Countermeasure Committee Arc (End) EP.26
"Isis..."
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"The mother who watches over all living beings and the universe, the creator goddess who governs all things..."
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"Therefore, achieving the condition of death, you are different from the outcome we desired, yet undeniably the same existence and a miracle..."
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"That's why we made a deal."
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"You, to create a being that can replace you."
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"And I, to receive the byproducts of that creation..."
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"It was a truly beneficial deal... Thanks to it, I was able to apply those byproducts to Sora's body."
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"But..."
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"Given the current state, it seems I have no choice but to take action."
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"What the heck is going on..."
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I sighed, looking at my sudden transformation as a soul.
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A moment ago, when Yume-san bumped into my body, the impact caused me to slip out of my body in an out-of-body experience.
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And Yume-san, who took over my body... No, let's just call her Yume now. Anyway, Yume saved Serika and then,
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"Alright, let's go for a spin after so long, Hoshino-chan!"
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"Yes! Senpai!"
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She teamed up with Hoshino and drove Binah away in an instant.
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"...Well, I did tell her to do it herself..."
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I never thought she'd handle it so quickly. As expected of a former student council president...
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"...Wait a minute...?"
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Come to think of it, if she can turn me into a soul like this, doesn't that mean she can send me back to my original world?
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'Ahaha... I'm really sorry, but that's impossible.'
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"...What?"
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Yume said with an awkward smile at my guess.
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"...Sigh..."
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Of course, my life wouldn't be that easy...
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"No, I knew it. Yeah, I knew it..."
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'But, what I said then was true!'
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"...Huh? Oh, yeah. That... You said I could go home if I died, right?"
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That's a relief.
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"Thanks to you, I've become a suicide maniac, but yeah, it's a relief if it's true."
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'Ugh...'
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"It's okay. It's okay."
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It's really okay. Yeah, really.
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So.
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"Say your goodbyes properly. This might be your first and last chance, right?"
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'...Huh? Well, that's true, but how did you...'
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...Well,
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"It's written all over your face."
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'You look like you're so sad this is the last time, how could I not notice.'
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"So, go on and do your best, Abydos Student Council President."
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'...Okay!'
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Yume, encouraged by my words, ran towards Hoshino with a much brighter expression than before.
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*
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Shortly after Binah fled,
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"Hoshino-chan!"
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"Ah, Yume-senpai..."
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Yume, with a relieved expression, ran up to Hoshino, who was catching her breath.
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But
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"Hey, Hoshino-chan... Huh? Hoshino-chan, are you feeling unwell?"
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"Eh? Oh, no... I'm fine..."
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Hoshino couldn't greet Yume with a smile.
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No matter how miraculously she was seeing Yume again, she wasn't foolish enough to believe this miracle would last long.
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And above all,
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Believing Yume's death that day was her fault, Hoshino couldn't smile at all.
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...But even so, Hoshino wanted to convey this much, so she forced herself to speak.
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"I'm... I'm sorry, Senpai..."
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"Huh?"
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"That day, I said harsh things... and... I tore up the poster... I'm really sorry..."
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"Because of me... Sob... Because of me, Yume-senpai..."
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Her tears finally broke free.
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So, Yume embraced Hoshino with a gentle smile.
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"It's okay, Hoshino-chan. It wasn't your fault."
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"Actually, I'm more sorry. I shouldn't have brought up that topic so insensitively that day."
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"But!"
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"Hoshino-chan."
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Yume held Hoshino tighter and said,
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"Remember what I said last time? Being able to face you like this is a miracle to me."
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"It's the same now. Facing you, who protected Abydos so diligently, is such a joy and a miracle to me."
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"So, let's not talk about such dark things during this miraculous moment, okay?"
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"Yume-senpai..."
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"Hmm... Oh, right! You have some really cute juniors now, Hoshino-chan. Won't you introduce them to me?"
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"Ju-Juniors?"
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"Yes!"
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At Yume's request, Hoshino
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"...Okay!"
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With a faint smile, she began introducing her precious juniors one by one.
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"Hmm... Hmm... They're all such good kids."
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And as Hoshino introduced each one, Yume listened with a genuinely happy expression.
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But
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"Oh... I guess it's time for me to go."
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Their miraculous reunion was coming to an end.
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"...What? No! Not yet...! I still have so much to say and show you...!"
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"I'm sorry... I want to stay longer too... But the dead must depart..."
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"Sob... Hiccup... No...! Yume-senpai...! I want to... stay with you..."
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"I'm really sorry..."
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"But Hoshino-chan."
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"You're not alone anymore, are you?"
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"...Huh?"
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"Nonomi-chan, Shiroko-chan, Serika-chan, Ayane-chan, and..."
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"Even Sora-chan."
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"You have such wonderful people supporting you, right?"
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"...And above all,"
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"Hoshino-chan, you're the proud Vice President of Abydos."
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"..."
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"So, I'm sure you'll be fine, Hoshino-chan. I guarantee it as the Student Council President."
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"You'll be fine, Hoshino-chan."
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"Hiccup... Senpai... Senpai...!!"
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"...Thank you, Hoshino-chan."
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As it was truly time to leave, Yume, with tears in her eyes, spoke her final words in a choked voice to the crying Hoshino.
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"Thank you for being my junior, for crying for me like this."
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"If we meet again in the distant future, will you tell me the stories we couldn't share today?"
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"Hiccup... Yes...! Definitely!"
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"Hehe, thank you... Then, farewell, Hoshino-chan."
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"My cute, reliable, and proud Vice President."
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..
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...
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"Uh... Hmm..."
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'...It's damn awkward after all that just happened...'
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With Yume gone, Sora returned to her body, but having witnessed everything, she couldn't bring herself to speak.
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Especially since she was back in Hoshino's arms.
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And seeing her like that, Hoshino said,
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"Uhehe, welcome back, Sora-chan."
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Though still teary-eyed, she greeted Sora with a relieved and joyful expression.
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"Ah... Ahaha... Yes..."
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'...I never thought I'd say this line.'
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"I'm back."
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Countermeasure Committee Arc—
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"But Sora-chan, your halo is gone. Are you okay...?"
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"Ah... Yes. I don't know either, but my body feels fine."
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"Uhehe, let's go to the hospital anyway. I can't trust your 'I'm fine'."
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"...Eeh...?"
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At that moment
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Bang!!!
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A single bullet fired from behind
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"...Huh?"
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"So-Sora-chan...?"
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Pierced Sora's chest.
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"This concludes our deal, Takanashi Sora."
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"It was a truly beneficial transaction."
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—The End
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