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"Ei, are you still trying to hide it from me?"
Raiden Ei's reaction was exactly what Raiden Ei [the name, Ei] had expected. She had been restraining herself, but before this, she had been nothing more than a lingering soul, unable to perceive the outside world, let alone interfere with it. The people of Inazuma had been trapped in a dream, and it was only thanks to that state that she had gained the chance to interact with Ei. Now that she had finally secured this opportunity, she wanted to offer her final bit of guidance.
"Hide what?" Ei countered.
Had her dark past been unearthed? If Ei [name] found out about that incident, she would be left feeling utterly hollow, at least for a short while.
"That child who looks just like you. It's your child with Su Ran, isn't it?"
Silence fell over the room as Ei, Su Ran, and Kamisato Ayaka stared at one another. It was such an explosive accusation, yet none of them had the slightest idea what she was talking about.
"Lady Ei [name]... aren't you misunderstanding something?" Ayaka asked, struggling to believe there was anything between Su Ran and Ei. If there were, it would have to be father and daughter! Ever since Ei had awakened, she had essentially been a mascot. It was only today that Ayaka had finally seen her in her true, towering form.
"I'm the one misunderstanding?"
Listening to Ayaka, Ei [name] felt a sharp pang of hurt. It seemed the three of them were a tight-knit family now, and she was the outsider. Were they conspiring to keep secrets from her? She was, after all, Ei's sister! And she was no false individual generated by a dream—a fact Su Ran knew better than anyone. Did she not count as family anymore?
"Then, Ei, what about the child you mentioned?"
Faced with the interrogation, Ei kept her head low. She didn't know how to explain it. Was she supposed to admit that the child was actually her? That she had spent her time since waking up trapped in a tiny body, being carried around like a mascot, even letting commoners call her "Little Ei"? She was a proud woman, especially now that her sister had returned. Her pride mattered more than ever.
"That child..."
Her stammering and hesitant appearance left Su Ran feeling incredibly uneasy. Was it possible that in order to secure her sister's support to win him over, she had resorted to spreading rumors? Had she fabricated a story about having a child with him? Was that truly necessary?
"You admitted it yourself earlier, and Yae Miko told me everything. Is it all a lie?"
Ei [name] felt wounded all over again. Even when confronted directly, Ei refused to own up to it. If it were a misunderstanding as Ayaka claimed, why not just explain? If she had nothing to hide, why was she afraid to speak?
"Ahahaha!"
A burst of laughter cut through the silence. Yae Miko had reverted to her human form at some point, and she was now clutching the wall, doubled over in amusement at the bickering sisters. Had it really been so long since she'd had a bit of fun? Her laughter drew everyone's attention, and once she had their eyes on her, she brazenly shot a wink toward Su Ran and Ei.
"..."
They both shook their heads, completely lost as to what she meant.
"Fine then. Actually, Lady Ei [name], that child is mine and Su Ran's."
Seeing that neither of them would play along, Miko felt annoyed. If they wouldn't accept her help, she would stop putting out the fire—and start fanning the flames instead! She knew Ei [name] had assumed the child Ei mentioned was her own, failing to consider that Ei had simply shrunk.
"Miko, stop stirring up trouble," Ei [name] snapped. How could a child of Miko and Su Ran possibly look like Ei? That wasn't how lying worked. She wasn't as easily fooled as her younger sister.
"Then... Miss Ei [name]? Is there any possibility that the child you're talking about is actually just Ei herself?"
Ei reached out to stop Su Ran, but hesitated and pulled her hand back. Ei [name] saw the gesture clearly. She sighed, looking between them.
"Su Ran, do you acknowledge me as your sister-in-law? I heard you calling me 'sister' just a moment ago." She had caught that clearly. "So, why are you and the others choosing to collude and deceive me?"
Ei [name] looked so full of sorrow it was impossible not to feel pity for her. She certainly looked pitiful, but Su Ran was not about to admit to something that wasn't true! He had harbored thoughts about Ei, certainly, but having thoughts didn't mean they had actually produced results. Being made a father out of thin air was simply impossible.
"But... I've only known Ei for less than a week. How could we possibly have a child already?"
The question left Ei [name] stunned. Less than a week? So their child...
Her mind began to race. Archons were far more powerful than humans, meaning their gestation periods should be longer, not shorter. Was it possible she really had misunderstood?
"If you don't believe me, Miss Ei [name], I could give it a try with Ei right now. Shall we see if you'll have a niece or nephew within a week?"
Su Ran said it with a straight face as a joke. Ei nodded along instinctively, then paused, tilting her head as she realized what he'd said. A week? Give her sister a niece or nephew? With whom?
Ei struck, her hand darting toward the soft flesh at Su Ran's waist. Su Ran's internal assessment was that it lacked the lethality of the Shogun's blade.
Realizing she had indeed made a mistake, Ei [name] grew flustered. Being told she looked as beautiful as Ei hadn't made her shy or awkward, but this certainly did. She ducked her head, staring at the chessboard. Where should she move next? Could she gain the upper hand and turn the game around? She started looking for an escape.
Su Ran glanced at the board and delivered the final blow.
"Checkmate."
Ei [name] fumed. *No mercy at all! I'm keeping track of this grudge!*
Only Ayaka remained fixated on the game. *Shouldn't it have been Lady Ei [name]'s turn? Su Ran, you cheated!*
Ei [name], her heart in total disarray, had no intention of thinking about whose turn it actually was.