The night air in Tenryu City was calm, the glow of towering skyscrapers reflecting off the empty streets.
It was one of those nights where everything felt in its place — where the hustle of the day melted into a tranquil silence.
Shizuki Tokisaki walked at ease toward the central plaza, her usual spot for quiet, nighttime reading.
In one hand, she carried a small bag holding a slice of cake; in the other, a hot coffee to stave off the chill of the evening.
Streetlights cast a pale glow over the deserted avenues, while the soft night breeze gently swept through the city.
She took a slow sip of her coffee, breathing in its aroma as she strolled.
Then, suddenly — a chill crept down her spine.
Something was off.
She felt it. An anomaly in the air.
Her steps halted. Eyes narrowing.
Just a few meters ahead, a shadowy figure emerged from the void — a creature born of darkness.
Its limbs shimmered with violet-toned energy, warping reality around it like ripples on water.
A Nulvoid.
Not the first she'd encountered. And certainly not the last.
—Tch... Just when the night was perfect for reading.
A sigh of resignation left her lips as the creature lunged.
Her coffee slipped from her hand, splattering across the pavement.
—Golden Time!
Time froze.
The flickering city lights stilled. The leaves of a nearby tree hung motionless in midair.
The Nulvoid was caught in that single, sealed moment.
Without wasting a second, she materialized her Lancaster Volt shotgun — and fired.
The shot tore through the creature, leaving a streak of violet energy in its wake.
Time resumed.
The beast collapsed in a silent scream, dissolving into nothing. An instant victory.
But something was wrong.
A dull throb pulsed in her skull. Her vision blurred for a heartbeat.
The side effect of her Fragment... another memory gone.
What was I doing?
Shizuki blinked, scanning the quiet street for answers.
Then she saw it: the spilled coffee, the convenience store bag... and the weapon in her hand — chamber empty.
—Forgot to load the second shot again... —she muttered, checking the cartridges with a calm detachment.
Every time she used her power, her Fragment demanded a price — stolen memories.
A cost she had already grown used to paying.
But then... another ripple.
Another anomaly.
A swirling vortex of dark energy opened beside her.
Another Nulvoid.
—Again?
She reached for her pocket watch, ready to halt time once more —
But before she could activate it—
—Watch out, Shizuki!
A voice shattered the silence.
She turned, just slightly, recognizing her name—
Right as the creature lunged.
—Golden Time!
No hesitation.
She summoned her blade in a flash of light, and with a lightning-charged thrust, drove it through the Nulvoid's core.
The creature vanished instantly. No resistance.
And then... she felt it.
A faint sound, like a whisper deep in her mind. A ticking.
But there was no pain. No hollow emptiness.
Instead, a gentle warmth spread through her chest.
As if time, for once, had come not to take... but to return something.
A memory surfaced, vivid and whole:
A park. A wooden bench. Birds fluttering between tree branches.
She, as a little girl, holding out her hand with breadcrumbs. Her grandfather beside her, smiling.
"Time never stops, Shizuki. But we can make every second count."
She opened her eyes wide.
This... wasn't normal.
—Shizuki... hey!
A familiar voice pulled her back.
Touma Kisaragi stood in front of her, gently holding her shoulders.
His face was etched with concern. Genuine, unguarded concern.
A shiver ran through her.
It wasn't just the physical contact... it was something else.
Something deeper. Something that stirred within her like an echo from far away.
Goosebumps prickled across her skin.
And for the first time in years, her Fragment hadn't taken anything.
On the contrary — something had clicked into place.
—You're... Kisaragi?
She stepped back, startled. Her body moved before her mind could catch up.
Her power had always demanded a toll. Memories, traded for moments.
But never once had it returned one.
—W-Wait! —Touma raised both hands in a calming gesture—. Sorry for grabbing you… it looked like you were going to faint. Are you alright?
Shizuki stared at him. Her heart beat differently now.
Not from the tension of battle but something else.
Something in him resonated. With her.
—Kisaragi...
The ticking of her pocket watch continued, steady and unrelenting.
As if it were counting down a second that should never have existed.
Her lips parted, but no words came.
Her hand found the watch. Cold metal met her fingertips.
The sound was still there.
And then, like a whisper carried on time itself—
—Who... are you?