The Promise.

Hikaru's voice is so quiet that I barely hear it, but I've received permission to enter. I grasp the door handle, turning it slowly as I ease my way into Hikaru's bedroom. As I enter Hikaru's bedroom, I see the room is shrouded in darkness, its only light sources are those coming from the hallway and the phone sitting by Hikaru's feet on her bed.

Despite the dim lighting, I take note of how spacious Hikaru's bedroom is, furnished with a wardrobe for her clothes and a decent study desk adorned with various utensils. However, the chair positioned under her desk looks old and uncomfortable. I cant help but think, 'That could probably qualify as some kind of torture device.'

Losing what's left of the light as I close the door, I take in as much of the room as I can, I come to the conclusion: 'Hikaru's room is completely boring.' There's nothing that added colour to the room, no signs of a bookshelf filled with romance books or manga. There isn't even a single stuffed animal.

'This is my first time entering a girls room. I anticipated something more feminine, at least something that reflected Hikaru's identity, it's basically just a bedroom filled with the essentials.' With a soft click, I close the door behind me, leaving only the phone on Hikaru's bed as a dim source of light. With a final glance, I meet the gaze of the girl wrapped up in her blankets, who has been watching me.

We gaze at each other in silence, the moment feels like it's going to last forever. It also feels like butterflies are fluttering inside my stomach, then I realise, 'I'm alone with a girl, in her bedroom, in the dark.' Thankfully, Hikaru is the first to break the silence, snapping me back to reality.

"Ho... How did you find where I live?" To answer her, I proceed to explain how it was Tonomura who gave me her address, and that I walked what I believe was the same route that she takes to get to Muzukashii High. "Why are you here? Are you planning to drag me back to that world?" I understand why she would suspect something like that. After all, Hikaru has had three days to delve into the school's history and come up with her own theories and conclusions.

"I'm here because I'm worried about you, and because there is a lot we need to talk about." Hikaru seems interested in talking, but it still feels like she's completely closed off. As I consider how important it is for her to feel relaxed around me, the thought of Tonomura's words echo in my mind again: 'Reassure her.' I step away from the door to stand by Hikaru's desk before asking.

"Is there anything in particular you want to talk about?"

She gazes at me for a moment, considering what to ask or talk about, or at least, I hope so. Thanks to the faint light from her phone, I'm able to observe Hikaru's eyes shifting between it and me. Tapping her phone's screen with a free hand, she causes the light from it to change as it loads something else. I want her to open up and speak to me, but I'm not in a position to rush her, especially  considering her likely fragile state of mind.

Hikaru's eyes continue to shift between her phone and me, I know its rude, and I shouldn't be looking at what's on her phone, but I can't help but notice the news article she happens to be looking at. 3 Students missing from Muzukashii! And there's my opening—the disappearances.

"Do you remember what Tonomura said about the pull?" Hikaru gives me a slight nod, "Well, it turns out that there is a specific requirement for you, and I for that matter now, to be pulled into the Other World." To my glee, I've finally managed to capture Hikaru's full attention.

"What's the requirement?" Hikaru's voice is small, but at least she's talking to me.

"That you and I have to be in a zone at the same time, it doesn't have to be the same zone either, we just have to be in one at the same time." Hikaru seems a little confused, but at least she's interested. "You know, I haven't returned to Other World since you and I made it back. Honestly, I've never been away from there for this long."

"But why, I thought you liked being there?" 'Yes, she's talking. At a proper volume too.'

"I do, but thanks to a certain idiot witch, I've been missing something important. No, I should say someone important." Hikaru gives off a reaction that could almost be considered cute, if she wasn't encased in her blankets. However, she appears curious and more interested in talking now.

"Wha... What are you saying?"

"That neither of us can be pulled to the Other World without the other being present either inside the same, or our own respective zones... Basically, You and I, are Linked."

"It was an accident, and a mistake when I pulled you into the Other World with me on that day. And today, I learned that a certain someone cast a very complicated, and surprisingly powerful spell on me earlier that morning." Hikaru adjusts her seating position to face me, I think it may have been the mentioning of the spell, but I continue, hoping to keep her focus.

I go into full detail about the events pertaining to the morning before we went to Other World. Starting with how I ended up locked inside the school building, my waking up to Vestra being right in my face, and her having cast her spell on me. Hikaru hangs on my every word asking questions as I proceed to explain the intricacies of the spell that Vestra cast upon me, from the effects of Link that connects us, to the spells modifications, and how it's the reason for my age regression.

I finish my explanation with the emotional aspect of the spell, how it affects the both of us, and how Hikaru behaved like she was a completely different person in the Other World. It almost seems to much for Hikaru, but she looks surprisingly calm though I don't know why, then she pushes off the blankets covering her, giving me a dim view of her pyjamas.

"So, this Link, is connecting us even now?" I give her a nod despite the lack of light, unsure if she actually saw me. "And you're affecting my emotions too?"

"No, according to Vestra, it's meant to be more of an influence. Like a gentle push to be a better you, but the effects are only at their strongest in the Other World."

"So, you're not trying to affect or influence me now, right?" I give Hikaru a stern head shake, implying that I can't do that or control it, 'Nor am I actively trying to influence or force her to make a decision, although I do want her to come back to Muzukashii and Other World with me.' I think on it, but it feels like my presence right now, is giving Hikaru more confidence to open up and talk. "Tonomura Sensei said that if I were to be pulled to the Other World, I could end up trapped there or killed. How do I prevent that from happening?"

"You can't." My legs feel like they could give out at any moment from all the walking and standing I've done in the last few hours. Leaning back to rest against the edge of Hikaru's desk, I cross my arms over my chest, and I prepare to hit Hikaru with my own seriousness, matching Tonomura's level of intensity.

"I'm not going to lie to you. Death is common and far more frequent in the Other World compared to here. You saw only two of the beasts from there, but there's also bandits, the desperate, and the homeless. Even a harsh storm of any kind could put you at risk, and depending on the zone you enter from, you could end up anywhere in the Other World."

Hikaru hangs on my every word, yet she doesn't seem anywhere near as panicked as she did in Tonomura's office that day. 'Vestra did say the effects of the Link aren't as strong here as they are in Other World, but I think it is having an effect on Hikaru, if only slightly.'

"However, those risks would only apply to you if you were to try and face them alone." I push myself away from the table and kneel before Hikaru on her bed, I then bow my head in a dogeza lower than I ever have to anyone in my life. "I honestly didn't want to bring you into the sort of life I live, but I did, and I am incredibly sorry that I did this to you."

Hikaru waves her arms about as I apologise, even saying things like "it's not your fault" and "it was just an accident," but I don't and cant accept that.

"I can't undo my past mistakes, but the least I can do is make up for them." I lift my head to stare directly into Hikaru's eyes, showing her my determination. 'I made and broke too many of these in my earlier days, this will be the first one I've made in a long time.' "Hikaru Miyazawa, there isn't much I can do for you here, but in Other World, I will always stay by your side, and be there to protect you. I Promise." 

*Growl*

Our eyes lock onto the source of the sound, which leads to Hikaru's stomach. I adjust my gaze upward, assuming that her face is beet red, considering the embarrassed look on her face in the dim light.

"Seriously. That's your response?" Wearing a less than impressed look on my face, I admonish Hikaru while she shakes in an odd way: "I'm here, on my knees swearing to protect you, in as manly a manner I can manage, and your more interested in food." Hikaru covers her mouth, trying to hide what I believe may be a smile, yet she fails to hide the fact she is giggling at me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Despite holding back, she giggles in small bursts as she speaks. "It just sort of happened." Hikaru swings her free arm up and down in an apologetic manner as she speaks, however, I'm not going to let this go.

"So, rude. I make you a heartfelt promise, and you are mocking me, I thought you were better than this." I cross my arms and turn away from Hikaru to further imply my disappointment, only for her to break out into suppressed laughter. "And now you're laughing at me. How can you be so mean." I stand up and face Hikaru, continuing to admonish her an a playful manner and tone. "I pour my heart and feelings out to you, and you trample all over them."

"I can't help it if I'm hungry, besides, I thought you looked pretty cool." Hikaru manages to stop laughing enough to speak.

"Don't you patronize me." Despite the fact we're both in a dark room and can barely see each other, I can make out Hikaru's bright smiling face; I can't help but grin at her in return.

'Now that's a much better look for her.'