Chapter 427
She knew, of course, that her words would enrage the terrifying girl before her.
But before the big dog could actually bare its teeth, she got straight to the point—
"Then, how about I do something good and bring your parents back to life?"
At first glance, these words seem to have no connection whatsoever with the previous topic.
But that in itself is incredible enough.
This time, Kazama Kiriori was stunned and bewildered.
Just as Tachibana had predicted, she stood frozen in place, completely dumbfounded.
Before she could even think about the reasons behind it, or whether it was true or false, just the appearance of those few words was enough to overwhelm Kazama Kiriori with overwhelming emotions.
But what followed was anger:
"... Do you find it funny to insult me and my parents like this?"
Tachibana shook her head:
"Well, after all, whatever Monster says will be taken as a lie or a trap."
"But you have to admit, it's tempting, isn't it?"
Here, she smiled happily.
Then, she asked Kazama Kiriori a very simple question:
"Then---ask a question."
"If I were Monster and willing to grant Haihara- san's wish and bring her parents back, would she succumb to my Monster and make a wish?"
Silence fell once more.
As if realizing something incredibly terrible, Kazama Kiriori's face was more ashen than ever before.
Tachibana and Kazama Kiriori met each other's uneasy gazes.
"Miss Haihara probably doesn't know the truth yet that her parents have passed away, right?"
"Because you deceived Miss Haihara and hid the truth from her."
Prior to this, Haihara Lily Chou had asked many times about where her parents were now.
Only a handful of people knew the truth.
Everyone, including Kazama Kiriori, chose to conceal the truth.
That's certainly not a problem.
As long as Mom returns to her original self before the lie is exposed, that's fine.
But now...
What's the difference between Magic girls and Monster?
Tachibana asked himself, oblivious to the fact that he was ignorant.
"It seems that to Miss Haihara now, they are all unfamiliar strangers who might deceive her."
This is an incomprehensible nightmare for anyone.
When I came to my senses, everything around me was unfamiliar; I was surrounded by people and sights I didn't recognize.
The person most important to me has already left me absurdly without my knowledge.
What kind of desires would she have at such a time?
Even if it's the seduction of Monster, one might still believe it out of desire.
"To put it simply, Kazama- san, my next plan is to steal Haihara- san away from you."
You have two choices.
"One option is to accept my proposal; who knows, I might be able to fulfill both your and Haihara's desires at the same time."
"The other option is refusal, which is fine too. But from now on, please protect Miss Haihara with trepidation and despair, and don't let her leave your side."
"Otherwise, I'll bring up this possibility with her, and as for whether she'll be swayed by this Monster... I'm curious to see."
Tachibana's words caused a feeling of fear to rise in Kazama Kiriori's heart.
"Ah, don't even think about keeping me here forever. What's here is just a Magic Power clone, so even if you tear me to pieces, it won't make a difference."
After that, Tachibana stopped looking at Kazama Kiriori's expression.
It seems that, regardless of the circumstances, the other party has no intention of agreeing to her right away, which is truly regrettable.
As the still space began to flow again, a flurry of snowflakes swept across the silent streets.
The two figures seemed to be obscured by the overly oppressive weather.
Behind one of the apartment windows, a black-haired girl walked to the window, raised her hand and left a faint handprint on the fogged glass, and tried to find Kazama Kiriori through the dripping glass.
On the street, the person he longed for was nowhere to be found.
Chapter 185 The Long Winter
When Kazama Kiriori returned home again, Haihara didn't know if she had upset Kazama Kiriori or if Kazama Kiriori had encountered some trouble on her way out, but in any case, Kirori looked quite frightening.
Before leaving, she thought her conversation with Kazama Kiriori had improved her mood, but it seems it hadn't worked.
Meanwhile, Kazama Kiriori temporarily locked herself in her room, trying to regain her composure.
In the still messy, unlit room where she had slept, Kazama Kiriori sat on the edge of the bed, unusually vulnerable, supporting her drooping head with both hands and covering her face.
Heavy breathing is oppressive.
In this place where no one else can see her but herself, facing the now-cold dolls in the room, Kazama Kiriori is venting her negative emotions.
"We didn't stop her... she got away. No, even if we killed her, it wouldn't have mattered."
Only the girl's cold murmurs could be heard from inside the room.
She tried to kill Tachibana.
But as the other party said, it was just a clone.
The other party could reappear at any time, just like that.
So, should she directly enter that Magic Power created World Apart to deal with the woman's true form?
"No, that wouldn't work..."
Now, before that Monster is completely dead, she doesn't want Haihara to leave her side again, or even better, to stay in her sight.
Otherwise, that Monster might take Haihara away while she's not around.
Is there nothing she can do now?
If she's careless again...
If she hurts her mother again because of her own arrogance and negligence...
Countless thoughts nearly overwhelmed Kazama Kiriori.
It seemed to be just another Monster incident. Kazama Kiriori had experienced similar things many times before, but recently, various situations had caught her off guard and caused her to completely lose control.
An unforgettable nightmare, her mother being transformed into a high school student without her noticing, Sakaki Chika being attacked, and the Demon King who appeared in the Chameleon incident in the past.
"Why, it's Mom again?"
She whispered, sounding somewhat weary.
Although her voice was very weak, her words sounded somewhat terrifying, just like the look in her eyes at that moment.
Just like before.
Her mother was clearly just an ordinary person.
But danger and accidents always seem to find her mother.
This time too.
She couldn't understand, couldn't accept, and couldn't forgive herself, nor could she forgive those who intended to harm Haihara.
After some time, Kazama Kiriori finally managed to compose herself.
She first closed the door, then picked up the phone, ready to tell the Doctor what had just happened.
Several minutes later, Kazama Kiriori finally came out of the room and saw Haihara Lily Chou looking at her with concern.
Her appearance just now seemed to have frightened her mother.
After hesitating for a moment, the girl tentatively asked:
"... Are you in some kind of trouble? Can I help? Or should you rest for a bit...?"
Kazama Kiriori had no idea what kind of expression she was wearing.
She tried her best to put on a gentle and calm expression for Haihara, but it was her usual natural self, which made it seem somewhat forced.
Finally, she realized she probably made a rather awkward expression.
"..."
Kazama Kiriori's lips moved, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she only said:
"It's already noon, I'll go cook."
She didn't know what to say, so she wanted to change the subject.
She noticed that Haihara was looking at her with a rather troubled expression, and Haibara's gaze kept drifting to her hand. Kazama Kiriori didn't react for a moment.
"When you came back... it seems you didn't bring any ingredients."
Haihara pointed her finger, reminding Kazama Kiriori.
It was only then that Kazama Kiriori noticed this; she hadn't brought any ingredients back at all.
When Tachibana suddenly appeared, she casually put down the groceries she had bought.
I accidentally left it downstairs.
Generally speaking, this doesn't seem like something that can be easily forgotten downstairs.
Haihara blinked:
"I've just changed my clothes, they should be left by the door, right? I'll go get them."
She felt that Kazama Kiriori was not in a good state, so she wanted to do something for her.
Haihara tugged at the buttons on her shirt, intending to fasten them and put on her shoes to go downstairs. However, she had no idea what was about to happen.
Suddenly—her arm was grabbed.
This time, Kazama Kiriori used a lot of force, gripping her tightly as if afraid she would escape. Haiy's eyebrows furrowed involuntarily Haihara of the pain.
"Kazama?"
Haihara asked in a low voice, puzzled.
It seems that Kazama Kiriori really in a bad mood.
And from Kazama Kiriori's mouth, a stern voice, different from before, emerged—
"Don't wander off..."
Only after she finished speaking did Kazama Kiriori realize how harsh her words had been.
Even so, she was still worried.
After hesitating for a moment, she still said:
"Please... don't leave my sight."
In this situation, she cannot accept either asking Haihara to go downstairs or going downstairs herself.
Lately, she has had to keep her mother very close to her.
Even after she realized what was happening, she didn't loosen her grip.
Haihara has already noticed that Kazama Kiriori's emotions are very strange.
The tense atmosphere was finally broken when Haihara spoke up: