Mai: "Kenshin and the others are really important to you, aren't they? But I'm glad. I'm sure they feel the same about you."
Sasuke: "I hope so." Sasuke's a dear friend, and I'm glad to hear he's staying. Even if we can only see each other now and then.
Mai: "Thank you for coming to tell me."
Sasuke: "Actually, that's not the emergency I was talking about. Both of us have bigger problems." Sasuke frowned. "As much as we both want to stay, I believe we'll be forcibly sent back to the present."
Mai: "...What?" I was shocked. Shocked and angry. "How can we be FORCIBLY sent back?! I'm not going to Kyoto. You're not going to Kyoto!"
Sasuke: "I'll explain everything. I need you to listen calmly. Kyoto was where I estimated the wormhole would manifest when I calculated its location three months ago."
Mai: "I remember. You mentioned it when we met in Azuchi."
Sasuke: "If you miss this next wormhole, you might never be able to go back to the present. By my calculations, the wormhole will appear near Honno-ji. In three months, no matter what stands in our way, we have to get to Kyoto."
Three months felt like forever back then. Now I can't imagine leaving. I need to stay. But I've just been told I can't? I fought my panic and waited for Sasuke to continue.
Sasuke: "During the battle, I'd been observing this abnormal weather and comparing it to my data on the wormhole. Because you see, there's been something unusual about the wormhole too."
Mai: "Go on."
Sasuke: "Each time I run my calculations, the location I estimated it would manifest at has shifted."
Mai: "So it's moved? By how much?"
Sasuke: "At first it was a statistically negligible distance, but that distance has been increasing rapidly with time. Early on, the point was moving toward Azuchi."
Mai: "Wait. Was this during the time you were in Azuchi too?"
Sasuke: "Correct. Its movement corresponded with the time you and I were both residing there. After that, the Oda forces began to march toward the Uesugi garrison castle. During that time, I was nearby, following their movements. And as I calculated the manifestation point again, it was nearing the castle."
Mai: "Don't tell me--"
Sasuke: "Every time we move, the wormhole moves too. As if it's following us." I had a sudden, creeping sense of dread. A chill ran down my spine. I hugged myself, but the cold feeling persisted. "I ran the calculations again yesterday. The wormhole will manifest tonight in these plains where the battle took place."
Mai: "It's appearing here?! TONIGHT?!" I spun around, imagining the wormhole like some kind of impossible creature, lurking in the woods, watching us. "But why is this happening?"
Sasuke: "I have a theory. It's not a very scientific one, but 'If you eliminate the impossible,' etc." Sasuke stopped, seemingly hesitant to continue.
Mai: "I won't report you to the science advisory board. Just tell me your theory."
Sasuke: "In the beginning, I told you we were in a divergent timeline, one that would account for the changes to history. Particularly, the fact that you and I saved Kenshin and Nobunaga from their historical deaths."
YOU ARE READING
Ikémen Sengoku: Transcriptioned Romances Across Time (Nobunaga)
RomanceYou've just nabbed your dream job as a fashion designer when you're sent hurtling back in time to an alternate version of Sengoku era Japan! After accidentally changing history and earning the favor of warlord Nobunaga Oda by saving him from near de...