Through Time She Returns

Chapter 17

Kotoha screams as she falls, the sound of battle fading as the void swallows her up. She couldn't keep up the scream and she went for a gulp of air.

Only to choke.

This was when she realized she wasn't falling anymore and was now drowning.

Fear was threatening her survival and all she could do was tumble in the water, looking for any source of light.

Soon she finds it.
—
All was calm at the pond filled with lotuses.

Then the surface rippled and Kotoha burst from the pond. Quickly dragging herself out, she soon rolls to her side, panting as she does. Coughing up water every once in a while.

Once her lungs were empty of water, they would fill with air as all the emotions came running back to her. Hot tears ran down her face as she sobbed after all that had happened in just a few months.

But it didn't matter, she was back in the Reiwa era.

—
She is in a state of shock, going on autopilot through the rest of her stay in the town.

Kotoha just couldn't believe anything.

Her necklace and phone were proof enough as to what she had been through. Photos and video of the past two months. In the beginning, it was the young slayers, then it was Muzan, and finally Douma.

Oh, how her heart breaks.
—

She gets her grant after she's done with her stay at the town. She had been going over her schedule for the semester when she received her email, inviting her to a dinner and accept her grant in person.

She would go with some college friends who had also gotten scholarships and grants. Wearing a nice blue dress and the necklace Douma had gifted her for the occasion.

She didn't think much about the night as it went on till they did their announcements. Everyone found a sit as the ones running the show began.

It was a mix of giving thanks to investors and other such figures.

It wasn't long till they had begun to call people up to the stage to get their awards.

"Sato Kotoha has received a grant from the Ito Foundation. Thank you Tsukihiko-san for this opportunity." The award had just been handed off to her when the presenter's eyes were directed to the table that Tsukihiko sat at. Bowing to the table and Kotoha followed before stepping off the stage for the next person to receive her award.

The stage lights had blinded her and she couldn't see for sure Tsukihiko. Once she was off stage, she froze momentarily at the one who sat there.

Dressed as sharply as before when they had first met, void of those crimson eyes was-

Dark eyes look at her before looking back on the stage.

"Muzan?" Kotoha couldn't believe it.
—
Little things were beginning to happen around her.

Most of all were appearances of faces she could have sworn she had seen before.

Muzan, whose identity was Tsukihiko in this era, was an executive of the Ito Foundation, donating towards the programs and giving out grants. Then there was the appearance of youngsters who looked much like the Kamado siblings and Zenitsu.

Later she would watch as someone who had a striking resemblance to Inosuke appear on a news article about destroying some rare flowers.

She couldn't believe the faces popping up around her.

—
The next semester soon rolls around and she has a general class in an auditorium.

She is bored the first day and is writing some song lyrics.

Her mind was so occupied she didn't hear the door open. She would continue writing before she heard some hum to start then speaking.

"Is it okay if I sit here?" She freezes, the voice is so familiar and she wonders how she could forget. She looked sharply up and was looking at rainbow eyes that were hidden behind some glasses.

Her mouth drops for a moment before she quickly replies with a nod.

The young man sits down next to her. A pale hand is raised with lips that show off how a smile can make one handsome and charming in no time.

"Hi, I'm Maruyama Douma."

—
It was Douma.

Not the demon that ate women but rather the goofy personality she had come to know.

Even now as she came over to his apartment and quickly found out exactly who he was in this era.

He is the son of the man who brought the world the Xbox 360.

So of course he had a whole set up to play Minecraft as he showed her while getting another set up ready for her as she became a common guest in his apartment.

—
Douma didn't know when to tell her it was him.

Seeing her smile was the only thing that mattered at this moment after the heartache he left her with.

It was nice to see her wear his necklace and keep his Minecraft world on her phone.

Perhaps he will recreate the temple in his new setup and let her solve it on her own.

For now, he wonders if his glasses make him look more approachable to her.

—
It wouldn't be for another two years before it clicked in Kotoha's head that the lovable goofball of the Reiwa era was the same as the Taisho era.

Douma didn't have his healing factor anymore when Kotoha punched him in the ribs for not telling her he was actually himself.

He thought the pain was worth it the moment she cried in his arms.