In a quiet neighborhood, luxurious houses lined the streets in perfect order, each one polished, grand,
and carefully designed.
One glance was enough to tell—this was a place built for the wealthy.
Inside one of those homes—
A wide living room stretched open, soft lighting spilling across marble floors and plush furniture.
A massive screen sat against the wall, dark for now,
reflecting faint shapes of the room.
On the floor—
Two babies played on a thick mattress laid out in front of it.
Both had hair whiter than white.
One's fell softly to her shoulders.
The other's spilled across the mattress like a quiet waterfall.
The second child's crimson eyes were sharp even at this age,
slightly narrowed, carrying a strange sense of awareness and confidence.
Colored blocks were scattered around her small hands.
Letters etched into each one.
She stacked them carefully.
Slow. Precise.
One block at a time.
A small tower formed.
She placed the final piece on top, her fingers lingering for just a second as if judging the balance.
Behind her—
The other baby pushed herself up slightly, a faint, almost mischievous curve forming on her lips.
Then—
She reached out.
A quick shove.
The tower collapsed instantly.
Blocks scattering across the mattress.
She dropped back onto her hands and knees, satisfied.
The crimson-eyed baby didn't react.
Not a flinch.
Not a sound.
Her gaze remained on the fallen blocks, calm… unchanged.
"Astraea… why are you bothering your sister?" Velmaria said as she stepped into the room, her tone gentle but laced with quiet authority.
She walked closer, her long hair swaying lightly behind her, stopping just in front of the mischievous child.
"Naughty girl… hmm?" she added softly, a faint smile touching her lips.
Astraea looked up immediately, her expression shifting, arms lifting toward her.
Small fingers opening and closing.
"Ma… ma…"
Velmaria's eyes softened.
"Mmm…" she hummed quietly, bending down and lifting her with ease, one arm supporting her weight.
"Aren't you the mischievous one," she murmured, adjusting Astraea slightly against her chest.
"But listen well… you shouldn't do that to your sister."
Astraea's eyes turned watery.
Guilt flickered faintly across her face.
Velmaria pulled her closer instinctively, her hand brushing gently along her back.
"Did you get hurt, Aurelia?" she asked, turning slightly before reaching down to pick up the other child.
Aurelia allowed it without resistance, her small hands resting lightly against Velmaria's clothing.
Velmaria sat down on the couch, settling both children comfortably in her arms.
The twins leaned into her.
Small heads resting against her chest.
Warm. Quiet. Safe.
"You're just like your father… Aurelia," Velmaria said softly, her fingers brushing through her pale hair.
"Hard to show expression…" she added under her breath, almost to herself.
Aurelia looked up at her.
"Da… Da…"
Velmaria froze slightly.
Her eyes widened just a fraction.
"Oh my…" she whispered, her arms tightening gently around them.
Something flickered behind her gaze.
Happiness… mixed with something heavier.
She pulled them closer, holding them tighter than before, her chin resting lightly against their heads as if unwilling to let go.
The twins relaxed into her embrace.
Small faces soft. Content.
On the floor—
Her shadow shifted.
Stretching unnaturally.
Then—
A form rose from it.
A dark wolf stepped out, its body made of shadow and flame, white fire tracing along its shape.
Asher.
Velmaria didn't look down.
"Mmm… is something wrong, Asher?" she asked calmly, her hand continuing to stroke the twins' hair in slow, soothing motions.
Asher turned his head toward the large window, his massive frame still, white pupil-less eyes reflecting faint light.
"I've sensed a familiar presence," he said.
Velmaria leaned back slightly against the couch, adjusting the twins in her arms as her fingers continued their gentle motion.
"A familiar presence…" she repeated softly.
"Who could you possibly know?"
The twins' breathing slowed.
Growing softer.
Sleep settling in.
Asher turned his head toward her slowly, the white flames along his form flickering faintly.
"I'll be heading out for a while," he said.
Velmaria tilted her head slightly, her gaze resting on him for a moment.
"Sure… just don't get into trouble already," she replied calmly, though her arms tightened slightly around the sleeping twins.
She stood up carefully, balancing both children with practiced ease.
Asher's form shifted.
Then dropped—
Melting back into her shadow.
Gone.
Velmaria walked down the hallway quietly, her steps soft against the floor as the house returned to silence around her.
Somewhere else—
Reika sat in a sleek chair behind a wide desk, one leg crossed neatly over the other, posture relaxed but composed.
An iPad rested on a stand in front of her, angled perfectly toward her line of sight.
The screen glowed softly.
A live broadcast played.
Military helicopters filled the display, flying low over the ocean, their blades slicing through the air in steady rhythm.
The faint hum echoed through the speakers.
Reika's gaze stayed fixed on it, her chin resting lightly against her knuckles, elbow propped against the armrest.
"Did you find something interesting enough to keep watching this?" a voice asked from the side.
A woman leaned casually against the edge of the desk, arms loosely folded, weight shifted onto one leg.
Yukto.
She wore a clean white suit, black tie snug against her collar, polished shoes reflecting the room's soft light.
Her purple hair was tied into a high ponytail, swaying slightly as she tilted her head.
Reika didn't look at her immediately.
"Mmm… not exactly," she said, leaning back slightly in her chair, fingers tapping once against the armrest.
"It's only natural that the world's strongest Guildmaster keeps an eye on her people, Yukto."
Yukto let out a soft laugh, her shoulders lifting slightly as she shook her head.
"Calling yourself the strongest Guildmaster, huh…" she said, a teasing edge in her voice as her eyes narrowed playfully.
"Will juess its already since you can back it up."
Reika's lips curved faintly.
"When the gates first opened… and monsters flooded through," she said, her voice calm, steady,
"I was the first to organize those who awakened."
Her fingers lifted slightly, adjusting a strand of hair behind her ear with a smooth motion.
"The first to act."
Yukto watched her closely, her smile lingering as she shifted her stance, one heel tapping lightly against the floor.
"How prideful~," she said, amused.
"So… was your brother the same?"
Reika's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention.
Her gaze shifted.
Sharp.
Long white lashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyes.
"Of course he was," she replied, her tone quieter now, but firm.
A small smile touched her lips.
"He was the most talented in the entire family."
Yukto's expression softened just a little, curiosity flickering behind her eyes.
Before she could speak again—
The sound from the iPad shifted.
Both their gazes moved back to the screen.
The helicopters hovered lower now, blades cutting harder against the wind as they approached the island where the meteor had struck.
The ocean below churned.
Waves still unsettled.
Reika leaned forward slightly, her fingers resting against the edge of the desk, eyes focused, unblinking.
Yukto straightened just a bit, her arms unfolding as she watched alongside her, the faint hum of the broadcast filling the quiet room.
The back doors of the helicopters slid open mid-air.
Wind rushed in immediately.
Figures jumped out one after another.
No hesitation.
They were dressed in a mix of modern gear and fantasy armor.
Staffs gripped tightly.
Swords secured at their sides.
They landed across the sand in staggered formation, knees bending to absorb the impact, boots digging slightly into the ground.
The helicopter lights swept over them in wide arcs.
Bright. Blinding.
Wind blasted through the trees behind them, leaves tearing loose as the forest shook under the pressure.
"They made it…" Yukto said softly, leaning forward just a little, her eyes narrowing at the screen.
"…that's a lot of Monster Hunters."
Reika didn't respond.
Her gaze stayed locked.
On screen—
The group moved into the forest.
Tight formation.
Weapons ready.
Each step measured.
Controlled.
Like trained soldiers entering hostile territory.
Branches cracked underfoot.
Leaves shifted.
At the front—
A towering man pushed ahead, muscles outlined even in the low light, a massive axe resting across his shoulder.
He slowed.
Then stopped.
Something caught his attention.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he raised a hand behind him.
A silent signal.
The others halted instantly.
He stepped forward alone, boots pressing softly against the forest floor as he approached the figure lying in the darkness.
"They found something…" Reika said, her voice low, her body leaning forward slightly, attention sharpening.
The camera on his chest adjusted as he moved closer.
Shadows shifted.
Branches swayed.
Moonlight slipped through just enough—
To reveal the figure.
White hair.
Pale lashes.
Still.
Haruto.
"That—?!" Yukto's voice rose slightly, her posture straightening as her eyes widened in shock.
Reika's expression tightened.
Just slightly.
"Why is a human here…" the man muttered under his breath, lowering his axe a bit as he looked down.
Then—
A faint glow lit up at his ear.
Red. Green.
His comm device activated.
He tapped it lightly with two fingers, expression sharpening.
"Jerry—!!" Yukto's voice came through instantly, clear and urgent, cutting straight into his ear.
Her usual playful tone was gone.
"You are to bring the person in front of you back. Immediately!"
Jerry blinked once, caught off guard.
"What?! Aren't we supposed to—"
"The original mission is dismissed."
Reika's voice cut in.
Cold. Firm.
No room for argument.
Jerry stiffened slightly.
"Your new mission is to bring him back alive," she continued, her eyes fixed on the screen, fingers pressing lightly into the desk.
"Protect him at all costs."
A pause.
"Do you understand?"
Jerry straightened fully, his grip tightening on the axe before shifting his stance.
"Yes… I understand," he replied, voice steady now.
"Consider it done."
The line cut.
He exhaled once through his nose, then turned his head slightly toward the others behind him.
"Alright, you heard her," he said, gesturing forward with a small motion of his hand.
"Let's get this job done."
Before long, they were already ascending.
Ropes tightened.
Hands gripped.
Boots lifted from the ground one after another.
The helicopter roared above them.
Wind lashed through their hair.
Salt from the ocean clung faintly to the air.
One by one, they climbed in.
Movements clean.
Practiced.
No wasted motion.
Inside, the cabin vibrated softly.
Metal walls humming.
Seats lining both sides.
Haruto lay secured on a stretcher.
Straps firm across his body.
Chest rising.
Falling slow.
Unaware.
"It's weird…" said a man in full black armor.
He adjusted the strap across his shoulder.
Fingers tapping lightly against the hilt on his back.
"Why change the mission so fast?"
His tone low.
Eyes narrowing slightly.
Jerry leaned back against the wall.
Arms loose at his sides.
But his gaze stayed locked on Haruto.
"This guy…" he muttered.
Head tilting slightly.
"…has to be important."
A woman in white and gold stepped closer.
Staff resting lightly in her grip.
Fabric brushing softly against the floor.
She leaned in.
Slow.
Curious.
"That must be it~?" she said.
Voice light.
Almost playful.
Her long pink hair slipped forward.
Strands falling across Haruto's chest.
Soft.
Unbothered by the motion of the aircraft.
She lowered herself closer.
Eyes half-lidded.
Studying his face.
"Wow~…" she whispered.
A faint smile forming.
"What a handsome guy."
She leaned even closer.
Barely a breath of space between them.
Head tilting slightly.
"Huh—!?" the armored man snapped.
Straightening in his seat.
"You call every guy handsome."
He pointed lazily toward himself.
"…You called me handsome once."
Jerry suddenly twisted toward them.
Eyes wide.
Hand pressing against his chest dramatically.
"Wait—!" he said.
Voice cracking slightly.
"You call him handsome?"
He leaned forward.
Finger pointing between them.
"I don't recall you calling me handsome, Ai."
Ai didn't even look at him at first.
She straightened slowly.
Hair sliding back over her shoulder.
Then her eyes shifted.
Flat.
Unimpressed.
"Because I didn't."
Clean.
Direct.
Jerry froze.
Blinking once.
Then twice.
An invisible arrow pierced straight through him.
Right through the chest.
He slumped back hard against the wall.
Hand clutching his heart.
"…critical damage…" he whispered.
The armored man snorted quietly.
Turning his head away.
"Anyway," he said.
Leaning back into his seat.
One arm resting behind his head.
"I'm just glad the job went smoother than expected."
Around them, the helicopter continued forward.
Blades cutting through the night sky.
City lights faint in the distance.
Inside—
Low chatter.
Soft breathing.
Metal humming.
And on the stretcher—
Haruto's fingers twitched.
Barely.
So slight it could be missed.
Then still again.
Darkness stretched without edges.
Not empty, but dense, like something pressing against his senses.
Then a ceiling slid into view.
White panels, faint light humming above them.
Haruto's vision steadied slowly, his breathing uneven before settling into a quiet rhythm.
The air smelled clean, sharp with antiseptic, carrying that unmistakable hospital stillness.
(…I'm alive…)
The thought came quietly, almost foreign in his own mind.
His fingers shifted against the sheets, testing, feeling the fabric bunch slightly under his grip.
He turned his head to the side, slow and deliberate, eyes narrowing as light slipped through the curtains.
A stretch of clear blue sky waited beyond the glass, calm in a way that felt almost insulting.
His brows pulled together slightly.
A faint tension gathered behind his eyes.
Without thinking much further, he pushed himself up, the blanket sliding off his torso in a soft fold.
His feet touched the floor, a cold surface grounding him instantly.
He stood, pausing for a fraction of a second to steady himself before moving.
Each step carried quiet intent as he crossed the room toward the glass door.
His hand wrapped around the handle.
Firm.
"Huh…?" he murmured under his breath, voice low and rough.
He pulled.
Nothing.
Locked.
The resistance made his grip tighten slightly before loosening again.
His shoulders lowered just a bit, eyes narrowing as a quiet thought passed through him.
Then—
A soft click echoed behind him.
The door opened.
Haruto didn't turn fully, only his eyes shifting sideways as someone entered.
A nurse walked in with steady steps, files pressed lightly against her chest, her gaze already scanning the room.
It paused briefly at the empty bed.
Then shifted.
Haruto had already moved.
Back on the bed.
Seated.
Still.
Like he had never left.
She approached without suspicion, leaning slightly as she began checking his condition.
Her presence came close, close enough for her breath to brush faintly against his skin.
He didn't react.
Not a flinch.
Not a glance.
His eyes stayed distant, focused somewhere far deeper than the room itself.
(…I'm alive… and I don't even know if that's a good thing.)
His thoughts moved quietly beneath the surface.
(Seraphina… explain.)
The response came instantly.
『I preserved Master from becoming one with the universe』
His eyes sharpened slightly, a flicker of tension tightening at the corner of his gaze.
(What?)
His fingers curled subtly against the sheet.
(The universe… is it gone?)
『Negative. The universe has stabilized. Core integrity restored』
A small pause followed.
His breathing shifted, just slightly.
(How? I was supposed to fuse with it. I should've lost myself.)
『Correction: Fusion is inaccurate terminology』
Haruto's head tilted faintly, eyes lowering in focus.
(Then what was it?)
The nurse adjusted something at his side, unaware of the storm moving behind his calm expression.
『Master underwent synchronization with the Universe Core』
His gaze narrowed a little more.
(…Synchronization.)
『Standard outcomes for such contact include: instant death, conceptual collapse, and narrative absorption into the universe structure』
A faint crease formed between his brows.
(Narrative absorption… meaning I stop being "me.")
His eyes drifted briefly toward the door, mind working through the implications.
『Correct. Individual identity would be lost within the system』
A quiet exhale left him.
(…Yeah. That tracks.)
『However, Master's existence deviates from standard parameters』
A faint, almost amused breath escaped him.
(Of course it does.)
His fingers tapped lightly against his thigh.
『Primary factor: Conceptual Soul Development. Master's identity exists beyond a single reality framework』
His gaze lifted slightly, understanding settling in piece by piece.
(Multiple universes… not just one anchor.)
『Secondary factor: Deus Penumbra. Interaction rules were rewritten, converting fusion into synchronization』
A quiet tension ran through him at that name.
Familiar.
Unstable.
(…Still can't fully control it.)
His jaw tightened just a fraction.
『Tertiary factor: Absolute Ward. External authority and system overwrite were rejected』
His eyes lowered again, thoughtful.
(My barrier… I barely explored it.)
The room remained still around him.
Machines quiet.
Curtains shifting slightly with the breeze.
『Conclusion: Master was not absorbed by the universe』
A brief pause.
『The universe is now integrated under Master's control』
Haruto's fingers stilled.
His gaze froze for just a moment.
Then slowly—
His eyes lifted.
(I see… so I changed the condition of fusion with the core…)
Haruto's gaze softened slightly, tension easing from his brow.
(…everyone's safe… that's good.)
He let out a slow breath, shoulders dropping just a little as relief settled into him.
Then—
(…Oh no.)
The nurse turned mid-step, one hand still holding the door half open.
Her eyes widened the moment she saw him.
Open.
Awake.
Haruto shifted, planting one hand against the mattress as he pulled himself upright.
His movements were smooth, controlled, like his body had already recalibrated.
His eyes half-lidded.
Sharp.
They locked onto her.
(…What do I even say here?)
A brief pause.
His head tilted slightly.
"Yo… where am I?" he asked, voice calm, almost casual despite the situation.
The nurse froze for a second.
Her grip tightened on the door handle.
Without breaking eye contact, her other hand moved.
Quick.
Practiced.
She slammed the red button beside the door.
A faint alarm tone pulsed out.
"Mmm… y–you're… in a hospital…" she stammered, her voice uneven, breath catching slightly between words.
Her body leaned back unconsciously.
Creating distance.
Footsteps rushed from outside.
Fast.
Urgent.
The door burst open wider as a group of doctors pushed in, coats swaying, eyes immediately locking onto Haruto.
He watched them enter.
Silent.
His expression didn't change much.
Just a slight narrowing of the eyes.
(…Yeah… this is about to turn into a lot of talking…)
His fingers drummed lightly against his knee.
(…annoying.)
Five hours later—
Haruto sat in the back of a black luxury car, his head resting lightly against the cool window.
City lights stretched and bent across the glass, sliding past in long streaks of color.
The interior was quiet.
Soft white lighting reflected off spotless leather seats, giving the space a polished, almost unreal stillness.
He shifted slightly, fingers loosening against his lap before tightening again.
"Where… are you taking me?" Haruto asked, voice low and calm, his gaze still fixed outside.
The driver adjusted the wheel subtly, his hat dipping just enough to shadow his eyes.
"Lady Reika has instructed me to bring you to the main house, young master," he replied, tone respectful and steady.
Haruto's eyes narrowed faintly.
His jaw flexed once.
(…Damn it… why did the universe send me back here…)
His fingers pressed harder into his thigh.
(…this universe…)
Seraphina answered without delay.
『Master's return was not coincidence. You exceeded the assimilation threshold of the Universe Core』
Haruto's gaze shifted slightly, attention turning inward.
『Your Soul Anchor initiated recall. The Core redirected you to your origin reality to prevent structural collapse』
A brief pause followed.
Haruto's brow lowered just a fraction.
(…Meaning?)
『Master cannot become part of a universe. Your existence exceeds what a single framework can contain』
His eyes flickered with quiet understanding.
(…So it pushed me back here…)
His breathing slowed.
(…Even knowing I could destroy this place just by existing…)
A small pause lingered.
(…but it didn't… because of you.)
『Correct』
Haruto leaned his head back again, gaze half-lidded as he watched the city fade.
(…I might actually be the strongest thing alive.)
A soft breath slipped out of him.
No pride.
Just a quiet conclusion.
The car slowed to a stop.
A red light.
Haruto's eyes drifted upward, catching the glow of a massive billboard above the street.
The image shifted into focus—
A girl sat quietly in falling snow.
Half-white, half-black hair resting over her shoulders.
A dark kimono wrapped around her form.
A red umbrella tilted above her.
Cats gathered at her side.
Small movements.
Soft life in the still frame.
Her hand reached down gently, fingers brushing their fur.
Haruto's eyes softened slightly.
"…Mmm."
Recognition came instantly.
(Velmaria…)
A faint smile touched his lips, barely forming before settling again.
(…She really went all in with modeling.)
The light turned green.
The car moved forward smoothly, leaving the city behind as the roads narrowed.
Trees grew denser.
Tall trunks lined the path, their shadows stretching long across the road.
The air felt different.
Quieter.
Haruto lifted his hand slightly, pressing it against his chest.
Fingers tightening unconsciously.
(…It's been a long time…)
His gaze lowered.
(…memories I buried are starting to surface.)
The car slowed again.
Then stopped.
A massive mansion stood ahead, its structure rising tall against the bright sky.
Warm light spilled from its windows, faint reflections shimmering across the surface behind it.
The driver stepped out quickly, circling around before opening the door for him.
Haruto stepped out of the car, his shoes landing softly against the stone.
His eyes lifted immediately, taking in the scale of the mansion.
Calm.
Measured.
His hands slipped into his pockets as he stood there.
"Thank you… for opening the door," he said simply, turning his head slightly toward the driver.
The driver nodded with a small, respectful smile, stepping back just enough to give him space.
The driver closed the door with a soft, careful motion.
The engine hummed once, then the car rolled away down the path, headlights fading between the trees.
Haruto stood still for a brief second.
His gaze followed the car until it disappeared.
Then he turned.
He walked up the four stone steps, his pace steady, each step landing with a quiet echo against the night.
The double doors loomed ahead, tall and familiar.
He pushed them open.
The interior greeted him with silence.
Thick.
Almost suffocating.
Haruto stepped inside, his eyes moving slowly across the hallway as if searching for something he couldn't name.
His fingers shifted slightly in his pockets.
"…Huh."
The sound left him quietly.
He stopped near a door that sat slightly open.
Warm light spilled through the gap, cutting into the dim hallway.
He raised a hand and pushed it open gently.
"It's about time… dear brother."
The voice reached him before the room fully revealed itself.
Reika sat on the sofa with her back facing him, one hand resting near a cup of tea placed neatly on the table.
Her posture straight.
Composed.
Haruto paused in the doorway.
Just for a moment.
"…Sister."
The word came out lower than usual, his chest tightening as he said it.
He stepped inside.
The living room opened wide around him, grand and precise, with tall columns and detailed ceilings stretching overhead.
Soft lighting filled the space, reflecting faintly off polished surfaces and glass.
Reika lifted her hand and placed the cup down with a soft clink.
The sound carried in the quiet.
She stood.
Then turned.
And walked toward him.
Her steps were slow.
Measured.
They stopped in front of each other.
Eyes met.
Neither spoke.
Their expressions stayed still, almost unreadable, tension hanging quietly between them.
Then—
Her fist moved.
Fast.
Sharp.
It struck his face cleanly.
Haruto's head shifted slightly with the impact, his hair moving with it, but his body didn't step back.
Reika's expression broke.
Sadness flooding through her eyes as they shimmered with tears.
"Why… brother… why… why…" she said, her voice shaking as she hit him again.
And again.
Her fists weren't controlled anymore.
They trembled with emotion.
Haruto didn't block.
Didn't move.
His arms stayed at his sides.
He took every hit.
"You said you'd never leave us… no matter what…" she continued, her voice cracking, breath uneven.
"…your own words…"
Haruto's eyes widened slightly.
Something shifted in him.
Without thinking further, he stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace.
Tight.
Firm.
Like holding onto something he almost lost.
"You're right… I did," he said softly, his voice low against her ear.
He tightened his hold slightly, closing any space between them.
Reika stiffened at first.
Her fist still raised behind his back.
It trembled.
"I didn't abandon you… or Yuna… I…"
He paused.
His breath catching slightly.
"…I didn't have a choice."
The words came out quieter this time.
Reika's brows pulled together faintly.
Confusion breaking through her anger.
"…What do you mean… no choice?" she asked, her voice softer now, her chin slowly resting against his shoulder.
Haruto closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"I'll tell you everything… I don't want to keep things from you anymore…"
A small pause followed.
"…that's also why I left."
He slowly pulled back, just enough to look at her face.
"Let's calm down first… alright?" he added, his tone gentler now.
His thumb lifted, brushing lightly under her eye, wiping away a tear that had started to fall.
Reika nodded slightly, her breathing still uneven as she tried to steady herself.
"…Okay."
She lowered her gaze briefly, then wiped the rest of her tears with her sleeve, her movements smaller now.
Haruto watched her quietly.
His expression softening just a little.
(…I'm glad I got to see her again.)
His head tilted slightly as he looked at her, eyes lingering, the room settling back into a fragile silence around them.
They both sat down on the sofa together.
Reika settled beside Haruto elegantly, folding her legs onto the cushion
while
wrapping her arms loosely around them.
Her chin rested softly on her knees as she looked toward Haruto from the side.
The warm lights above painted soft gold across the room.
Rain tapped lightly against the giant windows behind them.
The scent of tea still lingered quietly in the air.
(Is it really right to tell her...?)
(What if she starts fearing me after this...)
Haruto kept his fingers interwoven tightly over his lap.
His thumbs rubbed faintly against each other without him noticing.
The tension in his shoulders refused to loosen.
(It must be serious...)
(I've never seen him hesitate this much before...)
Reika's eyes softened slightly while watching him.
Her grip around her legs loosened little by little.
Even her breathing became quieter.
"This is going to take a while..." Haruto said softly.
His voice carried an unusual weight behind it.
"But trust me, sister..."
"Everything I'm about to say is true."
"So please... believe me."
Reika gave a small smile.
A fragile one.
"Brother..." she said gently.
"You lying to me is the last thing I'm worried about right now."
For the next two hours Haruto explained everything to her.
From the moment he was dragged into another universe by an unknown existence.
To awakening powers beyond human understanding.
He spoke about kingdoms.
Wars.
Monsters beneath unfamiliar skies.
About dying once.
Then waking up as something no longer human.
The room stayed silent except for his voice.
Even the rain outside seemed quieter while he spoke.
He explained the battle against Axiom.
The collapse of universes.
The sacrifice he made to stop everything from being erased.
Reika listened to every word without interrupting him once.
No disbelief crossed her face.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Only silence.
And those golden eyes fixed on him carefully.
"The worst part..." Haruto muttered quietly.
His intertwined fingers tightened harder against each other.
"I killed billions of people."
"No guilt."
"No hesitation."
"The human Haruto from back then is already dead."
His voice lowered further after that.
Almost like the words themselves weighed too much.
"I'm all that remains now..."
"But I promise..."
"I'm still your brother."
Reika slowly loosened her legs from the sofa.
The cushion shifted softly beneath her movement.
She stood up quietly.
Then walked in front of him.
And pulled him into her embrace.
Haruto's face pressed gently against her stomach.
Warmth surrounded him instantly.
Soft fabric.
Shaky breathing.
The faint trembling in her arms.
"That's enough..." Reika whispered softly.
Her voice uneven near the end.
Haruto's eyes widened slightly.
"Even after all of that..." she continued quietly.
"You're still my little brother."
"So stop worrying."
"Huh..."
Tears gathered slowly in Haruto's eyes.
The city lights outside blurred through the moisture building in his vision.
"You did your best," Reika said gently.
Her fingers sliding through his white hair in slow strokes.
Haruto let out a quiet sob against her stomach.
Trying to suppress it.
Failing little by little.
"You may be a god now..." Reika continued.
Her own voice trembling faintly now.
"But you're still a child to me."
"No child should've gone through all of that."
Her arms tightened slightly around him.
"You survived."
"You protected the people connected to you."
"Anyone in your position would've done the same."
"I was scared..." Haruto admitted quietly.
His arms wrapped tighter around her waist.
"Scared of forgetting who I used to be."
"I know you were," Reika whispered.
Her fingers continued brushing through his hair gently.
"But you don't have to carry that alone anymore."
"We're here now."
(This is my fault...)
(If only I noticed sooner...)
Reika's eyes lowered slightly.
A serious light flickered behind them for a moment.
(I'll fix this...)
A few moments later Haruto rested quietly across Reika's lap.
Long white strands covered part of his eyes while she continued stroking his hair slowly.
"Sorry for showing you such a pathetic side of me," Haruto muttered softly.
"Don't say that," Reika replied immediately.
A faint smile touched her lips while her fingers combed gently through his hair.
"I'm relieved you finally opened up to me."
"You always kept everything to yourself."
"Yeah..." Haruto said quietly.
His half-lidded gaze drifted toward the ceiling lights above them.
"Father always used to say men should keep their problems to themselves."
"The world doesn't care."
A small awakened smile crossed Reika's face.
Her eyes closing briefly at the memory.
"That really does sound exactly like him."
Right then the phone resting on the table suddenly vibrated sharply.
The sound cut through the quiet room immediately.
Both their eyes shifted toward it at the same time.
A notification bubble slowly lit up across the screen.
"Tck..." Reika clicked her tongue softly.
An annoyed look crossed her face while she glanced at the glowing message on her phone screen.
The sender name rested there clearly.
—Yukto
"Boss!! We've run into a problem at the guild. We need your aid..."
"It looks serious," Haruto said quietly.
He shifted his head slightly while resting against her lap, trying to look up at her face.
Unfortunately her chest blocked most of his view.
"I'm not going," Reika muttered immediately.
Her cheeks puffed slightly while she looked away like a stubborn child.
"I want to spend time with you."
Haruto slowly lifted himself from her lap.
The sudden emptiness made Reika blink faintly for some reason.
He sat beside her quietly instead.
The sofa dipped softly beneath his weight.
"I know you do," Haruto said softly while turning toward her.
"And I want the same thing."
"But people are asking for your help right now."
"You should go."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Small.
Gentle around the corners.
"We still have endless time together."
"Sigh..."
Reika stood up slowly after hearing that.
A tiny smile finally breaking through her expression.
She placed both hands on her hips while towering over Haruto slightly.
Long black hair slid over her shoulders smoothly.
"Even though you're my little brother..." Reika said with a soft giggle.
"You feel more like the older sibling sometimes."
Haruto blinked once in surprise.
Then a quiet chuckle escaped him instinctively.
Soft.
Natural.
Real.
Reika's golden eyes widened immediately.
The colors in her expression brightened instantly.
(HUH...?!)
(He actually chuckled...?)
Her heartbeat skipped slightly.
Even her fingers twitched faintly at her sides.
(It's been eight years since I heard that...)
(I'm not telling him yet...)
"So brother..." Reika said lightly after calming herself.
Her hips shifted slightly while she tilted her head toward him.
"Do you want to come with me to the guild?"
"Mmm..." Haruto hummed thoughtfully.
His fingers brushed lightly through his white hair.
"No... not yet."
"But can I go see Yuna?"
Reika blinked once at the sudden question.
Then her eyes softened immediately.
"Of course you can," she replied gently.
"But she's still at school right now."
"Oh..."
A faint disappointed look crossed Haruto's face.
Barely visible.
Yet still there.
"It's her first year of high school if I remember correctly."
Reika slowly raised an eyebrow after noticing his expression.
The corner of her lips lifted slightly.
"Don't make that face~" she said softly.
One finger tapping lightly against her hip.
"Just use one of father's supercars to pick her up."
"There's still some time before school ends."
"Good idea," Haruto replied while standing up from the sofa.
"I'll do that then."
(I could just run there...)
(I'm faster than any car anyway...)
"See you later then, brother," Reika said while glancing toward the golden watch around her wrist.
"Yeah..." Haruto answered softly.
The words still felt strangely unfamiliar leaving his mouth.
"See you later."
Reika began walking toward the door slowly.
Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor.
Right before leaving she stopped briefly.
Then looked back at Haruto one more time.
An unreadable emotion lingered quietly in her golden eyes.
(He's not going to disappear again...)
(No... he won't...)
She forced herself to keep walking after that.
The door closed softly behind her moments later.
Haruto looked upward toward the ceiling lights.
Then ran a hand slowly through his smooth white hair.
A faint satisfied expression rested across his face.
(I'm really happy...)
(All I ever wanted was to stay beside the people I love...)
His eyes lowered slightly after that.
(But power just refuses to stop chasing me...)
『Affirmative.』
Seraphina's voice echoed calmly inside his mind.
『What Master stated may be correct.』
『Ordinarily, no being is meant to transcend the universe they are registered to.』
"I know that," Haruto replied softly.
His hand lowered slowly back to his side.
"But the Four True Dragons managed it too, didn't they?"
『That is because—』
"Anyway..." Haruto interrupted gently before Seraphina could continue.
"I shouldn't waste time."
A silver light suddenly engulfed his body completely.
The living room vanished instantly afterward.
Haruto reappeared inside a massive white garage moments later.
Bright ceiling lights reflected across polished marble floors.
Rows of expensive supercars rested around him silently.
A black jet stood near the center like a sleeping beast.
"Mmm..." Haruto hummed softly while walking forward.
"Which one should I take?"
He passed by a sleek Lamborghini Revuelto first.
Then a silver Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut resting nearby.
His reflection slid briefly across their polished surfaces while he walked.
"Guess you're the lucky winner," Haruto muttered softly.
He stopped in front of a deep ink-black Porsche 911 GT3.
The glossy body reflected the white garage lights like liquid obsidian.