Souta sat on the sofa in his rented apartment, conjured a soda with the system, took a sip, and let out a gentle burp.
His mind was still lingering with the magnificent image of the starry sky and the brilliance of the starlight that wouldn't fade... His first journey beyond Earth left him awestruck.
And made him realize just how small he was.
"As expected, she's not that easy to deal with..."
Souta recalled how Takamiya Mio came out of the energy blast completely unscathed and couldn't help but marvel.
If he had dropped an antimatter bomb on Fuyuki City, the Holy Grail War would've ended instantly.
And yet, Mio didn't even lose a strand of hair.
But then again, considering that in her prime she could extend her territory to cover the entire planet, it wasn't all that surprising.
Even in her weakened state, once Mio fully deployed her angel form, her defense was still far beyond his reach.
"Knowing she can't catch me, she'll probably stop targeting me."
Souta concluded in his mind.
That would be for the best—otherwise, if Mio started hunting him across worlds, it'd be a massive headache.
He couldn't tiptoe around every time he entered the Date A Live world, right?
Souta pulled out his system phone and began sharing his battle results in the chat group.
Souta: "Just had a fight with Takamiya Mio and got away smoothly."
Altair: "Wait, Souta. You're already that strong?"
Rin Tohsaka: "Wait, isn't Takamiya Mio the one you guys said could destroy a planet?"
Souta: "Not sure about a whole planet, but destroying the surface in her prime? Totally possible."
Rin Tohsaka: "Seriously? You fought someone like that and lived to tell the tale?"
Souta: "Rin, what's that supposed to mean? I'm not weak, okay? I could solo all seven servants in your Fuyuki City Holy Grail War!"
Altair: "I'm also a bit curious how you managed to survive, Souta."
Shiroyasha: "Takamiya Mio? Wasn't she that brat we taught a lesson last time? Kid, she could crush you with one hand. You're lucky to still be alive."
Kurumi: "Souta, don't tell me... she fell for you? Is that why she let you go?"
Souta: "Do you guys seriously underestimate my strength?"
What the heck? He shared his battle log to show off, and instead of compliments, they were all roasting him?
He started to suspect they had coordinated this behind his back.
Kurumi: "Forget strength for now. Souta, you really ran into Mio?"
Souta: "Yeah. When I went back in time to save someone, she noticed me. I think she tailed me for six days and only acted once she confirmed Shiroyasha wasn't around."
Shiroyasha: "Oh? Even when I'm not there, my presence is still that intimidating? Seems my reputation hasn't declined over the years."
Souta: "@Shiroyasha I think you should come back and beat Mio up a few more times. That way she might behave."
Shiroyasha: "Nah, as a floor master, I'm too busy to even touch the ground these days. I don't have time to help you with your grudges."
Souta was skeptical. Too busy, yet still active in the chat?
Probably just didn't want to bother unless there was something in it for her.
Altair: "By the way, has anyone noticed Tanjiro hasn't said a word since joining? I'm a little concerned—did something happen to him?"
Rin Tohsaka: "Maybe he's in danger?"
Souta: "Unlikely. If a group member is in danger, the system would issue a rescue mission. That's how I got to know Shinobu."
Rin Tohsaka: "Maybe he got captured and lost his freedom?"
Altair: "Even then, it wouldn't stop him. The system phone can be voice-controlled. Unless he's captured and mute, he should be able to chat."
Souta: "Ahem, I do have a theory about that. But I'll confirm it after I return from the Date A Live world. I plan to use a 'travel card' to go to his world and check it out. No rush for now."
Kurumi: "Hm? You're going to my world again?"
Souta: "Yeah. Mio forced me out just now, and I didn't get to retrieve the faith energy I stored five years ago. That faith could level me up to max demi-god tier."
Souta: "That's it for now. I'm heading to the Date A Live world."
He sent the message and put down his phone.
But just as he set it down, it buzzed again.
"Hm?" He checked and saw a private message from Kurumi.
Kurumi: "Souta, what you did just now was reckless!"
Kurumi: "Did you forget what I told you? If you're in danger, just return to your world. Why did you fight Takamiya Mio?"
Souta: "Sorry, are you mad?"
Kurumi: "Of course I am! I want you to take your safety more seriously."
Souta: "I had no choice. I was with the past version of you. I had to stall Mio so you could escape. I couldn't just abandon you, Kurumi."
Kurumi: "I... was with you?"
Meanwhile, in the Akame ga Kill! world—
Kurumi, currently staying in an inn with Chelsea, rubbed her temples and sighed.
But the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
"What's wrong, Kurumi?" Chelsea asked, confused.
Why was she smiling like an idiot all of a sudden?
"How long until Akame and the others start fighting?" Kurumi asked.
"According to the manga, just a few days," Chelsea replied. "Let's just treat this like a vacation."
"A few days, huh..." Kurumi sounded slightly disappointed.
"You got something going on?" Chelsea asked.
"Yeah," Kurumi looked out the window with a gentle smile, "I want to return to Souta's world soon... and eat him up."
Kurumi ignored Chelsea's confused look, turned away from the window, and stared at her system phone, a sense of urgency bubbling up inside.
Her body even felt a bit feverish...
She quickly suppressed the impulse and sent another message to Souta.
Kurumi: "Alright, I'll let it slide this time. Just be quick and come back soon."
Souta: "Got it. You stay safe too. If anything happens, just call me."
After replying, Souta put his phone away.
He was ready to return to the Date A Live world.
"Besides retrieving faith, I have promises to keep..."
He hadn't forgotten that he promised to visit Izayoi Miku and Tobiichi Origami again.
Origami could wait—Date A Live's main plot hadn't started yet.
But Miku was likely still waiting for him in the hospital. Better check on her first.
With that thought, Souta opened the system store and began restocking the divine power he spent in his fight with Mio.
He needed to be at full power before heading back.
Otherwise, if Mio ambushed him, things could go south fast.
"System, if Kurumi isn't in the Date A Live world, then random transport will send me to the main timeline, not five years ago, right?"
[Yes. Based on Tokisaki Kurumi's main timeline.]
"In that case... with the five-year cooldown, Mio shouldn't cause me trouble again."
After confirming, Souta said:
"Transport me to the Date A Live world."
A flash of white light—
He vanished from the apartment.
Moments later, his feet hit solid ground again.
He opened his eyes and saw he was standing on a pedestrian overpass, cars rushing beneath him, engines blending into the urban noise.
"A place I don't recognize..."
Souta mumbled, but wasn't too bothered.
He had a clear memory of Miku's hospital room. He simply cloaked his presence with divine power and teleported there directly.