Chapter 223: Origami Tobiichi
"Well, as far as I know, the two of them didn't have any interaction before this."
On the rooftop, looking at Origami Tobiichi's expressionless face, Franklin honestly didn't know what to say for a moment. After a brief pause to think, he decided to get straight to the point.
"We just met at the spacequake site, right?"
"…Mm."
That flat demeanor made Franklin choke on his words again. It felt strangely similar to facing Ikaros before her memories were unsealed.
"Aren't you curious why I was there?"
Origami Tobiichi calmly shook her head.
"Then aren't you curious why I have such incredible abilities?"
Origami Tobiichi remained silent for a long time before finally nodding.
"A little curious. But after rigorous testing with instruments, you aren't a spirit. As long as you can protect yourself, that's enough.
Places like that are dangerous—next time, Lin, you shouldn't go there.
As for what you said there, Lin, your understanding is mistaken. Spirits are existences that must be eliminated.
My parents died at the hands of a spirit five years ago."
Facing her own past so bluntly caused Franklin to freeze for a moment. Looking at Origami Tobiichi's gloomy expression and eyes filled with killing intent, Franklin let out a quiet breath.
"I'm sorry. I brought up bad memories for you."
Origami Tobiichi quickly returned to her poker face and shook her head straightforwardly.
"It's fine. I don't mind."
Knowing exactly why Origami Tobiichi had become the way she was, yet being unable to directly explain everything, made Franklin feel genuinely uncomfortable.
"Origami, is it okay if I call you Origami from now on?"
"Lin, you can call me whatever you like."
"Are you living alone right now? If possible, how about living at my place from now on? It's quite big—having a few more people wouldn't be a problem at all."
As Franklin spoke, Origami Tobiichi's stiff expression and dead eyes showed slight changes.
"Lin, are you inviting me to live together with you?"
Franklin nodded seriously.
"Yes. I want to interact with you more closely, to lay the groundwork for revealing some secrets to you in the future.
That way, you won't completely lose your mind when the time comes."
Aside from the first two words, Origami Tobiichi selectively filtered out the rest.
"I'll quickly pack everything up. I'll move in tonight.
It won't cause you any trouble, will it, Lin?"
"It won't. But there's one thing I need to make clear in advance. I'm very close with my sister. I hope you treat her the same way you treat me."
"Lin's sister, Kotori Itsuka. I'll do my best."
That answer didn't satisfy Franklin at all. After all, to the current Origami Tobiichi, he was still nothing more than a stranger—and at best, merely an emotional anchor for her.
"No. Not 'do your best.' It has to be 'definitely.' Otherwise, the cohabitation plan is off."
Facing Franklin's firm stance, Origami Tobiichi finally nodded.
"I will."
The entire afternoon passed with Franklin waiting for spacequake fluctuations, but nothing happened.
Even when the dismissal bell rang, there was still no spacequake alarm. Only then did Franklin realize he had remembered the timing wrong.
Feeling the gaze that had been fixed on him disappear, Franklin turned to look at Origami Tobiichi sitting beside him. She was packing her bag, preparing to leave.
"I'll come help too. If you're living alone, you must have quite a lot of things. Can you carry them all by yourself?"
Faced with this question, Origami Tobiichi fell silent. After a long while, she shook her head.
"I live in the AST dormitory. You already had some contact with them earlier today.
Although after reporting it, the higher-ups responded that you don't need to be dealt with, they still harbor deep resentment toward you, Lin."
Watching Origami Tobiichi turn and leave without hesitation, Franklin didn't force the matter. He headed straight for the Fraxinus instead.
The moment he appeared in the control room, before Franklin could even react, a flying kick came straight at his chest.
"You bastard big brother, what are you deciding on your own?!
Why did you invite that AST Origami Tobiichi to live with us?!
Don't tell me what you said this afternoon was actually about that fox."
Dodging and steadying Kotori, Franklin smiled and explained, "Aren't we trying to save spirits? Infiltrating the AST first is the best approach, right?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? Get to the point—what's the real reason?"
A punch landed on Franklin's jaw, sending him stumbling back two steps. Seeing Kotori about to strike again, Franklin quickly raised his hand to stop her.
"Wait—actually, Origami is also a spirit. I'm just starting her route early, maxing out her affection.
When she transforms into a spirit later, I'll just go for a forced kiss."
"That explanation does sound plausible, since…"
Kotori stopped mid-sentence and stared straight at Franklin.
"I'll accept that explanation for now. If it doesn't come true later, I'll settle this with you again.
You can go back first. Make dinner a bit more elaborate tonight—she's still a guest, after all."
"Th-then what about that romance training course? Don't I need to learn it? I really do think I need it."
Kotori shot Franklin a fierce glare and decisively turned away.
"There will be a practical lesson tomorrow. Your task for today ends here."
Seeing that, Franklin said nothing more. With time still early, he silently sensed the location of his Flying Thunder God mark. In the next instant, he vanished from the control room.
"Captain, your brother didn't go home. Instead, he appeared on the outskirts of Tengu City.
Would you like to monitor him in real time?"
Kotori didn't really want to ask, but after thinking for a moment, she still nodded.
"Pull up the satellite feed. I'm also curious what he's doing out there."
At that moment, in a rarely visited park on the outskirts of the city, Kurumi Tokisaki—wearing a black dress and covering her left eye—was squatting on the ground, playing with several kittens.
Nearby were several empty cat food cans. As spatial fluctuations rippled outward, Franklin appeared directly behind Kurumi Tokisaki.
His sudden appearance startled the kittens, who immediately scattered in all directions. Kurumi, having lost interest instantly, slowly stood up and turned to look at Franklin.
"Ah~ my, my. Long time no see, little brother. Have you been following me all this time?"
Franklin didn't reply. With a flicker of Illusory Genesis, a parasol, a small wooden table, and two small wooden chairs appeared beside them.
He gently pulled out a chair. After hesitating briefly, Kurumi sat down at his invitation. Franklin smiled faintly and took the seat opposite her.
With a casual wave, a tea set appeared. Using water spiritual energy to brew black tea grown with wood spiritual energy, tea quickly filled the pot.
He poured a cup for Kurumi, then one for himself.
"I haven't been following you. I just left a mark on you—something I can always locate.
I was bored, so I thought I'd come chat with you about hobbies, about life, about dreams and such.
After all, I'm a high school student who's full of confusion about the future. Seeking guidance from a knowledgeable big sister is very important."