A journey into an infinite dimension

[Kaguya-chan, I advise you not to do this, unless you don't want to stay in this world anymore.]

Sensing Kaguya's thoughts, Ge Jiuye spoke up to persuade her.

[Otherwise, once you break the seal, you will probably face hell.]

Although she didn't know why Ge Jiuye said this, Kaguya inexplicably felt that this sentence seemed to make a lot of sense.

【But Shiori looks like this...】

[You, please don't be so soft-hearted. If I stay under your protection and never experience the ups and downs, how can I truly grow?]

Shaking his head helplessly, Ge Jiuye didn't know what to say about Kaguya's awkward personality.

They will give everything they have to those they approve of, even if the means are unacceptable. But when it comes to the irreplaceable first person in their heart, they will ruthlessly abandon everyone else.

A little bit of twisted love, a little bit of twisted values, a little bit of twisted personality, these are the reasons why Kaguya came into being.

Those who are cared for by her are both lucky and unfortunate.

Her heart is like a tower built of a maze. Except for the existence that she can truly place at the top and deepest part of her heart, everyone else is just a traveler who has successfully stepped into this maze. The difference is that some people are at the bottom, while some are close to the top of the tower, that's all.

"....OK."

Perhaps because he saw a familiar shadow in Kaguya, Shiori, who was originally planning to refuse, agreed after hesitating for a while.

Although this conjecture is a bit ridiculous, Shiori always feels that without considering other factors, if Jiaye successfully escapes from the clutches of Caihuo, or reaches some kind of agreement with Caihuo, then he will most likely stay by her side in another identity, such as a transfer student.

Although she herself knew that the possibility was very small, she would not miss any possibility no matter how unlikely it was.

"I wonder if I can also participate in this, Shiori-san, Kaguya-san."

A leisurely voice sounded, and Tokisaki Kurumi asked Kaguya and Shiori with a smile.

"I'm new here and I'm a little unfamiliar with this school. It would be great if Shiori-san could help me."

"no problem."

Considering that Kaguya might just happen to look like her and have the same pronunciation as her name, Kurumi might also be Kaguya, so Shiori did not refuse either.

"...It's good that Shiori has recovered, but I still feel really bad."

Looking at Kaguya and Kurumi, then at Shiori, Tohka broke the pencil in her hand, her face looking a little dark.

"agree."

Nodding, Origami silently covered the crack on the table with a textbook, and his expression was not very good.

They tried so hard for so many days but Shiori still couldn't cheer up. As a result, the arrival of two transfer students made Shiori return to his normal state. This made people unhappy in every way.

However, neither Origami nor Tohka blamed Shiori too much, because they saw Shiori's excited performance just now, and the fact that he called out Kaguya's name, and Kaguya's name was pronounced exactly the same as Kaguya's, so it was normal for Shiori to have such a reaction.

Perhaps, Shiori saw the shadow of Kaya in Kaguya.

Although, if this can help Shiori recover his spirits, they will only be happy, but if Shiori is holding on to the idea of ​​'Is it possible that Kaguya is actually Kaguya', then if the result is contrary to her expectations, Shiori's emotional state may not only not recover, but may even get worse.

Just follow them after school and see what's going on.

Origami and Tohka thought the same thing at the same time.

"Well, although I'm a little confused about the situation, since you've already agreed, Kisaragi-san and Tokisaki-san, please take the two empty seats over there."

"Also, please pay attention in class. If you are curious about the two new students, please wait until lunch break to talk to them."

......

......

"Sis, based on the investigation we conducted today regarding the spiritual fluctuations detected at your high school, we have confirmed that the two new transfer students in your class are both spirits."

After school, Shiori was reminded by Reine, a teacher in this school, during lunch break, so he put on the earphone-type communicator and listened to Kotori's voice coming out of it, and couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

But it's just some.

"Really? Then we have to conquer them, right?"

If Jia Ye were here, he could be allowed to play at this time.

Thinking of this, Shizhi's eyes couldn't help but dim a little.

"Although this is normal, sister, you are obviously not able to do it in your current state."

On the "Fraxinus", looking at the image of Shiori reflected on the monitor, Kotori sighed slightly, with a hint of heartache and worry flashing in her eyes, but her words were merciless.

"Rather, the reason you're able to avoid giving them a bad impression of you now is simply because you're good-looking."

"Then I should be thankful that I'm not ugly."

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, but even though his sister said this, Shiori didn't react too much at all.

"So, sis, how long are you going to keep looking like this?"

Looking at Shiori like this, Kotori felt even more distressed and angry.

"Do you think my sister will be happy if she finds out about you doing this?!"

"However, Jiaye is no longer here, so he won't know."

Standing in front of the window and looking at the scenery outside, his gaze seemed to drift towards an unknown and distant place along with the white clouds in the sky, Shiori said slowly.

"Itsuka Shiori!!"

It has been a long time since she called Shiori by his name again, which shows how angry Kotori is at the moment.

"Shiori... classmate."

A gentle and pleasant voice came quietly from behind Shiori, interrupting the communication between Shiori and Kotori while also bringing Shiori back to consciousness.

Turning around, Kaguya's figure, who looked like a real Moon Princess, appeared in Shiori's eyes.

"If you don't mind, Kisaragi-san can just call me Shiori."

Looking at the face in front of him that vaguely resembled Jiaye's shadow, his eyes gradually brightened a little, and Shizhi said softly.

"Well, in exchange, you should call me by my first name."

Aside from revealing some flaws due to habit when calling out, Kaguya behaved like a stranger meeting Shiori for the first time in other aspects, Kaguya said calmly.

"Um, Kaguya... Kaguya."

If you don't listen carefully, the pronunciations are basically the same, except that one is softer and the other is more masculine, so Shizhi was unable to change the pronunciation for a while.

"Sis, you're clearly not in the right condition to conquer them right now, so build good relationships with them first. We'll help you."

When it came time to get down to business, Kotori temporarily put aside her personal emotions and prepared to concentrate on giving Shiori the greatest support.

"If you're not used to it, it's okay to call it your way. It's pronounced the same."

Noticing Shiori's discomfort, Kaguya said calmly.

"I kept you two waiting for a long time."

At this moment, Kuang San also walked in from outside the classroom and smiled at the two of them.

"I'm counting on you, Shiori-san. Also, please give me your guidance, Kaguya-san."

"let's go."

Nodding, Shiori took Kaguya and Kurumi out of the classroom as a guide.

Chapter 182 [Why did it become like this]

"This is the health room. The teachers are usually here. If you feel unwell, you can come here. This is the cafeteria and the cooperative. The fried noodles and bread are delicious. This is——"

Along the way, Shiori only gave simple explanations of the various facilities in the school to Kaguya and Kurumi. Sometimes he would follow the options given by Kotori and others, asking the two some harmless questions, or talking about some interesting topics, so as not to make the journey from one place to another silent.

However, her forced spirit made people worry about her.

However, although both Kaguya and Kurumi noticed this, for some reason, they did not bring it up, but just followed Shiori as they walked to the next location while talking.

"Finally, this is the rooftop."

When I opened the door to the rooftop, the sun had just set, and the blue sky was dyed into a beautiful sunset color by the sunset glow.

The endless evening sky extended all the way to the green hills on the horizon. The fiery clouds in the sky seemed to be a precursor to the heavenly fire that was about to fall on the earth. The unique atmosphere unique to the dusk time quietly surrounded the hearts of the three people with the breeze. The lights that lit up one by one in the city also clearly showed that the night was about to come.

There was a sunset sky above his head, and in front of him was a city with lights lighting up one by one. Witnessing this scene with his own eyes, Shizhi's eyes gradually lit up with a bright look without him realizing it.

Jiaye likes beautiful scenery. Because of his influence, Shizhi gradually fell in love with these scenery while appreciating various scenery with him.

...No, maybe what she really likes is not the scenery, but the feeling of watching the scenery with him.

Otherwise, no matter how beautiful the scenery is, what’s the point without him by your side?

“The scenery is beautiful.”

Looking at the scenery in front of her, Kuang San sighed sincerely.

Although she had seen various kinds of scenery, some of which were more beautiful and charming than the scenery before her, she had never been so deeply moved by the scenery before her as she was now.

Is it because, since then, whenever I enjoy the scenery, there is no one around me?

Gently turning her head to look at Shiori and Kaguya beside her, Kurumi thought.

Really, when did I become so weak?

Then she shook her head as if in self-mockery, and the scenery in front of her was reflected in her wine-red eyes, which were only hidden by her waterfall-like bangs, and then slowly closed.

However, this opportunity is rare after all, so let me enjoy this feeling.

"Someone once told me that the reason he loved all kinds of beautiful scenery was that he could only rely on other people's descriptions to picture what the scenery looked like in his mind."

He let out a long breath, as if releasing some of the emotions he had accumulated over the past few days, and spoke softly.

"A red sky, a setting sun, and fiery clouds of all shapes and sizes filling the sky—with just a simple description, he could paint a landscape that was even more beautiful than the real thing. But after seeing all the scenery with his own eyes, he said that seeing it in person was still more beautiful."

He took two steps forward gently, then turned his back to the distant sunset and looked at Kaguya and Kurumi. The appearance of the two was quietly reflected in Shiori's amber eyes, and there seemed to be a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"I asked him why he said that, since his painting was clearly more beautiful. His answer, at the time, seemed a little baffling to me: 'Because I've regained something I've lost, of course I have to cherish it even more.'"

As if she was expecting something, after she finished speaking, Shiori stared at the two of them quietly, as if she was expecting them to have some reaction to her words.

"Although I don't quite understand it, I still find it quite touching."

Her slender fingers gently touched the cherry lips as delicate as cherry blossom petals, and Kuang San said with a smile.

"That person must be quite important to Shiori-san."

Kurumi could tell this from the tone Shiori used when he was telling the story.

So, could it be a relative or a lover?

"Although I regret not having spoken it out loud before, and even if I did, he wouldn't be able to hear me, I have always harbored feelings of dependence and love for him—not the kind of love you have for someone important to you, but the kind of love you have between a man and a woman, between lovers."

bump!

"Snapped!"

As soon as Shiori finished speaking, two different but strangely similar voices sounded from Shiori's headphones and from behind Kaguya and Kurumi respectively.

"Ala?"

Although they couldn't hear the voice in Shiori's headphones, Kurumi and Kaguya could hear the voice coming from behind them very clearly.

With an inexplicable smile, Kuang San turned and looked in the direction of the rooftop gate behind her. Her wine-red eyes seemed to be able to see through the half-open gate and see the scenery inside.

"Are there any urban legends about this school?"

Kaguya glanced towards the gate and asked Shiori, who also looked puzzled.

"No, I haven't heard of such rumors."

Shaking his head, Shizhi looked at the two people who didn't show any unusual behavior, and couldn't help feeling a little disappointed for a moment.

Her idea was that if Jiaye really changed his identity and stood in front of her as either Kaguya or Kurumi, then after hearing her confession, he should reveal some flaws no matter what.

Because she knew Jia Ye's character, and if he heard her confession so unexpectedly, there would be no way he could remain calm.

However, although she was distracted for a moment by the two sudden strange noises, Shiori, who had been observing the expressions of the two from beginning to end, did not notice anything unusual in their expressions.

As expected, it was just my fantasy from the beginning to the end.

Silently clenching his fists, he was completely unaware even when his nails pierced his palms, and Shiori sighed in his heart with some sadness.

Or maybe it was because the unfamiliarity I felt towards him at the beginning hurt him, so he was indifferent to my words?

"The person you're talking about is no longer here, but he didn't die. He left you for some reason, right?"