Setting aside Sakura for now, the meeting would take a few more days to arrange, and there were still a lot of complications.
But today, Shiraha was already facing a major crisis.
Night had fallen. Though he'd wanted to stay at the doctors' place, Mei had insisted on fitting in, her exact words: "We can't keep making exceptions all the time."
In the end, they returned to the campus dormitory arranged by the university.
Shiraha didn't go inside. He sat alone at the dormitory entrance, holding the little pink fox, gazing up at the night sky.
The moon was missing a sliver, hanging at the edge of the sky like a mochi ball with a bite taken out of it.
"You're not going to sleep?"
Elysia sat beside him, her head tilted, her starry eyes full of his reflection.
Shiraha thought for a moment, then leaned slightly against his Nee-chan.
He answered directly. "I'm not used to dormitories."
But normal students probably didn't have that issue, in the Far East, various outings and study sessions meant they were used to staying in group dorms.
Shiraha wasn't a normal student.
Elysia's starry eyes curved, her tone lilting. "Not used to dormitories, or not used to me looking at other kids?"
She didn't like dormitories either, even when she was alive.
Elysia got along with everyone, but she had her own little secrets, her own private space.
She swayed gently, as if moved by Shiraha's weight against her.
But the Omnipotent One from the Manticores probably wasn't used to sharing a room with anyone… except her.
She murmured to herself, "I was thinking, does Little Shiraha need his own private space too?"
Instead of being followed by a big sister all day, never alone, never having time to himself.
Shiraha didn't answer, just swayed along with her.
Elysia suddenly grew uneasy. "Little Shiraha?"
She'd only said it, he wouldn't actually want his own space, would he?
Of course, the fairy knew it was the right thing, but without Little Shiraha in her life, she felt a strange emptiness, both hollow and absurd.
Shiraha spoke softly. "I'm listening, teacher."
That single word "teacher" instantly calmed Elysia's mood, though whether it was good or bad, she wasn't sure. After all, that "teacher" was clearly meant for someone else.
Little Shiraha hadn't been swept up in the sentimentality… and as for personal space, he probably hadn't even considered it.
Rin lifted her head.
Shiraha paused, then spoke slowly. "I don't really know much about the Previous Era, but you care about Rin, and Sakura is looking forward to seeing her sister."
"Mobius talks tough, but she doesn't object to the reunion."
"Of course, I understand the risks. I know what Rin could do to the Elysian Realm."
He spoke slowly, weighing each sentence, not reciting a script, but organizing his thoughts. Even if it was just reciting a script.
Elysia sighed, gently pulling Shiraha closer. When the kid got serious, she had to follow along.
Rin ground her teeth softly, clearly displeased.
Shiraha was silent for a long time.
"I know I don't have much weight. I can't guarantee everything will go smoothly, and I can't afford to take responsibility if something goes wrong."
"So Sakura is willing to give up her chance at eternal existence. She trusts Rin, and she's willing to support me."
?!
Rin suddenly realized, what does she mean, giving up her chance at eternal existence?
Shiraha was making things up. In the Elysian Realm, whether you left or stayed, as long as no one destroyed it, you could theoretically exist forever.
But Rin didn't know that. She'd been sealed for fifty-five thousand years, and her knowledge of the Realm was limited to what Shiraha had told her, with a little emotional seasoning.
"I can't sleep, teacher. Stay with me for a while, I really hate these rules and boundaries."
Elysia muttered to herself, you're not the only one, I hate them too.
Honkai had turned people into monsters!
Just then, Rin raised a paw, but Shiraha gently pressed it down, like a child holding onto something precious.
Rin tried to look up, but Shiraha wasn't looking at her. His gaze was fixed on the empty space beside him, though nothing was reflected in his eyes.
Even she wasn't sure anymore whether Shiraha knew she was Rin.
Elysia paused, then let out a soft laugh. She put on an exaggerated theatrical tone. "Oh~ my dear, don't you fret, I'll only ever love you, I bet~"
Shiraha pressed his lips together, but after a moment, he couldn't help laughing.
He complained, though it didn't sound angry. "Nee-chan~"
Rin looked up again. From her observations, whenever Elysia was involved, Shiraha's emotions carried a hint of joy and relaxation.
Shiraha didn't go back to the dorm. Because of his reputation, no one even came looking for him.
Sometimes, he felt genuinely hopeless about the Far Eastern social atmosphere, without a normie leading the way, even if others had thoughts, no one dared to speak up first.
It wasn't long before Shiraha started feeling sleepy, and then a figure appeared in front of him.
"Shiraha?"
It was Fu Hua. She crouched down, her lean and athletic frame looking rather elegant.
Unlike the others, who were busy playing or sleeping, Fu Hua's attention was fixed on Shiraha.
Shiraha blinked hard.
Fu Hua hesitated. "Did you get kicked out?"
Shiraha blinked, then chuckled and shook his head. "I don't like group dorms."
"And I don't like it when my Nee-chan looks at other kids, so I decided to sit here all night."
Rin's situation was giving him a bit of a headache, he hadn't noticed this problem when he'd come back with Mei.
Fu Hua: ….
Kids' possessiveness is terrifying.
He could say something like spending the night outside so easily?
Fu Hua asked softly, "Why not stay somewhere else?"
Shiraha lowered his gaze. "Ah... I figured if I looked pitiful enough, my senpai would feel sorry for me."
Here, "senpai" meant Rin.
Also, Bronya. He hadn't expected that the supposedly reliable Bronya wouldn't notice him, wouldn't come out at the right time to discreetly take the little fox for a bit.
If Rin could just be away from him for a short while, Shiraha could find a way to contact Theresa.
Fu Hua was even more speechless, you kids are terrifying.
Rin woke up then, eyeing Fu Hua warily before looking at the tense Shiraha with confusion.
That confusion only faded when she noticed a small patch of red slowly forming on Shiraha's neck, not again, this Elysia really needs to be shocked.
"But since you brought it up, Fu Hua, I really don't have to sit here anymore. My senpai's pity has its limits."
Before leaving, Shiraha paused. "Oh, if you're free, you can sit here for a while. The stars are brighter from here."
"Maybe it's just because my Nee-chan is here with me, that's why the stars look more dazzling."
With that, Shiraha didn't linger. Fu Hua was Fu Hua, he hadn't built any affection with her recently anyway, so he didn't have to worry about his image.
Rin was about to peek out, but Shiraha pressed her head down. His emotions, at that moment, were unusually light.
Fu Hua glanced at Shiraha, she naturally wasn't going to sit around stargazing, but his words did make her pause for a moment.
Then she looked at the faint marks on the steps, faint, just a few words, freshly pressed. Telekinesis really is convenient.
[Rin, Judah]
There was also a simple emoji, looking somewhat pleading.
Fu Hua instinctively reached for her communicator, but this time, before it could even connect, she cut it off herself.
All she could think was: When did I get exposed?
Did I not look like an elementary schooler???
The persona was flawless too, Otto's identity setup was perfect. Anti-Entropy shouldn't have been able to figure it out.
Still, Shiraha seemed to be choosing cooperation over exposure.
Fu Hua thought it over and decided not to tell Otto. When it came to fighting Honkai, she and Anti-Entropy could share the same goal.
"Sigh.... hope Theresa's not asleep yet."
She crouched down, reached out a finger, and lightly wiped away the text, using just a tiny bit of force.
On the other side, Shiraha yawned. "Nee-chan, at my age, is there anywhere in the Americas I could actually stay?"
Elysia didn't answer, she was still worried about Schicksal's Overseer. Based on her experience, she had a pretty terrible impression of leaders like that.
Shiraha kept talking. "And I'm carrying a little fox, talking to myself…"
"Actually, come to think of it, I should go find Mei or Kiana. Bronya or Yuna would work too."
Worst case, he could find the delinquent senpai, sleeping with a big sister couldn't be wrong.
Elysia slowly snapped back to attention, her starry eyes bewildered, is Little Shiraha provoking me?
Little Shiraha, you're trying to wake a sleeping lion.
She suddenly reached out, but this time, Shiraha dodged quickly. The movement was wide but agile.
Rin was jostled and felt dizzy, but Shiraha seemed to be having fun playing with Elysia.
Sigh.
This kid was hopeless. After she saw her sister, she'd definitely find a way to correct his ghost obsession.
About ten minutes later, Shiraha stood outside the faculty housing again.
His forehead looked a little sweaty, but not much. He knocked on the door.
"Coming."
Einstein opened the door. She didn't even have to look down to see Little Shiraha, who looked like he'd run all the way there.
"…Did you forget something?"
Shiraha summoned his courage. "Doctor, I don't want to stay in the dorm. Can I sleep here tonight?"
Einstein blinked. "Why?"
Shiraha answered pretty directly. "I—I don't like the dorm atmosphere."
Einstein didn't press further. The boy's worries were always written on his face, shallow and easy to read. Digging deeper would probably just uncover kid stuff anyway.
Welt was still awake, it was late for kids, but still early for adults.
After hearing the explanation, he asked bluntly, "Are you being ostracized?"
Not liking group dorms, that had to be the only reason.
"No way!" Tesla chuckled instinctively. "He probably just doesn't want his best friend paying attention to other kids."
Shiraha was so well-behaved, with a big sister like Mei, how could he be ostracized?
Welt thought about it, that made sense. Kids' possessiveness is terrifying.
Shiraha stood in the middle of the living room and nodded firmly. "Yeah, no way I'd be ostracized."
Tesla casually cleared the table, sweeping the clutter aside.
"No problem, we actually had a room ready for you this afternoon. Didn't expect Mei to have so many friends and insist on going back."
Tesla looked at what he was holding. "Need us to prepare a little cage?"
Shiraha quickly shook his head. "No need, she's very well-behaved, really smart. I'll just hold her while I sleep."
So girly… Tesla muttered inwardly. Boys should play with mechs, drive like Schrödinger, not decorate their rooms like a starry sky, carry a pink fox around, and act like a well-behaved doll.
Shiraha's room was the same one from a few years ago, already made up.
Tesla yawned. "Haven't been here in a while, might not sleep well. If you can't get up tomorrow, I'll call your teachers and get you excused."
"As for the room not having stars…" Tesla paused, then smiled. "I'm sure you won't mind, right?"
Shiraha: ….
"No, Nee-chan stopped caring about those stars a long time ago."
Tesla shrugged. Before leaving, curiosity got the better of her. "Why?"
Shiraha's smile was clean. "Because I go outside with Nee-chan to look at the real stars."
Tesla: ….
Such a tragedy, such a well-behaved kid, and he has that imaginary friend.
After Tesla left, Elysia stood quietly nearby, hands behind her back, leaning forward slightly with starry eyes curved as she looked at him.
She was about to tease him, but then she glanced back and saw Rin. The moment she did, she dropped the thought.
Rin really is in the way.
Once Sakura came out, she'd definitely have to ask her to remind Rin about boundaries and distance.
Before bed, Elysia had a sudden thought. "Will Mei and the others worry? When you're not with the group tomorrow morning."
Worry about what? That he'd snap his fingers and pop some kid's head like a watermelon?
Shiraha flopped onto the unfamiliar bed. "I trust the doctors to explain."
"As for Mei and the others, I wish them luck with the rest of the tour."
Anyway, Shiraha wasn't planning to go to college for real. The world wouldn't give him that kind of time.