Chapter 236: Sealing Tohka's Spirit Power
"Now that we know the cause, it's fine. Thanks."
As he spoke, Illusory World Genesis activated. The spiritual energy within Franklin surged rapidly into Yoshino's body.
In just an instant, Yoshino let out a soft gasp. Her icy-cold hand quickly warmed up, and the mud that had clung to her body from the fall was swiftly cleared away by Franklin.
"So warm… thank you… Lin…"
Her gentle voice made Franklin freeze for a moment. After a short pause, he finally came back to his senses.
"No need to thank me. This is what a knight of Yoshino should do."
Walking through the rain, the sight of one big figure and one small figure side by side carried a unique charm. To Franklin, the Yoshino beside him felt like yet another little sister.
As they walked down the street, Yoshino jumped straight into a small puddle. Franklin smiled and wiped the water droplets that splashed onto her face.
After slowly passing through two blocks, they could see from afar the only family restaurant that still had its lights on.
"So that's where the other Spirit you mentioned is, Lin?" Yoshinon asked.
"Yes. Her name is Tohka. Every time she appears in the real world, she gets attacked by the anti-Spirit organization AST. I helped her twice, and today I returned to the Neighboring World with her.
While we were eating earlier, I sensed Yoshino's presence and wanted to come take a look. I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise—I really found the two of you."
"Well, thanks to you putting me on your hand and waking me up, Lin. Otherwise, I definitely would've taken Yoshino far away from you, this strange non-Spirit who can appear in the Neighboring World."
Looking at Yoshinon squeezing in front of him, Franklin flicked the little puppet's head lightly.
"Hey, Lin, that's playing with fire. It didn't hurt, but I feel deeply insulted."
Franklin just smiled without responding and led Yoshino into the family restaurant.
"Lin, you're finally back…"
Tohka rushed toward Franklin, but the moment she saw Yoshino, she stopped short. When she noticed Franklin and Yoshino holding hands, her expression became even more awkward.
"Lin…"
Franklin smiled and softly introduced them.
"This is Yoshino. The one in her hand is Yoshinon. They're pronounced the same, but they're written differently."
Tohka didn't seem to care about the explanation at all. She ran straight up to Franklin, forcefully pulled their joined hands apart, and shielded him behind her.
"I don't care if you're Yoshino or Yoshinon. Lin is mine. You're not allowed to steal him from me."
The curve of Yoshinon's wide, split grin immediately grew even larger.
"Lin is yours? And how are you going to prove that? You've known him for less than a day, and you're already claiming he's yours?
Didn't he just leave you to look for Yoshino? Then couldn't I say Lin chose Yoshino, and you're the one who got abandoned?"
Every word hit its mark.
Tohka, who wasn't good with words and had a simple, straightforward heart, instantly exploded. She grabbed Yoshinon straight out of Yoshino's hand.
"You're lying! Lin chose me—he's always chosen me! Lin is mine! He would never abandon me. That's a promise Lin made to me!"
With Franklin no longer connected to it, Yoshinon immediately fell silent. Yoshino lowered her hood again and gently tugged on Tohka's arm.
"P-please give Yoshinon back to me… please give Yoshinon back…"
Franklin had originally intended to let them slowly work things out, but he hadn't expected things to spiral this fast. Left with no choice, he stepped in.
With a wave of his hand, Yoshinon slipped free from Tohka's grasp and flew back into Yoshino's hand.
This instantly triggered Tohka's temper. She glared at Franklin, fuming.
"Lin, you're helping her instead of me?"
"???"
Franklin was instantly full of question marks. This line felt way too familiar.
"No—Tohka, calm down first."
"Well, of course. A bad-tempered Tohka isn't loved by anyone. Lin abandoning you would be perfectly normal," Yoshinon added.
"Sandalphon."
Seeing the massive base rise up from beneath the restaurant floor as Sandalphon manifested, Franklin rubbed his forehead helplessly. He really shouldn't have rushed things—he should have handled this one Spirit at a time.
"Yoshinon, shut up. If you keep talking, I'll use Genesis to recreate you and spank you. Since you've read plenty of my memories, you should know I can do that."
In an instant, Yoshinon went completely quiet. The puppet's head drooped silently.
Franklin bent down and lifted Tohka up in a princess carry.
"Put me down, Lin! Put me down! Today I'm definitely going to show that thing how strong I am!"
Franklin ignored her. With a wave of his hand, all the leftovers on the table vanished without a trace. Fresh dishes appeared in their place, along with an enormous sundae.
"Yoshinon, take Yoshino and eat first. I'll be back in a bit."
With that, Franklin carried Tohka straight into the sky, shooting upward past the clouds and into the stratosphere.
Above the clouds, with the sun setting and the sky completely clear, the two of them stood suspended in midair by Franklin's spiritual energy.
They looked at each other. Tohka's cheeks were faintly red, but there was still a trace of unease in her eyes.
"Lin… you really won't abandon me, right? I can't go back to that lonely feeling anymore. I really wouldn't be able to bear it."
Franklin gently rubbed Tohka's head.
"I can't erase that sense of unease for you. Only time can slowly wash it away.
What I can do is stay by your side forever.
So, Tohka, I'll ask you one more time—do you like me? Have you really made up your mind to stay in the human world and remain by my side?"
Meeting Franklin's serious gaze, Tohka nodded firmly.
"I like Lin. I like the food Lin creates. I like how Lin stands in front of me and protects me.
I absolutely can't endure a future where Lin isn't by my side."
Franklin let out a soft breath. There was a faint sense of loss in his heart.
Right now, Tohka was still completely clueless when it came to love and romance.
Perhaps she was simply mixing together her love of food, the novelty he brought into her life, and the care and protection he showed her—mistaking all of that for liking him.
But that didn't matter.
What mattered was that it was now enough to seal Tohka's spiritual power. True love could be cultivated slowly—it was never something achieved overnight.
Love at first sight was, in the end, always just attraction at first glance, no matter the era.
"I'm going to seal your Spirit power now, Tohka. Are you ready?"
"Seal my Spirit power?"
Franklin nodded patiently.
"Yes. Only by sealing your Spirit power can you stay in the human world forever, without causing spatial quakes, and without being hunted by AST."
Tohka's eyes immediately lit up.
"Really? I can do that? Then what do I need to do?"
"There are two methods. One is a kiss—you can reclaim your Spirit power whenever you want.
The other is for me to directly seal your Spirit power back into your Spirit Crystal…"
"I choose the kiss."