Yesterday, Eldo had eaten a slice of Prisma Berry tart and smiled softly—and Riko still remembered that face. Every time she recalled that smile, warmth bloomed deep in her chest. What was this feeling? She'd thought the same thing last time and ended up falling asleep without figuring it out. Riko stood in the kitchen of Atelier Momo, her fingers brushing against the embroidery on her apron, and whispered softly to herself. "Seventeen days left... I have to go today." The gate of light closed. The sweet air of Philo's Hill filled her lungs. As Riko stepped out of the portal thinking about what ingredients to gather today, the sensation beneath her feet changed. Not the hill. Cobblestones. (Huh?) She looked around and realized where she was. Standing in front of her apartment door. In Tokyo. At home. She must have opened the portal while still in Atelier Momo. "Oh, right. I didn't focus on the apron." When Riko opened the door with a wry smile, someone was standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall. Jet-black short hair with just a few strands of red mesh woven through. Warm brown eyes. Tall frame, sharp features. A scarf loosely wrapped around his neck, phone in hand, standing there as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It was Ichiyanagi Daichi. "Oh, you're back." Riko froze. "...Daichi? What are you doing here?" "You've been ignoring my messages for three days." Daichi ran a hand through his hair and smiled. His smile didn't reach his eyes. Riko instinctively took a half-step back. "Sorry, I've been kind of busy—" "It's okay. I'm here for you, so tell me anything." "...Just come in first." --- When she led him to the workshop kitchen, Daichi casually settled onto a stool like he'd done it a thousand times. He'd been coming to Riko's place since they were kids—he knew his way around. Riko was about to make tea when she heard the refrigerator door open behind her. "Hey!" By the time she turned around, it was too late. Daichi had the fridge door open, peering inside. On the middle shelf sat a jar of Miera honey, glowing in pale gold. Next to it, a container of Prisma Berries. Slowly shifting through seven colors. Daichi's expression slowly went blank. "Riko." "Ah, um—that's an import! A rare one!" "An import." "Yeah! I got it through a special route—" Daichi plucked a single berry and popped it in his mouth without hesitation. "...What is this?" "Seriously?" Daichi's face flashed with disbelief. Then it went blank again. "[serious]Where is this from? There's no ingredient like this in Japan. I don't think it exists anywhere in the world." "I-I told you it was an import." "Riko." "W-what?" "I'm a culinary researcher." He said nothing more, just returned to the stool and sat down. Arms crossed. His eyes on her were serious. "[serious]When we were kids, we said we'd expand our world through cooking together. The two of us. Is there something you can't tell me?" That single sentence hit hard. (I want to tell him. But if I do, he'll definitely stop me. I only have seventeen days left—) Riko opened her mouth, then closed it. Daichi stood up from the stool and took a step closer. "[serious]I can help. Why won't you—" "What do I do...?" The words spilled out before she could stop them. Daichi's expression softened slightly when he heard them. But that tight something in the back of his eyes didn't disappear. "[gentle]It's okay. I'm here, so talk to me." Riko sighed. "...Give me until this evening, okay? I'll tell you after that." Daichi hesitated for a moment, then nodded. But he stayed leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, showing no sign of leaving. --- Five o'clock came. The embroidery on the apron began to flicker faintly. Riko felt the sensation deep in her chest. It was time to go to Luuka. She still hadn't figured out today's ingredients. Seventeen days left. She had to hurry. "Daichi, can you go home now?" Daichi looked up from his phone in the living room. "[sarcastic]Didn't you just say you'd talk to me if I waited until evening?" "Ah... um..." She had said that. She'd definitely said that. "[serious]You're definitely hiding something." He didn't move, arms still crossed. Riko held her head and went into the kitchen. She touched the apron. The embroidery glowed softly. Time was running out. (Sorry, Daichi. I'll explain everything later, I promise.) Riko gripped the embroidery and focused. Light began to seep into the floor. A circular ring of light expanded. The gate opened— "Riko, that—" A voice came from behind. Before she knew it, her arm was grabbed. Daichi's hand. "[serious]Where are you going?!" "[scared]Let go!" Riko wrenched her arm free with all her strength. The portal light reached its peak. One step forward. The light closed completely. --- Daichi stood alone in the kitchen. The light was gone. Only an ordinary floor remained. Where Riko had been, there was nothing. Daichi looked at his open palm. The place where Riko's arm had just been. Now it was empty. "...What did I just see?" His voice was hoarse. He stood there, hoarse and motionless. --- The silver grass of Philo's Hill swayed in the wind. The moment Riko stepped out of the portal, she felt something was wrong. Eldo was always here. That clumsy knight, arms crossed, waiting with a difficult expression. That was always how it went. But not today. On the hilltop stood multiple figures in silver armor. Tilnard—the uniform of the Luuka Royal Guard. Not Eldo. Three unfamiliar knights, standing in formation, watching her. In their center stood a man. He looked to be in his mid-forties. Iron-gray short hair, sharp eyes. Large frame, his mere presence imposing. His armor bore more decorations than the others'. His rank was obvious at a glance. The man unfolded an official document. "[serious]Momose Riko. By the authority of the Interdimensional Travel Prohibition Ordinance, Article Three, you are under arrest." Vales Gardeen—the captain of Tilnard. Riko would learn his name later. For now, the weight of his voice simply froze her in place. "[scared]But—Eldo—" Then she noticed. Behind the three knights, standing slightly apart, was Eldo. Their eyes met. Eldo's golden eyes wavered for just a moment. He tried to say something—started to move— "[cold]Vice-Captain Varein. You were told not to come here." The captain's voice was low, emotionless. Eldo took a step forward. "[serious]She is not a dangerous entity. She came to Luuka because of a curse—she is a victim. Captain, if you would just listen—" "Your father said the same thing." The captain cut him off quietly. "[serious]He took the side of one from another world. And what happened as a result?" Eldo's words died. She heard the sound of a fist clenching. Eldo stared straight ahead, saying nothing. Unable to say anything. "[scared]Eldo...?" Even when she called his name, Eldo didn't move. His profile had gone rigid as stone. "[serious]Take her into custody." --- The underground dungeon was deeper than Riko had imagined. Down the stone corridors beneath Blanchere, three turns, and then iron bars. A knight unlocked the cell. She was pushed inside, and the lock clicked shut behind her. The sound echoed down the corridor and faded. The cell was cramped. Stone walls, a floor covered with straw, a single torch beyond the bars. That was all. Riko pressed her back against the wall and slid down to the floor. She hugged her knees. She looked at the embroidery on her apron. It was blinking. A number floated within it. 16. Sixteen days left. "[crying]I just wanted to make pastries... why is this happening...?" Her voice came out small, swallowed by the stone walls. She couldn't laugh. Usually, even in situations like this, she'd say "What do I do?!" and somehow manage. But now she had nothing. She couldn't find it in herself to laugh. Riko buried her face in her knees. She cried. Silent tears. Her shoulders shook. The tears fell onto her knees, soaking into the cold straw. She didn't know how long she stayed like that. Eventually, Riko lifted her head. Her eyes were red. But she was still here. "...Sixteen days. I still have time." She whispered it in a hoarse voice. She wiped her tears with her sleeve. She wasn't broken. But one thing was clear—she had reached the limit of what she could do alone. The torch flame flickered and swayed. Then—footsteps echoed from beyond the bars. One step. Another. Drawing closer. The footsteps stopped. A shadow appeared in the darkness of the corridor. Riko lifted her head. The shadow didn't move. It was simply there.