The console room hummed with a faint, almost rhythmic energy. Machines that had slumbered for centuries seemed to awaken, their dormant lights flickering to life as though in anticipation. But amidst the subtle awakening of the facility, all Izumi could focus on was the small, radiant object cradled in Daichi's hands—a key no larger than a child's palm.
It pulsed faintly, its golden glow shimmering like a heartbeat. When Daichi touched it, warmth surged through him, a sensation he hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity. It wasn't just physical warmth; it was something deeper, something that whispered to the fragmented pieces of his soul.
Izumi knelt beside him, her glowing eyes fixed on the key. She hesitated, her fingers brushing the edges of the hidden compartment from which they had retrieved it. "So… this is it," she murmured, her voice soft but heavy with emotion. The light from the key reflected in her tear-filled eyes. "This is what we came all this way for."
Daichi nodded, though his expression was conflicted. The faint glow of the key illuminated his face, casting shadows that mirrored the turmoil within him. "Yeah. This is it," he said, his voice quiet but resolute.
Izumi's gaze didn't leave him. "Are you ready?"
He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned the key over in his hand, feeling the weight of it. It wasn't heavy in the physical sense, but the responsibility it carried was staggering. Finally, he nodded, though his chest felt impossibly tight. "I have to be. There's no turning back now."
The atmosphere seemed to shift, the faint hum of the machinery growing louder, more insistent. The air felt charged, as though the room itself understood the gravity of what was about to happen.
Daichi stood, the key glowing brighter as he brought it closer to the cavity in his chest—the empty space that had haunted him since the moment he became aware of it. His fingers trembled, but his resolve remained unbroken.
"Daichi."
He turned at the sound of Izumi's voice. She stood a few steps away, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her expression was a storm of emotions—fear, anger, grief. "Are you absolutely sure about this?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Daichi's glowing eyes softened as he looked at her. "This is the only way," he said gently. "If I can bring humanity back… if I can give them another chance… everything we've endured will be worth it."
"But what about you?" she demanded, her voice rising. Her hands shook as she took a step toward him, her glowing eyes locked onto his. "What happens to you, Daichi? What happens to us?"
Daichi's lips curved into a small, bittersweet smile. "It doesn't matter what happens to me," he said. "What matters is that the world has a chance to start over. A chance to heal."
Izumi's composure broke. "No," she whispered, shaking her head as tears began streaming down her face. "No, it does matter. You matter. You can't just—"
Her voice cracked, and she bit her lip, her fists trembling as she struggled to hold herself together.
Daichi reached out, gently resting a hand on her shoulder. His touch was warm, reassuring, though it only made the ache in her chest grow stronger. "You're stronger than you think, Izumi," he said softly. "I believe in you. You'll figure it out. You'll keep going."
The words shattered her. She wanted to scream, to argue, to beg him to find another way—but deep down, she knew he wouldn't. She saw the resolve in his eyes, the quiet determination that had carried him through every trial they had faced together.
The key slid into the cavity in his chest with a quiet, mechanical click. For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
Then, the chamber erupted in a blinding light.
The glow from Daichi's chest expanded rapidly, filling the room with an otherworldly radiance. The hum of the machinery around them rose to a deafening crescendo, vibrating through the walls and floor. The air itself felt alive, crackling with energy.
"Daichi, stop!" Izumi screamed, shielding her eyes against the light. She stumbled forward, desperate to reach him, but an invisible force held her back. "Please, there has to be another way!"
Daichi shook his head, his glowing eyes calm despite the chaos. His voice was steady, though it trembled with emotion. "There isn't. This is what I was made for, Izumi. This is what we were searching for all along."
"No!" Izumi cried, her voice breaking. Tears streamed down her face as she fought against the barrier separating them. "You can't do this! You can't leave me!"
Daichi's form began to waver, his edges dissolving into shimmering particles of light. He turned to her one last time, his gaze filled with a profound warmth.
"Izumi," he whispered, his voice soft but filled with emotion. He raised a fading hand toward her, his touch ghosting against her cheek. "Thank you. For everything. For being there. I couldn't have done this without you."
She reached for him, her metallic fingers trembling as they grasped his hand. "Daichi," she choked out, her voice breaking under the weight of her grief. "Please… don't go."
His smile remained, faint but unwavering. "Save them," he said, his voice barely audible. "For me."
And then, he was gone.
The light from his chest surged outward, a wave of radiant energy that washed over the facility and beyond. The hum of the machinery grew louder, then quieter, until it finally faded into silence.
Izumi fell to her knees, her hands clutching the empty space where Daichi had stood. The chamber was silent now, save for the faint echoes of her sobs. The warmth of his presence lingered, but it was fleeting, like the final notes of a song.
She stared at the empty room, her tears falling silently onto the cold, metallic floor. Her heart felt heavier than ever, but in the stillness, she clung to his final words.
"Save them. For me."
Suddenly, her consciousness was taken away.
"Why did my eyelids getting heavier", she murmured right before she passed out.