This is not the date I wanted.

To be honest, Mengyue's words jumped too fast at that time, which made Shidao a little confused.

Why is the change of history thirty years ago related to Lingyin? Why does the capture of Lingyin require recalling the lost memories? What is the relationship between Lingyin and his own life experience?

Since he couldn't sort out these questions for the time being, Shidao could only answer "I need some time to think about it" to get away with it.

However, he did not expect that he would face the same problem again so soon.

Shidou glanced at Mengyue unconsciously. Ever since the other party started talking about Takamiya Mio's life experience, he seemed to have a lack of interest and rarely interrupted everyone's discussion.

It was as if she already had the answer to this question in her heart.

Thinking of this, Shidao couldn't help but turn his gaze to Murasame Reion on the other side.

"Um...what's wrong? Zhen."

Reine seemed to notice Shidou's gaze and asked in confusion.

"No... that... Miss Lingyin, what do you think? If I use the Sealing Master, can I recall my past memories?"

Shidou looked away and asked in a panic.

"Hmm... That's true... If Shin and Mana's memories were caused by some kind of seal, then the seal unlocker's ability may indeed be able to restore their memories... However, this is only a theoretical possibility, and I don't know what the actual result will be..."

After thinking for a moment, Ling Yin analyzed very objectively.

"That's it..."

(My past?...)

With the choice before him, Shidou couldn't help but hesitate.

Although Meng Yue didn't explain it clearly, he actually sensed something vaguely in his heart.

There is a very crucial thing hidden in his past. And this memory is likely to be the source of all the troubles. Even if he doesn't change history for Kurumi, in order to understand who he is and to protect everyone, he must recall this memory.

"...Shidou."

As if she had guessed Shidou's plan, Kotori looked at him nervously.

Even if he succeeds in getting back his past memories, it may not be what Shidou and the others expect. And after getting back his memories, there is no guarantee that Shidou can maintain his current personality. Although it is not to the extent that the present Shidou is swallowed up by the past Shidou, it is very likely to have some unknown impact on Shidou.

After recalling the past memories, will "I" no longer be "Gokawa Shidao"? In fact, Shidao himself has similar uneasiness. That's why he subconsciously avoids this matter.

but--

"It's okay. No matter what happens, I will always be your brother."

Shidou stroked Kotori's head and answered firmly.

"elder brother……"

Hearing this, Kotori was moved to tears. But she immediately realized that everyone was still watching, so she shook her head and explained.

"…I, I'm not worried. Even if he's useless, he's still my brother. That's a given. I won't change because of this."

"Hi hi~"

After rubbing Kotori's head with a smile, Shidou took a deep breath and silently recited the angel's name in his heart.

(Ratziel (Sage of the Dawn)...)

[Received——Expand——Michael (the master of seal removal)——Small key. ]

Soon, a "Seal Master" the size of a normal key and a metal wristband appeared in front of Shidao.

"That's right sir, just insert this key into the head."

Rokuko explained carefully on the side.

"Head, head?"

Hearing this, Shidou couldn't help but swallow. How should I put it, I felt a little more worried on the physical level.

"it is good……"

However, I can't back down now that I've come this far. Shidao took a deep breath and slowly placed the key against his temple.

"Well, let's begin—"

"Um..."

"No need to worry. Just trust the Lord of Seal."

"Ahh. You're actually going to stick that pointy thing inside Darling!"

"…Mijiu, please don't speak yet."

"Ha ha……"

Shidou listened to the conversation between the elves with a wry smile, and his shoulders relaxed just right.

Then, inadvertently, Shidao's eyes met Mengyue's.

"come on."

Meng Yue encouraged softly.

"Ah."

Nodding slightly, Shidao took a deep breath and inserted the "Seal Master" into his head in one breath.

Then, Shidou's vision turned into pure white.

04 The World in Memory (I)

==============================

Shidou's senses were sinking - no, it should be said that he was diving.

Before my eyes was an endless blue that was more beautiful than the sky. Spots of light swayed like waves, making it as deep and clear as a gem.

The distance gradually lengthened and the field of vision expanded, but the dark blue world seemed to have no boundaries, extending continuously towards the invisible horizon.

Incredible feeling.

The body's movements feel resisted, but it is not restrained.

I can't breathe normally through my mouth and nose, but I don't feel suffocated.

Just like a fish swimming in the sea, Shidao imagined a non-existent tail fin and continued to dive into the depths.

——Gulu.

[Mr. Shidao. I want to start all over again and reset everything that has happened so far to zero. ]

(Um?)

Suddenly, bubbles slid past Shidao, and from the misty bubbles, he saw Kurumi who had confided her sad wish to him not long ago.

(Is this... my memory?)

Shidou couldn't help but think. Taking this as an opportunity, he gradually recalled the reason why he came back here.

(By the way… I used the ‘Seal Master’ on myself in order to dig out the sealed memories.)

Continuing to dive, soft bubbles began to gradually fill his field of vision. Looking around, every bubble was engraved with Shidao's past.

The encounters with the elves, the bits and pieces of daily life, joyful, happy, helpless, bitter - countless memories paint the transparent bubbles with colorful colors.

Seeing this, Shidao vaguely understood that this strange ocean was not something that existed in reality, but was just a manifestation of his subconscious.

(Have I been here before?)

He had a sense of déjà vu that this was not his first time here. His intuition told him that he had sneaked into this area before, but unlike this time, he did not come in by his own will. He just accidentally sank into it because of the changes in his body, and his consciousness was very hazy.

[My Shidou is back! ]

At this moment, a bubble much larger than the other bubbles appeared in front of Shidao's eyes. In the bubble, a brown-haired girl looked back and smiled, which was frozen in the most beautiful form.

Although Shidao was somewhat surprised by this, he was not surprised. After all, he knew that it was at that moment that he truly realized his feelings for the girl.

but--

(Ah…it’s still sparkling…not good…I feel so embarrassed.)

Fortunately, there is no one else here except me. Shidou sighed with some relief.

[But there is only one thing I can say for sure. Liang Yi Meng Yue - loves you.]

(——!?)

The momentum of diving paused, and Shidao suddenly stopped, with disbelief written all over his face.

He found a bubble of slightly darker color, but no less in size than the previous one, lurking in the depths of this sea of ​​memory. In it, he saw the familiar brown-haired girl, wearing a charming dance dress that he had never seen before, and with endless passion and love, she offered him a kiss.

(Wait! What happened?! Meng Yue confessed to me? Where? When? What happened afterwards? How come I don’t remember anything at all?!)

Shidao continued to search the sea area, hoping to find some clues related to it as soon as possible.

(What am I doing? Itsuka Shido.)

Didn't you come here to retrieve your memory of Takamiya Mio? After calming down, Shidou couldn't help but complain to himself.

(But if I miss this opportunity...)

After struggling for a long time, Shidao finally forgot about the bubbles behind him with reluctance, then he hardened his heart and continued to dive without looking back.

Bubbles of memories continued to flash before Shidou's eyes. Gradually, his memory went back to the time before he met Tohka.

——As an ordinary high school student, Gokawa Shido lives an ordinary daily life.

——As a junior high school student with a deep sin, Gokawa Shido takes it as his mission to save the people and the world and let himself go.

(Shidou speeds up his dive.)

——Kotori was given a spiritual crystal by "Phantom" and became an elf because of the fire five years ago.

——Itsuka Shido was adopted by Kotori's parents.

——Shido Gokawa’s lonely childhood in an orphanage.

(...)

Just like flipping through an old photo album, even the memories that Shidao thought he had forgotten were deeply recorded in the depths of his memory.

An indescribable emotion emerged in Shidao, which was sour, bitter, spicy and sweet, so complex that it could not be summarized in one word.

But at the same time, he felt a warmth in his heart.

The feelings of happiness and unhappiness come from a kind of comparison of differences. We feel unhappy because others have what we don’t have, and we feel happy because we have what others don’t have. If we only look at what we have, we will only take it for granted.

Now, looking back on his life from a third-party perspective, Shidao realized that he was much happier than he had imagined.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time, the dark blue sea reached its deepest point, where waiting for Shidao was a heavy and huge iron gate.

Because of the use of "Seal Master" in reality, the tightly locked door slowly opened as Shidao arrived.

On the other side of the door was a bottomless chaos that seemed to absorb all light.

(Is this my sealed memory...)

Shidao couldn't help but think. This was the depth of his subconscious, and the chaos inside the door was undoubtedly hinting to him that the memories after that did not belong to "Gokawa Shidao", but another unknown life.

If that's the case, is he still Gokawa Shido?

(Well, we’ve come this far, there’s no point in backing out.)

Shidou took a deep breath and rushed into the door in one go.

"—!"

Instantly, the floating feeling that soaked the whole body disappeared, replaced by the feeling of stepping on solid ground.

"What, what's wrong?"

Unable to adapt to the change in environment for a moment, Shidao looked around in a panic.

The sun high in the sky, the stacked buildings, the bustling streets, and the city full of people coming and going create a completely different style.

"Am I...back to reality now?"

In the middle of the sidewalk, Gokawa Shidou muttered to himself in a daze.

No. Shidou quickly denied this possibility. If this was true, he should still be in Fraxinus EX's airship.

(In other words, although this place looks different from the ocean just now, is it also a dream projected by my subconscious?)