Shido POV:
"May I ask, Tome-san. Why the question?"
Reine asked back at Tome with her usual monotone… albeit with a bit of trembling.
"I mean… you guys seem close… Aren't ya?"
Tome, with her confused face, faithfully responded with her eyes between us.
… Wait?
"So just because we're close, you think I'm his mom?"
Asked Reine, her eyes, for me personally, seem to narrow down a bit with that.
"… Yeah?"
Nod Tome, with her adorable confusion expression even more blatant.
… So that's why the question.
She just didn't know what being a mom is, so she just assumed our seemingly familiar interaction as being a motherly one.
Thank God Reine quickly resolved this mess, or else I might have a heart attack right there…
… Weird.
"Shin and I were merely relatives, as mentioned before Tome-san, not necessarily as a mother and son role. That cleared your question, Tome-san?"
Reien once again reassures the answer with Tome, her sleep-depriving gaze still hanging on her. And, weirdly enough (again), Tome gaze still linger on Reien with a hint of… doubt?
"… Yes, I see. I'm sorry for the question."
"It's okay."
Tome shakes her head with her childish yet apathetic demeanor, and she even apologizes, one of the things I mention to her back at the coffee, at Reine.
Remember back to that time, when Tome suddenly became interested in the act of apology, I can help but let out a sigh…
"What's wrong, Shido?"
Tome asked me with wariness, and I quickly waved it away with an excusing smile.
"It's nothing Tome. I'm just surprised that you are, well, being this thoughtful."
"… I see."
Tome slightly looked away with my praise, her cheek slightly reddened, while I then turned to Reine to pay my gratitude.
"Thanks for the suggestion, Reine. We'll be there shortly."
"It's no big deal, Shin. Just—don't fail her, you know?"
"Obviously I won't. After all, this is my responsibility too."
With that, I turn to Tome, who continues to stare between us, and this time calls out for her.
"Tome, wanna check out the aquarium?"
"… Yeah."
With her eventual confirmation, I took her hand and walked away from the restaurant—barely missing Reine frowning gaze upon our departing figures…
Reine POV:
She used to know nothing, and even less about herself.
She was naive, lost, angry… She's a spitting image of me long ago.
And I, at that time, couldn't bear to care more.
She's just merely an experiment, just like countless before me.
So I trash her away, deep into the darkness, leaving her to fend alone…
… And yet, why?
Why did you change? How can you change?
Although she's just spouting nonsense, I can clearly see it.
Doubt, curiosity, fear… longing.
All the emotions intertwined in a single glance, landing on me.
She's… oddly sharp. Almost got me there for a sec.
… I wonder… How will you grow, Tome…
Kotori POV:
"
"Everything is ready at their positions!"
Good news follows good news. No errors, no mistakes, no intervention…
… Everything's perfect for his date, as expected.
And yet, I—can't help but sulking, watching the screen with utmost attention.
Something's wrong. Really wrong. And I can't exactly pinpoint it.
I know something should be wrong, something that wasn't supposed to be, but it is.
Come on… what am I missing? What have I overlooked…?
Hmph…
Shido POV:
"So this is a fish?"
Asked Tome, her eyes gluing on a ten limbs animal, who's clearly-not-a-fish whatsoever.
"Nope, Tome. That's a squid."
Answered me, with a warm smile following her goofy expression on the aquatic animals.
We're now at the aquarium, now crowded with people, mostly those in Raizen High as the school is currently closing down…
… Although, for some weird reason, I didn't meet any of my classmates even after an hour in.
Hm.
Beside that, not much happens in between outside the fact Tome's gluing her eyes on the glass watching the fishes swimming outside.
I explain the general knowledge about fishes to Tome, and she, wholeheartedly and eagerly, devours every one of my words while looking around the scenery outside the underwater tunnel.
And, to be honest, seeing the blueish of the water being painted by the colors from the aquatic animals is truly breath-catching.
After some time around the aquarium, we finally arrived at the penguin show.
[Lady and gentleman! It's time—for the penguin!!]
With a cheerful announcement, the show begins—just as we arrived. And the show is… meh, at best.
I mean it is fun, but… something kinda tugged me here. Who well, who am I to complain?
"Fu…"
Tome let out a small giggle beside me, her eyes wandering around a penguin on stage.
[And for the special… We offer someone here a chance to interact with Pengu, our star!!]
The trainer, a brown hair girl, announces a special event, which surges up many exciting mumbling among the crowd.
[If you have a ticket, please check the back!]
Tome, following her request, and me, wanting to translate the words for her, check the back contact of her penguin show ticket and see a simple '10' here.
A number-based gambling event in a children show—Oh.
[And now, I will announce the lucky number!]
And with that, the girl take out a sheet of number and slowly announce the winning number—
[Number 10! Please come up!]
—And, as I suspected, Tome number came up.
"Eh?! I… Is it me?!"
Tome looks back and forth with a surprised face, as I lift her up with a relying smile at her.
"Yep, come on Tome."
With that, I led her through the crowd and up to the stage, approaching the trainer eagerly waiting with a smile.
"So you are number 10?"
"Not me, but her."
I push Tome forward, with a reminder to hand that trainer the ticket. The girl then quickly confirmed Tome validity and led her to the one she followed before.
"Please be careful not to be too hard on him, he's quite an emotional boy."
"Got it!"
With a nervous yet exciting nod, Tome slowly moves her hand toward the penguin—only for it to sneak into her nervous approach.
"So cute!!"
That single act breaks her mood completely, as she immediately embraces the penguin in her arms and buries it deep in her bosom with a lovely screech.
… And, unbeknown of me, my eyes twitched a bit seeing her love there.
The penguin, the same as mine and the trainer girl, begins to panic trying to get out of her love, creating a bit of a fuss here.
… And yet, seeing her being happy for once, I… couldn't help but frown…
All for a simple thought, a thought that slowly haunted my mind…
It took us a bit more minutes of explaining and convincing, but in the end everything ended peacefully… in exchange for an embarrassing realization maiden.
"Well… that's something…"
Looking at Tome, her face full of remorse, I let out a contending smile.
Consider the fact that she didn't interact, at least peacefully, with anyone else before me, her behavior is understandable.
Heck, compared to Kotori back then, honestly, Tome was a lot more manageable… And, also, compare to her, Tome expression back then—
"Honestly, you're pretty cute back then, Tome."
"Hm?"
Tome perked up, her mouth having an ice cream, something I bought for her to lift up her mood after that… event, looking bewildered.
"Cute? Me?"
Tome asked back with a curious expression while tilting her head, creating a rather innocent feel to her stance… one that I, well, not really expected.
"… Yeah, you're cute."
After a few moments to reconsider my life option, I decided to push it forward, seeing that Tome wasn't exactly against my compliment.
Tome blink, and blink, and blink, while staring at me with a gaze devoid of emotions.
"I see…"
With a vague line behind, she turned to look up around the street with a nonchalant look, leaving me quite in the dark.
… What?
But regardless of my confusion, I still have to date to complete and convince her… is what I'd have said if not for something unexpected to happen.
"Hrgm…"
Exclaim Tome, as she suddenly stopped right beside me and narrowed her eyes down.
"What's wrong Tome?"
Exclaim me, puzzled and confused by her sudden actions in the middle of the busy road.
But despite my attempts to call her, she ignored them all, her ear slightly perked up like a cat, and slowly moved to the paveway.
When the people's spared and the view becomes clearer… I finally saw what she was going for.
"U OA!!!!"
A little girl, crying all alone.
But before I can comprehend her situation, Tome have already standing in front of her—
"ENOUGH!!"
—And yell back straight at her with a deafening tone, her face painted with pure annoyance and anger…
Tome POV:
I—feel weird…
What is this feeling? Why do I feel this way?
Because he calls me cute? Why?
Hm…
"U oa…!!"
… What? What is that voice? Was that… a cry?
Kinda reminds me of my first date with it, where I also heard the same thing… that led me to that…
And worst, that sound… It's like the same cry that I made long ago, before I knew everything…
… The same cry that one roared, against my first kill…
"U oa… Mom…!!"
My step stopped, and turned around.
My ear a bit up, concentrating on the source of the sound.
It took me a bit more time to check, but I finally found it.
I quickly approached the source, ignoring those in my ways.
And standing there, crying their eyes out, is a little figure.
"U oa…"
And the first thing I see upon reaching that one…
… It reminds me of someone else. Someone I threw away long ago. Someone I thought long forgotten.
Me.
"ENOUGH!!"
A weird burning sensation overtook me, and I roared at the little one.
They immediately shut their mouth, as their teary eyes lifted up to mine.
The little one's eyes filled with fear, alone, terror… all too familiar.
They have the same eyes as me, the first me who appeared in this world.
Lost. Afraid. Terrified.
At that time… I realized 3 things.
The first thing I realized are mere ruins. The second thing I see is that I am alone.
The third thing I know… is
"Why are you crying?"
I asked them, narrowing my eyes down with all the anger, and the little one squeaked up with a tremble.
"My… my mom… I lost her…"
"I see…"
With a furious nod, I immediately understood everything in one go… and decided to move.
I effortlessly lift them up onto my back, earning me a weird scream from the lil' one.
"Let's look for your mom then!"
"Eh—"
"Do you know this one mom?"
Ignoring the little yell, I turned to the nearest one on the paverwalk and asked. That one jolted for some reason, and answered me with a surprise voice.
"EH?! I–I don't know…"
"I see."
Confirming that one relation, I immediately look at another one who's just as puzzled as the last one.
"I… You should ask someone else!"
The same result. So I asked another one.
"Get away! I don't know!"
… That one's pretty rude, but I don't really care… well, maybe a bit?
But why? I didn't do anything to them, so why do they seem uncomfortable?
"U OA!!!"
And all the while, the little one on my back just didn't stop crying… Weird.
And being honest… that one—kinda annoying.
Why did that one keep crying? Didn't that little one see how I tried to help here?
"Excuse me, do you know the girl mom?"
Hm? That voice… Shido?
He's asking everyone else, with a softer yet respecting voice, in contrast to my demanding tone.
His action immediately gets a contrast reaction to mine, as the other seems to consider his words.
"Eh well, you know that… girl?"
"Yes, my apology for her behavior. She didn't get used much to talking…"
"… You better watch your girlfriend closely, period. Anyway, you might wanna check the police."
With a wave, the other takes one last puzzle glance at my direction and hastily leaves, while Shido slowly approaches me scratching his head.
"You heard that, kid?! We might have a shot of finding your mom there!!"
Shido looked at me… or to be exact, what lay on top of my head at the idle of his talk with a soothing voice.
And, much to my surprise, the little one's cry slowly diminished away while slowly responding to Shido with a trembling voice.
"Un… really onii-chan?"
"Well… not really. But no worry, I promise to help you to look for your mom, um… what's your name?"
"Ann…"
"Okay Ann, I promise to look for your mom even if she isn't at the police station. Can you trust me?"
"… Um!"
The other quickly slapped themselves, the eyes slowly regaining the spirit as she let out an energetic cry… with Shido.
Wow, Shido is–awesome. He can easily come up with something with the situation, easing others' worries with a few lines—while I can only make things worse.
"Come on Tome!"
Against Shido urging at me—I just silently followed him behind, still with the little on my back, with a frown I didn't even acknowledge…
Kotori POV:
"Commander…"
"Yeah, I know!"
Looking at the chart showing on the screen, I can help but frown—and tear my hair off.
Her mood, which had just increased a bit with the aquarium, is now on the rear bottom.
It took us quite some time to figure it out… and still is.
The only thing related to this—should be the thing with that little girl… probably.
But whatever the reason is, this… is the worst scenario. For she possessed an unstable emotion.
We prefer both her mood and affection to be at least on stable terms to successfully seal her… but at this rate, things might go south horrendously.
Worse, after she's sealed successfully we have to explain it all to her later… there's a high chance that she might mistook it for something else.
All her remaining favor on Shido will be depleted, and she might reawaken her power again… or worse—she Inverse.
The Inversal chances are astronomical low, but with how little we know about the phenomenon… that might've been the case…
And if that happens… not even my power can save him…
"Shido… please safe"
Watching the duo walking again, with an additional child on her back, with no way to communicate with him beside the bowling alley, their next dating locations…
All I can do now… is hope for the best.
Shido POV:
… She's in a bad mood. Like really bad.
Not rage, not fear… but merely frowning.
"Ann!!!"
The mother of the girl Ann, waiting at the police station, quickly rushes off as her eyes meet our… or to be exact, Ann herself.
"MOM!!"
Seeing her mom, Ann struggles on Tome back as if demanding she to lower her down. With a frown, one that I can clearly see the darkness behind, she slowly let her down and let her run toward the mother.
"You okay?! Are you hurt?!"
"U oa!!!"
The mother hugs Ann tightly while dropping questions on her, and the girl just keeps crying while hugging the lady back… and Tome frown still didn't waver one bit.
… In fact, seeing her like this, I have a feeling that her mood's gotten worse… is it?
"Thank you! Thank you for bringing Ann back!!"
The lady's graceful cry quickly brought me back to reality, and I turned back to them with a warm smile.
"It's okay miss, seeing you happily reunited is a reward in itself. And kid…"
I kneel down to Ann, who's now blushing (?) while tucking in her mother.
"Next time, don't let your mom worry again."
"… Thank you, onii-chan."
The lady and Ann bow down one last time with gratitude to me and slowly leave, while I stay behind with a relieving feeling.
"Now Tome, we s—"
I turn sound… and my words die right at my throat.
Tome's… gone…
… I've been questioning myself.
Was everything better this way?
Was my decision… a great one?
Was I deserved to be with everyone else, after what I've done?
I was their calamity. I was their tragedy.
I'm the reason they are hiding, the reasons everything is in ruins…
The mecha mecha squad have every reason to attack me—
—Because they have something longing for.
And yet, I defied them, fought back… for nothing.
I convinced myself that I wasn't in the wrong, that I didn't have to endure them all…
… But now… now, I'm not so sure.
Maybe they were right. Maybe I'm not supposed to be here…
"Hello lady ~"
… Hm?
Hearing an unfamiliar voice, I perked up to look… to see an unfamiliar figure.
I take a look at the surroundings, but none of them seems familiar to me.
I, for some reason, wander around while thinking, away from Shido… and get lost.
"Are ya lost, beauty lady?"
Oh yeah, this one.
Seriously though, what did they even spilling about? And why… did I feel angry with them?
I didn't feel that way with Shido, and they're practically praising me… What's the difference?
"Scram off."
So I leer back at them, feeling annoyed.
But instead of just complying with my words, their gaze twisted.
"The f*ck you say, b*tch?!"
They let out a roar and quickly approached me, their eyes licking my body whole with a dirty gaze… one that deepened my anger.
"Stay away!"
With my anger quickly on the verge of outburst, I wanted him again with an even colder voice, one that I never expressed even to those mecha mecha squad.
But they didn't show any sign of stopping, their hand lifting over their head toward me…
So fed up with this, I punched them while holding back it all.
Their figures fly out of the alley, rolling on the ground and limping away.
Uh… Was I too hard on them?
I quickly came up close to check on them, and somehow I "felt" that they're still there.
No idea how that works. Maybe it has something to do with my power?
Speaking of which—I'm honestly curious on how this whole thing works.
I know how to do everything from my… instinct, per say, but I don't actually know how.
… And how weird it is for me to suddenly pay attention to it right now.
Hmph…
"Hey… was that… the girl…"
"Yeah… she did look familiar."
As I was ponder with how my power actually work out
Everyone begins to murmur something, seemingly trying to omit it from me… Fortunately, or unfortunately, I can hear them loud and clear—and I see myself frown down.
But the worst thing, as I'm afraid… is true. The reason why I can't be with them—
"Tome!!!!"
But before I could dwell deeper with my deepest fear, I heard him from the other side of the alleyway.
"You okay?!"
Shido immediately checked my body with a wary expression, and I can feel myself slowly relaxing.
… Eh?
Wha—Why? Why did I… feel at ease with him?
… And along that feeling, I—also feel something else, one that contradicts my faith in him.
"Let's go, Tome!"
And without letting me comprehend this feeling, Shido held my hand and dragged me away from the gathering crowd…