2001, the empty lot in front of the garbage dump behind Suminoe Hot Springs Inn.
With the world set right, Shiomi and the others returned to 2001. They reestablished contact with Chaldea, prepared to report everything that had happened, and readied themselves to head back via Rayshift.
"Wait a second," Skadi said. "The ones we just rescued were you and Morgan from 1999. But what about this side? Didn't you two from 2001 go missing a few days ago?"
Shiomi paused, then smiled evenly. "Looking at the outcome, Morgan and I went missing in 2001 because the Singularity folded us into the events of 1999. Now that the 'New God' is gone, the 2001 versions of us have probably already returned."
"That's why we're hiding here, to avoid running into our past selves," Scáthach said with a nod. "Shame. I wanted to say goodbye to that child."
Skadi and Artoria felt the same.
Sakura and Caren, still so young, had that particular kind of charm that only comes with that age. And, in a way, they couldn't help envying Morgan for being able to witness it.
"No. To be precise, it was the Morgan and me who Rayshifted in that happened to fill the gap during those few days when our 2001 selves were missing," Shiomi said. "Afterward, the Human Order Foundation Value will adjust things so those days are incorporated into our memories, and in the end, 2001 becomes a version of events where everything is fine."
If they showed themselves now, they would only introduce new friction into a timeline that had already been "balanced."
Even the smallest ripple could cause enormous changes down the line.
That kind of butterfly effect was exactly what Shiomi feared.
Just like when he returned to the Lostbelt around six thousand years ago, and ultimately became the cause of the upheaval that turned the entire Lostbelt upside down.
"Leave the communications to me," Scáthach said, ruffling Shiomi's hair. "You should get some rest."
Shiomi nodded. He loosened up a little, rolled his shoulders, and looked around the deserted back lot.
Touko was saying her goodbyes to Aoko.
For all that had happened, the sisters' relationship wasn't truly bad. Their clashes, fights, and killings all traced back to the fact that they came from the Aozaki family.
The more hatred was used, the more it thinned out, especially when it wasn't something that had ever come from the heart in the first place.
"I asked my past self just now why she ended up so badly hurt—" Morgan said as she caught Shiomi's attention, lowering her voice to tell him what she'd learned.
"It was because you were protecting me, wasn't it?" Shiomi answered at once.
"…When did you figure that out?"
"Once we confirmed the 'New God's' identity, it was basically certain," Shiomi said with a pained smile. "More than getting hurt, or even dying, because we weren't strong enough when we fought together… I can't accept you dying to protect me because I wasn't strong enough."
That was why he lost control.
To reject the weak version of himself, he had to become something strong.
In other words, a god.
"No," Morgan said, shaking her head. "What I'm saying is this: my husband doesn't need to feel guilty toward me." She understood perfectly well that Shiomi was still hung up on how powerless he'd been in 1999.
Shiomi gave a small shrug. "Don't forget, the 'New God' wasn't just a god. It was also a Beast that hadn't yet hatched. You're not unfamiliar with why Beasts come into being."
"Evils of Humanity, and also Human Love," Morgan said. Of course she understood.
If there was a way to define the principle behind that not-yet-formed Beast, it could only be called 'salvation.'
To save one irreplaceable person, he was willing to become a god. But in the process, he lost his way, mistook the means for the end, and ultimately became a disaster that could threaten humanity and the world.
Both divine, and beastly.
"So… there's something I want to ask of you," Shiomi said.
"Why say it like that?" Morgan sighed at his formality. That kind of wording meant he was about to say something important.
"Just because you nearly died protecting me, I ended up becoming that," Shiomi said, wrapping his arms around Morgan. "If I were to truly lose you, I don't even know what I'd turn into."
"You won't become a Beast, and there's no need for you to become one," Morgan murmured, gently stroking his back. "What I said earlier was only teasing. My husband is certainly a shameless 'Beast,' but not in that sense."
"Then you'll have to keep a close eye on me, my wife," Shiomi replied.
"As if I could let anyone else do that… though I'm already struggling to keep up with your wandering affections," Morgan complained half-jokingly, half-indulgently, teasing him by nibbling at his earlobe.
"Uh…" Shiomi was left momentarily speechless.
Then his other ear was suddenly tugged hard, sending a sharp jolt of pain through him.
"You really do have a habit of leaving everyone else behind to say touching things on your own," Scáthach said as a reminder. "That favoritism is getting a bit excessive."
Morgan smiled smugly and let go of Shiomi, only for him to be pulled straight into Scáthach's arms.
"You worked hard in the battle earlier, Master," he said at once, offering sincere comfort as he carefully stroked her hair and back.
That situation didn't last long.
Artoria and Skadi were already lined up behind them.
It wasn't exactly an assembly line, but watching Shiomi earnestly comforting everyone else almost made Morgan laugh. Not wanting to make things awkward, she held it in and pretended to be uninterested, glancing around at the surroundings instead.
"Um… Touko?"
Skadi, who was last in line, held him for quite a while. Just before the Rayshift back to Chaldea was about to begin, Shiomi opened his arms again and asked Touko.
"Of course," Touko said without hesitation. She wrapped him in a generous embrace, affectionately rubbing against his ear and hair.
Aoko stared, her jaw practically dropping. She couldn't reconcile this Touko at all with the cool-headed, rational older sister who had been speaking just moments earlier.
"Even taking into account that I'm an outsider, and a former enemy, I still feel this is a bit strange to say," Alice remarked, wearing an expression that was hard to describe, tinged with a hint of pity. "But Miss Touko's romantic relationships are… frankly, not something I can praise."
"Don't overthink it," Touko said calmly. "Tenkei and I are just ex-lovers. We're only acting together now because of certain circumstances. It's not like we cut ties and swore never to see each other again. Revisiting old things is perfectly natural." She was quite comfortable sitting firmly in the position of 'ex-girlfriend.' "By the way, my relationship with Tenkei happened before I stormed back to the Three Gorges."
"…W-what?" Aoko exclaimed in shock.
After all, back then, there hadn't been the slightest sign of that from her big sister.
Though, to be fair, they hadn't exactly had time to catch up either. They'd started fighting the moment they met.
"Already having a boyfriend and still doing that… Miss Touko really is awful," Alice said, her face full of distaste.
Shiomi, however, paid no attention at all and smoothly changed the subject.
"By the way, earlier you mentioned your younger sister's first love ending in heartbreak. What was that about?"
"You want to hear it now? Well—"
"Stop, stop, stop! Big Sis, you can't tell that kind of thing to outsiders!" Aoko shouted, flailing in protest like a child.
Amid Aoko's noisy attempts to stop her, the farewell became unexpectedly lively.