Chapter 647: "Distortion"

Based on the information provided by Eden, the people gathered here began to think.

[...Shalltear, what do you think?]

[I think Kuro-san is probably thinking of the same thing... Escaping from a virtual world when Kaito-san needs to perceive as false... From Eden-san's words... I assume that Kaito-san is currently in a dream-like state.]

[You're right. If that's the case... The ordeal that Shiro gave to Kaito-kun...]

When Kuromueina asked with a serious expression on her face, Alice told her her hypothesis with an expression similar to Kuromueina's. Many of the people gathered here understood that their guesses were probably correct.

[...is a happy dream... a dream where Kaito-san gets everything he wants... a dream where no one will hurt him.]

[A sweet poison that gently melts Kai-chan's heart. In other words, the ordeal that Kai-chan was given... was for him to "reject the happiness he's received in that world", right?]

[...Rejecting painful things... is easy... but rejecting the happiness... is very... difficult.]

The unusual combination of Isis and Fate also discussed the assumptions made by Kuromueina and Alice.

A few distance away, Lilia and Sieglinde looked at each other, as if they had realized something.

[It seems that there are some people who have noticed it huh. Yes, Shallow Vernal-sama has decided that the content of her ordeal is aiming at Kaito-san's "distortion".]

A good number of people tilted their heads at Alice's words, talking about Kaito's distortion. However, some of them, including Kaito's lovers, guessed what Alice was talking about, as their expressions darkened a little.

In the midst of all this, Kuromueina turned to the people who were tilting their heads... to be more specific, towards Aoi and Hina, and spoke.

[Aoi-chan, Hina-chan, you know that Kaito-kun is writing a diary, right?]

[Y- Yes...]

[Yes. But is that... Kaito-senpai's distortion?]

Aoi and Hina, who live in the same house as Kaito, also know that Kaito is writing a diary. However, they didn't seem to get why they're calling that his distortion.

Seeing the two's confusion, Lilia took over Kuromueina and started explaining to them.

[Aoi-san, Hina-san.... There would originally be differences in page counts, but for ease of counting, let's assume that each of his diaries has 100 pages. Those diaries that Kaito-san has written since he came to this world... How many do you think he has written?]

[...If he writes on one page per day... about 4 diaries?]

[...This only counts the diaries I am aware of... but he should have filled up "over 20 diaries"...]

[ [!?] ]

Hearing what Lilia said, Aoi and Hina were astonished at the extraordinary amount.

[Unnn, it's Kaito-kun's diaries... No, I think it's more appropriate to say that they're his letters to his deceased parents. I've seen the contents of his diary a few times myself, and the events that happened on that day... even the contents of the things we talked about, he's writing all of it with as much detail as he could remember. I didn't mention it too much though, because it seemed like he was slowly improving.]

[...Kaito-san had lost his parents about 10 years ago... and during those 10 years, I wonder how many diaries he had written? Perhaps, he was too young to accept the death of his parents... and so, he kept on writing in his diary, as if he was writing a letter to someone he couldn't see, living in a distant place... and somewhere along the line, it must have become a habit.]

Kaito's distortion that Kuromueina and Alice were talking about... Yes, it was how Kaito still hasn't come to terms with the death of his parents. No, in fact, he probably understood it and had accepted it in his head.

However, within his heart... the wound still remains. It was because he really, truly loved his parents... that without even realizing it, he was using the diary addressed to his parents as a source of comfort.

However, he had met a lot of people in this world... and had begun showing signs of improvement. However, the problem that had accumulated for ten years won't easily disappear.

[...I think that... the dream Kaito is seeing... was a dream... where his parents are alive.]

[Right. Then, in order for Kai-chan to wake up from that dream... he must get to the place where he clearly becomes aware of his parents' death.]

Yes, that's why the expressions on the faces of Kaito's lovers, who knew him well, became clouded. After all, so that Kaito could clear this ordeal, Kaito had to confront the death of his parents once again...

They understand that this would be a painful matter for Kaito. However, that doesn't mean that they shouldn't do it anymore. For failing in this ordeal... means that Kaito's memories will disappear...

When he just met Luce, who looked just like his mother, Kaito was visibly shaken, and after he realized that she was a different person, he was very depressed. That's how big of a part Kaito's parents have in his life.

[It's because Kaito-san loves his parents so much... that this has become a difficult and painful ordeal... What a great hobby, she has, seriously...]

Alice indifferently spoke of this matter, but her eyes were cold... She seemed to be frantically restraining her anger.

[...Then, I'm going to try calling out to Kaito-kun.]

[...Please.]

Following Eden's final piece of advice... Kuromueina touched the cradle and began to call out. She didn't even know when she would get an answer... but she could only wait, holding unto such a thought for an awfully long time...

[Kaito-kun, please set the tree up over there.]

[Alright.]

Christmas Day, an event that only happens once a year... Today, at Alyssa's suggestion, we were going to have a party with the lab members. I live next to Erina's house, the place where the party will be held, so I've been helping with the preparations since this morning.

It seems like Dad and Mom are also going to join us in the middle of the party... I have a feeling that today is going to be quite a lively day. I'm really looking forward to it.

————...

[Unnn?]

[What's the matter, Kaito-kun?]

[...Ah, no, it's nothing.]

I wonder what that was? I think I heard a voice just now... but it should only be me and Erina here now, so was it just my imagination?