It wasn't that she had a problem with Sirin.
It was just that paying back a debt clearly didn't take priority over the Honkai crisis.
If she had to guess, Mei figured Sirin was still tracking traces of the Honkai and studying its effects.
Once she had everything figured out, she'd probably return—with the owed payment—and ask Kiana for more information related to the Honkai.
That would be the logical course of action.
But Sirin, obviously, wasn't a logical person.
So half an hour later, Mei found herself facing an uninvited guest at the shrine—a purple-haired girl, accompanied by another young woman with cherry-pink hair, wearing a black robe almost identical to the one Tanaka Nao wore.
"Kiana, I came to see you."
Sirin walked into the shrine, greeted Kiana directly, then turned her gaze toward Mei. "And Raiden Mei. It's been a few days—what's the urgent matter you wanted to discuss?"
"Sirin, Yae Sakura? How are you two here? Don't tell me…"
Kiana blinked in surprise, rubbing her eyes. She had been wondering how many days it would take before Sirin came to find her—but to think she'd show up today, and with Yae Sakura, no less.
Together…
Right—Sirin had mentioned Yae Sakura before. They'd known each other already.
So when Yae Sakura told Mei to wait earlier, she hadn't meant she was busy—but that they were already on their way here, planning to talk in person?
"Of course, I came to fulfill my promise," Sirin said with a smile before turning toward Yae Sakura. "This one said she had a reunion to keep—so she tagged along."
"Kiana, long time no see." Yae Sakura stepped inside, lowering her hood and smiling softly. "I made it back alive."
"???"
Mei, who had been completely ignored, looked at the scene in stunned confusion. So this was Yae Sakura—the one who came with Sirin.
That alone was surprising enough.
But what shocked her even more was that line—"I made it back alive."
What did she mean by that? What had happened between her and Kiana that Mei didn't know about?
"Welcome back," Kiana said with a gentle smile, extending her hand toward Yae Sakura. "Then from now on, we're friends."
"Tch." Sirin clicked her tongue and stepped forward, grabbing Kiana's hand before Yae Sakura could. "I'm your friend too—why don't I get a handshake?"
Kiana blinked, baffled. "But weren't we already friends before?"
"Then why didn't you offer a handshake before?"
Because the mood wasn't right before! Now that Yae Sakura had said it, she couldn't just nod politely, could she? That'd be too cold!
That sly fox really cared about appearances.
"We met one of your people yesterday," Mei said, walking up beside Kiana, fixing her gaze on Sirin. "She told me you informed Command of my decision. May I ask what decision that was?"
"Obviously, a decision that benefits you."
Sirin met her glare without backing down, placing her hands on her hips and speaking in a mocking tone. "Ah, youth these days—so ungrateful. If I'd had such a helpful senior back in my day, I wouldn't have ended up like this."
Mei ignored her sarcasm and merely tilted her head toward Kiana.
Kiana took the hint, tugged lightly at Sirin's sleeve, and asked, "So what kind of favor was it exactly? You know, just to match our stories."
"For Sirin, it was a good thing," Yae Sakura interjected, joining the conversation. Her expression turned regretful as she faced Mei. "I owe you an apology, Miss Raiden. I took Narukami from your shrine without your permission."
"There's no need to apologize. My father was the one who asked you to," Mei said evenly—but then her tone sharpened suddenly. "But why did you hurt Kiana? And in such a cruel way?"
Kiana, caught off guard, widened her eyes. "Wait—me?!" She looked between Mei and Yae Sakura, completely confused.
"Mei, stop—it wasn't her fault. She tried to convince me to give up for a long time. I was the one who wouldn't let it go and even attacked her first. She had no choice but to fight back."
That fox had indeed hit her hard—it had hurt for quite a while—but to say everything was Yae Sakura's fault wouldn't be fair.
At the start, Yae Sakura hadn't wanted to fight at all.
Mei raised her hand slightly, her tone cold but restrained. "I know. That's why I asked—why did you have to be so cruel?"
"Don't take her side," Sirin said gleefully, grabbing Mei's shoulder and pulling her closer with a teasing grin. "Who makes friends by beating someone up first and then asking, 'Hey, wanna be friends?'"
Kiana slapped Sirin's hand away. "Don't make trouble. That's not how it happened."
But Yae Sakura nodded seriously, guilt flickering in her eyes as she looked at Kiana. "It truly was my fault."
"Seriously?" Kiana sighed, holding her forehead. "You already apologized back then! And I was the one who pushed too far and ambushed you. You only slapped me because I nearly stole Narukami back."
Just that one slap.
But that one slap had hurt so much she'd almost sworn off using that hand ever again. Thankfully, the pain hadn't lasted too long—otherwise, she would've cursed Yae Sakura eight hundred times over.
"My apology then wasn't sincere enough," Yae Sakura said softly. "And I told you that if I made it back alive, I'd properly apologize—to both you and Miss Raiden."
Besides keeping her promise to meet again, that apology was also one of the main reasons she came.
"And… I failed to keep your trust," Yae Sakura bowed deeply. "I couldn't fulfill what I promised."
"That…"
Kiana glanced carefully at Mei. She knew Yae Sakura was talking about Raiden Ryoma—the message she'd promised to deliver to Mei's father.
"You mean my father's reply?" Mei asked. "You don't need to apologize to me or Kiana for that. The day after Narukami was taken, the thunder disaster broke out."
Mei already knew what had happened.
Kiana had told her about it, and after learning, she had even allowed herself to hope—just a little—that her father might still return, or at least contact her someday.
"He's stubborn. It's normal that you couldn't convince him. I don't mind that Narukami was taken, and I don't mind that he hasn't reached out."
Knowing her father was alive, and where he was—that alone was enough to ease Mei's heart.
"But you shouldn't have struck Kiana so harshly."
"…I know. I've felt guilty about that ever since." Yae Sakura lowered her head, her voice gentle but remorseful. "I'm truly sorry, Kiana. I acted rashly then. I must have caused you quite a bit of pain, didn't I?"
Was this really worth making such a big deal over?
Kiana quickly waved her hands. "I told you already—I forgave you! So please don't dwell on it anymore."
"You may have forgiven me," Yae Sakura said, shaking her head, "but I haven't forgiven myself. The damage I caused can't be undone. I left in a rush, and I acted far too harshly…" She paused for a moment, then continued, "Sirin told me you like collecting cursed blades. So over the past few days, I hunted down several Kami using other swords—and forged this cursed blade as an apology gift. I hope you'll accept it."