"Although I don't think killing is a good thing, I won't distance myself from you—nor will I think you're hateful!"
Nia Honjou looked straight at Eriri, her face filled with seriousness.
"Eriri, I understand what you mean now. I'll try to adjust my mindset and stop letting others interfere with my heart."
After making her decision, Nia instantly felt the burden in her heart lighten. Even her breathing seemed to grow smoother.
"It's good that you've figured it out."
Eriri nodded with a pleased expression.
As the topic came to an end, the somewhat oppressive atmosphere in the dining room gradually became lively again.
After that, no one stayed long in the dining room. They moved together into the living room and resumed chatting, though the topics were much lighter now.
Before long, Nagisa Himekawa carried several plates of carefully prepared desserts into the living room. After speaking briefly with everyone, she headed out to work.
...
Beside a flower bed in a certain park in Tengu City, a young girl wearing a black school uniform skirt was crouching halfway to the ground. In her hand was a sausage with half its wrapper torn open, which she was using to lure a kitten hiding in the flower bed.
Just then, a golden figure appeared silently behind her, unnoticed by anyone.
"Do you like cats that much?"
Hearing the sudden voice from behind her, the girl gave a startled jump and fell straight onto her backside. The sausage in her hand dropped to the ground as well.
The stray kitten she had been tempting instantly retreated into the bushes at the sudden commotion.
"Wh-Who?"
The girl did not even bother getting up. She simply lifted her head to look behind her, revealing an exquisitely cute face. Her jet-black hair was styled in low twin tails tied in a hime cut, draping casually over her chest. A hint of panic flickered within her crimson eyes.
And then she saw the person behind her.
A face so perfect it could remain unforgettable for a lifetime. Long golden hair cascading down her back.
For a brief moment, she froze in a daze.
"Hello. My name is Eriri. It's a pleasure to meet you, lovely young lady."
Eriri gave a slight bow and extended her right hand toward the girl.
A gentle smile curved her lips. Under the sunlight, her smooth golden hair almost dazzled the girl's eyes.
"Ah... y-hello!"
Snapping back to her senses, the girl hurriedly grasped Eriri's offered hand and used the support to stand up.
Only afterward did she realize her earlier posture might have been impolite. Combined with the overwhelming impact of Eriri's beauty, her small face instantly flushed red. She quickly withdrew her hand from Eriri's grasp and lowered her head in embarrassment.
Yet her long-standing refined upbringing allowed her to suppress her shyness. She lifted her head once more, bowed slightly to Eriri, and introduced herself.
"My name is Kurumi Tokisaki. Please take care of me!"
The girl before her, around fifteen or sixteen years old, was none other than the third Spirit from the original story—Kurumi Tokisaki. She was also the very target Eriri had come to the park to find.
This time, Eriri had come alone. The others remained at the Himekawa residence, continuing their tea party.
Although it was still nearly a year before Kurumi Tokisaki was supposed to become a Spirit in the original timeline, since she was already here, Eriri did not mind advancing the date a little.
After all, Nia Honjou's transformation into a Spirit had already occurred later than it originally had.
At this stage, Kurumi Tokisaki was still a sheltered young lady from a somewhat strict household. Though she harbored slight chuunibyou tendencies in her heart, her family's discipline kept her from openly displaying them.
Even though it was summer vacation, she was still dressed in her school's summer uniform, making her look incomparably pure and adorable.
"Hello there, little Kurumi. Judging from what you were doing just now, were you feeding a stray cat?"
"Mm-hmm! I really like cats. But my family doesn't allow me to keep one, so sometimes I feed the strays in the park. Most of the time, though, I go to my classmate's house to pet her cat instead."
The moment the topic of cats came up, Kurumi's eyes lit up with enthusiasm.
"I see..."
Eriri made a thoughtful expression before smiling faintly.
"Little Kurumi, are you planning to go to your classmate's house to pet her cat later?"
"Mm-hmm! I already made plans with Sawa today. Do you want to come with me?"
The words had barely left her mouth when Kurumi froze.
She did not know why, but she had suddenly felt the urge to invite Eriri to her classmate's house, even though they had only just met and exchanged a few sentences.
Soon, she realized she had not even asked Eriri whether she liked cats. She hurriedly added,
"I'm sorry—I didn't even ask if you like cats before inviting you like that..."
Kurumi tugged lightly at the hem of her skirt, looking embarrassed.
"Of course I like cats. I even have a little kitten at home. Not only can my kitten do backflips, it can even communicate with people without any barriers. Would you like to come to my house and see it sometime?"
Kurumi's eyes widened in shock.
"Really? Forget the backflips—communicating with people without barriers? That's amazing!"
Her eyes sparkled as she stared at Eriri. She did not question the authenticity of the claim in the slightest, nor did she suspect any ill intent in Eriri's invitation.
"So? Do you want to come back and take a look?"
Eriri dangled the bait once more.
Kurumi bit without hesitation.
"Mm-hmm! I'll go with you! A cat that incredible—I absolutely have to see it with my own eyes!"
"Very good. But before that, let's still go to your classmate's house first. It wouldn't be nice to break your promise. We can bring your classmate along later to see my cat as well."
"Okay, okay!"
Kurumi nodded repeatedly, already filled with anticipation for the upcoming plan.
When Eriri decided to advance Kurumi Tokisaki's transformation into a Spirit, she had also formed another idea.
She intended to turn her best friend, Sawa Yamauchi, into a Spirit as well—and grant her the abilities of the "White Queen."
Of course, she would inherit only the "White Queen" powers. All accompanying negative side effects would be completely removed.
Thinking about it that way, it actually sounded rather interesting.
So she might as well take this opportunity to bring Sawa Yamauchi into the fold too.
After deciding to visit Sawa Yamauchi's house together, Kurumi gave up on continuing to feed the stray cat. However, before leaving, she tore open all the sausage wrappers she had just bought and placed them neatly beside the flower bed, ensuring the stray cats could eat them at any time.
Sawa Yamauchi's house was not far from the park. In less than ten minutes, under Kurumi Tokisaki's lead, Eriri arrived at the gates of a rather luxurious villa.
Perhaps knowing in advance that Kurumi would be coming, the courtyard gate was opened from inside not long after she pressed the doorbell. A pretty face with a sweet smile appeared before Eriri and Kurumi.
"Kurumi, you're he—"
Sawa Yamauchi was halfway through greeting her when her gaze was inevitably drawn to Eriri standing beside her.
"So pretty!!!"
Her eyes lit up as she stared at Eriri, completely ignoring Kurumi, who had just raised her hand to respond.
"Little sister, are you Kurumi's friend? You're really unbelievably beautiful!"
"Oh my god, does someone like you actually exist in real life?!"
Sawa chattered excitedly at Eriri, her usual gentle temperament nowhere to be found.
Hearing Sawa address Eriri as "little sister," Kurumi finally found it a bit unbearable.
She reached out and tugged on Sawa's arm.
"Sawa, this is a big sister I just met. She's two years older than us."
During the walk over, Eriri and Kurumi had exchanged some basic information. Kurumi had already learned that this stunning girl, who did not look any older than herself, was actually two years her senior.
Under Eriri's subtle guidance, Kurumi had even begun adding "big sister" when addressing her.
Hearing this, Sawa snapped out of her excitement and gave an embarrassed smile.
"Um... sorry about that, pretty big sister. It's just that you look..."
Indeed, no matter who saw Eriri, she appeared no older than fourteen or fifteen, no different from when she had first entered high school more than two years ago.
Eriri did not mind how others addressed her. The only reason she had guided Kurumi into calling her "big sister" was simply to tease her a little.
"It's fine. You're Sawa, right? Hello, my name is Eriri."
Eriri smiled and extended her right hand.
Looking at the delicate hand before her—fair as polished jade—Sawa unconsciously swallowed before immediately wrapping both her hands around it without hesitation.
"Mm-hmm! Eriri-nee, I'm very happy to meet you!"
Feeling the soft warmth against her palms, Sawa's heart began to surge uncontrollably.
She had always thought she liked boys. She had even made a pact with Kurumi that when either of them found love, they would support the other wholeheartedly.
But at this very moment, she felt that girls might not be so bad either.
Especially a girl like Eriri.
Eriri had long grown used to such sticky gazes and was completely unfazed.
However, when Kurumi noticed the way Sawa was looking at Eriri, she felt a faint twinge of jealousy. She quickly stepped between them, separating the two.
"Sawa, aren't you going to bring us inside? It's not very nice to keep standing out here."
"Ah, right, right! Eriri-nee, please come in."
Though she felt a bit regretful at being interrupted, Sawa quickly led Eriri and Kurumi into the house.
It was already past ten in the morning, and the villa felt somewhat quiet. They passed through the garden and entered the building without seeing anyone else.
Only upon reaching the living room did they encounter another person.
Seated on the sofa was a woman with the same hair color as Sawa and somewhat similar features. A classic variety show played on the television.
Hearing someone enter, the woman—who appeared to be in her early thirties—immediately shifted her gaze from the TV toward the entrance.
Even before she saw them, she had already heard her daughter's voice.
"Mom, Kurumi's here to play!"
A few seconds later, three figures walked in one after another from the entryway.
Just as she was about to greet Kurumi out of habit, her attention—like her daughter's—was instantly captured by Eriri standing beside her.
After all, Eriri's level of beauty was simply too overwhelming to ignore.
However, her shock did not last long. As a mother, she was more than capable of suppressing any impulsive reactions.
"Little Kurumi, welcome. Is this lovely young lady your classmate as well?"
"Auntie, long time no see. Let me introduce her—this is a friend I just met. Her name is Eriri. I brought her specially to play with Sawa today."
After introducing Eriri to Sawa's mother, Kurumi turned and introduced her to Eriri as well.
"Eriri, this is Sawa's mother."
"Mm-hmm. Hello, Auntie. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Eriri greeted her politely, without the slightest trace of arrogance despite her strength.
"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you too. Welcome to our home."
Mrs. Yamauchi responded kindly and even rose from the sofa to approach Eriri, showing her sincerity.
Seeing Eriri's appearance up close left her deeply shaken once again.
"You girls go ahead and play. I'll prepare some snacks for you."
Suppressing the shock in her heart, Mrs. Yamauchi left the living room.
Sitting down on the sofa, Eriri smiled teasingly at Sawa.
"Sawa, you really do look a lot like your mother."
"Hehe, of course! So? My mom's a great beauty too, right?"
At the mention of her mother, Sawa immediately straightened proudly. It was obvious she adored her.
"Sawa, is Auntie the only one home today?"
Kurumi glanced around curiously.
"Mm-hmm. My dad went on another business trip, and my aunt is at work. So today it's just Mom and me at home."