Two hours later, in the Chaldea conference room.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Touko, sitting idly and flipping her Zippo lighter open and shut while skimming Chaldea's reports, looked up at the sound of Shiomi's voice.
He entered the room leaning on a cane, walking slowly with Morgan supporting him at his side.
"Are you sure you're okay? You're still in rehab. If walking's too hard, you should've come in a wheelchair." Touko snapped the lighter shut. "Aren't the Clock Tower Magi being kept busy by your staff, listening to other reports?"
"Call it a field test for Magecraft synchronization," Shiomi replied as he sat beside her. "Given that more investigators from the Clock Tower will be arriving in waves, even if they don't want to meet me, I can't keep hiding and dodging them forever."
Touko smiled wryly. "So you're trying not to raise suspicion by disguising yourself with Magecraft? Smart move. Honestly, if you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have noticed you were under the Grand Witch's spell at all."
Her gaze drifted past Shiomi to Morgan, then returned to him. Noticing his collar was askew, she reached out instinctively to fix it—only to be intercepted by Morgan's hand.
With a calm expression, Morgan gently adjusted Shiomi's collar herself.
"'Manipulation' is a bit much. I'm simply supporting my husband's movements. In this situation, only I can do that." After smoothing out the folds, she took a seat on Shiomi's other side.
It was only after sitting down that Shiomi realized how close the three of them were, despite the size of the round conference table.
"You're sweating again. Want me to wipe you down?" Touko teased. "After getting such attentive 'service' in the shower, wouldn't it be a waste?"
"And whose fault is that?" Shiomi pulled out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe his forehead—which wasn't actually sweaty. "And what's with all the barbs in your tone today?"
Rehabilitation wasn't easy. Touko showing up unannounced was, in a way, a pleasant surprise. But it also came with its share of pressure… and sweat.
There were still many things to discuss, but before that, they'd insisted he shower first. In his current condition, he could look but not touch—still, the ordeal had taken over an hour. As a form of subtle torment, the three women's coordination was almost impressive.
"Nothing much. I'm just feeling a bit melancholic," Touko said casually. "After all these years, drifting around, we've spent—what? Less than a week together, if you add it all up."
"Especially when the world ended once without anyone even noticing."
Being Magi, both of them had long lifespans. Touko had never been too concerned about how often they saw each other.
As long as they were alive, there was always the chance to meet again.
But after witnessing the Incineration of Humanity incident firsthand and losing over a year of time, Touko found herself thinking about certain things.
Like: if the world were ending tomorrow, who would you want to spend your final day with?
Touko already had her answer.
"And during that time you 'disappeared,' you saved the world," Touko said with a lazy smile. "It doesn't feel real at all."
"It was all of us… I didn't do it alone." Shiomi gave a faint, bitter smile, his brow slightly furrowed. "Whether it feels real or not doesn't matter. Being able to deny the end of the world, to see you again—and old faces from the Clock Tower—that's enough."
"You're right." Touko set the lighter down.
Shiomi noticed it and was just about to ask why she was still using that antique he'd given her, when Morgan abruptly tugged his face toward her.
"My husband, I know you're happy to see an old flame, but if you keep ignoring me while you catch up, I'll get lonely," Morgan said bluntly.
Shiomi winced and quickly gave in. "...It's not like that..."
"But the fact that Heroic Spirits are still lingering in Chaldea—if that gets back to the Clock Tower, it won't be easy to deal with," Touko said seriously, frowning.
"No need to worry. I entered this observatory under the title of 'wife.' It's not hard to scrub my status as a Servant from the reports, nor to separate the identities of 'Aesc' and 'Morgan.'" Morgan was clearly well-prepared for this.
Touko chuckled. "Isn't it a bit risky to admit to falsifying the report right in front of a Clock Tower envoy?"
"Then feel free to report it as is," Morgan said with a raised brow. "It'll be a good lesson for my husband—'betrayal comes from those closest to you, not your enemies.'"
"Um… could we not fight?" Shiomi interjected. "If there's blame to go around, take it out on me. It's my responsibility."
"That was just a poor joke on my part," Touko said, showing a rare moment of apology. She never had any intention of betraying Shiomi's trust.
To her, regardless of role or title, Shiomi was a unique and irreplaceable presence.
He was strong—someone Touko never thought she'd need to worry about.
But now—
"I admit, seeing him like this... weak, does bring out a protective instinct. Still, please try to control yourself. After all... the puppeteer lady is already part of the 'past,'" Morgan said with a cheerful smile.
"And the 'past' can become the 'present' again," Touko replied smoothly.
"Is that so, my husband?" Morgan asked sweetly.
Shiomi gave up. He slumped his shoulders and stared blankly at the table.
They seemed to be enjoying this back-and-forth, and anything he said would only fan the flames.
"...I... uh… well…"
He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead. This time, the cold sweat was real.
Only when the door to the conference room opened again was the stifling yet oddly compelling tension finally broken.
"Sorry, Shiomi-sensei, I was a bit delayed organizing things," Olga Marie said as she entered, unaware of what had just transpired. She didn't even notice the tension in the room—until she saw Touko. "Is that... Miss Touko Aozaki?"
"Just acting as a special envoy sent by the Clock Tower and my teacher to inspect the situation in Chaldea," Touko said, rising to shake her hand. "A pleasure."
"Ah… yes... A pleasure to meet you," Olga Marie replied nervously.
After all, Touko was one of the few "Grand" figures acknowledged within the Clock Tower. Someone of her caliber being sent as an envoy—it was enough to make anyone worry about Chaldea's future.
"No need to be nervous. Touko isn't our enemy," Shiomi reassured her. "Come, have a seat. Let's talk."
...
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