I, Minami Kotori, Son of the Sun

Minami Kotori did not go home, nor did she go to look for Mitsuha and the others.

She pushed open a door in a daze, just because her frozen heart subconsciously longed for warm light.

Just because it was raining outside - even though she no longer cared about the coldness of her body.

She sat alone at a round table for half an hour. The cell phone in her pocket kept ringing. She heard it but didn't have the energy to answer it.

No, perhaps the word 'courage' would be more appropriate.

She sat there motionless as if she had lost her mind.

The dim light is the only warmth, and outside the window a drizzle of rain is falling - getting heavier and heavier.

Under the torn detective's round hat, the girl's face was reflected with a soft and fragile luster.

Her eyes were slightly red and tears were welling up in her eye sockets, like pearls ready to burst out at any time.

Her hands were tightly grasping the corner of her clothes, her nails digging into her flesh.

She is blaming herself.

"Why, why am I afraid, why am I afraid of dying?"

"That guy has taken so many lives, why would I be afraid of him?"

"Why? My legs are completely powerless."

Emergency news was being broadcast on TV, and the sound of heavy rain and the host's voice were heard together.

"In Tokyo, all 20 employees of Zhonghelou [Guanzheng] Law Firm, along with their boss [Guanzhenglang], were killed. The scene was bloody and the murderer has already fled. The following is a list of the victims..."

"Koshino Saneyuki, 30 years old; Irami Yasuzumi, 43 years old; Kageyama Yoshio, 23 years old; Yayoshi Haruki, 21 years old; Ikemyou, 19 years old..."

Nan Xiaoniao raised her head blankly, listening to the names passing by one after another before her eyes.

Whose children are they and whose parents are they? The youngest is only 19 years old, which is about the same age as me.

They never hurt anyone...

She blamed herself endlessly. The victim's cries seemed to echo in her ears, as if they were about to devour her.

If anyone died again, it would be because of her cowardice.

A crystal tear finally slid down her cheek. She trembled slightly, and her body silently told of her inner confusion and self-blame.

"Why did things turn out like this?" She asked herself silently in her heart. Her chest felt like it was being weighed down by a heavy stone and she couldn't let it go.

"If I hadn't been obsessed with the Rhino that day, and instead chased Brother Qiu Feng..."

"If I hadn't been scared by the sniper, if I had caught him..."

"Someone come, save me..." She hugged the round hat tightly in pain, as if she could escape from everything.

She could no longer fight, and the Emperor Stone—disappeared.

. . .

"Miss, your phone is ringing." A small hand brought a cup of coffee and handed it to her.

"No, I didn't order this." Nan Xiaoniao was startled and raised her head suddenly.

In front of me was a blonde girl wearing a black and white knee-length skirt and a pair of exquisite black leather shoes.

Damn, why are there maid cafes everywhere?

The girl had a flawless face, like an exquisite doll, with just the right gentle smile.

Is that an angel?

This thought popped up in her mind unconsciously.

The girl shook her head, bent down and took her cell phone out of Bird's pocket.

"Give it back to me..." The girl's voice was weak and helpless.

After losing her power, am I just such a weak girl?

"There are more than a dozen missed calls. It seems like someone cares about you very much?" The blonde girl ignored her and instead flipped through the pages to look at the names of the callers.

"Honoka Kosaka, Umi Sonoda, Maki Nishikino, Rin Hoshizora, Hanayo Koizumi, Miyamizu Mitsuha, Saori Minami, Tohei Tachibana, Kanade Tachibana..."

Yes, thinking back, I haven’t been to school for a day, and today is Thursday.

Sanye and the others must be very worried. Beigu Qiufeng committed such a big crime and escaped. They all know that I failed...

She felt deeply powerless, but had no one to rely on...

She used to rely on Bai Li, but after Bai Li left, she got used to bearing it all on her own.

The drops of rain hit the window glass, almost breaking it.

"And...Bai Li?" After saying this, the girl returned the phone and looked at the wonderful expression on Nan Xiaoniao's face.

"No, it's impossible. The phone..." Of course, there was no information about Bai Li on the phone, but the girl in front of him.

How did she call out the name of the System God?

"The result is clear. You are an unqualified host. After judgment, you no longer have the ability to save the world."

"What, what does this mean?" Nan Xiaoniao was shocked and had a bad feeling.

"You can't transform anymore, right?"

"You, what's wrong with you? Who are you?"

There was no answer. The blonde girl just smiled and explained: "Because you have lost the courage to match it."

"Okay, girl, your mission is over. Say hello to your friends and go back to your normal life." The girl patted Nan Xiaoniao's shoulder. "As for Bai Li..."

"He, what will happen to him? He will come back, right? You tell me! You tell me!!!"

"You are the last condition of the trial."

"Trial...conditions?"

"Yes, if you are indeed the qualified savior he said... he can be forgiven by the gods and return to your side."

"Now, he has exchanged his life for yours."

!!!

"But you don't have to blame yourself. He was the one who chose you as the host in the first place. This is his mistake and has nothing to do with you. Okay, I'm leaving now."

Nan Xiaoniao was shocked, but when she saw that the girl was about to leave again, she stood up and chased after her.

"I do. I can do it."

"Oh? But you can't even transform now."

"I will stop him, and I will prove to you that I am a qualified savior, so..."

"You will die." The girl stared into Nan Xiaoniao's eyes, warning and also persuading her.

"Let him come back!" She left this sentence and rushed out.

"Ya ya ya, this is really..." The blonde girl played with her hair, looking distressed. "You didn't even drink a sip of coffee. I wasted all my efforts, but... it's okay."

The rain outside the window is getting heavier.

. . .

"How about it?"

"That girl is a complete lunatic, but it's enough to save the world..."

"So what happened?"

"You passed the test. Don't you understand what I'm saying, you chicken wing god?"

You seem to have made the host develop a special affection for you. If this is reported, you will be guilty of an even greater crime...

It really makes me more and more curious. What kind of God are you?

The blonde girl thought, looking at the detective's round hat forgotten on the seat.

"Don't be careless, Miss Knight." She picked up the little round hat, her eyes shone with golden light, and the next moment, the little round hat disappeared in her hand.

"Gabriel! What are you still standing there for? The guests are here."

"Here I come, store manager."