Epilogue 1: Silver wish

After saving Haruka, Lila prepared herself to fall to her death. The world powers she had, she used the last of it to extend Haruka's life span. Her body no longer vanished, but it did not return to normal either; she was in a half-alive state. But it didn't matter since she would fall to her death anyway.

She expected the next time she opened her eyes to be on the border between heaven and hell.

"What a silly girl."

"Hey, do you think she is dead?"

"Silly, if she is, we would disappear too."

Huh? This is strange; if she is dead, how come she can still hear voices? Is this the afterlife? When she was younger, Lila heard from her mother that people like them have a hard time dying.

'If we do die, since our existence was special even in the afterlife, we get asked to make two choices. One to cross the cycle of rebirth, two to become a guardian. Three- there is a third option-'

Lila hesitantly opened her eyes and found herself in a familiar space. The room was white, and there was nothing there but a single large silver tree in the center. Lila noticed that the branches of the tree were blooming.

There stood a woman with long light blue hair in the center.

"I have a visitor?"

"Ah uh-" Lila panicked. She didn't understand this situation very well; what on earth is going on here?

The woman turned around. For a moment, their eyes met, what gorgeous ruby-colored eyes. She tilted her head to one side and clapped her hands. "Ah I see! You're her daughter."

"Her?"

The woman giggled. "Your Sumire-chan's daughter, right?"

"You know my mother?"

"That's right, as for how you should address me. I discarded my real name a long time ago but since your her daughter. You can call me Aoi."

"Um, Miss Aoi, this place-"

"It's a place most hanyou's see when they are forced to make a choice. But what they see is just one of the trees. Normally people do not reach this inner chamber. " Aoi looked up. "You see the branches of these trees? They act as doors to many different worlds. This silver tree is the tree of life; if the branches ever fall off, it means that world will be dommed for destruction." She extended her hand out towards one of the branches, and Lila felt her heartbeat increase.

"This one here belongs to your world."

Lila saw how badly beaten up the branch was. It looked like it was about to collapse. Could it be? Even though she did all that, nothing changed? Is it because she chose to save Haruka rather than make a wish to save the world?

"This hasn't fallen yet, because I stopped it. Normally I wouldn't be permitted to do something like this. But, I realized you haven't answered my question yet."

Her question?

Aoi smiled. "What is your wish? What do you desire?"

Ah-

"It seems like you asked him too, but you never answered the question yourself. Tell me, child, what is it that you want?"

What does she want? What she truly wants. That's right, for the longest time, there is only one thing she has desired. Even back when she still had no memories of Haruka, her heart cried for him. Even Kiryu noticed it, and that was why he did not make any moves.

'"I want to be together with him. I want to have a happy family. That child and Haruka, I do not want to leave them."

Her thoughts broke off when Aoi brushed her hand across her cheek and placed something in her hands. It looked like a large silver tree branch.

"That is your deepest wish. I have heard it loud and clear."

'The third option is rare, but the current overseer of the world will give you a second chance to live. By doing this, she will get in trouble, so normally she wouldn't, but that person once upon a time was also human. She understands if you make it clear to her.'

"Now, child, return to your world and be happy."

…

Lila heard the sound of a heart monitor and the warmth of somebody holding her hands tightly. Her entire body felt weak, but she slowly opened her eyes; the first thing she made out was the hospital ceiling. In the next second, she slowly turned her head to the right and saw Haruka with his head down, holding her hand tightly.

She knew even with her blurred vision that he was crying. A hospital room, and the sound of eagles. A relieved sigh escaped her lips when she saw the blue skies. So the world has turned to normal, and she noticed something else too.

The sound from the TV. It was showing news of the final round of the dream stars tournament.

There were images of contestants who were all saying, 'We aren't doing anything until Lila wakes up.'

She extended her hand out when she heard Haruka sobbing.

Haruka lifted his head, and his eyes widened. "Li-"

"Hubby, I'm in pain-" Her sentence fell short when he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Lila noticed how badly he was trembling."It's okay. I came back to you. I am right here."

After hugging for a few minutes, Haruka laid her back down on the bed as he explained the situation.

Ten months or close to an entire year had passed since then, and it was summer. Haruka explained how Hyou4 went through with their plan to erase people's memories. The singing worked on the infected, and everybody returned to normal with no side effects. But for a month or so, they had people sleep in a comatose state just to check if something was wrong with their bodies. While also checking if the world truly returned to normal.

"What about you?" Lila asked, concerned.

"The light you transferred to me increased the small bit of energy, so my body is fine now."

Lila looked towards his shirt, and Haruka slowly unbuttons it. "If you want to check, you can but-"

Her cheeks colored, and she shook her head. "I don't have to check!"

Haruka laughed. "Your sill so cute."

"Um what about our son?"

"Huh? Oh, lately, he is too attached to your brother. I'm talking about Satomi; they get along strangely well."

"I see so he-"

"He returned to normal too. There are no side effects in his growth either."

"Also-" Lila coughed. She hasn't used her voice in an entire year, so of course, talking this much in one go would hurt her. But it felt strange. She has so many things she wants to ask about. Haruka brought a cup of water to her lips.

"Easy there. I worked hard to make sure you didn't suffer much discomfort. So you can still move your limbs, but it's hard to do that with your voice."

Lila drank from the cup. The coolness from the water felt refreshing, and she examined her husband. "Did you lose some weight-" Lila paused in mid-sentence. She already knew without answering that. She put the cup of water down and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry, I truly had no choice at that time."

"I think I understand. But Lila, the past year, you have no idea how much I wanted to find a way to turn back time to that moment. I even went to see Sophia. It was a good thing Ruki stopped me from doing anything crazy."

"Oh um, Sophia?"

"It took a long time deciding what to do with her—putting her in jail? It didn't seem right. So instead she is staying in a house in the countryside, she is guarded twenty-four seven, however. Her movements are restricted. But it's fine. Ruki is with her."

'I see; maybe there is hope for their love to bloom again.' According to Haruka's story, the two shared deep feelings for each other.

"Love changes people," Lila mumbled.

"Did it change you?"

"Mmm, it made me a happier person."

Haruka laid down on the bed beside her and hugged her tightly at those words. "I have had enough. I am at my limit."

Lila laughed. "Um, if you want to sleep, you can."

"Then keep watch; you an stare at me all the time you want until I wake up."

Her gaze softened at his words. "Mm, okay." It did not take long before Haruka fell asleep. She leaned forward and kissed his lips.

'I made it back to you, and I promise I will never leave you.'