Looking at the little girl's innocent big eyes, Yuuki, who had not yet reacted, couldn't help but stare at her.
It seemed like she was teasing someone with this joke just now, right? Could this be 'retribution'...?
The "onlookers" on the side also looked at each other in confusion at this moment, obviously shocked by the sound of "Mom".
"...Little sister Silica, I may know the reason why someone is unwilling to return to the upper level."
"Sister Lisbeth, I think I know why."
The two heads, one big and one small, were close together, and they looked at Yuuki with very gossipy eyes from time to time.
After glaring at the two people who deliberately emphasized the suffix of their title and gathered together to watch a joke, Yuuki felt that she had to do something.
The title 'Mom' gave her goosebumps...
"Well, can you...don't...uh..."
Raising her hand stiffly, Yuuki tried to correct the little girl's name.
It was only halfway through her words that the other party seemed to notice something.
Shrinking her neck slightly, the little girl pulled the quilt with tears in her eyes, feeling aggrieved all over.
This cute look made all the women around her feel maternal, and they all looked at Yuuki with 'condemnation'.
(...Why is this happening...)
(Didn’t I say that Yui’s memory should be confused at this time? Why does she recognize her mother as soon as she opens her mouth...)
However, it is also possible that it is because of the confusion of memory that I expressed it subconsciously.
In the end, Yuuki, who was very determined on a certain issue at first, accepted this setting under the 'coercion' of everyone.
A 'mother' who is thirteen or fourteen years old and a 'daughter' who is eight or nine years old, are you sure there is really nothing wrong with this...
Holding the little girl who had woken up in her arms, Asuna seemed to have been captured by Yui's cuteness, even though she had just wanted to go back and fight.
After introducing everyone present one by one, Asuna deliberately left Yuuki until the last one.
"The last one is your 'mom', her name is Yuuki! Remember it well."
"...Mom...Mom...Yu...Ji..."
Repeating Yuki's name, the little girl looked a little dazed.
(Remembering it this way makes me not happy at all...)
Lying on the table resignedly, Yuuki still had a question that she still hadn't figured out.
"I said, why does she think I am her mother..."
There was obviously a "wife-type" role that was more suitable for her than her, so why did she identify her at a glance?
From the brief exchange just now, everyone has discovered that this little girl's memory seems to be blank, but her learning ability is very fast. She can learn it quickly as long as she is taught a little.
"Could it be because I temporarily lost my memory, and the first thing I saw before coma and after waking up was Miss Yuki?"
As the eldest woman here and the nanny of the children in the church, the nun shared her experience and guesswork.
This is indeed the answer closest to reality, so it has been unanimously recognized by everyone.
"In this case, please be patient until this child recovers, Yuuki's mother~"
He smiled and put his hand on Yui. Among all the people, Lanzi seemed to be the happiest one.
"……ha……"
Seeing the timid Yui who never took her eyes away from her, Yuuki 'gived in'.
At dusk, in the square of the starting town, everyone who had reached a consensus was saying goodbye to Yuuki.
"...Then Yuuki and Yui will be left to you."
Looking at the little girl huddled behind Yuuki, Asuna stood in front of the portal and reluctantly gave instructions.
Since Yuuki has something to do and has to stay on the first floor temporarily, it is naturally the best choice to leave it to her. They can also safely return to the upper floor to continue the strategy.
It's just this loving expression that barely has the words "you can call me mom" written on her face.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
This is what the slightly arrogant Suguha said.
"Come on, young 'mom'~"
This is Lisbeth who is gloating about her misfortune.
"Hey...bye, Yuuki."
It seems that Silica has followed Lisbeth's bad example recently.
"Leave the frontline matters to us for the time being. Don't worry, Xiaoyou."
As expected, Lan Zi is the sister who cares most about him.
"Also, remember to introduce Yui's 'father' to us when you return to the upper floor!"
"…………………………………………"
The long-haired girl waved goodbye and smiled slyly, allowing Yuuki to recognize the 'true face' of this group of people.
As the light began to shine, the members of "Arcadia" disappeared into the portal one by one.
Putting down her right hand to say goodbye, Yuuki inevitably felt a little disappointed and worried.
After all, they have been adventuring together for so long, but she still knows the strength of her companions. As long as they don't attack the bosses on special floors such as the 5th floor, the 50th floor, and the 75th floor, their strength is enough to deal with most of them.
The enemy.
She has more important things to do, both for her and for the "world".
"……Let's go back."
Yuuki reached out to the little girl next to her and scratched her cheek, feeling a little embarrassed.
"……Uh-huh!"
The silent little face seemed to have regained its vitality, and Yui nodded vigorously.
This was probably the first time she smiled since she woke up.
After bidding farewell to his companions, Yuuki took Yui back to the church in East Seventh District.
Because Yuna and Sasha both said they wanted to help find Yui's parents, Yuuki couldn't refuse, and it was even more impossible for Yuki to tell them directly, "This child is an AI, so there is no need to search for it, I will solve it tomorrow."
…
As night fell, sitting on the church bench, Yuuki quietly looked at Yui, who was sitting around Yuna with a group of young players, listening to her singing, looking a little worried.
"What's wrong? It's your first time 'taking care of a child', so you're not used to it yet?"
Passing the brewed tea to Yuuki, the nun smiled kindly.
"...Miss Sasha, even you make fun of me..."
After coming back to her senses, she took the tea cup with a grimace. This incident seemed to become her "black history".
"hehe……"
Sitting down next to her with a teacup in hand, Sasha's eyes fell on the group of children.
"...If you feel tired, you can take a rest here."
"——!"
Some weak sounds came gently into my ears.
Perhaps in the eyes of the nun, an age like Yuuki's should be the time to act like a spoiled child in her mother's arms.
"Um……"
Nodding slightly, Yuuki responded with gratitude. She had indeed received the other party's kindness.
Now is indeed not the time to lament life.
Hasn’t the ‘cage’ that restrained Yui not been broken yet?
…
(It’s not time to ‘rest’ yet…)
(It’s just that day, it shouldn’t be far away.)
Looking at the little girl among the children, Yuuki cheered up again. (To be continued)