Because Theia couldn't wait any longer, Ruth transported her over using a small spaceship. Ruth was caught up doing some necessary procedures in the Hazy Moon's hangar, so she arrived to the bridge a little later than Theia.
As Ruth reached the bridge, she saw Theia gracefully flying through the air and then knocking Koutarou down.
“Ah...”
Theia and Koutarou were playing around. Just seeing that plain sight, large tears fell from Ruth's cheeks.
We're back... We're back with Master and everyone...
Ruth had assumed that they wouldn't meet again for at least another few years. If the current empress, Elfaria, had collapsed due to illness, they wouldn't be able to do anything until it was determined who would become the heir to the throne. And even once that was over, they wouldn't be able to return to Earth until Elfaria recovered from her illness. If Elfaria died instead, things would become even more complicated.
But through a strange twist of fate, Theia and Ruth had managed to return to Earth within a mere month. Though the current situation was bad, Ruth couldn't help but feel relieved when she saw the faces of those close to her.
“Theia, you're heavy”
“What do you mean by heavy?! Are those the words you give to your highly esteemed master?!”
“While I hold you in high esteem, your boobs are small”
“There you go being mean again!! Didn't you say that the size of my breasts didn't matter?!”
“It matters now. I've had a change of heart”
“Is this the mouth spouting such things? Take that, and this!”
“Ow, ouch, owowow!”
And most of all, Ruth was happy to meet the man she loved again. Theia hadn't behaved as anything but a proper princess this past month, but thanks to Koutarou she was now acting so childishly. Ruth knew what he meant for Theia, because he meant the same thing for her.
But...
On the other hand, meeting with their beloved ones in their current situation meant that they would involve them in their own problems. Because of that, joy and guilt intermixed, creating a complex emotion within Ruth.
“Koutarou, I've found Ruth!”
That was when Sanae spotted Ruth and reported that fact to Koutarou.
“Really?!”
“Kyaa?!”
Koutarou forcibly lifted up Theia and ran over to Ruth.
“Koutarou! Don't treat me so roughly! Put more love into it!”
“You know you tend to treat those things you love with less care, right?”
“Oh, well in that case... No no no, I won't get fooled by that!”
“Guess it can't be helped, geez...”
“Go on, do that thing”
“What thing?”
“Holding me like a princess”
“Okay, okay, as you wish, my princess”
“Hmmhmm♪”
Even as Koutarou and Theia approached Ruth, they continued quarreling. They were more intense than normal, but their faces were brighter than ever, so Ruth's tears wouldn't stop.
“Ruth!”
Once they had reached Ruth, Theia slipped out of Koutarou's arms and placed herself behind Ruth.
“Your highness?”
When Ruth instinctively chased after Theia with her eyes, Theia whispered in a quiet voice only Ruth could hear.
“...You go dote on him as well”
“Eh?”
In the next moment, Theia pushed Ruth forward.