The reason everyone else had been freed from Eden’s influence was surprisingly simple.
"I’m not really sure, but the moment I saw Rio, it all came back to me."
That was the same answer everyone gave, not just the commander.
As soon as they saw Rio, they were released from Eden’s influence.
It seemed Rio had used Eden’s power to free them from it.
"Everyone. I have something to tell you."
"Hm? What is it?"
When Rinne called out in a serious voice, Itsuka-kun, who had been touching Rio’s cheek, and the commander, who had been making an odd expression beside him, along with everyone else gathered around Rio, all turned to look at Rinne at once.
Rinne cleared her throat, pulled Rio into her arms, and opened her mouth.
"Rio, or rather, this is about Eden and Rio."
"Mama...."
Rio seemed to understand what Rinne was about to say, because her expression grew a little calmer as she looked up at her.
Rinne asked if it was okay to tell them, and Rio nodded.
"I only just realized this, but the Eden Rio unfolded is unstable."
"Unstable?"
Princess Kaguya tilted her head.
The others reacted much the same way.
"Oh, is that it? When Shido said he was going to leave Eden, you said Eden cried, right?"
At the commander’s guess, Rinne gave a small nod.
That meant her guess was right.
"This Eden is unstable, so it’ll disappear in a week."
What Rinne was saying now was something Rio herself hadn’t told us.
I didn’t know whether Rio had hidden it on purpose or simply hadn’t managed to say it, but I could tell it was a serious, heavy topic.
Their whole atmosphere said as much.
"So all we have to do is wait a week until Eden disappears, right?"
"Right. There shouldn’t be any real problem, should there?"
Just like Mayuri and the Fire Keeper said, if we waited a week, everything would go back to normal.
Sure, it had been a shock when Eden first unfolded, but its intentions weren’t malicious, and it hadn’t caused any trouble. So it seemed like we could just wait until it disappeared.
But reality never went the way people wanted.
"A week until Eden disappears. If we just wait that long, everyone will return to normal. Maria too, and Marina too. All memories of the past week will disappear as well."
"If you’re worried about us, that’s not really a problem."
"That’s right. We didn’t have bodies to begin with."
It was unfortunate that Maria and Marina’s bodies would disappear, but it wasn’t exactly a problem.
And yet, why did Rinne’s expression look so grim?
Then, suddenly, one hypothesis came to mind.
Rinne had said that when Eden disappeared, everything would go back to normal.
Then what about Rio?
That little girl was a life that hadn’t originally existed either, so wouldn’t that mean she’d disappear too?
"Hieta...?"
By the time that thought reached that point, my expression had already grown serious enough to worry Yoshino.
When I looked at Rinne with a faint hope, she understood what I was thinking and nodded.
"What are you two talking about?"
The commander gave me a suspicious look, but unfortunately, it wasn’t what she was thinking.
"...Rinne just said it, didn’t she? That when Eden disappears, everything goes back to normal."
"She did, yes?"
"Then that means Rio, who didn’t originally exist, will disappear too...."
At the words that spilled out of my trembling mouth, everyone was horrified.
"What? Rinne, is that true!?"
When Itsuka-kun asked in shock, Rinne let out a long sigh.
"...Hieta is right. Rio’s role is to bring happiness to everyone. And at the end of that lies the completion of Eden. If Eden disappears as it is now, Rio will disappear too. And even if Eden is completed, Rio will still disappear."
"What do you mean by that...!"
"Say something that makes sense! That’s way too cruel!"
"Either way, that just means Rio is terminally ill!"
Those were Itsuka-kun, the commander, and Marina’s reactions, respectively.
Especially Itsuka-kun, who seemed to be overwhelmed by the helplessness of not being able to do anything. He clenched his fist so hard that blood began to seep out.
The commander slammed the floor in anger, taking it out on the poor ground, while Marina looked at me with trembling eyes.
I could tell what she wanted from that gaze, the kind of look someone gives when they’re begging for salvation, or forgiveness, or something else entirely.
Marina was asking me for something now.
To save Rio.
I nodded at her gaze and called Rio over.
"...Hey, Rio. Want to come over here for a second?"
"Huh...? Why...?"
"Uncle’s going to give you a present. Rio was born today, right?"
"Yeah...."
"Then let’s make today your birthday. It’s a birthday present."
"Really...?"
"Of course."
The moment Rio heard the word present, she slipped out of Rinne’s arms and trotted over to me.
Her reaction was adorable, but I couldn’t laugh.
There was no way I could laugh after learning that such a cute, lovable little girl was terminally ill.
Still, I smiled.
Because there was a way to fix it.
"Sachi."
"...Understood, my benefactor."
As I placed my hand on Rio’s head and called the Fire Keeper’s name, she understood my intent and placed her hand over mine.
Two hands, one after another, came to rest on Rio’s head, and Rio looked up at me with a face full of questions.
"Hieta, don’t tell me..."
"Shh. Itsuka-kun. Presents are supposed to be surprises, aren’t they?"
Itsuka-kun seemed to be catching on to what I was about to do, but I stopped him before he could blurt it out and ruin the moment.
He quietly nodded at my words and sat down beside Rinne, the two of them watching Rio with expressions that were half anticipation and half worry.
"Uncle? Big sister?"
"Just wait a moment, Rio."
I asked the confused Rio to wait, then moved the souls within my body.
The soul flowing through my hand entered Rio’s body and began forming her flesh.
"W, wow.... It feels kind of cool...."
I could hear Rio’s voice, but I couldn’t respond.
If I lost focus, who knew what kind of trouble this soul might cause?
At first I formed the outer shell, and just as I was filling in the inside, it collided with the spirit power already within Rio.
But I had the Fire Keeper on my side.
She controlled the souls with her own power and neutralized the repulsion from the spirit power.
I could feel sweat running down my cheek as I concentrated, but I couldn’t stop.
The outer shell was formed, the inside was filled, and now I had to completely lock the shape in place.
Since the soul and spirit power were still in a fluid state, I made the outer shell even stronger to fix their form.
And just like that, Rio’s body was fully formed.
"Hoo...."
After letting out the breath I’d been holding and wiping away the sweat, the Fire Keeper handed me a handkerchief.
"Good work, my benefactor."
"You worked hard too, Sachi."
"I-Is it done...?"
When Marina asked after hearing our conversation, I answered by pointing toward Rio.
Rio was moving her body this way and that, checking to see if anything felt off.
Marina’s expression softened with relief as she watched her.
"Thank goodness."
"Thank you, Hieta."
Itsuka-kun and Rinne hugged Rio and cried.
They’d only known her for, at most, about an hour, and yet they were already acting like parents.
"I would’ve done it even without the favor, so there’s no need to thank me."
I waved them off.
Even if Marina hadn’t asked, I would’ve formed Rio’s body anyway.
The moment I heard Rinne’s explanation, I’d already decided that was what I had to do.
"......Hm?"
While I was feeling warmed by the sight of the three of them clinging to one another, I sensed something strange.
Wondering what was going on, I immediately ran to the entrance, yanked the door open, and stepped outside.
"Hia!?"
"What is it, what’s wrong!?"
Maria and Marina came rushing out after me, and then they fell silent.
"Eden is collapsing."
Now that Rio was no longer a pure spirit, Eden had lost its master and was falling apart.
"It’s because it lost its owner, and even its role disappeared."
Rinne, who had come near us before I noticed, explained why Eden was collapsing.
So that was it.
"Wait, then what about Maria and Marina?"
With Eden losing its shape and collapsing, I had no idea what would happen to Maria and Marina.
Worried, I turned to look at them, and their bodies were already slowly breaking apart into particles and fading away.
"Ah, looks like we’re going back now."
"Looks like it. See you in a bit, Hia."
Then they vanished, and a moment later my phone started vibrating.
[Ahh, what a shame. I only got to go on one date with Hia.]
[One was plenty, Marina.]
Hearing the two of them talk through my phone, I felt relieved inside.
Watching them disappear into particles had reminded me of when Rinne and Mayuri had vanished, so it had felt like they were truly gone from the world.
[So, is Rio okay?]
Even after just checking, Marina was asking about Rio’s condition.
I thought she was the type to get attached pretty easily, considering they hadn’t even known each other for a full day, and handed the phone to Rio.
"Wow! Maria and Marina are inside the phone!"
[That’s a relief, Rio.]
[I’m really glad.]
"Yep!"
Watching Rio chat with Marina and Maria felt strangely cleansing.
It was the moment I realized that a child’s innocence can purify the rotten parts of an adult.
"Hieta. Thank you so much."
Rinne bowed to me once more in gratitude.
"For saving my life, and Rio’s life too."
"What are you saying something so embarrassing for? Go take care of your husband over there."
When I pointed at Itsuka-kun, who was still hovering awkwardly and unable to approach Rio, Rinne gave an embarrassed laugh.
"Ahaha, I should, shouldn’t I? My husband...."
Look at her, blushing like that.
"I want to fall in love too...."
"Oh?"
"Just kidding."
Yeah. I should probably be more careful with my words from now on.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register