"Hah."
Shiraha patted his cheeks and waited patiently at the school gate.
A few minutes later, Elysia reappeared in his field of view. Her mood couldn't be called high-spirited. Her long hair swayed only faintly; her movements were very subdued.
After all, even as the Herrscher of Corruption, Rin couldn't perceive her either.
But then again, that child Rin, now grown, looked so much like Sakura. One could even say they were cast from the same mold. And she was dressed in a full shrine maiden's outfit... something she'd never even seen Sakura wear before.
Perhaps, for Rin, wearing this outfit could be considered... adapting to local customs?
"It looks safe enough."
Shiraha's expression also relaxed considerably. One glance at Nee-chan's face, and he knew what followed would probably be far easier.
"Rin's appearance might not match the impression you have of her."
Elysia raised a single finger and offered a warm reminder. "Shiraha, you'd best prepare yourself mentally, to face what looks exactly like Sakura."
Shiraha tilted his head, looking thoughtful.
"Rin's all grown up. She looks practically identical to Sakura now."
Elysia emphasized once more.
The corner of Shiraha's mouth curved upward. So she's already using Yae Sakura's body. Then she'll be very easy to mess with.
Ahem. Shiraha spoke softly. "Nee-chan, do you think the Herrscher of Corruption can tell, from someone's emotions, whether they're lying?"
Elysia blinked. "I'm not sure. But she probably can't. In the past, Dr. Mobius secretly studied Rin."
"During that period, Mobius's mental state was also somewhat on the verge of collapse, so she researched Herrschers very deeply."
"The Herrscher of Corruption can influence others' emotions. And she can also do whatever she wants with digital networks."
She extended her fingers, indicating a tiny range. "But influencing emotions isn't the same as mind-reading. There's still a small gap between the two."
Though being able to read emotions was already pretty abnormal in its own right, emotions could be faked. But if you couldn't read minds, you simply couldn't read minds.
And Shiraha, sigh, Shiraha sigh, you little liar.
Then that's enough!
Shiraha extended his hand. Elysia hesitated for a split second.
Smack! An incredibly loud high-five!
Though outsiders couldn't hear the sound. Strange as it was, everything about Nee-chan, Nee-chan's entire world, it seemed only Shiraha could hear.
But... not bad.
He sprinted toward the noodle shop. The surroundings were completely deserted. Everyone on the street seemed to have deliberately avoided this place.
Rin, you idiot.
Shiraha rushed in, flustered, looking as if he hadn't noticed a thing.
"Kiana! How many times have I told you, don't just trust random women on the street!"
The atmosphere inside the noodle shop was strange.
Kiana stood in the corner, the small tanto hidden behind her back. Her head was heavy and muddled, as if locked in some fierce internal debate, yet her emotions weren't entirely her own to command.
Earn big money. Shiraha. Friend. Good friend. Thanksgiving...
Rin simply smiled. One hand propped up her chin; the other idly stirred the soup with her chopsticks. On the side, she was dealing with Yae Sakura's consciousness.
Shiraha lifted his head and looked at that shrine maiden. He froze, dumbstruck. "Sakura-nee?"
No thought behind it whatsoever. Entirely a preset from before he'd entered.
Rin paused. Who?
Shiraha said nothing. He raised the pendant on his own and aimed it at the woman before him. The corner of his mouth ultimately couldn't help but twitch upward. But a little joy was harmless in itself.
He murmured softly, "So alike..."
"Shiraha."
Kiana called out quietly.
Shiraha gave a soft "Mm."
"I'm here. But as for you trusting random strangers on the street, I'll be telling Siegfried when we get home."
Kiana froze. The name Siegfried jolted her into brief clarity. Then her shoulder was pressed down.
Without any visible movement, Rin pushed Kiana aside and conveniently, temporarily, canceled her Authority.
"This 'Sakura' you speak of... who is she?"
Rin asked softly.
She wasn't an idiot. She'd emerged once before, five hundred years ago, and knew what this civilization was like.
A single photograph could not possibly survive fifty thousand years. Unless that worthless organization, the Fire Moth, had preserved it.
And the Fire Moth had a place. It was called the Elysian Realm. Sister was still there.
When the time came, she would completely transform that place.
"A senpai of mine." Shiraha retreated two steps, not getting too close to the shrine maiden before him.
Then he pulled out the pendant and showed it to Rin. "You and Sakura-nee look practically identical. No wonder Kiana believed you after all, Sakura-nee herself is very gentle... to family."
The photo was somewhat blurry and yellowed. Truthfully, if it weren't connected to Sakura, something like this would've long since vanished with the passage of time.
But the world of Honkai possessed the high technology to preserve objects. At the very least, the Elysian Realm, after integrating Aponia, had this capability.
Back to the photo. The background faintly revealed an amusement park. Sakura, in a brown dress, wore a straw hat. In her hand, she held that of a clearly still-youthful young girl.
Rin was silent for a moment. Just then, Kiana walked over again. Rin casually pushed Kiana aside once more.
"What's your relationship with her?"
"Student, I suppose?" Shiraha hesitated for a moment. "You also know Sakura-nee."
Rin nodded. Instinctively, she wanted to reach out and take hold of that pendant, but Shiraha retreated several more steps.
Shiraha kept a safe distance from her at all times.
"And you are?" Shiraha lifted his head, guessing. "Rin? I often hear Sakura-nee mention your name."
Rin was silent for a moment, then nodded. For now, she refrained from using her Authority to influence this little brat.
Shiraha offered heartfelt praise. "You and Sakura-nee really do look so alike. Just as beautiful."
This was from the heart. The weeping, whimpering look was simply lovely. Every alternate-world counterpart, no matter which world, was equally lovely.
Rin suddenly grew wary. But then she considered Shiraha's age. Forget it. He probably really is Sister's new! little! brother!
Fine. Still a little displeased. I'm eating a substitute meal and so is Sister.
"What does Sister usually say about me?"
Shiraha searched his memory for a moment. "Mostly praise. Lots of small things from daily life. Occasionally she complains about you not sleeping at night, secretly reading novels and magazines."
Shiraha asked again, his emotions unavoidably tense. "Why aren't you in the Elysian Realm?"
Rin shot back, "Don't you already know?"
Shiraha grew even more tense, but his expression remained unchanged. Gamble once. If it doesn't work, go find Theres—
"Sakura-nee doesn't know. But she has some guesses."
Rin was silent for a moment, then laughed despite herself. "You guessed right. I'm a Herrscher. Humanity's enemy."
The brief reunion ended. Rin's expression returned to its icy coldness. Though this was Yae Sakura's body, it looked even colder this way.
"Brat. On behalf of humanity, declare wa—"
But why did this brat's emotions carry a trace of relief?
"You scared me. I thought you'd killed Sakura-nee."
Shiraha was indeed relieved. He extended his hand.
Rin: ....
"Aren't you afraid of me?"
"Aren't you Sakura-nee's little sister?"
Fine. Simple, direct logic.
Rin fell silent again. During this stretch, Yae Sakura was also very quiet. It was the first time she'd ever heard this demon fox's past.
"Haven't the adults in your house told you about the dangers of Herrschers?"
Shiraha's expression turned somewhat subtle for a moment, a subtlety he couldn't fully suppress.
His little face tightened. "The First Herrscher is my Senpai. The Second Herrscher is Kiana, the kid next to you. Why would I be afraid of Herrschers?"
Shiraha asked once more. "Aren't you Sakura-nee's little sister?"
Rin was speechless. She really hadn't noticed the issue with Kiana. After all, outside her specific advantage, Rin was genuinely useless.
"Are you Sakura-nee's little sister?"
Shiraha asked once again.
Rin was silent for a moment. "Yes."
Shiraha smiled again and extended his hand. "I'm Shiraha. Sakura-nee's student. Also her new little brother."
The words escaped Rin's mouth before she could stop them. "There is no new little brother!"
Shiraha's hand still hung in midair, his smile unchanged.
Rin stared at that hand for two seconds.
Then she reached out and forcefully swatted it away.