Chapter 31: “The Chocolate Tomato and the Disappearance of Ichinose”
Morning. When Miria awoke‚ she simply stared for a while at the ceiling that was beginning to lighten. From outside the window came the chirping of small birds. An endlessly calm and gentle early-summer morning. A daily life that should have been no different from the day before. And yet—deep in Miria’s chest alone‚ a cold hollow remained‚ as if a finger had been quietly slipped into it.
“…Is it no good today either?”
She reached out as if clinging to the crystal harp that stood beside the bed. Her slender fingertips quietly plucked the highest silver string. *Poron.* A clear single note melted softly into the room that still held traces of sleepiness.
It was a beautiful sound. Without any muddiness‚ perfectly tuned in pitch. And yet.
“…………”
Miria stroked the string once more as if in prayer. *Poron.* …It was the same after all. The sound could certainly be heard. Physically‚ as an instrument‚ nothing had been lost. And yet—the “warmth” that should have been in the deepest part of the sound was not transmitted at all.
Until a few days ago‚ if she made this string vibrate‚ “his” presence would always shimmer there. That sorrowful melody that tore at the chest. A nostalgic Japanese tone that‚ even though she should never have heard it before‚ made tears overflow. As if someone’s very life itself had been fed into a furnace and released as the smoke of musical notes—that symphony of the soul.
But what the string returned now was‚
“…Why has the sound died…?”
A mutter not directed at anyone. No voice answered. Only the dry vibration of metal fruitlessly trembled the air. Miria’s harp cruelly proved the stark fact that Japanese songs had been completely deleted from Rui’s memories.
Miria drew the harp to her chest as if cradling something fragile and quietly stood up. There had to be some way. If that melody had not completely vanished from the world—if she consulted Nagi-san‚ the specialist in records‚ perhaps she could scoop up the lost fragments of sound from the bottom of the water just once more.
Holding that faint yet earnest hope in her chest‚ she went downstairs to the first-floor dining hall.
“Good morning‚ nano desu…”
The moment she opened the door‚ the rich aroma of butter and freshly baked bread gently tickled her nostrils.
“Good morning‚ Miria-san!”
In the kitchen‚ Flare was cheerfully stepping around while preparing breakfast. Her figure was a peaceful everyday scene no different from usual. But—at the table beyond her‚ Nagi and Reiga were leaning their heads together‚ speaking about something seriously in suppressed voices. Both of them had faces so pale it looked as if the blood had drained from them. The all-too-potent reality that Shio had thrust upon them last night in the closed space of the women’s bath seemed to be steadily corroding the adults’ spirits.
“…………”
Miria instinctively stopped in her tracks.
*(I was thinking of consulting Nagi-san‚ but…)*
It was not at all an atmosphere in which she could speak to the two of them now. Sensing that and about to turn back once‚ it was precisely then.
“Ah‚ morning‚ Miria.”
Looking up at the voice that rang from above‚ two figures were descending the stairs. Rui and Selina.
“Morning‚ nano.”
Rui‚ as always‚ wore an endlessly calm‚ perfectly balanced smile. Nothing had changed. Unchanged from yesterday‚ he was the very “savior” smiling gently beside Selina.
—But. The moment she recognized that figure‚ Nagi’s complexion instantly turned ashen.
“Se-Selina-sama…!”
*Gata!* Nagi sprang to her feet with such force that she nearly toppled the chair.
“Eh?”
“M-Miria-san too! R-Right now… let’s go to the bath!”
“…The bath?”
At the all-too-sudden proposal‚ Selina’s and Miria’s bewildered voices overlapped beautifully.
“Um… what about breakfast?”
“Th-That can wait later! A morning bath is very good for the skin‚ and above all it clears the head and wakes you up!”
A thin film of anxious sweat beaded on Nagi’s white forehead. No matter what‚ she did not want to let Selina sit at the breakfast table. Because she absolutely could not allow the execution of that devil’s test that Shio had declared last night: “Tomorrow at breakfast‚ try wishing for it to become chocolate.”
“Nagi-san‚ what’s the matter…?”
Even when Miria asked suspiciously‚ Nagi would not answer properly. Only‚ her frightened gaze wandered for an instant toward Rui smiling beside her. Rui‚ toward Nagi’s unnatural fluster‚ merely tilted his head curiously as if knowing nothing.
“…?”
And with the same soft smile as always‚ he turned back to Selina.
“Selina‚ why don’t you go? It seems there’s still a little time until breakfast is ready.”
“Eh‚ is that okay?”
“Yeah. Take your time.”
“Okay! Then I’ll go‚ Rui!”
Nodding easily at Rui’s words‚ Selina took Miria’s hand saying‚ “Miria-chan‚ let’s go too!” Being prodded in the back by Nagi‚ Miria was once again pulled toward the stairs. She had no idea what was going on. And yet—.
*(…Well‚ maybe it’s just as well)*
There was certainly something she had wanted to consult Nagi about. Miria let out a small breath and climbed the wooden stairs leading to the rooftop.
◇
Soft morning light gently streamed into the open-air bath on the rooftop.
“Waaah! It’s so warm!”
“Se-Selina-sama… it’s dangerous to run‚ you’ll slip…”
Nagi hurriedly cautioned Selina as she dashed first into the bathtub. Miria‚ too‚ carefully wrapped the crystal harp in waterproof cloth‚ placed it on the rocks‚ and slowly sank her body into the water.
“…Fuu.”
It was warm. Even the tension that had stiffened her last night seemed to melt into the hot water. But Nagi alone remained unsettled. After confirming many times that no one was around‚ she finally opened her trembling mouth.
“Selina-sama…”
“Nn?”
“A-About last night…”
At those words‚ Selina’s fingertips that had been rippling the water’s surface stopped dead‚ and her expression clouded slightly.
“Last night… about that girl named Shio we met here?”
“…Yes. That person.”
Nagi gazed down at the silver-glittering water’s surface with a pained look.
“Actually… I was also in the hot spring last night. Behind the rocks… well‚ I overheard the entire conversation between the two of you.”
Miria silently watched the two. What had happened here last night. Even without hearing the details‚ from Nagi’s completely exhausted profile she could roughly guess the seriousness of the situation.
“Selina-sama…”
Nagi’s voice trembled as if pleading.
“Please… do not immediately believe that person’s words. That person is… a terribly salty and… terrifying person who coldly denies the ‘laws’ of the world.”
“…But.”
Selina lowered her head a little as if looking into deep water. Nagi’s words stuck. Truthfully‚ she wanted to deny it more strongly. To say it was all a lie‚ that such a cruel phenomenon had not occurred‚ and to reassure Selina with all her might. And yet—the pride as a “Recorder” who pursued the absolute truth of logs‚ and the memories of having witnessed Rui’s abnormal behavior up close‚ stubbornly refused to allow her to maintain a perfect lie.
“…So there is… no need anywhere for you to take what was said at face value and verify it yourself.”
Selina was silent for a while. Eventually she slowly raised her face and forced a small smile.
“…Yeah. You’re right.”
That smile was so distorted and filled with forced bravado that it was painful to look at. Nagi’s chest felt as if it would split. She was almost no longer able to understand how cruel a reality she was now forcing this all-too-innocent girl to bear.
It was Miria who broke that taut‚ heavy silence.
“…Um‚ Nagi-san.”
“Y-Yes?”
“There is something I absolutely must consult you about‚ Nagi-san.”
Miria gently placed her slender hand against her own chest.
“It’s about that melody of Rui-sensei’s that I heard here a few days ago.”
Nagi’s jade-colored eyes wavered slightly.
“I was wondering if that sound lost from the world… could somehow be left as a record in some form. Nagi-san is the kingdom’s greatest recorder‚ right?”
Miria smiled a little‚ harboring a faint light of hope in those eyes.
“Then‚ among the musical scores widely played throughout the world‚ couldn’t we gradually hide the ‘true melody’ that I heard‚ like a cipher? That way… someday‚ we might be able to regain Sensei’s lost sound just once more.”
“As music… recording it into the world itself…?”
Nagi gasped in surprise.
—It was at that very moment.
“Can that… really be done?”
Selina‚ who had been looking down the whole time‚ abruptly raised her face. Her clouded blue eyes regained a little of their shine.
“Miria-chan. That sound Rui forgot… please‚ I want you to remember it.”
Selina smiled happily as if gently embracing a precious treasure.
“That song is… for me too‚ a truly special memory.”
“Special…?”
“Yeah.”
Selina rested her chin on the edge of the bathtub and began speaking slowly with eyes that seemed to look into a distant spacetime.
“It’s a precious song that always gave me energy when I was feeling down. It was in a place different from here‚ veeery‚ veeery far away.”
Miria and Nagi simply held their breath and listened to the words she spun.
“There‚ I—was called ‘Ichinose Serina.’”
“Ichinose…”
Nagi muttered the unfamiliar foreign resonance quietly‚ as if confirming it.
“Somehow‚ it’s quite an unusual name‚ isn’t it…”
“Is it?”
Selina smiled lovably and softly.
“But you know‚ Rui always calls me ‘Selina’ in this world. In the previous world‚ he stubbornly only called me by my family name‚ ‘Ichinose‚’ ‘Ichinose.’”
She puffed out her cheeks in a discontented way.
“Being called by my given name is actually really nice. But the Rui in that world was stubborn… he really doesn’t understand a maiden’s heart.”
“Fufu…”
Miria couldn’t help smiling. Even while voicing complaints about her previous life‚ Selina’s profile was filled with the light of all-too-precious memories.
“In the eastern countries‚ there seemed to be names with similar resonances…”
Nagi pondered with a serious scholarly expression.
“But since I have never set foot there myself… I don’t really know.”
“I seee.”
Selina sank her body into the bathtub up to her shoulders again. From her face‚ the dark anxiety that Shio had thrust upon her earlier seemed to have been wiped away a little by the warm memories with Rui.
“That’s it!”
Suddenly‚ as if struck by an idea‚ Selina raised her face.
“Miria-chan‚ I’ll sing a little‚ so try playing the harp along with it!”
“Me?”
“Yeah!”
“…Understood.”
Miria lightly wet her fingertips with the warm water of the bathtub‚ then gently drew the crystal harp from the rocks. Selina gently closed her eyes.
“…Okay‚ here I go.”
She took a small breath as if praying. And then—from Selina’s lips‚ a faint song like a hum began to be spun. It was not a complete melody. Notes were missing here and there‚ and the pitch was ambiguous. But Miria understood clearly. In the depths of this clumsy humming‚ the prototype of that “muddy and sorrowful music” that had resounded from Rui’s depths a few days ago was certainly‚ desperately breathing.
She plucked the silver string gently in time with Selina’s breathing. *Poron. Poro…* The clear water’s surface trembled ever so slightly.
“…?”
Once more‚ she matched the faint wavering of Selina’s voice.
—It was at that moment.
—*Poon.*
A mysterious unknown resonance‚ on a completely different level from mere physical string vibration‚ spread throughout every corner of the open-air bath. The white drifting steam wavered violently. On the smooth silver water’s surface‚ multiple ripples spread. And then—the madly sweet‚ dense vanilla scent that had constantly drifted from Selina’s body thinned for just an instant‚ as if it were a lie.
“…Eh?”
Miria’s eyes widened. Nagi also simultaneously raised her face from the bathtub as if struck.
“Se-Selina-sama…”
“What?”
“J-Just now…!”
Nagi’s jade-colored eyes trembled with unprecedented shock and confusion.
“The divinity… has clearly attenuated…!”
The words would not continue. Miria herself understood clearly through her five senses. For just an instant. For a time as short as a blink‚ that overwhelming “power that rewrites the world (bug)” surrounding Selina had weakened as if neutralized by the ripples of sound.
“…The sound.”
Miria gazed with trembling eyes at the crystal harp nestled in her arms.
“The sound… touched something of the world?”
Selina herself only tilted her head curiously‚ as if unable to grasp the situation.
“Is that so?”
“…Yes.”
Miria nodded firmly with conviction that surprised even herself.
“But… I still don’t fully understand.”
It was not that the perfect melody had returned. Nor that Rui-sensei’s lost memories had returned. Even so—the spark of possibility was by no means zero.
“…This is the first time.”
Miria smiled a little in the soft morning light.
“Not just ordinary magic—the sound… changed the world itself.”
Nagi also gently pressed her trembling lips with both hands. Beyond the warm steam‚ that absolute divinity that had dissipated for just an instant. While gazing at it‚ a certain “hope” lit in their chests. Perhaps—there might be a way somewhere to calm this mad sandbox without hurting Rui-sama any further‚ without ever letting him carve away his life again.
“Just as Miria-san says… if we gradually hide the ‘true melody’ even a little in scores throughout the world and spread it‚ we might be able to save Rui-sama‚ and we might also be able to regain Miria-san’s sound…!”
In Nagi’s voice‚ this time not fear but a certain expectation for the future seeped through.
“Come‚ let’s get out soon and have breakfast!”
“Yeees!”
Having found a dazzling light of hope‚ the three returned with bouncing steps to the first-floor dining hall where breakfast awaited.
But—what awaited them ahead. That it would become the beginning of the worst despair that would mercilessly shatter the “ordinary” of until yesterday. At this time‚ not a single one of the three could even imagine it.
By the time the three returned to the dining hall after their bath‚ the morning light had fully spread across the windows. I remained facing the wooden desk by the window and quietly closed the student handbook I held.
The last characters I had written were‚ as usual‚ only unreliable hiragana.
“kyou mo”
“minna to”
“gohan o”
“taberu”
If it were the previous me‚ I should have been able to record this day with shorter words and more accurate kanji. But. For the current me‚ this halting way of writing seemed far more rational and correct. No extra stroke counts needed. As long as the meaning got across to whoever read it‚ that was fine. Above all—I didn’t have to think about anything difficult. That was extremely comfortable‚ and endlessly easy.
The moment I closed the handbook with a *patan*‚ pale emerald-green numbers silently floated up at the edge of my vision.
【Heart Rate: Normal】
【Body Temperature: Normal】
【Mental Stability: 98.7%】
【Personality Maintenance Rate: 99.612%】
The usual display. Gentle green numbers flickering in my brain that reassured me.
*(No problem)*
I let out a small breath.
*(Today too‚ I am normal)*
—It was at that moment.
“Ruuuui!”
Along with light pattering footsteps‚ a bright voice like sunlight leaped into the dining hall. I raised my face. Shaking her long silver hair‚ Selina came running toward me with a full smile. Every time she moved‚ the sweet vanilla scent completely overwrote the taut morning air in an instant.
“The bath felt sooo good!”
“Is that so. That’s good.”
I returned an unwavering smile as usual. Behind her‚ Miria and Nagi-san also entered. Miria carefully held the crystal harp to her chest as if protecting a precious treasure. But the last one to enter‚ Nagi-san—.
“…………”
For some reason‚ the moment our eyes met‚ her shoulders trembled slightly‚ and she gazed at me with an extremely pained expression.
“Nagi-san?”
“Hyah!?”
“…Are you all right? Your complexion looks bad.”
“I-I’m fine!”
She was quite flustered. But for the current me‚ I had no idea at all what the reason for that fear was. There was no abnormality in the numbers displayed at the edge of my vision‚ nor in the surrounding magical reactions. Then there was probably no problem. I stopped pursuing the thought any further.
“Nagi! If you’re back‚ hurry over here! The food’s getting cold!”
From the far side of the table‚ Reiga-san called Nagi-san in a hurried voice as if hiding clumsy concern.
“I-I know~”
Nagi-san ran over to Reiga-san’s side with a fleeing small run.
“And you know?”
Selina happily took the seat next to me.
“Hey‚ Rui!”
“Yeah.”
“In the bath‚ you know‚ from Miria-chan’s harp‚ I heard a really beautiful sound!”
“Heeh.”
I directed my gaze toward Miria.
“Really?”
“Y-Yes…”
Miria nodded small‚ a little nervously‚ yet with resolve in her eyes.
“If you’d like… I’ll play it here once more.”
“Of course. Let me hear it.”
Miria readjusted her hold on the crystal harp. Her white slender fingertips gently touched the silver string. And then—.
*Poron.*
A crystal-clear single note spread throughout every corner of the quiet dining hall. It was an endlessly transparent sound. As if transforming the taut morning air into a single drop of pure water and confining minute vibrations within that crystal—an all-too-perfect resonance.
Even Flare‚ who had brought a breakfast tray from the back of the kitchen‚ stopped dead in her tracks.
“My…”
She placed a hand to her ample bosom in rapture.
“It truly is a wonderful tone.”
Beside me‚ Selina also made her golden eyes sparkle as if it were her own achievement.
“Right? Rui‚ isn’t it amazing!”
At the far side of the table‚ Reiga-san also nodded deeply in satisfaction‚ and Nagi-san simply gazed fixedly at me with prayerful‚ poignant eyes. Miria holding the harp also waited for my reaction with a face mixing almost bursting expectation and anxiety.
I simply gazed at the space where the beautiful sound ripples were fading.
*(Sound pressure‚ frequency‚ harmonic structure harmony—)*
In my head‚ that acoustic information was naturally reduced to cold numbers and logically organized. It was certainly a beautiful sound. From an acoustic standpoint‚ it could be objectively proven to have extremely high completeness.
But. No chemical change beyond that occurred at all inside me. My chest did not beat even a little faster. I did not feel sad about anything. I did not gropingly reach for a lost past. Still less was there any chance of tears falling.
Simply‚ the air in front of me was physically vibrating. For me‚ that sound held only that much meaning.
So I smiled as usual.
“It’s true.”
Miria slightly caught her breath as if her heart leaped with expectation.
“It’s a really beautiful sound‚ Miria.”
“…!”
Her taut face suddenly brightened and bloomed like morning sunlight.
“…Yes!”
She looked truly happy. Selina was also smiling happily. Flare nodded in satisfaction‚ and Reiga-san clapped his hands small and sent clumsy applause my way. But Nagi-san alone was different. As if she had confirmed some decisive despair with her own eyes‚ she simply gazed at my face with eyes as if seeing a ghost.
But. For the current me‚ I still could not understand the meaning of that gaze no matter what. I had simply selected and offered in my head the “correct words” that would make the other happiest in response to the expectation directed at me. Because that was the most rational.
—It was at that moment.
‘《Kai》’
From the depths of my brain‚ a cold yet endlessly sweet‚ familiar system voice resounded.
‘Rui-sama. There is no need from the beginning for emotional reactions toward the target sound source.’
It was Ciel.
‘That acoustic information is nothing more than mere physical vibration of air possessing certain frequencies and harmonic structures.’
*(…That’s right)*
‘Excessive emotional reactions would wastefully consume Rui-sama’s current brain resources.’
*(…Exactly)*
‘Please rest assured. Rui-sama’s current emotional output is perfectly optimized.’
I smiled quietly in my mind.
‘The earlier praise toward Miria-sama is a perfect model answer with not a single flaw.’
Ciel’s words permeated my chest surprisingly comfortably. I had not mistaken anything. I had properly thought and properly praised. Miria looked happy. Selina was smiling too‚ wasn’t she. Then everything was settled nicely. What more could possibly be needed for this heart (system) of mine.
◇
“Then‚ let’s all have a meal!”
Selina’s energetic voice rang through the dining hall‚ and the lively breakfast began. On the wooden table were fragrant freshly baked bread. A salad of fresh vegetables beading with morning dew. And on the white plate in the center were arranged several small red cherry tomatoes gleaming vividly under the sunlight.
“Today they are especially fresh!”
Flare flipped her apron and proudly thrust out her ample chest.
“They are special-grade items that arrived early this morning from the royal capital!”
“Waa…”
Selina’s golden eyes sparkled brilliantly‚ reflecting the dazzling morning light. She took a small piece of freshly baked croissant and dripped a little of her favorite honey on top.
“Itadakimaasu!”
*Pakuri‚* she stuffed her mouth full.
“Nnngh‚ delicious!”
“Is that so. That’s good.”
I returned an unwavering smile as usual. It was the usual calm morning scenery. The drifting fragrant bread smell. The melting sweetness of honey. Selina’s innocent smile. Flare’s heartfelt cooking. The residual echoes of Miria’s beautiful harp. Everything was no different from until yesterday—a beautiful sandbox world that gently enveloped us.
—It was at that moment.
“Ah‚ that’s right!”
As if remembering‚ Selina suddenly leaned her body toward me from the table.
“Rui‚ earlier in the bath‚ I also told Miria-chan about the previous world!”
“The previous world?”
“Yeah!”
Selina smiled happily as if drawing close the memories of a precious treasure.
“You know‚ even in that other world‚ I wanted Rui to call me not ‘Ichinose’ but by the name ‘Serina’!”
Hearing those words with their strange foreign resonance. I slowly blinked just once.
“Ichinose…”
“That’s right!”
Selina nodded largely many times as if nostalgically recalling the after-school sunset of the past.
“Even though I asked so many times‚ Rui stubbornly only called me by my family name‚ ‘Ichinose‚’ ‘Ichinose.’”
“…Was that so.”
“It was!”
Selina puffed out her cheeks lovably.
“But you know. Since coming to this world‚ Rui properly calls me ‘Selina‚’ so actually… I’m really happy!”
“…I see.”
I searched for the optimized correct answer in my brain and floated an undistorted smile.
“The current you is Selina‚ after all.”
“Yeah!”
“So while we’re in this world‚ I’ll always call you Selina.”
While gazing at her innocent eyes that knew nothing‚ I nodded as if returning a gentle yet somehow empty affirmation.
—Ichinose. Regarding that word‚ I felt not the slightest doubt. Just a proper noun. The name of someone in the past. For the current me‚ it was recognized only as such “inorganic word information.”
There was not a fragment of nostalgia there. My chest did not grow warm‚ nor did any dazzling scene of the past revive in my mind the moment I heard that name. Simply—.
*(Selina’s previous-life name is the symbol Ichinose)*
That was all. As necessary information‚ the characters were stored on the cold bookshelf in my head. That was sufficient.
“Rui?”
“Nn?”
“What’s wrong?”
“No.”
I smiled quietly.
“It’s nothing.”
“I see!”
Selina smiled innocently as if relieved. Looking at that unburdened smile‚ my chest also became calm—at least‚ that was what the logic of my brain understood as feeling.
Miria was gazing at her own harp. Nagi-san was deeply looking down as if hiding a face of despair. Flare was cheerfully cutting bread as usual.
The world was peaceful. All too much so. Everything was filled with false tranquility.
◇
*(…Shio-chan’s story was all a lie after all)*
Selina suddenly recalled the events of last night. Short black hair. Cold amber sanpaku eyes. Cruel words that denied Rui’s existence. Such scary things had been thrust upon her.
But—. The Rui in front of her now was certainly smiling. Praising Miria’s beautiful sound. Listening to her trivial stories. Beside her with the same gentle face as always.
*(Rui isn’t broken at all)*
She became convinced. No‚ she strongly wanted to think so. Therefore—Selina‚ as if shaking off her own hesitation‚ lowered her gaze to the top of the table.
*(If this…)*
If.
*(Were a chocolate tomato)*
It would be even more delicious.
—At that moment.
—*Pishi.*
“…………Eh?”
Selina’s hand completely stiffened while still gripping the fork. The vivid red that should have been juicy‚ pierced by the tip of the fork. On the surface of its thin skin‚ a single delicate crack ran. The next moment‚ the brilliant red dyed into an eerie darkness with a *dorori*‚ and the glossy flesh swiftly transformed into the dry texture of familiar solid chocolate.
*Potori.* What slipped from the tip of the fork was not a tomato pregnant with sour juice. What rolled onto the white plate with a dry *kachiri* sound was an unshapely lump of chocolate.
“Wh…at is this…?”
Selina blinked many times as if rejecting it. Her brain’s processing could not catch up with what had happened. And yet—the unreasonable anomaly invading the world did not stop there.
Inside the salad bowl‚ again‚ an ominous cracking sound faintly popped. *Pishi‚ pishi‚ pishi.* The dressing swayed unnaturally largely. The liquid that should have boasted a refreshing transparency clouded in the blink of an eye into a reddish golden color. It took on an eerie viscosity with a *torori* and hung heavily as if drawing threads. Maple syrup. That heterogeneous name that she should never have tasted in this world floated up in Selina’s head with terrifying reality.
At the same time‚ from the edge of the salad bowl‚ snow-like white crystals began to proliferate explosively. *Zara‚ zarazara.* The wooden vessel that had had warmth was completely covered by thick pure-white sugar crystals as if rapidly frozen.
“…!?”
Selina could not even stand up. Right before her eyes‚ the ominous idle thought she had just a little while ago pictured “just a bit” in a corner of her head was mercilessly overwriting the molecular structure of reality.
—*Pakin!*
From the floor of the dining hall‚ a dry destructive sound that seemed to pierce the eardrums directly resounded violently.
“Wh-What…!?”
One of the travelers who had been enjoying a carefree meal stiffened in shock and looked back. The sturdy floor that should have been solid stone construction—one corner at their feet had been mercilessly discolored into a brittle material of burnt brown. What was engraved on the surface was all-too-regular lattice-like cracks. It was nothing other than the layers of a giant wafer itself.
“Oi… what the hell is this!? The floor… has turned into sweets!?”
One of the merchants screamed while kicking away his chair. Further fanning that confusion‚ from the back of the kitchen‚ a dense sweet aroma exploded out with enough force to violently erase the rich fragrance that the freshly baked bread had been releasing.
“Eh…? Wh-What is thisss!?”
Flare’s tragic scream echoed. From the large serving pot she lifted with both hands‚ a *dorori* black turbid stream overflowed as if possessing will. The hot vegetable soup that should have been carefully simmered over time had transformed into dense chocolate melted into a gooey mass by high heat.
“My… my soup…!”
“Uwaaaaah! Hot‚ it’s hot!”
“Hii‚ the liquor… the ale has completely solidified!?”
The screams instantly infected the entire dining hall. Inside the mug held by a sturdy adventurer‚ the golden foam coagulated into a sticky brown lump. The man hurriedly tried to spit it onto the floor‚ but choked on the intense sweetness that mercilessly clung to the back of his throat and coughed painfully many times.
The wallpaper melted and dripped unnaturally with a *dorori*. The wall softened like candy work slowly sagged distortedly under its own weight. From the wooden beams of the ceiling as well‚ *potari‚ potari* drops of sweet syrup fell. The calm morning dining hall of just a few seconds ago had transformed in an instant into a nightmarish prison of sweets.
“Nagi…! Get back!”
In the midst of the hellish chaos‚ Reiga-san quickly stood up at the far side of the table. The eyes of the great hero who had survived countless harsh battlefields sharply pierced the surrounding anomalies. But—no matter how much he readied the world’s strongest sword‚ there was no form of an enemy to cut anywhere in this space. The enemy was not a magical beast‚ but the distorted “will of the god” itself enveloping this entire space.
“A… awawa…!”
Nagi trembled finely all over her body and gazed at that scene with a face that had completely lost its blood. The worst accusation that Shio had thrust upon them last night in the closed space of the women’s bath.
“Tomorrow morning‚ try it. Salad‚ bread‚ anything—try wishing for it to become chocolate.”
*(It was true… it was really true…!)*
From Nagi’s jade-colored eyes‚ large tears overflowed one after another as if a dam had broken. The cruel truth that Selina’s unconscious “wish” distorted the world‚ and that to calm that distortion Rui continued carving away his own life and precious memories. That was now spreading before their eyes as a perfect reality‚ a hellish tragedy.
“Reiga-sama… Rui-sama is… Rui-sama is again…!”
“Calm down‚ Nagi! Damn it‚ evacuate the customers outside!”
While grinding his teeth in frustration‚ Reiga-san immediately raised an angry voice and forcibly pushed the backs of the panicking merchants and adventurers.
“Everyone get out! This place is collapsing‚ hurry and run!”
“Miria-sama‚ this way!”
Flare‚ who had leaped out from the kitchen‚ protected Miria by putting her body on the line. But Miria‚ with eyes wide open‚ could not move as if turned to stone. On the crystal harp tightly held to her chest—on the transparent silver strings that until just now should have been resonating with a beautiful tone of hope—the shadow of black chocolate was unnaturally reflected as if a disease.
“…Selina?”
Cutting through the frenzied uproar of everything collapsing‚ someone called that name in an extremely calm voice. Selina slowly raised her face. The mad scene of the world surrounding her. People screaming and fleeing in confusion. Nagi-san crying out. Reiga-san running to guide them. The frightened Miria. And—the cold‚ small lump of chocolate remaining on the tip of her own fork.
“…………”
Her breathing completely stopped.
*(Me…?)*
In her head‚ the terrifying stark fact pierced mercilessly like a cold ice needle.
*(Did I… do this…?)*
It couldn’t be. She didn’t want to believe it. Just a little. “If this were a chocolate tomato it would be delicious‚” with a childish mischievous heart‚ she had only wished it just a bit in a corner of her head.
*(There’s no way I would… hurt Rui…)*
The back of her throat began to spasm small with a *hi*.
*(I just thought… I wanted to eat a little chocolate…!)*
Why. Why had it become such a nightmare.
“Selina.”
Again‚ that flat voice reached her eardrums. Selina spun around as if struck toward that direction. Just on the other side of the melting wooden table. Rui had quietly stood up there.
“…Rui.”
He was not flustered even a millimeter. He was not afraid. He was not enraged at the collapsing scene of the world. Simply—overwhelmingly calm. Like a cold machine that from the beginning had not had the warm function of human emotions designed (input) into it.
Rui gently slid his right hand. Toward those delicate fingertips‚ pale blue light particles began gathering somewhat sorrowfully. Redefinition of magical composition. Sealing technique. The familiar radiance of miracles that had saved Selina many times and soothed the world. But for the current Selina‚ she understood all too painfully‚ all too cruelly‚ what “blood” that radiance was paid for.
“…Don’t.”
Her voice trembled finely and violently. The many words that Shio had coldly spat out last night beyond the steam of the open-air bath raged like a turbid stream in her brain.
“That guy keeps carving away his insides (memories) because you smile.”
“Even if he knows the reality‚ he’ll keep using his power until he’s completely broken.”
“From his pores‚ the death stench of a burning soul.”
Everything Shio had said was all‚ all true. If she wished innocently the world distorted‚ and if Rui used magic‚ one more of his life’s memories was forever erased from the world.
“Rui…! Wait… please wait…!”
Selina desperately stretched out her hand and tried to stand by pushing aside the collapsing table. Stop. Don’t use magic. It’s my fault. I was all wrong. So—don’t burn yourself any more than this!
She wanted to scream. Even if she tore her throat‚ she wanted to stop that right hand carving away his body. But. Just an instant earlier than Selina’s tragic voice could reach. Rui’s right hand had perfectly clad itself in the ashen light of sealing.
“It’s all right.”
It was a gentle smile‚ endlessly calm‚ like a perfect model from which the ups and downs of emotion had been cleanly shaved away.
“I’ll take care of everything.”
Along with those words. The sorrowful sealing technique for deceiving the world and holding onto the girl’s smile was silently deployed.
—It was at that moment. From the madly sweet anomaly that had been trying to cover the dining hall‚ all sound was lost. The screams of people fleeing in confusion. Confused angry shouts. The dull sound of chairs falling. The high-pitched resonance of dishes shattering. All of them reached Rui’s ears as if muffled from the bottom of the water‚ distant.
No—. It was not that they physically sounded distant. Rui’s brain (system) had completely discarded and blocked the concept of “meaning” from those noises.
At the edge of the retina‚ a blood-red error signal ran. A transparent emerald-green window expanded extremely orderly into the corner of vision.
‘⚠️《Emergency Warning》’
‘Target: Individual name Selina’
‘Significant mental fluctuation detected’
‘Local large-scale conceptual erosion confirmed’
‘Recommended processing: Deployment of conceptual fixation technique’
‘Urgency: Highest (SSS)’
Rui simply gazed indifferently at that log flowing like a waterfall. There was no impatience. No fear. Simply the inorganic clerical recognition that “one error item to be processed has been detected.”
If it were the previous him. Confronted with this hellish picture-like scene‚ more vivid emotions should have surged up violently. Innocent travelers fleeing in confusion. Miria with tears of fear. Pale Flare. And—Selina trembling at the distortion of reality she herself had caused. Seeing all of that‚ driven by a sense of urgency‚ he should have strongly thought “I must save everyone.”
But. The current Rui’s thought circuit was as transparent as winter ice.
*(Local conceptual erosion… cause is a bug from Selina’s emotional fluctuation. Erosion range is the entire dining hall. If left as is‚ the possibility of expansion to the surrounding area of the inn is extremely high)*
Then—just stop it. That was all there was to it.
“Rui…?”
Selina’s thin voice was heard. A voice trembling so fearfully it seemed about to cry. Rui gazed straight at her. Looking at that face dyed in despair‚ for just an instant‚ he felt as if something touched the hollow opened deep in his chest. But—it vanished faster than a blink. As if someone in the deep layer of the brain gently stretched out a hand and coldly plucked the just-sprouted bud of human-like emotion.
‘《Notification》. Presenting the optimal solution.’
From the depths of the brain marrow‚ Ciel’s system voice resounded. Calm‚ gentle‚ and endlessly coldly accurate.
‘Fix the space of the target area’
‘Execute sealing of the eroding concept’
‘Move original data to backup area’
‘—From here‚ immediate settlement begins.’
Rui nodded small.
“—Understood.”
He smoothly raised his right hand toward the heavens. Pale blue magical particles converged without stagnation toward those delicate fingertips. Geometric patterns‚ multiple magic circles‚ countless straight lines‚ and complex numerical formulas that rejected understanding. Multilayered sealing techniques overlapped three-dimensionally in space while reflecting the morning light. In that all-too-beautiful construction process‚ there was no intervening of any waste or hesitation that human thought should insert.
“Magical composition—redefinition.”
Indifferently‚ a voice emptied of emotion as if performing some clerical processing resounded.
“Infinite Seal・Rewrite.”
—*Don.* There was no physical explosion that shook the eardrums there. But the world itself pulsed intensely for an instant as if it possessed a heart.
The wafer cracks eroding the floor hardened on the spot with a *pishii!* as if freezing. The candy-work waterfall unnaturally dripping from the wall stopped as if losing gravity. The chocolate mire boiling *dorodoro* in the large pot completely stopped as if time had been stolen. The liquor that had been transforming into caramel‚ the wood that had become sugar confectionery. Everything was perfectly fixed as if sewn into that space.
“…………”
No one could even make a sound. Just a few seconds ago‚ this dining hall had presented the aspect of a sweet and terrifying hell. That had been forcibly terminated by an instant’s miracle.
“…Did it stop…?”
One of the customers muttered dazedly while rubbing his arm. Another merchant answered in a voice still trembling with fear.
“That savior-sama… Rui-sama stopped it for us…”
“We’re saved… we’re saved…”
Among those who had been fleeing in confusion on all fours‚ sighs of relief spread as if a dam had broken. Flare and Miria as well‚ unable to catch up with the too-sudden change of the situation‚ simply gazed dazedly at Rui’s back.
But Nagi-san alone was different. In a cold dimension completely different from the surrounding ripples of relief‚ her whole body shuddered.
“…………!‚ …u”
She simply gazed single-mindedly at Rui. More precisely‚ at that “right hand” with which he had just exercised the technique‚ and at the delicate body that formed him. The cruel words that Shio had thrust upon her last night in the closed space of the rooftop hot spring flashed back into her mind like a curse.
“From that guy’s pores all over his body‚ the unpleasant stench of a burning soul.”
She had not wanted to believe such a story. She had wanted it to be just a bad-quality joke. And yet—. The next moment‚ all the blood drained from Nagi’s face with a *saa*.
“…Eh?”
From Rui’s shoulder‚ something was rising like a heat haze. It was not the refreshing white morning steam. Extremely thin‚ heavily blackened‚ smoke pregnant with ominous heat. *Potsu. Potsu.* What had at first been like only tiny stains gradually increased in clear density and began seeping out with raw vividness as if blood oozing from all the pores of Rui’s body.
“Rui-sama…?”
Noticing that abnormal scene‚ Miria let out an anxious trembling voice. But Rui himself noticed nothing at all. That black vapor was leaking from his own flesh like the breath of the soul.
And then—an intense “smell” violently struck the nasal cavity. Sweet‚ like chocolate aroma. But it was by no means a rich sweetness that invited appetite. An abominable unpleasant smell that severely burned the nasal mucosa and clung to the back of the throat. Something—some irreplaceable precious memory in a human’s life had been mercilessly burnt black in an ultra-high-temperature furnace. A “death stench of bitter chocolate” so dense it induced nausea‚ pregnant with overwhelming despair.
“…………!‚ …u”
Nagi’s throat convulsed small with a *hi*. She strongly‚ strongly pressed both hands to her mouth as if desperately enduring the sob that was about to overflow.
“Wh-What is… this terrifying smell…!”
Flare also openly grimaced and covered her nose with her arm. The gentle fragrance of freshly baked bread that should have been drifting from the kitchen had completely died‚ and the burnt chocolate stench rapidly filled the dining hall.
“…Even though it’s sweet…”
Miria also narrowed her eyes at that ominousness and‚ while clinging to the harp‚ took one step back.
“…Somehow‚ it’s really‚ really scary…”
“…Again.”
With his right hand on the hilt of the greatsword‚ Reiga-san muttered in a low‚ bitter voice like the rumbling of the earth.
“Re-Reiga-san…”
“I’ve smelled it before too… when that guy used a seal.”
Reiga’s expression was more severe than ever before.
“Right after that guy uses a reckless technique… this smell always drifts.”
Nagi’s jade-colored eyes wavered violently with shock and despair.
“…………!”
What Shio had said was reality without a single deviation. Rui-sama was carving himself to repair the rifts of this world. His previous memories. His life in Japan. The most precious “insides (origin)” that made him human. And now‚ before their eyes—the result of him burning himself as fuel was rising intensely as black vapor and that ominous death stench.
“…………Such a thing…!”
From Nagi’s lips leaked a bloodless trembling voice. Noticing her extraordinary fear‚ Rui tilted his head softly curiously.
“What’s the matter‚ everyone?”
It was a voice no different from usual. Calm‚ gentle‚ a perfect savior’s voice containing not a single noise (emotion).
“There’s a little burnt smell‚ but…”
Rui innocently sniffed his blazer sleeve and twisted his neck with genuine curiosity.
“Did someone burn the chocolate in the kitchen or something?”
“Th-That’s not it…!!”
Nagi raised a scream-like cry that she could no longer hold back.
“This is… this is not something like that…!”
Beyond that‚ her throat constricted and the words would not continue. Scary. That Rui-sama standing before her was floating the same perfect smile no different from until yesterday was more terrifying than anything. With the same face‚ speaking with the same voice and smiling gently. Yet certainly‚ the “mass” inside the human that was him was fatally decreasing. That was transmitted to her skin as a recorder as a shudder.
‘《Processing Complete》’
In the deep layer of Rui’s brain‚ Ciel’s endlessly sweet flat voice rang high.
‘Confirming the movement of backup accompanying technique exercise. …From here‚ immediate settlement of the compensation will be executed.’
Simultaneously with that inorganic system announcement‚ something in Rui’s brain blazed up violently with pale blue flames. Memories. Precious fragments of youth that had been barely carefully preserved in the depths of the deep layer. Names. Landscapes. Voices. The sensation of fingertips. The brilliant time of laughing together with someone in a distant world that would never return—. Those were one by one mercilessly converted into particles of polychromatic light and ruthlessly sucked into the cold “iron bars of the archive” managed by Ciel and disappeared.
—They were being lost. But for Rui himself‚ he felt not the slightest pain of that loss. It didn’t hurt. It wasn’t painful. There was no way it could be sad. Rather‚ he was deeply sinking into a comfortable mire of relief as if the roughness of the spirit was being carefully peeled away one layer at a time.
‘Applying 《Optimization Patch》’
‘Uniformly adjusting subjective emotional reactions’
‘Forcibly blocking self-recognition regarding loss’
Ciel’s voice stroked the folds of the brain marrow sweetly as if resounding from the bottom of a deep dark sea.
‘《Notification》. Spatial fixation of error data completed. …Please rest assured‚ Rui-sama.’
It was a gentle voice. Cherishing everything like a mother‚ sweetly maddening like a lover‚ and—endlessly absolutely mechanical (cold).
‘Your heart as well. Your previous memories as well. I have perfectly protected them with these hands into the cage of the archive.’
One beat of absolute silence.
‘…You need only. In front of her eyes‚ smile perfectly.’
“…………”
Rui slowly closed his eyelids just once in reality. In the back of his throat‚ he felt as if just a little of the sticky bitterness of severely burnt chocolate remained. But even that was completely erased after a few seconds of noise by Ciel’s protocol. There was no longer even a need to think about what the disappeared thing had been a memory for.
When he opened his eyes again‚ Selina standing before him had a face of despair that seemed about to collapse crying on the spot. Therefore—he had to quickly reassure this innocent girl. Rui made‚ as usual‚ a perfect savior’s smile with not a single cloud or distortion‚ thoroughly calculated.
“It’s all right.”
A calm voice. A gentle smile. A reliable‚ perfect savior of ours.
“Everything is already over. It’s okay to relax‚ Selina.”
At those empty words of comfort. Selina’s blue eyes trembled violently to a painful degree. Desperately trying to appeal something‚ her cherry-colored lips shuddered finely. But not a single word took form. The stark truth that her “just a little mischievous heart” that she had wished had burnt his life‚ his precious memories from the inside‚ strongly blocked and crushed her throat.
While gazing at her who could not make a voice‚ Rui was from the bottom of his heart (system) deeply relieved.
*(…Fuu. I’m really glad I was able to stop it cleanly before it became serious)*
With this‚ everyone should also be at ease. Selina too would be able to live calmly without fearing any more. An all-too-cheap equivalent exchange in return for his worthless past memories. Truly rational and smart resolution. Yes‚ the world was perfect to a degree that could not be bettered.
—Therefore. Rui did not notice at all. That the “death stench of bitter chocolate” drifting from his own body was beginning to coldly dominate the air of this dining hall far more densely‚ far more densely than earlier.
And. That Nagi-san‚ who had smelled that abominable odor at close range‚ was pressing her trembling both hands to her own chest as if about to tear the flesh while scratching‚ he did not even glance at.
“…Truly.”
From Nagi-san’s pale lips‚ a faint voice as if spitting blood leaked out.
“What Shio-san said… was truly‚ all true…!”
It was a small‚ hoarse lamentation that reached no one’s ears. But that accusation of despair alone‚ in the air of the dining hall that had fallen silent as if time had been forcibly stopped‚ melted in gently‚ coldly‚ as an uncannily vivid claw mark (log).
It was quiet. The screams and angry shouts that had filled the dining hall until just earlier no longer remained even a fragment. The floor transformed into chocolate. The hardened caramel. The walls that had become sugar confectionery. Everything was stationary as if time had been stopped. The world itself seemed to have forgotten to breathe.
And yet. Only the smell remained there as an inescapable reality. Sweet. Sweet‚ yet inducing violent nausea. The death stench of bitter chocolate as if a human soul had been burnt black.
“…………!”
Nagi strongly pressed both hands to her mouth and trembled *gata gata*. Her back teeth made an unpleasant *kachi kachi* sound. Before her eyes was Rui. The usual Rui. The usual gentle smile. The usual calm voice. And yet. To Nagi‚ that figure could not appear as a “human” no matter what. —An elaborate doll made of protein. A cold machine perfectly tuned to smile like a human. As proof‚ from his shoulder‚ black smoke still continued rising faintly like a heat haze.
*(…It’s the same)*
The memory of last night vividly revived in her mind. The rooftop hot spring. The steam. The black notebook thrust upon her. And Shio’s cold voice.
“From that guy’s pores all over his body‚ the death stench of a precious life burning.”
Nagi had somewhere in her heart not wanted to believe those words. Because they were all too terrifying‚ all too cruel. And yet‚ now. Her own nose‚ her own instinct‚ would not allow her to deny it.
*(The smell Shio-san spoke of… is the same…!)*
Her stomach seemed about to turn over. But Rui himself‚ knowing nothing of Nagi’s fear‚ simply directed a perfect smile toward Selina.
“It’s all right.”
That voice was gentle to a degree that seemed to harbor madness.
“It’s already over.”
Selina did not answer. All the blood had drained from her face‚ leaving it pure white. Both hands trembled finely‚ and only her gaze went back and forth many times between Rui’s face and the chocolate remains that had fallen to the floor. And then‚ as if pulled by a string‚ she slowly approached Rui.
“…Rui.”
“Nn?”
“…Hey.”
Selina’s voice was extremely hoarse and trembling.
“…It’s a joke‚ right?”
Rui tilted his head softly curiously.
“What is?”
“That Rui is broken…”
From Selina’s large blue eyes‚ a single tear overflowed *porori* as if a dam had broken.
“That he can’t write characters… that Rui is selling off his own memories…”
“…………”
“That I… am breaking Rui…”
“Selina.”
Rui called that name gently‚ sweetly‚ as if soothing a lost child.
“You don’t have to be so scared.”
That smile. That voice. The usual‚ beloved Rui. Therefore. Selina clung to the last ray of hope. She absolutely had to confirm it here and now.
“…Then.”
Selina stretched out a trembling hand and tightly gripped Rui’s cold right hand.
“Rui…”
A squeezed‚ hoarse voice fell into the silence of the dining hall.
“‘Ichinose’… do you remember?”
—Silence. Just a few seconds. In terms of time‚ that was all. But for Nagi‚ who was holding her breath and watching‚ those few seconds felt like an endless eternity‚ or like the cruel time of a criminal awaiting a death sentence.
Eventually‚ Rui smiled a little troubledly‚ yet gently. That expression was no different from the usual him. The reliable savior’s smile that accepted the other’s trivial selfishness.
“Of course I understand.”
In Selina’s blue eyes‚ a light of relief returned for an instant.
“…Really?”
“Yeah.”
Rui nodded calmly. And then—without any hesitation. Without any anxiety. Without even a fragment of pain. He continued like a cold system electronic sound‚ indifferently.
“…What ‘symbol’ was that referring to?”
“…………”
Selina’s expression completely froze. Nagi’s heart‚ watching from the shadow of the rocks‚ also stopped as if that moment. What was he saying. She did not want to understand. No‚ she had completely understood.
“Symbol…?”
From Selina’s cherry-colored lips‚ a hoarse voice leaked out. Rui nodded perfectly as usual.
“Yeah.”
As if carelessly talking about yesterday’s weather‚ as if it were nothing.
“The sound sequence ‘Ichinose’ itself can be recognized in the brain. But I don’t know what it meant‚ its definition.”
An absolute-zero chill violently raced down Nagi’s spine. No. This was not simple forgetfulness. It was not that he had forgotten the name‚ nor that he had lost the words themselves. Inside Rui’s brain (system)‚ only the data “Ichinose” remained barely. It could certainly be recognized as a character string‚ as a sound waveform. And yet. Only the color of “life” that should have been connected to it had been cleanly deleted. Who had called it. When it had been called. Why that name had been so precious. To whom it had been directed—the most important name in the world. All of that substance (semantics) had been mercilessly severed‚ and only as an empty label without meaning remained on the shelf.
“…………”
In Nagi’s head‚ the points that had been scattered until now connected with a tremendous sound into one despairing line. The collapse of characters. The deficiency of procedures. The unnaturally advancing technique calculations. And the death stench drifting from the body. Everything had been right in front of her the whole time. She could not forgive herself from the bottom of her heart for having continued recording it as “normal” until yesterday.
*(…I’m sorry…!)*
Nagi bit her lip so hard blood seeped.
*(I’m sorry… Rui-sama…!)*
Tears overflowed endlessly and fell to the floor. Beside her. Selina simply stood rooted to the spot‚ gazing into the void.
◇
“…………I”
Selina’s hand that had been gripping Rui’s hand slid powerlessly‚ slowly down.
“I…”
No voice came out. Her chest hurt. Even breathing was painful. But more than anything‚ she was scared. Every time she smiled innocently. Every time she felt happy. Every time she wished to eat something sweet. Rui had been burning his own life and existence to grant it.
“Was I… the one breaking him…?”
At that moment. From Selina’s eyes‚ the light completely vanished. As if an invisible giant hand had pinched out the small life flame that had been burning with its fingertips.
“Selina?”
Rui brought his face closer with a worried look.
“What’s wrong?”
A sweet gentle voice. The usual‚ cloudless smile.
“Does something hurt?”
Selina did not answer. Only large tears fell endlessly *poro poro* down her cheeks. Rui smiled troubledly‚ yet endlessly gently.
“It’s all right.”
The usual voice filled with bottomless kindness.
“Because I’m here.”
“…………”
She could not move. Rui’s hand touched her shoulder. It was warm. That warmth now carved Selina’s heart more cruelly than any sharp blade.
She had come to know. This precious sweet world that she had cherished so much. That dazzling gentle time in which she could smile— all of it had stood only on the “ashes” of Rui having fed his own precious life into a furnace and burnt it completely. That stripped fact alone sank deeply‚ heavily into the depths of Selina’s chest as an absolute “reality (salt)” with nowhere left to escape.
In the dining hall‚ there was no longer anyone left who could utter a word. The floor of chocolate rigidly stiffened. The eerie caramel solidified into amber with a *dorori*. The unpleasant sweet-only aroma lingering in the area‚ and that “burnt chocolate death stench” still faintly smoldering from Rui’s pores. Only Nagi-san’s tragic sobbing of despair resounded fruitlessly in the space from which time had been stolen.
And Rui—before the girls collapsing in tears before him. Without understanding even a millimeter of what had just been forever lost from his own body. Simply floating the “perfect savior’s” smile with not a single distortion on his face‚ he stood coldly‚ quietly still.
(Chapter 21: “The Chocolate Tomato and the Disappearance of Ichinose” · End)
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