According to the original plan, when the message came from the Clock Tower about sending an investigation team to Chaldea, Shiomi and the others had already decided to play it vague and brush them off. If necessary, they were even prepared to have Morgan and Scáthach step in and use Suggestion Magecraft to disrupt the investigators' perceptions. The idea was to send them back with a pile of useless but discussion-worthy material, stalling the Clock Tower's actions.
But when Touko showed up, Shiomi immediately changed the plan and reached a secret agreement with her.
"Even Professor Inorai wouldn't have imagined the relationship between us," Touko said as she supported Shiomi while they walked down a corridor in Chaldea.
"I didn't expect it either at first," Shiomi replied with a hint of nostalgia. "Back then, I just claimed to be your student for convenience—never thought the real deal would come knocking."
"After all, if a Magus claims to be the disciple of Scáthach, Queen of the Land of Shadows, and it's fake, that's one thing. But if it's real, it'll only attract a parade of Sealing Designation Enforcers," Touko chuckled. "I only looked into it because I heard someone was calling themselves my disciple, and I happened to be under a Sealing Designation at the time. I was just curious."
In the end, she was no match. That was Touko's honest impression. Shiomi possessed a complete set of Primordial Runes. Even if he wasn't as refined as Touko in using Rune Magecraft, sheer magical output alone left her far behind.
"Honestly, I thought I'd killed you," Shiomi said, half laughing, half exasperated.
There wasn't any hostility when they met, but the moment he saw Touko, he instinctively knew a fight was inevitable. Neither of them were the combative type, yet a battle still broke out. And since he'd only heard about Touko's reputation, he went all in, cautiously but with full power—and nearly lost control.
As a result, he ended up nursing the severely injured Touko back to health for three months.
It was only later that Shiomi learned even if Touko had died, she would've survived through one of her doll backups. He never fully understood her easygoing attitude, but eventually he learned to treat each of her backups as the real Touko. Even she couldn't tell which one was the original anymore.
"It was all so reckless, but thinking back now, it just feels like time flew by," Touko said with a touch of emotion.
"Yeah," Shiomi nodded, gazing out at the frozen mountains beyond the corridor window. "By the way, aren't you worried those Magi who came with you might rat you out for openly talking to me like this?"
Though Touko had finished her work in Chaldea and was scheduled to leave soon, she didn't seem concerned.
"The Clock Tower never fully trusted me. Professor Inorai only put me in charge because it served her interests. Besides, I already met privately with Lord Animusphere—just that alone is enough to stir up suspicion among the factions."
On Shiomi's suggestion, they had provided an extra report to Inorai, deliberately giving the Democratic Faction a slight advantage. It wasn't enough to provoke outright conflict, but it did introduce some tension among the three major factions—who had only come together temporarily in their attempt to carve up control over Chaldea.
"Even your own teacher is like that. The world of Magi really is cruel," Shiomi remarked honestly.
Touko looked at him.
"That's why I find someone like you so rare. If you simply lived like a Magus, establishing your own faction in the Clock Tower would only be a matter of time."
"Rather than becoming the kind of Magus who'd give up his humanity for the sake of Magecraft, I'd rather stay human. Otherwise, when I meet a former lover like this and can't even reminisce... isn't that just sad?" Shiomi said.
Touko gave a faint smile and nodded slightly in agreement.
"Judging by the current situation, I probably won't be in the next group the Clock Tower sends," she said. "But I'm not sure when that'll be. I'll contact you as soon as I find out."
"I'll leave the Clock Tower to you," Shiomi said. "Since you're independent, you won't draw as much attention as Reines or El-Melloi II."
At that moment, Touko seemed to recall something. She tapped the side of her forehead with a finger.
"Look at me—I'm so happy to see you, I mixed up personal and official matters and almost forgot about this."
"What is it?" Shiomi asked, surprised.
Touko reached into the inner pocket of her coat and pulled out an envelope, handing it to him.
"About half a month before I left, a letter came to me through certain channels. One was addressed to me, and another was tucked inside, meant for me to deliver to you."
"Who's it from?" Shiomi accepted the envelope but didn't open it right away.
"Zepia Eltnam Atlasia," Touko said. "Looks like the Director of the Atlas Institute knows our relationship pretty well—knew that no one would be more suited than me to deliver it."
"Him?" Shiomi raised an eyebrow.
"The letter he sent me said that, to thank you for helping recover those things from the Atlas Institute, he decided to return the favor," Touko explained. "Hence, this letter."
"Ah, that matter," Shiomi said, understanding.
"Zepia also said he hopes you won't open the letter unless it's absolutely necessary," Touko added, a bit helpless. "The Atlas Institute's ways are so bizarre, even I find them hard to comprehend."
"A clever scheme, huh..." Shiomi joked, but he carefully put the letter away. That Dead Apostle man wouldn't do something meaningless.
"Well, with that, I've done everything I came here to do." Touko let go of Shiomi's arm. Even without her support, he stood steadily with his cane. "This is far enough—it's almost time for the helicopter to depart."
"...Take care of yourself." Shiomi's lips moved slightly, but in the end, those were the only words he managed to say.
"You too. One of the reasons the Clock Tower is wary of Chaldea is because of you," Touko said with a smile. "Recover quickly."
Shiomi gave a silent nod.
Touko then took his arm and kissed him goodbye.
It was a kiss tinged with the bitter-sweetness of tobacco. That taste vividly revived memories from over twenty years ago.
Even though they had only been together for about a year, it felt like something that would never fade.
At least, for him.
And Touko felt the same.
After the kiss, Touko Aozaki let go of his hand, turned gracefully, waved, and disappeared around the corner at the end of the corridor.
...
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