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[Lumine]: Can you restore the light in your friend Kazuha's Vision?
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Reading the thoughts flowing through Lumine's mind, Nagami followed her gaze to the dimmed Vision and furrowed his brows slightly—only to relax again a moment later.
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[Nagami]: Of course. That's no problem at all.
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He couldn't analyze it with his Alpha Stigma Eyes for now, which meant he couldn't recreate a Vision from scratch.
But if it was just about reactivating it? That was easy.
With what Nagami currently understood about Visions, he could even freely alter their elemental attributes if he wanted to.
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[Nagami]: But… should I really be the one to just casually light it up?
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Kazuha had been searching for someone capable of reigniting his friend's Vision—but in truth, that goal was almost impossible.
The people who could light a Vision were those whose willpower, at a single moment, had reached an overwhelming intensity.
And such individuals would normally be granted a Vision of their own by Celestia.
Those who couldn't receive one, no matter how much effort they put in, would never light it up again.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Someone whose wish aligned perfectly with the Vision's original owner might, through resonance with the will still lingering within it, temporarily make it glow once more.
So rather than saying Kazuha was looking for someone who could light up the Vision… it was more accurate to say he was searching for someone who could inherit his friend's will
———————————————————————.
[Lumine]: Obviously not.
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Having experienced countless things, the eternally seventeen blonde girl—Lumine—had already seen through Kazuha's true thoughts.
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[Lumine]: Forget it, just let things flow naturally.
Oh, by the way—did you notice how Seele's been staring at the ocean ever since we boarded? Idiot~ go talk to her already! This is your chance!
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As expected of Lumine she had the same level of shamelessness like him.
The bond between Lumine and Nagami wasn't something that could be described by mere words.
Maybe there was a hint of romance there, but it wasn't quite love—after all, they were the same person.
She didn't get jealous over the beautiful girls around Nagami.
On the contrary, she actually helped him create chances to get closer to them—making sure he never lost a single "affection point" through carelessness.
When it came to certain special moments, their coordination was flawless, even to the point of shared sensations.
Yeah, clearly he was the best.
Sensing his inner thoughts, Lumine's fair cheeks flushed pink, and a fleeting thought of this pervert… crossed her mind.
But it vanished just as quickly.
She wasn't the type who enjoyed insulting herself, so she just replied helplessly:
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[Lumine]: Anyway, now's your chance—go check on Seele, get to know her better.
It'll help with her 'emotional recovery'…
I mean, breaking through her emotional walls! Take her out to see the ocean. I'll handle things here and make sure nothing interrupts us!"
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Not only that—Lumine even transferred her experience in teasing cute girls directly into Nagami's mind through their psychic link.
Unfortunately, most of those techniques only worked if you were a charming girl.
If a guy tried them… he'd be dead in seconds.
Maybe C.C. could pull it off.
Nagami, on the other hand, could only treat it as "reference material."
To an outsider, it almost looked like a cliché web novel setup from a decade ago—where the heroine actively helps the hero build a harem.
One could only sigh: Is this river okay?
Yeah, this river.
This river is really in the Ganges.
After all—they were the same person. [shrugs]
Nagami couldn't help but grin.
Under Seele's slightly startled gaze, he took her hand and led her outside. The salty sea breeze brushed against his face—refreshing and invigorating.
"Nagami-nii? What… what are we doing?" Her small, soft hand was warm in his grasp, and a shy blush spread across Seele's pale cheeks.
She never felt this nervous holding C.C.'s hand— but when it came to Nagami, it was like her body just wouldn't listen.
"That's right," he said with a smile. "We've got something important to do."
Before Seele could react, Nagami suddenly crouched down—then, in one smooth motion, his left arm slipped beneath her silk-covered knees and his right arm wrapped around her bare shoulders.
He lifted her up effortlessly—in a full princess carry.
"W-w-wha—Nagami-nii! Wh-what are you… doing…?" Her face went bright red, steam practically rising from her head.
"Relax, Seele."
With a light step, he pushed off the deck.
Under the stunned eyes of nearby sailors, Nagami soared upward, landing atop the ship's highest point.
A platform of crystallized energy formed beneath them, glowing softly in midair.
"Seele," he said gently, "do you still remember the promise you made with Bronya?"
The girl, who'd been flustered a moment ago, froze the instant those words left his lips.
Nagami slowly set her down on the shimmering platform and took a seat beside her.
"Since Bronya isn't here right now," Nagami said with a gentle smile, "how about I stay with you for now? Once my part is over… you'll be reunited with her soon. I promise."
"Nagami-nii.."
Seele's short blue-tinted hair fluttered in the sea breeze as she blinked up at him, her violet eyes widening.
"You… how did you know that? Did Bronya tell you?"
"Ahaha… maybe she did," Nagami teased, that calm, reassuring smile still on his face.
That expression—so warm, so certain—made Seele's heart waver.
The suspicion in her eyes softened as she quietly inched closer, wrapping her arms around her knees as she gazed out at the endless horizon.
The vast blue sky melted into the clear sea below.
She could hear the soft crash of the waves, see the sunlight dance on the water's surface—rippling, glittering, alive.
The beauty of it all was almost unreal.
"…Thank you, Nagami-nii."
Her voice was so soft, so fragile it might scatter with the wind.
"If it weren't for you… I'd probably still be lost in that dark quantum sea."
From the bow of the ship came a crisp, confident shout—"Set sail!"
The Stellar Fate, with its unique, imposing figure, cut through the azure ocean, leaving behind smooth, glimmering trails on the surface.
Nagami reached out, gently brushing the girl's windswept hair back into place.
"You've thanked me enough times already, you know. You don't have to be so formal with me. From now on, Bronya and I… we'll always be here with you."
A blush bloomed on Seele's pale cheeks, her heartbeat quickening until she couldn't even think of what to say next.
Nagami smiled faintly as he watched her—so shy, so flustered, yet so pure.
"No wonder Bronya wanted to see the ocean with you."
"Eh? Wh-why would you say that, Nagami-nii?" Seele blinked, puzzled, turning toward him.
"Because," he said simply, "sitting side by side with such a sweet girl, watching the endless waves together—honestly, I can't imagine anything more romantic."
The words were a little dramatic—but the way he said them was so steady, so certain, that it was impossible not to believe him.
"Ah…"
The sound slipped from her lips like the buzz of a tiny insect.
[TL Note: ….. How old is she again?]
Seele immediately lowered her head, her breath coming quicker, her heart pounding so hard it felt like her whole body was warming up from the inside.
It wasn't just Seele who took that hit—her other self, the darker Seele (Veliona), felt it too.
And with her fragile resistance, that line might as well have been a critical strike.
If this went on, Seele was about to short-circuit from embarrassment.
So Veliona took over.
"Speaking of which," she began slyly, her crimson eyes flashing, "Nagami-nii once said he's technically my brother-in-law~"
Her tone was playful, but her gaze sharp.
"So tell me, Nagami-nii—between Bronya, Kurumi, and Lumine, who do you really like the most? Seele's curious."
She started counting on her fingers, one by one, her smile both innocent and dangerous.
Fortunately, Nagami had learned a lot from Lumine's eternal experience dealing with girls like her.
And there was one tactic that never failed:
Go straight for the heart.
After two seconds of silence, Nagami looked right at her, meeting her teasing gaze with calm determination.
"Hey," he said softly, "aren't you forgetting someone?"
"Eh?"
The unexpected response made Veliona freeze, tilting her head in confusion.
"I'm most, most, most in love with Seele, of course."
Three mosts—each one hitting like a bullet.
Her teasing grin vanished. Her crimson eyes widened, her lips parted, and a soundless ah escaped her.
A flush spread across her face faster than a spark catching fire. Her mind went blank; her heart went wild.
Steam might as well have been rising from her head.
Then—
bonk.
Veliona's body swayed and she collapsed against his shoulder, face redder than the setting sun.
Critical hit.
Seele and Veliona—fusion reaction is achieved.
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