Mash-up Anime World: Creating the SCP Foundation to Contain Anomalies Chapter 78: Saintly Gabriel and Hoshino Ai’s Call

[Anomaly successfully contained: The Original/SCP-173.]

[Anomaly Level 3: Hazardous. Containnt status: Stable.]

[Reward: Level-3 Lottery Draw.]

The system notification sounded, indicating that the Foundation personnel had successfully contained SCP-173 in a locked containnt chamber.

With the Eye Pods present, containnt was nearly foolproof. The mascots, while lacking combat abilities, didn't need to blink, making them the perfect counter to SCP-173.

Yukino returned to the classroom.

But Hiratsuka Shizuka and the other students quickly noticed that the usually composed ice queen had red, puffy eyes, looking as if she had just cried.

Speculations began to swirl among the students.

Given that Haruto, the handso top scorer, had left the classroom first, followed by Yukinoshita, the beautiful and equally high-achieving girl, and the fact that they were seatmates, it was inevitable that so wild theories would erge.

During break ti, groups of students huddled together, whispering.

"Hey, Yukinoshita looks like she got dumped..."

"She definitely got dumped, right? Absolutely got dumped!"

"Wow, I didn't expect Haruto to be such a playboy."

"But... I'd let him play ! Ugh, he's just... I can't even!"

Though they tried to keep their voices low, the sheer number of people talking ant Yukino could still hear them.

She was already in a bad mood.

Learning that her mories had been forcibly erased once, being dragged into a strange organization, and now becoming the center of gossip; Yukino wasn't the type to enjoy being the subject of rumors.

And the content of those rumors was miles away from the truth.

Suddenly, Yukino stood up.

She walked over to the group of gossiping students.

Everyone fell silent, turning to look at her.

"Haruto didn't dump . It's not what you're saying."

With that, Yukino turned and walked away.

She had her own sense of justice.

Even if that man was the worst, she couldn't let him be slandered because of her.

However...

The class exchanged glances and ca to a new conclusion.

"Is Yukinoshita... actually a lovesick fool?"

"She must be, right? Absolutely!"

"Even after being hurt so badly by that man, she still loves him and protects him. Ugh, it's so tragic!"

"Gabriel-san, what do you think about this?"

Suddenly, the spotlight shifted to a girl with smooth, golden hair like satin, her uniform impeccably neat. She had been quietly listening to the gossip without joining in.

But her gentle deanor made it easy for the others to include her.

Gabriel lowered her gaze, thinking seriously for a mont. Then, she looked up and gave everyone a radiant smile.

"Everyone, I think it's a bit inappropriate to gossip about others' private matters. Of course, I'm not saying you're wrong. It's human nature, but maybe we should talk about sothing else."

In that mont, it was as if a divine light had descended upon the classroom.

Gabriel stood there, glowing like a saint, so bright that it was hard to look directly at her. All the negativity in people's hearts was swept away, replaced by guilt and reflection.

"Light! Such radiant light! Gabriel-san is too dazzling!"

"How could I be so an? Seeing Gabriel-san, I realize I should strive to be better!"

"Gabriel-san is right. We should reflect and stop gossiping about others!"

And just like that, peace was restored in the classroom.

"What the heck was that?"

Haruto, sitting in the back corner, pointed at the glowing Gabriel, utterly confused.

"As you can see, it's Gabriel-san. Such a radiant personality," Katou gumi replied.

"No, no, no! Personality shouldn't emit visible light!" Haruto waved his hands frantically.

What kind of anomaly was this?

gumi tilted her head and smiled.

"Isn't that what a radiant personality is like?"

In that mont, Haruto felt like gumi was also glowing softly, her warmth making his heart skip a beat.

So, Haruto accepted this bizarre reality.

He had been ready to call the Foundation, stop ti with "The World," and knock Gabriel out to take her away.

"By the way, Haruto-kun, you really haven't forgotten ," gumi suddenly remarked.

Haruto reached out and ruffled her hair.

"It's only been one class. How could I forget? No, I'll never forget you, no matter how much ti passes."

gumi lowered her head, enjoying the head pats.

Even her parents rarely did this for her.

Being overlooked at ho, gumi had endured years of loneliness and neglect. But now, soone had finally noticed her, found her, and promised never to forget her.

The rest of the school day went smoothly.

Except for after school, when Hiratsuka Shizuka pulled Haruto aside for a private talk.

She questioned him about Yukinoshita.

In the end, with a suspicious look, she advised him,

"As a man, you need to take responsibility. As your horoom teacher, I don't encourage early relationships."

"But if you've already started sothing, make sure you handle it properly. Don't just play around and abandon her!"

Haruto facepald internally but nodded.

What "playing around" and "abandoning"?

It was all because Yukino had the worst luck, running into his anomaly containnt operations twice.

After leaving Sobu High, Haruto planned to return to his apartnt. But halfway there, he received a phone call.

So, he abruptly changed his course.

In front of a small, unremarkable family restaurant, a girl dressed in sowhat shabby clothes stood waiting quietly.

Haruto spotted her imdiately as he approached.

She was the kind of person who naturally drew attention just by standing there.

Haruto walked over.

Seeing him approach, the girl put on a practiced, standard smile, as if she had rehearsed it many tis.

"Let's go."

Without saying much, Haruto led her into the restaurant.

After they sat down, Haruto asked, "What would you like to eat?"

Hoshino Ai hesitated, then shook her head.

"I don't..."

Before she could finish, her stomach let out a loud growl. Ai froze, caught off guard. She hadn't expected her lie to be exposed by her own body's instincts.

Haruto simply pushed the nu toward her.

Ai ordered the cheapest set al.

Family restaurants usually served rice-based dishes, but Ai didn't order any.

"Don't like rice?" Haruto asked casually.

Ai, sitting across from him, nodded.

"My mother used to mix sand and glass into the rice, so I've developed a bit of an aversion to it."

She said this with a smile.

Haruto paused.

What kind of childhood had this fourteen-year-old girl endured?

(Note: The tiline has been altered here. Hoshino Ai's mother was imprisoned during her early childhood, around six to eight years old. She beca an idol at twelve, but that felt too young, so I've adjusted her age to fourteen for this story.)

"In that case, your mother being sent to prison for a few years might actually be a good thing," Haruto said.

Ai looked at him.

"Maybe... I'll be sent to an orphanage. Even if my mother gets out, she probably won't co to see ."

Surprisingly, Haruto detected a hint of sadness in her voice.

This was strange.

Most people would be relieved if an abusive parent was locked away, freeing them from further tornt. But it seed...

True to her na, Ai (which ans "love") was still seeking love, hoping to be loved, even by a mother like hers.

"Are you telling all this to scare off?" Haruto asked, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

Ai was a smart girl. She knew that sharing such a tragic backstory would normally push people away. After all, a girl from such a troubled family sounded like nothing but trouble.

Ai nodded.

Silence fell between them.

The food arrived.

Ai picked up her chopsticks and began eating slowly.

But the way she held her chopsticks was odd.

It wasn't hard to guess why. With a mother like hers, who would have taught her how to use chopsticks properly?

"Hoshino Ai," Haruto called.

Ai looked up.

She saw Haruto pick up a pair of chopsticks.

"Place your index finger here, rest it in the hollow of your hand, and use these two fingers to apply pressure."

Ai was montarily confused, then realized Haruto was teaching her how to use chopsticks.

She tried to mimic his grip.

It felt much more comfortable. But then Haruto reached over and adjusted her hand.

"This part is wrong. It'll feel awkward if you apply force like this. Do it like this..."

Feeling the warmth of his fingers as he guided her hand, patiently explaining each step, Ai was puzzled.

Why was he going this far?

"Why?" Ai asked.

Haruto simply smiled.

"You called , didn't you?"

Even though Ai had tried to push him away with her words, she had still reached out.

That was enough.

"Normal people won't hurt you. Love isn't so luxury. It might be hard to accept at first..."

"But change is a good thing. Take it slow."

Haruto said with a smile.