The Architects' Domain had finally returned to normal.
The castle stood peacefully beneath the endless sky.
The gardens had been restored.
The broken pathways were whole again.
Even the damage from the previous attack had almost become impossible to notice.
Almost.
Sasaki sat alone in his office.
A large stack of documents covered his desk.
He slowly turned one page.
Then another.
His pen moved across the paper.
He stopped.
Looked at the document.
Then continued writing.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Sasaki glanced toward the window.
Nothing.
He returned to his work.
A few minutes passed.
Then—
The door opened.
Sasaki looked up.
Mao stood in the doorway, holding her umbrella.
"Hm?"
Sasaki tilted his head.
"What brings you here, Mao?"
Mao didn't answer.
She simply walked inside.
She closed her umbrella.
Then pulled out a chair.
Sasaki watched her sit down.
"..."
Mao crossed her arms.
Sasaki waited.
Still nothing.
He eventually shrugged.
"Alright."
He returned to his documents.
Mao remained seated.
She watched him.
Sasaki wrote.
Mao watched.
He turned a page.
She continued watching.
He signed another document.
She didn't move.
Eventually, Sasaki glanced at her.
"You know, you don't have to stare at me."
"I wasn't staring."
"You've been staring at me for the last ten minutes."
Mao looked away.
"I was looking in your general direction."
"Right."
Sasaki returned to his work.
Mao remained silent.
Another hour passed.
Then another.
The nebula around them slowly turned dark outside the window.
The room gradually became warmer.
Sasaki continued working.
Mao continued sitting.
Every so often, Sasaki would glance at her.
Every time he did, she was still there.
Eventually—
Sasaki placed his pen down.
He leaned back in his chair.
Then looked directly at her.
"...Why are you still here?"
Mao blinked.
"Can I not be?"
Sasaki looked at the clock.
Then back at her.
"You've been sitting in my office for six hours."
Mao shrugged.
"You noticed."
"I've been working."
"I know."
"Then why are you still here?"
Mao looked down at her hands.
For a moment, she didn't answer.
Then she quietly said,
"I was making sure you were okay."
Sasaki stared at her.
The room became quiet.
"You've been worried about me."
Mao's face immediately turned red.
"...Shut up."
She covered her face with both hands.
Sasaki smiled faintly.
"I see."
"Don't smile."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm really not."
"You are."
Sasaki let out a quiet laugh.
Mao peeked through her fingers.
"...You're annoying."
"So I've been told."
He stood from his chair.
Mao lowered her hands.
"Where are you going?"
"Tea."
He walked toward a small table in the corner of the room.
Mao watched him prepare the cup.
Sasaki poured the tea.
Then looked over his shoulder.
"You want some?"
"No."
He nodded.
"Okay."
Sasaki took a sip.
Mao glanced at the cup.
Her eyes lingered on it.
Sasaki noticed.
He said nothing.
Mao looked away.
A few seconds passed.
"...Can I have some?"
Sasaki slowly looked at her.
He stared.
Mao stared back.
"You said you didn't want any."
"I changed my mind."
Sasaki sighed.
"Of course."
He walked over and handed her the cup.
Mao took a sip.
Her eyes widened.
"...This is actually kind of good."
Sasaki held out his hand.
"Give it back."
Mao looked at the cup.
Then at him.
Then took another sip.
Sasaki raised an eyebrow.
"Mao."
Another sip.
"Mao."
She took one final sip.
Then drank the rest.
She handed the empty cup back with a smile.
"Thank you."
Sasaki stared at the empty cup.
There was a long silence.
"...You're welcome."
Mao smiled innocently.
Sasaki walked back toward the table.
"I'll make another."
"You should."
He looked over his shoulder.
"You drank all of mine."
"I was thirsty."
"Apparently."
Sasaki prepared another cup.
Mao continued watching him.
For a while, neither spoke.
It was peaceful.
Normal.
Almost like before.
Except Mao couldn't shake the feeling that something was different.
She couldn't explain what.
Sasaki looked like Sasaki.
He talked like Sasaki.
He joked like Sasaki.
But sometimes...
His eyes became distant.
Only for a second.
Then it was gone.
Mao noticed.
She just didn't know what it meant.
After finishing his tea, Sasaki checked the clock.
He stood.
"Hey, Mao."
"Hm?"
"Let's go."
Mao stood as well.
"Where?"
"You'll see."
She tilted her head.
"That's suspicious."
"You'll survive."
"I don't know about that."
Sasaki opened the door.
"Come on."
Mao followed.
The two walked through the castle.
The halls were quiet.
Architects moved through the corridors.
Some greeted Sasaki.
Others stopped to stare.
It had only been a short time since his return.
Yet everyone still seemed to be adjusting to seeing him again.
As they turned a corner—
They nearly walked into Nexus.
Nexus stopped.
"Oh."
Sasaki raised a hand.
"Hey, Nexus."
Nexus smiled.
"What are you doing here?"
"Taking a stroll."
Nexus glanced at Mao.
Then back at Sasaki.
"I see."
He continued walking.
Sasaki watched him pass.
His expression slowly changed.
His eyes narrowed.
Only slightly.
Mao noticed.
She looked at him.
"Sasaki?"
He didn't answer.
He kept watching Nexus.
Nexus disappeared around the corner.
Sasaki remained silent for another second.
Then—
"Nothing."
He turned around.
"Let's go."
Mao followed.
But she looked back toward the hallway.
Something about the encounter had felt strange.
She couldn't explain it.
Neither of them mentioned it.
Eventually, they reached the portal.
Sasaki stepped through first.
Mao followed.
The moment they emerged on the other side, Sasaki stopped.
He took a slow breath.
The air was different.
Familiar.
The sounds of people.
The wind.
The distant noise of the kingdom.
Sasaki closed his eyes for a moment.
Then quietly said,
"I'm back."
Mao looked at him.
There was something almost peaceful about his expression.
She smiled.
Then reached over and took his hand.
Sasaki looked down.
Their hands were intertwined.
He looked toward Mao.
A small smile appeared on his face.
Mao immediately looked away.
Her face turned red.
She quickly opened her umbrella and held it in front of herself.
Sasaki raised an eyebrow.
"...Are you hiding?"
"No."
"You're hiding."
"I'm not."
"You opened an umbrella indoors."
"We're not indoors."
"You know what I mean."
Mao said nothing.
They continued walking.
Passersby glanced at them.
Some smiled.
Others whispered.
A few even complimented them as they walked by.
Mao became increasingly embarrassed.
Sasaki didn't seem to care.
He simply continued walking beside her.
Their hands remained together.
But then—
Mao noticed something.
She looked at Sasaki.
His expression had changed.
The smile was gone.
He was staring straight ahead.
Quiet.
Distant.
Mao slowly loosened her grip.
Then let go.
Sasaki immediately looked toward her.
For a brief moment, his eyes widened.
Mao stopped walking.
She looked at him.
Sasaki stared at his empty hand.
Then back at her.
He didn't say anything.
Instead—
He reached out.
And took her hand again.
Mao froze.
Her face became bright red.
She quickly raised her umbrella to hide herself.
Sasaki smiled.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You seem embarrassed."
"I'm not."
"Right."
Mao squeezed his hand.
She didn't let go again.
Eventually, they reached the kingdom.
A group of guards approached them.
At the front stood Count Solemn.
He bowed.
"Welcome, Sir Oyuki."
Sasaki nodded.
"Count Solemn."
The Count glanced toward Mao.
"Welcome as well."
Mao returned the greeting politely.
They passed through the gates.
Mao stopped.
Her eyes widened.
The kingdom stretched out before them.
Massive buildings rose into the sky.
Crowds moved through the streets.
Markets filled the roads.
The entire kingdom seemed alive.
Mao looked around in amazement.
"It's beautiful..."
Sasaki adjusted his tie.
"Yeah."
Mao looked at him.
"You've been here before?"
Sasaki's expression became distant for half a second.
Then he smiled.
"Something like that."
Mao noticed the hesitation.
Again.
She said nothing.
Sasaki turned toward her.
"Ready, Mao?"
"For what?"
He smiled.
"To meet the Sage."
Mao froze.
Her umbrella nearly slipped from her hand.
"...What?"
Sasaki started walking.
Mao remained standing there.
"What do you mean we're meeting a Sage!?"
Sasaki glanced back.
"Come on."
Mao hurried after him.
"Wait!"
She caught up to him.
"You can't just casually say something like that!"
Sasaki smiled.
"Why not?"
"Because Sages are important!"
"I know."
"And you're just taking me to meet one?"
"Yes."
Mao stared at him.
"...Why?"
Sasaki looked forward.
"You'll find out."
Mao narrowed her eyes.
"I don't like the sound of that."
Sasaki's smile remained.
"Don't worry."
He continued walking.
"It's safe."
Mao followed.
But as she watched him from behind, that strange feeling returned.
Something about Sasaki's return still didn't make sense.
And Mao couldn't shake the feeling that whatever had happened to him—
She hadn't seen all of it yet.