Hide woke to the soft sound of the waves and the steady rhythm of Sona's quiet breathing beside him. He slipped away, washed his face at the river's edge, then sat on a fallen tree trunk, deep in thought.
"You seem to be enjoying your life, Hide," a voice called. It drifted in like a breeze but hit him like a blade.
Hide didn't turn — he knew that voice. "So you're still lurking, Shin."
A figure stood in the mist beyond the trees, wearing the faint trace of a smirk. Shin's right eye glowed faintly red — the holder of the right God's Eye.
"I thought you'd enjoy my gift," Shin said. "Sending them after you was the least I could do. After all, nothing brings you back to life like someone trying to end it."
Hide's eyes narrowed. "I know what you want, Shin. I'll end you myself."
Shin's smile widened, shark-like. "I'll be waiting, Hide-kun. Don't keep me bored too long."
The figure faded, leaving only the rustle of trees.
Far away, Shin sat in a dim room, shadows dancing around him.
"Boss, did you speak with him?" a voice asked from the dark.
Shin's grin lingered. His right eye flickered with crimson fire. "He knows I pulled the strings. Good — that means he's coming. I've waited centuries. Soon… soon."
Sona stirred awake as Hide grilled fish over a small fire.
"You're up early," she said, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
Hide forced a smile. "Couldn't sleep. We're leaving today."
Sona studied him but let it go. They ate in silence, and by noon they reached the island's windswept shoreline.
"Hide, how are we crossing the sea?" Sona asked.
"Watch." Hide let out a sharp whistle that echoed over the surf. Moments later, the water rippled and rose — a giant shape emerged, scales glinting like blue steel.
Sona's eyes widened. "Is that—?"
"Leviathan," Hide said, patting its snout. "Hope you're not scared of sea monsters."
Sona laughed despite herself. "As long as you don't let me drown."
They rode the ancient beast across silver waves. Sona clung to Hide's back as the Leviathan glided through the ocean, faster than any ship.
"Where did you find him?" Sona asked over the wind.
"An old captain told me tales," Hide called back. "A god of storms, hidden here for centuries. He's gentle once you know how to ask."
As they skimmed over the deep, Hide's thoughts drifted. The memories came unbidden — Eden's Garden, cold halls, Hojo's sterile voice.
"Hide, you're special — but did you know there's another like you? A boy called Shin."
He remembered the first meeting — after Nagamoto fell.
"So you're Hide.""And you're Shin."
They were mirrors — one with the God's Eye in his left eye, the other in his right eye. But where Hide clung to friends to stay human, Shin let pain twist him into something monstrous.
"We'll break this world together, Hide. Let them feel what they did to us." But Hide refused — and now Shin waited in the shadows for the answer he'd never given.
"Hide? Hide!" Sona's voice snapped him back. She was shaking his arm gently. "We're almost there. You were somewhere far away."
Hide forced a grin. "Just thinking about what comes next."
Sona squinted at him. "You're hiding something."
"Just trust me," Hide said, ruffling her hair. "I'll tell you soon."
They reached the far shore by late afternoon. Hide dismissed Leviathan with a low whistle, the beast sinking into the abyss with a soft rumble.
"Nobody saw us, right?" Sona teased.
Hide changed his left eye back to its normal shade. "Let's stay hidden for now — call me Cyrus."
"And I'll be Charlotte," Sona said, giggling as she smoothed down her skirt. "Though I think this school uniform is shorter than I remember."
Hide cleared his throat, cheeks faintly pink. "They… updated the dress code."
They walked into a sleepy coastal town and found the train station. Sona stared at the ticket booth, then at Hide.
"Cyrus… we don't have any money."
"Trust me." Hide tapped the attendant's shoulder, whispered a word — and the guard nodded as if they'd shown real tickets.
"Magic?" Sona asked.
"Charm," Hide said smugly.
They boarded the train, headed for Akihabara. On the ride, curious passengers whispered about the strange pair of uniformed students from nowhere.
"Cyrus… people are staring," Sona murmured, burying her face against his shoulder.
"Then let 'em," Hide murmured, resting his hand on hers.
By the time they reached Akihabara, night had fallen — neon lights and signs glittered like a sea of stars.
"Beautiful," Sona whispered.
"Yeah," Hide said. "But keep your head down. This city isn't all lights."
A policeman approached. "Hey, you two — what are you doing out so late?"
Hide grinned politely. "Sorry, Officer Wright. Just taking my girlfriend on a date."
The officer frowned. "It's not safe. Beasts, fiends — bad things crawl in the dark."
"Understood, sir. We're heading home now," Hide said, bowing. He tugged Sona away by the hand.
"Sorry if I got us in trouble," Sona whispered.
"You didn't. It's just this world — they fear what they don't see."
They reached Minami's old house — but it was dark.
"The Fujishis left to visit relatives," a neighbor called from their porch.
"Thank you," Hide said, bowing.
"Where to now?" Sona asked.
Hide smiled. "Ji-San's place. Come on — one more walk."
They stopped by the riverside, city lights glittering across the water. Sona pressed close to him, breathing in the view.
"You waited to see this with me, didn't you?" she whispered.
"I did," Hide said, brushing her hair back.
A voice cut through the night. "My lord."
They turned to see Ji-San standing behind them, cane in hand, a rare smile softening his scarred face.
"Ji-San," Hide said, relief in his voice. "Sorry to drag you out here."
"It's enough that you've come home, Master," Ji-San said. He turned to Sona. "Lady Charlotte."
Sona beamed. "Hello again, Ji-San."
They drove through the sleeping city in Ji-San's old car. Sona curled up and dozed, head resting on Hide's lap as the streetlights passed by.
"Tell me, my lord," Ji-San said softly. "The threat?"
"His name is Shin," Hide said. "He's the other one that was found. The God's Eye in his right eye — same as mine."
Ji-San's face hardened. "Then we'll end him before he destroy this world."
Hide's fingers brushed Sona's hair. "He's waited centuries. But we won't give him what he wants."
Far away, the Fujishis arrived at Priscilla's house. Minami, half-asleep, watched his parents greet his mysterious aunt. He barely caught Priscilla's gentle smile as she hugged him.
Inside, laughter filled the rooms as family reunited for the first time in years.
By dawn, as Ji-San's car rumbled through quiet streets, Hide closed his eyes too, finally letting himself rest.
Outside, the city lights blinked on and off like distant stars — a world on the edge of ruin and rebirth.
But tonight, under the hush of tires on wet roads, there was still hope. Hide was home.