Story:

Violet raised one finger.

Peach caught the gesture immediately.

“What is your question? Say it, Euphy-classmate.”

Despite herself, Kicho glanced at her sister.

The Violet Witch, who had addressed monarchs without asking permission, found herself sitting a little straighter.

“If I understand correctly,” Euphy said, “we have not leapt into the future of the country we left.”

“Correct.”

“We have entered an entirely different world. One whose history resembles ours in places, but does not dictate it.”

Peach nodded with such solemn approval that she almost expected herself to award a mark.

“Exactly.”

Violet sat back. Her gaze returned to the biography, and this time she examined it instead of staring through it.

Kicho remained bent over the page.

“But Nobunaga…”

Peach’s irritation softened.

She turned the book so that all three could see the printed name.

“This Oda Nobunaga is a different person from the man we know.”

Kicho’s fingers tightened together.

“He has the same name.”

“Yes.”

“And the same—”

“Some similarities,” Peach said. “But this man did not know your magic. He did not marry a fairy princess. He did not have Euphy beside him. Look through the account: there is no campaign against Bel’s army.”

She paused, letting Kicho check the page herself.

“The Honnō-ji coup described here belongs to this man’s life, in Beta’s history. His death is not proof of what will happen to your husband in Gamma.”