Sayuri's gaze moved past Eriri's trembling shoulder to look at Utaha and Megumi, who stood behind them with equally exhausted, pale, and complex expressions.
Her eyes showed deep gratitude and sincere concern. "Kasumigaoka-san, Kato-san, thank you so much for bringing Eriri back. Today... it has really been hard on you. Please accept my condolences."
Her voice was low, carrying genuine sorrow for the life that had passed.
Utaha bowed slightly, her voice a bit raspy. "Sawamura-san, you are too kind. This is what we should have done."
Megumi also bowed silently and said softly, "Hello, auntie."
Sayuri gently released Eriri, but her arm still protectively circled her daughter's shoulder. She used her other hand to wipe the tear stains from Eriri's face, then issued a very sincere invitation to Utaha and Megumi.
"Kasumigaoka-san, Kato-san, if you don't mind, please do come in for a seat and have some hot tea to calm your nerves. So many terrible things happened today, I simply cannot feel at ease letting you two girls go home alone right now. Please give me a chance to show my gratitude and concern."
Utaha and Megumi glanced at each other, both seeing the exhaustion and a hint of hesitation in the other's eyes. They were indeed physically and mentally drained and longed for rest, but they also didn't want to intrude too much.
However, seeing the pleading look in Eriri's tearful eyes and Sayuri's gentle yet firm attitude that brooked no refusal, the two finally nodded.
Utaha said softly, "Then... we shall trouble you."
Entering the villa, a wave of warmth met them, forming a sharp contrast with the chill outside.
The spacious, high-ceilinged living room was decorated with extreme luxury yet felt cozy everywhere. Expensive artworks, soft handmade rugs, and jumping virtual flames in the fireplace (perhaps some high-tech device) combined to create a calming atmosphere.
Sayuri led them to sit down on a comfortable leather sofa.
"Please wait a moment, I will go prepare some hot tea and snacks." Sayuri said, patting Eriri's hand reassuringly before temporarily leaving the living room.
Eriri curled up in the corner of the large sofa, hugging a velvet cushion. Her sobbing gradually subsided, but her eyes remained hollow and red-rimmed, clearly not yet recovered from the massive blow and fear.
Megumi sat quietly to one side, holding a teacup in both hands to warm them. Her usually expressionless face now carried clear worry and contemplation.
Utaha silently observed the overly luxurious environment, but the chaotic thoughts in her mind were like a sea in a storm.
The image of Tomoya's tragic death, the Cursed Spirit's hideous form, Sukuna's existence, the terrifying truth behind the world...
All of it weighed on her heart like a heavy boulder, making it almost impossible to breathe.
Compared to this magnificent living room, she felt like a ghost who had crawled back from the edge of hell, completely out of place with everything around her.
Soon, Sayuri returned carrying an exquisite silver tea tray. On it were three cups of steaming black tea with a rich malty aroma, as well as several plates of tempting handmade cookies and macarons. She placed the refreshments gently on the coffee table in front of them.
"Come, drink some hot tea to warm your bodies and have some snacks." Sayuri sat down beside Eriri, taking her daughter's cold hand again.
Her gaze swept over Utaha and Megumi, finally landing on Eriri's face.
Her tone became exceptionally serious and solemn. "Eriri, you said outside just now... that you saw a monster? Can you tell me exactly what it looked like?"
Eriri's body jerked violently, as if she had returned to that terrifying moment. She nodded vigorously, fear occupying her eyes once more. "Yes. On the ceiling of Tomoya's house... it was grayish-green, shaped like a human but not at all. It was slimy, with a mouth so big... drooling... It was Kasumigaoka... she..."
She subconsciously looked at Utaha, her lips trembling, not knowing how to describe the even more surreal and inexplicable scene that followed—the eyes and mouth that grew on Utaha's face, and the invisible force that instantly sliced the monster to pieces.
Utaha's heart instantly leaped into her throat as she waited tensely for Sayuri's reaction.
Would she believe it? Or would she think her daughter had hallucinated due to excessive shock?
However, Sayuri's reaction defied the expectations of Utaha and Megumi. She didn't show any expression of doubt, absurdity, or a belief that her daughter was mentally unstable. Instead, her face grew increasingly solemn. Sayuri took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as if suppressing the turmoil within her.
She gently patted the back of Eriri's hand and spoke in a low, clear voice, "As expected... it was unavoidable after all, letting you come into contact with that world..."
She picked up her teacup but didn't drink, her fingertips slowly stroking the warm porcelain as if drawing courage from it, or perhaps organizing her incredibly heavy words.
After a moment of silence, she looked up, her gaze sweeping over Utaha and Megumi before finally settling on Eriri's face, which was filled with terror. Her eyes were brimming with complex emotions—deep apology, intense heartache, and a resolve that she had to face reality.
Sayuri's voice was soft, yet it struck everyone's heart like a hammer. "Eriri, there are some things that I... no, that your father and I have been keeping from you. Our greatest wish was for you to grow up carefree like the most ordinary and happy girl, enjoying your youth and your hobbies, never needing to know the dark side of this world."
Her tone carried sincere guilt. "But now it seems our expectations have fallen through. Avoiding and hiding it has lost its meaning. What you saw today was not a hallucination, nor was it a delusion caused by mental stress. It is a real thing that lurks in our daily lives."
She paused and spoke the term with unmistakable clarity, "They are commonly referred to as Cursed Spirits."
Hearing this word spoken so calmly by an elegant and rational lady of high society carried a sense of reality and weight that was completely different from Sukuna's mocking tone.
Eriri covered her mouth in shock, and Megumi's eyes widened slightly, showing a rare and visible emotional ripple. Even Utaha, who had already learned the truth from Sukuna, still felt an indescribable shock and chill hearing an elder from the 'normal' world admit it so directly.
It meant that the world's abnormality was not an accident, but a 'reality' tacitly understood and accepted by certain circles.