Listening to the fragmented yet chilling descriptions from the police and the vendors, Koushi felt his blood pressure soaring and his temples throbbing.
He could not stay any longer. With every additional word he heard, the bloody scene in his mind became clearer, and his worry for Aqua's plight and his fury over the catastrophic trouble she had caused intensified.
(I can't listen anymore... I have to find her quickly!)
He spun around abruptly, practically fleeing the crowd of onlookers, and threw himself back onto the streets in search of that troublemaker.
Time ticked by, moment by moment. It was almost time for school, but how could he possibly focus on going to class right now?
Just as he was running frantically and aimlessly, upon passing the entrance of that familiar shrine, a faint yet definite fluctuation came through the link he shared with the heavenly judgment core inside his body!
(She's inside!)
Koushi rushed into the shrine without hesitation, his gaze anxiously sweeping over the quiet courtyard in the morning light. Soon, behind the main hall, near the stone steps where they had shared snacks yesterday, he spotted a white figure huddled on the ground.
It was Aqua!
She seemed to have collapsed from exhaustion, or perhaps fallen into a deep sleep due to the immense emotional turmoil.
The hem of her white nightgown was stained with dried mud and dark brown bloodstains, and her bare feet were in a pathetic state, covered in grime.
Her small face still bore fresh tear tracks, her eyes were red and swollen, and even in her sleep, her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were enduring immense grievance and anxiety.
Seeing this sight, Koushi's initial flood of anger and reproach instantly caught in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word.
He recalled the "hellish scene" described by the police, and then looked at the "culprit" before him, huddled like an abandoned kitten, tear streaks still visible on her face.
Anger, fear, helplessness, and a hint of heartache he refused to acknowledge—all these complex emotions intertwined and churned within him.
(What exactly did this idiot go through...)
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his chaotic thoughts. Now was not the time for questioning; the priority was to safely take her home, ensuring she wouldn't be discovered here by any potential search party.
He quickly pulled out his phone, walked aside, and dialed his homeroom teacher's number.
"Moshi moshi, is this Okamine-sensei? This is Koushi Hōoin... I'm very sorry, but I feel extremely unwell today. I have a terrible headache and would like to request the day off... Yes, thank you for your trouble... Thank you, Sensei."
Hanging up the phone, he sighed in relief. Thankfully, his usually obedient behavior meant his request for leave didn't raise any suspicion.
Next, he vigilantly scanned his surroundings, confirming that the shrine grounds were completely empty.
He walked over to Aqua, squatted down, and carefully avoided the areas on her clothing that might conceal injuries as he gently lifted her into his arms.
The girl's body was incredibly light and felt slightly cool to the touch.
(I need the fastest way to get back...)
He stopped hesitating and focused his mind.
Faint spatial fluctuations rippled out in front of him, and a simple portal, just wide enough for one person and flickering with unstable electrical arcs around its edges, was forcibly opened.
Holding the sleeping Aqua, he stepped through the gate.
The portal quickly closed and vanished behind him.
The shrine grounds returned to the quiet stillness of the morning, with only slight signs of disturbance on the stone steps and residual minor spiritual energy fluctuations hinting at what had transpired there.
The next moment, Koushi appeared in the middle of his own chaotic living room, still holding Aqua.
He looked at the girl still sound asleep in his arms, then surveyed his home, which looked as if it had been bombed, and let out a long, weary sigh.
The trouble had been retrieved, but the much larger mess was clearly only just beginning to be cleaned up.
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