As the scene shifted outside the throne room, just beyond the towering doors of Shōryūden, Sayuri finally released the breath she had been holding.
She let out a dramatic sigh of relief.
"Sorry about that, Misaki," she said, rubbing the back of her head. "But I couldn't just stand there and watch you drown in all that 'Fate chose you' stuff."
She leaned in slightly, grinning.
"You're way too cute to be stressing about the apocalypse."
Misaki couldn't help but smile.
"It's okay, Big Sis," she replied softly. "I actually appreciate it. I was starting to feel overwhelmed again… this time more than I could handle on my own."
Sayuri's grin widened triumphantly.
"And that," she declared proudly, "is why I exist! Your heroic, reliable, unbelievably charming older sister!"
Misaki chuckled at her silliness.
But then—
She felt it.
A presence.
Heavy. Controlled. Familiar.
She turned.
Standing several paces away was the eldest daughter of the Yamato family. The heir to the throne.
Princess Erika.
The strongest within the royal family—second only to the Raiden herself.
The air shifted instantly.
The warmth Sayuri brought evaporated.
Misaki's smile faded.
Erika's gaze met hers.
Sharp. Steady. Unwavering.
For several long seconds, neither spoke.
It wasn't loud hostility.
It was quieter than that.
Sharper.
Sayuri opened her mouth, ready to break the tension—but Misaki moved first.
She brushed her hair back in a small, dismissive gesture and turned away.
"I don't have time for this," she thought, a calm irritation simmering beneath her composure. "I have better things to do."
Her thoughts shifted quickly.
Xavier.
He had awakened from his coma.
A faint smile curved across her lips before she could stop it.
I should visit him.
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
And then—another name echoed in her mind.
Jupiter.
Father said he was chosen too.
Her smile deepened.
I'm not surprised.
Anyone could see how incredible he was.
Fearless. Confident. Brilliant.
Someone like him was always destined for greatness.
It was only a matter of time.
Her chest tightened in that strange, fluttering way she had grown familiar with.
She couldn't quite name it.
But she knew it.
She had fallen for him.
Though she would never admit it aloud.
As Misaki's figure slowly disappeared down the corridor, Sayuri remained behind with Erika, watching her silhouette fade.
Sayuri turned, placing her hands on her hips.
"Did you really have to glare at her like that?" she asked, mildly exasperated.
Erika blinked once.
"She glared first," she replied flatly. "I simply responded. That is how any living creature reacts to hostility."
"But you're not some wild predator!" Sayuri huffed, puffing her cheeks out dramatically. "You're her sister!"
"Mm," Erika answered indifferently. "If you say so."
Sayuri stared at her for a moment before sighing deeply.
"You know… you may not show emotions to anyone else, but you can't fool me."
Erika's gaze shifted slightly.
"I have sharp eyes," Sayuri continued. "You're terrible at expressing yourself. Worse than a machine. But it's obvious you care about her."
Erika raised an eyebrow faintly.
"What makes you think that?"
"Because you're here," Sayuri answered immediately. "You're a military general. The heir to the throne. You're constantly busy. And yet you still made time to stand outside these doors."
She stepped closer.
"You knew she wouldn't talk to you. You knew it would probably be awkward. But you came anyway."
Silence.
Erika clicked her tongue quietly.
"You and that intuition of yours," she muttered.
Sayuri giggled.
"Better luck next time, Big Sis."
She turned to leave, then paused.
"And seriously… try talking to her next time. It won't kill you."
Her tone softened.
"I never worried about you. I always knew how you felt—even when you never said it. I knew you loved me."
She smiled gently.
"But Misaki isn't me. We share blood, sure—but we're different. She can't read you the way I can."
"So if you care about her… you have to announce it."
For once, Erika didn't respond immediately.
She simply leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, eyes distant.
Before Sayuri dashed off, she suddenly shouted over her shoulder,
"Oh! And by the way—those mochis you bought earlier?"
Erika's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I ate them."
A beat.
"They were too good to resist! Sorry not sorry!"
"WHAT?!"
The outburst echoed down the corridor.
But it was too late.
Sayuri was already sprinting away.
"HEY, MISAKI! WAIT FOR ME!" she yelled, her voice carrying through the palace halls.
Erika remained where she was.
Silent.
Try talking to her next time.
Be more expressive.
"Think before you speak".
That's what she meant… wasn't it?
Erika exhaled quietly.
Perhaps.
For the first time that evening, the strongest daughter of Yamato looked… uncertain.