There wasn't much to say about class time. Fourth-grade lessons had progressed to the "chickens and rabbits in the same cage" problem, Shiraha really couldn't muster any curiosity for this sort of thing.
He propped his chin on one hand, gaze drifting out the window. He looked like he was paying close attention in class, but in his head, he was already calculating other matters.
After weighing his options for a good while, he ultimately crossed Himeko-nee off the list.
Approach Raven first.
The reasoning was solid: Raven was, after all, from an assassin organization, and she already had a certain level of psychological preparation for accepting Elysia's existence. She was the more suitable choice.
The break between classes wasn't dismissal, of course, but Shiraha didn't leave Elysia-nee waiting any longer. The moment the bell rang, he extended his hand.
Elysia still tried to put on a show of demure hesitation. Shiraha's expression was mild. "Nee-chan, drop the act."
Elysia: ....
She narrowed her eyes, the corner of her mouth twitching. But she was in a good mood right now, she'd let the adorable World's Number One Killer off the hook.
She reached out as well, her pale, girlish hand clasping Shiraha's outstretched one. Come to think of it... a Herrscher's hand never seemed to develop calluses, did it? Even the most human-like Herrscher of all, the Herrscher of Human.
"Mei-nee, I'm heading out for a bit."
Shiraha gave Mei a simple heads-up.
This was very necessary. If Nee-chan got emotionally overwhelmed and he didn't make it back in time for class, this little report would effectively prevent Mei-nee from skipping class to look for him.
Mei was in the middle of discussing something with the girl in the front row and nodded casually at his words.
"Not starting with little Mei?"
Elysia's voice was soft. She was in good spirits. This feeling, having everything guided by someone else, was rather nice. Especially when that someone was her underage companion.
Shiraha pulled Nee-chan along out of the classroom. "Mei-nee has her own little clique. Her own friends. Nee-chan, don't go messing with her."
Elysia's expression turned indignant, her cheek puffing out slightly. What did he mean, "messing with"?
Fine. In her current state, she really wasn't suited to messing with other people. Even Shiraha, who had always been able to blend seamlessly into any crowd, was currently an isolated outcast in this class.
At that thought, she sighed. Even this little outing suddenly felt somewhat listless.
Until Shiraha ran out of the elementary division. Her starry eyes blinked and blinked. Right, for real children, I'm a menace. For little princesses, I'm a menace too. But what about for someone who was already a menace herself?
Chiba Academy, High School Division
Shiraha's arrival drew a lot of stares. He was far too young, after all, and his movements were a little odd, as if he were pulling something along.
"Natasha-senpai! I came to play with you!"
Shiraha stood at the doorway of a high school division classroom, rising slightly onto his tiptoes, waving his arm with vigor. His smile was bright and innocent.
Raven, who had slowly begun keeping up with lessons and no longer skipped class for entire days, looked up blankly.
As the class's resident invisible person, she was once again experiencing the sensation of being stared at by the entire room, something that hadn't happened since the day she first transferred in.
Raven opened her mouth, closed it, and finally forced out a smile. "What are you doing here?"
Shiraha's voice was crisp and clear. "I missed Natasha-senpai!"
Where was this energy when you were calling me Delinquent-senpai?!
That was what she thought. But looking at the child's upturned little face and bright, sparkling eyes, her mood was inexplicably not bad at all.
After all, she genuinely believed Shiraha was just a child.
Only Elysia wore a subtle expression. Wasn't this the equivalent of a well-behaved junior, going out to play cute and charm the suits, all so his beloved Nee-chan could blend into the company atmosphere?
Uuuu, my Shiraha~
"Come on. Let's talk outside."
In the Far East, the breaks between classes weren't long. So the moment Raven reached Shiraha, she quietly asked, "What's the matter?"
A cute kid was a cute kid, but Shiraha was still Elysia's proxy. Most of the time, when he did something out of the ordinary, it was probably under Elysia's direction.
Shiraha shook his head. "Let's talk on the rooftop, Senpai."
Raven checked the time and frowned slightly. She'd finally caught up with the school's pace.
'Sigh. Nothing for it. Mission first.'
The two of them came to the rooftop. It was open, cool, and breezy. Though there were usually people up here, during a ten-minute break, hardly anyone came.
Shiraha got straight to the point. "Teacher wants to make friends with you!"
The Raven: ....
So it really wasn't because you missed your Senpai. She'd known it all along. Don't let that clean, innocent smile fool you, he was already molded in someone else's image.
But she didn't really care about that anyway. Who'd even want a kid's affection?
Raven's voice was flat. "I can't even see her. How am I supposed to make friends."
Shiraha extended his hand. After a moment's hesitation, the Raven reached out too and the child clasped her wrist.
With his other hand, Shiraha took hold of Elysia-nee's wrist and tried to bring the two of them together. His demeanor was utterly solemn, as if performing some ancient spirit-summoning rite.
So solemn that Raven found herself holding her breath.
She'd never seen Elysia before. Not even in the Realm. She'd only ever encountered her in various records, no images, just text.
Closer. Closer still. Until, at the point where they should have overlapped completely, the Raven's hand slowly clasped Shiraha's other hand. Palm against the back of a hand. Warmth transmitted through the touch.
Her face was expressionless. "Are you just here to mess with me?"
She let go, stepped back half a pace, folded her arms, and fixed the little boy before her with a scrutinizing gaze.
'Are you sure Elysia is actually here?
All I saw was you taking my hand, solemnly grasping your own hand, and putting on an act like there was someone else here.'
Shiraha pressed his lips together. This was no time to console Raven. He looked at Nee-chan, Elysia-nee's starry eyes were truly glistening now, impossible to hold back.
The world had truly rejected her.
She lowered her gaze, forcing steadiness into her voice. "Shiraha, let's go back. Class is about to start. If we're late again, you'll get scolded."
Shiraha was silent. Wind swept across the rooftop, lifting the stray bangs from his forehead and also lifting Elysia's transparent skirt. The hem fluttered gently in the breeze, but it made no sound.
Beside him, Raven followed his line of sight, but she couldn't see a thing.
"Nee-chan, you can head back first. I'm sorry—I'm sorry for dragging you out here this time." Shiraha's voice was helpless as he offered the senior girl some simple reassurance.
Raven: ....
"I don't know what's going on. But for something like this... perhaps you should ask Dr. Mobius."
She didn't know many people in the Realm. Only Eden, Mobius, Sakura, Kevin, Kalpas...
Shiraha nodded. "I'll go ask Mobius-nee."
The Raven: ....
Come to think of it, Mobius called her "Nee-san" too.
Raven glanced back at Shiraha one last time, her mouth opening as if to speak, but in the end, she said nothing and turned to leave the rooftop.
Only Shiraha and Elysia remained.
Elysia's nose twitched. Her eyes were reddened, but the tears never fell, perhaps they couldn't, perhaps she was holding them back.
Shiraha spoke softly, "Did you use the power of a MANTIS?"
Elysia didn't answer.
No answer meant she had. She'd used it and still couldn't make contact.
The world had truly rejected its once-beloved darling.
Shiraha was quiet for a moment, then rose onto his tiptoes and hugged Nee-chan as tightly as he could. He forced his voice to stay steady, as light as always.
"Looks like a simple method, using myself as an anchor, really won't work."
"Then for now, Nee-chan can only be my friend, and mine alone. I'll keep looking for another way."
He nuzzled his cheek against Nee-chan's with all his might.
"If you want to cry, just cry." His voice was very, very soft. "Don't treat me like a child."
Then he let go, stepped back half a pace, lifted his face, and offered a somewhat strained smile.
He emphasized, "This morning, I skipped class. We, the two remnants of the Previous Era, this morning we skipped class together."
The emphasis was a little too blunt, but at a moment like this, it should still help. Held tightly in her arms, Shiraha nuzzled Nee-chan's cheek once more.