Since Zero Two regained her memories, her relationship with Hiro has grown even closer. Though they have confirmed their past lives, they still need to adapt to life in this new world.
One morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains into the room. Zero Two rubbed her sleepy eyes and turned to see a familiar picture book—The Monster and The Prince—on the desk. She gently picked it up, remembering the reunion under the cherry blossom tree the day before. A warmth spread through her chest.
"Darling..." she murmured softly, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
At school, their daily life began to change with subtle but beautiful moments. Hiro always waited for her so they could walk to school together. During lunch breaks, the two would sit by the track, quietly sharing their meals. Zero Two would often stare at Hiro, reminiscing about the past, while Hiro would gently tap her forehead, smiling and asking, "What are you thinking about?"
"Thinking about our past, Darling," Zero Two would reply with a playful wink.
In class, Zero Two’s attitude toward studying remained laid-back. She often doodled in her notebook, drawing scenes from their past adventures. Hiro would occasionally remind her to focus, but when he looked at her drawings, he couldn't help but smile.
During gym class, Zero Two demonstrated remarkable athletic ability, far surpassing her classmates in sprints and jumps. The teacher joked that she should join the sports club, but she always shook her head with a smile and ran over to Hiro. "As long as I'm with Darling, that's enough," she would say quietly.
At lunchtime, they enjoyed sitting under a large tree in the school yard. Hiro would read, while Zero Two leaned against him, nibbling on a snack and listening to him read stories aloud. When she became engrossed, she would instinctively grab Hiro’s sleeve, urging him to keep reading.
After school, they would walk home together. When they passed the familiar cherry blossom tree, Zero Two would always stop for a moment, gazing up at the falling petals, recalling both the past and the future.
"This time, we’ll cherish this world," Hiro would say softly.
Zero Two nodded and took his hand, their fingers entwined.
Even without the battles and FranXX, even without the thrilling fights, they were still each other’s most important presence.
Their new routine carried the bonds of the past while intertwining with the possibilities of the future.
One weekend, Hiro and Zero Two decided to visit the library in the city center to look for more information about The Monster and The Prince. As they flipped through book after book, they discovered that there were different versions of the story. One version mentioned a "forgotten vow," hinting at an unfulfilled wish from their past life.
"Darling, do you think this is related to us?" Zero Two asked softly, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Hiro thought for a moment and nodded gently. "Perhaps there are still secrets in this world that we need to uncover."
As the days passed, they started to notice familiar places and memories resurfacing, as though something was guiding them forward.
"This time, we’ll uncover all the mysteries," Zero Two smiled, tightly holding Hiro’s hand.
And so, their daily lives began to take on an exploratory tone—this wasn’t just a new life for them; it was the beginning of a new adventure.
One day, while at the library, they found an old diary tucked away in a corner. When they opened it, the handwriting looked remarkably similar to Hiro’s. The diary contained accounts of an unfinished journey and a promise that two souls would meet again in a certain place.
"This... what is this?" Zero Two asked, her voice filled with shock as she looked at Hiro.
Hiro’s heart raced as he flipped through the yellowed pages, reading the last line: "When the cherry blossoms bloom again, we will meet once more and complete our mission."
"Our mission... what is it?" Zero Two murmured.
They began to follow the clues in the diary, searching for the secrets hidden deep in their memories. On this journey to uncover the truth, they not only remembered the past but also cherished the present, paving the way for their future.
One day, they came upon a familiar yet strange ruin. Hidden within was a stone tablet carved with ancient runes, depicting the figures of two people.
"Is this... us?" Zero Two held her breath as she carefully examined the images on the stone.
At that moment, the surrounding space began to tremble. A beam of light slowly emanated from the center of the stone tablet, shining upon the two of them.
"Darling... this feeling... it's like we're back to how things were before..." Zero Two whispered, her eyes gleaming with a familiar light.
"Perhaps, this is the answer we've been searching for," Hiro said, gripping her hand tightly as they both faced the mysterious light.
The light gradually enveloped them, and their consciousness seemed to be transported to some distant time and space.
After a swirl of light, they found themselves standing in the center of a strange town, surrounded by ancient buildings and bustling crowds.
"Where... is this?" Zero Two asked in confusion.
Hiro looked down at his palm, a sense of familiarity rising within him. "We may have... returned to the past..."
This town seemed to hold the key to the truths left unfinished in their past life.
A new adventure was about to begin...
To be continued...
