*Ding!*
[A character’s connectivity rating to you has surpassed 100. You’ve received that character’s reward card].
[A female character’s favorability or connectivity rating to you has surpassed 100. You’ve now unlocked the ‘Spiritual Power’ statistic, as well as the ‘Spiritual Abilities’ option. You may now exchange points for items to increase your Spiritual Power stat and use Spiritual Abilities to obtain points or items].
[A female character with spiritual powers has a favorability or connectivity rating to you that has surpassed 100. As a reward, you’ve received a card for free—[Spiritual Ability activation card].
A few lines of text appeared in front of Seiji.
‘Spiritual Power statistic? Spiritual Abilities options!?’
Seiji’s system suddenly reminded him of its existence and helped him to come back to his senses.
Although he was quite curious about his new abilities, it currently wasn’t a good time for him to check them out.
Seiji smiled back at Shika, who was smiling so movingly.
"Calling me that… seems a little embarrassing."
He softly hugged the girl and slowly pulled her closer.
Just like before.
"But… I’m so happy. I… don’t even know how to express it."
He enjoyed her warmth, becoming aware of just how inwardly moved he was.
"You… remember everything?"
Shika slowly shook her head.
"There are still some parts that are hazy, but I remember the main parts…"
Seiji took a deep breath.
"Wonderful."
Those memories he saw as precious were recalled by her. She considered them important as well. This was the best outcome.
The two of them hugged in silence for an indeterminate length of time.
Seiji slowly let go of her as the tumultuous feelings in his chest finally calmed down.
Shika also let go of him.
Seiji scratched his face. "How did you remember?"
He was under the impression that she would completely forget everything or only have faint impressions. That’s why… Ahh, it was too embarrassing to remember!
"Natsuya Yoruhana told me that you were the one who took care of me while I had amnesia. Seeing the items in this room gave me a strange feeling, and the maid here gave me some hints…"
Shika slowly and clearly explained things to Seiji while keeping her eyes constantly focused on his face.
Seiji felt that his face was beginning to burn up a little as she watched him with those deep, emotion-filled eyes of hers.
Wait a moment! Was this akin to some type of shameless role-playing?
He wanted to stop himself but couldn’t… Eh? Was that the correct usage of this phrase?
‘Forget it! Who cares? I’ll just die in shame!’
"I thought that you’d forgotten completely, so I didn’t want to burden you any further. That’s why I didn’t tell you…" Seiji paused for a moment. "But Chiaki, the silver-haired girl in your sketch… er, she always likes to wear the boys’ school uniform, so Shika-chan… might’ve mistaken her for a boy when you had amnesia. At any rate, she pointed out that I was making a huge mistake, which was why I wanted to explain everything to you now. That’s why…"
He seemed to be rambling? Just what was it that he wanted to say?
Seiji averted his gaze, looking at everywhere except Shika as he somehow managed to explain things before looking back towards her again.
He saw that Shika was still looking at him with such deep feelings in her eyes.
Ahh…
He was no longer able to even speak.
"Brother Seiji~"
Seiji felt that his heart had been pierced!
The black-haired girl was smiling in her own beautiful unique style, but she was using Shika-chan’s soft and cute tone of voice to call him brother. This was too much for him to handle!
It felt like he was on the receiving end of a secret ultimate hidden combination technique from a fighting game.
"Can I call you that from now on?"
"Mmm… of course."
Rapidly increase mental resistance levels! Sergeant Haruta, construct fortifications to preserve your sense of logic and reason!
Seiji was worried about whether or not he would… but this type of request was impossible to refuse, so he definitely couldn’t refuse it!
Sergeant Haruta accepted the mission while resolving himself for possible death in the line of duty!
"Brother Seiji…" Shika was grinning at him.
Yet her grin was tinged with a hint of sadness.
"I’m thankful for everything you’ve done for me," she said. "But I still possess the ‘Reaper’s Curse.’ If you get too close to me, you’ll… That’s why…"
"There’s no that’s why!"
Seiji decisively interrupted her when he realized what she was about to say.
"I’m already so close to you, but aren’t I still fine? Even if something happens to me in the future, I’ll definitely be able to overcome it! That’s why you should never say something like that! Don’t try to push me away, and don’t try to keep me at a distance!
"Shika Kagura… Shika-chan, I’m going to stick as annoyingly close to you as I can! Resolve yourself!"
‘I’ll never let you pass away from this world while in isolation again. I’ll accompany you to the future together.’
Seiji stared directly into her eyes, his gaze filled with stubbornness and determination.
Seiji seemed to be smiling, yet it was clear he was on the verge of crying.
"But…"
"Believe in me!"
"I’m…"
"You’re the ‘Reaper’s Curse,’ I know! But you still don’t know who I am yet!"
Seiji Haruta pointed at himself with his thumb. His manner seemed to suddenly become imposing.
"I am Seiji Haruta! The Haruta family is actually the Kamijou family! I’m the descendant of the strongest Yin Yang Master in history, the only person who ever truly contained the ‘Reaper’s Curse,’ Seimei Kamijou!
"I have the strongest bloodline! I’m truly powerful! I’ll become even more powerful in the future!! I’ll even… surpass my ancestor!!!
"The ‘Reaper’s Curse’ can’t do anything to me! Nothing will ever harm me!!"
‘Well, I possess the ability to save and load. And my system just increased even further in strength just now, thanks to you. I’ll use my newfound power to take care of everything!’
That’s why…
"That’s why you should stop thinking like that! Don’t say or do such foolish things. Just obediently be my friend—it’s fine to just be my little sister as well!"
Seiji flashed Shika a brilliant smile brimming with self-confidence, energy, and passion.
To Shika, Seiji’s smile seemed to be as blinding as the sun.
The dark iciness in her heart could only melt under the sun’s warmth.
Tears trickled out from her eyes once more.
"I… can I… really?"
‘Can I really enjoy such bliss? It’s not only a temporary fantasy; I’ll have it even now and in the future…’
"Of course." Seiji’s tone was adamant.
He reached out his hand to pat her on the head just like before.
Pat pat, console.
"You can… I can… We can go on living together. Shika-chan… I’m going to call you this from now on. You’re not allowed to object or refuse."
His somewhat forceful words seemed to pierce through Shika’s heart.
She smiled through her tears, and the sadness in her smile disappeared.
‘Believe in him.’
Her heart was telling her that.
Objectively speaking, it still seemed like he was acting rather pretentiously, but… rather mysteriously, it didn’t sound like he was being hypocritical at all.
His imposing manner was just that powerful.
Even the gods would likely respect someone with such an imposing manner.
Perhaps he really could turn his "pretentiousness" into reality…
Shika wanted to believe him.
Shika was willing to believe him.
She wanted to pin her hopes for leading a joyous life in the future on him.
"Brother Seiji… please take good care of me from now on."
"Yep, Shika-chan… me as well. Please take good care of me from now on."
And thus, the two of them smiled as they promised to stay by each other’s sides.
This promise started from her death, and it would continue until… death do them part.