Kiana rubbed her eyes as she shuffled out of her room too, her hair a total mess. She spotted Rin in the hallway at a glance, still in that miko outfit, still with that cool, detached air. Her eyes lit up instantly.
She finally remembered what she'd forgotten: "Rin-nee, can I still become a shrine maiden to make money?"
She trotted over, looked up, her eyes full of anticipation.
Rin was quiet for a moment.
It wasn't until Shiraha gently shook her arm that she suddenly realized, in the eyes of these children, she was already a reliable adult.
The title "Rin-nee" still felt far too special to her.
"Better to rely on yourself than on others. When you're older, I'll teach you some ways to make real money."
Rin ruffled Kiana's hair, not gently, but certainly not half-heartedly either.
As the Herrscher of Corruption, if she was truly going to live properly in this era, she'd just have to use her authority a little.
As for world economic problems... Rin had no idea.
"Really!?" Kiana's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
She wished more and more that she could grow up already.
At that moment, the genuine sixth-grader, Mei, also pushed open her door. She looked at the lively trio and puffed out her cheeks again.
Elysia spoke softly: "Not going to cheer up the little one?"
She had thought about Mei, about Kiana, even about Yuno but Rin's sudden appearance had turned all her plans into nothing.
How could it be Rin? Rin, who had been such an obedient, adorable child in the past.
Shiraha's eyes curved as he leaned slightly against Rin, nudging her to look over.
Rin sighed. But after a moment's thought, her sister had never been able to do anything about her either.
She studied the purple-black haired girl nearby. Mei stood at the doorway, one cheek puffed out.
"You..."
As she looked more closely, her vision blurred slightly: "Dr. MEI?"
She pressed a hand to her forehead, swaying unsteadily. But once she came to her senses, a flash of sharpness passed through her eyes, so reincarnation really does exist, after all.
Yae Sakura, MEI, who else would show up next?
"Rin-nee?"
"Rin-nee?"
Shiraha stood on tiptoe, reaching up to touch Rin's forehead, but unfortunately, he couldn't quite feel it properly.
Rin kept her expression blank, letting Shiraha tug her down until her forehead met his.
"Rin-nee, you seem sick, your forehead is really cold."
That temperature made Shiraha hesitate, it was chilly, just like Elysia's. But Rin was a Divine Key now; what about Elysia?
A half-Origin Key?
"It's nothing. Just remembered some things from the past."
Rin brushed Shiraha aside without ceremony, her expression softening as she crouched in front of Mei: "What's your name?"
Mei showed no fear: "Mei. Raiden Mei."
The Raiden girls really are all so bold.
Raiden Mei.
Rin nodded, then cast one last glance at the little one, you'd better have nothing to do with Dr. MEI.
She didn't hold any deep grudge against Dr. MEI, but back when she was judged as a Herrscher, it was Dr. MEI who decided to imprison her. And when she sought revenge later, it was Dr. MEI again who held her back.
Shiraha thought for a moment, then sidled up beside Mei, gesturing behind him at Rin, then tapping his own head.
Mei: ....
Are you sure it's her head that's the problem?
But considering their past time together, she decided to trust her loyal minister one more time.
"Shiraha." Rin called out coolly from ahead.
"I'm here."
Shiraha trotted over, sighing inwardly. Behind him, Mei's cheeks puffed out again.
Rin's sudden appearance had stirred up the life Shiraha had finally stabilized, it had gotten properly lively now.
Even Kiana's arrival hadn't caused this much change.
Elysia let out a cold laugh: "This is what you get for being a flirt."
Shiraha looked pitifully at her, help me, all-powerful Elysia-nee.
Elysia said nothing, simply sitting in her usual spot as if by habit.
She did have a seat, even if no one believed she truly existed, Shiraha's small requests were rarely refused by Uncle Ryoma.
Elysia was quiet for a moment, then sighed: "For the sake of saving the world, I believe you can do it, Little Shiraha."
What else could she do? It wasn't like Elysia would just abandon the world.
At the dinner table.
Rin looked around and noticed that the seat beside Shiraha was empty, no one was sitting there.
"This seat?"
Rin was about to pull out the chair, but Shiraha pressed down firmly on it, leaving her a little puzzled.
Shiraha said matter-of-factly: "It's Nee-chan's!"
Rin: ....
So your delusional friend has rights too, huh.
Even more rights than she'd had in the Previous Era.
"Rin..." Ryoma Raiden tried to speak up: "Since it's not convenient for you to go back to your family right now, is there anything you're planning to do during this time?"
He looked at Rin, who seemed to have made herself completely at home, and more or less understood why Natasha had said her way of thinking was different from most people.
Family?
Rin glanced at Shiraha: "I'm planning to visit the school for a while."
Ryoma Raiden glanced at Shiraha, who seemed no different than usual, then at Mei, whose mouth was pursed. He felt he really ought to tell Shiraha a thing or two about loyalty in matters of the heart.
Though it might be a bit early to talk about such things, Shiraha's luck with girls was just too ridiculous.
After the meal, on the way to school, Mei walked alone at the front, bag slung over her shoulder, her ponytail swishing, clearly not out of happiness.
Rin walked at the back, hands clasped behind her head, her steps leisurely. Beside her were Shiraha and Kiana.
"Family?" She paused, then added, in case Shiraha played dumb: "That 'delinquent senior', who is she?"
"A close buddy of mine." Shiraha answered without hesitation: "She'll help cover for me with any lie."
Rin was skeptical.
She hadn't found any trace of the Elysian Realm at the Raiden estate.
The school was as vibrant and youthful as ever. At the front gate, Mei stopped by the small convenience store. She glanced back at the three behind her, then walked into the school without looking back.
There was no genuine emotion left in this world. Even the most loyal Shiraha could be led astray by others.
She would never feel joy again!
For an entire morning, Mei didn't chat with Shiraha at all...
Shiraha spent the whole morning leaning by the window, utterly melancholy.
How did Rin become so assertive? Logically speaking, shouldn't Yae Sakura be the dominant one?
Elysia sat on the windowsill across from him, one leg bent, chin resting on her hand, quietly watching him.
No snide remarks.
No mockery about his flirtatiousness, because Rin was too special... so annoying!
When school let out at noon, Mei let out another humph and ran off toward the club without looking back.
"You made her mad?"
Kiana sidled over, asking curiously.
Shiraha was quiet for a moment, then said in surprise: "You're just noticing now?"
Hadn't Mei been angry the whole morning?
Kiana shook her head: "She usually ignores you in the mornings too, how was I supposed to tell?"
But she didn't dwell on it: "Hey, Shiraha, do you think that miko sister can really help us make big money?"
She still wanted to earn money. Being a simple amoeba was fine, but—
There had to be a reasonable excuse for being an amoeba, right? Like living off someone else.
Given the Raiden family situation, Kiana figured she didn't exactly look like the type who could coast by on someone else's dime.
Unless Shiraha became the head of the Raiden household.