Chapter Twenty: Mother Airi:

Airi never liked kids. Babies were the worst. She was never fond of her own children. So why did she care?

Something was amiss. Anna was right. This wasn’t a normal cold.

Airi floated over Kirika-chan.

“What’s wrong with you, huh?” she asked. The little girl panted in her sleep. Her cheeks were so red. Airi took a sniff of the air. Sinister.

But from where? Airi vanished into thin air.

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Airi knocked on Watari’s door.

“Enter,” Watari said. The door slid open. Watari, April, and Kyosuke looked up to see Airi. Watari narrowed his eyes.

“Airi… -san?” he asked.

“You’re looking at it the wrong way,” the kitsune said.

“Huh?” Watari said.

“What do you mean?” Kyosuke asked. Airi walked into the room.

“It’s a curse,” she said. The three of them stared at her.

“What?!” the assistants asked. Watari raised his eyebrow.

“How can you tell?” he asked.

“I smelt it,” the kitsune said.

“You smelt it?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. The room sat on a pregnant pause. Airi waited for a response.

“What kind of curse?” Watari asked. The kitsune stood up straight.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know who or why either.” Watari gave her a calm look.

“You want to help, don’t you?” he asked. Airi turned her head with red cheeks.

“Maybe,” she muttered. The blonde shinigami kindly smiled.

“Come on in,” he said. Airi walked in without a word. She sat beside Watari. The blonde scientist pulled out his laptop. Airi read with him.

She never liked children. So why should she care now? Maybe it’s Anna’s own feelings. Maybe Tsuzuki had a hand in this. It didn’t matter. Airi had to save Kirika-chan. Lucky for her, she knew where to start.