The comments section all think I'm a really good person.

Moreover, it seemed that the other party was a frequent drinker, and the preparation method was very skillful and efficient, with ample ice in the Silver Garden's refrigerator.

This gave her a sense of familiarity, but that feeling was fleeting, passing through her mind in an instant.

She failed to seize the opportunity in time.

The other person still had A Yuan's face, with white hair and red eyes, and when he smiled, you could see his slightly sharp canine teeth.

The tiger-tooth pattern makes the BOSS look a year or two younger, and he doesn't appear overly mature or composed.

Although Koizumi Saki knew she should express her anger at this moment, she had to admit that the fact that the other party still remembered her image after Ahara's disappearance was enough to make her feel gratified and at ease.

At least there are still people besides myself who remember A Yuan.

This way, she could be sure that A-Yuan's return and the time she spent with A-Yuan were not just her imagination.

Koizumi Saki felt a long-lost sense of peace. Even sitting face-to-face with the Silver Garden Boss, whom she disliked, in the same room, she did not feel as annoyed as before.

She told the Silver Garden Boss the whole story of how Ahara was erased, but slightly concealed the part about her own speculations about the world.

The white-haired woman opposite her listened attentively to her words, her gaze fixed on the face of Koizumi Saki, who was focused on explaining.

Saki Koizumi didn't realize that the other person's focus wasn't on Ahara's matter, but on the narrator himself.

Saki Koizumi was not a good storyteller; she was slow to organize her thoughts and occasionally stumbled over words she couldn't recall.

Whenever this happens, the BOSS on the other side will promptly remind her, whispering the word she can't remember into her ear.

Koizumi Saki rarely spoke so much, and her throat felt dry. She picked up a soda from the table to moisten her throat and observed the BOSS's reaction.

The latter showed a look of understanding, then pondered for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly: "So that's how it is? I was wondering why everyone had lost their memories of Yuan..."

Although her face showed some solemnity because of Kita Kirihara's disappearance, Koizumi Saki could still tell that the other party had vaguely breathed a sigh of relief.

...? Why is that? Aren't you worried?

Wasn't it said that Yuan was also an important partner of theirs?

"Actually, it's not entirely a bad thing, Ms. Kamina." The BOSS gently explained to the anxious Saki Koizumi, "Although the original existence has completely disappeared, it also means that the illness in that body has also disappeared."

"……you mean?"

Saki Koizumi put down the cup in her hand, her palms already damp from the water droplets seeping from the cup.

She stared blankly into the eyes of the Silver Garden BOSS, who blinked, a sly glint in his eyes.

"Why not just make a new body for the original person?"

With such nonchalance, she uttered words that shocked Saki Koizumi.

Indeed, this way, A-Yuan's health problems can be solved, and his new body will be healthier than his previous one.

But there is still one problem.

"Where is the soul?" Koizumi Saki asked, her fists clenching instinctively. "Is Ahara's soul with you?"

If Kita Kirihara's soul doesn't return, even if a new body is created, it will only be a puppet.

"...Don't misunderstand, she's not with me. In fact, I don't know where she is either." The BOSS explained calmly, "But with your cooperation, Miss Kamina, we can find her from the cracks of the world."

"What should we do?"

Saki Koizumi's heart raced uncontrollably, and she instinctively held her breath, awaiting the answer.

Her palms were wet, whether from water or sweat, and all she could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat.

"Let's go on a date," said the BOSS on the other end.

Saki Koizumi stared blankly: "...Huh?"

The other person's smile was so refreshing that it gave her a youthful air.

When he doesn't laugh in that affected way, he really resembles Kita Kirihara.

They are almost identical.

"Tell me, Miss Kamina, how well do you know Hara?" The white-haired beauty smiled like a fox, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Tell us what you know about her, okay?"

.

The date that the Silver Garden Boss mentioned actually didn't mean anything else.

It was simply about spending time with the other members of the Silver Garden and trying to dig out their memories of Kita Kirihara in their own ways.

Then, these impressions of Kita Kirihara are struck together to lock onto and recall that soul rejected by the world.

and so……

Saki Koizumi vaguely accepted this explanation, and then, early in the morning, she was awakened by a knock on the door.

She checked the time; it was already nine o'clock in the morning.

Because Ryo Kobayashi has given her leave, she doesn't need to work during this period and will not receive any instructions from the Voice of the World for the time being.

Who is outside the door now?

Saki Koizumi rubbed her sleepy eyes, let out a long yawn, and walked over in her slippers: "Who is it—?"

She walked to the door, stood on tiptoe, and peeked through the peephole.

"...?"

She looked away blankly, wondering if she had seen things wrong.

It's weird, take another look.

So, I went over and took another look.

"...Homura Akemi?"

199. Braids, Homura Akemi, and some of the past

An awkward and silent atmosphere.

The weather was starting to warm up at the end of April. Koizumi Saki realized that this was a date with a stranger. After a flurry of activity, she managed to rummage through her closet and find the clothes that Kita Kirihara had previously chosen for her to change into.

Saki Koizumi has a very simple and unpretentious style, and she doesn't dress up much.

At home, I wear simple, loose-fitting shirts or T-shirts that aren't particularly stylish, and my pants are always just black trousers of various lengths without any particular design.

After Kita Kirihara returned, he did pick out some clothes for her that were more suitable to wear out.

Now, she has changed into a white dress and sits awkwardly opposite Homura Akemi.

but……

...The other person was clearly more uncomfortable than she was.

And is this really Homura Akemi?

Who is this?

Saki Koizumi was quite surprised when she saw the middle school girl with braided hair and thick red-rimmed glasses in the cat's eye.

After all, in her mind, Homura Akemi should be a cold, taciturn woman with long, straight black hair who was often impolite and had a devilish arrogance.

The opponent's strength is indeed sufficient to support such arrogance.

However, the "Akemi Homura" who arrived this time was almost completely different from the two people she remembered.

"...Homura Akemi?" Saki Koizumi called out the other person's name softly, as if to confirm it one last time.

Strangely enough, the introverted girl who shared the same name as that demon instinctively flinched at the sound of his voice, raising her slightly uneasy, teary eyes: "...Hello?"

The other person has the exact same face and body shape as Homura Akemi, but their inner selves are very different.

Two unfashionable braids, unfocused purple pupils due to severe nearsightedness, a pale face, slender and fragile arms that looked like they might break at any moment, a serious illness eroding her life force, and most importantly, an introverted, self-conscious, and cautious personality...

...Is this really Homura Akemi?

Despite her suspicions, the inscription on the other person's body and the identical face told Koizumi Saki that this was Homura Akemi herself.

What exactly is going on...?

She felt lost.

How am I supposed to go on a date with Homura Akemi?

Are we going out...?

Saki Koizumi looked out the window at the torrential rain.

Given Homura Akemi's frail physique, it would be terrible if she got soaked in such heavy rain.

Then I guess I'll just have to stay home and find something to do.

For Saki Koizumi, having to share a room with strangers was an extremely painful choice.

Fortunately, Homura Akemi is relatively quiet, and after concealing her presence, she is almost unnoticeable.

However, the more important thing now is the business at hand.

"Miss Homura Akemi?" Saki Koizumi was rather cautious in her choice of address when facing this strange Homura Akemi.

Even at normal volume, it still startled the sickly, sensitive, and introverted Homura Akemi.

Almost immediately, Homura Akemi, whose name had been suddenly called, shrank back and replied in a very low voice, "...Yes, yes. But you don't have to call me Homura Akemi."

Saki Koizumi was somewhat stunned by the huge difference in appearance, and she replied in a daze, "...Ah, okay. Then I'll call you Akemi."

"Ah."

Then, the two fell silent once again.

Saki Koizumi is a clueless, awkward person who doesn't know how to start a conversation. Faced with her current situation, she doesn't know what topic to begin with.

Homura Akemi, who was quite adept at reading people, sensed something and mustered up her courage to speak first: "Um, Ms. Kamina?"

"Ok?"

“BOSS, she, she told me. The main purpose today is to recall the story of that girl named Kita Kirihara... right?” Homura Akemi’s voice sounded a little soft and sweet, quite different from the previous fierce and handsome demon, and her eyes kept darting away because of shyness.

However, now that she has accepted the BOSS's mission, she will do her best.

In order to make this date happen, Kita Kirihara begged the demon Homura Akemi for a long time before he finally managed to get back to his current twisted Homura appearance.

In this state, Homura Akemi is easier to communicate with and seems more like an ordinary girl.