Later, Eden's northern train, on route from Wellick...
Alto sits leisurely in the operator's chair, feeding her magic into the control panel as the train whizzes along the tracks at hundreds of kilometers per hour. Her sapphire eyes rest on the mountains outside, but seem to focus on something beyond them. Her lips are pursed thoughtfully as she absentmindedly runs her fingers through her golden-blonde hair.
Since she departed Eden, her thoughts have raced with memories of last night. Truthfully, she's grateful for the alone time...she has a lot to think about. The Note has occupied a lot of those musings. Not because she thinks anyone is actually going to harm her or Mizuki, but because of the fact that the sender seemed to focus on her so much. Specifically, on driving a wedge between her and Mizuki.
For the umpteenth time today, Alto's eyes narrow at the implication.
'I can only think of two people that might want to target me like that...but that didn't look like either of their handwriting...'
However, she knows well that they wouldn't be so stupid as to use identifiable penmanship if they wanted to send a letter anonymously. Still, she has her doubts about their involvement, based on the information within the Note. She's not moved by the fact that the Note seems to only mention her in passing, instead focusing on other threats and painting the sender as a concerned bystander.
'Obfuscating their real goal with misdirections is exactly the kind of manipulative approach I'd expect from those two...'
No, her hangup is the fact that the Note identifies Mizuki as an otherworlder...that suggests a level of knowledge about him that she just can't see them having acquired so quickly. Not to mention that they would have to acquire access to the MMC. Then again, she can't ignore how influential they are...having information gatherers close to the elven nobles is a distinct possibility.
'After my connection with Nina and Mizuki was publicized at that first Royal Announcement, there's no way I haven't drawn their focus again. Could they have people monitoring me, or collecting information from the nobles? They certainly have some pull within Tessa's faction...'
Alto frowns.
'But even if all that's true, and they had the means, information, and motive to send the Note, why would they pretend like the sender is also an otherworlder? Also, if they know Mizuki has god-like power, why would they risk antagonizing him?'
That's what she keeps coming back to. Everything else she could find an explanation for, even the claim that there's a threat in the Freden Kingdom. But those two factors just don't fit.
Alto lets out a deep sigh.
It's not like she hasn't considered the possibility that the sender really is an otherworlder, but that theory has its own shortcomings. The Elder Dragons and Greater Spirits aren't viable suspects, and Azazel doesn't seem invested enough to lie to Mizuki about the presence of other transmigrators. The ideas that an otherworlder could appear without Azazel's knowledge, or that one could arrive after Mizuki and already have subtly collected so much information about him, are both equally absurd.
But then...where does that leave her suspect list? She bites her lip in frustration, as her thoughts repeat their previous cycle once more.
'Maybe it really is them...my parents. It's not like we're close enough for me to make sense of all their actions anymore, and they certainly love trying to control my life.'
Indeed, as soon as she and Mizuki speculated that one of the goals of the Note's sender was to isolate her, she thought of her parents as prime suspects. Since then, she's agonized over whether she should mention her suspicions to Mizuki. What's held her back, aside from her doubts, is an unwillingness to invite their influence over her life, even indirectly.
She told Mizuki that she doesn't have anyone important to her left other than him, Nina, and the others. She meant that, and Mizuki hasn't asked the obvious questions it raised about her family, but she doubts that would remain true if she shares her suspicions. Mizuki would suddenly learn that, not only are her parents alive, but their relationship is strained enough to cause her this much apprehension. He'd probably be inclined to try and 'fix' it for her. Plus, he'd have his own interest in anyone potentially associated with the Note.
At minimum, she'll have to spend who knows how much time thinking and talking about her parents, when she'd rather just continue acting like they're dead. At worst, she may actually have to see them again, giving them an avenue to force their way back into her life through those around her. They've always been skilled manipulators...what if they affect her new relationships? What if, when given the opportunity, their influence changes how Mizuki treats her?
Although others may find that idea absurd, Alto fears the possibility. The truth is that, even though she's had friends before, ones that have since lost their lives, her relationship with Mizuki is unique. She cherishes it even more than she's admitted to him, and it's safe to say she's never been happier in her life than she is now. More importantly, she may be an adult, but the memory of her parents and their control over her looms large in her childhood memories.
'Mizuki has already been primed several times to think that he's a bad influence on me. I've told him how important our friendship has been to me after I lost everyone I cared about, and that seems to have changed his thinking, but...what if my parents are part of the equation?'
Whether it's realistic or not, she can't help but think that Mizuki may see her parents' existence as a good thing for her. They'd certainly act the part of concerned, well-meaning parents, showing an interest in her that Mizuki's parents allegedly never showed towards him, and Alto thinks that may be enough for him to urge her to 'give them a chance'. Knowing her parents, they may even feed into his concerns that he's a bad influence on Alto, convincing him to distance himself from her.
As these worst-case scenarios begin to play in her mind, Alto begins to tremble slightly as her eyes turn misty.
Trying to get a grip, she thinks back to last night. She remembers how she was curled up in Mizuki's lap, with the warmth of his chest seeping into her. She can practically still feel him gently rubbing her back, and hear that soft voice of his, reassuring her that she's loved. The memory is like cool water, smothering the flame of anxiety that her insecurities threaten to turn into an inferno.
'Get ahold of yourself, Alto...this is pathetic, and things won't be like that with Mizuki. He's not the kind of person your parents can strong-arm or manipulate so easily. He's also not going to abandon you...he makes what you want a priority. If you're firm about something, he'll listen.'
She takes a steadying breath, repeating these things to herself, until her heartbeat slowly settles down. It may not seem like it, given her behavior, but she truly does believe what she's thinking.
In fact, these are some of the things she loves most about her relationship with Mizuki. As selfish as it sounds, and as much as she's gotten angry with him about fussing over what's best for her, he genuinely supports her. When he let her join him and Nina, his concerns weren't about what he'd get out of it or how it'd reflect on him. He just wanted to help her further her own goals – to see her reach her own definition of success.
Even before that, when she was a freshly freed slave in his care, one who questioned him at every turn, he only seemed interested in connecting them with what they needed to feel in control of their own lives again. And since she's joined him, he's devoted no small amount of effort towards teaching her about his world's science, about true magic, and towards including her in fun research, all based on whatever interests her the most.
That kind of selfless support is something she's never had in her life before. Not from her parents, and not even from the people she considered friends. Maybe that's why she feels so attached to Mizuki.
Thinking about it all, Alto finally lets out her first small smile of the day.
'No, I'd like him even if we just talked and shared our hobbies. He's entirely too much fun to be around, to joke with...to tease.'
Thinking about the last part, and how she'd never tell him such a thing freely, she lets out a rare giggle. Suddenly, the last of her anxiety about the Note and her parents melts away, and she begins to wish she was with Mizuki again, instead of alone on this train.
"Uhm...is something funny?" (Alyse)
Snapping out of her reverie, Alto glances over her shoulder at Alyse, who is leaned against the wall behind her. She's wearing a nervous expression.
Alto raises her eyebrows.
'Oh, right...I forgot she was here with me. How long has she been standing there?'