“You really have a cute little sister; isn’t taking care of her normally a happy thing?”
After a moment of silence, Shiratori rested her cheek on her hand, letting a subtle, aunt-like smile grace her face.
“Please stop teasing me…”
“This isn’t teasing; your sister is indeed very cute.”
If one ignored her Commander Mode, Kotori could genuinely be considered an adorable little sister—clingy and endearing, to the point where Shiratori even felt a small pang of envy.
Strange, why do I feel this way?
Only now realizing her own reaction, Shiratori touched the upturned corners of her lips, staring toward the direction of the front door in slight disbelief.
It must just be simple goodwill.
Whatever, no need to overthink it.
[Shido, before setting off to search for Yoshinon, I want you to ask Yoshino a few questions first.
There might be an issue with her psychological state.]
“Ah, is something wrong with Yoshino?”
Kotori’s voice suddenly echoed through his earpiece, causing Shido to immediately press a hand against it.
Yoshino’s body shuddered slightly; hearing her own name seemed to make her flustered, her hands frantically grasping at the hem of Shiratori’s skirt beside her.
Understanding the source of her anxiety, Shiratori reached out to scoop Yoshino up, placing the girl onto her lap and gently stroking her head with her right hand.
Clearly enjoying the comforting touch, Yoshino’s eyes narrowed slightly in bliss.
Watching this scene, the corner of Shido’s mouth twitched.
He couldn’t help but feel that her actions resembled a mother bird protecting her chick, using her own body to provide an unmatched sense of security.
By comparison, Shido looked rather awkward standing there.
Her habits really are similar to a bird’s.
Though it might have sounded a bit inappropriate to say, Shido truly felt that way about her.
[Shido?!
Are you listening?]
“Ah, yes, I’m listening…”
Kotori’s tone sharpened through the comms, prompting Shido’s quick reply.
[Then I’ll continue.
I want to ask about what Yoshinon means to Yoshino.
Try to gain a deeper understanding of it so you can grasp her underlying mindset.]
“True…
It really is better to understand that first.”
Shido nodded, shifting his gaze toward Yoshino sitting on Shiratori’s lap.
“Are you exchanging secret codes again?”
Sensing his invasive gaze, Shiratori immediately wrapped her arms around Yoshino.
“Th-That’s not it at all!”
“Hard to believe.”
“In short, I’m just trying to ask about Yoshinon!”
Staaaaare—
“Don’t look at me with those eyes!”
“Alright then.”
Shiratori turned her head away, focusing her attention back onto the television screen.
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Shido began his questioning.
“Um…
Yoshino, there are a few things I’d like to ask you.
May I?”
“Of course…”
“Yoshinon…
what kind of importance does she hold to you?”
Hearing the question, Yoshino displayed a timid, trembling demeanor as she opened her mouth clumsily.
“Yoshinon is…
my…
friend.
And my…
hero.”
“Hero?”
Hearing Shido’s confused repetition, Yoshino nodded repeatedly.
“Simply put, Yoshinon is her ideal self.
Yoshino despises herself for being too indecisive, whereas Yoshinon is strong and cool.”
Shiratori seemed somewhat impatient with Yoshino’s stammering, directly seizing control of the conversation.
“Her ideal self, huh…”
Yoshino continued to nod frantically.
Shido rested his cheek on his hand, recalling his previous conversations with Yoshinon.
Indeed, the personalities of the two were virtually polar opposites—whether in tone or attitude, it was as if Yoshinon were an entirely different person.
“However, I really like the present Yoshino too.”
Even though the current Yoshino hated interacting with strangers and possessed awkward reactions, she answered questions honestly.
Because of this, Shido had always held a fond impression of her.
Upon hearing this, however, Yoshino’s face suddenly flushed red.
She turned around and buried her face deep into Shiratori’s chest.
“Um…
did I say something wrong?”
Shido voiced his concern softly, slowly reaching out a hand as if to check on her state.
“This is…
the first time I’ve heard someone say that…
so, so…”
“So you’re feeling shy, right?”
Yoshino turned her head back and gave a small nod.
[Not bad, Shido!
I thought you’d be terrified out of your mind facing two Spirits at once.
Are the results of living together finally paying off?]
A teasing remark suddenly came through the earpiece, causing Shido to frown slightly.
“Ah…
I just spoke what was truly on my mind.” This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.
“Ahem.”
Shiratori cleared her throat, interrupting their exchange.
[Looks like a certain Spirit is getting annoyed.
Make sure to handle Yoshino properly.
Good luck~]
After Kotori cut the comms, Shido turned back to deliver his next question.
“Yoshino, when you are attacked, you almost never fight back.
Why is that?”
When presented with this question, Yoshino curled her body inward and lowered her head once more.
“I…
hate pain…
I…
also hate…”
“Forget it, let me speak for her.”
Shiratori let out a sigh.
Yoshino’s broken, hesitant way of speaking was simply too time-consuming.
Although Shiratori didn’t know Yoshino intimately well, analyzing these reasons wasn’t difficult for her.
“Because she hates being hurt by others, is terrified of pain, and despises scary things, Yoshino assumes that everyone else fears those things just as much.”
Hearing this, Shido felt a jolt in his chest, as if a hole had been blasted right through his heart.
“Because she feels she is too cowardly, whenever she doesn’t know what to do, her mind goes completely chaotic—and then she ends up doing terrible things to everyone.”
“Yoshinon has always been the one encouraging her, telling her that everything will be okay.
Hearing that brings her absolute peace of mind.”
“Uu…”
Faint whimpers continued to escape her lips.
Yoshino sniffled, her hands weakly balling into small fists.
“So you understand now, don’t you?
What kind of cruel reality she has been facing.”
“A compassion so kind it becomes tragic—a thoroughly twisted form of mercy.”
The moment those words left her mouth, Shido stood up.
Under Shiratori’s puzzled gaze, he walked over and sat right next to Yoshino—gently stroking her head through her hood.
“Um…”
“I…”
“I will save you—”
“What a cliché line.”
Shiratori wore an utterly unimpressed expression, but Shido paid no mind to her reaction and pressed on.
“I will definitely find Yoshinon and bring her back to you.
Not only that, but I’ll protect you, too.
I won’t let pain or scary things come anywhere near you—I will become…
your hero.”
While patting her head through the oversized hood, Shido delivered lines that felt entirely out of character for him.
Shiratori quietly observed it all, letting out a soft, silent sigh.