As the light faded, Hiro and Zero Two found themselves in an unfamiliar ancient city. Towering stone buildings surrounded them, and the streets were bustling with people. The sounds of vendors calling out and conversations filled the air. However, the city felt strangely familiar, as if it had existed in the distant corners of their memories.
"Darling, this place..." Zero Two murmured softly, her eyes filled with confusion and curiosity. She reached out to touch the stone wall beside her, feeling its cold and solid surface, reminding her that everything around them was real. Yet, an inexplicable unease began to surface in her heart, as though something important was about to be awakened.
Hiro looked around, an odd feeling stirring within him. "We might have... returned to the past..." His voice trembled slightly, as certain memories deep inside him began to stir, like a sealed dream slowly coming back to life.
They didn't rush to explore the city but, almost unconsciously, started heading down a familiar path—towards Mistertin.
As they walked onto the land they once knew, though it was now abandoned, countless memories resurfaced. Among the ruins, remnants of past battles could still be seen, and overgrown paths vaguely revealed the traces of the 13th squad's past life.
"This place... we used to live here," Hiro whispered, his gaze soft yet tinged with sadness.
Zero Two looked around, her mind filled with images of the times spent with everyone—laughing and fighting together in the dorms, exchanging smiles in the flower fields.
"Ichigo, Goro, Miku... everyone," she murmured, her fingers gently touching a piece of the remaining wall, as if she could still feel the warmth of the past.
They continued walking along the worn path, reaching the dorm they had once shared. Pushing open the weathered door, they saw that the room was covered in dust, but the old furnishings were still identifiable. In the corner, there was the chair that Miku once loved, Goro's toolbox left aside, and even Miku's bed, though collapsed, still showed the remnants of the past.
"We really did have fun here together," Zero Two softly touched the wooden railing beside the bed, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
Hiro walked over to the window, gazing outside as memories of that simple yet fleeting time came back to him. "Those memories... it feels like they just happened."
A gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of nostalgia. The two stood quietly, feeling the bonds that this land once held.
After a long pause, Hiro sighed softly. "Let's go. Maybe we'll find some clues back in the city."
They turned and left Mistertin, returning to the ancient city.
They walked along the cobbled streets, observing the buildings and the crowds. People wore classical-style clothes, and the street vendors sold fruits and items they had never seen before. Even the language had a tone slightly different from modern speech. Yet, despite this, the two could naturally understand the conversations happening around them.
"It seems we've really traveled to the past... or perhaps we've come to a place that blends different timelines," Hiro whispered, his hands instinctively clenching. A strange tension filled his heart. Why did this place feel so familiar? Why did it seem like he was having a déjà vu from some distant memory?
As they walked further, they reached a large fountain. Just as they stopped, a cloaked figure appeared before them.
"You've finally come," the man said in a deep voice, a mix of anticipation and emotion in his tone.
"Who are you?" Zero Two asked cautiously, her voice calm but tinged with wariness. Her fingers trembled slightly, sensing that this person brought not just answers but possibly an unavoidable fate.
The man slowly lowered his cloak, revealing a mature and rugged face. "I am the guardian of this city, and the one who knows the secret of your past lives."
Hiro and Zero Two exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with questions.
"Our past lives... what happened to us?" Hiro asked, his voice lowered, almost fearful of the answer.
The man paused for a moment, then pointed to a statue in the center of the fountain. It depicted a knight and a maiden riding a FranXX, standing side by side, gazing into the distance.
"This statue commemorates the heroes who once saved the world..." the man said in a solemn tone. "And you two... you were the most crucial figures in that battle."
Zero Two's eyes trembled slightly, and memories deep inside her seemed to be awakening. An image flashed in her mind—she stood atop a high tower, bloodied and battered, gazing out at the battlefield, with Hiro by her side, holding her hand tightly.
"In the past, you two led the war against the disaster. You piloted the FranXX and fought to the very end... but you also paid an irreversible price."
Hiro's heart raced, and he lowered his gaze to his hand, as if he could feel the familiar sensation of gripping the control lever. It was a memory interwoven with blood and fire, countless struggles on the brink of life and death.
"Why were we reborn? Why are we back here now?" His voice trembled, for he knew this was no coincidence but fate's design.
The man sighed. "Because the mission you two left unfinished is still ongoing. The world has not yet achieved true peace, and your existence is still key to this fated war."
As the night slowly descended, the stars above the ancient city shimmered with warm lights. And within this city, where time and space intertwined, a new adventure quietly began—a journey that still awaited Hiro and Zero Two.
To be Continued…
