Ryoma Raiden had run through countless scenarios in his head, worst-case, best-case, everything in between. But seeing his own daughter nestled so comfortably in some stranger's arms, clearly in no hurry to leave… that one hadn't made the list.
"Mei."
He stood just a few steps away, watching his daughter chat and laugh with this unfamiliar boy. Her eyes were curved into little crescent moons.
It eased a huge knot of tension in his chest. But right on its heels came a different, more complicated feeling.
He straightened his collar, ready to step in and gently interrupt this pleasant little conversation.
Nobody acknowledged him.
His precious daughter didn't even glance his way, as if she hadn't heard him call her name at all.
The boy, however, did look up. Politely, he rose to his feet.
"Mei. I think your family's here."
Shiraha discreetly let go. Mei blinked, looked down at her now-empty hands, then followed Shiraha's gaze upward. There stood her father, not far off, wearing a very complicated expression.
She let out a sigh without thinking.
As for Shiraha, he made no effort to hide his curiosity. He openly studied the man before him with wide eyes. Ryoma Raiden, in 2006, was in his early thirties, sharp in his suit, exuding an air of keen-edged competence.
"Hey there, young man. What's your name?"
Ryoma crouched down, doing his best to soften his voice into something approaching gentle.
"Shiraha."
Shiraha gave his crisp, simple introduction once again.
"Shiraha…" Ryoma nodded slowly. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught his daughter scuffing her shoe against the ground, very clearly praying for him to go away. He sighed too.
"Shiraha-kun. How exactly did you manage to suppress the Honkai energy?"
He asked it bluntly. Stigmata typically came with inherited knowledge. For someone to suppress Mei's Stigmata surge, this kid had to at least be a natural Stigmata bearer himself. At minimum, he probably understood more than the average person.
Shiraha's expression went blank with confusion.
Beside him, Elysia narrowed her eyes. Oh, my dear little Shiraha. If I didn't know the truth, I honestly wouldn't be able to tell if that blank look was real or an act.
"It's like… a purple or black kind of energy."
Ryoma tried to phrase it in terms a child might understand, though his voice betrayed a lack of confidence. He really didn't know how to talk to kids, his own daughter included.
Shiraha instinctively glanced toward what looked like empty air. Elysia caught on immediately. She obediently crouched down and took hold of his hand.
Our minds are one!
Honkai energy began to flow, gathering, shaping itself with effortless precision as if molded by invisible hands. In moments, a delicate little house materialized, floating just above Shiraha's palm. It was intricately detailed, and carved into its eaves were tiny characters: Jinjin Orphanage.
"You mean this kind of energy, Mister?"
Shiraha's voice was innocent. He lifted the tiny house a little higher for Ryoma to see.
Elysia leaned in even closer to his ear and whispered pointedly. "That's clearly an ossan."
Shiraha pretended not to hear.
Ryoma suppressed the shock surging through him. Such exquisite control over Honkai energy, this boy had the talent of a Siegfried Kaslana!
No. Forget Siegfried, Siegfried was trash. He didn't know him.
"Ahem." Ryoma cleared his throat, trying to sound casual. "Shiraha-kun, would you mind telling me where your parents are? There are some things I'd like to discuss with them."
Shiraha's expression stiffened. But just as quickly, it smoothed back to neutral.
"…I'm an orphan. I live at the orphanage nearby. But everyone there is really nice, even though a lot of them are really sick. Some can't even get out of bed."
Shiraha's voice softened, but he still poured out the details about the orphanage in a steady stream. His tone carried a hint of reminiscence, like a child simply following a thread of conversation where it led.
Elysia watched from the side and thought to herself: Sure, to an adult, this might come across as a bit of rambling. But he's six. A six-year-old can say anything, and it just sounds natural.
Shiraha… you're terrifying.
"Would you mind taking me there? I'd like to have a word with whoever's in charge."
Ryoma Raiden added, almost as an afterthought, "I'm fairly well-off. Perhaps I could be of some help."
An orphan? Even better!
Ahem. Ryoma reined in his emotions. His gaze flickered to the tiny house still floating intact above Shiraha's palm.
This level of Honkai manipulation. At this age. And an orphan to boot. The Raiden family is going to raise a legend!
"Really?!"
Shiraha dropped Mei from his priorities without a shred of hesitation. New target acquired. New mode engaged. He enthusiastically grabbed Ryoma, the nice "big brother" by the hand and started tugging him toward the orphanage.
He made it two steps before remembering something. He glanced back over his shoulder. "Mei! I'm heading off now!"
Mei's mouth opened, but before she could form a single word, Shiraha was already dragging her father off into the distance.
She stood there alone, watching the retreating figures, one tall, one small and suddenly found the afternoon sunlight unbearably bright.
On the way to the orphanage, Ryoma Raiden didn't waste any time.
Faced with an innocent, guileless, seemingly artless Shiraha… Ryoma felt a brief, fleeting pang of guilt. Then he proceeded to thoroughly extract every last detail of the boy's past.
Clean background. No known parents. Taken in six years ago, with complete documentation. And already in the habit of studying and reading on his own at the orphanage.
Perfect. Almost too perfect.
Like something out of a dream.
But Shiraha's age kept any real suspicion at bay. Six was simply too young. A child that age couldn't possibly be scheming anything.
When they reached the orphanage, the weathered, rusty gate did nothing to dampen Ryoma's mood. He was a seasoned businessman, after all.
"Director! Director!"
The moment they stepped inside, Shiraha started calling out loudly.
What a warm, lively atmosphere, Ryoma thought. The pleasant thought had barely finished forming when a roar erupted from within the building.
"Shiraha! You snuck out again?!"
Shiraha reflexively ducked his head, but his feet kept moving. He scurried over to the director, who had emerged at the commotion.
"I brought a sponsor for the orphanage!"
He puffed out his chest with pride. Beside him, Elysia mimicked his voice under her breath: "I brought a sponsor for the orphanage~"
Well, you did bring one. But Shiraha… why did you have to be a reincarnated old man? If only you were a pure, innocent little flower…
"Director, please don't be too hard on the boy just yet."
Ryoma stepped forward smoothly, his smile polished and appropriate. "Shiraha here has actually done me a great service."
His gaze lingered on Shiraha a moment longer than necessary. The more he looked, the more pleased he became.
Six years old. Three years younger than Mei.
Honkai energy manipulation, innocent, well-behaved, not one of those insufferable brats. If only he were my own son.
"And you are…?"
The director studied him with open curiosity.
"Allow me to introduce myself, Ryoma Raiden, President of Massive Electric Corporation."
The director's expression shifted.
What followed was a conversation strictly between adults.
Ryoma Raiden conducted himself with the polished ease of a seasoned businessman articulate, measured, never applying undue pressure, yet quietly radiating sincerity in every carefully chosen phrase.
He even offered, unprompted, to utilize the newly completed research institute's medical equipment to assist with the critically ill children at the orphanage.
Shiraha stood quietly off to the side, exchanging a glance with Elysia. His face settled into a subtle OK expression. Elysia smiled back.
Sure, Shiraha isn't some untouched, pure white blossom. But a kid who can solve problems on his own is wonderful in his own way too!
A self-sufficient but still unpolished little kid is the absolute best!