Evans slowly opened his eyes.
A dull ache spread across throughout his body as he tried to move.
He frowned.
"Something... feel soft." He thought.
Curious, he slowly looked up.
A beautiful young woman with long black hair and striking crimson eyes stared back at him.
The moment their eyes met, her cheeks flushed a faint shade of pink.
She quickly looked away, trying to maintain a firm expression.
"H-Hey... don't stare at me like that while you're resting on my lap."
She crossed her arms awkwardly.
"... It's embarrassing."
Evans blinked a few times, then a random thought slipped into his mind
"She's ...actually kinda cute."
The girl noticed he was still looking.
Pouting slightly, she gently flicked the bandage wrapped around his forehead.
"I said stop staring."
Evans winced.
"Ow..."
Then he finally spoke in a weak voice.
"Anyways... who are you?"
Then, as though remembering something important, his expression suddenly changed.
He tried to sit up.
"... wait... Raff and the others...".
His voice became more urgent.
"... Are they alright?"
The girl looked at him in confusion before realizing who he meant.
Her expression softened.
"Your friends?"
She nodded.
"They're alive."
"They were all seriously injured, but they are receiving medical treatment right now somewhere else in the hospital."
She gently pushed Evans back down before he could stand.
"So don't worry okay."
"Oh... So you're a nurse?"Evans asked weakly.
The girl frowned before lightly flicking his forehead.
"Dummy."
She crossed her arms.
"I'm not a nurse..."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"... I'm an old friend. Don't tell me you've forgotten me already."
Evans stared at her.
There was something strangely familiar about her face.
Her crimson eyes...
Her black hair...
He knew he had seen them somewhere before.
He frowned.
"... what's your name?"
The girl answered calmly.
"Reina."
She paused for a moment.
"Reina Aurora."
Evans' eyes widened.
His heart skipped a beat.
"W-wait..."
He slowly sat upright.
"I know that name..."
Reina immediately turned her face away.
A deep blush spread across her cheeks.
In an embarrassed voice, she muttered,
"... Your first childhood crush."
Silence.
Evans froze completely.
Then...
Memories came rushing back.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
His cheeks instantly turned bright red.
He hurriedly stood up, ignoring the pain throughout his body.
"S-seriously...?"
He stared at her from head to toe.
"You're... Reina?"
"... But how?"
Years ago...
Evans and Reina had been inseparable childhood friends.
They attended the same school.
Played together almost every day. Their families often visited one another, and before long...
Evans had unknowingly fallen in love with her.
He wanted to confess. Yet every time he tried...
His courage failed him.
Finally, one day...
He made up his mind.
"Today..."
"I'll tell Reina how I feel."
Filled with determination, he rushed towards her house.
But...
He arrived too late.
A moving truck was parked outside.
Boxes filled the yard.
Reina sat inside her father's car, surrounded by her family's belongings.
She had told him before that they would be moving away. Neither of them knew exactly when.
He never imagined...
It would be that very day.
The engine started.
The car slowly pulled away. Evans ran after it with tears in his eyes.
Summoning every bit of courage he had...
He shouted at the top of his lungs.
"REINA!"
The car continued moving.
He clenched his fists.
Then, with all his heart, he screamed,
"I LOVE YOU...!"
His voice echoed down the street.
"SO PLEASE ..."
"... DON'T EVER FORGET ME!"
The car disappeared into the distance...
Leaving behind a young boy standing in the middle of the road.
Evans couldn't help but steal another glance at Reina.
His cheeks were still burning red.
He looks at her surprised at how quickly she had matured and how she looked fresh and cool- and fastidiously neat.
Her gentle perfume filled the air.
Her curves were perfectly... Shame on you, Evans, he thought scolding himself.
Trying to hide his embarrassment, he rubbed the back of his neck.
"W-well... You've really had quite the growth spurt since the last time I saw you."
Bonk!
Reina lightly punched him on the forehead.
Her face turned bright red.
"H-Hey!"
She glared at him while trying-and failing-to hide her embarrassment.
"If you keep staring like that..."
She raised her fist threateningly.
"... I'll punch your eyeballs next!"
Evans covered his face.
"O- okay! I get it!"
Watching him panic, Reina couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
Evans gently rubbed the spot where Reina had punched him before looking at her with an awakward smile.
"Anyways..."
He scratched the back of his head.
"... I'm sorry about that day."
Reina looked at him curiously.
"What day?"
Evans let out a small, embarrassed laugh.
"You know... When I ran after your car, crying and screaming I love you."
A faint blush crept onto Reina's cheeks.
She looked away and folded her arms.
"Hmph."
"... I never said I didn't like it."
"So stop apologizing."
Evans blinked in surprise.
"Wait a second..."
"Why am I the one apologizing?"
"I'm the one who embarrassed myself back then." He sighed to himself before Suddenly remembering some important.
"Oh, right!"
He looked at Reina .
"How did you even find me?"
Reina answered calmly.
"I saw your grandma and asked her where you were."
Evans' expression instantly changed.
His eyes widened.
"Grandma!"
He immediately tried to stand.
"I left her all alone!"
But the moment he took a step... His injured body gave out.
Before he could fall, Reina quickly caught his hand.
Her voice firm.
"You're in no condition to work by yourself."
She tightened her grip slightly.
"I'm coming with you..."
"...and don't even argue that's final".
Evans smiled calmly.
"... Alright."
He nodded.
"Then... Let's go."
Then the two quietly left the hospital together, making their way to Evans' home.
On their way a question slipped into Evans head saw he glanced at Reina curiously.
"Hey, Reina..."
She turned towards him.
"Did you recently graduate as a Sacred warrior?"
Reina nodded.
"Yeah."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"That's actually one of the reasons I'm here".
She brushed a strand of her hair.
"I left my parents house to stay with my aunt since her home is much closer to the academy I attended."
Evans blinked in surprise.
"I didn't even know there was another academy that trained Sacred Warriors."
Reina chuckled softly.
"There are quite a few of them spread across the country."
Then she continued,
"Anyway, I met your grandma at a nearby shop."
"I reminded her who I was and if she knew where I could find you..."
She became solemn.
"...and then she told me about your mother..."
She lowered her head.
"... and your little brother and sister."
"... I'm sorry, Evans."
The moment those words reached his ears...
Evans froze.
His hand slowly clutched his chest as though trying to stop the pain buried deep inside.
At least a year ago...
A Rift suddenly opened without warning.
His mother...
His little sister...
His little brother...
Had been waiting for him at the mall so they could return home together after his academy.
But When Evans finally got to the mall...
He was too late.
The street had become a bloodbath.
Half of his mother's body lay motionless on the ground.
His younger brother and sister...
We're gone as well. Nothing remained but scattered bloodstains.
He blamed himself every single day.
"If I had come earlier ...or I wasn't even born".
"Maybe...they would still be here."
But it's called the past for a reason so he had to keep moving forward.
The painful memories slowly faded.
Evans loosened his grip on his chest and forced a small smile.
"...It's okay."
"Thanks."
Reina looked at him silently.
Evans took a deep breath before forcing a smile.
"Anyways... What rank did you graduate with?"
Reina smiled confidently.
"It might be hard to believe..."
She folded her arms proudly.
"... but I'm one of this year's A-Rank Sacred Warriors."
Evans' eyes widened.
"I knew she was strong..."
"The amount of Sacred Energy I sensed from her wasn't normal."
He smiled.
"Wow... That's amazing."
"I heard only two or three students graduate as A-Rank Sacred Warriors this year."
"That's seriously impressive."
Reina grinned proudly.
"Of course."
She placed a hand on her waist.
"I'm not some delicate flower, you know."
Evans chuckled.
"Yeah, I can see that."
He looked ahead.
"Anyways... We're finally-"
Suddenly...
His heartbeat became erratic.
A sharp pain shot through his head.
He staggered.
At the same time, the crimson screen flashed before his eye.
"ERROR..."
"ERROR..."
"ERROR..."
"Searching for cause...."
[Cause Found]
"Loading..."
"Title: [The wanderi-]
"System Reboot Initiated."
"All Missions and Quests have been suspended."
"The system will fill fully initialize after today. "
For the briefest moment...
Evans saw a blurry silhouette standing in the the darkness beyond the screen.
Before he could make out its face-
It disappeared.
The screen vanished.
The pain faded.
"Evans?"
Reina gently placed a hand on his forehead.
Her expression became worried.
"Are you alright?"
Evans blinked several times before forcing himself to smile.
"... Yeah."
But inwardly...
His thoughts were racing.
"So that's why..."
"The system had an error."
"Is that why I never received any quests?"
He frowned.
"And... Who was that figure?"
For some reason...
He couldn't shake the feeling that it had been watching him.
Reina supported Evans as they slowly walked through the quiet streets until they stopped in front of a modest house.
It wasn't particularly large or luxurious.
Just an ordinary home.
Knock!Knock!
"Hello?"
A few moments later, the door cracked open.
An elder woman with short gray hair and a warm smile stepped outside.
She looked at Evans before raising an eyebrow.
"Evans..."
She tilted her head.
"Did you get yourself drunk or something?"
Evans couldn't help but laugh.
He slowly walked over and hugged her.
"Don't worry, Grandma."
"I'm okay."
Grandma Tina smiled gently as she patted his head.
"It's getting late".
"Why don't you come inside too, dear?"
Reina smiled politely.
"Thanks you very much, Grandma Tina."
The three entered the house.
It wasn't anything extraordinary.
Just a simple home filled with ordinary furniture and old family photographs.
The moment Evans smelled the food...
His stomach growled loudly.
Without saying another,he rushed into the kitchen.
"Food!"
Grandma Tina blinked.
"... what a glutton."
She watched as Evans stuffed his mouth with everything he could find.
She sighed.
"Slow down, child."
"You'll choke if you keep eating like that."
Reina watched the scene before letting out a small laugh.
"He really has a talent for ignoring advice."
After dinner, Reina stood up.
"If it's alright with you, Grandma Tina..."
"I'd like to take a bath."
Grandma Tina nodded with a smile.
"Of course."
Night soon fell .
After taking a bath, Evans stepped out with a towel wrapped securely around his waist, drying his damp hair with another towel.
Just then-
Bump!
He accidentally walked straight into someone.
"Oh!"
Reina had just finished her bath as well.wearing one Grandma Tina's towel that unexpectedly fit just right.
The two froze.
For a brief moment...
Evans scratched the back of his head before giggling then a teasing grin spread across his face.
"Nice outfit."
Reina's face instantly turned bright red.
"Y- You..."
Without thinking, she quickly covered Evans' eyes with both hands.
"You're such a dummy! And don't you dare have any ideas".
Evans couldn't help but laugh.
"That's like telling a cat not to eat a mice."
After a moment, his laughter softened into a warm smile.
He gently held her wrists and lowered her hands.
Looking at her sincerely, he said,
"Alright, alright... I'm sorry plus I don't actually know what ideas your talking about."
He smiled.
"Goodnight, Reina."
Reina stared at him for a second before quickly looking away.
Still blushing, she huffed.
"... whatever."
She turned and continue walking.
"Goodnight...too"
Watching her disappear down the hallway, then he walked into his small bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.
It was a wide but simple bed.
The very one he had once shared with his younger brother and sister.
For a brief moment...
His smile faded.
The room itself was modest.
The walls were covered with posters of anime characters and famous movie stars-one of Evans' favorite hobbies.
He let out a tired sigh before sleeping off.
Just then then the Forbidden Demon system slowly opened.
Then from the endless darkness a cold voice echoed.
"It will all End...by our hands"
"... Evans."