Perhaps because it hadn't gotten a reply, that voice kept echoing on and on.
The cries for help overlapped, drifting through the deepest parts of Haru's sea of consciousness, tinged with something eerily uncanny.
What… is going on?
After spending the whole night overusing Dark Pulse Spray and Dragon Darts, Haru's mind was understandably foggy.
Yet the voice was so clear he couldn't ignore it—let alone sink into the deeper layers of sleep.
So…
Haru snapped irritably:
"For crying out loud, stop talking in riddles. If you want me to save someone, at least give me a name and an address. Or should I crack open your box first and then go rescue you?"
There were two kinds of people Haru hated most in life—and riddle-speakers were one of them.
Who begs for help and still insists on talking in cryptic nonsense? Was that your idea of asking for a favor?
Perhaps his words had "shaken" the voice, because the repetition stopped.
"I don't want to be born into this world, so please… save me."
The owner of the voice spoke earnestly.
But the request itself was more than a little disturbing.
"?"
"You want me to take your mom for an abortion? Shouldn't you be talking to your dad about that? Why come to me?"
Haru listened carefully. The tone did sound a little youthful—though not quite infant-level.
And no matter how he turned it over in his head, the statement was absurd.
What did "I don't want to be born into this world" even mean?
What is this, "Reincarnated as My Mom is Britney Spears"? Who can talk before they're even born? Or are you another one of Kos' orphans?
Then again, being able to slip into someone's dream and hold a conversation was pretty weird in its own right…
Yes, by now Haru had realized he was inside his own dream.
From the way things felt, the voice's owner seemed to be using some method to make "in-dream calls," which was why he could hear such a bizarre request.
Of course, there was also the possibility that this so-called plea for help was just part of the dream itself.
Either way, the voice went silent for a long while—whether because Haru's snark shut it up or for some other reason—until he felt himself surfacing toward wakefulness.
Then it spoke again:
"Ah… it hurts so much—stop that man, please, fa—"
It seemed the person still had more to say, but Haru's consciousness fully broke free from the dream.
The second half of the sentence was left unsaid, leaving only half a riddle behind.
Cold. Trembling.
As he woke, Haru felt a chill along his body—like he was stark naked, with someone serving sashimi on him like a human platter… or perhaps a poisonous snake (or tongue?) crawling slowly across his skin.
Of course, that was only an illusion.
When he opened his eyes, he realized the cold was just because Lillie had stolen all the blankets.
As for the cool dampness on certain parts of his body… that was her drool.
Yes, Miss Lillie was adorable, but her sleeping posture left much to be desired.
Perhaps because she lacked a sense of security, she tended to monopolize the covers, curling herself up like a "Lillie roll," and occasionally drooling in her sleep.
And unfortunately, since their battle last night had been too exhausting, neither had bothered to change into sleepwear—meaning he was sleeping completely nude.
Casting a glance at the still-slumbering blonde girl, Haru sat up in bed and exhaled.
Most dreams fade quickly upon waking—sometimes vanishing the instant you open your eyes.
But this one was different.
Though the "in-dream" him had been somewhat muddled, every detail remained crystal-clear in his mind now.
And that, to Haru, was highly unusual.
"A cry for help from an unborn life? Why would I dream something like that?"
"And what was that unfinished sentence supposed to mean?"
Somehow, his gaze wandered to Lillie's lower abdomen.
A certain suspicion flashed through his mind.
Could it be… Lillie's pregnant?
No—impossible. Absolutely impossible. He'd been with Lillie far less often than with Lusamine; there was no way it would happen so easily.
Even though the chances were near zero, Haru still borrowed Mew's Psy Scan to run a discreet check on Lillie.
The conclusion: perfectly healthy, no sign of pregnancy—relieving him greatly.
When it came to children, Haru harbored an unexplainable fear.
He was nowhere near ready to be a father.
Even now, he didn't feel he'd fully integrated into this world.
Under such circumstances, if he did have a child, he had no idea what he might do.
But if Lillie wasn't pregnant… then where was this sense of unease coming from?
Haru and Mew exchanged puzzled looks.
Mew could tell the dream was unusual, but even she couldn't give a sound explanation.
Forget it. Just remember to use a Charged Shield next time—gotta play it safe.
With that thought, Haru looked back at Lillie, still cosplaying as a sushi roll, and decided to "add some white dressing" to the dish.
Sigh… Lusamine on my head, Iono and Sabrina pretending to sleep beside me… and I'm supposed to resist? Only a saint could.
Yes, the effect of his Sleepy Black Tea had worn off long ago—both Iono and Sabrina were awake, merely feigning sleep.
They didn't know what had happened last night, but that didn't stop them from sneaking the leftover "ice cream" out of sheer lust.
Bound or not, satisfaction was satisfaction—could Lusamine offer that?
Still… why did she get to monopolize everything? Wasn't she supposed to be the one tormenting Lillie?
Iono slyly licked the corner of her mouth clean, eyes drifting toward the blonde girl.
Satisfaction mingled with burning envy.
Tch… why her?
---
In a modest home in Greenfield Town, something unseen was quietly altering the air.
Kieran and Carmine's family lived here—meaning they, unlike other Blueberry Academy students, stayed at home instead of the civic hall.
That day, Kieran's grandparents noticed something was seriously off about their grandson.
To be fair, Kieran had always been… peculiar.
Painfully shy. Pathologically shy.
On the one hand, he was terrified of reaching out to others—as if even brushing cotton would hurt him.
On the other hand, he desperately longed to shine, to be like "the protagonist."
Over time, he blamed others, convinced they were the ones isolating him—why else would he have no friends?
And from there, his thoughts turned to the tale of the "ostracized" ghost in Kitakami folklore.
He saw himself in the ghost—both pitiable beings rejected by others.
The difference was, the ogre had power. Power to strike back at those who shunned him. Power to make them fear.
And deep down, that was exactly what Kieran longed for.
But to his sister Carmine and their grandparents, the truth was plain:
If he had no friends, it was entirely his own doing.
Most of the time, they'd long since stopped reacting to his peculiar behavior and words.
Shy kids, after all, sometimes act strangely.
But this… this was different. Kieran seemed like a completely different person.
From the moment he woke up today, a brooding, malevolent expression and venomous words had taken over.
He even declared he would murder Haru and reclaim the "ghost" that was rightfully his—then use its power to destroy everything that made him feel oppressed, including his own sister.
Carmine and the grandparents were utterly shaken.
At this point, Kieran seemed more like an ghost than the one in the legend.
The old Kieran had his flaws, but he wasn't evil.
Now… calling him "Dark Kieran" might not even be an exaggeration.
Not knowing the cause, the grandparents turned to Carmine for answers.
In their minds, since she spent the most time with him, she might know something.
To avoid being overheard by the now–blackened Kieran, they spoke in secret.
"Carmine, what's wrong with him? Why's he like this? Could something have happened to set him off?"
Carmine could only shake her head helplessly.
"I don't know… I really don't. All I know is he wanted to go up the mountain to find the ghost. I tried to stop him, but failed."
"Later, he somehow passed out near the Loyal Three's shrine. It was Professor Haru who found him."
"What should we do? If we let him run wild, Officer Jenny's going to come take him away."
Despite their daily bickering, Carmine was genuinely worried for her little brother.
But right now… this version of him frightened her.
"If only there were someone who could help…"
As she said it, a man's confident image flashed in her mind.
Wait—maybe he could help?
But Kieran hated him. Would bringing him in really be okay?
Seeing the thought cross her mind, her grandparents asked quickly:
"Carmine, you've got an idea, don't you?"
"I… I'm not sure…"
---
Morning sunlight slipped gently through the curtains, climbing over the frame of an old wooden bed.
Golden rays spilled across a young girl's cheek, like delicate silk brushing lightly over her skin.
On the bed, the girl stirred, her long lashes trembling before she opened groggy eyes—eyes still shadowed with the fatigue and dark circles gifted by the previous night.
This was Miss Liko, the sole audience to Haru's "performance" last night.
As she'd expected, after returning to her room she barely slept a wink.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Haru "baptizing" Lusamine… or their earth-shattering battle.
For pure-hearted Liko, those images were more terrifying than a billion serial killers.
She was the kind of girl who used to blush just seeing people kiss.
And the mental shock wasn't even the worst part.
The real problem was the feverish heat lingering in her body, leaving her somewhat dehydrated.
Today, she'd be lucky not to collapse after a short walk. She needed water and rest—urgently.
After that, she'd have to wash her sheets and change her pants… or burn them. At the very least, no one could ever see them.
Should she just call in sick today?
But that wouldn't work—if a doctor found the real reason for her exhaustion, her life as a student would be over.
Besides, Professor Haru had said Team Rocket had been spotted in Kitakami, meaning all students—including her—had to evacuate today.
Liko knew exactly how dangerous Team Rocket was.
As an old-school villain group, their reach and power rivaled, if not exceeded, the "Explorers" Haru had mentioned.
They targeted Legendary and Mythical Pokémon—especially the top-tier ones.
And Liko just happened to be hiding a powerless Legendary on her person. If Team Rocket found out, they'd never let her go.
In short, there was no way she could stay in her room all day. As soon as the Paldeans arrived, she'd be leaving with the others.
Ahhh, Liko, Liko… why did you have to spy on Professor Haru?
If she hadn't, she wouldn't be in this mess.
And why did she even care so much, you shameless girl? Shameless!
Remembering last night, she clawed at her hair in mortified regret.
But like it or not, she had to act normal today and leave with everyone else.
Unless… she got Haru's permission.
If he agreed to let her stay, things might still work out.
She pushed back the covers and climbed out of bed, legs still shaky from the night before.
Logically speaking, it would be safer to leave with the others—even if it risked exposing her odd behavior.
But… no.
Even setting aside the embarrassing reasons, she felt she had to stay.
Ever since arriving in Kitakami, she'd felt something here calling to her—like a mission waiting to be fulfilled.
And, for reasons she couldn't quite explain, she was becoming more and more interested in Haru… in every sense.
First, she'd talk to him—see if she could convince him.
It was late enough now; they wouldn't still be cosplaying or… doing that.
If Professor Haru agreed, she'd be fine. He would protect her.
And Miss Lillie—yes, she was probably a pervert too—but she had a Legendary, so maybe they could work together.
As long as Liko avoided becoming that kind of pervert herself.
Plus, it would be a rare chance to see the "villain organizations" in action—which could be useful.
Resolving herself, she changed clothes, then shuffled to Haru's door on unsteady legs.
She had originally planned to give the door a polite couple of knocks and wait for Haru's response.
But the moment her fingers barely brushed the door—
—it swung open on its own.
Unlocked?
No, it wasn't just that.
Her body was still weak, and the knock she gave barely had any force behind it. Even if the door hadn't been locked, it shouldn't have opened so effortlessly.
It was almost as if… something on the other side had been helping her push it open.
Realizing this, Liko froze, caught in a moment of hesitation—stepping in would feel presumptuous, but staying put felt equally awkward.
If Haru wasn't in the middle of doing something bizarre, it wouldn't matter… but if she was?
Forget it. She was already here—might as well go in and see for herself.
Besides, if Teacher Haru really were up to anything strange, there's no way she would've left the door unlocked. She was probably just overthinking things.
Heart tangled in knots, the girl finally made up her mind. She stepped over the threshold into Haru's room and, with a backward motion, shut the door behind her.
It was not at all what she had imagined.
There was no Haru the plumber hard at work unclogging pipes, nor Lillie dressed up as Lusamine.
Even the two girls who had been tied up earlier—one to a chair, the other to a bed—had vanished without a trace.
Not a single person could be found in the entire room, only messy bedding and the luggage Haru had left in the corner as proof that someone had been living here until very recently.
Had Professor Haru already left?
Taking in the scene, the girl let out a breath of relief… yet, inexplicably, there was a faint pang of disappointment in her chest.
Haru must have left faster than she had imagined—probably to deal with those Team Rocket people.
Best to leave too, and contact Professor Haru later by phone.
Liko pressed a hand to her flushed cheeks twice, then turned to go.
But… that was when something curious caught the corner of her eye.
It was a small object, somewhat like a balloon—only it looked sturdier, and seemed to have some liquid still sloshing inside.
What is that?
Almost as if bewitched, Liko took two quick steps toward it.
After a long moment's hesitation, she reached out, pinched the balloon's "inflation tip," and brought it close for a careful look.
The liquid inside was strange—this wasn't like the usual water balloons she'd seen. Its consistency was clearly much thicker than water.
Before long, mere observation wasn't enough.
A strange impulse urged her—an urge to pop the "balloon" into her mouth and taste the liquid inside.
Of course, in the end she resisted the temptation. But by the time she realized what she was doing, her fingertips had already brushed against that strange fluid.
"Haa~ this feels kind of… weird?"
The girl murmured in puzzlement as she put her finger to her lips, though her face was burning red.
The liquid wasn't as disgusting as she'd feared—though it wasn't exactly pleasant either. There was just this odd, cloying taste to it.
Weird… and once it touched her mouth, her body somehow felt hotter.
But before she could dwell on the sensation—
—a sharp click of a door opening cut through her daze.
Eek—
What… what's happening?!
***************************
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