For several days in a row, Arisa enjoyed a carefree life at Kurumi's home. Meanwhile, Gai Tsutsugami and Ayase Shinomiya seemed to have stopped being hostile toward Kurumi after her identity was exposed. However, Kurumi keenly noticed that the little kitten—Gai—still held a trace of hidden wariness toward her in his eyes.
It was obvious that the alliance leader that the little kitten had investigated himself had managed to fool everyone, but not Gai. He still harbored doubts about Kurumi's true identity.
"Arisa, I'm going to the Infected Care Center for a bit. Would you like to come with me?" Kurumi said with a gentle smile as she changed into an elegant black gown.
After spending a few days together, Kurumi had developed some fondness for the innocent Arisa. She realized that the reason Arisa had been so easily deceived and manipulated by Gai Tsutsugami was simply because Arisa was far too naive.
At this rate, even if Gai didn't deceive her, someone else would eventually take advantage of her. Kurumi thought it necessary to paint a few new colors onto Arisa's pure white canvas of innocence.
After all, someone would eventually do it—so why not let Kurumi herself take up the brush?
Kurumi-chan was, of course, an exceptionally talented painter. From start to finish, her intentions were purely for Arisa's own good. There were absolutely no black-hearted motives behind it. None at all. Because it was so important, it had to be said twice.
"Well, I suppose I could go! But why exactly do I need to go to the Infected Care Center?" Arisa asked curiously. Life at Kurumi's house was so relaxing, completely free of the pressure of the Kuhouin Group. She almost didn't want to leave.
"Because, my dear Arisa, you're far too naive," Kurumi replied with a mischievous smile, her crimson eyes narrowing.
"Why do you say that about me?" Arisa pouted, clearly a bit frustrated.
Kurumi smiled sweetly. "Oh my! What I mean is, your thoughts are too simple. Think about it—you're the future head of the Kuhouin Group. From your position, your vision can no longer focus solely on business. You must always pay attention to politics, for the direction of politics is, to a large extent, the direction of the economy."
Then Kurumi clasped her hands together and put on a slightly timid expression. "Um... did I do something wrong? I only wanted to make things easier for you in the future, so I thought I'd start cultivating your political insight now! I guess I was being presumptuous. I'm sorry."
Without waiting for a response, Kurumi bowed deeply to Arisa, apologizing sincerely. Before Shu Ouma could even receive his apology card, she was already handing one out herself.
"Kurumi-san, I'm the one who should apologize. I misunderstood you. I'm sorry!" Arisa hurriedly helped her up, tears welling up in her eyes. At that moment, Kurumi's radiant image in Arisa's heart rose to dazzling heights.
"Kurumi-san, thank you so much," Arisa said gratefully, suddenly embracing Kurumi in tears.
"Ah-leh! Isn't that a bit too much? No, no—it's just that Arisa is too naive. To believe such things so easily... I'm only doing this to train her. Not overboard at all." Tilting her head slightly, Kurumi smiled in satisfaction. Her wine-red pupils shimmered with amusement.
"Kurumi-san, you're truly a good person," Arisa said, wiping away her tears with her fingers, feeling an almost overwhelming urge to pour her heart out to Kurumi.
"Mm! I think so too. I've always believed I'm a good person. What you said suits me perfectly—perfectly!" Kurumi smiled with narrowed eyes, saying nothing more.
"Kurumi-chan! I want to go too." Inori tugged gently at Kurumi's sleeve, her pink eyes filled with nervousness.
Ever since Arisa had arrived, Kurumi-chan's affection for her had been divided, leaving Inori feeling a deep sense of crisis.
She couldn't just sit idly by. If this went on, Arisa would steal Kurumi away. Inori had to take action—she had to make the first move.
Kurumi hesitated, her eyes shifting. "But I was planning to go there because of Arisa. What would I bring Inori for?"
At those words, Inori's heart seemed to stop for a moment. Her pink eyes grew moist as sorrow and grievance welled up inside her. Feeling utterly wronged, Inori's nose stung, and she looked like she was about to cry.
However, seeing Arisa standing beside Kurumi, Inori didn't dare to cry. She shook her head, dispelling her feelings of grievance. Gathering herself, she began to think hard.
After a long while, Inori finally realized something—Kurumi-chan seemed very happy whenever she was praised. Testing her theory, she said tentatively, "Kurumi-chan... good person."
Kurumi's wine-red eyes immediately lit up with delight, and a pleased smile curved her lips—tinged with a hint of pride.
Seeing that it worked, Inori pressed on eagerly. "Kurumi-chan... beautiful, noble, pure, great..."
"Uh... the more she praises, the less sense it makes," Ayase muttered, black lines forming on her forehead. Inori was just saying random compliments—most of them didn't even fit Kurumi at all.
"Pfft..." Tsugumi suddenly burst out laughing from the side. Ayase immediately turned toward her—what was so funny about that?
"I'm laughing because they're both so easy to tease. And look at Kurumi's face right now," Tsugumi said, pointing discreetly at Kurumi.
Sure enough, Kurumi's expression was one of pure bliss, her smile curving so wide it almost looked devilish. Her face seemed to say, Praise me! Praise me all you want! No amount of praise could ever be too much!
Ayase thought, If Kurumi had a tail, it'd definitely be wagging in the air right now.
"Ah-leh! I really can't help it with you, Inori. Those perfectly fitting compliments—I'll graciously accept them. Since that's the case, Inori can come along with us too." Kurumi patted Inori's head as a reward. Ayase could almost see Kurumi's imaginary tail swishing happily from side to side.
"So Kurumi's weakness is praise!" Ayase exclaimed after the three of them disappeared from sight.
"Save it! She only enjoys Inori's compliments," Tsugumi said as she secretly slipped into Kurumi's room again. She had a feeling things weren't as simple as they seemed.
...
"Ugh!" Meanwhile, Arisa was vomiting violently in the restroom.
The moment she saw the infected patients—those half-human, half-crystallized bodies—it awakened the nightmarish memories she had buried ten years ago.
Once-living people had turned into crystal, scattered across the ground. The warmth and kindness in her memories had been reduced to cold, lifeless dust. Arisa vomited as tears streamed down her face.
"Kurumi-san, I thought I had already forgotten. But that heart-piercing pain tells me... I haven't forgotten at all! Why does such a terrifying virus even exist?" Arisa clutched her head and cried in the restroom. After all, she had no parents—only her grandfather.
"Then... shall we go back?" Kurumi asked calmly, her face showing neither sorrow nor joy. Fear of the virus wasn't something unique to Arisa. The virus brought not only fear but also sorrow, pain, and hatred. Arisa was still too inexperienced. Look at Inori—she wasn't crying, was she?
Tilting her head, Inori wore a puzzled expression. Are viruses really that scary? It seemed she herself could never be infected, and her blood and song even appeared to suppress the virus.
"No, please continue. As the heir to the Kuhouin Group, I can't afford to show weakness." The restroom door opened, and Arisa walked out with determination.
Kurumi didn't seem particularly concerned. She led Arisa through the Care Center, and before long, they ran into Yahiro Samukawa visiting his younger brother, Jun Samukawa.
Kurumi stopped Arisa from greeting him. Only after Yahiro left did she bring Arisa and Inori to Jun's bedside.
"An... angel..." Jun , whose body was half crystallized, lay trembling on the spotless white bed as he spoke weakly.
"I see. So the vaccine granted you the ability to see into people's hearts," Kurumi murmured softly, placing her hand gently over the still-human half of his face with pity.
"I'm sorry. I can't save you. I can't even extend your life," she said apologetically. Jun shook his head as hard as he could, tears glistening in his eyes.
"It must be painful—having such an ability and still facing your own brother," Kurumi said quietly. The moment she spoke, Jun's tears began to fall uncontrollably.
After a long silence, Kurumi asked tentatively, "Would you like me... to end your suffering?"
"Wait—Kurumi-san, what do you mean by 'end'?" Arisa interrupted immediately.
"He's already in terminal collapse. Even the vaccine can no longer slow the progression of his illness. If this continues, his pain will only deepen," Kurumi said, her wine-red eyes calm yet profound.
"No, you can't. Everyone has the right to live. Kurumi-san, you cannot take that away from him," Arisa said firmly, refusing Kurumi's proposal.
After a moment, Kurumi nodded lightly. "I understand."
Beep-beep... Her communicator suddenly chimed. This time, the caller wasn't her usual contact, Major Segai, but GHQ's Commander-in-Chief—General Yan.
"Lady Kurumi, Shuichiro Keido has stolen the Pathogen Stone."
Just one sentence—and the air around Kurumi grew oppressively heavy. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Understood. Mobilize all forces—find Shuichiro Keido at all costs."
She took a few steps forward, her tone darkening as she walked out of the Care Center. "If he isn't found by tonight... prepare for Tokyo's destruction."
"Wait, Kurumi-san—what do you mean by Tokyo's destruction?" Arisa ran up to her, grabbing her hand, disbelief written all over her face.
"Oh my, unbelievable, isn't it? Why would Tokyo be destroyed? But actually... Tokyo's destruction would be the best possible outcome. In the worst case, the entire world could be annihilated," Kurumi said with a dark, chilling smile.
"This... this can't be true!" Arisa cried, stumbling backward in shock.
"It's true," Kurumi said, her crimson eyes glinting coldly. "Do you know what the Pathogen Stone is? It's a key—a key that unlocks the virus which almost destroyed the world ten years ago. Shuichiro Keido's goal is to make the Lost Christmas return once more." Kurumi narrowed her eyes, her emotions a complex mix of tension, anticipation, and madness.
Nervous? Afraid? Excited? Or perhaps... ecstatic? Maybe all of them.
The Lost Christmas would come again. The Will of Gaia and the Will of Alaya would clash once more. But this time—it would truly decide the fate of the world.