Multiversal Friendship System-Chapter 165 - 164 – Suddenly Gone

A cold and indifferent Origami suddenly showed a look of shock.

It wasn't her fault—after all, having a manga character appear in reality... was a bit too fantastical.

She looked at Souta with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

If he wasn't lying, then the young man sitting across from her... was actually someone who had saved the world!

"I've read that manga too. I never thought..." Itsuka Shiori looked at Souta in amazement. "I never thought it was real, and that I'd one day meet the protagonist in person...!"

"Ahem, let me correct something. The story in the manga has been exaggerated," Souta reminded her. "For example, the love triangle is fake, and I have absolutely no interest in shiroyasha's loli body. So please, don't misunderstand me."

"..."

Itsuka Shiori gave Souta a subtle glance.

If Souta hadn't brought it up, she wouldn't have even thought about it.

But now that he did, she couldn't help but wonder... Was the guy sitting across from her a lolicon?

Souta noticed the strange look in Shiori's eyes and quickly changed the subject as if nothing had happened:

"Let's put the manga aside for now. I want to ask, how exactly did you travel back to the past?"

"First of all, thank you for saving my parents." Origami didn't answer immediately but instead asked Souta a question: "Before I respond to you, may I ask what your purpose is in coming to this era?"

"I came at someone's request," Souta said honestly. "You should know Tokisaki Kurumi, right?"

"Tokisaki Kurumi...?" Itsuka Shiori was startled. "That Worst Spirit?"

"..." Souta was a little surprised.

Worst Spirit? That shouldn't be... The past has already been changed, so Kurumi shouldn't be collecting time by killing people anymore.

No, not necessarily.

Souta remembered that Kurumi didn't particularly mind getting rid of people who were scumbags to begin with...

"Let's put Kurumi aside for now," Souta brushed past that topic and got straight to the point. "In short, Kurumi asked me to check on the history of Origami Tobiichi in the past. According to the original timeline, you traveled back in time because Kurumi used the Twelfth Bullet on you. But now, she has no intention of doing that. This could break the chain of causality, so she asked me to return and see if anything would go wrong five years ago."

Souta slowly explained the concept of the historical time loop to the two of them.

"So that's how it is..."

After listening, Itsuka Shiori pondered for a moment, sorting out the logic.

Origami, on the other hand, remained silent the entire time, her expression occasionally showing traces of deep sorrow.

So it was true—her parents had died by her own hands.

Hearing the answer directly from Souta's mouth sent a stabbing pain through her heart.

At that moment, her parents were sitting at a nearby table, but she didn't dare to glance in their direction. Whether it was guilt or regret, she wasn't sure.

Seeing her like this, Souta could only try to comfort her:

"Everything has changed now. You can try to let it go."

"But I still remember everything...!" A shadow clouded Origami's eyes.

"Origami, don't think about that for now," Itsuka Shiori held her hand. "Souta-san's actions weren't in vain. The past really has changed."

"..."

Origami said nothing.

Clearly, her emotions wouldn't be soothed with just a few words.

Itsuka Shiori sighed and silently prayed in her heart that time would eventually erase Origami's guilt.

"By the way," after comforting Origami, Shiori turned to Souta and asked, "How is it that you and Nightmare... I mean, Kurumi-san, know so much about us?"

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Hearing this question, Souta hesitated about whether to tell the truth.

He quickly realized that explaining it would be incredibly troublesome, so he decided to make up a more convenient answer.

He simply said, "I mentioned earlier that the manga artist 'Nia Honjo' is actually a Spirit, right?"

"Hmm?" Itsuka Shiori nodded. "Does she have something to do with it?"

"No, I just wanted to mention her."

"..."

"Ahem, don't get frustrated just yet. I haven't finished talking."

Souta organized his thoughts and continued,

"As a Spirit, Nia Honjo's 'Angel' has the ability to search for information. She can investigate events from the past, present, and even the future. I, on the other hand, have a similar ability... Do you understand now?"

"Information searching...?" Itsuka Shiori folded her arms and leaned back slightly. She spoke in a slightly wary tone, "Uh... How detailed can this search get? Like... for example, can you find out a girl's three sizes...?"

Beside her, Origami's gaze instantly sharpened.

"..."

Souta completely ignored their weird reactions. "Anyway, the reason I know about you guys is because of this ability."

"I see." Origami nodded. "Regardless, thank you for your help. I'll tell you what you want to know."

"What I want to know... is just what I asked earlier. How did you travel back to this era?"

Souta asked curiously,

"Was it because of Kurumi?"

"It wasn't her." Origami shook her head. "While I was searching for Tokisaki Kurumi, I suddenly ended up here."

"..."

Souta was stunned. "Wait! That's possible!?"

He then turned to Itsuka Shiori: "What about you?"

"I was looking for Origami, and then I suddenly ended up here," Shiori answered honestly.

"..."

Souta rubbed his temples. The more he thought about it, the more surreal it felt!

Was the world's corrective force... let's just call it that for now, really this casual?

If they traveled this way, how would they return to the future?

Would it be a perfect loop—just suddenly returning as well?

Souta thought about the two Twelfth Bullet ability cards he had given them. Were they going to be wasted just like that?

It wasn't that he regretted using them—he just felt like he had done something completely unnecessary...

No, wait. Maybe not.

Perhaps the Twelfth Bullet allowed them to retain their memories even after the worldline changed...

"It seems like this world really does have something like fate or corrective force that smooths out all logical contradictions."

Origami and Shiori's experiences seemed to confirm his theory.

"Fate..." Origami suddenly frowned and stared into Souta's eyes. "Could it be that my parents' deaths were part of fate all along? Was it fate that pulled me back into the past?"

"I don't know if you can call it fate, but your parents do seem to be shrouded in misfortune," Souta revealed. "Even though their deaths have been prevented now, a year later, they would still die in a car accident."

Origami's expression turned serious. "How could that be..."

"Don't worry," Souta glanced toward the young Origami in the distance and said, "One of my goals in coming to this era is to ensure your parents' safety. I will take care of it."

Origami took a deep breath and bowed her head toward Souta. "Thank you for your generosity! I apologize for doubting you earlier. You truly are... just as admirable as in the manga."

"Yes, Souta-san truly deserves the title of world savior. Thank you for everything you've done for Origami."

Both Itsuka Shiori and Origami bowed their heads in gratitude.

Their gestures were solemn and sincere.

Souta sighed softly. "You don't have to be so formal. I act purely based on my own interest—honestly, it's just to give myself a sense of satisfaction."

"But regardless of your reasons, you've indeed helped us. I don't think you need to draw such a clear line between personal motivations and the impact you've made," Itsuka Shiori said with a gentle smile, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly.

Compared to Origami, Souta felt that she had a bit more feminine charm.

As expected, knowing how to dress up really does make a difference, huh?

"Right!"

All of a sudden, Itsuka Shiori's voice became a little more excited.

"Mr. Souta! Since you can access information, do you know about the one who grants humans Spirit powers?"

Origami perked up, listening closely.

"Yeah, I do," Souta replied, his expression turning nostalgic. "Back in the past, we even gave her a good beating."

"Then can you tell—"

"No!"

"Eh...?" Shiori blinked, looking a little disappointed. "Why not?"

"It's not that I don't want to tell you," Souta shook his head helplessly. "But... how should I put it? That individual is way too powerful. If you learn about her existence now, you'll have to be extremely cautious in the future. If you accidentally expose that knowledge, your fate..."

Souta trailed off, then sighed.

"In short, telling you now would only put you in danger."

Being left hanging like that, Itsuka Shiori looked utterly dissatisfied, as if she had just been forced to stop reading a book halfway through because the author decided to quit writing.

The author knew the ending, but refused to share it—so frustrating!

"Alright, alright, just trust me on this," Souta said, smoothly changing the topic. He then gestured toward Origami's parents.

"This is a reunion after five years. Rather than talking to me about this stuff, Origami, you should go spend time with your parents."

"..." Origami hesitated, a troubled expression appearing on her face. It was clear she hadn't fully moved past the shadows of her memories.

As she struggled internally, her body... suddenly began to fade.

Not just her—Shiori's body was also becoming translucent, gradually vanishing as if the world itself was erasing their existence.

"We're... being sent back?"

Shiori and Origami quickly realized what was happening.

In the final seconds before disappearing, Itsuka Shiori looked at Souta and shouted:

"Thank you, Souta! We'll see you in the future!"

And just like that, the two of them vanished before Souta's eyes.

But Souta wasn't focused on them anymore.

Because just now, when his gaze casually drifted toward the window—

He thought he had caught a glimpse of... Kurumi's figure.