A crossover anime, where people are in Classroom of the Imaginary Era, and behind the scenes, the ki

Kugaoka Tsubaki's big eyes sparkled, and she asked with some curiosity:

"Very, very good friends? How good are they?"

"Is your relationship even better than Xiaochun's with your sister?"

Faced with this childlike competitive spirit, Ichinose smiled somewhat helplessly.

Horikita Suzune, standing to the side, spoke frankly:

"Xiaochun just gets along well with us."

"But Suwei... he is our companion, our guide, someone who can lead us forward in this cruel world."

"Ugh?"

Upon hearing this, Kuangqiu Chun tilted her head in confusion, clearly puzzled.

But inspired by the kindness of these two older sisters, she instinctively felt a longing in her heart:

"Then, Tsubaki... can she also become Horikita-neechan's companion?"

Seeing this, Ichinose thought the time was right and squatted down.

She leaned closer to the chimney, looked directly into the little girl's pure eyes, and solemnly began to speak:

"If Xiaochun is willing, of course she can."

"However, we're going to save the world together with Su Weijun next."

"This road is dangerous, Xiaochun, are you okay?"

Kugaoka Tsubaki nodded emphatically, her eyes gleaming:

"Of course Xiaochun can! Xiaochun will become a great hero too!"

"Xiao Chun, didn't you tell your parents beforehand?"

Horikita Suzune suddenly interrupted.

Honami Ichinose felt a pang of anxiety and glanced at Tsubaki Kogaoka with some concern.

Horikita was afraid that his blunt words would remind the little girl of her painful memories in reality, and thus cause some kind of stress reaction.

Fortunately, within the dream barrier constructed by the Pale Knight, everything is determined by Tsubaki Kugaoka's own inner emotions and desires.

Before anyone actively tears away the disguise called "everyday life," the parents existing in this dream are the kind of model parents she longs for deep in her heart.

Horikita Suzune had taken this into account, which is why she followed up on the conversation, using the opportunity to lay the groundwork for what would happen later.

As expected, Tsubaki looked at Horikita with a puzzled expression and asked:

"Are we going to be away for a long time? Will we not be able to come home for dinner tonight?"

Horikita Suzune's face was cold, but her tone was very soft:

"Saving the world and becoming a hero is very hard work, so it's impossible to go home on time for every meal."

"Not only that, it's common to not see family members often, and we also face danger!"

Kuangqiu Chun pursed her lips, as if undergoing a fierce internal struggle, her two small hands twisting together:

"Oh, I see... I wonder if Xiaochun is even suitable..."

"After all, Tsubaki is still young, and I don't know how I can help you, Horikita-neechan."

Honami Ichinose smiled and shook her head, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind the girl's ear: "Then, Tsubaki, you've underestimated yourself."

"Xiao Chun, the hidden power within you is actually very strong."

"If you're willing, you could not only help us a great deal, but you could also save countless innocent people, allowing them to reunite with their parents..."

"However, for you, this is a painful path full of thorns."

Kuangqiu Chun thought about it seriously for a moment, then pursed her lips and said:

"Then I'll go tell Mom and Dad first, and then I'll go with you, Ichinose-neechan."

"Although Xiaochun is very reluctant to leave her parents, if it means more people can play with them... Xiaochun is willing to be separated from them temporarily."

Ichinose pursed her lips tightly, looking at the sensible Tsubaki Kamioka in front of her, and felt as if a huge rock was blocking her chest, her heart heavy beyond measure.

But in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say the words that revealed the cruel reality.

She just watched silently as Kuangqiu Chun turned around and ran to say goodbye to her fake parents.

Right now.

Ripples spread through the air, and a faintly glowing, incomparably beautiful phantom of a goddess appeared out of thin air before Ichinose and Horikita Suzune.

That was the lingering image of the sea god attached to the First Emperor's God-Slaying Crossbow.

The phantom gazed at the two and spoke softly:

"You want to bring Tsubaki back to reality... but with your weak human bodies, are you capable of protecting her?"

Faced with the questioning from the afterimage of the sea god, Honami Ichinose nodded without backing down:

"We didn't lie to Xiaochun just now."