Kotomi Izumi had often wondered—what would she say when she finally saw Kazumi again?
Would she cry tears of joy?
Hold her tight and weep?
Or silently embrace her, pouring out everything she had wanted to say—the loneliness and longing she'd felt while Kazumi slept—and make her promise never to leave again?
No matter what she had imagined before, now that Kazumi was here, gently waking her as if nothing had happened, sitting calmly atop the blanket with her familiar smile… Kotomi realized that words didn't matter. Nor did actions.
All she wanted was to hold Kazumi close. Even if it was just for one night—just to fall asleep in her arms. As long as, when she opened her eyes in the morning, Kazumi was still there beside her, never leaving again… that would be enough.
"...!"
Kotomi tried to speak and reach out, but found that no sound came from her mouth. Her arms felt impossibly heavy, as if filled with liquid mercury. She couldn't even raise them. Darkness filled her vision; even turning her head was impossible. She began to wonder—did she even still have her limbs?
Kazumi gently reached out, brushing Kotomi's hair away from her face. There was so much tenderness in her eyes that Kotomi wanted nothing more than to let her guard down, to cast away her sadness, and cry freely in Kazumi's arms—or to hold her tightly and never let go.
But she couldn't move. She couldn't even cry.
"Even while I'm gone, you must take care of yourself," Kazumi said softly. "Live each day fully, and when you find the real me—that will be the day we meet again. Don't be impatient. I'll wait quietly for you, just like we promised. No matter how much time passes, that promise will never change. Even if the path ahead seems clouded in mist, don't lose hope. The answer will appear before you… when the time is right."
Kazumi's voice was gentle, calm. She knew Kotomi couldn't speak or move—because she had prepared it that way before waking her.
Kazumi herself longed to enjoy this reunion, to hold Kotomi and never part again. But she also knew that this meeting—this brief, fleeting moment—was already nearing its end.
Her form began to blur, glowing with a faint pink-blue radiance that seemed ready to fade away at any moment.
Kotomi's eyes widened as realization struck—Kazumi was disappearing again. She didn't want that. Not again. She had to hold on, even just once.
Don't go. Don't fall asleep again. Even if you spend every day napping inside me, that's fine—just don't disappear completely. Let me feel you, your warmth, your breath… please, don't leave me again!
Tears streamed down her cheeks as Kotomi screamed silently within, biting down hard, willing her arms to move—just enough to reach out, to hold Kazumi and never let her go.
"Foolish girl…"
Kazumi's soft laugh was tinged with sadness and affection. A single tear sparkled at the corner of her eye, so beautiful it felt as though the very flow of time paused to watch.
Leaning down, she pressed her nose gently against Kotomi's—just as she had done so many times before, whenever she returned to Kotomi's body.
"This time, I'll be asleep for a while again," she whispered. "I only woke up to unlock one of the system's abilities for you. It's the strongest power it holds—and also the last. You'll need it soon. While I'm gone, take care of yourself."
The thought of gaining a new ability barely registered in Kotomi's mind. All she could do was stare wide-eyed at Kazumi, silently asking her—after you unlock it, will you fall asleep again, like before? When you used Soul Preservation… or Time Rewind?
Her gaze was desperate, pleading. Kazumi saw it clearly and smiled softly.
"That's right~ Once I finish unlocking this ability for you, I'll fall asleep again. In fact, the price I paid for using Soul Preservation and Time Rewind last time still hasn't been fully repaid. This time, I not only forced myself awake from slumber and returned to the real world for a short while, but I'm also unlocking an ability that was supposed to remain sealed forever. All these actions combined… will probably double the length of my sleep," Kazumi said with a faint, wistful smile.
The moment Kotomi heard those words, she wanted to scream:
I don't want any new ability! Don't unlock it! The ones I have are already enough! Even if I lose the system's powers someday, even if I can no longer be Tokyo's top student, even if I forget how to wield a sword and become completely useless—it doesn't matter!
What I want… is you!
I just want you to stay by my side… please, Kazumi… stay!
All of Kotomi's desperate thoughts melted into muffled sobs and the tears that overflowed from her eyes. She wanted to stop Kazumi, to hold her tight, to keep her from disappearing again—no matter what it took. But she couldn't. Not a word, not a touch—nothing reached her.
"Haha… don't feel guilty," Kazumi said softly, her voice gentle as a lullaby. "Even without all this, the cost of using Soul Preservation and Time Rewind last time would have kept me asleep for who knows how long. So I thought—why not take one more risk, and give you this power to protect yourself?"
She paused, a faint, bittersweet smile curving her lips.
"Actually… I misspoke. I'm not giving you this ability—it's one you entrusted to me long ago. I'm simply returning it to you."
Her voice softened further, tender yet playful. "So don't cry anymore, okay? Once I return this power to you, I can rest peacefully. It's just a longer nap—nothing to worry about. You know I've always liked to sleep in."
She reached out, wiping a tear from Kotomi's cheek.
"Stop crying, Kotomi. If you keep crying like that… I won't be able to stop myself either. I promised I'd never make you cry again, remember?"
Her lips trembled slightly as she whispered:
"Kotomi… next time… we will meet again."
As the final word left her lips, Kazumi's fading form leaned down and pressed her lips gently against Kotomi's.
That kiss—both of them had waited far, far too long for it.
There were many ways to transfer or awaken an ability. But Kazumi chose this—her final act before vanishing completely. A kiss not just to pass on power… but to express love.
A love deeper than hope, more radiant than despair.
Kazumi's body dissolved entirely. The pink-blue light surrounding her scattered into countless tiny motes—like fireflies drifting through the night sky, appearing from nowhere, vanishing into eternity.
With Kazumi's disappearance, time began to flow again.
The paralysis that bound Kotomi's body faded. She could move—speak—breathe once more.
She lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, before instinctively lifting her hand. With a faint gesture, the system interface appeared before her eyes.
Compared to before, there was now something new in the upper right corner—a great mechanical clock, its face made of countless interlocking gears.
This was the ability Kazumi had just unlocked—or rather, as she said, returned—to Kotomi.
Even though Kotomi had no memory of ever giving such a power to Kazumi, she somehow knew exactly what it was and how to use it, as if the knowledge had always been buried deep within her mind.
There was no need for explanation.
Kazumi was gone—her light had faded completely.
Kotomi slowly sat up, careful not to wake Aimi, who was still fast asleep beside her. Tucking the blanket gently around her sister, she quietly stepped out of bed—barefoot, silent—and left the room.
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