Thank you for following my work up to this point. This is my first time writing a novel, so there are unavoidable mistakes that may have made some parts difficult to read. Through months of developing this story, I've learned a lot from the creative process and from your feedback, and I'm genuinely grateful for it.
The main storyline—about a character reincarnated into the Date A Live world who must face dark sides he never imagined, sinking into despair and anger as he realizes this world isn't as perfect as he once thought, forcing him to choose the hardest path: destroy everything to restore the original order—has now come to an end. However, the true reason he was reincarnated into the Date A Live world and the origin of his powers remains a mystery.
Therefore, I will continue developing this work to answer these unresolved questions and expand it into a multiverse, where you can explore different possibilities as the protagonist reincarnates into this world.
---
At the boundary of universes, a door in the dim room slowly creaked open. A man in a black, hooded cloak entered slowly, holding tightly onto something radiating immense spiritual energy.
"Guys, The Merciless has—"
"We know, The Chronicler. In the end, he… truly surprised us…" The LooP's eyes softened with a hint of melancholy, his voice trembling slightly.
"Tch, as much as I hate to admit it, he's got guts for making that kind of decision." The Murder TRIO leaned on the table, his expression showing a trace of frustration.
"So, The Emperor, The Desperate, do either of you have anything to say?" The Chronicler asked, looking toward the two seated on the other side of the meeting table.
"Why should I? I'm simply enjoying the scenery he created along with my cup of tea," The Emperor replied casually.
"Oh, I see."
"And what about The Desperate?"
"…There's nothing to say… I don't care… I only care about—" The Desperate's voice was low and hollow, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion, his face gaunt.
"Tohka, am I right?" The Chronicler interrupted impatiently.
"Don't you dare say her name!" The Desperate roared, lunging up to grab The Chronicler's collar.
"Calm down, The Desperate. And you too, The Chronicler. Take it easy!" The LooP stepped in quickly, preventing things from going too far.
"But… I'm curious, why does The Desperate always have such a negative attitude? What did he go through in his Date A Live world?" The LooP whispered to The Chronicler.
"Right, I'd also like to know why he's so unstable," The Murder TRIO added.
"You're all curious? Fine, sit down, and I'll tell you his story—the story of the lovestruck fool who ended up like this."
---
April 10th, a day that seemed as ordinary as any other. The sky was clear, the sunlight gentle, and a chilly breeze carried vibrant cherry blossoms, a soft reminder that spring was still in the air. Yet this peacefulness didn't last long, as the sudden sound of a spacequake alert ripped through the tranquil atmosphere.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—"
"A SPACEQUAKE IS OCCURRING IN THIS AREA. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. PLEASE PROCEED TO THE NEAREST SHELTER. REPEATING…" The urgent voice from the loudspeakers mixed with the sound of hurried footsteps and the anxious breaths of people desperately searching for safety.
10:27 a.m., a spacequake struck the heart of Tenguu City, annihilating everything within a 500-meter radius. Nothing, not even a blade of grass, could survive the devastating force of the blast.
"What's that…? Why is someone standing right in the center of the explosion? And… is that… a girl?" This would likely be everyone's thought if they witnessed the person responsible for this catastrophic spacequake.
Suddenly, an unexpected phenomenon appeared in the sky: a spatial tear gradually opened, as if something sharp was slicing the heavens apart. From within that rift, a dark figure plummeted toward the ground, landing close to the girl standing in the crater left by the spacequake.
"Ouch! What just happened?!"
"Huh? Where… where am I—?"
The dark figure was a young boy, around seventeen, covered in wounds and with a face clearly bewildered after his sudden fall. Worse yet, he had landed right beside a Spirit—a being known to cause spacequakes whenever it appeared in this world.
Next to him, the girl stood still, an embodiment of mysterious beauty and power. Her long, dark purple hair flowed freely, her deep violet eyes piercing beneath fair skin, and she wore a highly intricate Spirit dress in shades of dark purple, bright purple, and a soft cream-pink.
Her attire featured a delicate opening at the back, with a double-layered skirt reaching her knees, fading from pink to white, creating an ethereal elegance. Her hair was adorned with a butterfly-shaped ribbon, and her wrists bore steel cuffs engraved with intricate floral patterns. Sturdy iron-plated boots accentuated her regal presence, like a queen prepared for the battlefield.
At this moment, she cast a deadly gaze at the boy who had just fallen, seemingly thinking he was among the enemies constantly trying to kill her. Without hesitation, she drew her sword from the throne beside her, pointing it directly at him.
"Are you an ally of those half-machine creatures? Then prepare to die."
The boy, still reeling from the confusion of it all, turned to the direction of her voice, only to see the blade's edge mere centimeters from his face, ready to pierce his skin at any moment.
"Wait… I don't understand… Enemy? Ally of the half-machine creatures? What are you talking about—?"
As he struggled to explain, he looked up at the person who had spoken. His eyes widened, his mouth gaped in astonishment, unable to believe the person standing before him.
"T-Tohka? Is… is it really Tohka?" His voice trembled, not with fear but in an attempt to stay calm amid the overwhelming shock.
"You're babbling nonsense. Tohka? I don't know anyone by that name!" she replied coldly, her expression unchanging.
"Tell me! Are you one of those half-machine creatures?"
"No, no, I'm not your enemy!" he stammered, desperate to explain. "I'm just… a regular high school student."
"Student? What's that supposed to be?" She raised an eyebrow, a flicker of confusion on her face.
"Um… someone who goes to school to learn things…" he quickly explained.
"Then why did you fall from the sky?" she asked sternly, losing patience as she gripped his collar while keeping the sword pointed at him.
"Ah, that hurts!" he winced as the pain from his earlier injuries intensified under her grip.
"I swear, I don't know! Look, I'm hurt, and I don't even have any weapons."
She silently observed him from head to toe, her sharp gaze softening slightly as she noticed he didn't seem to be lying. Still, her eyes remained cold, with a faint trace of sadness.
She then threw him to the ground, her gaze unyielding, though the sword remained aimed at him, showing her lingering suspicion.
He took a deep breath, regaining his composure. His gaze hardened with determination, now directed firmly toward the girl, showing his resolve.
"Ah... I think I know why I'm here now."
"Why?" She raised an eyebrow.
"It's… to meet you!" He said, his voice trembling slightly but full of meaning.
"Meet me? For what purpose?" Her voice grew low and cold.
"Because... I wanted to talk to you!"
"Talk? Why?" She pressed, her sharp gaze probing every word.
"Why? Uh…" He stammered, surprised by the sudden question. His hesitation only fueled her impatience, and she pushed the tip of her sword closer.
"So you're an accomplice after all—"
Just as she was about to strike, he raised his hands in panic, blurting out a desperate plea.
"Wait… Because… I don't want you to feel lonely!"
The girl paused, her eyes flickering with a mix of doubt and astonishment at his unexpected words. His statement seemed to settle into the quiet space between them, softening her initial icy demeanor.
"Not… wanting me to feel lonely?" She murmured, her eyes softening slightly, though the sword remained drawn.
He took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words to explain further. "Yes… It might sound strange, but I feel like you've always been lonely, haven't you?"
"I can't explain it exactly, but I feel that… you shouldn't have to face everything alone."
Her gaze, sharp like a blade, was now less hostile, as if his words had stirred a distant memory.
"You… don't seem to be an enemy." She said quietly, finally lowering her sword, though her hand stayed on its hilt.
"Besides, you're the first person I've talked to since I arrived in this world… so I'll trust you, for now." Her voice was still cool, but he could sense her willingness to open up.
He sighed in relief as he saw her guard drop slightly. "Thank you for listening… May I know your name?"
"My name?" She hesitated a moment. "I don't have one… but I suppose a name is necessary for conversation, isn't it?"
"What about you? What's your name?"
"My name is…" The boy hesitated, as if wrestling with a thought. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees, clutching his head in searing pain.
"AH! WHY DOES MY HEAD HURT SO MUCH?!"
"W-What's wrong with you?" She quickly released her sword and knelt down to check on him.
After a couple of minutes, the pain gradually faded, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. Struggling to sit up, he panted before answering, "My name is Watano Genso, but you can just call me Watano."
"Watano… Well then, could you give me a name?"
"A name for you… Let me think…" It seemed he already had an answer, but he pretended to ponder just to gauge her reaction.
"Well… have you decided yet?" She looked at him expectantly, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"Tohka, Yatogami Tohka. How does that sound?"
"Yatogami… Tohka…" She repeated the name softly, a gentle light in her eyes as if she had finally found something solid to hold onto in this unfamiliar world.
"Tohka…" she murmured, a faint smile appearing on her lips, a rare warmth replacing her usual cold expression. "Alright, from now on, I will be Tohka."
Watano smiled in response. "I think that name suits you perfectly."
She looked at him, a bit surprised at the sincerity in his voice. Her initial suspicion began to fade, replaced by a growing curiosity.
"Watano, just who are you? Why did you come here and say these strange things to me?"
The boy hesitated briefly, his gaze thoughtful as he tried to convey his complex feelings.
"I… honestly don't know how I ended up here. But I feel like I have a clear purpose—to meet you, to protect you from… and to show you just how wonderful this world can be."
Tohka listened in silence, watching his every expression and gesture. She had encountered many enemies before, those who had only wanted to kill her without a word, yet this boy before her was different.
"You said you wanted to protect me?" She asked.
"To be honest, I'm not even sure… since I don't have any special abilities…" He scratched his head sheepishly, realizing he might have spoken too boldly earlier. Seeing his embarrassed expression, Tohka burst out laughing, even pointing at him teasingly.
"I think I might be the one who has to protect *you*, Watano!"
"Maybe you're right, haha."
"Hey, Tohka. Look over there—" Watano suddenly noticed behind her, in the distance, objects moving rapidly toward them. As they drew closer, they appeared human-like but equipped with advanced equipment and armed with weapons.
"Those half-machine people again. They've come to challenge me," Tohka smirked, looking unbothered.
"You should go, Watano. Leave the rest to me—"
"No way, it's too dangerous. I know you're strong, but don't be reckless. I don't want you to get hurt," he said, his voice filled with genuine concern.
"Watano…" She looked surprised, but before she could respond, one of the figures above dived down, separating them.
"Are you alright?" When Watano opened his eyes, he saw a girl with short white hair, wearing armor that covered her from shoulders to knees with a transparent section at her midsection. She held a gun, pointing it directly at Tohka.
"Didn't you make it to the shelter?"
"That's…" Watano stammered, unsure of how to respond without raising suspicion.
"Wait… you're Origami, aren't you?"
"How do you know my name?" She looked at him, surprised.
Before he could answer, Origami had to raise her gun to block Tohka's incoming attack.
"Let Watano go. Don't even think about harming him."
"What are you talking about? Clearly, you're the one trying to kill him." Origami replied, her face devoid of expression, as she thrust Tohka aside to create distance, leaping high and firing a barrage of bullets at her.
Tohka, undaunted, conjured a transparent spirit barrier to intercept the incoming rounds. The bullets struck the shield, erupting in small explosions accompanied by thick black smoke. Taking advantage of the smokescreen, Tohka surged forward, gripping her sword tightly as she unleashed a powerful horizontal slash.
"Deploy Territory!" Origami immediately activated her Territory around herself, blocking Tohka's surprise attack.
"Tohka, behind you!" Watano shouted in warning.
At that moment, Origami's team arrived just in time for backup. They lowered their jet wings, drew laser blades from their sides, and instantly attacked from behind Tohka. She glanced quickly over her shoulder, twisting her body and raising her sword, barely managing to deflect three consecutive strikes simultaneously.
Origami seized the opportunity, discarding her gun, drawing her own laser blade, and preparing to strike from behind as Tohka was distracted by her opponents in front.
"This is bad. At this rate, Tohka won't make it..."
Sensing the danger, Watano knew he had to intervene to protect Tohka. Without hesitation, he rushed over with all his strength, positioning himself behind her.
"Watano, what are you doing?"
"Huh?!"
"Stop—!" he shouted, but it was too late to completely halt Origami. Her laser blade came down, flashing a sharp glint in that fleeting moment.
Watano raised his arm in front of his chest, absorbing the full force of Origami's strike. A searing pain surged through him as the blade sliced into his skin, blood immediately soaking through his shirt.
"AHHHH! I… I made it," Watano gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, his eyes unwavering, never leaving Tohka.
"Tohka… please, run!" He urged, standing firm despite his injury. Tohka froze, her eyes widening as she saw the blood on his arm, taken aback by Watano's bravery.
Origami paused, her gaze momentarily torn between confusion and anger. "Why would you do that?" she asked, her voice sharp yet tinged with bewilderment.
Watano, though injured, maintained a steady voice as he responded, "Origami, she's not the enemy."
In that moment, Tohka felt something stir in her heart, moved by Watano's resolve. "You… didn't have to do this," she whispered.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Origami retorted, her voice filled with fury. "It's because of spirits like her that spacequakes happen, taking countless lives!"
"No… it's not like that…" Watano's voice grew weaker, his eyes growing dim as his body began to falter from blood loss.
"Watano? What's happening to you?" Tohka called to him, her voice laced with worry.
"I… don't…" He couldn't finish his sentence before his body slumped, unconscious, into Tohka's arms. Seeing this, Tohka became frantic, her hands trembling as she held onto him.
Tohka repeatedly called Watano's name, but his body remained motionless, unresponsive. A wave of helplessness and fear washed over her, her eyes reflecting her growing panic.
"Watano… Watano! Open your eyes! You can't just leave me like this!" Her voice wavered, her hands shaking as they clutched his shoulders.
Shocked, Tohka raised her head to glare at Origami, her voice thick with fury: "It was you… you struck him down!" She clung tightly to Watano, her eyes blazing, caught in a whirlwind of anger and pain.
Origami held her blade firmly, her gaze cold, but for a brief second, hesitation flickered across her face. Finally, she lowered her blade, her tone mocking as she replied, "Is this my fault? This is the consequence of your actions!"
Tohka narrowed her eyes, her voice icy: "Shut up…"
"What did you just say?" Origami's brow furrowed.
Tohka didn't reply before she burst out with a scream: "I SAID SHUT UUUUUUUP!!"
Instantly, she raised her sword and brought it down onto the throne beside her.
"
Fragments of the throne broke away, merging with her sword to form a massive, enhanced blade, the greatsword
The giant sword in Tohka's hands emitted a brilliant light, doubling in size and radiating an overwhelming aura of power. Her eyes gleamed with fierce determination as she took steady steps toward Origami.
Origami took a step back, assuming a defensive stance, her gaze fixed intently on the colossal sword.
"Tohka! Don't… do this!" Watano's faint voice broke the tense silence. He stirred slightly, his eyes barely opening, looking at Tohka with pleading eyes.
But Tohka's mind was clouded with rage. She charged at Origami like a relentless storm, each strike landing without pause. Origami could only defend in desperation, her Territory trembling, on the verge of collapse under the ferocity of Tohka's relentless onslaught.
"HAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Tohka shouted, swinging
"Don't think it'll be that easy!"
Origami's Territory suddenly expanded, glowing a brilliant green, densely packed with swirling energy, poised to explode.
As their powers collided, a tremendous explosion erupted, engulfing the entire area in a shockwave of clashing spirit and magical energy.
Through the powerful impact, Watano's vision faded to white. He was flung far away, his fragile body like a leaf in a storm, thrown hundreds of meters before slamming into the wall of a distant building.
"Tohka!!!"
The dull ache from his prior injuries, combined with the forceful impact, left him unconscious, slipping into darkness.
◊
A hand slowly emerged from the rubble as Watano struggled to push away each broken stone weighing down on him, enduring the pain to free himself.
"Phew, I made it out!"
Looking up, he noticed the sky had darkened. He must've been lying here for quite a while.
"It's this late already? And… Tohka…"
Covered in cuts and bruises, he dragged himself toward the location where the spatial quake had struck that morning, harboring a faint hope in his heart.
"So… it was real…"
Watano froze, staring at the vast emptiness before him. A chilling sense seeped into his mind as the breeze brushed by, reminding him that everything that had happened was no dream.
"I've actually been reincarnated into the Date A Live world..." he murmured, clenching his fist to feel the sharp sting of his injuries—a stark confirmation that this wasn't a hallucination.
Memories of recent events surged back, especially the image of the girl he'd met and named—Tohka. A part of him felt unsettled, anxious about what might have happened after he was thrown so far away.
"Tohka…" Watano muttered, eyes filled with resolve. "I hope she's alright…"
He turned and took a step back, deciding to tend to his injuries first before digging deeper into this situation. The night was closing in, and the surrounding silence was only punctuated by his echoing footsteps in the darkness. Turning a corner, he noticed the flashing lights of military vehicles and patrolling personnel in the distance.
"AST forces..." Watano held his breath and quickly sought cover. "If they spot me, things will get even messier…"
As the AST team passed, Watano exhaled in relief and resumed his journey. Using the GPS on his phone, he found his way to a nearby medical center still in operation.
Upon entering, the receptionist spotted his battered state and immediately called for doctors, who promptly escorted him into a treatment room.
Watano leaned back on the hospital bed, feeling fatigue pull him toward sleep. The warmth of the room offered a momentary comfort, dulling the ache of his many wounds.
After a while, a doctor entered, a look of concern and surprise on his face.
"You're so seriously injured; why didn't you come to the hospital sooner?"
Watano hesitated, forcing back the pain and answering softly, "I… I had something I had to do. It couldn't wait."
The doctor gave him a stern look. "Whatever it is, your health should come first. Lie still so we can check your injuries."
Watano closed his eyes, silently complying, but his mind kept drifting back to Tohka. Her lone figure appeared in his thoughts, filling him with worry. He wondered if she was safe, if she still held any trust in him after their misunderstood confrontation.
As the doctors tended to his wounds, his mind grew hazy with fatigue, and before he knew it, he'd drifted off to sleep.
◊
He woke up a few hours later to find the sky outside blanketed in darkness. The room was quiet, and the soft glow from a bedside lamp bathed the space in a gentle light. Watano shifted slightly, feeling the firm wraps around his arms and torso.
"Maybe I need to organize everything that's happened," he reminded himself.
"First, somehow, I've been reincarnated into the Date A Live world."
"Second, the moment I arrived, my head felt like it was going to split, and a flood of strange memories came over me… perhaps memories of the body's previous owner."
"Third, most importantly, I met Tohka first, instead of Shido. But Shido didn't show up then? Where could he be and what's he doing? Based on the storyline, he should've been there…"
Watano furrowed his brows, trying to piece together the scattered fragments of memory. He couldn't understand why he'd been the one to meet Tohka first instead of Shido—the one who was supposed to play a crucial role in the story.
"Does this mean… my presence might have changed the course of this world?" he murmured, a worried look in his eyes. "If that's true, then everything from now on might no longer follow the original plot."
His thoughts grew even more chaotic as he considered the possible risks. Everything he knew about Date A Live—from the events to the characters' personalities—could all change due to his presence here. Watano couldn't shake the weight of responsibility pressing down on him as he realized the implications of his role here.
But a feeling of unease resurfaced, pushing aside his recent thoughts.
"I wonder if Tohka's alright," Watano thought, gazing distantly toward the city through the window. He couldn't rid himself of the worry that filled his heart as he pictured Tohka—the girl with sharp, piercing eyes but an indescribable loneliness.
The image of Tohka facing Origami and the AST members vividly replayed in his mind, making him clench his fists. "I don't know if she's hurt… or if she managed to escape safely."
That thought only made him feel more restless. Although he was resolved to seek out Shido, the worry for Tohka kept him from staying put.
"No… maybe I should find her first…" Watano decided, his gaze sharpening as he set his sights on a new objective.