In a pristine white neighboring realm…
Yatogami Tohka was hovering within a pure white dimension. Around her, countless crystal fragments floated, reflecting an illusory glow.
Here, there was no concept of time, no sign of life—just a silent, everlasting void.
She was curled up, purple hair cascading like a waterfall, covering half her face.
"A peaceful life…"
Tohka murmured, her soft voice quickly swallowed by the emptiness. She raised her hand, summoning a semi-transparent screen in front of her—a light interface from the chat group.
This chat window, displaying messages from various worlds, was her only way to communicate with the outside and the sole thread keeping her mind conscious and intact.
She scanned through all the conversations, her violet eyes especially stirred by Megumi Kato's remark about "a peaceful life."
"Peaceful…"
Tohka repeated that word, absentmindedly tracing her fingers across the screen as her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
As a sealed Spirit, she existed in a crack between this adjacent dimension and the real world. Whenever a Spirit's powers manifested in the real world, it caused a "spacequake" with catastrophic consequences. Tohka didn't want to hurt anyone. Yet she was increasingly tormented by the loneliness of being trapped here in nothingness.
Especially after the chat group's appearance gave her a glimmer of awareness and a fleeting taste of freedom—having briefly felt what it was like to "live," she now found this isolation almost unbearable.
"I really… want to see the outside world…"
Burying her face in her knees, Tohka's voice trembled. She longed for the bustling streets, the laughter of people, the warm sunlight—all of which were forever out of reach in this empty space. But any urge to appear in the real world was crushed by the fear she might hurt someone.
"If I showed myself, would people get hurt…"
She lifted her head, eyes flickering with inner conflict.
"Still… I'm so lonely…"
At that moment, a figure popped into her mind—Rei Ao. Though they'd only met a few times, Tohka felt a strange sense of trust toward him.
"If it were Rei Ao-kun…"
A slight blush crossed her cheeks, and her fingers unconsciously tangled together.
"Would he understand how I feel? Would he…help me?"
Once that thought took root, it grew like a seed in her heart. She found herself daydreaming about what would happen if Rei Ao came to her world. Would he take her by the hand and lead her out of this barren realm? Would he protect her from human hostility? Would he…be someone she could rely on?
"What am I even thinking…"
Tohka quickly shook her head, trying to banish these embarrassing notions. Yet the tiny spark of hope refused to fade.
…
Meanwhile, in another world…
Couronne sat on a large rock at the edge of a human village, gazing at the distant sky darkened by past wars, the dust and smoke slowly dissipating.
"A peaceful life…"
She repeated the phrase from the chat group and clenched the rough surface of the rock with her fingers. In this world of sixteen races, humans were the weakest—no magic, no special abilities, and mere survival was an everyday struggle. At any moment, conflicts among other races could spill over, forcing humans to flee once again.
Humans lived in constant fear and uncertainty.
"A peaceful life… feels like a luxury we'll never afford," Couronne whispered, a hint of frustration glinting in her beautiful eyes.
She watched the villagers go about their day. Kids played in the dirt, women prepared meager meals, men stood guard, ever alert. This was the entire human race—fragile yet stubbornly clinging to life.
"Couronne."
A familiar voice broke her train of thought. She turned to see her younger brother Riku approaching. Though still young, he bore the heavy responsibility of being the village leader. His short silver hair fluttered in the wind, red eyes filled with concern.
"You've been pretty distracted lately. Is something wrong?"
His tone was calm, but tinged with worry.
Couronne quickly closed her chat group screen, forcing a small smile.
"It's nothing, I was just thinking."
Riku studied her face for a moment, then sighed softly.
"You've never been good at lying."
Her shoulders slumped, but still, she couldn't reveal the existence of a "cross-world chat group." It was too bizarre—and might burden Riku unnecessarily.
"Really, there's nothing. Maybe I'm just tired."
She tried to change the subject.
"How's the village holding up?"
Riku knew she was avoiding the question but didn't press. He simply answered, "Same as always. But the demon race seems restless."
A chill ran through Couronne. Even the slightest move by any other race could spell disaster for humans—maybe force them to abandon the settlement they'd struggled so hard to build. Humans were like leaves in the wind, never able to settle safely.
"Riku…"
Couronne spoke up softly, almost inaudible.
"If… there was an opportunity to save Imanity—one that might carry unknown risks—what would you do?"
Riku's body visibly tensed. He stared at her for a few seconds.
"I'd take that chance," he said, voice deep and resolute.
"Because we can't afford not to."
With that, he turned and left, leaving Couronne alone on the rock with swirling emotions.
"Take the chance…"
She repeated under her breath, gazing again at the smoke-shrouded horizon. Her thoughts wandered back to the other members in the chat group—those powerful beings from different worlds—and to Rei Ao, the man they mentioned who had just helped save an entire world.
If… if she asked him for help, could he really change Imanity's fate? Would the price be just… her? She'd never cared about paying that price herself—her only fear was that it might all be in vain.
Couronne's heart wrestled with itself as never before: she yearned to change her people's future, but she feared the unknown. Riku's words resonated: in a hopeless situation, perhaps taking a risk was the only real choice.