Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren

"Why do you seem so hostile toward Eriri?" Shichen asked curiously.

"Because that girl's totally into you, Shichen-dono! Every time she shows up, she's obviously up to something," Tohru replied bluntly.

"And how do you know that?"

"I just do. Intuition."

"…Yeah, your intuition is scary accurate."

"Plus, she visits way too often and never even orders anything."

"Okay, okay. Still, Eriri is Tohka's classmate." Shichen patted Tohru's head to calm her down.

"I-I'm sorry," Eriri said, blushing.

"Why are you apologizing out of nowhere?" Tohru stared at her.

"I didn't mean to cause trouble… I just really wanted to see Prince Onii-chan." Eriri confessed.

"Prince Onii-chan? You mean Shichen-dono?"

"Yeah."

"Huh. That's actually a cute nickname. Alright, you're forgiven," Tohru nodded, impressed.

"Wait, that's it? That easy?" Eriri blinked in disbelief.

"Hmph, just compliment Shichen-dono and we're good."

"Is that how this works...? Well, Prince Onii-chan really is handsome."

"Handsomest in the whole universe!"

"I totally agree," Eriri smiled.

"Great. You can come over anytime now."

"Thanks a lot!"

"...What are you two talking about?" Chisato Nishikigi walked in, shaking her head.

"Just stating facts. You agree, don't you?" Tohru countered.

"Yeah, yeah, I do. But we've still got guests. Can someone start cooking already?"

"Oh shoot! Shichen-dono, we'll cuddle later!" Tohru dashed off to the kitchen.

"Shichen, you too. Don't just hang around here—upstairs. Now." Chisato said firmly.

"Got it." Shichen smiled, ruffled her hair, and went upstairs with Tohka and the others.

Yoshino and Kanna weren't on the second floor—they were upstairs in the study, quietly doing their homework. They were good kids… though not that young anymore.

"So this is… Prince Onii-chan's room?" Eriri asked, eyes scanning the place with curiosity.

"Why? Planning to do something?" Utaha Kasumigaoka teased.

"N-No! Of course not!" Eriri yelped, flustered.

"Not even tempted to steal something with Shichen's scent? Like a pillow, shirt… maybe even his boxers?"

"Ugh…" Eriri's eyes involuntarily drifted toward Shichen's bed.

"Utaha!" Shichen sighed and karate-chopped her on the head.

"Ow!" Utaha grabbed her head.

"Ugh…" Eriri quickly looked away, embarrassed but… oddly flustered.

"Why'd you hit me?" Utaha pouted.

"…Seriously?"

"Hey, I wasn't wrong!"

"Stop teasing Eriri and go take a shower. You're all sweaty."

"What?! No, I'm not!" Utaha panicked.

"Ugh!" Eriri immediately sniffed herself too.

"Don't pretend you don't know. Even Tohka already went to wash up. You not going too?"

"Fine! But wait… you're not planning to be alone with this A-cup while I'm gone, are you?" Utaha squinted suspiciously.

"Who are you calling A-cup?!" Eriri exploded.

"So… you're saying you're a B?"

"I… ugh…" Eriri completely lost steam.

"Heh. At least you're honest."

"Go shower already," Shichen said, exasperated.

"Are you seriously gonna be alone with her?"

"Alone doing what exactly?"

"Who knows? Maybe she'll try to seduce you… though honestly, there's not much to seduce." Utaha laughed.

"Kasumigaoka Utaha, that's too far!" Eriri shouted.

"Haha, fine, I'm off. I'll leave you two lovebirds alone~" Utaha winked and walked out.

"Ugh... so annoying." Eriri clenched her fists.

"Hey, Eriri. Are you even friends with Utaha at school?" Shichen asked out of the blue.

"Huh? Oh… no. We've never really talked."

"I see."

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing. Here, come sit." Shichen sat on the bed and patted the space next to him.

"Eh? C-Can I?" Eriri asked nervously.

"Why not?"

"Okay then…" She hesitantly walked over and sat down.

"Don't be so nervous." Shichen smiled.

"I-I'm not nervous!" Eriri insisted, clearly lying.

"Heh. Anyway, let's talk about what really matters."

"What do you mean?" Eriri blinked.

"The fact that we met a long time ago."

"Oh! Right, the important part!" Eriri quickly opened her backpack.

"What are you doing?"

"Bringing out proof!"

She pulled out two drawings—one done in crayon, the other a stunningly detailed illustration. Both showed a man with a sword standing triumphantly on a green dragon.

"This is…?" Shichen raised a brow, instantly recognizing himself, the sword Est, and the dragon—Tohru.

"Prince Onii-chan, you really did save me when I was a kid!" Eriri said seriously, handing over the drawings.

"I can tell you're not lying…" Shichen examined both closely.

The second one was incredibly refined—her art skills had skyrocketed. He half-suspected she was now a pro artist.

"Then why did you forget about me, Prince Onii-chan?"

"I didn't forget. I just haven't met you yet."

"Huh?"

"Since I saved you when you were little, you must've realized I'm not exactly… normal, right?"

"Yeah! Like a prince from a fairy tale—riding a dragon, super dreamy!" Eriri's cheeks flushed red.

"Exactly. So is it possible... I time-traveled to save you?" Shichen grinned.

"Time-traveled…? You mean, you'll travel to the past to save me?" Eriri immediately got it—fantasy logic was second nature to her.

"Well… not just to save you, necessarily."

"So you don't remember me now because the version of you that saved me hasn't time-traveled yet?" she asked, eyes wide.

"That's about right… Do you believe me?"

"Of course I do, Shichen‑nii!" she replied instantly.

"So technically, we haven't met yet."

"Doesn't matter! We've met now!" Eriri grabbed his hand firmly.

"Heh, true." Shichen chuckled.

She gazed at his smile, briefly entranced. Then, flustered, she quickly let go.

"Prince Onii-chan… sorry, I just got a little carried away."

"It's fine. I get it." Shichen waved it off.

"Um… Prince Onii-chan?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I… can I get a head pat?"

"Sure, I don't mind."

He reached out and gently patted her head.

"Hehe~" Eriri closed her eyes with a goofy smile. "Yup… this feels just like back then. I missed this."

"That so?" He kept patting.

"Hehe… hehe…"

"Ohhh~ so you are a sneaky little kitty," Utaha's sly voice chimed in from the doorway.

"Eek!?"

Eriri froze. She spotted Utaha and instantly leapt up from the bed.

"W-Why are you back?!"

"I finished showering, obviously." Utaha strolled in, super casual.

"Wait! What are you wearing?!" Eriri turned crimson.

Utaha, still wrapped in a white towel that barely covered anything, was stunning—smooth pale collarbone, soft curves, long legs, droplets still clinging to her glowy skin.

"There's no one else around." She grabbed a hairdryer and sat directly on Shichen's lap.

"Blow-dry my hair."

"Sure," Shichen smiled and started.

The hum of the dryer filled the room, her dark hair gently fluttering.

"How can you be so…" Eriri looked half-shocked, half-jealous.

"What? He's my man. What's wrong with a little hair-drying?" Utaha smiled sweetly.

"Also… what were you doing? Getting head pats from my man? Trying to sneak in some affection while I was gone?"

"N-No! I just… had something on my head and asked Prince Onii-chan to brush it off! That's all!" Eriri stammered, beet red.