Time shifts to the next morning.
Naoko woke early, tugging her tangled red hair and yawning, then…
"Third sister? Why are you here?"
Naoko gazes at Zuki in confusion.
Right now Zuki leans against the wall, expression silent, looking ahead.
Naoko blinks; that's Mr. Damian's room.
Zuki remains silent, not answering Naoko.
"Mr. Damian, is he awake? I'll wash up quickly and then come wake him with you."
Naoko mistakenly thinks Zuki is waiting for Damian to wake.
But that isn't the case.
"fourth sister."
"Huh?"
Naoko clearly senses something is off; Zuki's mood is not right.
After all, they've grown up together, the Five Sisters.
"You say, if the eldest sister steals your beloved, what would you do?"
Zuki tightens her lips, voice a little deep.
"Eh?!"
Naoko's eyes widen; she covers her mouth in disbelief.
But her brain is rebooting; what did she just hear?
Eldest sister stealing the third sister's crush? Wait, that refers to Mr. Damian, right?
Well, Mr. Damian is indeed handsome, and it wouldn't be surprising if someone liked him.
Naoko also has a good opinion of Damian, and respects him—he's the one who "saved" them and freed them from the fate of generations of legacy.
"This is…."
Naoko's mind reels; she's tangled up in thoughts, utterly confused; Zuki's question has left her a little overwhelmed.
"But… Mr. Damian isn't the third sister's boyfriend, right…?"
Abruptly Naoko considers this; a little weakly she says it.
"But… I came first!"
Mr. Damian is busy and rarely visits Johto.
Finally coming to Ecruteak City would have been a good chance to be with Mr. Damian, but eldest sister stole it!
Naoko freezes; did the third sister come first? Weren't eldest sister the first to know Mr. Damian?
"Being with Mr. Damian a little while is something I came for first!"
Zuki emphasizes again.
"???" Naoko's brain stalls again.
After she reacts, Naoko's childish face blushes slightly.
Having grown up in a dance theater environment, she's somewhat aware of these affairs, though she hasn't experienced them.
So does this mean the third sister slept with Mr. Damian last night?
Her head whirs; she vaguely recalls last night's events.
Naoko glances toward the door of Mr. Damian's room; did eldest sister stay here with Mr. Damian last night?
Eldest sister daring…
Naoko blinks, unsure how to reply to Zuki.
At that moment, a wooden door creaks; Zuki and Naoko look over.
Miki, in casual clothes, quietly opens the door; she first sees her two little sisters.
Even the generous Miki is startled; she steps out carefully and closes the door behind her.
"How are you two here?"
Miki sighs in relief, looking awkward yet puzzled.
She's leaning on her waist; her steps feel faint.
"Um…," Naoko looks at Zuki.
"Eldest sister, I need an explanation." Zuki's tone is unyielding, expressionless, addressing Miki.
"?" Miki puzzled.
"Let's go outside; Mr. Damian is still asleep, don't wake him."
But Miki worries about waking Damian, pulling the two little sisters toward the backyard.
After the three Sisters leave, another door opens; Caitlin, wearing a pink sleep dress, looks at the three's backs with a refined, disdainful curve on her lips.
"It's ridiculous."
Yes, she heard the whole thing, but Caitlin doesn't take these women seriously.
To her they're just petty little Kalos.
Besides Sister status, what else do they have? It's hilariously dramatic that they're even fighting over bonding with Damian in bed.
Caitlin yawns lazily, closing the door to continue her nap; it's still early.
Backyard.
The Three Sisters stand, Zuki and Miki face off; Naoko stands nearby, unsure how to interject.
"Last night you slept with Mr. Damian, right? Eldest sister."
"…Yes, that's what I initially agreed to."
"But that wasn't what we agreed, and Eldest sister, you know, I was the one who hung out with Mr. Damian…"
Zuki is not satisfied; she's upset about being second place last night.
"Zuki, you're being greedy."
Miki frowns.
"Do you want to monopolize Mr. Damian?"
"…That's not it, but Mr. Damian happened to come to Ecruteak City."
Zuki sighs.
"Zuki, last night I was the one who wasn't wrong, but there were reasons."
"No matter what, we're the best of sisters; why wouldn't we know this?"
Miki steps forward, taking Zuki's hand; her tone becomes softer.
"Mr. Damian, such a brilliant man; his vision won't stay with us forever; he'll stay in Johto for a few days."
Miki continues.
"If we've decided to devote a lifetime to Mr. Damian, we should strive for more."
"Eldest sister, you mean…"
Zuki's attention is drawn.
"I've calculated; yesterday was the last day of danger."
Miki's lips press into a shy, amused smile.
What does that mean? Zuki understands.
Naoko's eyes widen; Eldest sister!!
"If we could bear Mr. Damian's child, Mr. Damian will come more often."
Miki thinks her idea is sound.
But the words carry a blush; such topics are awkward to discuss in front of the sisters.
Eldest sister!!!
Zuki is shocked—three times?! Yesterday was the first time!
Having experienced Damian's combat power firsthand, Zuki respects Miki's endurance; how could she endure that?
The thought begs the question: does she possess some holy stamina?
If it were me, I'd pass out.
"Tonight, Zuki, you come too, to strive for…"
"I understand! Eldest sister, leave it to me!"
Zuki's cool, dramatic face becomes serious; she understands Miki's intent.
If that's the plan, she must work hard too—she must bear Mr. Damian's child!
"…."
Naoko's head is spinning.
The two sisters' conversation is so abstract that Naoko, who hasn't gone through such things, can hardly cope.
And bear Mr. Damian's child…
Naoko touches her own belly, her young face turning a shade of red; if it were Mr. Damian's child, she wouldn't mind at all.
Naoko steals a glance at Zuki; a little scheming flicker.
Midday arrives.
Damian doesn't stay in Ecruteak City; instead he and Caitlin and Dawn ride the Reshiram toward Whirl Islands.
This Johto trip isn't only to see the Five Sisters, but also to encounter the Shadow Lugia.
Last time they left because they lacked confidence; not this time!
They reach Whirl Islands and land on a nearby island.
"Not sure if Lugia's mother is still here."
Damian watches the endless sea.
Caitlin releases her Little Lugia; though called Little Lugia, it's grown quite large now. Wings spread to a ten-meter span.
"Little White, can you sense your mom's location?"
Damian doesn't pull out the Silver Wing; this isn't urgent.
"Umm—"
Little White shakes its head; its eyes show nostalgia for the sea.
"Then never mind."
Damian doesn't press.
"You wait here; I'll fetch that big guy."
Damian tells Caitlin and the other two, releasing Kyogre; last time Lugia's mother took him and Kyogre to Shadow Lugia's prison, so this isn't new.
Kyogre slides with Damian into the deep sea, heading toward the location.
They reach the deepest part of Whirl Islands, where a grand waterfall stands.
It seems a human aura is felt; a massive shadow appears at the waterfall's base.
Two crimson points approach from behind the waterfall, a dark aura creeping up from the bottom.
"Screech—!"
A night-owl-like piercing evil cry escapes from behind the waterfall; a sound as if a knife scraping glass.
Dark, thick mist writhes with life, crawling upward.
Oppressive and eerie, a creepy malice fills the space.
Kyogre's gaze tightens; it can clearly sense this Lugia's malice is even larger than before.
"This pressure is crazy," Damian mutters in astonishment.
"Kyogre, Hydro Pump to greet our new member."
Shadow Lugia?
Shadow Lugia! Yes, one of the darkness team in his dreams!
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