"A-are you sure... Sophie?"
"Yes, please just go now. I don't know if I can keep it together like this if you keep hesitating..." Sophie managed to say, biting her upper lip a couple times.
The silence that followed was deafening; Senzo felt himself hold back tears as he tried to process everything.
Yo and Magi, on the other hand, just stood next to each other, observing everything that was happening.
They had long since made up their minds; if they could be together with the Major once more, then they didn't care where they would be.
Exchanging glances, they could see the determination in each other's eyes, and for the first time in a while, they both chuckled a little, but they made sure Sophie and the others wouldn't notice it.
They had a much harder choice to make after all.
"I'm sorry. And I promise you two that I will do everything to make sure I can return here as fast as possible."
"T-thanks..." Sophie muttered, trying to keep a strong front as she stared at the ground, hoping some kind of miracle would happen.
Momiji, on the other hand, just stood right behind her, softly massaging her shoulders with a stoic expression on her face.
Well, there's nothing I can do here even though I would've liked to go with him...
Her mind was a complete mess, and she was staring straight at Senzo even though she didn't mean to.
"..."
Senzo gulped a couple of times trying to get his shit together, but it was much harder than he had expected.
"Haah."
He took a couple of deep breaths and finally steadied himself with the help of the Taiji energy circulating inside his body.
"Are you two ready?" he then asked Yo and Magi.
"Yes..."
Magi replied, trying not to look in the direction of the two women.
Yo didn't even reply because he didn't have the heart to; he just nodded and kept his eyes aimed at the ground.
Without hesitation Senzo took his phone out of his pocket and quickly pressed [CLAIM] so he didn't have to let Momiji and Sophie suffer anymore.
And just like that, he vanished from the room.
The moment Senzo's body vanished, Magi and Yo both saw something fantastical appear in front of them.
╔══════════════════════════════════╗
DIMENSIONAL TRANSFER REQUEST
╚══════════════════════════════════╝
User [Senzo Kazuko] has been granted permission.
to bring companions to Earth (Dimension: #77231-A).
You have been selected as a potential companion.
WARNING: This choice is PERMANENT.
- Accepting will transfer you to Earth immediately.
- You will retain all memories and abilities.
- Return to this world is not guaranteed
- Time flows differently between dimensions.
Do you accept this transfer?
[ YES ] [ NO ]
Time to decide: 60 seconds
╚══════════════════════════════════╝
"What?" Magi shouted, his eyes almost popping out of his skull.
They had the exact same reaction to the screen that had suddenly appeared in front of them.
"He wasn't lying, huh... Well, I did my best to believe him, but still." Magi was talking to no one in particular, but the screen in front of him did confirm that Senzo was a world traveler, however unbelievable that may sound.
And without hesitation he pressed on the [YES] button; he had made up his mind before even seeing this screen anyway.
Knowing the Major, he would press the same button. Before Sophie and Momiji could ask what was going on, both Magi and Yo disappeared.
"..."
They shared the sentiment that they would have really loved to go with them, but clearly, like Senzo said, they weren't included.
"Haah, guess all we can do is enjoy life until he returns. Right, Sophie?"
Momiji tried to lighten the mood but knew it wouldn't be that easy to get Sophie to forget about this day.
Before she could get an answer from her, they saw something insane happen: the sleeping Yugiri stirred awake as she rubbed her eyes a couple of times upon seeing the weird screen in front of her.
"Uuu, Sophie, What's this?" she asked, pointing at nothing in particular from Sophie's and Momiji's perspective.
But they knew that it was most likely the same screen Magi and Yo had seen.
"If you want to follow Senzo and the Major, you need to agree to it," Sophie said, trying her best not to let the little girl notice how much she had been crying.
"Really?"
Upon hearing that, Yugiri's ears perked up as she quickly looked around the room, seeing only Sophie, Momiji, and the Major lying on a hospital bed.
"Will I really be able to see him again if I agree to this?"
"That's right, so don't hesitate, and make sure you keep an eye on him so he doesn't go around looking at girls."
"Hehe, I know, I know, and why would he when he already likes you so much!"
After saying that Yugiri vanished as well, only then did the reality of the situation settle in for the two women.
Sophie was bright red after what Yugiri had just said, though.
"Hehe, she got you good, huh?" Momiji teased.
"N-Not you as well, Momiji!"
Sophie quickly covered her head with her hands as she tried to calm herself down, but that was easier said than done.
"What is that!?"
But when she suddenly heard Momiji shout in shock, she peeked through her hands to see what was going on.
And just like Momiji, she began staring with wide eyes as well.
The Major, who had been lying there unconsciously all this time, was covered in a bright golden light, and the two could clearly see him shrinking.
"Wha!?"
And slowly he became smaller and smaller until he looked no older than an eight-year-old kid, but before they could ask any questions, he also vanished from the room.
"..."
Now left completely alone, the two stared at the empty bed where Hyoubu had just been with their mouths agape.
"It's one impossible thing after the other, huh? Who knows, maybe next we can go after them." Momiji muttered, scoffing at her own delusions.
"How nice that would be..." Sophie added, while staring at the ceiling.
╔══════════════════════════════════╗
DIMENSIONAL TRANSFER REQUEST
╚══════════════════════════════════╝
User [Senzo Kazuko] has been granted permission.
to bring companions to Earth (Dimension: #77231-A).
You have been selected as a potential wife.
In Dimension #77231-A your last name will change to Kazuko, and you will gain a background befitting it.
WARNING: This choice is PERMANENT.
- Accepting will transfer you to Earth immediately.
- You will retain all memories and abilities.
- Return to this world is not guaranteed
- Time flows differently between dimensions.
Do you accept this transfer?
[ YES ] [ NO ]
Time to decide: 60 seconds
╚══════════════════════════════════╝
"Wha!?"
They both exclaimed at the same time, as their eyes went wide in shock.
"Are you seeing this as well!?" They said in unison.
"Ah!" Sophie yelped.
"Sorry." Momiji calmly said.
"You can go first, Sophie, but we don't have much time, so keep it short."
Sophie nodded as she cleared her throat. "Are you also seeing this weird screen in front of you?"
Momiji nodded.
"But didn't he say we weren't included?"
Sophie couldn't understand it; she found it hard to believe that Senzo would lie about this, especially after how he acted.
"I'm not sure, but he did say it wasn't his own powers, so maybe he didn't see all the rewards?" Momiji reasoned, but inside she was extremely grateful for this opportunity.
This meant that she didn't have to stay behind and could even become something more than just a friend.
"Um, this might be a weird question, but does yours also say 'Potential Wife'?"
Momiji couldn't help but chuckle a little after hearing Sophie say that with bright red ears.
"That's right, and I don't plan on backing down easily. You might have had the upper hand here, but over there it will be all me," she stated confidently.
"!!!"
Sophie stared at Momiji with wide eyes; she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Did she really just say that?
And before she could ask another question, she saw Momiji smirk and disappear just like the rest.
"Ah!"
Without hesitation she also pressed [YES], and just like that everyone in the room had vanished without a trace.