Chapter 304: The Hidden Kurumi
"That's right, Franklin, you come join too. It's really fun."
Looking around subconsciously, the inside of the massive castle had completely transformed into an ice and snow playground. Seeing Tohka's excited expression on the tens-of-meters-high ice slide, Franklin was just about to speak when he saw Tohka sitting on a cushion, holding a popsicle in her hand as she got onto the ice slide.
Looking down at his own body wearing only swimming trunks, Franklin was about to wave his hand to change clothes when he thought of Tokisaki Kurumi on the ice slide. As his gaze shifted, he once again locked eyes with Kurumi at the top of the ice slide.
"I'll trouble you then. I also happen to want to see your comprehension of the domain."
Tokisaki Kurumi revealed a smile and, imitating Franklin's manner, casually waved her hand. In the next instant, Franklin's body, which was only wearing swimming trunks, was immediately wrapped in thick winter clothes.
Carefully feeling and recalling the process of the clothes' formation, Franklin nodded thoughtfully. "Did you also make these large ice sculpture structures?"
Hearing Franklin's question, Tokisaki Kurumi smiled faintly and shook her head.
"I merely provided some ideas. These were all made by Yoshino, Yoshinon, and Kotori. They said they were getting a bit tired of looking at rocks and sand, and that this rare, year-round snowscape was better able to attract their interest."
He nodded in understanding. Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed the case. Seeing Yoshino and Yoshinon happily focusing entirely on making ice sculptures and ice skating, completely oblivious to his arrival, Franklin also smiled in gratification. This was exactly his goal; it was best when the girls were playing to their hearts' content.
Subconsciously searching for Kotori's whereabouts for a long time, Franklin finally saw her staying in a corner with Murasame Reine, making a snowman all by herself. Franklin was just about to walk over when Tohka reached the very bottom of the slide. After casually tossing the cushion aside, she quickly ran toward Franklin.
"Franklin, this is the popsicle-making method Kurumi taught me. It's so delicious. You should try it too. It feels completely different from a sundae."
Looking at Tohka eating a popsicle while wearing a thick padded jacket, Franklin didn't know where to begin complaining for a moment. Seeing her happy expression, Franklin didn't spoil the mood and took Tohka's half-eaten popsicle, taking a light bite.
At this moment, Kurumi also slid down from the very top. Seeing this scene, Franklin was stunned for a moment. Kurumi sliding down a slide... this was a scene he could have never imagined. Seeing the smile coming from the bottom of her heart, Franklin felt even more tangibly at this moment that his actions still held some meaning.
Taking another bite of the popsicle, Franklin smiled and nodded. "The sweetness is just right. It's icy, cool, and crunchy. It's indeed quite good."
Hearing Franklin's praise, Tohka excitedly hugged him tightly.
"If you like it, Franklin, I can make it for you from now on." The smiling Tohka gave Franklin a light peck on the cheek before hugging one of his arms, refusing to let go.
Looking at Kurumi, who stood up in her winter clothes and patted her bottom, Franklin smiled and nodded. "I feel like you've changed a lot, Kurumi. You're completely different from before."
Looking at Franklin with a faint smile, Kurumi shook her head slightly.
"I haven't changed at all. Before, it was just a tough disguise. As for now, I feel like I don't need it temporarily. Showing a bit of my true self feels quite nice too."
Hearing these words, Franklin didn't know what to say for a moment. With a light snap of his fingers, Franklin handed a black-and-red-toned watch decorated with a white rabbit to Kurumi.
"It's a high-tech product. Its computing power reaches the level of a quantum computer, and some special abilities are engraved within it. When you have free time, you can study it a bit. Inside, there are also some memory photos I engraved using the domain. They are photos of you playing together with Sawa Yamauchi. If you don't like them, you can delete them. Once we go back this time, after a little preparation, I will take you to find where Sawa Yamauchi is."
Kurumi's faintly smiling expression stiffened slightly, but she quickly recovered.
"Then I'll thank you in advance, Mr. Franklin. Not just for this device, but also for the new ideas on using the domain that you provided me. I truly appreciate your help, Mr. Franklin. 'Returning a plum for a peach'; this is an idiom I learned when studying Chinese culture. Since you have given me so much help, Mr. Franklin, I must offer some repayment as well. I know the locations of several spirits, such as Nia Honjou, Natsumi Kyouno, and Miku Izayoi. As repayment, once we return from this vacation, I can take you to find them, Mr. Franklin."
Hearing this unexpected pleasant surprise, Franklin's eyes instantly lit up.
"Then thank you for your generous repayment, Kurumi. Once everything is over and all my memories are recovered, I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer. I will absolutely clear all your doubts."
The two smiled at each other. After waving her hand lightly, Kurumi slowly walked toward the outside of the castle. Looking at her back, Franklin could clearly sense that the current Kurumi still seemed to have a layer of disguise. She maintained a slight attitude of distrust toward any person or thing other than herself.
Smiling helplessly, Franklin led Tohka and walked toward Kotori. This younger sister of his didn't have a single friend of her own age. Every day, she interacted with those crafty, scheming old fogeys. It would be a strange thing indeed if she could play together with Yoshino and Yoshinon.
With a gentle wave of his hand, he molded a small snowball. Franklin erased his presence and slowly strolled behind Kotori. Before she could come to her senses, Franklin stuffed the snowball down the back of her neck. In an instant, an exclamation rang out, and Kotori immediately twisted around bizarrely.
It wasn't until the snowball was dug out that Kotori angrily glared at the culprit. When she saw that the instigator was Franklin, Kotori's angry expression vanished instantly, replaced by a touch of disappointment.
"You're back, brother. How are the Yamai sisters? Has everything been resolved?"
Franklin smiled and nodded, then gently rubbed Kotori's head. "In just this short amount of time, your brother has sealed three spirits and even saved an unknown spirit. The progress is... well, it only increased a little bit. But for now, everything is settled, and it's quite relaxing. Do you want to join in a snowball fight?"
Hearing Franklin's words, Kotori's eyes lit up, but then dimmed once again.
"Hearing you say that, brother, I feel like my workload just shot up instantly. I've played long enough. I'd better go work."
Looking at Kotori's rather unhappy demeanor, Franklin wasn't prepared to let her go so quickly. No matter how you looked at it, Kotori was only fourteen years old; completely a minor. She shouldn't be the one doing that work in the first place. Since things had already developed to this point, Kotori needed to be in the happiest of moods to do it.
"Well, there's no rush. Put the work aside for now. When we go back, I'll grant you a super blessing, and you'll be able to finish it in the blink of an eye. For now, playing is the top priority."
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