Kazuki froze as he knelt beside Hotaru's lifeless body. His hand trembled as he gently touched her shoulder, half-expecting her to suddenly sit up and tell him this was all a bad joke. But she didn't move.
His heart felt like it had stopped beating. His breath hitched, a lump rising in his throat.
"Hotaru…" he whispered, his voice cracking.
Sonnet and Andreas stood silently behind him, uncharacteristically serious. Lumi bit her lip, her usual playful demeanor replaced by a grim silence.
Kazuki's mind spiraled, memories flashing through his thoughts—their quiet strolls through the streets, her soft laughter, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about the smallest, silliest things. Just hours ago, they had been laughing together.
And now…
He leaned in closer, staring at her pale face. Something about her features tugged at his memory. Slowly, like a puzzle falling into place, realization dawned on him.
His eyes widened.
"She's… she's the girl," Kazuki whispered, his breath catching. "The girl I saved back then… back in the real world."
It hit him like a punch to the gut. He remembered it clearly now—her face, her terrified expression as the truck bore down on her. He had pushed her out of the way, thinking he had saved her life.
But here she was, lying cold and lifeless before him.
"I… I saved her," Kazuki muttered, his voice trembling. "I saved her… so why is she…?"
Lumi placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression softening. "Kazuki…"
He clenched his fists, his body shaking. For the first time since arriving in Eidolon, the weight of this strange world truly sank in. This wasn't some dream. This wasn't a game.
Hotaru was gone.
And no one could tell him why.
Kazuki stayed by Hotaru's side, his head lowered, thoughts swirling. He hadn't known her for long, but in such a short time, she had left a mark on him—her kindness, her quiet strength, and that unspoken sadness in her eyes that now made sense.
Andreas knelt down, his usual goofy expression replaced with something calmer, more serious. He rested a hand on Kazuki's shoulder.
"Let's give her a proper send-off," Andreas said quietly. "We owe her that much."
Sonnet crouched beside him, her silver hair catching the faint light in the narrow alley. She looked at Hotaru's peaceful face and sighed softly. "She deserves more than being left here." Without another word, she gently removed her jacket and laid it over Hotaru's body.
Kazuki's eyes burned, but no tears came. He nodded, his throat too tight to speak.
Together, they gathered a few scattered flowers nearby—wild blooms that grew even in the forgotten corners of Eidolon. Andreas arranged them carefully around Hotaru's body.
Sonnet stood back, her usual teasing nature gone, replaced with something deeply respectful. "May your next path be kind to you, Hotaru," she whispered.
Kazuki closed his eyes, whispering a quiet thanks to her for everything—her warmth, her kindness, her courage.
Lumi stayed back, watching them in silence. Her face was unreadable, but her hands were clenched tightly by her sides. She wanted to say something, anything, but nothing seemed right. For once, she was quiet.
When they were done, Kazuki stood, his legs feeling like lead. His heart ached, but there was no time to linger.
"Let's… keep going," Kazuki finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked at Hotaru one last time, his chest tightening. "I'll figure this out. I'll make sure it wasn't for nothing."
Andreas nodded and gave him a small, reassuring smile. "You've got us. Let's stick together."
"Yeah," Sonnet agreed, trying to inject some of her usual energy back into her tone. "We've got your back, Kazuki. No more sad faces, okay?"
Kazuki gave a faint nod. He wasn't sure if he believed it yet, but at least he wasn't walking this path alone.
They turned toward the end of the alleyway, the distant hum of the city calling them back to the living world.
The Echelon Trials awaited them.