I Was Caught up in a Hero Summoning, but That World Is at Peace

First, let's organize the situation. The photo album that Makina-san handed me contains pictures of me, Mom, and Dad, with Makina-san naturally included among us. If someone who knew nothing about the situation were to look at it, they might even mistake her for an older sister due to how naturally she fits in.

Well, for Makina-san, creating such photos would be easy, but I still question whether this can truly be called a photo album.

That said, aside from Makina-san being in the pictures, nothing seems out of place. The photo I’m looking at now is from a time when I visited what seems to be a ranch as a child. My memories of it are vague, but seeing the picture does bring back some recollections, even if just a little……

————Look, my beloved child, there’s a cow!

————Do you want ice cream? Hmmm, let’s share it with Mother so your stomach doesn’t get upset, okay?

————Oh dear, my beloved child is getting sleepy, aren’t you? It’s okay, I’ll carry you, so you can sleep.

……Huh? That’s strange. Memories that shouldn’t exist are surfacing in my mind with incredible clarity…… It’s so vivid that I could almost believe I’m watching a video replaying in my head. I can even recall my conversations with Makina-san perfectly.

[……Uh, Makina-san? Memories that shouldn’t exist are coming back to me…… What’s going on here?]

[Oh, looks like you’ve noticed! Ah, don’t worry. I haven’t altered your past or manipulated your memories or anything like that. Of course, if I wanted to, I could actually go back in time and become part of your memories. But all of my beloved child’s memories are equally precious, so I wouldn’t tamper with them. Besides, if I tried, Shallow Vernal and the others would probably stop me…… And in reality, you’re able to recognize that these memories you’re recalling aren’t real, right?]

For now, I’m relieved to know that my past hasn’t actually been altered and my memories haven’t been tampered with.

But if that’s the case, what exactly are these memories of Makina-san?

[Fufufu, that’s the effect of this album! When you hold it and recall the episode behind a photo, you can vividly reminded a world where I was there with you! In other words, all 200 pages of this photo album contain photos of you and Mother in a kind of "what-if" world. As long as you’re holding the photo album, you can see those possibilities. Think of it as a way to always recall happy memories with Mother…… That’s my present to my beloved child!]

[……I- I see.]

……Is this some kind of brainwashing tool? But for now, I understand. Essentially, as long as I have this photo album, I can see a vision of a world where "Makina-san and I have known each other since the past".

This doesn’t manipulate my actions within those imagined memories, right? Because when I recall that ranch episode again, all I see are moments where I seem completely attached to Makina-san…… Hmmm. But then again, as long as she isn’t consumed by insane love or going out of control, Makina-san is a kind and friendly person. If this version of her doesn’t go off the rails, I guess it’s not too strange that my younger self would be fond of her.

"……Shall-tan, what do you think about that?"

"……She really aimed for the fine line of gray. Technically, she hasn’t interfered with Kaito-san’s memories or altered the past…… It’s more like a fabricated video playback device. And since Kaito-san is aware that it’s fabricated…… I’d say it just barely passes as acceptable."

Alice muttered with a rather complicated expression, and while it’s true that this is an incredibly sentimental and overwhelming creation…… the fact remains that these possible-world visions only appear when I consciously hold the photo album and recall them. In other words, I have full control over whether I see them or not, nothing is being forced upon me.

As I was contemplating this, Shiro-san gave a small nod and then spoke in a low voice.

[……I see. With this method, one can insert themselves into Kaito-san’s past without actually altering it…… So, she’s not just piggybacking on my ideas after all."

[Fufu, you shouldn’t underestimate me.]

How should I say this…… Shiro-san had a look of admiration, as if she wanted to say "Oh no, I didn’t think of that!". Meanwhile, Makina-san wore a smugly proud expression on her face, as if basking in her own cleverness.

……Unn. Well…… This birthday present certainly is just like Makina-san.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [So basically, isn't that entire photo album, including the photos, completely fabricated……?]