Changes

Playmaker tells Ai that living has no solutions. When they're in pain, they search for a solution to feel better, a concise absolute solution, but if there is a solution, it's that there are none. There are no absolutes in this world and even if they think there are, it will only make them feel better for a moment. Ai asks what is left if there are no absolutes, and Playmaker tells him that there are only bonds between individuals, between one another, and that also changes with time. He remembers seeing Ai recover his A.I. body for the first time alongside [[Kal Kolter|Kolter]], talking with [[Skye Zaizen|Skye]], [[George Gore|Gore]] being with the children from his orphanage, [[Roboppi]] talking with Ai, [[Takeru Homura|TakeruTheodore]] sobbing in [[TakeruTheodore's grandmother|his grandmother's]] arms after he'd learned of the deaths of [[TakeruTheodore's father|his]] [[TakeruTheodore's mother|parents]] while [[TakeruTheodore's grandfather|his grandfather]] looked on. Bonds may be severed, Playmaker tells Ai as he recalls Kolter at [[Jin Kolter|Jin's]] bedside, but new bonds can also be formed. He recalls [[Emma Bessho|Emma]] with [[Mr. Bessho|her father]], Soulburner with [[Flame (character)|Flame]], Blue Girl with [[Aqua (character)|Aqua]], Ai hugging [[Earth (character)|Earth]] out of the air, [[The Shepherd]] turning away from Ghost Gal, [[Harlan]] being erased, and finally, Bohman's final moments. He declares living is a series of bonds, and that this is what life is. Ai asks if he has to do this forever, and Playmaker replies that he does. Ai comments that it's a lot of work, and Playmaker agrees that it is. Ai adds that you can't do it unless you're strong, but Playmaker states that's why people become stronger. It occasionally leads to conflict, but they have to keep fighting even if that happens, and keep searching for bonds even if there's no solution. Ai replies that he sees; he was thinking too logically, like an A.I. Playmaker tells Ai that he can't rush living, and Ai states that he doesn't want to keep fighting if there's no solution; since he's lost the desire to fight, he's destined to vanish. Playmaker sadly says Ai's name, and Ai sighs that Playmaker dumped him, but the path that they're each taking is set. He readies his [[Duel Disk]], and he tells Playmaker to bring it on: "Let's end this."

In TakeruTheodore's hometown at sunset, he and [[Kiku Kamishirakawa|Kiku]] sit on his bed, Kiku shifting nervously and admitting that she's scared. TakeruTheodore, now wearing his tracksuit again but still with his hair arranged naturally and wearing his glasses, tells Kiku not to worry, and they both link into the VRAINS. They appear in midair, and Kiku screams in fright as Soulburner catches her and his [[Duel Board]] materializes below them, stopping their fall. Kiku opens her eyes and looks at the central shaft, gasping in amazement. Soulburner tells her that this is LINK VRAINS, a new world for people. Down in the Central Plaza, [[Naoki Shima|The Brave Battler]] looks up to see Soulburner and Kiku, recognizing Soulburner and deciding that he has a girlfriend. He vows to give his max to meet someone and runs off. Kiku looks back at Soulburner, and she tells Takeru Theodore that he's cool. Soulburner blushes and he tells her not to be silly, then admits that there's someone cooler than him here. Kiku tells him that she wants to meet this person, and Soulburner admits that he's on a journey right now. Kiku asks if he really is, and Soulburner confirms that he is, but...