The thick, savory scent of tonkotsu broth hit him the moment he stepped through the noren curtain—heavy, nostalgic, and unmistakably "Inspire-style." The German metal music had been turned down to a low thrum, but the bass still vibrated through the floorboards. At the back of the small shop, steam rose from a massive stockpot as the man stirring it slowly lifted his head. His gaze was sharp—piercing straight through Yu like a blade.

  "...Have a seat." The rasp of his voice left Yu no choice but to obey. He sat stiffly at the counter, glancing sideways toward Ms. Mamiya, who was calmly sipping water. "Sensei... who is this?" She gave a small nod and spoke quietly.

  "A Returner. The only person known to have come back from the other world alive." Yu's eyes widened. His throat went dry. Someone who had actually returned?

  "Nice to meet you," the man said, setting down his ladle. "Can't tell you my name. Just call me the Shop Owner." His voice was low and heavy—each word carrying a kind of physical pressure that made the air itself tremble. Yu's pulse quickened. Questions churned in his chest. Someone else had gone there—just like him?

  "...Tell me everything. Start from the beginning." The Owner's tone was quiet but commanding. Yu took a breath, untangling the memories caught in his chest one by one.

  ?

  "At first... I was just a viewer. Just watching a stream." "But when I called out, Rize responded. That's when I knew it wasn't just coincidence." He told them how he and Rize began calling each other by name, how the connection grew until it no longer felt like a simple broadcast.

  "And then... there was Claval." Yu's mouth tightened. That crimson interference—Claval's madness consuming their world—had forced them into conflict.

  "I lost consciousness after that... and when I woke up, she'd brought me there." Rize's hand reaching for him through the chaos—its warmth pulling him in. When his eyes opened again, he was in her world.

  "She didn't mean to drag me into danger. She just... couldn't leave me behind." His voice trembled. He remembered the light in Rize's eyes—the resolve to protect him, no matter what.

  "We shared our feelings. For the first time, it felt like we were really... side by side." But then, that white light swallowed everything and tore him away. The loss still ached like a wound that refused to close. The Owner folded his arms, silent, listening to every word.

  "Then, suddenly... the light hit me, and I was back here. In my room." Yu's hands clenched on his knees. The warmth that had lingered in his palms was fading, replaced by the cold reality of Japan. After a long silence, the man spoke again.

  "There are three possibilities." He raised three scarred fingers, folding them one by one.

  "One: a time limit on the transfer. Two: a system bug. Three—Outside Interference." His tone was calm but sharp.

  "There's no such thing as a 'time limit' in magic. Time barely holds form in that world—it's unstable." Mamiya added softly, pushing up her glasses.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "And EWS has no built-in protocol to forcibly cut off a live connection. We checked the logs." A chill settled in Yu's stomach. That left only one answer.

  "Then outside interference is the most likely," the Owner said, his gaze narrowing. The words struck like a needle to the heart. Someone had forcibly pulled him back. Someone had severed his bond with Rize. Yu bit down on his frustration, fists trembling. The Owner stroked his chin, watching Yu's reaction, and murmured.

  ?

  "Yu, maybe deep down... you wanted to come back." The quiet provocation hit like a slap.

  "That's not true!" Yu's voice rose before he realized it.

  "I swore to live with Rize. I meant it!" Her face flashed in his mind—their days together in the wooden hut, her trembling smile, the warmth of her touch, the gentle weight of her lips.

  "I never wanted to leave her. I chose that world. I chose her!" His voice shook, but not from fear. It was conviction. The Owner studied him for a while, then gave a small laugh—deep, amused, almost approving.

  "Heh..." There was no mockery in it, only interest. Mamiya said nothing, but her eyes softened slightly as she watched him. Another silence passed. The Owner leaned forward over the counter, resting his chin on his hand.

  "Tell me, boy... you and that girl—did you sleep together?" "W-What!?" Yu jerked upright so fast the chair creaked loudly. His face burned instantly.

  "U-Uncle!" Mamiya's voice cracked sharply—not the tone of a cool-headed researcher, but of the flustered student she used to be.

  "Haha..." The man chuckled deep in his throat. "Haven't heard you call me that since you were in uniform." Yu looked between them, confused, but the Owner waved a hand and continued.

  "When a woman from that world takes a man to her bed, she says a certain line. Always the same one." Yu's heart pounded. He could still hear Rize's whisper in the dark hut. There's a spell... one to keep us safe, and one to make a baby more easily... which do you want? Her trembling voice, her warmth, that moment of trust. The Owner smirked, a knowing glint in his eye.

  "Truth is, that spell doesn't exist. It's just a saying. A superstition lovers use to test each other's resolve." He laughed, shaking his head.

  "Didn't find that out until after I got married over there. Rushed into it thinking we were safe. Imagine my surprise." The tension snapped; the air grew incredibly awkward. Yu's face flushed crimson as he looked down, trying to calm the storm of memories and embarrassment. So she had just... trusted him? Or maybe she believed the superstition too? Mamiya glared at the man, cheeks slightly pink.

  "Please don't tease him like that." The Owner only chuckled again, returning to his pot, the playful mood vanishing as quickly as it came.

  "Anyway. Joke aside." Yu straightened in his seat, bracing himself. The atmosphere shifted again.

  ?

  The Owner's gaze turned serious. The air around him sharpened.

  "It's simple. This world—Earth—has no Mana." His tone cut like a blade.

  "Yet you used magic. Or something close to it. You acted on instinct, not understanding." Yu's fists tightened. He remembered the feeling—how his will had changed the world for a moment, saving Rize. But he still didn't know how.

  "You've learned to ride the bike," the man said, gesturing with the ladle.

  "But you don't know the rules of the road. No signs, no signals—just pedaling blind in heavy traffic." The metaphor stung. But it was true. He'd acted without knowing what he was doing.

  "Use power without understanding, and you'll crash. If you're lucky, only you'll fall. If not... someone else pays the price." Rize's face flickered in his mind. The idea of his ignorance hurting her twisted his gut.

  "...I won't let that happen." The words came out raw but clear. Yu met the man's eyes. The Owner smiled faintly.

  "Good. That look suits you." Mamiya said nothing, only nodded—silently lending him her strength. Yu felt the words settle deep in his chest, heavy and certain. If he was going to stand beside Rize again, he had to understand. Not just run on instinct—but master it, control it.

  For her. For both their worlds.