AN: And here is the 3/3 chapter.
Once again, I'm so sorry for the delay in chapters!
Please rest assured, I won't stop writing this fic. I have way too many ideas I want to write for this, and if ever I want to stop, it won't be until I have reached a good place to stop.
Anyways, hope you all will like these chapters!
See you next week!
==========================
Non-Administrated World #97, Star Rail Universe…
"Negi!!!"
The moment Nekane Springfield, Negi's cousin and older sister figure, opened the door of their home and saw him wrapped in a towel while Hayate carried him in her arms, with Noah standing beside them still soaked from head to toe, she couldn't stop herself from shouting his name.
Negi flinched and unconsciously clung tighter to Hayate, but with a few gentle taps on his back and a warm smile from her, he slowly relaxed.
"H-hi, Big Sister Nekane…"
"Y-you…!" Nekane looked as if she wanted to scold him, but the worry in her heart won. Her expression crumpled, and instead of raising her voice, she opened her arms and waited for Negi to come to her.
Negi felt his tears rise again the moment he saw her. Hayate smiled softly and placed him down, letting him run toward Nekane.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he rushed into her arms and hugged her tightly.
"…Just what were you doing, you silly child?" Nekane whispered.
"I'm sorry, Big Sister… I just… I just…!" He tried to explain, but after what he had just experienced, all he wanted was to be wrapped in his sister's warmth.
Noah and Hayate simply watched the family with gentle smiles.
—--
"Negi's father, my uncle Nagi, disappeared a few years ago," Nekane explained. "After Arika, Negi's mother, died, my uncle left Negi with our family so we could care for him."
Once everyone had calmed down, Nekane sent Negi to change his clothes and take a warm bath. Noah changed as well, though Hayate still kept sneaking worried glances at him as if making sure he had not decided to catch a cold out of stubbornness.
Now they were seated in the living room with tea and light snacks prepared on the table.
Negi sat close to Nekane, wrapped in a blanket, his small hands around a warm cup of milk. His eyes were still red from crying, but he looked calmer now.
Nekane's own hands trembled slightly as she poured tea.
"Negi has always admired Uncle Nagi," she continued. "Everyone tells him stories about the Great Wizard Nagi Springfield, the Thousand Master. How brave he was. How many people he saved. How he appeared whenever someone was in trouble."
Her eyes lowered toward Negi.
"So Negi must have thought…"
Hayate's expression softened.
"He thought if he got into trouble, his father would come."
Negi shrank under the blanket.
"I'm sorry…"
Nekane's face twisted. For a moment, it looked like she wanted to scold him again. Instead, she pulled him closer and hugged him tightly.
"You silly child," she whispered. "I don't need your apology. I need you to be safe."
Negi sniffled and clung to her.
Hayate's eyes softened as she watched them. Noah remained silent, but his hand tightened slightly around his cup.
This kind of hope was small, innocent, and precious.
And that was exactly why it was so easy to break.
After a while, Nekane looked toward Noah and Hayate. She rose from her seat and bowed deeply.
"Lord Peverell, Lady Hayate… thank you for saving him."
Noah immediately flinched.
"Ah, it's fine, really. And please, just call me Noah."
Hayate snorted softly. "Just like Noah-kun said, we only did what was right. There's no need to bow that deeply."
Nekane lifted her head, then froze.
"Ah… thank you, Lady Hayate. But calling Lord Peverell by j-just his name is a bit…"
"Please." Noah gave her a pleading smile. "I'm not really good with titles."
Nekane's cheeks slowly turned pink.
"I-I'm sorry, but… I don't think I can do that."
Noah's expression became crestfallen. "Eh… why not?"
Nekane looked away, suddenly very interested in the teacup on the table.
"That is…"
Before she could answer, Negi looked up from his blanket with pure childhood honesty.
"Big Sister can't call you Noah because it will remind her of Big Brother Noah."
The room suddenly felt strange.
Nekane's face turned red at a frightening speed. "Negi!"
Negi tilted his head. "But it's true?"
Noah blinked, and Hayate slowly moved closer to him, which made his back stiffen.
"…Big Brother Noah?" he repeated carefully.
Nekane covered her face with both hands. "Negi, please…"
Negi, fully unaware of the social landmine he had stepped on, nodded earnestly.
"Big Brother Noah is Big Sister's friend, and you really look like him!"
Hayate's expression turned blank.
A very dangerous kind of blank.
"Ara?" she said softly.
Noah immediately felt a chill go down his spine.
"Nekane-san," Hayate said with a gentle, bright smile, "may I ask who this Noah is?"
Nekane lowered her hands just enough to reveal her burning cheeks.
"He is… um… my friend Noah from the Clock Tower… Noah Schweinorg."
Noah's eyes widened, and his mouth opened in shock.
During the chase after Dormammu, their journey had led them to different universes. He had seen alternate versions of his family and friends in those worlds, but aside from the Captain, he had never seen his own alternate.
So hearing that he had an alternate in this world left him genuinely surprised.
Hayate was surprised too, though she did not show much of it. Instead, she tilted her head and continued with a warm smile.
"Is he around your age, Nekane-san?"
Nekane nodded slowly, still embarrassed. "Yes. He is thirteen. Same as me."
Noah immediately noted that in his mind.
'Thirteen. Still young, huh… but why does it feel like he's already surrounded?'
"How about his family?" Noah asked, keeping his voice casual. "Is he from Meldiana, too?"
Nekane shook her head. "No. His family is… complicated. His grandfather is a very famous magus named Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. Noah sometimes comes to the village because of the academy and because he wants to relax."
'Ah… somehow, I suddenly feel closer to my alternate.'
Noah's expression barely changed at that thought.
At least, until he processed one particular name linked to his alternate.
'Holy Akivili and Aha!! Why does it have to be Zelretch?!'
Hayate had to lightly bite her lip to stop herself from reacting too much. After Zelretch's last prank during the start of the Infinity Stone hunt, she had also become mildly traumatized by him.
'So that was why this world felt stranger than expected, Hayate thought as she let out a small sigh. Noah tied to Zelretch… somehow, this feels really surreal.'
After calming down a little, she rested her chin lightly on her hand and asked another question.
"Is this Noah… kind?"
Nekane's expression softened before she could stop it.
"Yes," she answered immediately. "Very kind."
"Big Brother Noah is cool too!" Negi nodded hard.
"Negi…" Nekane became even redder.
Noah tried very hard not to look amused, but Hayate did not bother hiding her smile.
"Cool and kind," Hayate repeated. "That sounds familiar, doesn't it, Noah-kun?"
"…I have no idea what you mean." Noah looked away.
Hayate's smile brightened.
Nekane glanced between them, confused. "Do both of you perhaps… know him?"
Noah shook his head. "No. But I think I should meet him someday."
Negi leaned forward, suddenly excited. "Really? Big Brother Noah would like you! You both have the same name and the same face!"
Noah gave a small laugh. "That might make things confusing."
"Hmm." Negi crossed his arms for a second before lighting up. "Oh! Then Big Brother Noah can still be Big Brother Noah, while you can be the other Big Brother Noah!"
Hayate covered her mouth.
Noah stared at Negi.
"…Please don't make that official."
"Why?" Negi blinked innocently.
"Because I can feel fate laughing already."
Hayate finally couldn't stop herself from giggling.
Nekane, still embarrassed but calmer now, looked down at her tea.
"Well, he is usually busy," she said. "I heard he is in Japan right now. Uminari City, I think. Something about repairing damage caused by some girls from the Clock Tower."
"Damage?" Noah's eyes narrowed slightly.
Nekane nodded. "I don't know the details. But Noah said it was 'not important enough for me to worry about.'"
Hayate hummed softly. "That sounds familiar, doesn't it, Noah-kun? Hiding danger behind a nonchalant answer."
"…Please leave me out of it." Noah looked away.
Nekane puffed her cheeks a little and nodded. "Yes, Noah does that often."
Noah's lips twitched.
Hayate leaned forward slightly, her tone casual with just a hint of teasing. Noah could definitely hear something different beneath it.
"Hoho! Can you tell us more about him?"
"Eh?" Nekane blinked.
"Well, if it's okay, we want to hear more about him," Hayate said sweetly. "Just small things about his habits or stories. I want to know if he also has the same Noah-disease as my Noah-kun."
Noah looked at Hayate, and she returned his stare with an innocent smile.
He did not believe that for even a second.
Nekane thought for a moment, then began counting on her fingers.
"He always says he is fine even when he is clearly tired. He apologizes even when something is not his fault. He tries to solve problems before asking for help. He carries sweets for children but pretends he only bought them by accident. And when he is embarrassed, he looks away and changes the subject."
Hayate slowly turned toward Noah, who had suddenly become very interested in his tea.
"…Interesting," Hayate said.
Negi raised his hand. "Oh! Big Brother Noah gets surrounded by girls a lot."
Nekane choked on her tea, and Hayate's smile became brighter than the sun. Noah felt his soul prepare to leave his body.
"Surrounded?" Hayate asked.
Negi nodded proudly, happy to contribute. "There is Sister Marie, Sister Gray, Sister Reines, Sister Rin, and Sister Luvia!"
Nekane tried to stop him. "Negi, please! That is enough."
"But they are always around him," Negi said, confused. "And sometimes Big Sister pouts when they talk to him."
Nekane covered her face again.
Hayate looked at Noah with the calm joy of a commander finding a weakness in an enemy formation.
"Noah-kun."
"…Yes, my dear Hachan?"
"This Noah seems very busy too."
Noah closed his eyes.
In his mind, he imagined a thirteen-year-old version of himself surrounded by Olga, Gray, Reines, Rin, Luvia, and Nekane. A mirror of himself, already surrounded by his own stars.
He placed his cup down very carefully.
Good luck, alternate me.
His smile became deeply sympathetic.
You will need it.
—--------
In Alisa Bannings's room, clothes were scattered across her bed and floor.
A white blouse had been thrown over the chair. A red skirt lay across a pillow. A pale pink cardigan hung halfway off the wardrobe door.
And in the middle of this battlefield of fabric, Alisa stood in front of the mirror, holding two outfits against herself with a deeply serious expression.
"This one is too plain," she muttered.
Ruby floated beside her, watching with far too much interest.
"Alisa-chan, this is the fourth 'too plain' outfit you have rejected."
"Because it is too plain." Alisa's eyebrow twitched.
"Then the blue dress?"
"Too formal."
"How about the yellow one?"
"Too bright."
"And the white one?"
"Too normal."
"How tragic. All clothing has failed you." Ruby spun once in the air.
"Don't make it sound weird." Alisa glared at her through the mirror.
"I am simply observing. My new master is preparing for an outing with Young Master Noah and has entered a state of severe wardrobe crisis."
"It is not a crisis!"
"You have been changing clothes for almost an hour."
"That is called being prepared."
"For a date?" Ruby's jewel flashed.
Alisa twitched before slowly, very slowly, turning her head toward Ruby.
"It is not a date."
"I never said it was~." Ruby tilted innocently.
"You just did!"
"Did I?"
"That's right!"
"How strange. My memory records only show a harmless question."
Alisa's face turned red. "Just for your information, this is not a date. Noah said he would explain more about magic, dimensional tears, and what happened a few days ago. That's all."
"Of course. A private meeting with a charming boy who princess-carried you while defeating a monster, then invited you out to explain the secret magical situation."
"When you say it like that, it sounds different!" Alisa's cheeks turned red.
"I think it sounds very promising." Ruby nodded to herself.
"It is not promising!"
"Your heart rate disagrees."
"Stop reading that!"
"I am your support Mystic Code. Monitoring your condition is part of my duty!"
"My condition is very annoyed at you right now."
"And embarrassed. Very embarrassed."
"Ruby…"
"Oh! And also really excited! We can't forget that!"
"Ruby!"
Ruby wisely floated backward.
Alisa turned back to the mirror and held up another outfit. This one was a simple cream blouse with a dark skirt.
She stared at it, then frowned.
"Hmm, still not good…"
"Hmm? Is it too plain again?" Ruby came closer again.
"No… it looks too safe."
That made Ruby stop for a second. For once, she did not immediately tease. Then Alisa noticed her own words a second too late and looked away.
A few days ago, she had stepped into a world she had only watched from the outside. She had fought something that should not exist. She had been terrified, embarrassed, and rescued in the most unfairly heart-pounding way possible.
And now she was going to meet the boy who had carried her out of danger. The boy who looked cool while cutting a monster. The boy whose smile turned awkward the moment Ruby and Argent started teasing him.
Alisa pressed one hand against her chest. Her heart was doing that annoying thing again.
"Alisa-chan." Ruby floated beside her shoulder.
"…What?"
"You are overthinking."
"I… am not."
"You are standing in front of a mirror, choosing clothes like this is a life-or-death situation."
"What are you saying? This is just a… very delicate matter."
"For romance?"
"For first impressions!"
"First impressions before the young master?"
Alisa's face heated again. "For myself!"
The two red stones on Ruby's frame shone suspiciously.
"Then choose something that feels like you."
Alisa looked down at the clothes in her hands.
"Like me…"
"It should be strong, bright, maybe a little sharp and cute. But also dangerous when provoked."
Alisa slowly looked at Ruby. "Was that a compliment?"
"Mostly."
"Mostly?"
Ruby ignored that and turned toward the wardrobe. "May I make a suggestion?"
Alisa narrowed her eyes. "A normal one?"
"…I will try."
"That does not inspire confidence."
Ruby floated to the wardrobe and pointed with her wing.
"That red skirt."
"This one?" Alisa followed her direction.
"Yes. Pair it with the white blouse."
"And?" Alisa picked them up, still suspicious.
"The soft pink cardigan. Not too frilly, not too formal. It keeps the same impression as your magical girl form without making it too obvious."
Alisa stopped in her tracks as she looked at the clothes.
Red, white, and pink.
Colors that had become familiar now. Maybe even a little closer to her heart than she wanted to admit. It was embarrassing, but also strangely comfortable.
Ruby floated closer, her voice cheerful but gentler than usual.
"That day, you stood in those colors and protected someone. It wouldn't hurt to wear them again, this time because you chose to."
Alisa stared at Ruby for a moment before looking away.
"…That was almost a good line."
"I am honored."
"I said almost!"
"I will treasure that 'almost' of yours."
Alisa sighed, but she was smiling now.
She quickly changed into the outfit Ruby suggested, then stood in front of the mirror again. The white blouse softened the look. The red skirt gave it energy. The pale pink cardigan made it feel less stiff, less like she was trying too hard.
Alisa turned, her cheeks lightly pink.
"…It's not bad."
Ruby gasped dramatically. "A miracle! The wardrobe battlefield has been conquered!"
"…It's just clothes."
"Clothes for your first of many future dates!"
"It's not a date."
"Fine. An outing-which-is-definitely-not-a-date-but-technically-is with the cool, knightly Young Master Noah."
"I told you it's not a date!"
"Where you will talk, walk together, and possibly eat something sweet."
Alisa grabbed a ribbon from the dresser and pointed it at Ruby like a weapon. "Do you want to be thrown into a drawer?"
Ruby floated behind a lamp. "I am only supporting your romantic development."
"There is no romantic development!"
A clock chimed from the wall.
Alisa's eyes widened.
Ruby tilted toward it.
"Oh my…"
Alisa slowly asked, "…What time is it?"
"According to the current time, if you do not leave in the next three minutes, you will be late," Ruby answered, crossing her wings.
Alisa's face went pale.
"Three minutes?! Why didn't you say that earlier?!"
"I was busy witnessing your denial."
"Ruby!"
Alisa grabbed her bag, nearly tripped over the pile of clothes on the floor, recovered with as much dignity as possible, then rushed toward the door.
Ruby floated after her, perfectly cheerful.
"Do not forget your phone."
Alisa skidded, ran back, grabbed her phone, then rushed out again.
"And your hair ribbon."
Alisa stopped again.
"Ruby!"
"It matches your outfit."
Alisa hesitated, snatched the red ribbon from the dresser, tied it quickly, and glared at Ruby.
"This is not because you suggested it."
"Of course."
"And I am not dressing up for Noah."
"Naturally."
"And this is not a date."
"Absolutely."
Ruby's tone was far too innocent.
Alisa narrowed her eyes. "You don't believe any of that, do you?"
Ruby turned around and placed her wings against her frame.
"I believe you are going to be late."
Alisa's eyes widened again.
"Ah!"
She bolted down the hallway, her footsteps rushing toward the stairs.
Ruby followed behind, humming happily.
"First outing outfit selected. The emotional denial state remains active. Heart rate increased. Current mood: excited. Today's mission is off to a wonderful start!"
"Ruby, stop narrating my life!"
"Impossible, Alisa-chan. It is far too entertaining."
—-----
'Why am I in this situation? Noah Schweinorg complained in his mind. Aren't I supposed to just wait for Alisa? Then why am I getting flirted with by older girls?!'
"So how about it? You can come with us for a little while," the girl with long brown hair said, leaning closer with a sweet smile. "I know a nice café nearby."
"Ah! Nanami, that's unfair!" the other girl said, pouting as she stepped closer from his other side. "T-then how about with me? We can walk around the shopping street together. I know a place with really good crepes."
Noah gave them a very polite smile. The kind of smile Waver once called the expression of a child trying not to start an international incident.
"Thank you for the invitation," Noah said carefully, "but I'm actually waiting for someone."
"Oh?" Nanami's eyes lit up. "A friend?"
"Yes."
"A girl?"
Noah's smile remained.
Deep inside, his soul slid three steps away from his body.
"…Yes."
The two girls exchanged a look, and for some reason, that made their smiles shine brighter.
"How cute," Nanami said. "So you're waiting for your girlfriend?"
"No, she's not—"
"Not yet?" the other girl teased.
"…That is not what I was going to say." Noah's ears turned faintly red.
'Alisa, please hurry!'
Argent, safely tucked at his waist, chimed inside his mind.
'Master, your current social survival probability is decreasing.'
'I can see that without you telling me!'
Noah closed his eyes for half a second.
'Grandfather, if you are watching this, stop laughing.'
Somewhere, somehow, he felt the universe laughing harder.
Meanwhile, Alisa arrived at the meeting place slightly out of breath, her red ribbon still tied in her hair and her bag held tightly against her side.
"I made it…" she whispered.
"Only one minute and thirty-seven seconds late. A respectable result for someone fighting a wardrobe war," Ruby said far too cheerfully from the back of Alisa's hair.
Alisa ignored her and looked around for Noah.
Then she saw him with two older girls leaning close to him.
That sight made her steps stop.
Noah was smiling politely and awkwardly. Nanami laughed at something and stepped closer, close enough that Alisa's eyes narrowed before she even understood why.
"Oh my~." Ruby slowly turned toward her.
Alisa's eyebrow twitched. "What?"
"Your expression has become very interesting."
"…."
"It is the expression of a young maiden witnessing her prince being approached by rival forces."
Alisa's face warmed. "R-rival forces?! Don't say something weird!"
"Then perhaps 'older-girl ambush' would be more accurate."
"I am not jealous!"
"Huh? But I did not say anything about you being jealous."
"…."
She had been caught. Alisa could feel Ruby being smug right now.
"H-hmph! He can talk to whoever he wants. It has nothing to do with me." Alisa looked away sharply, trying to salvage herself.
"Of course. Then shall we watch Young Master Noah get eaten by older girls?"
Alisa's head snapped back. "E-eaten?!"
"Socially. Emotionally. Possibly through café invitations."
"That is not a thing!"
"Look."
Alisa looked.
One of the girls had reached out, smiling as she tried to brush a loose strand of hair near Noah's cheek.
Noah leaned back by the smallest amount, his polite smile still holding, but his eyes had the unmistakable look of someone praying for divine intervention.
Something inside Alisa snapped.
Before she even realized it, she took one step and started walking toward Noah.
Ruby's wings fluttered. "Ah. There it is."
Once she reached them, Alisa slipped between the girls with frightening smoothness, hooked her arm around Noah's right arm, and leaned close with a bright, sweet smile that made Noah's entire brain stumble down a staircase.
"Sorry, I'm late, Noah."
Noah blinked, his mind still trying to process what was happening.
Alisa's hands tightened around his arm, and her smile became even sweeter.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long for our date."
The world stopped.
Noah's mind went completely blank.
Critical hit! Argent announced.
"Excellent declaration!" Ruby added, while hiding under Alisa's hair.
"D-date?" the two older girls repeated.
Alisa tilted her head, still smiling. "Yes. We had plans today."
Noah slowly turned his head toward her. His face was red, but Alisa did not look at him.
Because if she looked at him now, her heart might explode.
Alisa turned her smile toward the two older girls. "Then we shall take our leave."
Before they could reply, Alisa pulled him away.
Of course, Ruby would not let this moment pass without comment.
"My, my. Possessive rescue complete."
Alisa's perfect smile twitched, but she kept it until they walked a little farther from the older girls.
"Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut," Ruby wisely said. "Have fun, little couple."
After they had walked for a while, Noah looked at Alisa while she kept her gaze straight ahead. She knew her face was bright red.
"So this is… a date?" Noah asked softly.
Alisa looked to the side, hiding her face from him.
"It was an emergency."
"An… emergency date?"
"No!"
Ruby couldn't help herself and floated between them, shining like a tiny judge of romance crimes. "For the record, Alisa-chan declared it with impressive confidence."
"I was saving him!"
Noah blinked. "Saving me?"
Alisa turned to him, still holding his arm. "You looked like you were about to get dragged somewhere."
Noah's shoulders sank. "…Thank you."
That made Alisa glance at him. She saw him smiling at her with genuine relief, gentle and warm enough to make her heart flutter.
"Really," Noah said. "You saved me."
Alisa shyly looked down. "…You're welcome."
Ruby gasped. "Heart rate spike!"
"Master's pulse also increased," Argent immediately added.
"Ruby!"
"Argent!"
Noah and Alisa said it at the same time.
Then the two menaces reported together.
"Mutual reaction confirmed."
"Ughh…" Noah and Alisa groaned at the same time, which made them look at each other before quickly looking away.
After a while, Alisa remembered she was still holding his arm. She should let go, she thought.
But it seemed her own body had betrayed her.
Her arm refused to move.
Noah eventually noticed, too. He could smell the unfairly sweet scent from her, and he could feel her soft warmth against his arm. But just like Alisa, his own body betrayed him as well. He did not pull away. Instead, he pretended he hadn't noticed.
After a long silence, Noah picked up his courage and said something very unlike him.
"So… a date?"
Alisa almost stumbled, but somehow managed to keep walking straight. "…Think what you want. I already said what needed to be said."
And so, while neither Noah Schweinorg nor Alisa Bannings would admit it, their outing-turned-date began with Alisa still holding his arm and Noah walking beside her with a smile he was very much failing to hide.
======