Chapter 66 - chapter 66

(1 HOUR LATER)

Oriana Thomson kept Touma from having a heart attack by offering to pay for the cleaning of the dress. In addition, Yua stopped being mad after 10 minutes or so, and said she had more than enough resources to actually fix the dress up, but if Touma learned everything from his time with his roommates, it was that for the women of Gokusai family, the dresses were almost sanctified. Staining one was always extremely dangerous for his health.

'B-Barely saved, huh?'

However, right now, he had to focus on helping Yua, he could not afford being distracted.

On the way to his home, he talked to her about what she could do to get closer to her daughters. Besides that, Touma did not know anything else he could do, but he wanted to be with that imperfect mother through the way. Oriana followed them, also visibly curious about the development of events.

The first happened to be a middle level of difficulty.

"Amazora? You are here, right?"

A small blond head popped behind from the corner of the corridor.

"Oh? Onii-chan!"

"Amazora, there is someone here to see you..."

Touma motioned to Yua, who came into view, followed by Oriana.

Amazora's eyes narrowed and she glanced to the side.

"Amazora... my sweet..."Yua began unsurely, before clearing her throat, and speaking more firmly" I am here to spend time with you. I know that last time was not a nice reunion you could have hoped for... but I am here to make things right! Out of all of my children, you had the least chance to know me, so if I can come in and-"

"No"

The young girl pouted and slid back behind the wall. Even from that one 'no' the lack of willingness for the interaction was really apparent.

Yua swallowed loudly, but remained undeterred.

"Amazora, I know that... your sisters told you mixed things about me. But I really love you, I just... I was just... lost in how to correctly express it. That's why I don't want to decide now. I will leave it up to you. We don't have to do it here, we can do something fun around the city, but just... let me prove myself to you."

After a moment, as if it wasn't a natural thing for that proud woman, came a single...

"Please..."

There was a long moment of hesitation, before Amazora finally came from behind the cover.

To Touma's surprise, she sprung into running.

Unsurely, Yua opened her arms with a small smile on her face...

Only for the girl to whizz past her and jump into Oriana's arms

"Ori nee-chan! I missed you" she said, affectionately rubbing Oriana's cheek with her own.

"Heh, I missed you too, squirt" Oriana laughed, ruffling Amazora's hair.

Touma did not have to possess Kaibi's heart-sensing prowess to know that Yua's heart shattered into tiny pieces, as she still crouched in that same position.

He bent over and gently touched his arm. She jumped on the contact and looked at him. She was trying hard to appear cool, but her trembling lip ruined that image.

"Remember what we talked about? Step by step?" he said gently, offering her a hand." Let's go along with what she wants and hope things will work out"

She slowly nodded as she grasped his hand, and followed her daughter and niece to the elevator.

(AFTER NEXT FEW HOURS)

The attempts to follow Amazora's hobbies were... well, there.

What else could be said?

It was painfully clear that Yua could not really find herself on the shooting range. It was not even about accuracy and enjoyment of the shooting. It was the fact that she was barely able to hold the weapon right and not shoot the others instead of the target.

Touma noticed that Amazora was glancing at her mother from time to time, but other than that, she didn't say a thing to her.

Yua tried her best to entertain her daughter and ask things about her hobby, but it still seemed forced. Touma could only guess that she was somewhat uneasy with the fact that her youngest child was enthusiast at using a gattling gun of all things. Which didn't make the efforts easier at all.

On the other hand, Oriana actually used a Shorthand charm to shoot something akin to burst of flame on the practice target, which earned a clapping of excitement from Amazora and the uncontained chatter asking how she did it.

As Oriana went with invented story, Touma sat near the grim looking mother.

"Hey, don't look so down. It's not that bad"

Yua looked at him flatly, and Touma experienced first-hand the genetic origin of 'Kaibi disgust glare' that middle sister sent to people in the moments of great annoyance"

"Really?"

"I..." he hesitated, before deciding to be fully honest" I... don't know for sure. But I think it's too early for giving up..."

But it was no better with Amazora's favourite arcade. Or her shop with posters. Or cinema during newest zombie apocalypse movie, adapted from one of Amazora's favourite manga.

Finally, at the restaurant, almost completely resigned Yua receieved a dish from the counter. She looked at Touma, who nodded in approval, before walking to the table by which Amazora and Oriana sat, and put the dish before her daughter.

"Dumplings with oysters and wakame. I heard it's one of your favourites"

Yua spoke in somewhat resigned tone, but still smiled slightly at Amazora.

Even if the small girl was bent on remaining silent earlier on, she couldn't help the excited

"Yum!"

That she uttered while taking the first bite.

Yua's smile got warmer at that.

"You like oysters that much, Amazora?"

After munching thoughtfully, Amazora finally answered

"Yup. I love them a lot. Dunno why, but when I eat them... I felt all warm and fuzzy, and good-feely"

"Is that so?"

After a moment Yua felt Amazora staring at her intently.

"Why are you trying so much? I don't get it" she finally muttered, looking at her plate" Kai onee-chan told me you are horrible, that you tried to overwork Riku onee-chan, and did not care for us."

"I can... see why she thinks that." Yua admitted sadly" I made a lots of mistakes back then"

"So why did you try through for hours even though you are doing things really wrong?" Amazora could not help but giggle" You grabbed the rifle backwards and started to cheer on the wrong guy in cinema!"

Yua blushed and cleared throat.

"I... I still have a lot to learn, young lady."

"But... are you really wanting us?"

"Oh, Amazora. Even though things went awry, I never stopped loving you. I was just... stupid, and proud, and angry, and sad, and I couldn't... I failed you. I am sorry for that. But I really want to change. Like I said, if you give me a chance, I will get better in time"

"Hmm..." Amazora made an overly serious face, playing with her chopsticks" I don't know, but... you look like you are really trying, even when you suck"

The blush deepened.

"Y-You are a little harsh, my daughter... and what is this language? I am merely... inexperienced"

"Amazora" Oriana added" You said that you almost don't know your mother. And it's nice for you to listen to your sisters' opinions. But you are a big girl now, so if you don't know something or someone, learn to judge by yourself. But you can't do it without giving a chance. If the results will be disappointing, you can still walk away. But if something good comes out of it, you will gain much more than before"

Amazora nodded and finally smiled widely.

"Okay, I am in"

"R-Really? Thank you, you won't regret it" Yua looked at the plate" For a starting point, you intrigued me with those oysters. This is already a link between us."

"Huh? Whadya mean? Mom likes oysters too?"

"There is more to it. You see, three pregnancies is not something to sneeze at. Even with healthy body and good pelvis proportions..."

"Oh right, mom has big butt too..."

"... You are definitely taking after your father with that sharp tongue... anyway, even with no visible risk, third pregnancy carried a risk for the child in my case. I did a lot to ensure that my baby, you, will be born healthy and strong. From the looks of it, at least in that I didn't fail... among other things, like sleeping, careful pregnancy exercises, I eat lots of oysters and fruit..."

"No way! Lots and lots?!"

"Lots and lots. Cooked oysters are good source of vitamin B12, zinc, and minerals. I took great care to ensure oysters were of high quality and fresh, among other foods I ate. So... there is a theory that what mother eats during a pregnancy affects not only health, but also some preferences of the future child. It is considered a pseudoscience, but maybe..."

"I think she has this" Touma smiled, as he and Oriana watched mother and daughter slowly bracing through the conversation.

"Through stomach to heart I guess" Oriana chuckled at the sight.

"Yay! Let's go home and tell onee-chans!"

BUMP!

The table jumped and ample portion of soy sauce landed on the edge of Yua's chest, topping the coffee stain with even darker pattern.

Amazora scratched her cheek, glancing at Touma.

"Oopsie?"

Like brother, like sister, so it seemed.

(LATER, IN GOKUSAI + KAMIJOU RESIDENCE)

They found Rikuri back home.

And to Yua's bewilderment, her oldest daughter smiled and ran to hug her.

She knew that Rikuri was least hostile out of her daughters when it came to re-forging their bond, but...

That seemed too good to be true.

Rikuri introduced her own guests, Hanatsuyu twins and Yakumaru Itsuki. Quartet of the resident chemists drank tea (or at least, three of them drank tea. What Kaai chose to drink did not resemble the hot water poured on tea leaves at all, and everyone felt safer not asking what it actually was), ate sweets, and talked about their newest formulas and developments.

Index, accompanied by Sphynx, was also there, sticking out in that scientific company like a pink flamingo in a coal mine, but there was no surprise there. She was obviously enjoying free food and nothing more.

Rikuri, Amazora, and Touma had to fight really hard to stop their laughter upon Yua's reactions to Kaai and Youen, girls in Amazora's age group which had the same chest size as her, if taking into account body proportions. Yakumaru, in her 'natural', hair-loose mode, earned a whole different sentiment, with Yua looking at her from almost very angle with hearts in her eyes. It was only natural for the woman running a modelling business and fashion company to be smitten with Itsuki, but that was a bit embarrassing even for girl as proud as she was.

Rikuri enthusiastically talked to her mother, and she had much easier time understanding drones and chemistry than Amazora's hobbies. But still...

She looked besides her oldest daughter. Youen was talking to Touma and laughing at something. Touma reprimanded her, to which the small chemist lazily waved her hands in the air and then put them on her hips. Both Amazora and Index were obviously disagreeing with the labcoat girl at whatever was the topic of the conversation, and they got even more angry when Yoen smugly grasped Touma's hand and guided it onto her chest, which caused the boy to pale and desperately try to pull back.

"Rikuri..."

"Hmm?" Rikuri paused her speech about recent art ideas she was painting for AC Art Museum, and looked at her mother" Is something the matter?"

"Why are you so accepting of me? I mean, it's not like it's a bad thing and that I do not want it... but compared to your sisters, you are accepting of my attempts. Why? Why are you being benevolent? What I did was... in your interest, yes... but... I stopped seeing a daughter in you, and only saw a possible heiress... I thought I spent time with you, but in truth, I was only using you to feel like I was doing the right thing. I know you were scared of me. Right?"

Rikuri's eyes saddened a bit, when she looked outside of the living room at the cityscape, putting a hand on her large chest.

"Yes. Yes, I was" she admitted" I know you treated me wrongly back then. I did not express my fear, because I do not know who I could turn to. Father was gone, I had no heart to burden my sweet little sisters with it... and I felt I had no way to oppose you and speak my mind. I was still a small child. So I learned to cope with it... till the point I could not speak out or express it correctly. So instead of that, I wanted to protect my sisters. I thought if I saved them, I would find my own worth..."

"Rikuri... I am sorry I hurt you so much. No, I know that a simple sorry isn't enough"

"I know mother. I realize things need to take time to get better. Some day, I will be able to actually talk to you about it. One day... I promise. But you do not need to worry about it. Kaibi-chan is not the only one who had her heart opened through meeting this boy"

She smiled at terrified Kamijou Touma who tried to simultaneously fend of Index, Amazora, and Yakumaru (who just returned from the toilet) while trying to shake off grinning Yoen, who decided to latch onto his arm, chest first.

"I did not understand true love. Kamijou Touma showed me the way to slowly express my emotions without hiding, gave me something beautiful, and by simply being here and wanting to cherish this family with me, became someone wonderful in my life. I trust him, mother. I know that even if it kills him, he will be with me throughout the way. That's just how he is. Thanks to him, I am happy to be so gifted, both in mind and body. Earlier, I felt that no one truly saw me except my achievements. I never stopped craving that attention. I wanted to be praised for being enough. But my friends never understood it... and never did you. Only he and my sisters managed to stop and look at me for a longer while. Enough to see that I was broken and tried with all of my strength to be someone others could be proud of..."

Rikuri trailed off, getting lost in thought.

She only came back to reality after a comment from Yua

"I truly misjudged him. What a kind man you fell in love with."

Rikuri smiled affectionately. Flashes of memories of Touma deceiving her and not actually robbing Amazora of her gas mask appeared in her mind, helping her walk, and then performing shared attack not to kill, but merely incapacitate enemy, who turned out to be Hasako-san, their future friend.

"The kindest and bravest of them all"

Blushing, she dried off a tear that flew down her cheek.

"Well, let's not dwell on such serious stuff now. Oh, mother, you did not see our laboratory last time you were here because you left in a hurry! Girls, come here, we are showing off our treasure cave"

For a makeshift arrangement, the lab taking up part of the storage was indeed impressive, with experiment chamber, and desk filled with glass beakers, vials, distillators, burners, volumetric flasks, watch glasses, burettes, and more. The neat rows of catalogued samples of various substances, in 3 states of matter, were laying in rows on the cupboard taking up half of the wall.

Not only Rikuri, but also other dark side chemists turned this room into their private paradise, and throughout the day, at least one of them was locked inside, experimenting.

"It's very nice, isn't it? It's effort of our shared work" Rikuri said proudly.

"We wouldn't never have this place if it wasn't for Gokusai-senpai" Yakumaru said, gazing at the place with equal affection" And we would never would have so many good quality chemicals if not for Kaai and Youen's knowledge of great traders"

"Oh" Kaai grinned cockily" That's just sheer power of raw talent. But I admit, we could have not run this place so smoothly if it wasn't for you, Itsuki-san, and your cataloguing skills"

"Yeah, you certainly wouldn't" Youen snickered behind her twin's back" this place would be a decaying, filthy mess if you were left to manage it"

"Hey, is it really such a sin to work in a conditions that turn you on?"

"No comment on that one..."

"You can see for yourself. Just be careful"

Index took a vial with letter 'I' and smelled it.

"What's this?"

"Iodine" answered Yakumaru" It's scarce in its separated form, but you can feel it by the ocean when it's mixed with salts"

"And this?" Yua seemed equally interested, as her fingers touched various vials and flasks.

"Ammonium carbonate. Used in extinguishers"

"This?"

"Remdesivir. Can be used to treat ebola, but can also raise liver enzymes"

"And this gel?"

"Ketokonazole. Works well against all kinds of fungi. This is Milrinon, accelerates heartrate. Here we have ditrogen trioxide, calcium nitrate, sodium hydroxide, formaldehyde, silver oxide... oh, Yua-san, this one you will absolutely love."

Yua put another indicated vial under her nose.

"Oh, dear heavens! It feels like standing in the forest"

"That's because it's bornyl acetate. It imitates smell of pine needles." Rikuri explain" Can someone give me butyl butyrate?"

Another vial arrived. But when Yua inhaled it deeply, hoping for another pleasant aroma...

"Khh?! Cough, cough, cough!"

Her eyes burst into tears as she covered her nose with her hands.

Index curiously inhaled the aroma from the vial and after a moment sneezed so suddenly that poor Sphynx was catapulted from top of her head, shooting through the air like a spinning feline comet, before landing on all fours paws.

"Achoo!" Yua sneezed loudly as well, before coughing and rubbing her nose" What is this awful odour?"

"Yes. It smells like Sphynx's sandbox after not changing the sand for days!" Index complained.

As if agreeing with the statement, Sphynx hissed and quickly ran away.

Rikuri looked at the vial and sighed.

"Oh, that's pure ammonia mixed with oxygen. The sandbox is good lead, because ammonia is one of the primary components of urine. I see that you both discovered one of its usages. As it's pure form is very irritating to mucous membranes of nose and throat, it was often used to wake people up from being knocked out before proper salts were devised. But that's obviously not what we wanted to give you to smell."

She gave Kaai cross looks. Youen also followed with staring at her sister.

"Kaai, what did I tell you about pranking guests like this?"

"Sorry, not sorry, couldn't stop myself"

"It was my turn, I would have think of something better!"

"But anyway, it's impressive what you girls have here" Yua remarked" And what are you making now?"

"We thought about making some hydrogen chloride, to have spare portion for producing hydrochloric acid. You can never have enough hydrochloric acid"

"Can I help?" Yua inquired.

"I don't know if it's such a good-"

"Oh, nonsense. I had chemistry lessons at school. Just give me necessary ingredients"

"Alright, but let's gear you up first. Here you have gloves and glasses. Now, to make hydrogen chloride, we would actually need ammonia that we saw earlier. Let's see... here. You just have to add chlorine in condensed form into it, and we will get nitrogen and hydrogen chlorine. But don't..."

"Like this?" Yua asked, pressing the button releasing the gas onto container with ammonia.

"NOT THE WHOLE THING!" several voices yelled. "Everyone, close your eyes!"

There was a short flash of light and a bellowing boom, causing everyone to fall into the ground. Clouds of gas filled the room which strongly smelled like the swimming pool. A few flames was also scattered around the table, dying down.

"What... happened? Touma coughed, trying to get the pool smelling air out of his lungs.

Rikuri found the button on the wall and the room began to quickly ventilate, pushing the gas out.

"When ammonia is mixed with chloride in excess quantity...

"...it will form nitrogen trichloride..."

"...which is highly explosive upon even slightest stimulation..."

"... and breaks down into nitrogen and chlorine gas. It is also used as agent in swimming pools"

Rikuri, Kaai, Youen, and Yakumaru finished after one another.

"It is quite difficult for ammonia to actually combust. Your mom has talent. And we definitely know who you did not get your talent from"

And speaking about mom in question...

"Phew!"

Yua coughed out smoke, putting down the protective glasses, which left a clear shape on her otherwise blackened face.

"Well... that was stimulating" she muttered.

"Mother, you are on fire" Rikuri pointed out.

Indeed, there were few small, yellowish-green ammonia flames over Yua's luscious brown hair.

As the woman shrieked and quickly tried to put them out, Amazora wondered out loud:

"So... all of those things about water in the pool turning to a different colour when you pee is a lie? The pool... a-a-actually explodes?!"

It was specialty of this girl to draw wrong conclusion from relatively correct chain of reasoning. But in the end, that was one of the quirks that made her so lovable.

"Also, I think that fate really hates my dress today"

(30 MINUTES LATER)

Kaibi arrived just when everyone finished the clean-up.

She and Yua faced one another just after the older Gokusai left the bathroom.

"Onee-chan is back!"

"Kaibi! Welcome home!" Touma greeted her with a smile.

"Good to see you, Kaibi-chan. I know you might be surprised, but mother is here to-"

Kaibi spared only a moment to look warmly at Touma and her sisters, before quickly walking past Yua with coldness more befitting a glacier than a human being.

"Kai-"

SLAM!

The door to sisters bedroom was slammed shut.

Yua sighed and shook her head.

"I supposed there could not be other reaction"

"Why? Why is Kaibi acting like this?" Index, not well oriented in the issues of Gokusai sisters past, asked Touma.

Touma thought about what he knew of Touma's childhood and how each of the sisters was treated. In contrast to Rikuri, Kaibi was largely ignored and unintentionally identified as the target of Yua's anger. She loathed the treatment of her sisters and she was the main driving force behind the sisters' eventual escape.

"Yua-san..."

"I have to try..." Yua clenched her fist" I came so far that, I had to do this..."

In her room, Kaibi rested her back against the door. She was about to move further in when she heard a voice.

On the other side of the door, Yua also leaned on it, looking backwards.

"Kaibi... I am aware that you probably don't want to have anything to do with me. And I am not here to force that on you. I am not stupid, and I realize that you have no reason to believe that I want to be a good mother after all that time of neglect. I am not going to say endless apologies, because I want to offer you a promise that I will try my best to make things right. Conversation with Kamijou-san really opened my eyes. I am trying to change, as clumsily as it is going.

I do want to say that I am sorry for tearing our family apart. I still feel that you shouldn't run away, but now I understood why you did it. I will never blame you for it. I did not give you the same amount of attention as your sisters, but you were always a strong girl. I know that you don't care about that, but I still want you to know that I acknowledge that strength now.

I don't know what I can do to make up for the need to do more when it comes to you. I want to spend time with you, to make the remaining time worth it. I wish for many things when it comes to you, among them, I wish for you to believe that I really try to change my own view of the world But your life is your own. If you want to go separate ways, that's fine. If you want to take time, that's fine. You don't have to love me. If one day you find it in your heart not to hate me, that's enough for me. I am going to prove to you that I can be better, because even if it's too late, I want to be able to love you again. That's... that's it from me"

Yua walked away from the door, assuming that this was all she could have done.

But after 10 minutes or so, the door creaked open. Shortly after, Kaibi in the flesh arrived at the table in the living room.

"Kaibi! You decided to-"

Kaibi slapped Yua's hand away.

"It's not over yet, mother" she said curtly, before taking place by Touma's side, shoulder-to-shoulder" Just so you know, I am not doing this for you. I am simply respecting the fact that Touma invested his time into helping you for my supposed interest. I wish to believe you. But thanks to the years of experience, I can safely tell you that in many cases, wishing is not enough. You are right, you have to prove it. You now care that I exist, after ignoring me for so long? I can forgive for myself, but I can't let go of what happened that easily. It's easy to turn away, but forgiving is hard. Sometimes, a distance in ones hard is a void impossible to breach. I will not allow for shortcuts of our relationship using my ability. For years, I dreamed of being able to separate our ties for good, but because I know how it is to be in a position that seemed impossible for a change... I will give you this benefit of doubt. Don't make me regret it. Otherwise, I will make sure that our hearts remain permanently distant. Trust me, I can see to that"

Yua said nothing, her blue eyes meeting Kaibi's pink.

And then, she nodded with a smile that carried both sadness and hope.

"Fine. You really changed, Kaibi, you know that?"

Kaibi gave Touma a meaningful look before smiling slightly.

"Yes. I am more than aware"

(20 MINUTES LATER)

"Are you sure this is alright with you?" Touma asked Kaibi, as they stood on the balcony, watching people inside" She is your mother, despite it all"

"I know. But as far as I am concerned, she has to earn it. We cannot simply forget. Not everyone can simply forgive too, like you do." the girl said wistfully.

Wind blew. Kaibi's golden bracelets shone in the light from the inside as she reached to her face to brush the hair from that tickled her ear.

"You may be right. Still, I think that you might have chosen revenge when we first met" Touma remarked" I am proud that you are not doing it now. Because there is a huge difference between leaving a way to forgiveness and seeking vengeance for the past."

"I think you still don't fully grasp the effect you had on me throughout our relationship" Kaibi gave him a meaningful look" Though, in your defense, it's not like I realized it quickly too. I am happy that Amazora made that mistake and that we initially got stuck together. Even if you infuriated me to no end, perhaps I needed that. You got what it took to do it for all of us..."

"To do what?"

"Face them. We had to face our fears. Both me and my sisters. Still, I was a skilled darksider, and before, I didn't exactly have the most ideal domestic environment... so I never imagined that regular life could be so rewarding. Living as a family gave me peace in heart. And it's because of you that I could feel it"

"I think you are giving me a bit too much credit here. You came to realize your feelings and it was through your effort that you were able to move forward"

"No... even if that was true, I still needed you for the process to even begin. You made an impact on my life whether you like it or not. I've encountered many guys in my life, accompanied many men... but neither of my clients, not even Kakine, gave me what you gifted me: myself. You stripped my masks, leaving me only with the truth. Because it was you, I could not hide behind my ability. You gave me myself, and I am just getting started to remembering how nice it feels to actually be yourself in your own skin."

She then shivered and stepped forward, snuggling into his chest.

"Kaibi?"

"It's cold, you know"

He laughed, closing her arms around the girl and keeping her close.

At which point did he learn to do that before being overly flustered?

"That's what you get for walking outside of the heated room with bare shoulders. Why don't we go inside?"

"Maybe we should... but..." Kaibi trailed off for a moment" I like your arms. It feels so nice here that heat of the room seems like a poor substitute"

"Oh, is it now? Even though you may still catch a cold"

"I'll take a risk. And if you catch it, I am sure you will be well cared for"

"A-After remembering last time, I have my slight objections..."

"Hush you..."

She lifted her head up, smiling at him coyly.

"Besides, don't tell me cuddling up with a girl does not count as a win in your book"

She was right. Kaibi's warmth was adding to his own, her skin was very soft in touch, and she smelled really good.

Allowing himself a few more seconds of contact, Touma was about to gently separate from Measure Heart, but just before he did, she whispered quietly.

"Just because there are tons of others who want your attention, and just because me and my sisters sworn to have more or less equal standing while we wait for you to be in a better moment for a romantic relationship... doesn't mean I won't do everything I can to truly charm you. In every aspect too"

Now it was his time to shiver, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by Kaibi.

"When you actually charm someone you love, you are scarily convincing"

She laughed at that, loudly and clearly, with small sparks of mirth dancing throughout her pinkish irises.

"It's a gift. No come on, mother or no mother, there are still things to do inside"

(AN HOUR LATER)

"So you are telling me this is not a costume?"

"No, I am really an anglican nun. Well, nun in training"

"Your friend is truly fascinating, Kamijou-kun. And rather... how to put it... polar, for her age. Overly mature in one things, and rather childish in the other" Yua whispered to Touma, before engaging with Index again" You mentioned that you work with books?"

"Yes, I am a library."

"You work in the library, you mean"

"No. I have a whole library here in my brain"

"Oh, you british have such strange humour at times"

One of the weirdest combinations of bonds happened, as Index and Yua apparently found a common language, both viewing each other like a pair of some exotic animals separated by glass. Index had a conversation with a model and it led to a small discussion on the worldviews, and later on the fact that Index was a member of the clergy. Apparently, Yua did not have much experience with christianity, or the semitic religions in general.

Right now, they were chatting as Touma and Index walked with Yua to the bus stop of the line that would take to the hotel.

"So, how do you think it went?" Touma asked.

"Well..." the mature woman hesitated, before smiling with a nostalgic sadness hidden in her eyes" Kaibi said more than 10 words to me. That's better. I hope things will turn out good, and I hope this was a good start"

"I think so too" he agreed, with Index also nodding beside him" Those things take time and are complicated. Life is not a fairy tale. But if you work on it, you will be rewarded for sure"

"Rewarded..." Yua thought of something for a moment, before nodding too" It's still incredible, how you go above and beyond to rescue the bond I had with my daughters"

"Like I said, it is because I care for them. I think you need to be in that family to make it complete. There is never too many bonds in this world. True, genuine bonds, that is"

Before Yua could answer, a new voice asked

"Kami-yan? Who is that?"

Behind them was a boy with bleached blue hair and pierced ears.

"Kami-yan!" Aogami Pierce pointed at Touma accusingly" Just because you are faring so much better than us ordinary mortals doesn't mean that you have to shove it in my face by shamelessly expanding your defended onee-san preference to mother archetype. I mean, not that I blame you, I wouldn't hate it in any other case, but since it is you, it's like twisting a knife in the wound!"

Touma sighed and studied a red slap-mark on Aogami's cheek.

"Let me guess, you harassed another girl at the bakery you live over?"

"Oh come on, as if I could ever do that. A girl and her teacher! And it was not harassing, I just approached them and complimented them, playing a long term game..."

Touma could only imagine what 'compliments' led to such outcome when Aogami Pierce was involved.

"Should I call the police?" Yua asked wearily.

"No, I don't think they can help him." Touma said half-jokingly" Also, he is my friend. And you, look what you are doing! Yua-san looks at you as if you were trash."

"Bold of you to assume that a disgusted look from a haughty, sexy bombshell of a mother character is not a turn-on"

"..."

"Nun-chan, long time no see!"

"A deviants like you should be sent to the last circle of hell"

"Oh, come on? Remember that time when I bought you snacks? I thought we were good"

"... should be sent to penultimate circle of hell"

"Anyway, what's the deal? I had no idea you had a need for someone to be your mommy"

Aogami said that as a joke, but Yua delivered a punchline that sent everyone into a stunned silence and earned a jaw-drop from Touma.

"After today, I would be proud. If he was my son, that is. Everyone, I'll take it from here. Goodnight"

She walked away from the shocked trio, her long hair swaying from left to right from the unconscious movement loop of her hips, as she disappeared in the distance.

"You see..." Aogami finally muttered" That just proves my point, damn it!"

III. BATTLEFIELD OF THE DIVINE

Kamijou Touma once encountered a girl who fell from the sky. Namely, she landed on the balcony.

But it was still strange that it happened twice. And this time, she truly hit the bullseye.

Yes. She landed on him. Or, more precisely, crashed into him with high speed.

In one moment, he was walking on the peaceful stroll with Othinus on his arm, minding his own business. In the next, he crashed onto the ground, struck by a human silhouette.

It was a miracle that the was not killed then and there. But the humanoid projectile did not fall from outer atmosphere or similar altitude. It seemingly popped into existence much lower, slightly above the city. The fact that it slightly slowed down its descent over time also helped explain the fact that Kamijou was not squashed into a bloody pulp.

Or maybe his constant misfortune slowly but steadily built up his resistance to things that would normally kill a person. That was not entirely out of question.

Putting that aside, he slowly came to and frantically searched for his small Understander

"Othinus? Othinus?! Are you alright?"

He heard quiet coughing and he saw the fairy hanging to his hoodie with one arm, covered in dust from the road.

"I am… fine, human"

He picked her up and gently dusted her off

"Thank gods!"

"Don't thank us yet"

He noticed that all of the sudden, they weren't alone.

Two familiar goddesses appeared by each side.

The humanoid missile bounced to the side, still covered in cloud of dust.

"Nephthys? Niang-Niang? What brings you here out of the blue"

Both of them pointed at the shape on the ground.

"We felt a… disturbance" Nephthys said firmly" This phase was breached."

"Breached?! And what do you mean with 'disturbance'? Some… Magic God sense?"

Niang-Niang thought for a moment, before waving her arms

"It's a bit like…it feels like this..."

What followed looked like a combination of macarena with epileptic seizure.

Anyway, what is that?" Touma looked wearily at the slowly rising shape

"Not what but who. And I think" Nephthys wrinkled her nose, before sighing heavily" That we already know it"

"Maybe we are wrong!" Niang-Niang said, with her tone suggesting she wished they were" Maybe it's not actually-"

Then, the dust finally cleared and they saw the fallen individual clearly.

"Oh no, not her!"

"Oh no, not her!"

"Oh no, not her!"

The fact that not only Nephthys and Niang-Niang synchronized in their dismay (with Shijie-Xian being particularly vocal about it) but Othinus also achieved this unexpected harmony, spoke volumes on the fact that all three divine females knew the newcomer, and their arrival was met with mixed reactions.

Or rather, her arrival. Because it was a woman. A woman who beyond any certainty of inhuman nature. Touma could sense it from looking at her, because it was one of the craziest visual experiences he ever had in his life.

It was as if someone put two different lenses on each on his eyes, causing some strange double vision.

On the one hand, the woman was undisputedly one of the most beautiful beings he ever set his eyes on. She was... she was like...

Think of the most beautiful woman you ever saw. And then try to multiply her beauty and elevate it 100 times. It would still lack the charm, grace, feminity, and absolute gorgeousness of the newcomer One standing in front of Touma exceeded anything he could ever imagine. He never expected anyone or anything could be that beautiful.

The woman's body didn't have static form. It kept changing, with hair length and colour, hue of the irises, proportions of her chest, shape of her face... all shifting into more and more beauty the longer he looked at them.

Yes, that was definitely one side.

But on the other hand...

He was seeing something else. Beyond, or maybe parallel to the beauty, there was a sight that was much more grotesque.

Something seemed to move and shift alongside woman's skin, as if living creatures were just about to burst out of her. In the eyes of confused Touma, woman's foot was replaced by a cloven hoof, and pair of horns sprouted from her head, only to by changed by antlers a moment later. Her arm turned into snake scales, and her leg suddenly grew hair similar to that of a bear. Another arm became slimy and octopus like, only to be replaced by a feathery wing-like apendage. Scales, tentacles, fur, claws, horns, spikes, fins, and more could be seen in shifting and changing body. As if multitude of animals were trying to settle onto one particular form, but failing.

Touma never thought arousal and absolute terror could coexist simultaneously in one heart and mind. He was sorely mistaken.

"Who... is that?" he finally spoke. The sight was giving him a bit of a headache

"That..." Niang-Niang clicked her tongue in annoyance" is Chimera."

"Now, now..." the woman called Chimera spoke" Is there any way to talk to a fellow Magic God?"

Her voice was peculiar too. It was sweet, like a harp, but slightly distorted. Not enough to be dissonant or anything, but sounded like it couldn't quite find the right pitch.

"A Magic God?" Touma replied in surprise and slight apprehension" But I thought majority of you were still in the New World..."

"Not only Nephthys and the runt are good enough for escape" Chimera said, smiling, before she cocked her head curiously at Touma" Wait a second... you are... different..."

She suddenly closed in on him, with her face coming very, very close to his. He was so shocked that he did not even move away. Othinus was also startled and she almost fell from his arm a second time in an hour.

"Ch-Chimera-san... p-personal space..."

"Are you... human?"

"Y-Yes?"

"No human withstood looking at me like this. Unless..."

She wrinkled her perfect brow (that at the same time became scaly red) and pursed her bewitching lips (that for a moment looked more like a beak) as her eyes went down to his right hand.

"Of course. You are Imagine Breaker. I heard of you... but I had no chance to go through with being the one to convince you in joining the cause. So... what do you think of-"

"Hey, Chimera" Niang-Niang shouted from the side" Care to explain why you came to us?"

Chimera put a hand to her face, barely glancing at Niang-Niang.

"Ah, you are here. You are still so small that it was an easy mistake to miss you"

Niang-Niang's teeth grit against one another so hard that they could be used as spark-scattering flints.

Touma felt Nephthys grabbing his arm and pulling him aside. Chimera watched them with ever shifting eyes.

"Okay, what is going on?" Touma demanded, speaking to both Nephthys and Othinus" Why is everyone acting like this woman is a... I don't know..."

"Chimera is... not evil, she is just a bit..." Nephthys hesitated"

"Problematic. And intense" Othinus finished."It's not a stretch to call her a bad news. Especially for someone like you"

"W-What was that supposed to mean, Othi-chan?"

"Chimera has a specific personality, even for a Magic God. It would be unwise to-"

"I wasn't finished talking to him~... and I am not the one to be ignored"

Touma did not know when Chimera snuck out on him, but he was spun around and found himself staring deep into the eyes of mysterious Magic God.

Nephthys' eyes lit up in anger and Othinus looked as if she was ready to fight to her last breath despite her size, but Chimera paid attention to Touma only.

"My question was: what do you feel about me?"

Touma was so lost about the whole situation, that the answer instinctively spilled out

"You are really attractive, but... I get some serious stranger danger vibes, so can you move a little bit away?"

Chimera made a face that Touma could not really describe (not like describing any expression would be easy with a double-vision she was giving him).

"You... because of that hand... you see me, the real me, all of me... that's not how it supposed to be... you shall not do such thing! I will make you kneel before my effort... Kamijou Touma..."

And with that, she disappeared in a plume of smoke, exiting as suddenly as she arrived.

"Okay... what was that about? Can this woman make sense?"

"Oh, human..." Othinus groaned" Why did I delude myself into thinking you won't get yourself into any trouble?"

"Trouble? I did not do anything"

"Exactly. More precisely, you did not react in a way that Chimera wanted"

"What do you mean?"

"Let me clarify this for you" Nephthys offered" All of us Magic Gods ascended above the boundaries of humanity and sacrificed someone in return. In Chimera's case, she had the desire to transcend human limitations of beauty and incorporated various creatures into herself. As a result she attainted Transcendental Beauty, able to subdue almost any creature. She is simply too beautiful to bare. For most humans, just looking at her would make them pass out. We Magic Gods are unaffected by it... and it seems that you aren't too"

"Well, I see her as extremely beautiful" Touma frowned" but also... like a puzzle of different creatures, all shifting and changing like you said. It's because of Imagine Breaker? I am not fainting or anything, even if it makes me dizzy"

"That's correct. Imagine Breaker lessens the effect and also allows you to perceive Chimera's full nature. That's why she became interested in you. You are not automatically swayed in her favour. Hate to break it to you, but your indifference to her only heated things up."

"But why me?! And why she landed here, specifically?"

"I believe your luck, or lack of thereof, is a good explanation in both cases." Niang-Niang jumped into the conversation"" Also, Chimera is a narcissistic and self-destructive pervert. On top of being a-"

String of chinese words followed which Touma did not understood, but just be the tone of voice he could guess that they were not pretty adjectives.

"...overall, she is the type who doesn't understand the world 'stop'. With you, she has to put on some work to seduce you. That didn't happen to her in eons. Basically, you are her way to fight boredom"

"Fukou da. This sounds ominous as hell." Touma admitted, looking around" So she is pissed because I didn't drool over her, like other people? I mean, it's not like she looked bad, but there are... steps to those things, and-"

"She is not used to not being ultimately adored. It seems wrong to her pride. Thus, she might take action to 'correct' that oversight"

"I would love for some good news to be heard right now..."

But don't worry..." Nephthys assured him" Even though your honesty and straightforwardness was your undoing here, some of us find it very cute. Plus, it could be worse. She could try to kill you in retaliation or shift the universe to break you"

Nephthys offer at cheering up was met with silence. Othinus was particularly unamused.

"You are the goddess of funerals. Leave comedy to someone else"

"I-I can be funny though... i-if I want to! Especially for someone I like! Don't discredit me just because it hits too close to home for you. If he likes funny woman..."

"What, you read 'Being a clown for dummies'?"

Touma reassuringly put his hand on Nephthys' back before truly colossal streams of tears burst out of her eyes and moved it in massage motion. He then looked at Niang-Niang.

"Also, I couldn't help but notice that you are... especially on edge with Chimera"

"Oh" Niang-Niang let out a low chuckle" Right, it's not hard to miss. You see those two?"

She pointed at Othinus and Nephthys glaring daggers at one another.

"Me and Chimera are pretty much the same"

"Like a rivals? Why?"

"We have rather different worldviews and motivations. She is all about beauty and charm and looks, while I..."

"Are more head-first, though, action-driven, with lots of weapons" Touma finished

Niang-Niang flashed him a cocky smile.

"Yup. So we don't exactly see eye to eye. I think she is hypocritical, taking in all of those things and claiming she is most perfect ever. To me, she is like a mantis eating its partner's head after satisfying herself. Egotistical, narcissistic nymphomaniac. While she in turn calls me a barbarian, mocks my abilities, makes fun of my..."

Niang-Niang's purple cheeks darkened a little, as she unconsciously traced her hand over her chest, before abruptly concluding:

"She is just the worst!"

(1 HOUR LATER)

"Keep your mind alert" Nephthys advised, as they walked to the school and she transformed into her exchange student alter-ego" Chimera is far more dangerous than she seems. She clearly set her sights on you, so she is not gonna leave you alone."

"I noticed that is a rule with you Magic Gods so I am already on my toes"

"You meanie, not every one of us is like that!"

"Weren't you though?"

"What she means is..."Othinus explained" that while Imagine Breaker lessens regular effects of Chimera's presence, we don't know how much. Usually, one look at her causes people to faint. Hearing her voice, whiffing her scent or feeling desire towards her would literally combust your soul and cause your brain to melt. That's what it means to overcome the limitations of beauty. And that's just the most shallow level of her magic"

"O-Oh... w-well, I don't think she will make any hostile action with that many people around"

THUD! THUD! THUD!

"There is your answer. She is here" Othinus pointed at the street grimly.

A lone figure walked through the street. Around her, people fell down to the ground as if there was a sudden change of air pressure around them. Cars stopped or swayed to the sides, and people fell like fallen dominos, regardless of age, gender, or position, as she finally reached them.

"Perhaps..." she said in the same sweet yet eerie voice that Touma heard earlier" You reconsidered"

With a clatter of pyramid ornaments in her long hair, Nephthys moved slightly in front of Touma.

"I see your habits did not change one bit, Chimera."

"Nephthysssss..." Chimera ended her fellow Magic God's name with a hiss, as for a moment, her tongue became fork-like" This is a case between me, my beauty, and this... complicated human. As someone who has an inkling of beauty in herself, I respect you enough to tell you that you should step aside"

"I don't have anything against you, Chimera. But I know you enough to not allow you to have your ways with him."

"Is that so? For a collection of dust and slaves animated into one body, you have lots of confidence that you can stop my charm. I respect your looks, but you are fake, while I am genuine"

Nephthys narrowed her eyes, but did not fall to provocation.

"If being a fake also gives me deceitful worship out of fear, then being a fake is not so bad" she slowly said. She glanced sideways at Touma and he was almost sure she smiled to him for a moment" It took me millenia to realize that I would rather be worshiped and love by special individual who can truly understand and wipe my own tears away if needed than to go on alone. But you will never understand that, will you?"

"Chimera, we know that you crave to prove your supreme beauty to one human who is immune to it, but this particular human is not your plaything"

Chimera looked at Othinus with pity.

"I heard the rumors, but you can't blame for not taking you seriously when you look like this. You were so above it all when you chose not to exist among us. Look at you now. You are not even worthy an insult"

"That's enough"

Touma got in front of Nephthys and faced Chimera.

"So you will bow before my beauty?"

"You being beautiful outwardly is one thing, but insulting others is not an attractively quality at all. Especially if those insults are false"

Touma had his back to Othinus and Nephthys, so missed twin blushes that appeared on their faces.

"C-Chimera-san, you are a bit intense. Can we take things step by step, and maybe... go out or something?"

Chimera laughed and he knew that it was not what she had in mind.

"Amusing. Such amusing human. I broke free because I was curious... why some of us left before and now I think I realize it. I will make you kneel... and I hope you can amuse me even more"

She said before disappearing again.

"I have bad feeling about this"

"You are not the only one"

(FEW HOURS LATER)

If there was some other quality other than beauty and terror in Chimera, it was definitely persistence.

What she set out to do was on another level. Even if she was annoyed by Touma not being all drooly about her, he would never expect that.

Chimera snuck on him in various moments throughout the day. She simply appeared in various, inconspicuous places with rather dirty intentions. Not even watchful eyes of Othinus and Nephthys could predict where she will be next. Apparently she did not wish to be disturbed in her hunt, so no one else could see her.

She started to crawl onto his lap from behind his school desk. She dragged him into storage room. She appeared on the other side of the glass wall. Her face suddenly popped out of the bento his lips were about to touch. She disguised herself as the chair, for crying out loud! But the most terrifying thing was the moment in which frazzled Touma went to male bathroom. As he took his pants down, he glanced down. To his terror, the toilet disappeared altogether and Chimera was staring at his waist area with a shark like smile.

He bolted outside so quickly that he didn't realize his fly was still down before couple seconds later.

"This is too much! She is like a predator! A drop dead gorgeous, terrifying predator!"

If he thought Lessar was intense, Chimera's actions made her look like a little girl. No, in fact Touma would even marry Lessar out gratitude for how she was in comaprison, if she was to suddenly appear in front of him. Chimera did not play around. She actually wanted to make him subdued to her charm, force or no force.

He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Niang-Niang.

"Run away for now" she said sternly" This went far enough. I told you that I have a score to settle with her."

"But-"

"So, you finally came" Chimera said, her changing body appearing in the doorway." I was wondering where you went"

"Sorry, Chimera, but like we said, this human is off limits."

"Is that a challenge? Are you laying a claim?"

"What if I am?"

"I am not anyone's possession" Touma remarked, but two deities were too focused on one another.

Chimera narrowed her eyes.

"Those with lesser beauty should keep their mouths shut"

In the next instant, both she and Niang-Niang vanished.

They reappered high in Himalaya mountain range, unbothered my oxygen, temperature or altitude.

"Two can play that game." Niang-Niang muttered.

"Fine by me"

Chimera skidded down the mountainside, her body morphing to part-goat, part-dragon to keep herself on the slopes.

Niang-Niang gestured with her hand and a sudden avalanche came down onto her opponent.

Chimera did a gesture of her own and the avalanche froze in place. She roared and, against gravity, the mass of snow and rocks reversing its tracks.

Niang-Niang dispersed it with a slash of her Pao-Pei. But...

CRAAAAAAAACK!

The ominous cracking and shaking caused the world to tilt. One could think that planet's axis got screwed. But it wasn't a feat on such a scale.

But still, Himalayas themselves tilted and strained, before being lifted above Earth. Niang-Niang fell back, nearly hundred kilometers in one jump, but the entire mountain range of highest peaks on the Earth was still flung at her.

"You think you can stop me? Finally, I found someone amusing, someone who is not dull, who is a mystery to seduce. I will get him to adore me if it's the last thing I do!" Chimera's voice boomed over the Earth.

Niang-Niang's Pao Pei extended, and extended, and extended some more. It was reaching dozens of kilometers.

"You are not even thinking about him in all of this" she muttered" You just want to satisfy your own depravity. It makes me want to barf!"

"As if you had what it takes to stop me!" Chimera's voice mocked her" You grew delusional if you think anyone would like to be with you: am unintelligent brute with a body of a child"

Niang-Niang roared in anger and in the next moment, part of clouds visible from space in Earth's atmosphere seemingly vanished.

Although some of them exceeded 8000 meters, the mountain range was cleaved in half, the fragments missing Niang-Niang and turning into harmless grey clouds.

But it was through those clouds that Chimera pounced at Shijie-Xian.

As if stepping through a door, they found themselves falling through the air. The tail that Chimera manifested trashed at Niang-Niang, who grinned manifesting a rocket launcher from her sleeve.

"Say cheese!"

The rocket exploded on contact.

Chimera roared with fury and clawed at Niang-Niang's face.

"You will pay for scorching me!" she shouted

"I can't make it worse than you already look!" Niang-Niang screamed back, summoning an anchor and wrapping the chains around Chimera, who tried to bite through them with her teeth.

"You speak to the most beautiful creature in existence"

"Turn that into most conceited and then we are talking!"

They hit the ocean and began to sink into depth.

They jumped onto the desert, onto rainforest, and onto polar regions.

"Stop running away! I know you not a fighting type, but give me something to work with here" Niang-Niang called, before...

She was punched in the face.

The punch caused a hailstorm on both sides of Niang-Niang and deep cracks permeated Arctic, hundreds of kilometres behind her.

Under the fist on her face, Niang-Niang grinned at panting Chimera.

"Not bad for a manipulation-type Magic God, not bad at all. But let me show you how it is really done. This is how the warrior punches!"

Chimera had no chance to fall back as Niang-Niang's fist struck her chin.

The sound vanished, the air was compressed, before an earsplitting roar was heard. Just like waves on the water after throwing in a rock, a powerful shockwave caused hundreds of tons of ice to shot up and shift in enormous radius around them. From the point of view of outer space, tsunami waves spread in circles from the Arctic, reaching for southern continents.

Chimera left the earth, shot through the sky, lighting up and breaking the cosmic velocity, leaving the atmosphere as a ball of flame, crashing into the planet Mars in the matter of half a minute.

Niang-Niang landed on the surface of the planet, in the middle of the sandstorm.

"Do you yield?" she yelled out.

Nothing. Only sandstorm, red, not yellow in colour, as far as she could see.

No... in fact, she was wrong. There was someone out there.

"Chimera?" she tried again, moving towards the silhouette.

Or rather, silhouettes.

But it was not Chimera. It was Kamijou Touma and Nephthys.

Kissing and feeling each other up in matter that seemed like a pinnacle of pleasure.

Niang-Niang's arms dropped.

"What?" she asked in confusion.

She couldn't look away. She couldn't turn around.

'You knew... you knew... you knew...'

A voice echoed in her mind as the world began to bend and distort, only the vigorous couple in front of her as focal point

'You knew that he would choose her... she is everything he would want... so if you could something... then go... reach for him before it's too late...' whispered the hypnotic voice.

Niang-Niang took a step forward. Then another. And another. Her vision started to become hazy and the warnings about possible trap were getting quieter by the seconds.

'You want to become one with him, don't you... you don't want to be ignored, do you...'

"I... I don't..."

Nephthys and Touma noticed her. Touma smiled and reached out for her.

"You want to be with me, forever, right?" he asked.

"I... want to..."

A last spark of consciousness caused Niang-Niang to grit her teeth. She swiftly summoned a knife and sunk it into her own flesh.

"... to kick a butt of someone messing with me right now. Chimera, get out of my head!"

Sandstorm parted, forms of Nephthys and Touma disappeared. Entire martian surface was clear. And shaken Niang-Niang could see clearly.

Shapeshifting and transcendental beauty were not Chimera's only abilities. The nature of obscurity and illusion were on her side as well, and she possessed powerful spells related to revealing the innermost securities regarding one's emotions and affections, with almost no way to counter them, should one be unaware. And even being aware did not help much.

That sneaky tactics and usage of obscure, chimeric illusions was one of the reason why this Magic Goddess was never Niang-Niang's favourite.

Chimera grew to be bigger than Jupiter, with entire Mars resting on her palm. Her body was badly burned from the interstellar punch inflicted by Niang-Niang, although it was already healing rapidly as she spoke.

"Just one more bit and you would be gone. I have to admit, it's rather impressive. Shaking off the illusion with pain... not many have the will to do it"

Niang-Niang's size changed too, as she took off Mars and floated in space. Most inner planets now looked like tennis balls to them.

"Don't do that again." Niang-Niang snarled. "Or I will slash you out of existence"

"Beauty, lust, love, they are all connected" Chimera brushed her off" What I saw in your mind was quite charming, for the like of you. For the first time in millennia , you actually like a mortal. Because it is a first time, you are insecure. Would he really look your way? Especially since you are by the of someone who fits his preferences much more than you do..."

"That's absurd. I am fearless, and I am not insecure. Even if I was, Nephthys is my best friend. We moved past this, definitely, and we are pursuing him equally."

"Are you now? Are you sure that there isn't any reason for all your childish frivolity? Because to me, you are hiding it in plain sight..."

Dozens of weapons extended from Niang-Niang's sleeves, and they began to glow. Jade irises of the Shijie-Xian shone as well, as she got into attack stance.

"... hiding the fear of your best friend and mortal you love leaving you behind"

"I Ching-Martial arts, secret form..."

"ENOUGH!"

Nephthys appeared between them. She clapped her hands, and tremble was felt, as if all of the universe shivered at once.

Both Niang-Niang and Chimera looked in shock and shrunk to their regular sizes.

"Do you realize how bothersome it was to undo all the damage you are causing?" Nephthys fumed, making a wide gesture with her arms" It is not the most pleasant thing in the world."

"Nephthys, stay-"

"No, I cannot allow you to fight like this. From what I am seeing and feeling, you are in the moods to truly go all out, to stop restraining yourself. If you do, at least this section of the universe will be eradicated. Niang-Niang, he wouldn't like that"

"But..." Niang-Niang tired to argue, but only grit her teeth and finally lowered her head.

"She is right" Chimera suddenly and surprisingly agreed with Nephthys" I don't like pursuing him in such a state. I will resume it by tomorrow"

"Wait-"

But Chimera was already gone.

"Ugh, that... she just comes and goes as she pleases!"

"Niang-Niang, let's go too. You are exhausted."

"I am not though. But fine"

(THAT EVENING, BACK ON EARTH, KAMIJOU + GOKUSAI APARTMENT)

"Uwah?!"

Saten Ruiko jumped as she opened the door to find a gattling gun pointed at her.

"Freeze, stalker!"

Amazora drilled her eyes into sweating Ruiko.

"A-Amazora-chan, it's me, Saten Ruiko? Remember me?"

"Onii-chan shall not be disturbed unless I find his stalker!"

"Stalker? I am sorry, but I don't know what you are talking about..."

"Amazora, immediately lower your weapon" Rikuri commanded, coming into the entry corridor to the apartment" I am terribly sorry, Saten-san. Amazora takes her loyalty to Touma very seriously. She wants to guard him after today"

"A-Alright, but I am still lost. What happened today?"

"Apparently, Touma had some girl taunting throughout the entire day" Kaibi, laying on the couch, answered" We got a bit worked up about it when we heard, to be honest. Why are you here?"

"I was nearby and I wanted to ask Touma about a recipe I was learning from him recently."

"He is in his room. Although he had better days"

"Now that's just rude. I am perfectly fine"

Touma said that, coming into the living room.

Well, to be honest, he was tired and his eyes darted to the corners of the room, as if he expected to find a predator of a Magic God behind the curtain.

"Touma!" Saten exclaimed, running up to him" Wow, you look like you've been through a lot"

"You can say I am in a bit of a mess"

"Care to talk about it?"

Touma shortly explained to her the main premise of his troubles with Chimera.

"That is so awful!" Saten shouted in agitation" She doesn't seem to understand love at all. There is more to beauty than just looks. People have many languages of love to express their feelings in. It reminds me of the time when Shirai-san helped Hokaze-senpai deal with a stalker too"

"Yes, but that person doesn't seem like a reasonable... wait, what did you just said?"

"That Shirai-san-"

"No, before that"

"That people have many languages of love..."

"... and that there is more to beauty than just looks..."

Touma's eyes lit up as he grasped Saten's hands.

"Ruiko-san!"

"Y-Yes?"

"I figured something out. But I need your help"

(NEXT DAY)

"Ruiko"

"Yes"

Kamijou Touma was cooking. Saten Ruiko was by his side.

Nephthys, Niang-Niang, Othinus, and all 3 Gokusai sisters were watching them.

There was something beautiful about the way those two moved in the kitchen together. It almost seemed like a dance, in perfect synchronization and kinetic melody, with their bodies relaxed and moving in harmony to reach and prepare parts of breakfast, speaking only from time to time in calm voices.

"Touma"

"Yes"

Everyone gathered found it strangely relaxing. As if watching a very peaceful and specific ASMR video. Saten and Touma in the domestic environment seemed to make each other's whole in the same way in which left hand complimented the right.

This was the scene that Chimera arrived to.

"What is this?!"

Nephthys snapped her fingers, causing the sisters to faint in an instant. Touma winced. He hated that it had to be done, but Chimera's presence could be dangerous for them if they stayed awake. He was also glad that Index decided to sleep in today.

He seized Saten's hand with Imagine Breaker. As long as he held her, she wasn't in any danger.

"Hey, Chimera. This is a demonstration. Shall go outside?"

Chimera frowned but disappeared and then waited for them, as they left the dorm.

"What demonstration?"

"Ruiko-san here made me realize something. There are many ways of beauty. She is the best example. She does not possess extraordinary power or status, but is still caring, fun, and positive. She can be in harmony when we do something together and she is everything anyone could ask for without trying too much. Her physical looks are only the addition to everything else. I just want you to see it and understand that without that compassion, I will not see you as truly beautiful"

Saten could not help but look away sheepishly. Touma had an unparalleled ability to take her qualities that were absolutely average and unimpressive in her mind, and then talk about them in a way that made her heart fill with warmth and gratitude for being alive.

"You suggest..." Chimera spoke slowly" That she is more beautiful than me?"

"Because she has a kind of beauty you don't have... yes, I think so"

POOF!

Saten covered her face, that became fully red, with her hand.

Touma did not turn his eyes away from Chimera, who frowned and stomped her leg on the ground.

"Impossible! There is no way! This impudent mortal girl will not dare to-"

But before she could raise her hand at Saten, Touma whistled loudly.

A shape zoomed through the air and blocked Chimera's arm.

"What?!"

The person that blocked Magic God's wrath was a dark-skinned girl with white hair, that looked like a puffy swirly cloud. Despite the weather not being particularly sunny, she was skimpily dressed, with yellow, red, and blue stripes on the material covering small segments of her body.

"You see, you are not the only one that can be seen as my stalker. She got pretty pissed when I contacted her"

"Yeah. Because the spot of #1 beloved stalker is already taken! By me!" the newcomer grinned, her arm changing into something that looked like a huge bazooka" I am..."

"So cuuuuute!" Niang-Niang, who appeared alongside Nephthys, cooed" Nephthys, she looks like mini-version of you! And she generates weapons, just like me! She is like a love child of our friendship"

Everyone else blinked and the action resumed.

"I am Mut Thebes, the Transcendent of Punishment. As I said, there can only be one stalker in his life!"

"H-How does your... friend... found us?" Saten asked, looking at Mut Thebes.

"Oh, she didn't need to search..." Touma sighed" usually, she knows perfectly where I am. Long story short, Mut fell in love with me, and would not leave me alone for nothing, just like Chimera here. But in this case, I was able to lay down some rules. Since I apparently could not convince her otherwise, she can follow me anywhere outside the house as long as she doesn't actually interfere with my life while she does it"

"Isn't that a bit... unsettling?"

"Yeah, but it's not so bad after you get used to it. It's more like having an additional support from the shadows. She doesn't bother me and chasing people around is kind of her job, it's also the way in which she expresses her devotion. She was sleepless and unbearable when she couldn't do it, at least according to some of our shared friends."

"I know that I am the last person to say this, given how many people I encounter, but your friends seem really weird sometimes"

"You would still be very surprised"

Mut Thebes and Chimera struggled against one another. It seemed the Transcendent was faring better against Chimera's presence, similarly to Touma himself.

"A Transcendent! Prideful pretenders, begging for divine scraps" Chimera laughed" I can erase you from existence as if I am swatting the fly"

"Oh, really? I don't think so. My magic allows me to absorb the weapons touched by my shadow. And just in case, our new Board Chairman allowed me to add this into my arsenal after we formed a truce"

Something clicked and expanded from her back, forming a black structure with multiple weapons and tools.

Chimera froze as those mechanisms surrounded her.

Touma instantly recognized it. So would Misaka Mikoto, if she was there.

"Anti-Art-Attachment" Mut said smugly" It is to you what Shrink Drink is to us. So I would advise not doing anything that might warrant its usage from my side"

Chimera growled and then backed away.

"Fine. For now, I will considered it as a stalemate. But do not assume this is over. I will make Imagine Breaker bow down to my beauty and consider me the most exalted in all of existence"

Later, Saten thought it was foolish. But the irriation she felt suddenly burst out in that moment.

"Why are you doing this?" she shouted at Chimera" You just want to use him. He will never love you, if that's even what you are after. I can say for sure that you will fail. The way to someone's heart is through kindness and compassion, not through force and conquest. Well, people might have their likings, but forcing someone to like you is wrong. I am sure I know that by now and can work with that too, so surely you have to-"

"And you, mortal girl" Chimera smiled thinly" I respect your courage and determination despite obvious weakness and lack of power. I accept your challenge"

"Wait, what? I didn't really-"

"In the future, we shall face each other in the challenge of the virtue you spoke of. As much as I hate to admit it, you were right. I am the most beautiful, therefore, I must master all forms of beauty" something akin to genuine respect flashed in Chimera's eyes" I will see that our battle will be legendary"

"A-Aaah..." a sound escaped Saten's throat, as Touma stared blankly at the sight.

Did Saten Ruiko, a level 0, just challenged a millennia old Magic Goddess to the battle of wife qualities? Even if it was done unintentionally?

Suddenly, there was a bright light coming from the sky and a man materialized out of thin air, floating above them.

"Chimera!" he screamed" There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

He was a thin man with visible musculature, white hair, and geometric patterns of war paint all over his skin. The most striking characteristic was the man's left arm, evidently a prosthetic, that looked as if someone froze moonlight beam solid and gave it a form of human limb.

"Nuada!" All four goddesses exclaimed.

Airgetlam Nuada, King of Tuatha De Dannan and True Magic God descended to the ground.

"Chimera, I told you not to try to break into this phase on your own. This is not how we do things"

But there was something else in his ways besides scorn. Maybe... worry?

"It's not like I did anything detestable to this world or anything" Chimera shrugged" I just met with a bunch of Magic God runaways... and friends. Defiant, irresistible friends"

The way she said that sent deep shivers from roots of Touma's hair down to his toes. Saten, still holding his hand firmly, looked at him with worry.

"I am taking her home" Nuada said to everyone, focusing particularly on his fellow Magic Gods" In New World, there is a group that got curious with Nephthys and Niang-Niang's sudden attachment to this phase. Still, she should not act independently."

"W-Well, that's fine." Touma tried to laugh it off" Take care then"

Nuada turned his attention to Touma and looked at him for a longer while. The boy could not tell if the gaze was apprehensive or merely judgemental in some way.

"It is convenient to finally meet you, Imagine Breaker" he finally answered" You shall not have to worry about Chimera"

"R-Right..." Touma replied, not knowing what more to said.

He could not tell what was Nuada's actual assessment when it came down to him.

"Chimera"

"Oh, fine. But that's not over..."

Chimera looked at Touma and Saten when both her and Nuada's body began to shine.

"...I will be back, to fulfil my claim"

And with a flash, they were gone.

"Good! Let's not see you soon" Niang-Niang shouted, spinning on her heel and giving room to her frustrations.

"Why did Nuada gauged me up like that?"

"Oh, that must be because..." Nephthys giggled like an excited schoolgirl" Nuada had a hidden fondness for Chimera for quite a few centuries. He probably considered you a rival. Oh, such a tear-jerking spectacle!"

"The only tears this can bring are the ones of pain! I don't want to be rival about anything that concerns that scary woman! Count on my misfortune to make such a misunderstanding happen!"

"Me and Niang-Niang will go for now" Nephthys remarked" We will be in your apartment. Othinus, care for a ride"

"Like hell I-"

All three disappeared without a trace.

Touma exhaled loudly, before realizing that Saten was looking at him soundlessly with big eyes.

"What... was all of that?"

They finally separated their hands, as Touma realized something.

"Ah, alright... I involved you into this prepared to have this talk anyway..."

"What talk?"

"About magic. Even if you suspected something strange in this city before, I owe you some clarification of what you just saw"

"Right... I think I need to sit down for that..."

(20 MINUTES LATER)

"And that's more or less it."

Saten did not say much at first, but afterwards, she couldn't find the expression she wanted to wear, and kept muttering 'oooh', 'woah', 'wow', and such, as if on loop.

"What do you think?"

"That's a... lot. But before I go to process all of it, I have to ask. Why me of all people? Why tell me this?"

"Because I thought that... to hear about it is one thing, to actually listen is another."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say that some people too integrated into science side may vehemently reject the idea of magic... or system following some other rules, other than pure science. But I knew that you won't be like that. That you are open to believe in it."

"Why?"

"Because of you level and because of how alive you are, taking all of the world into yourself and making so many connections like it's nothing. You believe in urban legends and mysteries and you carry your mother's charm, the same one you let me borrow this one time, because you believe in their meaning."

"Oh. Right, sure... but the idea of magic actually, actually existing..."

"Right. I know, it's... a bit... much"

"Even still" Saten smiled brightly" Thank you for sharing something as important as this with me. I still don't know if I am particularly good option though... I was already low as it was when it was only Academy City. Adding the crazy things this magic side is capable of... I probably look like an insect to the world"

"Speaking in terms of pure power, maybe. But beyond power, in things those with power can't possess easily, you look like a giant"

"... That's... thank you... also... it's rather chilly... and my hand is getting cold after we held it for so long... can I still do it? Hold yours, I mean"

"Huh? But Chimera is already-"

"J-Just until we get back inside, so it can warm up a little"

"Okay, I don't want you to be cold too..."

She grasped his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world, trying to pour all of overwhelming love and gratitude she was filling into the contact.

"We should probably get going though. Index is going to bite my head off if she doesn't find breakfast at this hour"

"Can we take the stairs? As a morning warm-up?"

Well, a little bit longer was eternity when it came to holding hands with a guy you loved.

"Let's go and cook something awesome together"

"Mhm!"

As they finally reached the apartment, they found a smiling Mut Thebes by the door. Only then did they separate their hands.

"Oh? You stuck around?" Touma said in surprise" Why?"

"Becaaaause..." Mut sing-sang, pushing the door" I brought some surprises with me"

Inside, Nephthys and Niang-Niang eyed two women with curiosity. One of them had silver hair, wearing a revealing wimple and headpiece, while the other was very tall, with long blond hair reaching her ankles, and sported a white maternity dress combined with large white hat.

Silver haired woman's face lit up as she moved towards Touma. He too grinned brightly and sprinted forward, finally finding himself in her arms (and vice versa)

"Aradia!"

Witch Goddess Aradia of Bridge Builders Cabal was a bit of a tsundere-type in her demeanor, so she wasn't always that enthusiastic in her reactions. More so, she started her relationship with Kamijou Touma by attempting (and succeeding!) to kill him. But since that time, the pair grew very close and fond of one another, proving it on multiple occasions. So after some time apart, both of them could only react that way at the surprise reunion

"It's been too long" Aradia remarked, as he buried his face in her hair" We are still travelling, but Mut contacted us and said that it would be a good occasion to say hello. It's been... quite a while"

"You damn banana woman, I missed you" he said, backing away and grasping her hand with both of his own.

She jumped and shyly looked away. Ironically, she was still more bashful with handholding than with a body contact, but that could be due to experiences in early days of their relationship.

"I... missed you too"

Touma then turned to Good, Old Mary. The tall woman extended a hand, palm down. Touma blinked at it, before slowly, very slowly, planted a kiss on it.

No one said anything. The part of the face not obscured by the hat remained stone cold.

Before finally smile spread on her face. Stunned Touma found himself lifted up under the arms (he reached only to her Good, Old Mary's chest level), finding himself in front of her face before receiving a kiss on the brow.

"I think it's safe to assume that mama's joke got you" the alchemist spoke with a twinge of amusement in her voice." Hello, Kamijou Touma."

"S-So you are not mad? Sometimes I lose track who I accidentally pissed..."

"There is no reason for me to mad at you. You, who embodies mama's salvation condition so perfectly, and causes miracles to befall on those less privileged and fortunate by means of equal salvation. No, in fact, it's very good that you are alive. I am glad for that. You are not allowed to die unless mama is nearby. Alternative would be truly... regrettable for me"

"Thanks, I will try not to. Also... can I get down?"

There was a chance that dangling slightly over the ground while lifted under his arms by a tall, wife-like woman would awake something inside him.

"I think that some introductions are in order" Nephthys said.

"We know who you are." Aradia said" there is no way we could not"

"Still, I hope to learn something about all of you. It's due time that Transcendents and Magic Gods crossed paths"

"Can you... get her off?!"

Niang-Niang was snuggling into Mut Thebes with gleam in her eyes.

"You are so cute, lovechild of my friendship. Mini-Nephthys with weapon absorbing power, this is just too good! Oh, your hair is so puffy, like a small sheep! Can I adopt you?!"

"Touma, help me!"

"By the way, is Anna here?"

"She had some things to settle, but promised she will see you soon"

"Oh, I see. I kind of miss her too, so it would be nice to be together, even if our time apart was not all that long"

Meanwhile, Amazora, Kaibi, and Rikuri woke up and looked at the new additions to the room.

"Should we wonder why is there bunch of new people in the house?" Amazora wondered.

"Probably yes. But we will learn in due time. Better not question it and just go with the flow" Rikuri stretched before saying:

"Hi everyone, I am Rikuri, those are my sisters, Amazora and Kaibi. I will be your host. Does anyone care for some tea? Or something to drink?"

"I would like some orange juice" said Ruiko

"I have my own mix, I can give it to you" Aradia pointed out.

"Light coffee" answered Good, Old Mary.

"Cinnamon-spiced hot chocolate" that was from Nephthys

"Some cola would be cool" and addition from Niang-Niang

Othinus opted by a small portion of water, as she wasn't really all that thirsty.

As they all sat around the table, Touma felt like he forgot about something important.

But it didn't take long to figure out what.

"Breakfaaast..."

A voice exclaimed from behind him.

He slowly turned around to see a very hungry Index, scanning the table in search of food, finding none and starting to glare at Touma

"Be brave, boy. And fear not. Mama is still here, should her services be needed" Good, Old Mary patted his arm."Or maybe not, if you die of loosing too much blood from the bite"

"D-Don't say that! Look, those jaws are opening wider and wider"

"Don't worry, if you do die, I will make you the most fesitve funeral and mourn you for a thousand years"

"NOT. HELPING!"

"Index-san..." Saten spoke quickly" We need a bit more time, can you wait for just a moment longer? We left breakfast half prepared..."

Finally, Index grumbled and sat down.

"Then it seems this is time for me to help" Good, Old Mary rose up" Kitchen Alchemist is not just a name for fun, mama can be an excellent cook when she needs to be."

As Touma, Saten, and tall Transcendent disappeared into the kitchen, Nephthys looked at Aradia.

"I suppose we owe each other a talk" the egyptian goddess said.

"It might be so"

"But, since it will be rather rich in volume and importance, we will return to it in the future time, in Painted Prison Chronicles!"

"Who are you even talking to?!".