Lumi had taken Kazuki to a small, quiet Inn. She had disappeared for a while after getting some snacks, leaving Kazuki alone with his thoughts. His head was full of questions about the tournament, about Hotaru, about everything he didn't understand.
Just as he was about to lose himself in his thoughts again, the door creaked open, and Hotaru stepped in. Her usual calm, innocent smile was still there, but something about it was different now. It wasn't the playful smile she had earlier. There was a depth to it, a hint of sadness that Kazuki hadn't noticed before.
"Hey," she greeted him softly, stepping into the room and sitting across from him. "Lumi said you were thinking too hard. You should try to relax."
Kazuki smiled faintly. "I guess I have a lot on my mind... about you."
Hotaru looked at him, her eyes soft, as if she were trying to decide whether or not to say more. After a moment of silence, she spoke again.
"I didn't want to stay here, you know. In Eidolon. It wasn't something I chose." Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant. "But I couldn't leave. There's something here that I can't escape."
Kazuki raised an eyebrow. "But you don't want to stay? Then why do you?"
Hotaru leaned back slightly, staring at the ceiling. "It's complicated," she said softly. "I don't even know why I ended up here in the first place. I was just living my life, and then one day... I was here." She looked down at her hands, a faint frown crossing her face. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't want to be a part of this world, but here I am."
Kazuki didn't know what to say. He could tell that Hotaru wasn't the kind of person who would open up easily, so hearing her speak like this felt like a rare glimpse into her real self.
"Then what happened?" Kazuki asked, his curiosity piqued.
Hotaru hesitated for a moment, her eyes glimmering with something unreadable. "I don't know if I should tell you this… but… you saved me."
Kazuki blinked, confused. "Saved you? I don't think I've ever even met you before today."
She nodded slowly. "You don't remember me, do you?" she whispered. "I guess that's not surprising. But you were the one who saved me... back when you were still in your world."
Kazuki's heart skipped a beat. "What? How could that be? I wasn't even in Eidolon then. I didn't know anyone here until I met Lumi."
Hotaru's smile faltered for a brief moment, as if she were trying to hold back something. "You wouldn't remember, because it wasn't supposed to happen. But you did save me, Kazuki. And that's why I'm here. I owe you, and I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you."
Kazuki leaned forward, a sense of urgency in his voice. "But… what happened? How did you end up here?"
Hotaru shook her head. "I don't really know. I was in a different place, a different time, but somehow you… you saved me. In your world, in your time. And that's how I ended up here. I'm here because of you."
Kazuki's mind was racing, trying to piece together what she was saying. Was it possible? Had he really saved someone from another world, without even knowing it? And now she was in Eidolon, tied to him in some way?
Hotaru's gaze softened, and she looked at him with an odd sense of gratitude. "I don't want to be here. I didn't ask for any of this. But I'm here now… and I need to make the best of it. For both of us."
Kazuki was speechless. There was so much he didn't understand, so many things that didn't add up. But for now, one thing was clear: Hotaru wasn't just some innocent bystander in this world. She had a connection to him, something deeper than he could grasp.
"Don't worry about it," Hotaru said, her voice a little more upbeat now, though there was still an air of sadness in her tone. "I'm here now, and I'll make sure you don't get too lost." She smiled again, but this time, it felt more genuine, though there was still a shadow in her eyes.
Kazuki didn't know what to say. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, but he didn't know if he was ready to hear the answers.
For now, all he could do was nod. "Thanks, Hotaru."
She stood up, walking to the door. "I'll leave you to think for a while. But just remember... things aren't always what they seem, Kazuki. You might have more questions than you think."
With that, she left, leaving Kazuki alone with his thoughts once again. His heart still raced, and his mind was flooded with questions, but one thing was for certain—nothing in Eidolon was simple. Not the people, not the world, and certainly not the strange connection he had with Hotaru.