Kuro slowly walked toward Fia-sensei.
Fia-sensei was deathly pale, her shoulders flinching with every step Kuro took.
"……Chro……me-sama…… I, I am……"
"……"
When Kuro finally stood before her, her hand swung out in a blur. A thunderous roar shook the air, echoing like an explosion as the slap connected.
A slap? Did she seriously just slap her? With that much power? Is Fia-sensei even alive? Her head didn't fly off, did it?
It was a strike of terrifying force—the kind that would have certainly decapitated me—yet all it left was a bright red handprint, like a maple leaf, on Fia-sensei's cheek. Wait, that was the only damage?
The impact sounded like a missile had detonated, but Fia-sensei’s only injury was a bit of redness. She was unnaturally sturdy.
As I stood there, stunned for an entirely different reason, Kuro stared directly at the dazed Fia-sensei and spoke.
"……Do you know why I'm angry?"
"……Th-that’s…… because of the past…… I caused Chrome-sama…… so much trouble……"
"Wrong!"
"……Eh?"
Fia-sensei shrank back, her face white with fear as Kuro’s voice crackled with indignation, but the Underworld King immediately shut her down.
"……I was also at fault for what happened back then. I didn't explain the situation to you properly…… and I regret that. But that isn’t why I’m angry right now!"
"Eh? A-Um……"
"Why!? Why did you just leave without a single word to me and stay away for over a thousand years!?"
"——!?"
"Vanishing like that…… shouldering everything by yourself…… do you have any idea how much I worried? Did you really think…… I’d be happy with you doing that?"
"Th-that is……"
Tears shimmered in Kuro’s eyes, making the depth of her concern for Fia-sensei undeniable.
The weight of those tears left Fia-sensei visibly shaken, her voice failing her.
Kuro wiped her eyes with her sleeve, then locked onto Fia-sensei’s gaze again. Her voice was slow, heavy with sorrow.
"……I sent you letters, didn't I? Over and over again. But you never replied. Not once. Tell me, Fia…… do you hate me now? Do you not even want to speak to me?"
"No! That’s not it! I could never hate Chrome-sama!!"
I see. Even though Kuro hadn't gone to see her in person, she had been trying to mend their bond by sending letters all this time.
But Fia-sensei hadn't replied. I suspect she was simply too terrified to even open them, paralyzed by the thought that they might be letters of abandonment.
"……Then why haven't you come to see me?"
"B-Because…… I…… I don't have the right to stand before Chrome-sama……"
"You don't need a 'right' to see your own family!"
"……Chrome……sama…… eh?"
Kuro roared, silencing Fia-sensei’s insistence that she was unworthy.
Before Fia could respond, Kuro reached out, grabbed her hand, and pulled her into a tight embrace against her chest.
"……I'm so relieved…… to see you…… healthy and safe."
"A-Ahhh…… Chrome-sama…… I, I, I……"
"Fia…… we finally met."
"Ah…… ugh…… aaaaaah!"
Kuro stroked Fia-sensei’s hair, her words soft and comforting. Fia-sensei’s body began to rack with sobs, and fat tears spilled from her eyes.
Clutching Kuro’s clothes with trembling hands, Fia-sensei managed to choke out a few words.
"……Is it really okay? For someone…… as foolish as me…… to still be called family? By Chrome-sama…… truly?"
"Of course. No matter what you think, Fia, you are my precious family. That will never change, no matter what happens."
"Uwaaa…… ahhh! Ch-Chrome-sama! Chrome-sama!!"
"……Yeah. It’s been hard, hasn't it? You’ve fought so hard all by yourself."
"Uwaaaaaaaaaah! I-I’m…… sorr…… I'm so sorry! I was just so scared…… I couldn't bring myself to face you…… I'm sorry……"
Being accepted and welcomed home—that was clearly what Fia-sensei had been yearning for in the deepest part of her soul.
As if purging a millennium of pent-up emotion, Fia-sensei wept, clinging to Kuro like a child seeking their mother’s warmth.
"I'm sorry, Fia. If I’d had more courage, I would have gone to find you sooner. I was scared that you might hate me, too, so I couldn't take that step. I'm sorry it took so long."
"No, it’s not you! It was me…… ahhh…… hic…… I was the one…… a coward…… ugh…… even though I wanted to see you! I wanted to see Chrome-sama so badly, all this time! I'm sorry, I'm sorry…… for being so stubborn…… I'm sorry…… Chrome-sama! Chrome-sama!!"
"It’s okay now. Welcome home, Fia."
"Aaaaaahhhhhhh!"
The emotions of a thousand years finally burst through the dam. Fia-sensei’s heart poured out of her mouth, and Kuro stood there, gently holding it all.
These two, who had drifted apart only because they cared for one another so deeply, had finally found each other again.
I watched the scene with a lump in my throat until I felt a light tap on my shoulder.
"……Kaito-san."
"……I know. Let's go, Eden-san."
"?"
Noin-san had called my name—a signal that we should give them some privacy. I nodded in agreement.
This was a reunion over ten centuries in the making. They had a lifetime of catching up to do.
I turned to the other person present, Eden-san, but she just tilted her head in genuine confusion. It seemed she didn't understand the atmosphere at all.
I suppose "reading the room" isn't a feature installed in world-creating goddesses.
Giving a wry smile at her blank reaction, I managed to gesture that we should leave. She nodded, and I followed Noin-san out, leaving Kuro and Fia-sensei to their sanctuary.
"……Chrome-sama, I…… I……"
"It’s okay. I’m right here."
Fia-sensei’s voice reached my ears as we walked away. It was still thick with tears, but it was undeniably filled with joy.
Bonus: This Time’s Eden Maman
(I feel no interest in this whatsoever, as she is not my child. I am only here because my child is here, but I really must take him home soon. My child is surely hungry. I should prepare a special meal. Yes, that is perfect. I shall create it from scratch, solely for my child. I will synthesize the finest materials at the cellular level. Every morsel that enters my supreme child’s mouth must be of the ultimate quality. Hmm…… now that I look closer, my child is suffering from a Vitamin A deficiency. Based on his body's requirements, he needs exactly 25μgRAE more. This is unacceptable. I must immediately rebalance my child’s internal nutrition……)