Hmm, probably about time with season 4 out but welp one way or another, this is how things turned out to be but nonetheless still a time for my beloved Tohka and Nia mood haha.

Next up is the mangaka, and although I intended it for later, this is also sort of the Maria chapter haha (though they'll be one for her and Ellen later on too where they'll also be more fully included into the harem) but when writing of Nia here, felt a good place to bring her in too I thought lol.

I reconsidered many times when it came to 'addressing' terminology like for Nia's codename being 'Sister' which didn't work exactly since it's used to refer to Kotori more often and it didn't quite fit well when writing sentences imo, and punctuations like the 'greater/lesser than' signs don't want to display when posting the fic online so yeah... basically tried looking for workabouts but couldn't find any easy ones for now.

Also I could have sworn you could do strikethroughs before... but yeah only realise this just now so the underlined lines at the very start here are meant to be crossed out/strikethrough ! Wasn't sure if I should do them bold maybe to signify something written but since it's meant to show something crossed out, thought it'd look better like this... anyways that was just a silly joke idea I thought of at the time lol,

"speech"

'thoughts'

' "speech" ' - Thinking about someone's words/memory


Yuri A Nia

Long, long ago…

In a galaxy far, far away.

Nia tutted and scribbled out the second line again, beginning the open premise without breaking the scene setup.

'Hmm… this all seems awfully familiar,' she couldn't put the name on any of it, but she was having trouble with the starting line.

In the distant future…

On an uninhabited island…

It was just a dream.

'Uhh, I'll just figure out the start later. That last one isn't even an opening line!?' Holding her head between her hands, she shook herself off, and immediately started scribbling again.

A night sky with the spires of a castle reaching past the clouds, she sketched out the scene and the interior of a great castle.

In a far off kingdom, there lived a beautiful Princess. Her mother however, conscious of the Princess's true power, had kept her away from all other people, isolating her away from the humans in the confines of her bedroom within the highest spire.

Deep within the land of fairy tales, the kingdom was in a state of peace after humans found unity under the rule of the rule of the King and Queen.

One day however, the kingdom came under attack – by the Demon Queen.

The Tyrant that ruled a far away land had conquered vast wildernesses, seized the lands of the humans, brought ruin to their great city and kidnapped the Princess from her tower.

The mastermind behind the whole ploy was of course yours truly – me, the great sage!

In honour of her services the kind Demon Queen gave her supreme, almighty councillor the Princess's hand in marr-

"Huehuehuehuehue- hic!" Nia jumped up, broken out of her haunty laughter, she felt a dark chill run through her. "J-Just kidding teehe-ck!"

The dark pressure around her kept drilling in the back of her head like her every move was being watched.

"A-After a date or two, the heart of the sweet, innocent Princess is won by the kind, honest sage- GEEK!"

In frantic terror, the mangaka scribbled out the page and flipped it over, "I-I'll start over, s-so… please don't harm me! Any similarities or resemblances to real life figures is entirely coincidental!"

She thrust her hands up in surrender, dropping the men and pinching her eyes shut.

After a minute, the watchful presence seemed to forgive her.

"W-Well then…" Nia breathed a sigh of relief and ponder for a moment, "how about this instead?!"

Starting out in a similar setting, she began drawing the second version of 'The Demon Queen's Sage and Princess-chan'.

The brilliant, dashing young girl, chosen as the advisor to the all-powerful Tyrant Queen, burst forth the 100 metre tall doors, somersaulted through the heir and bowed before her lord.

"Your eminence, all your enemies have been defeated, and now there shall be no one who can disturb your reign!" The one sworn ally of the Demon Queen stretched out her arms.

Embraced in the clutches of the Demon Queen upon whose lap she rested. The beautiful Princess which had been saved from the tower which she was locked within.

"I see. You have done well." The deep purple iris twinkled, betraying only the slightest sign of her hidden joy. "As promised, you may join us. As per the conditions."

Sitting up, with a cute yawn, the Princess beamed in happiness as she realised it was time and searched in her pockets.

"Umu! From now on, Nia will be our wife!" Presented with matching rings, Nia's hurt skipped and jumped into both their laps.

"Kyah! How lovely~!" Sandwiched between the Demon Queen and the Princess, the Sage Nia elicited an excited sound as both blew hot air against her ears and their hands touched her -

"A-Ah…" Nia shuddered as the temperature fell below freezing point and she wasn't able to move her hand an inch anymore. "M-Maybe it was a little hasty… t-then what if the Demon Queen-chan had

To her surprise, the coldness instantly disappeared and the temperature seemed to even rise a few degrees.

"Are~ I see, I see." She wiggled her eyebrows to the unseen presence, "then with Princess-chan laying on the bed clothless-!"

The temperature reversed and her hand became frozen to the spot again.

"W-With the majestic Tyrant-chan pressing her down-!"

Once more, the atmosphere seemed to pop and steam up.

A second after however, it began to fluctuate again, switching between being murderously malicious and frustratingly excited.

"C-Continuing on…" She was able to move her hand at least and decided to just trace the outlines of the two identical girls and censoring the rest of for now. 'So long as I keep things saucy but covered under the sheets…'

The soft crystalline eyes of the Princess meekly trembled under the girl's touch. "W-What are you doing…"

"If you don't like it then push me away," the Demon Queen taunted her with a mysterious smile, sliding the sheets over them both. "We were one from the start."

In confusion, the innocent Princess pulls closer to her as the Demon Queen whispers the secret in her ears.

Meanwhile from the cracks of the door, the Sage had been watching for the past 5 hours, waiting for a time she can make an entrance and join the two beauties.

Listening to the Princess's giggles and wanting to see the Demon Queen's smile as they cuddled for several more hours as the sage watched and waited.

Their shadows didn't move from the bed curtains, making the sage all the more curious. However she would not break the tryst with her lord, and so she watched and waited.

The stars shone brightly through the night, the moonlight stretched through the window and the sun rose up, as the sage still watched and waited.

"DAAAAMN IT! It's becoming an ero-manga now! All tease and no action!" Nia ruffled her hair in frustration, "no wait… maybe it'll work out -GEH!"

She was slapped by a roll of paper rather harshly. Although her neighbours had come banging on her door 6 times throughout the night.

"It's morning," the monotone voice twitched with displeasure, "I can confirm that you have pulled another idiotic all-nighter after making marginal progress yesterday."

"Ahhh~ Really…" She slumped down, yawned and buried her head in the note book. "But I really can't get to sleep when I get ideas in my head…"

"There are other priorities right now," the white haired girl continued. "Instead of already thinking of starting a new release, why don't you finish what you've already started first. The deadline is less than a week away."

"Kyaah Mariamon, I didn't get a wink of sleep you know!" Nia clung her arms over the small robotic body, used by the Fraxinus AI MARIA . It was one of the multiple units that functioned with the collective consciousness of the support system of the Spirits.

It was thanks to a combination of the Realiser technology and the power of Nia's angel Rasiel which allowed her to function even after everyone's Spirit power had disappeared. When Tohka returned, almost a year ago, and the spiritual pass had been re-established, Maria had chosen to depend on the limited reiryoku which Nia now had.

It had given her plenty of opportunity to tease the Fraxinus AI for it until she realised just how consumptive Maria was, using the spiritual energy for purposes which she would not share with Nia. A little later she realised she could barely use Rasiel . At all.

It then dawned on her that it must have been Maria's intent from the start. Now she had to either beg and cry for permission, be rewarded by obeying Maria's every whim or try underhanded techniques. The latter were usually foiled, and she usually relied on the former.

The other option was to possibly gather more reiryoku from the pass with Tohka. The issue there was Tohka's other self who had terrified Nia to death on the one occasion she had materialised out of nowhere in the middle of the night. She had been too scared to remember what had happened aside from remembering she had taught Tenka, who was compatible with using all the Angels to varying degrees, how to search information with Rasiel.

Ever since that one time, the Demon Queen who let her presence be known in the room, would be aware of anything Nia was writing, and expressed her feelings very gently for Nia to take the hint. She hadn't had much opportunity to speak with Tenka but for some reason or another, she felt a strange closeness knowing that the Tyrant spent the night reading over her creations.

However between Tenka and Maria, she felt much better to take the worst with the latter than even mildly upsetting the former.

Nia readily accepted the fierce, silent glare which she had grown used to which told her that that was a result of her own problems. "Come on, have mercy pretty please, I'll be sure to repay your favour with-EEK!"

A strangely shaped weapon of an ominous sort suddenly appeared in Maria's hand.

"Get back to work."

"Yes ma'am!"


Origami's Apartment Complex

Mikie Okamine was a former member of the AST, and now just a student in her last year at Raizen High school.

"If I recall… it's this way…?" She looked in both directions of the hallway, hoping it was the correct floor this time, "why do I have trouble remembering…"

It had now been 2 years since the last spirit and spacequakes appeared. The AST had officially disbanded but at that time an organization called Ratatoskr had appeared before them, offering them all positions due to their capabilities as wizards.

'It's just like Origami-san said,' she remembered her senpai assuring her of this a year ago now. The fact that even if Spirits had disappeared, the technology of Realizers and wizards that could control them had not.

Mikie hadn't made her decision herself despite having only a few days left until graduation, although this was partly the reason why.

The more she thought and tried to remember about the reason she joined the AST, the more her memories seemed to conflict.

"Origami-san…"

She remembered the day of that spacequake when Origami Tobiichi saved her. The angelic long haired girl of pure white who was shy but always kind and helpful to her, and to the Spirits as well.

' "Sometimes… I wonder if we're doing the right thing… if only… there was another way, maybe we could have made peace with them…" Her senpai's soft expression had warmed her heart. "S-Sorry, I probably sound strange…" '

"Origami-san… really did change," Mikie sadly remembered when Origami quit the AST, cut her hair and her expressions and personality became kind of strange. Her head ached for some reason when thinking about her. "Ack… but why does it seem familiar as well…"

' "I… made the decision to kill spirits. I cannot forgive them." The cold expression of someone in pain. The resolved and calculating girl that was almost like a robot after losing her parents. '

"No wait, that can't be right…" Mikie rubbed her eyes, "Origami-san lost her parents in a car crash… but why do I remember something like this… an Origami-san that's so different… Hm?"

She arrived at the door, feeling certain this felt at odd in her memory as well.

"W-Well, never mind…" She brushed her twintails, and raised a hand to knock on the door.

Today she had decided she would try poking her nose into the matter. If nothing came out of it, then she would know she was just imagining strange things. 'Ah wait… I also want to consult Origami-san about her college… a-anyway- huh?!'

The door suddenly shook, and she could hear voices behind it.

"Ah Origami?! The time, it's morning already! You said you would wake me if I fell asleep!" A familiar girl's voice came from inside.

"H-Huh?!" Mikie jumped backwards, 'O-Origami-san a-and a visitor?! W-What's more, they were spending the night?! W-Wait that voice…'

She glanced to both ends of the hallway, quickly did a side roll and hid behind the corner just before the door opened. 'That's T-Tohka-san! I knew it! B-But…'

"I did. After I woke you up the first time, I made udon, dorayaki and crepes for a midnight snack." The platinum blonde explained. "You pushed me into bed, straddled my body and did not let me go until we fell asleep. You didn't ask me to wake you in case you fell asleep a second time."

"O-Ou, I guess that's true… but I don't remember being the one pushing you down on the bed though…" Tohka doubtfully scrutinised her before breaking into a smile, "ah but your cooking was so good as always! Thank you so much Origami!"

'EEEEHHHHH?!' Mikie trembled, tripping out from the corner, 'w-wh-wha-what is this?! They ate, slept a-and spent the night in bed together?! Are they a couple?!'

"No problem…" Origami blushed softly and have a small smile.

'Huh… huh… huh… Tohka-san and Origami-san… a couple…' Conflicted tears poured out of her blank eyes, 'the two most beautiful women I know… both are unavailable… of course they would be… why can I accept this so easily…'

"Well then, I'm off!" Tohka waved cheerfully, "we should all be together for dinner!"

Just as she went out of reach, the platinum blonde dove for her leg and wrapped her arms around her ankle tightly.

"O-Origami…?" The crystal eyed beauty turned uncertainly to her. "I'm off to Nia's now… do you want to come after all…?"

Origami expressionlessly shook her head after a pause, staring up from the floor and trying to do a puppy look. She forgot all that in half a second when she had a full view under Tohka's skirt.

Tohka raised an eyebrow, brushing down her skirt with a blush. "W-What is it… i-it's not like you haven't seen my body before…"

'… Uh.' Mikie has deactivated.

Her mind drifts through the borders of space and time in a fraction of a second that lasts two lifetimes before completely rebooting.

"Ah… I'm still dreaming…" She sits up, her head not fully computed the last few minutes. 'I-It's a misunderstanding right… I-I'm sure she didn't mean it l-like that… t-that's right, they saw each other changing… and they just had a friendly sleepover… a-and…'

"I require a parting gift," Origami insisted, her pleading eyes contrasted to the rest of her expressionless face.

"Mou…" Tohka pouted before picking up and cradling Origami in her arms. "I can always give you one if it's just that."

Tohka squeezed her lips against Origami's, tilting her head slightly as their noses brushed together, and gently embraced each other.

'KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!' Mikie's head exploded. Her whole body became weak and pressed against the wall, her trembling knees silently hitting the floor all over again. 'O-O-Origami-san and T-T-Tohka-san?! S-So it's t-true?!! … Huh… it's over… my vague chances of romance are over… I'm never getting married… of course I'm no match for an angel and a goddess… Tama-chan, life's not fair… I'll be joining you soon…'

Still unnoticed by the couple, her head tried to piece everything together.

Pressing Origami's smaller body in her arms, they two girls gave each other another affectionate hug before Tohka set off.

Origami stared for a while even after Tohka had disappeared before turning round again. "…?"

'H-Huh that's…' The other Origami took notice as well in concern after breaking out of a dizzy spin. 'M-Mikie-chan?! What's she doing here…?!'

"Uwaah…" Collapsed on the ground, she shook her head when she felt someone touch her. She blinked a few times when she saw the angelic face, differing from her memories of this world. Barely 5cm away from her own face. "C-Close! O-Origami-san?!"

"What are you doing here?" Origami held her comfortingly in her arms. Mikie looked down at the floor below her. She was being carried bridal style.

"W-W-WHAAAA?! ORIGAMI-SAN!" She exclaimed, all the blood in her body rushing to her face. "I-I- WH- I-I t-texted y-you, n-no no no, wait?! What's happening right now?!"

"Calm down," the door closed as she carried her straight into her room. "I remember you wanted to talk, I didn't check the phone since yesterday. I'm sorry, Tohka just left. We'll have to have a threesome another time."

"… Huh?"

It was the last thing Mikie saw before all the collected blood drained out of her nose completely.

"E-Eh?! H-Hang in there. Mikie!" Somehow Origami's voice and expression changed completely just like the second time they met.


March 22nd - Back at Nia & Maria's

Maria creased and uncreased her eyebrows whilst looking in the mirror. She was practising making angry expressions since no matter how much she tried to glare, Nia never seemed to take her seriously. On the other hand, physical and mental attacks seemed to be more effective anyway.

There was just under a week left to the deadline of Nia's final draft and it had come to this as usual. They would likely have to dispatch the other Maria units here for assistances in the next few days. She turned away and began patrolling again, confiscating Nia's sketches of new story ideas.

"Ah, noo! Give the back!" Nia tiredly complained, clinging onto the platinum blonde's dress before she was harshly slapped off.

"Get your head out of the clouds and do your damn job woman." Maria activated her red eye glow, glaring at the mangaka. "Even a useless slob such as yourself should be capable of it."

"Harsh! I'm not useless, I'm already completely independent!" Her confidence slowly restored as she proudly posed her elegant frame, "a mature lady such as myself has no problems living by on her own whatsoever! It's not like I get lonely anymore, not at all! I've got super pretty friends and super beautiful girlfriends on top of that!"

"Only because Tohka does not now how to refuse you." She retorted, slapping Nia on the shoulders and sitting her back down at her desk. She was also about to bring up Natsumi who ran off when Nia tried crossing a certain line with her.

"Heeey. it's not like she doesn't know how, it's that she cannot resist someone like me!" Complaining, Nia picked up the pen, suddenly a little motivated to draw again.

"Is that why she is currently dating 10 other girls?" The support AI mused.

"T-That doesn't matter, Tohka-chan has just chosen the all harem route!" Nia remembered the day well when Tohka came out openly to how she loved and treasured them all dearly. "And then, when she finally came over to me, held my hands so gently and told me she wanted to be with me too, kyuuuh!"

"That simply makes Nia the weakest link." She deadpanned, having reminded Nia a number of times of it, not that she ever seemed to mind. "Origami and Tohka were the ones who got together first and only after did the others become interested in this mystery. As I recall, you had no problems or intention to get involved in any closer relationship with Tohka or the others."

"Don't remind me… I bet Oririn kept her all night, doing god knows what…" Nia wept for a little while. "But yeah, you are right Mariamon… it was a really big shock you know, and well… even now I don't fully understand why I got so interested in them…"

Maria stared blankly at the new shelf which had been erected, filled with Nia's new yuri obsession, stuffed with some extra drawings she made herself. 'Interested is an understatement…'

There were drawings of everyone. The first ones were all just the whole group dining together with Tohka eating the majority at the head of the table. Although Maria did have to agree that the food was drawn exquisitely that it made her wish she could taste foods better.

Then right after Tohka and Origami began dating, there was a hidden sketch she did of both girls on a small boat in the middle of the lake which had flowers floating all over the surface.

After it was one which Nia was even more surprised when she finished, a cute drawing of Natsumi.

When the forcefully dubbed 'mangaka assistant' had found it, Nia had a heart attack and assured Natsumi that her intentions were pure. That of course only made the green haired girl worry even more.

Despite that, Natsumi didn't run away at first, declaring that she had 'no expectations of Nia to begin with', a sentiment which the Fraxinus AI usually agreed with.

Even so, it had made Natsumi conscious as well whenever she came to help Nia complete her monthly submissions until an accident had occurred.

'There is no point in reviewing that blunder any further,' Maria shook her head. She had already decided it was a matter between Nia and Natsumi to solve and that she would not get involved. However, since she was the Fraxinus AI designed to help the Spirits, she was keeping a record of it and their relationships. 'That's right, there's no other meaning to it…'

Her blue eyes glanced over to Nia's back who was working properly now at least, whilst also scrolling through her phone every few seconds.

"Nattsun has been ignoring all my texts since that happened… maybe I should have just said it was just a crush or something… gah, but I was really affected by Tohka-chan's constant honesty… speaking of which she's not replied back yet either… ahhh gawd, Oririn better not have actually done it with her! Maybe she did it so hard that even Tohka-chan can barely walk…" Nia was still crying before she burst up. "Wait, what did you mean by the 'weakest link'?!"

"… You're asking me that now after all that nonsense?" Maria sighed, ignoring her further complaints until Nia finally settled down and began the draft of another page.

"Ahh, if only Nattsun was here…" Despite all the things she said, Nia was working hard when she put her mind to it. "Although Tohka's energy is infectious… I'd work twice as hard if she gave me a reward!"

'… Conclusively, Nia Honjou is not a completely lost case.' The Fraxinus AI internally computed her report. 'Despite the nature of their relationships, Nia is not troubled at all and does not set specific status when it comes to her relationships. At present, she may only harbour interest in the other girls and not expressively 'love' at this time.'

She frowned, remembering how Nia was only able to love 2D. Since then, she opened her heart a little bit to each of them one at a time starting from Shido all the way to Tohka. 'Although she has continued her poor indoor lifestyle, Nia sincerely enjoys time outside with those she considers friends and more...'

Nia was more conservative when it came to expressing her feelings, but there had been no problems regardless.

- 'Love… what is it really?'

"What's wrong Mariamon, you've been making a sad face for a while?" The grey haired girl noticed from the corner of her eye.

"It's nothing that you could help with," she turned her back to the mangaka,

"So cold! Come on, I can keep a secret," Nia glanced when her phone beeped and happily exclaimed, "ahh, thank god, Tohka's here! I'll be right back Mariamon!"

"…" The platinum blonde stared just as she was about to confide a little in the older girl. She paused, a little perplexed at the feeling of being alone in Nia's room.

"Mommy's home!" A few minutes later, the door swung open, revealing the owner carried in the arm of the night haired girl. "Did you miss me, Mariamon?"

"Negative."

"Good morning Maria!" Tohka cheerfully laid Nia in her armchair before hugging the Fraxinus AI quickly. "Ah, I'm really sorry I'm late."

"It's fine, it's fine," Nia heartfully reassured her, taking her bag off her shoulder, "knowing how clingy she is, I bet Oririn had trouble letting you go as usual."

"Umu, she also played a trick on me," Tohka pouted before smiling, "but it's all alright now!"

"On that matter, please may you I question you Tohka?" Maria sat up seriously. She briefly sent a message to Kotori, who turned her earpiece to listen in.

She quickly examined Tohka who seemed to not appear troubled and took a seat as well on the corner between Nia and Maria.

"Ou, about what?" She turned her head curiously, feeling a little nervous all of a sudden due to how serious Maria looked.

"I would like to confirm first, was Origami Tobiichi still at her apartment when you left?"

"Origami? Ou… as far as I know, yes?" Tohka nodded in confusion.

Nia and Maria nodded to each other as Tohka looked between them.

"Um, what's this about…?"

"Don't worry about it, it's nothing really," Nia rubbed her shoulders and turned her to face away, before recalling "ah, that's right! Mariamon, what were you going to say before Tohka arrived?"

"It's nothing…" She turned away, before Tohka took her hands.

"Muu, Maria you can tell us if there's something troubling you…" The crystalline eyed girl eagerly reached out to her, not hesitating for a moment.

"It's just a matter I was uncertain about…" The Fraxinus AI reflected on her log entry. Seeing how much Tohka was pleading, she decided to at least come forth -

" - Love… what is the true meaning of such a thing…?"

Tohka blinked at her several times in a row, stared at her with a blank expression and then blinked some more before then casting a sweet heart-melting smile. She opened her mouth to give an earnest answer -

"Nee, Roboko… are you asking about how you were born?" Nia covered her mouth and continued before Maria could shoot her an annoyed reply, "kah, so you're at that age already. No wait, how old are you already?! It's probably still too early so I can't tell you about the details! But don't worry, Maria was conceived out of the love between myself and Rasielmon. Wait! Does that make me the mother or the father?!"

"Impossible. Even in this hypothetically unfeasible scenario, Nia's body could only make you the father," the lead Maria unit played along for argument's sake.

"What cruel things are you suggesting?! Are you in your rebellious phase, my daughter?!" Nia hugged herself and rolled around the carpet like a troubled parent. "Ah- but in the case, Rasiel would certainly be a fine mother."

"In terms of motherly qualities, the only reasonable candidate is –" Maria stopped and froze when she realised the topic which Nia had dragged up.

Tohka was glancing back and forth between the pair. "Born…? Was Maria born from Nia? How did Nia do that…?"

"… Ah." Nia began to sweat a little. "W-Well, it was like normal, y-you know about that right…?"

"Normal…? So, like everybody else?" Tohka mumbled for a moment, having absolutely no idea about this. "Tenka, do you know?"

'… Not really.' Her other half voiced her thoughts internally, sounding like she just got up from a nap. 'By being born normally, they probably refer to where humans come from?'

"Hm? Where do humans come from?" The princess glanced at them for an answer.

"A-A-Ah, well…" Nia shivered as Maria glared at her to fix the hole she had dug herself. "I-I thought someone might have explained it to Tohka-chan before…?"

She shook her head quickly, looking to her for a definitive answer.

"W-W-Well now… you see… when a mommy and daddy love each other very much…" She pondered over which version of the story she should use. "A-Actually, it's not that important! Really, I'm sure you don't need to worry about all that yet! C-Come to think about it, Tohka-chan and Tenka-chan were born differently, right? Mariamon was also like that!"

'Hah, they have the nerve to try deceiving us.' Tenka stood to attention, sharing through Tohka's sight. 'The way they are acting means it must be something important. Don't let them escape.'

"Muu, you dodged the question!" Tohka pouted as Nia inched backwards in her chair whilst Maria was already busy drawing page borders. "Even Tenka's curious about it!"

"N-No no! It's nothing interesting really, I swear!" Nia gulped, feeling the familiar surge of reiryoku pass through her.

It was the same whenever Tenka was watching them, just like the previous night. From where the dark queen's soul lay, she was able to observe the world in a few different ways now, one of which was through Rasiel which Kurumi had taught her to use behind Nia's back as well.

Whenever Nia or anyone else would say or write anything related to or about Tohka, Tenka was able to detect it instantly and inquire about it through Rasiel , although only Nia was able to sense it whenever her angel was being used. It somehow felt like everyone was taking the time she spent with her beloved angel away from her, although in Tenka's case she wouldn't dare to complain.

'Ou, that reminds me… this isn't the first time I've been given the slip on this subject.' Tenka recalled a couple times she had softly threatened the others for information. 'This is related to that thing – it was called "***".'

"***… ? What's that?" The dreaded 3 letter word fell out of Tohka's innocent mouth as she innocently enunciated each letter with such wonder. "S… E…-"

"GAGH-!" Nia fell head first onto the floor.

'… Alert. System entering critical danger. Category S. Warning Issued. Informing commander Kotori of highest degree threat level. Failure, cannot reach commander at present. Proceeding to auxiliary safety measures -' Maria eyes began to spin, the Fraxinus AI was thrown into a loop of system reboots.

-!

'What's wrong with them?' Tenka glared suspiciously, 'as I thought, it's something important.'

"Nia…?! Maria…?!" Tohka tried to shake them both in panic when she realised neither were moving "What's wrong…? Could it be-?! Is *** a secret code for something really bad?"

"Tohka…" Nia grasped her shoulders with her thin arms, "sorry, it looks like I simply can't tell you, this is the end for me… I'll leave the rest for Kotori's to fulfill!"

In the dark room which only had the desklamps turned on, it made it hard to see if she even had her eyes left open.

"NIA?!" Tohka's eyes widened in shock as the mangaka dramatically laid her head down and closed her eyes. "Tenka?! What's happening to Nia?"

'This damn woman is just playing dead,' Tenka grit her teeth sensing the panic from Tohka, who quickly calmed down again. She thought for a moment before remembering one of the grey haired woman's weaknesses. 'Hmph, I see that's the way she wants to play. Then-'

"Ah mou, Nia! What have I told you!" Tohka pouted deeply, stalking across the room upon hearing Tenka's suggestion and pulling the blinds apart to release the daylight. She opened the window with a little too much force that it left a crack. "You need to take better care of yourself!"

"GAAAH! The light! My eyes, it hurts! It hurts!" Nia jumped back alive, shuddering and crawled away from the fresh air and hit her head on the table. She swayed upwards and then began stuttering at a fast speed. "Heh, Tohka-chan is really acting like my housewife… wait! Could you be the mother?!"

"Mother…?!" Tohka jumped back a little at the strange transformation from Nia's sudden contact with daylight as the older woman began throwing clothes to hide her head and acting like a zombie from the strange movie she once saw.

"Apologies for this miserable sight… Nia's exponential sloppiness causes such adverse effects," Maria bowed her head slightly. "She is beyond help after adapting too long to this wasteful lifestyle. It has been a week since she last saw the sun."

"Muu, it's not Maria's fault, Nia needs to be responsible for herself too, it makes us all worry," the night haired beauty swayed with the scent of the day, calming Nia's rejective symptoms. Not missing the opportunity, the Princess's face changed from scolding to a bright beam, reaching out her hand over Maria's white hair and patting her intensely. "Ouu! But Maria is such a good girl! You're always thinking about her! By the way, about before… what's this about a 'mother'? How is it related to '***'?"

"A-Are, what was that I wonder… I have lost all my memory from before! It's just too bad, huah huah huah!" The short haired girl poked her head out from under the blanket, the refreshing view of the crystal eyed sweet Spirit patting over her daught – Maria, catching her tongue in her mouth. They quickly made eye contact, deliberating how to smoothly answer Tohka whilst stopping the topic from advancing further.

"…" Maria's soft blue eyes examined up, seeing Tohka becoming even more worried. "Do not worry, she is just exaggerating. Then to start with, please disregard everything this woman is saying, had said and ever will say today. Especially that… word."

"Muu, you mean - se****-?" Tohka hummed when Nia clasped her sweet mouth closed. Despite that, Tohka's dissatisfaction level was rising..

"Then to answer your question-" Maria quickly thought up of plan. So long as she could pull the conversation onto a tangent, she would both answer and hopefully prevent Tohka ever mentioning the dreaded three letter word again. "It's a term you will never need to use. Ever. Tohka and Tenka are familiar in the way they were born, correct? In a similar case, this unit and all it's sister units were also created."

The other Maria units were currently not present, and the Maria here was their collective lead operative due to being in function for the longest, as any different from her irreplaceable family.

Indeed to most people, Maria would appear as a regular, albeit very pretty, young girl. But of course Tohka was aware of her true nature.

The Maria units were all piloted together through the Fraxinus AI Maria and were fundamentally no different from one another. Each one of them was 'Maria' and could be operated separately to perform different tasks all at the same time as each other.

They were robot bodies that could perform the same things as humans sustained primarily by the Realizers . Fundamentally, 'Maria' could choose any of her bodies to be the 'lead' unit who interacted and communicated with the Spirits to best aid them.

It just so happened that the first prototype of Maria in a physical body had been generated from Nia's Rasiel -

Back in the world Tenka created.

Even though the effects of that world had only been temporary, their memories had all been retained. For Maria , all the data analysed within that one month period was retained, and from the data the first Maria unit, which continued to act as the leader to this was day, was able to sustain her body through the Realizer technology.

At the time when Nia had regained reiryoku through Tohka and was able to use Rasiel , the Maria units returned to taking advantage of the mangaka,

"That is in summary how this body has maintained until now," she quickly reviewed as Tohka nodded to the explanation. "Although I have existed as an AI from the start, this is the nature of how the body of us Maria units were 'born'."

"I see…" Tohka got her head around that part for now at least, "so then, Nia is really your mother…?"

In a way from how it sounded to Tohka when she compared it to the story Tenka told of their mother… the one who had been responsible for Maria's physical creation was –

"Absolutely not." Maria's crooked smile put Tohka into confusion again. "It is thanks to Tohka and Tenka that have allowed reiryoku to-"

"Umu! I see, I see," Nia shot up, copying Tohka's enunciation before she could ask what Maria had meant. "In other words. although Mariamon is saying that now, this is all because she has now entered her rebellious phase! At a time like this, she says such mean and spiteful things when in reality she just wants her parent's love!"

Nia opened her arms and proclaimed boldly. "Don't hold back, come to mama!"

"Negative. Considering all factors including the strongest physical resemblance, it has been deduced that Nia is not the mother." The main Maria unit rolled her chair back, forcing away a smile as she faced Nia with a deadpan. "It had been concluded that Maria is most likely the result of Tohka, Origami and Tenka who should all be acknowledged as our mothers."

"Gheh-!" Nia choked on blood and fell to her knees.

"M-Me?!" Tohka pointed to herself curiously as Maria cuddled up to her, hiding behold Tohka's long hair and smugly grinned at the fallen mangaka. "I'm Maria's mother?!"

"W-What is with this plot twist?! How long has this affair been going on without Rasielmon's all knowledge?! And why is Oririn stealing my role in this threesome?!" Nia weakly punched her fists onto the floor.

"In terms of a physical match, Origami's own appearance is the only match to our features," Maria pointed out a bit too proudly.

"Lies! I won't believe it!" Nia crawled under the bed for a while.

"Muu… it's true that you don't look very similar…" The princess studied before recalling Tenka's own appearance. "But, Tenka doesn't resemble Mio either that much?"

"Tch," Maria clucked her tongue as Nia instantly popped back out in full spirits again.

"That's exactly right! As expected of Tohka-chan!" The grey haired woman wiped her concerns away. "There's no evidence of Oririn being involved! Blue eyes, white hair, kuudere personality, they're all just coincidences! And though Tohka-chan and Tenka-chan may have been involved, Mariamon was undoubtedly a result from the love of yours truly!"

"Umu, I still don't have the full picture but it definitely sounds like Nia is Maria's mother," the spirit princess practically settled the verdict. "Besides since Maria more or less lives here, it's that Nia takes very good care of you!"

'Questionable,' Tenka scoffed on Maria's behalf. 'Isn't it this one that has to take care of a hopeless wastrel?'

"Mu…? Ou, well…" Tohka glanced around the room, reconsidering for a moment with narrowed eyes. She reassessed the room and had to agree with Tenka, although she still felt there was more which Nia did on the surface for Maria's sake. Her crystalline eyes sparkled with mirth as she giggled. "Ah, Tenka sounds just like Maria when they talk about Nia. You can both be more honest that you like her."

"Huh…?! Huh?! I'm being insulted again right now, aren't I?!" Nia pouted as Tohka patted her head comfortingly. "Why?! Even Tenka who is always the most thoughtful!"

"It's not like that," she assured the often shut-in girl, "people only say such things about Nia because they are worried about you."

Her radiant light practically cleansed Nia's troubled parental phase and made Maria settle down as well and show concern for Nia's sake.

'That's ludicrous, I don't care about that woman a single bit.' Tohka felt her other half turn her head away whenever she wanted to deny something true. 'Don't give her stupid ideas.'

"Negative, I hold no hopes at all for this woman, nor have any expectations for her to improve… Also I do not live with Nia. Nia lives with me." Tohka giggled from how Maria practically copied the demonic queen with how they addressed Nia, who indignantly wanted to complain that it was her apartment. "However…. 'Maria' might also still consider Nia and her angel as subsequent mothers –"

"Mariamon!" Nia's tears of betrayal instantly switched to tears of happiness. "You really do?! No of course you do! My sweet daughters could never think anyone but this me could be their mother!"

Maria huffed as she pulled her hands back, pushing Nia away who was trying to desperately hug her.

The princess smiled before suddenly remembering. "Ou but, you didn't teach me about this '***' yet, right?"

"Dammit…" Nia fell and Maria's arms both became weak in an instant and they fell onto each other's shoulders. "I thought we had successfully evaded that topic… Also we're not going to be actually teaching you ***! A-At least not y-ye-GH!"

"Since it's come to this, Nia should take responsibility for creating this mess and give up her life to preserve Tohka's innocence." Maria slapped her with the end of a seppuku blade.

"Isn't that way too extreme?! And why are you carrying this around?! We're having a talk about this later young lady!" The pair began to argue as usual.

Tohka frowned and waited patiently, feeling Tenka begin to get irritated.

"By the way, where did Tenka learn about '***'?" She inquired.

'Nowhere really, it's just appeared in those picture books that this woman and others draw. I don't know anything about it but it appears related to being a mother from their explanation.' The Tyrant held her arms clutched together under her chin. 'Hmph, I'm not convinced by their explanation.'

"Hmm… perhaps it's something difficult to explain, like a 'date'?" Tohka guessed, hoping Tenka wouldn't hold it against them. "Ouuuu… what could it be… It sounds really mysterious… Hm?"

On the floor before her, Nia had collapsed whilst Maria also seemed to have grown tired of arguing and resorted to the simplest responses.

"Nia is… to blame…"

"H-How did it come to this… my strength is fading… Ah sorry Tohka-chan… it seems I won't be able to tell you after all… after I die, please… don't go searching any further into this darkness…!"

"Muu… Tenka and I have to find out now. Also we won't let you die!" She watched in concern as Nia really did stop moving.

Maria shook her head, "I'm sorry Tohka, it appears Nia won't be able to go on… with no energy left, her body will crumble in a few seconds."

"Ou! I just remembered!" The night haired girl began fishing through her bag, "in this case, there's something Origami lent to me, it'll make your whole body feel much better again!"

"… !" Maria redirected her focus in concern as Tohka victoriously pulled out the 'object'.

"Ah, there's no nee- WAIT A MINUTE!" She jumped upright, her jaw dropping to the floor as she pointed with a trembling finger. "T-T-T-Tohka?! Y-Y-You said O-Ori-ri-ri-gami gave you that?!"

"Umu!" she brightly held the rubber 'object' innocently with a slight brush, "she taught me how to use it last night! It revitalises you're entire body!"

"K-K-Kyuh…" Nia gasped her final breaths. Her head hit the wall, above which her stack of yuri material had been placed. "H-Hold on! I'm not ready! Actually I feel much better already! Also this situation has just gotten worse?!"

"Don't worry, I'll be gentle," Tohka giggled and pressed down over the older girl who shrieked before she could be stopped, turning on the 'object'.


Operation Code ETP 1 (Expose The Pervert 1)

At 0900 hours, the battle force composed of the Spirits were ascending in a slightly cramped elevator. Usually it would be just a normal ride with the girls chatting between themselves, this time however everyone was dead silent.

The elevator itself seemed to take forever, not even passing halfway up yet.

"Stick to the plan everyone," Kotori tried her best to calm everyone's nerves, "remember, this is all for the sake of keeping Tohka's innocence safe!"

"Mun, Muku shan't allow terrible thinks to befall my lady," Mukuro's breasts tightly squeezed against Kotori's back.

"T-This is a little tight," Yoshino shyly voiced her reservations. "W-Will everything turn out okay…?"

"Don't worry, it's safety in numbers," her puppet reassured her, "right everyone?"

"That's right, it'll be alright everyone!" Miku was the only one who wasn't nervous, sniffing the air happily. "Ahhh~ Being so close to everyone makes me so happy! Natsumi~ where did you go...?"

"Stay away!" She yelled from the opposite end, "and don't sniff the air, pervert!"

"Fufu, this reminds me of what Nia-san said upon agreeing to be our decoy," Kurumi giggled, pumping her hand into the air elegantly, " - 'In order to defeat perverts, we must become perverts-!' - was it?"

"T-That's not what we're doing though?! W-Well sure, we are breaking in and searching through Origami's room…" Kaguya bashfully reflected on everyone's behalf. "B-But! It's all for our noble cause!"

"Objection. Master Origami may have peculiar tastes but this may just be a misunderstanding-"

"AS IF!" They yelled in unison.

"Total-Shock!" Yuzuru, the only one willing to defend Origami, slumped down against her twin's shoulder with nothing else she could say to convince them. Kaguya gently patted her shoulder, trying to make her sister realise her denial ever since the photos were revealed.

"Besides! This doesn't make us perverts in any way, alright?!" Kotori grumbled, glad she tied Nia's arm into becoming their sacrifice. At this rate, everyone was starting to have second thoughts. "In any case! If it was even needed, we've already got a pervert to fight against a pervert."

"Eeeeh? Who is it Kotori-chan?" Miku was met with silence. "… Eh? Who? Who is it?"

"It appears we're here," Kurumi gave her a mischievous look which Miku didn't pick up before they all stumbled out of the elevator.

"Alright, everyone in battle formation!" The girls all nodded to Kotori's command and assumed a rectangular formation. "Maria has confirmed that Tohka has just at arrived at Nia's and is all fine."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they marched through the hallway. Pressing a finger to her earpiece, Kotori confirmed the jamming interference. "As expected, we're going in blind everyone. Watch each other's backs, this could turn out to all be Origami's trap."

They gulped as the tension built when they arrived around the corner to Origami's door. Kurumi glanced around the hall, the lights turned on all day prevented any shadows around here. The gothic girl had suggested to enter through her shadows straight into Origami's apartment but they had denied her out of worry if she was locked inside with no escape.

"Proceed as planned," Kotori nodded to them all, "Mukuro will unlock the door, after which Kaguya and Yuzuru shall launch a sneak attack inside. Capture Origami and restrain her. Afterwards we'll search her room or make her confess."

Everyone nodded, prepared to do their part.

"Then – let's begin our battle - date !"

Rushing straight forward, Mukuro summoned forth Michael and pressed it to the lock.

"Uh! There doth appear to be multiple locks!" The blonde raised her key shaped angel and quickly began opening the next.

"Natsumi!"

"H - Haniel !" The witch quickly changed her angel's shape into a copy of Michael and quickly helped Mukuro unlock them one after the other. "U-Ugh, why would someone have 10 locks on one door?!"

"Ara ara, quite suspicious wouldn't you say?" They all gathered before the door. The few seconds that it took were enough to give Origami the slip.

The last lock clicked open as Mukuro and Natsumi pulled the door open for the twins to dash inside with a flash of wind.

"Apology! Master Origami has the right to be angry." The twins had summoned their shared angel Raphael as Yuzuru held the chains in her hand, ready to capture her master.

"Kuku, prepare yourself Origami! We'll expose your true colours here and now!" Kaguya held her lance forward, opening the door of the main room with the tip before boldly jumping into the centre.

"What part about this is a sneak attack?!" Kotori gave up quickly and signalled everyone in, "Mukuro, lock the door and keep guard so she doesn't escape. Yoshino stay by too and protect her."

"Y-Yes Kotori-san!" She nodded diligently, as Yoshinon assured her to leave it to them as Mukuro sealed them inside.

"Ara ara, it seems we may have stumbled into a crime scene." They all turned their attention to Kurumi's voice as she uncovered the bed.

"As I thought!" Kotori victoriously rushed over, "so you've found evidenc… huh?"

"Hmm?" Everyone besides the pair watching the exit gathered around. "Who's this…?"

Asleep under the bed was a vaguely familiar girl with loose brown hair with a bit tied up in small pigtails by bright yellow ribbons.

There was a red drenched tissue tied to her nose and the blood around the floor should already be life threatening.

Despite that she was breathing normally with a sleepy smile on her face.

"Ehhh, such a shame, why is she still wearing clothes if she's in bed!" Miku complained at the underwhelming reveal.

"Is that really important right now…?" Natsumi thought for a moment, "hold on… isn't she our senpai? I could swear I've met her in the halls before…"

"Hmm… former AST member Mikie Okamine if I recall," Kotori remembered the cousin of Tama-sensei, "well she's not been murdered I'm sure, but hold on, where's Origami?"

"Humu, it appears we're too late," Kaguya comes out of the bathroom after another check, "since there's no-one that can match our speed, Origami has anticipated this one step ahead of us!"

"Report. Master Origami is nowhere to be found." Yuzuru finished searching the kitchen cabinets for any hiding spots. "In addition, there is a suspicious lack of anything to eat."

"Well since Tohka stayed overnight, that wouldn't be unusual…" The redhead smiled fondly, before putting a finger to her lips, "but still what's with this timing… I guess it's possible Mikie Okamine stayed overnight with them…"

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Kurumi added, brushing a bit of Mikie's hair as she lifted her aside, "the blood from this girl still looks sweet ufufu. Perhaps Origami-san has simply headed out to buy something for this girl's sake. Well, in any case she seems fine for some reason…"

"You're really sounding like a vampire," Natsumi shivered a little whilst helping carry the sleeping girl, whose nose suddenly began spurting another small fountain, "and who's wrong in the head if we think this amount of blood is normal…"

"Fine, since Origami is not here, we can't let go of this opportunity - Miku!" She called upon the most skilled searcher at their disposal. "Find anything suspicious!"

"Ahh~ At last it's my turn!" The idol boldly jumped up into the air and dove into Origami's bed, rolling the bed sheets around her and inhaling the scent.

She threw the covers over the floor and wriggled under the bed, rummaged through the drawers and climbed the ceiling upside down at a terrifying velocity.

"There's got to be some hidden compartment somewhere…" Kotori was certain of it, trying to find out where the jamming device itself was located.

Although before long everyone else had backed into the hallway where Mukuro and Yoshino were, letting Miku go on a rampage as Origami's clothes were scattered across the floor in the name of 'studying'.

"How… unorthodox should I say?" Kurumi tried to offer kind words before she jumped away, lifting her skirt carefully to not get caught in Miku's scurrying.

The famous idol at this point in time looked more less and less human by the second, crawling and sniffing every cupboard.

"HUAA! This is so exciting!" Miku buried herself in Origami's bed covers, inhaling the scents as she jumped about with the blanket wrapped tightly around her, inspecting every crook of the bed randomly. "Ehhh… why are they freshly laid out?! That's not fair!"

She rushed into the bathroom, scaring away Yoshino and Mukuro who were tempted to leave and pretend they never saw anything. Origami clearly kept the place tidy as could have been seen from moments before as Miku jumped back into the room, sniffing again like she was following a trail.

"… Oh! Hold on… what's this~" She whiffed the air, circling around as Kotori's glare intensified. From her point of view, Miku had been around the room several times and had growing doubts about the idol.

Kaguya and Yuzuru jumped away and tightly hugged each other in horror whilst Natsumi silently used Haniel to turn herself invisible and hid in the farthest corner of the room. "Creepy…!"

She continued to dance about, laying kisses on the pillow, hugging the table and pulling her body over it and kept trying to stuff Origami's clothes in her pockets which fell out in seconds and contributed to an even more terrifying mess.

"Hm? Right here…" Miku suddenly caught a different smell coming from the books on a shelf. "There's something strange with this…"

She began to examine the titles, standing up on her tiptoes from the corners of the desk below until she came to one book which smelled different. "Ahhh Kotori-chan! I'll be rewarded if I expose Origami's naught secrets right, right?!"

"Yeah, yeah, that's what I said, but seriously?" She looked at her doubtfully, "Don't tell me… I still don't know what goes on in Origami's head but surely not something so cliched as a secret room opened by pulling an out of place book-"

"Hooray! That means a double reward for me!" Miku cheered as she pulled on the book and the floor below them instantly began to separate, the wooden flooring separating smoothly.

"Ooooh!" Everyone watched in wonder several locked doors opened in complex shapes one after the other, before revealing the contents which raised itself from the floor like an elevating table before it rotated to stand vertically and present a cupboard shaped unit.

- "Please enter password."

An electronic audio voice came out of an input box with the usual numbers on the keypad.

"Damn it, figures it wouldn't be that obvious." Kotori tried her earpiece with no response as the others sighed in disappointment, "and just when we needed Nia the most."

They had already had Nia attempt to use Rasiel in order to confirm the photos and confirm that Origami was keeping them in her apartment but she had not mentioned anything about a passcode.

"Hmm~" Miku put her face into the pad from where the audio command had come from, noticing a voice receiver hole as well. " Gabriel !"

"Fufu… I see, that may just work," Kurumi circled around from the other side as Kotori gave her a questioning look. "If you can really mimic Origami-san's voice that is…"

"Don't worry, leave it to me! It may surprise you but Origami-chan has a beautiful singing voice, I've listened to her plenty of times. Gyahhh! There's one time when-" Miku proudly reassured them all and recounted a story too fast for them to follow even if they wanted to.

"Hm, not bad, that's one solution, but we still have no idea of the password -"

"Ah, ahem!" Miku brought her mouth to the pipe of the organ, manipulating the sound waves. It was something she had only learnt to do recently in duets with the other girls when she tried to match their voices. "Tohka ga oishiku nare desu, desu!~ Moe moe kyuun, desu!~"

"… Access approved." Everyone's jaws dropped, incapable of imagining Origami talking like that, let alone how Miku could know such a thing without hesitation.

"No way! What manner of devilry is this?!"

"Bewilderment! Miku can be capable when she wants to be!"

Kotori opened her mouth and closed in several times as the door to the cupboard opened and revealed further sealed doors which opened one after the other. "T-There's no way Origami practises talking like that secretly… yep, it must have been something else… What the hell is the point of this security system?!"

The remaining doors opened one at a time, a dozen after each other, until at last -

"That's - !"

- The attached contents finally revealed themselves.


Meanwhile…

"Fueh. Fueh~~"

Maria sighed in relief, continuing to watch the sight.

"Maria…? Do you want me to do you too?" Tohka smiled, patting her to sit down too as she continued using the object on Nia.

"Unnecessary," Maria declined, relieved at the misunderstanding. "However please refrain from over-spoiling Nia else she'll never recover."

"Muu… don't be shy," The Princess gently stroked Nia's head that was laying, murmuring prayers to heaven, on Tohka's lap pillow as the innocent girl.

"Nyaaaaaahhhh… syyyyoooooo gwwwuuuuuddddd…" Nia drooled in peace, her whole body experiencing waves of pleasure she desperately needed from a lack of movement.

It was the most blissful massage she ever had.

"Hehe, glad you like it!" Tohka cheerfully repositioned the vibrating device to the other side of Nia's neck who rolled around onto her front, pressing her face into Tohka's thighs as the rejuvenating sensations travelled all through her back. "Ah, I'll lift your shirt a little for the next one."

"D-Dwwwooo assssshhh yooou pweeeassse…" Having been reduced to such a state, she didn't think she would tell if she was stripped naked. Rather she welcomed the idea very much as she relaxed into a slightly naughtier daydream. "Jyyuuuust dooonnn't stwoooop…"

Tohka had a few other massaging tools which Origami had apparently been using her the whole night before until she fell asleep.

After examining each and every one of them carefully, Maria was relieved that they weren't designed for a certain other purpose at least, despite how suspicious they each seemed.

But that wasn't to say Origami of all people wouldn't use it for… dark purposes. There really was no way to know what she was thinking when treating Tohka with these.

"Myeooooooowwwww…." Nia purred, sprawling her arms and pushing aside the nearby furniture as she flayed her outstretched arms in all directions.

The vibrating device made her skin already look smoother and give a mature allure to her adult looks. Tohka skilfully used it all over Nia's shoulders, back and neck, rolling around the massaging tool over her whole body's arch.

The sounds kept growing louder and Nia's moans kept becoming more troublesome as she respired erotically, like she had completed the best workout ever without putting in any effort.

"Nia… Nia~" Tohka whispered into her ear with a giggle, "don't get too tired, we've not even started our date yet!"

"Eehh… this feels like a pretty good date though y'know… ah! But there's something missing…" She wiggled her eyes, pointing to her lips as Tohka got the message with a smile.

"Mou, you promised a few days ago that you'd actually come out with me." The Princess told her off, leaning down to meet her lips, pressing down softly and holding the position as the other girl wrapped her arms over her long hair and stroke softly.

The noon sun was reflected from a nearby building and flashed with a lens flare as the Fraxinus AI held her breath for a while, observing the pair's reactions.

She contemplated why she even had such a reaction, returning to a normal stance and continued studying them casually. Her mechanical body tingled when they pulled apart again and began whispering to each other before Tohka had returned and pulled out another device.

Although likewise suspicious in shape, it was meant as a head cushion to rest the neck, which Tohka put on the wrong way around, pressing it on the front of Nia's neck, wondering why it looked so strange pressed under Nia's chin before realising her mistake.

"Heh, well I'll send Oririn my compliments when I next see her," the shorter hair girl was now relaxing between Tohka's legs, pressing her back on her chest as the crystalline eyed girl hummed and continued working her arms all over Nia's back beneath her shirt after trying all the various massaging tools.

'It appears Origami did not give Tohka any strange ideas or uses either.' Maria at last decided to reassure herself.

Kotori had also regained contact with her and she had relayed the situation over to her, comparing it to what they found in Origami's apartment.

It really had turned out to be a misunderstanding, as Yuzuru had happily pointed out that her master's trust had been regained.

Not that there was much to begin with from the various incidents Origami had caused in the past.

"So then, back to what we were talking about earlier, about mothers and fathers and-"

Despite that, there was a new problem now. After she had informed Kotori of Nia's slip-up and the red haired had flown into a rage for a while having been left the responsibility of explaining Tohka about the process of nature, she had relayed the orders to Maria to distract Tohka no matter what for the time being, using any means necessary.

"A-Ah, that's right!" Nia jumped up, shivering as Maria showed up a holographic display with Kotori's face on it as she gestured a sliding motion to Nia's neck. "W-W-We were talking about going out, right right? Come on, let's go on our date!"

"Ou… Umu!" Tohka lit up at the word, "but don't forget later to explain about-"

"S-Sure! I got it! T-Then, let's go!" Nia threw on a change of clothes without paying much attention as she and Maria nodded to each other before grabbing Tohka's arms and quickly stopping her asking anymore.

'Really… it sounds like *** is really complicated…' Tohka thought to herself.


A Little Earlier (Also Meanwhile)…

"…" Origami had been thoughtfully staring at the collection of her secret cabinet, the worth of all three wardrobes opened up before her eyes.

She titled her head from one side to the other every 10 minutes.

The vibrant colours of the rubber devices, ranging from all shapes and sizes, were neatly stacked in their slots with a few of them removed from their places.

It had taken a bit of work to renovate underneath but it was all worth it to recreate a convincing decoy.

Of course she wouldn't hide her true abundances of 'real toys' and 'actual vibrators' in in such an obvious place.

"… The day will come." She encouragingly proclaimed.

'STOP IIIIT!' Thevoice of her other self cried out mentally to her.

"This is just a precaution." Origami informed her calmly.

'What is?! You're going to be completely misunderstood if the others find out about this?! But more importantly, you can't give Tohka l-l-le-leew- I-IMMORAL IDEAS!' Her innocent side argued against her.

Her head felt hot as though Neo-Origami's constant blushing had been heating her up too.

"No problem. There is nothing immoral about this. Even when we have ***-"

'NOOO! Don't say it!' She shook their head in retaliation, 'I've already seen too much! I don't want Tohka to go through this as well!'

Origami paused, thinking that she's barely touched the surface of her ambitions. There was so much more which she had yet to reveal to her other self from the new timeline. "Don't worry, this is all necessary training. When the time comes, Tohka's Sandalphon will gently **** our ***** before ******* our deepest ******** but due to it's size we will *** instantly upon contact, therefore we must prepare for the time when she ***** our ***** so that our body can resist ******* from every **** and will be forever be claimed by her **** **** so that ******* becomes natural every hour and -"

'-' The other Origami fainted before she could say a word, her imagination carrying her away.


Ratatoskr Training Facility

It was a warm day and a pleasant breeze caused ripples along the transparent clean water which merged with the splashes every time she dipped her toes in,

"The swimming pool, huh…" Nia looked around uncertainly, her stomach so heavy that she was certain she would sink like a stone.

On the way here, they had stopped at every food stand in the sector, from hamburgers to ramen, closed down a bakery for the day after Tohka began explaining the best pastry combinations that went along with her beloved kinako bread, which Nia did her best to resist Tohka encouraging her to try them all out.

To be honest, Nia had quickly lost track and was only semi-conscious during the whole trip, her mouth chewing over all flavours that over-stepped her taste senses and made them go numb.

"Well dinner's all sorted for today!" She patted her stomach happily, looking around the whole place.

It was a private swimming pool which had been bought out for only their own use. It was part of a larger public pool but all the areas to it were restricted and managed by Ratatoskr.

The area was large and had some beach chairs and a free food stand all prepared for the carnivorous appetite of the Princess.

"Hey, Roboko," Nia stretched herself out after taking two steps into the shallow water before deciding that was enough. "Are you having fun?"

Maria, who had also come along for 'information', was stretched out on the beach chair, her body covered with a fashionably white swimsuit exposed her human-like skin in complete harmony.

A pair of black sunglasses also covered her vision, which wasn't necessary for the AI but she had taken them since they belonged to Nia. "Seeing that it's only Nia here, everything is rather dull right now."

"Who are you calling dull my daughter?!" Nia shrieked after looking up and down Maria's body before down to her own. "That aside, I'm glad you've inherited great fashion sense from me!"

"Why thank you." She retorted sarcastically, peaking a glance once Nia turned away. Her own swimsuit was a bright red two piece with many straps running around her top, which revealed a bit too much.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Tohka cheerfully pulled open the changing room door and rushed in with a smile, jumping in a cannonball into the water, causing it splash over the edge before resurfacing with a smile and brushing back her long wet hair.

"Ehh?! You just finished putting on your swimsuit and are already jumping in?! We should build up more suspense for the reveal!" Nia complained at the lack of fanservice as she leaned over the edge, slightly wet whilst scribbling, "it should go like- 'W-What do you think of my swimsuit, Nia~~'! Followed by a 'Humu, let's increase our skinship even more~~'-!"

Tohka was blushing however, glancing to her simwsuit and covering herself a little before swimming a little over to them and peaking over the edge, exclaiming in surprise at how fast Nia was able to write. "T-Then, w-what do you think…?"

"A-Ah just hold on a minute-" Nia cast a glance around all their surroundings, taking in everything and writing things out from her ideal imagination.

"Stop using Rasiel to break the fourth wall and pay attention to the swimsuit scene you wanted." Maria fixed her hand around Nia's wrist, and tried to pry the Angel from her hands.

"You did it too just now!" She retorted, holding one hand around a pole whilst continuing to write in the other. "Besides it's a common joke nowadays to break the fourth wall once or twice in every manga!"

"This isn't just once or twice! And you're the one transcribing this!" Maria closed her mouth before she was able to complete her drawn narrative and hastily scribbled it all out.

"Mu…? What's this all about?" Tohka leaned over, causing Nia to cry out when she placed her hands on both of Nia's thighs and pulled herself up, her body in between the spread legs. "Did I make a mistake picking this one…? Nia's style is so elegant and grown-up, should I have tried that too…"

"NO WAY! You're perfect the way you already are!" Nia affirmed, widening her eyes as far as possible and ogling Tohka with ferocity that startled her, causing a faint blush to spread across her cheeks and highlight her porcelain skin that was covered by a white, frilly two piece with blue outlines and ribbons over the centre of her chest and one at her hip, attached to the lower part of her swimsuit which covered her legs a little like a maid's miniskirt. For a moment, she thought she had seen a similar swimsuit before already but on someone else. But she quickly forgot it when see Tohka's expecting face, the way she subtly moved, causing water to press through her perfectly large chest that Nia just wanted to feel if only for a little. "T-This…! I'LL BURN THIS IMAGE INTO MY MIND!"

"N-Nuu, you shouldn't do that Nia, it's dangerous to play with fire!" Tohka pushed away from the edge a little giving a satisfied smile, paddling her feet into the pool as Nia kept staring at her even more intensely, causing strange sensations to crawl over her skin that felt unusual.

"Please be consumed in the perverted fires of your lust." Maria finally gave one more push and Nia yelled as she lost balance, falling face first into the pool before she walked away and sat cross legged on a deck chair, placing Rasiel shut on the table beside her.

"Bilibubu! H-Hey, don't push in so suddenly!" she resurfaced and grabbed the edge. "And give back my Rasielmon!"

"You can play your games however much you want at home," the Fraxinus AI popped the sunglasses over her eyes, and began fanning herself. "Also a reminder. You're spending every hour finishing your work until the deadline the moment you get back."

"Nnnhm!" Nia pouted at her, displeased at the role reversal before two hands suddenly grabbed her sides and pulled her underwater. "Wah!"

"Ah, sorry! Did I scare you?" Tohka pooped up after seeing Nia struggle, lifting her back out to breath. "I just wanted to surprise you a little."

"Y-You definitely did…" She panted before twirling around and grabbing the Princess's armpits, "and so this is my counter-attack!"

"Ah!" Tohka beamed and jumped away quickly, kicking strong enough that her whole body was lifted out of the water surface before splashing down and over Nia.

"You aren't getting away so easily!" Nia began splashing as she paddled forward after launching herself from the floor, chasing after Tohka who smiled and dived underwater, disappearing at high speeds. "What?! So fast!"

She had already reached the end of the pool before Nia could hold one breath and had to grasp the edge of the pool for support.

"I-I'll be right there!" She realised quickly that it was faster to jump out and run around the edge of the pool, ignoring the 'no running on slippery surfaces' warning sign next to her, before she jumped back in on the other side and splashing Tohka who giggled and threw more water over Nia's head when she resurfaced.

"Take that" She cheerfully gave a small push that sent a wave, causing Nia to grab the edge in fear again.

"A-Ah! The bottom?! I can't feel the bottom of the pool?!" Nia panicked, realising that the pool was sloped at the bottom, causing a shallow 1 metre and a deeper 4 metres on the opposite ends.

"Mu? Nia… could it be you don't know how to swim?" The Princess asked curiously, perplexed at Nia's unusual motions in the water as she gently pressed a hand on Nia's hip to support her.

"O-Of course I can!" She let go and immediately began kicking as hard as she could, jumping up and down across over the surface in a slow, inefficient movement. "I-It's just been a while, that's all!"

"Really…?" Tohka furrowed her brows, watching carefully as she gracefully floated in balance.

"J-Just watch me!" Stretching out her arms, she kicked off from the edge, took a mouthful of air and began kicking her legs whilst swaying her arms.

Nia could indeed swim.

Just not very well.

"Pah!" She spat out another mouthful of water, now waving her arms and legs in all directions to stay afloat as she tried to feel the bottom with her toes. "I-I'm fine!"

She was now near the centre, with nothing to grab onto as she became overly panicked before the night haired girl glided over to her in a few strokes.

Tohka's arm gently grasped her wrist and pulled her along, gracefully moving Nia through the fluid water over to the edge.

"H-Huah… t-thanks…" Nia rubbed her eyes, causing them to sting more. "J-Just had a little trouble there."

"O-Oou, if you say so…" She gave her a doubtful gaze which Nia turned away from quickly in embarrassment, "then, do you want to practise with me?"

Nia glanced back, the extended hand gently offered to her. "Y-Yeah, just remember, it's only because I'm out of practise, I've definitely been able to do it before!"

"Umu!" She waited patiently until Nia caught her breath and took her fingers, before Tohka pushed off gently, "so… um… I think… if you just try kicking as hard as you can?"

With Tohka holding both of her hands now and floating carefully in front of her, Nia nodded and began kicking wildly, sprawling her legs out in all directions, causing her to sway from side to side. "Like- uh, pfft, this?!"

"U-Um…" Tohka creased her brows, trying to think, "more like… a flippity-flip? And a flip-flip-kick! Then a stretch-hyah!-flip!"

"E-Eh…" Her eyes became dots, trying to follow the explanation to how Tohka flipped her hair out of the water. "… F-Flippity-flip!"

She bent her knees more, kicking her ankles out of the water before kicking down and causing large splashes.

"O-Ou! Don't lift your legs so high, just near the surface, and um… ou, try keeping them together, and don't bend your knees quite so much!" She began suggesting, watching as bit by bit, Nia's technique had began to improve.

"Woah…" Although uncertain at first, after a few minutes, she began to gain some more speed, could keep her body steady and didn't get as tired so quickly. "T-Tohka-chan!"

"Umu, you're doing really well now!" The Princess beamed, happy that she was able to teach her a little. "Should I let go of your arms now?"

"Huh?! No, don't let go!" The ash haired girl squeezed her hands even tighter, continuing to kick as Tohka carried her. "You can't for any reason let go until we reach the edge!"

"Muu, but how can I teach you to move your arms though..." Tohka pondered a little, continuing to guide Nia around in circles around the pool. "What about… one arm a time?"

"Well, um… F-Fine, I get it!" She reconsidered for a second before loosening her right hand a little, "but you can't let go any more alright?!"

"U-Umu… only so long as you hold on," Tohka spun her around a little, now just holding onto Nia's left arm. "Ah, so now basically… you do like a… chop! And a stretch-hyah! And then a cup with your fingers just after they plop in the water, and… fwush underwater!"

"F-Fwush!" Nia pushed her arm through the water before raising it out, reaching forward and pulling into a forward stroke. "Chop! Hyah! Fwush-Pfft! Bheh there's water-! Pft!"

Due to splashing a bit too much still, Nia began struggling as an uncomfortable cough began to build.

"Ah sorry! You also do a… Haamph! And a bubble with your mouth, then when you're out of breath, you turn your head sidewards, and again do a Haamph!" Tohka lifted Nia up a little as she caught her breath a little.

"G-Got it! This time, it'll be perfect!" She enthusiastically grinned, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, before stretching her right arm through the water whilst kicking in rhythm, then pulling with her left arm. She did another stroke with her right arm and another with her left-" GAH! Tohka-chan?!"

By the time she realised, Nia was already swimming confidently away, her hand slipped out of Tohka's without realising it.

"Nia! You're doing great!" Tohka cheered, swimming right after her and doing a few circles around her, "don't give up now!"

"B-But!" Nia complained, thrashing about a bit before calming again, "O-oh! I'm swimming! All on my own!"

"Umu!" The girls smiled at each other, flicking a bit of water in each other's directions before reaching the edge again. "I suppose you did know how to swim, you're a natural!"

"O-of course I am! Like I said, I've totally swam before!" Nia bashfully sighed in relief. It was said that swimming was one of the those things which you can always do after learning it once.

By now it had been so long ago that she struggled to remember her childhood, although she was sure she must have tried swimming at some point or other, she had truly forgotten any memories of it.

Still it appeared that her body had not completely forgotten everything. 'Well it still feels like learning something for the first time…'

Nia occasionally thought back to her childhood, something which she recovered parts of with Rasiel but she had never sat down to review through it's entirety, only the important parts.

Surrounded by 2D and all the others whom she had befriended, she had all she needed for the future.

The incident which made her turn her eyes away from the real world could never be changed, maybe some day she could look back at it and confidently say she had overcome it.

"Ah for now… this is enough…" She mumbled contently. Regardless of what happened, it was also true that Nia had always loved 2D, she had fondly seen just how her child self spent doodling in class, gaming at home and skipping lessons to read manga outside of school grounds. No matter what else happened in the past, she was satisfied with how she was now. "Tohka-chan, do you want something to drink? Ah, but you can't have alcohol until you become a fine adult like me! Sorry, sorry!"

"Nia! Nia!" She heard Tohka's voice from the opposite end, about 40 metres away. "Let's have a race!"

"Hm? Huh?! When did you get other there?" She hadn't even felt the water move one bit. "Ah, time out Tohka-chan! I really need some refreshment."

"Mou, come here, come here!" The Princess cheerfully called, standing up in the shallow end as Maria came out and gave her a fruit juice filled with ice, then turned towards Nia, holding up a can of beer which she popped open.

"AHHH! Stop!" Nia cried out in horror as she watched Maria down it all in one go. "NOOOOOO!"

Wiping her mouth dramatically, Maria crashed the empty can in her hand and through it into the bin without looking as Nia sulked at her, vowing revenge. Then she pulled out another 5 set of cans from behind the back.

"GAHHH! Mariamon, you demon!" Nia struggled as she grabbed the edge, trying to hoist herself out of the pool, struggling as she was unable to feel the bottom. "D-Damn it!"

"What's wrong, Nia?" The night haired girl popped her head of the water, only scaring Nia more. "S-Sorry… Are you not going to swim over? Also what's Maria drinking?"

"N-Nothing!" The ash haired girl fell back in, "a-ah that Mariamon, why does she like messing with me so much?!"

"Hm, it's probably because Nia is so dainty and… delicate?" Tohka giggled, stroking her short wet hair, "you're just someone that needs to be looked out for since you're always accustoming to everyone and trying to be a good hostess… I suppose? Actually you're always just giving everyone fun ideas!"

"T-That's… not true… No wait, it's really not! There's no way Mariamon thinks like that!" Nia accusingly pointed the white hair girl who waved another ready can. "That daughter of mine just enjoys causing chaos like a rebellious child and ruining my onee-san appeal!"

"Really…? I think Maria really likes you though…" Tohka tilted her head, before smiling, "ou! But like that, about that mother topic-"

"C-Crap! I said it again!" Nia buried her head underwater and furiously blew bubbles about before popping up again. "D-Don't let anyone know I told you! Also let's keep this a secret from Mariamon too!"

"O-Ou," Tohka held out her pinky which Nia swiftly took, shaking firmly. "But I was just saying, it's funny things like that which Nia says that makes everyone curious!"

"R-Right…" She exhaled into the water, relaxing against the pool edge. "A-Anyway Tohka-chan, could you help me out of the pool please…"

"U-Umu, do you not want to swim one more length?" Tohka watched her in concern, her gentle eyes piercing straight through Nia's body.

"W-Well… I-I need a little rest first, I promise I'll be right back though!" Nia reassured her as Tohka nodded along, pressing a hand over Nia's waist and legs, ready to lift her over. "A-Ah…"

"Nia…? Are you ready?" Her crystalline eyes reflected the wavy water and Nia's own face as she glanced over to them as she continued staring instead of trying to lift herself up. "Should I push you up yet?"

"… Ah, wait a second…" Nia sunk herself a little lower again, looking over to the opposite end of the pool where Maria was still teasingly shaking the can of beer.

It was about 40 metres. If she pushed herself off hard enough, she could build momentum and cross half of it in a minute or two if she was careful.

A part of herself was already somewhat satisfied having learnt to swim properly, and most of all she was really crazing for something refreshing to drink right now.

She was satisfied right now and it certainly felt easier to climb out and walk around the outside of the pool. After she regained some strength she wanted to try having a bit of a splash contest, hopefully perhaps trick Maria into dragging her in as revenge, and relax into the sauna with Tohka.

There really wasn't any part of her that would want to overexert herself when she was happy to relax and leisurely paddle around the shallow end.

"Alright! You're on Tohka-chan!" Nia confidently called and pushed off the edge without delay, "it's a race!"

"Ah, muu!" Tohka pouted after her before breaking into a smile and taking after her.

Nia breathed in another mouthful of air, before kicking faster and stretching even further with her hands. 'Well, it's not like I stand a chance against- HUH?!'

She coughed and swallowed a bit too much water as she stared in shock when Tohka practically flew past her, barely making half the movements which Nia needed to cover the distance.

Nia had hoped she could get halfway at least before Tohka passed her, but it was barely 10 metres before Tohka shot past with the grace of a dolphin, her hair coming loose as her hair ribbon sank into the water.

"Ah-!" Nia tried to call over but ended up with another mouthful of water as she ended up trying to reach for Tohka's bow without realising it.

"- Ah! Here we are!" Tohka touched her hand at the end, completing the whole length in a few seconds. "Ou, thank you Maria!"

"Congratulations." Maria handed her another glass of fresh juice which she had re-filled. "Not that there was any doubt, regardless of what underhanded tricks were employed."

"Ah!" Tohka sighed contently, finishing the whole glass which could be held in both hands, "but it really got me excited when Nia agreed!"

"That was…!" Maria ceased her comment when she noticed. "Tohka!"

"Mu?" She turned around to look behind her. "Nia?!"

Floating with her back in the surface, Nia's arms and legs had stopped moving as the last bubbles floated up from her head.

"Nia!" Without a moment to waste, Tohka kicked off the ground, shooting herself the whole way in half a second as she grabbed Nia's body and pulled her out. "Nia?!"

The ash haired girl's eyes were closed and she didn't speak, although her face seemed unworried as she held onto a blue and white ribbon in her hands.

"Tohka, bring her here!" Maria rushed to the side as Tohka quickly pulled her up with one hand, laying Nia on the floor gently. "Not good… How did it happen so easily…"

"Maria, what's happened to Nia?!" Tohka shivered in concern as Maria frantically checked Nia's wrist and neck, turning her head to the side as Nia didn't respond to anything.

"Not breathing… she's swallowed too much water. Tohka, I'll need your help." The Fraxinus AI quickly located the nearest lifeguard first aid kit and sent the warning alarm.

"What should I do?" Tohka turned serious and nodded at the ready.

"For now, place your hands over her chest and strongly-" Maria demonstrated quickly as she corrected herself, "no, with Tohka's usual strength, please weakly compress down on her chest in timed motions."

"O-Okay!" She did so, pushing down her hands over Nia's chest, "right here?"

"Yes, two compressions at a time, give a second in between each one," she pressed her hands over Tohka's and demonstrated, compressing Nia's chest with a safe amount of force whilst glancing to the ash haired girl, laying without response. "Please keep this tempo, I'll take 2 minutes to get the first aid kit! Please take the earpiece and keep me informed in case Nia wakes up."

Got it," Tohka held out her hand as Maria pulled out a piece from her swim jacket, turning it on before rushing away. "Hang in there, Nia!"

Tohka began the compressions just as instructed, feeling Nia's light body shake a little but not responding otherwise.

"I-It's not working…" She tried her best to calm herself whilst her worry grew at every second that passed. "Maria said Nia just swallowed too much water but she looks l-like…"

"Tohka, is there any change?" Maria's voice suddenly filled in through her earpiece.

"N-No, i-is Nia…?!" Her eyes began to get a little blurry, confused at how everything had seemed fine just moments ago.

"Do not panic, we'll save Nia. Right now, can you try mouth-to-mouth?" Maria's presence reassured her.

"! I got it." Tohka grabbed ahold of herself, turning over Nia's head as she took a breath.

"Tilt her head back and pinch her nose. Seal her mouth completely and breath in moderately several times." The Fraxinus AI hastily made a noise as she began running again.

Tohka did as instructed, lowering her mouth over Nia's and breathing in her air into the other girl, raising her mouth off and doing it again.

Even then, there was no response.

"M-Maria…?" She tried again once more.

"I'm on my way, just repeat the process for one more minute."

Tohka nodded to herself, pressing her arms over Nia's chest once more and then giving mouth-to-mouth, her hands becoming a little wobbly as she began to frantically try to do both at the same time.

"Nia…" She paused again. It hadn't been a minute and half but Nia had still not reacted at all. "…!"

"Calm down," a soft hand took hers, materialising out of a bright light that took the identical shape of herself. "We'll do it together."

"Tenka…?" She blinked as her other self nodded, her identical body paired with the same swimsuit she had. Tenka took Tohka's hands in her own and pressed them over Nia's chest. "Yeah, got it!"

Taking a breath, Tenka covered her mouth and began breathing in air gently as soon as Tohka finished the compressions.

After taking another breath, Tohka and Tenka firmly continued the chest compressions as Tohka leaned over just as Maria came back out of the building, hurrying with a case in her hands.

"A-Ah, I-I'm save-MHM?!" Nia coughed a little as Tohka pressed her lips over hers and breathed even more air into her before pulling away and forcing the compressions over Nia's chest along with Tenka. "I-I-I-I'm okay n-YUM!"

Tenka shut her mouth this time, exhaling out enough air that made her feel like she'd burst from the inside. Pulling away again, the process repeated as both night haired beauties kept sharing all the air in their lungs out into her, not giving Nia a chance to say anything.

"Ah! Nia! Thank goodness!" Tohka's worries vanished and she quickly leaned down to the ash haired girl.

"Y-Yeah, h-huh what happe-?!" Her mouth was sealed once more as Tohka closed her mouth and exhaled air into her lungs once more. "W-Wait, I-I'm o-KAH!"

Beaming in relief, she joined her hands with Tenka's once more as they pressed down on her chest once more.

"Don't worry, Nia you're saved! Maria, thank you!" Despite Nia's coughing, they continued the process.

"Oh… Yes?" Maria knelt down in relief. After switching back her mode, she felt a little annoyed at Nia's timing making her rush fruitless, before relaxing a little more when registering Nia's condition. "… But why are you continuing?"

"Mu? We have to get all the water out right?" Tohka verified, as Nia was now shaking as she still coughed a bit of water out, but mainly struggled to say anything from the strength of Tohka and Tenka's hands on her chest. "If we don't then the same thing might happen, right?"

"… About that," Maria opened her mouth to reassure them that they could stop now before glancing at Nia's face and checking her health readings. "… Yes, Tohka is absolutely correct. Who knows what may happen with Nia's weak body. Also I recommend increasing the mouth-to-mouth breathing without pinching the nose."

"Alright, leave it to us!" Tohka nodded, now calmly continuing to press her mouth over Nia who struggled and moaned in complaint before giving up as the moment she was released, Tenka sealed her mouth this time as the pair made eye contact before Tenka glared and glanced to the side, pulling herself off.

"A-Ah… heh…" Nia's head began to spin, her whole body feeling very warm as Tohka took her hand comfortingly before exchanging their breath once more, their lips pressing intensely against one another as the previous physically dangerous situation quickly turned into mentally dangerous situation, her head overrun with the sensations again and her resistance stopped completely.

/.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../

A few minutes later, it had turned to a series of alternating kisses as the breathing became more forgotten as she exchanged lips with Tohka and Tenka one after each other as the pair of beauties did not let a second pass between each other.

"Oi, how much longer do we keep doing this?" Tenka's patience snapped first, despite which she did not stop exchanging mouth to mouth with Nia.

"At this rate, Nia should be fine." Maria reassured them as Tenka pulled herself off and stood up whilst Tohka helped Nia up on her feet again.

"H-Heww… T-Tenka-chan…" She pressed a finger to her lips as she came to, "a-ah thank you everyone… EEK!"

Tenka suddenly closed the distance to Nia in two steps and grabbed her by her bikini straps, "hey you damn woman, don't you have something else to say after making Tohka worry this much?"

"HIIIIEEEE! Y-YES!" Nia cried, filling herself pulled up just from her bikini alone as she shivered whilst nodding enthusiastically. "I'm sorry for making everyone worry! Sorry Tohka-chan, Tohka-chan and Mariamon!"

"Who the hell said I was worried?" The dark queen brought her face centimetres away, "listen here, don't think you can die whenever you like and cause her to cry."

"Heehee, that means Tenka was really worried about you!" Tohka giggled, contrasting her other half's dominating aura which only intensified.

"I-I got it! I'm sorry, I'll be more careful!" Nia frantically assured her, feeling the swimsuit stretch and press against her chest tightly, "A-AH! I definitely won't let this happen again!"

"Hmpth, well whatever," Tenka let go and folded her arms crossly, "I'll overlook it this time since you were in trouble this time."

"Stupid Nia." Maria slapped the back of her head, causing Nia to cry and hold a hand to the sore spot, "how is your body so weak that it could drown so easily."

Tohka smiled and stroked over the non-existent bruise and over Nia's hair to calm her down, "but Nia… what did happen?"

"Ah! That's right, your ribbon!" She finally remembered, looking around and finding the blue and white bow which she had dropped nearby. "Here Tohka-chan! I dived down to go get it and… um, well this happened."

"HUH?! Just for that…" Tohka staggered back, feeling her hands through her hair which she realised had been untied, "s-so, all because of me, you almost-"

"N-NO NO! It definitely wasn't Tohka-chan's fault!" Nia assured her, feeling the disaster level threat peering from behind her. "D-Don't cry! IT WAS MY FAULT! So please don't cry Tohka-chan!"

Nia quickly took hold of Tohka's hair and tied it back up, in her signature butterfly shape.

"U-Umu…" Tohka smiled sadly, rubbing her eyes before resolving herself once more, "Nia!"

"Y-Yes?!" She stood at attention as Tohka sat in the deck hair.

"Come here and rest!" She patted her lap, "from now on until you feel better, I'll take care of you!"

"T-That's not necessary-!" Nia shivered as a powerful hand grabbed her shoulder.

"Sit your ass down." Tenka commanded her, without any room for argument. "Do you want to die?"

Without another word, Nia did so, half pushed down to be seated in Tohka's lap who pulled her arms around Nia's waist and hug her warmly. Her larger breasts gently cushioned Nia's back who shuddered under the suspicious looks from both Maria and Tenka, the latter of whom turned away without a comment and began to faintly glow.

"A-Ah, Tenka-chan? You're going already…?" Nia called out to her, disappointed as she quickly copied the image of Tenka's swimsuit into her head, as she felt Tohka pouting at her other half as well.

"What?" The Demon Queen turned to look at her angrily, her body disappearing into reiryoku which slowly guided itself back towards Tohka into tiny specks of light.

"… Thank you." She gave her a sincere smile, hoping Tenka wouldn't reject it for once, which to her surprise, she did not.

The Tyrant turned away with a flick of her long hair and vanished once more.

"Muu… she still had plenty of reiryoku left," Tohka turned away still pouting, pulling Nia in closer. "Just what is she saving it up for..."

"Well knowing Tenka-chan… Ah no, I don't know anything either." Nia decided it would be for the better and safer to not say anything more as Maria sent a warning at her.

Once everything calmed down again, they had a snack, and a meal in Tohka's case, before playing more in the pool, this time with Nia strictly limited to the shallow end as Tohka held her hand without letting go for the rest of the time.

"Aaah! This hits the spot!" Nia stretched out her body, bathing in the heat.

After a while longer, they had retired to the sauna and Tohka had quickly grown dizzy and cuddled up against Nia's shoulder.

"Umu umu…" She gave content mumbles whilst nuzzling in closely.

"You're awfully relaxed for someone who almost drowned themselves." Maria chided at her. "In case you've forgotten, even though you are able to use the power of your Angel, your body is now human. Unless you specifically draw reiryoku through the pass with Tohka, you won't have any superhuman powers. Although if you don't do so in moderation then you'll be in trouble with Kotori, like some of the others."

"I know, I know, but y'know there's no need for me to do it. Of course if anyone troubles you my daughter, I'll sort them right out!" She confidently stated, flexing with a grin. "Truthfully it doesn't feel like I was in any danger so long as you're around. And besides, surely with Kurumin's power you could fix things if the worst came about right?"

"… Idiot Nia." The white haired girl whispered. "You're truly a helpless fool without any worries."

"You're really sending me mixed signals here Mariamon…" She laughed while feeling Tohka's gentle breathing against her shoulder. "Ah… she's asleep."

"…" The Fraxinus AI continued watching whilst finalising the report on today's incidents, sensing Nia's emotional levels accelerate again. "… Are you content with just watching over her? I'm sure you're excited thinking it's a perfect chance for someone like you to steal a march on the others. Although with how everything turned out, you sure ended up being kissed by Tohka and Tenka a whole lot already."

"Ah?! What makes you think I'm that desperate?! Besides do those really count though…" Nia's face flushed, glancing to Tohka's peaceful expression. It was somewhat of an unspoken competition amongst the others to see who could get the most amount of kisses in. If she turned her face even a little more, their lips would no doubt meet again. "… Yeah. I am content."

It reminded her a little of the whole time she had spent swimming today.

"Well, just at the moment! Who knows, I might change my mind at any second. If I see Tohka-chan's cute waking up face, I might not be able to resist any longer!" She quickly added, beaming as she proclaimed, "when you reach my age Mariamon, you'll see how quickly the water can change, how your feelings swim amongst each other, and how-"

"-And how easily an idiot called Nia will ruin the moment." Maria quickly shut down the ash haired girl who froze when feeling Tohka stir before she relaxed again. "… But I suppose to that idiot that's love to her."

"… Well, it's not like that's all. Also it's meant to go 'baka baka'~" Nia pulled up an arm and softly looped it around Tohka's waist. "… If it's about what you were asking this morning, then it's kinda hard to put it into words. To be honest, I'm not sure exactly how I feel myself. I mean it's all thanks to boy's help that we all met, and well things just turned out one way or another like this…"

She wasn't really sure at what point it all exactly happened. After Tohka had returned into this world, things had calmed down, and over the past years everyone had stayed connected and the previous status quo had continued. All that was able to happen due to Tenka's world which she had created and despite disappearing along with Tohka, it had caused lasting effects to all their lives.

They had come to terms with their pasts, were finally able to enjoy the peace and think towards each of their different futures. Despite everyone's different paths, Tohka was the one that guided them, kept them altogether and led them to change until it had all panned out as it was now.

It wasn't by her actions alone, but little by little, the effects of Tohka Yatogami became irresistible to all the Spirits.

But it wasn't just that.

It felt like there was something from the past nagging at her a little, telling her to treasure such a person. Someone that energetically pulled them forward, always played along with her and never thought less of her.

Unless she wanted to die, she had to cherish Tohka. '- No, hold on?! That's obviously Tenka who would kill me if I didn't?! Ahhh dammit, why are my thoughts getting mixed up… for a moment I felt reminded of something..' Nia though, sighing as she glanced back at Tohka.

Nia still did not know how she really felt.

Was it simply just something like admiration? Or a more shallow attachment to the honesty of the innocent girl? Or just a curiosity that may change in time once she decided to realise it?

Compared to most of the other girls, she understood what Maria was wondering about. If Tohka had chosen just one person, she was sure she would be genuinely happy for her. It was likely she would not have come to feel this way if that had happened.

It was a usual norm, even in the case of multiple people being attracted to the same individual, it was common for a single pair to turn out in the end. And if not chosen, it could also just turn out without any relationships in the end.

But Tohka had reiterated her love for everyone many times over and never stopped having an effect on each of them individually. And somehow or other, it had worked.

"Yup, Mariamon." She nuzzled her cheeks against Tohka, "I really do love this girl."

"… I see." The Fraxinus AI accepted her words silently, feeling a little acknowledging of the ash haired girl.

"Ooh, but even I'm not sure in what ways I do love her just yet! Cause I love you too Mariamon!" Nia grinned as she was met with the disappointed look from the white haired girl. "Ah, I really love Nattsun as well, and Kurumin, and everyone else too!"

"Useless. Forget that I ever asked." Maria turned away, writing it off as a joke. "I should have known better than to even have an atom of hope from you."

"Is that the maximum amount of hope you can have from me or something?!" She complained as Tohka raised her head, rubbing her eyes softly. "Ah, sorry you must be tired to have slept like that…"

"Ou… sorry Nia, Origami didn't let me sleep all night until just before dawn…" Tohka raised herself off and looked about, remembering that she was in the sauna.

"B-By that you mean with the massaging tools right?" Nia reconfirmed.

"Umu…" Tohka blinked, shooting a strange expression that went unnoticed.

"Shall we depart? Any longer and the heat might make Nia collapse." Maria held open the door for them.

"Hey, I'm not that fragile!" She complained back in their usual manner.

"Muu, but Nia you have to promise me to be extra careful from now on." Tohka poked a finger to Nia's chest, "also if any trouble comes, you can call me right? I'll come to save you."

"G-Got it…" She nodded as Tohka finished wiping down her body with a towel, looked up to her, tilted her head and broke into a bright smile that sent her calm heart racing.

Like a gentle Princess that could split water into two.

"Huhu~ Nee Roboko," Nia began once Tohka reached into the lockers to take out their belongings.

"What do you want?" Maria, still displeased, noticed a signal sent to her.

"I've decided on the title of the next series!" The mangaka proclaimed boldly, "I'll call it – 'The Night Swordswoman of God!' No, wait, something with more a spicy and juicy ring to it –

"In conclusion, Nia hasn't decided at all." Receiving the transmission, she opened it and faced the older girl. "By the way, you're grounded."

"… Huh?" Nia tilted her head blankly.

"By order of Kotori, reflect over your carelessness whilst you catch up on work." The Fraxinus AI put up the hologram, striking terror into Nia when seeing the redhead's displeased face.

"Y-You can't ground me!" Nia explained, waving her hands before coming up with a solution, "w-well if you want to play it that way, I'm grounding you first!"

"Ground…?" Tohka curiously inquired, imagining how she's grounded ingredients before in horror. "Maria, what will happen to Nia if she's grounded?!"

"Don't worry, it's not what you might be imagining… But honestly, probably nothing would change." Maria sighed, as the ash haired girl nodded proudly. "However, you have your submission to complete in any event."

"Alright!" Nia slapped her cheeks, all pumped up. "Come, let's begin the final push to the deadline!"

"Umu! I'm cheering for you, Nia!" Tohka warmly wrapped one arm around Nia and another under Maria's belly, lifting them both up in her hands, "let's go!"

"Additionally however whilst you're grounded, you are forbidden from going on dates, making phone calls or having visitors." Maria mentioned when they were back in the car. "We have also forbidden alcohol, sleeping rights, procrastination, kissing on video calls-"

"Are you guys trying to kill me off?!" Nia trembled, grabbing Tohka's shoulders who jumped in her arms. "In that case, I'll exercise my last rites right now!"

Nia pressed her lips down onto the smaller girls, pushing intensely as she embraced her, burning the image into memory. Tohka closed her eyes soon and deepened the kiss, returning the soft hug.


Originally for the first section of this chapter, the 'draft/story' which Nia would be writing was going to hint more at how Nia ended up liking Tohka in the yuri way lol, but instead I felt it could draw in Maria's part more as well and so yeah.

Maria from the visual novel is of course different from 'MARIA' from the light novels, but fundamentally they are based on the 'same person' and I really wanted to include both Maria characters and her investigation on what love is into AI Maria here. But yeah, also wanted to have a bit of Natsumi and Nia later too lol and I ended up bringing Mikie in too since I finally found AST Strike translated haha, but yeah either way will have some more bits from the girls together and to give Nia more date time once Maria also comes to a conclusion.

And little extra lol, for the record btw I was conflicted whether to do the 'fourth wall breaks' since they are a different type of random when it comes to writing… but well they do them in omakes at least sometimes… so last time haha:


"Now that the fanfiction writer has finally managed to finish our chapter, let's make some character complaints about ourselves." Maria began the conclusion.

"Who's breaking the fourth wall now!" Nia argued, before noticing, "w-wait, did Mariamon just say 'our'?! *Sniff* So you're finally acknowledging your mother!"

"Our relationship has never been anything of the sort. To start with -" MARIA, as ought to be her technical name, began a thorough review of all the key issues and holes in explaining this story which largely were cut out and not able to be covered so far.

"Muu, I see… so this is a fanfiction." Tohka nodded after re-reading through the chapter depicted through Rasiel once more, "but how do we break the fourth wall…? It's such a strange thing."

"… I think the joke has probably been done enough times now." Nia proposed.

"Affirmative, anyone that reads them will be either tired by now, confused or both." Maria agreed.

"Umu! No more breaking the fourth wall!" Tohka reassured with a happy expression, forcing the writer to concede instantly and promise not to do it again.

… Except for one or two more times later on?

" Nahemah ." Tenka finished up, wiping the blood off her Demon King.