Kiana's gaze drifted, her expression visibly unnatural. To say something like that as if it were perfectly reasonable still required thicker skin than she currently possessed.
Her skin simply wasn't thick enough yet.
Especially not in front of a friend.
If it were someone she didn't know well, it wouldn't matter. But she and Robin had known each other for a long time, and they had a good relationship.
That was precisely why it felt awkward.
Because she cared about Robin as a person, she cared about her thoughts and opinions.
"Th-three?!" The shock on Robin's face deepened. Unable to restrain her emotions, she pressed on, "The last one... is it Miss Sirin?"
At this moment, the only person remaining in Robin's mind was Sirin—the one who had accompanied Kiana to Penacony last time.
Among the people they both knew.
In her eyes, Sirin was the most likely candidate. She couldn't think of anyone else close to Kiana.
So she could only guess Sirin.
"Sirin?" Kiana froze for a second, her expression growing even more embarrassed. "No, not her. Sirin might say she wants our relationship to 'change in nature,' but in truth, her feelings for me are still within the bounds of friendship."
She wanted it to change, but it hadn't fully changed.
Raiden Mei stood like an insurmountable mountain blocking Sirin's path. When they were in Izumo, Kiana hadn't hidden anything from Sirin—she had openly confessed her feelings for Mei.
To be honest,
Even if she gave Sirin the chance, Sirin wouldn't be able to take that final step.
Kiana was her friend.
And Mei was too.
"So it's not her."
If it wasn't Sirin, whom Kiana had known for so long, then it must be someone Kiana met after they separated.
Robin had gone to Izumo with Kiana.
From what Kiana had told her and from the stories she'd heard, she didn't know every detail of Kiana's past—but she wasn't ignorant either.
So she could make that deduction.
Three people. And one of them was someone who came later.
Robin's reaction to the news was undoubtedly shock. But after the lightning-strike shock faded, another thought emerged.
If they can, why can't I?
Three was a very peculiar number.
Robin couldn't help thinking—someone who arrived even later than her had the right to step onto the stage. Then why couldn't she?
Why couldn't she join this feast?
From the very beginning, Robin had never harbored the desire to possess Kiana exclusively. She had personally witnessed Kiana's feelings for Mei. She couldn't bring herself to steal someone else's love.
The best future she had imagined in her heart
Was to join.
But inserting a third person into a relationship of two was difficult. Robin had prepared herself for failure. Until she had confidence, she would not reveal even the slightest hint.
If Kiana didn't know,
Then even if her attempt failed, she could at least remain by Kiana's side as a friend.
But joining a relationship of four...
The difficulty would drop sharply.
Deep in her heart, a faint trace of joy even surfaced. Joining a relationship among many was clearly easier than the former.
No—don't relax.
This was all just her speculation.
Suppressing that flicker of delight at seeing the road ahead suddenly widen, Robin reminded herself that when opportunity increased, she should become even more cautious.
"It's Herta," Kiana said, noticing her curiosity. "Herta from the Herta Space Station. You've probably heard of her."
"Ms. Herta?"
Robin stared at Kiana in astonishment. She had considered many possibilities, but she hadn't expected another genius.
And not just any genius.
Ms. Herta.
Why would she...?
The question had barely begun forming in her mind before she found her answer. Ruan Mei came first. Then there was herself—fully aware that Kiana already had a lover, yet still falling in love, trying every possible way to forget and failing.
Herta liking Kiana...
It wasn't entirely impossible.
If the probability wasn't zero, then it could happen.
"Did it happen while you were working on a project together?"
Kiana, who had been speaking honestly until now, grew slightly vague. "Something like that."
Their relationship had indeed warmed because of that matter. Although the way it warmed had been a little...
"Kiana really does have incredible charm," Robin praised.
Kiana felt embarrassed. She wanted to say it was coincidence. The only person she had ever seriously thought about pursuing was Mei.
And because the world was about to end back then, she hadn't even managed to win Mei over before they were separated for so long.
Thinking about it, coincidence played a large role.
"Araya is a Stigmata Terminal born from my genes. She holds all known stigmata."
Born from Kiana's genes?
Was that why she called her Mother?
Robin's gaze toward Araya softened. If what Kiana said was true, then Araya really could be considered Kiana's "child."
Calling her Mother made sense.
That was far better than the guesses she had previously imagined.
"Araya, don't stay silent all the time. Say a few words."
Being called out, Araya had no choice but to think of something to say. What should she say at a time like this?
Mother's friend seemed to have accepted her.
It seemed she didn't need to deliberately say anything to earn approval. So what should she say? What should she do?
"Shouldn't we be entering the dream soon?"
Recalling what Kiana had mentioned earlier, Araya extracted the key point and reminded them of their original purpose.
"She's right. Didn't you want to take her to experience the dream world?" Robin had no objections. Or rather, going into the dream might be even better.
Kiana nodded. "Then could you help check whether she can enter the dream in her current state?"
Araya had said there would be no issue.
But professional matters should be confirmed by professionals. Robin had grown up here and was a member of the Family.
She should be very familiar with dreams.
"Leave it to me." Robin released Kiana's hand and stepped in front of Araya. Looking into her eyes, she said, "Please relax. Don't be nervous."
She raised her hand. The Path power flowing through her was an extension of her consciousness. Streams of light, almost alive, circled Araya twice.
"No problem."
After a preliminary check, she sensed nothing abnormal from Araya. She was a complete lifeform.
"She's a bit special, but she can enter dreams."
"Oh, right. Should I help her complete the check-in procedures and open a hotel room for her?"
"No need to go through that trouble. The Charmony Festival isn't far off. Hotel rooms are probably tight. Besides, unless I force her, Araya won't stay by my side all the time."
At that, Kiana glanced at Araya somewhat helplessly.
"If Mother requires it..."
"I hope you'll go out more and experience this world, but I'm not going to forcibly keep you by my side."
...
They regrouped inside the dream.
Immersed in it, Araya looked around with curiosity. The Memoria that saturated this place—the world constructed entirely from beautiful dreams—felt novel to her.
It was somewhat similar to a Stigmata World.
That was her thought as she waited alongside Kiana for Robin, who entered the dream shortly after them.
"If you don't like being watched, you could try some kind of disguise," Robin suggested after exchanging a few simple words with Kiana.
Araya did not want attention.
Attention meant trouble.
From what had happened in several reincarnations, she knew that even if you didn't look for trouble, trouble might still come looking for you.
Being noticed would greatly increase the probability of that happening.
She accepted Robin's goodwill.
After thinking carefully, she turned her gaze to Kiana. Her halo and wings vanished, and her appearance shifted.
She transformed into Kiana.
Robin was slightly surprised. "I thought you'd need my help with a disguise. I didn't expect you could influence the dream itself."
"It's not difficult," Araya replied.
"You should say thank you," Kiana said, feeling a bit uncomfortable seeing Araya turn into her, though she didn't comment further.
Araya paused, then looked at Robin seriously. "Thank you."
"No need. It's what I should do," Robin replied with a smile.
Araya had clearly caught that fleeting trace of discomfort on Kiana's face.
If she looked exactly the same, it might attract even more attention—and make Mother feel uneasy.
Better to change it again.
The moment she decided, she acted. Her figure began to shrink. Under Kiana's astonished gaze, she became only about 120 centimeters tall, looking no more than six or seven years old.
She retained every detail of the form she had copied from Kiana.
The result was a miniature version of Kiana.
"Is this better, Mother?"
A child identical to herself, tilting her head up and calling her Mother—Kiana's breathing stopped for a split second.
It felt like even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn't wash this clean.
And she kept calling her Mother.
If anyone else heard it, they would definitely think Araya was her biological daughter. With that appearance, even if she said she wasn't, no one would believe her.
But come to think of it,
A vessel cloned from her genes.
Calling her biological didn't sound entirely wrong, did it?
Wait, did I actually become a mom?!
Kiana stiffly looked away, feeling awkward. "If you like it, that's fine."
It seemed Mother could accept it.
Araya nodded inwardly and reached out to hold Kiana's hand. That made it look even more convincing.
"You look more like sisters," Robin's voice chimed in at just the right moment, easing Kiana's flustered state.
Araya had always called her Mother, and Kiana knew she had only recently been born. But since Araya originally looked about her own age, Kiana had only felt a faint, subtle sense of suddenly becoming a mom.
Now that Araya had turned into a child and was still calling her Mother, that faint subtlety was magnified infinitely.
She didn't even know how to describe it.
"...You're right," Kiana said, looking at Araya. "How about calling me Sister instead?"
Araya tilted her head slightly. "But Mother is Mother. Why would I call you Sister?"
Because I'm not mentally prepared to be a mom yet!
"Forget it. Call me whatever you like."
Kiana pressed her hand to her forehead and sighed, no longer insisting on changing the form of address.
Although the feeling was complicated,
It wasn't entirely embarrassment and awkwardness.
She looked toward Robin, who was smiling. Robin had witnessed all of her interactions with Araya.
"It feels kind of strange, doesn't it?" Robin asked.
"A little," Kiana admitted, glancing at Araya. "Becoming a mom painlessly... no matter how I think about it, it feels pretty strange."
"But you're actually enjoying it a little, aren't you?"
Am I?
Kiana guiltily looked away and suddenly asked, "Is someone still watching us from the shadows?"
The smile on Robin's face faded slightly. She nodded. "That feeling hasn't disappeared."
Someone observing them secretly?
Araya's expressionless little face turned toward a certain direction. She pointed. "Mother, are you talking about that person over there?"
Kiana and Robin both looked.
In the corner by the wall stood a very ordinary-looking man, with no particularly memorable features.
He stood straight, not like a casual dreamer. He was clearly different from the surrounding Dreamchasers.
"It's him," Robin confirmed. "He's probably in charge of this area. We just arrived, so he locked onto us."
That out-of-place bearing distinguished him from the Dreamchasers. He was likely a member of the Family.
Just not sure which branch.
"Should we go ask him?"
"He probably doesn't know much. Someone assigned to keep watch like that usually only carries out orders from a superior," Robin said helplessly. "If we approach him rashly, we might alert whoever's behind him and make them more wary of us."
"Do you want to look at his memories? I can try," Araya suddenly offered.
His memories?
Robin looked at Araya in surprise, then at Kiana. "That sounds like an ability related to Remembrance. Does Araya wield something similar?"
"Something like that," Kiana affirmed. "The power of stigmata does resemble the power of Remembrance in some ways. So in a dream, she can do things similar to it."
In truth, she could do much more.
Araya blinked but didn't voice that thought. Instead, she asked again, "Should I?"
Kiana turned to Robin. She couldn't make that decision alone and waited for her opinion.
"How would you read his memories?"
"Just get a little closer," Araya answered honestly. "I can do it from here, but if we move nearer, copying will be faster."
Kiana pointed toward a nearby cart. "There's an ice cream stand over there. Let's wait there."
Araya calculated internally.
"Three minutes."
Robin looked at Araya in amazement, though a trace of unease lingered in her heart. "That's an incredible ability."
To copy someone's memories without them knowing. To steal their thoughts from a distance without even touching them.
Robin couldn't help but be wary.
There were thoughts buried deep in her heart that Kiana absolutely must not know yet.
Araya, however, sensed her caution.
Knowing Mother and Robin were close, Araya offered an explanation. "I won't look at others' memories casually. So you don't need to worry."
She wasn't interested in Robin's memories.
Nor was she interested in that man's.
To be precise, she wasn't interested in anyone else's memories at all. She merely possessed the ability—and happened to have use for it now.