Sasaki opened his eyes.
For a few seconds, he didn't move.
He stared at the sky.
Snow continued falling around him.
His body hurt.
His breathing was heavy.
But—
He was alive.
Sasaki slowly moved his hand toward his stomach.
The pain was still there.
He looked around.
The girl was standing a short distance away.
Her umbrella was closed.
She was staring at him.
Sasaki immediately tensed.
His hand moved toward his sword.
The girl noticed.
She didn't attack.
Instead, she sighed.
"You really think I'm going to attack you again?"
Sasaki didn't answer.
He watched her carefully.
She had already defeated him once.
There was nothing stopping her from finishing the fight.
The girl looked at his wound.
Then back at his face.
For a moment, she seemed to hesitate.
Finally, she lowered her umbrella.
"Put the sword away."
Sasaki's grip tightened.
"Why?"
"Because I'm not fighting you anymore."
"...Why?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she looked away.
"I've already proven my point."
Sasaki frowned.
"What point?"
"That you can't beat me."
She paused.
"And you're injured because you refused to listen."
Sasaki looked at her.
The girl sighed again.
"Stand up."
Sasaki didn't move.
She looked at him.
"Please."
That word caught him off guard.
Sasaki slowly pushed himself up.
He winced and held his stomach.
The girl noticed.
Her expression changed.
"You really are hurt."
Sasaki glared at her.
"You did that."
"I know."
She looked down for a moment.
Then she raised her hand.
A faint light appeared around her fingers.
Sasaki immediately stepped back.
"What are you doing?"
"Healing you."
Sasaki froze.
"...Why?"
"Because I don't want you dying."
The answer came quickly this time.
Sasaki stared at her.
The girl looked directly at him.
"I'm serious."
She slowly extended her hand.
"If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have stopped."
Sasaki remained silent.
That was true.
She had every opportunity.
But she hadn't taken it.
After a moment, Sasaki lowered his guard.
The light moved toward his wound.
He flinched.
Then—
The pain began to fade.
Slowly.
The wound started closing.
Sasaki looked down in disbelief.
"...You can heal?"
"Yes."
She lowered her hand.
"Obviously."
Sasaki looked back at her.
The girl folded her arms.
"And before you ask—"
She sighed.
"Yes. I'm sorry."
Sasaki blinked.
"For what?"
"For attacking you."
She looked slightly annoyed.
"I was trying to stop you."
"You could've just talked to me."
"You wouldn't have listened."
Sasaki opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
He couldn't exactly argue with that.
The girl pointed toward the ground.
"Sit."
Sasaki stared at her.
"...You're really bossy."
"And you're really annoying."
Sasaki slowly sat down.
The girl approached him.
She pulled out some bandages and knelt beside him.
Sasaki watched her carefully as she began wrapping his remaining wounds.
For a while, neither spoke.
The only sound was the snow falling around them.
Her movements were careful.
Almost practiced.
Sasaki looked down at her hands.
A few minutes ago, those same hands had been fighting him.
Now they were helping him.
He still didn't understand.
"Why?"
The girl stopped.
"Why what?"
"Why are you doing this?"
She looked at him.
For a moment, her expression became serious.
Then she answered.
"Because I know you."
Sasaki frowned.
"What?"
She continued bandaging him.
"You don't remember."
Sasaki stared at her.
She didn't look angry this time.
She looked almost disappointed.
"You'll understand eventually."
She finished wrapping the bandage.
Then stood.
"Until then..."
She looked at him.
"I'm not your enemy."
Sasaki remained silent.
That was the first time she had said it so clearly.
Not his enemy.
The girl opened her umbrella again.
She straightened herself.
"Ahem."
Her expression suddenly became more formal.
"I am Mao."
She paused.
"One of the Four Architects."
Sasaki looked at her.
"...What's that?"
Mao stared at him.
"You seriously don't know?"
Sasaki shook his head.
Mao said.
"You really don't know anything about this world, do you?"
"I know enough."
"Apparently not."
She crossed her arms.
"The Architects are basically gods."
Sasaki raised an eyebrow.
"Gods?"
"Yes."
"We each control our respective powers."
Sasaki stayed quiet.
Mao looked at him for a moment.
Then her expression softened slightly.
"And you don't remember me either."
Sasaki frowned.
"Should I?"
Mao said.
"We've met before."
"I remember you trying to kill me."
Mao's eyes widened.
"No, you idiot."
She lowered her umbrella slightly.
"Not today."
Sasaki looked at her.
Mao hesitated.
"When you were a child."
Silence.
Sasaki searched through his memories.
Nothing.
Mao watched him patiently.
For once, she didn't make another comment.
She simply waited.
Sasaki studied her face.
The snow white hair.
The umbrella.
Those eyes.
Something about her felt familiar.
Then—
His eyes widened.
"...Wait."
Mao immediately looked up.
"You remember?"
Sasaki pointed at her.
"You're the one who sealed my Essence."
Mao froze.
Then her face turned red.
"Y-Yes. Ahem."
Mao's shoulders relaxed.
"Yes."
She smiled.
"Exactly."
Sasaki looked at her.
Then—
"You're still short."
Mao froze.
"..."
Sasaki realized his mistake.
"I'm sorry."
Mao slowly lowered the umbrella.
She stared at him.
Sasaki stared back.
A few seconds passed.
Then Mao smiled.
"I forgive you."
Sasaki blinked.
"...Really?"
"Yes."
She turned away.
"But don't make a habit of it."
Sasaki nodded.
"Okay."
Mao looked back at him.
"There is something more important."
Sasaki's expression became serious.
"What?"
"Your sister."
Sasaki immediately straightened.
"My sister?"
Mao nodded.
"I know something about her."
Sasaki stood.
"What do you know?"
Mao didn't answer immediately.
She looked at him for a moment.
Then she spoke carefully.
"Not enough to give you everything you want."
Sasaki's expression fell slightly.
"But I know where you can start looking."
"Where?"
"The Architects' Domain."
Sasaki frowned.
"And why would I go there?"
"Because..."
Mao paused.
She looked at him.
"I want to help you."
Sasaki stared at her.
Mao continued.
"You've been searching for your sister alone for a long time."
She lowered her umbrella.
"And you're clearly not getting anywhere."
Sasaki narrowed his eyes.
"So what's the catch?"
"There isn't one."
"You're just going to help me?"
Mao nodded.
"Yes."
Sasaki studied her face.
She wasn't joking.
She wasn't threatening him.
She wasn't trying to trick him.
At least, not as far as he could tell.
Mao took a breath.
"There's one thing."
Sasaki waited.
"You'll have to become an Architect."
Sasaki blinked.
"...That's it?"
Mao blinked back.
"That's it."
Sasaki thought for several seconds.
Then—
"Yes."
Mao's eyes widened.
"Wait."
She stared at him.
"That was fast."
"If it gets me closer to my sister, I'll do it."
Mao smiled.
Not the teasing smile she'd been giving him earlier.
This one was genuine.
"Then..."
She extended her hand.
"Welcome."
Sasaki looked at her hand.
Then at her.
"Hold my hand."
"Why?"
"Because we're going somewhere."
"Where?"
"The Architects' Domain."
Sasaki hesitated.
Then slowly reached out.
Their hands touched.
Mao closed her fingers around his.
A faint glow surrounded them.
Sasaki looked down.
The snow around their feet began to lift.
The trees blurred.
The world seemed to bend around them.
Sasaki looked at Mao.
She smiled.
"Ready?"
Sasaki nodded.
Mao's expression became calm.
"Then let's go."
And in an instant—
They vanished.