Published: January 24, 2026
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"...You've arrived."
As we entered the teleportation room, Oliver noticed us and spoke.
"Sorry for being late. Were we the last ones?"
Everyone was already gathered inside the room.
The members heading to Kyokutō were myself, Fuuka from the Red Copper Twilight, Mr. Haruto, Ms. Katina, Mr. Huey, then Shion, Oliver, Luna, and Ms. Telshe—a total of nine people.
In addition, Chris and Ms. Rain, who would be sending us off to Kyokutō, were also present.
"No, you're right on time," Shion answered.
But unusually for her, her expression was tense.
The other members also looked somewhat strained, to varying degrees.
Since we were about to face the cult in earnest from here on, it was understandable that everyone was nervous.
Just as I was about to say something to ease the tension,
"The atmosphere's heavy. Everyone's way too nervous."
Fuuka, unfazed as usual, paused her takoyaki eating and spoke up.
...Come to think of it, I wonder how she managed to get takoyaki so early in the morning.
"Isn't Fuuka the one who's being too normal here?" Shion chuckled wryly.
Fuuka calmly responded while skewering a takoyaki ball.
"With a team like this gathered? I don't feel like losing. So there's no reason to be nervous, right?"
Saying that, Fuuka pushed the takoyaki towards Shion.
"Here, have some too. You get hungry when you're nervous, don't you?"
"Uh, I-I...?"
Shion blinked in confusion.
Ignoring her hesitation, Fuuka insisted and pushed the takoyaki closer.
"Just open wide. Aahn."
Prompted, Shion took a small breath and reluctantly opened her mouth.
"Aaahn..."
Fuuka fed the takoyaki into Shion’s mouth.
"Ah, hot... but delicious."
Mumbling through the bite, Shion smiled softly.
At that sight, the atmosphere relaxed gently.
"Our princess is as usual..."
Mr. Haruto muttered with a bemused tone.
I wasn’t sure how much Fuuka was calculating, but it helped.
Thinking the members heading to Kyokutō were fine, I turned to speak to Ms. Rain, who still looked downcast.
"Ms. Rain, thank you for coming today."
"No, I promised Orun-kun the other day. Besides, if this is to atone for my sins, there's no reason not to do it."
Ms. Rain smiled, but it was clear she was pushing herself.
Although I had told her she bore no guilt when she left the clan, the sense of guilt inside her was not something easily erased.
As the one involved, I had no words left to say...
"—Rain."
While searching for the right words, Ms. Telshe, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
"W-what is it, big sister...?"
Ms. Rain looked at Ms. Telshe with a frightened expression.
"I have not forgiven you."
Ms. Telshe’s words made the atmosphere freeze for a moment.
Ms. Rain bowed her head sadly, clutching her clothes tightly.
I was about to say something, but Ms. Telshe continued.
"Yet, even though we are sisters, we've never truly opened our hearts to each other. I feel I haven't been honest enough in my words toward you until now. Don’t you have things you want to talk about to me?"
Her voice was cold, but carried a quiet determination.
"Things I want to talk about..."
Ms. Rain quietly murmured, turning the words over.
"Yes... Even if not right away, eventually we must face each other properly."
Ms. Telshe looked straight into Ms. Rain’s eyes.
"So, Rain... You have to keep living properly. I promise I will definitely come back."
Her words were not soft, but they carried sincere feelings.
"…Yeah."
Ms. Rain answered with a trembling voice.
Wiping her teary eyes, she still looked back at Ms. Telshe with all her strength.
The two were not fully reconciled yet.
But I think they had clearly begun to walk the paths they must take.
Shion watched this exchange between Ms. Telshe and Ms. Rain with a happy smile.
"Then, Ms. Rain, can I count on you?"
"Yeah. Leave it to me! Building the technique construction will take some time since it's from here to Kyokutō, so can you wait about a minute? I'll let you know when it's done."
Ms. Rain looked refreshed, and it felt like the dependable older sister of the silver rabbits of the night sky had returned.