Ishikawa Takuya immediately called his relatives who lived far away.
During the dozen or so seconds he waited for the call to connect, every second felt like agony to Ishikawa Takuya. He was terrified the call would not go through.
At last, the call connected, and Ishikawa Takuya asked impatiently, "Are you... are you all okay?!"
"Takuya? What happened? Why are you so anxious?"
Hearing his mother's voice and tone, Ishikawa Takuya knew his parents were probably fine, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"...It's nothing. I just suddenly missed you."
After hesitating for a moment, Ishikawa Takuya still chose not to tell his mother the truth. He did not want his parents worrying about him. If he said he had been attacked by a fiend, there was no way they would be able to rest easy.
"Silly boy. Aren't you already on summer break? Come home in the next few days."
Hearing his mother's gentle voice, Ishikawa Takuya was so overcome that he choked up, his eyes growing moist.
He was immensely grateful that his family was safe.
"Yeah... I've got something to do, so I have to go. I'll come home in the next few days."
After hanging up, Ishikawa Takuya called his other relatives.
Once he had checked with everyone and learned that they were all safe and sound, he was finally completely relieved.
Otherwise, if his relatives had died because of him, he would have felt guilty for the rest of his life.
"So your relatives who live far away are all fine, right?"
Asaba Kotone asked.
"Yes, that's right. None of them were affected."
Ishikawa Takuya nodded.
"Then I understand. Thank you for your cooperation."
Asaba Kotone now more or less understood the Loneliness Fiend's ability.
When someone was hit by the Loneliness