"This is the information we have so far. There really was soone who stopped the disaster once, and he left the secret in the old Class 3-3 classroom."
"I see. So going to their eting wasn't a waste after all."
After escorting Akazawa ho, Rinji went straight to i's house. Since she disliked crowds and hadn't gone to the gathering, he needed to report what he'd learned.
"That's about it. After all, this so-called curse has lasted twenty-six years—an entire generation has passed. Naturally, so clues have been discovered." Rinji explained.
"Any other information?"
"I also deduced that this year's 'dead one' is most likely among the teachers."
"Your deduction is very accurate."
"So you've already figured out who the dead one is?" Rinji smiled. "Even if you don't tell , I can probably guess. But the identity of the dead one isn't the real issue. The real issue is ending the disaster."
"You an stopping this year's disaster?"
"No. I an erasing the curse at its root, putting an end to the twenty-six years it has persisted."
"…Takamine, you really are different from others."
"You already knew that, didn't you?"
"That's not what I ant."
i shook her head and gave Rinji a warm smile.
"I just think that in this situation, most people would only care about self-preservation. But you want to save everyone."
"…That's just an exception."
Not wanting to linger on the subject, Rinji changed the topic.
"Misaki is about to be discharged. As her sister, shouldn't you go pick her up?"
"…Won't you go, Takamine? She'd probably really like it if you did."
"But I think she'd rather have you there. After all, you're family. I'm just an outsider." Rinji said.
"My mother wouldn't want visiting Misaki. When I went out with her before, she was furious."
"I see…"
"But if you're willing to go, that would be another matter," i suddenly said with a smile.
"Hm?"
…
As the two went downstairs, i's mother, Yukiyo, ca out of her studio.
Seeing them, her stern face softened into a smile.
"So it's you again, Takamine. Here to visit once more."
"Welco. Are you two heading out?"
"Yes, we're going to…"
"Takamine and I are going to the amusent park," i interrupted. "Just the two of us."
"Is that so? A date?"
"Yes."
Rinji: "…"
"Be sure to co back early."
"Okay, Mom."
…
After saying goodbye to Yukiyo, Rinji and i left together.
"Sorry, Takamine. I had to call it a date to put Mom at ease."
"…Strange though. Why didn't she object when you said that?"
"Because she doesn't mind at all," i replied.
"You're just a middle schooler!"
This reminded Rinji of Karura's great-grandfather. Even though she was already a high schooler, just dating him felt like it was going to kill the old man.
"Alright, let's say she doesn't mind, then why doesn't she want you to see Misaki?"
Hearing Rinji's question, i quietly lowered her head.
"She's just… afraid that I'll leave her."
"Huh?"
"I ca here when I was very young. At the ti, I thought she was my real mother. It wasn't until I was four that I learned I had been fostered here. When I asked her about it, she reacted very emotionally."
i spoke slowly.
"You know, Takamine, when I was brought here was exactly when her own daughter had died. She took as a replacent for her dead daughter. The reason she fears eting Misaki is because she's afraid I'll go back to my real mother."
So it was only that Yukiyo feared i would leave her. As for what i did, she wouldn't interfere.
"…Complicated family matters. Well, never mind."
Rinji looked up toward the hospital.
"Anyway, let's go see Misaki first."
---
"Rinji!"
"Alright, alright, let go already."
At the hospital entrance, Rinji helplessly pried Misaki off of him.
During the days Misaki was hospitalized, Rinji had rarely visited her. Most of the ti it was his father, Isaac, who had done so.
"Today the doctor told my body is perfectly fine," Misaki said happily. "It seems even the leukemia has been cured."
"Ah, that's great."
Though he said that, none of it surprised Rinji.
He might joke around with his father all the ti, but he had full confidence in Isaac's abilities. Once his father decided to act, there was almost nothing he couldn't solve.
The reason Isaac's old subordinates still regarded him as the true leader even after more than ten years of retirent was inseparable from the aura of omnipotence he exuded.
"As long as you're fine."
Rinji smiled, patted Misaki on the shoulder, and prepared to leave.
"You and i must have plenty to talk about. I'll leave the rest of the ti to you two. I've got things to do, so I'll—"
Before he could finish, both his hands were grabbed.
Misaki held his right hand, while i held his left.
Misaki: "Rinji, do you really hate seeing that much?"
i: "Coming all this way only to leave right away is hardly gentlemanly."
"…What are you two trying to do?"
"Since we're already out, and Misaki just got discharged, why don't we spend so ti playing around nearby?" i suggested.
Misaki: "Agreed~"
Rinji rubbed his forehead. "Why don't you just go by yourselves?"
Hearing this, i smiled. "Takamine, didn't you say you'd protect all the students in class? I happen to be in Class 3-3 as well. Please take good care of and Misaki."
"…Fine."
Leaving the hospital entrance, i smiled genuinely at seeing her sister healthy again, a smile different from the cold face she usually wore at school.
Standing behind the sisters, watching them chat and laugh, Rinji's lips curved slightly as well.
Maybe staying in this era for too long really did make it easy to be drawn into the happiness of others, to form bonds with them.
But he also understood he didn't belong here.
So sooner or later, he would have to leave.
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