Hanashi 24 (D) - Unfinished Love Story【TRUE ENDING】

"Sorry, Remiel......" he announces, taking off his watch and throwing it to the ground. "Wait!" Remiel begs, but it's too late. Jun crushes the watch with his foot, smashing it to pieces. He ignores Kenzo as he looks back at the injured Atsuko. A gasp escapes from his lips, noticing that Atsuko isn't dead. She stands up from the ground and suddenly her entire body is covered in a golden light. Once the golden light fades away, Atsuko's appearance changes drastically, as she has become a full Daten-shi, looming twice as beautiful as before. She walks over to Jun and smiles, "Did you miss me?" Jun's surprised expression changes to one of pure happiness, “I did.” He gains more energy, having his sword ready to fight Kenzo once and for all. "Let me fight with you!" Atsuko insists, forming a similar sword as Jun's. Jun becomes unsure, yet he doesn't stop her, as he knows that two is better than one in a battle like this. Atsuko blushes, and then gets serious; she and Jun stare at Kenzo, who walks over to them, "Oh......" He grimaces in dislike, especially since Atsuko is no longer human. The tension in the air is tangible, as the three warriors prepare for an epic showdown. The battleground was filled with tension as the three fighters, Kenzo, Atsuko, and Jun, clashed with each other. Kenzo had been glitching, but he ignored it and charged towards Atsuko with his sword. Jun saw the opportunity and gave Kenzo a slash on his waist, causing him to cry out in pain. Atsuko, with little mercy, gives an identical slash on the other side of Kenzo's waist. In response, Kenzo used magic to lift Atsuko's body into the air, causing her to become stiff and unresponsive. "You're still weak, despite your new form. How pathetic," he taunted before slamming her back to the ground with great force, causing her to scream in agony. “Tch…..” In anger, Jun jabs his sword into Kenzo's neck, hoping for such an attack to do critical damage. Despite the attack, Kenzo twists his head unnaturally and smirks at Jun. He quickly retaliated by using his sword to stab Jun in the stomach and then quipped him away to get him off his sword. "I will get you first and then finish off Atsuko. Or better yet, I might keep her alive for special reasons," Kenzo bragged, feeling confident.

"It's always pride before the fall, idiot!”Jun remarks, standing up. He wonders how Atsuko is holding up. Atsuko, who had been quiet all this while, suddenly teleported behind Kenzo. With no mercy, she covered her sword in light and slashed Kenzo in the back. Kenzo hissed and looked back, trying to grab Atsuko, but she dodged his attack and simply got near Jun. Then, she held Jun's hand, causing a surge of energy to flow through him. Kenzo's heart races as he watches Atsuko and Jun glow with golden light. Standing tall and confident, he tries to sound cool, “You both don't stand a chance against me!" But deep down, he is terrified. Atsuko wears Kenzo's signature smirk, exuding an aura of invincibility. Jun stands beside her, mirroring her expression, and the two get into a fighting stance. Their swords glow brighter and brighter with each passing second. In a rare moment of hesitation, Kenzo momentarily freezes. But then he charges at them, determined to take them down. Together, Atsuko and Jun synchronize their movements and thrust their swords into Kenzo's heart. The impact is so powerful that it sends the three of them flying into the sky. Kenzo screams in agony as he clings to the edges of their swords, his body glitching with each passing moment. But Atsuko and Jun are relentless, and they cause their swords to disappear. As Kenzo begins to fall downward, Jun unleashes a powerful kick, sending Kenzo hurtling even further away from them. Kenzo's body glitches once more before disappearing into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

****

Seiko stands frozen in shock as she stares at the monitor in front of her. Her eyes widen in disbelief as she notices that Jun's vitals have dropped to zero. She can't believe that he's gone. Her hands tremble as she reaches for her phone and frantically dials Remiel's number. "Jun's dead!" she exclaims as soon as Remiel answers the phone. The words come out in a rush, and tears start streaming down her face. "It's the same for Atsuko. Jun decided that he didn't want to leave. He and Atsuko also beat Kenzo and ended him." Remiel says, his voice is stern and disappointed. He is also taken aback by Seiko's news. He promised Caelum that he would save Jun, but things have taken a different turn. Hearing Seiko cry only makes him feel worse. "Call the S.W.A.T for me," he orders,"I'm going to have them burn this place down to the ground. The Somnus facility should be no more...." Seiko sniffs and wipes away her tears. "Okay," she whispers before ending the call. Remiel looks at the gem pod that contains the lifeless body of Atsuko and sighs. As much as he is intrigued to see what will happen to the two youngsters, he knows that it's time to let them go. He turns off the main control panel. The S.W.A.T team arrives on the scene, and Remiel meets them, looking grim and determined. He provides them with all the information they need to investigate the area thoroughly. The world of Caspien is in a state of turbulent change as it merges with the long-forgotten realm of Tourika. 

Meanwhile, at the cozy Bonbons de Rêve cafe, Hide is seated at a table across from his friend Kenji, with Myra joining them. Myra is weeping uncontrollably, her tears flowing freely down her cheeks. In front of them lies a plate of soft, warm butter cookies, along with three cups and a steaming kettle of lemon tea. "Don't cry, Myra...." Hide whispers. Kenji wears a bittersweet expression, "She should cry. Her father was a madman and even drove her to madness too. Everything he has built came tumbling down." Before Hide can respond, the door to the cafe opens, and in walks Caelum, Leonarda, and Seiko's fragment. Leonarda rushes to Myra's side and comforts her, while Caelum stands quietly, surveying the familiar faces in the cafe. The sky outside has transformed from an eerie red to a breathtaking blue. The streets, once bustling with people, are now abandoned. This town that was once called Okinawa is now known as Tourika.

Hide looks up at the mysterious stranger before him and asks, "Mister... who are you?" He stares at the stranger with a look of intense curiosity, eager to know more about him. Caelum reaches for a cookie and indulges himself before answering, "I'm the one who holds this place together. Dr. Alistair stole my concept, or rather, this place was never meant to be anything more than just a video game..." 

"A video game?" Hide asks, perplexed. "Yes, just a simple idea. But the mad doctor got carried away and became too familiar with him." Caelum explains, looking over at Kenji. Kenji rolls his eyes, "I take full responsibility for what has happened by allowing my own greed, jealousy, and anger consume me." Leonarda, sensing that things have shifted, asks, "So, what do we do now, father? Dr. Alistair no longer controls this place." Caelum smiles, "We live without any strings attached." Just then, Jun walks into the cafe with Atsuko by his side, and the room falls silent in surprise. Everyone had been expecting them to be gone, but here they are, standing right in front of them. Jun breaks the silence with a joke, "It's a bit uncanny to see all the usual suspects here." Atsuko laughs, and Seiko rushes in to give her a hug. Atsuko hugs her back, but her eyes betray a hint of sadness. She had longed to wake up from the false reality of the Gem Pods, but now that it's her permanent reality, she seems to have made peace with it. Jun stands tall and looks straight at his father, Caelum. Caelum's face is stern as he asks, "Why did you stay here?" Jun responds with a straightforward answer, "Atsuko and I surpassed our limit in the Gem Pods, so here we will remain." Atsuko pulls away from Seiko and stands back by Jun's side. She becomes sad, sincerely wishing to be awake from this false reality, yet now it's her permanent reality, and she doesn't mind it. Jun takes Atsuko by the hand and says, "We can start a new life together." Atsuko looks at him in surprise and asks, "A new life? Here?" Jun nods and smiles brightly, and Atsuko's face lights up with a smile as well. 

"Would you two like a tour of Caspien?" Seiko offers. "Yes!" Atsuko and Jun reply at the same time. Leonarda jumps in excitedly, "Let me tag along!!!” Caleum chuckles in amusement. Kenji and Hide look on with blank expressions, unsure of what to make of the situation. As Atsuko and Jun embark on their new life together, the possibilities seem endless. What adventures await them in this new world? Only time will tell. But for now, their love story is just beginning, and they are excited to see where it takes them.

THE END