Mash-up Anime World: Creating the SCP Foundation to Contain Anomalies

Listening to Haruto's story, Suzume and Mitsuha were deeply immersed. Haruto also found it enjoyable to sort through his past life's memories.

In his previous life, Haruto was not born into a wealthy family.

Although he wasn't born in the mountains, he was still a typical small-town student.

He studied hard, got into a big city, and by chance, found opportunities to develop himself.

As they listened to Haruto's story, the two girls' impressions of him changed once again.

Before, they felt admiration and a sense of distance from him. Life in the big city and the people there felt so far away from them. But now, that sense of unfamiliar distance was quietly shattered.

It turned out Haruto had once been just like them.

Admiration gradually turned into understanding.

Their relationship unknowingly grew closer.

Just as the two girls were engrossed in the story, Haruto suddenly reached out and tapped Suzume on the head.

"You and Mitsuha, it's too late now. Time to sleep. We have to wake up early tomorrow."

Hearing this, Suzume reluctantly shook her head.

"Just a little longer! It's still early, isn't it?"

Mitsuha mumbled softly.

Haruto picked up Suzume's phone and turned on the screen.

"Still early? See for yourself what time it is!"

Mitsuha glanced at the screen and was shocked to find that it was already past midnight. Normally, she would have been asleep by now.

As a student, Mitsuha never stayed up past ten at night.

Only during New Year's Eve would she stay up until midnight.

(T/N: Sometimes I miss the feeling of sleeping before midnight.

Haaah, how good might it felt.)

But today, listening to Haruto's story, she had unknowingly lost track of time.

Suzume, though unable to hear Mitsuha's words, could roughly guess what they were talking about.

She covered her mouth and chuckled.

However, at that moment, Haruto's brows furrowed slightly.

Suzume's phone had multiple missed calls and a flood of messages.

They were from someone saved as "Aunt."

Suzume hadn't replied to any of them.

Glancing at the girl who was still chuckling, Haruto's expression became serious.

"Suzume, why haven't you responded to your family's messages?"

Hearing this, Suzume immediately stopped laughing.

"Well..."

She hesitated.

Seeing this, Haruto sighed.

This… is just like a rebellious kid.

"Aunt always makes decisions for me, and my existence is a burden to her..." Suzume muttered softly.

Iwato Tamaki was Suzume's mother's younger sister, her aunt.

Suzume's mother had passed away in a disaster ten years ago. Since then, Tamaki had raised young Suzume. For years, Tamaki treated Suzume as her own daughter, giving her all she had.

Despite her young age, she carried the demeanor of a married woman and never even considered finding a boyfriend.

Suzume had complicated feelings toward this aunt.

Her love for Tamaki was unquestionable.

But at the same time, she felt like she was a burden to her.

Additionally, Tamaki cared for Suzume so much that she completely neglected her own life, dedicating herself entirely to raising Suzume.

This made Suzume feel even more guilty.

As a teenager going through a rebellious phase, her guilt made it difficult for her to express her emotions properly, so she acted out in frustration.

Haruto was momentarily silent, unsure how to console the girl.

At that moment, Suzume's phone lit up with an incoming call.

It was from Aunt Tamaki.

Suzume instinctively prepared to decline the call.

But Haruto reached out and pressed his hand against her forehead.

"Answer it. Explain things properly to your family. At the very least, communicate. Family is important, don't do something you'll regret later."

Suzume lowered her head. After a long pause, she finally took the phone and pressed the answer button.

The moment the call connected, an anxious woman's voice erupted from the speaker,

"Suzume! You went to Chiba!? You ran away from home? Can you explain why you ran away!?"

Suzume forced a bitter smile.

Her phone had GPS tracking, so Aunt Tamaki had found out where she was.

But… how should she explain?

That she was out saving the world?

"Uh… I'm saving the world?"

"Huh? What kind of nonsense is that?" Tamaki's tone was still angry. "Do you even have a place to stay? Come back home first! Or should I come pick you up right now?"

Suzume immediately said, "No! I'm not going back!"

Then, she moved to hang up the call.

Haruto was quick and snatched the phone before she could.

"Rebellious phase? Or did some guy trick you?"

Towa's tone softened slightly, showing her genuine concern for Suzume's safety.

Haruto glanced at Suzume, who was sulking.

Clearly, she didn't know how to respond to her aunt, who didn't understand her. So, Haruto took over the conversation.

"Aunt, I'm Suzume's classmate. We are currently staying at an inn in Chiba, so there's no need to worry about accommodation."

There was silence on the other end, then a small, doubtful mumble,

"A girl? Suzume… isn't having problems with her orientation, is she?"

Haruto: "?"

This aunt… is she a little too open-minded?

"Aunt?" Haruto tested.

"Ah, you must be Mitsuha. Suzume always talks about you. But you two girls being out alone is too dangerous."

Tamaki's tone was noticeably softer when speaking to someone other than Suzume.

Perhaps it was just her personality. Both she and Suzume were strong-willed, so whenever they talked, they unintentionally clashed.

But with Haruto acting as a middleman, the tension eased.

"Aunt, please don't worry. I'll make sure Suzume returns safely to Itomori Town. But for now, she can't go back just yet."

Haruto paused before continuing.

"Suzume has been keeping a lot of things bottled up, especially about you and her mother. This trip might help her sort out her thoughts."

Suzume immediately grew anxious and tried to snatch the phone.

She had never told her aunt about this.

She didn't want to burden her any further.

She was already enough of a burden, she didn't want Tamaki to worry even more.

On the other end of the call, there was a brief silence before Towa let out a long sigh.

"I see… I always felt like Suzume was keeping something inside. But… I didn't know how to talk to her. When her mother passed… I… I was powerless. The only thing I could do was raise Suzume. If going on a trip can help her, then let her go. If you need anything, call me."

Suzume froze.

She hadn't expected her aunt to say something like that.

Haruto leaned in and whispered in her ear:

"See? She never thought of you as a burden. She just loves you with all her heart. So now, say goodbye properly. And when you go back, have an honest talk with her."

Suzume nodded firmly, tears glistening in her eyes.

Haruto handed the phone back to her and turned away.

Mitsuha, watching all of this, muttered to herself,

"I… I never realized Suzume felt this way… I should've noticed."

Haruto shook his head.

(Side note from the author: To be honest, when I watched the movie, I didn't understand why Suzume fought with her aunt. I just felt so bad for Tamaki —she raised Suzume for ten years without complaint!)

"It's not your fault. She keeps everything to herself. If it weren't for a coincidence, I wouldn't have noticed either."

A moment later, Suzume walked over and handed the phone back to Haruto.

Judging by her expression, it seemed like she had been crying. But she didn't look sad, it was more of a mix of gratitude and relief.

Haruto took the phone, feeling a bit puzzled.

Hadn't they already finished talking? Why was she calling him again?

"Hello, Auntie?"

On the other end of the line, Tamaki's voice came through immediately:

"Mitsuha, you're a good child. From now on, I'll be entrusting Suzume to you. Even if you're both girls, it's totally fine!"

Haruto: !?

Suzume: !!!

Suzume had just heard from her aunt that she had something else to say to "Mitsuha," so she handed the phone over.

But she never expected her aunt to say something like that!

"Auntie Tamaki, what are you talking about?!"

Suzume shouted and quickly hung up the phone.

...

Haruto was momentarily at a loss, caught between laughter and exasperation.

It seemed he had gained another unexpected approval and trust.

After hanging up, Suzume avoided looking at Haruto. Haruto, on the other hand, simply patted her head lightly.

"Alright, it's getting late. Get some rest."

With that, he prepared to get up and head to the sofa to sleep.

However, Suzume grabbed the edge of his sleeve.

"I... I'm afraid of the dark! Can you stay with me...? After all, it's Mitsuha's body."

Haruto was briefly taken aback and found himself at a loss for words.

Mitsuha immediately protested.

"Don't use my body for weird things!"

In the end, the two of them slept together.

Of course, it was a pure sleep.

(T/N: I'm watching you....)

Not that there were any conditions for anything else anyway.

As the lights were turned off, in the darkness of the room, Suzume tentatively reached out and held the hand beside her.

Their fingers gradually intertwined.

A sense of security filled Suzume's heart.

Ever since that disaster ten years ago, she hadn't felt this kind of peace.

The night passed without incident.

The Next Morning.

Sunlight streamed into the room, casting a golden glow.

Daijin stretched, let out a lazy yawn, then leaped onto the bed, pressing its paw pads against "Mitsuha's" cheeks.

A familiar sense of morning drowsiness washed over Haruto.

It had been a while since he felt this way.

He half-opened his eyes.

Shielding his face from the light with his hand, Haruto looked at Daijin with mild irritation.

"Didn't you bristle with hostility at me just yesterday? Why are you waking me up? Go wake Suzume instead."

Daijin swished its two pure white tails.

"You. Good person."

Haruto couldn't help but chuckle wryly.

Getting a "good person card" from a cat? Seriously?

Sitting up, he glanced at the girl beside him.

Suzume's clothes were slightly disheveled, but her sleeping posture wasn't too bad.

What stood out was her relaxed expression, the corners of her lips subtly curled into a smile, she must have had a good dream.

Seeing this, Haruto instinctively reached for his phone to take a picture.

But his hand grasped at nothing.

Only then did he remember, this was Mitsuha's body.

No choice.

Instead, Haruto reached out and poked Suzume's cheek, trying to wake her up.

It was time to begin today's journey.