It seemed the only option left was to seek out that young man named Kaito...
But he clearly wouldn't say anything either...
Sitting with that thought, Ei felt a quiet, helpless frustration settle over Her. Though She was the God of Thunder, against these particular people, She truly had no recourse.
"I don't know what the Sustainer would do in your nation," Kiana said, "but I know what I won't do — and that's anything at all. I'm simply here accompanying Kaito."
Seeing the Raiden Shogun once again wearing that look of someone lost in thought, Kiana took a sip of tea and added those last words.
She knew it would be near-impossible to explain why she resembled the Sustainer so closely. So she simply chose to state her position directly instead.
If the Raiden Shogun still refused to believe her after that, then there was nothing more she could do.
Whatever the case, she would never do anything to the nation of Inazuma. That much was simply true.
"Then... thank you."
Hearing Kiana's words, Ei turned them over for a moment before responding in kind.
Thank you?
What is she thanking me for?
Thanking me for not doing anything to Inazuma?
She hadn't expected that. For a moment, Kiana was genuinely at a loss.
Well — it did seem like her decision to change tactics earlier had been the right call. If she'd kept explaining, the Raiden Shogun would never have believed her. It would have been a complete waste of effort.
Hah...
Oh, whatever.
If you want to say I'm the Sustainer, fine. I'm the Sustainer.
That's right — I am the Sustainer! The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles!
...That is a pretty impressive title, actually.
The thought arrived unbidden, and Kiana found herself quietly acknowledging it. "Sustainer of Heavenly Principles" — just hearing it, you knew it was no ordinary thing.
"Miss Kiana."
Just as she was privately admiring the title, the Raiden Shogun suddenly called her name — with the unmistakable air of someone who had something to say.
"Yes?" Kiana came back to herself and looked at Ei.
Is She about to ask me something only the Sustainer would know? That I definitely can't answer...
She turned the thought over quietly while waiting for Ei to speak. That said, thoughts were just thoughts — she had no intention of bringing it up herself. Whatever the Raiden Shogun intended to ask was still an unknown.
"I want to ask about Makoto."
Ei had looked at Kiana for a long, silent moment before finally letting those words out.
She felt certain that Kiana would know something. After all, they were both girlfriends of that young man called Kaito.
"Ah... that..."
Kiana hadn't expected this to be what the Raiden Shogun would ask. She found herself quietly weighing whether to mention that Makoto and Acheron were not, in fact, the same person.
Whatever happened next, Makoto couldn't remain on Acheron's side indefinitely. That simply wasn't viable in the long run.
"Is there some kind of problem?" Ei asked.
Seeing Kiana's expression, She couldn't help but feel a swell of worry for Makoto. She truly feared that Makoto might leave Her again.
Though She hadn't sought Makoto out much during this period, that was only because She knew Makoto was there — right there, close by. That knowledge alone had been enough to keep Her still.
In truth, as long as Makoto was alive, it was fine even if she wasn't at Her side. Just knowing that Makoto still existed in this world was already enough.
"No major problems," Kiana said slowly, casting a glance at the Raiden Shogun, who was clearly growing anxious. "But there is a small one."
There was, of course, a reason for her unhurried pace. On Acheron's end, she was currently in the middle of a discussion with Makoto about whether or not to reveal the truth to the Raiden Shogun.
So from her side, she needed to buy a little time.
Whatever the outcome, she still needed to hear Makoto's opinion first. She couldn't just sit here and make decisions on someone else's behalf. That simply wouldn't do.
"A small problem?" Ei's voice sharpened noticeably. "What small problem?"
Upon hearing that there was indeed a problem concerning Makoto, the Raiden Shogun grew visibly more agitated.
"Well, about that..." Kiana said, taking on the expression of someone deep in thought.
Of course, she wasn't actually thinking about anything at all — she was simply waiting for Makoto's reply to come through.
One had to admit, this 'multithreading' arrangement was remarkably convenient. So many things could be handled at once.
Like right now: on Acheron's end, she was accompanying Paimon to breakfast while waiting for Makoto's answer. On Kaito's end, he was still asleep. And on her own end, she was here drinking tea.
As for Wendy — she had retreated to her room at the inn not long ago and was reading a novel.
Other people could manage two things at once. She was managing N things at once — each one in a completely different place.
"Is it inconvenient to tell me?"
When Kiana continued to say nothing further for quite some time, the Raiden Shogun couldn't hold back any longer and asked directly.
"Not at all. Just wait a moment — you'll know soon enough."
At that very moment, Acheron had just received Makoto's answer on her end. Only, since she was still in the middle of keeping Paimon company at breakfast, she'd need a brief moment before she could come here.
"Mm."
Seeing Kiana say this, the Raiden Shogun gave a small nod. She'd already been told she'd know soon — so all that was left was to wait. There was no need to press further.
"Snacks are here!"
Just then, Miko materialized in the doorway, carrying a tray of snacks.
In truth, she had been standing right there at the entrance eavesdropping the whole time, hoping to catch whether Kiana had mentioned anything about her.
But after listening for a while, she'd heard practically nothing useful. If anything, it had only left her more confused. There was no helping it — these two were clearly discussing something specific, yet neither of them had ever once stated what that something actually was.
If only I'd come sooner.
As she set the snacks down on the table, Miko felt a pang of genuine frustration at the thought. She was convinced that arriving earlier would have told her everything.
Even so, she decided she should still probe a little.
"When I was just coming in, it sounded like you two were talking about something," she remarked, taking up a position behind Ei with an expression of perfect, casual innocence.
"You were standing there for quite a long time," Ei replied without any ceremony whatsoever, "and you still didn't manage to catch more of it?"
With that single, flat observation, She had exposed Miko's eavesdropping completely and without mercy.
"Indeed, little Miko-sis," Kiana added, picking up a snack and taking a bite. "I'm quite curious too."
She joined in the collective calling-out without missing a beat.
Miko: ...
She hadn't expected both of them to be this merciless about it. For a moment, she genuinely didn't know what to say.
After all, they were both entirely correct. She had, in fact, been eavesdropping.
But Miko was certainly not the type to stay speechless. After a brief pause, she straightened up and said:
"Well, I was getting snacks for both of you — that's why I was a little late! Next time I'll be quicker about it."
"Is there any for me?"
A voice floated in from just outside the doorway — Acheron's voice.
Mei?
The moment she heard it, Miko turned her head sharply toward the entrance.
But the thought arrived almost immediately after: ...Is that Mei — or is it Makoto?
____
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