The ruins of Ryouma's tower lay in ashes at their feet. The final battle had ended with the fall of the false demon lord, and Tatsuya, though victorious, felt as though the storm in his heart had not truly passed. The cost had been high: Himawari, their adopted daughter, was gone. Misaki, too, had been injured, though her healing magic had patched the wound. Yet, something within Tatsuya refused to rest.
He stood on the cracked ground, his eyes scanning the horizon where the sky had turned from crimson to black. The world felt… empty. Without Himawari. Without the innocence she had brought to their lives. Tatsuya's heart ached as the wind whipped his hair around his face. He could still feel her presence, faintly, like a distant echo in the back of his mind.
"Are you ready?" Misaki's voice cut through the silence, her tone soft but carrying the weight of concern. She was standing next to him, still carrying the physical toll of their battles.
Tatsuya nodded, though he didn't feel ready. He wasn't sure if he ever would be.
"Let's finish this," he murmured, more to himself than to her.
They turned their steps toward the portal they had found deep within the tower — a strange, glowing artifact that Ryouma had kept hidden in the deepest vaults of the fortress. Nyxarion, the former demon lord, stood a few paces behind, his expression unreadable.
"You've destroyed Ryouma," Nyxarion said, his voice gravelly. "But there is still much left to do. We cannot stay here forever."
Tatsuya didn't respond, his mind occupied by thoughts of the future, of Himawari's loss, and of what his next steps would be. They had all sacrificed so much. It had felt as though they had won, but the victory tasted hollow.
As they approached the artifact, Tatsuya reached out, his hand trembling slightly. The portal had no visible edges, only a bright, swirling light that distorted the air around it. He had no idea where it would take them, or if it would even work at all. The thought of returning to his old world, to Earth, seemed impossible.
Suddenly, the orb of light began to pulse. The air around them crackled with energy, and a voice — deep and ancient — echoed in Tatsuya's mind.
You seek to return. But are you ready to face the price?
Tatsuya hesitated, his hand still hovering just above the portal. The words resonated deep within him. He had never been one to back down from a challenge, but this — this was different. He wasn't sure what would happen if he entered. He could feel something pulling at him, something unfamiliar, like the promise of a new beginning.
"Misaki," Tatsuya said softly, glancing over at her. "What if this doesn't work? What if we can't go back?"
Misaki gave him a soft smile, her eyes filled with the same determination that had driven her all along. "Then we will make the best of it, together. But we can't stay here forever. We need to find peace."
Tatsuya nodded, taking one final glance at the ruins of the tower before stepping into the light.
The world around them shifted. A vortex of colors surrounded them, dizzying and disorienting. The energy surged through him, coursing like lightning through his veins, and in that moment, he felt a strange, overwhelming power awakening deep inside him. It was as if the portal had recognized his inner conflict, his desire to return to Earth, and had granted him an ability that he hadn't known was possible. The power to travel between worlds.
The landscape shifted again, the bright light slowly dimming, and when it finally cleared, they found themselves standing in a familiar place.
Tatsuya's bedroom.
He blinked, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. There, in front of him, stood the same desk, the same bookshelves, the same window that looked out over a peaceful neighborhood. For a moment, he simply stood there, frozen. Could it really be? Had they really come back?
"Where are we?" Misaki's voice was soft, a touch of awe in her tone as she looked around.
Tatsuya turned to face her, and he finally allowed himself a small, shaky breath. "We're home. My world."
But the truth was, it didn't feel like home anymore. Tatsuya had changed, as had everything else around him. His memories of Earth seemed distant, as though they belonged to someone else. Himawari, his battles, Ryouma… they all felt like shadows of a life that no longer fit.
Before he could say anything more, there was a knock on the door.
Tatsuya's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Misaki, who gave him a curious look. Neither of them had expected anyone.
"Who is it?" Misaki whispered, her expression growing cautious.
Tatsuya took a slow step forward, his hand resting on the door handle. When he opened the door, his breath caught in his throat.
It was Yuki. His childhood friend, the girl he had known since they were both children. She stood there, her wide, brown eyes staring at him with shock and disbelief.
"T-Tatsuya?" Yuki whispered, her voice barely audible. "Is it really… you?"
Tatsuya's mind went blank. Yuki's appearance hadn't changed much. She still wore the same school uniform, her brown hair tied in a loose ponytail, and her expression was a mix of surprise and confusion.
"What… what are you doing here?" Yuki stammered, her gaze darting over to Misaki and Himawari, who were standing quietly behind Tatsuya.
Tatsuya swallowed hard. He had never expected this moment — never expected to be here, in his old room, surrounded by the familiar sights of his past, after everything that had happened.
"I… I didn't expect this," Tatsuya said, his voice coming out more strained than he intended. "It's been a long time."
Yuki blinked, a slight flush creeping up her neck. "Yeah… it's been years. I've been waiting for you. I thought something had happened to you, but then… here you are, standing in front of me like you never left."
Tatsuya's heart ached. He had never been able to express his feelings to Yuki, not like this, not after everything he had been through. But the truth was clear now. He was no longer the same person who had walked away all those years ago.
"Yuki…" Tatsuya began, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn't know how to say this… but there's something I need to tell you."
Yuki's eyes softened, her lips parting as if she knew what was coming. But before he could say anything more, she stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
"Tatsuya," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I've always loved you. I've waited for you to come back. And now that you're here… I don't want to waste another moment."
Tatsuya's heart sank. He had never expected this, not after everything he had gone through, not after losing Himawari. He couldn't afford to let himself fall back into a life that no longer fit him.
"Yuki…" Tatsuya said, his voice gentle but firm. "I'm sorry. But I can't… I can't be with you."
Yuki's face fell, the color draining from her cheeks. "What do you mean? I've waited for you all this time, and now you're telling me… you don't feel the same?"
Tatsuya's heart broke for her, but he knew what he had to do. He turned slightly, glancing at Misaki and Himawari, who were both watching him quietly from the doorway.
"I… I'm not the same person I used to be," Tatsuya said softly, his voice tinged with regret. "I've lost so much. And now, I've found something new. I can't go back to what was. I've already made my choice."
Yuki stood there, frozen, her expression a mixture of hurt and disbelief. But Tatsuya had made up his mind. He couldn't stay in the past. His future lay elsewhere.
With a final, heavy sigh, he stepped back, gently closing the door between them.