Since it was a date invitation from his girlfriend, Kaito didn't kill the mood by refusing.
After agreeing on the time and place for tomorrow's meeting with Soyo, the two of them chatted briefly about their recent situations before saying goodnight to each other.
When he put away his phone, he finally noticed that Mutsumi beside him, at some unknown point, had opened her dazzling eyes, like golden foil, staring unblinkingly in his direction, "Was that... a message from Soyo?"
"That's right," There was no need to hide such a minor matter, Kaito casually replied, "She bought two movie tickets and asked me to go out with her tomorrow. Want me to bring back some snacks for you?"
Mutsumi wasn't interested in snacks. Compared to that, she cared more about another issue, "So... Onii-chan, will you still come home tonight?"
'Ah, this...', Kaito really hadn't considered this question beforehand.
In his plan, it was just a movie, it shouldn't take that long, at least not enough to delay going home.
But, if Soyo had other plans... then it would be a different story.
And considering Soyo's behavior during their first time, even though she was outmatched, she still fought on to the bitter end.
'Alright, the probability of getting home safely tomorrow night isn't very high.'
Facing Mutsumi's hopeful and expectant gaze, he thought about it and still replied, "Anyway... I'll try my best to come back."
———
[The Next Day]
Warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the window sill onto the bed, like a slowly blooming golden gardenia, casting gentle light and shadows on the sleeping girl's face.
When Mutsumi slowly opened her eyes, that familiar figure was no longer by her side.
On the bedside table not far away sat a small tray, which seemed to use some special heat-retention technique. The white porridge was still faintly steaming, along with a golden fried egg, paired with crystal-clear shrimp dumplings, forming a breakfast with appearance and taste that could be called top-notch.
Under the tray was a light blue sticky note, with a short message written in beautiful handwriting.
[Breakfast is already prepared. Don't forget to eat. I'll try to come back early. Don't worry.]
There was no signature on the note, but it was obvious, it couldn't have been written by Kirara.
The carefully prepared breakfast, or maybe calling it lunch would be more fitting now? still gave off a delicious aroma.
But Mutsumi had no appetite at all.
The girl with pale green long hair simply curled up her legs, burying her cheeks into her knees, like a lonely cucumber blossom swaying in the wind.
["Hey hey, Mutsumi."]
A sudden female voice broke the silence of the bedroom. Mortis, dressed like a musical theatre performer in an extravagant stage outfit, quietly appeared, her face still wearing a radiant smile, her tone light and lively like a nightingale, ["What a lovely day! Great for playing around, and even better for hugging and cuddling, don't you think?"]
Mutsumi didn't answer.
The cucumber fairy-like beautiful girl still had her head lowered, her fair cheeks buried deep into her knees, as if she hadn't heard a single thing from the outside world.
Her question ignored, Mortis didn't mind. She simply raised her pale, scallion-white fingertip, gently tapping her lips, then looked toward the wall clock in the bedroom. The hands now pointed to the mark for "two."
["It's 2 PM now. The movie's about to start."]
["Mutsumi, tell me... what do you think Onii-chan is doing right now?"]
["Is he holding hands with Soyo, walking into the theater together? Or maybe they've just met and are hugging tightly under a streetlamp?"]
["Mhm, since they're a couple now, a kiss upon meeting must be inevitable, right?"]
["But..."], she suddenly elongated her tone, her golden eyes looking at the girl before her with a bit of pity, though more than that, it was heartache, ["Poor little Mutsumu, left all alone at home... must be really lonely, huh?"]
The small body seemed to tremble a little. Mutsumi clutched tightly at the hem of her nightdress, and from how hard she gripped it, her knuckles were slightly pale, "I... didn't think that way."
["Liar."]
Mortis cupped her face and sighed softly, ["Mutsumi, did you forget again?"]
["From the very beginning, we've always been one. That's why, you can never fool me."]
["Right now, I can feel it very clearly..."]
She placed her right hand over her chest, her gaze seemingly looking through her reflection to see that distant other person.
["Here... it's lonely, sour, and sad."]
Mutsumi stared blankly at her, not answering for a long time.
["But, it's okay."]
Mortis' beautiful brows curved like crescent moons, her voice impossibly gentle.
["Because, long, long ago, I already said it, no matter what happens, I will always, always, always... stand by Mutsumi's side."]
["So, leave it to me. You can leave everything to me."]
She extended her left hand, showing a soft, pale palm, interlocking fingers with the girl's, ["I'll help you get the happiness you deserve."]
"...Mortis," A faint murmur echoed in the quiet bedroom, then everything returned to silence once more.
———
[4 P.M.]
The movie ended. Like a tide, the audience surged out of the theater.
"No wonder it's the highest-rated movie recently. The quality is indeed top-notch," Leaving the cinema, Soyo's carefully made-up pretty face still carried a trace of lingering fear. She looked a bit apologetically at her sweetheart beside her, "But Kaito-kun, you didn't really show any emotional reaction the whole time... did you find it boring?"
Kaito slightly shook his head, "Not really. Aside from some logical flaws, overall, it's a pretty good movie."
The movie ticket Soyo bought was for a horror movie that had recently been released.
The cast was star-studded, and both the director and screenwriter were reputable veterans. Backed by strong funding, they even invited a currently very popular girl idol group to make a cameo. The film had only been out for a short time, but both its word-of-mouth and box office had exploded, in the good sense.
Unfortunately... it was still a horror movie.
The director definitely had skill. He excellently portrayed the despair and helplessness of ordinary people facing evil spirits, easily stirring the audience's anxiety and fear.
Soyo was a prime example. She held his hand tightly throughout the film in fear. You could also hear gasps and screams from other audience members now and then.
But to Kaito, it was just noisy.
After all, all fear stems from insufficient firepower.
Just like in any horror game, no matter how scary, once you whip out Wind Spirit Moon Shadow, the nature of the game completely changes.
With his level of power, facing the evil spirits in the movie would be no different from turning on cheat mode.
Compared to the movie, which couldn't provoke even the slightest fear in him, for some reason, Kaito kept thinking about the little Mutsumi back home.
Even when asleep, the girl would subconsciously grab the corner of his clothes with her little hand.
He remembered when he left, the way his sister's brow furrowed ever so slightly, that helpless and fragile sleeping face.
For some reason, in his heart... there was a vague sense of unease.
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