"Miss, I've brought Miss Flanda."
A measured knock sounded, and Mugino Shizuri appeared at the door with Flanda—washed up, tidy, and newly composed.
"In that case, the convincing is up to you," Haramura Makoto said, patting Freyja's shoulder with a smile. "You can handle it, right?"
"No problem—leave it to me." Freyja thrust up a small, determined hand, her baby face working hard to look serious.
"Let's go, Misaki," Makoto added. "Leave this to the sisters."
"Agreed."
She took her handbag, rose behind him, and the two walked side by side toward the door. Their simple, unhurried steps seemed to press the whole room into solemn stillness.
Standing next to Mugino, the petite, blonde loli visibly trembled.
"I trust a sensible person like you will make the right choice—so that child won't be hurt," Makoto said, pausing at the door.
"Y-yes—!"
Cold sweat soaked Flanda's back; her voice shook but rang loud, like a schoolgirl called on unexpectedly by a strict teacher.
"Good."
He gave her shoulder the same light pat he'd given Freyja, and then he and Shokuhou Misaki left.
"Hah… hah—"
The door had barely shut when Flanda dropped to her knees, breathing like a drowning victim dragged ashore—terror of survival flashing in her eyes as she gulped fresh air.
No one could grasp the whirlwind she'd just lived through.
Waking in an unfamiliar place, she'd decided immediately to surrender. Always, in every moment, her life came first. Surrender was shameful, spineless—but for her life, she would do it. She'd simply waited for whoever was in charge to appear, ready to prostrate herself.
Then came the person she least expected.
For an instant she thought Mugino had come to save her—that they'd broken the enemy's stronghold. She even felt relieved she hadn't yet knelt and debased herself.
Otherwise, Mugino would have burned her to cinders.
But Mugino's next words plunged her into an icy abyss:
"Miss Flanda, the Master will see you now."
What?
For a moment she wondered if she'd cracked—if fear had driven her into hallucination.
But on the way, her cautious tests led her to a grim realization: this Mugino was Mugino—and also not.
It was like a shell shaped like Mugino, with a different person inside.
What did it feel like?
Like those recent soul-swap and reincarnation stories she loved—the situation was identical.
But that couldn't happen in the real world—impossible.
Which left only one possibility: Mugino Shizuri, an LV5, had been completely rewritten by a psychic.
Terror.
In that instant, Flanda felt nothing but terror.
How was this any different from being killed?
It wasn't.
She could not let that happen to her.
…
Whatever ran through Flanda's heart no longer concerned Makoto. He'd already left the Workshop and stood out front, waiting for the car Misaki had arranged.
"By the way, Misaki—about Flanda. Better use your method on her," Makoto said.
"Mm?"
"Her mental defenses—you've completely broken them."
Hands clasped behind her back, Misaki tilted her head.
"Of course."
"But with a spineless sort like that, the same issue will just crop up again—next time aimed at you," she said. "Your power can change her temperament down to the roots."
No one doubted that Flanda's defection was genuine—for now. But no one would trust or rely on her either. That was normal. The proper move would be to eliminate her—but she was Freyja's sister. So it fell to Misaki to excise that craven streak and rebuild her.
"Got it. Relax," Misaki said. "That was my plan anyway. Apart from you, I don't intend to trust anyone."
She hummed softly, blinking.
Yes—this was her nature. She did not believe in "cooperation" or "trust" as vague ideals. Even allies had their minds quietly opened and read, their rules and motives laid bare. If not for the words Deadlock had spoken to them in crisis, she might have controlled Makoto that day as well.
It was all coincidence—fate.
Makoto, watching her profile, felt a little dazed. Others might not see it—but he did. From anyone else, it would be a simple statement. From Shokuhou Misaki, it carried a vast weight of trust—and feeling—for him.
Decision settled, he nodded.
"In that case, I'm relieved."
As he spoke, he reached out and caught one of the hands she'd tucked behind her back, enfolding it just as before.
"I have a favor to ask."
"Wh-what is it?"
The sudden contact sent her heart racing again, a warm rush rushing up into her head, making her a little dizzy.
"Is it about Freyja?" she asked. "Don't worry. When this is done, I'll have someone take her home properly."
Though her head swam, her thoughts were clear enough.
"No, not that."
"I want you to help look after Leo for a while."
"For certain reasons, I may need to leave for a bit."
"I'm counting on you, Misaki."