Yeah, this city's done for—that's Kairi's take, anyway.
Can't entirely blame her for being cold about it. In a way, it's the brutal truth. Shoko's down for the count, Nero's just taken a serious beating, and now there's no one left to stand up to Little Ace and its schemes.
Kairi knows too much, and that's exactly why she's the most hopeless about the whole mess.
Half a year ago, when Little Ace betrayed Shoko and she fell into the Demon World, Kairi was the first to catch wind of it. This was before Shoko fused with Nana, before she wiped everyone's memories. Back then, Kairi noticed Rikishi's unusual gloom. When it didn't let up, she started digging. Half by chance, she followed the trail and found Rikishi's old teammates.
Kairi knew Rikishi would never spill her guts about something so personal, so she didn't bother asking her directly. Among the others she tracked down, Sosei was too slick, dodging questions like a pro, and Hina had already shut herself off from the world. That left only Mutsu as a viable lead.
By sheer luck, Mutsu was the one closest to Shoko—and the only one who knew about the wish Shoko had made. After some deep talks with Mutsu, Kairi's sharp instincts picked up on something: both Shoko's and Mutsu's wishes were the kind that couldn't be proven or disproven.
And since Little Ace had nudged them into making those kinds of wishes, it was clear it had no intention of granting them. The truth hit hard—her friend, Rikishi, had been played.
Kairi went straight to Rikishi, trying to lay it out, but Rikishi's straightforward nature couldn't pick up on Kairi's subtle hints. What was Kairi supposed to do? Say, "Hey, I know all about your deal with Little Ace, and you got scammed"? Even if Rikishi believed her, that'd be like admitting, "Yeah, I've been snooping behind your back." Not exactly what friends do.
So, caught in that tangle, that happened.
The Wakaba family's young lady, who just wanted to "be like everyone else," never got her wish. That night, all Kairi saw and heard were the blood-red lights spilling from the window, a broken doll lying on the concrete, and the chaotic cries for help and wails of despair.
The next day, the Wakaba heiress was gone. No one's seen her since.
That's when it clicked for Kairi: Little Ace didn't just want these girls to make wishes and fight demons. It wanted their lives.
She went to Rikishi again, but this time, before she could even finish, Rikishi stormed off in a rage. Just like Kairi had feared.
If that was the case, the only way to protect Rikishi was to wreck Little Ace's plans and take it down for good. But Kairi was just an ordinary high school girl. How the hell was she supposed to take down a demon?
That's when Shoko showed up, extending an olive branch.
Like a lifeline.
But once Kairi learned the truth about that lifeline, she realized how tough her plan would be. The power Shoko wielded was exactly what Little Ace had been after all along. And while Shoko always put on a tough front, her resolve was too soft.
Kairi sometimes called Shoko "a heartless woman," but that was just sarcasm. You could see it in how she handled Hina's situation—Shoko talked a big game but was soft at heart. That softness got her beaten by Nero, and it sped up Nana's awakening. Yet, it was that same stubborn refusal to make "necessary sacrifices" that let Shoko hold out against "Nana's" corruption for so long.
That double-edged sword also landed Shoko right in Little Ace's trap. She knew the "dream batteries" Little Ace sent her were probably tampered with, but when push came to shove, she couldn't stop herself from helping those in need. And that's how it all fell apart.
A total failure. That's the only way Kairi could describe this defeat.
No, if she's being real, it's fate's defeat. From the start, Shoko's side never escaped Little Ace's schemes. Kairi didn't know the specifics, but if Little Ace made a move, it was confident it could snatch Nana's power through some pre-set trap. After this string of losses, no one was left to stop its victory.
At this point, even if it was just Rikishi, Kairi wanted to get her out, away from Little Ace's plans, so she could live.
That was Kairi's plan, at least.
"So cold!" Nyamu yelped, dramatically covering her mouth. "I thought we were partners helping each other out!"
"Partners? People who go by codenames don't count," Kairi shot back, unimpressed by Nyamu's over-the-top acting. "I remember exactly what you said: 'If it's not working out, just jump ship. That's how it is in the real world.'"
Her tone was icy, stripping Nyamu's words of their original flippant charm.
"That was just a joke! I'm all about love—how could I not have love for the team?" Nyamu whined.
Total BS, Kairi thought.
A weak but serious voice cut through Nyamu's antics. "So, do you have a plan to take down that 'Nana' or not? If not, quit wasting time."
It was "Nero"—or maybe "Samael." Kairi still wasn't sure which name was real. Either way, it was the pale, blonde girl in white, looking like death warmed over.
Kairi had heard she'd sent Rikishi and the others away to face Nana alone, so she'd hoped this girl was rational enough to help get Rikishi out of the dreamscape. But now? Not looking likely.
The only silver lining was that Nero wasn't scared off by Nana and still wanted to fight. The bad news? Same deal.
"Of course I've got something! Exclusive intel, baby!" Nyamu chirped.
"Then spit it out," Rikishi snapped.
"Latest chapter dropped on 69BookBar!"
"No patience, huh? You guys would never make it as content creators," Nyamu teased.
Who's trying to make videos? Kairi was getting antsy, tempted to pry Nyamu's mouth open and yank the answers out.
Thankfully, Nyamu didn't drag it out. "I had a quick chat with Chuko earlier. She's not just sleeping to keep the barrier up for protection—that's something you'd only need when enemies show up. The real reason? She's gotta stay in a deeper dream layer to keep the boss stable."
Kairi's eyes lit up. "So that's the boss's trump card against that thing?"
It made sense. Using Chuka's power to create a sanctuary in Shoko's dreamscape, blocking out foreign forces—namely Little Ace—was a solid move.
"So you're saying she might still be in her own dream?"
Nero visibly relaxed at the news. Helping Shoko sounded way easier than fighting Nana. She glanced out the window and added, "So how do we get in?"
Under the dark night sky, veiled by curtains, the magical fluctuations were noticeably weaker than before.
"Uncle's not gonna hold out much longer."