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"I understand." Yoimiya also stepped closer to Avin and asked, "You must really want to find that Aranara friend, right?"
"Yes… of course I want to see them. I really want to tell them I'm not angry, and I haven't broken our promise. It was just an accident… I'm definitely not upset with them, not at all."
"Coincidentally, we're all looking for Aranara too. Do you want to come along?"
Avin lifted her head, carefully scanning Yoimiya, Victor Wang, and Hanachirusato, a spark of hope igniting in her chest. "You're really looking for Aranara? Does that mean… you can see Aranara too?"
"Sorry, I don't know that. I haven't spent much time in Sumeru, so I might not have seen Aranara yet, or maybe I really can't see them. But it doesn't matter—whether I can see them or not doesn't affect my belief that you can see them."
"…!"
At this point, the situation had jumped a bit, but ultimately, it had returned to a key point in the storyline.
Victor Wang gestured to Yoimiya and Hanachirusato. "Let's step aside and discuss the search plan for later."
Once they put some distance between themselves and Avin, Yoimiya first apologized awkwardly. "Sorry… I added Avin without asking first. But if we left this child behind, even if a meteor shower appeared, I wouldn't be able to focus. The stars in the sky wouldn't want the person summoning them to be so cold-hearted, right?"
"That's fine," Hanachirusato said. "My worry is more about what we'll do if we can't find Aranara."
"Oh, don't worry about that!"
Yoimiya clenched her fist over her chest in a promise, then earnestly shared her experience with taking care of children:
"For Avin, finding their Aranara friend is the result. Regaining their past happiness is the process we need to help with.
"I think it's mostly that a sudden illness made them unable to endure the heartbreak of broken dreams, and made it hard for them to face beautiful memories again.
"Everyone has their own unique fantasies. Since by chance in the past, they met the 'Aranara,' as long as we help them recover the same feelings from the past, their 'Aranara' will naturally return."
"It's not about finding Aranara, but helping Avin find that happiness… so that's what you mean."
"Exactly. Adults usually only believe in objective facts and often unintentionally hurt a child's innocent fantasies. But I believe that even subjective things can be recovered."
"Actually…" Hanachirusato hesitated. "I could transform into Aranara's form, but I'm not sure what to say to Avin… though since they can't fully remember, it shouldn't be a big problem, right?"
Victor Wang laughed and shook his head. "You two seem to have completely ignored the fact that we might actually find Aranara."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean… could it be?"
"I also have an Aranara friend," Victor Wang revealed. "When the shopkeeper said Aranara could find Viparyas, I had the thought, but Aranara doesn't like to expose themselves to the human world, so I hesitated. But you're both good-natured, so it should be fine."
"R-really?"
"Aranara usually won't come into the city. Let's first bring Avin outside Sumeru City. Whether it's Avin's friend or Viparyas, we'll find them."
…
"Here should be fine."
In a secluded area outside Sumeru City, after confirming no outsiders were around except Avin, Yoimiya, and Hanachirusato, Victor Wang blew the leaf entrusted by Nahida… and an Aranara appeared in response.
"Arama?"
"Victor Wang!"
"How… is it you?"
"Why not me? I've gone through so much with you all, the memories we built became my strength. Now I'm really powerful!"
"Ah, okay, okay."
After greeting, Arama curiously turned their round body and looked at the others in turn.
"Th-this is an Aranara…!"
"Hello, red one."
"Hello, Arama!"
"Hello, purple one."
"Hi!"
"Avin… no, I-I-I just came to find Victor Wang, why are there so many people!"
"Sorry, Arama. There's a reason for this, but I can promise these are all good people. No need to be afraid."
"Since Victor Wang says so… I'm not afraid."
After comforting Arama, Victor Wang asked, "You seem to know Avin?"
"Avin is a friend of Arashani. I've heard about them from Arashani."
"Good, that explains it. This child encountered an unexpected illness and couldn't go looking for Arashani. Gradually, their memory of Aranara became a bit fuzzy. Even if Aranara and Arashani were to eventually part ways, it shouldn't be like this—and this isn't what Avin wants. So, we want to help them find Arashani."
"Little ones grow fast. Sometimes they suddenly lose contact. Arashani thought Avin had grown past Aranara like a sapling outgrowing its parent. It happens often and can't be helped. But the outcome wasn't that… both Avin and Arashani were heartbroken. I understand. I can take you to see Arashani."
…
Guiding everyone to a dense forest, Arama said to Avin: "Arashani is here, but you may not be able to see them unless you're prepared."
On the wheelchair, Avin asked excitedly, "What preparation? I'll do it, I promise!"
"I can sense that Avin hasn't fully remembered. To see Aranara, it's not just about memories—your dreams are indispensable too."
"Dreams?" Avin immediately slumped. "But I can never stand again… even if I recover, I don't know if it will be okay, or how long it will take…"
"No need to worry. Avin must remember, dreams come from the heart, not the body."
"The heart…?"
"I'll stop here. Not just Avin, but all precious things must be found by yourselves."
Arama nodded to Victor Wang, turning into a dream and temporarily withdrawing.
Hanachirusato keenly sensed something but didn't speak, only glancing at Victor Wang. "The sky seems to have changed a bit… it feels dreamlike."
"Hehe, maybe something good will happen. Right now, the most important thing is that Avin can recover their dreams."
Victor Wang, Yoimiya, and Hanachirusato all focused on Avin.
"Dreams come from the heart…"
Avin repeated the words, suddenly determined. She pushed herself up from the wheelchair, slowly standing. With everyone's worried yet encouraging gaze, she took her first step forward.
"I'm standing… I'm standing… it's effortless, and it feels normal, just like before I got sick… look, I'm standing!"
Yoimiya clapped in celebration. "Great! Now we can go find Arashani together! Oh, let's have a race—I want to see how fast you start running."
"I might not be fully recovered… but whatever, let's race! Even you, Yoimiya, I'm not afraid!"
With that, the two ran ahead, one after the other.
"Let's chat," Hanachirusato suggested, staying behind with Victor Wang, slowly catching up while talking.
Following the heart's guidance, at the end of the path—on top of a giant glowing mushroom—something quietly came to life.
"This flower suddenly appeared…"
Yoimiya improvised: "This is a Dream Flower, a seedless flower that only grows where pure dreams exist. It needs the Aranara's song as nourishment. It's growing here now, so you should be able to see Arashani. Try touching it."
"I see… like a fairy tale. I didn't believe in them anymore… but this is wonderful, I've found my dream again."
Avin reached out and gently touched the Dream Flower. Suddenly, it bloomed, scattering starlight. The sky gained a hazy, dreamy glow. When she looked up, Arashani was already by her side.
"Arashani…"
"Avin, I want to apologize. It's not that I didn't want to find you, I just couldn't remember the time… I also didn't dare go to the city. I hadn't seen you in so long and thought you had made new friends."
"It's okay, I understand now. It's because I didn't keep my spirits up. Bad things happen to anyone, but I won't give up anymore, I won't despair again."
"Avin has really grown, like a seed becoming a tree, children becoming adults."
"Arashani! Waaaahhh—"
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