"This… this is your world, Shichen?"
As Shichen stood at the door of the Time Café, the Irisviel residing inside him couldn't help asking.
Time Café was his place; everyone had agreed on the name. The "Shi" came from Shichen's surname, and "Time" stood for the good times everyone shared with him.
"Yep. Looks pretty similar to your world, doesn't it?"
"Daddy's world! Awesome!" Illya was inside him too—safe and sound.
Shichen had originally thought that if he removed the divine fragment from Illya, she might cease to exist—after all, her "body" had been that fragment. If not for "her" guarantee, he wouldn't have dared. Illya clearly had her own soul, but whether the fragment birthed that soul, or she had appeared with it inside Irisviel from the start, he wasn't sure.
"It is similar… but it feels more advanced," Irisviel said.
Through Shichen's senses she could feel how developed this world was—towering buildings, bustling crowds, laughter, peace. Even if her world advanced for decades, it might never look like this—for one reason: magecraft. Where magecraft existed, a scene this peaceful was hard to imagine.
"Can't be helped. There's no real supernatural power in this world. People had to rely on technology."
"No supernatural power? Then what about you, Shichen?"
"Mm… Put simply, this place is like my hub. I travel to other worlds too. Frieren isn't from here."
"I see."
"Oh, and this café is mine. A lot of people inside are… a bit like you. I'll introduce you later," Shichen said.
"Eh? O-okay…" Irisviel suddenly felt nervous.
"I've got a feeling this won't be simple," Frieren murmured.
"What won't be simple?"
"When you say 'like us'… don't tell me they're all girls?" Frieren asked.
Shichen fell silent.
"Knew it."
"Ahem. Let's head in first. I'll show you around after," he said, stepping into the café.
"Welcome to—ah! Shichen!" The moment she saw him, Nishikigi Chisato came running, still balancing a tray.
"What a cute girl…" Irisviel breathed inside him.
"Chisato, put that down first," Inoue Takina called—she'd just plated a dish.
"Got it, got it!"
Chisato deftly set the tray on an empty table as she passed, then launched herself into Shichen's arms.
"Shichen, I missed you sooo much!"
This time was different from before—before he left, he'd completely "swept her off her feet," and in just a month she'd missed him to the bone.
"I missed you too." He hugged her tight, breathing in her familiar scent.
Unlike Chisato, he hadn't seen her for over a year. His longing wasn't any less.
"Ooh, the manager's back!"
"Showing off the PDA the second he walks in, huh."
"Chisato-chan is bold!"
"Takina-chan, aren't you going?"
"Eh? Me?" Takina hadn't expected the customers to egg her on. She flushed at once.
She glanced at Shichen—and met his eyes—then turned away, flustered, remembering how he'd teased her before.
Shichen let go of Chisato, walked up to Takina with open arms, and smiled. "No hug for me?"
"Th-this is… the shop…" Her cheeks were pink; her usual sternness was nowhere to be seen.
"Don't mind us—we don't," a customer laughed.
"Yeah! In love? Go on the offensive! Don't lose to Chisato-chan!"
"We're rooting for you!"
"What? I'm Team Chisato! Chisato-chan, stop her!"
The café should've been quiet, but they were all regulars, and thanks to Chisato the place was always lively. Even the office workers by the window were grinning at the scene.
"I…" Takina froze, hands at a loss.
Seeing that, Shichen didn't hesitate—he pulled her into a hug. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Mm…" Takina's face burned. She tucked herself into his chest so the customers wouldn't see. It wasn't that she didn't want to struggle—his hold was just too strong to break.
"Did you miss me?" he asked suddenly.
"I…"
"If you don't answer honestly, I'll have to do something embarrassing in front of everyone," he teased.
"…I did," she blurted.
"That's better." He let her go.
Takina's face was scarlet; she fled to the kitchen.
And trading places with her—of course—came Tohru.
"Shichen-dono!"
The tall maid hit his arms at blur-speed—chest-first, at that. He staggered back two steps. "Tohru… trying to kill me?"
"As if!"
Arms around his waist, Tohru shook her head and squeezed him tighter.
"Cosplayer?!" Frieren yelped inside him.
Ignoring that, Shichen ruffled Tohru's hair with a smile. "I'm back."
"Welcome home, Shichen-dono!" Tohru beamed up at him.
"Tohru—your dishes…" Takina poked her head out of the kitchen to remind her.
"Ah! Almost forgot!"
"Heh, no rush. Go do your thing," Shichen said.
"Okay!"
Smack.
Tohru went on tiptoes to give him a quick peck, then spun back into the kitchen.
"Whooo!"
The customers erupted.
"Chisato-chan, your turn!"
"Go, go!"
"Hehe~" Chisato sidled up to Shichen.
"Come on," he said, crouching slightly.
"Ehe~"
Not the shy type, Chisato framed his face with both hands, rose on tiptoe, and held him steady for a kiss. The self-declared "Chisato Faction" got even louder.
She didn't take it further; they parted quickly—though she did lick her lips, reluctant to end it.
"You have no shame," he said, helpless.
"What's there to be shy about?" Chisato grinned.
"Alright, I'm heading upstairs. You keep at it."
"'Kay!"
Shichen waved to the customers and went up alone to his room. There, he released Irisviel and the others.
"Where is this?" Illya asked, wide-eyed.
"My room."
"Daddy's room!"
Illya and Sakura glanced at each other, then dove onto his bed together.
Shichen let them be and looked to Irisviel and the other two—especially Artoria, who hadn't said a word.
"Artoria, is it hard to get used to this place?"
"No," she said with a small shake of the head.
"Then why so quiet?"
"I… don't know what to say," she murmured, pressing her lips together.
She had shed the Heroic Spirit's body and truly stayed—then crossed into a world that wasn't hers at all. Her thoughts were a jumble; for the moment, words wouldn't come.
"I get it." Shichen took her hand and drew her into his arms. "Don't overthink it. You've started a new life."
"…Mm." Embarrassed, Artoria leaned against him and gave a tiny nod.
"Honestly, Shichen, you really do spoil Saber," Irisviel pouted.
"Heh. I spoil you too." With his free hand, he tugged Irisviel into his embrace as well.
She didn't resist in the slightest, falling against him and meeting Artoria's eyes. Irisviel smiled; Artoria ducked her head.
"Frieren, what about you?" Shichen asked the elf, who'd been restless since stepping out.
"No thanks! I want to go meet that Tohru."
"Hm?"
"She's doing cosplay—dragon girl! I've never seen one!"
Shichen's mouth twitched. "You didn't notice anything… different about Tohru?"
"Like what?"
"You didn't sense the huge mana inside her?"
"…Didn't pay attention."
Also, those horns on her head and the big tail weren't props.
"What do you mean?"
"Tohru is a real dragon. That's her human form."
"What? For real?" Frieren gaped.
Artoria and Irisviel both looked up at him.
"Why would I lie to you?"