During those mornings when the sun began to rise, there were moments when she would squint her eyes. The pouring sunlight streamed into her room through the wide-open window, allowing the warmth of the world to seep into her personal space.
Inside her room, she was experiencing a profound ache. The girl continued to gently stroke the bump on her head, sprawled across her extremely disheveled bed.
"Ugh, that brat. She really needs to be taught a lesson so she'll learn her lesson! Ouch... my head..."「Kiana」
Her white hair cascaded down her back, and her slightly loose clothes revealed the contours of her neck. Her blue eyes emitted a light that depicted innocence, a trait drawn from the purity of the white hue, contrasting with her still-childlike demeanor.
"I'll make her cry, that Sirin! Uhh... it's still swollen..."「Kiana」
The girl's name was Kiana, a being with breath and consciousness in that world, carrying a name that defined her.
Earlier, she and Sirin had engaged in a fierce sibling clash sparked by the arrival of morning.
The clash had concluded with Sirin emerging victorious, successfully rousing Kiana. Meanwhile, Kiana herself succumbed to the waking results from her slumber, adorned with a few bumps on her head.
"Ahh... it smells like Mom's cooking. Could that kid be trying to wake me up? Oh yeah, today is the... beginning... of... school... JUST SAY IT ALREADY!"「Kiana」
However, it seemed the girl's head was quite resilient. It didn't take long until the bump on her head stopped hurting, disappearing like in most cartoon scenes. Truly an unusual phenomenon.
As soon as she realized the shining sunlight, Kiana hurriedly got up from her bed.
"W-What time is it!? What's the time now?"「Kiana」
Fortunately, due to Sirin's hard work, Kiana, glancing at a small alarm clock in her grasp, let out a sigh of relief.
She wasn't late yet.
"Haaaahhhh... thankfully, I'm not late. Alright, let's fill up my stomach!"「Kiana」
While gazing at her reflection in the mirror, Kiana tidied up her appearance with an enthusiastic morning smile. Her actions weren't overly complicated. All she did was tie her hair into a double braids hairstyle and slightly tighten her previously loose sleepwear.
With just that appearance, Kiana already looked beautiful and enchanting. If only the contents of her mind were truly mature as well.
"Huh?"「Kiana」
Setting aside her intelligence, the girl's hearing ability remained in good working order. It was even a bit superior to the average. Thanks to this skill, when she finished fixing herself to leave the room, she caught wind of something from the neighboring room.
None other than the room where her older brother resided.
"I wonder why... it sounds so noisy from the next room. That idiot aniki, what is he up to?"「Kiana」
Due to her curiosity, Kiana decided not to leave her room. Instead, she pressed one side of her ear to eavesdrop on the faint and intermittent sounds.
As she concentrated on listening, the white twin-braided girl was able to hear something that proved challenging for her to comprehend.
"So your name is Moriarty... I don't think you're affiliated with any villain nor criminal, but just in case. Do you want to do crime right now?"「El Dust」
[... No.]
"I see, I suppose there's some catch to it for whatever end, though at least we're getting to know each other, Dame Moriarty."「El Dust」
[Just call me by my name.]
Upon hearing this, Kiana felt puzzled and expressed her confusion with, "What does 'Dame' mean? Is it like a dam for water?" and continued to eavesdrop on the ongoing conversation.
[I just heard about him creating other personalities within himself, what exactly happened?]
"Huhu, please forgive my rudeness. However, I can't tell you, not only because I still don't know the relationship between you and my brother, but I actually have no memories before my existence."「El Dust」
Once again, Kiana felt perplexed. Starting with, "Personalities? My brother? Uhh, what has this idiot aniki of mine been talking about all this time?! Moreover, who is he actually talking to in his room?" With her frustration, she continued eavesdropping.
"From the voice, it sounds like a woman, and also... young. Hmm..."「Kiana」
While holding both sides of her head to prevent it from emitting smoke, Kiana engaged her processing ability. This was an unusual occurrence, so after pondering to find a dead end...
"But why is there a girl in his room? Hmm, from the beginning... how could he bring a girl into his room without me knowing? Especially when I'm right next to him? Hmmm... who is he even calling brother?"「Kiana」
The girl took a moment to rest her head; all these thoughts seemed to make her feel tired on that morning. Repeatedly pacing around her room, she couldn't find the answers.
It seems, in the world created by him, the Kiana present was still a girl less brilliant in using her head, but not entirely foolish.
[... Ah, wait.]
"!!!"「Kiana」
Not long after, a suspicious sound was heard. The sound, resembling a sigh, seemed like a fishing reel that caught the ears of the still naïve girl, sticking it back to the same wall where the continuation of the sigh was heard once again.
[Huh?]
"My guess is right, did you perhaps miss this face? It's quite obvious, huhuhu."「El Dust」
[Nnh... no, you're too close. Don't... you're making me...]
"!!!"「Kiana」
For a moment, Kiana felt like her mind was taking a stroll in a forbidden garden.
Because, after hearing the sigh from the girl, she momentarily envisioned a scene that only appeared when she experienced falling in love for the first time.
"W-W-What's happening?! D-Don't tell me they're, k-k-k-kissing or even h-holding hands on top of bed right?!"「Kiana」
She seemed embarrassed and tried to distance herself from the wall, her face flushing. Her breath quickened, and her face seemed to grow a bit warm. After glancing at the mirror, she finally realized everything she mentioned above.
"T-This cannot be allowed! H-How could that pervert, stupid, idiot aniki do something like this! I have to confront him, yes! I'll catch him in the act and tell both mama and papa!"「Kiana」
She declared, clenching her fists ready for use.
Ignoring her still-flushed face, Kiana then grabbed her trusted baseball bat and kicked the door open to the room she was heading towards.
...
....
.....
*BAAM*
The resounding crash echoed through the room as Kiana forcefully kicked open the door to her brother's sanctuary. In an instant, the scene before her unfolded like a live drama.
"You are..."「El Dust」
'Ahh, she must be Kiana, the one who's been discreetly listening in from the adjacent room. ' El Dust's thought held a tone of amusement.
Their hands were entwined, the flush on the girl's face spoke of vulnerability, and the mere inches between their bodies erased any semblance of personal space. Kiana stood frozen, her eyes wide in disbelief, taking in the unexpected tableau laid bare before her.
"..."「Kiana」
Seemingly, she still felt a deep sense of embarrassment, the stimuli before her proving too overwhelming. Especially when confronted with a reality more vivid than her imagination.
Despite momentarily freezing, petrified by the obscenity of Moriarty's attire and nearly experiencing a nosebleed witnessing how El Dust restrained Moriarty's arms on the bed, Kiana did not forget her initial purpose.
"W-What's happening in hereee! Huuh? What is this that I see, u-u-unbelievable!"「Kiana」
Kiana's words stumbled out, a mix of shock, disbelief, and embarrassment, her eyes attempting to make sense of the unexpected scene that unfolded before her. She did so, albeit while stealing a glance here and there whenever she had the chance.
"T-This is definitely no good. PAPA! MAMA! Aniki brought a girl to his room and did something pervy with her!"「Kiana」
Even though she was awkward and stiff in her acting, she excelled at what came next. Kiana's voice, audible all the way downstairs, became a success in its own right, creating a raucous commotion from the dining area.
"Girls?"「Siegfried」
Closing his newspaper, Siegfried, seemingly conjuring a pair of pistols from nowhere, hurried toward the source of the commotion.
"Pervy?"「Bianca」
Bianca's response differed slightly from her father's.
Calmly closing her eyes, she wiped her mouth, which had been dirtied by the unnatural shock from her breakfast. Nevertheless, she still made her way to the source of the noise, clenching both fists.
"What girl?"「Sirin」
Meanwhile, Sirin herself was puzzled by which girl Kiana was referring to, considering she hadn't encountered any girl when she previously entered her brother's room.
"Ara... Sirin, stay downstairs and finish your breakfast, okay? Mama will come upstairs too."「Cecilia」
"Eh? Y-Yeah..."「Sirin」
Cecilia's words held a gentle tone, a contrast to the current chaotic atmosphere. Her motherly request seemed to carry a comforting assurance, even leaving Sirin momentarily speechless.
"Uhh... by the way, Sirin-chan, did you see where my Abyss Flower is? I'm sure I left it here..."「Cecilia」
"Isn't it by the umbrella stand? What does Mama need it for?"「Sirin」
"Ah, now that you say it! Don't worry, Mama just wants to be cautious. Understand~?"「Cecilia」
The Abyss Flower, in the Honkai-verse's story it was the name given to a lance-shaped weapon, recognized as one of the ultimate weapons and often referred to as a Divine Key.
Its abilities are rumored to manipulate life and death.
Judging by Cecilia's intentions, it seems she plans to take this deadly weapon somewhere.
And that place is...
"..."「Sirin」
...
Hmm, it seems Cecilia is the most dangerous one here. Alone in her thoughts, Sirin soon couldn't resist her curiosity and joined the group upstairs.
...
....
.....
On the next floor, El Dust, sensing something approaching as if ready to storm the place where he was, didn't remain silent. Even though he wasn't a combat-type Persona, he possessed perceptual abilities sufficient to notice and hear the approaching footsteps from below.
'I see, even though this world looks like an ordinary normal world, it seems not quite the same with its inhabitants. Quite intriguing. To think they could use such weapon within their house...'「El Dust」
He could sense something from below, even though he himself didn't have much knowledge about what Honkai was. El Dust believed what he felt was one of the types of energy used in that world.
"Teenage girls do have some exquisite voices even when they shout, huhuhu."「El Dust」
Choosing not to engage in direct confrontation, El Dust swiftly made his escape.
He felt there was no advantage in facing his own family head-on in that world. Besides, he felt there were things he needed to discuss privately with Moriarty.
[Ah?]
"Where do you think-"「Kiana」
Alongside Moriarty cradled in his arms, he deftly caught a baseball bat that was thrown his way, and sending it back toward Kiana. Another bump was about to be created on her head.
"Owww! You, you, you! Mamaaa! Papaaa, He's running away through the window!"「Kiana」
"See you later, greenhorn."「El Dust」
Having skillfully evaded Kiana's pursuit, El Dust smoothly leaped out of the window, leaving behind a mix of frustration and surprise. As he and Moriarty touched down on solid ground, El Dust quickly assessed the situation, recognizing that their current location remained far from secure.
Prompted by this realization, El Dust reached into the arsenal of his Persona abilities.
One of his weapons materialized—a unique rope emerging from an alternate dimension.
Like Tarzan navigating through the jungle with a seamlessly connected vine, El Dust, carrying Moriarty, swung away from the scene, disappearing into the unknown with agility and finesse.
"HAAHH!!?? You stupid aniki, get over here, and I dare you to say that again! Hey! Don't you run, you coward!" Kiana's voice echoed, a mix of frustration and determination cutting through the air.
They both left Kiana, her dissatisfaction evident in every shout that reverberated from the window.
"Hmph! Don't underestimate me. Do you think I can't chase you from here? Just wait, I'll catch both of you!"「Kiana」
And when words are not enough to stop him, Kiana continued her vehement protests in another way.
To El Dust's astonishment, just when he believed his escape was secured, Kiana unexpectedly leaped out of the window. The girl with white hair gracefully descended into the open space, landing as if she were immune to fall damage.
Her unexpected agility added a surprising element to the unfolding chase.
Observing the girl, still clad in her sleepwear, closing the distance between them, El Dust pondered on how hasty she appeared. Perhaps, he considered, it was he who was mistaken, underestimating the individuals in this peculiar world.
"Kuku... that fabric barely hide some parts of her."「El Dust」
[Don't see it.]
Moriarty closed both of his eyes, as the man seemed to have tried sneaking a glances at certain area while Kiana is running. As the blonde-haired girl's hand touched him, El Dust found himself recalling certain things.
'Honkai... Is this girl named Moriarty also from Honkai? But, as far as I know, Moriarty is a guy...'「El Dust」
[If you have questions, you can ask them. Or do you want me to read your mind to make it easier?](Moriarty)
"And can you read minds? Huhu, as expected of a Guardian. In that case, as much as possible, I'll use words from my own mouth. We're still just meeting for the first time, right? Let's keep our privacy intact."「El Dust」
[...Alright, I'll do it the way you prefer.] (Moriarty)
"OOOOi! Stop flirting!"「Kiana」
While swinging and admiring various landscapes from the height, they almost forgot about Kiana, who was now tirelessly chasing them, deftly leaping from one place to another.
The girl passed over rooftops, entered people's yards, leaped from tree to tree like a squirrel, and even landed on electric poles with the finesse of Uchiha Itachi.
"Hmm~ Parkour, huh? Reminds me of the past. Anyway, since you're technically the guardian of this World, do you know everything about my family in this world as well?"「El Dust」
[Yes, I know all about it. Be it the destiny and past of Machi in this world or the possible future that might unfold.] (Moriarty)
"With that much knowledge, I doubt you're just a Guardian, huhuhu. Can you tell me about the 'Zeimachi's' relationship with his sister in this World then?"「El Dust」
[Hmm, if it's the siblings' relation... I think it won't spoil some hint for future events. What do you want to know?] (Moriarty)
"Hoh? A spoiler alert? Now, this is a troubling matter. I take it back about my curiosity— oh?" El Dust
Although he almost heard snippets of the truth, unfortunately, a chain binding his legs disrupted those moments. The chain locked and halted his movements, even intending to pull him downward.
"Now you can swing no more!"「Kiana」
Kiana had also fastened the chain, taken from who knows where, to a sturdy tree that wouldn't easily be uprooted. This only strengthened her conviction that she had succeeded.
[Need my help?] (Moriarty)
"This much still fine, I just... huhuhu. Can you at least tell me Moriarty, within this world created through our wish... is that girl really my siblings? Let me hear it through your whisper."「El Dust」
Reaching his ear to the blonde girl's lips, El Dust awaits the answer.
Meanwhile, by utilizing the energy gathered in her legs, the girl beneath leaped and soared through the skies via the connected chain, aiming to reach him directly beneath his leg and grab it.
"And keep your face away from that girl! Got you!"「Kiana」
Seizing the moment while his guard faltered under Moriarty's whispers, Kiana's lips curled into a triumphant smile, certain she had finally caught her prey.
But her victory was short-lived. With a simple burst of force El Dust used to pull himself skyward, the chain anchoring him suddenly snapped loose, shattering into fragments.
"Wha?! U-Uwaaah!?"「Kiana」
"Hold on tight, Kiana. You don't want to be a mashed tomato, right?" El Dust advised, a muse of amusement in his voice. "It'll be a once in a while for me to swing with these much people."
"I'm falling! I'm going to fall!" Kiana's panicked cry cut through the air.
But her protests did nothing to stop the wild swinging.
In a desperate frenzy, she let her baseball bat clatter to the ground and grasped at anything within reach. And fortunately for her, her flailing found something... she caught hold of her big brother's swinging leg.
Saving herself from an unceremonious plunge and narrowly averting disaster.
However, this act meant she was now part of the airborne journey.
[... El Dust, do Machi have some problems with his siblings?] (Moriarty)
"Kuku, well, if you look for them, you might find some."「El Dust」
The blonde girl was no stranger to the concept of sibling fights.
Still, even if she wasn't the typical damsel, a fall from such a height—at that speed—would almost certainly leave her injured. Worse yet, she was dressed in nothing but sleepwear, offering no protection at all against potential harm.
El Dust comprehended both aspects well enough.
But how could he explain this…?
If it truly were someone like his siblings, then he would feel an almost perverse satisfaction in witnessing her distress—or in hearing Kiana call out to him in a desperate plea for help.
To watch her teeter on the brink of death.To see her tormented until she cried.To have her gripped by terror and sheer panic.
All of it stirred something deep within El Dust—something dark—and it left him utterly satisfied.
"Huhuhu, what an amazing feat, isn't it? Bonds are truly an incredible thing," El Dust remarked, met with a scrutinizing gaze from Moriarty.
The girl still cradled in his arms knew everything about the inhabitants of that world, but it seemed a bit challenging for her to grasp the full meaning behind El Dust's words.
"Oi, Aniki! Enough with the nonsense talk and do something already! I'm your dear little sister, right?! What if I fall?!" Kiana pleaded. "If I end up paralyzed, I'll make sure you have to take care of me forever, you hear?!"
"As my beloved little sister, you'll be just fine. Besides, this is all your doing, isn't it?" El Dust replied with his usual musing tone. "Next time, don't go following adults who just want some time alone."
"Ugh, I don't need a lecture right now—waaahhh!?" Kiana yelped.
Continuing to swing and occasionally adding acrobatic twists to intentionally startle Kiana, El Dust carefully observed the ideal position to release her.
"Sorry, Moriarty, but please don't let go now. We're going to turn around for a moment."「El Dust」
[...What about the rest of details? About your other family of this world?] (Moriarty)
"At least wait until we're alone," El Dust said with a wink. "I want to be the only one to hear your voice when you say it later." The girl in his arms gave a small nod, leaning her head closer to him.
"Gh! What made that girl so attached to you?! And what's wrong with that creepy laugh?"「Kiana」
"Relax, dear little sister. Or I'll throw you right here right now, huhuhu," El Dust teased in muse.
Hearing his statement, Kiana tried to restrain the numerous protests she wanted to voice. For now, she felt that silence might be the better choice than taking a freefall to the ground.
Nevertheless, Kiana still expressed her frustration in silence by giving a few pinches on her brother's leg. A few pinches by using her nail at that.
"Excuse me? Dear Little sister?"「El Dust」
"Hmph! It's KIANA, what with that little sister this and little sister that! Are you making fun of me?"「Kiana」
"Huhu, just a little bit maybe?"「El Dust」
"What was that?! Once we get low enough make sure to square up or I'll push you down, stupid aniki!"「Kiana」
Even though he had no intention of mocking Kiana at this moment, El Dust wasn't intending to tease Kiana further right now. The persona was still in a state of shock after hearing a few revelations from Moriarty.
If Kiana could be considered as his sister... and not at the same time.
"What a truly fascinating thing… a sibling bond is," El Dust mused.
————————————————————
Meanwhile…
Somewhere along the well-paved roads of the city, a car cruised at a leisurely pace.
Behind the wheel sat a middle-aged man, guiding the vehicle toward a particular destination.
His neutral expression—absent of even the faintest smile—paired with the glasses resting on his nose, gave him the air of someone worn down by long hours of work. But even that plain, weary demeanor faltered for a moment when something unusual caught his eye.
"That was... Kiana and Machi-kun?"「Welt Yang」
As he drove through the streets visible through his glasses, Welt Yang, a notable figure in Honkaiverse with connections to the individuals he had just witnessed passing by, couldn't help but express his surprise.
"Father and daughter, both of them are quite wild. What are they doing so early in the morning? Shouldn't they be going to school?" 「Welt Yang」
For Welt Yang, he has a history with Siegfried in that world.
They were once adversaries, but now they are comrades. In reality, Siegfried is one of his co-workers and experienced friends whom he values. Thus, he has a close relationship with their children, including Kiana.
Despite this, there are some aspects of the recent scene that bother him.
Welt Yang pondered the recent events while driving, focusing on the young girl El Dust brought along and the peculiar tool he used. Was it a rope? But how could a rope materialize out of thin air?
Though thinking about such matters while driving was dangerous, Welt Yang couldn't shake off the recent occurrence.
"... That young one seems different too," Welt Yang thought.
Even though his eyes weren't as sharp as a young person's, he could discern that the rope El Dust used wasn't an ordinary one. The other end, or more precisely, the place where the rope emerged, looked strikingly similar to a crack originating from a dimensional space.
"Machi-kun shouldn't possess abilities to pierce through space or dimensions. Moreover, the figure accompanying him..." Welt Yang contemplated.
Back in the past, he had undertaken the task of individually assessing Siegfried's children, prompted by Siegfried's own insistence. Siegfried sought Welt Yang's perspective on his kids, hoping to gain insights from his friend.
From his evaluations, Welt Yang concluded that Bianca, the eldest sister, possessed numerous outstanding qualities within her. Her strengths ranged from physical and mental attributes to various "other" abilities. Much like her mother.
As for Sirin, Welt Yang recognized her as a diligent and intelligent child. Despite lacking exceptional physical abilities, she balanced it with Bianca in utilizing those "other" capabilities.
Contrarily, Kiana appeared to be the one most resembling Siegfried. He discovered that the girl lacked these "other" abilities, even though she exhibited robust health and physical well-being.
'Could he intentionally be hiding it? Or perhaps, has he encountered the 'Honkai'?' Welt Yang pondered while still driving on the road.
As for "Zeimachi" himself, the young man could be considered quite capable.
He demonstrated intelligence and wasn't lazy. However, similar to Kiana, Welt Yang didn't find any of those "other" abilities, or in other words, the Honkai within his body. He appeared to be an ordinary human, slightly above average.
Therefore, the relationship between Kiana and "Zeimachi" can be considered very close, whether in a rivalrous or shared fate within their family.
This has not led Sirin or Bianca to isolate the two of themO however.
On the contrary, their four-way relationship has grown even closer, thanks to "Zeimachi" serving as a figure who connects the three sisters, acting as a mediator.
Realizing the uneasy feeling gnawing at him, the bespectacled man attempted to contact someone. It took a moment for his call to be answered, and a voice responded.
"... It's me."「Welt Yang」
"[Oh? This voice, ahaha if it isn't Mr. Welt from Anti-Entropy. Nice to receive a call from an old business associate. How have you been? The last time we met, if I'm not mistaken, was when—]"
"I don't want to waste time with your nonsense, Overseer. There's something more important behind my dialing this number, Otto."「Welt Yang」
Welt Yang appeared to be suppressing a feeling resembling a mix of reluctance and annoyance on his face, suggesting that the person he addressed as the Overseer might not be someone he particularly liked.
"[Well, if that's the case, I've only had a bit of free time lately. What do you need?]" Overseer Otto
"I'll get straight to the point. Have you done something to Machi?"「Welt Yang」
"[Machi, by you mean, that Siegfried and Cecilia's adopted child? Ahaha, I haven't paid much attention to him after his relationship with Theresa ended. I'm more interested in his three sisters lately, but I haven't done anything to them. Why do you ask?]" Overseer Otto
"I see, that's all. I'll end the call."「Welt Yang」
The voice from the phone he held suddenly ended, just like how Welt Yang suddenly called him.
Sometimes he wondered about Welt Yang. Even though it was clear that he was older, the bespectacled man often seemed to disregard him entirely.
"Well, that's just my own assumption anyway."「Overseer Otto」
Casually placing his mobile phone on the table, the figure referred to as Overseer leaned back into the chair's backrest.
He was Overseer Otto, situated in his office after ending the call with Welt Yang. The leader of an organization overseeing the region where "Zeimachi" and his family reside, who appears to harbor a curiousity for Siegfried's family.
There are certain things only he should know, and one of them is his heightened vigilance towards Siegfried's family. Particularly, "Zeimachi" residing there. Somehow, he always senses something peculiar when observing this seemingly ordinary youth in an extraordinary family.
Moreover, "Zeimachi" has had connections with figures named Theresa and Kallen back then, connections that even he couldn't unravel at the time. This reason alone suffices for Overseer Otto to keep a watchful eye on the young man's movements.
Fortunately, in recent times, he had successfully distanced him from those two, making him not consider "Zeimachi" as a significant threat.
"Hmmm..."「Overseer Otto」
Although he previously appeared indifferent, in reality, he harbored curiosity about the name they had just discussed.
After shifting his chair closer to the desk, the blond-haired man pressed a button, revealing a projection screen containing various digital recordings and informational documents, ranging from traffic footage to flight paths.
"Ahahaha, so Theresa alone isn't enough for you; you even bring an unfamiliar girl romantically."「Overseer Otto」
He also reviewed the footage of the recent events, capturing the images of the trio swinging through the air like triple Tarzans in a circus act.
"It seems true that I cannot allow you to get close to Theresa, let alone Kallen. And with this evidence, I'm sure Theresa will distance herself further from this man, ensuring my success."「Overseer Otto」
A beautiful smile adorned his face as he observed the images before him. Once again reaching for his communication device, the entertained Overseer dialed a number stored in his favorites.
...
....
.....
Still swinging along the city's upper paths, the three of them chatted with ease.
"So, Aniki, where are we going? Can we pass by a cafe or at least a restaurant first? I'm hungry~"「Kiana」
"Huhuhu, you're talking as if you're going to follow me anywhere. Besides, if you're hungry, why are you so determined to chase after me?"「El Dust」
"Eh? Of course I am going to follow you! Moreover, Aniki, aren't you hungry too? I am hungry! And if I'm hungry, I might die, you know?!"「Kiana」
"Hmmh, a younger sister goes with many demands indeed. Why don't you just go back to your mother then?"「El Dust」
"Mama will scold me if I go back alone, that's why! You should come back and get scolded with me! Hehehe, I'm smart, right!"「Kiana」
There was a bit of repositioning among them.
Kiana, who had previously been dangling below, was now perched comfortably on the man's back—piggyback style—an arrangement far more advantageous than swinging from his legs.
She had, in a sense, been promoted.
El Dust, however, found himself a little surprised by this sudden change in her demeanor.
She was acting more like a bubbly, clingy little sister now. 'Where's the girl who was yelling and sprinting across rooftops earlier?' he wondered, letting her cling to him without protest.
Clutching her big brother's back with a tight grip, Kiana also took every chance to keep Moriarty at bay, swatting at him like a cat batting away an unwelcome rival.
[...] (Moriarty)
"What?"「Kiana」
Kiana was more focused on the unfamiliar girl she had never encountered before, though Moriarty herself didn't pay much attention to the white tuna. For the white haired girl, Moriarty's presence was like an impending disaster to her.
Disaster which could lead to imbalance within her brother's romantic life.
In any case, the three of them looked like a circus trio suspended in mid-air, and El Dust seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere, unconcerned by either Kiana or Moriarty, who both kept their eyes on his face.
"Hey, what's with the rope? Is it one of your abilities? Why have I never seen you use it before?"「Kiana」
Hearing Kiana's question, El Dust felt it was an opportune moment to dig for some information.
"Curious aren't you? What about you, Kiana? What are your abilities?"「El Dust」
"Eh? Uhh, Aniki, did you hurt your head or something? Did you really forget that I don't have anything like that at all?"「Kiana」
"None at all?"「El Dust」
"Yep, Sirin told me if I'm muscle brain or somewhat, but I'm pretty much stronger than that little brat Sirin though! But if it's Bianca, I think I could fight to a draw, I think."「Kiana」
Hearing that response, El Dust became perplexed. In this world, was the use of powers based on the concept of "talents" or "blessings"? And what about the term "Honkai," which seemed to be associated with the girl quite often?
"How about me? Can you beat me?" El Dust asked.
"Just because I've never won in a spar against you, did you really think I can't beat you!?" Kiana retorted while letting out a shout nearby to his ear.
"Huhuhu, so you can't," El Dust chuckled to himself.
As he pondered inside his thought, 'But that's weird, if the "Zeimachi" in this world didn't have any of his arsenal like The Rope and The Scissor, then what was his power? How could he win against this girl?'
While enduring Kiana's playful banter due to being somewhat underestimated, El Dust continued to swing toward nearest place to drop Kiana. Moriarty, who had been listening to their conversation, then offered a bit of explanation through a whisper to El Dust's ear.
[(Whisper) Many things have been altered in the creation of this world. And to answer your confusion, in this world, Kiana is one of the world's driving figures. Do you understand the meaning of being a "World Initiator"?]
'I've learned much about them, though they're something more called "Protagonist" or "Main Character" than "World Initiator" as far as I know. But what does it have to do with what Kiana just said?'「El Dust」
[(Whisper) Ah, I see… the protagonist. Kiana can be considered one of them—a figure the Will of the World expects to shape its course. You could say… these are her youthful days. She has yet to endure the stories that will one day decide the future of this world.]
"Hey, what are you talking about? And, d-don't get too close, okay?!" Kiana tried to push away Moriarty that wouldn't even budge. This resilience had also surprised her. "Geet aaawaaay!"
[(Whisper) Like a scripted scenario, she's just yet to discover her true self. A young and naive hero, going through her days. And in her story, you, the so-called brother, are one of her dearest.]
El Dust nodded in understanding, as he listened to Moriarty's explanation.
[(Whisper) We're sorry for not making you the Protagonist.]
"Huhu, it doesn't really matter." 「El Dust」
The more he listened, the clearer the workings of fate in this world became to him.
This world was like a house.
A house is made up of various structures and materials, each forming part of the whole. Designed according to the vision of its architect, then brought into reality by the hands of its builder.
If the structures and materials were to be interpreted, they would represent the inhabitants, nations, cities, oceans, continents, and the many other elements that reside in this world.
As for the designer and the builder, they are us the Personas, and the Will of this World.
For builders, their role is to create the house according to the designer's vision. Yet there are times when the builder believes—or thinks they believe—that they know better what should be built.
Thus, the desired outcome of the "house" may sometimes shift slightly to suit the builder's own tastes—whether to make it appear more beautiful and sturdy, or to ensure its structure remains strong and unshaken in the future.
And he supposed Kiana was one such example.
If she was this world's Protagonist—or the World Initiator—then she was, in essence, a "wedge," the supporting pillar that allowed this "house" to stand. And he's here to be the family of such person.
After coming to that understanding, El Dust set aside the rest of his thoughts.
It was enough for him to know. There was no need to dwell on it any further.
"How could you even hear her with all those whispers? I could barely catch her voice from here—Oi, Aniki! Look ahead!" Kiana shouted, spotting a huge tree directly in their path.
They narrowly avoided it at the last second.
Maneuvering through the air while swinging from his rope was no challenge at all. "This much is a simple task, kuku," El Dust said with a smirk. "By the way, Kiana… do you know what the Honkai is?"
"I know! Ehehe, I've been learning about it a lot! Honkai is... Honkai is, huh? Hmm, Honkai..." Kiana seemed to forget.
"Huhuhu, judging by your personality, are you sure you're studying and not just sleeping with your books open?" El Dust teased in muse.
"W-Wait! I know about it, it's just at the tip of my tongue! Uhhh, hmm..."「Kiana」
The girl tried her best to piece together words from the knowledge she had. Moriarty, observing this, intended to answer, but unfortunately, El Dust held back his intention to see how Kiana struggled.
"Well? Should I look on which tongue then?" El Dust teased again in muse.
"Fine! All I know is that the Honkai is bad! It was the Honkai that almost got us separated from each other—and when Aunty Theresa almost got killed..." Kiana's voice trailed off, the weight of the memory clouding her tone.
She genuinely struggled to recall any more than that. Still, from her words and demeanor alone, El Dust could easily deduce that the "Honkai" held a tangible presence in this world.
Aside from that, he could also deduced the presence of people familiar below.
"Hang on tight, we're going 180."「El Dust」
"What is 180- whhhuaaaahhhhaaa!?"「Kiana」
Moments later—
"Oiii, stupid tuna! Onii-chan! Down here!" came Sirin's voice from the ground.
After a brief nose dive, they were now close enough to clearly hear the calls from below.
Kiana, having mostly recovered from her dizziness, scanned the area for the source. Sure enough, there're Sirin and Bianca, both looking visibly worried as they searched for them.
"Ughh... see you on the ground."「Kiana」
Realizing her two sisters were there, Kiana took the first chance she got—jumping down and landing in a superhero pose right in front of them.
Her legs trembled slightly from the impact she'd inflicted on herself, but she kept her composure, lifting her chin and standing tall before the two.
"Your trembling down there, idiot."「Sirin」
"I'm not!"「Kiana」
"Thankfully you two are fine. However, Kiana, did you... perhaps chase after brother while still in this outfit?"「Bianca」
After all this time, Kiana finally realized it.
At the moment, she was indeed wearing her sleepwear or pajamas. However with a nonchalant retort, "Ah, now that you say, I'm still in sleepwear," Kiana didn't seem to mind much because she felt it was not a big issue as long as she was careful.
However Bianca, the eldest of the three sisters sighed.
She felt it was one of her responsibilities to look after her reckless younger sister.
She then handed her own coat to the white-haired girl
As she do so, the blonde-haired girl spoke up, "Kiana, we have to take care of our bodies. It's not just about food or strength but also about dignity. Isn't that right, brother?" She looked towards the person descending casually, holding a worn-out rope that was difficult to trace its end.
Seeing the peculiarities displayed by the worn out tool, Bianca sensed that something strange was happening with her brother. This feeling was intensified by the presence of Moriarty accompanying him.
That rope and that girl, it's the first time she's seeing them.
"Well, you're right. I even saw some guys went silent when they saw a girl in sleepwear passing by while wielding a bat."「El Dust」
"You were running around with a baseball bat?"「Sirin」
"I-I lost it though..."「Kiana」
From El Dust's perspective, the last sister he finally got to met had a gaze filled with an unwavering soul and forwardness, akin to someone who had been educated through the paths of virtue and justice.
She's the honorable sister type.
With just one look, he could imagine many things that this girl could accomplish.
When El Dust realized that the three girls before him shared a sibling bond with him, it felt as though he were drowning in the past. Even with the distance between them, that was the feeling that washed over him in that moment.
The bond of siblings was something that had always lingered in his thoughts.
Even now, El Dust couldn't help but feel a quiet pride at the scene unfolding before him.
[You feel proud?] (Moriarty)
"It's true, even if there's some power playing on the board, I've never forgotten this feeling when I saw my brother. Huhuhu, actually I'm a very caring big brother you know? But... never mind. Shall we go then?"「El Dust」
Lowering Moriarty from his embrace, El Dust gently held the girl's hand.
Realizing she was being escorted, the girl blushed faintly at the warmth of his grasp.
[Where're we going next?] (Moriarty)
"If we're using scenario settings, what chapter are we in?"「El Dust」
[Hmm, still in the beginning, I think. Based on what I know, this is the beginning where Kiana entered the school. As for you... it should be time for you to look for a job. You're designed as being jobless in early story.] (Moriarty)
"Chapter One—our beginning, huhuhu. The start of it all, the fresh first page of a heroic tale. How exhilarating. Jobless or not, it doesn't matter to me," El Dust said with a grin.
While their conversation continued, neither El Dust nor Moriarty noticed the three sisters now watching them from a distance. The sisters strained to catch their words but could barely make out anything.
Their voices kept low and deliberate, as if they intended to keep their exchange private.
[Do you want to jump to some event that should be triggered later? Or in this case, jump to the next chapter?] (Moriarty)
"That sounds like a good proposal, well done, young lady."「El Dust」
It was indeed a good idea according to El Dust. Although he didn't fully understand the scenarios of RPG games, he realized it would be intriguing to explore events that should not be known yet.
"Kukuku… this reminds me of when my brother used to roam freely all over the place. The memory he left for me… it's one of the many treasures I keep in my core, huhuhu."「El Dust」
[That side of him haven't change at all, huhu. Ah, looks like I've also caught it from you.] (Moriarty)
"So it would seem, young lady."「El Dust」
[Just Moriarty is enough,] the timeless girl said, offering a thin smile to her dearest.
With their flashback concluded, El Dust and Moriarty turned to head toward their next destination—hand in hand, without a care in the world. However, slipping away now wouldn't be so easy.
"Where do you think you're going?!"「Kiana」
"Brother, home is that way. Sirin, can you call father and mother if we're right here?"「Bianca」
"... Don't worry, mom and dad are on their way. I'm more interested in that girl, who is she? Why is she... being so close to you? Hey onii-chan, what're you hiding from us?"「Sirin」
This was the expected outcome – if he was challenging to escape, then the three would certainly make it even more difficult. Each of them brought their own distinct personality to the confrontation.
Kiana approached with a pout, trying to look like another needy girl.
Bianca in contrast, stayed on her foot, her eyes fixed on El Dust and Moriarty with a stern gaze.
Sirin however, was the most striking of all—her eyes were ready to kill.
Aside from the three sisters, El Dust also sensed something else drawing near. He couldn't identify it, but suspected it might be the people Sirin had summoned—possibly their parents.
'Is it true?'「El Dust」
[(Whisper) The one approaching are Siegfried of Kaslana and Cecilia of Schariac. In this world, they can be considered your parents. Then, there's also Welt Yang.] (Moriarty)
'Wait a moment, do you also know how they adopted me?'「El Dust」
[(Whisper) Do you want to hear why?] (Moriarty)
After some thought, El Dust decided it was better not to know—at least for now.
He didn't want to feel the same sting he had when he learned the truth about the three sisters, a truth Moriarty had whispered to him earlier: that he was merely an adopted child of their family.
Especially not with the three sisters standing right in front of him.
"Brother, the distance between you two is far too close," Bianca said evenly. "To talk, a length of an arm should be enough. If I may ask, what are you discussing? What if we join in and listen?"
"That's right! That's right! Stop flirting!"「Kiana」
"…" Sirin said nothing—just stared.
It seems they want to forcibly separate Moriarty, who has been holding hands affectionately with their brother. They seem to dislike Moriarty, who has been quiet and serene with a blushing face while never letting go of his hand.
Amid the thickening tension, the low hum of an engine approached.
A car rolled into view—driven by none other than Welt Yang.
Siegfried and Cecilia were with him, having set out to catch up with Kiana after she trailed El Dust. None of them had expected to cross paths with Welt, who seemed to be in an unusual hurry.
Without wasting time, they were ushered into the car. Once inside, Welt revealed his suspicions about the mysterious girl he had spotted with their son moments earlier.
"Thankfully we're in time, Machi-kun! Stay away from that girl, you don't know who you're dealing with."「Welt Yang」
"Son, listen to uncle Welt and put the lady down so we're all good okay?"「Siegfried」
The intentions of the two men were clear enough—they both sought to separate him from Moriarty.El Dust, however, found himself puzzled. He had no idea why they were acting this way, because for him, Moriarty posed no threat whatsoever.
"No way I'm letting go of this one, am I? I mean, huhuhu… she's practically glued to me," El Dust said, masking his confusion behind a playful grin. "See? We're already this close~"
Pulling Moriarty snug against his chest, he deliberately provoked a range of reactions—most of them brimming with disapproval. The only exception was Cecilia, whose expression remained calm.
"Machi… and you girls as well. Why don't we talk about this at home? It's fine, right, Ziggy? Mr. Welt? She doesn't seem to have any ill intent," Cecilia suggested with a calm smile.
"But Cecilia, did you hear Welt's explanation just now? That girl is likely connected to Honkai."「Siegfried」
Even so, Cecilia showed no signs of judging Moriarty harshly.
If anything, her curiosity toward the green-eyed girl only deepened.
"In that case," she said gently, turning to Moriarty, "how about we just ask her directly? Hey, what's your name?"
Of course, this makes Welt Yang a bit uneasy, given how unfamiliar the situation is for him.
Unlike Siegfried, who is accustomed to Cecilia's behavior.
[...Moriarty.] (Moriarty)
"So it's Moriarty-chan then? My name is Cecilia, Machi-kun's mother. Nice to meet you!"「Cecilia」
[Yes, nice to meet you. Mother dearest.] (Moriarty)
Cecilia's words flowed gently and amiably as she get closer to them. Her warmth was not lost on Moriarty, and the atmosphere seemed to soften despite the tension. So far her approach went smoothly.
"Who did you call 'mother,' huh!? Mama is not your mom—" Kiana interjected.
"Kiana, not now," Bianca gently reprimanded.
"Sit tight while mom is talking," Sirin added, maintaining a stern tone.
Putting the three sisters aside for the moment, Cecilia continued the conversation with calm patience and quiet understanding. Though a gap still remained between them, she slowly closed the distance, step by step.
"You have such a cute face and an equally cute voice! How old are you, Moriarty-chan? Could it be you're the same age as Machi-kun? Please tell me—we'd love to know more about you," Cecilia said brightly.
[Milli... the same age… you could say that. But maybe I'm a little older.]
"Ah, so you're older. That Machi-kun… always surprising me with his taste for older girl~" With a playful intention Cecilia laughed a bit, directing a puzzled look at El Dust who seemed equally perplexed.
"H-Huhuhu," El Dust mused nervously.
'You're older than me? By how much?'「El Dust」
[ ... Secret.] Moriarty lowered her head, seemingly unwilling to disclose that information at the moment.
"Eh? What did you just say, Moriarty-chan? It was a bit hard to hear. Your voice is so cute so could you say it a bit louder?" Cecilia requested.
[Secret.]
She still didn't want to look on their eyes.
Unexpectedly, Cecilia's gentle approach proved effective.
The figure Welt Yang had initially deemed potentially dangerous was now speaking calmly, showing no signs of hostility. For now, he concluded she wasn't a threat—though not entirely stable either.
As someone who had once confronted the Honkai directly, he could sense a faint but undeniable trace of it within the girl's youthful body. It was unmistakably Honkai… yet there was also something else swirling inside her, something he couldn't quite define.
For the moment, he and Siegfried stepped forward, joining the conversation to focus on the main issue at hand.
"Then let me ask our main concern, you who are known as Moriarty."「Welt Yang」
"Yeah, what is your relationship with my son? Have you two kissed yet? And when will the baby come?" Siegfried confidently threw these words, which were met with wicked smiles from Cecilia, Bianca, Kiana, and Sirin.
"Ahem, not that. Where did you come from? Why are you here? And if you heard just now, what do you know about Honkai? For now, I'm asking you to answer these before I can put my trust in you." Welt Yang clarified.
For a brief moment, Moriarty's gaze shifted to El Dust, her eyes quietly holding the answers to Welt Yang's questions. If he gave his silent approval, she would respond without hesitation.
But if El Dust opposed, she would say nothing, choosing instead to remain by his side.
More importantly, she would need to wait for the right moment to hand him the "Key" of this world—a task she had overlooked earlier, thanks to Kiana's relentless pursuit of them at the time.
And as if he had already pieced together the situation, El Dust's smile slowly widened.
Because from the beginning, El Dust had no intention of returning to the place called home.
Swiftly, he clapped his hands together, and a palpable wave of panic and uncertainty rippled through the air. As the atmosphere around them shifted, it was already too late for anyone to slip away from his trap.
"Wha?! These thing!"「Kiana」
Numerous dimensional rifts tore into existence around them, the cracks multiplying faster than one could count, scattering like ominous constellations across the air. What lay beyond those fractures was a mystery known only to the Persona himself.
From within the gaping seams of reality, The Rope shot forth—swift, precise, and utterly obedient to El Dust's will. In a matter of moments, it coiled around everyone present, binding them with force.
Moriarty alone remained untouched.
"You're gonna be in pain once I get out of this! As if these things could—these things could… crap, what are these even made of?! Lil' Sirin, can't you do something about this? It looks just like your powers!" Siegfried barked, straining against the bindings.
"It… it's not the same," Sirin shot back, her voice tinged with frustration. "And there's no way I could manipulate this many Dimensional Rifts at once! Onii-chan, how could you even do this? Onii-chan! What are you doing?!"
"It'll release on its own. But until that time comes, please don't look for us. The girl and I need some time alone, you know, huhuhu," El Dust declared as he and Moriarty began to depart, the ultimate destination obscured by uncertainty.
Nevertheless, Moriarty The Timeless girl, unhesitatingly followed.
"Khuuh... this is stronger than I thought," Welt Yang expressed his struggle with the bindings.
"Wait, brother—" Bianca's voice cut through the tension, laced with both worry and disbelief. "Is that really the only reason you're doing this? Are you sure that girl isn't influencing your mind?"
Her eyes searched his face, desperate for a crack in his composure.
Hearing that, El Dust just smiled and waved at his blonde little sister before departing and bidding his farewell.
"Siblings' bonds are very peculiar indeed," El Dust remarked.
"...Brother." 「Bianca」
Leaving them all restrained and struggling to break free, El Dust glanced back to see what kind of reactions they were displaying. The persona found amusement in the faces filled with confusion and frustration.
"???"「El Dust」
Except for Cecilia, who, for some unknown reason, seemed to be suffering more than the others, even though El Dust was sure he didn't bind them too tightly.
There was an oddity in Cecilia's behavior when she heard the phrase "Siblings' bonds."
The mother seemed to freeze as a sudden wave of emotions surged within her. It was as if a heavy burden weighed down on her mind and soul, and Cecilia appeared to be grappling with some regret from her past.
Although El Dust wouldn't be aware of this, as he had already left the scene.
"Machi... could it be, you already found out..." Cecilia murmured, her voice carrying a mix of emotions. She fell silent, watching the two of them depart and disappear from her view.
...
....
.....
A few minutes later, the rope bindings slackened on their own, dissolving back into the dimensional rifts from which they had emerged. Sirin, unable to accept being outmatched in terms of spatial manipulation, let out a furious cry and moved to pursue her brother.
Thankfully, her parents quickly restrained her before she could take another step.