"Has it... disappeared?"
Hearing the Shogun suddenly say that, Makoto did not immediately understand who "it" was referring to.
"It?"
She asked.
"The... that program. The one controlling this body. That 'it'... has it disappeared?"
The Shogun lay sideways with her head resting on her mother's lap, her eyes carrying a complicated expression as she asked.
"Mm... yes. We destroyed it."
She deliberately said "we," not "Ei" alone, because the credit belonged to everyone this time. No one had been unnecessary. If even one person had been missing, the plan would not have succeeded. Every single one of them had been indispensable.
"...It was... rather pitiful, actually. Born from Ei's hands, yet... ending up like this."
"...You pity it? Even though it tried to take over your consciousness?"
Makoto looked at her daughter and smiled faintly before asking softly.
"...Mm. Because it was born from my body. But even if I pity it, I would never agree with what it did. If I were the one holding the blade, I would still have made the same choice Ei did."
She answered firmly.
"Mm... why is that?"
Makoto nodded and asked gently.
"Because... it tried to harm the people I cherish. That's all."
Ei, Ayaka, Kokomi... They were all people she treasured. She did not want to see them hurt—especially not because of her. That was her bottom line.
"Mm. I understand, Shogun."
Makoto agreed. Though she admired peace, disliked conflict, and possessed a gentle temperament, she too had her limits. If anyone dared to harm her family, even she would respond coldly. That was precisely why she had stepped forward today.
Buzz~
Judging that enough time had passed, she finally withdrew the fingertips that had been channeling elemental power. Sensing the change, the Shogun subconsciously pushed herself upright and looked at her.
"How do you feel?"
She asked.
"Mm... I'm fine now. My head doesn't hurt anymore."
She touched her forehead. The unbearable pain had vanished, and she finally let out a breath of relief. Looking back on it, it felt as though she had suffered through a serious illness—one that had dragged everyone around her into worry and effort, as though they had all been accompanying her to the doctor. Thinking about it like that made her feel embarrassed. She should apologize to them later. She had always wanted to stop causing them trouble, yet somehow, it was always her who did.
"Right, do you want to see Ei?"
She suddenly remembered and asked quickly.
"Ei? Mm—I can speak with her. But meeting face to face would be difficult. After all, I only have this faint fragment of a soul left."
Makoto shook her head regretfully.
"She can't come here?"
"It's not impossible, but it would be very hard. This is your 'heart.' Only you can enter freely. As for Ei... I will need to study a method later."
"...I see. She has never been able to forget you. Sometimes she mentions you to me. She must really want to see you—she has so much she wants to say."
Thinking back on everything, she felt she had to tell this mother—who was also her mother—about it.
"I know... I also have many things I want to tell her. But now is not the time."
"Mm..."
The Shogun lowered her eyes and nodded silently.
"Haa... It seems it's time for you to leave. Though I'm a little reluctant, someone is waiting for you to return."
Makoto seemed to sense something and smiled at her.
"Will I be able to see you again, Makoto...?"
"Call me Mom~"
The other woman reminded her helplessly once more.
"Mom..."
She corrected herself, her face reddening.
"Of course you can. If you want to see me, just come to your inner world. Mom's door will always be open for you, my baby."
"Mm..."
Whoosh~
In the next instant, Makoto pulled her into an embrace.
"Go back, baby. Leave the rest to Mom."
After speaking, she pressed her soft lips against her daughter's forehead.
Chu~
A light kiss.
"...!"
With that kiss, her consciousness drifted away once more, and her vision fell into darkness.
...
When she opened her eyes again, that distant consciousness became solid and real once more. Unlike the sensation of being with Makoto, this was tangible physical awareness.
Yes, she had awakened.
However, she could still feel something soft beneath the back of her head. That scent... it should be Ei's lap.
Just as she expected, when she lifted her gaze slightly, she saw that familiar figure...
"Ei...?"
She called softly, her voice hoarse from just waking.
"...!"
Ei, who had been meditating with her eyes closed, immediately opened them at the sound of her voice and lowered her head to look at her.
"Shogun! You're awake?"
She spoke quickly.
"!" ×2
Ayaka and Kokomi, who were beside them, snapped out of their thoughts at the sight of her awakening. Both revealed joyful expressions and leaned in close to her from either side.
"Shogun! Are you all right?" ×2
They spoke in perfect unison.
"I... mm... I'm fine..."
Seeing the way the two girls looked at her with such concern, she was stunned at first, then felt warmth well up in her chest. Her nose stung slightly, and her eyes began to redden.
"Hehe... Shogun has turned into a little crybaby, hasn't she?"
Seeing her reddened eyes, Ayaka smiled dotingly and gently wiped away the tears threatening to fall.
"I... I'm not... crying."
She protested haltingly, yet Ayaka continued wiping her tears.
She had thought that once she was gone, everything would return to normal. She never expected that the two of them would care so much, would insist on her coming back. This was the first time she had truly felt such emotions directed toward her. It made her want to sink into them.
"Not crying. It's just... saline, right?"
Kokomi indulged her gently as well, helping Ayaka wipe her tears.
"...Hehe."
Ei could not help but smile in relief at the harmonious scene between the three of them.
"By the way... your injuries... I caused them, didn't I? I'm sorry... I hurt you. I'm really sorry."
Looking at the disheveled state of the two girls before her, her heart ached. Worse still, she had been the one responsible. She had once cherished them so carefully, and now they had been wounded by her own hands. The guilt pressed heavily against her chest.
Indeed, just as she said, Kokomi's face, upper body, and even her stockings were stained with filthy brown dust. The white and lavender tones she usually wore were now sullied. There was blood at the corner of her mouth, exhaustion beneath her eyes. Her body had never been strong to begin with, and now it was even worse.
As for Ayaka, she looked even more severe. Not a single part of her clothing was intact. Her outfit was scorched black in places, her skirt and stockings bearing clear burn damage. Her neatly tied silver-white high ponytail had come undone and now fell loose to her waist.
"Us? We're fine... I... um... I fell down. My lips hit the ground by accident, and I rolled a few times, so my mouth started bleeding. I did it to myself."
Kokomi immediately sensed her guilt and hurriedly made up a rather ridiculous excuse, even shooting Ayaka a meaningful glance.
"Yes, Miss Sangonomiya is right. I saw her fall, and... after she bumped into me, I fell too. See? Even my hair came undone. Hehe."
Ayaka had no better explanation and simply borrowed Kokomi's excuse.
"...I'm sorry, both of you. It's my fault. Please don't comfort me like that. I saw everything. At first I thought it was a nightmare. In that dream, I was choking Ayaka... trying to kill you. I was shouting 'No,' but... it was useless."
Recalling that terrifying dream, she pressed her lips together.
"..." ×2
The two girls fell silent. They exchanged a glance before simultaneously lifting their hands to cup her cheeks.
"Shogun, that wasn't you, okay?"
Ayaka said.
"Mm... You didn't hurt us at all. Not even a little."
Kokomi continued.
"When I saw you crying for us back then, we were very happy, Shogun."
The two of them smiled at her.
"Will you... hate me because of this? Be afraid that I'll lose control again..."
She looked up at them cautiously.
"Hehe... Shogun~ what are you saying? How could we ever hate you?"
Ayaka smiled, her expression filled with affection.
"That's right. We dote on you as it is... how could we hate you?"
Kokomi added.
They both knew—both could see—that the Shogun before them now was the real one hidden deep inside her heart. Her true personality was cute, gentle, and afraid of losing them, which made her a little timid. This was her genuine self.
"And you won't lose control again, Shogun."
Ei, who had been watching the warm scene before her, finally spoke, offering reassurance to the daughter resting on her lap. She was not surprised by the Shogun's current demeanor. Around her, the Shogun had always been this adorable.
"...Mm."
Hearing that, the Shogun revealed a rare, relieved smile. She tried to lift her hand, but her body was still weak. It was only a small motion, not a full lift.
But how could such a small action escape the notice of the two girls before her? They smiled knowingly, then each took one of her hands—Kokomi her right, Ayaka her left—lifting them gently and placing them upon their own laps as they held and rubbed them tenderly.
"Welcome back, Shogun!" ×2
The two of them spoke in perfect unison.
"Mm, Shogun. Welcome home."
Ei also spoke at that moment, gently addressing her precious daughter resting on her lap.
"You all... I'm back."
She held back the tears threatening to fall again, tightening her grip around the hands of the two girls. Then she lifted her gaze to the mother giving her a lap pillow and revealed a truly heartfelt smile.
"Hehe..." ×3
Including Ei, all three of them laughed softly upon seeing that smile.
For Ei, this hard-earned moment was truly a relief. This calamity... they had finally endured it. It was thanks to everyone's efforts—herself, these children, and... Makoto.
Buzz~
Just as the thought of her sister surfaced in her mind, the other presence appeared.
Not exactly her figure—but that familiar radiance, that aura.
The pale violet orb of light manifested once more before everyone, floating in midair.
"Haa~ It seems everything is finally over."
Makoto's gentle voice echoed from within the sphere. It was similar to Ei's, yet compared to Ei's steady tone, it carried a lighter, more spirited lilt.
"?" ×2
Ayaka and Kokomi, still holding the Shogun's hands, instinctively turned their heads at the familiar yet slightly unfamiliar voice, confusion flickering across their faces.
"Makoto...!"
Ei's reaction was far more intense than theirs, though with the Shogun still resting on her lap, she did not rise.
"Mm. Hello, Ei... and the children present here."
Makoto greeted them.
"Makoto? Could it be Lady Ei's—"
Ayaka reacted swiftly upon hearing the name.
"...?"
Kokomi still looked puzzled, awkwardly observing the scene in silence.
"That's right. I am Raiden Makoto—Ei's elder sister, the Shogun's mother, and the former Electro Archon who failed to fulfill her duties and left you all with countless troubles."
Makoto answered Ayaka.
"The Shogun's..."
Mother?
Kokomi stared blankly for a moment. It was her first time hearing that the Shogun had a second mother. Then again... perhaps it was not so surprising. After all, a child must have parents. The Shogun was simply... special. She had two mothers in place of father and mother. Or perhaps Lady Ei had taken on the role of a father? Or... could she be both father and mother?
While she was lost in thought, she suddenly felt a warm touch against the back of her hand.
"...?"
Snapping back to reality, she looked at the violet-haired beauty who was gently stroking her hand. The Shogun still looked weak, and that fragile, sickly aura combined with her beauty was almost too captivating.
"...What are you thinking about? Spacing out?"
Noticing her distraction, the Shogun asked softly from Ei's lap. That gentle concern once again filled Kokomi's heart, drawing her deeper in.
"Nothing at all... I was just thinking about when you'll recover completely and return to being the Shogun we know."
With tender affection, Kokomi guided the Shogun's fingertips to her own lips, rubbing them lightly before placing a soft kiss upon them. Then she gently stroked the Shogun's forehead.
"...///"
As expected, the Shogun's face flushed instantly at the gesture. She looked unbearably adorable.
Meanwhile, Makoto and Ei continued their conversation.
"I'm happy, Ei. I knew that if it were you, you would reach this point. Thanks to you—and these children—our Shogun... our child has been saved."
Makoto said.
"Haa... This is only what I should do as her mother. There's no need for such courtesy."
Ei spoke with mild reproach, her tone carrying a rare softness reserved for her elder sister.
"Hehe... I suppose that's true."
Makoto laughed gently.
"Makoto... why are you here? Weren't you already..."
Ei asked the question she cared about most. Had she not died? Had she been hiding here all along?
"It's like this. I left behind a faint fragment of my will within the Shogun's 'heart.' I can sense everything that happens to her outside. At that time, the situation was critical. The authority of that law was extremely high. If I had not intervened, it might have worsened—or even permanently damaged her functions. So... I had no choice but to appear."
Makoto explained.
"You... never told me any of this. I thought you had... already left me. You have no idea how I endured these years..."
As Ei spoke, grievance seeped into her voice. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.
"Ei... don't cry..."
The Shogun reached up to touch her mother's face.
"I'm fine, Shogun..."
Ei patted her daughter's hand and immediately pulled herself together from her aggrieved expression toward Makoto. She smiled at her child despite her reddened eyes, unwilling to let her see such weakness. That maternal instinct had long since become second nature to her.
"I'm sorry, Ei. Everything happened too suddenly. After my physical body perished, my consciousness was extremely weak—so weak that if I had not stabilized my soul through meditation, I would have completely disappeared. So at that time, I had to recuperate within the Shogun's 'heart.' Who would have thought that recovery would last several hundred years?"
"During those centuries, I could sense the outside world, but I lacked the strength to act. Now... at last, there has been some progress. At least I can speak with you peacefully like this. But I must still apologize—for making you wait so long. You must have walked a very difficult path. You must have cried many times."
Makoto's voice trembled faintly.
"...Don't underestimate me."
Ei quickly wiped away the tear about to fall and spoke with a hint of adorable stubbornness.
"See? You really did cry before. You're about to cry again right now."
Makoto teased her gently.
"..." ×2
Ayaka and Kokomi smiled knowingly. The Shogun did as well.
"I didn't cry. But... you left me, and I could do nothing about it. I understand you. Haa... fine. I forgive you."
"Really? Thank you for forgiving me, my good little sister."
Makoto teased in return.
"...///"
Ei flushed and turned her gaze away.
"Still, seeing my little sister grow into someone so reliable now makes me very happy, you know?"
Makoto continued teasing. Ei truly had changed. Ever since they had their child, that once stubborn, rigid younger sister had become a devoted mother.
"Stop making fun of me."
Ei frowned at her elder sister.
"Hehe... Back then, you were so convinced you were right that nothing I said could reach you. I thought I would simply wait for you to change your heart. But you know how fate toys with us. Before that change came, that incident happened—and it only deepened your extreme interpretation of 'Eternity.'"
"I've always felt guilty, suddenly entrusting Inazuma to you like that. Those principles should have been taught to you gradually, so you wouldn't cling so rigidly to 'unchanging stillness.'"
"But now you've changed. Even without my help, you changed. You've let go of that stubbornness and begun to look toward hope and light ahead. You've started to pay attention to the wishes of the people. Ei... that makes me incredibly proud."
Makoto's tone carried both delighted longing and wistful reminiscence.
"...My change was thanks to everyone. Not one of them was unnecessary."
Ei looked at her daughter and the two girls beside her and smiled.
"Mm... You're right. Before the events of Khaenri'ah, I was worried you might walk that dark path all the way to the end. Time was already running out. I never expected the outcome would allow me to breathe a sigh of relief."
"Time was running out... Did you sense what would happen in Khaenri'ah from the beginning?"
Ei asked sharply.
"Mm... somewhat. For any of the Seven, 'that side' is an existence that cannot be ignored."
Makoto spoke cryptically.
"...That side? Celestia?"
The Shogun asked curiously from Ei's lap.
"Partly. But it also includes Khaenri'ah and... the Abyss..."
Makoto answered.
"However, the most difficult period should already be over. And now... mm—today, to make up for what was lost in the past, I have prepared a gift for you. Something to ease Inazuma's suffering, to soothe the grief you bore after my departure... and to compensate our child."
Her tone turned slightly playful, though still warm.
"...What gift?"
The Shogun's interest was instantly piqued, anticipation slipping into her voice. No matter how composed she usually was, in moments like this she was still a child.
"Pfft~" ×2
Both mothers laughed softly at their daughter's reaction. Ayaka and Kokomi also smiled dotingly, gently stroking the Shogun's hands. The atmosphere was incredibly warm.
"Don't rush, baby. Before that, Mom needs to take a look at these two little girlfriends of yours."
With those words, the violet orb representing Makoto slowly drifted toward Ayaka and Kokomi.