Of course, while in the hot spring, he left Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen, who had been lying on his shoulders, in his room alone to play.

He did not have any thoughts of defiling a minor.

"Ha…" Kitagawa Tera exhaled in the misty hot spring. He began to sort his thoughts out as usual.

Now that I'm in Ha.s.san City, what I have to do next is simple.

Kitagawa Tera's thought raced.

First of all, he had to visit the ruins of Sucha High School. If possible, it was best to enter during the day since visibility would be better. He would not need to carry a flashlight and would be able to keep his hands free.

The second matter would be to meet the former teachers of Sucha High School.

He had not only got Arano Ryoko to investigate the fire of Sucha High School that day, but he also managed to obtain the contact information of the teachers, who had gone on to different schools after Sucha High School's emergency closure.

Ten years had pa.s.sed, and everything had changed.

Kitagawa Tera tried various methods, yet he only managed to get in touch with one of the teachers.

That teacher was now staying in Ha.s.san City, which saved Kitagawa Tera time traveling to other places.

The third would be to investigate the graduates of that year.

Some hard copy information of that time might be left in Sucha High School's library since it was closed immediately after the fire. Kitagawa Tera might obtain some unexpected gains from checking it. Therefore, checking the library was a must-do on his list.

The sound of something jumping into the hot spring disrupted Kitagawa Tera's thoughts.

Kitagawa Tera looked over. He found that the little female ragdoll had wrapped herself in a little white cloth and was floating on the surface of the hot spring.

The life-like eyes seemed to realize that Kitagawa Tera had found her. Her ragdoll body trembled and quickly drifted to the deep end of the hot spring.

Her speed seemed like she was riding the tide.

"…" Kitagawa Tera.

Kitagawa Tera pulled his bath towel from the small bench behind him and wrapped it around his waist expressionlessly.

Afterward, Kitagawa Tera got up, walked to Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen's side, grabbed her small ragdoll ear with one hand, stepped out of the hot spring, opened the door, and threw her out cruelly.

After completing this quick set of actions, Kitagawa Tera no longer intended to continue enjoying the hot spring. He wiped his body roughly, did the same to his hair, and then put on the yukata in the basket.

Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen had already disappeared from the corridor when he emerged.

Kitagawa Tera could not care less. After soaking in the hot spring, he only wanted to have a good sleep to prepare for tomorrow.

He opened the door and found Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen leaning against the wall. Her ragdoll head was watching the NHK Red and White Song Battle that replayed on the TV for the umpteenth time while her body was still dripping wet.

Although there was heating in the room, this was not good for the body.

Kitagawa Tera rubbed his chin.

He did not know whether a spirit could catch a cold or show signs of bodily discomfort, so he brought the hairdryer to Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen.

As she sensed his impending action, Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen appeared to be throwing a tantrum, and her small head dodged.

Kitagawa then picked her up and blew her with the hairdryer.

A few centimeters away, Kitagawa Tera could almost feel the shock in Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen's eyes.

He did not care. He continued drying her with warm air while saying, "Your mother asked me to take care of you. Since I promised her, I have to do it.

"You might not acknowledge me in your heart now, but this is the truth. So regardless of whether you hate me or not, I won't let you grow into a useless human… ghost. I will guide you like how I guide my younger sister.

"Of course, no one can bully you except for me.

"I promise."

Kitagawa Tera sat on the tatami mat, his eyes clear and serious without the slightest hint of deceit.

With his back straight, he loosened his grip on Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen and looked at her with fiery eyes, waiting for her reply.

Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen's small ragdoll head slowly turned over after Kitagawa Tera looked at her for quite some time. She stood up awkwardly with her round feet and walked step by step toward him.

She slowly climbed up onto Kitagawa Tera's thigh and pulled herself up with some difficulty along the yukata to his shoulders. Finally, her small round hands slowly embraced one side of Kitagawa Tera's face.

Kitagawa Tera's face snuggled Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen's.

Kitagawa Tera could feel the ragdoll shaking slightly.

Her mother had disappeared, leaving her alone with Kitagawa Tera. She could not calm down at all.

"…" Kitagawa Tera did not say a word.

He knew it was useless to continue saying anything at this point. He could only reach out to rub Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen's small head.

They stayed this way for a while before Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen loosened her round little ragdoll hand and laid on Kitagawa Tera's right shoulder with a plonk.

"Sleep." Kitagawa Tera's monotonous voice sounded.

This made Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen more relaxed, and her ragdoll body laid there quietly.

After the ragdoll was still, Kitagawa Tera put her to the other side of the bed and sighed inwardly.

Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen was undoubtedly pitiful. Her mother, Nis.h.i.+kujo Mika, sought death after exacting her revenge and disappeared, leaving her alone.

The wicked had been punished, but the scars left behind would not disappear with time.

Kitagawa Tera rubbed his temples and glanced at the time.

It was already ten o'clock. A strong wind was blowing outside, and the heating in the room made it easy to fall asleep.

Whether the world was warm or cold, Kitagawa Tera could not care.

He stretched…

… Wanting nothing but to fall asleep quickly.

…

The next day, Kitagawa Tera woke up routinely. He stuffed Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen, who was lying on him, into the closet. She banged on the door of the closet, but he only let her out after he had changed.

Feeling the grievance of the ragdoll, Kitagawa Tera kept a straight face.

He was changing clothes, and this should not be seen by a little girl like Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen.

He had his convictions on this matter.

"Let's set off," Kitagawa Tera said. He stuffed Nis.h.i.+kujo Karen into his scarf, revealing only a small part of her head.

From afar, no one would be able to see what he stuffed into his scarf.

After finis.h.i.+ng, Kitagawa Tera took his wallet, slid open the j.a.panese-style sliding door, and left decisively.

His goal today was simple and straightforward.

… Set off to Sucha high school for recon!