第１１３５堀：外から見ると気づく違い (Part1)
Chapter 1135: Differences Visible from the Outside
Side: Cleena
"Mother. I want to help."
My precious daughter, Akiten, says this while gripping my hand tightly.
"It’s alright. Yuki and the others will resolve everything."
"Indeed. Besides, with Sota-sama and Sui-sama there, there is nothing to worry about."
Samantha and I stroke the head of our dear Akiten, who so valiantly wants to be of use, but we firmly decline.
The current situation involves a supernatural phenomenon. The absurd idea of having Akiten help us again was briefly floated, but all the mothers immediately vetoed it.
Akiten is not some convenient tool.
She is our beloved daughter.
Even the mere thought of taking her to a place where there is even the slightest possibility of danger is completely out of the question.
"Muu. I want to be useful to you, Mother."
"Just having you here with us is enough to make us happy, Akiten."
"That is exactly right. It makes us so happy that you are staying here to look after the baby in my belly."
"That’s right! If Akiten weren't here, Mother Ria might start crying."
"Yes, it would be quite lonely."
As they say this, Ria and Jessica take Akiten’s hands from either side.
"Okay. Then I’ll stay here with you, Mother."
Just like that, she breaks into a smile and squeezes their hands back.
Yes. A beautiful smile.
"Thank you. Now, if you don't mind, Mother Ria is starting to feel sleepy, so let's take a nap together."
"Okay, I understand."
"I shall join you for a nap as well."
Standing up and winking at me, Ria and Jessica lead Akiten toward the bedroom, still holding her hands.
"Phew. Akiten is such a good girl, but she worries too much about everything. It’s a bit of a flaw."
"I wouldn't call it a flaw. That sentiment comes precisely because she cherishes us as her mothers. It means she is kind."
"Muu. True, Akiten is a super kind angel."
"Honestly. I hate to sound like a doting parent, but I agree. Still, I never imagined such an apparition would be lurking in our alma mater."
"Mm. I agree on that."
I turn the monitor back on and watch the ghost footage on my tablet.
But...
"...I still can't see anything."
"Indeed. And yet, Akiten reacted to this footage, which appears to show nothing at all."
"Mm, I was careless. To think she could sense something from this."
"As expected of someone called one of the 'Three Great Yokai' and the 'Legendary Great Oni' in Yuki-sama's homeland."
"I don't need such dishonorable titles."
Shuten-doji, having one's head cut off... I will never forgive such things.
That child—no, all our precious children—we will protect them all.
"Cleena-san, getting so worked up is not good for the baby."
"...Samantha, you were the one who brought it up. But you're right."
It feels unreasonable coming from Samantha, but she is correct, so I calm my heart and turn my gaze back to the monitor, only to find that Popuri has arrived.
Or rather...
"I envy Eijiru and Comet."
On the other side of the monitor, Yuki is waking up Eijiru and Comet, who had been sleeping in the surveillance room, by picking them up in his arms.
"My, being picked up by Yuki-sama is quite a luxury. Though, being in that cocoon-like sleeping bag... it looks a bit like he's treating them like children."
"Mm, still envious."
Even if they were investigating, why do they get to be carried by Yuki just for sleeping in a sleeping bag?
It's unfair. I want to be carried, too.
Hmm, should I stay up late as well?
No, I shouldn't do that for the sake of the baby.
As I am caught in this internal conflict:
"I also love Yuki-sama's embraces. But that is not the topic at hand, is it?"
"Mm. Sota is looking at the monitor too, but... Thermal?"
"That would be the infrared system, I believe."
After Sota watched yesterday's footage and suggested switching the camera mode, Yuki adjusted it, and sure enough, something in the shape of a person appeared.
"...This is."
"...To think such an existence truly resides within the Academy."
Wow, it was so unexpected that I was stunned.
And it was in the hallway in front of the classroom we used to frequent.
"...Samantha. Have you ever been there at night?"
"No, there was never any reason for me to go to the classroom at night in the first place."
Samantha shakes her head at my question.
"...Neither have I."
I don't have the experience ofわざわざ (purposely) going to the classroom at night either.
I only did the bare minimum for classes to begin with.
"My, it seems Sota-sama and Sui-sama are heading to the scene to investigate directly."
Following Samantha's prompt, I look at the monitor and see that Sota and Sui are moving to inspect the site.
"...Mm. A reasonable choice. If Yuki had said he was going, I would have contacted him to stop him."
"That goes without saying."
Yuki has a habit of doing reckless things, so I was worried about how this would turn out.
But with Sota going, I feel at ease. After all...
"He is a shrine priest, and she is a water deity."
"Mm. There is no one more reassuring when it comes to ghosts."
Experts on ghosts and yokai.
In a sense, this is more reliable than leaving it to Akiten.
"However, it is strange when you look at it again. Why is it only appearing on monitor number five?"
"Indeed, it is strange."
No matter how many times I look, it only appears on monitor five; monitor six, which is filming from the opposite side, shows nothing.
Why only monitor five?
As I ponder this, it seems Sota has arrived at the scene. Kagura and the others in the classroom seem to have noticed them investigating and are protesting to Yuki. The topic of Akiten came up again, but Kagura and the others all opposed it.
"Mm. Naturally. The idea of taking Akiten along is impossible."
"Indeed. If they had suggested asking Akiten for help, I would have had to have a word with them."
"No need to think about it. Any parent who puts their child in danger gets an immediate lecture."
Well, it seems Kagura and the others cherish Akiten as much as we do, which is a relief.
"Now, rather than that, why don't we ask them to check monitors five and six?"
"Mm. Good idea. Yuki, can you hear me?"
"Ah, Cleena, you were watching too?"
Yuki answers my voice immediately.
As expected of my husband.
Just as I think this, someone unexpected reacts as well.
"Hm? Is that voice Cleena-dono?"
"Yes, Emperor Yupia. I am at home."
"Oh, I see. Indeed, it is possible via video communication. Yuki-dono, can you show us Cleena-dono's face?"
"Ah, I'll route the feed over here."
As Yuki says this, our feed connects to the surveillance room monitor, and I can see everyone's faces.
"It's good to see everyone is doing well."
"Indeed. But please, do not do anything reckless."
"You shouldn't push yourselves either. By the way, where are Ria and Jessica?"
"Both of them are taking a nap. Together with Akiten."