"Mhm~"
"Mmm..."
Philip and Tenshi finished their passionate kiss and they pulled their heads away
"We're not done yet, are we?"
Tenshi asked as she's slightly sulking that Philip has been busy this entire day. She also seemed like she has been keeping time and she wanted to allot enough time for the surprise
"No, I would like to visit at least two more people..."
"Hm, okay. It's best that we move now"
Tenshi unwrapped her arms around Philip's neck and let go
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Oh, it's nothing"
"Really? Is there a surprise for me?"
"Urk-!"
Tenshi was stunned. She didn't expect for Philip to learn about the surprise now, but it couldn't be helped now since the cat's out of the bag
"I'm just kidding! If you have a surprise, I won't ask about it nor read your thoughts about it. I don't want to ruin any surprise and ruin anyone's effort"
"Right... I appreciate it"
Tenshi smiled, but inside her, she was plenty relieved
'Phew!'
Both of them then started to walk to the other side of the hallway. Their next destination should be very near as Philip wanted to meet Sheena this time
"Do you want me to stay out again?"
Tenshi asked in curiosity
"Hmmm... Nah. I think it's better if you come too"
"Hm?"
"Well... I'm seeing the future a little bit..."
Tenshi turned her head towards Philip and looked at his eyes. Philip's eyes were still glowing with golden light and a faint blue light pulsates around his iris
"Alright, if you say so"
"Don't you want to see Sheena?"
"It's not that! It's just... I rarely talked to her... I wanted to talk to her more, but it's been hard"
"So, it's kinda like little sister and big sister type of thing?"
"Yeah, kinda... We had a good relationship in the past, but it feels like we have been growing apart due to the separate missions that we have been doing, especially since Mark has died. I think she's been indifferent..."
"Well, look..."
Philip went ahead and held Tenshi's left hand with his right hand as they were walking through the hallway
"We'll change that, okay?"
"Y-yes! Thank you... She's like my best friend ever since I came to this world"
"I know... I want your happiness, so I'll help you"
"..."
Tenshi didn't know how to respond and she just smiled genuinely
Not even a minute has passed, Philip and Tenshi arrived in front of Sheena's room
"Are you ready?"
Philip asked Tenshi
"Yes"
Tenshi answered and Philip knocked on the door
*Knock knock knock*
"Oh? Who's there??"
Sheena's voice echoed from inside of her room
"It's Philip and Tenshi"
"Ah! Coming!"
Sheena took some steps before the doorknob clicked and opened the door
"Philip! Tenshi! What made you visit?"
"..."
Before Philip replied, he gazed towards Tenshi and then towards Sheena
"Can we enter and talk inside?"
"Uh, yeah sure"
Sheena opened the door wider and stepped aside. Philip kept observing Sheena as he read her body language
Sheena seemed to be a little agitated, worried, and confused. Philip would want to know her concerns and fix it for her
He was then surprised as soon as he entered Sheena's room. There was a small opening on the floor just in front of the door and there are several slippers and shoes lined across the edge. Beyond the opening on the floor is an elevated floor with tatami mats padded on the floor
This gives Philip Japanese vibes. It was a given since Sheena was born and raised in Japan as her surname is Azuma
Her room is also minimalistic with an electric fan, an altar, a framed bed and a cushion, a closet, a mini fridge, and a kotatsu in the middle of the room with pillow chairs
Philip's eyes widened as he felt like he was in Japan
"Uwaaa~! Your room is so nice!"
Tenshi exclaimed as she felt nostalgia from setting foot into Sheena's room after taking off her shoes. She was also raised in Japan, but her birthplace was still unknown and it's a mystery that Philip wants to learn about someday
Philip also took off his torn shoes and stepped into the tatami mats. As usual, the first genuine experience he felt has sent signals through his brain as he felt the softness and authenticity of the tatami mats
Tenshi walked and looked around while Philip stood awkwardly still. He wanted to sit on the pillow chairs and experience the feeling of sitting in front of a kotatsu
Just then, as if his prayers were heard, Sheena urged her visitors to take a sit
"Come, sit down and make yourselves comfortable. I'll prepare cold tea"
"Thank you!"
Tenshi cheerfully answered as she went ahead and sat down on the pillow chair, next to the kotatsu. Philip also went ahead and sat down next to her
'Strange...'
Philip muttered in his head. He felt at peace, but at the same time chaotic. He couldn't shake off the feeling of extreme restlessness, but he also feels as if he's in the state of serenity
In no time at all, Sheena brought in three glasses of iced tea and placed it in front of Philip, Tenshi, and herself. She also sat down on the pillow chair, opposite from Philip and Tenshi
"So, what made you two visit?"
Sheena started the conversation
"Well, how have been living in the mansion?"
Philip asked
"It's kinda nice! Although, it kinda feels different because I feel like I'm in a long vacation since I'm not in some kind of mission after the military base was destroyed..."
"Do you miss doing missions for the military?"
"Haaah..."
Sheena rested her head on her hands as her elbows are on the kotatsu table and she gazed towards the window
"I don't know... I miss everyone though... The general is dead, Mark is dead, Elaine is dead... Only three of us are left out of five of the squadron..."
"..."
"..."
Philip just stared at Sheena and he could read that she's longing for the squadron. Meanwhile, Tenshi has been restless and wanted to speak to Sheena. She was fidgeting in place and she seemed hesitant to act
"..."
Philip felt the awkwardness around him and he was thinking on how he would make it so that Tenshi and Sheena would be able to talk
"Alright, let's cut to the chase!"
"...!"
"Hm?"
"I'm usually not good at this, so I'll be direct!"
"...!"
Sheena was surprised. For some reason, her heart thump and her cheeks slighty flushed from Philip's words
"..."
Tenshi was looking at Sheena and her eyes widened, like a cat, and her mouth formed an upsidedown triangle
'No way?'
"I've talked to Tenshi and she said she missed talking to you and hanging out with you..."
"Ah..."
Sheena exclaimed in surprise
"She said it has been hard to talk to you, so this should be the chance for both of you to talk"
"Oh!"
Tenshi had her head lowered from embarrassment since Philip just casually blurted out her concerns
"..."
In actuality, Sheena was also embarrassed because she feels the same. Ever since Tenshi became the Totality Catalyst and absorbed several catalyst from the mock battles, she felt as if Tenshi is now unreachable. It even became harder when Tenshi, or Amatsuka, declared herself as Philip's Messenger of Fate in front of everyone while fighting Amare
"..."
"..."
Tenshi and Sheena made eye contact and both of them giggled
"Hehe~ This feels like it's a reunion for both of us"
"I know right?"
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence ensued for a few seconds
"..."
Philip just kept quiet and stared into emptiness
"Look, Tenshi... I was not avoiding you at all nor I don't want to talk to you... In fact, I really want to hang out with you more!"
"It's the same for me!! Ever since everyone that we love died in the military base and the catastrophe, I feel like we are growing apart from each other!"
"That's not the case at all... I initially first felt that when you became more powerful, you became unreachable and I don't deserve to stand by your side!"
"That's--!"
"But I knew that's stupid and you're my best friend, my family, my sister! So, that's inexcusable..."
"Then... Is there any problem? You can talk to me, to Philip!"
"..."
Sheena gazed towards Philip and he gazed back at her. She immediately avoided eye contact the moment their eyes met and her cheeks flushed
"Oh? Do you have a crush on Philip?"
Tenshi decided to be daring
"..."
Sheena didn't reply, but instead, she cutely nodded her head as if replying to Tenshi
"Wha-?!"
'Urk!'
Tenshi was shocked that Sheena would be this honest. Meanwhile, Philip was stunned and dumbfounded. He's thinking that there's now another girl that he has to consider her feelings
"Huh! No, w-w-wait wait wait!"
Sheena realized her blunder and honesty and tried to correct herself, but she also realized that it was late so her whole face turned red
At this point, Tenshi scooted over next to Sheena and tapped her with her elbow
"Eh, eh, eh... You have a crush on him, eh? Well, no matter! Good choice!"
"H-huh?"
"Don't worry about it! So... Why did you gaze at him in the first place?"
Tenshi quickly cut to the chase
"I've been thinking about this for a while... The Mana Avatar during the catastrophe... He said that I was a Peacemaker. What does that mean?"
"..."
Tenshi became serious and silent
"..."
Philip widened his eyes and decided to tell everything to Sheena, except for the identity of the Time Felon and the Mobiüs Trinity. He told about the identities of the Peacemakers and Peacekeepers and their purpose in the universe back before they were wiped, Mathilda's personality that's living inside of her, Mathilda's ability, and her connection to the Peacemakers
"So, with Mathilda being able to transform parts of her body into mechanical parts, she is a different type of Peacemaker. On the other hand, you are the same as her, but different type. Maybe back then, your type is what upgrades Mathilda's type?"
"Then, is there also another personality harboring my body??"
"That's what I want to find out... That's the other reason why I personally came here. I'll be changing your fate"
"Ah, how?"
"Do you want to know who you truly are?"
"..."
Sheena was silent and considered if she should learn the truth
"More than four years ago... I was alone in our household. I was addicted in mobile devices and computers that I always spend my time for the entire day just touching technology. When I woke up, I suddenly had this power and any technology, machines, or metals that I touch became more powerful, advance, or upgraded. That was when the military found me and recruited me in the squadron... I thought my power was normal and I never expected it to be this complicated..."
"Your answer?"
"..."
"..."
"Before I answer... Can I ask you a question?"
"Yeah, sure"
"When I touched Mathilda when we were invaded yesterday... I fell into a trance and saw visions"
"...!"
Philip widened his eyes and listened closer to Sheena
"What did you see?!"
"If I remember correctly... There was a planet, a planet that looked mechanical, like a planet made of gear and clockwork. The planet emanates an extremely bright white light that it's almost blinding, but the surface of the planet could still be seen. The planet looks like a giant black black hole with a halo of white light. Giant shiny spaceships and thousands to millions of flying beings drifting through space. Several colossal machines or mecha hovering in space... Then there's an uncountable amount of mobius strips with three points shooting through the space as it glitters the entire spatial area..."
"..."
Philip narrowed his eyes as he listened to Sheena's vision of touching Mathilda. He was worried, but at the same time curious
'Emily, is using Origin Seeker on her dangerous?'
「 It depends... But chances are, almost zero percent 」
'I see...'
Philip then glared at Sheena and this made her flinch
"Alright, I'm going to change your fate based of everything that you've said..."
"But, I want to know who I truly am!"
"I know, I will also give you that answer"
"Oh... What do I do?"
"Close your eyes and I'll touch your forehead"
"Okay..."
Sheena went ahead and closed her eyes as she presented her forehead towarfs Philip
Philip extended his right arm and prepared to touch Sheena's forehead. Tenshi called out to him
'Do you want me to come with you?'
'Hm, yeah sure. Why not'
Tenshi stood and held Philip's left hand. Philip continued his arm and it finally touched Sheena's forehead
「 Origin Seeker 」
Philip and Tenshi both closed their eyes and a kaleidoscopic hyperspace filled both of their visions until it was replaced by whiteness