Chapter 374 375: Shimokitazawa Archangel

After the future Hitori Gotoh and Kita Ikuyo pulled out their respective recordings, the atmosphere turned deeply awkward — awkward enough that it successfully killed Ryo and Nijika's desire to go see their present selves.

The future Ryo spent the entire day at the hotel counting gems from Another World with Jhin, thoroughly enjoying the sensation of sleeping in a pile of wealth.

When it came time for the future Nijika to spend some alone time with Jhin, she wasn't nearly as "useless" as the future Kita had described her — she simply carried an air of languid laziness about her, with no other noticeable changes.

Uncharacteristically for someone who preferred staying indoors, she suddenly proposed going out for a walk, nearly startling the other three who'd been in the middle of a card game so badly they threw their backs out.

"Nijika, are you okay?"

"Did I give you a cold by kicking off the blankets last night?"

"Oh, shush, I'm fine. I just want to take a walk with him." She waved lazily at her companions, then draped herself over Jhin. "Let's go."

"Want me to carry you on my back?"

"That wouldn't look very couple-like."

"I don't think you dangling off my back like a cape looks very couple-like either."

"Ugh, so much trouble." The future Nijika muttered under her breath as she walked to his left and laced her fingers through his. "This works too."

Even though it was still summer on the other side when they'd returned from Another World, it was early spring in the Main World — the temperature wasn't particularly high even in the morning. After being buffeted by a few gusts of wind, the future Nijika decisively stuffed her hand into Jhin's pocket. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have come out."

"My great angel of Shimokitazawa... how did you end up like this?"

"Hmph!" She stopped in her tracks, displeased, raising her eyes and puffing her cheeks as she demanded, "What's that supposed to mean? Don't you like me the way I am now?"

"Just kidding. Whether past or present, I've always liked you."

"Mm~ that's more like it. As a reward, just for today, the angel of Shimokitazawa makes a comeback!" The moment she said this, her whole demeanor shifted abruptly — youthful energy chased away her laziness, and she pulled Jhin toward the nearby park with a blossoming smile. "Come on! Let's go to the park!"

Ryo, who happened to be wandering nearby with nothing to do, spotted the two of them from behind. The leaf in her hand drifted slowly to the ground as shock overtook her. She rubbed her eyes, then gaped, looking every bit like a wife who'd just caught her husband cheating.

When did Nijika sneak past me??

She was too stunned to catch up with the pair and could only head home, her heart a tangle of complicated feelings.

If not for the wifely air clinging to her every smile and gesture, Jhin might have nearly mistaken the future Nijika for the present one. Watching her eat a stick of cotton candy as she walked, he mused quietly to himself.

This too, in its own way, was a meal substitute.

Having finished the cotton candy, she tossed the stick into a trash can and stretched. "Mm~ what a shame. The me right now probably hasn't officially started dating you yet — otherwise we'd have a lot more we could be doing."

"Sorry I couldn't satisfy you more, Lady Nijika."

"If you know you've erred, hurry up and confess to the present me. Oh, want me to give you a few pointers on strategy?"

Jhin shook his head, smiling confidently at her. "No need. I'll confess at the right moment."

"Then let me say, on behalf of my present self, that I'll be looking forward to it?"

"Mm."

The future Nijika seemed about to say more when her personal terminal suddenly beeped. She sighed with regret. "Ah... looks like our date is over. The time disturbance should be stabilizing soon."

"I see... then I'll see you in the future."

"Even if I become someone who can't live without you?"

"I told you — past or future, I'll always like you. All of you, too."

"Perfect score answer, though those last four words were a bit unnecessary!" The future Nijika grinned and leaned her face in close, only to pull back right before their lips touched, winking playfully at him. "Hurry up and win over the present me. A great angel's first kiss is very sweet, you know."

Sure enough, as a married woman, the future Nijika had him wrapped around her finger with ease. Jhin felt his heart pierced by her playful smile, and he almost wanted to run straight to STARRY right then to confess to Nijika. She smiled and waved goodbye, her figure gradually dissolving into light.

After taking a deep breath to suppress the impulse in his chest, Jhin decided to head back to Mihama Academy. Ever since returning, he'd only briefly seen the girls before staying by his future wives' side the whole time — his phone was practically bursting with messages on Momotalk from the past few days.

He turned and walked out of the park, but hadn't gone more than a few steps when he spotted a young girl curled up and collapsed on the grass. If not for the abnormal pain twisting her expression, she might have been mistaken for someone sunbathing.

Jhin rushed to her side in a few quick strides. "Little sister, are you okay?"

"Ngh..." Her pale lips had been bitten through, oozing bright red blood. Lost in her agony, she couldn't hear anything around her — her heart throbbed as if being sliced by a knife.

The Blade of Resurrection plunged straight into her small body, but it only managed to ease her pain — the girl's complexion remained dreadful.

Jhin activated cognitive interference, scooped the girl up, and used Spatial Displacement to return to his rented apartment. "Nymph, scan this girl's body for me and see what's wrong."

"Understood." The little angel's eyes emitted light, sweeping quickly over the girl's body, then reported back to him: "Master, she has a congenital heart condition. Without a heart replacement surgery, she likely won't survive past next month."

"Whew~ this kind of congenital issue really can't be cured through magic alone, huh."

After returning to the Main World, Jhin found that the mana and elemental concentration here were extremely low. Using Spatial Displacement to teleport even a certain distance was already pushing his limit, and even the Elemental Armament couldn't be used properly. The Blade of Resurrection could only be summoned by drawing on his own life force.

Coincidentally, the reward he'd drawn from completing this mission was Synapse Biotech — a field the little angel wasn't particularly skilled in. Unfortunately, since this had been an out-of-town mission, there'd been no chance to draw from the Star Deck, which was a bit of a shame.

"Take her to the company for a heart replacement surgery."

"Master, is it really alright to just use biotech on someone completely unrelated to us like this?"

"I can't just watch someone die and do nothing."

"Understood. I'll begin the surgery the moment we arrive at the company. The materials brought back from Another World are more than enough to make a Perpetual Motion Core — it's the perfect replacement heart for this child."

"Do a bit of disguising too, so we don't cause her trouble later."

"Mm."

Since the company was too far from the rented apartment, Jhin had to use Spatial Displacement four or five times before reaching their destination, where he laid the girl on the operating table.

A heart gleaming with a metallic sheen, pulsing steadily, replaced the one she'd been born with.

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