Ch.159 A Month in a World Without "Haru-chan" Part 2

"Is Haru-chan's internet connection still working?"

"Yes... Unlike the 'Princess', it's dark, but she's still streaming."

A dark basement.

After taking a short nap, the members of "Origins" are gathering information.

"Then there's no problem. More importantly, right now we need to intensify our efforts to influence the US, which will be our biggest obstacle going forward."

"That's right. The fact that there was a faction that was able to forcefully bypass Mother's machinations means that they will continue to be a threat in the future."

"Anoo... Umm... aren't you all worried about Haru-kun...? Even though we are stalking him like this."

Then Anego, who had just finished her morning shower, joined us.

Everyone present except for the three who weren't there originally, and Crescent, or rather, Mikazuki Emi, is taking turns showering and eating.

However, seeing how calm the group from the Origins were compared to the anxiety they had felt the previous night, she, being a newcomer, couldn't comprehend the stark contrast.

"? Haru-chan will be fine, right?"

"Yes, it's Haru-chan, you know?"

"Well, what I mean is..."

Everyone except her had a question mark above their heads in response to her question.

"................................?"

"................................?"

"No, even if it's Haru-kyun, that second volley... I mean, that time when US went berserk again..."

"—Oh, that's right. My apologies, I completely forgot. You're a newcomer."

"Oh, the uncle with glasses."

He flicked his glasses up to explain, but then looked a little dejected.

"...You haven't met the 'Queen' yet, have you?"

"Huh? Oh, I think I remember you saying there's someone like that."

"You don't know Queen...? You'd be surprised if you met them."

"You'll have to look forward to it!"

"You guys were surprised too, though."

"Mother! Don't bring up the past!"

(Everyone but me knows... I think she's the remaining foreigner.)

She was reminded once again of the fact that everyone here had been watching Haru-"kyun" for several years.

"No, I might not be that surprised. I wasn't really familiar with that kind of thing either."

"Unc... President-san"

"Please stop calling me that, okay? Men are easily hurt, you know? Especially from young people like you... young people..."

"Oh, sorry. I only had employees who would be happy if I called them 'uncle'."

Trying to cheer up a middle-aged man who is feeling down after objectively assessing his age by patting him on the shoulder doesn't seem to have much effect.

"So, should I tell this kid too? The true identity of the Queen?"

The old woman, who had been watching with a smile, asked everyone:

"No, they'll probably come in person eventually, so we'll talk then."

"Yes, that will surely surprise you with how things unfold from here."

"Uhh... Ah, I see."

"That thing is truly amazing..."

"?"

Everyone seemed to accept it without any explanation, leaving Anego with nothing but questions.

(...Their expressions...they look just like kids hiding mischief...)

"That said, wouldn't it be better to convey that other thing instead?"

"Yeah, if she knew about that thing's existence, she'd know that Haru-chan is safe."

"...That thing?"

"It's been exactly as predicted so far. I think it's safe to conclude that it's accurate now."

"Well...to be honest, I still can't believe it, but it's turned out exactly as predicted."

"You little brats, that thing is—"

"---The fact that 'Haru-chan made a spectacular debut in that live stream, and the disappearance after what happened yesterday' -- up until there, 'Everything has been predicted three years ago,' Anego."

"……………………………………Hah?"

She was getting annoyed by his teasing and delaying tactics, and then she heard something completely unexpected... and she understood it all, and froze in shock.

"................................?"

"Ah, I guess that's what would happen."

"I understand, I understand."

"Really? I believed in it, though."

"I thought young'uns nowadays would be more into this kind of thing, though."

(Haru-kyun's debut...that is, that live stream. No..."Before that, I happened to be drawn to a sparsely attended live stream and joined it, and a little while later, when I posted a comment, the person who told me to 'subscribe' was, don't tell me...")

"Ahh, it doesn't go into great detail, so it doesn't even mention you, Anego, let alone our own specifics. It's strictly 'from Haru-chan's perspective, from the day she saved Ruru-chan until yesterday when she saved Ruru-chan once more'."

"...Um...?"

"Well, anyway... let's see, there's something that someone who can understand that kind of thing, using 'skills acquired in relation to dungeons,' wrote down. And we inherited it."

"That was only a small part of everything that happened. And even then, it only covered up to that scene from last night."

"...What exactly are you guys-"

"It's alright, Anego-chan."

The Chairman tapped his cane once and said.

"I don't know when it will be, but Haru-chan will definitely come back. Unharmed... no, even cuter and stronger than before."

"...Can I really trust you?"

"Yes. Otherwise, we, the Origins, would... The Origins would..."

The uncle with glasses, or rather, the President, suddenly stopped.

"It's all over..."

"Yeah……"

"Haru-chan..."

"A world without Haru-chan..."

"A world without my oshi is garbage, garbage I tell you."

"Sorry, I need some heart medication..."

"Grandpa, give me some too..."

"Research into eternal youth and longevity... isn't that enough already...?"

"A world without Haru-chan... what good would it do to live a long life...?"

"...Is it really that bad?"

The mere thought of "What if Haru-'kyun' doesn't come back safe?" instantly plunges the room into utter chaos.

Upon seeing them like that, she simultaneously felt the existence of "that thing"—"that thing that seemed to have been written by someone who had seen the future"—more than ever before.

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