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Chapter 15 – “Under One Banner”

  Location: Tokyo – World Entertainment & Cultural Production Office (WBCC)

  Three months after Ruby & Fitran's wedding

  Behind the glass curtain on the 42nd floor, the city of Tokyo glimmered like a web of lights, creating a stunning atmosphere. Yet inside the WBCC conference room, the glow emanated from a couple whose news could not be hidden—Ruby Hoshino and Fitran Fate.

  Ruby wore a white blazer paired with a black skirt, exuding elegance while maintaining her softness. Beside her stood Fitran, clad in a dark suit and a small spiral tie—an emblem of interdimensional peace.

  “Get ready, darling,” Ruby whispered, looking into Fitran's eyes with a blend of anxiety and reassurance. “We must show them we are more than just icons.”

  Fitran responded with a smile, but beneath that smile lay a hint of unease. “We are always together, Ruby. Through light and darkness, I will never let you face this alone.”

  They were invited not as idols or heroes, but as symbols.

  Symbols of the idea that love can unify a world that was once nearly shattered by differences: between humanity, technology, and metaphysical powers.

  Before them sat diplomats, CEOs, government representatives, and prominent producers from various continents.

  And one significant question loomed.

  “Are you ready to be the face of the ‘Global Harmony Project’?” asked a Japanese official, his voice calm yet firm.

  Ruby looked at Fitran, her eyes shining with a mix of hope and apprehension. “We both know this isn’t just any ordinary project, right? It's about how we are perceived, how our love can make an impact,” she said, her voice shaking slightly.

  Taking a deep breath, Fitran felt the weight of the responsibility that had just enveloped them. “Every step we take must be filled with conviction. But whatever happens, I will be by your side,” he said gently, taking Ruby’s hand and holding it tightly. That sense of security always ignited a spark in Ruby.

  Flashback: One week earlier

  Ruby and Fitran were sitting on their balcony, the breeze carrying the scent of peach blossoms. They had just received an invitation for a new global project.

  “If we agree, we'll travel around the world, becoming the face of ‘cross-nation, culture, and dimension reconciliation,’” Ruby said, reading the brochure.

  Fitran looked at Ruby intently, a smile painting tranquility on his face. “And as we step onto the world stage, we won’t be alone. We have each other,” he added, reminding Ruby of the strength of their love, capable of overcoming any challenge.

  “You’re right. We must believe in our abilities,” Ruby replied, smiling again. “Even though the outside world can be harsh, having you by my side is enough to make me brave.”

  “And if we refuse, the world will think we're selfish,” Fitran replied calmly.

  Ruby chuckled softly. “Or... they might just continue to see us as ‘idols and aliens’ on a honeymoon.”

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “This isn't a honeymoon. It’s...” Fitran took her hand firmly. “The beginning of building a new world.”

  He looked at Ruby with eyes full of hope. “We can't turn back now. We have a responsibility.”

  Ruby nodded, feeling the weight of the decision they had to make. “You're right. We must move forward even though this path is uncertain.”

  Fitran added, “We do not want to be mere faces. We want to have a genuine voice—in the policies created, in the narratives built, and in who gets involved in this project.”

  A silence fell over the room.

  Then... a slow applause began to spread.

  As the clapping echoed, Ruby exchanged glances with Fitran. In that quiet moment, they smiled at each other, offering unspoken encouragement. “This is for everyone who doesn’t have a voice,” Ruby whispered confidently, gripping Fitran's hand tighter.

  “And for us,” Fitran replied, his eyes sparkling with conviction. “We can face it all together.”

  In a basement in Switzerland, a secret organization is watching the news. In the center of the room stands a figure cloaked in gray, speaking in an unfamiliar language.

  “They are intertwining too many threads of fate. If left unchecked... reality will tremble.”

  “It’s time to activate Fragment Echo 01.”

  A large screen displays Ruby's face — then gradually transforms into her shadowy version that fades away.

  “Make the world doubt. Destroy that love... from within.”

  Ruby grasped his hand, feeling the warmth of the confidence growing between them, as the cheers of the audience faded into the background, leaving only the silence enveloping them.

  Fitran began to openly teach about cross-cultural philosophy and the ethics of metaphysical power.

  “If love can bridge the gap between reality and desire... then the world can be saved without war.”

  But change begins from within.

  Ruby started having strange dreams:

  Seeing her own reflection crying in the mirror.

  Hearing a faint voice: “Who are you... without him?”

  And watching Fitran standing in the shadows, slowly moving away, faceless.

  In the quiet of the night, Ruby murmured to herself, “Will we always find each other, even in this darkness?” Remembering Fitran's face, always calm, she longed for his gentle touch. In the stillness, she hoped that Fitran could feel her, that they were connected despite being separated by uncertainty.

  Fitran, in his room, contemplated the same occurrences. He also felt Ruby's presence in her absence. “This feeling will never fade, even if the world tries to pull us apart,” he said to the shadow on the wall, as if Ruby could hear him. Every word spoken was his promise to always fight against all obstacles for the sake of their love.

  In the morning, Ruby clutched her chest. Her heart raced... it felt unusual.

  Fitran sensed the disturbance as well.

  While meditating in Seoul, he felt his desires echoed back at him. It was as if there was a “voice of himself” in a parallel dimension beginning to rewrite their memories.

  “Someone is trying to replicate this love... beyond logic.”

  Night in Istanbul.

  Ruby and Fitran sat on the balcony of an old hotel. The desert wind was blowing gently.

  “You’ve changed,” whispered Fitran.

  Ruby turned to him. “Because I’m afraid.”

  “Afraid of what?”

  “Afraid that all of this is too beautiful to be real.”

  Fitran moved closer.

  “Then hold me tightly. That way, if we fall... we fall together.”

  Ruby shed tears.

  But from afar… someone was peering into their reality through a crack in the dimension.

  Fragment Echo 01: activated.

  Objective: to make Ruby believe that this love is an illusion implanted in her mind.

  In her mind, Ruby began to hear a sentence repeating over and over.

  “If he didn’t choose you in another world… why do you believe he chooses you here?”

  Fitran took Ruby's hand, warming her cold palm. “Every second with you is a choice I make over and over again. Don’t let doubt hold you back; we can face this together,” he said with a tone full of hope, his eyes locking with hers, searching for reassurance in her gaze.

  Ruby gazed outside, battling her emotional storm. “But what if I lose?” She shook her head as if trying to shake off the thought. “What if our love is just a beautiful image of an illusion?”

  Fitran nodded, understanding her fears. “Whether it's an illusion or real, my love for you will always fight. If I have to battle shadows, I will do it for us,” he said while wrapping his arms around Ruby, signaling that no matter what happened, they would remain together.

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