At the critical moment, Shichen appeared in front of Mio and stopped Mega Rayquaza's world-ending strike.
Not by "blocking" it—his presence alone made Mega Rayquaza halt. It was still his familiar; there was no way it would ever harm its master.
That ultimate blow, empowered by divine power and capable of shattering heaven and earth, wasn't something Mio's Angel could withstand—even if she unfolded the Neighboring World with Rinne Sonogami.
It wasn't just because Rayquaza had become monstrously powerful. It was also because after Shichen drank Mio's blood, he had fused with her power and analyzed her abilities. As Shichen's familiar, Rayquaza naturally adapted to those abilities as well—meaning it could ignore their effects.
In other words: as long as Mio was facing power that belonged to Shichen, she had no real way to counter it.
And that was exactly why Jeanne could "control Shichen's power" and still stand as Second Sister among so many girls—there was a reason for it.
"Shichen, thank you~" Mio wasn't scared at all. She hugged him from behind, pressed her cheek to his back, and smiled softly.
"Are you okay?" Shichen recalled Rayquaza and asked with concern.
Rayquaza's killing intent had been intense. He worried Mio might've been startled—she was pregnant, and she couldn't take even a little shock.
And Rayquaza, seriously—Mio was his woman, yet it showed zero restraint.
Was Jeanne's standing with it really that high?
"I'm fine. I knew you'd protect me, so I wasn't afraid at all," Mio shook her head.
"Good… as long as you're fine." Shichen finally exhaled in relief.
With a baby inside her, Mio wouldn't force it. If she said she was fine, she really was.
"Shichen, don't worry. I wouldn't go for the kill." Jeanne flew over to them.
"That 'aura' looked like holding back to you?" Shichen shot her an annoyed glare.
"Ugh… I swear it was. At the critical moment I would've made Rayquaza stop," Jeanne pouted in grievance.
"Don't play innocent. When we get back, you're going to regret it—wait for your punishment."
"O-okay…" Jeanne accepted it with a pitiful look.
"Come on. Let's go back." Shichen shook his head. "I still don't get why you two even fought over something like this."
He brought them back to the café.
Back in his room, Shichen made Mio sit down, checked her carefully, then went downstairs to bring her something warm to drink—attentive to the point of being almost fussy.
Jeanne watched from the side, a little envious—but what could she do? Mio had already gotten pregnant first.
And even if someone took a step forward, that didn't mean everyone else could keep up.
Mio deserved to get what she wanted. Shichen would never refuse her. But for the others, having children was still too soon.
He didn't have that plan.
And with "her" still silent, Shichen had a constant sense that a storm was coming.
The only reassurance was that he believed "she" wouldn't act recklessly—she wouldn't let anything irreversible happen.
"Third Sister… you really got your way," Jeanne sighed, sitting beside her.
"Got my way?" Mio frowned.
"Pregnancy. In the end, you actually pulled it off."
"You… seem to know a lot." Mio studied Jeanne.
She wasn't some naïve innocent. Thirty years of loneliness had forced her to mature—mind, knowledge, everything.
And Jeanne's words clearly carried hidden meaning.
"I basically… know everything," Jeanne admitted.
"Everything?"
"Yes. Shichen's story with everyone. Shichen's story with you. Everything you did for him." Jeanne looked at Mio calmly—there was pity in her eyes, and jealousy too.
"Did Shichen tell you?" Mio asked.
"Nope. I told you—I already knew."
"Time travel?" Mio guessed.
"Mm… kind of, but not exactly." Jeanne let just a little slip. "It's more like… Shichen's encounters with us all started over again."
"Encounters… started over?" Mio locked onto her, eyes sharp. "Tell me what's going on."
"I can't~ She still hasn't come back."
"She?" Mio's brows knit tighter.
"You can guess, can't you?"
"…Onee-sama?"
"Smart~" Jeanne giggled and hugged her.
Mio glanced at the arm on her shoulder, but didn't shake it off.
If Jeanne was claiming to be Second Sister, then there naturally had to be a First.
And Mio already knew who that "First" was: the culprit who took Shichen away and separated her from him for thirty years.
Onee-sama, indeed.
Mio had a grudge. She was going to get it back—no matter what.
Thirty years. Taken away at the exact moment she needed him most.
She could accept the "bitterness before sweetness," but she'd eaten plenty of bitterness first.
She'd heard Shichen's explanation too: the other woman did it for his sake, always putting him first—Mio could respect that.
But respecting it didn't stop her from wanting payback.
At most, she wouldn't make it a life-and-death feud.
Because it was still "for Shichen."
"Why am I Third Sister?" Mio asked, annoyed.
"Because back then, the 'others' came first… then me… and only then you," Jeanne explained.
"Just because of that?"
"Of course not. But do you want to hear the real reason?" Jeanne smiled.
"What's there I can't hear? Just tell me."
"I can." Jeanne's smile widened. "But you have to call me 'Second Sister' first."
"…" Mio fell silent, then sighed and looked at her.
Jeanne spread her hands, totally casual. "You forgot our little 'spar'? You lost—so pay up. Or what, you can't take a loss?"
"Fine. A bet is a bet." Mio nodded once, expression flat. "Second Sister."
"Aww~ that's more like it, Third Sister." Jeanne beamed and hugged her.
"Now you'll tell me?" Mio didn't move, didn't push her away.
"Simple." Jeanne said cheerfully. "Because the one Shichen likes most is Onee-sama… and I'm the one who stayed with Chen the longest."
"…I see." Mio thought for a moment, then accepted it.
If it was based on Shichen's situation, she could swallow it. That logic was at least consistent.
"Then what about the others?"
"The others?"
"Tohka and the rest."
"They're all 'little sisters.' Shichen spoils them, and we take care of them too."
"Third Sister… whatever. As long as Shichen likes it." Mio nodded, unconcerned.
Jeanne sighed. "You really haven't changed."
"'Haven't changed'? Then why don't I have any memories?" Mio asked.
"Because…" Jeanne hugged her, voice softening. "…there wasn't time."
"Not enough time…"
"Let's not talk about that." Jeanne abruptly changed the subject, lay her head on Mio's lap, and pressed her ear to Mio's belly. "Let me listen for the baby."
Mio looked down at her but didn't keep pressing. She'd already guessed a possible reason.
"Mmm~ why isn't there any movement?"
"It's not that fast…"
"What's 'not that fast'?" Shichen came back in with warm milk.
"Nothing~" Jeanne sat up immediately.
"Getting along already?" Shichen handed each of them a cup.
Jeanne got one too. Even if she'd messed up, he wasn't going to play favorites.
"We've always gotten along," Jeanne said like nothing happened, sipping her milk happily.
"Sure. Your punishment's still coming," Shichen said coldly.
"How are you going to punish me?" Jeanne looked up at him, milk frothing white on her lips.
Shichen tapped his chin. "Mio, any ideas? I'll take your input."
"What? No!" Jeanne rejected instantly.
"You don't get to reject," Shichen said.
"Ugh, Shichen, you're biased!"
"Just accept it," Shichen said flatly.
"W-well… Mio, please… go easy on me~" Jeanne could only plead with Mio now.
Mio's face stayed blank. She looked at Jeanne, then at Shichen, and said calmly, "How about… you spank her in front of me?"
"Eh?" Jeanne froze.
"That… actually isn't impossible," Shichen murmured, considering it.
"No! Don't!" Jeanne shook her head frantically.
Seeing her panic, Shichen decided on the spot. "Then that's what we'll do."
"Why?!" Jeanne protested.
"Because you didn't know when to hold back. You even made Rayquaza mega evolve—what if you'd actually hurt Mio?"
"As if I'd do that!"
"I don't care. You need a lesson so you remember what 'restraint' means." Shichen walked toward Jeanne.
"W-wait!"
Jeanne tried to run, but she didn't even get the chance—Shichen pinned her down at the edge of the bed.
Jeanne's figure really was impressive; with her bent over like that, her hips rounded up.
"Shichen… don't…" she pleaded.
"Learn your lesson."
Shichen didn't soften. He raised his hand and brought it down without hesitation.
Smack—!
A crisp sound echoed through the room.
And then—
"Ahhh—It hurts!!" Jeanne cried out.