"Eh? F-Father, w-what are you saying?!"
Itsuki looked at Nakano Maruo's back trembling with excitement, and she herself trembled, her eyes filled with shock and doubt; she had never heard her father speak about her mother before, and many times Itsuki had wondered whether her father's love for her mother had been just an act.
Until now, from her usually calm father, she heard that bizarre word—"revive."
Turning to look at Nakano Yu beside her, curiosity and questioning could be seen in Itsuki's eyes.
But Nakano Yu only shook his head, looking at Nakano Maruo with a serious expression, while a greenish glow flickered in his eyes, confirming that Maruo's body was only suffering from overload and excessive Yang energy.
Only... if Maruo was not deceived by someone, why would he be so certain about technological revival? That does not match Maruo's character.
Nakano Yu knew very well how difficult it was to revive a living person on a scientific level, unless... Nakano Maruo had found a new research material, such as... a living being that could regenerate and divide infinitely.
As he thought about it, Nakano Yu's expression gradually worsened; biotechnology for revival is unstable, but for mutation it is top-tier!
"Hmm, I never had the chance to tell you, come with me, I will take you to see Reina."
Standing up in front of the tombstone, Nakano Maruo said with a serious expression, without any intention of joking.
Looking at this father who felt completely unfamiliar to her, Itsuki hid behind Nakano Yu in fear.
"Are you sure your revival can bring Mother back?"
Narrowing his eyes, Nakano Yu maintained a calm expression, but his gaze was cold.
"...I am not one hundred percent sure, but there is a ninety-nine percent chance!"
Meeting Nakano Yu's gaze, Nakano Maruo sighed softly and said.
He and the people from the Yumen-in family had captured a strange... creature? Or a human? Nakano Maruo was not sure whether that woman could still be considered human; after all, her terrifying ability of cell proliferation and regeneration was absurdly strong.
By combining the secret longevity method of the Yumen-in family with the extraction of that woman's cells, he would have a ninety-nine percent chance of success!
"Let's not take risks. I can revive Mother now. Take me to see her."
Noticing that Maruo's condition was not right, Nakano Yu frowned and said.
"Yu, you have a way to revive Reina? Really?"
Hearing this, Nakano Maruo was startled, then asked excitedly.
The shock on Itsuki's face, standing beside them, grew even greater.
W-what?! What is happening? Why couldn't she understand what Yu and Maruo were saying? What Mother... what revival?
Can... can a human really do that?!
"Alright, first take us to Reina. Itsuki is still a bit confused, let's not burden her too much."
Looking calmly at Nakano Maruo, Nakano Yu nodded, then hugged Itsuki, who was still in a state of complete shock.
"Hmm, if your method, Yu, is feasible..."
Nakano Maruo also calmed down, looked at Itsuki, and nodded.
Leaving the chrysanthemums he brought in front of "Reina's" tombstone, Nakano Maruo turned around and left with the boy and the girl.
Following Nakano Maruo, Itsuki finally reacted, raised her head toward the boy holding her, and asked softly:
"Yu, Mother... can she really be revived?"
"Yes, absolutely."
Gently patting the girl's head, Nakano Yu said softly, looking at Maruo's back with a strange expression; he hoped Maruo had not done something strange.
After leaving the cemetery, Nakano Maruo continued driving, and soon they arrived at a hospital under the Nakano group.
The hospitals of the Nakano family were numbered, just like the names of the five sisters.
And the place they were at was the first hospital — Hospital Zero.
"When we go inside, don't be afraid, especially you, Itsuki. Don't tell anyone about what you are going to see, not even Ichiki and the others! If you can't do that, stay outside and wait for me and Yu."
Stopping the car at the entrance, Nakano Maruo looked at Itsuki through the rearview mirror and said.
"...Mm, I-I understand."
Looking quietly at Nakano Maruo, Itsuki felt that her father had become completely unfamiliar, but Nakano Yu gently squeezed her hand, and when she looked at him, her restless heart calmed down.
"Then let's go."
Without further explanation, Nakano Maruo opened the door and got out.
"Yu…"
Sitting in the car, Itsuki was unsure; she didn't know whether to go.
"You might see very bloody scenes, and you might see Mother revived. Of course, if you're afraid, you can wait for me here."
Taking a breath, Nakano Yu smiled; he sensed decay and a faint smell of blood beneath the scent of disinfectant.
"I... I want to go with Yu!"
Lightly biting her lip, Itsuki tightly grabbed his hand.
Seeing this, Nakano Yu was stunned for a moment.
Without a word, he led her outside.
Nakano Maruo was waiting for them. Seeing them holding hands, he had a strange expression, but said nothing.
They entered the hospital.
Inside, it was the same as any hospital, just very deserted.
"Mr. Nakano, have you come again to see Miss Reina?"
A nurse greeted him.
"Mm, these are my son and daughter."
He nodded, took the key, and left.
They took the elevator to the top.
The entire floor was his office.
"Come in."
"Father, aren't we going to see Mother?"
Itsuki looked around.
Nakano Yu noticed a hidden partition.
Maruo opened a small door and went inside.
Yu and Itsuki followed him.
Inside, it was dark.
A beam of light illuminated a transparent coffin.
Inside lay a woman.
She looked almost the same as Itsuki.
That was Nakano Reina.
"Mother…"
Itsuki's eyes reddened.
"After her death, I decided to revive her..."
Maruo sighed.
"Yu, how confident are you?"
"One hundred percent."
"Then I leave it to you."
Itsuki stepped back.
Nakano Yu looked at Reina.
He waved his hand.
The lid lifted.
A white line appeared in his eyes.
Cut Through: Death.
With a light motion, the line was cut.
He felt a brief dizziness.
"Bang!"
The lid was blown away.
Yu waited.
Maruo and Itsuki approached.
There was no reaction.
Their hearts sank.
But then—
her eyelashes trembled.
Reina opened her eyes.
She looked at them.
After a long time, she softly said:
"It seems that I… slept for a very long time."