Chapter 5: True Pacifist Route Sucks, Kid

"Humph, really?" Yoshinon stared Kyo down as best a hand puppet could. "...oh, I get it! You were charmed by my cuteness and couldn't help but act, weren't you? Well thanks, mister, but Yoshinon was actually doing just fine."

"No one was charmed by your cuteness," Kyo sighed. "I simply came to help a fellow Spirit. Name's Kyo, by the way."

"Oh? You're a Spirit?" Yoshinon moved to inspect Kyo more closely. "Haha, that's a really bad joke, mister. You don't have any of the same power that Yoshinon does!"

"That's what you'd think, huh. But in reality, my technique, [White], is hiding both of our powers. It's why the Wizards aren't pouncing on us at the moment, despite having found you so easily before," Kyo explained, gesturing at [Origin] strapped to his waist. "Plus, you saw me strike down those Wizards. That type of power could never belong to a mere human."

"I guess that makes sense." Yoshinon nodded. The yard went quiet for a moment as the puppet and Spirit looked at each other awkwardly.

"Say, Yoshinon, do you mind if I talk to Yoshino?" Kyo ventured. Yoshinon bristled.

"Huh, what gives? Is Yoshinon not good enough for you to talk to? Or did you really have hidden intentions with Yoshino?" The puppet's eye seemed to begin glowing an eerie red. "Come to think of it, you already knew Yoshino's name before we ever met. How do you want to explain that?"

"I was an inactive observer in the last Iteration, but I retained my memories after the Great Reboot."

"...huh?"

"Not important. Let's just say I knew her a few years back."

"Suspicious, suspicious." Yoshinon crossed its arms. "Unfortunately, you're too suspicious, so I'm afraid I will refuse."

"Holy baby, so now you suddenly understand stranger danger?" Kyo complained. You'll talk to a random boy in an abandoned department store, but not to the guy who just so happens to cut down all your enemies and knows your name for an inexplicable reason? ...actually, I can see some logic in there.

"Hehe, as Yoshino's one and only best friend and protector, I am an expert in defusing danger." Yoshinon struck a mini hero's pose. "Now, we should really be going now. Thanks, mister!"

"Hold it!" Kyo stretched out his hand dramatically, channeling his inner attorney. Yoshino stumbled back, and Yoshinon gave Kyo the puppet version of a glare again. "You dare claim to be a protector, Yoshinon?" 

"Of course!" Yoshinon confidently confirmed.

"Then how do you explain simply allowing Yoshino to be bombarded by gunfire whenever she manifests?" Kyo pointed out. 

"Uhh..."

"From what I saw, there were at least twenty people all shooting at her. And what exactly were you doing besides absolutely nothing?" Kyo continued.

"D, don't blame Yoshinon for that..." A timid voice sounded, defending her best friend's actions. "It's all because of me that Yoshinon doesn't fight back."

"So the little lady found her voice, huh." Kyo's tone softened. "Look, Yoshino, I get that you have this entire pacifist thing going on, but it's really just an invitation for others to keep on hurting you. In this world, might makes right."

"But... I don't want anyone else to feel pain either. And whenever the bad guys come to attack me, I can't move. I freeze like a big scaredy-cat." Yoshino's voice became smaller as she spoke.

"But that's why she has Yoshinon!" The puppet chimed in. Yoshino made a small "Mm" of agreement.

"Look, I'm not asking you to start slicing people apart." Kyo sighed. "I'm just worried for you. Sooner rather than later, this type of thinking is gonna cost you something. That something could even be Yoshinon."

"Hey, what are you getting at, mister Kyo?" Yoshinon glowered.

"What I'm getting at is that you can't simply let yourself be hurt. What if someday, allowing others to hurt Yoshino leads to Yoshinon being lost forever? What would happen then?" Both Yoshino and Yoshinon went quiet. "You said that you're scared of hurting others and scared of getting hurt, right? You know I was able to neutralize those bad guys from before while keeping them all intact. I can coach you on how to protect yourself without harming others, too."

Kyo offered her a hand. Yoshino looked at it for a while, then extended Yoshinon to meet it. 

"Fine, mister Kyo. For Yoshino's sake, tell me how you would protect her." The puppet relented.

"Good kid." Kyo smiled.

———————I am the dividing line that skips time———————

"That's enough."

Kyo watched as the miniature ball of whirling ice and snow around Yoshino dissipated. Truly, Gently Weeps is quite the strong defense. Even explosion shrapnel is deflected away. The only downside is that the shockwave from explosives will still remain.

"So how many points was that, huh? Surely it isn't any less than ten out of ten!" Yoshinon crowed proudly.

"Seven," Kyo chuckled as Yoshinon deflated. "But it's only been an hour since you began to actively channel [Zadkiel]'s power into a shield. Seven points is quite impressive. This, combined with your flying from before, is already better than what I can do for defense."

"Hehe, as expected of the great Yoshinon!" The puppet immediately went back to gloating. Kyo shook his head and turned to meet Yoshino's eyes with his own, now filled with solemnity.

"Yoshino, most people are cowards. But the thing is, when faced with a desperate situation, the coward is forced to make a choice between running away, giving up, or confronting their obstacles. That is when they are able to grow or mature." Kyo patted Yoshino on the head. "I'm not sure when that day will come for you, but now that you have the power to make your decision, I hope that you will make one you do not regret."

"Mm." Yoshino nodded slightly. Then, in a more quiet voice, "Thank you."

"Yeah, thanks mister!" Yoshinon piped up. "But we really must be leaving now. Watch your back!"

Stepping backwards in a flash of light blue particles, Yoshino abruptly disappeared. Kyo turned around before mindlessly scratching his hair.

"I still had more to say..." he muttered. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he readied [Origin] to strike. So that was what she chose, huh. "Excuse me, would you please come out, oh uninvited guest?"

Silence reigned in the courtyard. Kyo remained vigilant, until a voice sounded behind him.

"My my, I wonder when I got so rusty. Even the little rabbit noticed and ran off." A girl in a red dress and a golden left eye with a clock etched within laughed. 

"Oh, I'm glad it's you. I was half expecting DEM to be honest." Kyo turned and appraised her.

"So you mean to say you included me within your predictions? How very interesting. Would you care to enlighten me as to why?" Asked the Spirit nicknamed [Nightmare], Tokisaki Kurumi.