Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 16
OP Song:
仮面ライダーBLACK RX (RIDER CHIPS Ver.) · RIDER CHIPS
Insert Song: Start
変身! ライダーブラック · Toshiya Igarashi
PART 1
Rinne Sonogami and Rio Sonogami were a bit surprised.
Why?
Because they were no longer in their bed and were standing up. They can feel the ground but there was no color...even more, there was nothing. The entire surroundings were like a blank canvas with no color or any kind of harmony. But they can feel a kind of cold, shuddering beneath the core of their being, like a breeze that felt like an ominous sensation.
"Mama?" Rio would automatically walk towards her mother and grab hold of her waist, showing a troubled expression. Rinne in response would embrace Rio while also looking unsure as to where they are.
"Do not fear, Spirits of the Old World."
A voice was heard echoing from the void. Rinne and Rio would widen their eyes as they felt the power that came forth from this voice. Rinne was holding Rio tightly as she felt the familiar tone, the familiar voice, the familiar power and presence that it conveyed. She knew just by instinct whose voice it came from. It was one that shone like a hopeful sun.
"...Kingstone...is that you?" Rinne muttered softly.
"Yes, Spirit of Eden, it is I," the voice confirmed, echoing throughout the dreamscape. "Now, you and your daughter are wondering why I am appearing to the pair of you at this hour. It is because I would intend on showing you glimpses of the past, the past of the man who has become my user."
"The past? Shidou's past?" Rinne asked with wide-open eyes. Truth be told, she had been trying to gain more information about Shidou's past in the New World ever since resolving to do so when she, Rio, and her husband where in Azazel's Laboratory. There were plenty of details that she knew by now, and now she was given further opportunity by the Kingstone itself to learn more about her man's past.
"Yes, for right now, you two are about to bear witness to one of the first battles...and the first loss of Itsuka Shidou...as Kamen Rider Black," the Kingstone replied.
And then, the surroundings would slowly change, revealing an open-air atmosphere. There was no son in sight but only grey stratus clouds. There were various trees and large plains of grass nearby that were being blown by the winds, and this felt more like a forest. There was a white building nearby that look to be a power station. Overall, it felt like the entire scene was on the outskirts of the city.
"...!"
There was someone on top of that radio tower nearby, being dragged by a string of webs. Rinne and Rio both immediately noticed someone who looked to be a man in his mid-fifties, wearing a grey suit and red tie, with grey-black hair and with little trace wrinkles on his handsome face, with brown eyes that showed a mixture of terror, sadness, contrition, guilt, and sorrow. And his hat was dropping from his head, lowering itself down to the ground as it gets brushed by the wind and made landing just right near their feet, creating an ominous foreboding. What was going on here?! And...they notice the creature that was holding him from his jacket. It looked like a humanoid spider with various appendages.
"What...is that thing?" Rinne muttered softly.
"That is what is known as a Spider Mutant, he and the rest of his kind are genetically altered half-beast humans possessing long life that lasts for over 5,500 years at a minimum. For Gorgom's human members, being transformed into a Mutant, whether based on an animal or a plant lifeform, is the ultimate reward for their loyalty. Immortality and true strength are what drive the ambitions of these monsters of Gorgom, the monsters of long ago that my user had fought in the past," the Kingstone explained.
"Gorgom," Rinne muttered, familiar with the name, the same dangerous cult that turned her beloved Shidou into a cyborg for the sake of providing a successor to their Creation King and in order to force him to fight to the death against his own best friend and brother, Shinichiro, for the sake of proving his worthiness as a potential successor. "So that's...Gorgom..." She muttered softly, seeing one of the monsters of Gorgom with her own eyes.
"Sensei!"
"...!"
Rinne and Rio would look to the left and see Shidou Itsuka, looking much younger and a bit shorter than the current him, breaking through the old glass window of a second-story warehouse and make landing on the ground, and afterwards, looking worried for the man who was on top of the tower. He was wearing a uniform that they recognize to be from Raizen consisting of the familiar white short-sleeved shirt with a blue tie with black and grey stripes, a black blazer with the school emblem "R", grey trousers, black fingerless gloves, and black shoes. Right now...
"AH!"
"Shidou!" Rinne exclaims out of concern and terror.
"Papa!" Rio exclaims out of concern and terror.
As much as they want to go towards Shidou, something told them from within their minds that it would be futile, because they were never truly here, and were only witnessing a memory of the past.
...He's currently being tackled by multiple numbers of the mutant humanoid spidermen, not letting him off of the ground. Gritting with his teeth, he exclaims. "Get out of my way!" He launched all of the humanoid spidermen away. And by the time he looked...
"AAH!"
"Sensei!"
"...!"
Rinne and Rio both notice, to their horror, that the man had been stabbed by the pincers of the Spider Mutant that was carrying him, and eventually, threw the man away to the ground. And as the body was falling to the depths...
"Sensei!"
...Shidou cried out loudly as he dashes towards the falling man, and with a quick-paced reflex, managed to grab the body before it hit the ground.
"Sensei!" Shidou would exclaim, slowly lowering the body. Rinne and Rio would draw near to the scene in order to check what had happened. Was the man alright? Was Shidou alright? Multiple questions form in their minds.
As Shidou gently lowers the man down and tries to get rid of the web silk wrapped around the latter's body, the man slowly looks up to Shidou, and...cries sadly.
"...Kyoko," the man muttered softly, showing an expression of contrition as he felt the bleeding on his neck and feel a bit of blood being coughed in his mouth while his eyes were leaking tears. The sensei would like to fully apologize for everything, but he had very limited words to spare. Instead, it was a final quest that he would utter, even when he feels that he had no right to ask this of him, not after everything, speaking this right before he would probably be eventually reunited with his late wife. "Please...take care of my daughter...Shi...dou...Ta..ke...care..of...Kyo...ko..."
"Sensei!" Shidou shouted in frustration as he can see the life in the man's eyes now turning dim as he falls to the ground, with life now gone like dust in the wind. Rinne gasps in horror while Rio embraces her mother, shaking in terror as they see Shidou embrace the old man with tears in his eyes.
"No, sensei, no! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Rinne could hear Shidou screaming in frustration, with tears in his eyes, as he still embraces the dead body, indicating to her that this "sensei" was very close to him even when Rinne did not truly know who this man was, making her heart stop and bleed.
And as Shidou continued screaming in frustration, Rinne and Rio would notice the Spider Mutants all crawling on all fours, like the predatorial creatures that they are, looking at Shidou directly with hostile intent. In worry, Rinne and Rio turn back to Shidou, who they see was now slowly standing up, with tears in his eyes that were turning with a hue of gold, one that burned with a wave of fiery, cold anger that burns hot from within. He turns around to look at his adversaries that are now gathered with the intent to kill, staring at all of them in the eye. Counting at least ten Spider Mutants in total, Shidou would let his battle instincts fully take over.
Shidou would begin to bring both of his hands together to the right side and clench them both, tightening them hard. And then, he would quickly raise his right hand up before bringing his left arm up and straightening it to the right. Then he would move his left arm a few 150 degrees before eventually putting both of his arms straight forward to the right.
"Hen...shin!"
And then, his belt, the Vital Changer containing his Kingstone would appear around his waist. Lights flash from the red center of the belt, a weird mechanical pitch coming out. Green energy surrounds Shidou, morphing him into his monstrous Grasshopper Mutant form. But then, just as quickly, the body shifts into its armored appearance, and the partial infinity symbol would be seen from his left pectoral area. There were noticeable muscle areas on the arms, legs, and neck. His helmet had red compound eyes and resembled a Southeastern Lubber Grasshopper. Steam would rise from his body, mainly from the fleshly points around his joints.
As he transformed, the monsters would widen their eyes and have the urge to step a few meters back. Rinne and Rio, embracing each other, feeling the power that washed into them, would be amazed as they see the man they cared for, transformed. A power unlike any other, swirling in front of them, like the burning solar eclipse. He looked a lot different than his RX body, that they both noticed. This was the very first form that Shidou had taken before becoming the Child of the Sun, and at this time, he was not just as powerful as he was in the present time.
"Kamen Rider..."
He would see the man suddenly make a forward pose, bringing his right hand forward while putting his left hand to his waist, clenching it.
"...Black!"
Then he would start bringing his closed right fist near to him and straightening his left arm and hand forward. Then, he would bring his left arm down and clench it to a fist that was positioned to his waist, while he power forward his right hand, with his five fingers open before eventually slowly lowering it down.
And then, one of the Spider Mutants would begin to jump and tackle the transformed Kamen Rider Black, only for Black to dodge and perform a powered red electrical powered kicking maneuver that would kill the first Spider Mutant, evaporating into nothing. And then, another Spider Mutant would perform a tackle as it would send him to the ground, only for Black to kick the monster in the abdomen, sprouting green blood, before Black dislodged it and stood up with both of hands doing a back flip maneuver before initiating several as he dodges the numerous web silk vines that were fired at him. And as he made a landing, he would make a forward pose as the creatures were now suddenly multiplying.
"Witness this event and commit this to memory, Spirits of Eden, for at this time, before he takes the throne as a Child of the Sun, he would walk the path of a newborn Sun turning Black like a solar eclipse that would be seen in the morning and evening sky," the Kingstone spoke.
Automatically, as they surround Black, the mutants open fire from their mouths, bringing the web silk to tie and bound Black from both hands and feet, making the latter trapped as he gritted his teeth. With quick thinking, his red eyes would glow with a hue of red as he shouts. "Battle Hopper!"
And then, like a steed being summoned, the Rider Machine would come in a burst of speed. The Battle Hopper, a motorcycle with the appearance of a green grasshopper, with it having bright red eyes that glow with an ominous determination, exclaiming. "I'm here, Black!"
For some strange reason, Rinne and Rio felt like they had met this bike before but cannot tell from where.
"That is the Battle Hopper, Kamen Rider Black's most trusted Rider Machine, but you would know it now from its evolved form, Acrobatter," the Kingstone explained in order for them to understand.
The bike speeds past Rinne and Rio, driving towards Black and the Spider Monsters. A sentient machine, summonsed upon the will of his friend who is most in need of him. The Battle Hopper would run across the web lines and take out several of the monsters as they evaporate to nothing. And then, Black became free as he let loose the webs from his hands and feet, but he noticed that some, only three of the beasts remaining, would try to escape.
He narrowed his eyes. "Oh no, you don't!" He's not letting these murderous bastards get away scot-free, not after what they did with sensei. Not on his watch. And thus, he begins to gather a hue of red-colored aura that would surround his body, with his eyes glowing. Rinne and Rio were watching this with attentive hearts as they felt the swirling power that lay within. With a spark from his feet, Shidou raised his arms before slamming them down the center of his waist that was beginning to flash with bright light colors, powering up as he would jump high with quick pace maneuver.
And as his fist stretches out, he would begin to tag the two monsters that would get away. "Rider Punch!"
His fist would collide with the faces of the two Spider Mutants, knocking them both away. And then, he would jump into the air again as the red aura surrounds his right foot. He stretches out his right foot, and tucks in her left leg. "Rider Kick!" he shouts.
His foot connects to the torso of the last Spider Mutant, slamming it brutally to the ground. Black lands on the ground in a crouch, his right foot smoking from the energy and the impact. The two Spider Monsters would stand up from the ground, twitching in pain, before they suddenly evaporate on the spot. And smoke surrounds Black as he sighed heavily with a sorrowful undertone.
And then, the sound of a rumbling thunder was heard as the clouds would now suddenly start raining down. Black would slowly turn to the front and slowly walked solemnly towards the body of his sensei, a teacher at Raizen Middle School, who is now deceased.
What would he tell Kyoko? How would he tell her about this? How can he tell her that her father had...passed away? Those were his current thoughts as he walks while automatically detransforming back into his civilian form, with the rain gently coming down.
"...Shidou," Rinne muttered softly in worry.
"...Papa," Rio muttered softly in worry.
"As you can see, Spirits of Eden, Black may have won, but he must carry the burden of failing to save a few, and they stayed beneath his memory even until now which burns his resolve to keep fighting. Always remember this dream, and when the time is right, ask the Child of the Sun regarding the name...Akizuki Souichi," the Kingstone explained with a solemn tone.
And the last thing that Rinne and Rio would see was Shidou Itsuka, gently carrying the dead body of one Souichi Akizuki, with a solemn expression that underneath lay profound amounts of tears.
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OST Fate Stay Night - Kodoku na Junrei
PART 2
It was about 04:30 hours. Only a few hours left until the morning sunrise. Somewhere in the private office on the second floor, there was Shidou Itsuka lying on a comfortable black sofa, with a solemn expression and with his eyes closed in contentment after he took a warm shower and left off some needed steam, all fully clothed in an ordinary white shirt. Right beside him was Sona Sitri, laying her head down on his chest, right near his neck, feeling the softness of her breath tickling the skin of his neck, showing her more than relaxed expression, wearing a white shirt and black skirt that reaches the knees. For at least one and a half hours, Shidou knew that he needed to get up from the sofa because of two things.
One, he needed to still check up on Rinne and Rio because he was still a bit concerned for them. Two, he needed to prepare for school. Speaking of school, he recalls Sona telling him in the shower that she would come along with him to school, preferably to at least spend time and get to know his family. On the one hand, he was actually quite happy about that because not just Sona, but Rinne and Rio would at least be a bit more comfortable because, in at least one full night, they had gotten along with Sona rather well. On the other hand, Shidou was also concerned because this is a Monday and Sona should be going to Kuoh Academy, not his school, but something told him that Sona would likely tell him not to worry about that and that she would be fine. And he probably would believe her. If there is one thing that Shidou knew about his wife, it is that Sona is usually a few steps away in terms of pre-planning. They don't call her the smartest person in the room for nothing.
There was now the urge for him to get up from the sofa, speaking. "...Sona."
"...Hmm?" Sona hummed with a relaxed solemn expression.
"...I need to go check up on Rinne and Rio, is that alright?" Shidou asked as he gently pats her comfortable hair.
"Why are you asking such an obvious question?" Sona raises up her head, making a raised eyebrowed expression, and gently touches Shidou's face. "Of course you should need to go, they're your family after all, and besides, they need to be informed a bit about today, but do it more gently since Rio may be a bit asleep at this time."
"Right," Shidou nodded. And then, he felt a sweet, soft kiss from Sona before she let go and stood up from the sofa, heading towards the closet room where she needed to change.
"As for me, I would need to make contact with Tsubaki and inform her of the current situation," Sona explained while walking.
"("Right, the former and current members of Kuoh Academy's Student Council would probably be called for this situation. I should have figured as much so my worries are mostly unfounded to begin with.")" Shidou thought with a sigh of relief.
As he would begin to stand up, he would walk towards the door and exit it, finding himself in the hallway. He would walk a few steps, turning right where he would find the same bedroom where the Sonogamis are currently resting. He slowly opens the door, careful not to suddenly wake them up. But just as he opened the door...
"Oof!"
He was suddenly embraced by a cinnamon roll by the waistline, his most precious daughter. And then, much to his further surprise, it would be Rinne who would suddenly embrace him, and he can feel the softness of such an embrace like he was being cuddled by a pillow. As very comforting and reassuring as it is, Shidou wondered what was going on, blinking his eyes out of concern.
"...Rinne? ...Rio?" What's wrong?" He asked.
"Umm," Rinne shakes her head with a sad smile while still deeply embracing the man who was deeply most in need of a well-earned warm hug, especially in relation to what she saw. "I just want to hug you, that's all. I missed you after all," Rinne said while dodging the question.
"Same here, papa, Rio is just hugging you, that's all," Rio said as she lay her head on Shidou's waist.
Shidou only remained silent at these responses, only sporting a thin line mouth. And in response, the only thing that he did was gently lift Rio up as she uses her arms to wrap around her papa's neck while Rinne still held him in her embrace, as Shidou can almost sense the scent of pink petal flowers that tickles in his nose. This was a little sudden, but he was actually rather glad. There was the urge for him to cry again, but he let himself close his eyes and be content to embrace his family whom he missed every single day.
'The Things That I Want' by Shidou Itsuka: A breath of fresh air. A warm glass of milk and cookies. For the rising sun to shine. To get some needed relief. To make up for past sins. To keep moving forward. And right now, reunited with his family, his irreplaceable wife, and his precious daughter.
He really does not know what would happen in the future. He does not know if this is permanent. But the only thing that he knew was that he would not take this and every other moment for granted. So he decided to prolong this embrace for a few five minutes because he did not forget what he set out to do.
"...Rinne, Rio," Shidou finally muttered, making both faces turn to him with attentive expressions. "Right now, it's Monday, and well, I have school today."
"...!"
Shidou would twitch as his heart grew distressed, seeing the saddened faces of both Rinne and Rio, as if they were telling him that maybe he could stay a bit, and even their embraces would be a bit tight because they don't want to let go. Automatically, he would reassure them with a smile.
"Well, how about you two were to come with me to school, to this world's Raizen High School?" Shidou clarified.
"...! ...Really?!"
Shidou would see the now cheerful smiles from his wife and daughter. He would simply nod in silence.
"There's a lot of things that I need to show you two when it comes to the New World, and well, what better way to start than the most familiar place which is school," Shidou explained. That and Raizen High School is basically one of the safest places in Tenguu City and I'd be more reassured at least, he thought secretly.
"Then," Rinne look like a bright young child excited for a lot of things, putting both of her hands and clapping it. "Can I cook breakfast for all of us then along with Sona?"
"Of course, the more, the merrier," Shidou smiled a bit.
"Oh, but Shidou is not allowed for the moment to use the kitchen," Rinne suddenly counterattacked with a deadpan tone while looking at him, daring to disagree with her.
"Grk?!" Shidou twitched a bit, feeling that his heart got struck down by its cord while he can hear his daughter giggling like a shoulder angel. As much as the urge to counter was there, he doesn't think he could take the look Rinne was giving him. "...We-Well, I'm gonna be checking and talking with Shinichiro anyway who's probably somewhere at the garage with Ridoron, Acrobatter, and Road Sector, so that's not really a problem."
"Oh really, why thank you, Shidou," Rinne smiled as she gently kiss him before laying her head near his neck, making his nerves feel at ease.
"Oh, me too," Rio would gently kiss her papa's cheek before laying her head on top of his shoulder, making the latter's happiness increase.
He missed this...he thought as his heart felt an interior relief as he smiled softly, closing his eyes and savoring this brief moment.
"Sona, what made you call at this hour?"
"Tsubaki, I want you to listen to whatever I have to say."
Sona Sitri was using a summoned blue-colored magic circle brought near to the right side of her face where she would speak while sitting down on an office chair. Having managed to have taken care of her temporary leave of absence in school during the night, notifying the school administrator of the need to do so due to familial concerns and managed to gain an approval, with a few conditions set such as her studies that could not be neglected, to which she would not of course. As of this moment, she was speaking with a close confidant who had been of great help and support to her after all of these years and explaining things in a great and concise detail of the events that had taken place, the main point of which involved her husband...
"Eh? Itsuka-sama's first wife and daughter have returned for some reason? And...you said something about the other Spirits possibly returning from beyond the grave?" Tsubaki Shinra, a fellow first-year college student and former vice president of the student council, a beautiful young bespectacled woman with long straight black hair that extends all the way down to her knees, with split bangs and heterochromatic eyes, with a violet left eye and a light brown right eye, spoke softly in surprise.
"That's correct," Sona spoke seriously, nodding. "But as much as this should have been personally considered to be an overall positive outcome, it would appear that it may come with grave consequences for not just Earth, the Underworld, and Heaven, but this universe and a few others. And my husband's worries tend to understandably increase sometimes due to these factors."
"I see," Tsubaki nodded seriously. "Then I understand. I will inform the rest of the peerage on what we must do from now on."
"See to it that you do, for I need to ensure the safety of my husband's first wife and his daughter," Sona muttered, with a tone conveying a type of seriousness that could only be found in a woman with a maternal instinct. For yes, she has and will now consider Rio Sonogami as her daughter as well, for she is her husband's daughter, and she had recently allowed Rio to call her 'okaa-san', which makes this delicate manner a bit too personal for her.
One of the things that would be put into effect is that Sona Sitri's Peerage, composed of a few specific individuals, all of whom possess unique capabilities, would take a few turns, each individual that would be assigned, to act upon guard duty, while of course also managing the scheduled times quite well in order to not neglect their respective studies and their other daily lives.
"More importantly, are you alright, Sona?" Tsubaki asked, showing concern in her tone of voice.
"I'm perfectly fine, why?" Sona asked, even though there was some inkling thought that something relating to her current relationship with her husband would be discussed.
"Well..." Tsubaki's tone became hesitant when trying to speak further. Sona could already imagine her old friend's hesitant expression.
"If this is about the fact that I may have to presently deal with sharing my husband with his first wife, then rest assured, I have no absolute problems with it whatsoever, in fact, even from a practical and logical standpoint, there is a certain benefit to be gained in the case of my husband, making him be further relieved from the burdens that he had long had to carry. It would help much with his healing process, and of course, I for one have no right to not allow my husband's first wife to be close to her husband. She was his wife before me, and therefore, I should be respectful of such a position," Sona explained in an honest tone. It was true. She had no problems sharing Rinne Sonogami with her husband, if only because the latter was by all rights her husband's first wife and the child that they bore was a living proof of their love. Sona felt that she had no right to take that away from him, and even more so, his daughter Rio had already managed to affect her heart, the sweet innocent and understanding Rio Sonogami.
"Okaa-san..."
Sona unconsciously smiled a bit, putting her left hand to her heart. She had never really been called that in this particular sense before, not even when she and her husband were with Millicas. Being directly addressed genuinely by her husband's daughter as "okaa-san" made her heart skip a beat with pure, unadulterated joy and relief. Knowing how easily accepted she was, she could not deny that it made her quite happy. It was more surprising considering that Rio looks to be a child of ten, and with any children, their hearts are the most sensitive. Sona felt that it would not be so easy for a child to easily accept that his or her father had married another woman aside from her mother. Most children would naturally not take it too well.
But Rio was more understanding of this greyish complex situation. Quite unexpected, but it was not an unwelcoming feeling.
"("But still...a mother...me...?")" Sona softly thought in her mind with concern. If by technicality, she has become officially a young mother to a young child. Yes, this child was not her own, but of her husband and of his first wife.
"And what of Itsuka-sama's first wife, Sonogami Rinne? What does she feel about all of this?" Tsubaki asked with a tone of concern.
"Frankly, of course, she was hurt by this revelation that I and my husband are married, and yet...she never appears to hold a grudge against me, and neither would she blame my husband. She was a lot more understanding of this complicated situation, better than most. She and I have gotten to know each other quite well, and I can say that we have become quite fast friends," Sona explained with a sad smile.
"I see. Then there are no problems then, at least in relation to Itsuka-sama's first wife and yourself," Tsubaki resigns with a sigh and was in agreement. "Still, while I feel that Itsuka-sama's first wife is more accommodating of this situation, I feel that the other Spirits, from what I remember, may present a little problem in the future."
"And I'm more than prepared, Tsubaki, rest assured. I knew the risks that I took when I married my husband a year ago. I knew the dangers and challenges of being his wife, and I have had over two past years to think about it. I do not regret marrying my husband and I do not regret loving him. As his wife, it is simply my duty to stay by my husband's side, no matter what. It is what we have vowed when we married, and I as the next heiress of the Sitri Clan would not go back on my word," Sona spoke with a determined expression.
Tsubaki would softly smile from her end. "As expected of you, even when you are no longer the President, you would still act like one and never did change in that regard."
"It is merely one temporary title that I have held for over three years in Kuoh Academy's high school branch. Titles mean nothing if I do not apply actions alongside my words. That has always been the way of the Sitri Clan, we are people of our word," Sona smiled softly as she recalled all of those days in the student council room.
"...Well, now that it has come to this, then I suppose that since Itsuka-sama's daughter, Sonogami Rio, has come back, then...does that make you in a sense a very young mother?" Tsubaki made an amused glint from her expression while at the same time feeling rather elated and interested in this topic.
Sona in turn was showing a solemn expression, pondering on what her right-hand woman was asking. Then she answered with a tone of worry. "From one point of view, I suppose that it is so...I have become a very young mother. ...Can I be honest with you, Tsubaki?"
"Of course," Tsubaki agreed.
"I worry...I worry for myself...if I am ever fit to be a mother to this child of my husband from his first marriage. She is not my daughter by blood...and yet she is my husband's daughter. If it were not for Rio's reassurances to me and for allowing her to call me "okaa-san", then I would worry greatly as to whether the child was suffering from a depressing thought that, from her point of view, her father had committed an act of infidelity towards her mother, and I can definitely see the point of view and the reaction to which I would have anticipated and accepted," Sona explained.
Sona Sitri, a woman of noble birth and prestige that accompanied a sharp intellect that serve her well, knew by theory and by experience that the idea of polygamous marriages and relationships (or harems), one that is considered and seen to be a normal part of devil society that carries, of course, the political reasons, would outside of that context and to other cultures far removed and away from current devil thinking, presents a lot of major difficulties from a practical and realistic standpoint.
One needed to take into account that, in the husband's case, he would need to satisfy the various needs of every woman that he had ever married, taking into account his relationships with each one of them, on whether he would satisfy them or not. Forget one's intimate life for one moment since that is merely an obvious sub-par that involves a lot of awkwardness and conflict and forget for one moment this concept in relation to devil society, but one would also need to take the children's point of view, how would the children view this situation and considering the differences between the outside world and their own home, on how monogamy is usually the normal practice of affairs for humans and other species generally speaking. The children may possibly be asked various questions or experience ridicule or insult from their peers due to the marriage situation. In the unfortunate world of reality, people can be quite cruel and judgmental when they put their minds to it. And Sona would know a thing or two about that as she has lived in a society where discrimination and racism still thrived, although that, fortunately, has changed much due to her husband and his allies' efforts.
Plus, for Sona, polygamous relationships spare nothing but troubles consisting of headaches and heartaches in the end. The husband, instead of being able to relax after so many long hours or even days of work, would be in even more stressful situations at home. There would be family rivalries, there would be favoritism involved, and there would even be broken-out fights between half-siblings, and there would be arguments about financial and social concerns. These and many other issues that are too long to list describe the major cons of having such relationships. She would even see it firsthand from some devil families.
A harem is not all sunshine and rainbows. Yes, there is quite a few positives, but in the real world, one could not ignore the many negative connotations. People will judge you, whether you did wrong or not. The children would suffer as well as the parents. And people can be quite traditionalistic minded to a fault. Overall, a harem spelled trouble.
Of course, Sona recalled a certain old friend who was the fiancé of her rival, Rias Gremory. His main ideal and dream were to build a harem and become a harem king, and he was not stupid nor ignorant of the risks involved. He was more than aware of it. Plenty of people like herself had pointed out the pros and cons of such a thing. If there was one thing that Sona understood about this person, it's that he is quite stubborn and determined, and regardless of whatever comes his way, he will try his utmost to fulfill his dream. The quality in a man like that would make quite an impression upon many other women which Sona recalls consists of a lot that carries definite affections for him.
But then, that was her old friend and her rival's love life. Her love life is a bit too different for comparison. In this case, she recalls Shidou Itsuka, her husband, had politely and with a firm, honest tone, rejected the feelings of every single woman in order to be with her and her alone. Her husband had always been the monogamous and faithful to one woman type and it was still true even until now. If circumstances had been quite different, if Rinne Sonogami was still present and alive, Shidou Itsuka would never even think of marrying Sona Sitri. Her husband would never even become her husband and their relationship would have been radically different.
Sona personally never liked thinking about this what-if scenario, but she needed to in order to face this current reality. If Shidou still had Rinne, Sona would not even be in the picture. That was a fact. However, this was not so. For the past four and a half years, Shidou was slowly moving forward, and while not forgetting his first wife and his daughter that are both close and held tight to his heart, Shidou gave Sona a chance, and that chance grew into something more, something deeper, something that was real, and that would be far too difficult now for the pair of them to even contemplate separation with one another, not after everything.
Shidou Itsuka, the man who was as mysterious as he was kind. The man that she loved more than anything and the man she did not regret marrying. The man she would comfort in sleep due to the plaguing of various nightmares. The man who she would support to the best of her ability. The man she loved who save the world and many other worlds beyond.
And now, Sona is now about to face another challenge, but not from Rinne and Rio as the past recent events spoke for themselves, but rather, it would be yet another test where she would pass through each Spirit that returns, one by one. She does not have an inkling nor a hint of who would be the first to return, but she knew that a challenge is coming. Remembering the vow that she made on the altar, Sona Sitri...no, Sona Itsuka, would not back down without a fight. She already had the support of Rinne and the showering love of Rio, and of course the support of her husband. She is not going to simply allow herself to hide like a coward while her husband deals with these problems.
She is more than a wife now. She is a mother, another mother to her husband's child. She cannot turn away, especially recalling the deepest of regrets from her husband, the pleadings from Rinne, and the showering aura of goodness from Rio. Taking heed from Rinne's counsel, she will not leave. She was Shidou Itsuka's wife and she will stay so even until the end and beyond even that.
"Sona," Tsubaki smiled a bit. "For what is worth, I think that you would be a terrific mother. Yes, it would be a bit of a challenge, but knowing you, I know that you would be able to adapt and learn through this experience just fine. You have been married to Itsuka-sama for a year and you still had a happy marriage so far, so I have no doubt that you would still be the best mother as you are the best wife. After all, you are still the Student Council President, if no longer in name but in deed."
Sona smiled softly, grateful for the encouragement. "Thank you, Tsubaki."
And then, there was a knock on the office door. "Sona...it's me, Rinne, can I come in?" the voice asked.
"Oh, I believe that would be Rinne," Sona noticed the voice with a soft smile. "Well, I may need to cut this conversation short, Tsubaki."
"Of course, Sona," Tsubaki nodded seriously.
And then, the blue magic circle would disappear as Sona would speak. "Yes, Rinne, come in."
And so, Rinne, wearing regular clothing, would open the door and head inside.
"Okaa-san!"
With Rio along in tow of course as she sprints like a fast animal towards Sona and would embrace the latter's waist. Sona in turn has her eyes and her mouth smilw softlyand pats her hair.
"Hello, Rio, did you get some well-needed sleep?" Sona asked.
"Umm," Rio nodded. "Rio slept just fine, okaa-san. Although..." Rio sadly smiled. "...I wished that you were there as well."
Sona smiled a bit as she puts one of her hands to the bridges of her glasses. "Well, it could not be helped since okaa-san is busy after all, plus I needed to take good care of your father during the night."
Rinne smiled softly a bit. "Oh, so he did manage to get an outlet for his stress relief."
"Yes," Sona winked a bit. "Everything's taken care of. Right now, I suppose that you have been told by Shidou that he is heading off to school."
"Umm," Rinne nodded, showing an attentive level of concern. "And considering the fact that this is an entirely different world from the one I am familiar with, I was wondering if the uniform that I wore yesterday would even be applicable to this world's Raizen High School if I would hopefully attend this school."
"Oh, I would not worry about the uniforms," Sona would put her hand to the bridges of her glasses. "The closet on the third floor would accommodate the essentials."
"Well, that's good," Rinne smiled a bit before worrying. "Still, I'm more worried about Rio since I don't want to leave her all by herself when I do end up going to school."
"I have a good feeling that your daughter would be more than allowed to be by your side or our husband's side, so one should not worry, besides I'm also going to our husband's school as well, and I've already prepared a leave of absence from the school administrator of my school and other necessities," Sona explained.
"Really?" Rinne showed a curious expression. "And what would you be doing in the school?"
"Watching out for Rio being the first thing and trying to get to know her," Sona smiled as she gently patted Rio who was making cheery noises and a bright smile. Then Sona looked at Rinne and smiled. "And of course, getting to know you more, my husband's first wife."
"If that's the case," Rinne smiled. "Then I look forward to getting to know you as well, Sona."
The garage of the house was full of mechanical and electrical parts, all organized. It looked rather spacious for a garage of a suburban home with silver chrome walls. Various tools and equipment were seen packed into boxes in case the need arises. Ridoron, Acrobatter, and Road Sector were simply standing by while Shinichiro was simply checking the front hood of the Ridoron before closing it.
"Hmm, things seem to be working just fine," Shinichiro smiled a bit, wiping his brow.
"Hey, Shinichiro, everyone," Shidou would make his way inside the garage with a smile.
"Oh, Shidou, it's you," Shinichiro smiled a bit. "Did you get any good night's sleep?" He asked, both as a joke and as an act of concern.
"A bit," Shidou titled his head while making a wry smile. He turned to the vehicles and said. "How have you guys been doing?"
"Well, aside from the rain falling down last night, for the most part, we were simply content with remaining silent, and in between that, Rio-chan came to visit us in the garage during the night," Ridoron said. His tone was more positive than normal.
"Really now?" Shidou smiled a bit. "Then how was your first impression of my daughter?"
"An angel," All of the vehicles responded in chorus, no question. If there was a background and original soundtrack, it would have to be the image of Rio Sonogami and the sound of a heavenly choir and a pair of angel wings that numbered to a dozen and dove-like feathers fall down among the clouds.
"Is that so?" Shidou's smile increase a bit with a hint of amusement, putting his hand in his pocket, before eventually turning serious. "In any case, how has Kotori been doing lately?"
"If you're worried about the fact that your sister had at least managed to get some sleep, then don't worry, she did manage to get some needed sleep after a simple suggestion (aka command) from my mother due to the same reasons that we both have, and that would be school. And speaking of school," Shinichiro places a hand on Ridoron's hood and slightly bends while putting one hand on his waist. "...I do wonder how we're gonna be explaining this one to all of our classmates in Raizen without risking the safety of your wife and daughter. I mean, even if things are peaceful for the most part right now, we're not out of the clear yet and we cannot afford to be mostly lukewarm."
"You're right," Shidou nodded. "And there's the other worrying fact where three of our fellow Riders encountered three of our common enemies due to a reiryoku spillage. Even when it's taken care of, I fear that there might be more where that came from, since it's just so random..."
"Oh, by the way, Agent Bishop called," Shinichiro informed Shidou. "He said that he would be picking all of us up by 7:30. That and the paperwork for Rinne's status as a transfer student has been passed and she is now going to be our classmate from now on."
"Really?" Shidou raised an eyebrow. "Rinne was a second-year student in Raizen the last time I remember her last appearance in my old world."
"Well, yes, except well, remember back at the lab on how Azazel-sensei once talked to all of us Riders about the age discrepancies in the Spirits?"
"Yeah I remember," Shidou muttered softly. "Like for instance, Rinne is basically the same biological age as me now. As to why that is so, Azazel said that it had something to do with the residue of reiryoku that not only rendered Rinne virtually powerless as a human but also seem to make her body adapt to the current worldline, calling it the De-Retrocausal Syndrome. That's...quite a complicated way of de-aging someone."
"Hey, our whole lives are basically all about being complicated at this point so this shouldn't really surprise us," Shinichiro explained.
"Right," Shidou nodded. "Then I should probably get myself ready then."
As Shidou was about to leave, Shinichiro called Shidou's attention. "By the way, how are you holding up right now? I mean, right now, you basically have two of your wives living under the same roof. You know that it may possibly cause a bit of family drama, don't you think, and you know what I'm talking about," Shinichiro explained with a sad smile.
"...(Sigh). I know. I know it won't be easy, especially now that I've just got Rinne and Rio back in my life. Even now, even as I move forward, the problems of the past may not entirely go away. You know, I've pretty much rejected the feelings of all of the girls just to be with Sona in the end. I chose one woman in the end and I never regretted that decision, being fair to everybody involved. ...But," Shidou showed a concerned expression, looking hesitant.
"You know that's not the same, right," Shinichiro showed a serious, empathetic look as he walked towards Shidou and put a hand on his shoulder. "Shidou, no one who is looking at your situation with a clear head and without any bias would ever consider you a cheater, no one. Not me, not the girls, not anyone. You did choose one woman in the end, and because of that, you could finally at least allow yourself to let the past be, remembering them and yet moving forward, carrying on. Outside circumstances like this should never be blamed on you because you don't control everything that can or would happen."
"...Well, you are right about that, but still, I can't help but worry," Shidou showcased a bittersweet smile. "Now what am I supposed to tell the rest of the girls of this world that I've rejected? That the fact that she's my first wife and whom I had a daughter with may seem irrelevant to the defense because maybe they'd see that I just let another woman be when I already have Sona, and so why can I not allow others in too?" Shidou shakes his head. "...But I'm not that kind of man. I cannot under good conscience love someone else other than my wife...well, make that two since Rinne came back from the dead...which is a major problem for everyone, but damn it, I cannot just take the easy way out, that's not who I am..."
"Once again, I think you're overthinking the worst scenarios at this point considering that many of the girls that you and I know would never hold this against you, the soap operas may be frying your emotional spectrum right now," Shinichiro deadpanned.
"I never even watch soap operas...they're more Tohka's style anyway," Shidou muttered softly, his eyes lowered as he remembered one important family member who is still not here, and who Shidou would knew would probably be one of his biggest obstacles when it comes to his convoluted marriage life.
"You know, no matter what happens, I won't leave you alone to deal with this. I, Rock, Tonomachi, and a few others will be right by your side just as you have been by ours. You saved the world and many other worlds so many times and we all owe you one, I owe you one, because if it were not for you, I would not be here, standing and talking to you right now. I would still be Gorgom's brainwashed puppet. You still fought and fought until you somehow had gotten through to me by one fraction of a miracle. I can never repay you enough...kyoudai," Shinichiro spoke firmly.
"...I really appreciate that...kyoudai," Shidou smiled a bit.
"Oi, don't forget about us three," Acrobatter blinked his headlight and Road Sector and Ridoron were blinking their respective headlights, which made both Shidou and Shinchiro smile.
"Of course not, I won't ever forget about you three," Shidou smiled.
It was a wonderful and amicable family breakfast. Eggs, rice, and a few delicious flavors.
Shidou and Shinichiro were both dressed in their Raizen High School uniforms. Of course, one difference was that Shidou would wear his trademark black fingerless gloves.
"Shidou," Rinne would ask as she was eating from the table, sitting next to Shidou, and Sona in turn was sitting from the other side.
"Yes?" Shidou looked at Rinne.
"I was wondering..." Rinne noted the gloves that he would tend to wear. It was a new trait that she had been thinking about for a while. "...You always tend to wear fingerless gloves, why is that?"
Shidou smiled softly, but his eyes would lower sadly as he looks at the hands that bore these fingerless gloves. He remained silent for a moment, and Sona and Shinichiro, both Rinne and Rio noticed, were silent as well, and Shinichiro was showing a conflicted expression.
Shidou said. "I have several of these gloves in my closet. My...umm...sensei would recommend it for me to wear all of the time. He said: "Shidou-kun, these gloves would protect your palm and wrist, leaving your fingertips exposed, greatly helping with tasks where precision is required. Always wear them, for you may never know when you need them."."
"Sensei?" Rinne asked as she thought back to that dream that she and Rio had experienced. Her heart grew troubled as she remembered the sad, rainy scene, when Shidou, with an expression of deep sorrow, would walk back to where the sensei was laying down.
"...Akizuki Souichi," Shidou uttered a name that was very important to him, with both hands closing tightly, with Rinne and Rio paying close attention as they recognize the name. "He was a father of a childhood friend of mine, Akizuki Kyoko. He's also a part-time teacher of Raizen, specifically the middle school and high school branches, and. I and Shinichiro learned a lot of lessons from him in the past...at least, used to..."
Automatically, Shidou would feel Rinne's soft hand on his right hand, seeing her concerned expression, and Rio would suddenly head around and move towards his position, hugging him by the waist. Shidou smiled softly while gently patting Rio's hair.
"It's fine you two," Shidou smiled softly. Sona and Shinichiro were smiling softly as well. "Come on, we still have to go to school so we don't have any time to waste."
And so, quietly the family would continue to eat their breakfast. But Rinne and Rio would not forget this moment. They knew that at one point or another, they would need to ask Shidou again about his relationship with Souichi Akizuki.
07:30 hours had come. The rays of the orange sunrise would already be seen to scatter from the horizon. The doorbell of the Itsuka Residence would resound with a humming noise. Shinichiro and Shidou, using their super senses, would see past the door and see Agent John Bishop standing at the door with a black Ford LTD Crown Victoria parked in the front.
"Well, that's Agent Bishop alright," Shinichiro spoke casually.
Agent John Bishop. Rinne and Rio did not know who the man was personally, but Shidou, Shinichiro, and Sona explained to them in brief summary form that he was an American special agent of Ratatoskr assigned to deal with top-priority situations that involve international and interdimensional security. He was also of course the assistant homeroom teacher of Class 1-4, the same class that Shidou and Shinichiro attends.
"Here, that should do it," Sona said softly with a smile, double-checking and tightening her husband's necktie in proper order with her two delicate hands. For the sake of formality, she was wearing the female uniform of her school, Kuoh Academy, consisting of a white long-sleeved, button-down shirt with vertical linings, a black ribbon on the collar, a black shoulder cape and matching button-down corset, and a magenta skirt with white accents that touches the knees.
Rinne was looking at this scene with an intrigued expression while gently patting Rio's head and holding on to the latter with an embrace.
"("Hmm, I suppose that I should not be surprised that Sona would be the one who would make sure that Shidou's tie is fixed...because that's what I used to do...")" Rinne thought sadly a bit, still remembering that for Shidou, it had been many years now since he last saw her or Rio, who should have been dead to begin with.
As of right now, Rinne was wearing a new kind of uniform, one that was new to her and which Sona recommended from the admittedly large closet full of various clothing that was on the third floor.
She was wearing a white long-sleeve shirt with red wrist collar lines with cross-like edges from the center, with a red bowtie found on the collar of her shirt, along with a light brown vest with two lower front pockets. She was also wearing a long black skirt that reaches her knees, with white long socks and black shoes. She had a student handbag that she had been given by Sona which contains a few things that she may need for school. All in all, she was ready and she still remembered Shidou's speechless, entranced, and solemn face when he saw her in her brand-new uniform. A very strange and concerning reaction instead of the stuttering face of a young teenage boy (no, he's far more older than he looks, whispered a voice beneath Rinne's thought which made her sad), especially when he suddenly embraces her out of the blue for five minutes. It seems that even now, Shidou is still a bit haunted by the memories of the past.
So now, this was the perfect opportunity for her to learn more about Shidou's New World, starting with the school he currently attends too.
"("But...considering that this is another world, I wonder...would the people that we knew back in the old world...would still be the same students in this version of Raizen?")" Rinne thought secretly. She had wondered whether she would meet even more familiar faces other than Shidou, Shinichiro, Kotori, Origami, and Tonomachi. It was a fifty-fifty chance of probability that she would see a couple of familiar faces, and it was also somewhat likely that they may not be around this school either.
"I'll go get the door," Shinichiro said as he walks to the front door, opening it by holding the knob. Upon opening, Rinne and Rio would see Agent Bishop with a serious expression. They would see that he is a man that appears to be somewhere between his thirties and forties, wearing a black business suit consisting of a white dress shirt with a black necktie located in the collar, a black jacket, black pants, black socks, and black shoes.
"Gentlemen, Lady Sitri, and of course, Sonogami Rinne-san and Sonogami Rio-san," Agent Bishop spoke with a perfect and flawless Japanese accent and with a respectful sophisticated tone, which in fact surprised both Rinne and Rio a bit because not just any foreigner can mimic this kind of tone and Rinne in particular thought that this man definitely has some experience. He would put one of his hands to the bridges of his glasses. "I believe that it is about time that we take our leave to school."
"Oh! Shidou! Shinichiro! Sona-chan! Bishop-sensei! And...who are you two?" A young woman, being the cheerful bright sunshine with a smiling expression brimming with positivity, would suddenly come from the left side of their point of view with a student handbag in two and with her left hand raised up in order to wave at them. Afterwards, she was showing a hint of surprise and confusion due to seeing Rinne and Rio, two unfamiliar faces.
"Eh?" Rinne muttered in surprise, blinking.
When Rinne was looking at her closely, she was seeing this young woman wearing the same uniform as she was, so Rinne would take a good guess that she is a student of Raizen High School. And she noticed that this young woman called Shidou and Shinichiro by their first name with no honorifics, indicating that she is very familiar with them. The young woman had short, golden brown hair with split bangs and matching brown, inquiring eyes. Rinne could also see that both sides of her hair had two dark green ribbons.
"...Well, uh, this is gonna be very awkward again," Shinichiro muttered finally after a moment of silence, raising his hand from the back of his neck.
"And not a moment too soon," Shidou muttered softly, sighing heavily. Of course, he knew that this would have happened eventually, but still, it was a bit too early in the morning for this introductory situation.
And then, the young woman would suddenly dash her way towards Rinne, looking at her in the eye, much to the latter's surprise as she felt a bit intimidated by the inquisitive stare that was now examining her from head to toe. Then those same eyes turn to her daughter who was simply embracing her. And then looks back at her. And then after several back-and-forths between Rinne and Rio, her point of view turns towards Shidou.
"...Shidou, who is this?" the young woman asked, raising an eyebrow and with both hands placed to her waist. She only asked Shidou if only because out of everyone present, she can only suspect Shidou and not without good reason due to past experiences with Shidou and his natural ladies man experiences.
"...Umm," Shidou muttered with a tone of awkwardness while Sona would make a soft smile, crossing her arms. "Right, well...Kyoko-chan, meet...meet Rinne."
The young woman, Kyoko, looks at Rinne with wide-open shock, recognizing the name. A few moments later, she would utter. "Eh?! Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?!"
As she goes into shock, she walks around in circles before stopping in the front, looking at Rinne. "Rinne?! Sonogami Rinne?! Shidou's childhood friend before me?! The mother of Shidou's daughter?! Shidou's wife?! That Sonogami Rinne?! Are you that girl?!" She spoke with an excited tone and a hint of amazement, followed by concern and disbelief as she holds one of Rinne's hands.
"U...Umm, that's right," Rinne muttered softly. If this were an anime, she would sweatdrop in exasperation due to being questioned like this while surprised to know that this person knew who she was. She took note of the fact that this woman had said that she was the "childhood friend after Rinne", and her heart became a bit troubled deep down because she was...well, the only childhood friend of Shidou Itsuka. She wondered while trying to fight a frown on her face... "...Umm, who are you if I may ask?"
"Ah!" Kyoko would immediately notice and read the general mood of awkwardness. Knowing who this person is, and considering the lack of context of the present situation that she is experiencing, she needed to take this with care.
"Oh, umm, well," she would back up for a bit and twirl around before making an idol pose, with her right hand's fingers closed with the exception of two fingers that form a scissor gesture that accompanied the one open eye while the other was closed. She smiled with a twinkling spark. "Well, allow me to introduce myself, I am Akizuki Kyoko, Shidou and Shinichiro's childhood friend, not a romantic love interest whatsoever, so rest assured on my word as an Akizuki!"
Rinne blinked a bit in bewilderment. That was a bit too oddly specific, she thought. And Rio, who was in her mother's embrace, would blink as well. And then, Rinne would begin to realize immediately. Wait, Akizuki Kyoko, she thought out of concern as she recalls Shidou's sensei lying on the ground who was mentioning his daughtet's name for the last time. That dream that she and Rio both have. She's...She's...Akizuki Souichi's daughter then?!
It felt like fate itself had decided to act up again by making Rinne encounter the daughter of the man who was entrusted by Shidou to take care of her. This could be another opportunity to find out more about this girl, Rinne thought, even if her being a childhood friend of this world would make me a bit too uneasy.
"Ahem," Agent Bishop would interrupt with a cough. "Forgive the intrusion, everyone, but we need to be ready for school, so if you were to all please get in the car so that we can discuss things from here on out without further interference."
"Ah, well, of course, Bishop-sensei," Kyoko made a cheeky smile as she remembers the American agent that was still there, with her right index finger touching her right cheek and twirling her soft facial skin. Then her expression turn positive as she grabbed Rinne's hand, much to the latter's bewilderment and astonishment. "Well, Rinne-chan, you heard Bishop-sensei, we're gonna be riding on the back of the car."
"Eh-WOAH!" Rinne, and Rio in tow, would both yelp as they suddenly get pulled along with an energetic Kyoko and begin to dash toward the car.
"I...guess I don't need to worry too much about Kyoko's reaction to all of this," Shidou muttered a bit, blinking his eyes.
"Umm..." There was yet another young woman who was walking past the way where the sprinting Kyoko and co came from with a look of bewilderment. She was looking back and forth between the car and the remaining people inside. She was very beautiful, with naturally pale skin and inquiring maroon irises. Her hair was straight and silky which flows past her waist. Her figure was also svelte and mature, and people may also refer to her as an ojou-sama as a result due to her hime-like demeanor. She was also wearing the same female uniform of Raizen High School.
"Ah, Kasumi..." Shinichiro muttered softly while smiling on the inside.
"Umm, Shinichiro," the aforementioned Kasumi Kida would look at Shinichiro with a curious expression while smiling as she laid eyes on the latter. "What...What is happening right now if I may ask?"
"We'll...We'll explain later, Kasumi-chan," Shidou exasperatedly replied while Sona showed an expression of amusement, putting her hand to the side of her glasses.
...It was...one awkward and lively ride to school as the car passes through various intersections and roads before ending up on the freeway.
Kyoko had been talking to Rinne and fawning over Rio non-stop ever since they all got in the car and Kyoko had been telling many stories about her, Shidou, and Shinichiro's lives as kids to Rinne and Rio, and Sona and Kasumi were just listening in with interest. While Shidou was seated in the front of the car showing a concerned expression and Agent Bishop was focused on driving the car, Shinichiro on the other hand...
"Goddamnit, why do I have to be the one who gets left out of the ride?!" Shinichiro, wearing a motorcycle helmet, looked irritated as he was driving Road Sector through the open roads at high speed towards Raizen High School.
"It can't be helped, partner," Road Sector empathetically said. "It was a little overcrowded in the back for you admittedly and all of the girls needed the accommodations after all. Besides this, I believe that it is a very good thing for the girls to bond with Rinne and Rio. and this provides plenty of opportunities for them to get to know about our world."
"I know..." Shinichiro's expression turns sour. "...But thanks to that, I won't be able to be with Kasumi..."
"You'll get together with her in school eventually," Road Sector reassured. "Just think of all of the times when she made lunch for you."
"...Hmmm, good point," Shinichiro felt a bit better, recalling his special person's lunch box.
...Unfortunately, of course, Shinichiro had to be left behind and would need to drive to school all by himself due to the lack of space. In the meantime, Shidou was glancing at Rinne, who looked rather a bit better as she was talking to Kyoko and Kasumi about a few topics. Rio, sitting by her mama's lap, would giggle at the attention that Kyoko, and eventually Kasumi, would give her. Sona would also join in on the conversations as well with a smile on her face.
"How are your wife and daughter doing so far?" Agent Bishop suddenly called Shidou by speaking English, bringing him out of his thoughts.
"Eh? We-Well, alright so far, Bishop," Shidou was speaking English as well, showing an awkward expression. "Well, I can't deny that I was a bit surprised that my current wife and my once-dead wife are getting along just fine, even though I still have a few personal concerns about this situation."
"Understandable," Agent Bishop said. "Not everyone would suddenly experience a loved one coming back from the dead, least of all a wife at that who would find out that you have taken in another wife."
"No, I don't think that most people would experience the same things I'm experiencing right now," Shidou glanced at Rinne who was talking to Kyoko, and would notice the former staring at her. Rinne smiled a bit, making Shidou's heart remain calm and soothed.
Now, where to start with this one?
"...Ah, mama, look, look!"
Rio was excitedly pointing at the various sky towers that were present throughout the city. Agent John Bishop, that was who he introduced himself to her and to her daughter.
"Sonogami Rinne, my name is Agent Bishop, a special agent working for Ratatoskr. If there are any questions that you would like to ask about me so long as it does not compromise your safety and that of your daughter, or compromise confidential information, I would answer to the best of my ability," Agent Bishop explained earlier, which Rinne remembered.
As she looks into the far-off window of the car, seeing the bright sunrise, she would see the tall buildings rising from the ground automatically, much to her shock. It felt like watching multiple sets of interlocking plastic bricks all forming from one position to another.
"Sonogami-kun," Agent Bishop spoke, drawing her attention. "What you are seeing right now is merely standard operating procedure when it comes to this city. Buildings can just as easily be movable and transferable to several locations out of personal convenience through the use of the Underground Displacement System (UDS) developed sometime in the early-1970s."
"Yes, yes," Kyoko nodded with crossed arms with a confident smirk. "Our most wonderful city is quite a marvel to look at, founded sometime after the year 1945, the city itself had since become the epicenter of advanced technologies and boasts the best private schools in the nation. Oh, and of course," as Kyoko paused, Rinne and Rio would see...strange non-humanoid creatures that walk on the streets and the moving sidewalks along with humans that did not seem to be afraid in the slightest, simply going about their daily lives, much to their shock as this was never a reality in the old world that they knew. They would see a creature with one eye and walk like a human, looking like a dark blue ball. They would see another creature that looked like a slow-moving slug. They would see another creature that looked like a talking ostrich. "This is also a place where all races can come together and get along without any prejudice, still a work in progress in my opinion, but everyone's getting there eventually. It's why this city is called the Shining Star of the East, a testament to the common efforts of everyone gathering together for the sake of peace."
Yes, this world's Tenguu City, a utopian metropolis unlike any other, had been here for a very long time, with a much different history compared to the world she and her daughter once knew. And it was also a place where so many species from different worlds and dimensions all gathered together.
"Oh, and look everyone," Kasumi smiled softly, pointing towards the northeast. "We can see the school from here, our school..."
Rinne and Rio look to see the familiar sight that they were shown from Tonomachi's cell phone. The similar school buildings and military bases along with other forms of infrastructure. This was it. This was Raizen High School. And the elementary and middle school divisions were just nearby, along with the college division. And the sun would be seen giving more light to the horizon, like a twinkling star as it signaled a kind of brand new day. The first day.
Rinne experienced profound amazement as she holds her daughter tightly. Now she wonders as to what would she even find there. The school that her husband now goes to.
PART 3
"...Hmm."
Illyasviel von Einzbern, a third-year high school student of Raizen High School, wearing the same female uniform that was being blown by the fair winds of the morning, with arms crossed and enhancing crimson eyes that accompanied a deep-thinking expression, would look from afar, and with her heightened sight, see what she had been looking for.
"("There you are, kouhai, accompanied by Bishop-sensei, Kyoko-chan, and Kasumi-chan...and...how odd, I can sense faint traces of reiryoku from the two women, a kind that even I don't find to be familiar with, like if it was something from outside this known reality...Yes...these two...they're the ones I need to really look out for...")." Illyasviel thought with a concerned and analytical thought.
Yes, the rooftop would seem to be both the perfect lookout spot and of course the perfect place for Illyasviel to contemplate her next move.
And of course...she recalls one particular conversation...
"Keep an eye out, will you," the famous and most powerful attack mage of the world, the Witch of the Void, Natsuki Minamiya, had visited her residence during the night and she remembers the little pieces of details that she laid out to her.
Once again, her dear kouhai is now about to take up another great challenge that may decide the fate of this world and several other worlds. What would this bring about this time? There were plenty of challenges before this. What makes this one so very different now?
And she thinks of this while the winds blew ominously as various colors of butterflies from the bushes would leave and fly to the skies.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
The Butterfly Emerges (From "Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel Butterfly")
New Characters:
Souichi Akizuki - A: Kantarō Suga
Tsubaki Shinra - VA: Akiko Shimura
Kyoko Akizuki - VA: Kanako Itō
Kasumi Kida - VA: Kotono Mitsuishi
