[Location: Shrine of the Mindbound Monk – 44 Days Before the First Event]
The shrine had grown quieter in recent days.
No more sparring.
No more external drills.
Just stillness.
And thought.
Kaito sat cross-legged in front of a hanging mirror, the glass etched with faint golden runes.
Aya sat across from him, her eyes shut, her breathing even.
Between them, the System's new test pulsed in silence.
> [Synchronizing Mindwave Echo...]
[Partner Compatibility: 99.999%]
[Caution: Unknown anomalies detected.]
"Focus," Aya whispered.
"I am," Kaito muttered. "Just… my thoughts are loud."
"Mine too."
Neither opened their eyes.
[Deep Synchronization Mode: Initiated]
The world went black.
And then—
---
[Shared Mindscape – Time Unknown]
Kaito opened his eyes.
The world around him was… familiar.
His old neighborhood.
His childhood home.
But twisted.
The sky was red.
His house was charred.
Blood was smeared on the steps.
He turned—and Aya was beside him, wide-eyed.
"Wha—this isn't my memory."
"It's mine," Kaito said softly.
Aya looked at him. "You lived here?"
He nodded slowly.
Aya took a breath. "Then let's go in."
He froze. "No. Aya—don't."
Too late.
She pushed open the door.
---
Inside, everything was still.
Until the screaming began.
Children crying.
Laughter echoing in reverse.
A man's voice screaming curses.
Kaito clutched his head. "Stop… please stop—"
Aya turned to him, stunned. "This… this is what you live with?"
He couldn't answer.
The shadows twisted.
A faceless figure rose from the hall.
Aya's fists lit up with silver flame. "Get behind me."
But Kaito didn't move.
The shadow stopped.
Spoke.
"You think you understand him?"
Aya raised her hand to strike—but Kaito stepped forward.
"…This is part of me," he said.
And the shadow split apart—into a mirror.
A mirror that reflected both of them—standing side by side.
Whole.
Unshaken.
---
[Mind Synchronization Completed]
[System Warning: Subject KAITO YAMADA has bypassed memory-lock barriers.]
[Error Detected. Classification – UNKNOWN.]
[Proceeding…]
---
[Back at the Shrine – Present]
Kaito gasped and fell backward, his body drenched in sweat.
Aya opened her eyes slowly.
"You okay?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. Just… overwhelmed."
"You didn't scream."
He shrugged. "Used to it."
Aya stared at him. "No one should be used to that."
Kaito smiled faintly. "That's why I have you now."
Her face flushed.
The silence stretched—until a soft chime echoed.
> [System Notice: Partner Synchronization Level – EXCEEDED EXPECTATION]
Bonus Skill: [Echo Resilience] Unlocked.
You will now share emotional state automatically in psychological events.
Aya blinked. "That's… intimate."
Kaito laughed. "Guess you'll know exactly when I'm annoyed at your cooking now."
She punched his shoulder.
He didn't flinch.
But he smiled.
And so did she.
---
[Closing Scene – Outside the Shrine, Hours Later]
Aya stood alone under the night sky, watching the stars.
She thought of what she saw in Kaito's memories.
The pain.
The isolation.
The fear.
And yet—he smiled.
Even now.
Behind her, Kaito walked up quietly.
She didn't turn.
"Why do you hide so much of yourself?"
"…Because if people saw it all," he said, "they might try to fix me."
"Maybe they're not trying to fix you," she whispered. "Maybe they're just trying to understand you."
He said nothing.
But his hand reached out.
And for the first time—
Aya didn't hesitate.
She took it.
---
End of Chapter 33