Epilogue 1-The Long Lost Friend

One Year and a Month Since Entering

Michiko stood before Mitsuha's General Store, looking at the wrought iron insignia that hung as a store sign letting visitors know they had arrived to one of the most unique stores in the Capital City. She smiled with mirth at one of the anecdotes Mitsuha had shared in that she had forgotten to even put up such a sign for the first four months of operating*. How do you forget something as basic as a store sign... Michiko thought amusedly. No wonder you had so much trouble attracting customers early on. Maybe you should have taken Marketing classes with me in college... you could have sat in without enrolling... She unlocked the store, disarmed the alarms and stepped inside. She still needed a cane to walk any significant distance, though it was improving slowly in the past few weeks.

*see Manga Chps22,25 /LN Chp10,12 /Anime Epi8,9

So much had changed... and yet, so much still stayed the same. Viscountess... it still sounded strange to hear that in front of her own name. The next few days had been a blur. She had near non-stop meetings with royal ministers of land management, being introduced to the other members of the Privy Council, along with one-on-ones with Chancellor Saar, who she would technically be reporting to.

In addition, with the return to normalcy, ballroom season had started back up early to make up for lost time and celebrate the return to new beginnings. As a newly-appointed noble, she was now expected to attend these nightly parties. No wonder Mitsuha said she found these such a pain... She quickly realized these parties weren't for fun; networking was expected, opportunities and political machinations took place, and deals were made. Even though she hadn't actually been assigned any land yet, a lot of nobles, many whom she had never met, came up to her, ostensively trying to make friends and offer advice. Yeah right... I might be a new noble, but I'm not newborn. She was now one of the few people out there who would soon have regular conversations with the King and his court, which made their motivations all the more transparent.

Despite this, she made a silent vow that she wasn't going to be offering any significant changes to the status quo, at least until she had a chance to read and review this country's laws, history and customs. Making suggestions for major reforms without this knowledge would have been irresponsible at best, and arrogant at worst. The most she did during this time was visit Platidus at the college to give them an update on metal working, but that was a matter of science, not policy.

Closing the door behind her, Michiko went in the store to put some personal effects away. She was still living with the Bozes family, but had stopped here to take care of the store, even though it remained closed. She explained to the Count that she didn't want to see this place fall to neglect, which was mostly true. What she didn't say to him was she knew this place had quite a bit of technology that needed occasional upkeep. No one else in this city would know how to run a laptop or maintain the propane generators, so she wanted to make sure they stayed in good condition for as long as she was able.

Just then, Michiko heard a loud thump coming from the upper floors. A burglar... who would dare break into the Lightning ArchPriestess' place? She grabbed a dagger and slowly crept upstairs to the second floor still struggling with her knee. This was where the store inventory was stored. Glancing at the windows, the bars were still in place, but there was no one to be seen. Third floor maybe... that was Mitsuha's personal quarters. The windows were kept shuttered up here; Mitsuha prioritized security over aesthetics, and that floor had her most private stuff and technology.

At the top of the stairs, the room was dark. No one had been staying here for a long time as she moved into Count Bozes mansion the night of Baron Turck's party nearly a year ago. As Michiko's eyes adjusted to the dark, she nearly dropped dead of shock once the silhouette became clear.

"M...Mitsuha..." Michiko whispered. There were volumes of things she had wanted to say, ranging from joy, to anger, to tears, to every other emotion spanning in-between, had this moment ever happened. She had literally rehearsed every single one in her head this past year more than once. Now that it was actually happening, every one of them went completely blank.

Mitsuha trembled, clutching her abdomen, with tears in her eyes, shaking her head. Her friend was barely recognizable. It wasn't just her face or longer hair on the outside, but the eyes... you could always tell when someone had seen so much... It changed you in a way that you could never go back. "I... I..." She collapsed to her knees. "I'm so sorry...!" She shook her head and continued to cry. "I never meant for this to happen to you...!"

Michiko also began to well up in tears. She couldn't imagine what Mitsuha must have gone through that would have prevented her from returning; the fact that she still hadn't fully healed suggested that whatever wounded her must have been grievous for it to take that long*. She slowly came up to Mitsuha on the ground and dropped to her level and gave her a hug. "A wise woman once told me something simple... Que Sera Sera... don't sweat the small stuff..."

* see The Long Kiss Goodnight

Mitsuha looked at her with a dumbfounded expression. When I said that*, I was talking about actual small stuff, not...

* see Manga Chp92 / LN Chp30

Michiko broke the tension. "OK, this isn't so small... but maybe what we can take from this... even someone as powerful as the Lightning ArchPriestess... isn't immune to Fate... or Time... We can't undo what's been done. All we can do is take the lessons we learn, move forward... and do the best we can..."

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Michiko poured tea into a pair of cups as she and Mitsuha sat in the dining room adjacent to the kitchen on the first floor. Mitsuha was momentarily taken aback when Michiko spoke in the Zegleus language. Were it not for the odd accent from time to time, Mitsuha almost considered the possibility that the Cat-God had paid her a visit. Did she actually pick up the local language solely through immersion, she wondered with amazement. In fact, Michiko had barely spoken Japanese for nearly a year, despite spending her days reading and translating textbooks for the Kingdom.

The two girls had spent over an hour, catching each other up on what had happened in the past year, with Michiko doing most of the talking. Mitsuha listened with mixed feelings at the ordeal Michiko and the Kingdom had endured in her absence, admiration at her friend's accomplishments despite the lack of powers, and regret over all the pain and suffering she had endured to defend the Kingdom. That was supposed to be my job, she dismayed. She had to stand up because I wasn't there to stop those... disloyal fools. Worst of all, my own province... my responsibility... my citizens had no doubt suffered in my absence...

"... and fortunately, your leadership seemed to keep things going, so you should be good there," Michiko concluded. "Though I'd be careful about letting Colette hug you when you see her..." she added, wincing from the memory of the little girl's near-lethal hugs.

"Believe me, I remember..." Mitsuha nodded, with a slight smile beginning to form. OK, so maybe it won't be so bad... I'll have to check in with the King and other nobles to see what the mood is... but whatever happens... she then looked back to Michiko, "Thank you... for everything... Viscountess Nakamura."

Michiko blushed. "Th-that still sounds so weird to hear... I haven't even been assigned a province yet. The Royal minister say they're still sorting things out, with all the deposed nobles being dealt with. To be honest... now that you're here, my usefulness is kind of..."

Mitsuha cut her off sternly. "You helped saved the Kingdom. My return doesn't change that. The King himself put you on the Privy Council, and from what you've said, he's going to want you around, even once I reestablish myself. That said... whatever... wherever you decide you want your future to go, is entirely up to you."

"I... I wouldn't even know what I would say to my parents... or if I even have a life left in Japan," Michiko said wistfully. "I know I owe my parents some kind of explanation but... I mean... they must be beside themselves. College is... well... I'd have to reapply... and I'm not even sure I have a place there."

Mitsuha straightened herself up. "Well... when you're ready... the gate is open for you... I have to go and make right everything that broke while I was away... and see if... even I still have a place here... after all this time..."

"Well, regardless of what anyone else says... just remember... what we said to each other... all those years ago..." Michiko said, offering her pinkie, "whatever happens... we'll always have each other... no matter what...."

Mitsuha reciprocated, joining her pinkie, "... no matter what... that's a promise."