She withdrew her small hands.
She didn't even have the courage to point at that demon.
Just seeing Su Yuzu's crimson eyes and the upturned corners of her lips was enough.
The girl could vividly recall... being held by the wrists by Su Yuzu when she had transformed into the Aberrant · Nightmare Singer.
And then, the image of that demon smiling and saying, 'Time to dig in.'
Her toes curled up beneath the covers.
Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi trembled so much she couldn't bite her lip, her pitiful eyes darting back and forth between Soga Ishikawa Irube and the demonically smiling Su Yuzu.
Is this my real father?
Is he still my real father?
Give me back all the touching moments from before!!!
Before Su Yuzu, Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi shivered uncontrollably, and... didn't dare to struggle.
"Eh?"
"Is that so?" With an intrigued expression, Su Yuzu looked at Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi, who was clearly dumbfounded and looked like a little kitten on the verge of being bullied to tears.
She knew—
Of course, that was impossible.
The girl's arrogance from yesterday didn't seem fake.
And when she came to apologize last night, her sobbing couldn't have just been from feeling wronged.
Otherwise... in the dream.
She wouldn't have been bullied until she was like a cat that had cried its voice hoarse.
Her feelings toward me were definitely not as Soga Ishikawa Irube described.
That she was acting out in front of me to get attention because she admired me.
But—
Su Yuzu watched Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi, who looked like she had just seen a ghost.
She knew full well... that the girl must remember last night's dream very clearly.
She would absolutely remember the process of being saved from the abyss of aberration and what happened afterward.
In that case... isn't this interesting.
Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi withdrew her small hands, looking miserable and on the verge of tears but unable to cry.
"Save..."
"Save me..."
"Get me away from this demon."
Just by seeing Su Yuzu, Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi felt like she couldn't even stand.
"I'm begging you—"
"Act like a father!!!" She looked imploringly at Soga Ishikawa Irube, her pitiful appearance a far cry from yesterday's arrogance and insolence.
"I'll be very obedient from now on."
Soga Ishikawa Irube looked at Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt there was no problem.
He didn't know how terrified Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi had been yesterday morning.
Nor did he know what kind of vengeful feelings had driven the girl to wait bitterly for Su Yuzu at her dorm entrance until late at night.
In Soga Ishikawa Irube's eyes, how could his pampered little princess suffer so much just to apologize unless she had a truly deep obsession in her heart?
"This..."
"Could it be that the nonsense I was spouting actually hit the mark?"
"Don't tell me little Kiyomi actually learned those tricks from the novels my wife reads."
"How foolish."
In Soga Ishikawa Irube's opinion, if you like something, you should strive to earn it through effort.
"These kinds of schemes won't win anyone's heart."
But... he saw the sincere gaze Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi directed at him.
Soga Ishikawa Irube had never seen his rebellious daughter look so earnest.
Now he was suddenly in a bit of a bind.
In terms of status, it was no loss for little Kiyomi to latch onto Miss Yuzu's coattails.
In terms of strength... although everyone said Miss Yuzu had brought shame to the Soga family.
But... Soga Ishikawa Irube, who had seen Su Yuzu's grades in mixed martial arts and several other combat practicals, understood.
Even with just her physical skills, the girl's future was bound to be incredibly bright.
"Only the poor rely on mutation."
"The young lady of the main Soga family, with the support of the Technology Division, can accomplish things that even physical enhancement Espers can."
"What's more... the Soga family's foundation isn't just the Technology Division."
"Her future will surely be filled with light."
"As for them both being girls, with the Technology Division being so advanced nowadays, who cares about that?"
"The only problems are whether Miss Yuzu will take a liking to my spoiled girl, and... Lady Soga Yura's opinion."
But—
"Since this is what little Kiyomi wishes for!"
Under Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's tearful, pleading gaze, Soga Ishikawa Irube put on an expression that said he understood everything.
Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi felt as if she had seen the light of heaven.
"It's good that Dad understands."
"Hurry up and find an excuse to take this demon away."
"No... even taking me and getting the hell out would work."
Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi would rather go to the Fourth Action Division for investigation than watch this demon smile at her.
"Of course!" Soga Ishikawa Irube slapped his chest. "Little Kiyomi is very fond of Miss Yuzu."
"Look at little Kiyomi's name."
"Kiyomi citrus."
"It's all preordained fate."
Soga Ishikawa Irube comforted Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi with his eyes, his gaze filled with a fatherly love akin to a landslide.
"Rest assured—"
"Dad... will always support you!"
In truth, back then, he hadn't thought about any Yuzu or Kiyomi.
It was just that his wife's relationship with the main family's madam was relatively harmonious, so he absentmindedly named his daughter Kiyomi.
Boom—!
Though the sun was shining brightly outside, a shadow fell over the girl's vacant, crimson eyes.
She trembled, trying to bite her lower lip.
But in front of Su Yuzu, Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi was so weak she didn't seem to have the strength to even bite her lip.
Seeing Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's pitiful state, Su Yuzu smiled happily.
Although it wasn't a face streaked with pearly tears.
But... this image, as if she'd been broken like a toy, with clear tears silently streaming from the corners of her eyes, was so much more endearing than some arrogant young lady.
[Ding—]
[Recruitable Operator detected.]
[Recruit?]
[...]
Hearing the familiar prompt from the mechanical woman's voice, Su Yuzu hesitated.
Although she had thoroughly bullied the girl in the dream.
But... a contract.
Su Yuzu truly felt this was something that required careful consideration.
Because... Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi hated her.
Seeing Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's face covered in tears, Soga Ishikawa Irube suddenly felt he might have misinterpreted his daughter's intentions.
He was just about to speak.
"Uncle Irube, could you close the door?" Su Yuzu turned to look at Soga Ishikawa Irube.
"I want to ask Kiyomi some questions."
"Done!"
With Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi wearing a pitiful expression that screamed 'I'm so shocked. Are you my dad or her dad?!', Soga Ishikawa Irube briskly closed the door.
Compared to the Fourth Action Division.
What could the young lady of the main family possibly do to little Kiyomi in broad daylight?
Miss Yuzu isn't Lady Soga Yura, who can directly crush a person's spirit.
Miss Yuzu's ability is only 'Psychokinesis.'
Thud—!
Suddenly, only Su Yuzu and Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi were left in the room.
Though the sunlight was so warm, the girl felt the air was freezing cold.
Without even straightening her hospital gown, the girl knelt and curled into a ball before Su Yuzu in apology.
Although... Su Yuzu always felt that for this kind of apologetic posture...
...it would be more sincere to neatly fold one's clothes and place them to the side.
Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi watched helplessly as Su Yuzu sat down on the edge of her bed.
The girl sitting sideways in the sunlight was truly beautiful.
Like an angel.
But... the Su Yuzu in Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's eyes was the image of a starkly-clad girl sitting upon a black throne of thorns, looking down on her.
Her mental domain... from the moment that terrifying throne forcibly tried to squeeze its way in and descend...
...had already been indelibly branded with the mark of domination.
"I'm sorry... Miss Yuzu..." she said in a trembling, tearful voice.
She knew she was wrong.
She really knew she was wrong!!!
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