‘So what happens to our memory of our time here?’ It was Masamune who asked this. There was a hint of aggression in his tone. ‘Several months are passing, so what will we have been doing all that time?’

‘Your memories will be filled in as needed,’ said the Wolf Queen. ‘They’ll be filled in with a repeat of the things you were doing before. Sleeping, watching TV, reading manga and books, going out shopping occasionally, playing in video arcades. Memories of those sorts of things, I imagine.’

‘So you’re saying that memories of reading any books or playing video games here will be replaced with something else? So something new I’ve read here, a manga story for instance, won’t stay with me at all? What a waste of time.’

‘Maybe, but is that such a problem?’ The Wolf Queen’s tone was brusque. ‘Is it that important to you to store up new manga stories?’

‘Of course it is. Don’t be stupid.’

Masamune pouted, his irritation finally showing. For her part, Kokoro was reflecting how, in her bedroom with its light orange curtains, she enjoyed watching, day after day, the reruns of her favourite TV soap. And how, by the end of the day, the storyline would have half faded in her memory anyway. It wasn’t just dramas. Talk shows and variety shows, too – the content was quickly forgotten.

But for Masamune, who was moved to tears by video games just as he was by manga and movies, not being able to build up new knowledge from their content might truly be a colossal loss. The Wolf Queen just shook her head.

‘Then give them up. They might be important to you, but that’s how much energy needs to be expended to make a wish come true. If you don’t like it, then, if you find the key, don’t use it.’

The Wolf Queen had a stern look in her eye, as she stared into each of their faces.

‘But what you Little Red Riding Hoods have done on the other side of the mirror will remain. Playing football, finding a boyfriend, dyeing your hair. Going back to school and getting beaten up.’

Kokoro could sense Ureshino tense up. ‘You mean me?’ he asked in a tight voice. ‘Are you making fun of me, Wolf Queen?’

Ever since the incident, Ureshino had become calmer, never once raising his voice or even falling in love with any of them, and Kokoro was at pains to avoid the subject coming up again.

Unexpectedly, the Wolf Queen replied, ‘No, I am not. I find your courage in going back commendable. I just mentioned it as an example, and if it has bothered you, I’m sorry. My apologies.’

Her uncompromising reply left Ureshino deflated. ‘Eh?’ he said. He turned to Fuka, next to him, and asked, ‘Commendable? What does that mean?’

‘It means she respects you.’

Ureshino’s eyes opened wide in astonishment.