Chapter X. Never Again

Aito's gaze was fixed on Sorako, his heart racing as he registered the shock in her expression. Her head snapped towards him, eyes wide, mouth agape, as she clutched her hand over her chest in disbelief.

Aito could sense the tension building in the air when Sorako's Father stepped forward, his face contorted with anger.

Instinctively, Aito took a step back, an urge to distance himself from the storm brewing in Sorako's father's expression. Suddenly, Sorako realized the perilous position he was in.

"Aito, stop! There is nothing behind you!" She shouted, urgency lacing her voice.

Aito turned his head slowly, only to see the dizzying plunge of the world below. Five thousand feet up, the city sprawled like a tiny, scattered puzzle, while the vast, glimmering ocean stretched beyond.

Fear shot through him, and he instinctively tried to step away from the edge. But as his left foot met the ground, it crumbled away.

Panic surged as Aito lost his balance, teetering precariously at the precipice. Desperately, he dug his fingers into the fragile earth, trying to hold on.

Sorako's breath hitched as she caught sight of him slipping. "Hold on, Aito!" She cried, a note of desperation piercing through her panic.

She sprinted towards him, adrenaline propelling her forward, but the ground beneath Aito was disintegrating in a frantic cascade. His palms were clawing at the dirt, but with each heartbeat, it crumbled more.

Aito's eyes were wide with terror as he reached out toward Sorako, their fingers grazing each other's tips—just a fleeting touch.

Time slowed as he watched Sorako's hand close around nothing but air. Horror filled her gaze as Aito plunged into the abyss below.

"AITO!!!" Sorako screamed, her voice echoing in the void.

Heart racing, she surveyed the scene, frantic energy coursing through her veins. A step forward elicited the ocean's roar beneath, cold and unforgiving. In that moment, instinct took over. She closed her eyes, preparing to leap into the chasm for him.

But just as she gathered herself to jump, her father's hand was suddenly around her waist, pulling her back with a firm grip.

"Are you insane?! There is nothing we can do for him now!" He shouted, panic and authority mixing in his voice.

Sorako thrashed within her father's embrace, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Let me go! I need to save him!" She cried out, her heart breaking at the thought of losing Aito.

Then, an unexpected sound pierced the chaos—a steady, melodic voice weaving through the air, an old lullaby that seemed both far-off and near.

"Give me hope, give me joy,

Grant me power to fly through the sky."

Startled, Sorako caught a flash of grey in her peripheral vision. Her eyes widened as the Elderly Woman she saw in the library dashed past her, a figure of courage and resolve, leaping over the edge of the island.

Sorako stared into abyss below, the turbulent emotions swirling inside her.

Aito's body spun through the night air, his back facing the vast ocean below, the wind whipping around him as he plummeted. His eyes were tightly shut, the world around him a blur of dark and fear.

Suddenly, a voice broke through the chaos—a haunting melody that seemed to weave its way through the darkness.

"Take my hand and guide me,

Be my wings that shine through the night."

Startled, Aito opened his eyes, and they widened in amazement. There, etched against the star-strewn sky, was the silhouette of an Elderly Woman, her presence illuminating the night. The same Elderly Woman he'd met at the library.

From her back, bright, rainbow-colored wings unfurled, casting a brilliant glow. Aito reached out toward her, a subconscious instinct pulling him toward her as she soared downwards, leaving trails of shimmering spirits in her wake.

"Light up the way to eternity,

Show me the way to your forever,

Let our bonds glow to the beyond,

Soulever, Forever."

With each note, Aito felt an intense warmth flooding his body, but it was soon pierced by a stabbing pain in his chest. He winced, clutching at himself, confusion flooding his mind.

As if sensing his turmoil, the Elderly Woman reached out, but as colorless spirits shot past her, brushing against her wings, she spiraled, unable to maintain her flight. Her face hardened into determination; her resolve reignited, she faced the sky once more.

"I must not hesitate!" She declared with fervor, descending with incredible speed.

Before Aito could comprehend what was happening, she caught his arm, pulling him into an embrace as they hurtled downward together.

"You're—" Aito began, his mind racing, but she cut him off.

"Thank the spirits I made it in time." She replied, holding him tightly against her chest.

Aito blinked, his gaze shifting to her face. In a blinding flash, the image of the Elderly Woman wavered and transformed before his eyes.

Gone was her aged visage, replaced by a familiar form clad in a shrine maiden's outfit—Aya. Her soft smile reassured him even amid the chaos.

In that moment, he caught sight of the shadow of a koi fish swimming within her left iris. His heart raced as realization washed over him.

"Aya…" he whispered, his confusion deepening as the memories of their past collided in his mind.

With a graceful motion, Aya angled herself upward, their descent shifting into a flight. Hovering in the air, she held Aito securely.

"I would never have forgiven myself if I had failed to save you a second time." She said, her voice steady.

Aito gazed into her eyes, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. He dared to look down; the ocean glistened beneath them, a daunting 500 feet away. His stomach dropped. "We're flying…?"

"Thanks to the spirits, yes." Aya confirmed, her wings and the spirits surrounding them lighting up the night.

"Why do I feel so nostalgic right now?" Aito mused, images flashing through his mind of Kaito and Aya soaring through the sky, joyfully entwined in their flight.

"Aito," Aya interrupted gently, her expression shifting to one of urgency. "There are more important matters at hand. We can leave this conversation for later."

He closed his mouth, nodding, the gravity of the situation dawning on him. "Wait… is something going on?"

Aya's gaze turned serious as she looked toward the island in the distance, her demeanor shifting. "A second calamity is coming."

As the reality of her words settled over Aito like a shroud, he felt a mix of fear rise within him. He needed to get back to Sorako as soon as possible!