The air froze.
For a moment, their eyes locked in complete silence.
Her feet suddenly drove down against the cushion, launching her body high into the air.
Spinning gracefully, she landed in the corner of the room, her hand raised and slightly open, as if reaching for something.
*...*
"Wait, where is my sword?"
Her brows furrowed deeply, her expression twisting.
She shook her head violently, her lowered brows directing a gaze full of suspicion and anger toward the man opposite her.
"Uzuki, what is the meaning of this? And what did you do to me?!"
Her voice dropped low.
"I am a Sin-spirit."
"Not something to be controlled!"
"I don't know why you want to manage me."
"But I trusted your intentions, so speak clearly."
Uzuki's expression did not change; he didn't move an inch.
He slipped his hand into his coat pocket, then suddenly whipped it forward.
A strange object instantly flew toward the girl.
Startled, she caught it out of reflex.
"Huh?"
It wasn't anything dangerous in her hand.
A SmartWrap rested neatly in her palm, its green energy ring spinning continuously as electronic codes cascaded across the blue screen. Her look gradually turned into skepticism.
"What is this?"
"Magic?"
She gasped in astonishment, her eyes conveying not just surprise but a profound sense of disbelief.
Uzuki drew his hand back, his lips parting slightly.
"A watch."
"Wear it if you trust me."
She grew increasingly bewildered.
"What?"
"You play these confusing games and expect me to wear this thing?!!!"
Uzuki said nothing; he just quietly watched her and took a sip of his coffee.
Knowing she wouldn't get an answer either way, she looked down at the cuff-like object in her hand, her brow furrowed.
2..
3...
After a few seconds of hesitation, she thrust her right hand straight through, regardless of how suspicious it seemed.
The moment it looped over her wrist, the ring's structure suddenly contracted, tightening around her arm almost instantly.
Her pupils shrank. She swung her arm wildly through the air, trying to shake it off immediately.
Unable to keep her composure, she gripped the watch, struggling to rip it off, her eyes snapping toward Uzuki with absolute rage.
"UZUKI!!!"
A forced wave of frost radiated into the surrounding air.
"YOU—"
He raised a hand toward her, fingers closed, while using his other hand to take another sip of his coffee.
Then he fixed his dark eyes on her again.
"The watch face."
Her expression remained unchanged, but her gaze shifted to the device on her hand as her wrist slowly rotated toward her eyes.
The screen was empty now; the shimmering illusions had vanished.
Just as she was about to explode again, strange particles began to appear on the screen, drawing her in.
The particles glowed like pure energy, pressing close against one another, piece by piece, gradually forming a peculiar shape.
*Tep!*
The sound was small but sharp, like a firecracker.
The girl nearly fell straight to the floor, her heart skipping a beat for a split second.
"Hello, I am Amanai."
"Your support A.I."
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
From the screen, a petite girl with pinkish-blue hair appeared, immediately introducing herself.
Still shaken, the girl stared in stunned silence, her mouth slightly agape at the figure before her.
After a split second of silence, she looked over at Uzuki.
"DO YOU PEOPLE TRAP OTHERS INSIDE THIS THING??!!"
She whipped her arm out, pointing straight at Uzuki's face.
Amanai panicked.
"Wait, ma'am, there's a misunderstanding here—!"
"I am an artificial intelligence created by humans to assist everyone, no one is trapped inside!!"
The little girl kept explaining, her arms and legs flailing in flustered desperation.
Across from them, Uzuki could only let out a heavy sigh.
The older girl gradually calmed down, though her face still wore a look of sheer disbelief.
"Artificial intelligence?"
"Eh?"
Amanai blinked, slightly dazed, but quickly recovered her composure.
"Yes, artificial intelligence is technology that simulates human thinking and learning capabilities using computers."
The older girl said nothing, her expression like that of a child listening to a lecture.
Amanai smiled awkwardly, seemingly understanding what the older girl wanted to ask.
"Um, technology is the application of scientific knowledge into tools, machines, and processes to solve problems in daily life."
Only then did the girl nod, her expression relaxing, mixed with a hint of awe. Her voice softened.
"Oh, you're so small, yet you know so much?"
"Well, that's because I'm an artificial intelligence, big sister..."
The older girl paused, her left hand rising to scratch her head slightly, but then she reached out across the SmartWrap surface.
It was as if she wanted to touch the tiny girl.
The petite body immediately glitched slightly, causing her to snap her hand right back, her face etched with worry:
"Are you okay?!!"
Amanai stepped back a bit, bewildered.
"Ummm... what are you doing, big sister?"
The older girl flustered, her lips trembling slightly.
"I'm sorry—I just wanted to feel what someone so small feels like. But are you all right—"
"Eh?" Amanai tilted her head.
"So being inside the watch means you just pass through like this?"
"Why don't you come out? Wouldn't that let you help more?"
The little one froze, her expression turning into the icon (• •)
The older girl was about to reach out and check again, but Amanai's expression suddenly shifted, covering her mouth as she let out a little giggle.
The older girl tilted her head slightly in confusion, her lips parting unconsciously.
"Huh?"
"Big sister~"
"Yeah?"
"A.I.s can actually be touched, but not for me right now, sister."
"I only have this virtual body here, so I'll assist you through guidance, processing thoughts, and delivering results the exact moment you make a request."
The person opposite her now had her mouth wide open.
"Um... I don't quite get it yet, but I get the point."
"Fuu..."
"Well, that works too."
Clasping her tiny hands together, Amanai crossed her arms as the glowing lines on her face softened.
"Done?"
A chilling aura stabbed from behind the two girls, instantly dissolving the cheerful atmosphere without mercy.
"Eh?"
The little one peeked around the older girl's back.
Uzuki hadn't changed his posture since the beginning, the coffee cup still in his hand as if he had been frozen in time ever since they started talking.
"Huh—?"
The older girl also turned around to look at Uzuki, carrying a silent question.
Suddenly.
"Oh, shoot!"
Amanai seemed to realize something.
"What is it?"
Blue eyes glanced over.
"Um... well..."
A smile appeared on her face, awkwardly trapped in a tight spot.
"I forgot our main task, sorry about that, sister."
"The main task?"
"Mhm."
"Your current status is determined as anonymous."
"Meaning you have no name, and practically no one knows you exist."
Tilting her head slightly.
"No name?"
"Not exactly that you don't have a name, but more like you don't exist on any system or technology."
"..."
"Why is that?"
"I can't explain it right away, but for now, I need you to follow my instructions. This is very important!"
The little girl's eyes reflected a ceramic pink hue, her palms tightly pressed together, showing no sign of deceit.
The older girl paused slightly, casting a glance toward the physical entity over there, then back to Amanai.
A gentle nod.
The anxiety receded, and a soft smile graced Amanai's lips.
"Thank you for trusting me, sister. Now, let's go."
"Yeah."
◇ A moment later...
A white silhouette slunk through the white corridor, fading in and out of view without form.
"Ummmm..."
"Sister."
"What is it?"
"We can just walk normally out in the open, so why are you moving like a thief?"
Her blue eyes went blank, the older girl's face turning utterly clueless as she huddled in the corner of a doorway.
"Oh, really?"
"I thought important matters weren't supposed to be seen by anyone."
"Oh my goodness, I give up."
A heavy, helpless sigh.
She flashed a weak smile, seemingly not wanting to upset Amanai.
"...I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next time."
Amanai's voice dropped.
"Now that sounds even scarier, seriously..."
◇
The girl draped in white walked down the corridor, her eyes scanning everything.
"By the way, I forgot to ask earlier—where exactly is this place, Amanai?"
Amanai blinked softly, then looked up at the white corridor stretching out as far as the eye could see.
"This is a transit sector of TUG,"
the little one replied, her voice calm.
"Basically... it's a place for receiving, screening, and assigning people to where they need to go."
The older girl froze.
"TUG?"
"Mhm." Amanai nodded.
"The Universe Garden. I'll explain it in detail later."
"..."
"I don't quite understand, but it sounds ominous."
Amanai gave an awkward smile. "It's nothing serious. It's just that there are a few things going on here right now, and added to your situation, things are a bit frantic."
"What kind of things?"
Amanai turned slightly to look at the older girl, then looked away.
"I'm sorry, I'm not authorized to speak on it right now. I hope you understand."
"Not authorized to speak?" Her expression grew suspicious.
"Mhm, sorry about that, sister."
"But you don't need to worry."
"As long as you help me finish this task, I'll answer your questions."
"..."
"Well, alright then..."
She paced evenly down the hallway. The white walls were without a single scratch, and the smooth floor stretched far into her field of vision, making her increasingly dizzy.
—These things are too bizarre.
—Why are the walls so smooth?
—There is no fire, so why is it still warm?
"Sister—"
—Are these things magic or technology?
"Sister——"
—Why won't they just tell me so I can understand? Why?
—Why don't I have—
"SISTER!!! "
The clear, vibrant voice pierced straight into her mind, snapping the older girl out of her deep reverie.
She looked down at her arm.
Amanai's eyebrows were knit together, her pupils wide as she stared intently at the older girl, her small palms rubbing against each other restlessly.
"Is something wrong, sister?"
Though her voice flowed smoothly, it couldn't hide her underlying anxiety.
The older girl waved her hand, forcing a smile.
"Ah, it's nothing."
"I'm just a little worried."
Amanai looked slightly skeptical.
"Just a little worried?"
"Yeah."
"Though I still have a few lingering questions, I think I have enough courage to face whatever this is."
The confirmation was as solid as a fortress wall.
Amanai let out a long breath, casting off her worry, and looked up at the larger figure with a relieved expression.
"Since you're ready, shall we head inside?"
"Alright. Wait, inside where?"
She looked around; aside from the path extending forward and backward, there was absolutely nothing between the two walls.
But Amanai merely waved her hand, her tiny finger pointing toward a section of the wall to the right of the older girl's arm.
"Over there."
She shifted her gaze over. On that wall, a few metallic silver fragments shimmered from top to bottom, but overall, that was it—nothing extraordinary.
She froze slightly, clearly failing to grasp Amanai's meaning.
"Hey, move me a bit closer."
No explanation, just a minor request.
Though puzzled, she still brought her arm closer to the flat surface.
The tiny hand gradually reached out, gently tapping against the wall. Nothing happened.
"Uh... what do you mea—?!"
The wall, which had seemed completely lifeless, suddenly popped open.
Digging her toes into the ground, she recoiled violently backward, her pupils contracting for a split second.
Looking up again, what stood before her was no longer a sheet of metal, but a medium-sized door with nearly invisible hinges.
"What kind of... Mag—logy is this?"
She spoke quickly, her voice catching on the very first word.
The little one broke into a faint smile, the corners of her lips curving up.
"Maglogy?? That's an interesting choice of words, but it's definitely technology."
She shot a side-glance at Amanai.
"Choice of words—?"
"—Hello there."
A deep yet surprisingly clear voice echoed out, cutting across her unfinished question.
Her dark eyelashes narrowing slightly, the older girl warily cast her eyes toward the source of the voice.
"Who are you?"
As she spoke, a tall figure gradually stepped into view from within the doorway.
Out of instinct, she stepped back a bit, almost brushing against the wall behind her.
The face on the other side slowly came to light.
A young man standing nearly two meters tall, with a slightly slender build, a sharp jawline, silver hair, and pale blue eyes. He wore a black suit quite similar to Uzuki's, though his shoulders were slightly broader.
He spoke once more.
"My apologies for startling you."
"You may call me Shiroya, miss."
Placing his hand against his chest, he tilted his center of gravity slightly forward, exuding a polite, somewhat aristocratic grace.
She took half a step to the side, her scrutinizing gaze sweeping continuously across his frame.
He showed no signs of annoyance, a radiant smile warming his gentle features.
"Did I frighten you? You have my sincere apologies."
Amanai suddenly popped into view, completely blocking the girl's line of sight.
"Eh—?"
"It's alright, sister."
Her angelic countenance sent a subtle pang through even this female entity's heart.
"Don't worry, sister, he's the one who's going to help you with your task. He means no harm."
"No need to worry at all~"
Her voice maintained a steady rhythm, her hands clasped behind her back.
White hair tilted slightly in the corridor.
Her parting lips pressed tightly together, swallowing her words back down.
She looked at the tiny A.I. girl, then glanced at the human man.
"Fuuuu..."
Taking a breath, she regained her composure, her voice settling.
"Someone associated with that guy should be fine..."
She looked up to face him, her tone warming slightly.
"If that's the case, let's begin."
He turned serious, his words becoming more concise.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
His tall frame immediately spun around, taking large strides back inside the room.
Her slow footsteps followed close behind.
◇ Somewhere else...
Eyes failing to reflect light before a blue glow.
A crisp female voice rang out.
"Are you alright?"
No reply, only a heavy void at the other end of the line.
"I was a bit scared, I was so terrified back then."
"It took forever for me to receive the notification, I'm sorry."
"Are you feeling better now?"
She spoke without stopping, her anxiety bleeding through every word, as if she would leap right out of the screen to check on his health if she could.
The eye remained unmoving, shifting only slightly with the tilt of his head.
"I'm fine. Thank you."
Without waiting for the other party to add anything, the blue screen vanished instantly, leaving not a trace behind...
...yet the hand seemed to tremble slightly.