"What would you sacrifice if everything you love stood on one side... and the world on the other?"
Scene 1 – The Room That Doesn't Exist
May 11, 2011 – ??? – Non-Local Spatial Node
Ruby opened her eyes, expecting light.
Instead, she was greeted by silence—heavy, suffocating silence.
The walls weren't solid. They shimmered in a dull, translucent fog, shifting like something half-formed. She felt weightless, as if gravity itself bent to her mood. Her breath came loud—too loud—in the void. She was alone.
Or almost.
"Hello?"
Her voice barely scratched the silence, but a whisper answered.
"You shouldn't exist."
She turned sharply.
A boy stood before her—his presence unsettling, unreal. He was no older than Aqua, no younger than her. His hair was like ink spilled across water, his eyes dull as cooled ash.
"Who are you?" she asked, stepping back.
"I'm the ending they don't want to face."
The words sent a chill through her.
"Where am I?"
"Not where. When. You're between the decision."
Then—he showed her.
Strings of fate stretched before them, golden lines webbing out like veins of light. In their grip, frozen in time, were Souta. Aqua. Ai. Happy. Suspended in the decision, waiting. Some of the strings fractured. Some rewrote themselves. Some—burned.
The boy spoke again, his voice detached, almost pitying.
"You've been removed to force a choice."
"One of you must never exist again."
Ruby's chest tightened. Her pulse roared in her ears.
"That's insane!!"
"Welcome to divine logic," the boy murmured, bitter. "Now, let's see if your brother can break fate."
Scene 2 – Souta's Collapse
May 11, 2011 – 12:01 AM – Hoshino Household
Souta screamed.
It wasn't just sound—it was pure devastation, a cry so deep it shattered every lightbulb in the house.
Ai rushed forward, reaching for him.
But when her fingers touched his arm—
—they phased through him.
"Souta?!"
Her voice shook. He was no longer bound by space. His body flickered like static, slipping between existence and absence.
Aqua stood still, his fists clenched, his breath uneven. He wasn't moving. He wasn't blinking.
Happy hovered between Ai and Souta, his tiny form crackling with gold energy, eyes sharp with an unnatural glow.
"Happy, where is she?" Aqua's voice was barely more than a whisper.
Happy hesitated. Then, slowly, he answered.
"They've placed her in a paradox layer."
"Outside time."
"To force Souta into a failing state. If he snaps—the family resets."
Ai's breath hitched, her hands clenching at her chest.
"He's going to burn himself trying to reach her…"
Scene 3 – The Voice of the Gods
Divine Realm – The Conclave of Fate
Twelve seats. Twelve lights. Twelve ancient beings.
And the Supreme God was absent.
That, more than anything, terrified them.
"He gave the Third Child too much freedom."
"He loved them."
"Then perhaps… he made a mistake."
One of them, cloaked in moonlight, whispered:
"The child is undoing limit itself. What comes after limit? Collapse?"
Another, older and robed in stardust, murmured:
"Or something new…"
Then—they froze.
A pulse rippled through their domain, not violent, not destructive—but personal.
A slow realization set in.
"He's not trying to win," one breathed.
"He's trying to understand us."
A hush spread through the council.
"He's not just mastering power," another whispered. "He's mastering intention."
The truth landed like a crushing weight.
"That means…"
"He'll become a god of meaning."
And for the first time in eternity—
the gods felt fear.
Scene 4 – Ai Confronts the Truth
May 11, 2011 – 2:34 AM – Tokyo
Ai stood on the balcony, staring at the city lights.
Behind her, Aqua fought to keep Souta stable with Happy's help.
"We're not ready for this," Aqua muttered. "I thought I was. But this is beyond revenge. This is... myth."
Ai didn't turn around.
"I'm scared, Aqua."
A moment passed before he answered.
"Me too."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Ai spoke, her voice steadier now, stronger.
"I keep thinking about what Souta asked me—if I'd still love him even if he failed."
She turned, fire in her eyes.
"I'd rather watch the stars die than lose one of you."
Aqua exhaled.
"Then we fight."
"But how?"
Happy floated higher, gaze thoughtful.
"By finally asking him."
"Asking what?"
Happy smiled.
"If you want power too."
Scene 5 – Souta's Revelation
Non-Existence Sector – Inner Core of Will
Souta floated in darkness.
He could no longer hear Ai. Aqua. Happy.
Only echoes of Ruby's heartbeat.
And one thought.
"I need to protect them."
"But not by force…"
"...by letting them stand with me."
And with that realization—
he unraveled hierarchy itself.
Power was no longer linear.
Not "more" or "less."
It became shared.
And with that—
Ai's star-eyes burned brighter.
Aqua's aura pulsed red and blue.
Happy's tiny form shimmered into full soul energy.
They were rising.
Not because Souta saved them—
But because he believed they could save each other.
Final Scene – The Unfair Choice
Back in the paradox, the boy stared at Ruby.
"Looks like your brother's cheating."
Ruby didn't flinch.
"He's not cheating."
"He's loving."
Light erupted through the void—Souta appeared, kneeling beside Ruby, hands shaking.
"Ruby…"
"Souta… you came."
He smiled.
"Always."
But before they could embrace—
the boy struck.
A dagger of decision drove into Ruby's chest.
She faded in his arms.
Then—
A second Ruby appeared.
Then another.
And another.
A million versions of Ruby stepped forward together.
The boy stumbled back.
Souta rose, his eyes glowing black and gold.
"I won't play by the gods' logic."
"So I made a new one."
"A world where no choice has to be made."
"A world where every love is true."
And the chapter ends—
With every Ruby standing as one.