After all the chaos involving Zastin had finally come to an end, Kaito and Lala were quietly making their way back home, enjoying the cool night breeze as they walked through the peaceful streets.
The city had become surprisingly quiet.
The only sounds accompanying them were the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets.
{How are you feeling, Kaito?} Kaoru asked with a hint of concern.
'My head is still a little dizzy, and my vision is somewhat blurry... but it's slowly getting better.'
Kaito ran a hand through his hair, messing it up slightly in an attempt to clear his mind.
Noticing his gesture, Lala looked at him worriedly.
"Are you really okay, Kaito?"
As she spoke, she unconsciously stepped a little closer to him.
Kaito turned toward her.
Only then did he realize just how close she had gotten.
Almost instinctively, he took a small step to the side before smiling.
"I'm fine. My head's just a little itchy, that's all."
He deliberately smiled to reassure her.
Lala continued staring at him for a few seconds.
Although she was still worried, she eventually nodded.
"...Alright."
The two continued walking beneath the moonlight.
To distract himself from the lingering headache, Kaito decided to check his System.
'Status.'
A familiar blue screen immediately appeared before him.
NAME: Kazama Kaito
AGE: 15
HEIGHT: 1.78 m
Skills
Dynamic Vision Lv. 1 - Academic Knowledge Lv. 2 (Advanced)
Special Physiques
(None)
Broken Destinies
Lala (80%)
Active Missions
1. The Perfect Tutor
2. The Pink-Haired Girl — Part 3
Kaito blinked.
'A new section...?'
He hadn't expected that.
Broken Destinies.
He was just about to ask Kaoru about it—
"Kaito."
Lala's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"I think we're back."
Almost by reflex, Kaito immediately closed the System window.
"Yeah... I think so too."
He looked toward the Yuki residence.
The wall that Zastin had destroyed earlier had already been completely repaired.
He considered stopping by to explain everything that had happened.
However...
The lights inside the house were already off.
"...I'll talk to them tomorrow."
{I have a feeling they won't ask you for many explanations.}
'I think so too.'
Kaito smiled faintly.
'But I'd rather explain everything anyway.'
'After all... they got dragged into this mess because of me.'
{You're surprisingly honest sometimes, Kaito.}
He chuckled.
'I'll take that as a compliment.'
{You should.}
Kaito then turned toward Lala.
"Come on."
He extended his hand toward her.
"I'll show you my house."
Lala's face immediately brightened.
Without hesitation, she took his hand.
A warm smile appeared on her face.
{I thought you didn't like situations like this.}
Kaoru sounded amused.
Kaito looked at their joined hands.
Then he sighed.
'I'm a hypocrite.'
{...}
Kaoru couldn't think of a single thing to say.
Still holding Lala's hand, Kaito led her toward his house.
...
As soon as they stepped through the front door, Kaito let out a small sigh.
"...Finally home."
Lala walked in right behind him.
The moment she set foot inside the house, her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Wow..."
She looked around in every direction like a child entering an amusement park for the very first time.
"So this is what a house on Earth looks like!"
"I... guess so."
Kaito took off his shoes and neatly placed them beside the entrance.
Lala tilted her head.
"Why are you taking your shoes off?"
"Because we don't wear shoes inside the house."
"I see!"
She replied enthusiastically.
The very next second—
She slipped both of her feet out of her shoes...
...and threw them behind her.
WHOOSH!
Both shoes flew across the house.
One landed on top of the sofa.
The other hit a flower pot.
THUMP.
"..."
"..."
Kaito slowly turned to look at the flower pot.
Then he looked back at Lala.
She simply smiled.
"That was fun."
"...Next time, just leave them on the floor."
"Oh, so that's how you're supposed to do it?"
"Yep."
"I understand!"
She nodded seriously, as if she had just learned an important piece of Earth's culture.
{She learns quickly...}
'As long as it doesn't involve explosions.'
{...Fair enough.}
Kaito walked into the living room.
"Well... this is the living room."
Lala immediately began touching everything.
She ran her hand across the sofa.
The curtains.
The television.
The table.
"It feels so comfortable!"
"It is."
She squeezed one of the cushions.
It sank beneath her hand.
Lala's eyes sparkled.
"The sofa melted!"
"No... that's called foam."
"Amazing..."
She squeezed it again.
Then again.
And again.
Five minutes later—
Kaito found Lala lying completely across the sofa.
She was hugging one of the cushions tightly.
"It's so soft..."
"You've just discovered humanity's greatest enemy to productivity."
"Huh?"
"The couch."
"It's dangerous?"
"Very."
Kaito answered with the most serious expression imaginable.
"If you lie down there after lunch..."
"..."
"..."
"You'll never get up again."
Lala's eyes widened.
"Really?!"
"No."
"Oh..."
She puffed out her cheeks.
"You tricked me."
"My bad."
{You're having way too much fun.}
'A little.'
The two continued walking through the house.
"And that's the kitchen."
Lala ran inside immediately.
"Wow!"
She opened one cabinet.
Then another.
Then another.
"There's so much food!"
"That's because I went grocery shopping a while ago."
"Can I take a look?"
"Sure."
'At least my other self remembered to buy groceries before spending all of his money on games and manga,' Kaito thought.
He then looked over at Lala, who was just about to open the refrigerator.
She opened the fridge.
Then stopped.
"..."
"..."
"Kaito."
"Hm?"
"Why is this box blowing cold air?"
Kaito looked at the open refrigerator.
"..."
"It... keeps the food cold."
"Amazing!"
She stuck her entire head inside the refrigerator.
"Hmmm..."
"You're going to catch a cold."
"Aliens don't catch colds."
"..."
"..."
"Fair point."
A little while later...
The two walked upstairs.
"And here..."
Kaito opened one of the doors.
"...is my room."
Lala entered first.
She looked around.
The room was surprisingly tidy.
A bookshelf filled with manga.
A desk.
A bed.
A wardrobe.
A few dumbbells neatly placed in one corner.
"Wow..."
She walked over to the bookshelf.
"You really like books."
"They're manga."
"What's the difference?"
"..."
Kaito thought for several seconds.
"Good question."
{You seriously don't know how to answer that?}
'I don't.'
Lala pulled out one volume.
Then another.
Then another.
"Kaito."
"Hm?"
"Have you read all of these?"
"..."
"Unfortunately."
"How many are there?"
"...I've never counted."
She looked at the bookshelf.
Then at Kaito.
Then back at the bookshelf.
"...You spend a lot of time alone, don't you?"
"..."
Critical hit.
Kaito placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"That one hurt."
"I'm sorry..."
She apologized sincerely.
Kaito simply smiled.
"It's okay."
He then pointed toward the last door at the end of the hallway.
"And that's the bathroom."
Lala immediately took a step backward.
"..."
"..."
"We're not going in there."
Kaito replied without even thinking.
"I completely agree."
The two of them stared at the bathroom door for several seconds.
Then, at exactly the same time—
"...Let's not."
They both said the exact same words.
{...}
Kaoru remained silent.
Perhaps...
That bathroom had truly become a cursed place.