Mash-up Anime World: Creating the SCP Foundation to Contain Anomalies Chapter 361 - 354: Tokisaki Kurumi

After a mont of silence, Origami Tobiichi's body trembled slightly.

She wasn't a foolish person.

Previously, Haruto didn't answer her question about why he said she might beco a Spirit.

Instead, he brought her to witness this scene.

If one looks beyond appearances to see the essence...

What Haruto wanted her to understand was nothing more than this: being different is not the root of evil—human nature is.

And why did he want her to understand that?

Origami was scared.

Scared that the truth might be vastly different from what she thought she knew. Perhaps... her parents' deaths weren't so innocent after all.

Perhaps the Spirit back then wasn't a so-called devil.

Even though Origami couldn't believe that her kind-hearted parents would ever do anything atrocious...

Still, Haruto wouldn't guide her like this for no reason.

The disaster from her childhood—the images were suddenly becoming blurry. Only now did Origami realize—her mories were not as clear as she had always believed.

Before, it was only because she had convinced herself that the Spirit who appeared that day was purely evil.

So, her mind filled in the blanks.

But in truth, in her real mory, she never actually saw her parents confronting the Spirit.

She only saw the aftermath of the disaster.

Realizing this, Origami trembled even more violently.

Seeing her reaction, Haruto knew that the girl had misunderstood sothing.

But... that was inevitable.

What happened to Origami was... truly beyond reason.

Haruto reached out and gently brushed her hair. Trying to comfort this unsettled girl.

Ti slowly passed.

Haruto didn't offer any explanation or words of comfort. He was only administering a dose of ntal "vaccine." So that when the truth ca, she wouldn't completely break. As for whether the dose was too strong—

Haruto believed Origami could handle it.

Who knew how much ti passed.

Origami leaned against Haruto, her emotions gradually calming. Although her suspicions were terrifying...

Until she saw the truth with her own eyes, she wouldn't allow herself to collapse.

Though she said that...

Origami still anxiously rubbed her head against Haruto. Trying to draw a bit of security from this person she hadn't known long, yet trusted deeply.

Just then—

"How surprising, a phantom from the river of ti. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

A voice ca from behind them.

Which, under normal circumstances—Haruto and Origami's current state should have been invisible to people in this parallel reality.

After all, they were only projections in this world.

And Haruto had cloaked them with the power of ti, making them akin to observers from a divine perspective.

Yet soone still approached them.

And that... introduction was so cringingly chūnibyō.

Haruto's lips twitched as he turned around—

There stood a uniquely dressed girl.

A red kimono embroidered with delicate cherry blossoms. A bright orange-red sash at her waist, ending in white fluffy pom-poms. Her long black hair was tied with pink ribbons and styled into twin tails down her back.

But the most eye-catching feature was that one of her eyes was covered by a black eyepatch.

She looked like she'd stepped straight out of an ani—like a fantasy princess.

Coupled with that ridiculous introduction...

The first impression anyone would get:

"Such a cute girl... what a sha she's got a serious case of chūnibyō."

When Haruto turned around, the girl gave him a radiant smile.

A beautiful one.

"Pleased to et you. I am the Spirit of Ti—Tokisaki Kurumi. May I ask for your na?"

Second round of cringe.

Listening to her overly elaborate words, Haruto felt at a bit of a loss.

Crap. I have no experience dealing with chūnibyōs...

Also, why was Tokisaki Kurumi acting like this?

Just then, Origami stepped protectively in front of Haruto. She glared viciously at the chūnibyō girl who called herself Tokisaki Kurumi.

Like a cat with its fur standing on end—her face was the very picture of wariness and distrust.

She knew this person.

Just as the girl introduced herself—she was the Spirit of Ti, Tokisaki Kurumi. But the title Origami had heard most was: The Most Evil Spirit.

Kurumi was high on the GOC's anomaly execution list.

She was discovered by the GOC long ago, but never successfully terminated. In fact, the GOC had killed Tokisaki Kurumi many tis.

But more versions of her kept showing up, one after another.

This "most evil Spirit" had already killed tens of thousands without relying on spatial quakes.

She had even wiped out several GOC squads.

A total thorn in their side.

But despite Origami's extre hostility, the chūnibyō Kurumi didn't react. She simply smiled faintly, waiting for Haruto's reply.

Haruto, anwhile, was thoughtful.

They had been seen.

Because of her connection to ti, perhaps?

That must be it.

This Tokisaki Kurumi possessed so unique ti-related traits. Her "level" was roughly equivalent to that of a world.

The higher the level, the more sensitive one is to divine presence. Much like the connection between gods and their followers. The higher a follower's level, the closer they are to the deity.

The Kurumi before him... was probably at saint level.

No wonder she noticed Haruto's presence. Or maybe, she had been drawn to him from the start.

"...My na is Haruto," he finally replied.

Origami blinked and looked at him in surprise.

She had just learned his real na.

anwhile, the chūnibyō Kurumi gave a dramatic bow.

"So it is Haruto-sama. To hear your noble na is truly my greatest honor."

Haruto was struggling to keep a straight face.

Then—

Sothing erged from Kurumi's shadow.

It was... another Tokisaki Kurumi.

This one looked much more normal.

Wearing a standard JK uniform—identical to Origami's school outfit. No eyepatch—just long bangs covering one eye. She stepped out from the shadow, smiled apologetically at Haruto.

"Forgive the embarrassnt, Haruto. If you have ti... could we sit and talk?"

Haruto nodded.

The chūnibyō Kurumi, however, was not pleased.

She was here first!

Origami, too, tugged uneasily on Haruto's sleeve.

The sight before her confused her deeply.

She had heard that Tokisaki Kurumi could co back even after being killed...

But she had never seen multiple versions appear simultaneously.

Haruto patted her head reassuringly. Following the normal Kurumi's lead, they arrived at a quiet café.

"You can go back now," normal Kurumi told the chūnibyō one.

But the chūnibyō Kurumi imdiately shook her head.

Not only that—Three more Kurumis erged from her shadow!

Seeing this, the normal Kurumi nearly lost it.

The three newcors?

Two wore different styles of eyepatches.

The last one had no eyepatch—but was wrapped in bandages.

Clearly not due to injury—but pure aesthetic.

In a word—ultra chūnibyō.

Haruto finally understood.

These four were all chūnibyō phases of Tokisaki Kurumi.

As for the Spirit of Ti—Tokisaki Kurumi—she was an extrely powerful and special Spirit.

Earlier, Haruto ntioned how a person could preserve slices of themselves from different ti periods—

To observe the world from multiple tilines.

Kurumi had done just that.

She separated different versions of herself across ti.

And thus, countless Tokisaki Kurumis were born.

Which explained why, no matter how many were killed—more kept appearing. Still... they were the sa person.

So theoretically... they shouldn't argue with each other, right?

Well...

Unless it's your own black history.