Beyond the azure planet, in the vast and boundless universe.
"Hm, hm~ Hm, hm~"
Hoshimiya Mukuro floated in this sea of stars, humming a light tune while playing with her long braids.
After parting ways with Shido, Mukuro used the door opened by Michael to return to outer space. This wasn't because she had lost interest in Shido or life on Earth. It was just that, to think things over alone, the silence of space without any distracting noises was still the most suitable place.
Quietly closing her eyes, Mukuro reminisced about every little detail of her date with Shido today, and a happy smile couldn't help but form on her lips.
"The ti spent playing with Nushi-sama was so delightful."
Eating, strolling, shopping, and playing with Shido. These long-lost activities were so incredibly pleasant. Not only that, but the sights her eyes beheld, the fresh air her nose breathed, the warmth of the sun her skin felt, the deliciousness of the food her tongue tasted—every single one of these was a stimulation Mukuro hadn't experienced in a very long ti, making her so excited she could hardly sleep.
And—
[Mukuro's hair is very beautiful.]
"—!"
Recalling Shido's praise for her hair, Mukuro couldn't help but hold her cheeks in joy, her little legs kicking excitedly, causing her body to slowly spin in space.
"...I am looking forward to eting Nushi-sama again."
Mukuro looked down at the azure planet below her feet with an infatuated expression. If possible, she truly wished to stay by Shido's side forever, making this happy ti last for eternity.
However, due to a small problem, and to resolve it, Mukuro had to temporarily endure these feelings.
"Nushi-sama... is too gentle."
Mukuro said softly. She didn't intend to bla Shido. After all, it was precisely because of his gentleness that Mukuro had the opportunity to enjoy such a happy experience.
It truly was asking too much to have such a gentle Shido say cruel words to cut ties with those won and hurt them.
"Rest assured, the one Muku loves. Once tomorrow arrives, the matters troubling you will all be resolved."
Saying this, Mukuro smiled sweetly and thrust the Angel in her hand—Michael—into the void.
—————————
The girl's dream continued.
"Good morning."
This was the greeting the girl received from her parents and older sister upon waking up in the morning. Just this simple phrase filled the girl with the energy needed to get through a new day.
Honestly, until she was adopted, the girl never thought she would enjoy a life accompanied by family so much.
"Onee-chan~ brush my hair."
"Sure."
Before breakfast, whenever the girl asked her sister, the sister would dotingly brush her long hair.
"Your hair is really beautiful."
Every ti she brushed it, the sister would often praise her like this. And regarding her sister's complints, the girl's heart was always filled with joy and pride.
The girl really enjoyed this ti of having her hair brushed by her sister. At that ti, she thought her sister was a magician; with just a small comb, she could turn this ssy-haired little kitten into a cute little girl.
Hearing the girl's thoughts, the sister gently patted her head and laughed very happily.
"I'm off."
"Take care."
After that, eating the delicious breakfast made by mom, the girl headed to school with her family's blessings. And when she returned from school, mom would also co out to greet her, saying "Welco back" with a gentle smile.
And after dinner, going to the roof to observe the stars with her astronomy-loving sister was the girl's daily required course.
On hot sumr days, lying on a spread-out plastic mat, the sister would always use a lively and passionate voice to explain the nas and origins of each star to the girl.
Although she couldn't understand that knowledge, for the girl, just staying by her sister's side was an incredibly happy thing.
Then, when the girl closed her eyes sleepily, the sister would always smile bitterly and say "I accidentally talked too much," and then gently carry the girl back to her room.
Surrounded by this sensation, the girl fell asleep peacefully. And when she opened her eyes again, a new day would begin.
Simple, ordinary, yet happy. This was the everyday life the girl cherished beyond asure.
A family that belonged only to her, a space that belonged only to herself. People who loved her, and people she loved too.
If only such tis could last forever. The girl couldn't help but pray in her heart.
However, the day this world ended ca very suddenly.
It wasn't that her family left this world due to an accident, nor was it because her parents' divorce caused the family to fall apart. It especially wasn't because blood relatives suddenly appeared and claid custody of the girl.
It was simply a reason that seed incredibly childish to outsiders.
Ti does not stop, so people always change. Yet the girl refused to grow up.
—————————
"Ugh..."
Shido groggily opened his eyes.
"That dream again...?"
Shido muttered softly. Although it was called a dream, the experience within it was too real, as if he had personally experienced it. Even after waking up, the events of the dream were still vivid in his mind.
However, after being adopted, Shido didn't get an older sister, but a cute younger sister.
"Even so, having a dream like this twice in a row is really quite strange. I should probably talk to soone about it... Ah, it's already six o'clock."
Getting up from the bed thoughtfully, Shido was startled when he saw the alarm clock beside the bed.
(I was wondering why Kotori hadn't co to wake up.)
Shido scratched his head in frustration. Going back to sleep at this ti felt a bit awkward. After hesitating for a mont, Shido got up, changed clothes, and prepared to make breakfast for everyone.
Walking downstairs with quiet steps, Shido washed up, went to the kitchen, put on his apron, and began preparing breakfast.
(Today's breakfast will be miso soup, grilled fish, and white rice.)
Just as Shido decided on the nu and was about to start, he heard the sound of the front door opening from the hallway, and Yutsuki's voice gradually approached.
"Hm? Kotori-chan is already up? I'll have breakfast ready soo..."
Shido looked towards the direction of the voice, his gaze directly eting Yutsuki, who had just walked into the living room.
"..."
"..."
Silence instantly spread. Perhaps because of their previous argunt and the fact that Yutsuki caught him on a date with Mukuro yesterday, Shido felt the atmosphere between him and Yutsuki was extrely awkward.
"G-Good morning."
"...Good morning."
Yutsuki nodded with so confusion.
"Breakfast is still being prepared, please wait a mont."
"...Mhm."
The conversation sohow continued. But Yutsuki's distant attitude, as if she were treating a stranger, made Shido feel quite uncomfortable.
(Ah... this is bad. After breakfast, I'll find a chance to sincerely apologize to Yutsuki and make up quickly.)
Since he decided that, he had to put more effort into the cooking. Eating delicious food makes people feel better. Thinking of this, Shido worked even harder on preparing breakfast.
After greeting Shido, perhaps going to the restroom, Yutsuki left the living room for a mont. When she returned, she sat at the dining table, didn't turn on the TV, rested her chin on one hand, and silently observed Shido.
Then, about half an hour passed, and breakfast preparation was halfway done. The grilling fish began to emit an enticing aroma. Seemingly attracted by the sll, the sound of pitter-patter footsteps ca from the second floor. It seed Kotori was up.
"Yawn~ Yutsuki-nee, what's for breakfast... ?!"
"Good morning. What's wrong, Kotori? Didn't sleep well?"
Noticing Kotori's strange expression, Shido asked with so concern.
"..."
Kotori first looked at Shido in the kitchen, then at Yutsuki in the living room, and asked puzzledly.
"Yutsuki-nee, who is this? An acquaintance of yours?"
"Eh?" Hearing Kotori's words, Yutsuki widened her eyes in surprise. "Isn't he a relative of yours, Kotori-chan?"
Seeing the two's reactions, Shido showed an incomprehensible expression.
"Hm? What are you two talking about? Is this so kind of prank?"
"..."
"..."
Kotori and Yutsuki exchanged glances and unanimously fell silent.
Then—
"Perveeeeertttttttttttt!!"
A high-decibel scream erupted.
"Eh? Pervert? Who? ?"
Frantically looking around and confirming there was no one else here, Shido seed to realize sothing, pointing at himself in disbelief.
"Who else but you? You illegal intruder?!"
"Illegal intruder? What are you talking about, Kotori?"
"Who gave you permission to call my na? Get out of here right now!"
However, Kotori clearly had no intention of conversing with Shido. She grabbed a nearby ornant and unceremoniously threw it at him.
"Hey! That's dangerous!"
Ducking to dodge the flying object Kotori threw, and seeing the furious Kotori, Shido finally realized sothing was seriously wrong.
(Could it be...)
"Yutsuki-nee, call the police!"
"Got it."
However, before Shido had ti to think, Yutsuki actually took out her phone, preparing to call the police. Seeing the situation turn dire, Shido could only flee the house in a panic.
"Phew..."
Seeing the person finally leave the house, Kotori breathed a sigh of relief and put down the pillow in her hand.
"That guy just now was a thief?"
Yutsuki asked curiously.
"Who knows... I've never seen him before anyway. It's definitely an illegal intrusion. By the way, Yutsuki-nee, since you were ho, why didn't you kick that guy out?"
Kotori looked at Yutsuki with so dissatisfaction. To this, Yutsuki scratched her cheek with a bitter smile.
"Well, I also found it very suspicious when I first saw him. But I did a quick patrol: neither the front door nor the back door showed signs of being pried open, no windows were broken, I went to your room and saw you were fine. Moreover, when using the kitchen, he was as skilled as if he were using his own... So I thought he was an acquaintance of yours?"
"Ah—that's really bad."
Hearing Yutsuki's description, Kotori couldn't help but shudder, explaining with a helpless face.
"Yutsuki-nee, I'm an only child, where would I get an older brother?"
"Eh? Is that so... Sorry! I'll be careful next ti."
Yutsuki bowed her head and apologized. Living in the Spirit apartnt with everyone was relatively safe for her, but Kotori was different. Living alone in such a big house and having a stranger break in—and the intruder knowing her house inside out to boot—it was no wonder she reacted so strongly.
"But Kotori-chan, although it's a bit strange to ask this now, do your parents work out of town long-term? To actually feel comfortable leaving you to live alone in such a big house."
To this, Kotori sighed and nodded helplessly.
"Yeah... To leave a daughter who's only in middle school to live alone, what exactly are my parents thinking? There has to be a limit to a hands-off approach."
"Mhm... It's true that quite a few criminals like to target won living alone. It's a bit unsafe for you to live by yourself. How about I move in later too?"
"Mhm, thanks, Yutsuki-nee. I'll also send people to tighten security around here later, otherwise, it would be bad if he broke into the Spirit apartnt."
Considering the intruder was wearing a Raizen High School uniform, after the Spirits woke up, Kotori told them about the intruder in her house, telling them to be extra careful at school.
"Umu! Got it, I'll be careful at school."
After listening to Kotori's instructions, Tohka nodded, ate a slice of toast, and asked curiously.
"By the way, Yutsuki, is today's breakfast only fried eggs, toast, and milk? I clearly slled grilled fish and miso soup when I ca in."
"Ah... That was made by the intruder before he left. I couldn't exactly serve food made by a stranger for breakfast, so I threw it away and made a simple one again."
Yutsuki shrugged and explained.
However, although she called that person an intruder, honestly, Yutsuki felt a sense of incongruity that she couldn't shake off.
(The breakfast that person made was clearly for no less than ten people. Did he know Tohka and the others would be coming over?)
"Alright, eat up quickly. Didn't the school send a notice yesterday that classes are resuming? If you dawdle, you'll be late."
Hearing this, Kaguya couldn't help but hold her cheeks in pain.
"Kuh... Has the day of judgnt arrived so soon? The detestable church actually ignored the warning from the heavens. What foolish humans."
"Sigh. A teorite literally crashed into the schoolyard, and they only gave us three days off. The school is too stingy."
Yutsuki looked speechlessly at the indignant Yamai sisters.
"You two, snap out of your winter vacation mood quickly. Otherwise, let alone three days, even if you got a month off because of the teorite, you'd still complain... teorite?"
Pausing mid-sentence, for so reason, Yutsuki cared about the word "teorite" inexplicably.
"What's wrong, Yutsuki-chan? You have a concerned look on your face. Do you have so kind of worry?"
"...Are you okay...?"
Yoshinon and Yoshino asked curiously.
"Mhm... wouldn't call it a worry, exactly."
Shaking her head gently, Yutsuki looked at Kotori, Tohka, Kaguya, Yuzuru, Yoshino, and Natsumi in turn, then asked casually,
"Origami, Miku... and Nia. Are any of them coming over for breakfast today?"
Hearing Yutsuki's question, everyone exchanged glances.
"Um... I haven't received any contact. Origami usually takes care of breakfast herself, Nia wouldn't specifically run over from her apartnt just to scrounge a al, and Miku has work today."
Although she didn't understand why Yutsuki asked this question, Kotori still answered seriously.
"Don't care about the others, but if I knew Miku was coming, I definitely would have hidden in my room and skipped breakfast."
Natsumi added with a sweatdrop.
"What's wrong, Yutsuki-nee, asking this all of a sudden?"
"...Nothing, just asking casually."
Shaking her head gently, Yutsuki looked at an extra, empty chair at the dining table with a thoughtful expression.
User Comments
0 comments from readers