Shiro felt nervous having a girl around his age standing that close to him. After all, he was still a teenager.
"You're the one who's going to help me!" Kaede said cheerfully, without moving away.
Shiro sighed, trying to calm himself.
"H-hey, you're too close…"
"Kaede, you're making him nervous," Mizuki said as she sat back down, resting her elbow on the desk and her chin on her palm.
"Kaede, Shiro doesn't even understand everything yet. Can you be patient?"
Kaede looked at Mizuki with a more neutral expression, then turned back to Shiro. After a brief moment of eye contact, she stepped away and casually sat in a nearby chair.
Who is she…? Shiro wondered, watching her.
Mizuki snapped her fingers to get his attention.
"Look, Shiro, I appreciate that you haven't reacted badly to all of this, but there's something I need to tell you."
Shiro adjusted his chair to face her properly.
"Well… you remember when I explained that cards use ether and all that?"
Shiro nodded.
"I think I understood. That thing called ether lets you use the card's power, right?"
Mizuki sighed lightly.
"I'm surprised you picked that up so easily."
Shiro glanced slightly behind him. Kaede was suddenly standing behind him. Instinctively, he stood up and stepped away.
"Mizuki, get to the point already!" Kaede said, impatient in her excitement.
She sighed.
"Shiro, I'll be direct. You're more useful here than in the world of the dead, so I'm not letting you leave."
Shiro exhaled and tilted his head slightly, confused.
"What are you talking about?"
"E-eh…" Mizuki hesitated.
Kaede stepped toward Shiro, wiggling her fingers mischievously.
"I don't know what Mizuki's talking about, but—"
Shiro backed away a little.
"H-hey, don't get so close…"
"Shiro, the thing with Kaede is that—"
Before Mizuki could finish, Kaede suddenly jumped toward him. Shiro slipped while trying to dodge her, but managed to avoid her and quickly stood up, moving farther away. Kaede let out a small laugh.
"Hey, let's get started already!" she said, still energetic.
Mizuki remained seated and continued calmly:
"As I was saying, Kaede has problems with her Abyssal Card and she's desperate for you. In a good way."
Shiro turned toward Mizuki.
"Abyssal Card?"
"Yes, my Abyssal Card!" Kaede said, approaching him again—this time keeping some distance.
"What exactly is that?" Shiro asked, looking between the two of them.
Mizuki sighed.
"You really don't know anything. It's a special card—one appears in one person out of a million. But to use it properly, your soul needs to be naturally large. Kaede's isn't. So in simple terms…"
"Be my vessel!" Kaede said brightly.
"Hey! That's way too direct!" Mizuki snapped.
"Vessel…?" Shiro repeated, confused.
Mizuki stood up and walked toward the door.
"Come with me. I'll show you so you can understand."
She stepped out of the room. Kaede laughed and looked at Shiro.
"You'll see. Let's get along, okay?" she said, extending her hand.
Shiro slowly took it. Kaede gave him a small smile before letting go and heading toward the exit. Shiro watched her leave.
What is going on…? Vessel? he thought, nervous. The events of the past hour had been strange, but he had no choice except to follow.
The three of them entered another room—darker, filled with cables of every size running along the walls. At the back, in the center of the room, stood a large capsule.
"Shiro, I promise you're in good hands. This is just a test so you can understand what's happening."
Shiro, still near the door, nodded slowly.
Kaede grabbed his hand.
"Come on, come on, Shiro! Hurry up!"
She pulled him toward the capsule. Once they stood in front of it, Mizuki moved toward a control desk filled with buttons, levers, radars, and counters.
"Alright…" Mizuki murmured.
The capsule opened. Kaede stepped inside eagerly. Shiro sighed several times before entering as well.
The moment he did, the capsule closed and gas began spreading inside. Shiro coughed a few times. Kaede covered his mouth with her right hand before she lost consciousness.
Through the fading visibility of the gas, Shiro looked toward Mizuki. She gave him a thumbs-up. That gesture reassured him slightly before he passed out as well.
While unconscious, Shiro heard a distant voice. Then he felt a light slap on his cheek and woke up.
"Come on, let's not waste time!" Kaede said energetically.
Shiro stood up and looked around. Red mountains stretched in every direction.
"Where… are we?" he asked.
Kaede let out a small laugh.
"Isn't it obvious? A simulation!" she replied cheerfully, extending her hand toward him with a faint smile.
"Come on, Shiro—connect with me!"