Night fell. Just minutes before the broadcast began, the crowd at Shibuya Crossing had swelled even larger than before. The atmosphere was tense but still under control—watched closely by the military and police, who didn't know what might unfold from such a massive gathering.
All ads and promos on the giant screens suddenly flickered off, replaced by a live broadcast from New York.
Antonio Callahan, head of the United Nations, sat behind a desk. A row of microphones from global media outlets lined up before him. Silence fell over the crowd.
"Good morning, America. And greetings to the people of the world.
I, Antonio Callahan, speak to you today as head of the United Nations, to answer the question now echoing across the world—the truth about the land beyond Antarctica."
A silence fell.
"As many have seen, CIA declassified documents have been released. In 1928, during the first 'Byrd Antarctic Expedition,' Admiral Albert E. Byrd reported something beyond belief—a landmass larger than the United States beyond the South Pole.
But it wasn't just empty land. There, they encountered an intelligent, non-human race—what we now recognize as extraterrestrial beings."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Some shouted in disbelief. Others cried, "I KNEW IT!".
"From 1933 to 1935, the U.S. government checked ourself and launched the 'United States Antarctic Service Expedition' to explore and map the continent. Again, the same surreal discoveries were made.
In 1946, Operation Highjump, now led again by Admiral Byrd, was not about testing weapons as we publicly claimed—but an attempt to conquer this as we called, an alien domain.
We failed. Badly. Their defenses weren't physical—they used something we could only describe as magic."
People whispers turned to shouts.
"In 1955, we launched Operation Deep Freeze—a second attempt, bolstered by new technologies. Again, we lost. But this time, we managed to capture a few of them—dead and alive—and brought them to our base at Area 51."
"After prolonged study and interrogation, they learned our language. And what they told us changed everything.
'Beyond the ice wall of Terra lies a world seven times larger than yours. We are only one race. There are others—more powerful, more ancient. You, greedy humans, will never rule us... or them.' the extraterrestrial explained"
Crowd frozen. Some fainted. Some laughed in madness. Others fell silent, as if a lifelong theory had just been proven.
"Recognizing the threat, in 1958, the U.S. shared this secret with twelve other nations. In 1959, we formed the Antarctic Treaty—to seal off that land from the world and to defend worst possible counter attack from them.
But that wasn't enough. We needed a global diversion. So, in 1969, we staged the Moon Landing—to shift the world's gaze upward, not southward."
Outrage began to stir.
"Now, we stand at the edge of that truth again. But this time, we won't hide.
The beings possibly of returning. And humanity must stand as one—not divided by borders or nations.
No more America. No more Europe, China, Japan, Russia. Only one—
We are one, as Neo Earth.
The New World Order.
So please… lend us your hands. Unite, humanity!."
With that, Antonio Callahan stood. The cameras cut. The speech ended.
For a moment, silence.
Then chaos.
The Truth has been spoken.
In the U.S., protests exploded into riots—bottles, rocks, and Molotovs flew.
In Southeast Asia, places like Indonesia erupted. Government buildings were stormed.
In Japan, at Shibuya Crossing—where Ayato, Mira, and Utsushi were embedded—the chaos began to stir, though the people remained unarmed.
"Brother, retreat! The crowd's turning violent!" Mira shouted into Ayato's earpiece.
"I know—it's hard to move! I'll find a path!" Ayato replied, weaving through the tightening crowd.
Inside the nearby café, once filled with indifferent bystanders, people began to panic. The truth had sunk in.
"Ayato! Meet me by the station—we need to stick together!" Utsushi called.
"On my way! Mira—get down here. We'll need a getaway vehicle."
"Got it!" Mira rappelled from the building rooftop, cutting through the madness.
The crowd was turning. People were screaming, pushing, some trampled underfoot. Police fired warning shots into the air as the tide swelled.
Ayato, Mira, and Utsushi, using their skill and training, finally regrouped and escaped. They sped off toward Edenfall HQ in their car.
Inside the vehicle, Mira drove—swerving to avoid people who flooded the streets in panic.
"The chaos came from the people," Ayato said. "But the military and police… they only defended. No attacks yet. That's something."
"Stores were looted. Some took advantage of the confusion," Utsushi added grimly.
"If we didn't have Mira watching from above, we wouldn't have made it out in time," Ayato said.
"Hehe… yeah. You're welcome, brother," Mira smiled, gripping the wheel.
Their city was unraveling behind them—but they had survived the night.
At the Kirishima residence—in a high-class district, heavily guarded with hired armed police thanks to Arisuke's father's position in the government.
Inside Arisuke's bedroom, the television blared live footage from Shibuya Crossing, now descending into unrest, the aftermath of Antonio Callahan's speech rippling across the globe.
"I'm glad you're here, Yuki-chan," Arisuke said softly.
"Yeah... thank you," she replied flatly, her fingers wrapped tightly around the bracelet on her left wrist.
Arisuke smiled faintly and stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I love you, Yuki-chan. Please… never leave me again."
"I'm sorry… but not now, Ari-chan." She gently slipped out of his embrace.
"…Okay. I understand," he said quietly, trying to respect the change within her.
Without another word, Yuki turned and left the room.
"Where are you going, Yuki-chan?" Arisuke asked.
"I just… need some time alone," she replied over her shoulder.
She stepped out onto the rooftop terrace, the wind brushing against her skin as she stood beneath the vast, changing sky. In the distance, the echoes of a shifting world stirred through the night.
"Takumi... the world is changing," she whispered. "I remember when I asked about Antarctica—you explained everything with that spark in your eyes. You were always so curious... If only you'd stayed a little longer... you would've seen the truth for yourself." She gently stroked the small blue key charm on her bracelet.
"Today, I make a promise to you Takumi-chan. I'll become stronger—no matter how this world twists. For the life you gave me… I'll protect it too. So watch over me, Takumi… from wherever you are."
She hugged the bracelet to her chest, closing her eyes as if to hear his heartbeat one last time.
That night, Yuki remained on the rooftop, gazing silently at the stars above—a quiet resolve forming within her as the world unraveled below.
She promised to be strong, even without him.
At Edenfall Japan HQ, Mira, Ayato, and Utsushi arrived, ready to report to Raizen—only to find him absent. Instead, they were greeted by Haruka Kisaragi, Raizen's calm and composed strategist.
"Haruka-chan, have you seen Master?, I mean Takamura-dono?" Ayato asked.
"Ah… boss is in Takumi's room, with Reika-san. She asked him to see something."
Mira froze for a moment—then bolted without another word. Her heart raced as her feet carried her down the corridor, her emotions a blur of hope, fear, and disbelief. She reached Takumi's room and burst through the door.
"Takumi!" Mira cried out.
Raizen and Reika turned toward her, surprised by her entrance. But Mira's eyes only searched for one thing—and found it.
He was no longer in bed.
A man stood quietly in front of the mirror—Takumi Asahiro. Slowly, he turned to face her.
"…Mira-san?" Takumi said gently.
Mira's breath caught. Her eyes welled up. Then, without hesitation, she ran to him and wrapped her arms around him, sobbing.
"Haaaaahhh… Takumi… You're back… Thank you, thank you, thank you…"
Takumi, confused but moved by her overflowing emotion, gently hugged her back.
"Ah… sorry, Mira-san. My body's still a little weak…"
She held him tighter, crying into his shoulder.
"…Takumi… thank you," she whispered through her tears.
And then—
A kiss.
Mira cupped his face and pressed her lips softly to his.
Takumi's first kiss—given by the girl who had always loved him.
Raizen and Reika exchanged warm smiles just as Ayato and Utsushi arrived at the door, witnessing the quiet miracle of the moment—Mira's love finally reaching the boy who returned from death.
Welcome back, Her Savior!