Bright sunlight streamed through the doorway. The great gate expanded infinitely, swallowing the entire chamber. Then, the surroundings shifted—becoming the familiar setting of Horizon on the Middle of Nowhere: Little Honda's home, that grand wooden estate.
The scene was set in the backyard—the very place where Kurumi had first met Little Honda. But unlike the original version, there was no cherry blossom tree beside the pond. This was a different memory—an earlier one.
Two figures appeared in the courtyard: a five-year-old Futayo Honda, an adorably cute little girl, and her father, Tadakatsu Honda, whose beard was still black in this memory. The recollection began to play.
"Futayo Honda, today is your fifth birthday. From this day forth, you will begin your training," Tadakatsu said, crouching down as he placed two objects into her small hands.
In Little Honda's left hand was a ring of purity and kindness. In her right hand—a short sword, forged perfectly to match her tiny stature.
"Father, what is this?" the little girl asked, her bright eyes wide with innocent curiosity as she held up the ring.
The sword, at least, she recognized—she knew what that was for.
"The sword in your right hand represents freedom. With it, you may defend your choices—whatever you wish to do, whatever you desire, whatever dreams you hold. That is freedom," Tadakatsu said sternly.
The little girl's eyes lit up as she looked at the sword. It suddenly felt like a treasure beyond measure.
"The ring in your left hand represents an oath. Simply put, it symbolizes the one to whom you pledge your life. It stands for love and marriage. By holding the ring, you may dream of fairy tales, believe in princes on white horses, freely choose who to love, and find happiness," Tadakatsu continued in the same grave tone.
"Ah..." The little girl blinked, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she imagined the kind of love her father and mother shared. She clutched the ring tightly in her tiny hand.
Futayo was gifted—smarter than most even as a child. She knew instinctively that the ring must be her most precious treasure.
"Now... throw them away," Tadakatsu commanded.
"Eh?" Little Honda froze, eyes wide. She gripped the sword and ring tighter, unwilling to part with either freedom or promise.
"Throw them away!" His second command thundered like steel. Frightened, she stepped back until her heel touched the pond's edge. With nowhere left to retreat, she looked back at the water, then hugged both items tightly to her chest, shaking her head desperately.
With a heavy step, Tadakatsu strode forward, seized the short sword from her hand, and flung it into the pond.
"By casting away freedom, you shall no longer dream."
Splash! The blade vanished beneath the surface. Tears welled in the girl's eyes as she clutched the ring with both hands.
But resistance was futile—the ring too was snatched away and thrown into the pond.
"By casting away the oath, you renounce the right to seek love."
Plunk. The ring sank into the depths. Instinctively, the little girl tried to jump in after it—but Tadakatsu caught her easily, lifting her small body into the air.
He tossed her aside effortlessly. Then, he threw a spear—crafted to match her size—beside her and spoke with stern finality: "Your right hand has forsaken the sword of freedom. Your left hand has cast away the ring of vows. From this day forth, your hands shall wield only the spear. Practice your thrust ten thousand times. You shall not eat until it is done."
Stumbling to her feet, tears glistening in her eyes, the little girl cried out, "Father! Why?"
"Abandon everything. From this moment, you live only for loyalty and righteousness. There is nothing else," Tadakatsu said, turning away. His back was upright—like a spear itself, unwavering and righteous, as though he could pierce the very heavens.
Grit... Kurumi's teeth clenched audibly. "Oh, Tadakatsu Honda... what a fine trap you've dug. I walked right into it so happily, only to be buried headfirst," she muttered, fuming.
Watching the small, determined face of Little Honda—firm and unmoved despite her tears—Kurumi rose from her throne, a soft smile curling at her lips as she walked toward her.
Kurumi's demonic loli form gradually shrank until she herself became a small girl—identical to Little Honda. At the same time, the environment shifted again: the courtyard dissolved into a fragmented, dreamlike space filled with tiny fluttering fairies.
"Clack, clack! Clack, clack! This is the road to dreams. At its end, any wish can be granted."
"Clack, clack! Clack, clack! Only by reaching the end may one arrive."
The fairies danced and sang, then flew toward the fragmented void. A small eatery appeared amid the distortion, where a cat wearing a chef's outfit greeted the childlike Honda. "Welcome, guest. What would you like?"
As the cat spoke, a health bar appeared above Little Honda's head and began slowly decreasing.
"One portion of luck, three portions of misfortune. The first box—deliver it to the one who sleeps eternally. The second—to the shopkeeper's neighbor," said Kurumi, now in the form of the small Honda.
"For Lady Honda, one delivery to the unreachable." The cat handed her a box, which, when opened, revealed a glowing road. Little Honda stepped upon it.
At that moment, Futayo Honda's own HP dropped by one segment. Above the little girl's head, a new HP bar appeared. A strange link had formed between them—Futayo felt that the child walking that path was herself.
Click, click, click! The road led into a mechanical city. A towering metal automaton looked down and asked, "Guest, what do you desire?"
"The latest newspaper. The headline should read: 'Chichi! Chichi! Chichi!'" Little Honda said.
"For Lady Honda, one full-page edition." The newspaper unfurled, transforming into a road. Little Honda stepped forward again.
Two more segments vanished from Futayo's HP, while two were added to Little Honda's. Futayo could feel her heartbeat syncing with the girl's—they shared the same pulse, the same life.
"La-la-la! La-la-la! Guest, what do you desire?" Fairies bloomed from the flowers, dancing gracefully around the child.
"Give me the crescent of the third moon. Sweetness for ten days, bitterness for ninety," the little Honda said.
"La-la-la! La-la-la! For Lady Honda, one serving of the eighth sun's loathing." The fairies linked hands and spun together, forming a bridge of white clouds. The child stepped onto it without hesitation.
Three more HP bars disappeared from Futayo's status. Three more appeared for the little one. They now shared not only a heartbeat, but emotions, sensations—one body, one soul.
"What does the guest desire?" In the heavens above, an angel spread her wings.
"Give me a knife and fork shattered into a million pieces. Ten thousand for the goddess—throw away the other nine hundred ninety thousand," said Little Honda calmly.
"For Lady Honda, one serving of the hearth's affection." The angel vanished, replaced by a blazing pillar of fire that descended beside Futayo—taking the form of Tadakatsu Honda, stern and imposing.
"La-la-la! La-la-la! The road to dreams is the shortcut into the soul. Accept her! Accept her, and all wishes shall be fulfilled!" countless fairies chanted as they circled Futayo.
In that instant, the HP bar of the little girl merged entirely with Futayo's. The two became one. Futayo could feel every ounce of the child's yearning—her pure, desperate longing.
"La-la-la! La-la-la! Only at the end of the road can the seal be broken. All wishes can be realized." The fairies vanished. The scenery shifted once again—to the backyard of Futayo's home. The small child now stood before Tadakatsu Honda.
"Futayo, today is your fifth birthday. What do you wish for?" her father asked.
"Father, I want the sword for my right hand... and the ring for my left," said the little girl.
Tadakatsu nodded solemnly and placed the sword in her right hand and the ring in her left.
Clutching both tightly, the child beamed with a smile so pure and bright it could melt steel. She began walking toward the grown Futayo.
"Please accept me... I want to reclaim the freedom of my right hand and the oath of my left," she said with innocent, heartfelt sincerity.
"Uuuu... If it were me, I'd hug little Honda-sensei tight—no matter the cost, even my life," sobbed Fierce Tiger, still bound to the cross. The stoic martial queen was, at her core, utterly pure-hearted.
Swish! The tip of the Tonbokiri spear shot forth without hesitation, piercing the little girl's chest and lifting her into the air.