Outside the Door-No, Inside It-a Tune of “Phoenix Seeking Its Mate”

Russell was a little stunned.

He looked at Itsori and the red-haired little girl beside her.

In response,

the girl wearing a white silk headband explained in a tone completely different from the commander's soft, mushy voice.

"Teacher, I only found the two Yui sisters. Senior Mukuro... fell down from outer space on her own."

"—Mm."

"More precisely, I was caught in a shockwave emitted from this planet."

As if adding to that,

the girl sitting alone to one side, looking like a doll, slightly pulled open her clothes.

Beneath them was not fair skin, but layer upon layer of bandages...

From time to time, they erupted with damage that resembled radiation.

There was almost nothing that could be called emotion in those gorgeous golden eyes, yet the childish face would twist into a Mask of pain with every wave of agony.

Russell: "..."

A shockwave from Earth?

Well, damn...

"Ah... that really wasn't easy."

He coughed, then found a place to sit.

"No matter what, ending up together like this is fate."

"For now, stay here and recover. Once your injuries have healed, we can decide what comes next."

He picked up a Soybean Flour Bread and fed the princess, whose face was full of anger even as her body remained utterly honest.

After that, he sat beside Natsumi and Yoshino, telling them about his experiences and stories.

Perhaps because he truly had seen so much, his stories were captivating enough that even Tohka, who regarded him as a rival in love, reluctantly scooted a little closer.

Kotori, relying on her liveliness, simply lay across his lap, her eyes sparkling.

Sunlight streamed through the window, falling over the man's shoulders and the spirits' faces, draping them in a hazy veil.

All of it fell into Itsori's eyes.

The girl