In the timeline of Millennia, Geko is sitting under a giant tree. A cold wind touches his face, but he continues looking at the cloudy sky and says to himself:
"Even if I have lived for centuries, I know there will come a time when I'll meet my death..."
A quick gust of cold wind blows the muffler around his neck. He takes a deep breath, looks at it, and stands up.
He walks towards it and picks it up. His black-gray robe billows in the constant cold wind.
The clouds move and the sun shines, as he looks at the tree, and continues his thought:
"Lifespans are vast in the timeline of Millennia but sometimes I say to myself... Is it okay for me to think about my death?"
He starts walking on a path full of flowers on both sides after placing his hands in his pockets:
"We aren't immortals — no one is. So instead of asking how long I will live? I should think about how I'll die."
He chuckles and says:
"Today, I ask myself again... How will I die? Or if I had the option to choose... Which death will I choose? The easy one? Or the hard one?"
After the path ends, he stops in front of a door. The system scans his face and opens the door for him.
As the bright light fades away, he sees Ishi sitting and working. As soon as Ishi sees Geko, he smiles and says:
"Happy Birthday!"
Geko gasps and replies:
"Y-You remembered it?"
Ishi says:
"Yes! But, I couldn't be at the party last night because of too much work."
Geko replies:
"That doesn't matter at all. I'm just surprised to know that you remember it even after working so much."
Ishi sees the paper and says:
"I can't forget the birthday of my own right hand."
After a moment of silence, Ishi looks at Geko and says:
"Well, then... How about we celebrate your birthday once more?"
Geko replies:
"Ah! I would rather not."
Ishi ignores him and says:
"Fabeline!"
Geko says to himself:
"Are you even listening to the birthday boy here?"
Fabeline emerges out of the shadows and replies:
"Yes, my master!"
Geko falls on the ground:
"Where did she come from? And why couldn't I sense her presence?"
Ishi says to her:
"I'd like you to go and inform others."
Fabeline nods and replies:
"As you wish!"
Ishi looks at Geko and says:
"Any objections?"
Geko sits down while saying:
"Not at all. If you really want to celebrate then let's do it."
Time passes, and the sun is about to set. They celebrate and Geko's voice echoes:
"Ishi-san... Thank you always for looking after me, understanding me, and being with me."
In the present, Shikiya is sitting in her office. Someone knocks on the door. She says:
"Hmm!"
The door opens and Fabeline enters:
"Good afternoon, Miss Shikiya!"
Shikiya replies:
"Good afternoon to you too, so what led you here?"
Fabeline calmly asks:
"Are you busy right now?"
Shikiya smiles:
"Can't you see? Yes, I'm busy right now."
Fabeline nods and asks:
"Can I ask how you are feeling right now?"
Shikiya asks back:
"Why do you want to know?"
Fabeline replies:
"Just... tell me, please!"
Shikiya sighs:
"I'm not sure. Once upon a time, this work used to be stressful, but now it isn't. Still, there's something I can't put my finger on — my head feels heavy because of it."
Fabeline turns her back towards her and says:
"I see! Then I must come back later."
Shikiya gasps and replies:
"Wait... But why?"
Fabeline looks down and says:
"Because it isn't the right time for it."
Shikiya closes her eyes:
"There is no perfect time for anything. If you have something in your head, you can share it with me."
Fabeline turns towards her and asks:
"Are you sure, Miss?"
Shikiya nods:
"Yes, I am..."
A tear runs from Fabeline's eye as she says:
"Geko-sama..."
Shikiya furrows her brow and asks:
"Yes, what happened to him?"
Fabeline cries and says:
"Geko-sama... He..."
Shikiya asks:
"Can you please... stop crying and tell me what is going on?"
Gibelnelle appears and holds Fabeline while saying:
"I knew you wouldn't be able to inform her."
Shikiya stands up and asks:
"What is going on here?"
Gibelnelle looks at her and says:
"Miss Shikiya... Geko-sama is no more. He is... dead!"
Shikiya's heart stops as she gasps and falls back on her chair mumbling:
"Wh-What?"
Fabeline says:
"N-No, don't say that... I know Geko-sama isn't dead... I know he can't be... He once told me that he won't die so easily... Because he's strong."
Gibelnelle holds her:
"You're gonna make me cry too, Fabeline... Stop it. This isn't the mom-"
Shikiya cuts her and mumbles:
"But how is he... dead?"
Gibelnelle looks at her:
"In the timeline of Aeonic Dusk, while fighting Astryn number '0' — Xirandro El Xandro Del Appeirro, Geko-sama lost his life."
Shikiya closes her eyes:
"That is why I couldn't feel his presence anymore."
Gibelnelle nods and says:
"Yes, no one could. That is why I had to check up on him."
Shikiya asks:
"So... Where is his body right now?"
Gibelnelle replies:
"Marshal-sama temporarily placed his body in a secure void he instinctively opened."
Shikiya shakes her head:
"It can't be... I don't believe you at all."
The door opens, Naoya enters, and says:
"It is hard to believe that a prodigy like him is no longer among us, but it is the harsh truth that we must accept."
Fabeline wipes her tears and says:
"Today was his birthday... We all had a plan to surprise him."
Naoya replies to her:
"I'm sorry for your loss. I know how connected you were with him."
Shikiya closes her eyes and sees a flashback of her walking on a path, where she sees Geko sitting with a cup of coffee.
She smiles and approaches him. After she reaches him, she stands behind him, and says:
"So, newbie, what do you think of Skyward Society?"
He looks at her and says:
"Miss Shikiya?"
Shikiya replies:
"Oh! C'mon... Don't be so formal with me."
Geko warmly smiles and says:
"I must say... This is the most relaxing place I've ever been to."
Shikiya replies:
"But we have already seen a lot. That's why everyone here is almost ready for everything nowadays, haha!"
Geko says:
"Being prepared isn't a bad thing, is it?"
Shikiya shakes her head and sits beside him:
"No, it isn't."
Geko says:
"I guess then I must stay prepared to face my death."
Shikiya furrows her brow and lightly slaps him:
"You literally joined yesterday. Don't say such things so early."
Geko takes a sip of his coffee and says:
"I mean... everyone should be prepared for it, but no one should worry about it, because we don't know when it will come or how it will take us from this world."
Shikiya gasps and replies:
"Because of the coffee in your mouth. I don't understand a bit of what you said but I'll say one thing..."
Geko looks at her. She takes a deep breath, smiles brightly, and says:
"Don't die on me, Geko-san... The Skyward Society needs you."
In the Aeonic Dusk, Akuchi and Ashy are sitting under the giant tree in the Chiaro Oscuro. Akuchi closes his eyes and calmly says to her:
"By now, Sato Geko is already dead, and Marshal Bell has taken over the battlefield."
Ashy says to herself:
"It isn't the time for me to laugh, nor is it the time for me to mourn for his death. Because he was and is our enemy for placing the cursed bindings on Marshal."
Akuchi calmly says to her:
"I wonder what Ishi is planning to do right—"
He stops talking because Ashy hugs him and keeps her head on his shoulder. He asks her:
"What are you doing?"
She closes her eyes and replies:
"Didn't you say that Chiaro Oscuro was a place for couples?"
He says:
"Yes, but for married couples."
She smiles and replies:
"Don't be such a mood killer by saying that... I just wanted to stay closer to you."
He nods and sits silently. After some moments of silence, she holds his cloak tightly and asks:
"Hey! I don't want to leave you, nor do I want you to leave me."
He replies:
"I understand your feelings towards me but I'm not in such a state to make a promise."
She frowns and asks:
"But why?"
He replies:
"Because anything can happen at any time."
She holds his cloak even more tightly and says:
"I don't know anything else but don't
die on me. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
He replies:
"Yes, I understand you."
He keeps his hand on her shoulder, and she smiles while holding his cloak. He closes his eyes and says to himself:
"I have a question... Would you still stop me if the Omniverse were to be on the line? That's the threat we are about to face — maybe not today, nor tomorrow, but one day for sure."
On the other side, Arai is sitting in his house beside his wife — Setsuna. He sees her eating snacks and says:
"Really? Should you eat it at this time of the day?"
Setsuna munches and replies:
"When should I have snacks then?"
Arai takes the box away from her and says:
"Forget about them until you recover from your fever."
Setsuna gasps and frowns then she pouts and tries to take the box from him:
"I want to eat more snacks... More snacks..."
Arai smiles and says:
"Nope!"
After failing, she sighs, and keeps her head on his chest:
"Fine, I'm going to sleep then."
He nods:
"Sure!"
She makes her face:
"Why aren't you getting frustrated? Ugh, I wanna see that face of yours again."
He pulls the blanket and says:
"You're more frustrated than I am."
She looks at him and replies:
"No, I'm not."
He closes his eyes and says:
"If you say so, honey!"
After a moment of silence, she asks him:
"So is Marshal really going to fight someone like Xandro now?"
He calmly replies:
"Hmm!"
She says:
"You know it better than me, darling. Marshal is still learning and he is nowhere near Xandro."
He replies:
"You must know everything here works with a plan that is tailored to alter, deceive, or erase anyone and anything."
She picks her head up and asks:
"What do you mean by that?"
He replies:
"You see, the other side has an ancient fallen elder known for his power and intelligence — Nagare Ishi. So this side, which is ours, must try to fight accordingly with a plan."
She asks:
"Wait a minute! Are you having some kind of plan which you didn't tell me about?"
He chuckles and says:
"That's my wife, hehe!"
She pokes his face with her finger and asks:
"What is it? Tell me... I want to hear more!"
He says:
"It's as simple as that... If the other side has a plan then why can't we have one too? Why should we answer with power if the other side is using intelligence more than power?"
She nods:
"Hmph! Hmph! Correct."
He continues:
"Just trust my vision as you've always. Because no one can alter what has happened already and I won't let anyone alter what is going to happen now."
She slowly nods while holding his shirt and says:
"Sure, my love!"
He smiles and tries to take a deep breath then mumbles:
"Gosh, I think you're gaining weight by eating too many snacks. I can't breathe because you're squishing me."
She quickly asks:
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
He gulps and says:
"N-Nothing! I said that I love our compression cuddles so much."
She picks her head up:
"How many times do I have to tell you that it isn't appropriate to call your wife fat!"
He gulps:
"I-I didn't call you f-fat."
Her voice echoes:
"Let me teach you a lesson today!"
His voice echoes outside as well:
"M-Marshal... SAVE ME!"
(TO BE CONTINUED)