You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

Even Aizen Iori, you can defeat him.

"I see, that's certainly possible—but I refuse!"

Yosuke Shimazaki frowned, clearly annoyed: "After all that talking, I thought I'd get some useful information... but we still have no clue how to get home."

"...So decisive?"

"You'd better keep waiting. It seems I'm not your master."

……

In reality, Yosuke's empty eyes slowly regained their luster. He blinked, realizing his current predicament, and then decisively let go. The holy sword swayed slightly before returning to its proper position.

"It's so heavy... Come to think of it, I've never been very physically fit."

Yosuke shook his head, but what he said was sincere: "Anyway, my fighting style is also enhanced by magic... I treat them all like wands, and short swords are the same."

"What's this? They're qualified to pull it out, but lack the strength?"

Cui raised an eyebrow, somewhat expectantly: "Whether you use it or not is none of my business, but if you can pull it out, let me see the patterns on it..."

"Once you pull it out, you can't put it back in."

Yosuke shook his head: "We're not facing any crisis, so let's wait until someone really needs it in the future—let's save it for then."

"It's a pity."

Iori said meaningfully, "If what summoned you was a so-called 'god,' then this sword is undoubtedly the thing we have encountered so far that is most closely associated with a 'god.'"

"If you can delve deeper into the mysteries of the Holy Sword, perhaps you can find your way home."

"—"

Farrell's heart skipped a beat, her fingertips turned slightly white from gripping the pressure, and she looked at Yosuke with a conflicted expression.

She naturally hoped that Yosuke would stay, but she also knew very well how much this man longed to return to his hometown. If she were to hope that his dream would be dashed just for her own sake... wouldn't that be too shameless?

Even if they could forcibly keep him here, Yosuke Shimazaki probably wouldn't be happy...

In the circular hall deep within the labyrinth, two longswords still stood silently on the altar, emitting a faint light. Yosuke stood before the altar, his gaze shifting back and forth over the holy swords, a slight regret in his heart.

It was indeed an opportunity, but in his mind, betraying his comrades was absolutely unacceptable!

"Actually, I've already adapted to life here. Although I really wanted to go back at first, now... I think I can wait a little longer."

"and many more?"

Iori raised an eyebrow, a meaningful glint in her eyes. "You've never said that before. You always were—"

"It's not that I don't want to."

Yosuke shook his head, a hint of hesitation in his voice, "But... I think we can look for other methods. After all, this kind of life in another world isn't something you get to experience every day."

My good brother~

With Iori's mental strength, she naturally knew that Yosuke and the Holy Sword had exchanged some information. As for the specific content, she only needed to look at Yosuke's micro-expressions to know.

Iori guessed that it was related to her, and also guessed that Yosuke's choice was to be loyal to his friend—which was extremely satisfying!

He smiled slightly, as if he could see through Yosuke's thoughts, and offered a perfectly feasible plan: "If you really want to go home, I can help you."

"what?"

Yosuke suddenly looked up, a glint of excitement in his eyes, "Help me go back?!"

He was initially surprised, then glanced at Saito's immortality, and a sudden realization dawned on him:

It seems that it wasn't a coincidence that Iori encountered an acquaintance in another world, but rather that Iori herself possesses a summoning-like ability.

"of course."

Iori nodded, her tone relaxed. "Although it will take some time and preparation, it's not a difficult task for me. I can start making arrangements immediately if you're willing."

Yosuke's heart suddenly raced, and images of his hometown flashed through his mind—familiar streets, warm sunshine, and the life he had once taken for granted. He almost blurted out that he would agree to Iori's proposal, but just then, his gaze inadvertently swept over Farrell.

Farrell stood to the side, head down, hands clasped tightly together, as if trying to suppress something.

Although her expression was calm, Yosuke caught a glimpse of loss and unease in her eyes. When she looked up, her face was already relaxed, but deep in her eyes remained a trace of sorrow that could not be dispelled.

—She smiled.

"!"

That expression made Yosuke's heart tighten inexplicably, as if something was stuck in his chest.

"I……"

Yosuke opened his mouth, his voice a little hoarse, "I think... I should wait a little longer."

As soon as she finished speaking, Farrell opened her mouth, which even Yosuke himself found incredible.

"How could I..."

Iori (on the surface) seemed somewhat surprised: "Haven't you always wanted to go home? Now that the opportunity is right in front of you, why give it up?"

"This……"

Yosuke scratched his head and didn't answer immediately, probably because he didn't know why either; it was all just a random, inexplicable remark.

When he looked at Farrell again, her expression remained calm, but Yosuke sensed that she was putting on a brave face. That feeling made him feel uneasy, as if he had done something wrong.

"I just think... life here is pretty good."

Yosuke thought for a moment and casually replied, "Although I sometimes miss my hometown, there are many things here that are worth cherishing... I can't just leave in such a hurry."

Iori didn't say anything more, but glanced at Farrell thoughtfully before nodding: "Alright, since you've decided, then so be it."

In the stillness of the night, Yosuke sat alone in his hotel room, a cup of now-cold black tea in his hand, staring blankly out the window. Iori's words kept echoing in his mind, filling him with conflicting emotions.

"What am I doing...?"

Yosuke muttered to himself, "It's a pity that reality isn't a game; there isn't even a save button."

He didn't know why, but seeing Farrell's disappointed expression made Yosuke Shimazaki feel terrible. Although he didn't quite understand what this feeling was, he instinctively didn't want to make her sad.

……

Seventeen years later, in a small apartment, a bright red stream flowed from Yosuke's nose, and the middle-aged man looked dazed.

"uncle!"

"Tissues, tissues!"

Amidst the flurry of activity, Yosuke Shimazaki became engrossed in his own world.

"How could this be... my memory... why would I forget something so important? Hmm!"

I'm back... I'm back, but... isn't she here?

Chapter 1 The Otherworldly Uncle's Final Side Story: The Promised Heavenly Star Stone.

"I might have a heart attack," Yosuke Shimazaki thought.

Otherwise, he simply cannot explain his current feelings, nor can he explain his previous unusual behavior.

He didn't like this world. Although he met many kind people, it was all based on "mutual understanding." There were almost no people who didn't have any ill intentions towards him when they first met.

He could indeed live here, and with some effort, he could even build his own social circle—but that's like carrying a rock up a mountain; it might feel very rewarding, but it's definitely not a pleasant experience for the climber himself.

Moreover, even if we take a step back, he wasn't originally a mountaineering enthusiast, nor did he voluntarily travel to another world.

Many people think that homebodies are escapist, shy, and introverted, and some of them are indeed like that, but most of them are simply because they are easily satisfied and can find all the elements of "happiness" in their own little home.

Yosuke Shimazaki's happiness lies in operating a controller on a screen in his three-tatami mat room. No matter how wonderful the outside world is, he neither yearns for it nor hates it; he simply feels that it has nothing to do with him.

The other world may not be hell, but it is certainly not heaven either. For a world that is constantly releasing malice at him, Yosuke Shimazaki has absolutely no reason to like it.

So his idea has always been to find a way back to the original world as soon as possible. He would never have given up on a clue like the Holy Sword in the past... But why is he wavering?

Even Yosuke himself didn't know the reason.

However, at that moment, when he saw the expression on Farrell's face, he couldn't say what he was going to say, as if he might accidentally shatter something.

He couldn't understand it and could only guess that he had a heart condition, otherwise he wouldn't have experienced heart rhythm disorders.

"Should we go to church...? Healing magic seems to only work for poisoning, injuries, and curses, not normal illnesses...? Or should we go see a doctor?"

Yosuke pondered his next move in his hotel room.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Iori walked in.

He glanced at Yosuke, then naturally sat down in the chair opposite him and asked calmly, "Why did you refuse the Holy Sword? Don't you really want to go home?"

"of course not!"

Yosuke shook his head: "It's just... I don't know why, but I always feel like there's something I haven't finished... like forgetting to turn off the lights when I leave the house."

"That's a bit hard to understand, please be more specific."

"Even if you say that... Miss Farrell... I couldn't help but glance at her, and then my mind went blank... Was she too tired?"

"I see."

Iori smiled slightly, a knowing glint in her eyes: "It's not a bad thing."

Yosuke looked up at Iori, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"nothing."

Iori shook her head, her tone slightly teasing, "I just feel that you're finally starting to realize some things."

"Realize what?"

Yosuke frowned, clearly not understanding Iori's meaning.

Iori didn't answer, but stood up and patted Yosuke on the shoulder: "Some things don't need me to say. Just figure them out for yourself."

The power to judge cause and effect operates automatically. From his perspective, Yosuke is entangled in many "karmas" and is a person who is bound by all kinds of fates—perhaps even the so-called protagonist. Among these karmic results, there is a very special thread that is wrapped around his little finger.

Interestingly, Pharrell also has similar causal entanglements on her fingers.

They hardly need any external help anymore. If it weren't for the fact that Yosuke Shimazaki's fate was too complicated and special, the unspoken understanding between the two of them would probably have been broken long ago.

"If you're feeling uneasy, how about going to see a fortune teller? Sometimes people need comfort."

"A fortune teller?"

"You may just be a little afraid of the future."

After saying that, Iori turned and left the room, leaving Yosuke sitting there alone, his heart filled with doubt.

Iori stopped in the corridor, turned her head slightly to the side with her back to someone, and said, "Don't think too much about it."

"..."

Farrell watched Iori leave, standing outside the door with a small amulet in her hand, her eyes gleaming with complex emotions. She had originally come to find Yosuke to give him this lucky amulet, but had inadvertently overheard his conversation with Iori.

"Is he refusing to go home because of me?"

Farrell murmured to herself, a surge of indescribable emotion welling up inside her.

She never imagined that Yosuke would give up the chance to go home for her, because Pharrell knew very well that Yosuke was averse to Grandbahamar and that he was a devout believer (because of Yosuke's behavior, she regarded Sega as a religion), and that he definitely wanted to return to his hometown where the God of Games existed.

Therefore, she was quite surprised when Yosuke gave up the Holy Sword, and her heart couldn't help but flutter.

That feeling warmed her whole body, inside and out, as if something was quietly melting in her heart.

"Yosuke..."

Farrell murmured softly, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes. She took a deep breath and then gently knocked on the door.

"Hmm? Come in."

Yosuke's voice came from inside the room.

“Iori, what did you forget... Ah, Miss Farrell?”

Yosuke was somewhat surprised to see her: "It's so late, is there something you need?"

Farrell smiled slightly, her tone gentle: "It's nothing, I just... wanted to say a few words to you."

"With me?"

Yosuke instinctively sat up straight: "Is it something very important?"

"Yes... I've always been grateful to you for stepping up to me when I needed help the most, and... today I've made up my mind."