Haruto felt the last spark shine brilliantly in his final moments before it went out and he felt empty. And then everything was black. He was used to the dark empty void of space by now but this was different. There wasn't a single distant star to light the way. He was completely weightless. He kept waiting for the end to come. Haruto didn't know what to expect of the afterlife, if there even was one.

But he thought he would at least feel a more definitive end. It never came. He just continued to float like he was untethered in space. Maybe that was death. Endless drifting in blackness. Then slowly, other senses began to return to him.

He could feel something soft in his hands.

Distant voices shouting.

The smell of grass, sweat, and bread.

The taste of bread.

Haruto paused when he realized he was chewing on something that had been stuffed into his mouth. People were cheering and next to him Shoko was...Shoko was... Haruto teared up as he saw her scarfing down the food before her.

"Come on Haruto! Get your head in the game!"

He turned and saw Inuzuka and the tears finally fell. Immediately, Shoko stopped eating to see what was the matter with him.

"Hey, bud, are you okay? Sorry if I was too harsh", Inuzuka apologized.

"No, no it's not that", Haruto said, wiping his eyes.

Was this his afterlife? He'd just be reliving what his days should have been? Idling away at Sakimori? That didn't sound too bad to Haruto. Being in high school forever sounded like a true Heaven to him. He remembered this day very vividly. It had been the day Dorssia first attacked him; the day he'd meant to confess to Shoko and the day he thought he'd lost her.

But since this was Heaven, only one of those things would happen today. He didn't remember much of what occurred between now and his attempted confession except that first meeting with L-elf.

L-elf.

He'd been there in Haruto's final moments. He had called him a friend. Haruto found himself wishing L-elf was here, but he didn't know the rules of this place. Surely L-elf wouldn't show up just because he wanted it.

Even though Haruto put his all into it once the contest resumed, he still lost, just like before. He just didn't have much of an appetite trying to figure this all out. He decided to go along with the day's events until towards the end. Today he would finally tell Shoko how he felt. This was his new chance and he wouldn't let it get away from him.

If this was to be his afterlife paradise, she would return his feelings and he would finally get to be with the one he loved. Haruto was so happy to see everyone alive. And the school not in ruins. It was the peace he had missed that had been ruined because of the valvraves. He had hardly spared a thought to the initial attack and was reliving conversations with everyone.

Haruto fell into them easily until he heard a familiar voice.

"Would you split your love in half?"

Haruto's eyes widened and he turned his eyes to see L-elf there. He was flanked by the other Dorssians who had come with him. Why were they here? If this was part of his Heaven, why hadn't he seen them earlier. No, they wouldn't be a part of it. L-elf definitely would. And maybe his memories would bring up the image of the one with the braid, but Haruto barely knew the other three.

He supposed they were there on that day and this was just a replay of that. It still felt very strange. Haruto had spaced out without answering L-elf and he left with his squad. On that day, they had been searching for the valvraves. But if this was Haruto's Heaven, there'd be no such thing. And L-elf and the others would be normal students.

Haruto finally got to the moment he'd been waiting for. He and Shoko were sweeping up as the sun began to set, just like last time. They were next to the wall of wishes other students put up. So many who had died that day and in the coming days as the fighting went on. But not this time. This time there would be peace. This time there would be love.

"Shoko, I've been wanting to tell you something all day", Haruto said, his expression turning serious.

Like before, Shoko flustered, wanting a moment to prepare herself, but Haruto couldn't wait any longer. He grabbed her hands and gazed into her eyes.

"Sashinami Shoko, I love you. I've always loved you. And I always want to be with you."

Shoko's face was red but she was smiling. "M-me too! I do too! About you! I mean-you know!"

Haruto smiled and nodded. "Yes, I know." He leaned in for a kiss and Shoko was about to meet him halfway when the ground beneath them shook and everything went dark. Haruto felt his stomach drop as he held onto Shoko.

"What was that? An earthquake?!", she shouted.

If this was what Haruto thought it was, he wasn't in Heaven. And somehow he was reliving that day all over again. Was it possible that he'd gone back in time? Well, between space vampires and giant fighting robots that fed on memories, it wasn't the craziest thing he'd ever heard. If this was Dorssia attacking again, there was only one thing to do.

"Shoko, stay here!", Haruto ordered before taking off. He should have known she wouldn't listen. She refused to stay put and followed after him. Haruto remembered thinking she had died only to find out she'd made it to the car in time to avoid death in that explosion. Could he count on it happening again? He didn't like the idea of Shoko being trapped under rubble but if the same things were happening, he couldn't stop her.

The fighter jets had engaged the Dorssian soldiers in a familiar fight. They met up with Inuzuka, Aina, and Saki and Unit I was exposed from the ground. Haruto saw Shoko go for the car out of the corner of his eye and turned away, unable to look even though he knew she'd be okay.

Instead he made a beeline for the valvrave, ignoring the calls of his friends. He made it to the mech just as the blast hit where Shoko had been. Haruto started the activation process, giving up his humanity without a second thought. The battle went the exact same way as before, except somewhat quicker, as he was familiar with the controls. After driving out the invading forces, Haruto wanted to dig Shoko out first. But he needed to do something before that.

He landed where he knew L-elf would be. He would never forget that encounter. Throughout the battle, Haruto brainstormed ways to convince L-elf he was from the future. Spouting nonsense that meant nothing to him as he was now wouldn't help. Haruto could recount battle details all he wanted, it would sound like a load of lies from him.

No, he had to say something that would instantly get L-elf's attentions (to minimize any stabbing) and get him to trust Haruto. After landing, Haruto lowered himself from the valvrave and there was L-elf. Before that knife could slip from his sleeve, Haruto said the only thing he could think of.

"Lieselotte!"

That got L-elf to pause, which Haruto considered a massive accomplishment. "...What?"

"You've got a picture of a girl named Lieselotte on your person. She's the one you love. And the one you want to revolutionize the world for."

"How...how do you know that?" L-elf went from stunned to angry.

"Because I'm your friend. And I'm going to help you with your revolution."