── [You should look in a mirror sometime too]
When Kushina told me that, I hadn’t understood what she meant.
Only when I realized I was truly part of this world did it make sense.
No matter how many times others tell you, you can’t truly understand without feeling it yourself.
In the end, the only one who can really change you is yourself.
But the words we receive from others still have meaning.
After all, it was Kushina’s words that gave me a real clue.
Which means what I need to do is become for Rui
what Kushina was for me – someone she can rely on.
“──Me? The enemy who hated by Rui…?”
This goes way beyond just becoming friends.
Facing this seemingly impossible wall, I nearly clutched my head in frustration.
◇◇◇◇◇
As the concert reached its finale,
“Onii san, why do you look so serious?”
Hinata-chan tilted her head as she returned.
Ah, wait, don’t come closer in that sister outfit or I’ll be purified!?
“──No, I was just lost in thought.”
“Why…why do you suddenly look so solemn……?”
Hinata-chan took a small step back. Happy but sad.
Putting aside truth and pretense.
“Well, it’s about Rui…”
Just as I started to speak,
“Heeey~ Did everyone enjoy the show~?”
A voice echoed through the room.
The children all nodded in unison.
…Well, Hinata-chan did say earlier that we’d talk about Rui after the tour.
With so many people around, it’s probably not the right place to force the conversation…
The tour guide smiled warmly, satisfied with the children’s response.
“Mhm, good! But unfortunately, today’s tour ends here~”
This time, disappointed murmurs rose from the group—some even sounded reluctant to leave.
She chuckled wryly, seeming a little pleased by their reactions.
“Now, everyone, we’ll head back to the [Star Tower] where we started~”
Following the guide’s lead, the group exited the chapel and stepped into the [Sky Corridor].
Children’s moods shift quickly—their earlier disappointment soon faded as they chatted excitedly with their neighbors about the day’s events.
It almost felt like leaving an amusement park.
Someday, this tour would likely be officially featured in a documentary or something similar.
If that happened, viewers would undoubtedly think, “The tour was a huge success!”
Heh, this’ll probably boost [Prim-Libra, the White Scales of Cyclic Protection ]’s reputation even more.
But just as I started feeling smug about it—I snapped back to reality.
—Wait. Why did I even come here again?
The smiling face of the [Shinazu Dori] flashed in my mind.
…Oh. The flag?!
Right! I came here as a member of [Nega Messiah, the Covenant of Salvation] to find that flag!
Crap, what do I do?!
I completely forgot!
This isn’t the time to be celebrating the tour’s success!!
“Ah, right, Niisama.”
“…………”
She only asked me to look for it, so even if I don’t find it, there won’t be any severe punishment… right?
“Hm? Niisama?”
“…………”
…Unless the blame falls on Kushina, my superior?!
That absolutely cannot happen!!
What do I do?! If I offer up my own head, maybe I can just barely—
“—Hey, NIISAMA!”
“Wah! What’s wrong all of a sudden?!”
Startled, I looked down to see Tsukumo pouting up at me.
“It wasn’t sudden. I called you multiple times.”
“S-sorry, I didn’t notice… Really, my bad, but can you wait a sec? I just remembered something terribly important.”
As I apologized, Tsukumo tilted her head in confusion.
“Hm? Is that so? Well, I found the flag earlier, so I thought I’d tell you.”
“The flag…? The flag can wait! There’s something way more—*—THE FLAG?!?!”
“Eek! W-what’s wrong, Niisama?! So sudden…!”
Her neatly tied black hair bounced as she flinched.
“Ah, no, sorry for startling you… I was just shocked too…”
After hurriedly apologizing, I leaned closer to her small frame and whispered:
“That flag… you mean *that* flag?”
“I don’t know which flag you’re referring to, but it’s the one [Shinazu Dori]—*er, *Big Sister* mentioned.”
Big Sister…? Nice save,
but that makes me the little brother, doesn’t it?
Absolutely not. I’d be worked to death…
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That Big Sister—[Shinazu Dori]—had only asked me to “see if you can find the flag.”
So if Tsukumo found it, then technically, the mission was (thanks to her) perfectly accomplished.
In other words… I’d never be able to hold my head high around my little sister again.
“Thank you… Little Sister!!”
“Hoh?”
As I bowed deeply in reverence, Tsukumo blinked in surprise—then broke into a smug grin.
“Mhm, mhm! Praise me more!”
“Genius! Goddess! Adorable!”
Our cheerful banter drew two sharp glares.
Looking over, I saw Hinata and Rui standing at the chapel entrance, guiding the children into the [Sky Corridor].
—Wait, Hinata?
I did a double take—but Hinata was just smiling at us as usual. Ah, just my angelic oshi.
Must’ve been my imagination.
I never misread situations like this…
Rui’ murderous aura must be twice as sharp as a normal person’s.
If I didn’t hurry, my already rock-bottom approval rating with her would plunge into the negative stratosphere.
…………Might already be too late.
Hoping it wasn’t, I rushed through the door—
—only to find the children pressed against the windows, staring outside in awe.
I didn’t need to ask why.
“——……”
Beyond the glass lay the cityscape—bathed in twilight.
The setting sun painted the skyscrapers in shades of orange.
At the center, five grand avenues stretched from the station like unfolding petals—the orderly sprawl of Sakuramura spread beneath us.
Excia, the Winged Guardian, gets to see this every day…
For a moment, I felt a pang of envy at the breathtaking view.
I turned to share the moment with Tsukumo—
“…Hm?”
The children stood speechless, gazing at the city, while the angels watched them fondly.
But beyond them, past the window—
I caught a glimpse of another [Sky Corridor].
There, Vice-Branch Chief Isana led a group of patrons.
Makes sense they wouldn’t mix the kids with adults.
Just like when we entered the chapel.
The problem?
The angels and patrons over there were moving frantically.
Isana, who should’ve been directing them, wore a grim expression.
I couldn’t see who she was looking at, but—
“Is she… arguing with someone?”
◇◇◇◇◇
“—What is the meaning of this?”
Isana’s sharp glare bore into the woman before her.
Unfazed, the woman—Roselia—merely smirked.
“I’ve been apologizing this whole time, haven’t I? This was a failure on my part to supervise properly.”
Surrounded by multiple Winged Guardians—Excia—Roselia remained arrogantly composed.
Arms crossed, she stood defiantly—alone.
Her personal guard, the one escort permitted per guest, was nowhere to be seen.
—When did they slip away?
Isana’s lips pressed into a thin line as she recalled their earlier exchange in the chapel.
That must’ve been the only moment.
Roselia had distracted her while the guard vanished.
…I was too focused on Bloodrose.
She’d lost the battle of wits, but there was no time to dwell on it.
“My apologies, Lady Bloodrose. We’ll need to detain you temporarily.”
“If you must.”
Roselia shrugged and extended her wrists—but her lips curled in mocking amusement.
A bad feeling prickled at Isana’s spine—
—just as an emergency transmission buzzed in her ear.
[This is Communications! Vice-Chief! The main power’s gone out—across the entire branch!]
Isana’s amber eyes widened.
◇◇◇◇◇
I first met her while wandering a dim back alley, as usual.
The woman who suddenly blocked my path carried herself with regal poise—utterly out of place in the grimy surroundings.
“This country—Japan—has fireworks, yes? I quite like them. The scent of gunpowder is delightful.”
Her wavy gold-and-crimson hair and lavish attire screamed nobility.
Amethyst eyes locked onto me, piercing as if she could see right through me.
—Disgusting.
My first emotion was envy.
A woman who shone like a gem—my polar opposite.
Yet… something about her felt familiar.
“—Ah!”
It took me a moment to place her—I never expected to see her here.
“…Roselia Bloodrose.”
“You dropped my middle name, but no matter. I came to extend an invitation today.”
“An… invitation?”
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