Inside the small shop, Miss Sumire brings a plate of muffins and tea, and everyone sits at a small table in the center of the room. Hideki looks at the shelves, filled with different and exotic items, such items that leave him puzzled. Marui then asks Misori:
-So my little one, where have you been all this time? We miss you.
Misori replies:
-It happened ... a lot of things. Hideki and I were fleeing the army and ...
-The damn ones ...
Hideki asks:
-What do they do anyway?
Marui says:
-They control the entire province of Ludwig, and whoever opposes them is arrested. We have lost a lot of people in the last few years ... the army should protect us instead of punishing us, but it seems that they hate us.
-I see ...
- Incidentally, Mr. Yamada. I couldn't help noticing that their clothes are different from the usual ... they look like military clothes. Misori, don't you want to explain yourself?
Both are silent for a few seconds, Marui drinks her tea, and Misori replies:
-Hideki was captured in the meantime ...
Marui leaves her cup on the table and says:
-Sumire, could you bring the album my dear?
Miss Sumire agrees, she is going to the back of the store. Marui then says:
-Let me guess ... correction?
-Well ... exactly.
-I think things make more sense now. And ... what do you plan to do now?
-We are with Yuri, so we can arrive-
-Yuri?! What is that bastard doing in the village ?!
-Marui, calm down. He who helped me get the others together, and then find Hideki.
-That's pretty hard to believe ... but, it's your words, so it shouldn't be a lie.
Sumire returns, with an album of engravings in his hands. Marui thanks her and puts the album on top of it, then opens it. Hideki then asks:
-What is it?
-It's an old memory, Mr. Yamada.
Hideki is surprised, because in this album there are prints and texts, and when reading them, he realizes that these are things reported by him.
-You gave it to us before you left the village, I never opened it, because it was yours, but, you told us what it was, and that you would come and get it someday.
-That's mine...?
-Exactly. Come on, read on.
Misori says:
-It's okay, it can help you remember a lot.
-R ... right.
Hideki then begins to read the album, and is faced with the following words:
- "Today, I finally found her ... my guesses were correct. The girl, was in trouble, fleeing the army when I found her in the woods, was scared, so I brought her to the village. Sumire is taking care of her right now, I think I'll ask her questions tomorrow. "
Hideki is left without reaction for a few seconds, and asks:
-W ... what ...?
Misori approaches and says:
-I think you wrote this when you first met me.
-So ... everything I need to know is here?
-Theoretically, yes ...
Marui then asks:
-The question is ... do you want to know these things?
Hideki is silent, and after a few seconds, he replies:
-I ... I hadn't stopped to think about it before ...
Misori takes his hand and is silent. Hideki then closes the album and asks:
-Is there ... something I can keep this in? Like, so I can carry it?
-I can give you a bag.
- It would be a great help, thank you, sir.
-You don't have to thank me for that, my young son, what we can do to help we will do.
-T ... thank you.
Little Garou, approaches Hideki, and says:
-You look sad, silly Uncle. My mom made cookies, do you want?
-N .. no thanks, I'm fine, little boy.
-You liked mommy's cookies, don't you like them anymore Silly uncle?
Misori says:
- (laughs) I think it's better to accept, Hideki. He will not stop offering.
Hideki smiles at Garou, and says:
-Okay ... I think only one is okay.
Garou smiles as his eyes shine with joy, and says:
-Yay! I'm going to help mommy in the kitchen!
Hideki then looks around and looks at that simple family. Garou, a tall and strong forty-year-old, his dark skin has visible marks of his hard work, on the other hand, Sumire has a simple and firm appearance at the same time, with dark hair, a characteristic that the little Garou inherited from his mother. All united, they send Hideki back to the group in which he now belongs, making him smile unconsciously.
After all the conversation, Misori and Hideki are leaving. Marui and Sumire suggested a small inn nearby, where they could stay for a while. After saying goodbye, both go walking together to be reunited with Yuri and the others, when then, the voices of earlier appear again.
Two people appear on the street where Hideki and Misori were walking, and say:
-Yes ... it's really her.
-Yes ... there is no doubt.
Hideki holds the handle of his sword in its sheath, but Misori stops him from pulling it out, saying:
-Don't worry, I'll take care of it.
Misori then says to the mysterious figures:
-Okay, you can stop this game, Makoto and Mai.
One of the people then approaches, saying:
-How did you know it was us ?!
- (laughs) Because you suck at hiding.
The other figure comes towards Misori slowly, in front of her, and hugs her out of nowhere, saying:
-Why did disappeared suddenly ...?
Misori smiles, and says:
-I had to work things out, Mai. But now I'm here.
Hideki asks:
-Do you ... know these two?
-They are my foster brothers, Makoto and Mai.
Hideki then looks at both. Makoto is a boy almost as tall as Misori, with long brown hair, while Mai has short pink hair, and even though Misori's foster sister, she is just as beautiful. Hideki then says:
-Nice to meet them. My name is Hide-
Makoto and Mai then say:
-Hey, Yamada.
-Hi Yamada.
Hideki says:
-Y ... you know me too ... of course.
Makoto says:
-Sister, what happened to your boyfriend?
-Makoto! Not talk like that. Well ... some serious things happened to him ...
-That's why you went on a trip?
-Well ... that, I went to get him, and some other friends too.
Mai says:
-What happened to your eye, Yamada?
Hideki thinks:
- "I've been asking myself the same question for a while, I'm not going to lie". It's a long story.
-As always, being weird.
-What is it about the youngest people in this city that they think I'm weird?
I'm a year younger than you, idiot.
-Serious?
-Because?! Do you have any questions ?!
-T ... that's not it!
Misori laughs, and says:
-Stop bothering him, Mai. Many things have happened, and unfortunately ... Hideki can't remember anything.
Mai stops for a few seconds. Makoto says:
-What happened to him?
-He doesn't remember who he was.
-He hit his head or something?
-Actually ... it's more complicated than that.
Mai goes to Misori, and says:
-Were you able to find where they are ...?
-Maybe, Mai. Hideki was in jail too ... they were trying to use him as a test soldier.
-I understood...
-Are you two busy? It's been a long time since we've been here, so I don't remember where the places are. Can you help us?
-Where do you want to go?
-At the Sakurai inn. But first, we need to meet with Yuri.
-So he was really helping you, Sister?
-I'm still, he helped me find Hideki.
Makoto says:
-We know where it is, come on! See if you don't stay behind, blueberry!
Hideki is silent, with a confused expression, and loathes:
-No matter where I go, it seems that I only had strange nicknames.
Misori says:
-Let's go, we will probably meet Yuri and the people there, they must have asked for information too.
-O ... of course. Wait, I have a question ...
-Mm?
-Are you really a goddess of light?
Misori stops for a moment, and replies:
-I am a fallen goddess, to be more exact.
-A fallen ... god?
-I am a receptacle of the goddess's powers, almost like her representation in the physical world.
-I see ...
-Let's get going?
-Yeah ... let's go.
Both continue walking, guided by the brothers of Misori. The afternoon is coming to an end, and both approach the place of the inn, where Yuri and the group are, but, it seems that something is not right.
A man is arguing with Yuri, shouting:
-Who do you think is to set foot in our village ?! We are tired of you here! Go away!
Yuri tries to explain himself:
-I already said that I'm not here at the behest of the army.
Misori approaches, saying:
-What's going on here?
The man who argued with Yuri says:
-And who are you?
-This man is my friend.
-Why are you next to a Marmorian ?!
-He is not a Marmorian, he is on our side. He came to help me protect the village.
-Do you really think I'm going to believe that? This man has an army coat of arms on his robes!
Hideki then approaches, and says:
-Excuse. Get away, please.
-Who has to get away is you, boy!
The man then performs a blow towards Hideki, who in turn quickly dodges the blow and surrenders the man in a matter of seconds. The group is frightened and surprised by the situation. Hideki says:
-I said stop moving.
-Tsk ... you bastard ... Leave me.
-This man is not part of the white army, he is helping us to contain them. Therefore, calm down.
-W ... Who the hell is even you, boy ?!
-They call me Hideki.
Hideki releases the man, who finally leaves them alone. The group looks at Hideki with surprised eyes. Rukka asks:
-H ... how did you do that?
Arashi says:
-Exactly, how did you get a guy that big?
Hideki, unsure of what to say, replies:
-I think that some things I learned in Ballista classes were useful to me.
Kensuke says:
-As I imagined ... you can really be of use to the army. So we're going to keep you away from him.
-Me...
Misori says:
-Hideki, remember, you don't need to suspect anything else, we are looking for the truth too. We don't know the future or what the army would really do if it captured us again ... all we have are chances. We have to find out what we are going to do from now on and prepare.
-R ... right.
Yuri smiles and says:
-You enter the place first, I will fix these clothes so as not to attract any more undesirable attention.
-Okay, be careful, Yuri.
-Yes ma'am.
Makoto approaches and says:
-We are already leaving, Sister.
Mai adds:
-You can come after us if you need anything.
-Okay, be careful okay?
-You can leave, Sister.
-Come on Hideki. Guys.
The group agrees, and together, they enter the inn. At the reception, Kensuke registers, while the rest of the group waits. Hideki is again holding his album, Misori observes that, and asks:
-Are you okay?
-Ah ... I ... I think so.
-You ... are you going to read it?
-I will ... there must be something about the army here ...
-Hideki ...
Misori takes Hideki's hand, and says:
-I'm with you, okay? We're all.
-T ... thank you, Misori.
-No need to thank, it's the least I could do.
Kensuke then calls the group, and says:
-People, let's go, our rooms are upstairs!
Everyone goes to their respective rooms, to finally rest. Meanwhile, Yuri walks down the street, returning to the inn, when suddenly, the man from the earlier discussion returns, close to Yuri, and says:
-What do you want here, Marble boy?
-I already said I'm not one of them ... leave me alone.
-You're not going anywhere until you say what I want to know.
-You just want me to be an enemy to be right about something, but it won't happen, because I'm not a Marble pawn.
-I just don't want danger near the village.
-And it won't, unless you mess with me.
-What did you said ?!
-I'm not a Marble pawn, but, that doesn't mean I can't be your enemy. I repeat, just don't mess with me or those young people.
-You bastard...
- Have a good time.
-I'm watching you, Marble boy!
-I'm also watching you, so stay tuned.
-Tsk ...
-That is not a good sign, I must assure you that they will be safe ...
Back at the inn, Yuri goes to the reception, and is directed to his room. Hideki is awake, as he is uneasy about his album, afraid to read it.
After several agonizing minutes, Hideki finally opens the album and begins to read its contents:
-"Day 1:
I'm looking for the girl, I must find her before church. Kyoshi's presence has strengthened and more elementals are disappearing ... as I suspected, they are using them as sources of energy to support the pillars ... I need to hurry up. "
Hideki thinks:
-W ... what is this?
He continues to read:
-"Day 2:
The girl's presence is stronger, it seems, she is in a village to the east, I saw some troops mobilizing in the distance ... I need to go now. "
-"Day 7:
I reached the village, the girl must be somewhere ... I need to find her! "
Hideki then arrives at the page where he opened the album at Marui's store:
-"Day 11:
The girl is sleeping ... I managed to save her from the white army in time. I met a small family, owner of a store, they apparently know her. Sumire will take care of her ... I know she will.
- "Day 12:
Her name is Misori Tsukihime, she is really the elemental pontiff ...
Hideki does not understand very well, and does not know what to think, so he advances a little on the pages:
-"30th:
Misori is restless, seems apprehensive, I think I will take her to the woods. "
Hideki continues to advance:
- "Day 32:
I told Misori what is going on ... she was more understanding than I expected. Knowing that I am a fallen goddess is not a very common thing to hear, but she has already learned to use her powers, that is a good sign. "
- "Day 113:
Misori and I are going to have a picnic tomorrow ... I hope she enjoys the ride. "
- "Day 150:
We found a house with a balcony in the village, I got enough to move there. "
- "Day 151:
The army has lost our trail ... I think we can rest easy for now.
- "Day 200:
The strings have finally started to react, the first elemental is going to wake up soon ... he can help us.
Hideki scrolls through more pages, surprised and curious at what he had read:
- "Day 400:
I must protect her at all costs ... I didn't think it would be that way ... but I think ... I can't part with her.
- "Day 423:
I had another dream about Cristal ... I told Misori this time ... she smiled at me, I was happy to see her smiling.
Hideki turns the page again, and sees a note:
- "Read carefully, Misori.
I was summoned to this world to save the daughter from the primordial light, in this case, you, because in the future, Kyoshi's actions on the world will bring about the extinction of our people ... I met you just over a year ago, and the our connection is real ... Since then, I share your goal of overthrowing the evil that is the Marble empire at all costs ...
The white army owns the pillars, destroy them, and prevent them from completing their objective. They are after you, so I will defend you ... whatever the cost.
I love you, I ... I just want you to be safe ...
If something happens to me, find the other elementals and save them, the strings will tell you where to go ...
I didn't come to this world just to die protecting you, you taught me that ... but, I started to love you unconditionally, therefore, I will not allow you to be captured ...
I dreamed of Cristal again ... I will do anything to always be by her side, to one day see her smile ...
If I get lost ... find me and don't let me go ... I will protect you, I promise.
Hideki is silent, shocked by what he has read. His head starts to hurt again, and flashes of memories start to appear ... but those memories are different, they are memories that Hideki had lost in the complex. His right eye bothers him even more, and the pain only increases, to the point that Hideki is unconscious.
Meanwhile, in the complex, something happens:
-Sir!
A knight says, a mysterious man replies:
-They rescued the pontiff?
-Y ... yes sir.
-I see ... then it started.
-Sir...
-Say it.
-Why didn't we eliminate it when we had it here ...?
The man laughs, and says:
-Kyoshi has other plans for this specimen ...
-Lord Kyoshi wants the boy, sir?
-It seems ... we will wait.
-But sir, we don't-
-Don't upset me! The boy is not ready yet.
-So ... what should we do, sir.
-Prepare the towers ... we will have a chance to recover it.
-And while the girl, sir?
-He will bring it again ... it's a matter of time. Prepare the troops and warn the captains ... the new era is coming soon.
The young knight leaves the room, and the man says:
-You won't be victorious, boy. It will be an essential piece on our board. Kyoshi has everything in mind, the master always has everything in mind. After all, (laughs) ... it's just beginning.