I entered the hot spring with Shiro-san and the others, finding myself immediately thrust into a situation that challenged the very limits of my sanity.
The claim that the God Realm was an absolute hierarchy was no exaggeration. Chronoa-san, Fate-san, and Life-san stood perfectly still, waiting for Shiro-san to submerge herself in the water first. They only began to move several seconds after she had settled in.
"…I see. A hot spring is quite pleasant, isn't it?"
"Y-Yes…"
Shiro-san spoke with a hint of enjoyment as her long hair trailed in the water. I nodded back, my tension spiking at even her most trivial comments.
I took great care to keep my eyes averted, but even the brief glimpses I caught of Shiro-san’s skin were undeniably, agonizingly beautiful.
Then, Shiro-san placed a hand to her chin as if deep in thought—though her face remained its usual expressionless mask.
"I’m sure everyone wants to speak with Kaito-san at their own pace. I’ll make sure you don’t succumb to the heat…"
"…"
She just said something terrifying! Not only was she preventing me from fainting, but now she was even cutting off my escape through heat exhaustion?!
While I stood there, stunned by her declaration, Shiro-san gave her finger a light flick. A tray appeared floating on the water, carrying… hot sake? It looked like a bottle of Japanese rice wine.
"God of Space-Time. God of Fate. God of Life."
"Yes!" the three of them replied in unison.
"I’m sure you each have matters to discuss with Kaito-san. Therefore, I shall grant you each some time. I permit you to speak with Kaito-san one-on-one, in turn, over at that scenic spot."
"…N-No, I don’t particularly—"
"Thank you so much! I’ll gladly accept your kindness, Shallow Vernal-sama!"
"I am humbled by your gracious consideration."
The reactions were a study in contrasts. Chronoa-san seemed flustered, Fate-san took the bait with obvious enthusiasm, and Life-san simply obeyed with her usual stoic detachment.
Wait, was my opinion as the person actually involved being completely ignored?! Is it already decided that I’m having four consecutive private dates?!
"Yes."
"…"
Right. I knew it. I knew protests wouldn’t work on Shiro-san, but still…
Regardless of my feelings, it was decided that I would speak with the Three Supreme Gods and Shiro-san one-on-one.
As I had mostly anticipated, the rotation began with Fate-san, followed by Life-san, Chronoa-san, and finally Shiro-san. Fate-san and I moved to the edge of the spring, a spot that offered a panoramic view of the surrounding trees.
Between the branches, I could see the sky beyond—a reminder that we were in the Sanctuary floating high in the air. It was a fresh, magnificent sight.
"We did it! Kai-chan, we’re all alone… well, not strictly, but basically!"
"Y-Yes, I suppose so."
"By the way, like I said earlier, touching is totally okay! Want to give me a few squeezes to liven things up?"
"I will not."
"Aww."
Fate-san’s aggressive advances were really bad for my heart. I mean, please don't try to lift your chest out of the water! I knew she was doing it on purpose, which made it even worse.
Fate-san moved closer to me and picked up the hot sake from the floating tray.
"Here, Kai-chan. Let me pour you a drink."
"…T-Thank you."
I thanked her as she filled my cup and then took a sip.
It was my first time trying Japanese sake. It went down smoothly with a refreshing finish and a pleasant, dry kick.
Fate-san watched me with an entertained expression before slowly opening her mouth to speak.
"Really, Kai-chan, you’re so cold. Even though a beauty like me is hitting on you."
"Saying that about yourself kind of ruins the effect, you know."
"Ahaha, maybe so."
"Actually, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while…"
"Hmm?"
Since Fate-san wasn't being as physically overbearing as I’d feared, I felt like I had a bit of breathing room. I decided to use this rare chance to ask her about a question that had been bugging me.
"…Fate-san, you can manipulate destiny, right?"
"Yup."
"If it’s what I think it is… does that mean you can make almost anything in this world happen exactly as you want?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Aside from Shallow Vernal-sama, I’m the strongest god in the God Realm, after all. Ehem!"
"Wait, really?"
Fate-san was the strongest in the God Realm after Shiro-san? That meant she was the most powerful among the Three Supreme Gods. I had always assumed Chronoa-san held that title.
"Shallow Vernal-sama granted me the Authority to interfere with the very laws of the world. Among the gods, I’m the one with power closest to hers. That’s why, when I get serious, my 'eyes' change to the same ones she has… like this."
"…You’re right."
As soon as she spoke, her usually reddish-purple eyes shifted to the same brilliant gold as Shiro-san’s.
"This is my Authority. The eyes that see through destiny—the past, the present, and the future. Pretty amazing, right? Fallen for me yet?"
"I have not."
"Tch… Well, because of this, I hold the most power among the gods after Shallow Vernal-sama. Like you said, Kai-chan, I could move almost everything to my whim if I felt like it. There are only a handful of beings in this world immune to my power."
Fate-san pulled her hand out of the water and began folding her fingers down one by one.
"First, obviously, it doesn't work on Shallow Vernal-sama. And for some reason, it doesn't work on the Underworld King either. I guess it’s because she has power equal to Shiro-sama?"
It seemed that even as a Supreme God, Fate-san didn't know that Kuro was Shiro-san’s counterpart—her other half.
Fate-san tilted her head curiously but kept counting.
"Then there’s Shaltan. It doesn't work on her either."
"Not even on Alice?"
"Nope. Well, Shaltan’s case is a bit different. She has a 'technique to switch destiny itself,' and she uses that to counter me. And finally, there's you, Kai-chan."
"…As I thought, it doesn't work on me either. Is that because of Shiro-san’s Blessing?"
"Bingo! That’s exactly it."
I had suspected as much for a while. Fate-san’s incredibly powerful Authority to manipulate destiny had no effect on me.
That was precisely why I had been wondering about one thing.
"…Fate-san, back to my question. If that’s the case… why me?"
"What do you mean?"
"If you just want someone to support you, wouldn't it be easy for you to make that happen with anyone else? Why go out of your way to pursue me, the one person your powers don't work on?"
This was the core of my confusion.
Fate-san was incredibly lazy. She was always saying she didn’t want to work and asking me to take care of her. At first, I was too overwhelmed to think it through, but if she could manipulate destiny, she should be able to achieve that goal effortlessly with someone else. Even without her powers, I was sure there were plenty of people who would jump at the chance to support a Supreme God.
"…Because that’s boring."
"…Eh?"
Her voice had suddenly turned cold—a tone I never could have imagined coming from the usual Fate-san.
"I hate troublesome things, Kai-chan, you know that. But I hate boring things even more."
"…"
"People who move exactly as I want, who say exactly what I want them to… that’s not fun at all. It’s just like playing with dolls. There’s no joy in it."
"I… think I sort of understand. Maybe."
When she put it like that, it made sense. Almost everyone in this world moved according to her design, which made them predictable and dull. It was a sentiment born from the absolute power she held as a Supreme God. It felt like I was finally hearing her true heart.
"That’s why you’re so much fun, Kai-chan. You don't do anything I expect. It makes me wonder, 'What should I do next? Should I try this approach? How can we get closer?' It’s actually exciting to think about."
"…Fate-san."
"Besides, if you support me, I know I’ll never be bored. And you seem like the type who would spoil me, so I can be a NEET to my heart’s content! No work and no boredom! It’s the best! It’s perfect!"
"…And you ruined the moment."
"Oh?"
Her feeling that controllable people were boring was likely genuine, but her pathetic ambition to become a NEET was clearly just as sincere.
Hearing her pivot back to her usual self, a smile strangely escaped my lips.
Seeing me laugh, Fate-san flashed a brilliant grin and made a triumphant declaration.
"Well, you’d better be ready. I might be lazy, but I’m incredibly devoted and persistent. I’m never giving up on you, Kai-chan!"
"…That sounds like a threat."
"Ahaha! Well, lately… just a little bit… I’ve started thinking that maybe I wouldn't mind working a tiny bit if it was for your sake."
"…What was that?"
"Nothing! Come on, let’s keep drinking! And then, once you’re nice and drunk, you can finally make a move on me!"
"Oh, apparently I don't get drunk anymore."
"…You… what… why…?"
Dear Mother, Father—
After talking with Fate-san, I feel like I finally understand a little more about her and the side she usually keeps hidden behind her casual facade. Her pushiness and her laziness are the same as ever, but I’ve started to feel like that, too… might just be Fate-san’s charm.
Sugar Phase: Date Rotation
Vanguard: Fate Second: Life Vice-Commander: Chronoa General: Shiro
An impregnable formation.