{\pos(1827.7,553.8)\fs36\bord2\3c&HB8C0BD&\frz7.036\frx16\fry338}Masaki

Tsukiko-chan.

Oh, good morning.

Yesternight was fun, eh?

Has Seina-chan changed much?

Yes, he's grown quite tall
and seems more mature.

I see.

Well, we'll have a welcoming party at noon,

so we're all looking forward to that.

Tsukiko!

Welcome home, Fuku-chan.

And everyone else too,
things were probably not so easy.

Welcome home, Miki-chan.

I'm back, mother.

You all look good though.

Are you maybe Nayuta-chan?

It's nice to meet you, Tsukiko-sama.

Please don't be so formal.

Anyway, you're totally different
than the previous NB.

That was because that was a perverted NB
that Airi-san used for her peeping,

after Ayane-san uploaded
some weird character software.

Well, if anything, she's a bit closer
to Washu-san's personality.

Oh is that so?

Well,

I'm used to being assaulted by Seto-sama
and Jovia at the crack of dawn,

so I won't get startled
unless it's something major.

Should I have a more severe
personality to stand out?

It's severe enough that you're
following around Seina-kun.

For Seina-san's mental stability,

it would be best
if you remain more normal...

The fact that an install type NB
has astral is already not normal,

but that should be fine.

There's one more, namely ZINV-chan.

Seina-chan's humanoid robot?

I guess bringing her down
to earth might actually be too much.

Let's have Seina-kun make
the call on that one.

Hey Tsukiko,

is Seina still talking
to mom and the others?

Let's see, why don't we take a peek?

Seina! Seina!

Were you being good at senpai's?

Yes!

I played lots and lots with
Ryo-Ohki-oneechan and Kenshi-chan!

Meanwhile we were just being forced
to be Mihoshi-san's playthings.

I mean Ryo-chan in her
cabbit form is brutally cute.

If there are a bunch of those lined up...

not getting excited is impossible.

Well, the level of excitement was just...

When we were coming here too,

Mihoshi-san was bawling like mad.

Well, based on my experience,

there's no choice but to release
some pressure periodically.

Noike-san also asked us
to come by as much as possible.

Compared to before you left,

you really seem to have grown
more comfortable in your skin.

Huh?

Seina-chan, you're still nervous
when you're with me, right?

W-well...

It makes me a bit jealous.

A bunch of things
are difficult around this age.

I mean even if it's just Kiriko-san
and the others, the pressure is quite high.

It'll probably take some time
to get used to that sort of thing.

By the way,

Miki-chan, what are your guys'
plans while you stay here?

If it's just beds,

I think we can make arrangements here,

but once Kiriko and the others arrive...

I guess the final arrangements can wait
until everybody is back?

You're right, we don't
have to settle that now.

With Seina-kun's spirit thread line
a return is possible at any time,

but until the problem over
there isn't somewhat settled,

we can't make any hasty moves.

Spirit thread line, is that magic?

Yes. According to Washu-san,

it's something that happens
when you use magic

in a certain type of elevated hyperspace.

What Miki-senpai mentioned
is a long distances

transport that connects two fixed points.

When the magic user
is controlling the spell,

a line connects the user and the spell
with a line that normal people can't see.

So it's like a wired remote control.

But long far can that reach?

In theory there is no limit.

However,

even though travel inside
the line is instantaneous,

the movement of the points
themselves is quite slow.

But since there's already a point here,

coming back here is theoretically
possible any time, right?

Yes, but bouncing back
and forth between here and there's...

You're right.

There are also Seto-sama's orders,

so it's best to wait until
everyone's got some room to breathe.

{\fad(500,550)}Episode 2 Cheerful Farm Village Life

Seina-chan,

{\fad(750,0)\pos(371.1,472.6)\c&H021A2C&\3c&H688BA6&\bord2\fs42}Masaki Assembly Hall

congratulations for your safe return!

{\an8\fnTimes New Roman\b1\fs60\c&H363D3E&\3c&HE1EAEA&\shad0}Celebration for Seina-kun's Safe Return

Congratulations!

{\an8\fnTimes New Roman\b1\fs60\c&H363D3E&\3c&HE1EAEA&\shad0}Celebration for Seina-kun's Safe Return

I had heard about it,

but you're really an adult now.

My body got bigger,

but I'm still the same on the inside.

Being able to say things like
that means you're an adult.

I'm really grateful that you
organized this celebration for me,

but with Kiriko-san and
the others still being over there...

I know what you mean.

Once things settle down a bit,
they should get out of there already.

Makes things easier for those
who have to clean up after them.

You're right.

When I'm around,
it just piles on extra burdens.

Yes,

but even on your way home you got loaded
with work by Seto-sama.

But in the end,

it's so typical of Seina-chan to
attract burdens no matter where he goes.

Speaking of burdens,

I heard you picked up an interesting girl?

At her age, calling her
girl would be incorrect.

She barged in with Seto-sama in the morning,

scarfed down three bowls of rice,
and then charged out again.

She will be back in a few days,

so please feel free
to make her your toy then.

Tsukiko-chan is
uncharacteristically irritated.

Well, if it's someone Seto-sama likes,

I can already imagine it,

but what's she like?

She'll probably get along with Airi-sama.

Looks like the village will get livelier.

Well, we'll have fun with that girl later.

First we have to decide what your lives
here in the village will look like.

I think you've already heard it
from Tsukiko-chan,

but it's been decided to seal off the
village and cut off external traffic.

Of course, there are a few people
from earth in the village as well,

like Kasumi-chan's husband.

Masaki Shrine will be also still
be getting regular visitors as well,

so it's not a complete isolation.

I heard of plans to build
some sort of experimental farm?

Yes, the plan is to make it
Yamada Business's flagship product.

And if we make the reason for your return
that your company transferred you,

it'll probably look decent for you.

At this point,

I don't really care what
people think about me,

but for the Masaki Village...

"At this point" right back at you.

The matter of skewed probabilities should
be no issue if we're with you, right?

Well, that's true.

Seina-chan,

your family actually wants Miki-chan
and the other girls to help with the store.

{\3c&HA269E2&\shad0\fs48\frz2.491\move(390,675,465,675)}Supermarket Yamada

Last time, Amane-san
and the others were really popular.

What about Kiriko-san and the others then?

The store's getting quite big,

so we need all the help we can get.

Well, that's still in the future.

First, we should talk about
where you guys will stay.

We talked about that a bit earlier.

For now,

we were thinking that we'd all stay
at Tsukiko-san's house.

To be honest,

we won't need that much space anyway.

And we have the Kamidake
for our personal belongings.

Like I said, while it's not many,
there are a few normal people in the village.

So we do need to have some
sort of plausible explanation.

Kids would be no issue,

but five adult women is a different story.

And if we consider the village's customs,

Kiriko-chan will be a member
of the main Masaki house,

while Seina-chan is in the position
to start a new royal family.

So you're saying that staying
in Masaki Village itself

is a problem if we consider their standing.

Actually,

when it was decided
that you would come home,

Katsuhito-sama brought up the idea that you
could build a house new Tenchi-chan's house.

Near senpai's house?

Well, that would make
keeping secrets easier,

so it's basically decided.

Of course, none of the details
have been worked out yet.

I mean it'll be either Katsuhito-sama or

Nobu-chan who will
actually settle this with you.

I understand,

sorry for causing so much trouble.

That's enough complicated stuff for now.

Why don't you tell us about all the things
that happened over there now?

S-sure.

{\an8\fnTimes New Roman\b1\fs42\c&H363D3E&\3c&HBDC6C7&\shad0\fay-.35\frx2\fry334\move(1275,300,2175,312)}Asking Seina-chan Questions Party

Tsukiko-chan.

At this point,

don't you think you there's no need to hold
back for Kiriko-chan's sake anymore?

What do you mean by hold back?

I don't know what kind of girls Seto-sama

is going to marry into
the family in the future.

But we all think that the only one
who truly understands Seina-chan is you.

In the past that might have been true,

but Kiriko- has developed quite a lot.

Besides, she has had a lot more contact
with him since he went to space.

Kiriko-chan has her duties
as the first wife, and as Jurai royalty.

The current situation is
a perfect example for this.

That is... true.

Kiriko-chan and the others are official,

but for someone in Seina-chan's position,

he'll definitely need consorts too.

Considering that they're traveling
with Seina-chan right now...

But those girls have not fulfilled
the requirements to be consorts.

Of course, people
to assist will be dispatched.

Still, people who know Seina-chan well
and can fill any gaps will be necessary.

That's the theoretical part of it at least.

So, how was it last night?

I honestly won't buy "we slept separately,

nothing happened at all".

W-well...

So you don't deny it.

I've known you since you were born.

I can read you like a book.

I understand that you
are holding back for Kiriko-chan,

I worry that you'll lose your chance
to get in if you wait too long.

Or, is, it...

that you still see him as the little boy?

I personally think he's
gotten quite handsome

in the little time we didn't see him.

His hands... are bigger than mine now...

Well, I suppose it's all fine then.

I think that looks quite good.

Nobody can see this spot from the outside,

so there's no fear that someone
will see the transformations.

Right,

it would be a bother if this was found

by the kids who haven't gone through
the ceremony of maturity yet.

Feel free to use this to craft alibis
while you're staying in Masaki Village.

Now that you mention that,

the area near senpai's house is ideal.

Either way,

being able to turn into
a cat must be so nice.

I mean you can fully stretch
out in a box this size.

You're right, it does feel quite luxurious.

Our body is incredibly limber,

and your physical abilities
are through the roof.

I catch myself lazing
about in cabbit form all the time.

Cabbit, best.

I guess D's the one who enjoys
that form the most.

But if you leave her be, she does get close
to becoming decoration for real...

Tsukiko, Tsukiko!

I am happy that I was able to turn human
because then I can talk to Seina and stuff!

Right. Because you started out
as a cabbit, right Fuku-chan?

Well, I think it's time
for baths and dinner.

Is everyone okay with Japanese food?

Is there anything you can't eat?

Kiriko-san has introduced us to the basics,

so there shouldn't be a problem.

We're used to rice and miso soup,

natto is fine too.

Curry, best.

Surprisingly,

D was the one fine with generally
all Japanese food from the beginning.

Now that I think about it,

I remember hearing
that in the great prehistoric era,

there was a parallel earth on the
world where D's original lived.

Was there Japanese food there too?

Apparently it was quite
similar to this world.

It even had people that similar to us...

Mitsuki.

Mitsuki.

Yayoi.

Apparently there's a link to the astral sea,

and Kiriko-san's Japanese
food felt strangely nostalgic.

Kiriko was quite surprised
how quickly everybody got used it.

Curry, best.

Then let's make curry tonight.

I'll keep an eye on this.

Shall we go take a bath then?

Yeah!

Thanks for the food!

I made it with the ingredients
from the village,

how do you like it?

Normal curry, tasty, I like.

D prefers home cooking to fancy stuff,

so Kiriko-san scoffed
that it's "not worth cooking for her".

I like both though.

I like it when it's not too spicy,

so this is just right.

I like the chunks of carrot!

I am linked with Seina-san's memories, so...

Could I have another helping please?

So Tsukiko, are you going to
become Seina's wife too?

How come you're asking?

Mom was talking about it with the others.

I see.

Not immediately,

but in the future that will probably happen.

But are you guys fine with that?

Well,

we've all talked about this
kind of subject again and again.

In the end,

if you want to be
in a relationship with Seina-kun,

you need to be prepared to deal
with his special trait.

Mother, you probably know this well,

but dealing with that trait,

and supporting him with just one
person is absolutely impossible.

After the federation it is Renza.

The scale of things that Seina-kun
causes is getting bigger and bigger.

Especially now that those old ladies
are arranging the pieces for that...

That's why we can't have
enough people to support him,

especially people we can really trust.

That was our conclusion.

And as a wife?

People who can't figure out their emotions
won't even get close to begin with.

In that sense,

maybe we're all here
because we ought to be here?

If anything I think it's Seina-san
who hasn't been able to make up his mind.

Well, he is paralyzed in a couple of areas,

but as far as I'm concerned,
I'm happy if you were to become one of us.

Especially when I get this sense
of relaxation from Seina-kun,

one that's different from
when Kiriko-san is around.

I thought so too.

Kiriko-san is the central figure for us,

but the team's getting bigger and bigger...

I can't quite put my finger on it,

but I'm feeling like
something's not quite balanced.

I guess we're the ones
who are supposed to alleviate that,

but we don't have anyone
who could be the main pillar.

Exactly.

We're too inexperienced
to take on that role,

and no matter how much time passes,

it still feels like something's missing.

Seina-chan is so lucky.

In the past I could have never imagined

that there would be so many
people who care for him like this.

Right there.

The gap we can't ever fill is that history.

If you all just spend more time with him...

It's his special trait that
won't give us that time, right?

I'm not sure how I feel about
a young girl being that philosophical.

A natural consequence
of being with Seina-kun.

He's the incarnation of absurdity...

I mean I'm impressed that he managed
to survive and grow up.

We even heard that
the underlings of Airen-san

who were assisting us over there
got incredibly resilient to stress.

Mom praised me and said
that I developed so much.

Me too.

Thank you, I see how you feel now.

I have to make up my mind
before someone orders me to.

Different topic,

but starting tomorrow we wanted to
try living according to the schedule here.

That's fine, but
the mornings are quite early.

That's OK.

We're not on Nayuta's level,

but we also don't require that much sleep.

Basically,

the majority of Masaki Village's
produce is for self-sufficiency.

Rice is a shared resource for the village,

but everybody grows
a variety of vegetables and fruits,

then shared with the village.

Eggs and chicken meat,

and the fish from Tenchi-chan's pond
are fully self-sustained.

Looks like there's nothing
missing from life here.

What about money though?

The people from earth
are employed at companies,

and there's an earth company that's run
from Masaki Village as well.

Of course, in order to keep up appearances,

we do export some of the produce.

Oh, that's the stuff we used to sell
at our family's store.

These days, Tenchi-chan's carrots are a hit,

so there are people in the village
who are quite serious about those.

Either way,

we're going to be sealed off under the
pretense of running an experimental farm,

so we'll have do something
that fits that concept.

Oh, there's also a plan for processed goods.

Yoshiko-chan's quite fired up about that.

Yoshiko is?

She's working with Noike-san
and Sasami-chan to

come up with a completely
new flagship product.

I hope she's not bothering them with this...

I wouldn't worry,

Sasami-chan is quite into it as well.

I hear they only need to solve
the production throughput.

Let's start heading back so we can eat.

After that, there's work waiting
for us in the village.

There are people who grow all
sorts of fruits as a hobby,

but we mainly export peaches and grapes.

The rest is either used up by the village,

or sent to Sasami-chan.

Speaking of,

I saw incredible amounts of fruit
being brought to the Masaki house.

In return,

incredible amounts of sample products
are sent back to the village.

And since those are all things worthy
of being served at a royal dinner,

everybody's putting their soul
into the farm work.

In multiple ways.

I see.

Good work.

I got some snacks from Sasami-chan.

Oh, Seina!

Here it comes, the desert prototypes!

Wait, Seina-kun, all of these?!

Yes, these are for the depot.

And then she said "these are
for Miki-senpai and the others".

Lately it's like this every day.

Every day...?

You guys are young,

so go ahead and eat as much
as you can of the stored stuff, too.

We'll have to work hard to burn it all off.

How was your day in the village?

Physically it wasn't a problem at all.

Once we get used to it,
we'll find ways to optimize our time,

so I think we'll be able to
split up the tasks.

I'm grateful that you're helping
with the housework as well.

I can bring out dinner in a minute as well.

Could we wait a bit longer with that?

The snacks were crazy...

Then let's do that a bit later then.

Seina-chan, was everything
fine at Tenchi-chan's?

Yes.

According to Washu-san,

the corrective effect of you all is
effective until about my parents' place.

I see,

then it should be fine for you girls
to go help out in that store as well.

The problem will be Jovia-san.

Well, she should just be
forcibly worked to the bone.

I mean she is randomly
competent for some reason.

Jovia-san...

I wonder what she's up to over there.

How are Miki-san and the other's holding up?

Everyone's being nice,

and they've gotten used to
the village's tasks.

But more importantly,

I was worried that Yoshiko
might be bothering you.

Well... about that...

But you know, Sasami-chan
is quite excited, too.

She's having a ton of fun.

That's good to hear.

We feel quite responsible for this,

but before we had relied on Sasami-chan
to most of the housework.

Since Noike-san came,
things got a bit better.

Though while it's not quite as intense as
with you, we also had a lot of stuff happen...

There weren't really many opportunities to
play with the friends from middle school.

I understand.

I put Kai into a similarly tough situation.

Sasami-chan seems to enjoy doing all
sorts of things with Yoshiko-chan.

Other friends are participating too.

Oh really?

I had heard that the production
throughput might be an issue,

but it seems fine, right?

Yes...

I had underestimated
Sasami-chan's serious mode.

I'm back.

Jovia-san?

Did she get back?

It doesn't look like "welcome
home" kind of situation.

We're about to ask what happened.

So, why don't you tell us every detail.

So, when I went back to
where I'm from before my rebirth,

well...

my cover was blown immediately.

Ow, ow! My skull's going to crack!

Ow! Ow!

I'm sobby!

I'm going to be reborn again!