"Simple—because, Mio, you're my third little sister," Jeanne said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"...What kind of nonsense is that? And why are you my 'second sister'?" Mio's tone turned sharp.
Even if they were "sisters," no one in their right mind would accept a complete newcomer waltzing in and immediately claiming seniority.
"Oh~ so you don't accept it?" Jeanne didn't seem bothered at all, still smiling brightly.
"Of course I don't! You're the latecomer—don't even think about being my older sister," Mio said, chin lifted with proud defiance.
"So I'm the latecomer now. Well… in the present, I guess that's true," Jeanne nodded. "Then how about we settle it properly? I'll show you why your second sister is your second sister."
"Settle it?" Mio's eyes narrowed.
"Wait! You two—at least talk first!" Shichen cut in, trying to stop them. "Jeanne, when you say 'settle it,' you mean like… a game or something, right?"
That Jeanne—the saint who always valued harmony—was openly provoking someone. It felt wrong.
Was this really just because Mio didn't "acknowledge" her?
Shichen could tell: Jeanne cared a lot about status. "Big sister" did not tolerate disrespect from "little sister."
Jeanne gave Shichen a gentle smile. "Shichen, I don't mean a game. I mean an actual fight."
"...That escalated fast."
So the 'harem is on fire' trope was real, huh?
"I'm not being sudden," Jeanne said calmly. "I already guessed my third sister would rebel. I've been waiting."
"Stop calling me 'third sister.' I'm not your sister," Mio shot back coldly, staring Jeanne down. "But if you insist on 'settling it,' I'll accept."
"Oh? Perfect," Jeanne's smile sharpened into something colder. "Then I'll beat you until you accept it."
The two locked eyes. It was like sparks were snapping between them.
"Are you two… serious?" Shichen asked, scalp prickling.
This was ridiculous—over what, exactly? A 'who's the older sister' argument?
He'd been worried Jeanne entering the family as "second sister" might cause friction… but things had actually been fine. No one cared, and Jeanne's saintly presence made it easy for everyone to accept her.
Shichen had finally relaxed.
And then Mio came back… and his old worry detonated on contact.
It made sense, though. Mio put Shichen above everything. Deep down she was proud, even arrogant toward "others." Now Jeanne was claiming she outranked her—how could Mio possibly swallow that?
But fighting wasn't the answer.
"Shichen, we're serious," Jeanne said, her smile softening slightly as if she'd remembered something. "Something like this happened before, too."
"Before…? Even so—"
"Relax. I know Mio's pregnant. I'll hold back." Jeanne glanced at Mio's subtly rounded belly, her brow twitching. She was clearly irritated. Third sister got there first.
"Hold back? Try not to cry when I beat you," Mio snapped right back.
"Fine. Let's go."
"Let's go."
"Wait—!"
Before Shichen could stop them, both women vanished from the spot.
They were in the shop! And they didn't even hesitate—this was real.
Shichen flicked his eyes around. The customers weren't paying attention. Not even looking.
That made no sense. Even if they didn't care about his relationships, two stunning women disappearing should've caused a scene.
A concealment barrier? Who put it up?
But now wasn't the time. Shichen tracked their presence and space-shifted after them.
…
Over the ocean, the sea was calm and the sky was a bright blue.
Jeanne and Mio hovered above the water, facing off from a distance.
A pressure began to radiate from each of them—faint at first, then colliding.
Spray burst upward. In the blink of an eye, the sea churned and winds whipped into a frenzy.
"Both of you—stop!" Shichen appeared between them.
"Shichen."
"Shichen, why are you here?" Jeanne asked.
"Why do you think? If I didn't come, would that be okay?" Shichen snapped, glaring at her.
"Don't worry. We won't go for the kill," Jeanne said.
"That's not the point! You're not allowed to fight!" Shichen barked.
If they started throwing hands, this would set a precedent. After that, who knew what the 'palace' would look like?
"But we have to," Jeanne said innocently. "Third sister won't acknowledge me."
"Why should I acknowledge you?" Mio shot back.
"Because I truly am your second sister."
"Lies."
"Shichen, look—"
"Enough." Shichen cut in. "You can talk it out. Why fight?"
"Because this happened before."
"Before is before. Now is now. I'm not allowing it. If you fight, I'll be angry—consider that your warning." Shichen's face hardened.
Jeanne immediately switched to a sweet, coaxing tone. "Don't be mad~ We really won't go all-out. Just a light spar~"
"No." Shichen didn't budge.
"Shichen, I won't go all-out either," Mio said.
"Mio?"
"I just want to see why she thinks she can call herself my older sister," Mio said, still staring Jeanne down.
"You two… are seriously going to push me until I get mad?"
"Shichen~ we're not forcing you. Just let us spar once~ And afterward, you can punish us however you want," Jeanne said in a syrupy voice.
Shichen froze.
He genuinely hadn't expected Jeanne to talk like that.
Mio followed up immediately, as if it were perfectly natural. "Shichen, I'm asking too. Afterward, you can do whatever you want with me."
"…You're both agreeing to that?" Shichen's resolve wavered.
Punish them however he wanted?
That basically meant he could do anything.
Jeanne and Mio nodded in sync. "Mm-hm!"
"…Fine," Shichen finally relented. "One spar. Keep it controlled. If you go too far, I'll stop you."
He retreated, then raised a barrier around the area.
They claimed it was "just sparring," but if either of them got carried away, the weather alone could turn into a disaster.
Satellites would notice.
What worried Shichen most was something else: could Jeanne really stand up to Mio?
Mio should be able to erase Jeanne in seconds, shouldn't she?
Shichen believed Jeanne really was "second sister," but he'd assumed it was about who came first, not raw power.
Because if it was about strength, then "she" could never be the first sister.
Jeanne and Mio stared at each other—no speeches, no countdown.
Mio's modern winter outfit dissolved into light, replaced by a seamless white gown like a ceremonial dress.
Behind her appeared a distorted halo-like wheel set with ten star-shaped lights, shining brilliantly.
Mio's Astral Dress.
"An Astral Dress right away? Going all-in from the start?" Jeanne smiled as if she couldn't care less. "Fine. Then I won't hold back either."
Jeanne raised her hand.
On the back of her hand, a golden symbol appeared.
"What…?" Shichen's eyes widened.
He knew that mark instantly. It wasn't a triangle—it was a delta (Δ).
It was the crest of his familiar beast: Rayquaza.
How could Jeanne have that seal?
Did she have a familiar too?
Shichen's confusion lasted only a heartbeat.
Jeanne didn't have one inside her…
…but he did.
Divine energy flowed out of Shichen, gathering at Jeanne's feet.
A long, immense shape took form, solidifying into reality.
"ROAAAR—!"
A green, serpentine dragon—Rayquaza—manifested under Jeanne's control.
"…You've got to be kidding me," Shichen muttered, stunned.
Jeanne could summon his familiars out of his own body?
At that point, her "second sister" status didn't need proof anymore.
Mio's expression finally shifted. She looked up at Rayquaza, face tightening.
Rayquaza's sheer size blotted the sea with shadow; beside it, Mio looked tiny.
But more importantly—its power made her uneasy.
The dragon carried a destructive force that mirrored her own: the power to ruin everything.
Opposite her "creation," it felt like "destruction."
"So this is your trump card?" Mio asked.
Jeanne landed lightly on Rayquaza's head, smiling. "Rayquaza, long time no see."
"Rrrr—" Rayquaza rumbled—obedient, almost affectionate.
Shichen felt a weird twist in his gut, like he'd been "stolen" somehow.
Then he reminded himself: Jeanne was his. Nothing was being stolen.
"This power alone still doesn't make me accept you," Mio said coldly.
Jeanne didn't even blink. "Maybe not at the default setting. But—"
She stroked Rayquaza's head and smiled wider.
"Rayquaza—show her your stronger form."
"ROOOAAAR—!"
Rayquaza erupted in light.
Its body transformed—emerald skin gleaming like gemstone; the Δ crest blazing on its forehead; golden structures flaring along horns and tail; luminous golden "orbs" embedded along its body.
Shichen's jaw dropped.
Mega Rayquaza.
Jeanne could make Rayquaza mega evolve?
Mega Rayquaza looked even more colossal and godlike—every motion felt like it could end worlds.
Mio's face changed for real now. She could clearly feel it:
This dragon's destructive force could crush her if she misstepped.
Jeanne stood atop Mega Rayquaza, smiling with smug certainty.
"Mio—this is why I'm your second sister."
"…That's Shichen's power," Mio snapped back, unwilling to concede.
Jeanne shrugged. "But I can control it."
Mio fell silent.
"Still not satisfied?" Jeanne tilted her head. "Then take this."
"Rayquaza—Dragon Ascent!"
"ROOOAAAR—!"
Mega Rayquaza became a green comet, diving straight at Mio.
"Wait—!" Shichen shouted.
~~~
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