Half a month later.
In the small park outside the Kamado residence.
Asuka stood alone by the lake, staring blankly at his reflection in the water.
These past few days, he had lived a very peaceful life.
Every day, he guided Sumire's training, learned common knowledge about the Soul Society from Kaien, inquired about Shinobu Kocho's situation in the Soul Society, and occasionally helped Haruri with the housework.
This comfortable life made him a little dazed, as if the previous slaughter and battles were just a dream.
But he knew he didn't belong here.
His companions were still waiting for him in another world.
"Homesick, young man?" an old voice suddenly rang out behind him.
Asuka spun around, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
An old man wearing a black tailcoat and leaning on a jeweled cane was looking at him with a smile.
Zelretch.
"You're... that person from that night?" Asuka recognized him.
Although Kaien hadn't seen Zelretch take action with his own eyes in the underground Great Cavern that night due to the time stop, he had told Asuka that a very bizarre entity had interfered with everything.
Coupled with the black-haired youth mentioning that an extremely powerful force had intervened in the battlefield and erased Zouken, the residual fluctuations were very similar to this moment...
It must be this person.
"A pleasure to meet you, visitor from another world."
Zelretch bowed slightly, his movements elegant and unhurried. "I am Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. You may call me Zelretch of the Jewels."
"Zelretch of the Jewels?" Asuka frowned. "What do you want with me? I'm not buying any jewelry."
"Haha, you are quite amusing. I am here to thank you."
Zelretch walked up to Asuka, looking at the ripples on the lake's surface. "Thank you for leading the Heroic Spirits to stop that corrupted Holy Grail, and thank you for saving this worldline."
"I was just trying to protect myself, and I helped a friend along the way," Asuka said flatly.
"Well, regardless of the motive, the result is that you accomplished something even I found troublesome."
Zelretch smiled. "The bond between you and that little girl even twisted the world and causality, creating a miracle... This truly opened this old man's eyes."
"Even now, I find it incredible. That little girl... including her family and past, it's as if they suddenly jumped into my observation range..."
"This must also be the impact you brought."
He looked at Asuka, his gaze turning serious.
"I know you do not belong here. Your soul and power are completely out of place in this world."
"The reason you cannot return is that the world treats you as a foreign object—it can neither absorb you nor expel you."
"So what are you trying to say?" Asuka asked in confusion.
"As a token of my gratitude, I can lend you a hand."
Zelretch raised the jeweled cane in his hand, and the gemstone at the top radiated a prismatic light.
"I can use the power of the Second Magic to open a temporary passage in the world barrier and try to lock onto the parallel world you originally came from."
"You mean... you can send me back?" Asuka was somewhat surprised.
This was the first time he had heard of such a thing from anyone other than the black-haired youth.
"Exactly." Zelretch nodded. "Not just you, but that Berserker named Kaien as well. I can send you both back together."
"However, there is only one chance," he said solemnly. "I have been researching this matter these past few days and found that opening a passage between the two worlds is no easy feat. The passage will be highly unstable and can only be maintained for a very short time."
"Are you willing to leave right now?"
Asuka looked at the old man, then glanced back in the direction of the Kamado residence.
'Hey, is this guy reliable?'
It was always better to be cautious when away from home. Asuka hastily called out to the youth in his mind to make a judgment.
Through Asuka's eyes, the black-haired youth carefully observed Zelretch of the Jewels.
Their lines of sight seemed to intersect through Asuka's gaze.
Zelretch of the Jewels bowed slightly toward Asuka, seemingly expressing his respect to the entity within him.
With this silent endorsement, Asuka no longer hesitated.
"...Yeah, send us back."
Asuka's eyes were resolute. "That is where I truly belong."
A moment later, Kaien was hurriedly called over by Asuka.
"What? We're leaving right now? So suddenly?" Kaien still had half an unfinished piece of watermelon in his mouth, his face full of shock.
"Cut the crap, this is a rare opportunity," Asuka urged.
Before Kaien could say anything else, Zelretch waved his cane, and the air in front of them began to distort.
A vortex radiating a familiar Reishi aura slowly took shape.
"Is this... the path to the Soul Society?" Kaien felt that nostalgic aura, a flash of excitement in his eyes.
Asuka paused, taking one last look at this world.
He didn't go to say goodbye to Sumire.
Because he knew that partings were always sad.
Rather than separating in tears, it was better to just disappear quietly like this.
'Live well, kid...'
He muttered silently in his heart.
"Let's go, Captain Kaien."
"Oh! When we get back, I'm definitely going to the Rukongai to drink to my heart's content!"
The two exchanged a glance and stepped forward simultaneously, entering the bizarre and dazzling vortex.
Watching their disappearing backs, Zelretch smiled and lowered his cane.
"Have a pleasant journey, heroes from another world."
Early the next morning.
Sumire Kamado woke up early as usual, ran excitedly up to the second floor, and pushed open the door to the guest room.
"Mr. Asuka! Uncle Kaien! Breakfast is ready! Today is..."
Her voice abruptly stopped.
The room was completely empty, the bedding neatly folded.
On the table lay only a broken old sword—the weapon she had once used in battle.
Under the sword lay a note with only a short line of text, the handwriting messy but firm:
Sumire held the note, standing blankly in place.
She knew this was Mr. Asuka's handwriting.
"So you just left like that..."
The morning light spilled onto her face, illuminating a crystal-clear teardrop.
"...You didn't even say goodbye, Mr. Asuka."
She knew that Mr. Asuka was a Heroic Spirit from another world, and this day would come sooner or later.
It was just that when this day suddenly arrived, it still made her heart ache.
Sumire wiped her tears, carefully tucked the note into her clothes, and then picked up the broken sword.
She walked to the window, looking at the rising sun outside, a radiant smile appearing on her face.
"I will."
"I'll take good care of Mom, and live on well in this world... for your sakes too!"
Bathed in sunlight, Fuyuki City welcomed a new day.
And on the other side of distant spacetime, the legend belonging to the Soul Reaper had only just begun.