Long Live Money in Anime Crossover

“However,” Momo paused, “the most important thing is, are you prepared to accept all these memories?”

"These memories may cause you pain, they may drive you mad. At that time, you may want to hug me, or you may want to kill me."

Mo Mo's smile held a hint of mystery as he said, "I don't really care about any of this, no matter what choice you make. The key is you, Cao Qi, do you really want to get all of that back?"

"No matter how much that memory has changed you, you must get it back?"

“You can completely let go of those memories, pretend that there is no such thing as amnesia, and then continue your life as if I were a stranger.”

"That's also an option."

Misaki Shokuhou fell silent. Momo's words were ambiguous, seemingly implying that the memory would have a huge impact on her, and whether that impact was good or bad depended on Misaki Shokuhou's own judgment.

These memories could even influence her life.

So, does she want to find it?

Misaki Shokuhou subconsciously thought that Momo was exaggerating, but considering how Momo had just protected her, she realized there was no need for him to exaggerate. Otherwise, what would Momo want from her?

Should I try to retrieve these memories?

Should we try to retrieve... perhaps this memory she shared with Mo Mo?

"If you want to regain your memories, then at least eat some candy first."

Momo suddenly interjected and used his ability to place a piece of candy in Misaki Shokuhou's hand, which made Misaki Shokuhou pause for a moment and ask, "Eating candy? What does this have to do with eating candy?"

"To get things done, you need to at least recover your strength, don't you?"

Author's Note:

Second update

118 This is the new beginning you've been looking for.

Misaki Shokuhou instinctively reached out to peel the candy, but Momo stopped her.

"Are you really sure about this? Eating this candy means you're going to reclaim your memories. Trust me."

"By then, you won't have a chance to regret it, you won't have the right to choose again. Whether this memory is good or bad, whether it makes you heartbroken or happy, I won't allow you to regret it."

Misaki Shokuhou frowned and said, "If I don't want to regain my memories, can't I even have a piece of candy?"

Mo Mo shook her head slightly and said, "Do I know you? Why would I let you eat my candy? I was planning to eat these candies with Mikoto, hmph."

Hearing this, Misaki Shokuhou felt aggrieved and said, "If you don't know me, why did you save me just now? Wouldn't it have been better to just let me die at the hands of Emperor Kanemoto?"

"If you don't know me, why are you doing these things and saying these things to me?"

"Did the injuries on your back just appear out of nowhere?!"

The two were subtly at odds, but Misaki Shokuhou knew that she was doing this because Momo suddenly seemed to be distancing himself from her.

This person, who would risk his life for her and with whom she might have a complicated past, is about to sever ties with her like this.

This reminded Misaki Shokuhou of the scene when her only friend, Dolly, left her. The only difference was that last time, her friend died, while this time, it was Misaki Shokuhou herself who wanted to give up that memory.

Misaki Shokuhou began to feel dissatisfied with herself. Why couldn't she trust others? Even someone who would risk their life for her wasn't worth trusting?

Momo's next words silenced Misaki Shokuhou for a long time.

“It’s not that I don’t know you. If you give up this memory, it means you’ve given up the past, given up everything between us, and it also means you’ve given up on me.”

Momo suddenly reached out his hand, slowly towards Misaki Shokuhou beside him, and Misaki Shokuhou subconsciously grabbed Momo's hand and held it tightly.

The two hands clasped together, and only then did Misaki Shokuhou realize what she had done. She stared blankly at their hands, which were clasped together so naturally.

"If you abandon me, then I can pretend I don't have this memory for you, and do everything for your new life."

"This will be your choice... won't it? I can risk everything to protect you today, and I can give up everything to respect your choice in the future."

After saying that, Mo Mo suddenly exerted force with her hand and struggled to sit up. Misaki Shokuhou wanted to help, but instead released Misaki Shokuhou's hand and made a prohibitive gesture.

"Make your choice, Caoqi. This is your choice, and it is also my choice."

Misaki Shokuhou fell silent, a long silence. She looked at her hands; in one hand was a piece of candy, and in the other, the warmth of Momo's palm lingered.

Now, Momo's hand has left hers, leaving her feeling empty.

Why is this so?

After thinking for a long time, Misaki Shokuhou finally understood why.

Because she lost something she could trust and feel warmth from.

She could never bring herself to say those two words, but not long ago, when the two of them were in heaven, she had already demonstrated those two words through her actions.

At that time, she completely trusted Mo Mo, got close to him, and cared about his safety.

Although she and Momo were in danger at that time, possibly even in mortal danger, Misaki Shokuhou felt warmer back then than she is now, because of their current safety.

Unbeknownst to her, she had already trusted Mo Mo and put the word "trust" into practice through her actions.

If that's the case, then what is she doing now, and what is she getting into trouble with? Is it really that hard to say the word "believe"?

Misaki Shokuhou also knew the reason very well: because she had no memory of Momo in her mind, she found it difficult to believe Momo.

If she is to trust Momo, she must find her lost memories, her memories with Momo, but right now, the prerequisite for finding her memories is to trust Momo.

Everything was caught in a vicious cycle, and Momo had already placed the key to breaking the cycle in her hands.

A piece of candy.

Should we try to recover our lost memories and break this vicious cycle, or should we give up on this vicious cycle and start all over again?

……restart?

Thinking of this, Misaki Shokuhou's eyes lit up, and she said, "Without the past... can't we have a new beginning?"

However, Misaki Shokuhou did not give a clear answer, saying, "A new beginning...that's something to look forward to."

Misaki Shokuhou assumed that Momo had rejected her, and thoughtfully said, "Misaka Mikoto..."

"Indeed, if it were her, she would definitely trust you 100%, and you two would both be willing to risk everything for each other without hesitation, right?"

Misaki Shokuhou muttered to herself. Mo Mo's words had stirred up a fire in her heart. She wasn't sure if it was anger at herself or anger at Mo Mo's choice of Misaka Mikoto, but in any case, she was angry.

"I am destined not to sink Misaka Mikoto, nor will I trust so many people. The only person I can trust is myself."

"This is the real me... Misaki Shokuhou."

"but……"

Misaki Shokuhou's lips still held a hint of hesitation, but she finally said, "I'm willing to believe you just this once, only this once. Even if it's just to repay the kindness you showed me by protecting me today, I will believe you just this once."

After saying that, Misaki Shokuhou unwrapped the candy, put it in her mouth, and said, "I will regain my strength. You should also rest well. When you are able to tell me everything in a little while, I will personally..."

Misaki Shokuhou's voice abruptly stopped, and the star-shaped pattern in her pupils suddenly began to tremble, as if something had suddenly poured into her mind and stuffed into her brain.

Furthermore, a red and white light emanated from within Misaki Shokuhou's body, forming the shape of a red and white butterfly. This red and white light continued to extend, spreading throughout Misaki Shokuhou's entire body.

Soon, the change ended, and Misaki Shokuhou's wavering gaze also ceased. She was now lying on her back on the bed, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling.

Beside her, Mo Mo sat quietly and said, "Welcome back, Cao Qi."

Misaki Shokuhou ignored Momo and instead stretched out her hands, as if she were holding something.

Two lines of clear tears flowed from the corners of her eyes, down Misaki Shokuhou's cheeks, and dripped onto the bed sheet.

"This...is not funny."

Seeing Misaki Shokuhou's tears, Mo Mo laughed and said, "Yeah, it's not funny at all."

"You're a piece of scum, a bastard, a complete liar!"

Misaki Shokuhou gritted her teeth, but Momo's smile grew even brighter.

"I only helped you regain the memories you wanted. I've repeatedly reminded you that this might be hard for you to accept. If you blame me now... baby will cry feeling wronged!"

"But you lied to me, you lied to the me who had amnesia!"

"I have never lied to anyone; you are the one lying to yourself."

"That's just sophistry! I won't admit to any of this, absolutely not!"

Misaki Shokuhou continued talking to herself, while Mo Mo's fingers brushed past the corner of Misaki Shokuhou's eye, saying, "Misaki, aren't you also deceiving yourself?"

"No need to pretend anymore. If I'm not mistaken, you're still in the same emotional state you were in before you lost your memory, right? Not only have you regained your memories, but you've also regained the emotions you felt at the moment you lost them."

Momo's words made Misaki Shokuhou tremble.

"How about we review those words?"

Mo Mo smiled, repeating what he had said not long ago.

"If we had a chance to do it all over again, our relationship could have been much better."

"It's not so distorted, it's more natural, and we trust and understand each other, without this awkward feeling."

"Would we have had a chance to truly be together back then?"

After saying that, Mo Mo stared at Misaki Shokuhou with a grin and said, "Now, repeat your answer, Misaki. Also, don't forget to say what you wanted to say but didn't before."

"Right now, I'm really looking forward to hearing it!"

Misaki Shokuhou's face suddenly turned red, perhaps because of Mo Mo's reminder, and the emotions surging within her became even more intense.

Of course, it could also be simply out of anger, anger at Mo Mo's behavior.

"I won't say it, I'd rather die than say it! I won't admit it, I absolutely won't admit it!"

Misaki Shokuhou suddenly pushed Momo and sat up, seemingly wanting to escape. However, to her astonishment, Momo, who was sitting on the bed, fell straight backward, as if about to fall off the bed.

How could Mo Mo fall? His strength...

His injury!

Misaki Shokuhou's pupils contracted. How could Momo, whose back was completely smashed, possibly exert any force? Momo had used so many abilities before, and might be exhausted and unable to use them now!

If someone with that kind of back were to fall to the ground...

Misaki Shokuhou felt her heart clench. She was still immersed in the emotions of parting, and the heartache she felt at this moment made her act subconsciously. She rushed towards Momo, hugged Momo's shoulders, and tried to pull Momo back.

However, it seems she used too much force; not only did she pull Momo back, but she was also pinned down by Momo.

If she hadn't fallen onto a soft bed, given Misaki Shokuhou's constitution, she probably would have cried out in pain for a long time.