There is Only One Answer

About ten years ago.

Haruto defeated the final monster but also lost his superpowers. At that moment, a dimensional rift suddenly opened, attempting to swallow him.

He didn't know why he wasn't consumed by the dimensional rift, nor did he understand why Rena suddenly appeared.

Although the danger had passed, logically, no one should have been around, yet Rena appeared.

Perhaps the dimensional rift opened, and Rena accidentally entered it, then came to him.

Everything was a coincidence.

However, Haruto felt indebted to the Nakano family, not only because of this event.

Another reason was the protection of the Nakano quintuplets, which might have come from Rena.

Thinking deeper, does all this have something to do with how Rena became like this?

In essence, he saved himself, which is equivalent to neutralizing the oddity's counterattack.

Therefore, even if he was targeted, it was quite normal.

Because even if the soul reaches oddity and transforms into a monster, there is no way to protect others beyond the world's granted protection.

"Kuromori-kun, are you okay?"

When Haruto regained his senses, he saw the quintuplets gathered around him, looking at him anxiously.

Haruto shook his head, then stood up and walked to the side: "I was just thinking about your aunt."

"Huh?" Nino said in surprise, "You know our mom?"

"I do." Haruto looked at Nino and said softly, "I've seen you before; you were very cute when you were little."

Nino blushed and shyly said, "Idiot, what are you suddenly saying!"

Yotsuba raised her hand, "I know."

Seeing her sisters looking curiously, Yotsuba put her hands on her hips and showed a proud expression, "You all forgot, I brought a boy back when I was little, and we played dress-up."

Talking about this, Yotsuba said with a frustrated expression, "But at that time, Itsuki couldn't get up because she was sleeping."

Itsuki hesitated, "Because I was too sleepy~"

"Also, Ichika was sleeping too, and Miku didn't want to play."

Hearing this, Nino widened her eyes and stared at Haruto in disbelief, "So that was you?"

"That was me." Haruto glanced at Ichika, then said, "Nino was very cute when you were little."

Ichika coughed and changed the topic guiltily, "That's enough. Let's talk to mom for a bit. We should get going."

Taking advantage of Yotsuba's absence, she snuck in and claimed to be Yotsuba. Once discovered, she also claimed to be Nino.

Haruto really couldn't tell them apart back then.

Because when they were little, the quintuplets not only had the same hairstyle but also wore the same clothes. Even their scent was almost identical.

If Haruto hadn't noticed the tiny black mark on the left side of Ichika's chest, he might not have been able to tell even now!

"Kuromori-kun, I'm mad!"

While the sisters were distracted, Ichika pouted and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, with a sad look, "Obviously, it was Kuromori-kun who pretended not to know me, but now you're teasing me."

"I wasn't." Haruto glanced at her, "I just complimented you, didn't I?"

"Hmm~" Ichika blinked, pressing her finger to her lips, "If that's the case, I want to hear more~"

Haruto looked disgusted, "I refuse."

"Hmph." Ichika slightly raised the corner of her lips and looked at him.

Although she didn't say much, her eyes were clearly full of smiles!

Haruto glanced at the Nakano quintuplets, then turned his head and said to himself, "It should be about time."

❀❀❀

Evening.

The vast twilight slowly enveloped the earth.

Only the golden edge remained on the horizon, signaling the arrival of night.

Haruto said goodbye to the Nakano quintuplets and boarded a bus alone heading to the nearest music room.

After getting off the bus, Haruto found his direction and was about to take a step when he suddenly heard his younger sister's voice.

"Come on, Ayako, hurry up!"

"Huff… Nana-chan, you're running too fast, let's take a break first!"

"No."

Nanako put her hands on her hips. Even in front of many people, she remained confident and unashamed: "This is the first investigation activity of the Far East Magic Association. What if we arrive late, and the ghost escapes!"

Ayako patted her chest and gasped, "But... Tomoe-chan fell behind."

"What?"

Nanako was shocked and quickly turned to look, and sure enough, she saw Mami Tomoe was nowhere to be seen without them realizing it.

Could Tomoe have gotten lost?

Nanako pretended to remain calm, making the signature gesture of a famous detective, and said in a low voice, "Ayako, don't worry, we just ran from there, so there's only one answer."

Everyone is watching us!

She blushed slightly and felt very embarrassed, as if she were being publicly executed.

She and Nanako had been friends since childhood. There was no way she would leave Nanako and run away!

Nanako sighed and covered her forehead, looking helpless, "There's no other way. If Tomoe-chan is lost, she'll be caught by werewolves. So, we can only go back first... Baka Nii-san?"

Nanako's eyes suddenly sparkled.

"Onii-chan?"

Ayako widened her eyes and quickly turned around. Sure enough, she saw Haruto standing not far away, looking at them.

"Nii-san." Nanako ran happily, "Why are you here? Are you coming home today?"

Haruto didn't expect Nanako to be out playing at this time.

But it wasn't far from home, so it was normal.

He looked at the shy Ayako and spoke with amusement, "Ayako, good evening."

"Y-Yes~ Good evening, Onii-chan."

Ayako greeted him timidly, looking reserved and shy.

Haruto also met Ayako for the last time, and then he realized that although this girl usually appeared shy and timid, her true personality was nothing like that.

Ayako's real character was not shy and introverted as she appeared now, but rather slightly rebellious!