This is not the date I wanted.

When Kotori was reunited with her parents, my heart was filled with joy that included blessings, but also a bit of loneliness from being separated from her companions.

Is it such a good thing to be reunited with my family? Whenever I think of Kotori's happy expression, I have this question in my mind.

"Hmm? Is there anyone who wants to adopt us?"

"Do we mean everyone?"

After noticing that what the Yamai sisters said was related to themselves, everyone gathered around.

"Definitely. According to the dean, that person intends to adopt all of us."

After hearing Xixian's words, everyone, including me, breathed a sigh of relief.

For me, who had lost all my memories, just adapting to a strange environment was a struggle. Saying goodbye to my friends and moving to a strange environment were both very difficult. This made me very resistant when I heard about adoption.

I'm afraid other people have the same idea.

"That's great, we can continue to be together from now on."

I couldn't help but say with relief.

"Yes, who is the person who can support nine of us?"

Rokuko's words made everyone fall into deep thought.

"Indeed, being able to adopt all of us and provide for our maintenance is undoubtedly a huge expense, and it would be impossible without a certain level of financial strength."

Origami speculated.

"Hmm... isn't it a boy? I can't stand it if that's the case! I must have a sexy and mature older sister."

Miku prayed with an uneasy look on her face.

"Besides, don't you think it's a bit strange... Normally, even if you want to adopt daughters, you can't adopt eight at once like buying bananas... Maybe adoption is just a superficial excuse, and this is not a hospital but a human ranch. In fact, they are selling us as slaves to rich people, or as livestock to some inhuman monsters to eat..."

"Well, so terrible..."

Hearing Nanashi's mumbling, tears welled up in Yoshino's eyes.

"Hand knife. Nanashi, your thoughts are too negative. Maybe that person's actions were well-intentioned. It is too rude to be so suspicious."

“I’m sorry, Yoshino. I shouldn’t have said such baseless things.”

"Don't worry, Seven Sins. If the other party is really a person with bad intentions, I will never let him do anything to us."

"Well, there's no point in imagining this. If he's really a bad guy, just reject him. Yui-chan, do you know what kind of person he is?"

While comforting Shion, Shion asked Yui.

"Hey! Why don't you ask me about my body, but only about my half body?"

"Negative. I don't know the other party's identity. I just heard the dean say that he has come to the hospital and is coming to meet us now."

Ignoring Yakuya's angry expression, Yuigen replied.

"What? So we can meet soon."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"..."

"Now?!"

After a slight delay, everyone finally reacted.

"What should I do? I haven't changed my clothes or put on my makeup yet!"

"It's over, it's over... I'm definitely going to be disliked for my miserable appearance... Rather than being rejected with disdainful looks... Hehe, I'd rather stay in the sheets and be a worthless salted fish forever."

"Listen, relax Yoshino. Write 'person' on my stomach and eat it, then you won't be nervous."

“Okay, okay… Yoshina…”

The visit was so sudden that everyone was confused.

Just then, I heard light footsteps coming from the corridor, but they were not the footsteps of nurses or doctors.

"Everyone, it seems someone is coming."

"Hurry and lie back on the bed!"

In the end, it was Origami who calmed down first and urged everyone to return to their beds.

however--

"What are you doing? Xixian? Ye Huoya?"

Unlike others, the Yami sisters did not return to the hospital bed. Instead, they ran to the door, opened it a little, and placed a plastic cup of water on the door panel.

"Kuku - this is a test. If you want to sign a contract with me, the Dark Lord, you must be able to avoid the traps."

"I agree. This is Xixian's first meeting gift."

The two said with a smirk on their faces.

"Really."

In desperation, I could only hurriedly get out of bed and try to get the cup down before opening the door outside.

However, I was still a step too late. Before I arrived, the door had been pushed open, and the cup, having lost its support, began to fall downward due to gravity.

Then, naturally, the water spilled out of the cup, soaking the person who opened the door.

The room fell silent. The Yamai sisters, who were about to burst out laughing, were also speechless.

Contrary to expectations, the visitor was not a wealthy tycoon, nor a mature and sexy lady, but an old man in his sixties with gray hair.

"Old lady...are you okay?"

"…It's okay. Don't worry."

Not caring about his wet clothes, the old man shook his head gently and smiled kindly.

"What an interesting welcome ceremony, two naughty children."

After a quick glance around the room, the old man seemed to have understood who the culprit of the prank was, and walked slowly to the Yamai sisters.

Under the old man's calm and penetrating gaze, Yajuya and Yui could not help but lower their heads guiltily.

"Um...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt the old man."

"Apologies. I'm so sorry, old lady."

"Yeah...it's okay. Seeing you guys so energetic, I feel relieved."

Seeing the two people apologizing honestly, the old man smiled, touched their heads and forgave them.

"Who are you, old woman?"

I couldn't help but ask.

It was very strange. I had no memory of him and it was clearly the first time we met, but the moment I saw this old man, I felt a sense of blood connection and intimacy in my heart.

So gentle, so warm.

It is like returning to the arms of the mother, making people relax involuntarily, feeling extremely safe and at ease.

Maybe this is how Kotori felt when she reunited with her family.

"Me? My name is Guan Meng, a lonely old woman who lost her loved ones in a disaster."

The old man looked at me with gentle eyes and spoke softly.

Then, as if inviting or begging, the old man stretched out his hand to me.

"Will you...become my family?"

PS: I originally planned to write only 2,000 words, but I ended up writing 5,000.

26 Yud.Aleph (Eleventh Episode)

==============================

Wednesday, February 2th, night.

"...Kuang San, absorb my spiritual power."

Holding the collapsed Kuang San tightly in his arms, Meng Yue thought for a long time and said in a deep voice.

"...Huh? You want me to devour... Miss Mengyue's spiritual power?"

Kuang San couldn't help but be stunned, unable to understand Meng Yue's intention.

"Since your angel Kekedi has the ability to send people back to the past, he should also have the ability to send people to the future, right?"

"Yes... Indeed, 'Yud.Aleph' has the power to allow those who are hit by it to travel to the future."

Kurumi nodded in affirmation.

"Very good. Then you absorb my spiritual power and use your angel to travel to the future one year later."

"Eh? Why?"

Kuang San was a little overwhelmed by Meng Yue's sudden proposal.

"To prevent the Origin Spirit from finding you."

Meng Yue explained,

"Although the purpose is unclear, there is no doubt that Shidou's absorption of the spirit power of the spirits has been manipulated by the Origin Spirit. So Shidou must be a very important existence in her plan. For her, the current situation is absolutely unacceptable. In order to reverse the situation, I am afraid she will try every means to find you."

Having said this, Meng Yue paused for a moment, waiting for Kuang San to digest and understand what she said before continuing.

"I don't know how powerful the Origin Spirit is, but since she needs to rely on you to achieve reincarnation, she definitely doesn't have the ability to travel through time and space. Then there is only one way. As long as the 'now' you go to the future one year later, then in the next year, the person 'Tokisaki Kurumi' will no longer exist in this world."

"..."

Hearing Meng Yue's thoughts, Kuang San couldn't help but feel surprised.

From Meng Yue's words, one could vaguely reveal an understanding and familiarity with the Origin Elves, otherwise it would be impossible to come up with such a targeted method.

There is no doubt that Meng Yue has information about the Origin Spirit that Kuang San does not know, and may even know her true identity.

Why didn't you tell her about this? Kuang San wanted to question Meng Yue like this, but before she could say anything, she swallowed it back from her throat weakly.

Now that she has given up fighting, she no longer has the qualifications to say this.

The tighter the string is stretched to its limit, the more severe the pain will be when it breaks.

Over the past ten years, in order to achieve her goal, she abandoned her parents, her friends, her human identity, and even killed nearly 20,000 people as an elf. The moment she chose to give up, the huge sense of guilt left a deep scar in her heart.

There is no point. When she took back the "Six Bullets" from Shidao, Kurumi thought she had found a glimmer of hope, but she didn't expect that this was just a bait that would make her fall into a more terrifying abyss.

Watching Shidou die in front of her once, twice, three times... ten times... a hundred times, as her emotions slowly grew numb, Kurumi gradually felt that she was not saving Shidou, but was just whipping his corpse again and again in order to achieve her own goals.

So now that she has lost her fighting spirit, what is the point in questioning Mengyue who wants to protect her?

"sorry Sorry……"

"No need to apologize, Kurumi."

Meng Yue stroked Kuang San's black hair and spoke gently.

"I don't know how many reincarnations and how much pain you went through in order to save Shidou from death. I also don't understand how angry, sad, and self-blaming you are for Shidou's death. But I know that you are the one who has paid the most for Shidou...so you are not wrong. Leave it to me from now on."

Having said that, Meng Yue let go of Kuang San, picked up the flintlock on the ground, and handed it to Kuang San.

"Okay, let's get started."

"...Zaf...kiel (Kiel...Emperor)..."

He spoke the angel's real name with difficulty. For some reason, his hand holding the gun handle kept shaking, and finally fell out of his hand again. At some point, Kuang San's face was covered with sweat.

"I'm sorry... I can't use angels anymore..."

Kuang San lowered her head bitterly. Now, once she held the angel tightly, the guilt would surge into her heart like a tide.

"Then - let 'I' do it for you."

"——!?"

At this moment, the voice of a third party suddenly sounded, and Kuang San only saw a slender hand enter her field of vision and pick up the flintlock on the ground.

Kurumi suffered a cardiac arrest.

This voice, this wrist. She was more familiar with it than anyone else, after all, the person on the other end was none other than herself.