[When Kamisato Ayato saw the puppet's expression, he felt a jolt of déjà vu.]
[Even with its eyes closed, the puppet already looked a lot like Kael, aside from a few tiny differences in its features.]
[But the moment those eyes opened, no one would notice those minor details anymore.]
It was uncanny. The way it looked at him… it was exactly the same as Kael.
[Maybe… maybe this really could bring some comfort to Kamisato Ayaka?]
[Paimon puffed up proudly at his stunned expression. "So? Looks just like him, right?"]
["Yes. I'm taking him to see Ayaka immediately."]
[Ayato didn't spare the Traveler or Paimon another glance. He grabbed the puppet's wrist and bolted toward the back courtyard.]
["Ayaka, look! Look what I brought you!"]
[The moment Ayato stepped into the room, he called out excitedly to the girl lying on the bed.]
[But just like before, Kamisato Ayaka lay there motionless, staring blankly at the ceiling. Not a flicker of reaction.]
["It's Kael. I brought Kael back to you."]
Ayaka's glassy eyes twitched. She slowly turned her head, and the instant she saw the puppet, her pupils trembled violently.
[Ayaka tried to sit up, but she hadn't eaten or drunk anything for days. Her frail body had no strength left.]
[Thud.]
[Her arm slipped, and she collapsed off the edge of the bed.]
["Ayaka!"]
[Ayato lunged forward to catch her, gently lifting her back into his arms.]
["Are you okay?" he asked anxiously.]
[Ayaka didn't seem to hear him at all. Her trembling hand reached toward the puppet as she kept whispering, "Kael… Kael…"]
[Tears spilled nonstop down her pale, sunken cheeks.]
[Hearing her call his name, the puppet walked closer and offered her a gentle smile.]
["Ayaka."]
["Kael, you're back… come here… let me see you properly…"]
[The puppet obeyed her soft plea, kneeling down and leaning in close.]
[Ayaka's eyes were blurred with tears. She stared at him without blinking, her dim gaze locking onto the puppet's face.]
[The puppet whispered gently, "Ayaka, don't cry."]
[Ayaka's hand froze.]
[She stared deep into the puppet's eyes, as if trying to look straight into its soul.]
[Then suddenly, as if shocked by electricity, she jerked her hand away from its face.]
["No… you're not Kael!!! You're not him!!!"]
[The puppet gave her a confused look. "But I am Kael…"]
["No you're not… you're not…"]
[Ayaka shook her head frantically, tears pouring down in silent waves.]
[Her hopeless gaze shifted to Ayato. "You lied to me… this isn't Kael. He's not back…"]
[Ayato tried to soothe her. "It will develop its own consciousness eventually. It can stay by your side as Kael."]
["I don't want that!!!!"]
[Ayaka's voice broke into a hysterical scream. "No one can replace Kael! I don't care how much it looks like him—nothing can replace him!!!!"]
["Brother… why would you do this to me…"]
For one brief moment—when she first saw the puppet—the empty hollow in Ayaka's heart had been filled.
But it wasn't real.
Why give her hope only to tear it apart again?
Why be so cruel?
[Her body was already dangerously weak. The emotional whiplash pushed her beyond her limit.]
[Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.]
["Ayaka!!!"]
"System, send me over right now!!!"
Kael had been wondering whether there was any point in going, now that a puppet identical to him already existed.
He'd thought he could just watch how things played out.
If the puppet had perfectly recorded his personality and habits…
Maybe it really could soothe Ayaka.
Maybe it could become a symbol that helped her move past the shadows of the past.
But he never expected Ayaka to see through it instantly.
[Sensory Mode activated.]
The scene flickered, and Kael found himself standing in Ayaka's room. He watched Ayato lower Ayaka onto the bed, panic twisting his features.
"Call the physician! Now!" Ayato shouted.
The Kamisato Clan's physician arrived quickly.
He placed a hand on Ayaka's pulse—and his expression darkened.
"Did Miss Ayaka experience intense emotional agitation just now?"
Ayato's face drained of color. "Yes…"
He sighed heavily. "Her pulse was already weak. She can't withstand the slightest shock. Her heart meridian has taken damage. She must rest quietly… but even with rest, she…"
Ayato understood the unspoken words. His eyes reddened instantly.
"How long does she have?"
"At most… one or two months."
Ayato glanced toward Kael, who stood in the corner looking stricken, and guilt clawed at him.
He'd brought the puppet here hoping to cure Ayaka's heartache—but instead, he'd only pushed her closer to death.
"Leave," Ayato said to Kael. "You can't let her see that face again. It'll only hurt her more."
"I…" Kael blurted, desperate. "Brother, I'm Kael. I'm really back!"
Ayato shook his head.
The puppet thought it was the real Kael. It didn't understand that everything it felt and expressed was nothing more than programmed behavior.
"Guards. Take him away and lock him up."
Several Yashiro Commission guards entered and restrained Kael.
Ayato looked at that painfully familiar face, unable to steel his heart entirely.
"Just take him outside. Be gentle. Don't hurt him."
And so, utterly bewildered, Kael was dragged out of Ayaka's room.
"…"
No—he was Kael…
Kael was speechless.
Ayato had completely convinced himself he was the puppet. No matter what Kael said or did, Ayato would chalk it up to "programming."
How was he supposed to prove he was really himself?
And what about Ayaka…?
Would she be able to recognize him?