But that was strange. The girl before her... looked human no matter how she looked at her. Given Yukina's powerful genes, when they had children with humans, their children were basically always Yukina. They couldn't possibly be human.
Of course, it was also possible... that she wasn't Yukina's biological child, but was adopted or something.
"..."
"Mom had never cried before. That was the first time I saw her cry, and also the last. Both times were because of that man."
Seeing Rita's surprised expression, Hashiko Yui seemed to recall something... and suddenly became sad, her sorrow carrying a trace of resentment.
"Here..."
At that moment, a tissue was held out before Hashiko Yui. She raised her head and looked at the unfamiliar girl beside her.
After hesitating, she accepted the tissue and softly said, "Thank you."
"Since it's a keepsake your mother left you, I won't take what you treasure. But... could you tell me about yourself?" Rita had originally come for this Tear Crystal of a Yukina. It was quite valuable. Yukina generally did not shed tears... but when they were sad and despairing... they might shed the first and last tear of their lives.
It was the essence of a Yukina's life, a natural magical artifact.
Besides invigorating one's spirit, it could also grant a person a second life in times of danger.
Though something like this was not particularly useful to Rita, it still had value. Since she had seen it earlier, there was naturally no reason to let it go.
But seeing the situation now, it was a keepsake left by someone else's mother, and Rita felt too embarrassed to take it. Of course, the main reason was that... its value was obvious, and Rita did not lack similar items or abilities. If it had