Based on the information provided by Eden, the people gathered here
began to think.
[…Shalltear, what do you think?]
[I think Kuro-san is probably thinking of the same thing… Escaping
from a virtual world when Kaito-san needs to perceive as false… From
Eden-san's words… I assume that Kaito-san is currently in a dream-like
state.]
[You're right. If that's the case… The ordeal that Shiro gave to Kaitokun…]
When Kuromueina asked with a serious expression on her face, Alice
told her her hypothesis with an expression similar to Kuromueina's.
Many of the people gathered here understood that their guesses were
probably correct.
[…is a happy dream… a dream where Kaito-san gets everything he
wants… a dream where no one will hurt him.]
[A sweet poison that gently melts Kai-chan's heart. In other words, the
ordeal that Kai-chan was given… was for him to "reject the happiness
he's received in that world", right?]
[…Rejecting painful things… is easy… but rejecting the happiness… is
very… difficult.]
The unusual combination of Isis and Fate also discussed the
assumptions made by Kuromueina and Alice.
A few distance away, Lilia and Sieglinde looked at each other, as if they
had realized something.
[It seems that there are some people who have noticed it huh. Yes,
Shallow Vernal-sama has decided that the content of her ordeal is
aiming at Kaito-san's "distortion".]
A good number of people tilted their heads at Alice's words, talking
about Kaito's distortion. However, some of them, including Kaito's
lovers, guessed what Alice was talking about, as their expressions
darkened a little.
In the midst of all this, Kuromueina turned to the people who were
tilting their heads… to be more specific, towards Aoi and Hina, and
spoke.
[Aoi-chan, Hina-chan, you know that Kaito-kun is writing a diary,
right?]
[Y- Yes…]
[Yes. But is that… Kaito-senpai's distortion?]
Aoi and Hina, who live in the same house as Kaito, also know that Kaito
is writing a diary. However, they didn't seem to get why they're calling
that his distortion.
Seeing the two's confusion, Lilia took over Kuromueina and started
explaining to them.
[Aoi-san, Hina-san… There would originally be differences in page
counts, but for ease of counting, let's assume that each of his diaries has
100 pages. Those diaries that Kaito-san has written since he came to
this world… How many do you think he has written?]
[…If he writes on one page per day… about 4 diaries?]
[…This only counts the diaries I am aware of… but he should have filled
up "over 20 diaries"…]
[ [ ! ? ] ]
Hearing what Lilia said, Aoi and Hina were astonished at the
extraordinary amount.
[Unnn, it's Kaito-kun's diaries… No, I think it's more appropriate to say
that they're his letters to his deceased parents. I've seen the contents of
his diary a few times myself, and the events that happened on that day…
even the contents of the things we talked about, he's writing all of it
with as much detail as he could remember. I didn't mention it too much
though, because it seemed like he was slowly improving.]
[…Kaito-san had lost his parents about 10 years ago… and during those
10 years, I wonder how many diaries he had written? Perhaps, he was
too young to accept the death of his parents… and so, he kept on writing
in his diary, as if he was writing a letter to someone he couldn't see,
living in a distant place… and somewhere along the line, it must have
become a habit.]
Kaito's distortion that Kuromueina and Alice were talking about… Yes,
it was how Kaito still hasn't come to terms with the death of his
parents. No, in fact, he probably understood it and had accepted it in his
head.
However, within his heart… the wound still remains. It was because he
really, truly loved his parents… that without even realizing it, he was
using the diary addressed to his parents as a source of comfort.
However, he had met a lot of people in this world… and had begun
showing signs of improvement. However, the problem that had
accumulated for ten years won't easily disappear.
[…I think that… the dream Kaito is seeing… was a dream… where his
parents are alive.]
[Right. Then, in order for Kai-chan to wake up from that dream… he
must get to the place where he clearly becomes aware of his parents'
death.]
Yes, that's why the expressions on the faces of Kaito's lovers, who knew
him well, became clouded. After all, so that Kaito could clear this ordeal,
Kaito had to confront the death of his parents once again…
They understand that this would be a painful matter for Kaito. However,
that doesn't mean that they shouldn't do it anymore. For failing in this
ordeal… means that Kaito's memories will disappear…
When he just met Luce, who looked just like his mother, Kaito was
visibly shaken, and after he realized that she was a different person, he
was very depressed. That's how big of a part Kaito's parents have in his
life.
[It's because Kaito-san loves his parents so much… that this has become
a difficult and painful ordeal… What a great hobby, she has, seriously…]
Alice indifferently spoke of this matter, but her eyes were cold… She
seemed to be frantically restraining her anger.
[…Then, I'm going to try calling out to Kaito-kun.]
[…Please.]
Following Eden's final piece of advice… Kuromueina touched the cradle
and began to call out. She didn't even know when she would get an
answer… but she could only wait, holding unto such a thought for an
awfully long time…
[Kaito-kun, please set the tree up over there.]
[Alright.]
Christmas Day, an event that only happens once a year… Today, at
Alyssa's suggestion, we were going to have a party with the lab
members. I live next to Erina's house, the place where the party will be
held, so I've been helping with the preparations since this morning.
It seems like Dad and Mom are also going to join us in the middle of the
party… I have a feeling that today is going to be quite a lively day. I'm
really looking forward to it.
——...…
[Unnn?]
[What's the matter, Kaito-kun?]
[…Ah, no, it's nothing.]
I wonder what that was? I think I heard a voice just now… but it should
only be me and Erina here now, so was it just my imagination?