Daniela did not expect that the reason for setting foot on this land again was the death of her friend. Because of the time difference in the delivery of letters across the ocean, she was able to come to Iori Hinata's tombstone a month after her death.

Worshipful.

...She didn't even have time to attend the funeral. She was really unqualified as a good friend.

"Why... Skylark, why couldn't you have gone there earlier?"

In a large Japanese-style room, on a tatami that looked very comfortable, a man and a woman sat facing each other on the floor. There was a table between them. There were a pile of empty sake bottles on the wooden low table. Daniela, who was addicted to alcohol, put it down.

Despite her usual restraint, her face was flushed and she was no longer awake. She had no ability to use reason to cover up her inner sadness.

Like an ignorant child, she complained to the rare man in front of her who was willing to stay and watch her drunken madness.

"With your strength, if you had been earlier, they wouldn't have been able to harm Iori at all. You clearly promised me... You clearly promised me that you would protect her."

"...I only promised to help her once."

Skylark doesn't like drinking, so he drinks tea. He likes to be quiet. It's rare that he doesn't feel dissatisfied with Daniela's rude appearance in front of him. This is the silent tenderness he can show.

"And, as I said, death - that was her own choice."

Thinking back to the man who helped her deliver the letter, the power that radiated from the inside out like a sharp sword made Yunque tremble all over. At that time, he wanted to pick up the weapon and have a duel with the man, but because the man sent it

The content of the letter is too urgent...

After that, the man seemed to disappear after delivering the letter. Even at the funeral where Hibari cremated Hinata Iori's body, the man was nowhere to be seen.

Hibari knew that there must be a deep relationship between such a powerful man and Hinata Iori. If Hinata Iori didn't want to die, with that man around, basically no one could touch her, at least it wouldn't be such a crude and simple way of death.

Hinata Iori's death method was like mocking people's intelligence. Hibari had to guess what her purpose was, and a seemingly impossible answer was closest to the truth.

Hinata Iori is not dead at all, what she wants is probably——

"Social death."

Skylark suddenly said: "She wants to erase her existence from this human society."

The easiest way for a human being to disappear from society is to die. At first, Skylark didn't recover, but then he calmed down and thought about it for a while, and he knew that this woman was viciously playing tricks on everyone.

In the meantime, she resorted to such a trick of killing someone with a borrowed knife, and even the person in charge of the body was a pawn arranged by her earlier.

"...Huh? Sorry, I didn't hear clearly. What are you talking about?"

Daniela, who was drunk on alcohol, didn't even hear the most crucial sentence that Skylark just blurted out.

Gee, that’s really unpleasant.

Looking at the stupid-looking woman in front of him, exuding a decadent air that smelled of rot, Yunque completely lost the desire to analyze with her who the real driving force behind this incident was.

Since Hinata Iori wants to leave here, it means that she will never be able to see her in the future. This is no different from death, so be it.

Skylark said that he didn't want to worry about anything anymore.

At best, she is just a passer-by in life. Rather than giving Daniela the expectation that she can continue to wait with no end in sight, it is better to let time heal her pain.

Skylark looked at his own reflection in the tea cup, with unclear emotions in his eyes.

People like them have long been accustomed to the departure and change of humans around them.

——

"...Miss Iori, have you gone abroad?"

Masami, the director of the orphanage, looked at the man in front of him who claimed to be an acquaintance of Hinata Iori, and said with regret, "I see, I haven't said goodbye properly yet."

The report did not publish any relevant information about Hinata Iori's death, and the people above did not want to make the matter a big deal. Although in front of some people, they were already well aware of Hinata Iori's treatment. But among those living at the bottom

People have no idea that in such a warm spring, another gentle person is coldly abandoned by the world.

"Yes, she missed you very much before she left."

Karasuma Renya put on a mask. In Masami's eyes, he was a gentle and harmless young gentleman. "I heard that she has been sponsoring this orphanage. If you don't mind, please let me come here in the future."

Let me help you."

"...Thank you very much."

Masami said sheepishly: "And Miss Iori, if possible, can you entrust our thanks to her when you contact her?"

"certainly."

Karasuma Renye smiled slightly, "I think she can understand even if I don't say it."

"Actually, I have something to ask for -"

Karasuma Renye added: "About what happened between Iori and you, I wonder if you can tell me a story?"

"Of course you can. Rather, it's our honor."

Masami looked at the handsome young man in front of him who was obviously young and promising. He seemed to understand something and said with a smile: "Miss Iori comes here to get along with the children more. How about letting them tell you?"

"That would be troublesome." Renye Karasuma nodded slightly.

When Hinata Iori was mentioned, the children in the orphanage showed sincere smiles, and they enthusiastically told Karasuma Renya how good Hinata Iori was to them.

"Sister Iori is very gentle. Every time she comes to visit us, she brings us a lot of delicious and fun things."

You can probably imagine the scene...the scene of a group of little carrots surrounding Hinata Iori.

"She plays games with us. When we play chess, Sister Iori is clumsy and always loses."

...That's probably because she let you down on purpose.

"I like sister Iori the most, she is like a mother."

Yes, even to him, she seemed to be taking care of an ignorant child and tolerating him.

Children talk a lot, and sometimes their voices are mixed together. For people like Karasuma Renye who like quiet and are sensitive, such loud noises are very harmful to the brain, especially...him

I don't really like these kids.

But when they were talking about everything about Hinata Iori, the love shown in their eyes could not be faked. For Renya Karasuma, now is the most healing moment in this month.

.

He listened quietly, with a sincere smile unconsciously on his face.

"Uncle, are you crying?"

Karasuma Renye looked very young, but the tiredness and age in her eyebrows were caught by some of the children in front of her, causing them to subconsciously think of Karasuma Renye's age as being older, as her 'brother'.

I really can't say the name.

I feel like the other person is more like a well-maintained middle-aged uncle.

Karasuma Renye touched his face, but there was no feeling of moisture. He asked doubtfully: "Am I crying?"

The child nodded seriously, "Weeping is not only when we shed tears. We often hold back from crying when we encounter sad things. My uncle looks very sad at first sight."

Renya Karasuma: Children really know a lot.

"I see."

One child was the first to think of a certain possibility. His witty eyes couldn't be hidden at all, "Uncle, you were dumped by Sister Iori, right?"

Karasuma Renya: ...You guys know too much, right?

The child's words were unintentional. Although they were stabbing Karasuma Renye's soul, the pain suddenly conflicted with Karasuma Renye's long-suppressed psychology, and her mood seemed to feel relieved instantly. Karasuma

Lian Ye laughed heartily and said: "Haha, you are right, uncle, I was completely dumped."

A cold and handsome young man with an unsmiling smile showed his teeth in a big smile. The feeling of his personality collapsed made all the children present silent.

"...You don't have to laugh if you don't want to, uncle."

"There is no need to force yourself, uncle, we are not ignorant children."

"It's okay to cry, uncle. There's no need to be brave."

"..."

As expected of the little carrots who can play with Hinata Iori, the lethality of their language is equally astonishing.

After walking out of the orphanage, Karasuma Renye's dull mood for a month relaxed somewhat. He seemed to understand the mood of Hinata Iori who came here from time to time.

But Renya Karasuma's own acting skills are not very good. In fact, some children have already noticed the clues.

"uncle."

Haruko stood in front of Renye Karasuma. At this time, only the big one and the small one were left at the gate of the orphanage. The question Haruko had been hiding in her heart blurted out at this moment, "Iori-sister, is she...?"

As she spoke, Haruko's round eyes were filled with tears, "Is she like her father? She has gone to a place far, far away. Will Haruko never see Sister Iori again?"

Karasuma Renye looked at the little girl in front of him silently, who was holding back tears. Since she was discovered by the other party, he no longer hid her, "Well, she won't come back again."

The moment she knew the truth, Haruko finally couldn't help it anymore and burst into tears. Even though she was sad, she still apologized for causing trouble to the other party and said: "I'm sorry, uncle."

"Why apologize?"

"Because Sister Iori's death must have been a big blow to my uncle."

Qingzi cried and said, "But even though it's so painful, I don't want us to be sad together. I failed my uncle's kindness."

"...This is just my own behavior, don't worry about it."

Karasuma Renye knelt down and took out a handkerchief to wipe away the girl's tears lamely, "If she is here, she doesn't want to see you cry."

"I'm sorry, just let me cry again..."

Haruko said: "If I go in now, I will definitely be exposed."

Karasuma Renye touched her head and showed a wry smile.

After staying with Haruko for a while outside the orphanage and watching her go back, Karasuma Renye put away her tired smile and turned around and entered the dark corner, where the attendants who obeyed the Karasuma family were already waiting.
To be continued...