Well shit.

This can be a problem…

If I don't get to see Claire she never gets cured, she never gets cured then…

No.

I wont let her get cursed out of her life!

Its not fair for her!

People like her are the reason Shadow garden has to exist...

So that people who get cheated out of living their life can have some solace...

Have someone they can call a comrade.

Have a place they can call home.

This is why i cannot fail!

"K-kazoto dear... y-your eyes..."

Suddenly i realized i activated overdrive from muscle memory.

I look at my mother and calm down only for my red eyes to return back to their blue-ish grey form.

"Champ?"

"Yes father?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, thank you for asking."

"If something is wrong, dont hesitate to tell us..."

"Of course."

Suddenly Mrs. Kagenou speaks.

"I see why you wanted him to meet our daughter..."

Then Mr. Kagenou speaks.

"Poor kid..."

Father then speaks up.

"Champ we can go back if you need to, we dont have to do this."

"Really, thank you for your concern father but ill be fine, i just need to see mrs. Claire."

"...Alright then, whatever you say champ..."

Suddenly my dad looks at the Kagenou family.

"Is it okay..?"

"Yes! please come on inside"

Mrs. Kagenou nicely greets us inside and i wander off to try and find Claire's room.


"So thats your kid..?"

"Yeah... i worry for him alot."

Toby is talking with Mr. Kagenou while i talk with Mrs. Kagenou.

"Your kid... He's like the rumors say... he doesnt seem... here."

"Yeah..."

I sigh.

"I wish i could help him but he... he's so distant a-and i dont know what to do!"

Mrs. Kagenou puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Claire is starting to be the same... no longer interested in anything except training and its all our fault..."

"Have you seen his eyes? when they were red they were so full of life and determination only for it to all slip away and return to his normal dead grey eyes..."

"...Its fine to let it all out, i understand."

After she said that i really couldnt stop myself and the tears i was holding back started to come out.

"I-is o-our son really d-destined to be so d-distant?"

I speak out despite my tears and hiccups.

"He will soon become better i can tell he's trying..."

"I k-know your just s-saying that to c-comfort me but..."

I wipe my tears and get a hold of myself.

I smile a little upon recalling what happened on the way here.

"For the first time in my life... I heard him being excited when we were on the way here"

"...For the very first time?"

"Mhm..."

"He was never excited for anything?"

"Not for as long as i remember..."


FINALLY!

Who made this mansion a maze?

I have a few select words for this individual!

Alright its not the time for that...

I knock on the door.

A small voice comes out.

"Go away, i dont want any food..."

"Its not your maid."

Poor thing sounds surprised when she next calls out to me.

"W-who are you?"

"Im Kazoto shimo, i came to see you today."

...

There was silence for a tiny bit before i hear little footsteps getting closer to the door before-

Click!

The door slowly opens a little to reveal a only tiny Claire's head.

"May i come in?"

There's a silence in the air as she considers whether i can come in or not.

...

"...Alright..."

She sounded very clearly reluctant...

She tucks her head in and the door swings more open and then i see her condition...

Half of her arm is consumed by the possession...

She walks inside and signal's me to come in.

I do just and and get inside.

She then clears the halfway both ways before closing the door.

She goes and sits on her bed.

I sit next to her bed.

...

There's this awkward silence between us until...

"Why are you here? to be my suitor?"

"No, not quite..."

...

Silence once again.

Claire sighs and only then i notice that she has some unshed tears...

Is everyone crying today?

"Everything hurts so much..."

I stare at her as she stares back at me.

"Im trying to stay strong but this h-hurts so much..."

She puts her healthy hand to her neck which has started to be corrupted with black spots all over...

So the canon is the manga and LN possession...

"My throat hurts, i cant move my arm and my visions all blurry... i cant even move my magic the way i want to anymore..."

...

"I-i dont even know why im telling you this..."

Theres a shadow covering her eyes when she talks.

"Y-your probably disgusted with how i look right now and i cant even blame you..!"

Her expression starts to distort into one of pure sadness as tears fall from her eyes.

This poor kid...

I stand up.

She was a bit startled to see me stand up clearly not excepting it.

I turn and walk over to her.

"Wh-what are you doing..?"

I hug her tight as i start to cure her.


This boy...

His hugging me despite how i look?

Why is his hug so warm..?

I start to feel more relaxed.

I feel the pain leaving my throat...

I cant feel it anymore...

My arm is starting to feel better...

I can clearly see again...

T-this boy...

He is curing me..?

Just who is he?

I suddenly get the strength to be able to hug back.

I start crying on his shoulder.

This warm embrace...

It isnt so bad...

...

I start to feel my conscious slipping as i fall asleep.

...


I think she fell asleep.

Well, i dont remember Claire being this emotional but it has been 10 years...

I wrote down the main events and things Shadow or i guess Cid said to solve it.

I only have until LN 5 worth of knowledge and a bit from the game...

Lets see how far i can make it without screwing up...

I hug the sleeping Claire tighter too deep in thought to realize that she subconsciously hugged me back tighter as well as placing her head on my chest.

Ill protect you in place of Cid.

Ill be your friend even when the entire world is against you.

Afterall...

Thats what friends are for, right?