Becoming part of an anime had never stirred much feeling in Haruto when he was young, but the scroll of memories that had unfurled once more left him dazed for a long time.
They were not characters on the pages of a black-and-white manga. They were alive in this world, the protagonists of their own lives.
Haruto looked up, met Genya's worried gaze, and offered a weary smile. "I'm fine, Genya. Just a little mentally exhausted."
Tamayo took out a vial of medicine and handed it to him. "Drink this. You'll feel better."
Haruto had seen this medicine before. On his first visit here, Tamayo had given it to him after Genya used her signature Blood Demon Art, Bewitching Blood: Daylight Demon Fragrance.
After giving Tamayo a meaningful look, Haruto swallowed the medicine. Moments later, the dull ache in his head vanished without a trace.
"...Genya." After a long stretch of thought, he called to his young apprentice. "Could you go out and buy something for me? Just go to the main street, buy whatever you like, and wander around for half an hour or so before coming back."
Genya immediately understood what he meant. "Is there something you need me to leave for?"
"Yes." Haruto nodded apologetically. "I'd like to talk to Miss Tamayo about something...something you won't understand until you're at least an adult."
Something only adults could understand?
Yushiro suddenly snapped out of his reverie over Lady Tamayo's beauty, edged two steps closer, and pricked up his ears.
"Oh, okay." Genya stood up, looking lost, and accepted the money pouch Haruto handed him.
"Yushiro, you go too. Fetch some gauze and disinfectant from the Medical Clinic for me, and take Genya with you."
Yushiro, who had already had a bad feeling about this, pulled a long face.