Tokyo Tower

A brilliant light appeared in the sky, unnoticed by anyone except those passing through the magical portal. Out of the void emerged Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu. They set foot on one of the decks of Tokyo Tower. They had returned from Cephiro.

"We're back!" Umi exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she walked briskly. "I want to go home right away and come back again tomorrow. This graduation vacation is so long. I'm afraid I'll get bored." She eagerly imagined how delightful the next day would be.

Umi grabbed Fuu's arm. As she reached for Hikaru's arm, she realized Hikaru was not beside her. She turned around to find Hikaru standing still, her head bowed deeply.

"Hikaru?" Fuu asked, puzzled. "Are you okay?"

"Umi, Fuu..." Hikaru's voice was barely a whisper, trembling with fear. "I'm sorry... We won't be coming back tomorrow or anytime."

Umi and Fuu stared at each other, hoping they had misheard Hikaru's words. "What do you mean?" Umi asked, stepping closer to touch Hikaru's forehead. "Are you ill? Why are you saying such strange things?"

"Please, listen to me. I've closed the portal to Cephiro. We won't be going back there again," Hikaru said quickly, her heart heavy with the weight of the truth. "I know this is hard for you two... But this is our real world. We can't live in two worlds forever. Our mission is over."

Fuu felt as if her heart had stopped. "Over? Her heart ached intensely. "Cephiro... I will never go back there again? Ferio... I won't see him again? You must be joking... What are you thinking?! Tell me you're just joking!" Hikaru remained silent, unable to offer comfort.

"We can't stay in Cephiro forever. So, is this what you meant by your words yesterday? Why didn't you discuss this with us?!" Umi asked, her voice tinged with anger. She had known they would leave Cephiro someday, but she hadn't expected it to happen so suddenly.

Hikaru shook her head. "There's nothing more to explain. You understand my words."

Umi stepped closer and gripped Hikaru's shoulders with both hands. Hikaru winced in pain. "Is this my friend?" Hikaru was taken aback by the question and looked up, finding Umi deeply furious. "Do friends hurt each other? Couldn't you talk to us first? Who are we to you if you act like this? Why did you hide it and decide on your own?"

Fuu, in her effort to control her emotions, ran away from Umi and Hikaru.

"Fuu!" Umi called out, worried. Fuu ignored her. Umi turned back to Hikaru. "Do you know how broken Fuu's heart is?! She and Ferio..." Umi's grip on Hikaru's shoulders tightened. She realized she had forgotten to inform Hikaru about this. Now, telling her seemed pointless. Are we really friends? We chose our own paths and found other important things in our lives... Yet, even so, parting should not happen like this.

"Umi..." Hikaru pleaded, feeling the pain in her shoulders. "Please..."

"Is it because you were a Pillar that you think you have the right to do whatever you want?" accused Umi.

"Umi, it hurts... And I'm not a Pillar… anymore…"

"This is worse than anything in my life!" Umi released Hikaru roughly and turned to chase after Fuu.

"Umi…" Hikaru watched as Umi walked away and disappeared. "Friends..." she called out in vain. Hikaru collapsed to the floor, staring blankly in the direction where Umi and Fuu had gone. She clenched her fists tightly, trying to suppress the turmoil within her. The pain was truly unbearable.

Forgive me. I'm sorry... I don't mean to hurt you, she lamented silently. But she hadn't anticipated the consequences would be so severe. Instead, she had wounded the hearts of the two people she cherished most, along with her own.

"Fuu!" Umi called out, searching for Fuu. Too late. She saw Fuu already boarding a city bus. "Fuu..." She could only watch the bus drive away. Her phone rang. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath, knowing it was her mother calling.

"Mom?"

"Where have you been?!" her mother snapped, sounding angry, but then her tone softened. "I've been calling you all day. Why haven't you answered? This will come as a happy surprise... Your father has been reassigned as the ambassador to Paris!"

Umi couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Now?"

"Our dream city, Paris! Our flight is this evening. Come home immediately." The call ended.

Umi stared at her phone, feeling so disoriented. She gazed blankly at the people passing by. The bustling crowd seemed silent. Is this really happening? Only one thing filled her mind: a heart-wrenching parting. She broke down and sobbed.

Hikaru descended the Tokyo Tower and exited as quickly as possible. She hadn't anticipated the impact would be this intense. She thought she was strong, but it turned out she wasn't. She searched everywhere but couldn't find Umi and Fuu. Everything felt so unfamiliar. She was used to being together with them, and this loneliness truly made her feel fragile.

"Is this my friend? ... Is this because you are a Pillar?"

She felt like she was going mad as she wandered aimlessly.

Is it because I am a Pillar that I decided something like this? Is it because I am a Pillar that I must face all of this? Pillar... A title that no longer means anything to anyone... I am not a Pillar anymore... I am not...

However…

"Pillar..."

The call was faint, as if carried by the wind from a distant place. It echoed in her ears and sent shivers down her spine. Someone seemed to call her with a pleading tone, so close yet so sorrowful. Feeling the wind blowing against her, Hikaru slowly lifted her head and gazed at the sky. She was stunned, wide-eyed at what she saw there...

"Miss, WATCH OUT!" someone shouted suddenly, startling her. The blaring sound of a vehicle horn pierced her ears, followed by the screech of brakes and a louder sound of crashing and shattering objects.

Screams... Hikaru couldn't comprehend what was happening. Her body was suddenly airborne and then slammed onto the road. She rolled over several times... Pain spread throughout her body, and her ears rang. It felt as if the air was sucked out of her lungs. She couldn't breathe or move.

In her helplessness, she faced the sky. Her eyes stared far into the blue heavens, which gradually revealed the state of another world. The red sky was so vividly etched in her eyes, the familiar colour of destruction. She instantly knew what was happening. Hikaru wanted to reach out, but she couldn't lift her hand. In her surrender, everything turned dark. Her eyes closed. Cephiro... she uttered for the last time.