Shirahoshi naturally took Chiga's hand and led him toward her room, her tail flicking in excitement as she swam.
The moment they entered, she quickly locked the door, then coiled her soft pink tail neatly beneath her and looked up at Chiga-sama with eager anticipation.
Without saying a word, Chiga walked toward the massive, elegant bed that dominated the room. His gaze lifted to a framed photograph hanging above it — a picture nearly as tall as he was.
The image showed Queen Otohime, smiling brightly as she held a much younger Shirahoshi in her arms.
Curious, Shirahoshi leaned closer and asked softly,
"Chiga-sama, what are you looking at?"
As her eyes followed his gaze, a shadow of sorrow flickered across her face. She clasped her hands together and murmured,
"Mother… if only you were still here…"
Chiga turned around suddenly, his expression serious. Shirahoshi tensed instinctively, her heart fluttering.
Looking into her eyes, Chiga asked,
"Shirahoshi, is this your wish?"
She blinked, startled. "My… my wish? Do you mean about my Mother?"
He nodded.
"Yes. Tell me truthfully, Shirahoshi — do you wish for your Mother to return to your side again?"
Her lips trembled. Remembering that Chiga disliked seeing her cry, she struggled to hold back tears as she whispered,
"Yes… I've wished for it every moment since she left, but Mother has already—"
Before she could finish, Chiga smiled faintly and said,
"Very good. Your wish has been granted."
In the next instant, his eyes gleamed with a radiant spectrum of color, and light filled the room. A silhouette formed before Shirahoshi, shimmering and divine.
Then, with a soft pop, the light faded—
and standing there was Queen Otohime herself.
She looked down at her own hands in confusion before her eyes rose to meet Shirahoshi's smaller form.
"You… are you Shirahoshi?" she asked, her voice gentle yet uncertain.
Even after ten long years, her voice and smile were exactly as Shirahoshi remembered. Overcome by emotion, Shirahoshi burst into tears and threw herself into her Mother's arms.
"Mother?
I missed you so much!"
Though still disoriented, Otohime instinctively wrapped her arms around her daughter, her maternal tenderness taking over.
"There, there… don't cry, my sweet Shirahoshi. What's happened to make my little girl cry again?"
She lifted Shirahoshi's face, brushing away her tears, only to notice something peculiar.
"Huh? You've grown so much more mature… but why are you so small?"
In her memories, Shirahoshi had still been a giant child over five meters tall.
Shirahoshi rubbed her eyes and hiccuped through her tears.
"You've been gone for ten years, of course I've grown up! As for my height, that's Chiga-sama's doing — and your revival too, that's his power!"
"Revival…?" Otohime's eyes widened. "I… I remember dying…"
Reality dawned on her, and disbelief swept over her features. Ten years gone, and yet here she stood, alive once more.
She looked back at her daughter, dazed. "Shirahoshi, who is this Chiga-sama you're talking about? Where is he?"
Shirahoshi smiled through her tears. "Chiga-sama is an incredibly powerful person! I can't really explain it — you should speak to him yourself. He's right behind you!"
Startled, Otohime turned quickly. It would be rude to ignore the one who had just performed a miracle.
Standing before her was Chiga, arms folded, his calm presence radiating quiet authority.
Otohime's eyes widened. She could sense his immense power — yet when she truly tried to perceive it, her consciousness nearly faltered.
The aura surrounding him was sacred, divine — something beyond human comprehension.
A thought crossed her mind like a whisper.
Is he… a god?
Chiga-sama smiled faintly and said,
"It's rare for mother and daughter to reunite. You should take this time to speak freely. Don't mind me."
Still awestruck, Otohime barely registered his words before Shirahoshi suddenly hugged him tightly, pressing her face into his chest.
"Chiga! This is the best birthday gift I've ever received!"
He chuckled softly, stroking her flowing pink hair.
"As long as you like it. But… you still cried, even though you promised you wouldn't."
"I'm sorry, Chiga," she sniffled. "I really couldn't help it this time."
"It's fine to cry now," he said gently. "Just make sure you smile during the banquet later. You're at your most beautiful when you smile."
Turning to Otohime, Chiga added,
"I'll leave you both to talk. I'll wait for you in the main hall."
Shirahoshi clung to him for a moment longer, reluctant to let go.
He patted her back lightly and smiled.
"Go on, Shirahoshi. You have plenty of time. Your Mother surely has much she wants to ask you."
And with that, his form shimmered, vanishing from sight.
Otohime blinked in amazement before turning back to her daughter. She tried to climb onto the high bed so they could sit together, but even after a few jumps, she couldn't reach it.
She glanced at her daughter and laughed softly. "Shirahoshi, how tall are you now?"
The princess tilted her head thoughtfully. "A bit taller than the Father, I think. I don't really like being this tall, but thanks to Chiga-sama, I can adjust it. He's amazing, isn't he?"
Otohime listened quietly, noticing how often her daughter spoke of Chiga. She could already tell how deeply Shirahoshi admired him, though she chose not to mention it.
Instead, she asked, "Shirahoshi… who exactly is he?"
Her daughter grinned proudly. "He's the King of the World!"
"King of the World?" Otohime repeated in disbelief. "That's no title I've ever heard before. Is he one of the Celestial Dragons? No… the name doesn't sound like theirs."
Shirahoshi shook her head quickly.
"Of course not! Chiga-sama destroyed the Celestial Dragons long ago. Even Mary Geoise doesn't exist anymore!"
"What?" Otohime froze, her mind struggling to process what she'd just heard. The Celestial Dragons… gone? In only ten years?
Seeing her mother's stunned expression, Shirahoshi hurried to the bed and pulled out a bundle of old newspapers she had hidden beneath her pillow. Every cover bore the image of Chiga, standing tall and regal.
"Look, Mother! You'll understand once you read these!"
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