"I told you, didn't I?" Natsuki said without changing his expression, "If there's anyone in the world who likes Miko the most, it must be me."
"Pah."
Miko spat lightly, her eyes full of disdain, but she still didn't reveal Natsuki's deeds.
Playboy, scumbag!
You've said that to every girl, haven't you!
"What happened next?" Miko rolled her eyes at him, then looked at her other-world self, "Then… is Kyosuke alright?"
"Crack, crack."
Parallel World Miko didn't speak. The aluminum can in her hand was distorted by an invisible force, directly deforming and compressing.
"By the time I got home… it was already too late."
Parallel World Miko took a deep breath and threw away the can in her hand.
"..."
The lounge immediately fell silent.
No wonder the Salted Fish Miko, whose wish was for her family to be safe and to just lie flat, could grow into the strongest psychic in the other world. It turned out she had received Obito's backstory.
But Miko would never want such growth, would she?
"You are much luckier than me." Parallel World Miko turned her head to look at her parallel self, and said softly, "I hope you don't, like me, only learn to cherish after losing."
Salted Fish Miko bit her lip:
"I understand."
Her other-world self's personal narration brought Miko a more empathetic shock.
Natsuki said from the side:
"By the way, Miko often had dreams before, seemingly dreaming of you from the other world. What's the situation with that?"
Parallel World Miko pondered:
"It should be psychic resonance… According to what you said, the Strange Tale that appeared in the other world invaded from the current world. There must have been some kind of passage between the two worlds, which is why you dreamed of me."
"Um… how do we get back to our original world?" Salted Fish Miko asked softly, "Mom accidentally broke her bone, and she's still in the hospital."
"I don't know." Parallel World Miko shook her head lightly, "But since you were able to come over, you can definitely go back… You just need to find the connection point between the two worlds."
Natsuki asked curiously:
"Miko, do you know the reason for the Strange Tale disaster in this world?"
"Sorry, I don't know." Parallel World Miko shook her head again, "The entire world has fallen. There's no point in investigating the truth anymore… Your world hasn't been destroyed yet; there's still hope for salvation."
Parallel World Miko looked up at Natsuki and said seriously:
"According to what you said, the holes between the two worlds will become more and more numerous. When the Strange Tales fully invade, your world will most likely be destroyed by Strange Tales, just like my world."
Hearing this, Natsuki and Miko both felt an unspeakable sense of urgency.
During the Russia-Ukraine war, many people gloated and hoped for a third world war, but everyone knew that those people were just ignorant bluster. If a third world war really broke out, those who blustered would surely be the first to regret it bitterly and cry.
At this moment, Natsuki and Miko, having witnessed the apocalyptic scene firsthand, could truly experience the oppression and despair brought by the end of the world.
"You don't know how to go back either?"
Salted Fish Miko's expression was disappointed.
"The strongest psychic is just a title circulated among survivors." Parallel World Miko said speechlessly, "In front of many terrifying Strange Tales, my strength is nothing. Only those Strange Tales probably know when the cracks connecting the two worlds will appear."
"That's true…"
Salted Fish Miko sighed helplessly.
Although her other-world self seemed very powerful, she was still human, and of course, they couldn't rely on her for everything.
At this moment, Natsuki suddenly said softly:
"Then let's go ask an anomaly for directions."
"Eh?"
The two Miko simultaneously cast him puzzled glances.
"It's literally asking for directions." Natsuki explained, "I have a title ability that can force Strange Tales to answer questions."
Parallel World Miko pondered:
"That might be worth a try."
Natsuki then said:
"But it can't be an ordinary Strange Tales like a headless JK. It needs to have at least a certain level of intelligence to understand what I'm saying."
"Hmm…" Parallel World Miko nodded lightly, "I do know where there are intelligent Strange Tales. Shall we go now?"
Natsuki pondered for two seconds, then shook his head and said:
"Let's go tomorrow. We've been running around all day today. We need to rest well tonight and replenish our energy."
"..."
Discussion concluded.
The three walked out of the staff lounge.
"Is there any good news?"
Momo crossed her arms over her chest and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
Natsuki smiled and said, "One good news, one bad news, which one does Senpai want to hear first?"
"Hmph." Momo snorted softly and quickly made her choice, "Bad news first."
"Then let's start with the bad news." Natsuki said, "Even the strongest psychic doesn't know how to cross worlds."
Upon hearing this news, Momo blinked her eyes. For some reason, a subtle, unavoidable emotion suddenly arose in her heart.
It wasn't schadenfreude, but more like a... joy she was unwilling to admit.
Momo quickly banished the subtle emotion from her mind and snorted softly, saying, "Then what's the good news?"
Natsuki said, "The good news is that Senpai can rest tomorrow and won't have to go out looking for Rain Child anymore."
"Why?"
Momo frowned slightly.
Natsuki smiled and said, "Because the strongest psychic in the parallel world has agreed to give us a bunch of raincoats for free."
Momo: "..."
Reasonable.
Ordinary survivors would fight and compete for a raincoat, but for the strongest psychic in the city, catching a Rain Child was not that troublesome at all.
"Tsk."
For some reason, a hint of disappointment welled up in Momo's heart. She pursed her lips and turned to leave.
With Hachishakusama in the internet cafe, and now Momo and Miko from the parallel world, Natsuki could finally relax and get a good night's sleep.
Seeing Natsuki resting on the sofa in the corner, Miko from the parallel world looked at her parallel self and whispered, "Can I ask you something?"
The laid-back Miko was startled, then quickly said, "Just say it. I'll definitely help if I can."
The laid-back Miko knew very well that she, like most people in Japan, was not one to trouble others. If she was asking for help now, it must be something very important.
Miko from the parallel world said softly, "Can you lend Natsuki to me for a while?"
"Eh?" The laid-back Miko's eyes widened, "Lend him to you... what do you mean?"
Miko from the parallel world said calmly, "I want to sleep with Natsuki."
"S-s-sleep?!"
The laid-back Miko's eyes widened in disbelief.
Is this me?
How can I say such shameless words with such a calm expression?!
Even if it's me from a parallel world, I couldn't possibly agree to such a terrible request!
Cars and wives cannot be lent out, and of course, neither can the boy you like!
"You misunderstood." Miko from the parallel world said softly, "I just want to lean on Natsuki and sleep, not what you're thinking."
"That's good..." The laid-back Miko breathed a sigh of relief, turning her face away and whispering, "Natsuki and I aren't dating anyway. You can do whatever you want."
"Not dating yet?" Miko from the parallel world remained calm, stepping towards Natsuki. "Although we each have different lives, still... the advice to cherish the present and not leave regrets is still valid. Don't regret being indecisive."
Miko: "..."
Being lectured by her parallel self felt quite subtle and complex.
Miko from the parallel world walked over to Natsuki, sat down gently on the sofa, then tilted her head, gently leaned on Natsuki's shoulder, and closed her eyes.
The night passed without a word.
The next day.
Natsuki got up, had a simple breakfast, and then distributed the raincoats. Although it was just a small raincoat, once worn, it could automatically enlarge to cover the body, which made the passing passengers marvel.
"I've already explained the effect of the raincoat, so I won't go into it again here." Natsuki clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention. "So if you're really restless and uncomfortable staying indoors, you can go out and wander around today."
"But there's only one requirement—"
Natsuki held up a finger and said calmly, "Once you leave the internet cafe, you're responsible for the consequences. If you encounter an extremely dangerous Strange Tale, please run elsewhere and don't lead it into the internet cafe."
Although Hachishakusama was there and no one dared to cause trouble, the human heart is the most complex and changeable thing. When Momo woke up this morning, she said that several passengers were secretly plotting to go out together to seek opportunities—according to Natsuki, after encountering an anomaly, it's possible to gain supernatural powers, and it's quite normal for some people to crave power.
Natsuki felt nothing about such people.
He was not a savior, nor a saint. Having accompanied these passengers through the most dangerous initial phase, simply because they were on the same subway, was already the utmost benevolence. From now on, it didn't matter if they went their separate ways. He truly didn't care what these people wanted to do.
They were all adults; everyone should be responsible for their own actions.
"Miko, let's go."
Natsuki left the internet cafe with Miko from the parallel world.
The ordinary laid-back Miko remained in the internet cafe with Hachishakusama.
"Wait, I'm coming too." Momo also followed. "It's so boring staying alone."
They walked out of the internet cafe.
Cold rain and mist blew in their faces. It had been raining continuously in this world, as if it would rain until the end of the world.
"Kaidan generally have their own territories and don't leave easily..." Miko from the parallel world explained as she led the way. "Unless their hunting rules are triggered."
Natsuki nodded and said, "In game terms, the monsters wandering on the streets are like miscellaneous soldiers, and Strange Tales are roughly equivalent to elite-level mini-bosses."
"Tsk." Momo crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed, "You make it sound like Strange Tales are easy to defeat. Everyone would avoid those things, right?"
Natsuki said casually, "Although it's a bit troublesome, I have indeed killed many Strange Tales."
"Huh?"
Momo's eyes widened as she looked closely at Natsuki, finally confirming that Natsuki was not lying.
"You're not a psychic, nor have you merged with anything strange, yet you're still so powerful. What exactly is that game?" Momo couldn't help but complain, "Why doesn't our world have it?"
Natsuki mused, "According to the scientists' conjectures, the game might be a defense mechanism of the world itself or something similar, and the purpose of selecting players is to combat the Strange Tale invasion."
"Bastard!" Momo clenched her fist and couldn't help but say, "If our world also had the game, it wouldn't have been so easily destroyed, right?"
"That's hard to say." Natsuki said, "The number of players in our world is actually very small. It's clear that even the game doesn't have the ability to mass-produce players. With the current number and ability of players, if the Strange Tale in your world were to invade fully, I estimate it wouldn't last even a day."
He knew his own limitations.
Natsuki's current strength represented the player ceiling, but if the end of the world came, his meager power would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; he simply couldn't save the world.
Compared to the entire world, an individual's power was still too insignificant.
The three talked as they advanced, directly crushing any monsters they encountered on the way, such as the Headless JK, without dodging.
Half an hour later.
Looking at the familiar yet strange campus before them, Natsuki exhaled lightly and said, "It's Shuchiin Academy."
No wonder it felt increasingly familiar; Miko's destination for this trip was indeed Shuchiin Academy.
The two worlds were standard parallel worlds, with almost identical details. For example, the campus before them was exactly the same as the campus in Natsuki's memory.
But the difference was that Shuchiin Academy in the parallel world had become a ruin, with various clothes scattered all over the ground, and the entire campus was dead silent and desolate.
"It's a school..."
Momo's expression was exceptionally complex.
The day the Strange Tale apocalypse broke out was precisely the last day before Shuchiin Academy's summer vacation. Except for a very small number of people who didn't come, everyone else was at school.
It's well known that students' happiness lies in winter and summer vacations.
On the last day before summer vacation, final exams were over, everyone was happy, discussing their summer plans and arrangements, and then... the Strange Tale apocalypse suddenly arrived.
The campus, once filled with laughter, instantly transformed into a tragic hell on earth.
Classmates suddenly disappeared, eaten out of thin air by some Strange Tales, leaving only their scattered clothes.
To fight for a chance to survive, best friends who were once close turned into bitter enemies.
Teachers pushed their students towards monsters to escape themselves...
Although it had only been a few months, recalling it now felt like a lifetime ago.
As the Kaguya of the Ryuju Group, Momo actually didn't want to go to school. Her classmates were childish and boring, the lessons were dull and tedious. Every day in class, she either slept or zoned out, just wanting to escape the boring campus as soon as possible.
However, only after truly losing it did Momo realize that the campus she had desperately wanted to escape had, unknowingly, become one of the places she most wanted to return to in her dreams.