Time. An irrevocable law of the world, unchangeable by nature. The past, once gone, never returns—an inevitability. To defy it is to challenge the divine.
This is the tale of a heroine who dares to resist such a god and the hero who strives to save her.
"Truly, is he in this town?"
Her shoes tap rhythmically, her figure swaying lightly as she speaks. Clad in a striking red-and-black dress, the girl's beauty—nay, her allure—shines even in the twilight glow of city lights.
"Someone capable of sealing spirits, you say?"
Turning, her eyes—one a delicate ruby, the other a clock adorned with numerals and hands—fix upon her companion.
"Yes, he most certainly resides here," comes the reply.
White. If the girl in the dress is black, her companion is pure white, shrouded in a robe that conceals even their face. Only a feminine voice offers a hint of identity.
The girl in the dress, unperturbed by the enigma, continues. "Splendid. My long-cherished wish draws ever closer to fulfillment."
"Though, mind you, few spirits remain unsealed. An empty vessel, as it were."
"If you're mocking me, I'll gladly take up that challenge!"
The girl raises an antique pistol, conjured as if by magic, her smile bright but edged with irritation, a vein pulsing faintly at her temple.
"Oh, dear, I merely said a human can seal spirits—not that any are sealed," the robed figure teases.
"…Enough. You're as glib as ever. Spare me the discouragement."
With a sigh, the girl makes her pistol vanish like a parlor trick. The robed figure chuckles, delighted as a child whose prank has landed.
"But it's not so distant a dream, I assure you. That's why I brought you here—Kurumi."
"Yes… Yes!! YES!!"
The girl—Kurumi—cries out in ecstasy, her laughter ringing. Is it joy at nearing her wish? Or—
"Ki-hi, ki-hi-hi-hi-hi!! It must be so!!"
—a madness born of profound sorrow?
"No matter what, I will reach it!!"
"Then let us begin anew," the robed figure declares.
Side by side, the black and white girls gaze down upon the world. As if ringing the bell of their tale, Kurumi speaks.
"Your wish… and my plan."
April 3rd. Spring's warmth and gentle breeze embody peace itself, lulling even the healthiest high schooler into drowsiness. Itsuka Shidou, an utterly ordinary teenager, is no exception.
"…So sleepy," he mutters, yawning openly as he trudges along a quiet sidewalk in Tenguu City. Alone, with no one to judge his lethargy, he walks the familiar streets.
"Work schedules shifting last minute? That's just too brutal…"
The reason for his outing is simple: with his parents abruptly called away, household chores—and satisfying the primal urge to eat—fall to him. His parents, employed by a major electronics firm, often leave home for work, leaving Shidou to handle meals and more.
It's spring break, and for a boy whose romantic history equals his age (zero), this hour would typically be spent sleeping. Alas, his beloved sister's screwdriver (full-body) wake-up call forced him into action.
"Man, Kotori's techniques get more creative every year—huh?"
A petal flutters into his view, dancing on the sparse street.
"Cherry blossoms… already in full bloom."
Petals drift onto his open palm, soft and numerous. Cleaning these will be a pain, he thinks, unpoetic as ever, before a whim strikes.
"No rush. Might as well take a look."
A caprice, nothing more. With time to spare before noon, it's just a fleeting detour.
Unbeknownst to him, this whimsical choice sets Shidou on a path toward a fateful encounter, one that will unravel his destiny.
Words fail him. No—they refuse to form.
What stands before him is not human. Or rather, too beautiful to be human.
Not the blooming cherries, no. They've vanished from Shidou's sight. Only the girl before him fills his vision.
Speechless. In all his life, no moment rivals this shock. She is breathtaking, impossibly so.
Her hair, tied in twin tails, gleams like jet. One eye is hidden beneath long strands, the other uncovered. A black blouse and skirt, somber as mourning attire, yet her radiant skin creates a striking, almost serene contrast.
Words fall short. Even the grandest praise pales before her. To Shidou, she surpasses any painted beauty.
"Oh…"
Eons seem to pass in her presence, but her voice snaps him back. His mind stirs, though his body remains stunned.
"—Good day."
She smiles, a polite greeting. To Shidou, even this is radiant.
"Uh, um… M-morning-evening-hello?!"
Silence. His nonsensical reply hangs in the air, freezing time for agonizing seconds.
(…It's over. Something just ended, and I don't even know what.)
"—Pfft, hehe! What a peculiar greeting."
"W-Wait, scratch that, please!!"
"Fufu, what's that? It's too amusing!"
Her laughter shifts, no longer formal but genuine. Shidou's frantic apology only deepens her mirth, her hand covering her mouth. Even this gesture sets his heart racing. A sickness? The thought flickers briefly.
"Hey… I'm Itsuka Shidou."
Why is he introducing himself to a stranger he's only just met—and gawked at? His thoughts boil, rationales dissolving. Desperation, mere seconds after meeting her.
"Oh, my, how courteous."
Whether charmed by his awkwardness or indulging her own whim, she responds.
Lifting her skirt's hem, she curtsies with breathtaking grace and speaks her name—the name that marks the beginning of Shidou's fated days, one he'll never forget.
"I am… Tokisaki Kurumi."