Ayaka didn't scream.
She couldn't.
The moment the Fifth Law tore the memory from her, the world went silent — not around her, but inside her. A hollow shock rippled through her chest, spreading outward like frost crawling across glass.
Her knees buckled.
Her breath hitched.
Her dawnlight flickered violently, then dimmed, then steadied — but wrong.
Off‑balance.
Incomplete.
Kaito caught her before she hit the ground.
"Ayaka— Ayaka, look at me—"
She blinked up at him, eyes wide, unfocused, trembling.
"Kaito… something's… missing."
He held her face gently, panic rising in his voice. "What did you give up? What did you—"
Ayaka opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Not because she didn't want to speak.
Because she didn't know.
Her voice cracked. "I… I don't remember."
Kaito's heart dropped.
He turned — fury blazing — toward the Fifth Law.
"What did you take from her?"
The Fifth Law's shifting form rippled with memories that weren't its own.
"The Echo surrendered a memory of equal weight to death."
Kaito's aura flared violently. "Which one?"
The Fifth Law answered without hesitation.
"The moment she first realised she loved you."
Kaito froze.
Ayaka stared at him, confused, frightened, lost.
"I… loved you…?"
Her voice was small.
Fragile.
Like a child asking about a story she'd never heard.
Kaito's breath shattered.
"Ayaka… yes. You loved me."
She frowned, trying to reach for something that wasn't there.
"I… I believe you. But I don't… feel it."
Kaito's chest tightened painfully.
Ayaka touched her heart, trembling.
"There's a space here. Like something should be there. Something warm. Something important. But it's just… empty."
Kaito pulled her into his arms, holding her as if she might disappear.
"Ayaka, I'm so sorry. I'm so—"
She pushed back gently, looking up at him with eyes full of confusion and guilt.
"Kaito… I don't want to hurt you. But I don't remember loving you. I don't remember when it happened. I don't remember how it felt."
Kaito swallowed hard.
"But you still care about me."
Ayaka nodded instantly. "Yes. Yes, I care. I trust you. I feel safe with you. I want to protect you. I want to stay with you."
Her voice softened.
"But the… love… the moment it began… it's gone."
Kaito closed his eyes.
The Fifth Law stepped forward.
"The Echo's sacrifice is complete."
Kaito turned on it, aura blazing with fury.
"Give it back."
"Memory cannot be restored."
"Then take something from me instead!"
"You have nothing equal to death."
Kaito's aura cracked.
Ayaka grabbed his hand.
"Kaito… stop. Please."
He looked at her — really looked — and saw the truth.
She still loved him.
She just didn't remember when she started.
The Fifth Law's voice echoed through the blank realm.
"The Ascendant is defined."
The ground trembled.
"The Echo is altered."
Ayaka's dawnlight flickered.
Kaito pulled her close.
"What happens now?"
The Fifth Law turned toward the horizon.
"Now the Sixth Law awakens."
Ayaka stiffened.
Kaito's aura surged.
"What does the Sixth Law govern?"
The Fifth Law answered without turning.
"Emotion."
Ayaka's breath caught.
Kaito's heart dropped.
The Fifth Law vanished.
And the Sixth Law opened its eyes.