2nd Phase: Strengthened Bond

In the first few hours since the two have reunited, Yuito and Kasane walked the abandoned streets of the Kunad Highway alongside one another, the two taking turns talking as they discussed the major events of transpired since Kasane's departure to the moon during her time in the Lunar Survey Project. Kasane was intrigued to hear about the positive changes that society had been welcomed into, along hearing how much of an impact Yuito has had on the general public when getting involved in politics, gradually restoring the name prestigious Sumeragi family with his noble and selfless methods of leadership. It even came as a surprise to hear that Yuito made in effort to consul and give aid to Randall Industries, the company Kasane was was adopted into, to honor the life of her late adoptive sister. However, this union was short lived, when Yuito made the mistake in mentioning Kasane to the owners of the company, which resulted in a rather heated dispute in which Yuito defended Kasane's name from slander by her former adopters, and immediately cut ties with them shortly after.

"You went through all that trouble for my sake? You didn't have to do that, Yuito. They disowned me a long ago." Kasane said, not in the slightest upset at Yuito's actions behind her back, since she knew in her heart that it must of came with good intentions.

"I wish I'd known that sooner… I wouldn't have bothered trying to work with them in the first place, had I'd known they felt so strongly about you." Yuito said, camouflaging an apology with that statement. "I did do it for your sake, but also to honor memory of Naomi. Didn't exactly work out, though."

"It's okay. I'm grateful, Yuito. It would've made her really happy that you kept her in your thoughts." Kasane said, remembering how her older sister had romantic feelings for Yuito, so hearing him do such a thing while baring then in mind pleased her nonetheless, even if it didn't go as planned. She then remembered something else, as she goes on to ask, "How's the research on the Other Particles coming along?"

"Right, about that…" Yuito scratches the back of his head a bit and briefly looks away, a sign that he hasn't been entirely successful this far since his partnership with Other xenologists and researchers. "It's a lot tougher than I thought it'd be. We concluded that the Other Particles are formed from cosmic materials not of this world. We still haven't quite found a way to prevent Metamorphosis just yet... but we're getting there."

"No worries… you've managed to get this far, so I know you'll do it. Even if you choose not to continue, I'm willing to help pick up the pieces, if you need me to." Kasane assured her friend. It was blatant, but direct and honest. Not a shred of doubt was in her tone when she told him that. "Actually, the people of the moon have their own share of scientists as well. Of course, it hasn't been cured… but they've manage to come up with a way that temporarily reverses metamorphosis."

"Reverse? That's incredible!" Yuito said, fascinated and elated upon hearing that. However, he tried not to get too excited when hearing it was only briefly, but it meant progress, and gave Yuito hope that completely curing it was not at all impossible. Even so, it did raise Yuito's curiosity as to how things were going on the moon. He grew ever eager to hear about what kind of things she experienced while on the moon. "By the way, how are things up there? What was it like when you and the others first

"Things have calmed down considerably since then, and they're headed in a better direction than they were before. When I first arrived to the moon, it was just as bad as I thought. No… actually, it was even worse." Kasane stated while she and Yuito tread the highway, passing by the threes and deserted vehicles that no longer seemed operational. "There were too many cases in which people had their brains devoured by the Others… they brought about a catastrophic disaster unlike anything I've seen in this world. And as you would've guessed, the people afraid, and were living in constant despair because of them. On top of that, there was a mass outbreak of a virus that effected the brain, causing people's powers to spiral out of control. They quarantined themselves among divisions among the moon, and had an organized resource trading system, but even then, they were only delaying the inevitable. People were still dying, from either the virus, or the others."

"Damn. So they had it even worse than us? That's awful… it's horrifying to even think about…" Yuito said, visibly disturbed and saddened by the thought alone. He could hardly imagine what kind of hell Kasane had witnessed when she got there. He wondered how she the others not only managed to come out of it alive, but also successfully aid and help the foreign society of mankind who resided on the moon. "Be honest Kasane… has there even been moments where you started doubting yourself?"

"I'd be lying if I said there weren't times I wanted to abandon the mission and turn back… but I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if I left those people to suffer, when I had the strength to help them." Kasane admitted honestly as she looks up at the sky clear blue sky, gazing at where the moon would be. "To give others strength and courage, and a will to to go on living, no matter what… it's what Naomi did for me. It's only natural that I do the same for others. It's what she would've wanted."

"And you went above and beyond, Kasane. I don't know too much about her to really say this, but… I'm sure that she would really proud of you." Yuito said to Kasane with a warm smile, the ex-psychokinetic samurai bringing comfort to his adoptive older sister and friend. A smile would grace the lips of the psychokinetic kunoichi upon hearing this from her adoptive younger brother, comforted by those simple words alone.

"It's not as like I needed to hear that again… I know that already. But thank you, Yuito." Kasane said in a sincere manner, finding solace in hearing those words from her male counterpart.

"Oh, that's right! I managed to get in touch with some of our old friends. We'll be having dinner over at my place this weekend. I'm sure they'll all be very happy to see you again." Yuito informed her, the silver-haired young woman, who seemed fairly pleased by the thought… but fell silent upon hearing that. Concerned, Yuito continued, "…you don't seem to excited by it."

"No, it's not a problem at all. I'm actually looking forward to seeing everyone again." Kasane assured Yuito that shat wasn't bothered by it at all. Quite the opposite actually. However, she doesn't let it stop her from addressing the minor issue she had with it, "I just wish you talked to me about it first before setting it up. I'm not a big fan of last minute surprises."

"Huh? It wasn't that soon, was it? But, you're right. Sorry Kasane, I guess it was pretty brazen of me to not talk it over with you." Yuito chuckled slightly beneath a sheepish apology while rubbing the back of his head.

"No worries, It's fine. Just as long as you don't put Kyoka in charge of the cooking. Sadly, it hasn't gotten that much better while we were on the moon." Kasane responds in her usual calm and indifferent tone, but with a feint smile this time upon mentioning another one of their comrades, Kyoka Eden, a former member of Kasane's platoon in the OSF, who had accompanied her in the Lunar Survey Project, along with Tsugumi Nazar and number others. Hearing this causes Yuito to let out sheepish laugh, a little hesitant when hearing Kasane say that, but agreeing with her completely, as he remembered Kyoka's cooking skills being very… questionably bad. Noticeably annoyed by her bangs getting in her eye, Kasane gently brushes the left side of her hair away. Yuito's attention is drawn at the side of her face, as he notices the red ear cuff that he gave Kasane a long time ago during one of the last talks atop a building in Kikuchiba.

"You're still wearing that ear cuff I gave you…" Yuito addressed it, feeling an odd sense of happiness upon noticing Kasane continued wearing it long after they went their separate ways.

"Of course. I've treasured it ever since you gave it to me. I promised myself to take good care of it... at least until we met again." Kasane said while gently grasping the cuff on her left ear, feeling as though it's what kept her safe all this time she was away on the moon. She glances down a bit to see the floral braided strap she gave him in exchange attached to his collar. "And you… you're still wearing the braided strap I gave you in exchange… You actually held onto it all this time."

"Well, yeah. I told you that I'd hold onto it forever, no matter what." Yuito responded, having almost always attached it some way of somehow with whatever article of clothing he may have worn, and constantly taking good care of it was well. It was surprisingly as clean as the day it wasn't handed to him. "It's kind of like a good luck charm, y'know? Anytime I was feeling uneasy and started doubting myself, I looked at it and thought about you… It was then, I knew everything was going to be alright."

"…I'm glad. Thank you, Yuito. I'm really grateful to have you as a friend." Kasane said, expressing her gratitude to Yuito, as she is very pleased to hear and see that kept true to his word after all.

"I'm happy to hear your you that, Kasane. It really means a lot to me." Yuito responded elatedly, a very feint blush appearing on his face. Regaining his focus, he adds, "Right! I think we stuck around here long enough. We got plenty of time before the dinner tonight, so…let's head to Suoh. This year's Baki collaboration produced some new collectibles. I wanna try to grab some this time around!"

"Still into that sort of thing, huh? …Guess some things don't change." Kasane couldn't help but to chuckle softly at Yuito's continued enthusiasm and love for Baki throughout the years, not at all judging him for it. She was happy to hear that Yuito carried his young and energetic spirit even as he matured and had grown into a fully grown man with the credibility and reputation of a national leader. "Okay, let's go."

Later...

Several hours have passed since the two former psychic soldiers had explored the city of New Himuka, a place that was once caught up in the center of the chaos of Other Attacks and self-conflict and turmoil in the OSF a long time ago. But since the world had been saved after a supernatural phenomenon, New Himuka, Seiren and Suoh were able to move forward and continue to prosper and advanced under new leaderships, guidance and protection, leaving behind the troubles of the yesteryears and moving forward into an era of peace and prosperity. Of course, Other Attacks still occurred every now and then, but not nearly as frequent as before. There was still along way to go before the world would be fully rid of them, but it didn't stop humanity from flourishing.

"Man, I haven't gone out like this in a while! It's nice to finally unwind and enjoy life every now. Being stuck in an office on a weekly basis is definitely no fun." Yuito said with a content smile while walking alongside Kasane. A felt an odd since of remembrance and happiness being with her like this.

"I'll admit, I had fun, too. Being on the moon fighting for so long has kept me quite busy. I had almost forgotten what it feels to appreciate what life has to offer." Kasane stated as she walks alongside Yuito, the two making their way towards the Sumeragi Complex, Yuito's residence. "Oh, that's right… Yuito, your brother. How is he?"

"…Oh, Kaito…" Yuito grew noticeably less enthusiastic upon hearing his older sibling being brought up all the sudden. He glanced down at the doorknob to which he inserted his keys inside, not directly at Kasane. A bit of a stern look appeared on his usually calm and unworried face. It was almost as though he wanted to avoid talking about his only remaining family member. Then again, it's not as though anything horrible happened to him in the years since their separation. He didn't mind too much answering Kasane's question, "…He's doing alright, as far as I know. As I'm sure you would've guessed, we don't really talk that much anymore. Still, I try to visit him every now and then… it's what Mom would've wanted."

"I'm glad you continue to carry on Mother's wishes, Yuito. Even when it's something you don't necessarily want to do." Kasane said, making some effort to raise Yuito's spirit back up from the touchy subject. Though they weren't related by blood, they were both children of Wakana Sumeragi, thus making them siblings nonetheless. At first, she completely shut down the idea of having any other sibling besides her beloved older sister Naomi… but after gradually growing closer to Yuito those years ago, the person on the other side of her red strings, she's come to deeply care about him, as an ally, a friend, and, whether she released it or not, a brother. Even the braided strap she for him served as a symbol of how close they've become. As well continuing to wear the ear cuff he gave her in exchange. "Mother would be very proud of you, Yuito."

"Thanks, Kasane." Yuito said with a feint blush and a calming smile, before he opens the door to his estate and cuts the lights on to reveal a lovely and very organized layout of decor and furniture. A nice and very spacious interior that made impressed the usually cool and indifferent Kasane. Officially welcoming her into his home, he speaks, "I guess I should hurry and get started on dinner. In the meantime, try to make yourself at home!"

While not at all too overwhelmed by expansive size of Yuito's new home, as she herself spent a portion of her life under rich and prestigious Randall Industries with her now-deceased older sister, she is still a bit taken back. It's been quite a while since she last stepped foot in such a nice looking residence in a while. As Yuito quickly makes his way into the kitchen to get prepare the meal, Kasane takes a look around, doing her best to ignore the adhesive Baki themed decor placed around the living area here and there. She takes a glance over at the Myoho Muramasa, the katana Yuito fought with during his time in the OSF, eloquently resting on display. The next thing that caught her eye was an organized collection of books, hinting at his previous studies while undergoing college in pursuit of a political career.

But something that captured her attention the most was a copy of the photograph of her and Yuito's platoon and friends together in casual attire, with the addition of their mother Wakana Sumeragi at the center, whom she had brought back from the past for a short period of time to help unravel the entanglements through time…

"…" A sad smile graced the face of the silver-haired psionic, having a bittersweet and silent moment of sentiment upon having left this all behind once before, and yet closely cherishing these memories. Using her psychokinesis, she gently places it back down on the shelf she had picked it up from, before heading to join Yuito in the kitchen. She watches closely as Yuito carefully cooks up the ingredients for tonight's meal. It always impressed her by just how good he was at cooking and cleaning.

"Oh, Kasane. Uh… it won't be ready for probably another hour. I could prepare a quick appetizer for you, if you like." Yuito offered while looking at he as he continued cutting vegetables.

"No, that's okay." Kasane politely declined, choosing to wait until the meal is ready. "As I told you a while ago, I have a very refined palate. I also don't quite like to snack right before a meal."

"Right. Got it. Just hang ti—A-Agh?! Ow!"

"Yuito!" Kasane's eyes widen a bit when hearing Yuito grunt and pain and drop the kitchen knife onto the cutting board, having sliced the tip of his left finger by accident as a result of him getting too comfortable to the point where he took his eyes off of what he was doing, leading to an injury caused by a his carelessness. Worried, Kasane walks over to him to get a closer look, "Are you okay?"

"D-Damn… yeah, I'm fine! No worries, it's not that bad, really." Yuito assured, reluctantly showing her his bleeding finger, with a sharp pain ringing from it. Of course, being injured in combat numerous times in the past, as well as the constant use of the Struggle Arms System (SAS) has allowed him to endure such a small injury without issue. Then again, he didn't make it any less painful. "Crap, at this rate…"

"Idiot… don't worry about the food right now. Let's get you treated right away." Kasane said in a calm yet serious demeanor, expressing genuine concern when Yuito hurt himself. Realizing she was right, this prompts Yuito to briefly cut off the stove and set the food aside for now, before Kasane leads him over to living room, grabbing the nearest first aid kit when doing so.

Several minutes later…

After applying First Aid on himself with the help of Kasane, Yuito stares at his bandaged finger while letting out a calm sigh, and a relieved smile. Making an effort to play off the moment of inconvenience, he speaks, "I really appreciate this, Kasane. Sorry you had to see that."

"You should be more careful next time, Yuito. Thankfully it was only a cut… at the speed you were going, you could've sliced your finger off." Kasane said in an almost scolding manner, to which Yuito is visibly disturbed by the thought, causing him to squirm and wince a bit. Kasane sighs a bit before speaking, "I'm just glad you're not seriously hurt..."

"It's not like it's the first time this has happened. But again, thanks for looking out for me, Kasane." Yuito said, showing sincere gratitude for Kasane caring for him. Kasane looks at Yuito and nods, before a memory from several years ago resurfaced, in which she had her life saved by Seto Narukami, which led to the former sustaining an injury as a result of her own misstepping. She lowers her had a little, grateful for having her life saved that day, but saddened that he eventually died on the field of battle trying to save Nagi, Yuito's late friend. Yuito noticed the look on Kasane's face, expressing concern. "Hey, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just reminiscing, is all." Kasane said, quickly brushing it off, as to not make a big deal over it. The past was the past… and looking back now in these peaceful times wouldn't amount to anything. Even now, she has to keep looking forward. They both do. Yuito could tell it was something, but chose not to pester, respecting her word.

Smiling softly, he stands up from the sofa they were sitting on, before confidently speaking, "Okay. I should be good to go. I'll get dinner ready in a bit."

"Not so fast. I'm helping you this time." Kasane chimed in an almost stubborn and resolute manner, catching Yuito by surprise. Before he could insist, Kasane wouldn't have it, and instead goes on to add, "You got hurt because I distracted you. So, let me do this."

"That's not true… but I guess there's no point in stopping you…" Yuito said with a smile and a timid chuckle in his voice. "Okay! Let's get to it."

-2 hours later-

Shortly after they've finished cooking, dining and chatting together over a long awaited meal, along with cleaning and putting away used dishes, Yuito quickly helped get Kasane settled in by having her stay in one of the spare rooms he had. Giving her a futon mattress along with some sheets, a blanket and some towels, he did whatever he could to help her get comfortable. She didn't quite have a place to stay for very long due to having only just arrived back to Earth hardly just a day ago, and Yuito didn't mind at all allowing her to spend the night over at his place, even being so courteous and generous as to let her use his one of showers to cleanse herself before bed.

Kasane stood in the shower, letting out a sigh of bliss and tranquility amidst the light steam caused by the heat of the warm water raining down on her bare and delicate yet battle-honed body… one that was covered in scars, which she made an effort to hide beneath her sleeved layers of clothing. Alone with only her thoughts and the sound of the water streaming down, she lowers her head and opens her eyes halfway, being met with memories and flashbacks of the horrid events that occurred while she was on the moon, trying to save those around her; those who were subjected to metamorphosis and being transformed into those brain-eating monstrosities the OSF had been fending off for several years here on Earth.

Her mission was practically completed, but it left her with a heavy dose of trauma that would often trigger her PTSD of seeing those she cared about dying right before her eyes. Seeing several civilians and innocent bystanders having their heads bitten off of Others, witnessing Future Yuito throwing himself at a swarm of the previously mentioned horrors and being mauled to death, her beloved sister Naomi sacrificing her life to protect her… and soon, even experiencing the emotional damage and psychological scarring that Karen Travers felt when desperately trying to save his friend, Alice Ichijo… to which he eventually succeeded, but at the expense of his life— no, his very state of being, his existence. Despite having managed to easily keep her cool when talking with Yuito about all that she's experienced on the moon… it's clear that the wounds of yesterday have not been left behind entirely, as years of constant fighting, endless struggling, and often being met with success and failure while in the moon has stirred up the trauma that came back.

Even then, however… it did not come without a distant ray of hope, a feint yet warm light that she was subconsciously bound to ever since that fateful day at the old OSF hospital. On the other side of the Red Strings she held onto, was none other than Yuito Sumeragi. Yuito… the boy whose life she saved that day when he was so young... and would inspire to join the OSF so could do the same for others who could not fend for themselves. Though she gave him no second thought during their unknown reunion as new recruit soldiers of the OSF, she had no idea how crucial their connection would be from there on. Upon realizing the kind of danger what would await in the would-be future, she was thrown into a turmoil of being forced to choose between idly forsaking the world or having to kill Yuito in order to save it. And yet, in spite of trying to kill him a number of times, then leaving him in the dark and distressed for so long… he still reached out to her… even forgiving the many attempts on his life before she could explain herself and clear her name as the suspected murderer of his father.

When the two finally went their separate ways many months after the final battle, it wasn't until being far apart from him for so long, that she realized just how important he was to her, how much she truly missed having him in her life, and being by her side through tough times and hardship. Any time she began lose her way, she would remember her friends, her sister Naomi… then finally, Yuito.

After a long moment of self-reflection, recollection of the past, and once again coming to terms with her feelings while she rinsed the soap off her body, Kasane reaches for the handle that powered the water, and turns it, shutting the water off. She then steps out shower, before grabbing a towel to dry herself off and get herself dressed for bed. Before heading to her room to turn herself in for the night however, she decides to first speak with Yuito one more time before the night was over.

On the other hand, Yuito stood on the balcony outside his room, getting a view of the ever-changing city of New Himuka beneath the night sky. Life had become more peaceful and prosperous over the years, with the population of Others that roamed the Earth reducing, slowly, but gradually. His moment of silence is halted when he hears knocking at the door to his room. Knowing it's Kasane, he turns around and calls out, "It's open. Come on in."

Being welcomed into his room, Kasane turns the knob and opens the door, seeing Yuito standing outside the open screen doors. Being considerate as his guest, she asks him while approaching, "Sorry, I'm not interrupting you, am I?"

"No, not at all Kasane." Yuito responded with his hand resting on the fence, watching the young woman coming to join him. Despite giving a very clear set of instructions as to how to access the rooms, operate the devices around his house, and even giving her a room to get settled in, he began to wonder if he may have forgotten something, and if there was anything else she might need from him to get fully settled in. "Did you need something?"

"No, I'm fine. I just wanted to talk with you some more, is all." Kasane said, bringing some slight relief to Yuito, but also a peculiar sense of comfort with her presence and those words alone.

"It feels nice, gazing at a clear sky night sky like this. Even now, I never get tired of looking at it. It almost feels… therapeutic, y'know?" Yuito said, admiring the beauty of the night, a sky that was no longer cloaked and shrouded by the Extinction Belt, the atmospheric catastrophe that spawned the Others upon the world, and the main cause for all their troubles. Now that it was gone, he could admire the stars in all it's glory whenever they come out. "And the moon… it's so beautiful. You'd never think there would be people and monsters living on it."

"I could say the same for this world… if only you'd seen it from the moon yourself." Kasane said, having seen the entire world from a vastly different angle during her time in the Lunar Survey Project while on the moon. "The photos I sent you don't really capture the feeling. It's a lot more breathtaking when you experience it firsthand."

"Yeah, I bet." Yuito chuckled faintly, knowing Kasane has already seen a lot more than he has, even after all he's been through during his time as a psionic soldier in the OSF, until he was forced to retire after he lost his powers. It's a given, since she's actually quite a bit older than him, despite the two of them physically appearing around the same age. "Your journey must be a hell of a lot more interesting than mine, Kasane. We're quite literally worlds apart now."

"That may be true… but I wouldn't say your journey was any less thrilling than mine."Kasane said, making an effort to boost Yuito's self-esteem, "You've accomplished so much like you said you would. And even if some things didn't work out for you, all that matters as that you made an effort to do what you believed was right."

"Kasane…" Yuito wanted to tell Kasane that she didn't have to put him on any kind of pedestal, but he knew she wouldn't have it.

"Sure, our ways of fighting are vastly different now that things have calmed down, but whether it's by the blade, or by words… you and I have both fought for a change, to bring a brighter future. You haven't worked any less harder than I did, so don't go discrediting yourself." Kasane said to young man a small smile as the two make eye contact.

"You're right. Okay, I'll take your word for it. I'll try not to do it again." Yuito said, smiling warmly and in a humble manner to the silver-haired girl he deemed more than just an ally and friend. However, he suddenly feels something soft and delicate touch surrounding his left hand, where his finger is bandaged. He looks down to see it in grasp of Kasane. Almost immediately, he's reminded of the time when he found Kasane falling unconscious in Chronos Terminal, and when used his psychokinesis to guide her down when he took her hand. A little flustered, a soft blush appears on his cheeks, as he softly utters her name, "Kasane…?"

"….." The bangs of Kasane's hair concealed her eyes when she lowered her head. She struggled greatly to keep it in since they've finally reunited, but after receiving such a warm welcome from him when she arrived back to Earth, spending time with him again, and even being welcomed into his home after many years of hardship, struggling and separation, she finally broke down her walls, and allowed herself to be vulnerable around him again, as a single tear sheds from her concealed eye, running down her cheek.

"K-Kasane?!" Yuito's eyes widen, when he Kasane moved in and suddenly embraces him, her emotions eventually catching up to her as she rests her head against his shoulder. Having to resort to a hug because of her inability to speak on her inner thoughts and anxieties didn't help much either. Though starstruck and blushing heavily, Yuito tries to comfort her. "H-Hey, what's wrong? T-This… this isn't like you… are you okay?"

"…I… I really missed you, Yuito… I was worried that we may never see each other again." Kasane said quietly, managing to retain her calm and collected tone even in between the feint, almost silently whimpers that escaped her lips as she spoke. "…Captain Seto, Nagi, Naomi, Mother… we've lost so many good people back then. Even on the moon, a lot of people I've met along the way, people I'd come to cherish as friends and comrades, have died before my eyes… and I couldn't save them. Then, I remembered you… you lost your powers, and have no way to fend for yourself if or when there's another outbreak of Others…"

"Kasane…" Hearing this, Yuito is stunned and unsure of what to possibly say to comfort her. She was normally so cool-headed, confident and unbothered since she got back and while they talked, and he had no idea she had these feelings bottled up. It's not as though this was the first time he has ever seen her break into tears, and she and him both did when their mother, Wakana, went to the past to die just as she was supposed, but still, he was greatly taken back by this.

"…I know we vowed to keep living and fighting on, even if one of us died… but the thought of losing you, like mother and Naomi… I never realized how much it frightened me until we finally met again." Kasane said, before placing a hand on Yuito's chest, then very gently pulling away, using one of the long sleeves of her shirt to wipe away her tear, and managing to regain her composure. However, and grim expression remained. "Knowing how much trouble I put you through back then… I have no right to feel this way, but it's still important to me that you know just how much you truly mean to me, Yuito. I'm so glad that you're okay… and I'm very grateful to have you in my life."

"…I feel the same way, Kasane." Yuito said, managing to get himself together and become serious again. And yet, hearing this confession from Kasane was something he didn't realize he needed until now. "When I lost Nagi, I blamed myself. He was afraid and in pain… and there was nothing I could've possibly done to save him. I was in a dark place since then… I was lost, sad and angry at everything. But being able to fight at your side again… alongside the person who saved my life that day at the hospital, it was like a dream come true. Even outside our duties, being your friend made it so much worthwhile. You could only imagine I happy I was when you told me how much I really meant to you back at Kikuchiba. I was determined to keep living, no matter what."

Yuito was very sincere, honest and gracious with his words while speaking to Kasane, putting her at ease, even smiling warmly and putting her at ease. "When you told me that you were going to the moon, you inspired me… even more than you did already. I knew immediately that I'd have to do my best while rooting for you down here on Earth. Still… I had no idea what kind of horrible things were happening on the moon, and how much worse things may have been for them. You were putting yourself in even greater danger than we were in this world. I didn't want you to go, I was afraid of losing you, Kasane… I was scared that you'd never come back— that we'd never see each other again."

"….." Kasane didn't respond right away, but she is greatly comforted upon hearing these words from Yuito, glad to know that she wasn't the only one going through hidden emotional turmoil and could instead share these feelings with Yuito.

"And yet, through it all, even though we were so far apart and unable to see or hear each other, our connection never went away. It gave me hope that you'd come back when day… and you did. I was so happy, that I almost started to cry." Yuito confessed, admittedly a little embarrassed to say the latter aloud, but not holding anything back at all, since it was just the two of them. "Now that you're here— now that we're finally together again, I no longer have to worry about either of us dying before I could say… I love you, Kasane."

"…." Kasane's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this from Yuito, the same cheerful, energetic naive boy who she fought alongside many years ago. She doesn't pull away from him, but she didn't get closer either. Her gaze meets Yuito's, along seeing the serene and warm smile on the young man's face. No matter where they'd go from here, all that matters is that he finally let her know exactly how he felt.

"I understa-!" Yuito couldn't even take the chance to pull away, before Kasane's lips suddenly met his, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she kissed Yuito then and there. Yuito's eyes went wide before gradually closing, a pleasant warmth spreading through his entire body. Without holding anything else back, he lets himself go, allowing himself to melt away in the moment… and kissed Kasane back, his arms wrapped around her waist, as the gentle kiss gave way to one driven purely by emotion and bliss. By the time they finally broke apart, soft breaths escaped from their departed lips, as they stood with their faces merely inches away from each other. Yuito opens his eyes halfway to see Kasane giving him a genuine, loving teary-eyed smile. Now bound together more than ever, the transparent Red Strings appear, wrapping around the two as they held each other in an embrace beneath the beautiful, clear and starry night sky. Her fears and anxieties gone, Kasane finally returns her feelings to him.

"…I love you too, Yuito."