The Strange Cat from Fuuto

After giving Shotaro a pitying look, Miku approached him and handed him the hat he was holding.

"Don't come any closer!"

Shotaro, curled up in a ball, covered his face and shouted, not even glancing at the treasured keepsake of his master.

"Since you don't want it, then I'll... I'll... I'll hold it for you for now!"

Miku twirled the hat in his hand, then sat down next to Shotaro, gazing up at the charred ceiling.

After the old man planted the seed of fear in him, it was already quite remarkable that Shotaro was able to suppress his subconscious fear and go to face the old man directly!

If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't even come close to the front door of the Ensaki family's house.

"Hey, are you just going to keep going like this... like this...?"

Turning his head to look at the trembling Shotaro, Miku made a somewhat rigid and mechanical sound.

"Don't come any closer."

"Don't come any closer."

"Don't come any closer."

.......

Shotaro, who was muttering to himself, didn't listen to Miku's words at all and continued to cower and mutter to himself.

“I’m talking to you… talking… talking, Shotaro!” Miku grabbed Shotaro’s collar and turned his face toward him, saying, “Are you going to keep… going on like this forever? Have you… forgotten… forgotten Philip?”

"He's still waiting...waiting...waiting for you. He's still at Madoka's house...inside...waiting with anticipation for you to come and save him!"

"Is your bond with him really this... much... strong?"

Miku, who was carrying Shotaro, roared at him. Shotaro, who was shoving Miku, seemed to have no reaction, but a tear appeared in the corner of his eye.

"It works!"

Startled, Miku Shotaro slammed him against the wall, held up the hat left behind by Narumi Shokichi to his face, and said, "Have you forgotten your master... father... father?"

"Have you forgotten all the... things you went through with Philip?"

"Do you want to live in fear for the rest of your life?"

Where did your courage go?

Shotaro, who had stopped struggling, finally showed an emotion other than fear in his eyes, and two lines of clear tears slid down his cheeks.

What else can I do now?

"They are too strong, I can't beat them at all!"

"I can't do it!"

Shotaro, who was crying as he spoke, had tears streaming down his face like pearls from a broken string. Seeing this, Miku said gently, "You can do it, you absolutely can...you can...you can do it!"

"Show your resolve, show your courage...you can do it!"

"Philip is still waiting for you...he hasn't given up yet, so what right do you have to give up?"

"You know, at first, Sherrard thought you...you...you were just a tool, a prop to enhance Philip's power. But you didn't give up...you didn't give up either. You've weathered so many storms...you've survived them all, and now you can't?"

Miku's words struck him like a hammer, each sentence hitting his heart. Though his body trembled and he was still shaking, a faint but unwavering determination appeared in his eyes.

Miku pressed on, "Ruocai is about to... about to... about to reach 100% compatibility. Do you know what that means for Philip... what... what?"

"His life is already on a countdown. As long as Wakana's compatibility reaches... reaches... reaches 100%, he will... will... will become a living sacrifice!"

"Now, the only...the only...the only one who can save him is you."

"You know, you...you...you are the last trump card!"

"I am the last trump card!"

With trembling hands, Shotaro pulled out the ace memory from his inner pocket, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Fear is... terrible... terrible, but the lack of courage is... is... the most terrible thing!"

Miku released Shotaro's hand, took a step back, and handed the hat to him.

With his hands still trembling, Shotaro shakily picked up the white hat and slowly put it on his head.

"Thank you, Miku!"

Chapter 96: The Day of Fate, the Old Man's Fear!

The next morning, the old man was a little surprised not to see Miku at the dining table. "Where's Miku? I haven't seen him since this morning!"

"I don't know. He came to see me last night, and then I don't know what he went on doing!"

"I see!" The old man sighed. "Miku has grown up now. Let him go wherever he wants!"

For the old man, Miku's departure was nothing to worry about; the plan was now at a crucial juncture. As long as he didn't cause trouble, he would let him be.

"Father, you really spoil him!" Wakana teased her father after swallowing a small piece of bacon. The old man chuckled, "No matter where he goes, he will always be a member of the Madoka family!"

"The mark of the Madoka family on him can never be erased!"

As he spoke, he stabbed the plate hard with his fork.

"That's right, don't you agree? Someone come here!"

"Ok!"

Philip ate his hearty breakfast in silence, but it tasted bland to him. He was preoccupied with Miku's plan and seemed distracted.

"I hope it works, Shotaro!"

At Yukie Sudo's house, Shotaro sat somewhat awkwardly on the sofa, while Miku casually lay on the cushions, yawning widely.

Although I've been dating Yukie for a long time, this is the first time I've ever been to her home like this.

"Xiao Xiang, I heard something happened at the firm, what exactly happened!"

"It's alright, Yuki!"

With a forced smile, Shotaro let the other person bring him tea and snacks, and asked somewhat awkwardly, "Hey, Yukie, are you able to contact Kirihiko now?"

"My brother seems to be busy with something lately, and he says it's very important!"

With a spoon in her mouth, Yuki thought for a moment and asked, "Do you need to see him for something?"

"It's alright. Since he's busy, let him finish what he needs to do first!"

"Ok!"

Kirihiko and his sister would occasionally meet, but they were mostly busy with their own things. Sometimes Yukie would complain about how elusive he was!

Shotaro and she each have their own lives and only go on dates regularly, unlike typical couples who are inseparable every day.

Yukie isn't the clingy type; being rather strong-willed, she still gives each other personal space and time.

"By the way, where is Philip? Where did he go?"

When Philip Shotaro's expression stiffened, he quickly recovered and said, "He recently found his family and is now with them!"

"Oh, that's great!"

Holding her teacup, Yukie smiled. She had mixed feelings about Philip. Although she and Shotaro were partners, Yukie always had a feeling that she was being cheated on. Now that she heard Shotaro say that he had found his family, it meant that the two of them would have less time together. She could rest assured that Shotaro wouldn't suddenly say that he was going to the intestinal ward one day!

Gathering her scattered thoughts, Xuehui said, "If my brother contacts me again, I'll tell him to come find you!"

"Thank you very much!"

Shotaro, who hadn't touched the tea or snacks, grabbed his hat and headed outside with Miku. Seeing this, Yukie quickly asked, "Are you going back already? Why don't you stay a little longer?"

"Oh, I have something else to do. I'll come find you when I'm done!"

"Yuki-e!"

Time passed day by day, and finally that fateful day arrived.

The night before, the old man, who had invited family members to sit in the head seat, looked at his children and wife sitting below with a smile, raised his glass and said, "Let us raise a glass to celebrate Wakana's rebirth!"

The fact that no one moved after he finished speaking made the old man quite embarrassed.

"Today is not only to celebrate Wakana's rebirth, but also to make you repent!"

The old man, who casually put down his cup, swept his sharp gaze over Sherrard and Saeko. Saeko snorted coldly and said, "Isn't it too late to say all this now, Father!"

"Speaking of which, if it weren't for your inexplicable jealousy towards me, there wouldn't be so much trouble in the family!"

Wakana glanced coldly at Saeko, who snorted and stood up.

"Sisters, please stop arguing!"

Seeing the two sisters at each other's throats, Philip stood up anxiously and shouted. Seeing this, Sherrard, barely settled in, was about to get up and leave.

"Wen Yin, are you leaving already?"

The old man stopped Sherrard, who said, "I had given up hope of winning this game, but I didn't expect my cat to be so capable."

"I will be there on time for the ceremony tomorrow!"

Sherrard approached Philip, gently stroking Philip's cheek with his gloved hands, and said, "Guards, from tomorrow onwards, your fate will be in your own hands!"

"That cat was right, Shotaro is the ultimate trump card!"

She glanced longingly at Philip Sherrard before leaving without hesitation. Philip watched Sherrard's retreating figure and murmured to himself, "Mother..."

"Wen Yin, you're as stubborn as ever. But Shotaro is already crippled, so what's the point of saying all this?"

The old man silently watched his wife's figure disappear from sight, while Wakana and Saeko had already started fighting and left the dining room.

Philip slumped into his chair, pondering Miku's words, and wondered, "Miku, can you really do what you say?"

The next day, in the morning.

The old man, holding the Devil's Tail with great care, placed it in a small chapel in the mansion. Wakana, dressed in a black dress and wearing a veil, was already waiting there.

"Come on, someone come here!"

After leading Philip to the basement of the mansion, the old man opened the Well of Earth, put his arm around Philip's shoulder, and said, "Today you will become a god together with Wakana!"

"With your current power, as the central control system of Wakana's power, you can completely help Wakana become the priestess of Earth and a god!"