Bab 197: Consequences

"It seems like I've come a bit late, didn't I?"

Chihiro, just like the rest of himself, was beaming.

It felt as if his very presence suddenly multiplied many times over, growing all the more profound, all the more real in my spiritual view.

"And well, I'm sure you guys won't agree to it, but I would like to recommend for everyone to stay as you are. I know you think I don't have the right to request that," Chihiro breathed out before fixing his gaze on Dickins' face, "but if you could just hear me out for a moment."

'This is… strange…'

Silently trying to hold my breath, not to let Claire squeeze the rest of it out of my chest, I stared at her father, baffled by the sight.

'He really looks nothing like usual…'

This wasn't only a feeling by now.

Right before my eyes, Chihiro wore a complicated expression I had never seen on his face before, all the while acting much meeker than I would expect him to.