Outside the Orphanage
Awashima Seri stepped out to where a luxury car was parked, opened the door, and slid into the driver's seat.
"Miss Yukinoshita, I've already taken care of the notifications."
She lifted her gaze to the rearview mirror. Sitting in the back seat was a girl with short, chestnut-colored hair and delicate, refined features.
"What was his reaction?"
For a moment, Awashima Seri recalled Kuzeha's final smile. After a slight pause, she replied,
"He seemed rather agreeable."
"Is that so?"
Yukinoshita Haruno turned her head toward the window.
The orphanage, old and slightly worn down, carried a palpable sense of history.
"This project may be important, but remember—this is still an orphanage. Mind your attitude. Try to keep things pleasant while finalizing the deal."
"I understand, Miss Yukinoshita."
Awashima Seri nodded firmly.
Although Haruno spoke in that light, effortless tone, this was no ordinary task. This was the first major project entrusted to her personally by Lady Yukinoshita herself. Failure was not an option.
And if the other party proved uncooperative… Seri had complete faith in Haruno's methods.
After all, this young lady—raised as the heir to the Yukinoshita Conglomerate—shared far more with her mother than just beauty.
Inside the Orphanage
Kuzeha glanced over the entries he currently possessed.
[White]Russian Language Mastery[Green]Hundred Paces, Piercing Arrows[Blue]Dexterous Hands[Purple]Training Fast-Track: Accelerates physical conditioning and skill progress by 3x![Purple]Sword Mastery: Elevates basic swordsmanship to the realm of perfection![Gold]Imaginary Space: A separate dimension unaffected by the time and space of the real world![Gold]Conqueror's Haki: The innate quality of a king—capable of knocking out foes through sheer willpower, manifesting as a tangible attack![Gold]Divine Departure: Channeling Conqueror's Haki into a devastating shockwave!
"Finally… another gold entry besides Imaginary Space. And this one's a raw offensive powerhouse—perfect."
Kuzeha nodded with satisfaction.
The adaptability of Imaginary Space was undeniable—not only could it store and transport objects, but most importantly, it could absorb attacks and provide a safe refuge from danger. If things got too rough, he could simply retreat into it.
But… always cowering inside a pocket dimension felt far too stifling.
Today, however, he'd gained two golden entries that finally gave him lethal firepower.
This crossover world was anything but peaceful.
Demons, ghouls, malevolent spirits—they prowled the cities openly.
It wasn't unusual for an unsuspecting person to lose their life in an instant.
That was why orphanages like this one existed in the first place.
For his own strength, Kuzeha's only wish was to become as powerful as possible.
"I wonder when I'll finally unlock a top-tier Red entry…" he thought with anticipation.
Just then—
From behind him, the door to one of the rooms creaked open. A single silver ahoge floated lazily into view.
Moments later, silver hair spilled down like a waterfall, revealing a delicate and breathtakingly lovely face. Her slender figure was wrapped in a pure white Gothic Lolita dress.
The girl looked like a spirit born from the snowfields.
Kasugano Sora.
Years ago, after losing her family in a disaster, Kuzeha had taken her in at the orphanage.
Fragile in body and a little withdrawn in personality, she still hadn't attended school even now.
"Aoba… are they going to tear this place down?"
Kuzeha stepped toward her, casually reaching out to pinch her cheek.
"Of course not. This is our home."
At those words, Sora's expression shifted from sorrow to joy.
She nodded vigorously.
When it came to Kuzeha, she had always believed him without question.
If he said it wouldn't be torn down, then it wouldn't.
She wrapped both arms tightly around his arm, tossing aside the little black bunny plush she had been holding onto the sofa.
Who needed a toy when she had her brother?
Feeling the soft pressure on his arm, Kuzeha let out a faintly helpless sigh.
As she grew older, rather than distancing herself like most siblings would, Sora only became more and more clingy.
"Well… I'll just let things play out naturally," Kuzeha thought.
In any case, he had long since made a habit of closing the door behind him—and the locks at the entrance had been replaced with a brand new, solid set.
"Big Brother…"
A gentle, springlike voice drifted from the entryway.
"Sakura's back."
The corners of Kuzeha's mouth lifted into a smile.
But beside him, Kasugano Sora puffed her lips in displeasure—her hold on Kuzeha's arm tightening even further.