Yoshinon Junior

Although Yoshino was twice her age, that did not stop Qian Huanyue from wanting to treat her like a little sister—a healing presence—the moment she saw her.

Yoshino was really adorable.

"Yoshino, do you remember this?"

Qian Huanyue took out Yoshinon Junior. This puppet, which should have appeared only at the end of the story, had been found by Qian Huanyue ahead of time. It contained a mother's utmost love and protection for her daughter.

It was better to let Yoshino know sooner.

To know that she had not been alone from the very beginning, and that her birth had once been awaited and protected with such tenderness.

Even if the story became completely different afterward, so what? Qian Huanyue's heart was incomparably calm.

From the moment she interfered with Tohka and Shiori's first meeting, from the moment she appeared before Kurumi in that manner, from the moment she decided to remain in this world, the story had already strayed from its predetermined track.

She had already changed so many stories. One more would make no difference.

Yoshino froze, a sense of familiarity spreading through her heart. The puppet in Qian Huanyue's hands was the same style as the Yoshinon in her own hand, yet somehow different, as though it came from a forgotten time.

It feels so familiar.

For some reason, Yoshino felt as though warmth had wrapped around her chest, while a faint sadness slowly spread through her, as if she had recalled a certain fragment of memory.

But the memory was shrouded in fog once more.

"Let me put it on for you."

"...Thank you, Sister Huanyue," Yoshino said softly.

Qian Huanyue crouched down and slipped Junior onto Yoshino's other empty hand. Compared to the somewhat flamboyant Yoshinon, Junior truly looked much smaller and more delicate. It wore no eyepatch, and its rabbit ears drooped like those of a lop-eared rabbit.

Once it was on, it naturally nestled against Yoshinon's chest. Its posture made it look exactly like a tiny baby rabbit.

"Oh my~ Miss Huanyue," Yoshinon asked in its usual lively, slightly cheeky tone, though a closer listen revealed an unusual seriousness in its voice.

"May I ask where you found this fellow who looks like Yoshinon's brother... no, now it looks more like Yoshinon's baby! Yoshino seems very familiar with it."

Yoshino lowered her head and looked at the two rabbit puppets on her hands.

One was large, the Yoshinon that had long given her courage, spoken her feelings for her, and always protected her.

The other was Junior, which had just returned and stirred the softest strings in her heart.

The sight of them nestled together was unbelievably harmonious, just like a mother and daughter. Compared to Yoshinon Junior, Yoshinon really did look like a mother rabbit and her baby.

Yoshino naturally used the hand wearing Junior to gently stroke Yoshinon, then used Yoshinon to draw Junior closer to her chest protectively.

As if maternal love had surfaced within it, Yoshinon lovingly patted Junior's head. "There, there~ Good child, good child~"

Some of the fear in Yoshino's eyes faded away, revealing a gentle smile.

"Thank you for bringing this precious treasure to my side. I can't remember very clearly, but... I can feel that this is something important to me."

The fog in her mind dispersed a little. Within a hazy memory, Yoshino sensed a gentle voice constantly caring for her.

That person had the same blue hair as her, and this puppet's name was—

"Next time, let me make a doll for Mommy to use.—My double."

That's right... it was Mom.

Even though she could not remember her face or the place, Yoshino was certain that she had once been cherished and loved.

At last, she remembered this puppet's name—Yoshinon Junior.

That ultimate care, sealed away by time and coming from the person closest to her when she had still been human, was clearly conveyed to her heart through this tiny puppet.

Yoshino felt a tightness in her chest, and tears streamed down her face, impossible to suppress any longer.

"Mm... waaahhh!"

Yoshino abruptly lowered her head. Large tears rolled from her sky-blue eyes like pearls from a broken string as she tightly hugged Yoshinon and Junior.

The rain seemed to be falling harder and harder. As Qian Huanyue had anticipated, she took out an umbrella, though what truly kept the rain away was the layer of Spiritual Power surrounding them.

One hand held the umbrella, while the other rhythmically patted Yoshino's back as though she were an ordinary human.

"It's all right now, it's all right..." Qian Huanyue comforted her gently, her voice reaching Yoshino's ears with perfect clarity.

Yoshino's crying gradually steadied, and under Qian Huanyue's rhythmic pats and gentle reassurance, her body relaxed.

Noticing that no raindrops were falling onto her, she looked up at the umbrella overhead in slight surprise.

Yoshino could clearly sense it—the Spiritual Power fluctuation similar to her own.

She also realized that the silver-haired sister before her, who had embraced her, brought her something important, and sheltered her at her most vulnerable moment, was one of her kind.

They were both Spirits. Did that mean the other girl might be able to stay with her?

She slightly raised her head from Qian Huanyue's shoulder. Her sky-blue eyes, washed clean by tears, were even clearer and brighter, while the sky had become clear once more.

"...Sister Huanyue,"

"Are you... also... a Spirit?"

"Mm, I am." Qian Huanyue admitted it readily and said lightly, "Because I'm a Spirit, I found Yoshino very quickly."

Although she had unexpectedly not met Shiori today,

"What an unexpected answer~ Miss Qian Huanyue. Yoshinon is very grateful that you brought Junior to Yoshino's side."

Yoshinon clapped its hands nimbly. Though it was clearly only a puppet opening and closing, its expression seemed remarkably lively.

"It's not easy to meet someone of our kind who cares so deeply for Yoshino. Yoshinon wants to get to know you better, and Yoshino feels the same way too, right?"

Yoshino responded softly, "...Mm!"

Junior could not use Spiritual Power to perform ventriloquism and act as another personality for Yoshino the way Yoshinon could, so Yoshino carefully tucked it into a pocket inside her Astral Dress.

Qian Huanyue summoned her cherished Angel, [Seraph of Thousand Blades].

She suddenly considered that Yoshino's personality might be somewhat resistant to the sword-like appearance that so obviously carried a sharp aura.

Then I'll make it gentler.

Thus, at the instant the Angel materialized, its Spiritual Power form changed along with it—

The [Seraph of Thousand Blades], which should have been an ornate sword, had actually turned into a cute magic wand.

The wand was entirely a soft silvery white. At its tip was set a huge pale-purple gemstone glittering with starlight, surrounded by silver stars.

It looked... completely modeled after the magic wands used by magical girls Qian Huanyue had once seen on television.

Ahem! Though its appearance had changed, its destructive power had not diminished. It could even continue to inflict physical damage.

"...Ah..." Yoshino's sky-blue eyes instantly widened when she saw the suddenly appearing, sparkling, beautiful magic wand.

"Oh my! Is that a magic wand? It's so pretty!" Yoshinon cried excitedly as well.

"...Mm, pretty."

The Neighboring World seemed to exert an invisible pull, beginning to draw her away from this present world.

"Mm..." Yoshino let out a weak whimper.

Yoshinon noticed something was wrong too. "Yoshino?! What's wrong? Is it that... are you going back again?"

Looking at Qian Huanyue apologetically, Yoshino felt that before long, she would have to return to "sleep."

Qian Huanyue soothingly stroked her head. It was very soft, and her hair felt wonderfully comfortable beneath her hand.

"It's all right, Yoshino." Her voice had always been gentle, the kind that made people feel safe. "You're only going back to rest for a little while, like going home to sleep after you've tired yourself out playing."

"Mm! It's... a promise." Yoshino waved goodbye.

"Oh my~ Next time we meet, you have to spend more time chatting with Yoshinon, Miss Huanyue~" Yoshinon's flippant voice rang out as well, calling Hibiki.

In the blink of an eye, the girl in the green rabbit-shaped hood had vanished from the shrine.