—The Butterfly Effect.
A scientific theory proposed by Arican teorologist Edward Lorenz in the 1970s. By establishing a mathematical model, he proposed that the most minute difference in initial conditions could lead to unpredictable results in trajectory movent, thereby negating the possibility of long-term weather forecasting at the ti.
A butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil could set off a tornado in Texas. —This was the example Lorenz proposed during a speech.
Simply put, a tiny error, after a series of chain reactions, can potentially have a massive impact on a certain event in the future.
Of course, this theory applies just as well to ti travel that changes the past.
"Hah... I kinda get it, but kinda don't."
During a break between classes, lying on his desk, Itsuka Shido looked at the information he found on his phone and exhaled heavily.
"Shido... are you okay? Did sothing happen?"
Sitting next to Shido, Tohka looked at him with a worried face.
"Mhm, I'm fine, Tohka."
"Are you really, really okay?"
"Mhm, nothing's wrong. I just ate a bit too much for breakfast."
Patting Tohka's head, Shido smiled slightly.
"Thank you, Tohka. I feel much better now."
"Is that so, that's great!"
Tohka imdiately let out a sigh of relief, showing a bright smile.
(Sorry, Tohka.)
Although he wasn't lying, hiding things from an important family mber who cared about him made Shido feel a slight sting in his heart.
However, casually telling Tohka about things he wasn't sure of himself would only plunge her into aningless panic and anxiety.
(Is this... how Yutsuki felt in the past too?)
Shido thought sowhat bitterly.
Just a few hours ago, while everyone was enjoying breakfast at ho, a shocking piece of news instantly plunged the originally elated Shido into an ice cellar.
Everyone, including the Yamai sisters who were usually closest to Yutsuki, didn't know the na "Ryougi Yutsuki."
For a mont, Itsuka Shido felt his mind go completely blank. It was as if his brain instinctively refused to process the information before him, crashing entirely.
—Calm down! Denying it won't solve the problem.
A certain voice from his mory constantly told him this, finally snapping Shido back to reality. After taking several deep breaths repeatedly, he tried hard to act normal so everyone wouldn't worry about him.
After chanically and hastily finishing the breakfast he prepared, Shido left the house with Tohka and the others. After laughing and joking on the way as usual, they arrived at school.
The class bell rang, and soon only the teacher's lecture could be heard in the classroom. However, the content of the lecture went completely in one ear and out the other for Shido right now. Tapping his pen lightly, looking at his blank notebook, he continuously organized the current information in his mind.
(First, over at the Spirit apartnt, I pretended I dropped sothing to go check. Yutsuki's room has beco an empty room.)
Honestly, at first, Shido even thought this might be a prank Yutsuki orchestrated with the others. But upon confirming that the room—which had been filled with various gas, light novels, figures, and Miku's complete three-piece CD sets, a room whose owner's identity was clear the mont you stepped inside—had beco a dusty, empty room as if no one had ever lived there...
He had to admit that in this world, Yutsuki didn't have her Spirit power sealed by him, and didn't exist in the cognizance of Tohka and the others.
Then, how is Yutsuki now? Although he thought of many possibilities, the only thing Shido could tell himself right now was—at the very least, she wasn't living here.
"Phew..."
Shido let out a soft breath and continued thinking.
(Then, Origami is gone too.)
Thinking of this, Shido turned his head slightly and glanced at the seat where Origami used to be in his mory, which was now occupied by another student.
During the horoom before class, when Tama-chan sensei called roll, she never called Origami's na. Logically speaking, even if a student was absent for a reason, the teacher would still call their na to notify the class.
After class, after asking Tama-chan sensei, Shido learned that there had never been a student nad Tobiichi Origami in this class.
(Currently, these are the only two things different in this world from what I know.)
Shido summarized in his mind.
Origami's disappearance was sowhat explainable. After all, the young Origami and her parents successfully escaped the fire, so they would naturally find a new house and live together as a family. Maybe she still lived in Minami-Kacho, or maybe she moved sowhere else like Shido did. There was no reason for her to attend the sa school as Shido.
But why did Yutsuki disappear?
(Is this the so-called butterfly effect...)
Shido gripped the end of his pen slightly.
A change in one event is bound to involve changes in other events.
Although Shido successfully changed history, this didn't an everything would develop in the direction Shido desired.
All causes and effects existing in this world are connected by invisible threads. With Shido's actions as a starting point, it was only natural that situations outside of his original intention occurred in this world.
All of this was clearly stated by Yutsuki "yesterday," when she initially rejected his proposal to change the past.
However now, bitter emotions quietly spread in his heart, and Shido felt his eyes tearing up slightly.He missed the girl, so much he want to cry.
I can't regret this! If I regret it, the efforts Yutsuki and I made would be aningless.
Constantly warning himself like this, Shido pinched his thigh hard, gritted his teeth, and took a deep breath.
(Since Yutsuki and Origami aren't by my side in this world, then even if it's selfish, I have to find them and bring them back.)
Itsuka Shido silently made up his mind.
"Shido! Shido!"
"——Hm?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Shido suddenly noticed that Tohka, looking anxious, was poking him with her pencil and quietly reminding him.
"Ahem—Itsuka-kun."
"Yes!"
Instinctively standing up from his chair, Itsuka Shido saw the math teacher standing at the podium, veins popping on his head, showing a fake smile.
"After I called you so many tis, are you finally willing to listen to the teacher's lesson? Then, could you please solve this problem?"
"Uh..."
Lowering his head awkwardly, Shido silently walked to the blackboard.
Then, looking at the problem on the blackboard, sweat slightly ford on Shido's forehead.
(This is bad... how do I solve this problem?)
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