I Came Back but the World is Still a Fantasy!?

Tl Note: Author started posting shorter chapters again, so I stitched three together to produce a chapter of the usual length. Also, thank you to all the supporters and donors for making this chapter possible.

───1st Kutoria International Airport

One of the largest gateways to Garesto, but perhaps due to being on Earth, there was little difference between it and the second airport.

Even for Shinichi, who still vividly remembered the world eight years ago, that was a facility with a structure and interior that no doubt fit his definition of an ‘airport’.

The only clear difference was the large gate built inside the runway that towered as if looking down from above. It was visible even from the lounge.

VTOL aircraft could also be seen repeatedly passing through the massive frame that was the gate and vanishing into the other side.

Nothing could be seen on the other side of the gate when open, only a somewhat nostalgic space where all colors seemed to blend together without merging.

One could call it rainbow colored, but that was too beautiful of a description. Spilled paint would be more fitting, but even then, not quite. There were brilliant hues everywhere, so it was too vibrant to be described as chaotic too. Moreover, if one were to look keenly, the scene beyond the gate seemed to distort one’s sense of perspective.

Was it a space where the 2D merged with the 3D? Or was it a place that was either or both? Once, someone from Earh described it as “a sea painted on a wall, and a wall made of the sea.” A fitting description.

That was the space Shinichi had fallen into eight years ago, and it was the rift in dimensions he passed through when he returned here a month and a half ago. He could only smile wryly as he wondered if his poor impression of it was because of that.

June 16. Early morning.

Shinichi, along with the other students, returned to Kutoria and was currently waiting for his turn to board at the First International Airport.

Due to its large gate and Kutoria’s location, many people visit this airport to travel to Garesto for work or tourism.

However, there was a difference in the procedures for residents of Kutoria and external visitors. External visitors were not allowed to leave the airport without permission, so students, who were treated as residents rather than regular travelers, were not only processed at a separate counter but also waited in a completely different terminal.

“…They really went all out.”

Naturally, Shinichi, who was having an early breakfast while holding a Foster, was in the VIP lounge at the resident waiting area. This high-end lounge was typically reserved for those who’ve met certain conditions and offered exceptional services. However, it was currently occupied by Frire, who had become the representative teacher of this tripe due to various circumstances.

The reason Shinichi was there was the same as why he had been seated in the VIP section of the aircraft when the trip began.

Officially, it was under the pretext of keeping him away from other students and placing him under Frire’s supervision, but in reality, it was to allow him to assist her with her work and to ensure he could move freely in case of an emergency.

Frire herself had little time to relax in the lounge, as she was busy handling various paperwork, making contacts, and confirming details.

Shinichi, on the other hand, did not help with these tasks, as they were of low urgency, involved direct contact with others, or were tasks that did not require him specifically. Besides, Frire was fully capable of handling them herself.

In fact, taking his advice into account, she had been efficiently processing everything, with some help from her colleagues.

“Hamu, ngu… Mn?”

As he swallowed a bite of his BLT sandwich from a distance, the terminal (Foster) in his hand vibrated. A message appeared on the screen, notifying him of an incoming email.

The sender’s name was displayed as “Jean-Lutani Moka.”

However, such a person did not exist.

It was a false registered name he had come up with on a whim, and the actual sender’s name was “Monica Chantal.”

He had exchanged contact details with her.

Naturally, the primary purpose was for emergency communication. Shinichi had emphasized to her that she should notify him of even the smallest details in advance.

But of course, even if her terminal were somehow to be investigated, this address was completely untraceable, and the messages that reached his Foster were routed through a unique system he had created. It had been disguised multiple times, ensuring that no one could trace it back to him.

With such thorough precautions and measures in place, the first message Monica sent him was:

『Good morning. I wanted to make sure you could be reached, so reply, okay? I know you’re the type to be bad at replies, but don’t you dare ignore this. 』

It was a greeting, a confirmation, and for some reason, a command that saw right through his nature. Shinichi grumbled to himself as he chewed on his egg sandwich, wondering how she could know him so well.

『Oh, right, I almost forgot, but make sure you don’t forget what we talked about yesterday. 』

After a brief pause, a sentence and a wink emoticon appeared, causing him to chuckle softly. That was about his extra compensation that she suggested when they parted ways.

───What do you think about becoming my personal bodyguard? ───

It was a reward in the form of a high-paying job that also allowed him to directly protect her, something that he ws deeply concerned about.

However, the expression she wore when she offered it clearly said something along the lines of ‘I feel like this troublesome kid is going to turn into a useless adult unless someone properly keeps an eye on him.’

『Alas, I’m not free enough to spare all my attention just for you. 』

Perhaps it was because he had seen through that that he said that. Or then again maybe, for once, he meant exactly what he said.

When he declined with a teasing tone, she briefly pouted in response, her expression turning slightly sullen.

『Free time is something you make for yourself, silly.』

She responded with something that was somewhere between sarcasm and advice, then she laughed, smiling a smile that was neither that of an adult or a singer or a big sister, but just her, Monica Chantal.

『So anyway, consider this a reservation. If ever you become free, think of me first, okay?』

That was the last exchange between them before they parted ways yesterday. To Shinichi, it felt as though she was telling him to learn how to rest.

Or perhaps, it was an invitation to come and take a break whenever he needed it.

She was truly a remarkable woman.

As for the manager standing nearby, who had turned pale at this conversation, he deliberately ignored her.

Partly out of consideration for her, but even more so because his attention had been caught by Myuhi, who had suddenly fallen silent.

“───What are you looking at your foster and smiling to yourself for?”

He was broken out of his thoughts by the girl who had taken a seat next to him. He composed a reply using mana manipulation and deliberately made it sound haughty, saying ‘I’ll make you my number one priority.’

Then he raised his head. As anticipated, there was a distinctly foreign-looking face, refined and composed—though the person herself was completely oblivious to that.

“Oh, I know. It’s a woman, isn’t it?”

A playful glint shone in her blue eyes as she locked her gaze on him, and a playful expression surfaced on her as she thought to tease him, but she chose the wrong opponent.

“That’s right. I was just thinking about the woman that wore my uniform.”

Taking it as a challenge, he dismissed the ordinary response that had come to mind and instantly switched to a teasing remark to match hers.

This was, after all, how he usually operated.

“W-Wait a moment, are you really saying that now here!?”

“Of course. I mean you did come to hand it over, didn’t you?”

Without a hint of doubt, he reached out while glancing at the handbag behind her back. It must have been true.

Caught off guard for a moment, she hesitated but then, with a reluctant expression, pulled a plastic-covered school uniform out of the bag.

It seemed she had even gone as far as to have it properly dry-cleaned.

“Sheesh, there’s no need to be so peevish about it. Just let me hand it on my own.”

Her thoughtfulness brought a smile to his face, but on the other hand, she added an unnecessary jab, looking quite displeased about his counter teasing.

“Thanks… But do you think you could’ve really handed it to me given what happened two days ago?”

This chapter upload first at NovelUsb.Com

First, he expressed his gratitude, then he questioned whether she was truly capable of bringing up that topic herself. At this, she instinctively furrowed her brows. However, almost immediately, her expression shifted as though she had realized something, and she let out a deep sigh before glaring at Shinichi.

“You know, I really hate how you’re so considerate about the strangest of things.”

“Ku ku, sorry about that, but you’re just reaping what you’ve sown.

It’s a bit too early for a disciple of mine to tease me, you see.”

“Ow!?”

Tomoe was lightly flicked on the forehead with a finger, causing her to stagger slightly. However, it was only because she hadn’t expected it, and the impact was really no more than a gentle press, causing neither shock nor pain. Still, she rubbed her forehead and glared at Shinichi with a resentful look while grumbling.

But Shinichi just continued to dig away at his breakfast, unfazed; but of course, the cheerful side of his face spoke plenty on its own.

“Hey, Braun. Just what is she smoking to do all that and insist she’s not flirting with him?”

“An innocent maiden’s first love is a wonderful thing, but Nakamura is a problem too for teasing her so much.”

To the people looking from the outside, their interactions couldn’t be anything but that. As for who these two gentlemen were, they could only be Ryou, who was here to provide support for his childhood friend and enjoy the luxury of a high-end lounge, and Werner, the student in a white lab coat. Together, they sat on the sofa and watched with dead eyes as the couple brazenly flirted.

“Here.”

“Wait!”

Tomoe had noticed the half-lidded stares from the boys in one corner of the lounge, but she deliberately ignored them, while Shinichi casually tossed his Foster to her before resuming his meal, which was a large serving of curry rice topped with various fried items.

For a moment, Tomoe felt her stomach churn at the thought of such a heavy meal so early in the day, but the sight Shinichi’s childlike smile made such an expression soften naturally. In the backdrop her childhood friend screamed, saying ‘how can she still be so dense!?’, but of course, she didn’t hear that.

“What is this? An article from the net?”

Tomoe glanced at the foster Shinichi had passed to her. On it appeared the headlines of news articles.

There didn’t seem to be much commonality between them, and some of the dates weren’t even from today, though they were still plenty recent.

‘Is □○ Pharmaceutical Company being sold?’

An article about a mid-sized pharmaceutical company suddenly being acquired by a large corporation.

‘Head-on Collision, Senior Driver’s Wild Rampage’

Your run-of-the-mill traffic accident story.

‘Modern Curse? The Continuing Mysterious Deaths of Celebrities!’

A gossip piece.

It was a mishmash of all sorts of articles with seemingly no common denominator.

However, Tomoe knew that Shinichi wasn’t the sort to look at something pointless, so she continued reading, and gradually, she too began to realize something, and her face twitched with concern.

“Well, that’s how it is.”

When Shinichi noticed that she’d put two and two together, he rested his spoon from its valiant battle – his plate now conspicuously empty – and said that, confirming her suspicions.

Shock filled her face, and her mouth hung open in disbelief.

After all, the people involved in those articles, be it the perpetrators or the victims, they were all people that Tomoe was familiar with, at least by name.

“Was it Mikoto-sama?”

“Who else?”

All of those people were related to the exorcist clans. Moreover, through her own research, Tomoe knew that there were rumors surrounding these people about the misuse of exorcist powers and abuse of their positions. Really, there was no end to the dark rumors surrounding them. But now, those people had suddenly suffered a set back.

Assets, public status, position, family ties, and even their own lives.

Anyone who knew them would think the same thing – a purge had begun.

Tomoe gasped.

If all the articles were to be believed, then there must’ve been dozens if not more of families that had been eradicated or weakened.

Of course, crimes worthy of such punishments must’ve been committed, but really, this had gone far beyond mere punishment. Had Mikoto judged them to be beyond saving?

“…Did you do something?”

But then again, it was curious how everything started happening so suddenly. So, she found herself glancing doubtfully at the other person who could’ve been the cause.

However, in response to her question, which was laced with half certainty, Shinichi only laughed.

He loved this part about her, how straightforward she could be, how she would ask without sugar-coating anything. It suited her so well, and he found it oddly comfortable.

“I didn’t threaten anyone if that’s what you’re implying. Didn’t give them ultimatum or anything. Well, at least, I didn’t intend any such thing.”

But of course, revealing the truth was another matter entirely. As always, his words were vague, and much like a politician, he avoided giving a clear answer.

Tomoe furrowed her brows for a moment, but then, she sighed.

“…Sigh, so basically, you’re not going to answer.”

With a sigh, she gave up on pressing him further and handed back the foster. With her blue eyes showing a hint of dissatisfaction but still indicating understanding, she asked.

“I take it this means that I shouldn’t get involved?”

In response, he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders. By not answering her directly, he managed to lead her to a certain reason or rather truth without explicitly saying so.

With her sharp intuition, things unsaid were the most eloquent answer of them all.

True enough, Tomoe did not press him further, though there was no hiding the loneliness in her eyes.

Regardless, Mikoto was determined to purge all the rot in her generation no matter what price she might have to pay.

The time for gentle measures had long passed, so Shinichi just respected her decision. In this way, the next generation will not be dragged into the problems of the previous generation.

But of course, it would’ve been even better if she could make this decision sooner, then there would’ve been even less bloodshed and suffering.

Such was the price for never having drawn the sword of harshness, and it was a price that Mikoto would have to pay herself. However, despite this, Shinichi also understood Tomoe’s feelings of alienation. So, to prevent her from spiraling further, he took out a piece of origami from his pocket and handed it to her in hopes of shifting her focus.

“This is?”

Without any explanation, an origami bird the size of one’s palm was placed before her. As soon as Tomoe’s “eyes” saw it, she immediately became serious.

“That granny sent it a while ago. You know what it is, right?”

“Yes, it’s Mikoto-sama’s shikigami.”

Tomoe nodded, and with a snap of her fingers, the origami bird reversed its folds, becoming a single sheet of paper that was approximately 24 cm square big.

On that paper, which had mysteriously not been visible in its origami form, could be seen neatly listed several family names in beautiful calligraphy.

“…The Kujou family, the Kibi, the Kunimi… A list of exorcist families?” Tomoe said.

The various family names listed included some that she did not recognize, but they were all once exorcist families in Japan, those who had purged evil in the shadows of society. However, now…

“They’re missing,” Tomoe said.

“…Defectors?” Shinichi asked.

“They were either on the decline or opposed to the Tsuchimikado, so most likely. If we consider that they went overseas and are probably in contact with foreign exorcists, offering information and their cooperation to get help, and if you add what happened this morning…”

“Wait, this morning!?”

The moment Shinichi made that connection and understood the situation, it felt as though he could hear Mikoto saying.

『I wonder if there’s anyone around who might have such acquaintances abroad?” 』

She knew everything, Shinichi thought, and the expression on him turned into a scowl. She must’ve been watching him when he made contact with the sister at the church.

His mind was a mess back then, so while he didn’t notice any wards or observers, he could’ve simply been too distracted to notice.

However, considering Tomoe’s relationship with the sister, it was easy to imagine that Mikoto might’ve been acquainted with her too, and they might’ve gotten in touch again because of the recent incidents.

Given how Mikoto had deliberately used Shinichi as an intermediary and how her past actions must’ve pushed the Sister away, it was probably difficult for her to have been the one to initiate the contact.

Most likely she just leaped up the opportunity as soon as it showed itself.

“So, basically, what’s written there are the families that left the country?”

“Left the country… Wait, could it be… Garesto?!”

Tomoe immediately connected the dots. She believed that there was no place within Japan where Mikoto’s eyes could be deceived. Therefore, as soon as the thought that they might’ve left, it immediately occurred to her that the only place they could’ve gone would be the mysterious world of Garesto.

It might have been a simple conclusion to reach, but Tomoe’s sharp mind, perhaps honed by her time as a student at the academy, quickly grasped the implications.

“Right, it would be best to think that.”

Tomoe, her expression serious, began to read through the list again. She was likely trying to commit the names to memory, intending to at least stay alert and cautious.

After memorizing the list, she casually brushed her fingers across the paper. In an instant, all the text disappeared, and the sheet swiftly returned to its original form—a bird-shaped piece of origami.

“Heh, so that’s how it’s set up. That old hag even anticipated I’d show it to you. Can’t underestimate her, huh.”

“Well, she’s got years of experience on her side.

But if this just arrived, is Mikoto-sama trying to tell us to be careful?

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting? More like, ‘You’re going anyway, so take care of it while you’re there,’ no?”

For a brief moment, Tomoe wore a puzzled expression—perhaps a reflection of the differing impressions they each held of Mikoto.

That said, rather than arguing the point, she just focused on addressing the underlying premise first.

“…No, no, we’re going on a school trip, aren’t we? And it’s specifically for training and gaining real combat experience, right?”

The annual school trip to Garesto held a strong emphasis on combat training. While there were of course opportunities for sightseeing, the primary focus was on providing training and real combat experience that was otherwise impossible in the academy.

Having experienced the grueling nature of this trip the first time, Tomoe understood that the idea of searching for individuals who had defected from Japan’s exorcist organizations as a mere ‘side quest’ was absurd.

Surely, Mikoto could understand as much.

However, Shinichi merely scoffed at the notion.

“You’re forgetting one important part – I’m here. If it really were as simple as that, the whole of Japan would freeze tomorrow.”

Of course, such a thing was impossible since it was mid-June right now.

But even more impossible than that, was the chance that nothing would happen.

Even without evidence, the certainty in his statement seemed to trigger an unpleasant premonition in Tomoe.

With a strained expression, she let out a wry smile.

“I won’t ever get bored with you, will I?”

“Your life has never been boring even before meeting me, though.”

Those words took Tomoe aback, and she found herself nodding as though to savor the words. It was curious if she noticed it, but regardless, a beautiful smile had found its way on her.

“True… but it’s also true that being with you is somewhat interesting.”

“Somewhat, huh… I see. Well, that’s a little pleasing.”

“Just a little?”

“Yeah, just a little.”

Then the both of them laughed.

Somehow, they knew, there was nothing of the sort.

Silence lingered afterwards, and for a while, they just savored the warmth of that. A peaceful moment that was slightly different from the norm, but it was precious all the same.

“See!? See!? She’s doing all that and yet!?”

“Calm down, Shinguuji…”

Though the person herself might be unaware of it, to everyone else, especially to the ‘male couple’ seated not too faraway, they couldn’t be anything but a pair of lovebirds flirting with each other.

“Oh, right, I forgot.”

It was curious if those words had rouse Shinichi, but regardless, as though he remembered something, he produced a thick old book from nowhere and placed it in front of her.

“This is?”

It showed slight signs of aging, such as fading and sun damage, but the binding and preservation made it clear that it had been meticulously cared for. It was an old book in a format Tomoe was fairly familiar with, but the title was…

“Ah, The Priestess of Kamunagi.”

…something so familiar and inspiring to her that her eyes lit up with excitement and admiration.

“Wow! So it comes in book form too!”

For a moment, Shinichi was taken aback by how excited she was, but as expected, he quickly responded.

“…The books, magical tools, and sacred implements passed down by the Abe family and the Shinguuji family are currently under the management of the Tsuchimikado family; however, I took the things that might be useful to you. You know this story?”

“Mother mentioned it a lot! Sometimes during training, and sometimes as a bedtime story. It’s about our ancestor’s encounter with Kamunagi and their battle against the evil gods! Ah, I never imagined the day would come when I could actually read the original story!”

Perhaps because it was a story tied to her mother, Tomoe was deeply moved. In her excitement, she reached out to grab the old book that had been placed in front of her, only for it to be suddenly snatched away.

“What!?”

“Wait… It’s fine to read it. I brought it for that, after all. However, remember that this is still part of your training. Don’t forget that.”

“Huh? Reading a story is training?”

“To be more precise, the point is to understand what Kamunagi is capable of. And then, you need to actually, be able to use it like that.”

“Eh, but… if my memory serves me right, I think Kamunagi did some pretty outrageous things, even just from the stories Mother told me. Are you sure?”

Tomoe was stunned at the thought of actually performing those feats. Even for someone like her, a trained exorcist and spiritualist who could use powers considered extraordinary, it was hard to fathom the extent of what Kamunagi had done in the stories.

Shinichi didn’t know exactly what kind of tales her mother had told her, but apparently, they were tales so remarkable that Tomoe became concerned.

As someone who had read the book himself, Shinichi did share her sentiments, but the blade herself said that Tomoe could theoretically pull it off.

Seriously, why did such a powerful blade exist in this world. Once again, Shinichi found his illusion of this supposedly normal world collapsing in his mind.

“Well, it depends on the wielder. I’m not telling you to recreate everything at once. Just start by trying the ones that seem doable to you, based on your own abilities.”

“Eh, something that seems doable… Is there anything like that?”

Tomoe dug through her memories and became thoughtful. She wore a serious expression, but there was something endearing about that. And Shinichi found himself relaxing with a soft smile.

“Worry about that after you read it. We’re not in a rush. I just wanted to give you a task in advance because I have no idea what kind of events will happen in Garesto.”

“…So, it’s certain that something will happen, huh?”

“Yep.”.

In response to the question laced with disbelief, Shinichi answered as if it were someone else’s problem, causing Tomoe to give a wry smile. However, there was a sense of resigned acceptance in her expression, as if to say, “Well, I suppose it can’t be helped.”

“Well, okay. Just remember to call me if you need my power, okay? As my master, you’re supposed to make good use of me.”

When she responded with those words that sounded just like a certain someone, and with such a pompous air too despite what she was saying, Shinichi found himself chuckling. Shinichi nodded, and Tomoe smiled brightly.

“Hehe… So, it’s alright if I read it now, right?”

Then her eyes sparkled with impatience, her gaze fixed on Shinichi’s hands, or rather, the ancient book entitled “Kamunagi no Miko” (The Priestess of Kamunagi).

The way Tomoe looked at him so eagerly as she tried to hide her excitement was just like that of a loyal canine servant waiting for its master to give the order.

Somehow someway Shinichi felt like he could hear a certain mother blade saying, ‘My daughter is the servile type, you know!’ ‘Just imagine it, her serving you as a wife and as a priestess!’ But Shinichi kept all of that from showing on his face as he said.

“Here.”

“Yay!”

With a quiet “Alright,” Shinichi handed her the ancient book, and she immediately snatched it up and read eagerly.

Despite her haste, there was something endearing about the way she carefully and excitedly flipped through the pages.

Perhaps because her emotions easily showed on her face, she wore a variety of expressions, making it easy for someone familiar with the content to guess which scene she was reading.

However, Shinichi himself couldn’t help but smile wryly at the sight.

“Is it that interesting?”

Indeed, it was a tale in the style of a historical fiction novel, about a priestess wielding Kamunagi, slaying strange beings and evil gods. It seemed to be based on actual events, but if one were to ask whether it was something a modern Japanese person could easily enjoy, the answer would be a bit different. At most, the nostalgia might make it more palatable.

However, maybe because she was accustomed to reading old books, Tomoe seemed neither dissatisfied nor troubled by the text.

Shinichi let out a quiet breath, surprised by her unexpected enthusiasm, but that soon turned into frustration.

“…”

What was it that he was feeling relieved about? A voice in his head criticized him.

“Using a girl’s wishes and affection to turn her into a weapon that could slay a god… Typical.”

Ah, indeed. He couldn’t deny the malice in those words, and he even felt unable to bite back despite his frustration.

The urge to shout ‘Don’t mess with me!’ surfaced, but he suppressed it and kept a calm expression.

“──────What a scary face you’re making.”

In the end, however, such thing seemed meaningless when a small girl jumped at him from behind with a smile and wrapped her arms around his neck.

The fox ears on her moved happily as a stimulating fragrance filled his senses.

It was curious if such fragrance was innate or not, but regardless, it was not something he would reject now.

“He he, what’s the matter, Icchi? Life is all about smiling, you know!”

“The girl that suddenly appeared and clung to me from behind is a bit scary, you see. For a moment, I thought I was about to be strangled.”

Still, despite uttering an obviously ineffective excuse, she played along, even though she had most likely already seen through him.

“Any leads?”

“I have so much, it’s troubling.”

“Yeah. You’re doing something like this while flirting with Tomotomo, after all.”

“Flirting?”

He was intrigued by the expression more than the device she handed him. However, with a beaming smile, Myuhi wordlessly pressed him to look at the screen, signaling she wouldn’t entertain any further questioning about it.

“…Right.”

“Aha.”

On the screen could be seen the chat between two people.

From the timestamps in the chat, this was a conversation that took place just moments ago.

A conversation between a woman trying to act as a dignified elder and a younger man teasing her. Yes, it was that sort of conversation (flirting). As for who the two people were, it couldn’t be more obvious. But the last message in the chat was clearly not meant for the boy..

『 So, anyway, what is he doing now?

Is she eating properly? Resting properly?

If he pushes himself too hard like yesterday, hit him in my place, okay? 』

He turned to the face that was just right next to his.

What was there was a happy smile.

A mischievous face like that of a certain someone.

“You’re loved, aren’t you?”

“You have bad taste.”

“Is that something you should be saying?

When you were chatting with Mo-chan while flirting with Tomotomo?

If so, then maybe I should tell her you’re flirting with her niece?”

He glanced briefly at Tomoe, who seemed to be deeply absorbed in reading, as if oblivious to everything around her.

The intensity of her focus, shutting out all external sounds, brought him a sense of relief.

As for the blood relation, the sister herself had asked him to keep it a secret for now.

However, a voice whispered near his ear, laughing, “That part of you is so typical of you, isn’t it, Icchi?”

He furrowed his brow at the tone, which seemed to say, “I know exactly what you’re talking about.”

“Hmph, in that case, let her know that she’s seated next to me with a face twisted in ecstasy too.”

“Wow, that sounds so wrong and yet it’s not a lie at all.”

After all, she was indeed seated next to him.

And because this was a moment she’d been waiting for, she was currently reading that ancient text with a face twisted in ecstasy.

But he worded it in such a way that made one imagine unwholesome things.

Understandably, even the fox girl couldn’t find it in her to send such a provocative message.

She typed a message, and Shinichi could see it too, but it was a peaceful message, one that wouldn’t lead to any needless troubles.

“…So, what did you want, Hina?”