Four days had passed since Leon Mercer had last appeared.
Four long days filled with uncertainty, unanswered questions, and a growing sense of absence that none of them wanted to acknowledge aloud. Every strange noise had made them glance toward the sky. Every flicker of light had made their hearts skip a beat. Yet the portal never appeared.
Night had settled comfortably over the streets surrounding the high school. Lanterns illuminated the sidewalk with warm pools of golden light, while countless stars shimmered above the city skyline. Beneath that peaceful sky, a small camp had formed near the school grounds. Blankets were spread across the pavement, snacks were scattered between half-finished conversations, and cups of tea released thin wisps of steam into the cool night air.
At the center of their gathering rested two objects that had become symbols of hope.
Leon's machete.
And beside it, the worn ARB patch.
Neither belonged in this world.
Both had become reminders that somewhere beyond reality itself, Leon was still fighting.
And if he was still fighting—
Then perhaps he would return.
Airi Tachibana had eventually fallen asleep beneath a blanket, curled up beside a lantern while quietly snoring. Daichi Kurogane remained awake, pacing nearby with his hands buried inside his pockets, stubbornly insisting on taking the role of night watchman despite everyone telling him it was unnecessary. Haruto Minase leaned silently against a railing overlooking the street, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the dark sky.
Beside him stood Shiori Aizawa.
The silver-haired girl gently held the ARB patch in both hands.
Her fingers traced its worn edges.
Her eyes reflected the stars above.
"Do you think he'll come back?" she asked quietly.
Haruto looked upward for several seconds before answering.
"He always has."
A faint smile appeared on Shiori's lips.
It wasn't confidence.
It was hope.
Then reality broke apart.
CRAAAAAAAAACK!
The sound exploded across the street like thunder.
The peaceful atmosphere vanished instantly.
Everyone jumped to their feet as the sky itself seemed to fracture. A massive portal ripped open above the road, spreading jagged crimson cracks through the darkness like shattered glass. Unlike the portals they had witnessed before, this one radiated something different.
Something wrong.
The air vibrated.
Streetlights flickered.
A terrible roar echoed from beyond the crimson rift.
Fear spread through the group immediately.
Shiori's eyes widened.
Daichi stopped moving.
Even Haruto's calm expression hardened.
Then something emerged.
A monstrous shape dropped from the portal and slammed into the street below.
Another followed.
Then another.
And another.
And another.
Five creatures landed upon the pavement with enough force to shake the surrounding area.
Nightmares.
Creatures born from the nightmare of Mirekun City.
Their distorted bodies looked almost unreal beneath the streetlights. Massive claws scraped across the asphalt. Twisted muscles rippled beneath corrupted flesh. Their glowing eyes scanned the surroundings with predatory hunger.
The pressure they radiated alone was enough to make breathing difficult.
Instinctively, Shiori stepped forward.
"Everyone, get back!"
Daichi immediately moved beside her.
Airi jolted awake in confusion before seeing the creatures and nearly falling backward.
The Nightmares began advancing.
Slowly.
Patiently.
Like predators savoring the fear of their prey.
Then something shot from the portal.
Fast.
Violent.
Relentless.
A dark figure exploded from the crimson rift and landed directly between the monsters and the group.
Leon Mercer.
His boots scraped across the pavement as he absorbed the impact.
His coat hung in tatters.
Fresh wounds marked his arms.
Dark veins pulsed faintly beneath his skin.
And his eyes—
His eyes looked different.
Not merely exhausted.
Not merely haunted.
There was something feral inside them now.
Something that reminded everyone just how long he had survived inside a world consumed by REV X-99.
Leon didn't waste a single second.
The moment his feet touched the ground, the first Nightmare attacked.
It never reached him.
Steel flashed through the darkness.
The creature collapsed.
The second lunged immediately afterward.
Leon moved before it could finish the motion.
Years of combat had transformed every action into instinct. There was no hesitation. No unnecessary movement. No wasted energy.
Only survival.
Only efficiency.
Only battle.
The street became a blur.
The third Nightmare attempted to flank him.
Leon pivoted.
The fourth charged.
Leon intercepted.
The fifth roared.
Leon answered with action.
Again and again, steel flashed beneath the streetlights.
The creatures fell one after another.
The entire battle lasted less than thirty seconds.
And then—
Silence.
The portal snapped shut.
The Nightmares lay defeated.
The street bore fresh scars from the brief conflict.
Cracks spread across the asphalt.
Streetlights flickered weakly.
Dust drifted through the night air.
And in the center of it all stood Leon Mercer.
Alone.
Breathing heavily.
His shoulders rose and fell.
His body trembled.
Not from exhaustion.
Not from injury.
From fear.
Fear of something far worse than the monsters he fought.
Fear of himself.
The dark veins along his arms slowly faded.
His hands shook visibly.
For several moments, he simply stood there staring at the pavement.
Then he lowered his head.
"They're gone now."
His voice sounded distant.
Cold.
Almost empty.
He never turned around.
He couldn't.
Because he already knew what should happen next.
He knew what people normally did when they saw this side of him.
They backed away.
They looked at him differently.
They became afraid.
So Leon waited.
Waited for footsteps retreating.
Waited for fear.
Waited for rejection.
Instead—
Footsteps approached.
His eyes widened slightly.
The footsteps didn't stop.
Shiori walked forward.
Past the remains of the battle.
Past the fear.
Past the monsters.
Until she stood directly in front of him.
Her eyes shimmered with emotion.
Not terror.
Not disgust.
Sadness.
Sadness for him.
"Leon-kun."
Her voice remained exactly the same.
Gentle.
Warm.
The same voice that had welcomed him every time he crossed worlds.
"You protected us."
Leon froze.
For a brief moment, he genuinely couldn't understand what he was hearing.
Then Shiori reached forward.
And took his trembling hand.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
Without doubt.
Warmth spread through his fingers.
Real warmth.
Human warmth.
Something he hadn't felt in a very long time.
Tears gathered in Shiori's eyes.
"You came back."
Her voice softened further.
"Even after everything."
Leon stared at her.
Unable to speak.
Unable to move.
Unable to understand why she wasn't running.
Shiori stepped closer.
The silver-haired girl who had once offered water to a stranger from another world now stood face-to-face with the darkness he feared most.
And she refused to retreat.
"I knew."
A small smile appeared on her face.
Fragile.
Yet unwavering.
"Your strength exists to protect people."
The words struck harder than any blade.
Nearby, Airi remained wrapped in her blanket, staring at the scene with wide eyes.
"O-Okay..."
She swallowed nervously.
"That was definitely terrifying."
A brief pause followed.
Then she forced a shaky smile.
"But you saved us."
Daichi exhaled heavily.
Only now did he realize his hands were shaking.
Even so, he stepped forward.
A grin slowly returned to his face.
Not as confident as usual.
But genuine.
"Yeah."
He crossed his arms.
"Scary? Sure."
His eyes locked onto Leon.
"But you're our scary guy."
For the first time that night, a faint crack appeared in Leon's emotional armor.
Haruto quietly approached next.
His gaze remained steady.
No fear.
Only understanding.
"This is your true form?"
His eyes drifted toward the fading veins.
Then he nodded.
"I understand now."
His voice remained calm.
"You're not afraid of becoming a monster."
Leon looked up.
Haruto met his gaze directly.
"You're afraid of hurting people."
The world seemed to stop.
Because it was true.
Completely true.
Leon had never feared death.
Never feared pain.
Never feared the Nightmares.
What he feared—
What truly terrified him—
Was becoming the very thing he fought against.
Shiori squeezed his hand.
Just a little tighter.
"No matter what form you take..."
Her voice carried through the silent street.
"We're staying."
For the first time in years, Leon felt something dangerous.
Something terrifying.
Hope.
Because hope meant attachment.
Hope meant trust.
Hope meant caring.
And caring meant loss.
The realization had barely settled before a sharp pain suddenly exploded through his chest.
Leon stiffened.
His eyes widened.
No.
Not now.
Not here.
His hand immediately slipped from Shiori's grasp as agony tore through his body. The dark veins returned instantly, spreading faster than before, crawling beneath his skin like rivers of black fire.
The air trembled.
Above them, the remains of the portal flickered violently.
His breathing became ragged.
His muscles tensed.
Every instinct screamed danger.
Shiori's expression changed immediately.
"Leon-kun?"
Leon staggered backward.
His body shook uncontrollably.
The crimson glow inside his eyes deepened.
His fingers curled into fists.
His breathing became harsher.
More animalistic.
More unstable.
A distorted sound escaped his throat.
Half growl.
Half scream.
Half agony.
He fell to one knee.
The pavement cracked beneath his hand.
"Get..."
His voice emerged in broken fragments.
Every word sounded painful.
"Away..."
The plea hung in the air.
Not a threat.
A warning.
A desperate request.
Haruto immediately understood.
Leon wasn't warning them about what he might do.
He was begging them to leave before he lost control.
Fear spread through the group.
Not fear of Leon.
Fear for him.
Airi stepped backward.
Daichi froze.
The pressure radiating from Leon had become overwhelming.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
Then Leon roared.
The sound echoed through the street.
Raw.
Painful.
Inhuman.
His hands gripped his head as though fighting something invisible.
Something buried deep inside himself.
"Can't..."
His voice cracked.
"Control..."
Every muscle in his body trembled.
"Killing..."
Shiori's heart shattered.
Because she finally understood.
This was the truth he had hidden.
Not a monster who enjoyed violence.
Not a monster who embraced darkness.
A man terrified of hurting others.
A survivor who fought himself every single day.
The distant sirens continued approaching.
The city seemed to hold its breath.
And then—
Shiori stepped forward.
Everyone froze.
"Shiori!"
Daichi shouted.
But she didn't stop.
One step.
Then another.
Then another.
The terrifying pressure surrounding Leon seemed to push against her.
Yet she continued walking.
Tears filled her eyes.
But determination burned brighter.
Finally, she stood before him.
Leon slowly looked up.
Crimson eyes met silver-blue eyes.
For a moment, the entire world seemed to disappear.
Shiori extended her hand.
Not toward a monster.
Toward Leon.
Only Leon.
Her fingers gently touched his trembling arm.
Warm.
Human.
Real.
Immediately, the violent tremors weakened.
Only slightly.
But enough.
"Look at me."
Her voice trembled with emotion.
Leon struggled.
But he obeyed.
Their eyes met.
And Shiori smiled through tears.
"I see you."
Three simple words.
Yet they shattered something inside him.
Not the infection.
Not the darkness.
Not the monster.
She saw him.
The real him.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"You came back."
Her hand tightened slightly.
"Again and again."
Her voice broke.
"Even when it hurts."
The crimson glow inside Leon's eyes flickered.
The roaring in his mind weakened.
Just a little.
Just enough.
Shiori's smile never wavered.
"So come back to us too."
The street fell silent.
Haruto watched quietly.
Daichi lowered his fists.
Airi held her breath.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Because they weren't watching a monster.
They were watching a wounded soul fight for himself.
And for the first time in years—
Leon Mercer heard something louder than fear.
Someone calling him home.
The night trembled beneath distant sirens.
Leon's crimson eyes remained locked onto Shiori's, their unnatural glow flickering like dying embers caught in a storm. The monstrous pressure surrounding him still lingered in the air, heavy enough to make every instinct scream for retreat. Yet Shiori stood her ground without hesitation, her trembling hand wrapped firmly around his arm as if anchoring him to the world itself.
For a long moment, neither moved.
Then the change began.
The dark veins crawling beneath Leon's skin pulsed violently before slowly beginning to recede. The clawed fingers that had terrified even seasoned survivors trembled as they gradually returned to human hands. His body convulsed under the strain, muscles tightening and releasing in painful waves as though an invisible battle raged beneath his skin.
The beast was fighting.
And so was he.
Leon lowered his head, breathing hard. His voice emerged rough and broken, each word sounding as though it had been torn from the depths of his soul.
"Shiori..."
The name escaped his lips like a desperate prayer.
His crimson eyes trembled.
"I... won't..."
A final roar erupted into the night.
It carried pain.
Fear.
Defiance.
Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the crimson glow vanished.
The monstrous pressure disappeared.
The dark veins faded.
And Leon Mercer stood once more as a man.
Only for his strength to leave him entirely.
His body swayed.
The adrenaline that had kept him moving through countless battles finally abandoned him. After years of surviving Mirekun City, after fighting Nightmares, REV X-99, and even himself, there was simply nothing left.
Leon collapsed forward.
But he never touched the ground.
Shiori caught him.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
His head rested gently against her shoulder as his breathing grew shallow and unsteady. Covered in blood and scars from a world of endless survival, he looked less like a legendary Runner and more like a man who had simply grown tired.
Tears welled in Shiori's eyes.
Not tears of sorrow.
Tears of relief.
Her fingers brushed softly through his hair as she held him close.
"You came back."
Her voice trembled.
Soft.
Proud.
"And you won."
Around them, the others slowly emerged from where they had taken cover.
Airi's eyes were wide with disbelief. Even now, fear lingered on her face, but it no longer outweighed her concern.
"He controlled it..."
Daichi stared at Leon in stunned silence before exhaling deeply.
"Unbelievable."
Haruto quietly observed the scene, his expression unreadable as always. Yet beneath that calm exterior was relief—a quiet understanding that Leon had fought the greatest battle of all and survived.
The sound of sirens grew closer.
Reality was returning.
Shiori's expression changed immediately.
Gentle became decisive.
Protective.
She carefully pulled off her jacket and draped it over Leon, shielding him from curious eyes and hiding the traces of another world. Nearby, his machete rested against the pavement, a silent witness to battles no one in this world could truly imagine.
She looked toward the others.
Her voice remained calm.
But left no room for argument.
"Help me carry him."
Daichi immediately stepped forward.
Haruto moved without a word.
Airi quickly gathered Leon's belongings—the worn machete, the ARB patch, and the Lumen Flare that had crossed worlds alongside him.
Together, they carried him through the sleeping streets beneath the moonlight.
Not as a burden.
But as family.
Shiori's home remained as peaceful as ever.
Soft lights illuminated the hallway, and the faint scent of tea lingered in the air. It was a world completely different from the ruined streets of Mirekun City.
A world Leon had fought to protect for people he barely knew.
The group carefully laid him upon the bed in the guest room.
His breathing remained steady.
Exhausted.
But peaceful.
For the first time in a very long while.
After thanking the others, Shiori quietly tended to his injuries. She cleaned dried blood from his skin, replaced worn bandages, and treated fresh wounds with gentle care. Each scar told a story of survival, and with every mark she discovered, her heart grew heavier.
How much pain had he endured alone?
When everything was finished, she pulled a blanket over him and sat quietly at his bedside.
Outside the room, Daichi stood guard.
Airi prepared tea.
Haruto kept watch by the window.
No one said it aloud.
But everyone feared the portal might appear again.
The night grew deeper.
Hours passed.
Moonlight streamed softly through the curtains.
Shiori never left.
Her fingers gently wrapped around Leon's hand, warm and steady against skin still carrying the remnants of REV X-99.
She lowered her voice to barely a whisper.
"Sleep, Leon-kun."
Her eyes softened.
"You don't have to fight tonight."
For the first time since crossing worlds, the survivor from Mirekun City slept beneath a roof untouched by fear.
And somewhere in the quiet darkness of that peaceful home—
Leon Mercer finally began to understand what he had been searching for all along.
Not survival.
Not victory.
Home.
Outside, distant sirens still echoed through the neighborhood as police investigated the mysterious incident that had scarred the streets. Witnesses spoke of monsters. Others spoke of a guardian who had appeared from nowhere.
No one knew the truth.
And inside the peaceful home of Shiori Aizawa, the truth lay sleeping.
Leon Mercer rested quietly in the guest room.
The moonlight filtering through the curtains painted silver across his sleeping figure. Fresh bandages wrapped his wounds, replacing the blood and scars of battle. The borrowed clothes fit awkwardly on his larger frame, but for the first time since arriving in this world, he looked less like a survivor from a ruined city and more like an ordinary young man.
Almost ordinary.
Shiori sat beside his bed.
She had not moved in over an hour.
Her hand remained wrapped gently around his, as though afraid that if she let go, the portal would take him away again.
Her gaze lingered on his peaceful face.
This man had crossed worlds.
Fought monsters.
Protected strangers.
And somehow, despite carrying enough pain to break anyone, he still chose to save others.
Her chest tightened.
Tonight, she had seen the darkness he feared.
The crimson eyes.
The black veins.
The monstrous power sleeping beneath his skin.
And yet—
She had never once seen him as a monster.
Only as Leon.
A wounded man trying desperately to remain human.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"He fought it."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"He fought it for us."
Her fingers tightened around his hand.
"No..."
Her expression softened further.
"For me."
The realization made her cheeks grow faintly warm.
She reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from his face.
"You're so strong, Leon-kun."
The words carried neither admiration nor worship.
Only quiet pride.
The kind that came from seeing someone's struggles and choosing to stay anyway.
Leaning forward slightly, she pressed a gentle kiss against his forehead.
Then she returned to her chair.
As if remaining beside him was the most natural thing in the world.
"I won't leave you alone anymore."
Outside the room, life continued.
The living room had become an impromptu meeting space.
A kettle steamed softly on the table while four cups of tea sat untouched.
No one was truly relaxed.
Not after what they had witnessed.
Airi paced back and forth with her phone in hand, though even she looked shaken.
Her screen glowed endlessly with notifications.
"Guys, this is insane."
She held up her phone.
"Everyone's talking about the Ghost Guardian! Videos are everywhere. Some people say it was a monster attack, while others swear they saw a hero fighting in the street."
Her voice lowered.
"But honestly?"
For once, her cheerful smile faltered.
"I thought we were going to die."
Daichi leaned against the wall with folded arms.
The image of Leon's transformation still lingered in his mind.
Those eyes.
That power.
That terrifying struggle.
Any normal person would have run.
Yet—
He remembered something else.
Leon had been begging them to leave.
Not because he wanted to hurt them.
Because he was afraid he would.
Daichi exhaled slowly.
"I'd be lying if I said it didn't scare me."
His voice was unusually serious.
"But after seeing him fight that hard to stay in control?"
A grin slowly returned to his face.
"That guy's tougher than anyone I've met."
Haruto sat quietly near the window.
The Lumen Flare rested in his hand.
Its metallic surface reflected the moonlight.
He had spent hours studying it.
Not as a weapon.
As proof.
Proof that another world existed.
Proof that a single person had carried unimaginable burdens alone.
His gaze shifted toward the guest room.
"REV X-99 didn't just change his body."
His voice remained calm.
"It changed the way he sees himself."
The others turned toward him.
Haruto lowered his eyes.
"He isn't afraid of dying."
He paused.
"He's afraid of becoming the reason someone else dies."
Silence followed.
No one argued.
Because they all knew it was true.
Leon Mercer carried Mirekun City inside him.
Its horrors.
Its losses.
Its nightmares.
And every day, he fought battles no one else could see.
The sound of footsteps interrupted their thoughts.
Shiori emerged from the guest room quietly.
Her expression remained gentle.
But there was a strength in her eyes now that hadn't been there before.
A quiet determination.
She looked at each of them.
Then spoke.
"We can't leave everything to him anymore."
Daichi straightened immediately.
Airi blinked.
Even Haruto listened closely.
Shiori held Leon's worn ARB patch in her hands.
A symbol of another world.
And of someone who kept returning despite every reason not to.
"He protects us."
Her voice was steady.
"Now it's our turn to protect him."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Only conviction.
Airi nodded first.
Daichi grinned.
Haruto gave a quiet nod of agreement.
The group exchanged glances.
No words were needed.
From this night onward—
They would no longer be spectators.
They would become his support.
His allies.
His home.
Beyond the guest room door, Leon slept peacefully beneath the soft glow of moonlight.
Unaware that while he fought monsters in one world—
A family had begun waiting for him in another.
The sensation felt unfamiliar.
Leon Mercer drifted slowly through the haze of unconsciousness, his thoughts tangled between memory and dream. For a moment, he expected pain. He expected the cold concrete of a Haven in Mirekun City, the distant cries of Nightmares beyond UV barriers, or the suffocating smell of smoke and blood that had become the backdrop of his life.
Instead—
He smelled food.
Freshly cooked rice.
Miso soup.
Something warm.
Something peaceful.
His eyes slowly opened.
Soft lamplight illuminated the room in gentle shades of amber. The ceiling above him was unfamiliar. Clean. Untouched by decay. No cracked walls. No emergency lights flickering overhead.
No Mirekun City.
His body felt impossibly heavy.
The aftermath of the transformation lingered like poison in his veins. Every muscle ached. His chest burned. Even breathing required effort.
Then he noticed it.
A hand.
Small.
Warm.
Holding his.
Leon turned his head.
And froze.
Shiori sat beside the bed, her head resting against folded arms near the mattress. Her silver hair reflected the soft glow of the lamp, and even in sleep, she had not let go of his hand.
She had stayed.
The realization struck harder than any battle.
Memories returned in fragments.
The Nightmares.
The transformation.
The fear in everyone's eyes.
No—
Not everyone's.
Shiori had walked toward him.
Toward the monster he feared.
And stayed.
Leon's fingers trembled slightly.
He squeezed her hand.
Weakly.
Carefully.
"Shiori..."
His voice came out rough and hoarse.
Barely a whisper.
Her eyes fluttered open immediately.
For a brief moment, confusion crossed her face.
Then relief flooded it completely.
"Leon-kun!"
She straightened so quickly that her chair nearly tipped over.
Her eyes searched his face with frantic concern.
"You're awake!"
Before he could even respond, her hands gently checked his bandages with practiced care. She adjusted his blanket, fixed his pillow, and made sure he wasn't straining himself.
The motions were smooth.
Natural.
As though she had done this countless times before.
"Please don't move too much," she said softly. "You pushed yourself too hard."
Leon blinked.
Pushed himself too hard.
The words sounded strangely ordinary.
Like he was just another exhausted person recovering from illness.
Not a man carrying REV X-99 inside his body.
Not a survivor from another world.
Just—
Leon.
Before he could speak again, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
The door slid open.
Airi practically burst into the room.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"He's awake!"
She pointed dramatically.
"Our legendary Ghost Guardian returns!"
Despite her usual energy, Leon noticed something unusual.
Relief.
Real relief.
She had been worried.
Behind her entered Daichi carrying a tray of food.
The scent immediately filled the room.
Rice.
Grilled fish.
Vegetables.
A proper meal.
Daichi grinned.
"About time."
He carefully placed the tray nearby.
"Shiori spent forever making this. Recovery food. Doctor's orders."
His grin softened.
"And for the record? You scared us."
Simple words.
But honest ones.
Haruto entered last.
As quiet as always.
In his hand rested a familiar object.
A Lumen Flare.
Leon's eyes widened slightly.
Haruto placed it on the bedside table.
Beside the ARB patch.
Beside the machete.
The pieces of another world.
"We kept them safe."
His voice remained calm.
Steady.
Like always.
Then he gave a small nod.
The kind that said more than words ever could.
"Welcome back."
Brother.
The word remained unspoken.
Yet Leon heard it anyway.
Shiori gently sat beside the bed again.
She picked up a spoon.
Scooped a small portion of rice.
And held it toward him.
Leon stared.
Confused.
"Shiori..."
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
But her expression never wavered.
"You need to eat."
There was no room for argument.
Not from her.
Not after everything.
For a man who had survived seven years in Mirekun City—
Who had fought Nightmares, crossed dimensions, and battled the darkness within himself—
This simple gesture somehow felt more overwhelming than any battlefield.
His throat tightened unexpectedly.
No one had done this for him in years.
Perhaps—
No one ever had.
Shiori smiled gently.
The same smile that had welcomed a stranger beneath falling cherry blossoms.
The same smile that had reached through the darkness of REV X-99.
The same smile that told him, without saying it aloud:
You're not alone anymore.
Outside the window, the night remained quiet.
No screams.
No sirens.
No monsters.
Only peace.
And for the first time since the fall of Mirekun City—
Leon Mercer found himself wondering if this was what home truly felt like.
Soft lamplight illuminated the quiet space, casting gentle shadows across the neatly arranged furniture. The faint aroma of freshly cooked food drifted in from the kitchen, mixing with the scent of medicine and clean sheets. It was a peaceful room—so different from the ruined shelters and abandoned Havens of Mirekun City that Leon almost thought he was dreaming.
He sat propped against the bed, fresh bandages wrapped around his body beneath an oversized shirt borrowed from Shiori's father. The transformation had left him exhausted. Every muscle ached as though it had been torn apart and stitched back together. Yet despite the pain, there was something strangely comforting about the room.
Perhaps it was because he wasn't alone.
Shiori sat beside him with a bowl of warm food resting in her lap. Her silver hair caught the glow of the lamp, and though exhaustion lingered in her eyes after spending the entire night at his bedside, she remained as gentle as ever. When she lifted the spoon toward him, Leon hesitated for a moment before accepting it. The simple taste of homemade food spread warmth through his chest in a way he had long forgotten.
After years of surviving on ration packs and scavenged supplies, a quiet meal shared with others felt almost unreal.
Leon lowered his gaze to the blanket covering his lap. There were words he had carried for a long time—words he had never learned to say.
"Shiori..."
His voice came out hoarse.
She immediately looked up.
"Leon-kun? Does something hurt?"
He slowly shook his head.
"No. It's just..." He paused, searching for words that felt far more difficult than any battle. "Thank you. And... I'm sorry."
Confusion briefly crossed her face before understanding settled into her expression.
Leon let out a quiet breath. "I didn't trust any of you. I kept my distance. Part of me always thought I'd disappear tomorrow or lose everything again. In Mirekun City, people vanish overnight. You stop trusting because it hurts less when they're gone."
The room grew quiet.
Even Airi, who had been scrolling through endless messages about the mysterious Ghost Guardian online, lowered her phone. Daichi's usual grin faded, while Haruto remained silent near the window, listening carefully.
Shiori stared at Leon for several seconds before gently setting the bowl aside. Then, without hesitation, she placed both hands against his cheeks.
Her palms were warm.
Steady.
Real.
"Leon-kun," she whispered softly, tears forming in her eyes, "you survived a world that taught you to lose everything. Of course trusting people is difficult."
There was no blame in her voice.
No disappointment.
Only understanding.
"You protected everyone," she continued, her fingers trembling slightly. "Even when you were afraid of yourself. So please don't apologize for surviving."
Something inside Leon's chest tightened painfully.
Not fear.
Not guilt.
Something unfamiliar.
Relief.
For the first time in years, someone had looked directly at the darkness inside him and chosen to stay.
Nearby, Daichi crossed his arms with a small smile. "You know, for a guy who fought Nightmares and crossed dimensions, you're pretty bad at accepting kindness."
Airi immediately nodded. "Seriously! We were terrified, worried, and sleep-deprived because of you. Which means you're officially one of us now."
Even Haruto gave a small nod of agreement. "Trust isn't given all at once. We'll earn yours too."
Leon stared silently at the people gathered in the room.
A few weeks ago, they had been strangers from another world.
Now they sat beside his bed, worried about his health, teasing him like family.
Family.
The word still felt strange.
Yet for the first time since the fall of Mirekun City, it no longer felt impossible.
Shiori picked up the spoon again and held it toward him with quiet determination.
"Enough serious talk," she said gently. "You still need to recover."
Leon looked at the spoon, then at her unwavering smile.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his own face.
Small.
Tired.
Real.
Outside, the night remained peaceful.
No screams echoed through the darkness.
No Nightmares hunted the streets.
Only the quiet sounds of an ordinary home.
And as Leon accepted another bite of food, he realized something that frightened him far more than any monster.
He wanted this peace to last.
The tension that had followed Leon's transformation had finally begun to fade, replaced by a warmth so unfamiliar that it almost felt fragile. Outside the window, the night remained quiet, untouched by the horrors of another world. Inside, however, the room had become something Leon had not experienced in years.
A home.
Shiori sat beside him with the patience of someone who had decided long ago not to leave. The bowl rested carefully in her lap as she held another spoonful toward him. Around the room, Airi sat cross-legged on the floor scrolling through endless online discussions about the mysterious "Ghost Guardian," Daichi leaned against the wall with folded arms, and Haruto remained quietly by the window, the faint moonlight outlining his calm figure.
For a moment, Leon simply stared at the spoon.
Then he accepted it.
The moment the food touched his tongue, his eyes widened.
Warm rice.
Perfectly seasoned fish.
Fresh vegetables cooked with care.
Simple food.
Ordinary food.
And yet—
His hand trembled slightly.
For years, meals in Mirekun City had been nothing more than fuel. Emergency rations. Stale supplies scavenged from abandoned buildings. Food eaten quickly while watching rooftops for Nightmares or listening for the distant cries of the infected. Taste had become meaningless long ago.
But this—
This tasted like life before the world ended.
Leon lowered his gaze to the bowl, momentarily unable to speak.
When he finally did, his voice was quiet.
Almost disbelieving.
"I've never tasted anything like this."
Shiori blinked in surprise.
Leon slowly looked at her.
"Even before REV X-99 spread through Mirekun City, meals like this were rare. After the outbreak..." He gave a faint smile that carried years of exhaustion. "Food became survival."
The corners of Shiori's lips lifted.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
"I'm glad you like it."
Her voice softened.
"I made it hoping it would help you recover."
The words were simple.
But Leon understood what she truly meant.
Care.
Warmth.
A place waiting for him.
Airi suddenly clutched a pillow against her chest.
"Look at his face!"
She pointed dramatically.
"That's not recovery. That's someone experiencing civilization for the first time!"
Daichi laughed.
"Honestly? If food this good existed in Mirekun City, maybe those monsters would've calmed down."
Even Haruto quietly accepted a small portion from the side dishes. After tasting it, he gave a small nod of approval.
"Excellent."
One word.
High praise from him.
Shiori's expression brightened.
Then, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, she lifted another spoonful toward Leon.
"You still need strength."
Her silver-blue eyes remained fixed on him with gentle determination.
"So eat."
Leon hesitated.
Not because he disliked it.
Because he wasn't used to being cared for.
In Mirekun City, kindness often came with conditions.
Trust was expensive.
And survival demanded payment.
Yet here—
No one had asked him for anything.
No missions.
No rewards.
No bargains.
Only stay.
He slowly accepted another bite.
The warmth spread through him again.
And with it came memories.
Old ones.
Painful ones.
His hand tightened around the blanket.
The room noticed immediately.
Shiori lowered the spoon slightly.
"Leon-kun?"
His gaze drifted toward the moonlit window.
Far beyond the sky—
Beyond dimensions—
Mirekun City still existed.
Waiting.
Haunting.
He exhaled quietly.
"This behavior of mine..."
His voice had grown distant.
Not cold.
Tired.
"It came from my world."
The room fell silent.
Even Airi put down her phone.
Leon stared at the bowl resting in Shiori's hands.
"In Mirekun City, trust gets people killed."
His words were calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm that only came after years of suffering.
"People steal food. Weapons. Medicine. Sometimes hope itself."
His gaze lowered.
"I trusted people before."
For the first time since waking up, genuine pain crossed his face.
"Some fought beside me."
Brothers.
Friends.
People he had once called family.
His voice grew quieter.
"And some betrayed me."
The room remained silent.
No one interrupted.
No one dared.
"They left me behind. Used me. Chose themselves."
His fingers trembled slightly.
"So eventually I learned."
His eyes lifted toward Shiori.
"Survive alone."
There was no anger in his voice.
Only resignation.
A rule carved into his soul through years of loss.
Shiori's eyes slowly filled with tears.
Not because she pitied him.
Because she understood.
How lonely must someone become before solitude felt safer than trust?
Her hand gently reached up.
Her thumb brushed against his cheek.
Warm.
Careful.
Human.
"Leon-kun..."
Her voice trembled softly.
"That's cruel."
Simple words.
Yet somehow more powerful than outrage.
Because they acknowledged the truth.
What he had endured was unfair.
She held his gaze.
Steady.
Unwavering.
"But this world isn't Mirekun City."
Her fingers remained against his cheek.
"And we aren't leaving."
The words settled quietly into the room.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Simply true.
Daichi's expression hardened.
"If someone betrays you here," he said firmly, "they answer to me first."
Airi immediately nodded.
"Seriously! We're way too emotionally invested now."
Even Haruto spoke.
Rare.
Measured.
Important.
"Trust takes time."
His calm gaze met Leon's.
"We'll earn it."
Leon stared at them.
At people who had every reason to fear him.
Every reason to walk away.
And yet—
They stayed.
Shiori lifted the spoon once more.
Her smile was gentle.
Patient.
The kind that never forced.
"One step at a time."
Leon looked at the spoon.
Then at the faces surrounding him.
Something in his chest loosened.
A burden.
A wall.
Perhaps not gone.
But cracking.
Slowly, he accepted another bite.
Outside, the night remained peaceful.
Inside, surrounded by warmth and quiet laughter, Leon Mercer experienced something more terrifying than monsters.
He experienced the possibility of trust.
And for the first time in years—
He wanted to believe in it.
The meal had long since lost its steam, yet its warmth remained in ways food alone never could. Laughter had replaced tension. Stories had replaced silence. For the first time since crossing worlds, Leon Mercer sat in a peaceful room surrounded by people who wanted nothing from him except his presence.
The guest room glowed softly beneath the lamplight. Empty dishes rested on the bedside table, and the scent of home-cooked food still lingered faintly in the air. Outside, the night remained calm and undisturbed.
Inside—
Something had changed.
Not in the room.
In Leon.
He leaned back against the pillows, feeling a fullness he barely recognized. It wasn't just the meal. It was the conversation. The understanding. The realization that people had listened to his past and chosen to stay anyway.
For years, survival had been his only purpose.
Tonight, for the first time, living felt possible.
Shiori sat beside him quietly, her expression gentle as always. Daichi stood near the doorway with folded arms, Airi scrolled through the endless flood of online rumors about the mysterious Ghost Guardian, and Haruto remained by the window, silent and thoughtful.
It almost felt normal.
Then the air shimmered.
At first, it was subtle.
A faint distortion near the edge of the room.
Like heat rising from stone.
Leon felt it immediately.
His expression changed.
No.
Not now.
His hand instinctively clenched around the blanket.
The portal.
The others noticed his reaction at once.
Shiori turned toward him. "Leon-kun?"
Before he could answer, faint particles of light began rising from his feet.
Golden.
Silent.
His body was fading.
Not violently.
Not painfully.
As though reality itself had decided it was time for him to return.
Airi's phone slipped from her hands.
Daichi's eyes widened.
Even Haruto's calm expression faltered.
Shiori froze.
Her face drained of color.
"No..."
The glow spread upward.
Slowly.
Inevitably.
Leon stared at his dissolving hands.
After all the battles he had survived, all the monsters he had fought, all the nights he had believed death would finally claim him—
This was what frightened him most.
Leaving.
Again.
His gaze lifted to Shiori.
There were countless things he wanted to say.
Too many.
Far too many.
In the end, only one fear remained.
What if he returned to Mirekun City and lost himself?
What if REV X-99 eventually won?
What if the next time he crossed worlds—
There was no Leon Mercer left to return?
He reached toward her.
His hand trembled.
"Shiori..."
His voice was steady.
But his eyes betrayed him.
"If I'm still me..."
The words hung heavily in the room.
He forced a faint smile.
Small.
Tired.
Real.
"I'll come back."
Shiori's eyes widened.
Tears immediately spilled down her cheeks.
"No."
She lunged forward and grabbed his fading hand with both of hers.
As if sheer determination could hold back dimensions themselves.
"Leon-kun, you're still you."
Her voice trembled.
Yet never broke.
"You fought the darkness."
Her grip tightened.
"You came back to us."
The particles of light slipped through her fingers.
Reality was pulling him away.
But she refused to let go.
"So come back again."
Her tears fell freely now.
"We'll wait."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
No doubt.
Only certainty.
"We'll always wait."
Nearby, Airi had begun crying openly.
"This is unfair!"
She wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
"You can't say something like that and vanish!"
Even now, despite her tears, she tried to smile.
"Heroes aren't allowed to disappear after emotional speeches!"
Daichi clenched his fists.
The veins in his arms tensed.
Not from anger.
From helplessness.
He had spent his life believing problems could be solved with effort.
But there was nothing to punch.
Nothing to fight.
Only a world taking back someone who had finally found a place in it.
"You hear me, Mercer?" he said firmly.
"You'd better come back."
His voice cracked.
Just slightly.
"The squad isn't complete without you."
By the window, Haruto quietly closed his hand around the Lumen Flare resting in his pocket.
His gaze remained fixed on Leon.
Calm.
Steady.
Yet behind those eyes lay understanding.
Deep understanding.
He had seen the transformation.
The fear.
The struggle.
And now—
He understood the true meaning behind Leon's words.
If I'm still me.
Haruto spoke quietly.
Not to the room.
To himself.
"He's afraid."
The others looked toward him.
Haruto's eyes darkened.
"The infection is progressing."
Silence fell.
No one interrupted.
No one wanted to.
Haruto continued.
"In Mirekun City, he survives because he fights. But fighting means stress. Injury. Rage."
His gaze lowered.
"And every battle pushes him closer to losing himself."
Shiori's breath caught.
The room suddenly felt colder.
Haruto looked toward the fading figure on the bed.
"If he returns as himself, we'll know."
His voice remained calm.
Measured.
"But if REV X-99 takes everything..."
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
Everyone understood.
Shiori slowly stood.
Tears remained in her eyes.
But there was no fear in them.
Only resolve.
She looked toward the spot where Leon's form had nearly vanished.
Her voice was quiet.
Yet unwavering.
"Then we'll save him."
Simple words.
But powerful enough to cross worlds.
Daichi nodded immediately.
Airi wiped away tears and forced herself to smile.
Haruto gave a small nod.
A promise.
A vow.
Family.
The light grew brighter.
Leon looked at them one last time.
At the room.
At the people who had become precious to him.
At the home he never thought he deserved.
And then—
He vanished.
The particles of light drifted upward like stars returning to the night sky before fading completely.
Silence remained.
The room felt emptier.
Yet somehow—
Not hopeless.
Shiori slowly lowered her hands and stared at the empty space where he had been.
Her chest ached.
But beneath the ache was certainty.
He had promised.
And Leon Mercer was a man who kept promises.
Outside, the moon shone quietly over a peaceful world.
Far away, beyond dimensions and ruined cities, a survivor opened his eyes beneath a different sky.
The battle was not over.
But now—
He had a reason to return.