Chapter 234: The Hermit, Yoshino Himekawa and Yoshinon
Perhaps because of the difference in spatial layers, when Franklin was teleported into the Neighboring World, he appeared directly behind Tohka.
Just as Franklin was about to speak, he saw that Tohka—who had been smiling—gradually let her expression collapse.
"So we're back again… how boring…"
Tohka loosened her grip on Halvanhelev, and in the next instant, the greatsword dissolved into particles of light and vanished without a trace.
"You clearly said you had the ability to help me stay over there… big liar…
You didn't even give me anything tasty yet… super big liar…
The big feast is gone too… super… super… super big liar."
Being complained about behind his back—and hearing it with his own ears—was a first for Franklin.
"Ahem."
Tohka, who was about to continue, suddenly turned around and saw Franklin standing right behind her. Her drooping expression instantly lit up with radiance.
She excitedly ran over and hugged him tightly.
"Lin… Lin… it really is Lin… seeing you is really great."
Because of the Spirit Armor, all Franklin felt was hardness—there was none of the joy one would normally get from being hugged by a beautiful girl.
"Alright, stop hugging me. The big feast I promised hasn't been fulfilled yet. If we drag this out any longer, you'll start calling me a big liar again."
Realizing that everything she had just said had been heard, Tohka's cheeks instantly turned red.
"Sorry, Lin… it's just that this place is really too lonely. Most of the time it's only me.
Sometimes I run into other Spirits, but either we end up fighting, or after going to that world and coming back, we separate again.
Just now, it felt like Lin had tricked me, so I said those things…"
Looking at Tohka's lonely expression, Franklin smiled and gently rubbed her head, then took her hand and led her toward a family restaurant.
"I understand how you feel, Tohka. This time, when we return to that world, I'll make sure you can stay there forever.
And I'll stay by your side the whole time. I won't let you be lonely again. That's something I can guarantee."
Holding Franklin's hand and feeling the care in his words, warmth filled Tohka's heart, with no sense of resistance at all.
After entering the family restaurant, Franklin casually waved his hand. The lights turned on, and all the equipment instantly looked brand new.
Pulling Tohka to sit down, Franklin activated Illusory World Genesis. In projection form, every dish he could think of appeared one by one, laid out before Tohka.
"You can order whatever you want. Eat anything you like."
Looking at the dazzling spread of food in front of her, Tohka's eyes grew brighter and brighter, to the point where she almost started drooling.
"Lin… can I order one of everything?"
Seeing her pleading, hopeful gaze, Franklin smiled and shook his head.
"That's too much. You won't be able to finish it.
How about this—eat little by little. Eat as much as you can.
Later, when we return to the real world, we'll try everything else you haven't eaten yet.
After all, we'll be together for a very, very long time in the future. There's no need to rush."
"Staying with Lin… and having good food every day…"
As she spoke, Tohka's eyes shone even brighter.
"Okay, I trust Lin. Then I'll leave it to you."
Franklin didn't waste any time. With a casual wave, more than a dozen dishes appeared on the table, and rich aromas instantly filled the air.
Seeing Tohka about to grab the food with her hands, Franklin immediately caught her wrist.
"No using your hands. It's rude and unhygienic."
Looking at Tohka's puzzled expression, Franklin activated Illusory World Genesis again. Two pairs of chopsticks materialized. After handing one pair to her, he picked up a piece of braised beef and offered it to Tohka.
Without hesitation, she bit down—followed instantly by a sharp crunch.
Franklin flicked her forehead with the edge of his hand.
"Spit it out. Chopsticks aren't edible."
Already biting into the chopsticks and hurting her teeth, Tohka felt wronged. After getting flicked and scolded, tears immediately welled up in her eyes.
"I didn't know…"
Seeing her like this, Franklin could only hurry to comfort her. After conjuring barbecue identical to yesterday's, Tohka's expression immediately brightened again.
With some patient teaching, Tohka quickly learned how to use chopsticks.
Watching her hold barbecue in one hand while using chopsticks with the other to sample different dishes and constantly change flavors, Franklin couldn't help but smile faintly.
After temporarily drawing closer to Tohka, Franklin expanded his divine sense. Everything within a six-thousand-kilometer radius instantly came into view.
Almost immediately, he noticed something unusual, and the scope of his perception rapidly narrowed.
One block away from their location, light rain was falling from the sky. A green figure walked through the rain, holding a rabbit hand puppet.
"Yoshino Himekawa… and Yoshinon."
Franklin's murmured words instantly caught Tohka's attention.
"Lin, what did you just say?"
"Hmm… I found another Spirit. A blue-haired little girl wearing a green rabbit cloak. Have you seen her before?"
Hearing this, Tohka lowered her head and thought carefully. After a long while, she took another bite of barbecue.
"N-no… I don't remember…"
That left Franklin feeling a bit helpless. After a brief moment of thought, he looked at Tohka, who was still eating enthusiastically.
"I'm planning to go see her. If possible, I'll also persuade her to stay in the real world and stop being hunted.
That sense of loneliness—and being chased every time you appear in the real world after causing a spacequake—it's really unpleasant."
Tohka had originally wanted to stop him, but the words reached her lips and then were swallowed back. Worry filled her eyes as she tightly hugged Franklin, who was sitting beside her.
"Then… Lin, you won't fall in love with her and abandon me, will you?"
Seeing that she had even abandoned her barbecue to hug him, Franklin smiled and reassured her.
"Don't worry. I really like you, Tohka.
Didn't I say it already? In the future, I'll let you taste every kind of food there is.
And now that you have my help, you won't feel that loneliness anymore.
But the other Spirits are still pitiful.
Because I understand your loneliness, I feel even more strongly that I need to help other Spirits like you.
You should know that there are many Spirits who are hunted just like you were.
And right now, it seems that the only one who can save them… is me.
So this is something I have to step forward and do."
Feeling Franklin's resolve, Tohka slowly loosened her hold on him.
"Even though my heart feels really uncomfortable, and I really don't want you to go…
I know you have to. And I don't want those Spirits to live the same kind of life I did.
That kind of life is really too painful."
Seeing the heartache in Tohka's expression as she recalled the past, Franklin sighed helplessly and gently rubbed her head.
"Thank you for understanding, Tohka.
If you feel uneasy, you can come with me."
Tohka gently shook her head and turned all her attention back to the food in front of her.