A sudden crack split through the scape.
Then—slowly—it healed.
The torn space rotated in on itself, dissipating energy unraveling into faint threads of light, reconnecting piece by piece as if nothing had ever been broken. The distortion thinned, faded, and vanished.
Nothing remained.
No sound.No movement.No trace.
Minori grabbed the front of my shirt, his face twisted between anger and confusion."What are you trying to do?!"
"I…" My voice faltered. "I just wanted you all to come with me."
Minori rubbed his temples, a migraine clearly forming."Adam, I don't even understand what you're saying," he groaned. "Unreality can never become reality."
[Unless unreality was reality all along.]
My eyes widened.
Rehan's voice lingered in the air, her gaze fixed on me.
Minori sighed sharply, running a hand through his hair."Don't make me regret this…" He froze.
His eyes sharpened.
"Someone entered this world."
The scape trembled. Manori's dream flickered violently, distorting at the edges.
Minori gestured urgently."Adam, I need you to get someone out of here. Please."
I already knew who it was.
But why was she here?
That shouldn't be possible. Yuruki was supposed to be in another world. How could two versions exist at the same time?
Worse—she hadn't even explained how she crossed over.
I snapped my fingers.
Space folded.
I reappeared near the yellow-haired girl. She wandered calmly, her left eye glowing faintly as it analyzed the environment. She hummed softly, smiling as if this world amused her.
A sudden shadow lunged from her blind spot.
A droid fired.
I calmly swiped the laser aside. It dissolved into the horizon.
"…Yuruki?"
She turned sharply, staring at my black-and-white hoodie, at the ethereal white energy leaking from my body."What the heck is going on?!"
I pressed my fingers to my temple."I'm the one who should be confused."
My thoughts rattled violently, possibilities crashing into each other.
[Adam… are you seriously—never mind.]Rehan cut herself off.[A girl who sacrificed herself for a piece of you…]
…?! "Why are there many different versions of you!?"
Yuruki tilted her head, deep in thought."So this is about probability," she muttered to herself, smiling. "Different scenarios… different branches."
She looked at me brightly."That means the theory was right! You really are from another world—and another version of me helped you, didn't she?"
I landed fully on the ground. Footsteps echoed.
She clapped her hands, excited—then stopped when she saw my expression.
"This isn't funny," I said. "You were in danger. In another world, you were trapped inside a behemoth. And it's my fault."
She stared blankly, clearly not remembering any of it."Oh. A clone?" she said casually. "Then it's not your fault."
Her smile didn't change.
"You look troubled," she added. "Is that person important to you?"
"Yes," I said. "And you're here, and I don't understand—shouldn't that be a good thing?"
And evem Karrin's name surfaced in my mind.Did he even survive?
Yuruki sighed."Then just leave that troublesome version of me."
I froze.
"What…?" My hands clenched around my hoodie. "What do you mean leave?"
"I mean, she's becoming a burden for you, isn't she?" Yuruki said calmly. "Wouldn't it be easier to abandon that clone?"
"WHAT CLONE?!" I shouted. "Are you telling me there are two of you in different worlds?!"
[Do you understand now, Adam?]Rehan gestured toward Yuruki.[There are infinite versions of the person important to you across infinite worlds.]
The realization hit me like a collapse.
"What did you do…?" I whispered, sinking to my knees.
Yuruki blinked."I was looking for you."
"You shouldn't have—"I stopped.
Why did I say that?
Who was I to tell someone where they should or shouldn't go?
Yuruki looked away, smiling faintly."That was my decision. Because I realized something."
Her voice softened.
"Your genome doesn't belong to the mechanical world. You're not one of us. You're from somewhere else."
Music drifted in—harps, strings, distant singing.
"And once I confirmed that you can access multiple dimensions…" She covered her mouth, laughing softly, eyes shining."That means I'll always be there. Wherever you are."
My stomach dropped.
"That was my conclusion," she continued. "And it gave me peace."
I stepped back.
Fear crept into my chest—not because I understood, but because I didn't. Something about it felt wrong. Morally wrong. Existentially wrong.
"Then just leave me," Yuruki said gently. "Leave the version of me that troubles you."
Her smile relaxed."Because I'll always exist."
Panic surged.
Then—
Two figures appeared.
My eyes widened with sudden resolve.
I'll save everyone.
No matter how many worlds.No matter how many versions.No matter how impossible.
"Heya, boss~!"
A girl with spiraling pink hair appeared, her eyes enormous and swirling. Beside her stood a boy with purple-blue hair and glasses.
He chuckled."Heard you're in a bit of trouble. Thought we'd help."
I froze.
I remembered the bet.The game I lost.
Yuruki glanced at them, then back at me."…Do you know these people?"
The pink-haired girl twirled a strand of hair around her finger."Wanna play a game, miss?"