Someone has come..." Second Hand of Time said. "There you are."
"Oh, it's you." Daisuke said.
"What's wrong?" Second Hand of Time said. "Leaving the painting you started...It's something only you can do. Just now, someone has...No, nothing."
"It's just strange. I wonder why the shadow of the snow here isn't blue. When the snow is so white...What? Huh? Why do I remember something like this? Remember? What does it mean to remember?" Daisuke said.
"Forget them. Forget everything but me. Everything..." Second Hand of Time said.
"You don't need to hold on so tight, I won't let you fall. I don't mind staying like this, though." Dark said.
"No! Let me go!" Reiko said.
"Hey! Reiko, don't struggle!" Kuri said.
"No, no, no! I don't want to be with someone like Dark!" Reiko said.
"What's your problem?! Reiko!" Kuri said. "Hold on! That was close."
Kuri caught her.
"Kuri...Ouch..." Reiko siad.
"Geez, you'd better think about the consequences more." Kuri said.
"But you were touching my chest, weren't you? How disgusting!" Reiko said.
"Since you were struggling that much, there was no way I could avoid touching it." Dark said.
"You're a pervert after all!" Reiko said.
"Don't give me that "after all"!" Dark said.
"Reiko...Where are we?" Kuri said.
"You recognize it, don't you?" Dark said.
"What? Could it be...Niwa's painting?" Reiko said. "Is this a dream?"
"Well, it's a real world, but not really, to humans." Dark said.
"Come to think of it, the snow isn't cold." Reiko said.
"Your arm is injured." Kuri said.
"Yeah, it got scratched by that tree branch. Oh, it's not a big deal, since it was just scraped a little." Dark said.
"No. If it gets infected, it'll be a big deal." Kuri said, and healed it with her power.
"Kuri..." Dark said.
"I'm not doing this stuff so that you'll like me or anything. It's just...It's just something anyone would do, so don't take it wrong, okay?" Kuri said.
"That's right! You always misunderstand, Dark." Reiko said. "People usually say thanks, right?"
"Oh, yeah... Thanks." Dark said.
"That sounds like it pained you to say it." Reiko said.
"You're always on my case!" Dark said. "Hold on a second! You two hide behind me!"
"Why?" Reiko said.
"It looks like they came to courteously welcome us." Dark said.
Xxx
"It'll be all right, since Dark will surely do something about it." Emiko said.
"Yeah." Kosuke said.
"Right, Dad?" Emiko said.
"Yeah, since it's Dark, he'll surely..." Daiki said.
"That's right. That's right. Now, let's wait for them having some snacks and coffee." Emiko said.
"Oh? There isn't any coffee in it, Towa." Kosuke said.
"Oh, no! What am I doing? I'm sorry. I'll get it right away! Thanks for waiting! Hot, hot, hot!" Towa said.
"Towa! What's the matter, Towa? Are you all right? Snap out of it!" Emiko said.
"Wait! Dark...Dark went into the world of the painting..." Towa said.
"What? Is Daisuke in there?" Kosuke said.
"Towa! Was Dark able to contact Dai?" Emiko said.
"I still don't know that much, but Dark went in... That's for sure." Towa said.
"I hope they meet successfully." Emiko said.
"It's not just Dark who went in. Reiko and Kuri too..." Towa said.
"What are you saying all of a sudden?" Emiko said.
Xxx
"What's the matter?" Kuri said.
"In this world, we are foreign things. Just like my wings disappeared, we will certainly be removed." Dark said.
"We should run away." Reiko said.
"Don't move!" Dark said.
"Mr. Dark! Mr. Dark!" Kuri said.
"Geez, what the heck's going on?!" Reiko said. Even if it's a dream, why do we have to be locked up in a place like this?"
"Reiko..." Kuri said.
"You're a Phantom Thief! Just because we were surrounded by enemies who look a little strong..." Reiko said. "Forget about this Phantom Thief stuff! I'm not sure if you even qualify as a man! How pathetic."
"Reiko, that's too harsh a thing to say." Kuri said.
"But he didn't even fight..." Reiko said.
"Fight, you said?" Dark said.
"Don't you have any pride as a Phantom Thief? You even got handcuffed..." Reiko said.
"Pardon me? What were you saying about the Phantom Thief?" Dark was not handcuffed anymore. "It's just quicker if we get caught. Besides, we were planning
to come here from the start. And we successfully got them to let us in. Since my existence, by nature, is rather closer to this world, I can move around freely. But you guys can't do that, so..."
"This world?" Kuri said.
"It means an existence in someone's feeling. "Dark said. "Well, while those snowmen are off guard, I'll get on with my work."
"Hold on a second. What's this work you're talking about?" Reiko said.
"Unless I get Daisuke back, you guys can't go back. Right?" Dark said.
"That's true...but why did you leave before unlocking our cuffs?!" Reiko said.
Xxx
"Did you make this world for them? I can't believe you got taken in so easily. I came to get you, Daisuke." Dark said.
"You're... Who are you?" Daisuke said.
Xxx
"Hey, a child shouldn't be walking around this late. Where's your house?" Man said. "Oh! It's you, Chief Commander Hiwatari! Pardon me!"
"I'd like to talk to my father." Satoshi said.
"This late at night?" Man said.
"Does the time matter when a child wants to talk to his father?" Satoshi said.
Xxx
"What's the matter, Kosuke?" Emiko said.
"I found it." Kosuke said.
"What? What did you find?" Emiko said.
"Freedert is a character in "Ice and Snow," right? I was looking for old documents, hoping to find some kind of clue. And I noticed one strange matter." Kosuke said.
"Strange matter?" Emiko said.
"The publication dates for all the books are after the Cultural Reform." Kosuke said. "This...and this too!"
"What does this mean?" Emiko said.
"This story was created before the Cultural Reform, but all the books were published
after the Cultural Reform. In other words, it is possible that this "Ice and Snow" story had some sort of problem, and the storyline got changed. There exists a true story that was not passed on and was buried into the darkness." Kosuke said.
"I see..." Emiko said.
Xxx
"The Second Hand of Time? It was your work, right?" Satoshi said.
"Didn't it awaken on its own?" Kei said.
"I believe that I asked you not to do anything uncalled for!" Satoshi said.
"Satoshi, I always hope only to help you." Kei said. "It's about time for you to understand that."
Xxx
"Who are you?" Satoshi said into the mirror.
"What a cold attitude to have towards your other half, after we haven't seen each other for so long. You're asking who I am? What do you mean by that?" Krad said.
"What? Dark?" Satoshi said.
"I am you!" Krad said.
"Why are you here in front of me?" Satoshi said. "What? What?"
Xxx
"Just like I said, I came to get you, since we were separated." Dark said.
"I...Oh?" Daisuke said.
"You were taken in here with ease by a magical power." Dark said.
"I was taken in..." Daisuke said.
"I ended up having to come here as well because of that." Dark said.
"You came for me..." Daisuke said.
"I did it for myself!" Dark said.
"Of course." Daisuke said.
"You gained your mind back because the snow's control weakened." Dark said.
"You're right... The snow has stopped." Daisuke said.
"Listen carefully. This is the world you drew in that painting." Dark said.
"What? Then am I in my painting right now?" Daisuke said.
"That's right. That darn Freedert used you and made this painting as a medium." Dark said.
"A medium... Then what should I..." Daisuke said.
"If we reseal that painting from the outside, we can lock up her magic power. In other words, we can bind her in chains. But..." Dark said.
"But?" Daisuke said.
"We have one problem." Dark said.
"What? Are you saying that Miss Reiko and Miss Hikawa came with you?" Daisuke said.
"I couldn't help it. They just came along." Dark said.
"You're being irresponsible again." Daisuke said.
"Don't nitpick! Unless we hurry up and get out, we won't be able to return." Dark said.
"Okay, then. In any case, let's hurry. Miss Reiko... Wait for me." Daisuke said.
Xxx
"Dark is late, isn't he?" Reiko said.
"He'll come back for sure after finding Niwa." Kuri said.
"He always tells people what they want to hear." Reiko said.
"I believe him." Kuri said.
"Kuri..." Reiko said.
"I realize I was so stupid...I chased Mr. Dark around, without considering if it was a burden to him. Because I wanted to see him...Because I wanted to be with him...That's all I thought about. I never thought about what he wanted me to do, or what he wanted. I was only thinking about myself. So all I can do now is to believe in him and wait." Kuri said.
"Kuri..." Reiko said.
"Huh?" Kuri said.
"You're so cute right now that I'd almost want to hug you close, if my hands were free.
But he's been gone a while." Reiko said.
Xxx
"Daisuke! Hurry!" Dark said.
"Let's see, this type is...It's opened now!" Daisuke said. "Miss Reiko!"
"Niwa!" Reiko said.
"Put your hands out." Daisuke said.
"Daisuke!" Dark said.
"Niwa's amazing." Reiko said. "But that's because it's a dream."
"I wonder if it's really a dream?" Kuri said.
"It's not snowing yet." Dark said.
"What are you drawing?" Reiko said.
"Your room, Miss Reiko." Daisuke said.
"What?" Reiko said. "How do you know what my room looks like?!"
"Oh, well... It's just my imagination." Daisuke said.
"Boy, I was surprised." Reiko said.
"This world and the real one are connected by the painting I drew. So the only way to get out of here is for me to imagine and draw the real world here to connect it to this world." Daisuke said. "Wait...Why was I...What was I drawing? She said it was something only I could do."
"Hey, there's more coming!" Dark said.
"Done! I finished drawing, Dark!" Daisuke said.
"Okay! Hold on!" Dark said.
"Niwa!" Reiko said.
"Daisuke!" Dark said.
"I'll stay here." Daisuke said. "I want to know what Freedert wanted from me. I don't yet know what it is, but... The picture that I was drawing here... If I know the meaning of that picture..."
"No! If Niwa is staying here, I will too." Reiko said.
"Miss Reiko...I'll come back to you for sure, Miss Reiko. I'll come back to you for sure, Miss Reiko. I'm definitely coming back, so..." Daisuke said.
"Niwa..." Reiko said.
"Thanks for being concerned." Daisuke said.
"But... I want you to wait for me." Reiko said.
"Daisuke, I'll definitely return here. Believe me." Dark said.
"Niwa...Niwa! Niwa!" Reiko said.
Xxx
"Miss Freedert?" Daisuke said.
"Always... please look only at me...Only me..." Freedert said.