Once the barbecue was over, I spent the rest of my time mostly chatting with Tiana-san. She mentioned wanting to see my room, so I gave her a quick tour before we settled back into idle conversation.
Perhaps because Tiana-san had such a gentle personality and was so easy to talk to, our conversation flowed so naturally that the hours seemed to vanish in an instant.
As evening approached, she decided it was about time to head back, noting that she didn't want to overstay her welcome. While she likely could have returned home from anywhere she pleased, I walked her back to the backyard terrace where she had first arrived to see her off.
"Kaito-kun, thank you truly for today. I had a wonderful time."
"The pleasure was all mine. I enjoyed myself as well, and it was fascinating to hear about other worlds. I’ll be in touch once the schedule for the tea party is finalized, but please feel free to stop by whenever you like aside from that."
"I will. Since I somehow managed to get permission for free visits, I’ll definitely come play again. If I can, I’d love to invite you to my world someday, though taking you to another realm would probably cause quite a stir with the others. I’ll have to make some adjustments first."
"Getting permission does sound like a headache... but I'm definitely interested. I'd love to see it if the chance ever comes up."
From what she had described, Tiana's world sounded SF-esque—a place where civilization had advanced far beyond anything in my original world. It seemed like it would offer a sense of the exotic quite different from Trinia, and I found myself genuinely curious.
Hearing my response, Tiana-san smiled warmly. After a brief pause, she spoke again in a quiet, steady voice.
"...Kaito-kun, thank you. Truly. I don’t just mean for today. I’ve wanted to give you my proper thanks ever since I decided to meet you."
"Um, is this about Nebula?"
"No. Well, that’s certainly a large part of it... but it’s something more fundamental."
"Huh?"
As I tilted my head in confusion, Tiana-san began to speak with a nostalgic, deeply moved expression.
"Nebula-san was definitely the catalyst. Following her revival, I... no, not just me, but many of the World Creators began to look into you. We watched how you lived, what you achieved, and the feelings you held when you faced Shallow Vernal's Trial."
"I see... Well, I suppose there are many Possessors of Omniscience among your kind, so it’s not surprising you'd know all that."
"That’s true. But without a reason to look, we almost never pay attention to a single life striving for something. As you said, Kaito-kun, I hold the power of an Omniscient and Omnipotent being. I can do anything and know everything... but perhaps that is exactly why I’ve never truly done anything at all, and perhaps I never really knew anything either."
"U-Uh...?"
I wasn't quite sure if this had turned into a philosophical lecture. Seeing my bewildered expression, Tiana-san laughed with genuine mirth.
"Fufu, that was a bit complicated, wasn't it? Like you said, many of us World Creators are Omniscient. We can see the future as easily as looking at a map. But precisely because of that... we forgot the simple truth that a future can be changed. We never struggled to alter fate, nor did we even bother to reach out for the things we desired."
"..."
"And that is why, I think. You worried, you suffered, and you lost your way... You didn't always take the most efficient path, but you struggled and reached out with everything you had for the things you wanted. Seeing you seize your future while being supported by the hopes of so many others... it was blindingly bright. It taught me that despite knowing everything, I understood nothing. Looking at you as you walked toward that future, I saw hope."
Her words were a form of unreserved praise. She was telling me that because I lacked her absolute power, I had taught her something she could never have grasped on her own—a sincere expression of gratitude from the bottom of her heart.
"That is why many World Creators, myself included, have grown so fond of you. Of course, the fact that you sparked Nebula-san's revival and achieved the feat of overcoming Shallow Vernal is part of it. But even setting all that aside, I can say with confidence that I am truly your fan. No, I’ve made this far too long and heavy, haven't I? In the end, it’s quite simple. Because of you, I’m actually looking forward to the future. So, thank you. That’s all I wanted to say."
As she smiled brightly at me, her hair swayed in the evening breeze, and I heard the beautiful, clear chime of a bell. I felt a little bashful at the weight of her words, but her sincerity made me honestly happy.
Serious-senpai: "So, that means we've reached the conclusion of Tiana Arc, right? Which means the next stop is...?"
???: "The amusement park with the four lovers—Lilia-san, Sieg-san, Anima-san, and Illness-san—plus a few other members."
Serious-senpai: "...I think... I need to go lie down for a while."