Chapter 276: The Perfect Closed Loop
"Judging by the timing, it's about right. Mana and Shiori—I'll leave them to you for now, Kotori."
As he spoke, Franklin looked toward Origami Tobiichi and Origami Chiyogami.
"When I come back this time, I'll be able to fulfill my promise and revive Uncle and Auntie… no, I should say Father-in-law and Mother-in-law."
Seeing the trace of anticipation deep in their eyes, Franklin smiled, then turned his gaze to Kurumi.
"How about starting by going after Kurumi-chan from five years ago? When I came back just now, I took control of your past self for a little while."
"I'm not sure whether you still have any memory of it. If you do, do you have any impression of me?"
Hearing Franklin's words, Kurumi's expression shifted slightly. In the end, she simply turned her head away and completely ignored him.
"Lin, what about me? Is there anything you want to say to me?"
Looking at Tohka squeezing her way in front of him, Franklin smiled and rubbed her head.
"Tohka is great in every way. There's nothing special I need to say. I'll be back very soon."
As he spoke, Franklin snapped his fingers lightly. The chocolate cake he had previously owed during the time-stopping incident was materialized into reality.
After handing it to Tohka, Franklin thought of something even more important. His domain expanded once more, directly taking control of the highest-privilege computer in the control room.
After searching and confirming the time of Nagisa Himekawa's death and the time when Yoshino went missing from the hospital, Franklin vanished from where he stood.
At the rooftop where Franklin had left five years ago, Kurumi Tokisaki stood there in a daze, completely unable to move.
Reflected in her eyes was the image of the six-tomoe Rinnegan.
Kurumi's clones arrived one after another. Seeing the state of the main body, all of them fell into confusion and fear of the unknown.
"What do we do now? We're completely outmatched. Zafkiel can't be used, and spirit bullets probably won't help either."
"How about a surprise attack? He just used the Eleventh Bullet to go to the future. He'll definitely come back before long.
"When he does, we catch him before he fully regains awareness and force him to release the main body?"
"That's too naive. Do you really think that's possible?"
After discussing back and forth, the clones still failed to come up with a good plan. In the end, they chose the surprise-attack approach.
The moment Franklin reappeared, dozens of long and short guns were pointed at his head.
"Hey, who are you? What did you just do to me?"
Looking at the Kurumis surrounding him, and at the one clearly acting as their leader, Franklin's Rinnegan flashed briefly. All the clones were instantly controlled.
After roughly calculating the time, Franklin flashed to Kurumi's main body.
Leaning down, he softly whispered a few words into her ear, then snapped his fingers lightly.
In an instant, Kurumi's main body returned to normal. She ignored Franklin entirely and walked straight toward the bewildered clones.
Franklin did not erase those memories. Instead, he set a small switch.
Only when that condition was met would Kurumi recall everything that had just happened, as well as the words he had spoken.
Seeing that everything was progressing normally, Franklin expanded his domain and directly transferred Origami Tobiichi's parents into his own home.
After setting up defensive ice-sealing formations and maintaining their most basic life functions, Franklin sent the two of them directly underground, six hundred kilometers below the surface.
There, Franklin saw Nagisa Himekawa as well, similarly sealed in this manner.
With a faint smile, Franklin returned to Kurumi's side once more. While she was momentarily dazed, his six-tomoe Rinnegan had already taken control of her.
The Twelfth Bullet was used again. Endless spirit energy poured into Kurumi's body. This time, Franklin sent himself directly nineteen years into the past.
Looking at Yoshino, who was reversing in the rain, Franklin finally noticed something amiss. He forcibly intervened, redirecting all the reversal spirit energy into the Yoshinon puppet.
"Hey, Mio Takamiya, if you're there, give me a hand…"
As he spoke, Phantom appeared directly beside Franklin.
"…That's impossible… this time period… this is… Zafkiel's aura…"
Franklin was speechless. He had already heard this line several times.
"Stop talking to yourself. Help me out—can you grant that puppet a trace of personality?"
Upon hearing Franklin's request, Phantom intervened without the slightest hesitation.
Combined with the emotional attachment, a Yoshinon personality was shaped, and Yoshino's memories were directly transplanted into it.
"I'm counting on you. Send them into the Neighboring World, and let Yoshinon's personality stabilize for now.
"As for Yoshino's memories of her mother's death, erase them all. If possible in the future, help her restore them."
Phantom fulfilled all of Franklin's requests without complaint.
Watching this unfold, Franklin grew even more curious about who the Origin Spirit really was.
Why not only was there no hostility toward him, but it even felt like there was a fair amount of goodwill?
After roughly calculating the time, Franklin rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"Even though I don't know your true identity or what you really look like, thanks for your help.
"If you end up drawing everyone's ire in the future, I'll try to protect you. Whether I can actually pull it off, I don't know."
"Protect me? Thank you—but I probably won't need it…"
Not bothering to say more, Franklin directly picked up Nagisa Himekawa and rapidly returned to the Itsuka residence.
While helping her recover from her injuries, the formations were also completed. Once everything was taken care of, Franklin returned directly to Tengu City five years ago.
Having just sealed Kurumi's memories, Franklin once again returned to the school rooftop, looking down at the AST members below, who had already changed back into their uniforms and were cursing loudly.
Franklin smiled, snapped his fingers lightly, and instantly all of their outfits were transformed into various sexy bikini swimsuits.
"Thanks for the perks, everyone. Please go easy on me next time."
After finishing his mischief, Franklin laughed and teleported back to the Fraxinus. He had no hobby of listening to people curse him out.
"You're back already? Everything's settled?"
Seeing Kotori's surprised expression, Franklin smiled and nodded.
"Everything's taken care of. Now it's a matter of home arrangements.
"This time, not only did I take care of Origami and Chiyogami's families, I also saved Yoshino and Yoshinon's mom.
"Their living arrangements will need to be sorted out as well."
After hearing this, Kotori waved her hand slightly. "Leave it to me. I'll take Mana and Shiori to handle the identity paperwork first.
"As for housing, I'll talk to the people below. I think it should all be resolved by tonight."
Watching the three of them leave, Franklin looked at the expressionless Origami and the faintly smiling Chiyogami.
"Let's go. It's time to fulfill my promise."
His domain expanded. Franklin brought Origami, Chiyogami, Tohka, and Kurumi directly back home.
Looking at Reine sitting on the sofa watching TV with Yoshino and Yoshinon, Franklin snapped his fingers lightly, drawing all three of their gazes over to him.