342-Episode 342: Phantom Dream




Tina? Is that body...?

 My legs are in place.
 Her body isn't translucent or fluffy and floating.

 Now Tina looks like a normal person everywhere...
 For some reason, I feel incredibly uncomfortable there.

'What's the matter, Rain's husband? What's wrong with us?
Well no, it's nothing.

 What was I thinking?
 I can't believe that Tina feels different about being a normal person...
 It makes it sound like Tina isn't a normal person.
 It makes it sound like the right thing to do.

 It's not good.
 I can't believe I'm being rude again.
 Maybe he's still sleepwalking, after all.

'What's Tina doing?'
I was helping Rain's husband with his father. I didn't want him to let me stay here for free, after all. I thought about what I could do to help, so I decided to help with the food.
Okay. Tina's hungry.
I'm on it! .........but Rain's husband's father and mother are there too. The pressure and.........uh, don't set the bar too high.
I'm looking forward to it, Tina.
I'm counting on you, Tina.
You've been listening to me?

 In the back, Tina gave a sharp tweak to the twins, who secretly added to the conversation.
 Watching such an exchange, they naturally laughed.

 What can I say....
 It's peaceful, laid-back and restful.
 I suppose the word "happy" could be applied exactly to a scene like this.

By the way...

 He scurried around the ground floor.

'Where are Nina and Rifa?'

 I don't see the two of them.
 Are they still sleeping?

Nina and Rifa went for a walk. They're going to do some sightseeing in Kagne as well.
It's been a good amount of time, so I'm sure he'll be back soon.

 Not long after, Nina and Rifa showed up, as Kanade and Tania had said.

 Only, they weren't alone.
 Nina was being held by an adult woman.

 That person looked a lot like Nina.
 
 Nina had awakened and performed an adult version before, but........
 It's close to the state it was in then.

 Take the awakened Nina and grow another five years or so....
 If you add some color on top of that, this is what it would look like, wouldn't it?

 Rifa was holding hands with a man from the same demon tribe.
 It's Rifa's brother, Carus-san.

''Rain........you're awake?
I'm home.

 Nina and Rifa smile at me, and I respond with a smile too.

'Good morning. Are you two out for a walk?
Hmm ... with your mother.
I'm with my brother.
I see... so... so...?

 For some reason, I felt a tremendous sense of discomfort.

 Nina taking a walk with her mother?
 Rifa taking a walk with Mr. Carus?

 For some reason, it didn't feel like that was possible.
 Why would I think that?
 In fact, they're right in front of me.
 It's not an illusion, it's right there.

'Neeee....Rain? What's going on? You look so difficult.
'What? Oh, no....

 Kanade asks me, and I come to myself.
 At the same time, the feeling of discomfort is rapidly disappearing.

''It's ... nothing. It looks like I was still sleepwalking.''

 Nina's mother is here.
 Mr. Callus is there.

 It's not wrong.
 It's the right thing to do.
 It's the right thing to do.
 So it's not a problem.
 I made that decision and decided to just forget about it instead of pursuing the strange feeling I was born with.

"I don't see Chiffon and the others, but are we going for a walk?
Meow?
What?

 Kanade and Tania gave me a strange look.
 It's not just the two of them.
 Sora and Luna, Tina, Nina and Rifa..........they all make suspicious looks.

''Nya.......who's Chiffon?''
'Hey Lane, did you hook up with a girl somewhere else again?'
'Don't make it sound like I do that all the time... or do you really not know? Chiffon?
'Chiffon.......do you know Luna?'
I don't know. I've never heard of it. Who is that, Rain, and who is it?
Who, of course...

 ...Who are you?

 I can't answer the question myself, but I can't answer it.
 A moment ago, I'm sure I had a solid memory, information in my head...
 They are rapidly disappearing and gone.
 It's as if a thick fog has settled in my head and is preventing me from exploring my memories...
 I can't remember anything.

'Nyah ... Rain, are you okay? What's wrong with you today?
'Maybe he's still tired? You only arrived in Cagney yesterday. Why don't you get some more sleep?

 Kanade and Tania are worried about me.
 I'm sorry...but what is it? This feeling?
 

 What in the world is this........

...wind.

 There's no way I can come up with an answer, and I'm left with an indescribable sense of frustration.

I'm going to go for a walk, too.

 I'm not sure how I feel about myself.
 In order to sort it out, I decided to take a breath of fresh air for a while.

 I left the inn and walked slowly.
 It's a walk to calm my mind, so there's no particular destination.
 I'm going to be able to walk around the city and breathe in the fresh morning air.

''Fufu........have I calmed down a bit?

 I felt a sense of lightness.
 But the uncomfortable feeling that lingers in the corner of my mind won't go away anytime soon.
 What does this mean, really?

"Hmm.

 Suddenly, I heard a familiar laugh.
 I looked in that direction...

Hello, Miss Lane.
...Iris?