After Jiho's words, he hugged his sister again, understanding how much she needed it at that moment. The prince heard the girl's brother's words, and they snapped him back to reality.
A long silence followed. The guest took a deep breath and, after much thought, spoke:
Senko: "You're right. Here, I have no status, no position that justifies such rash behavior. From now on, speak to me informally—just call me Senko. And... I was too arrogant. I apologize for that."
With those words, the prince placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply to Jiho and Ariha.
The gesture shocked the siblings—Jiho stiffened, and Ariha, now calmer but still surprised, slipped out of her brother's embrace and waved her hands frantically.
Ariha: "P-please, don't bow! It's... really embarrassing!"
Senko lifted his head, took in her flustered expression, and burst out laughing. Straightening up, he watched as Ariha's cheeks turned pink under his amusement. Then, he extended his hand for a handshake.
Senko: "Let's find the answers together!" he declared firmly.
Ariha was stunned. The prince before her now seemed to glow—warm and earnest, a far cry from the cold, unapproachable figure she'd imagined from history books. Her heart skipped a beat.
She didn't even realize when she'd reached out to clasp his hand in return.
Downstairs.
The front door swung open, and a brown-eyed man with chestnut hair stepped inside, toeing off his shoes.
Father: "Honey, I'm home!" he called out, his voice warm.
His wife, Ohari, hurried over and kissed him.
Ohari: "Welcome back, dear. How was your day?"
Father: "The event wrapped up smoothly, so I got home early. How was your weekend with the kids?" He kissed her back, then paused at her excited expression.
Ohari: "Oh, you won't believe what happened! Come to the living room."
Baffled—and slightly wary—he followed.
Ohari: "I'll call the kids and our... guest. We need to explain." She hesitated. "Ariha mentioned that when she first saw him at the fountain, no one else could. Jiho and I can see him, but we're not sure about you yet..."
Minutes later, the teens were summoned. Their father stared at the empty space between them, utterly lost.
Father: "Ariha, Jiho, where is this guest? This isn't some prank about him being invisible, is it? Who is he? Can I at least meet him?"
The siblings exchanged glances with Senko, who stood silently between them. Jiho cleared his throat.
Jiho: "He's right here. Between us. And he's... well, the Prince Senko von Minaguchi Hyōnko. The one whose disappearance caused a time anomaly. He's from the past."
Their father's face went slack. It wasn't just the claim of an invisible guest between his children—it was the fact that said guest was a time-lost royal.
Father: "You're telling me there's an actual 18th-century prince in our living room... and I can't even see him?"