Melancholy Huanyue IF (2)

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Shiori walked toward that familiar place again, but this time, there was no familiar figure. It was as though no trace had been left behind.

Running.

Looking around.

Exhausted.

Gasping.

"How could this be..."

Shiori half-knelt on the ground, her body slightly stiff and her expression taut.

It was not panic from being unable to find someone, but... she had gone too long without consuming anything. Her body could no longer hold on and issued its most honest protest.

Even the edges of her vision began to darken ominously.

This could not happen.

Absolutely not...

Shiori's heart pounded so violently that her vision blurred, tangled together with flashes of her life.

She clawed at the ground, crawling in an undignified manner before collapsing into the shade.

Shiori, get up.

Huanyue?

Oh dear, if you collapse now, then there'll be nothing left. Huanyue will cry, you know.

That voice was warm and natural, carrying a faintly sly, playful lilt, as though its owner were standing right beside her, tilting her head with that expression Shiori knew so well.

Shiori looked up and saw that the teddy bear Huanyue had entrusted to her for safekeeping had somehow fallen out, landing off to one side.

It felt as though she had strength again.

Her trembling knees barely managed to support her as she rose to her feet.

"...Save you..."

She had already lost so much. She had watched helplessly as the spirits' Spiritual Power was stripped away and they were hurt. Huanyue had clearly been in so much pain... and now, she was going to lose everything too.

Everything that had allowed her to embrace Huanyue and reach this point had come at a price. Everything, every clue, had been cut off.

Mio, was this really what you wanted?

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Qian Huanyue