"Shichen, why is there a woman inside your body? And she's dressed so… revealing…"
"You're the one revealing! Who was it that this guy bullied until she was crying?"
"Eh—?"
Inside Shichen, Emilia's shy voice popped like a firecracker.
"Oh~ so Emilia-sama cried the first time, huh," Rem teased.
"Rem… Shichen, what's going on?" Emilia asked, flustered.
"Don't mind it. She's Yatogami Tenka—my daughter," Shichen explained simply.
"Eh—? Your daughter?" Emilia was shocked again.
"Who's your daughter!?" Yatogami Tenka snapped back.
"Heh."
It had been a while since Shichen heard Tenka's voice; he'd missed it.
For quite some time, she hadn't spoken; even when Shichen tried to chat, she wouldn't answer.
If he couldn't clearly sense her presence, he might've thought she was gone.
"Shichen, what's going on? Do you already have a child?" Emilia asked.
"Well…"
"Don't believe him, okay? Do I look like his daughter?" Tenka shot back.
"Very much so."
"…Figures—what a silly woman."
"How can you call me silly?"
"You got tricked by this guy till there's nothing left—what else do you call that?"
"I'm not silly!"
"Not dealing with you."
"Tenka, long time no see," Beatrice greeted suddenly.
"You know me?" Tenka stared at her, puzzled.
Shouldn't it be that only she knew Beatrice?
"Of course—Tohka's older sister," Beatrice replied matter-of-factly.
"You…?"
"Betty, who is she?" Emilia asked, curious.
"She can be said to be Shichen's daughter—and also not his daughter."
"What do you mean?"
"She was born from Shichen's power, so she counts as his daughter."
"What kind of thing is that? She's not his biological daughter?"
"More or less… Just know that Shichen doesn't have a biological daughter yet."
"I see."
"Oh—also, you won't be getting pregnant for the time being, so don't worry about having a baby."
"Eh?"
…
At the door of the Time Café, Shichen looked at the sign and slowly smiled.
"So this is Shichen's home?"
"This world is amazing."
"There's no trace of mana."
"It feels really nice."
Emilia and Rem were completely spellbound by the modern world—skyscrapers, crowds, vehicles, fashion—everything was new to them.
Dazzled.
"I smell Shichen's scent! Shichen-dono!"
A thrilled voice burst from inside the café; the door flew open and a golden figure launched out, diving straight into Shichen's arms.
"Tohru, long time no see~" Shichen hugged her.
"Long time no see, Shichen-dono! I missed you so much." Tohru clung to him like a sloth, rubbing her head against his chest.
"Shichen-nii~"
"Shichen-nii, welcome back."
Nishikigi Chisato and Inoue Takina came to the door.
"I'm back," Shichen smiled at them.
It wasn't yet noon; there weren't many customers. Holding Tohru, Shichen stepped inside—no one else came out.
"Where is everyone?"
"Some are at school, some went out, some are asleep," Chisato said with a grin.
"I see."
"Did you bring no one back this time?" she asked, blinking.
"I brought three."
"Knew it."
"Shichen, let me out," Beatrice urged from within.
"Don't rush."
"It's urgent."
"Fine…"
With the shop empty, Shichen released Emilia and the others.
"Hmm?" Tohru saw Rem and frowned.
Rem returned the look and met her eyes.
"And you are?"
"I'm Rem. A pleasure."
"I'm Tohru… That's a maid outfit you're wearing?"
"Yes—and yours, too?"
"Mm."
They fell silent, staring at one another—then burst into smiles.
"Your maid outfit's pretty nice."
"Yours as well."
Two maids, acquainted in an instant.
"Shichen…" Emilia, meanwhile, nervously tugged his sleeve.
He patted the back of her hand: "Don't be nervous. They're my family—and your sisters."
"Sisters…" Emilia understood their relationship.
"Hello, I'm Nishikigi Chisato, and this is Inoue Takina," Chisato greeted gently.
This time the girl Shichen-nii brought back seemed a bit pure…
But that voice was really familiar.
"H-hello… I'm Emilia," she answered softly.
"Emilia? That's a lovely name."
"Is it? Yours too."
"Haha~ We're family now; no need to be formal."
"O-okay…" Emilia couldn't help smiling back at Chisato's warmth.
"Oh~ a real beauty—no wonder Shichen-nii brought you," Chisato said cheerfully.
"Not really…" Emilia flushed.
"Tell me—did Shichen-nii bully you at all?" Chisato leaned in, teasing.
"U-uh…"
"Sounds like yes. How far did it go?"
"U-uh…" Emilia couldn't bring herself to say.
"Looks like… all the way?"
"U-uh…"
"You talk too much," Shichen flicked her forehead.
"Ow~ Shichen-nii's fallen out of love—he hit me." Chisato covered her head, pouting.
"…Ignore her—she's pretending," Shichen told Emilia.
"Really?"
"Heh~ gotcha, didn't I?" Chisato bounced back instantly.
"Mm…"
"By the way, your voice is super familiar, right, Takina?"
"It's a lot like Ai's and Megumin's," Takina nodded.
"Ai? Megumin?" Emilia tilted her head.
"Ai's at school, but Megumin should be—"
"Oh? I heard someone call my name—I have arrived!" a cocky voice rang out.
With it, a petite girl in a dress sprang from the stairs—
modern-clad Megumin, like a tiny princess.
"So you're back—and brought another girl? A silver-haired elf? So pretty!" Megumin looked at Emilia, clearly miffed.
"H-hello, I'm Emilia…"
"Mm? Your voice?" Megumin immediately sensed something off.
"Amazing!" Emilia blurted, impressed—
she'd noticed it too: their voices were identical.
"To have the same voice as me—I acknowledge you!" Megumin declared magnanimously.
"Do I… say thank you?" Emilia answered uncertainly.
"No need." Megumin patted Emilia's arm.
"What are you swaggering for?" Shichen pulled Megumin over and pinched her springy cheeks.
"Mmph… I was wrong…"
"Be nice to Emilia, understood?"
"Mm, I will," Megumin nodded obediently.
"That's better," Shichen released her.
"Ugh… my face is going to swell…" Megumin rubbed at her cheeks, glaring at him.
Shichen ignored her.
"So Megumin's here too," Beatrice mused.
"Mm? And you are?" Megumin asked, puzzled.
"I'm Beatrice. Tohru, Chisato, Takina, Megumin—long time no see."
"?" They all looked confused.
"Say, isn't Big Sis around?"
"Who's 'Big Sis'?"
"She's really not here?" Beatrice looked to Shichen.
"You mean… Railgun?" Shichen arched a brow.
"Railgun who?"
"Misaka Mikoto…"
Beatrice's voice was identical to someone else's—
it made Shichen think of her.
"Don't know her. Big Sis is just Big Sis," Beatrice said, shaking her head, face serious.
"Got it. Then she hasn't shown up yet," Shichen said, spreading his hands.
Beatrice's face fell.
She'd forgotten to ask Shichen; she did remember Big Sis didn't allow them to bring her up in front of him.
"Should she… appear?" Shichen couldn't help asking.
"Big Sis has to appear… Right—how many fragments have you gathered now?"
~~~
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