The night welcomed them again, quieter than before. When Sora and Null stepped out of the Legends Pantheon of Echoes, Lumeris had begun to settle. The crowds had thinned to scattered silhouettes, and the lanterns drifted higher, their glow softer and less insistent beneath the massive, unmoving white moon.
They walked side by side down marble steps worn smooth by time, past silent colonnades, and across an open plaza where moonlight pooled like pale water.
Eventually, the rigid grandeur of the architecture gave way to something intimate. The stone softened into curved pathways, and the air carried the faint scent of flowers as a secluded garden revealed itself beyond winding arches of climbing vines. Moonlit trees spread their silver leaves overhead, and low among the grass, clusters of bioluminescent flowers glowed with a subdued radiance around a small, still pond. its surface reflecting the enormous moon above with near-perfect clarity.
Null slowed to a stop. "Wow,"
He muttered. "You've got some unfairly beautiful date spots in this city."
Sora's lips curved faintly. "This place is rarely visited at night. Most people prefer the lantern districts."
She stepped onto the stone path leading inward, her movements light and unhurried.
"Their loss," Null said, following her easily.
By the time they reached the pond, the silence had settled into something comfortable.
Null came to stand beside her, resting a hand lightly against the railing, watching the moon's reflection tremble on the water. "You know, this date escalated pretty fast."
Sora glanced at him. "Did it?"
"Yeah," he smiled, lazily counting on his fingers. "We started with a street brawl, visited a monument dedicated to history's greatest heroes, and then I learned my existence is basically a cosmic glitch. That's a lot for one evening."
Sora's gaze lowered. "I'm sorry."
Null turned, his casual posture easing. "For what?"
"For burdening you with all of that tonight. I had planned something lighter... but once we came here, it didn't feel right to keep the truth from you."
Null watched a passing breeze ripple across the pond, then shook his head. "No. I'm glad you told me. Honestly, I would've figured out something weird was going on eventually. Better it came from you." He paused, his gaze drifting across the garden. "Besides, it makes things feel less random. If someone really went that far to bring me here... then maybe me being here actually means something, even if I don't know what it is yet."
Sora looked at him, her expression softening in a way she didn't seem fully aware of. "Null-san... do you regret it? Being summoned here. Losing your world. Your home."
"..."
Null looked up at the white expanse of the moon.
"Sometimes," he said without hesitation. "Yeah. I miss some things. My world, my old life... the normal stuff."
In his head, those details were entirely concrete—late-night anime marathons, new manga chapters, gaming until sunrise, and arguing with strangers online about fictional characters. Meaningless things.
…Yeah. Mostly otaku stuff.
"But," Null continued, looking back at her, "if I went back right now, I'd probably miss this place too."
Sora's eyes widened faintly. "This world?"
"Yeah," he gestured around them. "It's strange, but I don't feel like a stranger here anymore."
A small, almost self-conscious smile formed, "Not since I met you."
Sora's breath caught, the space between them became fragile. "Null-san... what if, one day, you were given the chance to return? If the path opened again and you could go home... would you take it?"
Null didn't answer right away. He watched her—the way she held herself just a little too still, her eyes avoiding his, the quiet uncertainty she couldn't hide. Then, slowly, he gave her a gentle smile.
"I don't know."
Sora looked up. "You don't?"
He shook his head. "No. But I do know one thing."
"Eh?"
"I don't want tonight to end yet."
Sora stilled. The words were simple, but there was nothing casual about the way he said them. Her heart skipped a beat. "N-Null-san..."
Null scratched the back of his neck, a faint hint of his usual awkwardness returning. "Besides, didn't I promise you something? If I ever got the chance to go back, I said I'd take you with me as my honored tour guest."
Sora stared at him for a moment, and then a soft, warm laugh escaped her. "Ah... That you did."
She raised her hand lightly to her chest. "You did promise me that. If that day comes, I will gladly accept the invitation."
Null let out a quiet breath, the tension leaving his shoulders. "Well... good."
Her smile lingered, and the quiet returned, settling more comfortably this time. It wasn't heavy or uncertain; it was just close. They stood side by side, their shoulders nearly touching. Neither moved away, and neither seemed eager to break the stillness, both understanding that saying just a little more might cross a line they weren't quite ready to face.
Time passed without urgency. The moment simply settled as their conversation drifted into smaller, more personal things.
"Sora," Null said, tilting his head.
"Hmm?"
"What's your home like?"
She blinked, caught off guard. "My home?"
"Yeah," his gaze drifted across the pond.
"You've told me about the world, but not much about where you're from. Your homeland, your family. I want to know."
For a moment, she watched the moon's reflection on the water before nodding slowly. "My homeland is called the Luminous Duchy. It lies in the eastern hemisphere of the Atlantis Empire, far from the central capital." A quiet fondness entered her voice. "My home is in Life Dawn City, the duchy's capital. It rests beside a vast ocean, making it one of the empire's primary trade hubs."
The breeze passed softly through the garden as she continued, her tone reflective. "Ships from many regions dock there. Merchant fleets, explorers, scholars... travelers from all over pass through it. But that isn't what it's best known for. Life Dawn City is famous for its healing sanctuaries. It houses one of the largest Healer Associations in the world, and people come from many nations seeking treatment. Because of that, the city carries a very peaceful atmosphere."
Null nodded. "That sounds interesting. If possible, I'd love to visit it someday."
Sora glanced at him. "For the healing facilities?"
Null blinked. "Why would I go to a healing center when I literally have the 'Healing Diviness' standing beside me?"
She flushed faintly.
Null smiled, his tone softening. "I want to see it because it's your home."
She held his gaze for a moment, her expression turning tender. "Thanks. That's sweet of you."
Her eyes drifted back toward the massive moon. "If the opportunity ever arises... I will gladly take you there."
Null's grin returned, his eyes glinting with familiar mischief. "Oh? So that means I'd have to meet your parents, right?"
She nodded calmly. "That would be unavoidable."
Null chuckled. "I don't mind." He tilted his head, leaning in just a fraction. "But I'm curious. How exactly would you introduce me? As an observation subject, Or—"
"As your secret boyfriend?"