–Which of the two did Toono mean by “acquaintance”? Nanase Tsugumi, who happened to meet her at the time of the kidnapping, or the Magical Girl, Hagakure Sakura. Either way, it was bad.

–Toono Sumire knew that Hagakure Sakura’s identity was Nanase Tsugumi.

Perhaps Yatagarasu, who noticed Tsugumi’s existence as a Magical Girl, had told her. He didn’t know why Toono approached him at a place like this, but it wasn’t a good idea to talk about Hagakure Sakura here.

The place was public, and Tsugumi’s friend would be here in a while. If Toono met his friends, it would be a big problem.

…Everything he had hidden until now could be ruined. Pushing his anxiety aside, Tsugumi opened his mouth, trying to maintain a calm expression.

“…What do you want?”

“I told you earlier. I just happened to see you and called out to you. Hmmm… But to meet someone like this, it is worth going out under Yatagarasu’s watchful eyes. –Hagakure-san would agree, right?”

Toono smiled elegantly as Tsugumi raised his voice impatiently.

“Don’t mention that name here…!”

“Ah, don’t worry. I’m thinking things through, too. I’ve been using the perception blocking technique ever since I stepped outside, so no one cares what I do or what I talk about. It’s like being invisible. Now that you are included in the scope of effect, no one will notice you unless you speak out loud.”

When being told this admonishingly, Tsugumi glanced around and asked Toono in a small voice with an embarrassed look.

“Toono-san, how much do you know about me?”

“Well. About the fire, your background, and what you’ve been doing for the past year?”

“…I see. You mean almost everything.”

At this rate, he might have been on their radar a long time ago. Tsugumi thought he had been hiding his true identity, but in fact, he had been dancing in the palms of their hands. Thinking about it, he couldn’t say anything.

Tsugumi didn’t know why they went to all that trouble to get his memory back, but somehow he had a feeling they wouldn’t answer that question. A line had been drawn–or rather, he felt the pressure that he shouldn’t step in any further.

But it was sort of natural that they saw Tsugumi as a problem. He didn’t blame them. It was inevitable because Tsugumi’s problems of origin and gender were too heavy.

…But being swayed by their actions like this for no reason was exhausting and a waste of time. Tsugumi wanted them to tell their demands quickly.

As he thought about this, Toono laughed and said.

“Don’t worry, we won’t do anything unless you get into big trouble. –But it’s a good thing. You have your family’s memories back, don’t you?”

“…Eh?”

–What are you talking about? Thinking about this, Tsugumi clenched his hands tightly.

Chidori and the flame–Just what was good about forcing people to recall their memories by stimulating their trauma. There was a limit to sarcasm.

Perhaps sensing a dangerous atmosphere, Toono continued with a wry smile.

“Yatagarasu punished you by forcibly taking away your memory. In other words, the recovery of your memory is the end of your punishment. At least, Yatagarasu won’t blame you anymore. I assure you of that. So, as long as you are contributing to Amaterasu as a Magical Girl, I too will treat you as an equal companion.”

Tsugumi’s eyes widened at Toono’s words.

Tsugumi had always thought that having his memory restored was part of the punishment. While figuring out Yatagarasu’s true motives, Tsugumi always thought that Yatagarasu wanted him to suffer.

Well, this opinion was only from Toono’s point of view, so it wasn’t certain, but since she was the one closest to Yatagarasu, she might not be that wrong.

“Is it really okay? You said it so lightly. Besides, isn’t it a problem for a man to be a Magical Girl?”

“It’s all right. There are other girls like you.”

“Eh? There are others?”

Toono said it plainly and continued the story, ignoring Tsugumi’s reaction. …He wanted to hear more about it, but it might be better to hold back this time.

“Besides, if I mess with you anymore, I’m going to get yelled at again by your contract God. It was kind of hard to cover it up after that, you know?”

“…I’m sorry for the trouble I caused you that time.”

Tsugumi lowered his head slightly with an indescribable expression.

–Although Bell had taken a lenient attitude toward Tsugumi after Chidori’s kidnapping case, she still couldn’t forgive another God for messing with her contractor, so she went to the government – Yatagarasu – to protest.

As a result, Bell got mad and tried to use her power, and in the end, she was sentenced to one month of confinement… Well, it was better than being ordered to leave the country for picking a fight with Yatagarasu.

Bell was currently sealed up in a reflection room in the government basement and was currently in a situation where she couldn’t move at all. The contractor, Tsugumi, was allowed to visit, but she was getting grumpier and grumpier every day, it was difficult to get her in a good mood.

“In the first place, I was told by Yatagarasu not to get involved with you. If he knew that I went out by myself and met you here, he would be furious.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. You have some idea why, don’t you?”

When Toono asked him that, Tsugumi lowered his eyes thoughtfully… There were too many things on his mind. The great fire, his origin, his sister’s actions, and the fact that he was a man. None of that would be acceptable for the rare miko, the image girl of the government. Perhaps it wasn’t surprising that Yatagarasu told her not to get involved.

Then Tsugumi stared blankly at the burgers on the table. Most of the fries were already cold, and while not inedible, they certainly tasted bad. The hamburgers would also be cold and tasteless if they were left any longer.

…His stomach had been churning since he met Toono, but he didn’t know if it was because he was nervous or hungry.

As he thought about this, Tsugumi let out a big sigh, and Toono opened her mouth, staring at Tsugumi’s hand with interest.

“Hey, is that a hamburger by any chance?”

“Eh? What about it?”

Toono’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she replied.

“I haven’t seen that kind of thing before because I’m usually stopped by my attendants. So I was a little concerned… Sorry, that was depressing.”

“No, I don’t mind. I guess, being a miko and all, junk food like this is forbidden?”

“The other miko tell me to eat as little as possible. I told this to Yukino-san once and she snickered at me, saying it was nonsense. She said it is a meaningless precept in this day and age. Yatagarasu also said that I can at least eat as much as I like, but if people look at me, I can’t help but hold back.”

Saying so, Toono lowered her eyes.

…Tsugumi didn’t know much but as a miko, Toono might have more restrictions than he had first thought. Thinking so, Tsugumi somehow uttered a suggestion.

“Hmm. If there’s no problem, would you like to try one? It’s a little cold though.”

“Eh?”

In front of Toono, who looked up in surprise, he held out a hamburger.

“But I wonder if it’s really good.”

“It’s okay if the contract God doesn’t say no. Well, if you don’t like it, that’s fine.”

After saying this, Tsugumi opened a package for himself and took a bite of the hamburger. It still tasted cheap, but tasty in its own way.

Then Toono looked at Tsugumi and the package, and her eyes wandered in an unusual manner, then she gently reached for the package as if she had made up her mind. TShe opened the package fearfully and slowly brought it close to her mouth.

“…It tastes kind of strange.”

“Well, it’s full of chemical seasonings. –Did it taste bad?”

When Tsugumi asked her, Toono giggled like a child and said, “It’s not as delicious as I thought it would be”. And so, complaining about each bite, she finished off an entire package. …Contrary to her words, she might have taken a liking to it.

As the two of them poked their cold fries in an unfamiliar harmony that made it hard to believe that they were brutal to each other just a while ago, Tsugumi heard a voice calling for him in the distance.

“Ah, it looks like your friends have come to pick you up.”　

‘Well, I’d better be on my way. …That, uh, you really didn’t have something for me.”

–In the end, Toono didn’t have much to say. No demand, No particular advice. …Tsugumi was skeptical from the beginning, but this might really be just a chance encounter and a conversation.

Toono nodded with a beautiful smile.

Reassured by this, Tsugumi bowed his head and said, “I’m sorry I doubted you,” and left the place. Then, he approached his friends, who were looking around, and called out to them.

“Where were you, Nanase? We’ve been looking for you.”

“I’m sorry. I went to the restroom. Did you get what you were looking for?”

Then one of his friends, holding a paper bag above his head as if it were a trophy, said in a loud voice with a giggle.

“Yeah! I’ll put on a fashion show with everyone in the private karaoke room!”

“No, I don’t want to see you bastards change clothes live…”

–I’d like you to give me a break, even if I have to pay for it. Seeing the look of disgust on Tsugumi’s face as he said that, his friends laughed happily. And so, while teasing and making a fuss, Tsugumi and his friends left the food court.

◆ ◆ ◆

“–How nice.”

Toono, left alone at the table, gazed at the backs of the boys as they walked along happily, and muttered quietly.

“Even though we were born the same way, that boy looks so free and happy. I wonder why.”

–Toono was a special human being who was tuned for a certain purpose. Since before she could remember, Toono had no freedom and had been under strict supervision and guidance in her every move.

After signing a contract with Yatagarasu, she had a little more free time, but even so, the amount of surveillance didn’t decrease.

Watched, bound, and acted like a puppet as desired. There were times when she behaved without restraints as if her shackles had been lifted, but in the end, she never strayed too far from her path. That was the life of Toono Sumire.

…That’s why, originally, meeting Nanase Tsugumi alone like this shouldn’t have happened.

Somehow, she wanted to get some fresh air. Without saying anything to anyone, she wandered off to a distant station. There, she found Nanase Tsugumi laughing with a group of boys around the same age. –She’d found him.

He had lived as a sacrifice since he was born into this world, his soul was invaded by an evil God, and he could die at any moment.

For Toono, Nanase Tsugumi was nothing more than [a child more pathetic than her].

And yet, what about reality? He went to school, laughed with his close friends, and spends his time as if he were a normal human. Toono was shocked by this sight as if she had been hit on the head with a baseball bat.

While wondering about the reason, she followed him around, and then, at the moment when he was alone, she spoke to him. That must have been a mistake.

The expression on his face changed from one emotion to the next, and he easily forgave anyone if they were a little friendly. Even his words and actions were nothing like hers. And above all – he was free.

He took Toono’s hand and pulled her along without restraint, something Toono had unconsciously failed to step over. The confusion of being new and the fear of breaking the unspoken agreement. The food she ate after desperately suppressing these emotions–it tasted delicious and sinful.

–No, no, no. They weren’t the same. Toono Sumire and Nanase Tsugumi were overwhelmingly different.

A black feeling slowly swirled in her heart. She couldn’t stop envying him, wondering why it was only him.

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“… I wish I could replace you.”

Toono muttered softly, then covered her mouth in surprise.

–I should never have thought of such a thing.

“Let’s go home. I’m sure the attendants are worried.”

Toono casually stood up with her usual smile. Then she gently stroked the wrapping paper on the table with her finger, floated it softly, and lit it on fire.

The blue flame, which burned without emitting any smoke, was quietly swaying. –As if reflecting Toono’s heart.