In the days that followed, Watano had to remain in the medical center to heal his wounds. He constantly waited for the chance to be discharged, a gnawing worry in his heart as he wondered if Tohka was safe.
Finally, when his injuries had stabilized, he was permitted to leave. Though his body still felt weary, his resolve grew stronger.
"Finally free!"
As soon as he stepped out of the medical center, he immediately began planning how to search for Tohka—the one he believed still needed his protection in this dangerous world.
"But maybe I should head home first?" Watano sighed, feeling the need for a moment to calm down and think more clearly.
On his way back, he quietly observed Tenguu City bathed in the evening sunlight. The twinkling lights and bustling crowds reminded him of the old world, a place much more familiar and safer than what he now faced here.
Eventually, he reached his small apartment—a place he recognized only from the distant memories lingering in his mind. It was on the third floor of an old building, sparsely furnished with only a few basic items. Entering, the fatigue seemed to crash down on him as the quiet of the room surrounded him.
He sat down, reflecting on everything he'd been through. Facing Tohka, Origami, and the uncertainty of Shido's whereabouts made him feel as though everything was spinning out of his control.
"Maybe… this is a chance for a fresh start," he whispered to himself, a sense of determination rising within. "If fate brought me here, then I'll fulfill my greatest wish."
With that thought, he began outlining his next steps—learning more about this world, his identity, and hoping to reunite with Tohka soon. Watano moved to his desk, turned on his computer, and started searching. First, he looked up his own personal information on social media and school websites to better understand his current identity.
He then switched to scanning recent news about spatial quakes, checking if there had been any new occurrences outside of Tenguu City while he was recovering.
Watano carefully scrolled through each search result. Recent articles only mentioned the major incident in Tenguu City, with no reports from other regions, which reassured him somewhat, knowing the nearby cities remained safe.
"Oh, what's this…"
After checking the news, he returned to his personal information. The basic details—name, age, school—all matched the faint memories in his mind. However, while browsing some photos on social media, he noticed something strange—in almost every group picture with friends, he was always standing at a distance, his expression weary and detached.
A brief sadness swept over him, but he quickly brushed it off. "No matter what, I now have the chance to change everything..."
As he thought this, a message suddenly popped up on his computer screen, startling him. It was from a classmate, short and cryptic:
"Are you coming to school tomorrow? Everyone's pretty worried about you."
He paused, feeling a bit unsure. "Should I… go back to school?" Watano wondered, hesitating as he wasn't sure how to face everyone in this new reality.
But at the same time, it was an opportunity to learn more about this world—and maybe about Tohka, if she showed up around school like in the original storyline.
He quickly replied, saying he'd be there tomorrow, his resolve renewed. Though he knew there'd be challenges and mysteries awaiting him, Watano felt this was a necessary step to understand this world better and find a way to reach Tohka.
That night, he tried to rest early to prepare for the following day. The next morning, Watano woke up to soft sunlight streaming into his room. Putting on his school uniform, he looked at himself in the mirror, offering a slight smile as if to reassure himself. "It'll be fine."
On his way to school, he couldn't help but feel both nervous and excited. Everything around him was vaguely familiar yet strangely foreign, as if he belonged but was also an outsider. As he walked through the school gates, groups of students chatted happily, a lively contrast to the silence he had grown used to during his recovery.
As he arrived at his classroom, a few classmates noticed him and hurried over, their faces a mix of surprise and concern.
"Watano-san! Are you okay? We heard you had an accident," one of them asked.
He nodded, offering a gentle smile. "Yes, I'm alright now. Thank you for worrying."
The brief but warm exchange made him feel a little more at ease. When he sat down at his desk, he let out a quiet sigh, feeling like he was truly beginning to settle into this new life.
After class began, Watano tried to act as usual, focusing on his studies. But shortly afterward, a familiar figure entered the room, catching his attention—it was Shido. Watano instantly recognized this key figure from the story, someone always involved in the spatial quake events and interactions with the Spirits. His curiosity piqued as he wondered why Shido hadn't been present during the last incident.
During the break, Watano decided to approach Shido. He tried to appear calm, but the excitement was evident in his eyes.
"Hello, you're Itsuka Shido, right?" Watano asked, his gaze fixed on Shido to gauge his reaction.
Shido looked momentarily surprised at the unexpected greeting, then smiled warmly. "Huh? Oh, yes, that's me. And you are?"
"I'm Watano Genso," he replied, then continued, "Did you do anything when the spatial quake happened a few days ago?"
"Ah… A few days ago? I… didn't really do anything special. I just stayed in the school's shelter," Shido replied.
Watano frowned slightly, sensing something was off. According to what he remembered, Shido should have gone to search for his sister, Kotori, when the spacequake happened. Shido would leave the shelter and then run into Tohka and Origami – one a Spirit, the other a member of AST. But now, Shido insisted he had only stayed in the shelter the whole time.
"Really?" Watano tried to probe, keeping his voice calm. "You didn't go looking for your sister?"
"How did you know I have a sister?" Shido looked at him, suspicious.
Watano scratched his cheek, forcing a smile to mask his unease so Shido wouldn't get suspicious. "That… I was just curious. Anyway, it's good that everything is fine."
"Sorry for bothering you. I'll be off now."
"Oh, um, goodbye."
Leaving Shido, Watano walked out into the hallway, his mind racing with thoughts. The conversation only reinforced his suspicion that his presence was altering the course of events. Shido should have left the shelter to look for Kotori and met Tohka for the first time – but that hadn't happened.
"Perhaps… I'll have to find her myself," Watano murmured, a determined look forming in his eyes. Tohka would surely be misunderstood if she encountered others, especially the AST forces. If he didn't act quickly, she might be in danger.
"But how am I supposed to find her…"
As he pondered ways to search for Tohka, the piercing sound of a spacequake alarm suddenly echoed through the school hallways, shattering the calm.
"Another spacequake? Again?" The students erupted in a panic, rushing to the shelters.
Watano, on the other hand, was startled, his heart pounding. If a spacequake was happening, there was a good chance it meant a new Spirit had appeared—or… it could be Tohka.
Wasting no time, he sprinted out of the school. He couldn't miss this chance—if it was Tohka, he had to meet her before anyone else, before things went south.
"Excuse me! Please, let me through!" he called out, weaving through the crowd running toward the shelters.
Moving against the flow, Watano dashed down empty streets. As he neared the area where the alarm had sounded, the air around him seemed to still, and a familiar pang resonated within him.
Drawing from experience, Watano ran into a nearby building to shield himself from the impending impact of the spacequake explosion.
As the spacequake subsided, he poured all his energy into running toward the center, where the spacequake had just occurred.
"Please… let it be Tohka," he silently prayed, running faster and scanning his surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of the girl he was so worried about.
"Phew…"
Watano panted as he arrived, his legs nearly giving out from the long sprint. Before him lay a chaotic scene: the ground was cracked open, trees blown away, and at the center was a deep crater left by the spacequake.
He stood there, catching his breath, his eyes sweeping across the area, looking for any sign of someone—hoping it would be Tohka. The air was still thick with spirit energy, reminding Watano she might still be nearby.
"Please… Tohka, are you here?" he whispered, his eyes filled with worry and tension. Carefully, he moved closer to the crater, listening and trying to sense any sign of her. But around him, there was only the sound of wind and an eerie silence.
Watano told himself to stay calm. He knew that if this was Tohka, she might be injured or hiding from the AST's pursuit. Determined, he continued forward, hoping to find her before anyone else did.
He searched all around, but strangely, the center of the crater was empty, the area completely quiet, and it seemed that the AST hadn't arrived yet.
Suddenly, from atop a nearby tall building, a clear but cold voice rang out, startling Watano.
"Watano, what are you looking for?"
He looked up and saw Tohka standing on the edge of the roof, her deep purple eyes gazing down at him intently. The familiar Spirit armor adorned her figure, radiating an aura of beauty and mystery that blended with the sunset behind her.
"Tohka…" Watano whispered her name, a mixture of relief and surprise washing over him. He hadn't expected to see her right now.
She leaped gracefully from above, landing as lightly as a petal on the ground.
"Were you alright last time?"
"Of course I was fine; those people couldn't possibly defeat me," Tohka replied confidently.
"That's good."
He sighed with relief at her answer, but then Tohka glanced toward his arm, where he'd previously been injured.
"How's your wound? Does it still hurt?"
"Oh, it's just a minor wound, haha. Don't worry," Watano chuckled, trying to sound nonchalant.
Tohka nodded slightly. "Is that so?"
Watano hesitated before asking, "So Tohka, now that you're here, what do you intend to do? Did you come just to confront those people again?"
She looked at him for a moment, her purple eyes reflecting a hint of uncertainty. She seemed to be considering something, then sighed softly.
"I… don't know," she said, her voice tinged with a trace of loneliness. "I only know that every time I appear, those people always try to attack me. No one wants to listen or understand me at all."
Watano could feel a vague sadness hidden in Tohka's voice. Although she was strong and proud, the loneliness of being a Spirit was a hidden scar she couldn't easily hide forever.
"You don't have to keep fighting alone, Tohka," Watano said softly, his eyes warm and sincere, as if to chase away the dark clouds in her heart. "There's so much wonder in this world… so many things you haven't experienced yet."
Tohka looked at him, hesitating slightly, her gaze showing a mix of surprise and doubt.
"But… everyone just sees me as someone who brings disaster. How can I live peacefully when spacequakes keep happening because of me?" Her voice trembled, as if her years of solitude were seeping into her words.
"Tohka, I understand that you see yourself as a threat. But to me, you're not that. You're not a monster." Watano moved closer, reaching his hand out to her, his eyes filled with warmth and determination.
"You're someone who deserves love and respect. This world is vast… and it's also full of kindness."
Tohka looked at his outstretched hand, a hint of hesitation in her gaze.
"But… can I truly reach a world like that?"
Watano smiled, nodding resolutely. "You can, Tohka. Let me stand by your side. No matter what happens, I'll always be here, protecting you even if everyone else rejects you."
She stared at him, her eyes filled with a mix of surprise and emotion. "But why… why would you go through so much… just to help me?"
Watano looked into her questioning eyes, suddenly feeling a strange emotion stirring within him, like a small seedling just sprouting in his soul.
That feeling made his heart beat faster, both strong and fragile. Though he didn't yet understand it fully, with each passing moment, he found himself unable to turn away from this girl.
"Honestly… I don't entirely know," Watano admitted with a light sigh, a faint smile on his lips.
"But I feel that we're alike… both so alone…"
"Maybe that's why I can empathize with you so easily…"
"And more than that… I don't want to see you suffer in loneliness just because you're a Spirit. I'll stay with you, through every storm, to help you find joy and happiness. Let me show you a world where you're cherished, Tohka."
Tohka lowered her head, a tear slipping free that she couldn't hold back. She nodded slowly, her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, Watano… Thank you for accepting me."
◊
"Watano, where are you taking me?" Tohka asked, her voice full of curiosity.
"Just bear with me for a bit," Watano replied, his hand tightly holding Tohka's as he hurriedly led her into a nearby dark alley, trying to escape the AST squad pursuing them.
"Tohka, we don't need to confront them right now," he whispered, trying to stay calm.
She stopped, frowning as she looked at Watano. "Why are we running? I can easily defeat them!" she said confidently.
"Yeah… I know," Watano answered, his tone still thoughtful. "This way!"
They dashed through the alley and paused, breathing heavily as they realized they'd evaded their pursuers. "Looks like we're safe... thank goodness," Watano sighed with relief.
"Tohka, can I ask you something?" Watano turned to her, his gaze holding a hint of something unspoken.
She raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Go ahead."
"Can you... change your astral dress?" Watano asked, his voice tinged with slight awkwardness.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Tohka was taken aback, then her cheeks flushed. "Wait, are you asking me to… take it off—"
"No! No! That's not what I meant!" Watano waved his hands, his face also turning red. "Just hold on!"
He quickly rummaged through his pocket, pulling out his phone and finding a picture of RaiZen High's female uniform. "I just wanted to see you wear something like this," Watano explained, showing the image to Tohka.
Tohka glanced at it, then nodded, now understanding. "Alright then."
She raised her hand, and her astral dress emitted a gentle light, slowly transforming into a simple but elegant school uniform.
"Is this right?" she asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.
Watano paused, caught off guard as he gazed at Tohka in her new outfit for longer than intended, snapping back when she spoke up again.
"Oh… Yeah, it suits you really well," he replied, a bit flustered but unable to hide a shy smile.
"What's with you? Why do you look so tense?" she asked.
"I'm fine… really," Watano said, trying to keep his tone steady, though his eyes instinctively looked away.
Tohka studied him a moment, then shrugged. "Never mind. Watano, show me the beautiful things in this world."
Watano was surprised by her sincere request. A gentle smile appeared on his face. "Alright… let's go!"
◊
"WHAT IS THIS? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE??" Tohka exclaimed, her eyes wide as she stared at the bustling crowd in Tenguu City's busiest shopping district. It was a Saturday, and there wasn't a spot left open on the lively street.
"Are all these people here to kill me?!"
"Shh! Tohka, don't shout like that!" Watano quickly whispered, glancing around nervously. "If you shout like that, people will notice us."
"Um, sorry…" Tohka whispered back, still visibly amazed.
Watano smiled, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry. None of these people want to hurt you; they're just here to shop."
"Really?"
"Really! I promise."
Tohka blinked, still slightly doubtful, but the tension on her face began to soften. Slowly, she started to feel the lively, cheerful energy of the crowd around her.
"Alright... So will you show me what to do here?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Watano chuckled lightly. "Of course! First… let's try some street food!" He pointed to a small stall nearby, selling all kinds of delicious-smelling treats, from donuts and ice cream to grilled skewers.
"Street food? Does that mean... I can eat as much as I want?" Tohka asked, her eyes unable to hide her excitement.
"Exactly! This is one of the best parts of going out. Do you want to try some?"
Tohka nodded, quickly drawn in by the aroma of the food. Watano bought her a stick of takoyaki, with glistening, saucy balls of dough topped with green onions and ginger.
She carefully took the stick in her hand, looked at it for a moment, then took a bite. Her eyes lit up instantly. "This is amazing! It's better than anything I've ever eaten!"
Watano smiled as he watched her, feeling a sense of relief seeing Tohka so happy. "See? I told you. There's a lot more to explore here. Is there anything else you want to try?"
Tohka eagerly looked around. "I want to try everything! Lead the way!"
"Alright!" Watano replied happily, and together, they dove into their adventure exploring the lively market, where every corner held a new surprise.
"This one… this one… and this one too!" Tohka excitedly explored one food stall after another, her eyes sparkling like a child stepping into a magical world. Meanwhile, Watano was beginning to feel winded, trying to keep up with her quick steps.
"Hey, Tohka… wait for me!" He panted, resting his hands on his knees, then checked his wallet. Seeing how much was left, Watano murmured, "I wonder how much longer you can hold out… Wallet-sama…"
But he didn't mind it one bit. In fact, he felt even happier. Seeing Tohka laughing and smiling like this filled Watano with a sense of happiness that he couldn't quite explain.
"Hey, Watano, I want to try that one!"
"Alright, be right there!"
And so, they continued to blend into the crowd, where laughter, delicious aromas, and bright lights painted a warm scene Tohka had never experienced before.
After hours wandering through the market, the two left happily as evening began to set in.
"Tohka, I want to take you somewhere special," Watano smiled, his eyes filled with a hint of mystery.
"But can you close your eyes for a moment?" he added.
"Alright, but… why?" Tohka asked, a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"You'll see in a moment," Watano replied, his smile unchanged.
Tohka closed her eyes, and as if to make up for the uneasiness of not seeing, her hand held onto Watano's more tightly. He gently led her down a quiet path toward Tenguu City Park.
"You can open your eyes now," Watano said, his voice tinged with anticipation.
"Ah, um… Woah!" She gasped as she slowly opened her eyes.
In front of her was the entire cityscape of Tenguu, glowing under the night sky. Streetlights shimmered alongside the glow of shop signs, creating a magical, vibrant scene.
She stood still, her eyes wide with awe at the beauty of the city at night. A bright smile appeared on her lips, and she couldn't take her eyes off the view.
"This is incredible! I've never seen anything like this!" Tohka exclaimed, her eyes shining with joy and wonder.
Watano smiled, feeling Tohka's joy filling his own heart. "See? This is the beauty of the world I wanted to show you."
"Tohka, there are so many amazing things here. I hope you'll find happiness in the little moments like this," he said, gesturing toward the lit-up food stalls and shops.
"Watano... thank you!" She turned to him, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"I can't believe I can actually feel this. I always thought, as a Spirit, I'd never get to have moments like these."
"So that's it... That's why this beautiful world… those half-machines are so determined to kill me…" Tohka spoke thoughtfully. "Every time I appear, I destroy this beauty..."
She looked at Watano, a bitter smile forming, sadness in her eyes. "Watano, maybe I really shouldn't exist, right?"
"NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Watano said firmly, his gaze steady. "Tohka, have you ever thought about staying here forever?"
"Huh?"
"If you don't return to your world, there won't be any more destruction."
Tohka paused, looking uncertain. "But… even if I stay, I have no place to belong to, and no one close—"
"I'll take care of that!" Watano interrupted, his voice full of resolve.
"But those half-machines won't let me—"
"IGNORE THEM! I promised, Tohka. No matter what, I'll protect you!"
"Really?"
"Really!"
"Really really?"
"REALLY REALLY!"
"Really really really?"
"YES, REALLY REALLY REALLYYYY!"
Feeling the sincerity in Watano's words, Tohka seemed to accept this unlikely idea of staying here with him.
"But what do I need to do to stay here forever?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with a hint of hope.
"That's..." Watano felt a twinge of panic at her question. He knew the answer, but the thought of Tohka opening her heart to Shido—and sharing a sealing kiss—made his chest ache, a strange discomfort welling up inside him.
"I'll find a way... Don't worry about it," Watano reassured her, trying to ease her mind.
"Will you? I believe you can do it," Tohka smiled softly, looking at him with trust.
"It's getting late; do you want to come over to my place?"
"Your place? Sure. I'd like to see where you live."
Watano smiled, leading Tohka down the quiet streets toward his apartment. A strange mixture of anticipation and nervousness filled him as he realized this was the first time anyone—especially Tohka—would be visiting his place.
"I really did invite her… Oh man, next time, think before you speak!" Watano thought, silently berating himself for his impulsiveness.
When they arrived at his apartment, Watano opened the door and welcomed Tohka inside. The small space was cozy, furnished simply but warmly. Tohka stepped in, her eyes scanning the room with curiosity. Everything was new and fascinating to her.
"So, this is where you live?" Tohka asked, her eyes sparkling as she looked around.
"Yeah, it's just a small place, but I find it pretty comfortable," Watano replied, a bit self-conscious.
Tohka nodded and sat down on a chair in the corner, settling in as if savoring this new experience. She turned to Watano, her eyes full of sincerity. "Thank you, Watano… for showing me the wonderful things in this world."
Watano smiled back, his heart swelling with emotion. "It's nothing, Tohka..."
She stayed silent, a small smile on her face. For the first time in her life, she seemed to feel that she wasn't alone and that someone genuinely cared for her.
"Are you hungry?" Watano asked.
"Food? Yes!" She replied eagerly, her eyes lighting up.
"Alright, let me check…" Watano started rummaging through the fridge and cupboards, only to find them nearly empty.
"Oh no, there's nothing… Ah!" He spotted a cup of instant noodles.
"Tohka, do you want to try this?" Watano held up the cup with a grin.
"What's that?" Tohka asked, intrigued.
"It's cup noodles. It's delicious, and it's easy to make too."
"Really? Let me try it!"
"Hang on, I'll boil some water first."
He filled the kettle, turned on the gas, and started heating it.
"So this is how humans boil water. I must remember this," Tohka watched intently, her expression full of fascination.
"While we wait, why don't you try a bath here?" Watano suggested.
"A bath… what's that?" Tohka asked, making Watano almost fall over from her unexpected innocence. After regaining his composure, he patiently explained every little detail about what humans did every day.
"So many things in one day… My brain is going to be overloaded..." Tohka muttered, looking a bit overwhelmed.
"Whenever you want to know more, just ask," Watano smiled.
"Alright, then I'll go try this bath thing."
"Uh... yeah..."
Watano watched as Tohka went into the bathroom, then breathed a sigh of relief. He shook his head, feeling both amused and a bit embarrassed at having to explain things that seemed so obvious to humans.
While waiting for the water to boil, he turned back to check the instant noodle cup, thinking to himself that this would likely be a simple meal but enough to offer Tohka a new experience in the human world. After a few minutes, the water began to boil, so he poured it into the noodle cup, closed the lid, and set it aside to let it cook.
Just then, Tohka came out of the bathroom, her long hair still slightly damp and her face beaming.
"I… finished my bath!" she declared, as if she'd just accomplished something grand. "Actually, bathing was easier to understand than I thought."
Watano smiled, feeling happy for her enthusiasm. "That's great! The noodles are ready too. Do you want to give it a try?"
Tohka sat down, studying the cup in front of her. "So this is human food? It looks strange."
"Yeah, give it a try, but be careful; it's hot," Watano said, handing her a pair of chopsticks and waiting for her reaction.
She held the chopsticks awkwardly, trying to maneuver them to pick up a strand of noodles. After a few tries, she finally succeeded and took a taste. Her eyes lit up, surprised by the unfamiliar flavor.
"It's delicious! How can it taste so good just by adding hot water?" Tohka asked, her voice full of excitement.
Watano smiled, pleased to see her enjoying herself. "This is one of the simplest things. If you like it, we can try more things together, just like today."
"Oh, the movie's about to start!" He suddenly remembered, quickly sitting up and reaching for the TV remote to turn on his favorite movie channel.
He switched the channel, and the screen lit up with a famous action film scene. Tohka sat down next to him, her eyes filled with curiosity as she focused intently on the screen, as if she was ready to discover a new aspect of the human world.
The thrilling action scenes and dynamic sounds captured Tohka's full attention. Her eyes widened, both surprised and thrilled as she watched the characters fight courageously on the screen.
"What is this, Watano?" Tohka asked, her tone laced with wonder. "They look like they're fighting… but it's not real, right?"
Watano smiled and gently explained, "This is a movie; it's just a story made for entertainment, not real life."
Tohka nodded, her expression as though she'd just discovered something profound. "So… humans can create their own stories to tell each other. That's amazing!"
He chuckled, feeling glad that Tohka understood the meaning of movies. They continued watching, and occasionally, Watano explained little details to her. He realized that through these small moments, the distance between them was slowly closing, as though they were sharing a new world neither had ever known.
When the movie ended, Tohka turned to him with a gentle smile. "That was really interesting."
Watano smiled back, feeling warmth in his heart. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"Well, the movie's over, so I guess it's time to sleep…" he said with a yawn.
"Oh, Tohka, when will you go back to the Neighboring World?" Watano asked, hesitating a bit.
"I'm not sure," Tohka replied. "But each time I feel sleepy, when I open my eyes, I'm back in that dark place."
"I see." Watano nodded.
"There's no other option. You can sleep here," he said, gesturing to his bed.
"But where will you sleep?" Tohka asked, looking a bit confused.
"I have an extra blanket and pillow, so I'll just sleep on the floor."
"Won't you be cold? Or let me—"
"No worries, I'll be fine. You go ahead and lie down." Watano reassured her with a soft smile.
"Ah… okay. I understand," Tohka nodded, grateful for his kindness.
"Hey, Tohka, if you go back there… will you come back here?"
"Of course, I'll come find you again,"
"That's good to know…"
"All right, I'll turn off the light."
"Good night, Tohka!"
"Good night to you too," she replied softly.
As the light faded, the room fell into complete darkness, and silence settled around them.
In the quiet, Watano lay on the floor, gazing at the ceiling, his mind lingering on the events of the night. He hadn't expected to experience a night like this, sharing it with her. Though he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but think about ways to help Tohka exist in the human world without being hunted down.
"Come on, think… apart from sealing, is there another way Shido can— No, absolutely not!"
"…"
On the bed nearby, Tohka lay with her eyes open, looking into the darkness, as though savoring the peaceful space for the first time. The warmth she felt was unfamiliar, making her hesitate, yet it strengthened her trust in Watano's promise.
"Watano…" she whispered softly, a slight smile emerging in the darkness, her heart feeling true peace for the first time.
◊
The sun gradually rose, its gentle light filtering through the window, illuminating the small room. Watano stirred and opened his eyes, feeling the chill of the floor making him shiver.
"It's April… Still a bit cold!" he muttered.
The room was still dim. Watano moved toward the window, pulling back the curtains to let the light fill the room.
"Good morning, To—" He stopped mid-sentence when he looked at the bed, stunned to see Tohka's figure had vanished.
"Tohka?" Watano called softly, but there was no response. The room felt empty, wrapped in silence.
"Where are you?"
A sense of emptiness mixed with worry began to rise within him. He quickly got up, searching around the room. Without even brushing his teeth, he dashed out of the apartment, running straight toward the park, hoping he might find her there.
He searched throughout the park, but only silence answered him. The sunlight gradually bathed the city, casting a warm golden glow over the scenery. Watano slowly walked to the spot where he and Tohka had watched the city lights the night before, quietly embracing the new dawn.
"Don't worry, Tohka. I'll definitely find you. I swear!"