When Sanzang found Daniel, he had already fallen into the intermediate stage of being a shut-in... Hmm, it was intermediate, not ultimate.
After all, the ultimate stage of being a shut-in is severe depression, and the person would likely be gone by then.
Looking at the youth who was hugging his legs and curled up into a ball, Sanzang's face was full of question marks.
It hadn't been that long since they last met; how did this cheerful and lively young lad end up looking like his whole family had died?
"Daniel, what's wrong?" Sanzang cautiously leaned in close to the youth and asked softly.
However, there was no response.
The youth seemed to have fallen into his own world, completely unresponsive to calls from the outside.
Before Sanzang could call out a second time, a faint scent of blood drifted into her nostrils.
Following the scent of blood, Sanzang saw Daniel's bloody and mangled feet.
Sanzang froze for a moment, then slapped her own head with a look of sudden realization.
"Xuanzang, oh Xuanzang, you pig-brain," Sanzang muttered with some regret. "A young lad living in a peaceful era was suddenly forced to come to a post-apocalyptic world where no life remains, and then to a doomsday era where human history itself has been incinerated. How much psychological pressure must he be under? How terrified must he be of this situation?"
"In the end, you were fooled by the optimism and indifference he displayed. If you don't want your eyes, you can donate them to someone in need!"
Sanzang bit her finger in regret and began to think about how to wake Daniel from his catatonic state.
If you asked her to recite Buddhist scriptures or persuade people to do good, that was her profession and she was quite good at it. But she truly didn't understand how to make a youth whose mindset had flipped between extremes recover from withdrawal.
After all, she was just a monk, not some psychologist.
All she could do... was let the youth feel the warmth of 'Buddha's Mercy.'
Sanzang pursed her lips, then wrapped her hands around the back of Daniel's head, gently moving his cheek to rest against her chest.
Then, one hand slid along the back of his neck to his back, gently pressing him toward her, pulling him into her embrace.
"Daniel, I'm still by your side."
Her voice was gentle yet carried a hint of Buddhist serenity.
At a time like this, reciting scriptures was useless; only sincerity could reach his heart.
So, all Sanzang could do was softly recount the events that had occurred since the two of them arrived in this world as partners into Daniel's ear.
Daniel's mumbling gradually faded away.
Sanzang noticed her sleeve being gripped by Daniel, and the warm breath he exhaled against her collarbone also gradually steadied.
Soon after, the sound of steady breathing came from his throat.
Daniel had fallen asleep.
Sanzang didn't change her posture, continuing to gently stroke his back in that position.
When Hassan-i-Sabbah arrived carrying Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others, this was the scene they witnessed.
Under the night sky, the girl gently held the youth's body, looking at him with gentle eyes while soothing his back.
Fujimaru Ritsuka fell silent.
Mash couldn't help but cover her mouth.
"Uh, Fujimaru-kun? Mash? What's wrong with you two?" Seeing the two of them suddenly teary-eyed, Da Vinci looked completely bewildered.
"Da Vinci-chan, Mr. Daniel... has he left us forever?" Mash asked with a sob.
"...Huh? What are you talking about? He's just asleep." Da Vinci's mouth twitched as she looked at Mash speechlessly. "You should be able to hear it, such steady breathing."
"Eh? Oh, it really is." Mash's face turned slightly red, and she awkwardly fiddled with the tips of her hair. "It's just that the atmosphere really felt like Mr. Daniel had sacrificed himself, and Monk Sanzang was holding his body while reminiscing about the past."
"Actually, I had the same misunderstanding as Mash." Fujimaru Ritsuka, hearing Da Vinci's explanation, also had an embarrassed expression.
"However, the youth Daniel's condition is indeed not good, that much is true." Da Vinci's gaze suddenly became sharp. "I don't know exactly what he did, but if the soles of his feet aren't treated as soon as possible, he might not be able to step firmly on the ground in the future."
"As for herbs, there are still some in the village." Hassan-i-Sabbah set Fujimaru Ritsuka back on the ground and then walked toward Sanzang. "Shall I carry him back?"
"No need." Sanzang shook her head, looking at the youth in her arms with a soft gaze. "I can carry him back myself."
The youth's grip on her sleeve was very strong; she couldn't even pry it open just now.
The unease and panic deep within the youth's heart had truly flowed into her perception and understanding.
What the youth needed right now was companionship.
Watching Sanzang pick up Daniel in a princess carry ahead of them, Fujimaru Ritsuka raised his wrist and used the recording function of his watch to record this scene.
"Senpai?" Mash looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka with some confusion.
"When Mr. Daniel wakes up and sees this recording, he'll definitely be very happy," Fujimaru Ritsuka explained. "Consider it a gift from us at Chaldea."
"But we don't have a spare watch to give him," Da Vinci reminded. "Be careful he doesn't take a liking to your watch and ask for it."
"Then I'll just give it to him." Fujimaru Ritsuka indicated that it wasn't his personal property anyway; there were several boxes of spare watches like this back at Chaldea.
"I think so too. Mr. Daniel has really helped us so much, I don't even know how to repay him," Mash agreed with a nod.
Da Vinci and Romani in Chaldea exchanged glances through the video feed.
It was a good thing they hadn't told these two children about the situation in the Final Singularity, otherwise, there would be no way to put them at ease.
When Daniel regained consciousness, the first thing he felt was a sense of warmth and softness, followed by an omnipresent fragrance flooding his nostrils.
Then came the strange sensation of tingling and itching from the soles of his feet.
"Ara, Daniel, you're awake." Sanzang's voice came from above Daniel's head.
Daniel moved his head back a bit, then finally saw his current situation clearly.
Could it be that he had been hugging Sanzang's waist with his head buried in her chest all night?
"...Sanzang, am I dreaming?" Daniel looked up blankly and asked Sanzang.
"It's not a dream. Daniel was like an infant clinging to his mother's embrace all night," Sanzang replied with a smile, stroking Daniel's head.
"However, can you let go of me now? You're awake." Sanzang reminded him, feeling Daniel's restless hands at her waist.
"I'm sorry, I might not be fully awake yet. Please let me sleep a bit longer." Daniel closed his eyes and moved his head forward, trying to restore his sleeping posture from before he woke up.
"Give up on that fantasy!" Sanzang desperately pushed Daniel's head away from her.
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