Echoes of the Past

Lilibel 's Adventurers' House , the group gathered in my now empty room.

Koharu, Shana, Max, Cassandra, and Kairo were awake, tension heavy in the air.

Max slammed his hand on the table.

Fubuki guy Shouta …kidnapped Fujimoto? Max asked .

Shana crossed her arms.

"Based on the clues, it's a possibility," Shana replied .

Koharu lowered her head.

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

Cassandra approached.

"Koharu, what happened?" Cassandra asked.

— I think… Yumi is alive. — she replied , trembling.

Shana blinked in surprise.

— What?! — Shana said .

"Besides, I have two hypotheses about her ability," Koharu continued .

Kairo bowed.

—What would they be? — Kairo asked.

"Cloning... or illusion. But only Fujimoto and she should know for sure," Koharu replied.

Max scratched his chin.

"If it's one of those, we'll never know when she really died," Max said .

Koharu sighed.

"Finding out how to defeat her is important, but now we need to find Fujimoto," Koharu said.

Shana took a deep breath.

"Let's leave that for tomorrow. Doing something without thinking could destroy us," Shana said.

Cassandra frowned.

"And rest with him gone?" Cassandra asked .

— Yes. Fatigue also kills, and we need to be whole, — Shana replied .

"Maybe she's right. I feel like he's still alive. They won't kill him." Koharu agreed.

Kairo nodded.

—Then let's go up. Tomorrow we'll start the search. — he said Kairo .

As they climbed, Shana approached Kairo .

“Put Cassandra to bed… and then come to my room,” Shana whispered.

Without anyone noticing, he just waved.

Kairo 's room

Kairo watched Cassandra sit on the edge of the bed.

Cassandra looked down, her expression sad.

—The enemy was watching us, and we didn't see when Fujimoto was taken… — said Cassandra.

Kairo took a glass.

—Drink this. It will help you calm down. — he said . Kairo deceiving Cassandra.

— Okay… — she accepted.

Seconds later, Cassandra blinked slowly.

— I'm… dizzy… — Cassandra said dizzily.

— Cassandra, don't tell me that… — she tried to say, before collapsing.

Kairo caught her before she fell.

— Forgive me, my princess. — he said Kairo .

He laid her down on the pillow, caressed her face, and left the room in silence.

In Shana's room

Kairo entered and found Max unconscious on one of the beds.

Shana was sitting, smiling.

“What have you done?!” he asked, alarmed.

"Don't worry. He's not dead, just asleep. He'll wake up in a few hours," she replied calmly.

—Are you crazy?! — he shouted Kairo .

Shana ran her fingers through her hair teasingly.

—Crazy… for you. Crazy to have my pleasure ruined again. — Shana replied .

Before Kairo could answer, there was a knock on the door.

"Who the hell is that?" he muttered.

— Open up. I'll make up an excuse. — Shana whispered.

Kairo opened the door and there was Koharu.

Shana's smile disappeared.

"You again? How long are you going to bother me?" Shana growled.

"Until you stop with this nonsense," Koharu replied firmly.

Shana forced a cynical smile.

Koharu narrowed her eyes.

"Okay, Koharu. I agree not to bother Kairo and Cassandra anymore," Shana said sweetly.

But I have one condition.

Kairo sighed.

"What condition?" Koharu asked .

—Nothing as simple as silence. That would be boring. — she laughed.

Koharu kept her gaze steady.

— Say it quickly. — Koharu said .

Shana stood up and looked at the two of them with a sickly glint in her eyes.

— My condition is that you two… have sex here and now.

Koharu and Kairo turned pale.

"What's wrong, Miss Angelic? Are you blushing?" Shana scoffed .

She laughed out loud.

"You have no choice. Without me, you'll never rescue Fujimoto," Shana said .

(This bitch is blackmailing me…) — Koharu thought, clenching her fists.

Shana walked over to her slowly and patted her chest with disdain.

"Don't you dare challenge me. You don't even know who you really are. You're nothing more than a confused doll," he muttered .

Suddenly, Koharu took something out of her pocket, a syringe.

With a quick thrust, he plunged the needle into Shana's left arm.

— Agh ! Damn you! Are you trying to make me sleep?! — Shana screamed.

Koharu stared at her.

"You talk too much for a 'queen' who was expelled by her own people," Koharu replied .

Shana's eyes clouded over, her body swayed.

— You… wretch… — Shana said with hatred.

She fell onto the bed, unconscious.

Kairo was speechless.

— What are we going to do now? — he asked . Kairo .

"Go back to your room. I'll take care of her. She's going to sleep for a few hours," Koharu replied coldly.

—But we still need two plans: one to contain Shana, one to save Fujimoto. — he said Kairo .

"I think about it. It's my duty as vice-leader," Koharu said .

Kairo looked down , silent.

— Go, Kairo . I'll be fine. — she finished.

He nodded and left the room.

Koharu looked at the transdemons watching in the shadows.

— I know you're there. Don't worry, I'm not going to kill your owner. — he said firmly.

The transmons growled.

Koharu laughed.

"How pathetic you are, Shana. Did you think you could humiliate me and get away with it?" Koharu said with a smile.

She spat in the unconscious priestess's face.

"Now everyone will know what kind of woman you are," Koharu said coldly.

The transmons roared, enraged.

— Calm down, calm down… I get it. I'm going. — she said, stepping back.

He left the room, taking a deep breath.

He walked to his, turning off the lamps in the hallway.

As he lay down, he looked at the ceiling and murmured:

(Fujimoto… I will save you.

Even if it costs me everything.)

The tears flowed slowly.

She covered herself with the blanket, and before sleep came, she whispered:

(I love you, Fujimoto…)

He blew out the candle.

And the night in Lilibel was swallowed by silence.

Mayumi sisters' house , the first rays of sunlight entered through the window.

Yumi stretched, yawning, and saw that I was still fast asleep.

She made a discreet gesture to Filna , asking for silence, and the two left the room without making a sound.

In the living room.

— Do you want me to make breakfast? — he asked. Yumi , tying her hair.

— It could be. — replied Filna .

Yumi chuckled softly.

— I bet we didn't let him sleep. He must have stayed up all night and only managed to fall asleep now — he said Yumi with a smile on her face.

Filna crossed her arms.

— By the way, sis… is your boyfriend really trustworthy? — he asked. Filna .

Yumi smiled confidently.

— I give you my word. He will never betray us. — he replied. Yumi .

Filna sighed.

— I hope so. — he said . FILNA .

At that moment, a knocking sound echoed through the house.

— Who could it be? — he asked . Filna .

Yumi smiled widely.

— It must be him. — he said . Yumi happy and excited.

She ran towards the door, but Filna grabbed her arm.

—Wait a minute, you idiot! — she shouted. Filna very quietly.

— What now? — he complained. Yumi .

“How are you so sure it’s him?” he asked . Filna .

— Let me open it now! — he said Yumi .

— Let me check first. — he said . Filna .

— Okay , you scaredy-cat! — Yumi agreed.

— And what is he like? — he asked . Filna , frowning.

—Dark red hair, beautiful and messy. — he replied . Yumi .

Filna disappeared in a flash and reappeared on the roof, watching.

(A boy with red hair… must be her boyfriend.) — she thought Filna .

She went back into the house.

— You can open the door, Yumi . — Filna authorized.

Yumi squealed with joy and ran to the entrance.

When she opened the door, the man before her was indeed Fubuki. Shouta .

Yumi jumped into his arms. Shouta grabbed her by the waist, and she wrapped her legs around him.

The two kissed intensely.

Filna blushed up to her ears.

— Get inside now, you idiots!!! — he shouted Filna .

Yumi pulled away, laughing, putting her finger to her mouth. "Are you jealous, little sister?"

— Hurry up, before I change my mind! — he retorted. Filna .

— Let me go, love. — he said . Yumi .

Shouta placed her on the ground, still smiling.

The two entered the house.

Shouta approached Filna and held out his hand.

— Nice to see you, sister-in-law. — he said Shouta with a smile.

She shook his hand seriously.

— I only ask one thing of you: make my sister happy. — he said FILNA .

— You didn't even need to ask , — he replied , smiling.

— Because if you hurt her, I'll kill you. — he finished. Filna .

—Actually, if he hurts me, I'll kill him first. — he said Yumi with a little smile.

Shouta raised his hands.

— Okay , okay, you two are dangerous. — he said . Shouta laughing.

I then woke up, so I decided to get up to have breakfast, but someone was fiddling with the door handle, then I saw an unwelcome presence.

— Wait a minute! That's fucking Shouta Fubuki !!! — I screamed with hatred.

Filna's eyes widened.

— Hey, Shouta … my sister didn’t tell me you guys didn’t get along. — he said Surprise film .

Before I could say more, Yumi entered the room.

— Calm down, Fujimoto . I can explain everything, but you need to let me speak. — he said Yumi .

"Calm down?! You want me to calm down in front of one of the idiots who helped Hiroshi beat me up at school?!" I yelled .

— Please hear me out first, — she insisted .

"Shut up! That bastard found me in an alley, beat me until I passed out, and threw me in the trash!" I exclaimed .

Yumi crossed her arms.

—So tell me, you woke up at home, unharmed, right? — he asked . Yumi .

— Yes… — I replied, confused.

— Why? — I asked her, not understanding anything.

— And that didn't seem strange to you? — Yumi asked.

— It seemed so, but my mother said it was because of an American medicine she learned in medical school… — I replied.

Yumi shook her head.

"Really? Did you believe that? No human medicine heals wounds like that. The one who cured you was Elfherinsei ," he replied . Yumi .

“Who is this Elfherinsei ?” I asked , astonished.

"An ancient guardian of this world's God. A high-ranking elf ," Yumi explained.

I was completely lost.

“But how did my mother come into contact with someone like that?” I asked.

— Can I explain everything from the beginning? — he asked. Yumi .

— Speak. — I replied , trying to take a deep breath.

"As for Shouta … I met him at my skating lesson place. He told me he only helped Hiroshi because he was being blackmailed by him." Yumi began to explain Shouta 's situation .

Shouta lowered his head.

"Hiroshi found out I did ballet and skated. And, yes… I like to paint my nails. I was afraid I'd be his next target, so… I became that bastard's obedient lapdog," Shouta explained sadly.

He knelt before me.

— Fujimoto , forgive me. I was a coward. — Shouta begged for forgiveness.

(The Hidden Observatory didn't react... he's telling the truth.)

"Even so, it will take a while for me to forgive you. For now, we're just mission partners," I replied .

— That's a start. — he smiled. Shouta .

Yumi took a deep breath.

—And about that day… his attack… I was the one who gave the order. — he said Yumi .

I was out of breath.

— What?! Sister, don't tell me it was revenge?! — Filna shouted, asking.

— Revenge?! — I asked .

— Yes. Fedorova Karina and Elfsei Elfherinsei killed our father, and even used our mother's body in experiments. — said Filna , her voice trembling.

I was petrified.

—My mother… did this…? — I asked, scared.

Yumi nodded.

— I felt anger, yes. But I was also afraid. Afraid that you, Fujimoto , would end up like her… and become an unstoppable monster. — he said . Yumi .

I lowered my eyes.

— I don't believe my mother was capable of this... — I said with a feeling of cukpa .

Yumi approached.

— My condolences… on her death. — Yumi said.

Filna turned around, startled.

—Wait… how did you know about Karina's death? — Filna asked.

Yumi blinked, confused.

"What? Did someone announce that she died?" "Sister... How did she die?" Filna stared at her.

Yumi took a deep breath, looking at the ground.

— Karina was raped to death by the principal Katamuta , the same one from the school where I studied. — he replied Yumi .

Silence filled the room.

Filna was trembling.

"What… is happening here?" Filna said, completely scared.

She then ran to a drawer and took out a small crystal device.

— I need to show you something — he said Filna .

Yumi frowned.

— What is this? — he asked . Yumi .

Filna pressed the button.

A blue hologram projected into the air and before us appeared the ethereal figure of a woman with silver hair and golden eyes.

Galadriel .

We were all in shock.

The hologram started to speak …