"Well then."
Standing not far from the four girls, Elysia waved and pulled Eden to say goodbye.
"That's the situation. Go ahead and enjoy your vacation. Let's make up for the youth a maiden should have, right here."
With that, Elysia's figure quickly vanished around the corner of the street. Clearly, when it came to enjoying her youth, Elysia also precisely categorized herself as a "maiden"... or rather, she had never removed herself from that category.
"..."
Their mutually exchanged gazes slowly moved away.
Kiana, Mei, Bronya, Seele. The main group standing here all hailed from "Current Era Earth." Although they weren't the only four "saved," they were indeed the only four Elysia had managed to rope in.
The time was still Imperial Year 9022, but not much time had passed since they awoke from their slumber. The Monarch, having lost the [Dominion of Finality], had spent a great deal of time just pulling the non-Imperial members of the "Current Era" out of the time vortex. And for them to awaken from that sleep...
It had been five millennia where things were no longer the same.
"We..." Mei's voice was hesitant.
There was a shallow, yet distinct, gulf between seeing reality and accepting reality. The beauty before them had come too "easily." The sense of unreality even made Mei wonder if they were already inside that "woven" dream.
"Mei," Kiana gently held Mei's hand. This casual attire was rarely seen on Kiana after the flames had scorched the skies of the Hyperion. Whenever possible, she always wore a tight battlesuit under her loose jacket, just in case.
"Honkai is a trial, Finality is a cycle."
"If we were really in a dream, we definitely wouldn't have left Earth," Kiana said, looking around.
"And here..." Such a prosperous city could never have been created by the technology of Earth or the Previous Era. This did not fit the meaning of a "cycle." And when they looked up at the stars and saw those massive astronomical creations, far exceeding the size of the Moon, neatly "arranged" in deep space, they knew this was definitely not a dream created by mere "imagination."
"Everything here is unknown to us."
"Mei-senpai," Bronya interjected. The miniature Heavy Bunny terminal, only the size of a head, was displaying the knowledge and intelligence Bronya had worked hard to obtain for Mei.
"We have seen true dreams."
"But the information displayed in a dream can never exceed the existing comprehension of the mind, no matter how it changes."
"Bronya can guarantee, we are currently standing in a universe far, far away from Earth."
---o---
Mei was hesitant, but her rate of accepting reality was only slightly slower than the others. In fact, everyone present was using the same reasoning to convince themselves while comforting their dearest friend.
Once they knew what they had to do—
"Mhm." Hesitation and cowardice had been long thrown to the back of their minds the moment they stepped onto the Moon.
"Since the other Elysia said so," Mei looked down at her clothes. Like Kiana, Mei hadn't worn such "casual" and "thin" clothing in a long time. The last time she dressed like this was at St. Freya Academy... No, after Mei scrutinized her outfit again, she realized this ensemble, created by Elysia, looked exactly like what she wore back in Chiba Academy.
When the details of her memory, slightly blurred by the long sleep, reappeared in her mind, Mei finally noticed what Kiana was wearing... It was exactly what she wore when they first met.
"Kia—"
"It's too bad the Principal couldn't come out with us." Mei had just opened her mouth when Kiana very uncooperatively interrupted her.
"It's no wonder Theresa was so excited she fainted again after suddenly seeing the living Bishop Otto and another version of herself who looks exactly the same."
"You idiot, Kiana."
"You weren't much better when you saw your 'parents' and another version of yourself."
Those who interrupt others are constantly interrupted themselves. Kiana had just "mocked" Theresa when Bronya delivered a heavy blow from the side.
"Ah, ah ha ha ha ha." Kiana scratched the back of her head, trying hard to hide her embarrassment.
"..."
Then, the sudden awkward silence once again calmed the excitement that Kiana had managed to ignite.
Parents and relatives. Dearest friends and companions. The reality was so difficult to accept precisely because it was so beautiful that they deeply feared it was a dream they would hate to wake up from.
Everything the "other versions of themselves" possessed was so enviable. Even though they treated them without reservation as sisters, Kiana and the others found it difficult to let go of the emotional barrier. Time might break down the barrier, but it certainly wouldn't happen overnight.
"Mei."
"Yes?" The one who always broke the silence was Kiana.
"Let's go look at that shop over there." Kiana pointed a pale finger toward a tall building in the distance down the street.
"Anyway, we don't understand the high-tech stuff here."
As former full-power Herrschers, Kiana and the others were certainly not stupid, but to say they were particularly smart... that word definitely didn't apply to them. Incidentally, on this subject, Bronya needed to voluntarily leave "their" group chat.
"How about we try some of the 'new things' we've 'seen' but 'haven't tried'?"
"New things?"
Following Kiana's fingertip, Mei looked over.
"——!"
Mei did indeed see a very conspicuous shop, one she would have frequently seen but definitely wouldn't have walked into when she was a student: A female model with long, pale green hair shone dazzlingly on a giant poster. Beside her, one could vaguely see the slightly dashing, unfamiliar signature of an endorser, probably "Miss Shana."
Incidentally, the moment Mei saw this poster, she felt the woman's image was vaguely similar to Mobius... not a similarity in body or face, but an indescribable feeling of familiarity in her demeanor.
And then—
"W-wedding... wedding dress!?"
That's right, it was a wedding dress shop!
The shop Kiana had instantly decided on was the most famous wedding dress shop in the entire universe, located in the Empire's open zone by the "Galactic Trend Guide." It was worth noting that "wedding dress" was merely a translated term. Since the Empire had a high proportion of "humanoid" figures in its middle and upper ranks, the "Galactic Trend Guide" had opened a shop in this form based on demand. If the clientele were non-human races, they, with their [Beauty] Path, would still be able to create "mating" accessories that suited their needs.
"W-we're going to a wedding dress shop?"
"Is that... appropriate?" Mei instinctively wanted to refuse. After all, a wedding dress shop, in Mei's "slightly traditional" impression, wasn't a place one just casually walked into.
"What's inappropriate about it?"
"Mei, you'd look absolutely beautiful in a wedding dress!" Kiana, having returned to her "former state," quickly scooted closer.
"And—" Kiana pulled out a handheld terminal, half the size of her palm, from the pocket of her casual shirt. As the Empire's standardized communication and payment terminal, there were many different models of this device. Kiana had chosen a version from Elysia that fit the impression of a "mobile phone."
"Mei."
"Look at this." Kiana, with an arm half-wrapped around Mei's shoulder, slowly presented the screen of the terminal to Mei.
"——!"
"POOF!!"
Mei finished reading the information on Kiana's terminal at hyper speed, then, with even greater speed than before, instantly transformed into a composite of Steam-Hime and Generator-Hime!
The information Mei saw wasn't that shocking. It was mainly a brief explanation of one of the Empire's institutions:
The word "marriage," as interpreted by Imperial law, was not based on number, gender, species, or existence as a criterion.
In other words, in a singular or plural marriage, the number of people one married, whether it was repetitive, whether it had "mating" continuity, and whether they were the same species—as long as both parties agreed, none of the above mattered.
"..."
Mei's brain was still in an overloaded state.
"If there are no objections, then that's where we're going!"
Kiana's words were completely failing to penetrate Mei's brain. In her dazed state, she was dragged along by Kiana, arm-in-arm, beginning her mechanical movement toward the wedding dress shop.
Meanwhile.
"Bronya-senpai."
A voice filled with longing and temptation sounded in Bronya's ear.
Bronya, who was struggling between the decision to "go along" or "check out that super fun arcade next door," was tightly "locked" onto by the fervent gaze and grasp of Seele.
"Seele?"
"Let's go together! Since we came out to play together, it wouldn't be right to split up~"
"Ah—" In a long, dazed utterance, Bronya's last bit of desire for the "arcade" was completely crushed by Seele's vigorous "tugging."
---o---
"This one."
"No, the last one was better."
"Hmm..."
"Little Bai, which one do you think is prettier?"
Rewind to fifteen minutes ago. In the innermost VIP section of the wedding dress shop "nominated" by Kiana, Little Zi was picking up various styles of wedding dresses from a long table, one by one. Then she quickly entered the dressing room to try them on, one after another.
Now—
"Tap."
"Tap."
With the sound of the red curtain drawing open, Little Zi, wearing perfectly fitted seven-centimeter heels, slowly walked out from behind the stage.
"Set No. 14 looks very cute. It would be quite suitable if you wanted a change of style."
"This one is slightly more mature. Rather than serving the original purpose of a 'wedding dress,' it seems more suitable for a 'conference' or 'negotiation' setting."
"If I had to choose, the previous Set No. 2 was very good—it perfectly showcased the back, shoulders, neck, and other charming areas that aren't usually easy to notice."
"Of course," he added. "My opinion that 'Little Zi looks beautiful in anything' will never change."
"..."
For Little Zi, who had a 7% to 15% level of tsundere concentration, such blunt praise was clearly a little overwhelming... even though she had been the one to ask the question first.
"Then—"
"Set No. 2?" Little Zi asked tentatively.
"I'm only here to provide reference. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide."
"..."
"Little Bai, you know the significance of coming out to choose a wedding dress, don't you?" Little Zi asked with clear dissatisfaction and "grievance."
"Mhm."
"It's to counteract the Empire's image as 'war-mongers' and to highlight the 'humanity and glory' of the Monarch."
"..."
Before Little Zi could erupt—
"That was the reason you explained to Cheche. I'm merely repeating it."
"Incidentally, your excuse for refusing to choose a 'wedding dress' for Cheche was that Cheche's human form might cause misunderstandings among certain civilizations, which would be detrimental to your future diplomatic work."
"..."
"Li—ttle... Bai!"
One either explodes in silence or perishes in silence. Just as Little Zi was about to choose the former—
"Disliking a person will not be reversed by a change in clothing."
"Similarly," Lu Xing continued. "Liking a person will not change, no matter what they become... That is 'my own thought' that you personally told me."
"Therefore," Lu Xing concluded. "Being able to choose a wedding dress in the most rational way—isn't that the best interpretation of 'liking'?"
"——"
The plain, straightforward words instantly broke through Little Zi's defenses, along with the urge to attack that had just surged up within her.
Thanks to this, the nearby planets were spared from destruction.
After a long moment, Little Zi, who had let go of the dress she had changed out of, finally regained her ability to speak.
"Where did you learn all that nonsense?" Her voice, close to his ear, was filled with warmth.
"That 'Galactic Romance Guide' you keep by your bedside."
"!?"
The warmth was immediately defeated by absurdity.
"Alright," Lu Xing gently pressed down on Little Zi's attempt to stand up. His smooth palm rested lightly against her slender shoulder.
Although the fingers connect to the heart, the shoulder is not far from the heart either.
Therefore, even in their disguised human forms, they could still feel each other's heartbeats.
"Time is the best witness."
"The memories I've forgotten may be difficult to reclaim from the flowing river."
"But with you by my side, the missing past can always be compensated for by the present and the future."
He changed his grasp into an embrace. Lu Xing gently brought Little Zi up from beside him.
"Time is almost up."
"If I remember correctly, Cheche only gave you sixty minutes, right?"
"If we don't go back now, Cheche will definitely come looking for us. Although Cheche isn't good with networks, and the general personnel who could 'explain' things around [The Throne] have been temporarily excused, she always finds a way if she really wants to figure out your previous 'deception,' doesn't she?"
"..."
"Let's go," Lu Xing said, concluding the matter despite Little Zi's hesitation.
"...Wait!"
"What is it?"
"Little Bai."
"?"
"You just used the word 'you all,' didn't you?"
"!!"