**Chapter 85: The Approaching Future (4k)**
“Where is this…?”
Kou slowly opened his eyes, his blurred gaze wandering around. The scene, both strange yet familiar, left him momentarily dazed.
The wooden floor, the white wallpaper… all of this stirred memories long sealed away in his mind.
He suddenly recalled—this distorted sight before him was once his “home.”
The place where he had lived with his biological parents during his childhood.
Kou had heard that memories from early childhood are often unclear and fade away with time.
However, sometimes these memories reemerge through dreams.
And now, it felt as though that moment had arrived.
He stood in the hallway, surrounded by silence, with only the light in the living room ahead still glowing.
Faint light seeped through the slightly ajar door, casting a warm beam onto the dim floor, extending into the dark hallway.
At the same time, intense quarrels emanated from the brightly lit living room:
“It’s all because of that child! If it weren’t for him—”
—Ah.
Kou remembered. This was a memory from before his parents abandoned him.
“Shh! You’re too loud! If he hears you—” Kou’s mother said urgently in a hushed voice, seemingly noticing the partially open door and hurriedly walking toward it.
The memory from that time surged into Kou’s mind like a tidal wave—
His mother opened the door and poked her head out. In that instant, she saw him standing in the hallway.
That moment was the memory Kou most wished to avoid—
The panic and disdain on his mother’s face, with not a trace of apology or comfort.
Her eyes were filled with indifference, and then, without hesitation, she withdrew her head and slammed the door shut.
The light in the living room was completely cut off the moment the door closed.
And Kou’s heart felt like that heavily shut door, locking away all emotions and isolating his “true self.”
From that moment on, his life fell into an endless darkness like this hallway.
Until he encountered another light that illuminated his life once more—
“Small Nagi… Right, it’s Small Nagi!” Kou suddenly recalled the figure he had forgotten for so long.
It was Nagi, who saved him; his childhood sweetheart; the girl he first loved; the guiding star that led him forward…
—Why does everyone forget about Small Nagi, even I…
Kou suddenly recognized that he had encountered a similar scene before.
When Mana was taken away by Shirakami last year, everyone forgot about his search, until Alice led everyone to that world of dusk to rescue her.
“Could it be that Small Nagi was also taken away by a fantasy monster like Shirakami!?”
That ominous purple-black star, and that strange man in the suit…
Why? Why not just Small Mana, but also Small Nagi…
If these two incidents had anything in common.
In that instant, Kou’s parents’ words flashed through his mind—
“—It’s all because of me?”
【You finally understand.】
A deep voice resonated within the depths of his heart.
A cluster of black flames suddenly appeared before Kou.
Kou abruptly raised his head and found that the dream had vanished, replaced by an empty, pure white space.
【Tsukimi Kou, all of this is because of your existence.】
The black flames floated in front of him, flickering weakly, expanding and contracting with the voice resonating from within.
In this pure white space, they appeared especially glaring.
On the floor beneath him, several streams of black flames flowed like rivers, forming “trunks” of darkness.
A massive flow of fire began to surge from behind him, extending forward like a thick trunk.
Before Kou, the black flames continuously branched out, forming new “twigs.”
Those twigs further divided, extending countless streams of black fiery rivers.
Each fork resembled trunks extending into numerous branches, intersecting in front.
“What is this? What do you mean by that?!” Kou’s voice was filled with anger and confusion.
【Choice】
【Everyone’s “choice” will affect and “change” their own fate.】
The flames danced.
【But Tsukimi Kou, you are special.】
That black voice echoed once more from the depths of Kou’s heart.
With that voice, countless streams of flames and trunks slowly converged around Kou.
The black flames swirled and gathered around him.
Eventually, they transformed into a black “point” beneath his feet.
【You can choose—change yourself, or change the world.】
In the next moment.
A flood of flames surged from the black point centered around Kou, and the “branches” extended outward, gradually outlining a ring.
Every single fiery branch connected to this ring without exception.
Then, new branches extended again within the ring, spreading in all directions—
This deep and dark “circle” appeared exceptionally glaring in Kou’s eyes.
“What is this—”
At that moment, Kou’s gaze was completely drawn to the ring, and suddenly, countless images surged into his mind. Those fragments flashed by like a galloping horse:
“I’m looking forward to the birthday present you’ll give me, Kou-kun—”
“Yeah, I’d love to—”
“This is the only way, kill me—”
“Kou-kun, you’ll be fine on your own, right—”
…
Fleeting blurry images flickered before him.
Kou suddenly clutched his head, collapsing to the ground in pain.
The black flames beneath him seemed to come alive, swiftly crawling up his body like snakes, gradually engulfing him.
“What is this? What on earth is happening—!!” Kou roared in anguish, lifting his head to fixate on the flames hovering in the air. His originally light yellow eyes suddenly shone with a brilliant golden light.
【This is the inevitable end.】
【Prepare yourself.】
In the instant those words were spoken, the dream shattered like glass—
Kou jolted awake from his hospital bed, his heart racing wildly.
In his slightly glowing eyes, he saw the figure of Mana standing before him in hospital attire.
“S-Small Mana?” He gasped, trying to calm the excitement brewing within, but his mind felt chaotic.
He couldn’t remember why he felt this excitement.
The memories from the dream began to fade, like dissipating smoke, leaving behind only a lingering sense of unease deep within.
The golden light in Kou’s eyes gradually dimmed, reverting to a pale yellow that seemed somewhat frail.
“Are you okay, Tsukimi-kun?” Mana asked anxiously.
At that moment, Kou noticed another nurse standing near Mana.
And the environment he was in seemed to be a hospital room.
The white sheets of the bed and the air tinged with the scent of medicine felt particularly unfamiliar.
“This is the hospital on Nanase Island,” Mana seemed to notice his confusion.
“…Hospital? Right, that monster and the ritual—” Kou suddenly recalled the events that had taken place before, his thoughts gradually returning from the chaos of the dream to reality.
Kou’s words were only halfway through when he suddenly felt a slender finger gently pressed against his lips.
“Shh~ Tsukimi-kun~ This isn’t something you should be saying so loudly~” The soft yet playful voice was close at hand.
Kou froze for a moment.
The “nurse” swiftly stepped in front of him.
Only then did he realize that this “nurse” was actually a girl around his age.
Her features were exquisite, her silver eyes slightly shimmering like translucent jade, and her red-highlighted brown hair casually draped over her shoulders. With her petite and delicate figure, she was undeniably a stunning beauty from any angle.
“This is… a staff member sent by the Special Agency SEMA,” Mana explained in a lowered voice. “Everything is over now. The Special Agency SEMA has taken control of this island.”
Upon hearing this, Kou confirmed the situation with a glance at the nurse girl and released a sigh of relief.
Seeing that Kou understood the situation, the girl retracted her finger and stepped back.
“Let me introduce myself. My name is Tsukiumi Yako, nice to meet you~”
“Ah! I am—”
“—Tsukimi Kou, right~? You are quite famous~,” Yako smiled gently, revealing a subtle smile. “Alice-senpai mentioned you to me~”
As she spoke, Yako pulled a phone from her pocket and handed it to Kou.
Kou was taken aback, noticing that it was his phone.
“I’m sorry, but according to the regulations, we need to conduct a detailed investigation of individuals deeply involved in the extraordinary disaster~,” Yako clasped her hands, apologizing in a hushed tone.
“Ah no, that’s not what I meant…” Kou accepted the phone with some awkwardness.
“Actually, I’m the same age as Tsukimi-kun, so you don’t have to use honorifics~,” Yako added with a light laugh. “And while I was investigating earlier, I accidentally saw your conversation with Alice-senpai…”
“May I ask who that ‘cursed’ Hoshimiya classmate is? Alice-senpai hopes I can help look into it~”
“!? Right, right, Small Nagi—!” Hearing Nagi’s name from Yako’s lips jolted Kou into remembering all about Small Nagi.
“N-No, wait, Miss Yako knows about Small Nagi?” Kou shifted his gaze away from Yako to Mana behind her: “What about you, Small Mana? Do you remember Small Nagi? It’s the person we forgot about earlier—”
“?” Yako tilted her head in confusion at Kou’s words.
Seeing this, Kou looked at Mana, who also expressed a puzzled response to his statement.
“How could I forget about Nagi-chan? Tsukimi-kun, are you a bit dazed from sleeping?” Mana seemed unaware of what Kou meant by “the forgotten person.”
“Well~ Considering she was affected by the extraordinary disaster, it’s normal to have such reactions~,” Yako smoothed things over.
“Ah, no, I’m sorry, I might have overreacted…” Although Kou still found it strange, since both the outsider Yako and the involved party Mana confirmed that it was not an issue.
It was indeed possible that he had mixed things up while sleeping…
…
Yako conducted a series of checks on the recently awakened Kou, ensuring that he was physically fine.
She also gathered information from Kou about “Hoshimiya Nagi,” including the “curse” and “amnesia” incidents she was involved in.
“Ah, regarding Hoshimiya-san, she’s fine now.”
Yako rummaged through the SEMA investigation reports concerning the students in the hospital and found Hoshimiya Nagi’s name listed.
SEMA had already investigated those affected by this incident.
The main altar of the ritual was in Kawano City, so people there would be somewhat influenced by the extraordinary powers of the altar. Some ordinary individuals with slightly special constitutions were more easily susceptible to these powers.
Many ordinary people were found in Kawano City who had been affected before the ritual began, showing symptoms such as personality changes, memory loss, and confusion.
It was likely the “curse” that had formed through multiple twists and turns within the student population that Kou mentioned.
And the girl named “Hoshimiya Nagi” was simply one of them.
This was rather “normal.”
Moreover, SEMA had conducted a comprehensive check on Hoshimiya Nagi in Nanase Island.
Like other students affected by the ritual, she had residual magical elements within her.
However, this residue was not enough to affect a normal person’s body anymore.
Thus, the curse and amnesia symptoms she experienced should have subsided.
Upon hearing that Nagi was fine, the worry that had been hanging over Kou finally lifted.
Then, Kou learned from Yako about the impact and outcome of this incident… but it was clear that such information should not have been disclosed to someone like him, an ordinary person.
Just like last year, Alice had explicitly stated that such information would not be revealed to ordinary people…
Thinking of this, Kou raised his head in confusion, only to meet Yako’s gaze.
She smiled wryly.
“Looks like Tsukimi-kun’s intuition is quite good~”
Yako glanced at Mana before shifting her focus back to Kou.
“I’ve briefly explained this matter to Hinata-kun just now. Now let me tell Tsukimi-kun again—”
“And I must clarify that this time, we will no longer seek your and Hinata-kun’s consent, but—”
“A request.”
“Hinata-kun, Tsukimi-kun, on behalf of the Special Agency SEMA, I hope you both can join ‘Artificial Academy Island – Ark Academy.'”
“Relevant transfer procedures and documents will be delivered to you in a few days.”
“The purpose of this relocation is to protect you, and you won’t be forced to undergo related combat training or engage in battles.”
“But you need to continue your middle school and high school studies at Ark Academy.”
“All minors identified as having ‘deep involvement’ with extraordinary entities will be arranged by SEMA to receive protection at Ark Academy in this manner.”
“So unfortunately, this time, you do not have the right to refuse.”
…
In the corridor outside the hospital room.
Nagi quietly listened to the outcome she had anticipated long ago.
After this incident.
Whether it was Mana, as the “greatest masterpiece,” or Kou, they were sure to be taken to “Artificial Academy Island – Ark Academy” in the name of protection by SEMA.
That was a separate institution from the “Academy,” unlike the “Three Great Academies.”
“Artificial Academy Island – Ark Academy” essentially was still a middle school that ordinary people could attend, but the academy was under the strict protection of SEMA.
“Sigh…” Nagi sighed lightly.
Unlike the original “Stargazer 2.”
This time.
The protagonist “Tsukimi Kou,” who should have left Kawano City only in high school, and the heroine “Hinata Mana.”
This time, they would enroll in “Ark Academy” during their middle school stage.
