White's dream about his past with Miss Elsa dissolved like smoke, leaving him surrounded by darkness.
Silence pressed tightly against his ears—until a familiar voice slithered from behind him.
"My, my… that was quite a touching story. Elsa truly is an extraordinary girl."
He spun around. Aisha emerged from the shadows, her violet eyes gleaming, silver hair cascading like moonlight.
"…What was that?" White asked, confusion threading his voice.
"Nothing more than a fragment of your memory with her," she said casually, as though it were nothing.
Her tone made his skin prickle. She knew too much… and this time he could not waste words. White clenched his fists, forcing himself to ask what he truly needed to know.
"…Where is Bell? Tell me where I can find her."
Aisha tilted her head with a mocking smile. "Bell is at the place of her origin… the place where she was created."
Her words dug in like hooks.
'Origin…? The accident site. Where my first wish was born'.
"…Then tell me something else." His voice hardened. "If Bell's drawing was Elsa… why did Shu also try to jump from the rooftop? Wasn't that supposed to be the 'price'?"
Aisha's eyes gleamed mischievously. "How strange you mortals are. Always desperate for explanations. Very well. Shu's suffering had nothing to do with Bell or your wish. That was her own battle, a coincidence woven from her family's misery. But… your meeting with Shu… it was pure coincidence." Her smile faded to something softer, darker. "…You changed her fate."
"…Changed it?" White's voice faltered.
"Shu was born into a warm family," Aisha's tone was like a lullaby of venom, "her parents—especially her father… maybe I should leave that part for you to discover. But I will just say this: a child shouldering anger not her own, if left alone, will eventually break. Just like what happened with her."
White trembled, listening as her voice curled around truths he wished weren't real.
"But thanks to you," Aisha chuckled, "for the first time, she cried onto another's shoulder. Tell me—how does it feel to alter the fate of another human soul?"
He gritted his teeth. "…Just who are you? How do you know these things? I understand Bell—she's born of me. But you…" His fists clenched. "…what are you?"
Her smile returned, wicked and beautiful. "I can't reveal that yet. Be patient. For now… all you need to know is that I am here to help you. But—time is slipping away. If you wish to save your sister… wake up, White."
Her laughter echoed, light and cruel, before her figure unraveled like smoke.
"I don't want to say but thank you," White whispered.
For the first time, Aisha's smile shifted—not wicked, but genuine.
---
White blinked awake with a yawn, his limbs sore. A faint, familiar voice hovered near him.
"White. You're awake," Shu said, her expression flooded with relief.
"…Where am I?" he asked groggily, scanning the room.
"You fainted while talking to Zen about Miss Elsa," Shu explained softly. "He went out to buy some medicine."
"…And you," White asked gently, his voice low. "Are you… alright?"
Shu's eyes lowered. "…Better than before," she whispered.
White exhaled. Time pressed down on him like a weight. Elsa's life ticked away with every passing second.
'I can't waste any more time'.
"There's somewhere I need to be." He pushed himself upright, ignoring the weakness in his body.
Shu's hand shot out, gripping his sleeve. "Wait. You need rest. Zen will be back any moment—"
"I'm sorry, Shu. But I can't. Please… take care of things here. And thank Zen for me." His voice tightened with resolve.
Before she could stop him again, White slipped past and ran.
---
The evening air was heavy when he reached it.
The place where it began.
The crosswalk. The road. The spot soaked in headlights.
The place where he had nearly died, and where Bell had been born from his wish.
White stopped, sucking in cold air, and shouted into the silence:
"Bell! I know you're here. I can feel it! Please—listen to me. I've wronged you more than anyone. I accused you unfairly, shouted at you… I was cruel. I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry! I need your help… Miss Elsa needs your help… so please! Come back to me!!"
Nothing. Nothing but the sound of his own pounding heart. His knees buckled, slamming against the ground. Tears poured freely, helpless and raw.
"…Please, Bell… I can't lose her too…"
And then—softly, faintly—
"Pa…pa…"
White's eyes widened. Slowly, he turned.
She stood just a few feet away, white hair glowing faintly, red eyes shimmering with tears.
"Bell…" His voice broke as he stumbled forward. "Bell!"
He rushed into her arms, holding her small body tight. His tears soaked her shoulder. "I'm sorry! I should never have said those things… Please… forgive me!"
Her arms wrapped around his neck with the gentlest warmth, stroking his messy hair. "Papa… I don't hate you. I never could…"
"Bell…" The sob tore from him. "Then… then please. My last wish… Save Miss Elsa. Please save my big sister!"
Bell stepped back, nodding softly. Her entire body suddenly shimmered.
Her hair fanned with light. Her crimson eyes glowed like burning stars. She pressed her hands together, whispering, her small lips moving in prayer.
The brightness engulfed the street in silence. For a moment, she no longer looked like a little girl, but something divine—ethereal, beyond this world.
And then… it ended.
The light faded.
Her fragile body swayed, and White caught her before she fell. Faint, unconscious, but breathing.
"…Thank you, Bell."
Shouldering her gently on his back, he raced home. Shu and Zen were waiting outside, both pale with worry.
"There you are!!" Zen exploded, grabbing his arm. "White, damn it, you always vanish! Where were you? What's this about Elsa?!"
"She was in an accident…" White whispered, still trembling. "But… she'll recover. It's alright now."
Before Zen could question him further, his phone rang.
The hospital.
"She's woken up," the nurse's voice whispered urgently. "Miss Elsa is conscious."
The world spun. Relief flooded him until he nearly collapsed.
They sprinted together, all of them, toward her room.
Miss Elsa sat in her hospital bed, gaze directed out the window, bathed in evening sunlight. Alive. Awake.
White's chest burst with relief. "Big Sis!" he choked, eyes burning. "You're safe… thank god… I was so scared…"
She turned slowly at the sound of his voice.
But her eyes didn't light up.
They blinked at him, puzzled. Confused. Unfamiliar.
"…Sorry," she said softly. "Do I… know you?"
The words should not have existed.
Not from her.
White froze, his pulse hammering. "W-what? Don't joke… it's me, White! Don't you remember—your little brother, the one you saved?!"
But her gaze was blank, sincere, and merciless.
"…I'm sorry. I don't know you."
The breath left him. His chest tore open into silence.
"…N…no… no, that's…" His throat locked. His miracle was in front of him. Smiling. Alive. Breathing.
But she… had forgotten him.
"…Zen." Elsa turned then, her expression warmer. "These two… are they your friends?"
Zen's breath hitched. Shu gasped quietly.
And White?
He couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't breathe.
Miss Elsa had survived.
But he… had been erased from her heart.
His mobile notification tone rang again.
-PRICE RECOVERED, BALANCE RESTORED