A week had passed since Advent was given the chance to enjoy normal lives. Yet, Koseki Bijou still hadn't decided on the path she wished to take. Meanwhile, Shiori, Nerissa, and the twin sisters, Fuwamoco, had already taken their first steps toward a new beginning.
Shiori had started a small detective agency. Nerissa had established Ravencorp, her own entertainment company. And Fuwamoco? They had set up a humble roadside donut stand.
Though still undecided about her future, Bijou—her white hair tinged with delicate hues of violet that shimmered like crystal—spent her days in ease. Today was no exception. Seated at a corner table in Holoresto, the city's renowned restaurant, she sipped on iced coffee and nibbled on a famichiki.
Her nimble fingers danced across the buttons of a handheld gaming console. Ever since their escape a year ago, Bijou had become completely addicted to games. It was rare to see her without her portable console in hand.
"Ah, dang it! I died again!" she huffed, tilting her head back in frustration as she stared at the ceiling.
Glancing outside, Bijou squinted against the relentless afternoon sun. The streets, bathed in heat, stretched barren and dry. Just then, a familiar figure caught her eye—Nerissa, visibly exhausted, trudging toward the restaurant entrance. Before Bijou could even call out, the long-haired girl with one broken demon horn hurried to her table.
Beads of sweat trickled down Nerissa's left temple and neck, glistening against her fair skin. It only reaffirmed that Bijou had made the right choice by staying inside, away from the oppressive heat.
"Well, well, Director, that outfit suits you quite well," Bijou teased, taking another sip of her coffee.
"T-Thank you, Bijou," Nerissa murmured, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.
"How's your heart holding up, Nerissa?" Bijou asked, her tone unusually serious as she switched off her game console.
"Ugh, it's exhausting. There's so much to handle when starting a company, you know." Nerissa sighed, slumping into the seat across from her.
"Oh, but you're clearly enjoying yourself."
A sly, knowing smirk played on Bijou's lips. Nerissa blinked at her, confused, unable to grasp the hidden meaning behind her words.
Not long after, Fuwawa and Mococo arrived, greeting them in unison.
"Bau bau!"
The twins plopped down beside Bijou, their energy as infectious as ever.
"Look at you, Biboo! You look absolutely cute in that outfit," Fuwawa teased.
"Adorable? What do you mean cute?" Bijou shot back, clearly offended. "This is obviously cool! Right, Mococo?"
"Ehh, I think you can be both cute and cool at the same time," Mococo reassured her with a grin.
Unwilling to accept their judgment, Bijou turned the tables on them. "Well, if anyone here is cute, it's the two of you! Just look at those casual outfits—adorable."
There was no arguing against that. Even the twins couldn't deny how well they pulled off their casual fashion.
With everyone now in agreement, the twins enthusiastically shared their experiences from the past few days—particularly about their new business selling pon de ring donuts. It was a fresh, exciting venture, and their enthusiasm was contagious.
As their lively conversation continued, the leader of Advent finally made her entrance. Shiori strolled in with effortless confidence, clad in a deep crimson dress and detective's coat that left no doubt about her new profession. Her two-toned hair—half white, half black—framed a charming, knowing smile as she approached her friends.
"How's life treating you all?" she asked, intrigued by their stories.
After settling into the seat beside Nerissa and ordering a drink, the demon-horned woman lamented her struggles in building a company. Fuwamoco gushed about their donut stand, and Bijou, in contrast, admitted that she had done little else but immerse herself in video games.
"That's perfectly fine, Beebs," Shiori reassured her with a gentle smile. "There's no need to rush in choosing your new path."
"You're right, Shiori. What about you? What have you been up to?" Bijou turned the question back on her.
"Me? Isn't it obvious?" Shiori spread her arms, gesturing to her attire. "I've just made my debut as a detective. If any of you ever need my services, don't hesitate to reach out."
Hearing this, Fuwawa and Mococo's eyes sparkled with intrigue. In an instant, they bombarded Shiori with an onslaught of questions about her new career.
Laughter and playful banter filled the air, a melody of joy and camaraderie. After so long, Advent could finally experience normalcy—no longer under the constant surveillance and threats of H3RO and Justice, who had always disrupted their past attempts at peace.
A-D-V-E-N-T
.....
Meanwhile, at Holocorp Headquarters
"This is bad—really bad!"
As Holocorp's overseer, Nodoka had received troubling news from Roboco-san. The Ancient One—the being slumbering within Ninomae Ina'nis—had begun to stir once more. Cold sweat ran down Nodoka's back as the grim reality sank in.
"We need to gather everyone and form a strike team to deal with this," she murmured, recalling Sora's last words before she was wheeled into emergency surgery days ago.
Yet, at present, Holocorp simply didn't have enough operatives to combat the Ancient One. Their main headquarters and city outpost housed only about twenty capable fighters. Given the sheer power of the Ancient One—far beyond even Sora and The Myth—they stood no chance on their own.
Nodoka's only option was to contact Holocorp's EN and ID branches, urging them to send reinforcements. As she reached for the communicator, the door to her office burst open.
Startled, she spun around to find Iofi—the Alien Princess—and Cecilia—the Automaton—standing there, their expressions stricken with urgency.
"Is it true? Sora-neesan was defeated?" Iofi's voice trembled.
Nodoka nodded grimly. "Even The Myth couldn't stand against them."
Cecilia fell into silence, unwilling to believe that The Myth—their strongest unit—had been bested so easily. If Liz, the leader of Justice, found out about this, she wouldn't forgive the Ancient One.
"What's their condition?" Cecilia asked.
"Kiara suffered serious injuries, Calliope as well, though she can still move," Nodoka replied.
"And where is Calli now?" Iofi pressed further.
"Mori Calliope took Kiara to the underworld. She intends to seek help from Death-sensei to heal a Phoenix's wounds."
"And what about Ame and Gura?"
"Amelia sustained only minor injuries, thanks to Botan's protection, but…" Nodoka's voice trailed off.
"But what?"
"Gawr Gura… vanished. During the battle, while Sora-senpai was shielding civilians, only Gura dared to strike back against the Ancient One. In the heat of combat, they both disappeared—drawn into the very portal we had been investigating."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Iofi and Cecilia exchanged looks, their thoughts aligned. This wasn't just a disaster—it was a catastrophe.
"We need to see Sora-neesan," Iofi finally spoke. "Take us to her, Botan-san."
A-D-V-E-N-T
.....
That night, as Bijou stepped out of the Game Center, victory still fresh on her face after dominating a few opponents in a fighting game, something within her shifted.
Her ability to perceive human emotions flared to life.
The joy in her expression drained, replaced by a cold, serious stare. A suffocating weight settled on her chest, as if the very air had been sucked away.
Fear. Anxiety. Panic.
And not from one person—dozens, maybe more, scattered across the city.
She clenched her fists. She could ignore this, pretend she hadn't felt anything. That's what Shiori and Nerissa had warned her to do.
But could she really stand by while something terrible unfolded right before her eyes?