Olympia Soiree Catharsis - Animate SS

“What!? You want me to draw the plans for a hot spring!? No way, no way. That's just impossible, seriously impossible. Sure, I like thinking things through and drawing up plans, but I've never actually studied architecture properly. Big buildings are out of the question. Even that bridge only worked because the original reference materials were already so well made!”

“Easy now, Kaina. No one's expecting you to build something on the scale of Shikinjou (Yosuga's bathhouse) right from the start. How about beginning with something simple, like a small gazebo for resting?”

“Well, I mean…”

We had all summoned him here, and Kaina entered the guest room with his face completely tense. As usual, he blurted out his habitual line, “Am I finally getting executed this time?” But the moment we brought up the idea of building hot spring facilities on Kagura Island, he was left speechless.

“Come on, calm down and have some tea. I don't think this is bad news,” Kuroba said gently, offering him a teacup.

It seemed the two of them had been talking frequently lately, especially about the matter of being an aide to “Yellow,” and there was an almost comrade like atmosphere between them. Even so, this proposal clearly made Kaina hesitate.

“That's right, Kaina. We're not saying you have to do this all by yourself. Your anxiety is completely understandable. I know it would make sense to rely on the island's professional architects. But there are circumstances that make us want to keep this as confidential as possible.”

“Akaza, I have a matter I need to discuss with you privately.”

About a week ago, Rikuu, Tokisada, and Yosuga all came together to Kotowari. I had always thought she was the only one who would ever say, “I need to consult you about something important,” so I was quietly taken aback.

“Explaining the full background would take too long, so I'll get straight to the point. How would you feel about building a spa on Kagura Island?”

She was prone to making some pretty reckless proposals, but showing up out of nowhere and saying “why don’t we build one?” was reckless even by her standards. Still, it was obvious she was serious, and once she explained things, her reasons were convincing enough.

“First of all, is it even okay for someone like me to set foot on Kagura Island? I mean, it’s not that I hold a grudge against Natanael or anything, but it doesn’t feel like a place unrelated people can just casually walk into.”

“It’s fine. There’s no cursed presence there anymore.”

Himuka said this with a bright smile, and Kaina fell silent. We hadn’t told him about Hiruko-sama, but he might have sensed that he was no ordinary being.

“Yeah, yeah. I was surprised too, but there’s a peach tree growing there. It even bore fruit, so you can eat it over there as well.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll bring more Ikimizu water and spread it around again.”

She meant what she said. Squeezing trips to the island in between deliveries and visits to the Pearl House, she kept at it diligently, and the small sprouts quickly spread their branches.

“Kaina.”

I stepped forward.

“Like everyone’s said, we want to move forward with this in absolute secrecy. Forget about titles like ‘chief,’ ‘director of Kotowari,’ or anything to do with the military. I’m asking you as a friend. Will you try it?”

“So you want me to invest money to develop that creepy island? Could you maybe take a break from saying stupid things?”

Kanan’s reaction was exactly what I expected. Even so, I was certain that in the end, she would help us. That was why I had come alone to visit Ebisurou.

“It’ll be a very long term project, but I can guarantee it will turn a profit eventually. That said, there are still many people who are suspicious of that island, so suddenly developing public facilities would be difficult to push this through the approval process as an official proposal.”

“In that case, why not have Lord Akaza, as the head of Red, cover the entire cost? Red is the wealthiest of the Primary Colors, and for its leader, this would be nothing more than pocket change.”

“I won’t use Red’s funds for something that stems from my personal decisions. As far as this matter is concerned, everything will come out of my own assets. Rikuu and the others feel the same.”

“I’m a poor leader who’s only just returned from exile, you know.”

“I heard you made an enormous profit from the wedding newspapers.”

“Hey, those newspapers were seriously insane in terms of sales! All the kids were thrilled, and they kept saying it’d be great if there were weddings every day. Well… I mean, it’s not like it has to be you or anything.”

Hairi was generally a tight lipped boy, but for him to say something like that, the profits must really have been extraordinary. After all, Yosuga even laughed and said it felt like everyone on the island had bought one.

“While I was in exile, the court nobles were handling finances they weren’t used to, so Orange’s assets have dwindled as well. We need to make up for that.”

“Kanan, let me ask you this instead.”

“What is it?”

“You don’t want to relax at that spa and spend time talking with her? If you’re willing to get involved, I’ll grant you unrestricted access from the early stages.”

“That’s incredibly low, Lord Akaza.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. I look forward to your favorable reply.”

“…Akaza, there’s something I want to ask you.”

That afternoon, after securing Kanan’s cooperation, she entered the director’s office with a gloomy expression. At least for now, there was no sign of any incident on the island. Which meant—

“Today… Rikuu, Tokisada, and Himuka have all been acting strangely distant. Around lunchtime the three of them were in the plaza, so I called out to them. Then they suddenly panicked and tried to hide something and on top of that, Hairi won’t even talk to me…”

I figured as much. Among my friends, those three in particular are terrible liars, and when it involves her, they can’t hide anything at all. But this time, that was exactly the problem.

“Could it be… that I’m still not good enough as the head of White? I mean, I know I’m inexperienced. I understand that, and I know it’s something I need to work on. But… did I end up causing Rikuu and the others trouble somehow?”

“I’m sorry. They never meant to hurt you. Please forgive them.”

“So that means Akaza knows too, then?”

“To be honest, we’re plotting something small. As a way to thank you.”

“A thank you? Did I do something?”

“You’ve been making sweets for us a lot lately, haven’t you?”

“…Oh!”

Her face immediately brightened. That really was the trigger, so I wasn’t lying.

“They came to me saying it felt wrong to just keep accepting them, and asked if there wasn’t some good way to return the favor.”

“You really don’t need to worry about that at all. For me, it’s more like studying, or practice… Every time Shizuku teaches me a little trick, it makes me want to try making things myself.”

“I get it. I like experimenting with recipes too. Anyway, that’s the reason, so you’re not at fault in the slightest. And since they seem to want to think things through properly, could you pretend you didn’t hear any of this?”

“But really, you don’t need to do anything in return.”

“Everyone cares about you a lot. They just want to do something for you.”

She blushed faintly and adjusted her hat. My chest ached with guilt, but the plan absolutely could not be discovered.

“Alright, but… make sure you tell everyone too, okay? That I’m doing this because I like it.”

“I’ll let them know.”

“Alright then, I’m heading out for deliveries again. Do your best with work too, Akaza.”

“…By the way, has Hairi returned to the office?”

“Yes, just a little while ago. He’s on internal duty this afternoon, handling sorting, so he should be here the whole time.”

“Thank you very much. In that case, take care.”

“Hairi. If you’re going to inherit Yosuga’s position, you’d better get better at lying.”

“Huh!?”

A shaken voice echoed through the quiet post office in the early afternoon.

“What the hell, that came out of nowhere! Don’t scare me!”

“She came by just now, looking lonely. She said you wouldn’t talk to her.”

“Wha!? No, I mean, that’s just…!”

“I understand being conscious of the Kagura Island plan, but this is going to take a long time. If you act like this from the start, she’s going to call you out on it someday. She has an oddly sharp intuition.”

“I know! It’s just… when I see her stupidly innocent smile, I can’t help it, you know… like, how do I even say this…”

As Kanan’s disciple, he’s normally quick witted. But when it comes to her, emotions appropriate for his age seem to spill over, and even around me he’s acting suspiciously flustered.

“But seriously, is it really okay for someone like me to be involved? I’m not a leader or anything. I’m just… a clerk.”

Back when he was scraping by selling broadsheets and street fortunes, he’d still looked like a kid. During his time “training” on a remote island, he’d suddenly shot up in height, and when he returned, even we were surprised.

“Anyone who genuinely cares about her is welcome.”

Hairi let out an exaggerated sigh on purpose and knit his brows theatrically.

“That kind of sarcasm sounds just like Yosuga. Guess you really are friends.”

“It isn’t sarcasm. It’s simply the truth. She is loved by many.”

“Yeah, that exactly! Yosuga said the same thing word for word. What, is that the trendy line now, or are you just showing off?”

“You know very well how loved she is.”

He pressed his lips together in a sulk and began stacking the piled up letters onto the shelf.

“Conversation over, right? Get lost. I’m busy with work.”

“This isn’t sarcasm, a jab, or bragging, but I like her because she’s loved by so many people. No… let me put it a little differently. Anyone who meets her ends up liking her.”

“…I know.”

“That’s why I spoke to you.”

There are many kinds of affection. The kind for family. The kind for friends. And the kind that comes with desire. At sixteen, it wouldn’t be strange to love someone.

“I appreciate you telling me. If you’d gone behind my back, I would’ve kicked Yosuga for it. Kaina’s already getting carried away drawing up blueprints, and well… I guess that makes me her ‘most trusted subordinate.’”

I couldn’t help thinking that this was exactly the sort of thing that made Yosuga fond of him. Being competitive isn’t a bad trait. It makes you want to root for someone.

“But still, I’ve gotta ask, just to be sure… is that island really okay? I only watched what happened at the Mogari Shrine from the outside, but an island suddenly appearing like that isn’t normal. It’s not gonna collapse if we go there, right?”

“It’s only natural to be uneasy. But we’ve already carried out thorough geological surveys. There’s no toxic air, and above all… this might sound irresponsible to say, but she’s been going there herself.”

“So I’ve heard. She even told me, ‘There are delicious peaches growing, so come eat some too, Hairi.’”

"That's how it is. Ah, I also need to tell you this. Actually, the origin of the plan was ‘let each person make use of what they’re good at.’" "Hey!? Don’t tell me you forgot something that important!"

"You’re a minor, so you don’t need to push yourself. But if anything happens—"

"...Anything?"

"Anything. I’ll report again when there’s any progress."

"Alright, is everyone here? We’ll now begin the ‘What is a Spa Study Session!’"

A few days later, we gathered in the guest room of Shikinjou. "Nice to meet you, Camelia. Even though you brought this up, I’m completely clueless about this kind of thing. Especially if it’s a culture from across the sea."

"Leave it to me, Riku-sama! For this day, I’ve carefully selected materials from my collection that could serve as references."

"Thank you, Camelia. I also intend to have knowledge of ‘spas’ due to my position, but it’s better to have a lot of opinions."

"Exactly. Ever since I heard about the plan, I’ve been looking forward to it. So, first, let’s decide everyone’s responsibilities. Um… according to the proposal from Akaza-sama, Kuroba-sensei will handle medical supplies, including first aid."

"Ah, since it’s still a practically empty island, I want a simple infirmary—nothing too elaborate, just a small room where people can be isolated if they get injured or suddenly have a fever. I’ll prepare the tools myself."

"Then, Tokisada-sama will handle all the fabrics."

"Yes, as expected for [Green], I thought it would be things like that. Curtains, bedding, and anything else that might be needed—just tell me."

"Yosuga-sama will handle all cosmetics. Well, you probably already know what Olympia-sama personally uses."

"But, I will take pride in mixing something exclusively for the spa."

"Indeed, something different from usual would feel fresh and be appreciated! And, Himuka-sama, you’ll be in charge of miscellaneous goods, right?"

"Yes, I like making various small things, so I thought about nice lamps or little decorations."

"That sounds great! Small props that lift the mood are important. So… Akaza-sama and Riku-sama’s roles are still blank…"

"Ah, regarding that, I want to ask everyone’s opinions. As you know, [Blue] focuses on managing Soukago as its main source of income, overseeing cultural capital like education and physical sciences rather than industry. However… Soukago surely has no connection to this thing called a ‘spa,’ right…?"

"As [Red], I of course intend to provide support like fuel and mining. But for a project of this scale, we need progress management. I think Riku and I should take on that role."

"Then I’ll rely on you. Akaza will handle things properly, and Riku can deftly cover up if something goes wrong."

Yosuga poured tea for everyone, smiling meaningfully.

"Don’t say such ominous things. There shouldn’t be any elements leading to incidents this time."

"Speaking of incidents… do you think Aogumo intends to keep helping out indefinitely?"

After sipping tea quietly, Himuka muttered softly.

"At least, the military has fully discharged him. He hasn’t returned to [Blue-green] either, and we’ve been informed he rented a cheap room near the harbor."

"That area is on land, but [Mixed Color] and Yomi people come and go, so he won’t be bothered. Yosuga, since it’s you, haven’t you picked up any information?"

"Hmm… I tried to look into it a bit, but he doesn’t seem to socialize at all. There’s no threat to Hairi or Shizuku. If anything, Hairi seems to be the one worried."

"Hehe, that’s just like Hairi. But I see… we still can’t take in Aogumo’s words directly."

At Himuka’s cabin, there had been an incident where Kanan accidentally misfired while tending to something, and Aogumo happened to be there, using his sword. Covering it up was tricky, but that was because Himuka, she, and we trusted Aogumo.

"I wonder if Aogumo will come once the spa is completed."

"Are you serious, Himuka?"

Asked by Kuroba, Himuka gently squinted his eyes.

"I’m serious, genuinely. I wish for Aogumo’s happiness, you see."

Whether this was as ‘Hiruko’ or not, or perhaps Himuka himself simply believed in Aogumo’s future above all else.

"We’ll observe Aogumo a bit more… Tokisada, have you spoken to Baraku yet?"

"Of course. He made a fed-up face, but he's asking, ‘When does this start?’ so he did care."

"Hahaha, Baraku has really mellowed. It seems he's become good friends with Tokisada, which makes me happy. I just hope he can warm up to Akaza and me soon as well."

Then, Camelia, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke with a serious expression.

"Um… I have a favor to ask, if I may."

I never expected Camelia to use ‘if I may’ here.

"I understand well that the spa is meant to please Olympia-sama. But in a corner, could you place maybe one cushion where Juliet and Mukurogi can relax?"

"I see… right, that’s true…"

Tokisada nodded seriously.

"Could it be… those two aren’t getting along well?"

"Well, please listen, Riku-sama! Daifuku and Paris, along with me, Tokisada-sama, Yosuga-sama, and Olympia-sama, have been subtly pushing them. They’ve been on dates, and since they were love at first sight, we said, ‘Just become a couple already!’ But both are terribly shy, you see? They won’t move beyond that."

"I-is that so… what a troublesome matter. I want to persuade them too, but… they won’t even exchange words."

"That’s true for Olympia-sama and the others too, but they understand the situation. So not only Riku-sama, but everyone, please help."

"Camelia, then I’ll handle it. I’ll make sure Paris and the others enjoy it as well."

"Thank you, Tokisada-sama! Now let’s move on to the detailed planning. I hope you’ll like this one in particular—it’s something I think everyone will love!"

"I definitely want to know."

Everyone leaned forward, eager.

"The Great Bubble Strategy."

"…Bubbles? Like with soap water?"

"Oh, Riku-sama, have you blown them before? Yes, those bubbles. We’ll make lots of them, like this."

"This is…!"

Our eyes were fixed on the cutouts Camelia spread out.

"Beautiful, right? Cute, right? It feels very princess-like, and I think it’s wonderful!"

Indeed, they were bubbles. A woman soaked in a bathtub outdoors, surrounded by countless sparkling bubbles.

"So cute… I see, this is how humans use bubbles."

"I see, this will certainly make them happy. Soap water hardly ever fails."

Following Himuka, Kuroba also agreed. I secretly admired it in my heart—so this was an approach I hadn’t thought of.

"Just to confirm, who will blow the bubbles beside her? Shall we make a lottery before any blood is shed?"

Silence fell. I was thinking of how to prevent an argument when Camelia spoke up with a beaming smile.

"Everyone, everyone. Bubbles disappear quickly, so keeping them afloat requires many hands. Everyone will keep blowing endlessly."

I’m sure everyone, including myself, had imagined it—standing close to her, maybe draping an arm over her shoulder while blowing bubbles. But that image completely changed.

"Also, Yosuga-sama, I’ll warn you in advance: no sneaky skin polishing or anything like that. I’ll handle those kinds of things."

As expected from a doll made by Tsukuyomi, he knew his role. This was fair, and no one could complain.

"Having such competent employees makes me proud. Alright then, everyone, bubbles it is?"

We all nodded in unison.

"Next… what about meals and drinks? I heard there’s hot spring water, but what about tap water?"

"There’s spring water, so we’ll take water from there. Large-scale installations will come later, but for now, we’ll set up a kitchen where cooking is possible. Boiled water might also be needed for first aid."

"Alright, we’ll leave those things to you. By the way, Kaina’s blueprints—are they going smoothly? He won’t tell me even if I ask."

"We’ve researched a lot from the materials in Kotowari and finalized the direction. We’ve also secured the resources, and once the blueprints are complete, we’ll begin full-scale work."

"That’s exciting! Olympia-sama will definitely be pleased, and I’ll do my best too!"

──Half a month later.

"This is Kagura Island… an island… it really is an island…"

Landing, Kaina stood there with a dazed expression, frozen in place. Next to him, Tokisada immediately began unloading the cargo.

"At first, we couldn’t believe it either. Who would have thought an island could appear in such a short time?"

"Right? When I first heard about it, I thought they were definitely joking."

"Kaina, the hot spring bubbles up on the west beach, so I thought the pavilion should be near there. The foundation is already finished, but I want you to check it just in case."

"...Hey, Akaza, I’ve been meaning to ask—are you sleeping properly?"

"I am, don’t worry."

"Kuroba and Riku are handling multiple tasks, and Yosuga is taking care of all sorts of things for Yomi, Tokisada and Himuka are handling Hokaze… that’s already busy enough."

"You’ve got a mountain of bridge work yourself. Sorry for dragging you into this."

"Compared to Kuroba-sensei, it’s nothing."

"Baraku, come to think of it, this is your first time here too, right? There’s not much yet except for a few peach trees. Want to take a walk around?"

"...No, I’m fine. I just need to transport the cargo, right?"

"Yeah, but don’t push yourself. We’ve got enough people today."

"I can handle this much on my own."

"I know you’re strong enough, but we’ll carry it together. This island is being built little by little by everyone."

At Tokisada’s words, Baraku flinched slightly—and a shy, embarrassed confusion crossed his face. The boy had resisted everything and cursed it all because of [Color System]. That’s why this new island must not be the same.

"An island without [Color System]… you guys really come up with the dumbest ideas. Can people even live here? There’s nothing but weeds."

"Weeds are fine. At first, there wasn’t even that. But green sprouts appeared. There’s water, good sunlight, and even a hot spring bubbled up. This place will surely become wonderful."

"...Still hopelessly optimistic."

Baraku shrugged in exasperation and carried a heavy wooden crate effortlessly as he walked off.

"Haha, shy little thing. Alright, let’s go too."

Yosuga carried bags in both hands. With that, we all set off for the beach, carrying a large amount of cargo.

"Eh! Akaza, you can even lay water pipes? Is there anything you can’t do in this world?"

"There are plenty of things I can’t do. I just had some interest before, so I studied a bit."

He didn’t go into details, but it was all for Tennyo Island. Since they had to improve the living environment themselves, it was more convenient to do it personally than to rely on someone else.

"It’s not as large-scale as for housing, just bringing water. We didn’t finish in time, but eventually, we’ll install a purification tank too."

"Don’t say it so casually. Also, the foundation looks amazing… who did this?"

"I did."

Himuka answered with a smile.

"Thanks for the compliment. I researched brick stacking when building the bread oven, and I’ve always liked hands-on work. Plus, I have the most free time among everyone here."

‘I think… they’re here on this island, but no matter how many times I call out, there’s no reply.’

A little while ago, he had confided this. There was probably a reason Himuka kept visiting. At the very least, we had no way to converse with the gods, and it must be frustrating. When this was the Morinomiya, he had heard Aki’s final words. Whether Kagutsuchi disappeared or fell asleep, if they remained in this sea, some response was desired. Even Susanoo would stir the waves like harassment.

‘I wonder if they fell asleep peacefully… if so, that’s not really a bad thing. Tsukuyomi says they don’t know either.’

"Hmm… perfectly stacked without gaps… amazing. If it’s made this well, success is almost guaranteed. Now we just have to assemble everything together."

"Kaina, then give instructions. Where do we start and how?"

"You’re eager, Riku. First, measure, cut, and drill the holes in the lumber with Tokisada. Then Kuroba and Yosuga will carry it and line it up here. I’ll check the slope in the meantime. Himuka and Baraku, can you handle the water bricks?"

"Leave it to us."

As everyone began working—

"Haha, everyone on the island would be surprised. The leaders all sweating and doing carpentry work."

"You too. No customer would expect the Lord of Yomi carrying lumber."

"No, but I actually like hammering nails, you know? I even made a letter box. I just don’t want to show that side of myself to just anyone."

"That’s true! The first thing that shocked me after starting work at Shikinjou was seeing Yosuga doing repairs!"

"If you’re going to be the master of a bathhouse, you can’t do the job if you can’t fix a chair or two."

As I watched Yosuga like that, I was reminded of what he had been like as a child.

The boy who came to learn how to compound medicinal seeds from Jigen seemed awkward with people, and at first we did little more than exchange greetings. Gradually we grew closer, and right after we talked about how we would someday both become leaders and strive together, that tragic disaster of Purple struck.

“I’ll also make a proper report to the director of Kotowari. I’ve decided to leave Purple to Shoushuu. With Nuki’s situation and everything, I doubt I’ll be able to keep an eye on the surface world properly, so I’m counting on you.”

I wanted to retort that someone as well informed about the surface as you could hardly be accused of neglect, but it was probably a sign of how much he trusted us. By the time we returned from the academy, that Shoushuu would surely have grown even more formidable. I was looking forward to the future.

"...Hey, isn’t Hairi coming?"

After lining up the heavy building materials, Baraku asked quietly, looking doubtful.

"He just couldn’t make time today. Of course, he knows about the plan. But he seems to be struggling to decide on a present for her."

Yosuga narrowed his eyes meaningfully.

"So Hairi’s been worrying about that. I suppose I am too… honestly, I feel inadequate for not being able to prepare something thoughtful like Tokisada and the others. Still, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. I’ll make up for it by focusing my efforts, together with Akaza, on managing this island as a whole."

"Isn’t that just troubled adolescence? He wants to show his good side to the boss he respects."

Ever since he was spoken to, he’d clearly been worrying about it. For Hairi, this was the perfect justification to give her a gift, so of course he wanted to find something she would truly like.

"By the way, Akaza. I’ve been wondering… what about Nagisa?"

When Tokisada asked, Kuroba and I exchanged silent looks. "Ah, but I don’t mean forcing anything…"

"As a status update, we haven’t told him. It’s not because of Kuroba. It’s just his personality. Do you really think he could stay quiet until it’s finished?"

Everyone present averted their gaze. Only Baraku, who barely interacted with Nagisa, silently began pulling weeds. "Just in case, I’ve given him progress reports too. As usual, he only throws out snide remarks, but it seems he’s resolved himself to becoming the leader of Yellow-Green. I received a discreet report from Murakusa-dono."

"Really? That’s great!"

Tokisada’s ability to be genuinely happy for others made me think how kind he truly was. After all, he was the sort of person who still said he wanted to become friends with Kanan. Precisely because Green was led by Tokisada, it was the first to reach a time of change. More people had begun to understand Nishiki and the baby, and that understanding was steadily spreading to the other Colors as well.

That would surely connect to the future of Kagura Island too.

"It’s not that I say this because I hate Nagisa. But he’d definitely blab to Olympia, wouldn’t he? That’s why I plan to invite him once it’s completed."

"That sounds fine. You could also give him a reason to invest. I hear Kanan put up quite a sum too, right? Isn’t that so, Akaza?"

Everyone’s eyes turned to me.

"That part was his calculation as well. He asked that once the spa reaches the stage of being open to the public, we let him announce it loudly in the gazette."

"As expected of my little brother! Always sharp!"

"But it makes me happy too, seeing everyone get along. The catalyst was… that mausoleum, after all."

Himuka glanced toward the peach tree rustling softly a little way off. And everyone, in the same way, let their thoughts drift—to our ‘friends’ beyond the sea.

"Back then, Kaina and the others coming to help really saved us. Everyone was at death’s door, and it was impossible for just me, her, and Himuka to carry everyone."

At Kuroba’s wry smile, Kaina returned one of his own. "Now that I think about it, even though I was living at Shikinjou, I barely ever spoke to Tsukuyomi, right? When she spoke to me, I panicked."

"Tsukuyomi isn’t very honest. But she trusted her… trusted us. That’s why we’re standing on this island now."

At Himuka’s smile, everyone looked out over the island. Yes, we’d reached a point where we could all share memories like this. Time flowed by in the blink of an eye.

"Has there been another letter from Aki-dono since then? On that cute stationery?"

"Not since I sent my reply. But as far as I know, her exchanges with the girl who seems to own that stationery weren’t that frequent to begin with. Every few months, half a year… knowing she’s doing well is more than enough."

"...About that though. I still can’t accept it."

That Baraku spoke up was, in a way, inevitable. We had avoided telling Aogumo and Baraku everything. When they awoke, they had no memories, not even of why they were there.

“I am… the guardian of the Color Layers.”

Aogumo’s words were unforgettable.

So too was the pained look on Baraku’s face.

“They put my blood into their bodies. Both of them cursed this island.”

Baraku always gave a bitter smile and said the Color Layers could never be changed. But we knew better. He wanted to change them too. He wanted things to change.

"Isn’t it enough already? Everyone survived. Try putting yourself in my shoes—"

"By the time we caught up, everyone was already collapsed, you know." "Well… I’ve heard that several times."

We all agreed not to mention the fact that we had been attacked. It was difficult to explain, given that we had wounded others, but we were all battered and bruised ourselves, so we forced our way through with a fib. Even if they asked for proof, there was nothing left to show. "Well, well, let’s not dwell on what’s past."

Yosuga patted Baraku on the shoulder, and Baraku grimaced. Someday, I should try to recruit him again—for a position at Kotowari.

"Now then, everyone, it’s finally time for the long-awaited assembly. The procedure is as explained. Let’s get started!" "Alright, let’s do it!"

Our voices echoed across the blue sky and the blue sea. Surely she would have wanted to join us too—but that could not be helped. Instead, we would pack it with as much love as possible.

"This… what’s going on? I heard it was just a small scheme as thanks for the sweets."

"It’s not exactly a ‘small scheme,’ is it?"

"This? No matter how you look at it, it’s not small."

Half a month later—we finally invited her to Kagura Island. For this day alone, everyone coordinated carefully and cleared the entire day. For the next month, we had no breaks, but the mail bureau was inside Kotowari, so seeing her face every day was happiness in itself.

"To put it roughly, we decided to make a facility like Shikinjou here. And you, of course, are our first honored guest."

"I heard about the hot spring being found… but I never imagined something so grand."

"We all wanted to surprise you."

"Of course I’m surprised—this is a huge success."

"We apologize for keeping it a secret. But please, look at that open-air bath."

"Eh? Ah…"

Her eyes lit up, and we were certain the plan had succeeded. Beyond the wooden pavilion we built was the beach, and the hot spring was bordered by stones.

"Of course we wanted to make you happy, but there’s another reason too. Everyone on Tenguu Island is still scared of this place, right? So we wanted to show it’s no longer a frightening place."

"...I see."

She seemed satisfied with Tokisada’s explanation. It wasn’t a lie—not entirely. At least from now on, she would consider the island’s residents.

"Please, come to the pavilion as well. We all built it together and decorated it together."

"Together?! I… I wanted to help too."

Her reaction as Himuka beckoned her in was exactly as expected, and we all stifled laughter.

"Well… how wonderful…"

Inside, her eyes shone. There was a bed for skin care, a large sofa for relaxing, colorful flowers picked from all over Tenguu Island, lamps made of glass by Himuka, and to finish it off, Yosuga burned a sweet, refreshing scent he had specially blended for the day. Pure white fabric draped across the walls—it was, of course, a color that suited her.

"We also prepared food and drinks! How about trying the special cocktail we all planned first?"

"Thank you, Camelia. I’m excited to enjoy it with everyone. I’ll take it."

"Now, for changing clothes. Hairi, it’s your turn."

"...My turn?"

All eyes fell on Hairi, who had remained silent until Yosuga prompted her. From gathering at the port, boarding the ship, and arriving here, she had barely spoken—not out of rudeness, but shyness.

"Here."

Hairi handed over a large cloth bundle.

"What’s this?"

"Open it."

"For me?"

"Who else would it be for?"

Her resistance was typical—utterly not straightforward. But no one could outdo her father in being stubborn.

"This… is loungewear and indoor shoes?"

Although we had heard about it, seeing the actual items was a first for us. A milky white one-piece dress with Irohabana embroidery, the fabric looking soft to the touch.

"Not that it’s my taste! I just asked Asuha and Yosuga for advice, and this is what they decided!"

"Oh, I knew it! The delicate style made me think it was Asuha or Yosuga."

"...Right. So it wasn’t me choosing. Thank them."

It wasn’t a lie, but there were things not revealed. Hairi had thought hard about a gift and decided the clothing she would wear here would be perfect. He said he had nothing he's good at as a Colorless, so he made something to wear.

"Thank you, Hairi. It’s just my taste—I’ll treasure it." "...Uh-huh."

The boy who once sold gazettes, still with a childlike innocence, had become her most trusted subordinate. Whether that made him happy or unhappy, he’d probably just glare if you asked.

"Now, Olympia-sama, please change. We’ll prepare things while you do. Akaza and the others will step outside." "Alright, I’ll take your word for it."

The door closed, marking the start of the most important part of the day. Kuroba, experienced with alcohol, would make the cocktails; Camelia handled plating the food; everyone else—

"Sorry to keep you waiting. How’s this? Does it suit me…?"

Her shy, smiling face was adorable. If it were only me, I’d want to hug her here, kiss her, and tint her pearly hair red.

"Please, the beach. How about some drinks while soaking your feet?"

"Akaza, what are you holding?"

"Rest assured, it’s not poison."

"Still plotting something, aren’t you?"

"You’ll find out soon. Look forward to it."

"Miss, here’s your cocktail."

"Kuroba, that…"

"Beautiful, isn’t it? Akaza found the recipe among some washed-up scraps, and researched and practiced it."

"Amazing… a rainbow cocktail? How does it work?"

"The alcohol and syrup have different densities, right? We use that to pour so they don’t mix."

Inside the slender glass, a rainbow. Technically there’s white and black mixed in too—our colors. A beautiful drink worthy of being offered to her.

"It’s so pretty… I don’t want to drink it."

"Good you’re old enough to drink. But since it has many kinds of liquor, it’s fairly strong. Drink slowly with water. Camelia prepared a variety of food too."

"Yay! Snacks are here too—shrimp fresh spring rolls, steamed vegetables… Peanut sauce, fried scallop dumplings, steamed chicken with sake, oyster omelet, a salad with Tokeisou seeds sauce, and there’s fruit for dessert too."

"Wonderful! Everything looks delicious… but…"

She shrugged apologetically. "I really appreciate everyone’s thoughtfulness, but… isn’t this a bit too extravagant just for me? It all started as thanks for cookies, right?"

"That’s fine. We did it because we wanted to."

Hairi answered promptly while helping Camelia. "Exactly. Your feedback will be reflected going forward. And besides, this is a belated birthday celebration from all of us, plus encouragement for the White Leader."

"...I’m happy, but if it's for leaders, Akaza and the others are also…"

"I’m sure Kagutsuchi would want to thank you too."

Himuka’s expression and voice were gentle as he spoke. We could only imagine what the god who had left the island was thinking. At the very least, Aki seemed satisfied. So perhaps Kagutsuchi—wishing that was allowed.

"You’ve fulfilled the role of White. But really, it’s your kindness, brilliance, and strength that I see. Didn’t I say even gods want friends? Your soul’s radiance reached Kagutsuchi."

Listening to Himuka’s gentle voice, I thought, “He really is Hiruko-sama.” I have no interest in divine history, but I’d heard Himuka is the eldest brother. Even the way he speaks to Tsukiyomi carries that presence.

"So, enjoy today."

With Himuka smiling, she could only accept. For us, the important thing was that she was happy. "...Alright. Then I’ll enjoy it fully…"

"Olympia! Such a lovely outfit again today!"

"Here they come," Yosuga muttered quietly.

"Oh, Nagisa! And Kanan!" "It’s an honor to be invited to a feast on Kagura Island. I was a bit busy and am late…" "I had to drag them here. They complained they didn’t want to come to a creepy island, but they also wanted to!" "Kanan!" "These two are as usual."

Kuroba muttered under his breath. "Is this Nagisa’s first time on the island? But it’ll be fine. I’ve visited many times, and nothing scary has happened." "That’s good." "You’ve arrived at the perfect spot. Now, take this." "Akaza? What’s this…? Judging from the smell, soap water? And a wire ring? Could it be…"

Handing the bottles to the suspicious Kanan and Nagisa, he gestured toward Tokisada and the others. "Olympia, now enjoy your cocktail while soaking your feet."

"Akaza, why does everyone have bottles and wire?" "You’ll see soon. No danger. Come on."

I understood if I were her, I’d be suspicious, but I still wanted to surprise her. "…Alright…"

She dipped her feet into the sea—and the next moment: "Olympia! A bit late, but happy birthday! Take this!"

Yosuga was first to wave his wire, and bubbles floated into the sky. "Eh…!" "Do your best, White Leader!"

Kuroba waved a small net. We had studied how to make as many beautiful bubbles as possible and devised many methods. Really, no one could see us like this.

"Bubbles…? Amazing… so beautiful…" "Big sister! It’s been a while since I called you that! Happy birthday! I’ll always support you!"

It was more beautiful than imagined. Countless bubbles, big and small, reflected the sunlight and floated toward the sea. At the center was the one we all loved.

"Olympia, as the letter bureau chief, as Pearl Academy instructor, and as White Leader, you’ll have worries—but we’ll always be here to help! We’re on your side!" "Bureau chief! I’ll always be your number one subordinate! Don’t forget that!"

Rainbow-colored bubbles popped against her pearl hair. We silently thanked Camelia again—it suited her perfectly.

"Why… bubbles…? Well, anyway, please accept mine too, Olympia. This is also a pre-celebration for becoming the Green Leader." "Oh, congratulations. We’ll meet at Ishana-ten then." "Of course. We won’t let Akaza and the others run wild."

I exchanged glances with Kuroba and nodded. Nagisa is fine as he is. Scolding those who disagree won’t solve anything.

"Olympia, I’ll always remain your opponent too. This role is necessary, right?" "You haven’t changed, Kanan. But you do seem a little kinder than before." "...That’s your imagination."

"Olympia-sama! The bubbles are so beautiful! Please stay friends forever!" "Of course, Camelia."

Watching them hold hands made us smile. Camelia was a doll made by Tsukiyomi, and ‘Olympia’ was also a doll’s name. But their sparkling smiles—how could one ignore them?

"Baraku, you came too. Thank you."

Baraku, who had silently been making bubbles, turned. "...I came for the money. But well… I’m rooting for you." "Hehe, you’re working hard."

Everyone was joyful. Amid it all, memories of that day’s tears surfaced. ‘Akaza, today only… I am not your friend.’

It was a promise just between the two of us. But now, we have so many companions.

"Akaza, I made a reckless suggestion, but you pulled it off."

Riku whispered in my ear, shaking the bubble net. "I just recalled the past… when you cut ties with me."

Riku held his breath slightly and gazed at the sea. "At the Morinomiya… I thought I’d surely die. I had to apologize again… and I didn’t want to leave alone. Seeing others with different Colors and ideals laughing together… perhaps I’d been waiting for a day like this."

"Me too."

I laughed back and stepped toward her. "You too, want to try making bubbles, right?" "You saw right through me?"

She took a sip of her cocktail, then swung the wire with a big wave.

"Everyone, thank you again! Let’s have many more fun times together!"

Rainbow light spilled in arcs. This place had truly become a blessed one.

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