"Nii-san, what's going on?"
Nanako curiously stared up at the blue sky, the terrifying and ominous crack in the sky reflecting in her clear ruby-like eyes.
"Nii-san, the sky looks terrible. Let's go quickly."
She averted her gaze and held her brother's arm.
Haruto turned his attention toward her and said, "You should go ahead. I just remembered something else."
Nanako puffed out her cheeks. "If you won't give it to me, I won't give it to you either, stupid Nii-san. Nanako hates you the most."
After saying that, she shook her twintail and angrily ran off.
Ten meters later, Nanako turned back, looking at her brother, unable to keep her expression straight.
"Nii-san is such an idiot!"
Once Nanako was gone, Haruto turned and walked into the first alley he passed, and his figure slowly faded away and disappeared.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in a dark and cold world.
Isolated and lifeless.
A blood moon hung low, as if it were about to fall, suspended in the dark night.
A small figure suddenly appeared, a girl with an expressionless face.
It was the doll girl.
The doll girl said nothing, simply standing still behind Haruto.
Haruto looked into the distance.
The scene spanned across space in that moment.
He saw Ruka, panicked and helpless, looking around with a blank expression. It was clear she didn't understand why she had suddenly ended up in such a strange place.
The next moment, she seemed to sense something, and a look of shock crossed her face.
"That…"
Ruka ignored everything else and ran in one direction.
She was in the ruins of another city.
When she saw a young man, tears immediately flowed, and she couldn't stop them.
The figure of the young man was blurry, and he had turned aside. He stared blankly at the blood moon, muttering to himself, "Why am I here…"
"Why…"
"It feels like… I've forgotten something… what…"
The young man covered his head, and his expression gradually changed.
He knelt down in pain.
In a low, hissing voice, he said, "What have I forgotten…"
"Something really important…"
The young man clutched his head with both hands, feeling tremendous pain.
He didn't know why he was here or who he was, but he knew he had forgotten something.
Something very important!
He had to remember it!
But he couldn't.
Not far from him, Ruka stood frozen, staring at the increasingly deranged Renta, tears continuously streaming down her face.
"What's happening… Why Renta… Why?"
Without realizing it, Ruka walked toward Renta. "Renta… it's me, Ruka!"
"Ruka…"
Hearing Ruka's voice, Renta's growling suddenly stopped, and his eyes slowly widened.
His pupils began to contract violently.
"No… Don't come closer… Run… Ruka, run…"
Muttering unconsciously, Renta, who was clutching his head, had pupils trembling wildly. He didn't know what he was thinking, but his face gradually showed an unprecedented look of terror.
A ferocious humanoid monster emitted a sinister black aura, coalescing out of thin air.
Renta's body trembled violently, and suddenly, he lifted his head and screamed, "Run—!"
Ruka was shocked. "Renta…"
She took a step forward, and in the next instant, a pale bone blade suddenly appeared before her.
Ruka's eyes widened as a thin, black-and-white ferocious figure reflected in her pupils, along with the bone blade swinging toward her.
"!!!…"
She stared blankly at the figure that had suddenly appeared before her. Though the figure had become monstrous, a faint trace of familiarity could still be seen behind the broken mask.
"What is really happening…"
*BOOM*
A gust of wind blew, and Renta suddenly rushed forward, knocking the monster away.
His silver hair fluttered in the fierce wind.
Ruka stared blankly at the two battling figures, her tears falling.
But before they could hit the ground, the tears vanished into thin air.
The body that had once solidified after merging with Nanako began to blur again.
The ground shook constantly as the thunderous noise echoed.
This scene was like a nightmare, continually affecting Ruka's mind.
"Why…"
Meeting again should have been a joyful and fulfilling moment, and Ruka had imagined this scene many times.
But why?
Why did it turn out like this upon reuniting?
At that moment, another ferocious figure appeared. As soon as it appeared, it charged toward Ruka.
The strong wind hit her face, causing her to instinctively retreat.
But that step caused her to immediately fall to the ground. She forgot to flee and just stared blankly at the monster rushing toward her… No, it was her former friend.
"Get out of here!"
Renta let out a beast-like roar, charging forward once more, knocking away the attacking monster.
However, two more ferocious figures suddenly appeared.
The battle became increasingly chaotic and brutal.
Ruka shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "No…"
"Stop fighting…"
"Wuwu… Why… Why did it turn out like this… Wuwu…"
Ruka covered her face and cried, her tears falling one by one, landing on the red string.
The red string glowed faintly, emitting a warm energy.
She clutched the glowing red string as if holding onto a lifeline, crying out, "Onii-chan, please… help Ruka once more…"
"Onii-chan…"
In the darkness, Haruto gripped the sword in his hand. He slowly tightened his grasp and remained silent.
His eyes were fixed on the despairing, crying ghost girl and then on the four monsters fighting.
Then, he slowly walked forward.
Ruka looked at Haruto with a shocked expression, but the next moment, she saw him move and slice through the monster with the sword in his hand.
"No Onii-chan… Don't…"
She was stunned and murmured unconsciously.
Haruto glanced at the mask and, without hesitation, his sword destroyed another monster.
*Pu-chi*
Another was slain in an instant.
Holding the sword, Haruto turned and killed the last monster with a single strike.
Ruka's pupils gradually lost focus, the light in her eyes faded, and only tears continued to flow.
"Onii-chan, no…"
"…"
The wind howled, lightning intertwined in the sky, thunder boomed, and cold rain suddenly poured down.
Haruto slowly walked toward Renta, who was half-kneeling on the ground.