"Mmm... Finally almost done." Putting down the documents in her hand, Makoto stretched, but the next moment, she looked around, paused, and asked with some puzzlement, "Hmm? Where's Ei?"
"Don't you remember? She had nothing to do, and you said there wasn't anything she needed to do, so she went to soak in the hot spring," Miko, sprawled on the desk beside her, said listlessly.
Because Ei wasn't one for work, and there was a large backlog, the unscrupulous Makoto had dragged this Miss Fox into working overtime with her.
Miko had many complaints about this—"I'm the Guuji of the shrine, not a member of your Shogunate."
But unfortunately, Miko, who used to be a little fox nestled in Ei's arms, though cunning and resourceful, could only plead for mercy when facing Ei, her former master—"I'll be good, please spare me."
"Oh, is that so?" Makoto suddenly realized, patting her head. "Look at my memory."
She wasn't originally a particularly powerful Archon, and after winning the resurrection match without making any special requests, her physical qualities might even be lower than before—of course, Makoto had no complaints about this. After all, she never liked fighting.
Plus, she tended to be very focused when working, so she forgot... sigh.
"That is to say, Ei is currently soaking in the hot spring with them?"
"Mm... just in time, the work here is done." Rubbing her shoulders, Makoto said, suggesting, "It's been a long time since I've enjoyed Inazuma's hot springs. Miko, let's go too."
"Finally done... I told you, just leave the work aside, then you could have soaked in a steaming hot spring from the beginning," Miko rolled her eyes, complaining listlessly.
"But Inazuma's official business has piled up so much, and many are urgent matters that can't be delayed," Makoto said helplessly. She felt a bit conflicted, and also somewhat regretful, thinking about Ei happily soaking in the hot spring with [Mei] and the others while she was toiling away. But she didn't entirely agree with Miko's words.
Due to the Sakoku Decree and the Tri-Commission, although the lives of Inazuma's citizens couldn't be called extremely dire, they were in a state of suffering.
As a responsible and dutiful Archon, Makoto already felt apologetic about the mess she left her sister. Now that she had the opportunity to make amends, she naturally didn't want to slack off.
"Alright, Miko, stop complaining, let's go."
"If we go now, we should still be in time."
Setting aside her gloomy mood, Makoto, who was naturally optimistic, hummed lightly, changed into a yukata cheerfully, and planned to give her good-for-nothing sister a 'surprise.'
But just as she approached the hot spring with Miko, about to greet them, she suddenly saw...
"Sister, try this."
"I remember you always liked this." Unlike her usual joyless demeanor, Ei's lips carried a faint smile. Holding a small dessert she had personally made for Makoto, she brought it to [Mei]'s mouth.
Although the latter seemed a bit hesitant, she still took a small bite.
"Mm, Makoto, you're here too?" Ei looked surprised, noticing Makoto and Miko's arrival.
"Is the official business finished?"
Makoto, who had stopped in her tracks, slowly entered the hot spring, nodding with a slightly strained smile. "Mm, the official business is mostly done. Miko said she's tired, and I thought you all might still be soaking, so I came to join you."
"Is that so..."
"You've worked hard." Makoto's expression improved slightly. "By the way, you were just..."
"Oh, I was having Sister try the dessert you made."
At this moment, Makoto felt a pang in her heart. I made this dessert for you! You foolish sister!
Of course, Makoto wasn't so stingy. In fact, she didn't mind sharing her creations.
However, hearing that incredibly affectionate 'sister' from Ei—addressed to [Mei]—while she was addressed directly by name, with such unfamiliarity, after that originally affectionate address became directed at someone else... Makoto felt a bit dejected.
...Oh well, it's not something worth dwelling on.
Just a habit, a habit!
Soaking in the hot spring, nestled beside Ei, Makoto subconsciously also wanted to take some of her own dessert from the tray—after all, it was something she liked to eat too. Enjoying dessert and sake while soaking in a hot spring was indeed heavenly...
Then... her hand grasped nothing.
Makoto looked around.
In Ei's hand was the last piece of the many desserts she had prepared—which Ei was currently sharing with [Mei].
Noticing her gaze, the latter looked over. "Uh... Makoto, do you want to try some too? There's half a piece left." [Mei] smiled, gesturing with her hand.
"If you don't mind..."
...That's what I made! Makoto complained inwardly—unlike Miss Ei, who had a wife-material face but couldn't cook at all, just like her gentle nature, although an Archon who didn't need to eat like ordinary people, Makoto still didn't let her face's advantage go to waste, honing her culinary skills.
However, the culinary skills she displayed for her foolish sister ended up like this...
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Makoto could only pick up the sake bottle on the tray, saying, "No, thanks. I ate quite a bit while working, and I don't have much of an appetite now, just a bit thirsty."
With that, she was about to pour herself a cup.
However, she suddenly realized that the sake seemed to have been almost finished as well. Even after pouring hard, she couldn't fill the bottom of her small cup. To avoid embarrassment, she could only pick up the cup and drink it all in one gulp, putting on a satisfied expression.
"Mmm... I'm a bit dizzy..." Miss Furina couldn't help but say.
Although with her Archon-level constitution, theoretically, she shouldn't experience the dizziness of soaking in a hot spring for too long like ordinary people, because both Furina and Focalors were fond of their human side, so even though essentially an Archon, Furina's normal state had parameters similar to a normal human.
[Mei], aware of this, understood. "That's right, speaking of which, we've been soaking for quite a while... In that case, let's end it here."
"Mm... we'll go rest first. Makoto, Miko, don't soak for too long either." With the splashing sound of water, [Mei] left with Elysia and Furina. Miss Ei also hesitated for a moment, then followed them.
In an instant, only Miss Makoto and Yae Miko, one person and one fox, remained in the originally lively hot spring.
And this change made Makoto freeze in place.
A desolate gust of cold wind blew past, followed by the empty bamboo tray drifting in front of her.
Gazing at the empty entrance, Miss Makoto silently submerged herself, burying almost her entire body in the hot spring.
The gurgling bubbles became one of the few sounds in the vast hot spring.
—The Raiden Makoto ship has sunk.
However, not long after, the door opened again. Makoto looked up, somewhat surprised.
It was Ei!
"Didn't you go rest with them?"
"I feel like I can soak a little longer," Ei said.
This made Makoto's face remain calm, but she was overjoyed inwardly. Hehe, saying you want to soak a bit longer, you're clearly reluctant to leave Sister, so you came back!
Hmph, as expected, in Ei's heart, I still weigh more!
Miss Makoto was very happy.
Of course, what made Makoto even happier was that Ei didn't come empty-handed.
She was holding another small tray.
It was filled with hot spring snacks and sake.
Wuwuwu... Ei, sister misunderstood you! You're sister's best little sister.
Makoto, deeply moved, wanted to burst into tears if it weren't for not wanting Miko to see her pathetic state.
But more so, she converted her emotions into appetite.
Makoto happily picked up a snack from the tray and started chewing with big bites.
The next moment... an indescribable taste exploded on her taste buds.
"Who made this snack?"
"Uh... what's wrong? Is it not good?" Ei looked puzzled.
So it was you, my foolish little sister. Then it all makes sense, it completely makes sense!
Miss Makoto, her face turning green, could only endure that vulgar taste, like frog urine, forcing a smile. "No, it's delicious."
Although she really wanted to properly educate her foolish sister, but keeping in mind that no matter what, this was her sister's thoughtfulness, her sister's love, Makoto could only endure that churning feeling, going against her conscience to give her evaluation.
"That's good, there's still a lot left." Ei was also very happy.
Looking at the pile of seemingly decent but actually abyss-like snacks, Makoto gulped, having a vision.
Tears of pain and happiness streamed down her face.
—A few minutes earlier—
"Aren't you going to accompany Makoto?" [Mei] looked at Ei who had followed, somewhat puzzled.
The latter looked quite natural. "Makoto has been working for so long, she probably just wants to relax. Besides, Miko is there, there's no need for me."
Clearly, expecting this village girl-like Miss Ei to be deliberately considerate of others' feelings was a bit too difficult.
"While that's true, but if you go, she might be happier. Besides, didn't we finish all the snacks you brought when we were soaking in the hot spring?"
"If so, then they don't have anything to eat, right?"
"Didn't Makoto say she had no appetite?"
"Perhaps she has some now?"
"Alright, listen to me, go. And by the way, prepare some hot spring snacks for them. After all, Makoto and Miko have worked hard and deserve a reward." The girl in a yukata gently raised her hand, gesturing.
"Mm, you're right." Ei thought it made sense.
Finding [Mei]'s words reasonable, she decisively adopted the suggestion.
For this, she even deliberately used her power as the God of [Eternity] to meticulously prepare a set of snacks for Makoto that looked exactly the same as before—at least from the outside.
Following [Mei]'s suggestion, she returned to Miss Makoto.
—This was her sister's 'mission'!
"Bullying a girl like Makoto like this is very mean~"
"...I didn't bully her." [Mei] looked helpless and 'innocent' at Miss Elysia's accusation.
He hadn't done anything to Ei, right?—In fact, just helping Makoto win the resurrection match alone, Mr. Jiang Qiao had done a great deed for the sisters.
They were still sisters, able to be together... As for some minor flaws, they were just insignificant. How could this be called bullying?
In fact, this was actually determined by Ei's own issues.
Although he did help Makoto sever her ties, he also gave Makoto the 'Mei' household registration he was using. Moreover, although the world-level modification was extremely overbearing, for Archons, as long as they discovered something was amiss, they absolutely had their own methods of dealing with it.
Ei, of course, was no different.
Just like after learning everything, she indeed already knew that Makoto was her original, true older sister. Those past memories of knowing each other were with Makoto, not with [Mei], this patch.
However, these later memories were completely different from the feelings brought by the patch—and what made [Mei] most helpless was that Ei was inherently the careless type.
If you expected this rough Raiden Shogun to care about others, it would definitely be in an extremely awkward manner.
Besides, the reason he left with Mei, Elysia, and the others, aside from the fact that he was indeed a bit dizzy from soaking, was more importantly to leave a space for the sisters.
But he didn't expect her to be so slow. If he hadn't deliberately mentioned it, Ei probably wouldn't have reacted at all.
"They just need some time to adapt to this change," [Mei] said calmly.
Overcoming the common sense imposed by the world was something that required adaptation.
Just like if Greater Lord Rukkhadevata returned to a world where Lesser Lord Kusanali had become the official Dendro Archon, the people of Sumeru, due to inertia, would be more inclined towards the latter and somewhat distant towards the former.
Especially for someone as slow as Ei—in her understanding, there probably wasn't much of a distinction between 'sister' and 'sister's reincarnation.'
The two were essentially the same in her eyes.
"Is that so? But I've already recorded it for Ei~" Elysia said, seemingly understanding. Then she smiled.
To this, [Mei]—Mr. Jiang Qiao—who understood the hidden meaning very well, sighed helplessly. Are you trying to stand up for someone else? You clearly just want to get your hands on me!
—Fortunately, he was currently using Mei's body. Otherwise, if it were his own, Mr. Jiang Qiao was truly worried that this pink 'succubus' would latch onto him and not let go.
Although he wasn't afraid or concerned about it, Mr. Jiang Qiao still preferred this carefree state.
If a 55kg... or even, due to personal reasons, would suddenly increase to 56kg—and this was only Miss Pink Elf's weight limit, not her appetite limit, was added on, he would also have some headaches.
From this perspective, it seemed that the previous, foolish Elysia was more adorable.
"Oh~ Do you prefer the previous me?" 55kg Miss, having perceived his thoughts, smiled.
"Hmm~ Indeed, the previous foolish, slow me who didn't dare face her own heart, from a certain perspective, was indeed very cute."
"If that's the case, then..." Elysia's blue eyes twinkled with interest—the next moment, they became somewhat... that familiar 'pure' look.
"...You don't have to do this." [Mei], having understood at a glance, looked somewhat helpless.
"Hmm~ Didn't I say, I will become the form you like?"
"Besides, I also like my past self very much."
For Elysia—having completed her three-in-one super evolution, she was already approaching Jiang Qiao's level... although there was still quite a distance between them, for the current Elysia, what she could do, in a sense, was only slightly inferior to Jiang Qiao.
For example, control over herself.
As long as she was willing, she could completely revert to 'Elysia (pure version),' this past version, and overwrite her current self.
In other words—switching versions.
Whether it was the lewd Elysia or the pure Elysia, it was no problem.
"But..."
"Eh? Why would you do this?" Miss 'Elysia', with her pure face, clearly understood her past and current state, looking utterly confused and astonished.
—Of course, Elysia knew very well why she did this.
Because [Mei] expected it, and she herself also wanted to see her foolish, adorable self.
In other words—Elysia wanted to bully herself.
However, even understanding this, for Miss Pure Elysia, she couldn't comprehend it at all, or even if she did, it was difficult to accept.
Wearing a yukata, she looked annoyed. "This is completely unreasonable!"
Although Miss Elysia couldn't accept her own decision at all.
But, it was clear.
Under her own mischievousness.
—Miss Pink Elf had returned.