Scene Shift: The Royal Mansion
The night was calm, a gentle breeze swaying the curtains of the royal mansion's grand chambers. Kazuki Ayanami lay on his bed, a faint, knowing smile on his face even in his sleep. He had already confided everything to Shang — truths that would only be revealed in the distant future.
Tonight, though, that smile wasn't from victory alone.
Deep in his slumber, Kazuki's consciousness drifted into a space that was neither dream nor reality. A space he had visited before.
There, standing before him, was his past-life self — Atshushi.
Kazuki, unsurprised, spoke first."Another attempt by the Chaos Spirit to break me, huh?"
But this time, Atshushi didn't vanish. He looked at Kazuki with tired, sorrowful eyes.
"Why, Kazuki…? Why are you doing all of this for them? People you've only known in this life. Why not leave this behind… prepare to return to your real world? Back to the life you lost. Back to Mom and Dad. They're still waiting, you know."
Kazuki's expression softened, but his resolve didn't waver."I know," he said quietly. "And don't think for a second I don't want to go back. In fact… I've already planned how to get back there. Not now, not soon… but in the far, far future. When everything I need is in place."
Atshushi's face tightened."But aren't you afraid? Afraid you'll forget who you really are? You've changed, Kazuki. You're starting to enjoy this life too much. This kingdom, these people… you're almost addicted to it."
Kazuki smiled again, his gaze steady."Maybe I am," he admitted. "But don't mistake attachment for weakness. I haven't forgotten who I am, or where I came from. Every step I take here is a step towards my real goal. Every bond, every enemy, every war… all of it is part of the plan."
Atshushi fell silent, watching his reincarnated self with an unreadable expression.
"I'm not bound by a single life," Kazuki continued softly. "And neither are my enemies."
The vision began to blur, the dreamscape collapsing.
Atshushi's voice echoed one last time."Then don't lose yourself before you reach the end."
Kazuki's lips curved into a sharper smile as his consciousness returned to his sleeping body.
"I won't," he whispered.
And the night stretched on.
And Kazuki smiled at last after all of this and he knew that this journey will be much harder than he expected