The place Naoki took Touko and Ciel to was an apartment building near Misaki Private High School.
Looking at the apartment building in front of her and then glancing around, Touko roughly understood why Naoki wanted to stay here. Though years had passed and there were some changes in the surroundings, the place was still recognizable overall.
This was where Naoki, Arcueid, Gray, and Aoko used to live.
Touko had visited this place a few times before, so she could tell.
"Naoki, you don't think the place you lived in years ago is still reserved for you, do you?"
"It probably isn't anymore. Though I didn't cancel the lease back then, Arcueid was the one who rented this apartment. But I think we can get in now."
Naoki said as he led the two into the apartment building. He went straight to the elevator, rode it to the sixth floor, and walked to the innermost door.
The door wasn't locked. Naoki gave it a slight push, and it opened. From the entrance, parts of the interior were visible—there was no one inside, and no lights were on. It didn't look like anyone was living there. However, from the water stains in the sink, it seemed someone had recently used it.
Naoki placed his suitcase on the floor. "Just put your things here for now. After tidying up our rooms, we'll go out for dinner."
"Wait… is this really okay, Naoki? Just walking in and staying here?"
"This could be considered trespassing, right?"
Both Touko and Ciel showed worried expressions. It wasn't that they thought the act was wrong, but Naoki's behavior was genuinely inappropriate.
Seeing their reactions, Naoki gave a slight smile. "It's fine. This apartment is currently rented by Arcueid. I've already communicated with her, so it's no problem for us to stay here."
"You've contacted that True Ancestor?" Touko frowned. "No way. You didn't make any calls on the way here. And isn't that princess supposed to be hiding in her castle? How could you contact her?"
"It's… well, a bit abstract to explain, but you could call it a kind of telepathy."
Naoki pointed to his chest. "Arcueid and I are both fairies, terminals of the planet itself. Plus, her power resided in my body for a few years, so there's a faint connection between us. It's like twins who can sometimes sense each other's state through a blood bond."
"On the way here, I vaguely sensed Arcueid's state. It seems she woke up two days ago and has been staying here. The reason she rented this apartment was also because she was thinking of us. So, it's fine for us to stay here directly."
Hearing his explanation, both Touko and Ciel displayed expressions of disbelief.
Telepathy?
Could fairies really have that kind of connection? Even if it was because Arcueid's power had once resided in Naoki's body, it still seemed a bit far-fetched. More importantly, how could they confirm each other's actions with such a faint telepathic link?
Aren't you two too in sync?
"Let me think, the room I used to stay in was around here, right?"
While Touko and Ciel were still stunned, Naoki began searching for his room based on his memories. But those were memories from seven years ago, so they were a bit hazy.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Parallel world.
In the same place, Misaki City.
Dragging a suitcase in front of the station in the evening, Ayaka let out a small sigh. "A vacation to a parallel world… I thought the Wizard Marshal would send me directly. I didn't expect I'd have to wait here…"
In Ayaka's mind, she should have been sent to the parallel world by Zelretch using the Second Magic or by one of her two senior sisters using Ruby and Sapphire to open a channel to the parallel world.
But she never imagined that Zelretch would tell her to go to the parallel world by coming to Misaki City and waiting to be picked up by Tatari.
Due to a slight issue with the axis of the two worlds, when Tatari—Walachia—appeared, the two worlds would temporarily overlap until Walachia disappeared.
During that time, as long as Ayaka was in Misaki City, she would be transported to the parallel world. Normally, this wouldn't directly affect the other world. This world was like a reflection in water to the other world, and vice versa.
It was impossible to touch the other world.
But Ayaka was a bit different. Before coming here, Zelretch had given her a Mystic Code. As long as she carried this Mystic Code, during the time Tatari appeared, she could exist in both worlds simultaneously and control both her body and its reflection at the same time.
"If you have time to make a Mystic Code like this, why not just send me there directly?"
Looking at the talisman-shaped Mystic Code in her hand, Ayaka sighed with slight frustration. She wanted to see the differences between the parallel world and this one.
Of course, more importantly… she wanted to know what kind of world Naoki was living in.
But now, all her hopes were in vain.
However, there was some good news. After learning she was going to Japan, one of her two senior sisters, Luvia, immediately used the Edelfelt family's wealth to arrange the best hotel in Misaki City for her. During her stay, all expenses would be covered by the Edelfelt family.
Luvia was always generous with her people, and Ayaka was always grateful for her financial support.
(After I return to the Clock Tower, I need to thank her properly.)
With that thought, Ayaka took out her phone, opened a map, and began searching for the location of the hotel Luvia had mentioned.
And at that moment—
*TAP!*
Amid the bustling crowd, a strange sound reached Ayaka's ears. It wasn't loud, but for some reason, it was crystal clear. Despite the various noises around her, Ayaka heard it in the first second.
It was the sound of someone's shoe sole hitting the ground, and it was very close.
Right in front of her.
Ayaka raised her head and looked forward. And at that moment, someone she never expected appeared before her.
"Good evening, Ayaka."
A girl with blonde hair smiled at Ayaka.
With difficulty, Ayaka forced her voice out of her throat. Her hands couldn't help but clench.
"Sister… no way…"