In a modern world scarred by steel and fire, a man in his late thirties stood atop a towering, futuristic spire. From this height he could see the vast military complex spreading out below—once the beating heart of humanity's final stand, now slowly transforming into a sanctuary of rebuilding and renewal.
Yuuki exhaled softly. For someone barely in his forties, his eyes held decades worth of memories—too many faces, too many losses. Thrust into command at eighteen, he had led humanity through a desperate, losing war that lasted ten relentless years. The world had fallen… yet somehow, impossibly, they had risen again.
And now, for the first time in a long while, the world was healing.
"Still awake, Yuuki?" a familiar voice chimed gently behind him.
He turned, and the cold night instantly felt warmer. Athena—the person who had become the light in his fractured life—stepped beside him. She was striking in a way that felt both human and just a little otherworldly: large, expressive eyes behind red-framed glasses, irises glowing a soft amethyst under the moonlight; full, naturally rosy lips; a warm, human complexion that softened even the harsh neon lights around them.
Her hair, long and flowing in ripples of deep purple, framed a face always touched by kindness. She carried the confident grace of the idol she had once been, yet the quiet strength of the hero she had become.
Her figure, elegant and impeccably balanced, drew admiration anywhere she went—not that Yuuki ever voiced it. To him, she was simply Athena: the smile he had held onto during the darkest nights.
Yuuki leaned casually against the railing, watching the lights of the rebuilt base flicker like sleepy fireflies. He returned her smile.
"Oh—hey, Athena," he said, his voice tired but warm. "Yeah… just taking in the peaceful night. It still feels unreal."
Athena stepped closer, her shoulder brushing his—soft, grounding.
"After everything you fought through," she murmured, "you deserve to see it."
And for once, Yuuki allowed himself to believe her.
Athena moved to stand beside him, leaning on the railing as the cold night breeze stirred her purple hair. "The war is over, Yuuki. Ten years of constant fighting… We lost so many people."
"Yeah." His voice dipped, heavy. "Not all of us made it."
She exhaled softly—a tremor hidden beneath her calm tone. "Maybe you should take a break too. You've done more than enough for this world. You were presumed dead… you spent years in cryostasis. Please, Yuuki… Nora wouldn't want this."
Yuuki stiffened. The name hit him like a bullet.
Nora.
Her sister.
The first person who had guided him toward hope.
The first person he had ever held as life slipped away.
He shut his eyes, jaw tightening. "I know… she…" His words cracked.
Athena touched his arm, gentle but firm. "Hey. You lost someone who showed you the light. I lost my sister. But drowning in the grief won't bring her back. We're still here, Yuuki. Still fighting to rebuild what's left after the Antarctic battle."
He didn't respond, but his silence spoke volumes.
"People owe you their lives," Athena continued quietly. "Our forces only reached that cursed tower because you led them. And so many men… gave everything to tear it down."
Yuuki's hands curled into fists. "I survived, Athena."
"You did." Her voice softened—neither praise nor pity, just quiet conviction. "And your survival marked the end of the war. Yuuki… you were the one who turned the tide. God sent you to end that nightmare. You fought the monster inside that tower when no one else could. You led people out of a war everyone had already given up on. And even after waking from a coma, you still stood and led them again."
She drew a slow breath, her eyes reflecting the distant lights below. "The world is healing, Yuuki. Maybe… it's time we do too."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The wind brushed past, cool and steady, as if the world itself was finally exhaling after a decade of agony.
Yuuki lowered his gaze to the rebuilt base—cranes still moving, lights still glowing, engineers and soldiers working side by side instead of fighting for their lives. A world he'd never expected to see again.
Athena was right. His task… his burden… was finally over.
He nodded slowly. "Yeah. Maybe it is."
The tension that had lived in his shoulders for years loosened, just a fraction—but enough for Athena to notice. She smiled gently, almost proudly, as if relieved he had finally allowed himself to acknowledge the truth.
"You don't have to carry everything anymore," she said softly. "Let yourself breathe."
For the first time in a long while, Yuuki felt like he actually could.
A faint, almost playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "So… I'm assuming you came to drag me back to the afterparty?"
Athena let out a tiny snort. "Pffft—please. Everyone already went home. Their wives threatened the living hell out of them. They're not scared of the monsters at the South Pole, but the moment their wives call, they scatter like terrified recruits."
Yuuki's laugh eased the tension in his shoulders.
"As for the single ones," Athena added, her tone dipping into teasing warmth, "some of them are actually thinking about settling down now that the world isn't burning."
The wind carried her words, soft and hopeful, into the quiet night. For the first time in a long time, Yuuki felt the faintest spark of something he thought he'd buried long ago.
Hope.
Yuuki let the silence linger for a moment before speaking again.
"What about you?" he asked quietly. "About us. Have we ever… considered settling down?"
Athena blinked, then gave a soft laugh. "Settling down, huh? Honestly… I never thought I'd get the chance."
Yuuki turned to her fully. "Nora entrusted you to me. I'm not about to break that promise."
Athena's smile faltered—just a little—at the mention of her sister, but she quickly regained her teasing spark."I remember. And you're not getting out of that responsibility, you know."
He scratched his cheek lightly, suddenly aware of how young she still was compared to him. "Maybe… but aren't I too old for you? You're a young woman with your whole future ahead of you—"
"Shut it." She poked his arm, cheeks warming. "Don't think that means I'll just play along like nothing's happening. Besides—aren't you happy to have a cheeky, energetic future wife?"
Yuuki chuckled. "Every man could dream."
Athena stared at him flatly. "How dense are you?"
He sighed, but there was a smile behind it. "Honestly? I've been pretending to be dense. I noticed your feelings. All of them. And… I noticed the others too. But I was always too afraid to pursue anything. Too uncertain. Too… broken."
Her expression softened completely. "Yuuki… it's about time you let yourself live again. Trust me. Let's settle down. Let the world heal—let us heal. We've done enough."
He looked at her—really looked at her—and for once, the idea didn't terrify him.
"Fine," he murmured. "I'll confess to you properly. Once everything's settled and I've done right by everyone."
Athena's eyes practically sparkled as she stepped closer. "Good. Because I already have a lot of things prepared for us."
Yuuki froze. "…Prepared?"
"Oh yes," she said with a mischievous grin. "You'd be surprised how long I've been planning."
He swallowed. "Should I be worried?"
"Absolutely."
And for the first time since the war ended, Yuuki laughed—a full, genuine laugh carried into the peaceful night.
As the two of them finally turned to leave the balcony, Yuuki paused mid-step. Something on his office desk caught his eye—a faint glimmer, soft and unnatural, like moonlight trapped in glass.
"…Athena," he murmured. "Did you bring that crystal ball here?"
She blinked. "Huh? No? I've never seen that thing before."A shrug. But even she sounded unsure.
Curiosity prickled the back of Yuuki's neck as they approached the desk together. The orb sat perfectly centered, as if intentionally placed. It was flawless—pure crystal, not a single imperfection, and cold to the touch in a way that felt almost alive.
"What is this…?" he whispered.
Before Athena could answer, a soft chime echoed in the room.
A holographic notification shimmered above the sphere.
================
[Do you want to start a new life?]
================
Yuuki stared, stunned. "Athena… did you set this up? Is this why you asked all those questions about settling down?"
"What? No!" Athena waved her hands defensively, flustered. "Why would I need to do something like this when you already gave me your answer?"
"Then this…" Yuuki stepped back, the hair on his arms rising.
But he didn't get to finish the thought.
The crystal ball pulsed—once.
Twice.
Then erupted with blinding light.
"Athena—!" Instinct took over. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She clung to him, startled, but the light swallowed them before either could react further.
In a flash, they were gone.
The office fell silent.
The lights dimmed.
The papers on Yuuki's desk fluttered once before settling.
Only the crystal ball remained—glowing faintly—until it toppled from the desk and fell onto the carpet with a muted thud.
The room, and the world they knew, returned to darkness.