"I'm back!"
After returning home, Sato walked into the living room and discovered the two little girls lying on the table doing homework.
He casually glanced over it and found that it was all basic addition and subtraction.
"How much have you finished?"
"Just a little left!"
"Then keep at it. I'll leave the snacks here for now. Once you finish your homework, you and Saikawa can eat together."
After saying that, Sato was about to return to his bedroom when he suddenly thought of something and turned toward Kanna's little friend.
"By the way, where does the Saikawa family live?"
Saikawa Riko quickly stood up and answered, "Nearby!"
"I see... then take your time with the homework."
Sato nodded, thinking that at least he would not have to worry about her going home too late.
"Sato!"
Kanna suddenly called out to him.
"What is it?"
"This..."
Kanna stood up and pulled a notice from her schoolbag, handing it over to him. Hidden within her big watery blue eyes was a faint trace of anticipation.
Noticing that, Sato curiously accepted the notice and read through it. Soon, he raised a brow.
A sports festival? Parents allowed to attend?
"Your school is holding a sports festival?"
"Mm!"
Kanna nodded and continued staring directly at him.
"Let me see... next Thursday, huh? I still have classes that day."
Out of the corner of his eye, Sato noticed Kanna's gaze dim slightly. Stroking his chin, he suddenly changed his tone and smiled.
"But it's not impossible for me to go!"
Whoosh!
Kanna abruptly looked up at him, surprise shining in her beautiful eyes.
"I'll go next Thursday."
Sato smiled as he rubbed Kanna's head, but Kanna's delighted expression suddenly became hesitant.
"But doesn't Sato have school?"
"I can just take leave. With my grades, missing one day isn't a big deal. Besides, Kanna's sports festival only happens once, while there are still plenty of school days ahead..."
"Alright, for now you should focus on your homework."
After saying that, Sato turned around and walked back into his bedroom.
"That's great, Kanna-chan! But I'll definitely beat you at the sports festival!"
Behind him came Saikawa Riko's excited voice.
"I won't go easy on you!"
Kanna also replied seriously.
After returning to his room, Sato turned on his computer and began typing again after quite a long break. "Hero Throne" had now reached Volume 14. According to his plans, the story had already entered its middle-to-late stages.
After organizing his thoughts, his fingers began rapidly clattering across the keyboard.
The entire framework of the story was already engraved in his mind. All he needed to do while writing was fill in the details.
After all, the original character settings already existed clearly in his head. Every character felt vivid and alive, which saved him a great deal of effort.
Completely immersed in writing, Sato had no idea how long he had been at it. He completely lost track of time.
When he finally came back to his senses and stretched lazily, the glow of the setting sun had already illuminated the desk before him, brilliant sunset light filling the entire room.
Sato was startled for a moment and glanced at the time.
It was already six o'clock?
He stood up and walked into the living room. The television screen was glowing, and Kanna sat on the sofa blankly watching TV, but the other figure was gone.
"Where's Saikawa?"
"She went home!"
"Sorry, I lost track of time. How about we just eat out?"
"Mm!"
"Then what does Kanna want to eat?"
"Hamburgers!"
"Alright then. Let's go put on shoes."
...
Sato took Kanna to a fast-food restaurant for hamburgers. Although Kanna's appetite was now somewhat under control, if she truly let loose she could still eat an enormous amount. Naturally, that was not something they could expose outside.
After finishing dinner, the two slowly walked home hand in hand.
The moonlight was beautiful, and the starry sky glittered brilliantly.
Looking at the full moon overhead, Sato suddenly realized that according to the lunar calendar, it should be around the Mid-Autumn Festival by now.
People always said that gazing at the moon made one homesick.
"Kanna."
Sato suddenly lowered his head and looked toward Kanna, whose hand he was holding. The little girl seemed to be in quite a good mood after eating.
"Mm?"
Hearing Sato call her, Kanna looked up at him curiously.
After hesitating for a moment, Sato asked, "Kanna, do you miss home?"
Kanna fell silent for a moment before slowly shaking her head.
"Kanna doesn't have a home."
"No home?"
This was the first time Sato had heard Kanna say something like that. Frowning slightly, he asked in confusion, "Then what about your parents?"
Kanna shook her head again.
"I've never seen them since I was born."
Never seen them?
A trace of surprise flashed through Sato's eyes. Then, as if realizing something, he suddenly fell silent.
The Kanna's world was definitely not as peaceful as this one. When Kobayashi first met Tohru, there had still been a God sword stuck in her body. That alone proved the other world was full of chaos.
Since Kanna had never met them, then something had most likely happened to her parents already. Otherwise, with Kanna's long lifespan, there was no way she would never have seen them. And the reason she had followed Tohru here suddenly became much clearer.
"..."
Sato let out a long breath and gently rubbed Kanna's head.
"Then from now on, treat this place as your home."
Kanna stared blankly at Sato for a long time before finally nodding firmly.
"Mm!"
Sato smiled freely as he once again held Kanna's hand.
...
At the same time, not far away.
Several suspicious figures stood hidden at a street corner, watching Sato and Kanna's backs.
The person leading them spoke in a low voice.
"Remember what he looks like?"
"Yeah!"
"But..."
Someone looked hesitantly at the leader.
"Are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?"
The leader stared gloomily at Sato's retreating figure and said,
"No need!"