After quite a while the two finally drew apart.
Facing the three sisters, Rei Ao spoke earnestly.
"Chiharu can't live under her old identity. I placed a seal on her—ordinary people won't recognize her as Chiharu at all."
He then left the four women alone so mother and daughters could talk things through, hoping they would eventually accept the shocking truth that he intended to become their father.
As for Rei Ao himself, he vanished in an instant.
Rei Ao did not return to the beach.
Instead, he teleported to a remote children's welfare home called "Miracle Garden."
Fans of Tying Fates at Amagami Shrine would recognize the place: a tranquil compound filled with flowers and greenery.
Hardly had Rei Ao arrived, casting an appraising eye over the surroundings, when a clear voice called out:
"Excuse me, sir—who are you?"
A white‑haired schoolgirl in uniform, backpack slung over one shoulder, stood watching him.
Her bright, limpid eyes held both caution and curiosity.
She was Tsuruyama Shirahi.
Rei Ao smiled gently.
"Hello. I'm Rei Ao. I was just passing by, found this place interesting, and thought I'd have a look."
Shirahi frowned slightly, sizing him up.
"Strangers almost never come here, and ordinary people can't even find the place. Are you really just passing through?"
Privately Rei Ao admired her vigilance, but he kept his easy smile.
"Of course. This looks like a welfare home—aren't visitors welcome? Or is there some secret you don't want outsiders to know?"
"It's a perfectly legitimate charity!" she answered at once, then hesitated. "We don't reject guests, but there are a lot of children here, so we have to be careful … and lately things haven't been very… calm."
Rei Ao lifted an eyebrow, clearly interested.
"Tell me what's been happening. Maybe I can help—I like children, too."
Shirahi studied him for a moment, deciding whether he could be trusted. At last she said slowly:
"Recently we keep hearing strange noises at night—sometimes like someone crying, sometimes like whispering. Some of the kids say they've seen shadowy figures. Everyone's scared and we don't know what to do."
"That does sound odd. I'm quite interested in such mysteries. How about I investigate? Perhaps I can find the cause."
Shirahi hesitated, but the situation had already left her and Sister Mahiru at their wits' end. She bit her lip and finally agreed.
"All right—but if you try anything shady, I won't let you get away with it!"
"Fair enough," Rei Ao laughed. "By the way, I'm Rei Ao—may I know your name?"
"A lovely name—it suits you."
Complimented by a strikingly handsome stranger, Shirahi blushed and turned away.
"Come on—I'll take you to Sister Mahiru and explain."
Shirahi introduced Rei Ao to Anekōji Mahiru, a pink‑haired woman in a white coat—the doctor who founded Miracle Garden.
Hearing that Rei Ao wished to investigate the hauntings, Mahiru tilted her head in curiosity.
"And what line of work are you in, Mr Rei Ao?"
He smiled. "Actually, I'm still a student."
"Eh?" Mahiru blinked.
Shirahi was equally surprised. "Really? Talking to you, I thought you were an adult."
"I've just been through a lot. I'm a third‑year at Shūnoin Academy …"
"So you're about the same age as Shirahi," Mahiru teased, clapping her hands. "Very well—the mystery of the welfare home is yours to solve. Please find the cause so the children won't be afraid anymore."
Rei Ao gave a confident nod. "Leave it to me. I'll begin with the dormitory—where the odd events occur most often."
"I'll go with you," Shirahi said at once.
Rows of small beds were neatly arranged; simple yet full of warmth.
"This is the kids' dorm. They're in the recreation room now, so we can look around freely," Shirahi explained, her gaze lingering fondly on the room.
Rei Ao asked, "You seem very familiar with the place—do you come here often?"
"I haven't, lately—school's been busy." She shook her head. "I know it so well because I grew up here."
She smiled. "Surprising, isn't it?"
She expected shock, but Rei Ao only looked at her gently.
"No. From the way you spoke with Sister Mahiru I sensed you'd known each other long, almost like… mother and daughter."
"…Mother and daughter."
That really wasn't wrong. After her parents died in an accident, she'd been brought here; Sister Mahiru was like an adoptive mother to her.
Shirahi stuck out her tongue. "So you saw right through me. Most people say I look like a boy."
"Then they have no eye. To me you're a beautiful girl who draws attention the instant one sees her."
Rei Ao's frank admiration deepened Shirahi's blush.
She dropped her gaze, trying to hide her burning cheeks.
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