Even after finishing our meal of Baby Castella Dishes, we continued to revisit several spots I had frequented over the past six days—the monster race I’d seen with Fia-sensei and Noin-san, the immersive attraction I’d experienced with Alice, and many more.
Of course, we couldn't make it to every single one, but thanks to the assistance of the Gods, our tour was incredibly smooth.
Shiro-san was surprisingly high-spirited, and while her intensity was a bit much at times, it was a side of her I’d never seen before. It felt fresh, and to be honest, I had a great time.
I felt like I’d caught glimpses of many different facets of her personality today. It was usually hard to tell because of her characteristic lack of expression, but when she competed with Kuro or grew stubborn over small things, she was actually quite childish.
"Kaito-san."
"Yes?"
"There is a place I would like to visit. Would you mind accompanying me?"
"Huh? Oh, of course not."
I felt a faint prickle of unease at her words. Most of our destinations today had been based on her wishes, but this was the first time she had formally asked for my permission like this.
Did that mean this place was particularly significant to her?
"Then, let us go."
The moment she spoke, the scenery shifted. The sky, which should have been burning with the colors of sunset, was suddenly a brilliant, midday blue.
"Wait, is this... the Sanctuary?"
"Yes."
She had brought me to a familiar corner of her realm—the Hanging Garden where we had first met.
"Kaito-san, there is something I wish to ask you."
"Something you want to ask?"
"It is a hypothetical. Suppose someone close to you—a family member, a friend, or perhaps a lover—lost every memory they had of you."
"I... see."
"Not merely forgotten, but lost. If they were never to remember you again... would you say that person is a different individual from the one you have spent your life with until now?"
I didn't understand why she was asking such a thing. However, the atmosphere surrounding her was deadly serious. Was this some kind of profound philosophical test?
"That’s a difficult question, but... yeah. I think it would be fair to call them a different person. Essentially, they would have reverted to the person they were before they ever met me."
"I see... Then, is it the memory—the heart—that defines a being? Or is it the vessel?"
"I believe it’s the heart."
Even as I answered, her intentions remained a mystery. Just what kind of answer was she looking for?
As the thought crossed my mind, Shiro-san turned her gaze toward me, staring straight into my eyes as she continued.
"Then, if one were to completely erase those memories... would that act be synonymous with murdering that person?"
"That’s another tough one, but yes. I suppose it really would be the same as killing them."
"Is that so..."
Upon hearing my answer, Shiro-san lowered her head slightly. After a long moment of silence, she looked away and whispered in a voice so soft it was barely audible.
"What is it that I truly want to do? I do not understand myself."
"Shiro-san?"
"I have spoken of something trivial. I apologize. Please... forget."
"Eh? Wait—!"
She spoke in a voice that sounded as if she were forcibly stifling her emotions, and suddenly, my vision was bleached pure white.
My feet, which had been walking through the crowds of the Six Kings Festival, came to an abrupt halt.
"...Huh?"
"What is the matter?"
At my confused murmur, Shiro-san tilted her head curiously.
"Oh, uh, nothing. I think I just spaced out for a second. What were we doing?"
"We were discussing how we should head our separate ways soon, as the party on the final day is approaching."
"Oh, right. That’s right."
I remembered now. On the final day of the Six Kings Festival, a grand party was held at the Central Tower. I had promised to meet up with Lilia-san and attend the event together, so Shiro-san and I had been talking about wrapping up our date.
Yes, that was definitely it. But what was this strange, nagging sense of displacement?
"Is something wrong?"
"No... Shiro-san, did you have fun today?"
"I did. It was very enjoyable."
"Me too. Thank you for everything."
The feeling of dissonance persisted, but since I couldn't find a single specific thing to point to, I decided it was just my imagination. I offered her my sincere thanks for the day.
A faint, gentle smile played across her lips.
"Kaito-san, thank you for today. I shall take my leave now."
"Right. Thanks again, really."
"Then, this is a token of my gratitude."
Before I could process her words, she moved with a grace that was as natural as a flowing river. Her face drew close to mine, and our lips met.
"...Huh?"
"Until next time."
"..................Wait, what?"
The event was so utterly shocking that I remained frozen to the spot long after she had vanished.
Dear Mother, Father—And so, my date with Shiro-san ended. But to be perfectly honest, it was the single most shocking thing that has happened to me during this entire festival.
After parting ways with Kaito, Shallow Vernal returned to her Sanctuary. With a light stroke of her hand against the air, she entered a hidden dimension accessible only to her.
There sat a massive white sphere, its surface engraved with an unfathomable number of magic formulas. Touching the sphere gently, she spoke into the empty silence.
"...I see. So I... am trying to kill you."
Her voice was strained, carrying a trace of what seemed to be a very slight hesitation.
"Even so, I cannot give up on you. Kaito-san... If you lose your memories of this past year... If everything starts over and I am the one to save you... will I finally be able to become special to you?"
There was no one in that empty space to answer her.