Little Shi and Shinobu seemed to like each other quite a bit. Seiji was quite happy about this.
He wondered if Shinobu would be affected by the power of calamity … it would be nice if she wasn't.
The joyous photo session lasted for quite a while. Then, it was lunchtime.
The puppet girl couldn't eat anything. She could only drink water.
During lunch, Seiji glanced over at Shinobu, who was holding a glass of water and quietly looking over at the dining table.
"Yomi, is there any way for a demon to eat food?" Seiji asked in his mind.
"Of course there is. You can use a spell to consecrate food," the female spirit answered.
"Teach me."
"Are you certain that you want to do this? Consecrating a demon isn't a simple matter. "
"What do you mean?"
"What do you think a demon who receives consecration is?"
Seiji carefully considered this question.
"Could you be referring to a god?"
"That's right. The boundary between a god and a demon is quite blurry. In fact, it could even be said that the main difference between the two is whether or not they receive consecration," Yomi spoke in a meaningful tone.
"A demon who receives consecration becomes a god. A god who loses consecration becomes a demon.
Of course, there are other factors as well. If you consecrate food to Shinobu, she'll immediately become a god. Such a thing won't happen.
But consecration is still consecration. It's an action with deep meaning. You'd best understand this. "
Something flashed in Seiji's eyes.
"What will happen if Shinobu becomes a god?"
"I don't know."
"… Yomi, you've received consecration as well, haven't you?"
The female spirit smiled but didn't say anything.
Seiji could only feel helpless when he realized that she didn't want to say anything more.
His thoughts were quite simple. He simply wanted Shinobu to taste delicious food. However, he couldn't help but feel conflicted after hearing Yomi's words.
In the end, he still couldn't come to a decision even after lunch.
…
Karen Miyamoto was feeling quite depressed.
After she learned about the situation from Harano and Seigo, she tried her best to persuade her younger sister. However, she was unable to shake her younger sister's determination.
And so, she blamed herself, regretted, felt guilty, afraid … all sorts of emotions mixed together. She didn't know what to do.
By the time she regained her senses, she discovered that she had already dialed a certain person's number.
The call connected very quickly.
After hearing the voice on the other side, she wanted to speak, but she couldn't.
His throat seemed to be stuck, and he didn't know what to say.
The person on the other side called out twice. Even if there was no response, he did not hang up the phone. Instead, he accompanied her in silence.
After a minute or two, he opened his mouth again.
"Miyamoto-san, would you like to join us?"
Not long after, Karen walked out of her home by herself and went to a nearby coffee shop. She sat down at the same table as last time and ordered.
The last time he sat here, his younger sister was beside him.
But now … listening to the soft music playing in the shop and looking at the empty space beside her, she felt pain.
Why did this happen?
Kaori's face appeared in his mind. It was clearly his younger sister's face, but it felt unfamiliar.
Her younger sister was gradually becoming a strange existence, and as the elder sister, she was powerless.
It wasn't easy for him to close the distance between them, but in the end, it became distant again … Just why?
Karen couldn't think of an answer.
The waiter served the coffee, and the rich aroma made her a little sober.
He took a sip of the coffee without any sugar or milk, and the bitter taste spread in his mouth.
'So bitter …'
Tears streamed down the girl's face as she drank the coffee.
Seiji arrived at his destination by car.
Before coming, he had taken Shinobu back to the student council president's residence, since she was already tired after an entire day of activities. Shinobu had retrieved her soul from the spellcasting room and placed her puppet body there, which was why he was slightly late.
When he entered the coffee shop, he saw that Karen Miyamoto was sitting at the same table as last time with a listless expression in her eyes. The cup in front of her was already empty.
Seiji sat down across from her and had the waiter come over to refill Karen's coffee. He also ordered a cup for himself.
And then, there was silence.
It wasn't that he didn't want to say something to her, but that he didn't know what to say no matter how much he thought about it.
After the coffee was delivered, there was still silence for a while.
Then, Seiji also took a sip from his cup, allowing the bitter taste to spread in his mouth.
"I'm sorry … Miyamoto-san."
The only words he could say were an apology.
He never expected things to turn out like this … he wasn't able to dissuade Kaori … he might have given her unnecessary encouragement in the past … these were all reasons to apologize.
But no matter how much he apologized, it seemed rather weak at this time.
Karen's eyes became misty, and tears started flowing down her cheeks.
"… It's all my fault … if it wasn't for me …" Her words were filled with self-blame.
Saying something like "It's not your fault" would be quite simple, but it definitely wouldn't be able to dispel Karen's guilt. Seiji sighed inwardly.
"Things might not have a bad ending … trust in Kaori." That was all he could say.
Karen's response to his words was Karen's sobs.
"Is there … really no other way?" After crying yet another round of tears, Karen seemed to be begging him. "I'll do anything you want me to … as long as Kaori is safe …"
"I'm sorry, but there's no other way." Seiji sighed.
The key was Kaori's willpower.
She was determined to accept the demon energy and obtain the demon's power. This was quite a fatal decision.
She wasn't insane, nor was she confused. She clearly knew what she wanted, and believed that she could achieve it!
Her friends and family's persuasion hadn't shaken her in the slightest. Her willpower had reached such a degree that nobody could do anything about it.
Karen had an expression of despair as she lowered her head.
Seiji felt quite uncomfortable as he silently sipped his coffee.
"That's something that belongs to me to begin with … can't I take it back?" Karen muttered to herself after remaining silent for a while.
"Forcefully transferring the demon energy is quite dangerous. It might cause Kaori to be injured."
"Then let's do it while she's asleep …"
"That won't do." Seiji shook his head. "It'll be dangerous no matter what I do … If there's a safe method, I'll tell you."
Forcefully transferring the demon energy wasn't impossible. The problem was the risk.
The risk of doing so was no less than the risk of Kaori absorbing the demon's power. In fact, it was even higher! That was why it was meaningless.
Karen bit down on her lip.
"Kaori herself has to be willing …" Seiji sighed.
At this moment, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration as he thought of something.
"… If that's the case, perhaps it'll work …" Karen reflexively said.
"What?" Karen's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "You've thought of a method?"
Seiji fell silent as something flashed in his eyes.
"Harano-kun … any method is fine. Please tell me!" Karen sincerely begged him.
"I can't say that it's a method. It's just an idea … a terrible idea." Seiji looked directly at Karen. "Even if it succeeds, it might damage your relationship with your sister to an irreparable degree."
Karen instantly widened her eyes in surprise.
Damage their relationship to an irreparable degree … just what kind of idea was that?
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