The oppressive force of the blood-forged serpent shattered Hiroshi's white light shield, its shards dissolving into the stormy night. His heart pounded, fear gripping him as the massive creature loomed over the Azumabashi Bridge. The serpent's power pinned him in place, his legs refusing to move. Its hissing filled the air, a sound so piercing it rattled Hiroshi's bones, drawing a pained scream from his lips.
His body ached, internal wounds throbbing from the serpent's aura. Hiroshi was certain this was his end. Yet, even in his despair, Aoi's face flashed before his eyes—her smile, her laughter, their shared moments. The memory acted like a balm, soothing his pain even as death approached.
The serpent paused, hovering in the air, its crimson eyes locking onto Hiroshi. It surged forward, the bridge trembling under its weight, cracks spiderwebbing across the concrete. Hiroshi saw his reflection in the creature's gaze, his hope fading. But just as the serpent closed in, the air before him shimmered, and a figure materialized—a girl, her form translucent, her long black hair cascading to her waist.
Hiroshi's breath caught. He only saw her back, but he knew instantly who she was. "Aoi!" he shouted, his voice raw with panic. "Get out of there! You'll die!" His hands trembled, his heart racing. "Don't risk your life for me!"
Aoi ignored his pleas. She raised her hands, moving them in intricate patterns, as pink energy swirled around her. She pressed a finger to her forehead, and five glowing feathers of flame appeared, blazing with divine light. Her eyes burned with fiery resolve, as if ready to incinerate the serpent. With a fierce cry, she unleashed her power: "Suzaku Solo Strike!"
A vortex of fire erupted above her, its heat so intense it slowed the serpent's advance. Smoke rose from the creature's blood-forged body, its hissing growing frantic. From the vortex, a colossal vermilion bird—the Suzaku—burst forth, its wings ablaze with radiant flames. The serpent's oppressive aura weakened, the river below ceasing to boil.
Enraged, the serpent turned from Hiroshi, lunging at the Suzaku. The two titans clashed, their collision unleashing a heart-stopping explosion. Aoi's pink energy enveloped Hiroshi, shielding him from the blast's shockwave. The Azumabashi Bridge crumbled, its fragments plunging into the now-dry Sumida River. The surrounding area lay in ruins, trees reduced to ash, the air thick with smoke.
Aoi glanced at Hiroshi, who stared at her with wide, disbelieving eyes. Ignoring his shock, she grabbed him and soared into the sky, her translucent form glowing faintly. Hiroshi's mind reeled—Aoi has powers too?—but the rush of wind silenced his questions. He noticed her body growing fainter, as if fading from existence, and his heart clenched with fear.
Aoi carried him to the rooftop of a towering Shinjuku skyscraper, the Tokyo skyline sprawling below, its neon lights piercing the storm. As they landed, Hiroshi's eyes locked onto hers, brimming with questions. Aoi sighed, her expression softening. "No questions?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Hiroshi mirrored her tone. "Aren't you going to tell me anything?"
Aoi smiled faintly, but her eyes held a weight of secrets. "You want to know about your white light?" she asked. Hiroshi nodded eagerly, but her face fell. "I don't know what it is," she admitted, shaking her head.
Hiroshi's shoulders slumped, disappointment washing over him. But he pressed on. "Who was Reiji? How did he have those powers? And you—you have powers too! Why? And why did he call me his greatest enemy?"
Aoi's head ached from the barrage of questions. She raised a hand, calming him. "Reiji was a demon from another realm, sent here to kill you. He's not alone—countless demons across different worlds are hunting you."
Hiroshi's jaw dropped. "Demons? Other worlds?" He wanted to dismiss it as nonsense, but the memory of Reiji's blood-serpent, his own white light, and Aoi's Suzaku attack made denial impossible. Reiji had spoken of a Demon Lord Oni-O Yaksha, sacrificing his life to kill Hiroshi. The evidence was undeniable.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Why are they after me? What did I do to them?"
Aoi's expression turned uncertain. "I don't know," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "I was only told to protect you."
Hiroshi's heart sank, but her words sparked curiosity. "Protect me? Who told you to do that?"
"My father," Aoi replied. "Don't ask why—I don't know that either."
Hiroshi groaned, exasperated. "You don't know this, you don't know that—what do you know?"
Aoi's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I know you," she said, her smile teasing.
Hiroshi's face flushed, his heart skipping a beat. But a darker thought surfaced. "You loved Reiji, didn't you? You kissed him. And then you… killed him. Don't you feel any regret?"
Aoi's face twisted in disgust, as if she'd tasted something foul. "Love Reiji? Ew, no way! I'd rather die!" She mimed gagging, her reaction so exaggerated it stunned Hiroshi.
His mind raced, replaying the moment Aoi kissed Reiji. She was so passionate then. Why act like this now? Confusion clouded his thoughts, but Aoi seemed to sense it. "The one who kissed Reiji was the earthly Aoi," she explained. "Not me."
Hiroshi blinked, more confused than ever. "If she's Aoi, then who are you?"
"I'm Aoi," she said with a carefree shrug.
Hiroshi's frustration boiled over, his voice rising. "What?!" Before he could lose it, Aoi raised a hand, her tone serious. "Listen carefully. I'm not from this world, and neither are you. When you were sent to this realm, a fragment of my soul was placed inside the earthly Aoi to protect you."
Hiroshi's head spun, as if she'd handed him a script from an anime. "Another world? A soul fragment? What is this, a phone charger you plug into someone's body?" His voice was a mix of disbelief, frustration, and borderline hysteria. The white light, Reiji's demonic powers, Aoi's revelations—it was too much.
Aoi laughed, her amusement softening the tension. Seeing his flustered state, she decided to clarify. "When you're with the earthly Aoi, I can take control of her body. When you're not, I release that control. The Aoi who kissed Reiji? That wasn't me. The Aoi you know…" She paused, her eyes locking onto his. "You only know her? You don't love her?"
Her question hung in the air, her gaze piercing. It was as if she was daring him to confess, to claim her as his forever. Hiroshi's cheeks burned. He scratched his head, tapped his face, then scratched again, stalling. Aoi giggled inwardly at his awkwardness, then teased, "Fine, I get it. I'll just find a nice guy and marry him instead."
Hiroshi's heart lurched. "No!" he blurted, his voice trembling. "You can't marry someone else!"
Aoi's lips curved into a gentle smile. She stepped closer, cupping his face with her translucent hands, her eyes urging him to speak. Say it, you fool.
Hiroshi summoned his courage, his voice steadying. "You can't marry anyone else because I love you. I don't care if you're a soul fragment or not—I love you, and I always will. Do you… love me?"
Aoi's eyes shimmered, tears welling up in her ethereal form. If she were flesh and blood, she'd have sobbed. She grabbed his hand, her touch warm despite her fading presence. "I love you too," she said, her voice trembling. "More than you can imagine."
Hiroshi's heart soared, joy overwhelming his pain. But Aoi's form flickered, her voice urgent. "You have to return to your true world, Hiroshi. You need to become stronger, or everything will be lost."
What did Aoi mean by returning to his true world? What is at stake that could be lost? Will Aoi take Hiroshi to another realm? Was Reiji truly a demon? What new twist awaits Hiroshi and Aoi's love story?