The world was collapsing.
Slowly.
Inevitably.
The sky was half gone.
The academy flickered like a broken memory.
People…
were disappearing.
Not dying.
Just—
gone.
Kai stood in the center of it all.
Nyari in front of him.
Refusing to let go.
Jinwi spoke one final time:
"Decision required."
Kai's voice was quiet.
— Say it.
"…Remain here, and the world stabilizes temporarily."
Pause.
"…But your original body will die."
Nyari froze.
Kai didn't react.
"Return to your origin…"
"…and this world collapses completely."
Silence.
Nyari's hands shook.
"…So that's it?"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"You leave… and everything ends?"
Kai didn't answer.
Because there was no good answer.
Nyari stepped closer.
Her forehead pressed against his.
"…Stay."
One word.
But it carried everything.
"Stay with me."
Kai closed his eyes.
His chest tightened.
Memories flashed again.
A hospital bed.
A weak heartbeat.
A second chance.
Then—
Nyari's voice.
Soft.
Breaking.
"…I don't care if this world is fake."
"…You're real to me."
Kai's hand slowly lifted.
He held her face gently.
— You're real to me too.
Nyari's tears fell.
Then Kai whispered:
— That's why this hurts.
The world cracked again.
Louder.
Closer.
Jinwi:
"Time limit reached."
Kai leaned forward.
Forehead to forehead.
One last time.
— Nyari…
His voice almost broke.
— I'll find you.
Nyari shook her head violently.
"No—"
But she couldn't finish.
Light consumed everything.
And then—
Nothing.