This world and every heartbeat of life within it filled the mind, drawing all attention. No action was without purpose other than to reach and preserve it. Every step seemed to lead toward it, a quiet purpose she understood deeply.

The sun above shone warmly. The scent of spring filled the foggy meadow where she stood. How many seconds had passed, and she could not resist entering it, a radiant world just within arm's reach. It was to this place that she decided to go.

Hikaru took a deep breath. Her bare feet felt the prickling, dew-wet grass. As far as the eye could see, a peaceful stillness lingered in the air. Her eyes moistened as she took in the tranquil beauty, wondering if this was as close to paradise as one could get. The green field and the vast blue sky merged at the horizon. Everything swayed with the cooling wind. Birds flew freely, carried by it, just like the flower petals scattered into the air.

Beautiful towers in the distance rose, adorning the prosperous human cities. This was a magnificent civilization, built with long, blood-soaked struggles and floods of tears. Truly, many things could be born from ashes or dust when human determination became unwavering. Even from ruin, people found ways to rebuild, driven by their determination.

There had been wounds, as always, but time had healed much. The world kept turning, and people moved forward, leaving behind all that had to be left behind. Did that include herself? Hikaru wondered. Yes, surely. One day…

She then found a large group of unfamiliar people and stepped forward to become part of them. Somehow, the noise didn't reach her ears. She paid close attention. She saw the expressions of happiness on their faces as they were chatting with one another. They seemed to be waiting for something big to happen. Her heart raced with curiosity, eager to know what was coming. Half-running, pushing through the people, she felt her heart leaning towards that thing, too.

She ran further into the whirlpool of a million people. A tightness grew in her chest as she searched in vain, the need to find it growing stronger. A quiet fear settled in, the worry that whatever she sought might vanish before she understood it. She kept moving through the crowd, unsure of her direction, feeling that something was slipping away. She began to question why she was going through this, a long search filled with unbearable longing. And the people ignored her, making her realize she was a sad paradox, the only unlucky one.

Save me, she pleaded. She silently wished for someone to notice her.

Suddenly, one of them realized her presence and looked her straight in the eyes for the first time. The person's face lit up with joy. They seemed to say something beautiful, but ironically, she didn't understand it. Some others turned as well and celebrated her presence. They welcomed her, reaching out their hands, offering the rescue she desired. Their hands extended, and Hikaru knew they would take her to that distant place where all purposes fulfilled.

No regrets... When I look back, there are no regrets, right?

Her vision blurred, and the light seemed to grow brighter around her. She was enveloped in a glow emanating from beneath her feet, losing her foothold and floating midair. Half-conscious, she delved deeper into the luminous world. She sank into it, wrapped in warmth, curling up like a fetus in the womb of eternity, waiting to be born into a new beginning. She closed her eyes, feeling it. The time had come—the end of this journey.

Can I close this chapter now?

Instead of an answer, she heard a roar of chaotic human voices and broken music surrounding her, pulling her back to reality. Half of her consciousness rebelled, pulling her back to the world that gave her no answers. Her hands and feet felt shackled, preventing her from rebelling. She couldn't hear it, but her heart screamed.

Something held her back, and she asked again. Isn't it over? The people turning their backs on her gave no answer. She finally managed to push through them all, breaking free and finding another place.

The sun shone warmly above, and the scent of spring wafted through the foggy meadow where she stood, captivated. Her bare feet felt the prickling, dew-wet grass. As far as the eye could see, the field glistened, a world that offered no answers, only dreams. Tears streamed down her face. Shouldn't it have been over?

And then the answer came...

"Not yet."

Hikaru slowly opened her eyes and found only darkness. For a while, she didn't dare to move, just lay there listening to her own ragged breathing. Before her awareness fully returned, it took some time to recognize that this was her room, a place she knew well. She was unsettled by the lingering emotions. She struggled to sit up and reach for the table lamp, flicking it on. The yellow light hurt her eyes. Seeing the light, she remembered what she had seen, in her head, in her dream.

"Dream?" Hikaru lay back down, hugging herself restlessly. She clutched her chest and felt her heart still racing. Her body was drenched and felt so cold. "A dream... Just a dream," she sighed.

But no, what I saw didn't seem like a dream... Everything felt so real, and this feeling... Why do I feel such deep sadness? What is the reason? Everything looked so beautiful. That was the world of Cephiro; she recognized it. It was the world I had dreamed of. A world united in peace. But what had betrayed me, causing this tightness in my chest?

And the voice that had woken me... Not yet...? A warning—or perhaps a reminder? It is so deep and cold, so faint as if carried by the wind from a faraway place, yet so powerful, gripping, not letting go, echoing, unwilling to fade. Who said it? Why is it not yet? What is still left unfinished?

That radiant world, she finally knew it wasn't just a story. She knew it was real. What she saw with her eyes, heard with her ears, and felt with her whole body... all were real. She witnessed it. That was where she chose to go.

The seemingly endless path stretched before her. And someone at the far end, Hikaru knew, hoped she would traverse it. She realized that she was starting to follow. But wait. Why was she seeking them? What drove her to reach out? What compelled her to head toward them?

Why did all of this become a question? And those two words shattered so many things. Hikaru clutched her head, trying to remember everything she had seen and capture every detail. All her questions went unanswered. A burden of curiosity slowly crept into her heart, preventing her from closing her eyes again. Those two words had seized her so intensely, pulling her away from reaching that radiant world, distancing her more and more.

Whoever said it, why did they say it? Why did they make me feel this way? Hikaru wondered. She looked out the window, got up, and drew back the curtain. The moon outside stood alone in the sky. She sat down. So much she wanted to see Cephiro. She wanted to know if everything was alright while she was having this vision. She wanted Clef by her side to explain everything she saw and felt. She didn't want to experience this alone. Her premonition was so bad.