She remembered this giant Haxxor Bunny design was from a game back then, where you would put your hand in and answer a question, and if you answered incorrectly, it would bite off your hand.
Biting off a hand was, of course, a lie, but this game held great significance for her. It was through this game that Cecilia and Siegfried's relationship deepened.
And so, Cecilia, uncontrollably, approached the design and reached out to touch the giant Haxxor Bunny pattern.
"Oh? Are you interested in playing this game, miss?"
Just then, the shop assistant, noticing Cecilia's actions, came up to her and introduced it with a smile.
"This is the oldest equipment in our shop. My grandma told me that over ten years ago, a couple came to play this game. The woman, worried about the man's safety, pushed him to the ground."
The shop assistant recounted the past event to Cecilia, not noticing Cecilia's increasingly flushed face.
The woman he spoke of was Cecilia; back then, not understanding that the machine was just a joke, she genuinely believed that answering incorrectly would result in her arm being bitten off.
"Because of that, all the other facilities in the shop have been replaced, but only this one has remained. For this reason, many couples come to play this game, which is also why it has stayed until now."
"...Is that so? Hehe~ I'd like to see how the old lady is doing now."
The old grandma who used to watch the shop was probably at an age where she needed care, or perhaps she was no longer around.
However, the other party was someone she knew, and Cecilia really wanted to see this kind old grandma.
The shop assistant didn't react to Cecilia's words, and Cecilia just smiled, then turned and took Kiana and Yae Sakura's hands, leaving the arcade.
Next, they went to an ice cream shop to buy ice cream, and then to a restaurant in the town to eat some local specialty sausages.
That was a curry soup made with high-quality sausages. Although it had been a long time since she tasted it, this familiar flavor brought a charming smile to Cecilia's face.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Mom? You suddenly smiled like that, did you think of something?"
Kiana, still eating a sausage, looked at Cecilia confusedly. Was it because the sausage was too delicious?
Cecilia looked at Kiana with amusement, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the remnants from Kiana's face. She wasn't a child anymore, yet she still didn't pay attention to such things.
"I was just thinking about the past, Kiana. I, who should have died, am able to see you grown up, able to eat with you here, and able to return to this unforgettable place again. It's truly wonderful."
Because she had experienced death, Cecilia understood the preciousness of these seemingly ordinary things.
It was precisely because the happiness she once thought she would never touch again was now back in her hands that she felt so incredibly happy.
The former Cecilia grew up in Schicksal Headquarters; it was her home. For Schicksal, she even underwent that experiment, which made it impossible for her body to leave Schicksal Headquarters.
But after touching her own happiness, Cecilia understood what warmth was, and that there was something more important than her family's mission: love.
The love here didn't just refer to romantic love, but also love for family. These were Cecilia's precious treasures, things Cecilia was willing to protect with her life.
Kiana and Yae Sakura ate their food silently, both lost in thought.
Kiana and Yae Sakura had very similar experiences; they had both lost something important.
This shared experience gave them a common language, allowing them to converse amicably.
Although Kiana always called Inaba Tsukiyo 'Mom,' she wasn't foolish. She knew that Cecilia had died fourteen years ago while fighting Sirin.
However, the Cecilia within Inaba Tsukiyo was not fake either, and Kiana herself couldn't let go of this familial bond. Even if it was a deception, she was willing to be deceived.
In the real world, most people would show such behavior: when a loved one who has always been by your side suddenly leaves you, you feel as if a piece of your world is missing.
It's as if you yourself have become incomplete. There's also a saying: 'You only learn to cherish something when you lose it.'
People are like this: what they can't have is always the best, so people always deliberately pursue those things they can never obtain, while neglecting those who silently love them.
By the time they realize who is truly worth cherishing, it's already too late.
They both understood this, which is why they particularly cherished the current opportunity to be together, and why they didn't want to let go of this miracle.
After dinner, when looking for a hotel to rest, Cecilia took Kiana and the others to Siegfried's former residence.
But that place had already disappeared, replaced by tall buildings.
Although it was a bit regrettable, there was nothing that could be done. With a few bitter laughs, Cecilia led the two to a local hotel, preparing to rest.
Kiana wanted to pull Cecilia to shower together, but Cecilia refused.
She said she still had some things to deal with and told Kiana to shower first.
Kiana, not suspecting much, took her bathrobe and entered the bathroom. Yae Sakura, on the other side, glanced at Cecilia.
Cecilia smiled bitterly and nodded. After a brief explanation in her ear, she turned and left the room.
"In the end, you still plan to meet him, Cecilia?"
As Cecilia rode the elevator down to the First floor, Inaba Tsukiyo's voice echoed in her mind.
Cecilia wasn't surprised, as she was only able to take control of this body with Inaba Tsukiyo's permission.
She knew that what she was about to do was a bit much, but it was better to consult Inaba Tsukiyo first.
"Yes, there are some things I want to ask him personally. I know what you're worried about; I won't have any physical contact."
Even though it was Cecilia's appearance now, this body still belonged to Inaba Tsukiyo.
(fuhai: It's like the [Angel Fall] spell in A Certain Magical Index. No need for too much explanation; you should understand, right?)
If there was any physical contact, Inaba Tsukiyo would probably immediately take over control of the body and cut the other person in half.
Inaba Tsukiyo remained silent for a long time, not answering Cecilia, until the elevator reached the First floor, when she finally replied.
"If you abide by this request, letting you meet is not impossible. But if you violate this request, I might do something bad."
"Mm! Mm!"
Nodding vigorously, Cecilia finally felt relieved after Inaba Tsukiyo agreed to her request.
After leaving the hotel, Cecilia went to a corner near the hotel. In this deserted corner, Cecilia stopped.
She turned around, looked at the empty path, smiled, and spoke.
"Come out. Even if you hide very well, do you think you can hide from my eyes?"
After she spoke, the other party still didn't appear, which made Cecilia feel a bit embarrassed. Although the warm smile on her face hadn't changed, black abyss had already appeared in her hand.
"It seems I have to invite you out before you're willing to appear. I didn't expect your current status to be so great that I have to invite you out before you'll show up, Siegfried."
"Alright, alright! I surrender, I surrender. I'm coming out, I'm coming out. Don't be like this, Cecilia."
Just as Cecilia was about to use the power of black abyss, a panicked voice came from the corner, followed by the appearance of a grizzled uncle.
This suddenly appearing individual was Siegfried, who had been following them since they entered the town.
Siegfried's tracking skills were indeed excellent; he managed to evade Kiana and Yae Sakura, but he couldn't evade Cecilia.
In fact, Kiana had a similar feeling, but this feeling was overshadowed by Cecilia, so Kiana didn't notice Siegfried following them.
Siegfried raised his hands, adopting a surrendering posture, but his face was full of smiles.
He gazed at Cecilia with a smile, and Cecilia also smiled back at Siegfried. The two seemed to have returned to their younger days.
"Cecilia..."
Siegfried was about to go up and embrace Cecilia, but he was stopped by the black abyss in Cecilia's hand.
Facing the black abyss pointed at him, Siegfried looked at Cecilia in confusion. Couldn't they even have a reunion hug?
"I know how you feel, Siegfried. But we can't do that. After all, I'm not in my original body in front of you now. You should know what's going on, right?"
Cecilia looked at Siegfried with a bitter smile. Siegfried, understanding, nodded with a bitter smile.
Members of Anti-Entropy's [Conservative Faction] who were in contact with Siegfried had already told him about Inaba Tsukiyo, and Siegfried also knew that Inaba Tsukiyo could transform into other people.
These transformed personalities used Inaba Tsukiyo's body. If he and Cecilia were to embrace, Inaba Tsukiyo would probably jump out and attack someone.
However, this was already enough.
Although they couldn't embrace, being able to meet again like this was better than not meeting at all.
Siegfried had too many things he wanted to say to Cecilia, and Cecilia also had many questions she wanted to ask Siegfried.
However, Cecilia didn't have much time this visit, so there wasn't much they could talk about.
Just as Siegfried was about to speak, a long, flat object suddenly appeared beside Cecilia.
Siegfried hadn't seen this object for a long time, but seeing it again, he couldn't help but feel a surge of panic.
"Cecilia... this..."
"Hmm, you should know what this means, right, Siegfried?"
Cecilia's smile was as beautiful as an angel's, but Siegfried, who understood the meaning of her words, turned pale.
"Uh... that, Cecilia, we're outside here. If someone sees us, then I..."
"So, you won't kneel?"
"No, I'll kneel, won't I?"
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