♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢

Despite Leo and Elly’s fierce attacks, Dabi’s Space Warrior team did not fall easily. In fact, their counterattacks made Leo’s team grow increasingly anxious. Feeling that the battle might end in Dabi’s victory, Leo gathered the energy he had been saving and suddenly charged straight at Dabi’s team. It was his final gambit: a full-scale assault.

Before Dabi’s team could be overwhelmed by the attack, Dabi cast a protective skill to shield all of his teammates. Leo’s plan failed, forcing him to retreat to his position. Seizing the chance, Elly unleashed a barrage of attacks on Dabi’s team. Dabi tried to activate his shield again, but it was still on cooldown. The Space Warriors were left with no choice but to shoot down the incoming projectiles with their ray guns. Yet the sheer number was too great.

Still, they refused to give up and did everything they could to hold back the onslaught. Just then—suddenly, a blazing fireball streaked through the sky and incinerated every projectile raining down on them. Another fireball flew toward Leo. Both Leo and Elly froze, their eyes wide, and clung to each other in terror as they screamed.

[Kiiiiiiyaaaa!]

The fireball hurtled toward them at full speed—only to vanish right before impact.

“Ahhhhhh—Huh!?” Leo and Elly cried out in shock.

At that moment, someone leapt into the air to deliver judgment. It was the Red Rooster—EAT.

EAT shouted:
“Team Dabi! Penalty for using ‘Fantasy’ magic in the middle of SF scenario ‘Space Warriors’! Team Leo recovers 10% HP! Remaining time: five minutes! Resume the game!”

And with that, EAT vanished as suddenly as he appeared.

Rogi, once again stunned, turned to his friends.
Rogi: “Who was that? When did he get here?”
Pie: [smiling] “That’s EAT. We didn’t tell you earlier—we wanted to introduce him as a surprise.”
Eti: [brightly] “Yup! A surprise gift just for you, Rogi!”
Rogi: “Ohhh, so we had one more friend!”
Yona: “Well… you could say that. But Rogi, how did you do it?”
Rogi: [awkward laugh] “Ha… ha…”

The one who had summoned the fireballs was none other than Rogi himself. While standing awkwardly behind his friends, he had jokingly muttered a spell and stretched out his hand—only to actually conjure two enormous fireballs. Rogi, just as shocked as anyone else, quickly hid among his friends and pretended nothing had happened. But Yona had noticed everything.

Time ran out, and Leo’s team was declared the winner. Dabi, however, was furious.
Dabi: “This makes no sense! It can’t end like this! No way!”

Seeing Dabi’s frustration, Yona suggested a solution: to hold a Doritori Trial. The others agreed, thinking Dabi might have a point. Rogi was bewildered as the friends raised their voices together:

“In the name of the Eternal King!”

In an instant, the battlefield vanished, and they were back in the clearing. Rogi, still full of questions, chose to stay silent—he already felt guilty enough for what had happened. The group decided to eat dinner at their own homes, then gather later at Dabi’s room. Rogi, worried that his mistake had made things worse, completely forgot about EAT in the chaos.

♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢

By the time dinner was over, darkness had fallen, and streetlights lit up the neighborhood. One by one, the children headed to Dabi’s house.

…This was Dabi’s room. Not really his own room, but rather a spare one in the house that he had claimed as his. It was wide and mostly empty, except for his father’s desk, a bookshelf, a TV with its stand, a wardrobe, and a carpet.

The kids had gathered, but not all were present yet. They were still waiting for Pie and Leo. Just then, Leo arrived with an announcement.

“Pie had something to take care of. He said he’ll be a little late, and that we should start without him.”

So, the children began the trial in Dabi’s room. Yona declared:
Yona: “Alright! From this moment, the first Doritori Trial begins!”
Yona: “Hmm… but shouldn’t EAT be here?”
Leo: “Should we call him?”
Yona: “We’d need Pie for that.”
Elly: “Let’s just wait. We’ll do it when he gets here.”

So they waited. Before long, Pie arrived—holding a rolled-up paper bundle.
Dabi: “Now that everyone’s here?”
Leo: “Let’s summon EAT.”

The kids decided to call EAT inside the room and chanted together:

“Doritori Toris!”

The room darkened, and a small courtroom materialized before their eyes. The children gasped—they had never seen anything like it. At the judge’s seat sat both Yona and EAT.

EAT raised his voice:
“Let the trial begin!”

Hearing this, Rogi’s memory clicked back. He turned to Pie.
Rogi: “Oh, right! Who is that guy again?”
Pie: [kindly] “He’s called EAT—our friend.”

Leo added a bit more explanation.
Leo: “He’s the game master of our story play.”
Rogi: “Huh? Why does his face look like that?”
Pie: [hesitant tone] “Because… he’s a Red Rooster…”
Rogi: “Wait, is he a chicken or a person? What is he?”
Leo: [fumbling] “EAT is…”
Eti: [cheerfully] “He’s just EAT!”

Then EAT bellowed:
“Silence, everyone! The trial begins now. Yona, explain the case.”
Yona: “Yes, Your Honor.”

Yona gave a brief summary of the events. Dabi looked visibly upset, Leo seemed annoyed but unconcerned, Elly indifferent, and Rogi guilty for causing trouble to his friends. Pie, on the other hand, appeared calm but resolute.

EAT first gave Dabi the chance to speak.
Dabi: “Friends, I was wronged! Because of this, I might be forced to play the Demon King in the next story! … Of course, I don’t blame Rogi—this was his first time. But listen! I’m certain Dabi’s team could have beaten Leo’s team! Our loss was nothing but an accident!”

Leo frowned and protested.
Leo: “That’s not true. Both teams were evenly matched, and time was almost up. Nobody knew which side would win.”
Elly: “Hey, what if we just restart the story from before the problem happened?”
Eti: “Yeah, that would work!”

But EAT declared firmly:
EAT: “No! There will be no rematch. The story is complete. A completed story cannot be recalled.”

The children grew gloomy, unable to find a solution. Only Pie remained patient, waiting for the right moment. At last, Pie raised her hand and spoke.

“Everyone, what I’m holding here is the very script that Dabi gave Rogi yesterday—the summary of the Space Warrior story.”

Unfolding the paper, she handed it to Leo.

Leo scanned the document and gasped. “What!? This is…!” He turned to Dabi.
Dabi: “What? What’s wrong? I passed it on just fine, didn’t I?”

But Leo handed the document over to Yona and EAT. Both looked startled, and the courtroom atmosphere shifted into a hush. EAT looked at Yona, Yona nodded, and EAT announced:

“The verdict is this: the result stands as before. Leo’s team is the winner.”

Leo and Elly raised their arms in victory, cheering. Dabi, meanwhile, cried out in protest.
Yona then turned to Pie.
Yona: “Pie, explain. That’ll make it easier for everyone.”

Pie grinned.
Pie: “Sure! Listen, everyone. The script Dabi gave Rogi wasn’t Space Warrior at all—it was actually Yona’s draft for Child of Magic!”

The kids all stared at Dabi in shock. He froze like a statue. Pie went on:
“I suspected it. Dabi always makes silly mistakes. That’s why I stopped by Rogi’s house before coming here, just to check—and sure enough, I found proof!”

Dabi screamed in despair.

At that moment, Rogi suddenly spoke up, remembering something.
Rogi: “Oh, right, Yona! Child of Magic was really fun! When’s the sequel coming?”
Yona: “Wait, you already read it all?”
Rogi: “Yeah—it was so good.”
Yona: “Really? Thanks! I’ll try to write the sequel soon. … Oh! Speaking of which, Rogi—you need to create a story too.”
Rogi: “A story? … I’m not good at that.”
Yona: “That’s fine. You can do it with me.”
Leo: “Yona’s a great writer. She reads a ton of books too.”
Rogi: “But I really can’t…”
Leo: “Neither can I. I’m even worse! But Yona helped me with mine.”
Yona: [smiling] “Hehe. I only learned because a teacher taught me.”

Pie spoke up, trying to bring order back.
Pie: “Alright, everyone. The next story is mine! EAT, please prepare it.”
EAT nodded and waved his hand.

Rogi, still curious about EAT, tried to approach him—but before he could, the children shouted from behind:

“In the name of the Eternal King!!”

Rogi wanted to say, “Wait a sec!” but it was too late. The courtroom vanished, and they were back in Dabi’s room. Rogi sighed in disappointment—he hadn’t managed to speak with EAT.

Pie walked up to him.
Pie: “Rogi, the next story is mine! I really hope you enjoy it this time.”
Rogi: “Oh? What’s it about?”
Pie: “It’s just a fun adventure through the great outdoors.”

Amid all these strange and unexplainable events, Rogi had countless questions. But more than anything else, the pressure of having to create his own story weighed heavily on him, filling his mind entirely.