Tokyo Psychic

Akira Kurusu took off her shoes by the entrance and put on the slippers that Shoko Toyokawa handed her.

The slippers had just been unpacked and had a faint plastic smell.

Toyokawa Shoko's father... a man named Toyokawa Kiyoko sat at the dining table in the living room. When he saw Kurusu Akira, this son-in-law, who had once held a high position in the Toyokawa family, showed a very complicated expression.

As Akira Kurusu entered the living room, Kiyotaka Toyokawa surprisingly stood up.

Good evening, Mr. Toyokawa.

Akira approached him politely and greeted him.

Immediately afterwards, under the astonished gaze of Toyokawa Shoko, Toyokawa Kiyoko bowed to Kurusu Akatsuki.

"Thank you very much for taking care of Xiangzi."

Perhaps it was because he was truly used to bending over, or perhaps it was out of guilt and self-reproach towards Toyokawa Shoko, but Toyokawa Kiyoko said with a serious and earnest face, "In the future... I hope you can continue to take care of Shoko."

When Toyokawa Shoko, who was following behind Kurusu Akira, saw this man display such a humble posture, and even utter such earnest and pleading words, she was shocked.

She felt as if a very vulnerable spot in her heart had been struck hard, and a warm pain instantly spread throughout her body.

It felt as if a thousand words were stuck in my throat, but when I opened my mouth, not a single word came out. Only a dull pain came from the corner of my eye and the tip of my nose, and then a bitter feeling, as if some blood-like substance was about to flow out.

For the first time, Toyokawa Shoko understood that the feeling of "wanting to speak but holding back" was not awkwardness, but rather because the emotions were so intense that when trying to express them, the words would be burned pale and gradually burned to ashes.

Akira Kurusu was clearly taken aback for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and supported Kiyoyuki Toyokawa's shoulder.

Toyokawa Kiyoko quickly stepped back, and when he noticed Toyokawa Shoko behind Kurusu Akira, he felt a sense of relief.

He subconsciously turned his head to look at the suitcase in the corner of the living room, which Toyokawa Shoko had already packed with clothes for. After hesitating several times, he still said slowly, "You should have been prepared long ago. As an elder, let me give you some advice from someone who has been through it all."

Since that's the case, it's clear that Kiyoyuki Toyokawa is aware of the complicated emotional relationship between Shoko Toyokawa, Mutsuki Wakaba, and Akira Kurusu.

"Please speak." Akira Kurusu took Toyokawa Shoko's hand. The girl looked down at the tips of her shoes... Although her vision was obscured by the fullness of her chest, she still avoided the slight embarrassment of admitting her absurd relationship to her father.

"Whether it's Xiangzi or Xiaomu, they are both still in school, and it's an all-girls school... Just for their sake, please pay a little more attention to their safety in that area."

"Alright! How can you talk to a guest like that!"

"Did you... the first time you were together?"

"Okay! I'll be more careful next time!!" Toyokawa Shoko stammered a few words, then fled into the kitchen as if running away.

The kitchen door closed, and Lai Qixiao sat down awkwardly at the dining table.

Kiyotaka Toyokawa also sat down, and a subtle awkwardness filled the silent atmosphere.

After a while, he lowered his voice and said to Akira Kurusu, "Sometimes the Toyokawa family might have bad intentions, so you must be careful."

"Toyokawa... Oh, my grandfather told me about these things, so I will try to avoid contact with them."

"That's good." Toyokawa Kiyoko stared at the empty table, lost in a long, drawn-out memory, and then fell silent.

......

After Akira Ryū finished eating the dinner that Shoko Toyokawa had prepared, he made a promise to move to "Fujiki-ju" starting the next day, and then set off to leave.

The night sky over Akabane Town was a hazy, gray expanse. Far from the bright lights and bustling city commercial district, the moonlight shone exceptionally brightly in the dim starlight.

Even the streetlights had stopped working due to years of disrepair, and the road to the tram stop was filled with a depressing darkness.

In such an environment, only being enveloped in the bright moonlight can give one a sense of security.

Akira Kurusu looked up at the waning moon. All the memories of that girl became clear and vivid because of the appearance of the Persona "Dioscuri"—her smile, her eyes, and her mischievous yet enthusiastic voice...

Only at this moment did he feel truly grateful to "Ren Amamiya" for leaving him with such a persona.

Even if the past vanishes like smoke, even if the "once" that was within reach is written as the unattainable "forever"... at least the girl who changed him, and everything precious that laid the foundation for the existence of this "Kurasu Akira," are engraved on his soul with each [memory archive] and [memory retrieval].

It's been so many years since Shiomi Kotone closed her eyes...

Although he knew he would never see that devilishly beautiful and alluring girl again, yet one who seemed capable of igniting sorrow and trouble at any moment.

However, when Akira Kurusu is walking alone under the moonlight, she still can't help but pray to Ferremon.

I wish I could see her one more time.

Even just a few words of thanks.

The boy's sneakers made a crisp sound as the thick heels clicked against the tram steps.

"Click, click."

The sound, like a key being inserted into a lock and turned, echoed in the empty station.

......

"Click, click..."

The key was inserted into the lock and turned. When the door was pushed open, a cold sound echoed in the deserted apartment. A cold doll sat on the deserted sofa.

Miku Miku closed the door and turned on the lights.

She took off her shoes and ran to the sofa on one side of the living room.

This highly anticipated star, who debuted under the name "Sanka Hatsuka" and formed the idol group "Sumimi" with Mana Junda, was now kneeling devoutly and humbly beside the sofa.

Miku Miku didn't dare to touch the doll in front of her easily. Instead, she rested her forehead on the edge of the sofa, took several deep breaths, and then sighed.

"Xiangzi," she said in a hoarse voice.

A Q-version "Toyokawa Shoko" doll, with photos provided by Miku Miku and a large sum of money spent to customize from a toy factory, sits silently on the sofa.

"Xiangzi..." Miku's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

She looked at the doll in front of her with pleading eyes, like the most devout believer praying that the gods would cleanse her of her sins.

But the god that Miku prayed to never responded to any of her requests or wishes.

Because she was not a true believer, but merely a selfish person who took the name of a believer and tried to share in God's grace.

Even though her mind has been twisted by sin and evil, even though she has offered her entire faith to God in utmost fear and trepidation, she cannot even receive doctrinal punishment...

Misaki Miku's vision flashed back to Akira Kurusu's face, and an icy chill immediately crept up her knees.

Then, she reached out her trembling hands and held the "god" inside the doll, which was her "idol".

The sewn-up eyes stared blankly at the triangular Hatsune Miku, the polished spheres reflecting a pair of murky eyes.

Ah… Misaki Miku let out a silent groan. The “statue” in front of her seemed to inflate and expand instantly, then became unrecognizable, turning into a grotesque and monstrous creature with a distorted mouth that opened wide and stretched continuously. The sewing threads broke one by one, spewing out jets of black air that instantly enveloped her beautiful face.

Misaki Miku seemed to lose all her strength instantly, suddenly collapsing backward, her head hitting the edge of the coffee table. Her empty, cloudy eyes reflected the shadows of Akira Kurusu and Shoko Toyokawa walking side by side in the night of Shimokitazawa.

The doll on the sofa fell into her arms because of the noise.

The statue, once cherished as a treasure, was abandoned in the instant it collapsed, and no one even had the thought of righting it.

Misaki Miku looked at "Toyokawa Shoko" and gave a somewhat tragic smile.

At that moment, she realized that her "god" had been stolen.

The word "god" has been corrupted.

The faith she took as her salvation and the anchor of her life has been completely tainted.

When the thief stole the idol, he probably never imagined that there were believers who were walking in darkness because of God.

The thief named "Ren Amamiya"...

As Miku Miku held the plush toy in her arms and raised it high, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

A twisted jealousy is like a burning torch, threatening to ignite a temple of the soul.

Amidst the sea of ​​fire, the statue collapsed, its shattered face reflecting the flames, revealing a poignant sanctity.

She knew that she could no longer take back her "godhood".

After all, the colossal behemoth blocking their path was none other than the renowned Toyokawa Group...

But as the illegitimate daughter of the Toyokawa family, and having inadvertently given up the opportunity to participate in family affairs, how can she overcome this obstacle that is comparable to a mountain?

Miku ...

Twisted jealousy, on the other hand, swells unchecked in the emptiness within, until it is completely filled.

Soon, she figured out what she could do.

There is no need for Miku Miku to cross the border into the Toyokawa family.

All she needs to do is destroy "Ren Amamiya".

Destroy the boy Shoko Toyokawa admires, her favorite band, all her friends, and that guy named "Mutsuki Wakaba"... destroy them all.

Miku ...

If only Shoko Toyokawa were to be free from her bandmates, her childhood sweetheart from kindergarten, and her boyfriend to whom she placed her affections... if only Shoko Toyokawa were to be free from that vulgar filth, she could become angelically pure again, she could become her own "god" once more...

Toyokawa Shoko, all you need is me. Miku Miku's fingers dug deep into the doll's throat, scooping out pale cotton wool from the gaps in the sewing thread.

By the time she snapped out of her reverie, the doll in her hand had been torn apart, its head and body separated.

Miku stared blankly at the broken doll in her hand, then a sinister smile appeared on her face.

Yes, her "god" has been tainted.

Even if we take it back, it will still be filthy.

So it doesn't matter how dirty Miku Miku has become... She can do anything to "take back" Toyokawa Shoko.

First, the relationship between Toyokawa Shoko and Kurusu Akira must be destroyed... Misaki Hatsune devised what she thought was a flawless plan: get close to Kurusu Akira, then create signs of "cheating," and then let Toyokawa Shoko find out.

She plans to use her status as the illegitimate daughter of the Toyokawa family to entangle the young couple's relationship in a series of ethical issues.

Even the purest love can't withstand such contamination, right?

Mitsukasa Mitsu was lost in thought, with one idea after another rapidly emerging from her mind.

She was completely unaware that on the balcony of her apartment, bathed in moonlight, a boy with blue hair and a side-swept fringe, wearing the very familiar uniform of "Private Moonlight Academy," stood ramrod straight against the wall.

Unlike Miku Miku, whose thoughts were constantly growing due to jealousy.

The boy's face was devoid of any emotion, as if he had given up all thought.

He maintained this posture from beginning to end without making any movement, too lazy to think or act, as if he were in a deep sleep and remained motionless.

Even a crisis powerful enough to destroy the world could not stir any ripples in his stagnant heart.

Perhaps initially he was just trying to escape his mistakes, but over time this escape gradually evolved into a deliberate neglect, or even a complete abandonment of related thinking and action.

They did nothing, ignored the growth of evil, and even disregarded the life and death of those around them and themselves.

In stark contrast to the twisted jealousy of Miku Miku, this is the ultimate twisted laziness.

......

at the same time.

The Tatsumi artificial harbor island located in Iwatodai, Minato Ward, Tokyo.

Kotone Shiomi, who was fast asleep on the bed in the bedroom, suddenly opened her eyes.

She instinctively reached for the Persona summoner under her pillow, only to find nothing, unsurprisingly.

The former contractor of the Velvet Room quickly got out of bed, stood by the window and looked at the moonlight spread out like a cloth in the night sky, his eyes showing gloom and worry.

-----------

(I was writing until 3 a.m. last night when I accidentally fell asleep and entered compensatory sleep. When I woke up, I found that I had missed a morning of classes. I rushed to the office to receive a severe scolding from my counselor, so I didn't write anything for most of the day... It's really too much of a challenge to update my schedule on weekdays.)

(However, I have some good news for everyone: the full subscription group is now open, and we are gradually adding all the main text content that was cut off due to the review process...)

(Instructions for joining the [Full Subscription Group] are already written in the group announcement of the book club. The group number is in the pinned comment in the book review section. You can join any group. If you feel there are too many groups, you can leave the book club after joining the [Full Subscription Group].)

176. That Day That Can Never Be Returned To (Part 2)

The bedroom light is off.

Miku sat on the edge of the bed, facing the open wardrobe, looking at the clothes she had brought from her "hometown" to Tokyo. A sliver of moonlight was reflected in her cloudy, dim pupils.

Moonlight streamed through the window and fell on the carefully sealed school uniform in the corner of the wardrobe.

The clothes from junior high school no longer fit her in size, but this was one of the few pieces of luggage that Miku Miku was able to take out of that artificial island.

During the period when she first arrived in Tokyo... at least until she successfully debuted as an idol group and entered Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy, she used this garment as everyday clothing to keep warm.