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Universe - XXI

The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed. At the beginning stood the Fool, a soul unshaped and unbound, embarking on the journey through life’s trials. And at the end of that odyssey, they became one with the World—the Universe—a being of enlightenment, harmony, and finality.

The Universe is the tapestry in which all things are interwoven, the final truth that transcends the bounds of life and death. Mortals are but fragments of this greater whole, striving to leave their mark upon an eternal expanse. Yet, even the Universe is not immutable. Stars are born only to fade, and galaxies collide and dissolve. Does humanity see now? Completion is not an end, but a return—a cycle without beginning or conclusion. Can mankind embrace this truth, knowing that even the cosmos itself must someday fall silent?

And with closure comes chaos.

Iwatodai writhed in its darkest hour. Sickly green skies churned above, the heavens pierced by a grotesque, cloud-splitting tower that dwarfed the city below. Panic rippled through the streets as the moon, unnaturally massive, bore down upon the earth like a celestial harbinger of doom.

A sinister laughter erupted, jagged and inhuman, echoing through the chaos. The terror deepened as some among the crowd began to change—human forms dissolving like mist, their essence reshaping into Shadows. The streets became a waking nightmare, as the boundary between reality and the abyss shattered before their eyes.

Amid the swirling chaos and screams, some faces tried to stay calm, their expressions caught somewhere between denial and disbelief.

“Wh-What’s going on?” Kenji stammered, his voice trembling as he stared at the surreal scene before him. Is the world ending? Is the apocalypse upon them?

“K-Kenji!” Kazushi and Yuko hurried toward him, their faces pale and wide-eyed. Kazushi clutched Kenji’s shoulder, his grip tight. “Dude, do you have any idea what this is? This can’t be real.”

“This has to be a dream, right?!” Yuko blurted, her voice cracking as she scanned the unnatural skyline, half expecting to wake up in her bed at any moment.

“Dreams don’t feel like this,” muttered a quieter voice nearby. Chihiro stood frozen in place, her hands gripping the hem of her dress as if it were the only thing tethering her to reality. Her gaze shifted from the ominous sky to the dissolving figures around her. “How… how can this be happening?”

The question lingered unanswered, the air thick with dread. Each stared at the other, searching desperately for an explanation.

But, for some reason, they weren’t as terrified as everyone else. They were scared, but at the same time, something stirred in their hearts.

‘Help me.’ A voice whispered to them.

“Hey, do you guys feel that?” Kenji asked. 

Kazushi, Yuko, Chihiro, and even Natsuki felt a strange sensation surge through them, and before their eyes, a mysterious card materialized in front of them. 

“What the hell!?” Kaz flinched.

“An arcana card?” Chihiro touched the sheet, and the sensation she felt surged. 

“Seriously, this has to be some cruel nightmare,” Yuko repeated, hesitantly taking her card and studying it. “Strength?”

Kenji cocked an eyebrow. “Magician.”

“I’m Chariot,” said Kaz.

“Justice,” Chihiro muttered. 

“Lovers?” Natsuki chimed in. 

The air grew heavier around them as the cards pulsed faintly in their hands. The group exchanged looks again, no longer searching for an explanation—only confirmation. Whatever this was, it wasn’t a dream. It was real. And something was about to change.

Xxx Arcana Burst xxX

The strip mall erupted with terrified screams, the sound echoing like a broken symphony through the chaos.

“What on earth…?” Hidetoshi muttered, his brow furrowed as he frantically waved people toward shelter. Yet deep down, he knew no place could truly be safe—not from this.

“Hidetoshi!” Keisuke Hiraga’s voice cut through the noise, shaking with urgency as he pointed toward the skyline. “Do you see that? The skyscraper… it’s massive, and… isn’t it coming from—” his voice faltered, “—from the school?”

Hidetoshi’s stomach churned at the realization. The dark tower, splitting the sky like a wound, seemed to pulse ominously, its base aligned with a place far too familiar. And, did the moon have a face? What did it all mean?

Nearby, an elderly woman clutched her husband’s arm, her wide, trembling eyes reflecting the unnatural green glow of the sky. “A-Are we in the afterlife, dear?” she asked, her voice frail and cracking under the weight of her terror.

Her husband opened his mouth to answer but only stammered incoherently. “I… I… I don’t know! What the heck is this? What’s going on?!” He clung to her hand as though sheer force of will could anchor them to something solid in a world spiraling into madness.

No one answered. The shadows seemed to deepen, as if the world itself was folding inward. 

“Hey, Hidetoshi, any ideas?” Keisuke inquired back. 

The Disciplinary member shook his head. “I… I have no idea what to make of this. This is the wildest event I’ve ever witnessed.”

“…Keep your chin up, youngsters.”

Hidetoshi and Keisuke turned to face the elderly couple. Bunkichi stood with a kind smile that belied the madness around him. He addressed the nearby students. “Something tells me everything will be okay. Don’t you think so too, honey?”

His wife, despite the impending doom, cracked a gentle smile, resting her head lightly against his shoulder. Together, they watched the massive moon inch closer, their calm an oasis in the chaos.

“I believe in him.”

And then it happened.

A brilliant light appeared, shimmering and swirling in front of them like a tear in reality. Everyone froze, their terror momentarily forgotten as the light coalesced, forming something tangible.

“A card?” Hidetoshi stepped forward cautiously, his sharp eyes narrowing. Skepticism bled into his voice, but the undeniable pull of the object left him silent.

Keisuke hesitated but reached out, his fingers brushing against the glowing surface. The moment he grasped it, a surge of energy coursed through him, electrifying yet grounding. His eyes widened. “Is this… a tarot card?”

Bunkichi’s hand trembled as he lifted his own card closer to his face, his breath catching. The blue-rimmed illustration shimmered with an otherworldly glow. 

“Hierophant,” Mitsuki murmured, the word carrying an unexpected weight.

Hidetoshi’s gaze hardened as he examined the card now resting in his hand. “Mine is Emperor,” he stated, his tone steady despite the awe creeping into his expression. “That’s… oddly fitting.”

“And I’m… Fortune,” Hiraga added, staring at the card in disbelief as the energy radiating from it seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.

The four stood in stunned silence, the chaos around them momentarily muted. These cards weren’t just objects—they were something more. Something powerful. And something that was just beginning to awaken.

Xxx Arcana Burst xxX

The station was no sanctuary from the chaos. Fear and confusion rippled through the crowd in waves, every scream and frantic movement amplifying the sense that the world was unraveling.

“Wh-Wh-What’s going on!?” wailed a rotund student, Nozomi Suemitsu, sweat pouring down his face as he clutched his head. “Why is the world suddenly declaring an emergency!? Is this it? Is it the end of the world? I-I knew it! I knew the end was nigh!”

Nearby, a well-dressed businessman glared at the ground, fists clenched as though holding himself together by sheer will. “Someone’s gonna have to pay big for this one,” he muttered darkly. “If this is a joke, I’m not laughing.”

Through it all, Officer Kurosawa stood firm, a rock amidst the chaos. His calm demeanor barely masked the tension etched in his face as his gaze shifted to the horizon. The skyscraper—a grotesque monstrosity stabbing into the green-tinged sky—loomed ominously, and the moon, unnaturally close, seemed to pulse with malicious intent.

“Stay calm! Don’t lose your heads!” Kurosawa shouted, guiding the panicked citizens toward any semblance of shelter. But even he knew his words were little more than a thin veneer against the storm of terror surrounding them.

As the crowd surged around him, Kurosawa’s hand brushed his baton, his knuckles tightening around it. A brief flicker of doubt crossed his face before he glanced toward the tower.

“…Guess all I can do is believe in them,” he murmured under his breath, the words barely audible over the clamor. “Don’t die out there… whatever you do.”

“Officer!” the rotund student skidded to a halt beside him, gasping for breath. “Do you know what’s happening!?”

“Not a clue, kid,” Kurosawa replied gruffly, keeping his tone steady. “But stay calm. My main concern is getting everyone to safety.”

“Safety?” The businessman scoffed, his sharp eyes narrowing as he overheard the exchange. “You really think there’s anywhere safe right now?”

Suemitsu, who had been pacing, muttered to himself, “I wonder if he’s safe…” The quiet remark caught both Kurosawa and the businessman’s attention, but before either could respond, the impossible happened.

A blinding flash of light exploded before their eyes, cutting through the chaos like a blade. The world seemed to freeze for a moment as three shimmering cards materialized, floating in the air before them.

“What’s this?” Kurosawa muttered, half convinced he was losing his mind. But instinct took over, and he reached for the card.

President Tanaka, the businessman, hesitated for only a moment before snatching his own card. As he examined it, a strange realization dawned on his face, his earlier skepticism melting into awe. “A tarot card?” he said aloud, turning it over in his hand. A grin slowly spread across his face. “The Devil? Well, I am devilishly rich and handsome, so I suppose it fits.”

Suemitsu reached out shakily, grasping his card and staring at it intently. “No way… I’m the Moon,” he murmured, his voice tinged with wonder and trepidation.

Kurosawa’s brow furrowed as he studied his own card. “I don’t know much about tarot readings,” he admitted, frowning at the image of a crumbling structure. “What is this? A building?”

“The Tower,” Tanaka replied, his voice unusually serious. His grin faded as he glanced between the other two cards. For once, he didn’t seem to have a quip.

The three men exchanged uneasy looks, the cards glowing faintly in their hands. Whatever these were, they weren’t ordinary. And they weren’t just a coincidence.

Xxx Arcana Burst xxX

In a place between dream and reality, he sat before two familiar beings. The ominous tune of the Velvet Room played around him, but the nature of the visit was unprecedented.

‘Where am I?’

His vision started to clear. ‘The Velvet Room? Did I die?’

“There’s no need to worry,” said the man. Igor was enigmatic as ever, but Elizabeth was eerily downtrodden, her gaze averted. The once radiant joy that illuminated her face was gone, replaced by a shadow of sorrow. Her silence cut deeper than any words could have, and Makoto could not meet her eyes. Igor, however, remained unchanged—a calm, inscrutable presence. For as long as Makoto had known him, the gentleman had never faltered, never shown even the faintest crack in his composure.

“This isn’t the afterlife,” the gentleman continued. “You’re still very much alive. Do you recall what happened to you?”

Tiredly, he nodded. “I was fighting Nyx. Her Avatar was defeated, but then the moon…”

“Yes, it seems you have encountered quite the terrifying foe.”

Makoto clenched his fists. “I lost consciousness. Even though we beat her avatar, the Fall is still happening.”

He was at a loss. How could he oppose this unstoppable force?

“There is still time,” Igor stated. “Do you remember what I once told you about your Social Links?”

Again, the guest nodded. “That their strength will determine my potential.”

Igor was pleased, and Elizabeth finally met his gaze. It was hard to discern her emotions.

“Listen,” the long-nosed man said. “Can you hear their many voices? Each one’s power is faint… yet they all reach out to you…”

Back in Iwatodai, Kenji looked from the card to Tartarus—something needed to be done, and he had an inkling as to what. He couldn’t explain it, but in his heart, he could feel his dear friend begging for help.

“I wonder,” he held out the Magician Arcana card towards the skyscraper. 

“Kenji, what are you doing?” Kazushi questioned. 

The Magician smiled. “…Giving him strength. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll always have your back, Makoto!”

The card flared with light, and a brilliant beam shot out, streaking toward Tartarus. It carried with it a piece of Kenji’s unwavering belief, his trust in the one he knew could rise to the challenge.

“All I can do right now is pray, but whatever it is, man… Don’t worry about a thing. I know you can do it.”

The others were flabbergasted, but one by one, they followed Kenji’s example, coming together to lend their support.

Hidetoshi’s sharp gaze fell on his glowing Emperor card. Without hesitation, he held it high.

“Odagiri?” Keisuke inquired. 

“I know you’re facing a difficult task, somewhere out there. But I truly believe that you can overcome any obstacle,” his voice was firm.

A beam of light shot out. He knew this was the right call. 

Bunkichi and Keisuke did the same, Mitsuki helping her husband steady his hand. The light from the Hierophant glowed faintly at first, then grew stronger as they focused their intent.

“Something frightful is going on… But we’re not giving up,” the old man declared. 

“That’s right, dear. We have to be strong for Makoto-chan.”

Natsuki’s trembling hand steadied as she clutched her Lovers card. Memories of Fuuka’s quiet strength filled her heart. “You were always there for her, Yuki-san,” she murmured, holding the card aloft. “She would put all her faith in you. Now it’s my turn to believe in you.” A brilliant light erupted, streaking toward the sky.

Kazushi raised his Chariot card, a determined grin on his face. “Something crazy’s going on, but I know you’re out there doing all you can, Makoto. I’m not losing hope—not after everything you’ve taught me.”

Chihiro stepped closer to the others, her hands clasping the glowing Justice card. Her voice was soft but steady. “I’m okay right now, and it’s because you gave me the courage to stand on my own. So, please... you can’t give up!” Her words carried into the light that streamed from her card.

Farther away, the holder of the Hermit Arcana hesitated, staring at the card in her hand. She had thought herself irrelevant, just another bystander swept up in the madness. But the card’s glow proved otherwise. “Oh God, I’m freaking out here,” she admitted, trembling. “But, I know he’s doing his best,” she breathed. “I don’t even know what he looks like, but… I know he’s okay. I can feel it.” The light of her faith joined the others. “You can do it, Tatsuya!”

Keisuke’s voice rang out as he held his Fortune card high. “Makoto-kun, I know you’re trying to stay focused. When you set your mind on something, you don’t let it go. You were there when I needed you. Now, I hope I can do the same.”

Yuko clenched her Strength card, her voice brimming with resolve. Its light shined like a beacon. “Hey, Makoto-kun, can you believe what’s going on? I know you must be doing everything you can, so I will, too!”

Across the city, young Maiko, unfazed by the terror around her, tightened her grip on her mother’s trembling hand. She lifted her own card, the Hanged Man, beaming up at the sky. “Everyone else is scared, but not me. You showed me how to be tough! So, I will stay strong for you! I won’t give up!” Her voice carried an innocence that cut through the chaos.

Elsewhere, a flamboyant figure adjusted his sewing needle, holding the Temperance Arcana between two fingers. “Yuki-dono,” he said with a sigh and a hint of drama. “How are you doing? Ça va, I hope. I can feel your desire for help. Take it, my tomodachi. I am here for you, like you were there for me!”

President Tanaka hesitated for a moment, frowning as he studied the Devil card in his hand. His lips curved into a sly grin. “What on earth made me think of you at a time like this?” His tone shifted, becoming earnest. “Well, I suppose you did teach me a thing or two about trust. We need more diamonds like you, kid.”

In a smoky bar, a familiar monk exhaled a puff of cigar smoke, watching as his Tower card flared to life. The view outside was crazy, but the monk remained calm. “You were the one who taught me that runnin’ away never solves nothin’,” he muttered, holding the card steady. “I bet you’re somewhere out there fightin’ the good fight right now.” He took another drag. “Well, I’m here for ya, kid.”

Officer Kurosawa stood resolute as chaos surged around him. His Tower card glimmered in his hand, a symbol of solidarity. “I don’t know how you’re doing it, but stay strong, kid. You’re the only one who can stop this.”

Hayase stopped in the midst of the fleeing crowd, his Star card glowing in his hand. He raised it high, a smile of confidence lighting his face. “I’ll take on any challenge that comes my way without passing blame. You taught me that, Makoto. I bet you’re fighting right now too, huh? Who would’ve guessed you were involved in a disaster like this? Keep fighting, and I’ll fight alongside you.”

Nozomi chuckled, shaking his head as he gazed at his Moon card. “You saved me, Makoto-kun. I was so blind before. I’m sure you’ve got things under control, right? You always do. Well, I’ll be here rooting for you.”

And even beyond the veil of death, the Sun shone brightly, its warmth reaching out through the Sun Arcana. The departed’s voice echoed softly. “I know I’m not the only one who’s suffered. You’ve endured a lot too. But you can’t give up. You taught me that.”

The beams of light converged, wrapping around Tartarus like chains of hope. In the Velvet Room, Makoto gasped as he felt the full force of their faith surging through him. Each voice rang clear in his heart, their trust forming an unbreakable bond.

“Can you feel them?” Igor asked his guest.

He closed his eyes. “Yes, I can sense them,” he replied. “I can hear them.”

“These are the voices of hope that wish to help you. Separately, they are weak, but together, they will bring about a great change in you. Now is the time to draw on the true strength of the bonds you have forged!”

The Velvet Room shifted subtly, the blue haze around them pulsing in rhythm with the gathered power. Makoto’s chest tightened as the swirling lights of his Social Links coalesced into a radiant sphere, illuminating the dim chamber. From its glowing core, a shape began to emerge.

It was a card. Another Major Arcana card.

Igor sat up straight. “I never dreamed of seeing that card with my own eyes,” he said in awe. “This is indeed a surprise. Behold, the greatest power that you and I shall unveil.”

Makoto reached out, the card floating effortlessly into his hands. The power that enveloped him was unlike anything he ever felt, more liberating than his first awakening. He turned it over, his breath catching as he examined its intricate design. A figure stood at the center, draped in cosmic threads and encircled by a serpent biting its own tail. In each corner of the card, symbols of divine authority watched over the scene: an angel, a bird, an ox, and a lion.

At the bottom, the number XXI was inscribed. The final card of the Arcana.

“It is the power to bring about a new beginning, or the ultimate end. With this newfound power, it might now be possible… Perhaps you can save those you hold dear, from that which cannot be defeated. What you have in your hands is the power of the Universe . ”

“The Universe?” Makoto repeated. The card dissolved in his hand, its essence merging with his own.

“Nothing is outside the realm of possibility for you now.”

Makoto swallowed, the enormity of the moment pressing down on him. Tenderly, Elizabeth stepped forward.

“We will soon reach your destination,” she said, but her voice was carried with a somber weight. 

The Velvet Room shuddered, the giant clock’s hand striking midnight. The hum of the room’s infinite mechanisms grew faint as the door behind Igor opened. A tunnel of radiant, otherworldly light spilled into the chamber, beckoning Makoto forward toward the unknown.

“It seems that, in addition to Death, fate has also dealt you the Wild Card. You must accept your destiny,” Igor declared. 

‘My destiny.’

“Our contract has been fulfilled. I have completed my role as well.”

For once, something else glimmered in the lone-nosed gentleman’s bloodshot eyes. Makoto felt a sense of pride emanating from his host. 

Igor was proud.

Makoto stood tall despite the weight of his newfound power. Knowing what must be done, he approached the desk.

Igor’s head tilted ever so slightly as Makoto reached out, his hand extended not with formality, but with warmth.

“Thank you, Igor,” he stated. “For everything. You were an amazing host.” 

Igor blinked, the gesture catching him off guard for the first time in ages beyond counting. The Wild Card’s sincerity pierced through the years of stoic detachment. Then, to Makoto’s surprise, the lone-nosed gentleman chuckled—a low, gravelly sound that carried both amusement and genuine appreciation.

“And you,” Igor said, clasping Makoto’s hand in his own spindly grasp,  “were truly a most remarkable guest.”

Makoto withdrew his hand and turned to Elizabeth, who had been observing the scene with her usual poise. Yet as Makoto’s piercing blue eyes met hers, the attendant stiffened. Something unspoken passed between them, and for the first time, the enigmatic Elizabeth faltered. 

“Elizabeth,” he said softly, extending his hand once more. “You were the greatest attendant I could have asked for.”

Her eyes widened, uncharacteristic uncertainty flickering across her face. The sincerity in his voice stirred a whirlwind of emotions within her—gratitude, admiration, and something far deeper. She hesitated before taking his hand, their fingers lacing together. .

“Your strength has shown me something I thought impossible,” she said, almost whispering. “You reminded me of the beauty in humanity’s perseverance. Now, go forth. You carry the weight of their dreams… and mine.”

Makoto, smiling gently, did something even more unexpected. He pulled Elizabeth into a sudden, firm embrace. She gasped, her cheeks flushing crimson, but her hands instinctively rose to return the gesture.

“It’s been an honor to witness your journey,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, wishing the moment would last forever.

Makoto pulled back. “Thank you, Elizabeth. You were also a lovely partner,” taking her gloved hand with a grace that felt almost regal, he bent down and pressed a light kiss to the back of it, a gesture she was greatly aware of. 

The gesture, so human yet so profound, sent a shiver through her very essence.

Makoto straightened, his expression calm yet resolute. Without another word, he turned toward the light, his steps unwavering as he walked through the open door. The radiant glow engulfed him, and as he vanished into its brilliance, Igor’s voice lingered in the air, resonating with a rare warmth.

“You were truly extraordinary, Wild Card. Now, show the world the power of a soul unbound.”

Makoto’s embrace lingered in Elizabeth’s mind long after he had stepped into the radiant light. She stood frozen, her hands still hovering as if his presence might return to fill the void he left behind. When the door to the unknown finally closed, sealing his fate, the room fell into silence.

And then, it happened.

Elizabeth’s composure crumbled. Her hands, which had hovered where Makoto had held them, fell to her sides. The emptiness he left behind struck her like a tidal wave. Her golden eyes trembled, and before she could stop herself, tears began to spill.

It was a single drop at first, but soon it became an uncontrollable cascade. For the first time in her existence, she wept openly, her tears streaming down her face as if a dam had burst. Her sobs, raw and unrestrained, filled the Velvet Room’s infinite expanse, a sound of profound grief that resonated in a place untouched by time or emotion. She clutched her chest, overwhelmed by a pain she had never known—a pain born of love, loss, and the deep ache of knowing she could do nothing more.

Igor, ever the silent observer, watched her through heavy-lidded eyes. Though he remained seated, his hands folded neatly as always, there was a shift in the air around him. He knew of her clandestine visits to the real world, her growing fascination with humanity, and, most importantly, her bond with the young man who had just departed.

“You’ve come to understand, haven’t you?” he said softly, his tone devoid of its usual cryptic mirth. “What it means to care for a mortal… to share in their fleeting existence.”

Elizabeth didn’t respond. She couldn’t. The words caught in her throat, tangled with the emotions she had worked so hard to suppress. She sank to her knees, crying into her gloved hands, her clipboard thrown on the floor.

Igor continued, his voice distant but understanding. “Makoto Yuki was… an extraordinary guest. One who touched the lives of not only those in his world but also those of us who reside beyond it. It is no wonder you feel as you do.”

Elizabeth raised her head, her tear-streaked face a picture of vulnerability. “I thought I could remain detached,” she admitted, her voice shaking. “But he… he showed me something I never thought I could feel. And now he’s gone, facing a fate I cannot change.”

Igor’s gaze softened, an unspoken sympathy in his ancient eyes. “Such is the nature of humanity. To touch their lives is to risk being forever changed. Yet it is through these bonds that we discover the limits of even our own existence.”

Elizabeth bowed her head, her tears falling silently onto the endless blue carpet beneath her. “I thought I was above such things,” she whispered. “But now, I see… I see why they fight, why they hope. And why they love.”

The Velvet Room remained silent after that, save for the faint ticking of the clock. Igor allowed her this moment of mourning, knowing it was a necessary step in her journey.

As Elizabeth wept, her tears did not feel like an end. They were a beginning—an awakening to a part of herself she had long ignored. Somewhere in the depths of her grief, a spark of resolve began to stir.

Makoto Yuki had shown her the power of the human spirit, and now, even in his absence, she would honor the bond they had shared.

Perhaps she, too, had a role yet to play in the story he had left behind.

Xxx Arcana Burst xxX

He had walked this path before, but the world had shifted in his absence. A thick bed of snow blanketed the ground, muting the landscape in a ghostly white. Each step sent a soft crunch echoing into the stillness, the sound swallowed almost immediately by the cold, indifferent air.

The bridge came into view, unchanged in structure yet unrecognizable in atmosphere. Gone were the burning car and scattered debris that once marked the chaos of that fateful day. Now, it stood as a stark monument to a moment long past, the steel glinting faintly beneath the pale light of an overcast sky.

He stopped in the middle of the bridge, his breath curling in icy tendrils before him. The quiet was oppressive, heavier than the snow-laden air. Yet, even in the absence of destruction, the memories remained vivid, etched into the fabric of the place.

Time may have erased the scars, but it could never silence the echoes.

He remembered everything. He braved the gravity Nyx brought upon the world. Death blast after Death blast, he burned his dread until he gathered enough strength to perform the ultimate counter: the Great Seal.

He sealed Nyx inside him, but over time, his essence diminished. He couldn’t muster the strength to stay in the living. After his friends arrived on the rooftop, he closed his eyes one last time.

Makoto passed away now. His willpower kept him going, but as the Harbinger of the Fall stated, “Death awaits all.”

So why did he come back to where his grievances started? 

He moved towards the middle of the bridge, where he saw a figure standing close to the railing. 

‘Who is that?’

The figure came into view. The first thing Makoto noticed was the Gekkoukan uniform they wore. It was the winter variant for the female students. 

His breath snagged. The sight stirred something deep within him, an ache that was equal parts nostalgia and unease. The snow swirled gently around the figure, their silhouette familiar yet distant, as though caught between memory and reality.

Makoto approached cautiously, his heart pounding with a strange mixture of hope and apprehension. Who could this be, standing here in this place, where his story had both ended and begun anew?

“It’s about time you showed up,” the figure, a young girl, stated, her voice light and teasing, but with an undertone of familiarity that hit Makoto like a jolt. “Don’t you know it’s rude to keep a girl waiting? What would Mom and Dad say?”

Makoto froze in his tracks. His breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding against his ribcage. 

‘That voice.’

It was different—more mature, less innocent than the one he remembered. Yet, there was no mistaking it. That unmistakable warmth, the teasing lilt.

The girl stepped away from the railing, her boots crunching softly in the snow as she moved toward him. Makoto’s sharp blue eyes met hers, and the world seemed to blur. Those red eyes—they were unmistakable. They mirrored her kindness.

Her auburn hair framed her face in waves he hadn’t seen in so long, now pulled back into a high ponytail. Silver barrettes formed the Roman numeral XXII, catching the faint light like a beacon.

Everything about her was the same: the curve of her smile, the gleam in her eyes. Even her presence felt the same, though her voice was deeper now, more mature—perhaps because she was older.

Makoto’s lips trembled as he whispered, “K-Kotone?”

The girl’s grin widened, bright and full of life, her red eyes shimmering with a mix of joy and relief.

“It’s good to see you again, Ma-kun,” she said, her tone playful, yet brimming with the affection of years lost and finally regained.

Makoto staggered slightly, disbelief and emotion overwhelming him. For a moment, he could only stare at her, trying to reconcile the image before him with the memory he had carried for so long.

“Kotone…” he whispered again, the name tasting bittersweet on his tongue. The snow fell softly around them, the silence of the bridge replaced by the pounding of his heart.

She took another step closer, reaching out a hand as if to bridge the years that had separated them. “Good to know you haven’t forgotten your dear sister.”

Makoto didn’t hesitate. He grabbed her hand and, to her surprise, pulled her forward with unexpected force. His arms wrapped around her tightly, holding her as if she might vanish at any moment. He buried his face in her shoulder, his breath warm against the cold.

“I could never forget,” he murmured, his voice trembling.

His body shook as years of pent-up grief broke free. The pain he had locked away since their family’s death poured out of him, raw and unrestrained. He clung to her as though she were his lifeline, his anchor in a storm he’d braved alone for far too long. “I missed you,” he choked out.

Kotone smiled softly, her own eyes glistening as she returned the embrace, her arms wrapping around her brother. “I missed you too, Ma-kun,” she whispered. “You died saving the world from a terrible fate.”

They sank to their knees. “It’s okay,” Kotone assured him. “You’re finally with us again.”

As if on cue, the sound of footsteps crunching against the snow emerged from the flurries. Makoto’s head lifted slightly, his gaze shifting toward the sound.

Two more figures stepped into view, their forms materializing through the haze of falling snow. The first was a man whose features bore an uncanny resemblance to Makoto—his sharp blue eyes, slicked-back blue hair, the set of his jaw, and even the way he stood carried the same quiet strength. Beside him was a woman, her auburn hair swept over her shoulder, her presence radiant. She was a mirror of Kotone, save for the years that softened her expression and added a gentle grace to her smile.

Makoto hiccuped as he looked at them. His father, his stepmother—standing there as if the years of separation had never happened.

“You’ve grown, son,” his father said.

His stepmother’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “You’ve come so far, Makoto.”

Kotone helped him stand, steadying him as the overwhelming reunion made his knees buckle. 

“See?” his sister said. “We’ve been waiting for you, Ma-kun. Come on, let’s go together.”

The siblings walked to their parents. Makoto took his stepmother’s hand, her warmth grounding him in the moment. Kotone, beside him, took her stepfather’s hand and beamed in his direction. Together, the family crossed the bridge, their figures fading into the snowy haze. The gentle crunch of snow beneath their feet became softer, then quieter, until it disappeared entirely.

At last, after so much grief, sacrifice, and separation, the family was whole once more. And as the snow fell in serene silence, the world felt at peace.