『Vol. 3 Extra II: Another Moment of What Could Have Been』

*Bang*

An earsplitting sound reverberated throughout the courtyard—as if something has exploded. Oddly enough, nothing was damaged—and the "explosion" was nowhere to be found.

"Woah! That's so cool, Kaori-chan!" The princess's eyes glittered with awe.

"Minami... has no talent for elements..."

"Hmm, this "weapon" from the other world is truly intriguing." Leanna commented.

"..."

The five were once again gathered together, idling around and cultivating. It appears that Kaori was using her newly made weapon [EX Caliber] which was made based on her fire arts. Meanwhile, Janice was busy cultivating her Ice Arts to care.

"Mhm, feels just right." Kaori nodded, holding her new precious partner.

"Let me try too!"

"Ahaha, you'd be only damaging it, your royal highness." Leanna softly smiled.

"Aw... no fair."

Near the border of the Kingdom of Lizea and Quaint lies the Temple of Anize, which is the place of worship of one of the direct subordinates of the supreme goddess of Zenia. They were currently in the temple courtyard, and their meeting with the Temple Headmistress seems to have already ended—though it appeared that the Queen still needed to discuss something in private.

"...you're not focused."

"Hmm?"

"Eh?"

Suddenly, while pointing at her, Janice spoke to Kaori. Her eyes and tone seem serious, which had gathered everyone's attention.

"While it's passable... your usual control is much more than this..."

"Ah..."

"Kaori-chan..."

"Hey, Janice, why don't we give her time? She had just recently used this weapon, after all."

"No... that's right." Kaori spoke up.

Janice was right, something was indeed bothering Kaori. As to what that was, it must have been something important to her to the point that it won't get out of her mind.

"I didn't mean to hide from all of you but—"

<<----------->>

"Oh? If it isn't you, little creature? We meet again."

"Ah..."

"I forgot to introduce myself last time—I'm Anize, the one that the temple you are in right now is worshipping. I've borrowed your soul for a bit, I hope you don't mind?"

Everything was bright, as Kaori stood there—speechless. She was just at the temple a minute ago, along with the others who paid their respects to the Temple Headmistress.

"It's... It's quite alright, Anize-sama."

"I have no need for formalities, so you may abdicate it if you wish."

"..."

"In any case, I will just move on to the reason why I have called you forth."

The divine figure had no shape or form, yet oddly enough—it felt human, or so Kaori thought. It still had no trace of emotion in its voice, but its tone indicated that it had some sort of personality.

"You're still bothered, I presume?"

"...!"

"The state of your soul, and your memories are of no secret to me."

"I..."

"It is quite alright, I will not demand of you to discard these—I am just concerned that this might impair your cultivation, so I ask what it is that I can be of help."

That's right, even if Kaori was preoccupied with cultivating, not once has she ever forgotten the words of the goddess, the words of a future that she had long sought—a deep void in her heart that cannot seem to be filled.

"Ahaha, I know that thinking like this is naive, Anize-sama. But is there any more information about him that you can gather, even just a little to quell my anxiety?"

"I highly advise against that, though if you wish—"

The figure went on, talking about the life of a particular young man—the same person that Kaori could never forget, even if she knew that they had not been that close or that they barely knew each other.

Naoki Ozawa

He was born without his parents, in fact, even the figure was quite unsure of his birth origin—which had perplexed it even more.

"How could that be?" Kaori asked.

"That, I am not sure of, this has been the first incident this has happened..."

The figure continued, it appears that he was found lost in the woods—with his now-acting mother, Miyuki Ozawa. She was a bright and adventurous person, and somehow in some way, she had managed to be there and witness a crying baby in the woods.

"That's really hard to believe..." Kaori sighed.

"I suppose, such an extraordinary background for an ordinary man."

"..."

Various stories were told, as the figure kept on talking. Time didn't pass in this plane, it seems—so Kaori took time to listen to all of them. From Naoki's childhood, to his time at school—nothing was overlooked. Kaori couldn't help but feel like a stalker, laughing at her own stupidity.

"...I presume that is all that you have wanted?"

"Yes... thank you."

"Remember, the soul is but a fickle thing, this is why I am not telling you to stop. If it is convenient, I may allow you to meet this person, provided you do well in your cultivation."

"..!"

<<----------->>

"Oh!!! Kaori-chan has a boyfriend!?"

"Love... unfathomable."

"Haha well, that is a normal part of growing up." Leanna assured.

"Hmph, I see..." Janice continued cultivating.

"Wait, everyone! It's not like that. It's just that..."

Everyone huddled closer, waiting for what she was about to say next—though it seems they wouldn't believe her either way.

"Hah... I give up." Kaori grimaced on all fours.

"It's alright, Kaori-chan. We'll bring him here!" The princess beamed in radiance.

"Ahaha, it's not that easy, your royal highness."

Everyone laughed at Leanna's comment, even Kaori who was laying down on the courtyard grass. Needless to say, everyone had a fun trip at the temple, even if they were just following and idling around.

"Maybe someday..."

Yet somehow, the usually collected Kaori still cannot get him out of her mind—looking back at their meeting back at the train station. He was not really particularly attractive, but there was a special aura around him that somehow made her want to know more.

Unbeknownst to her, their paths may cross again soon—though it is unknown whether it is the one she had thought of.