The formation of the contract didn't take long. At least, from Chu Lian's perspective, it felt as though she had only embraced Hare Menjou for a brief moment before the contract was complete.
However, what she hadn't considered was how strange the flow of time was in this realm. Time here didn't move the same way as in the outside world—it could be a thousand years in an instant or a second that stretched into a year. She didn't know, nor did she dwell on it.
When she slowly opened her eyes, she found herself staring into Hare's shy, gentle gaze. Reflected in those pupils was her own face—so close that she hadn't realized how near they had been. Both of them were entirely bare, yet this time Chu Lian didn't feel any embarrassment. Instead, she seemed calmer, more composed.
Perhaps it was because she had gone through so many similar situations recently that she had matured; perhaps she had finally accepted her identity as a girl deep within her heart, no longer fearing such closeness with another woman; or perhaps she simply wasn't thinking about it at all, her mind focused elsewhere.
Whatever the reason, even if she knew, she wouldn't have said it aloud—after all, it was a private matter.
"How long have you been here?" Chu Lian loosened her embrace and floated back slightly, exiting the device. To her surprise, the glass barrier that had surrounded them was now gone.
"When we opened our eyes, we woke up in this space," Hare replied softly, pressing her hands against her chest with a shy expression. "In this unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people and feelings, we were scared—so no one dared to move. It took a long time before we decided to explore together."
"Then, midway, we encountered those girls who looked like statues. They were so beautiful—and since they were in the same space, I wanted to ask who they were. So I reached out to touch one of them…" Her voice trembled slightly, eyes flickering with unease.
"When she opened her eyes, she looked straight at me. And after that, I couldn't move at all. She simply touched my arm once, and then closed her eyes again. But the other statues began to wake, as if they too wanted to reach for us."
"Fortunately, Tsugumi found a path out, so we managed to escape before they surrounded us." The memory clearly unsettled her; the fear had etched itself deeply in her heart, perhaps even exaggerating the threat of those slumbering figures.
"When I arrived here, I realized that my arm had become void after that touch—no matter what I tried, it wouldn't heal."
"We stayed here for a very long time. Then one day, Ayase accidentally pressed a button, and we were all trapped inside these devices, falling into a deep sleep."
"My wound only began healing once I was inside this capsule. When I regained consciousness, I understood that we were being held captive. At the same time, information about you was transferred into my mind through this device—so I knew what needed to be done to leave."
"It wasn't the first time I tried to call you," Hare continued softly. "But before, you never seemed to hear me. Only this time, when you fell unconscious, your spirit entered this deep ocean. That's why I knew—it was my only chance. So I kept calling… and finally, you heard me."
"I see… It's not that your voice reached me because I came to this sea," Chu Lian said thoughtfully. "It's because I've awakened the ability to see spirits that I was able to enter this space—and finally hear your call. In the end, it's my fault." She sighed softly, frustration flickering in her eyes. Still, she knew this wasn't something she could have changed.
In truth, she was only now learning about what these girls had endured. Until today, she had simply assumed they were sleeping peacefully, waiting for the day they would awaken on their own. She had never considered that her unique condition might have caused such anomalies.
"This isn't your fault," Hare said gently, shaking her head with a faint smile. "I know you. If you'd understood how to save us earlier, you would have done everything in your power. The blame lies with this strange space, not you."
"You asked how long we've been here, right?" Hare continued, changing the subject at just the right time to ease Chu Lian's guilt. "This device actually records the passage of time. It's measured just like in the outside world."
Chu Lian nodded. "Judging by this, it seems the flow of time here isn't what I initially imagined—it's actually consistent with the outside world."
She gently pushed off with her feet, floating back toward the device, gazing at the direction Hare Menjou had pointed. "Two years, two months, twenty-three days, seventeen hours, forty-nine minutes…"
"That's quite a long time," she murmured with a wry smile. This space was clearly abnormal—the difference in time flow was astonishing.
From the day Inori had appeared in her life to now, only about seven or eight days had passed. Yet here, more than twenty-five months had gone by—a ratio of almost one to one hundred.
"So, I really don't know how long I've been here," Hare said softly. "If you hadn't come, I might've been trapped for who knows how much longer. But the fortunate thing is, here there's no hunger, no fatigue, no aging, no sickness. We don't need air, or sunlight. The only thing that matters here… is willpower."
Turning around, her graceful back faced Chu Lian. "But now that I can leave, Ayase, Tsugumi, Arisa, and Haruka still can't… because they haven't awakened yet."
"If they haven't awakened on their own, they can't be awakened forcibly? I see… there must be rules governing this place. I think I understand now why you woke earlier than the others." Chu Lian's eyes gleamed with quiet realization as she pieced together everything Hare had said.
"The reason… is because that girl touched me, right?" Hare wasn't slow to grasp the truth. She knew her own situation best. She had simply been too anxious before, unable to think clearly. But now, with Chu Lian's arrival and the bond they had formed through the contract, her mind had finally calmed.
Indeed, the only difference between her and the other four girls was that she had been touched by one of those statue-like maidens—and that this device had healed her afterward. That was likely the reason she had awakened so much earlier.
One could call it coincidence, fate, or destiny—but it all led to the same conclusion: she had been meant to awaken now, to help Chu Lian heal.
"No need to overthink it," Chu Lian said gently. "Now that you're free, let's leave first. As for the others, I'll find a way to rescue them later. Don't worry." She hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and took Hare's small hand, turning her around to face her. Looking into her slightly reddened eyes, she spoke seriously. "You said it yourself—life here doesn't decay. Time's only purpose is to remind you how long you've been here. Once we leave, this place will stay exactly as it is. When we come back, it'll still be the same."
"But… how do we get out?" Hare asked, her voice tinged with nervous hope. She truly wanted to leave. This dark, soundless space had been suffocating.
"Close your eyes. Leave the rest to me." Chu Lian smiled softly.
"If we can enter, then we can definitely leave. I'm guessing that all it takes… is the will to do so." As soon as the thought formed, she felt warmth returning to her body.
When she opened her eyes again, the first thing she saw was Inori's peaceful profile beside her. Her breath caught, and relief filled her chest. Seeing Inori felt like coming home—like seeing the one person who brought her peace. Other than Ayase, you're the only one who gives me this feeling, Inori.
Sensing her gaze, Inori's long lashes trembled slightly before her wine-red eyes opened, immediately finding Chu Lian's face. "Lian… you're awake?"
"Mm. I'm awake." Chu Lian nodded, then told her everything that had just happened. "Inori, you know what? I was in a strange place just now…"
"You mean… the second contractor is Hare?" Inori asked softly after hearing her story.
"Yes." Chu Lian nodded again, though she wasn't sure why Inori had wanted to confirm it.
"Do you know what Hare's Void is?" Inori asked next. Though she didn't know the answer herself, she somehow sensed that it must be something that could help Chu Lian greatly.
Chu Lian pondered for a moment, and just as Inori began to think she had been mistaken, she smiled and said, "Hare's Void is healing. With her Void, wounds can be mended and pain relieved."
"Then… your wounds will recover?" Inori asked softly, a gentle smile curving her lips. The worry that had clouded her heart finally lifted.
"Mm. But Hare's physical body was destroyed when she crossed the dimensions. She can only exist as a spiritual form attached to me now. It's inconvenient in some ways, but the good part is—I can easily use her Void."
As Chu Lian spoke, she called out to Hare, who was resting within her spiritual sea. "Hare, I'm back in my body now. You can come out."
Roused by Chu Lian's voice, Hare stirred from her brief slumber and, without hesitation, stepped through a shining door of light.
The moment she emerged, she found herself in a traditional Japanese-style wooden room. Sunlight filtered through paper windows, filling the space with warmth. The elegant decor exuded quiet refinement—this was clearly not a place ordinary people could live.
As she stood there, savoring the long-lost feeling of the real world, a familiar voice called out from behind her.
"Hare… long time no see."
She turned around—and there stood Inori, her long pinkish-white hair flowing down, dressed in a white nightgown. She no longer wore that cold, emotionless expression. Instead, a gentle smile graced her lips.
"Inori… it's been a long time."
Separated by worlds and time, the two girls stood facing each other once more. Everything felt so familiar—just like days gone by.