Date A Live

Her long black hair was tied into two ponytails of different lengths, falling to her shoulders. Her right eye was visible, while her left eye was covered by her bangs.

The style, a mix of red and black Gothic Lolita dresses and nun's white robes, blends the characteristics of both, combining cuteness and mystery.

She wore the distinctive headdress of a nun and had a thick book hanging from her waist.

On top of her original captivating charm, she gained a nun-like purity and intellect, giving her a more "ladylike" feel.

Her long black and red dress was slightly torn at the hem, and she looked tired.

There was an indescribable aura about her, like some kind of lingering, used power.

Tokisaki Kurumi.

Higashino Makoto recognized her.

It's not the Kurumi he created, but the Kurumi of this world, the original version.

Moreover, that book...

Higashino Makoto understood that this must be the world line mentioned in the original work, where the world was destroyed.

Was that guy Beast Tohka just now?

No wonder he looked so familiar.

Kurumi walked up to him and stopped.

She looked at his eight pairs of black wings and his golden eyes.

Her expression was calm, but Higashino Makoto could see the unease in her eyes.

"Who are you?"

Should you state your own name before asking someone else's name?

"Oh dear, my apologies. My name is Tokisaki Kurumi. I just saw you and Tohka Yatogami fight for so long, and it was a draw. You're the first person to have done something like that."

Tohka Yatogami, the female protagonist of Date A Live.

The one I encountered before was Tohka Yatogami from a parallel world. Because Shido Itsuka died, she fell into the Abyss despair and destroyed her own world.

Kurumi followed his gaze, a slight smile playing on her lips, but tinged with bitterness.

"This world has lost all hope, but you may have the power to change it."

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

"My name is Higashino Makoto. Do you want me to help you?"

"Yes, I would like to ask you for help in saving the world."

Higashino Makoto remained silent for a moment.

The power of the Pride Demon flowed within him, and Degradation Aura slowly rotated around him.

He came here to find power, not to save the world.

But if the price is right, he wouldn't mind lending a hand.

"I need payment."

What kind of compensation?

"Let's put that aside for now. Tell me, what exactly is wrong with this world?"

Kurumi's fingers tightened slightly, then relaxed.

This story goes back a long time.

Higashino Makoto leaned against a collapsed stone pillar, his eight pairs of black wings folded behind him. He crossed his arms and looked at Tokisaki Kurumi, waiting for her to speak.

Kurumi stood opposite him, her long black and red dress the Unassailable in the windless air.

Her right eye was looking at him, her left eye was covered by her bangs, and the flintlock pistol in her hand had been tucked under her skirt.

Her expression was calm, but Higashino Makoto could tell she was organizing her thoughts.

"Tell me, what happened? I don't have much time, but I can still hear a story."

Kurumi was silent for a moment, then spoke.

"This world originally had a savior, someone who could truly save the world."

Higashino Makoto nodded.

He knew she was referring to Shido Itsuka, but he couldn't quite remember the specifics.

After all, he had watched that anime a long time ago, and the details had long since become blurry, except for the Elf Kingdom, which he still remembered.

Her name is Shiori Itsuka.

Higashino Makoto's expression cracked; he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

It's not Shido Itsuka, it's Shiori Itsuka?

He swallowed hard, forcing back the mouthful of blood that hadn't yet spit out.

His long, silvery-white hair fell down, obscuring the twitching corner of his mouth.

He took a deep breath, then another.

"Go on."

Kurumi glanced at him, a hint of confusion in her eyes, but didn't ask any further questions.

"Shiori Itsuka was the only person in this world who could seal the power of the Elf Kingdom. She absorbed the Spirit Crystal of the Elf Kingdom through kissing, turning Elf Kingdom into ordinary people. Those Elf Kingdom were no longer a threat, and they could live normal lives. We thought this would save the world. But we were wrong."

Her voice lowered.

"DEM Industries, an organization specializing in the Elf Kingdom, and utilization of the Elf Kingdom. Not content with the status quo, they once devised a plan specifically targeting Shiori Itsuka."

Higashino Makoto tapped his fingers lightly on the stone pillar.

"They succeeded?"

"They succeeded. The people from DEM Industries killed Shiori Itsuka."

Higashino Makoto's fingers stopped.

He wasn't surprised that Shiori Itsuka was killed; what surprised him was why Tokisaki Kurumi didn't go back in time to save her.

She lowered her head, her black twin ponytails cascading down her shoulders.

"They achieved their goal; the Elf Kingdom went mad. Some went berserk, some committed suicide. Tohka Yatogami... she was the one who went berserk the most."

Higashino Makoto looked at the woman with long, silver-white hair in the distance.

She remained standing there, her blood-red eyes staring blankly at the sky, like a statue forgotten in the ruins.

"And then what?"

"She killed all the Elf Kingdom, all the humans, all the creatures, and destroyed the entire world."

Higashino Makoto remained silent for a moment.

Destroying the world for love... it just doesn't feel like it's worth it for this world.

"And then? You're Elf Kingdom too, right? Why are you alright?"

Kurumi raised her head, a complex light flashing in her right eye.

"Before Tohka Yatogami destroyed everything, I used the Sixth Bullet to send my consciousness to the past, trying to change everything. Unfortunately, it all failed, and in the end, only I survived."

How many times did you try?

Kurumi's fingers tightened slightly.

"Until the power of the Sixth Bullet was completely exhausted, I lost count of how many times. Each time, I could only make limited changes. I tried to warn Shiori Itsuka in advance, I tried to kill the higher-ups of DEM in advance, I tried to escape with her. But each time, the result was the same: Shiori Itsuka died, the world was destroyed, and I was powerless."

"Due to overexertion of my power, I fainted and automatically entered the spirit world to recuperate. When I woke up, more than ten years had passed. Because of the long time that had gone by and the increased energy expenditure, I had lost the ability to change the past."

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

There was something in her eyes that none of the other Kurumi had—a mark left by the repeated crushing of fate.

So you came to me.

"You're the only person I've ever met who could stand up to Tohka Yatogami head-on. Maybe you can't save the world, but you can at least stop her, make her stop, let her... rest in peace."

Higashino Makoto straightened up from the stone pillar and walked up to Kurumi.

"You underestimate me. What's the point of letting her rest in peace? I'm here to save the world!"

He looked down at her, his golden eyes meeting her right eye.

"I agree, but I need payment, as I just said."

"Anything I have, I can give you."

Higashino Makoto shook his head.

"We'll talk about the other costs later. First and foremost, I want you."

Kurumi's fingers stopped. She looked at him, her right eye devoid of any emotion.

"What's the meaning?"

"Literally, after it's all over, everything you have will belong to me. Of course, not now, but after things have settled down in this world."

Kurumi lowered her head and looked at her hands.

Those hands had held countless guns, killed countless people, and experienced countless cycles of reincarnation.

She thought she would no longer respond to any requests.

"Good."

Her voice was very soft.

"I'll give you anything to save the world, to end all of this."

Higashino Makoto nodded, turned around, and looked at the woman with long silver hair in the distance.

"Then it's settled."