Aiko gently pulls away from Haru's embrace, struggling to stop her tears, and says in a broken tone.
Aiko:
[We need to come up with another plan... this time, we have to go after them with more people...]
Haru, with a broken tone, says.
Haru:
[What's the point of it all?]
Aiko's trembling eyes widen.
Aiko:
[What do you mean?]
Haru continues, crying.
Haru:
[Tohito is dead... if he's not here, what's the point?]
Liko slaps Haru hard across the face. Haru's tearful eyes widen in shock.
Haru:
[Huh?]
Aiko's tears start to fall, and she says in an angry and broken tone.
Aiko:
[What was Tohito's last request before he died?]
Haru pauses for a moment.
Hedro:
[That I stay alive.]
Aiko lets out a painful scream.
Aiko:
[Then you have no right to give up, you jerk!]
Haru struggles to get up from the ground, saying in pain.
Haru:
[You're right... we don't have time to mourn... we have to stay alive... that's what Tohito wanted...]
Aiko forces a smile, but it comes from the heart.
Aiko:
[That's right, that's what he wanted.]
When Aiko thinks about the days she spent with Tohito, her heart aches, as if a knife were being driven deeper into it. Aiko pulls a pair of gloves from her pocket and holds them close.
- - - - -
On a snowy night exactly one year ago, Aiko was walking with Tohito in the city center. Unlike usual, the city center was eerily quiet. The shops were closed, and hardly anyone was around. Tohito headed toward a metal bench near a fish shop, and Aiko followed him. Tohito sat on the bench and gestured to the empty space beside him.
Tohito:
[Wanna sit?]
Aiko shyly sat next to Tohito and mumbled to herself.
Aiko:
[It's so cold... I wish I had worn gloves.]
Tohito takes off his gloves and hands them to Aiko. Aiko looks surprised.
Aiko:
[What's this?]
Tohito gives a gentle smile.
Tohito:
[Aren't you cold?]
Aiko responds shyly.
Aiko:
[What about you?]
Tohito:
[I don't get cold.]
Aiko hesitantly puts on the gloves and says in an awkward tone.
Aiko:
[Thanks.]
Tohito blushes slightly.
T Ito:
[It's no big deal.]
Aiko gives a kind smile.
Aiko:
[No... it's really special.]
- - - - - - -
Haru turns to Aiko and says.
Haru:
[So, what do we do now?]
Aiko pulls a radio from her bag.
Aiko:
[First, I need to contact headquarters.]
Aiko presses the call button, but nothing happens.
Haru:
[Is it broken?]
Aiko's hands start to tremble.
Aiko:
[No... they've jammed our communications...]
Haru's eyes widen as he realizes the situation.
Haru:
[So that means...]
Aiko:
[Exactly, it means we're on our own now.]
Haru:
[If Tohito were here, what would he do...]
- - - - - - - -
Zamfiu lets out a quiet sigh.
Zamfiu:
[Listen, Tohito, I know you need to go back, but don't you think you should think it over a bit more? Sure, no one has noticed yet, but you changed a lot from the last deal. It wasn't just a simple thing—it was part of your humanity.]
Tohito responds in a cold, dry tone.
Tohito:
[So what? You really think that matters to me? The only thing that matters now is getting back, so let's get this damn deal done quick.]
Tohito's bright blue eyes begin to darken. Zamfiu frowns.
Zamfiu:
[Tohito... do you really think you're strong enough to defeat me? I'm a transdimensional being.]
Tohito replies in an emotionless tone.
Tohito:
[We can find out... either way, I'm not holding back. You're the one who took part of my humanity...]
Tohito clenches his fist, and his shadow swords appear in his hands, like gas turning to solid ice in less than a second. Zamfiu narrows his eyes.
Zamfiu:
[This is my domain, Tohito. Your chances are less than zero.]
A black scythe forms in Ramfiu's hands.
Zamfiu:
[You still have a chance to change your mind.]
Tohito smirks.
Tohito:
[Come here.]
Zamfiu slowly closes his eyes.
Tohito:
[What are you doing?]
In a fraction of a second, Zamfiu appears behind Tohito, swiftly adjusts his scythe, and swings it with full force toward Tohito's neck. Tohito whispers under his breath.
Tohito:
[Shatter.]
The scythe shatters like glass a millimeter from Tohito's neck, its fragments floating in the air. Tohito swings his sword diagonally toward Zamfiu's stomach with a speed surpassing light. Zamfiu reacts just in time, receiving only a small wound on his shadow-like stomach. Blood drips upward, as if gravity were reversed. Tohito gives a faint smirk.
Tohito:
[Even with at least 10,000 years of life, you're still an idiot. You gave me these powers. I might not match you in the real world, but in the void, my power grows just like yours.]
Tohito extends his hand forward and speaks in a crazed tone.
Tohito:
[Let's make a new deal. I'll let you live, but only if you give me more power and send me back to the real world.]
Zamfiu's body begins to tremble. In his 10,000 years of existence, this is the first time he's been this terrified.
Zamfiu:
[You... you... who are you?]
Tohito gives a dry smile.
Tohito:
[I'm the monster you created, a monster who'll do anything to keep even a scratch off his friends.]
Zamfiu tries to stop his trembling.
Zamfiu:
[No... no matter... what you do... I won't... give you... power.]
Tohito's dry smile fades.
Tohito:
[Then I'll take it myself.]
At those words, Zamfiu puts all his strength into his legs, but before he can do anything else, he feels a searing pain in his chest. Looking down, he sees Tohito's hand piercing his chest, ripping out his heart. Tohito gently squeezes the heart, and it explodes like a small bomb, painting the void with blood. Tohito adds in a cold tone.
Tohito:
[But in the end, you stayed the same aimless, useless creature... with no progress.]
Tohito whispers under his breath.
Tohito:
[Absorb.]
Zamfiu's body turns into magical energy and is absorbed into Tohito's body. Tohito's aura explodes massively, becoming terrifyingly powerful. His blue eyes and golden hair begin to turn black, as if repainting a pre-colored canvas. Tohito gives an excited smile.
Tohito:
[Let's go have some fun.]
- - - - - -
Mofa grabs Tohito's corpse by his clothes and drags it toward an empty space. The area is filled with dust and pebbles. Mofa mutters under his breath.
Mofa:
[You jerk... do you know how long it'll take for these wounds to heal?]
Mofa smirks.
Mofa:
[Either way, I won, and he's gone to eternal sleep now.]
Mofa orders Numbers 1 to 64.
Mofa:
[Go and bring me the other one who escaped, dead or alive, doesn't matter.]
Numbers 1 to 64 respond in unison.
1 to 64:
[Yes, sir.]
They all vanish simultaneously. Mofa gives a sadistic smile and stares at Tohito's corpse.
Mofa:
[Now, what do I do with this skel-]
Before Mofa can finish his sentence, he feels a intense choking in his throat, clutching it with his hands. He whispers with difficulty.
Mofa:
[W... what... is... happening?]
His neck snaps with a loud crack. His lifeless body falls onto the stony ground. Tohito's eyes slowly open, and he says with a playful smirk.
Tohito:
[Looks like I won.]
Tohito says in a playful tone.
Tohito:
[Let's go save the others.]