"Big... sis?"
The young woman with black hair and trendy attire muttered as if she had seen a ghost, her words sounding like both a greeting and a way to confirm that she wasn't mistaken.
"What the hell? It's actually Aoko. What are you doing all alone in this deep, remote forest? Investigating ley lines? Or collecting materials for Magecraft? Nah, the latter probably isn't your forte."
Her words flowed easily—a mix of casual greeting and teasing—but Touko was equally shocked. This was a journey from a Bleached World to the year 2001, before humanity's doom had come, a real "time travel."
She had come half to experience Rayshifting firsthand, and half for a relaxing hot spring trip with Shiomi. But she never expected to run into her own blood relative here.
Her younger sister, Aoko Aozaki.
Taking 2001 as the starting point, it had been over ten years since the rift and conflict between the sisters in Misaki City. Yet both Aoko and Touko appeared unchanged from that time, the only difference being their makeup and attire.
"That's what I was about to ask. Big sis, what are you doing here, alone... or rather, with companions?" Aoko seemed a bit tense, even subconsciously overlooking the fact that there was someone else present.
It seemed like she was worried about a fight breaking out here. But Aoko could sense that her sister had no intention of fighting. Touko looked relaxed, clearly not as confrontational as she had been in the past.
Though more than a decade had passed since that incident.
Aoko thought to herself, then suddenly froze.
Ten years?
Putting herself aside, was her sister truly the sister of this era, or...
Before Aoko could process it, she saw Touko grab Shiomi's arms, effortlessly being pulled up the steep slope and standing on the hillside at about the same height as Aoko.
"Is she your sister, Touko?"
As Shiomi spoke, his left arm extended, subtly shielding Touko behind him. His right hand's fingers were slightly curled, poised like a taut bowstring, ready to fire at any moment.
"Ah, come to think of it, you've never actually met Aoko, have you?" Touko remarked with a hint of regret.
"Just the name. Didn't you use your sister's identity when helping Sakura prepare the relics back then?" Shiomi retorted. "And to be clear—in my memory, when I traveled here with my family in May 2001, I never encountered your sister at this hot spring inn."
Touko pushed up her glasses. "Considering Aoko's circumstances, she's probably in a situation similar to ours."
"Similar?" Aoko narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression turning subtle.
Their conversation wasn't deliberately hushed, and Aoko could hear it.
Setting aside the strange man's protective posture toward her sister and the seemingly intimate way they were speaking, what caught Aoko's attention the most was Touko's statement that "everyone's situation is similar."
"Now that you mention it, you're right."
Shiomi recalled the scene from moments ago. "When your sister appeared, that Mana and the way it operated were quite similar to the Rayshifting process at Chaldea."
"Which means..." Touko nodded at Shiomi and then stepped out from his protective range.
"You're not the Aoko of this era, are you?"
Aoko immediately wore a disheartened expression, clearly not hiding her surprise. "I should've known... Big sis always sees right through me. And you just said my situation is similar..."
Then, with priorities clearly established, whether they were about to fight or part ways, there were still important questions that needed to be answered.
"Are you sure it's fine?" Shiomi asked, double-checking with Touko.
Touko chuckled, not missing a beat. "Not at all, not at all. Since it involves Chaldea's secrets, you're the one with the authority to decide. Besides, even Aoko showing up here means the situation is definitely complicated. Ignoring it would only make things worse."
"Is that so."
Shiomi sighed and then briefly explained Chaldea's activities to Aoko.
Aoko, still skeptical, couldn't deny that it was a thorough explanation. At least they weren't enemies with opposing goals.
"Anyway, that's the gist of it. Next, we're heading to the inn at Kumano Hot Springs. Aoko, where are you headed? If you want to come along, I wouldn't mind."
Touko said.
Aoko gave a slightly ambiguous look, a mix of nostalgia and relief. "So... our relationship has improved, then?"
"It's... passable." Touko answered vaguely, clearly not wanting to delve into it further.
"Well, since we're headed to the same place anyway, traveling together isn't out of the question." Aoko turned her gaze to Shiomi. "And you, Mr. Magus—could you perhaps rein in that killing intent of yours that's practically bursting out?"
"Hm?"
Then, Touko discreetly patted Shiomi's back, and he finally relaxed, letting go of his tense posture.
"My apologies. This is my first time meeting a living Magician. After all, I never even had the chance to meet Zelretch," Shiomi said with a soft smile. "After spending so much time on the battlefield, it's hard not to... well, want to... kill... kill to see?"
"Ugh..."
Aoko found this remark dripping with the dark humor typical of her sister, and her expression shifted to one of subtle distaste once more.
She now understood why Touko would come to a hot spring with a man like this.
"Save the battle-crazed talk for someone else."
As Touko continued walking, laughing gleefully, she casually brushed her hand over Shiomi's shoulder before resting her arm on his, linking it with his in a nonchalant manner.
"Sometimes I just want to spout lines straight out of a soap opera," Shiomi chuckled, returning her smile.
"Anyway, let's hurry up. We should meet up with the others and get a better sense of the situation," Touko said.
Shiomi casually flipped through Touko's collar and nodded. "Yeah."
Walking behind them, Aoko couldn't shake the feeling that she was watching some strange horror movie. The scene in front of her was both unsettling and bizarre.
Her sister had always been the center of attention, highly admired by men, but there was never any news of her dating anyone.
Yet now—
"Just to confirm one thing, Mr. Magus—what exactly is your relationship with my sister?" Aoko asked, her eyes wide and vacant as she trailed behind them.
"You're still as slow on the uptake as ever, Aoko," Touko turned back with a teasing smile, looking down at her sister from the slope. "Can't you just see for yourself?"
"...Wh-wh-wh-what?!"
Aoko was stunned, her whole body wilting at the sudden realization. She lost all the confident air she had when she first appeared, now looking more like a wilted eggplant.
"Don't assume everyone is like you, stuck in the same place no matter how many years pass."
Touko only laughed softly, her expression full of meaning.
...