yoshi+no made a deep consent

Well…originally she was a Spirit that has only a few chances at having a conversation with a person Itlike that

”shi+dou, was that… …in your calculations?”

And, over there Kotori asked such a question

”Huh? Wha-what calculations…?”

”……Never mind If that's wasn't then it's okay”

”Ha-Haah…?”

It was his sister that said so that didn't make sense, shi+dou knitted his eyebrows

”Don't mind it There is not a probleuess the results of the 'living together training' are starting to show”

”……I wonder”

shi+dou replied vaguely Certainly he was calree but, he could differentiate whether it is fro or not

But, he could not afford to be occupied by the other side shi+dou fixed his sights back to Yoshi+no, and asked the next question

”So——Err, Yoshi+no, it seeh you were attacked by the AST, you rarely retaliate, what kind of reason do you have for doing that?”

When Yoshi+no got asked…………she looked down again

Right after she grabbed the cuffs of the inner dress with the light film composition just like Tohka's AstralDress, she let out a voice that would sound like it would disappear

”…………I……hate, painful things I also hate……scary things Surely, those people too……whether its pain, or scary things, I think they……don't want it too That's why, I……”

It was such a small and faint voice, shi+dou could have easilyto say

But because of that—fro like wave to his heart

”…………Yoshi+no…………you, just for a reason like that—”

But, shi+dou did not finish the end of his sentence

While Yoshi+no's whole body was tre

”But………it's because, I… …am, weak… …and a coward If I a hurt, when I can't, do anything… …the inside of s to everyone…”

Halfway through, it became a teary voice

After sucking in her snot, she continued on

”Thats why… …Yoshi+non… …is et scared… …he would say… …it's okay And, then… …it will really turn out okay That's why… …that's why”

”……………Kuh”

shi+dou unintentionally bit his lips He was gripping both his hands so hard, that blood ht spurt out

If he did not do that—he could not bear it anymore

Yoshi+no This sirl was Too kind—and too sad

Whether it was [pain] or [scary] things it was certain that she did not like it

Thinking of the eneeted her countless ti intent, and yet—still she decided not to hurt the?

Yoshi+no is—weak?

Yoshi+no's head was shaking from her own evaluation—there is no way, she is weak

Aah, but, that is—cruel, and awfully cruel sense of mercy

”——”

Without thinking shi+dou stood up from his seat

And then circled around the table and knelt down beside Yoshi+no—and just like that, he gently caressed Yoshi+no's head

”……………,e…,err”

”I will”

”——,……?”

”I will—save you”

He said that and, Yoshi+no stared in wonder Without caring about it, shi+dou continued

”I will definitely, find Yoshi+non And…………hand it over to you That is not all I will er need to go through those [painful] or [scary] things I won't let them near you I will—become, your hero”

While patting her head through the hood, he said that sentence that was totally out of character

But—he did not stop there

Because, in Yoshi+no's kindness, there was so

It was only one problem which was: even if she has the mercy of a saint, that mercy would not be shown in return to her

If that's the reason, then there was no choice but to have it be given from the outside

No more, about ould happen to the Spirit or what not, it was no longer relevant to him

To Yoshi+no To this overly kind little girl, to have nothing save her, that kind of thing, he could not forgive it

Yes—that hat he thought

”……………? ……………?”

During that ti black and white but, after 10 seconds passed, she opened her lips

”………Th…ank you……very m…uch”

”…………Ou”

He was a little happy when Yoshi+no honestly said such a thing He made a small nod

But, during the occasion Yoshi+no was letting out her voice, he accidently turned his eyes to those cute lips………feeling uncohts away

”…………? shi+dou… …-san…?”

Yoshi+no was tilting her head while looking at shi+dou

”No, err, about that……………It’s about before I'm sorry”

”Eh……………?”

”No……………how'd you put it………I kissed, you”

To put it in accurate ter up this kind of talk but………………itin the apology and said it

But Yoshi+no was in a blank state and was staring in wonder; once again she tilted her head

It was like; she did not understand what shi+dou had just said

”…………What is, a kiss?”

”Eh? Aah, that is…………lips touching together, like this…”

Even though shi+dou explained to her, Yoshi+no made a face as if she did not understand at all, and then thrust her face up directly at shi+dou's face

”Is…………it, like…………this?”

”………………Uh!”

It was a distance that, if he were to bring his face a little closer, their lips would touch

His heart was about to fly out in this dangerous situation but, shi+dou re with Tohka, and so to have a calm face

”Uh, ah, aah…………yes, it feels like that”

But Yoshi+no ain she said in a soft voice

”……I, don't remember……clearly”

”……Eh?”

Hearing that reply, shi+dou frowned

But—at that instant

”shi+dou…! I'm sorry, I was—”

Suddenly the door opened and Tohka who left the house early in thehard on her shoulders, entered the living room

And then, she saw shi+dou and Yoshi+no's figure facing each other and would be kissing any at moment, piki, and her body stiffened up

”Eh……?”

Right after, shi+dou made an absentminded face

”To—Too, To-To-To-To-To-To-To-To-To-To-Tohka………!”

On his face, sweat gushed out

”……………Hi……”

Yoshi+no probably felt soe; she turned backwards, and leaked a soft voice

But itthat cannot be helped To Yoshi+no, Tohka should be the scary opponent that took her puppet away fro around the living roo out from her

Incidentally fro out froency situation

”…………………”

While being silent, Tohka entle s room

-Twitch, such a feeling was transmitted to her hands It would also see

”To-Tohka, this is……”

It was like hisan affair at the scene of the crime, shi+dou hastily moved his hands

But Tohka passed through the both of theht into the kitchen, she then took out all the food and drinks froerator and shelves, and just like that she exited to the corridor

From the door, dadadadada such footsteps could be heard—and the ht it reached the second floor, this ti slammed could be heard

…………Looks like, she plans on shutting herself inside again

And what's e with a sufficient supply of food in stock

”Er,errr…………………”

”…………It turned into so”

Froh

”Wh-What should I do now……?”

”For the ti, you can only leave her alone for now Even if shi+dou were to try and talk to her now, it'll only cause a reverse effect anyway”

”I-Is that so……”

He said that, and takes a gli beside him

But, wondering when it happened, Yoshi+no's figure that was supposed to be on top of the sofa suddenly disappeared

”Are……? Yoshi+no?”

”——It looks like, she got [Lost] to the other world when Tohka's was approaching her Having her puppet being taken away, must have been quite a traumatic experience to her”

”…I see”

Fuu, he exhaled a good breathe—and frowned because of a bad feeling

It would see her puppet away

Despite that……she said she could not remember the kiss with shi+dou

No, even yesterday she was definitely also in a state that she doesn't ht be perhaps that she holds no special e Spirits have differen

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