The comments section all think I'm a really good person.

She held a torn piece of her cloak in one hand, while her other hand was bent unnaturally, appearing somewhat limp. Her once pristine white revue was now in a terrible state, almost soaked in blood, and her once emerald green eyes were now dark and filled with displeasure.

As soon as she returned, she was greeted by Ai Cheng Hua Lian's excited shouts: "Banana! You're back... Ah... How could this be... Such serious injuries..."

Ai Cheng Hua Lian's expression froze, and she looked like she was about to cry.

Because Karen Aijo and Kirihara Kita are still in the underground theater, Nana Ohba has not expanded the stage domain to restrict Saki Koizumi using the rules of the stage.

Of course, without the stage, she's just an ordinary person who's a bit stronger and better at fighting.

After Hoshimi Junna's stage stand took the fatal blow for her, she herself was still seriously injured and barely managed to return here with the help of Akemi Homura's power.

However, her expression remained calm and gentle, and she could still smile: "Karen-chan, are you and Ahara alright?"

"...Never mind us, Banana. Your injuries are more important right now." Aijo Karen's expression wasn't good. Usually a loud, carefree, and optimistic person, she could still show a good expression when she was serious.

“I’m fine, Junna-chan saved me.” Nana Ohba smiled, but the emotion in her eyes was somewhat chilling. “Right in front of me… a wonderful farewell.”

As she said this, Nana Ohba was actually gritting her teeth, looking quite menacing.

In this space that belonged to her, although her injuries looked terrible, they began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

As she spoke softly to Kita Kirihara, she casually shook her cloak, and when she draped it over herself again, it was perfectly intact.

And the severed arm was quickly restored.

"Ah Yuan, you'll stay with us for now." Nana Ohba's tone was full of concern, but also carried an undeniable authority. "In your current state, it would be too dangerous for you to go up against Ms. Kamina. The director and we will protect you."

"...Protect me?" Kita Kirihara couldn't help but feel confused. She looked at Oba Nana in front of her. The stage spotlight shone on the back of the other person, and the stage girl standing there against the light did look very reliable.

However, this is not the reason why Kita Kirihara would accept protection from strangers so easily.

She was silent for a moment, then realized something, looked up, and met Nana Oba's gaze with a hint of certainty.

“You know me,” she said.

[Is this the first time A-Yuan has spoken to Banana while fully conscious?]

Previously, she only talked to the adult A-Yuan. The current A-Yuan probably doesn't recognize Banana and is confused as to why Banana is helping him...

She probably sensed something; after all, A-Yuan is quite clever.

[Banana's attitude doesn't seem like she's treating someone she's just met.]

Just as the comments predicted, Kita Kirihara hastily threw out his question, reasoning rapidly: "You seem to know me very well, and 'I' seem to be very important to you and the Silver Garden, which is why you're willing to go to such great lengths to protect me. This is definitely not the attitude one should have towards a stranger."

“But I have no memory of being with you. There are gaps in my memory. The first time was seven years ago when I was swept away by the void flood and disappeared. The second time was during an attack. The time before that was... the underground laboratory. At that time, I briefly lost consciousness and then saw Saki lying in front of me.”

"...So, you know another version of me?" Kita Kirihara realized this, her eyes widening slightly, a hint of understanding in her gaze. "That's true... otherwise, I wouldn't always appear by such coincidence."

“That’s just how it is.” Nana Oba leaned closer to her, pressing one knee onto the fluffy plush toy cushion.

Her gaze was calm as she raised her hand and used her sleeve to wipe away the blood still dripping from Kita Kirihara's face, which was covered in blood.

Compared to the delicate wound, the rough fabric brushed against the area below his eyelids, causing a numb and itchy sensation. Kita Kirihara subconsciously squinted.

She heard Nana Ohba's voice so close, filled with trust and intimacy, just like... the best of friends.

“You are our partner, an important member of the Silver Garden, so we will protect you when you are unable to protect yourself,” said Nana Ohba.

Aicheng Hualian added, "Just like how you protected us, Yuan Yuan."

Kita Kirihara pursed her lips, opened her eyes, and saw two stage girls with concern in their eyes.

Both of them stood tall and imposing, exuding a sense of reassurance, taking such good care of me and protecting me without hesitation.

Kita Kirihara knew that this was his friend.

Even though there are no memories of spending time together, the heart still remembers.

She realized the bond between herself and these people she could no longer remember.

That is why, after a moment of silence, Kita Kirihara still managed to utter words of refusal.

She cannot accept the protection of the Silver Court.

"I'm sorry," she said, her eyes filled with determination. "I can handle this trouble myself."

[Is A-Yuan afraid that Banana and the others will get hurt again?]

After all, a crazed Koizumi is not so easy to deal with.

But if it's just A-Yuan himself, I still feel it's very risky.

[He probably got caught by Koizumi as soon as he went out.]

Blindly accepting protection isn't a good solution either.

Unless the problems with Chief Executive Koizumi are resolved.

Speaking of which, why hasn't the adult A-Yuan appeared yet?

[Could it be because if the adult Ahara were to emerge, the current Ahara would completely disappear, so she's afraid to release her adult self?]

That's very likely the case...

We're currently at a stalemate.

Kita Kirihara's rejection reached the ears of Ooba Nana and Aijo Karen, who exchanged bewildered glances.

"...Let me be frank, Ahara, you can't do anything right now." Nana Ohba sighed.

"Honestly, there's a limit to how much you can push yourself," Aijo Karen couldn't help but say, puffing out her cheeks. "Compared to us, Yuan Yuan, your situation is the worst right now, isn't it?"

“But this has nothing to do with you.” Kita Kirihara rarely argued so firmly, and she was very serious. “You will get hurt… or even die.”

With a solemn expression, she emphasized again, "Although I don't remember anything, if my friend dies because of me, it will be a shadow over my entire life."

Despite Kita Kirihara's statement, Ooba Nana was even more assertive.

Her smile vanished: "Does A-Yuan mean we should just let you die?"

“That’s not what I meant.” Kita Kirihara met her gaze, his aura equally assertive. “Besides, I won’t die so easily.”

Nana Oba suddenly laughed; she was now very close to Kita Kirihara.

So she simply reached out and, just like Saki Koizumi, grabbed Kita Kirihara by the collar, rendering him unable to move.

She smiled, but her eyes were full of anger. Her voice was low and husky: "You won't die easily? Stop talking nonsense, Kita Kirihara. Even if you're going to throw a tantrum, there's a limit."

She called out Kita Kirihara's full name, and the way this usually gentle and warm person suppressed her anger was truly chilling.

"You can't even resist me now, what are you thinking about? Trying to escape from Ms. Kamina? Not wanting to involve the Silver Garden? Or do you just want to die?" Nana Ohba sneered, "You can't do anything, you're just giving up."

"..." Kita Kirihara was shocked by the speed at which the other party changed her expression. She was stunned and realized the subtle hint in Ooba Nana's words.

Me now...?

The person Nana Ohba knows is probably another version of herself.

That Kita Kirihara must be far stronger than I am now, and he wouldn't just be protected by everyone...

“But it’s okay.” Seeing her dazed expression soften, Nana Oba reassured her, “I will protect you.”

Don't be afraid or anxious, because she will protect everyone.

And this "big group" naturally includes Kita Kirihara.

She doesn't like the drama of friends parting ways.

Under her protection, Kita Kirihara will one day return to everyone.

Just accept her protection without worry.

Kita Kirihara fell silent, gazing at Oba Nana before her, her feelings a complex mix: "You..."

She hesitated, uttering only a single syllable, ultimately unable to express the words in her heart.

If... she was just saying if.

What if she isn't the Kita-Kirihara that the Silver Garden wants to protect?

Even so, is it possible to gain this friendship?

Kita Kirihara lowered her eyes, the pain in her body and the suppressed bitterness in her heart spreading up layer by layer, almost making it hard for her to breathe.

Saki... does that mean you don't want her anymore?

Despite knowing that such thoughts were wrong, Kita Kirihara couldn't help but think about them.

If Saki doesn't want to see him anymore, and is even willing to kill him for it... then, wouldn't it be better for him to disappear?

Then, let another version of yourself, stronger and more useful, return.

After all, the seventeen-year-old Kita Kirihara existed only for Koizumi Saki. When Koizumi Saki no longer wanted her, then there was no point in her clinging to this body.

And her other self at twenty-four... there are still many people waiting for her to go back, aren't there?

"..." The struggle in Kita Kirihara's eyes was clearly captured by the camera.

The complex emotions of bewilderment, resentment, self-blame, unease, and anxiety evoked sympathy from the audience.

[Saki Koizumi, you vicious dog, your crimes are heinous!]

[Ah Yuan is starting to doubt himself.]

[I'm actually quite curious, if this underage Ahara really disappears completely because of this incident, what will Koizumi think when she wakes up at age three and faces the adult Ahara?]

[Support justice and beat up the chief]

Domestic violence is unacceptable, but if it were an adult A-Yuan and the Chief, I'd just want to see them fight it out.

【hhhhhhhh】

[Le, it would be best to completely break through their defenses, right?]

[To be honest, don't you guys want to see the Chief or a mature A-Yuan, that kind of bad woman, break down?]

[I want to watch it... but this underage A-Yuan is innocent, right? Waaaaah!]

Indeed, indeed.

I don't care! I just want to see rivers of blood flowing.

Ah, adult A-Yuan could definitely act out some adult scenes, right?

[A love-hate relationship... I'm all better now, hehehehe]

[How many Soul Hall elders could you possibly take in one meal?]