"...."
Upon seeing that familiar face, though Kevin's expression remained frosty, the undeniable trembling of his eyelashes betrayed that the strongest MANTIS of the Previous Era was not nearly as calm as he appeared.
Their past promise—Kevin wasn't actually unaware of the girl's existence before him; rather, he was acutely aware of it. Yet, he had never once laid eyes on her. He simply adhered to their old vow, watching over each other from afar at the appointed time.
Just as Kevin feared disappointing Elysia with his current self and thus dared not step foot into the Elysian Realm, so too did he feel towards MEI. In fact, for various reasons, the prospect of seeing MEI filled Kevin with even greater 'dread'.
Radiating the same captivating intellect as always, Dr. MEI folded her arms, smiled gently, and slowly approached him. "What's wrong? Not happy to see your girlfriend?"
"...N-No!" Kevin's eyes widened slightly, his usual icy facade crumbling. He stammered, flustered, "I... I just..."
"Pfft..." MEI covered her mouth, muffling a laugh, then remarked wistfully, "You really... haven't changed at all, have you?" Even after all he'd been through, in front of the girl he liked, he was still that shy boy.
"Speaking of which, even though I'm your girlfriend, the time we actually spent together was so scarce... I apologize. That truly was my failing."
"So, let me properly keep you company now, Kevin."
"...." Seeing Kevin's silence, MEI smiled and asked teasingly, "What? You don't want me to?"
"N-No... Of course not..." Kevin quickly shook his head, looking troubled. "But, I still have a mission..."
"It doesn't matter. Just put that out of your mind," MEI dismissed it easily, taking Kevin's hand. "Ultimately, that burden was something we imposed on you. It shouldn't be yours alone to bear."
"Each era has its own destiny."
"A civilization that relies solely on others for support is ultimately too immature. Such humans cannot survive in the vast expanse of the cosmos."
"So, leave everything to them. Let the people of this era make their own decisions, fight their own battles."
"Just like we once did."
"But..." Sitting beside MEI, Kevin looked conflicted. He could understand MEI's reasoning, but—it shouldn't be like this. If it were the MEI, she would undoubtedly prioritize the continuation of civilization above all else, never pinning hopes on an uncertain future.
Their fundamental disagreement stemmed precisely from this. Having witnessed the destruction of their own era, they strived desperately to prevent the new era from suffering the same fate. What MEI was saying now completely contradicted that principle.
"Mm, you probably think this really doesn't sound like me, right?"
"But... we're both so tired."
"In the past, I dedicated everything to the people of that era, even neglecting the feelings of the one I loved."
"Now, since our time has turned to dust, perhaps we can afford to live a little more easily."
"After all, one can't live solely in the past."
"It's time to pursue our own happiness." Leaning against Kevin on the dusty stone steps, Dr. MEI gazed up at the starry sky, speaking softly.
Sacrificing everything for the future of civilization—that was indeed something Dr. MEI would do. But she no longer wanted to be that Dr. MEI, the one burdened by everyone's expectations. Now, she was just MEI.
In this broken world, simply being with the lover she cherished—that was the 'only' thing MEI desired. Just being together was enough.
As for the world... If it was destined for destruction, then let it be. It was no longer something MEI wished to concern herself with.
"However, if the world really is going to end, would you be willing to go with me?"
"...."
"Yes." Kevin replied simply.
Fifty thousand years ago, he should have departed with that era, with MEI. How could he possibly seek solitary survival today, after all this time? To face destruction together, nestled close... wasn't that also good?
Looking back on his life, he had always followed behind MEI. If this was MEI's wish, then it was Kevin's wish too.
"Honestly, talking about such depressing things during a long-awaited reunion." A sweet voice intruded from outside the world, sounding somewhat abrupt, yet not surprising MEI. She simply smiled and retorted, "Don't you think... this is actually very romantic?"
"Mm, indeed... But rather than stepping into destruction together, I still prefer seeing stories reach a happier ending, you know? A HE! It has to be a HE!" [Elysia] seemed to genuinely consider it for a moment, but then decisively rejected the idea, emphasizing her point seriously.
MEI chuckled softly. "Well, that depends on your efforts then."
"Oh my, that puts quite a bit of pressure on me~ But don't worry..."
"You can always trust 'Elysia'."
"Leave everything... to me!"
---||----
Within Sumeru.
"And that's that. Kevin and MEI are in your care now, Su," [Elysia]—Jiang Qiao—instructed.
This wasn't quite like the Bubble Universe snow globe given to Seele. While Welt Yang's world was also near collapse, it still possessed some vitality, able to function somewhat independently. Dr. MEI's Bubble Universe was different.
Being a shadow of the main world, it had completely lost its vitality; it could be classified as an 'already destroyed' Bubble Universe. The only reason it hadn't vanished was due to external intervention artificially preventing its self-destruction, keeping it barely alive through 'stasis'.
Since [Elysia] couldn't keep it with her, the best person to entrust it to was undoubtedly Su.
"...." Su stared at the Bubble Universe, momentarily speechless. ...There was actually another one like this?
It was somewhat ironic. As the one responsible for Project VALUKA, he interacted with Bubble Universes more than anyone, yet he had completely missed this crucial one attached to the main world, practically right under his nose.
Of course, Kevin had been extremely thorough in hiding it. Not only did he conceal its existence perfectly, he never even glanced inside, simply leaving it in stasis, waiting for a future day when it could be used as 'support'.
If Su had discovered this Bubble Universe earlier, he definitely wouldn't have stood by idly. After all, while the Dr. MEI within was just a shadow, she was still MEI, or at least a part of her. If she had been around, their relationship wouldn't have deteriorated to this point, let alone needing to rely on that forced Project Stigma. Does Kevin even understand the value of a living Dr. MEI?
...That guy Kevin, he hid her really deep!
Feeling a mix of wonder and annoyance—So much for being best buddies, huh? You kick me into the sea, and then keep me completely in the dark? The Enlightened One silently fumed at his friend's less-than-honest behavior. Of course, looking at '[Elysia]' before him only amplified those feelings. It had to be you!
Thinking back fifty thousand years, the only people who could truly handle Kevin were MEI and Elysia. MEI had the upper hand, while Elysia's influence was less consistent due to various factors. Who would have thought, fifty thousand years later, upon 'rising from the dead', she'd immediately pull off something huge like exposing Kevin's hidden wife?
Knowing MEI was nestled inside that sphere, Su felt happy, yet couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Now my best friend is probably completely trapped; he won't be getting out anytime soon.
"Alright, presents delivered, mission accomplished."
"So..."
"Su~" [Elysia] stood with hands on her hips, smiling sweetly at Su, making him instinctively uneasy.
"...." After a moment of silence, he finally couldn't take it anymore and asked, "Is there something you need me to do?"
"Ah, nothing, nothing~ It's just... don't you feel like something's missing?" Seeing the pink-haired girl's suggestive gestures, even the wise Enlightened One was baffled.
"Please be direct."
"Oh dear, did you soak in the sea for too long and turn foolish?"
"Since I went to the trouble of bringing a gift, aren't you going to show some appreciation, maybe offer a little something in return~?"
"...." Su was struck dumb. Wait, you give Kevin a gift, and I have to give you a return gift? Besides, I'm broke! What kind of gift could I possibly have?!
"...Just take whatever you want."
"Oh, that would be awkward."
"But since you offered, it would be rude of me to refuse~ Mhmm... Give me the Sumeru and the beacon for the Cosmic Juggernaut."
Su's eyes widened at the request. The Thousand Worlds beacon was one thing; its significance to him was limited now. But Sumeru—that was the special Bubble Universe they were standing in right now. With all the other Divine Keys returned to the main world, this thing was basically his last pair of pants.
Seriously? Stripping Kevin wasn't enough, now you want my pants too?!
"The beacon, yes. Sumeru... it's useless to you," Su tried gently dissuading Jiang Qiao from taking his metaphorical trousers. Besides being true—Sumeru was specifically designed for Project VALUKA and held little value for ordinary people beyond its unique location and functions—there was the simple fact that he was still in the Sea of Quanta.
Giving away Sumeru meant he'd be homeless!
"I know," [Elysia] stated matter-of-factly. "That's why I plan to give it to someone else as a gift."
This reasoning nearly broke Su's composure. Wait, you're giving Sumeru away as a gift? And this is my HOME! You're giving MY HOME away to someone else?
The pink-haired girl looked at him strangely. "Well, if you give it to me, then I can give it to someone else, right?"
She... actually had a point.
Rarely seen, Su's facial muscles contorted in conflict. After a long, agonizing pause, he finally nodded, the word tearing itself from him. "Fine."
Though the decision was painful, though giving away his home and last resort felt galling... what choice did he have? She wanted it. How could he refuse anything Elysia asked for? Just a mere Sumeru? Take it!
The incredibly magnanimous Su was about to say something else, but only heard a sweet voice hastily say:
"Thanks, Su."
Then, the ground vanished beneath his feet. Sumeru was snatched away. And '[Elysia]' departed from the Sea of Quanta.
Standing adrift in the sea, Su looked around at the desolate emptiness, thought about the dilapidated little Bubble Universe that had been his companion for millennia, glanced at the fragile sphere containing MEI in his hand, and felt... lost.
Normally, his task was to watch Kevin, prevent him from leaving before Su's own demise, and execute Project VALUKA to find a path for the future.
But now... Kevin was trapped in Elysia's Pokeball, the observational data was completely ruined by recent events, and even his home and work equipment—Sumeru and the Thousand Worlds beacon—had been swiped.
Su realized he was suddenly... unemployed? Best friend gone, house gone, job gone... Su suddenly felt rather miserable. How did his perfectly fine life suddenly turn into this?
...Whatever.
The remarkably philosophical Enlightened One sighed, deciding to find a new place to settle. Then, he sensed a gaze upon him.
Looking up, he saw a girl with chestnut hair and sakura-pink eyes, dressed in a white trench coat, staring intently at him. Notably, her hairstyle and general appearance were uncannily like a gender-bent version of Su himself.
"Hi~" The girl waved cheerfully.
Su remained silent for a beat, then turned and ran.