Inori quietly stared at her reflection in the mirror.
When she saw the corners of her lips slightly curled upward, she froze for a second and instinctively reached up to touch them.
Just because she knew she wouldn't be a vessel anymore?
"Is… a smile really that simple?"
She looked at Souta with a bit of confusion, as if seeking an answer.
"Yes, it's just that simple. When emotions rise, you smile. It's a natural instinct for most people, you finally have that now."
Souta affirmed her thoughts.
Inori took the mirror from his hand, stared at herself again, and imagined the scene where she squashed Mana like a pancake.
A pressure that had always weighed on her suddenly lifted, and a faint smile crept back onto her lips.
It was beautiful, charming even.
Inori was a bit surprised.
So smiling… was really this easy?
She tried smiling a few more times, each one sweeter than the last.
She was starting to enjoy it.
Souta almost wanted to tease her, "Inori, how about giving me an ahegao next?"
"Looks like keeping you out of the action these past few months was the right call," Souta said, looking genuinely pleased.
"With no one barking orders at you, you've had more time to think on your own. That's helped your sense of self grow stronger and that's the foundation for real emotion."
Inori looked at him, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"So… you didn't think I was weak?"
For the past two months, Souta had never allowed her to join the battles against the Antibodies.
Even when Gai tried to command her using her "Power of the King," Souta would step in and handle things himself.
It wasn't hard for him, just a wave of the hand.
Inori had always thought Souta excluded her from fighting because she was too weak, not even worth considering as a combatant.
"What are you thinking? Why would I think you're weak?" Souta ruffled her hair.
"In my eyes, you're all weaklings. What difference does it make?"
She felt an unexpected twinge of irritation.
But then she remembered all the moments she'd been annoyed by him and suddenly felt at peace.
Habits really were terrifying things.
"Your body was cultivated a long time ago," Souta said as he recalled the details.
"But since you didn't have a consciousness back then (just a puppet) you couldn't synchronize with Mana's soul, so Shuichiro Keido shelved you away without hope."
"It wasn't until the Funeral Parlor brought you out from that abandoned lab that you began to develop awareness. But even then, your emotions were almost nonexistent."
Inori tried recalling her past, but she couldn't quite grasp the meaning of the word.
"Do you like killing?" Souta asked.
"Then why did you fight the Antibodies and shoot people?"
"That's the problem, you lack strong emotions."
Souta gently rubbed her head again.
"Because you've only just awakened to self-awareness, and because you started as a vessel, your emotions need nurturing. If people keep ordering you around, and you live only for others, how are you supposed to find your real self?"
"So, you don't need to follow anyone's orders. You don't need to fight."
"But…" Inori hesitated. "If I don't fight, then… what do I do?"
Souta didn't answer. Instead, he asked back:
"What have you been doing lately?"
Inori thought for a moment and replied, "Eating, sleeping, practicing divine miracles, singing for you."
"Which part do you like most?" he asked again.
"Kung Pao Chicken, Fish-Fragrant Pork, Mapo Tofu, Sliced Beef & Ox Tongue in Chili Sauce, Dongpo Pork…"
She answered without thinking.
Patiently, he redirected her.
"I mean, aside from eating and sleeping, what do you like doing the most?"
Her answer came without hesitation.
Souta smiled. "Then keep singing. Live as a singer, do what you love. Leave the fighting behind."
"But what about the Illuminati? And everyone's goals…"
"That's their business."
Souta knocked lightly on her head and sighed.
"Why are you always thinking about other people's problems?"
Looking at her silence, he added:
"Alright, I'll compromise. Maybe it's too soon for you to live only for yourself… so let's make a deal. Any task you don't want to do but have to, I'll handle it for you. In return…"
Souta rested a hand on her shoulder.
"You have to sing for me regularly. Deal?"
"Sing… regularly?" Inori looked at him, her eyes reflecting shimmering light.
Even though her responsibilities hadn't changed, something inside her felt different.
Souta's words had lightened her heart, as if he'd taken her burdens upon himself.
She was no longer just a vessel. No longer Gai's puppet.
She could live the way she wanted.
Inori showed a bizarre mix of wanting to laugh and wanting to cry.
The mirror caught that moment, she saw herself.
She blinked, confused.
"What… is this expression?" She touched her face. "What's happening to me?"
"Didn't I tell you?" Souta reminded her. "Your emotions are catching up to those of normal people. When they surge, your face reacts. That's normal."
Inori stared into the mirror and murmured:
"What emotion is this…?"
"Probably… being moved." Souta smiled.
Just as Inori was about to leave, Souta suddenly thought of something.
"Oh right," he called out as she opened the door. "Since I made you a promise, you don't have to worry about Eve anymore. I'll handle it."
The idea of having Yuu and Keido summon Eve while Inori acted alongside them hadn't come from some deep strategy.
He'd planned to finish the Leukocyte incident, then casually show up and collect Eve for himself.
If he had to do it all personally, it'd require effort.
And he couldn't just skip steps and wish for Eve to appear, wishes like that consumed a massive amount of divine power.
Even aside from the energy drain, he was already investing power into materializing his divine realm and preparing for the next god-tier upgrade.
With two major drains, Souta figured small waste was fine, but big waste? No thanks.
"No, please leave it to me."
Inori turned back, her voice suddenly filled with determination.
"I'll complete the task perfectly."
"You don't have to push yourself—"
"I'm not pushing myself."
She cut him off firmly.
"This is something I want to do."
With that, she didn't wait for a reply and stepped out, closing the door behind her.
Souta looked at her in surprise.
Where did this sudden fire come from?