But her mother refused to reveal even a single detail about what the Bizarre really were, no matter how much she whined and pleaded.
Only on the topic of her father did her mother not allow any slander or discrimination.
So, the apology had to be quick and sincere, otherwise she would see her mother act like a cat with its fur on end.
When she was young and didn't know any better, she had called her dad by his real name and added "bastard" to it. She was thrown out of the house and had to kneel in the courtyard for a whole day and night…
It even rained that day. Her younger siblings' pleas were useless. She had to kneel for a full twenty-four hours, even missing school…
Just thinking about it now was terrifying…
Rin lowered her head and silently took a sharp breath.
This was one of the few shadows of her childhood.
"You haven't seen him. If you were me, and had broken through that situation with him in that environment, you probably wouldn't look at your current husband anymore. Or, you wouldn't look at anyone you know."
"Is it that exaggerated…?"
"Yes. When death is constantly approaching, and the mental will of those around you collapses one by one, when everyone has given up on survival, you will know how happy it is to have someone who refuses to give up, who works hard to find a way out, and is willing to take you away."
"Isn't that just the suspension bridge effect?"
"The suspension bridge is already broken. When the bridge is falling into the abyss, and someone is still willing to pull you up, what does it matter if it's the suspension bridge effect? Rin, you may not be able to understand what it means when a person is willing to cast aside their own heavy responsibilities just for that tiny sliver of possibility to bring you out of hell…"
"That's no longer a simple suspension bridge effect. Rin, have you ever asked your husband if he is willing to die for you?"
"Uh… this topic is too heavy. I think… it's okay to work hard for the other person, but dying for them is too serious, a bit difficult."
"But he did it, and so did I."
Shigure Kira said to Rin with a heavy heart, her mind involuntarily flashing back to the Soul Ferrying Passage, where Li Mo, his eyes dazed and his five senses lost, still held her hand and sang "Twinkle, Twinkle, Kira Star"…
What responsibility? What duty?
If you can't even stop the crying right in front of you, how can you talk about grand ideals far away in the sky?
Li Mo… was just that kind of person.
Shigure Kira seemed to be drunk, lost in her beautiful memories.
Rin coughed twice and casually mentioned, "Alright, I didn't expect Dad to be so amazing."
"He's the most amazing person in the world!" Shigure Kira immediately replied.
Rin praised him a few more times, then turned her head and saw her mother's eyes shining, full of admiration and reverence.
Oh no, my mom's gone crazy again. She's hopeless.
The mother and daughter talked sincerely, unaware that behind them, there was an imperceptible shadow.
After Rin left, Shigure Kira gently lifted the soft quilt and slowly lay down, the fatigue of the day gradually dissipating.
The light in the room was soft and warm. Shigure Kira closed her eyes, and the thrilling scenes of the past appeared one by one.
However, just as she was about to press the switch on the bedside lamp and let darkness completely swallow the space, a sudden warm touch came from behind.
A pair of hands, like the gentlest willow catkins in a spring breeze, gently wrapped around her slender waist.
The sudden change made Shigure Kira instantly tense up her whole body. She suddenly flipped over, her instinctive reaction driving her to throw a swift punch.
The strength of an S-rank Valkyrie, even without armor, could easily overpower any ill-intentioned person.
But unexpectedly, the hands did not retreat. Instead, one hand reached out and caught her fist, neutralizing all the force into nothing.
Shigure Kira's heart raced, and her breathing became rapid. Just as she was about to exert force again, she saw the other person's face clearly.
In an instant, subjective time almost froze.
Countless indescribable emotions surged in Shigure Kira's heart. Was it the long-lost sense of security? Was it deep longing? Was it the joy of reunion?
She didn't know. She couldn't tell. Her brain was fuzzy, and it was difficult to maintain thought.
Her clenched fist had unknowingly loosened. All tension and defensiveness melted away in an instant.
Her heart, which had been silent for thirty years, seemed to be illuminated by a warm dawn at this moment. All the haze and cold were swept away.
A warm current surged from the bottom of her heart to her eyes, turning into crystal tears that flowed down uncontrollably.
Shigure Kira choked, speaking with a hoarse voice as if her vocal cords were damaged, "Li Mo, you're back…"
After a long time, the hope of reunion was finally answered.
"Yeah, I'm back."
Li Mo held Shigure Kira in his arms. For the next half hour, the room was filled with only the faint, incessant sound of crying.
"Wooo…"
"Wooo…"
Shigure Kira was like an injured kitten, collapsed in a damp, dark corner of an alley, curled up in Li Mo's arms. Her hands tightly gripped his clothes, and tears rolled down from her eyes like a broken string of pearls, dripping onto his chest. Each drop was like a heavy hammer pounding on his heart.
"I'm sorry, I came back late…"
Li Mo could feel that Shigure Kira's entire body was trembling non-stop.
He didn't know any comforting techniques. He could only hold Shigure Kira and gently pat her back.
Shigure Kira's crying gradually subsided, but her tears continued to flow silently.
"Mmm…" Shigure Kira looked up, her nose red, sniffling softly.
A flash of inspiration suddenly crossed Li Mo's mind—
Brain: Hey, I have a terrible idea!
Li Mo: Hey, good idea!
Seeing the tearful Shigure Kira, Li Mo lost his composure and blurted out without thinking, "Why are you wiping your snot on me? You have to pay me."
After saying it, Li Mo began to regret it.
What the hell kind of 'forever alone' comment was that? It's all the brain's fault. I'll take you out later!
The next second, Shigure Kira pounced on him, her eyes shining with a clear, longing light. There was no distance between them anymore.
"Mo… can I… call you that?"
"Mmm…"
Li Mo did not refuse.
The original crying turned into muffled grunts of labored breathing.
After a long time, the flushed Shigure Kira answered the previous question, "Then I'll give you… all of me…"
Embracing, seizing the day…
Blood and tenderness, screams and laughter, silence and sunshine…
The numb spirit gradually relaxed in the softness and warmth, and the complete humanity slowly revived.
Both paths were destined to collapse.
Dying once and for all could certainly resist all future depression and sadness, but it would also shut out happiness and smiles.
Li Mo knew very well that his life would eventually go from immature to mature, from eager to distant, in constant rebirth.
This was his destiny, and also his destination.
The only thing he could do was to raise his head, focus his gaze on the end of time, and forever resist.
In the early morning, while everyone was still sound asleep, the dawn light peeked its cute little head over the horizon.
Li Mo got up early and went into the kitchen.
The layout of this house was exactly the same as the haunted house. Even with his eyes closed, Li Mo could skillfully cook.
He didn't use "Wish." He wanted to cook a meal for their "little dream" with his own hands.
For the current Li Mo, this was the first time, and also the last…
Just as Li Mo was cooking, there was an unusual noise at the door.
It was very light, as if the person opening the door was deliberately trying to be quiet.
Li Mo was sure this commotion was coming from outside to inside. He froze the time and space in the kitchen, then snapped his fingers. All the lights on the first floor turned on.
At the same time, Li Mo teleported in front of the main door, his gaze sharp.
The visitor was a middle-aged woman, about thirty or forty years old. Li Mo searched his memory but couldn't find any impression of such a person.
However, the middle-aged woman covered her mouth with both hands, her ten fingers trembling like withered branches in a storm.
She called out softly, "Bro… Brother… you're still alive…"
Li Mo's brows furrowed slightly. He didn't react, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. "Who are you?"
"I am…"
The middle-aged woman was about to give her answer but suddenly changed her mind and bit her lip, saying instead, "I'm a neighbor of Big Sis Shigure Kira. I came to visit her today."
Li Mo snorted coldly. Several chains wrapped around the middle-aged woman's limbs.
"I don't believe anyone would come to visit when the host is all asleep. Since you're unwilling to reveal yourself, I'll have to get the answer myself."
Li Mo strode forward and placed his finger on the other's forehead.
Instantly, the chains disintegrated. Li Mo stood there, stunned, looking at the woman in front of him with a simple, foolish smile.
In her memory… was a monotonous, boring life.
Training, patrolling, recording; training, patrolling, recording…
Ten years as one day.
"Saori Tsuruyo."
When Li Mo said this name, Saori Tsuruyo lowered her head, her hands trying hard to cover her slightly weathered face.
Their appearances were a generation apart, but Saori Tsuruyo still spoke with a respectful tone, "It's me, Brother… I'm Saori Tsuruyo."
Li Mo nodded and didn't say any more.
Yes, thirty years had changed a lot. Along the way, he had met too many old friends whose appearances did not change with age, so much so that he had forgotten what thirty years meant to an ordinary person.
MEI was long dead, having jumped out of time.
Elysia, Pardofelis, and Raiden Mei were all Bizarre, so their appearances wouldn't change much unless their rules were distorted. Dormancy was death.
Shigure Kira had used special means to ensure that one day when he returned, he would see the most beautiful her.
Although her appearance hadn't changed, her life force had irretrievably diminished. One day, she would die in her most beautiful state.
Shigure Kira's repeated defeats last night were proof.
"Come in. It's been thirty years. You've grown taller."
"Yeah!"
The young Li Mo was like an elder stroking a junior, gently ruffling Saori Tsuruyo's head.
Saori Tsuruyo responded softly, her voice carrying a hint of an imperceptible tremble. She slowly stepped into the house, each step so light yet so solemn, as if she were crossing the thirty-year gap in time.
Her time had stopped when Li Mo left.
Thirty years later, today, it began to turn again.
With Saori Tsuruyo helping out, Li Mo's work was much less.
He had to be responsible for the breakfast of a large family, which was a considerable amount of work. Fortunately, Saori Tsuruyo was not bad at cooking. The two of them had their own duties, handling the ingredients, cooking, and plating in an orderly manner…
"Let me help!" Shigure Kira popped out from somewhere, picked up a spatula, and was about to start stir-frying. She turned to Saori Tsuruyo and said, "I've been learning a lot lately. My cooking has improved a lot."
Just as she took a step forward, the corner of Shigure Kira's mouth twitched, her legs trembled, and her expression was very awkward.
Shigure Kira: "I-I pulled my back…"
Li Mo naturally knew why…
"Let us do it! Kira, you go wake up the children."
"Yeah, Captain. Leave it to us!"
"Umm… okay, then I'll go out first?"
Li Mo & Saori Tsuruyo: "Mm-hmm!"
The moment she left the kitchen, Shigure Kira turned her head and glanced at Li Mo. Her amber-like, shining eyes shimmered, and her pink lips moved, whispering a sentence.
…
…
Every year after that, on special days, Li Mo would accompany her to Siberia to pay respects to their former comrades.
Buried in the frosty winds of Siberia, they would still be remembered…
She had mentioned countless times without thinking, "In the past, on this day, everyone in the Wolf Pack would gather to celebrate. But that was a long time ago. If I die in the future, I must be buried here."
"Because… whenever the cold wind blows, the wolves will set foot on this snowy plain and gather to howl, just like we used to."
…
…
Dim lights, a soft white bed.
Kira's eyes gradually lost their amber brilliance. The surrounding world became blurry and distant. What she saw was like an old film, playing frame by frame, slow and blurry.
Even so, Kira's heart still tried hard to focus her gaze on the face holding her hand. She couldn't see it clearly, but just seeing the outline made her feel incredibly at ease.
This was probably what death felt like. Calm, cold, a void.
Was this how Li Mo felt back then?
There was no life flashing before her eyes as people often said. The only feeling was that the surrounding sounds were constantly flowing backward, like a stream flowing down a mountain stream.
Further and further away… further and further away…
The colors of the world gradually faded in her eyes, from vibrant to a single gray-white, the final color of life.
But in that spreading gray-white, she saw—
A streak of crimson blooming for her.
What followed was an indescribable drowsiness, as if her entire body was being dragged by an invisible force, sinking into an unknown and deep place.
At the last moment of her life, Shigure Kira vaguely felt countless soft, cold kisses on her face.
Soft, cool…
But this feeling quickly disappeared as her sense of touch shut down.
There were no noisy human voices in her ears. Instead, there was the whistling cold wind and the high-pitched howls of the wolf pack on the snowy plain.
Shigure Kira smiled brightly, her pale lips moving slightly.
There was no sound, but Li Mo could understand what she was saying.
Thank you…
I love you…