Countermeasure Committee Arc (End) EP.26

"Isis..."

 

 

 

"The mother who watches over all living beings and the universe, the creator goddess who governs all things..."

 

 

 

"Therefore, achieving the condition of death, you are different from the outcome we desired, yet undeniably the same existence and a miracle..."

 

 

 

"That's why we made a deal."

 

 

 

"You, to create a being that can replace you."

 

 

 

"And I, to receive the byproducts of that creation..."

 

 

 

"It was a truly beneficial deal... Thanks to it, I was able to apply those byproducts to Sora's body."

 

 

 

"But..."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Given the current state, it seems I have no choice but to take action."

 

 

 

 

 

"What the heck is going on..."

 

 

 

I sighed, looking at my sudden transformation as a soul.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

And Yume-san, who took over my body... No, let's just call her Yume now. Anyway, Yume saved Serika and then,

 

 

 

"Alright, let's go for a spin after so long, Hoshino-chan!"

 

 

 

"Yes! Senpai!"

 

 

 

She teamed up with Hoshino and drove Binah away in an instant.

 

 

 

"...Well, I did tell her to do it herself..."

 

 

 

I never thought she'd handle it so quickly. As expected of a former student council president...

 

 

 

"...Wait a minute...?"

 

 

 

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?

 

 

 

'Ahaha... I'm really sorry, but that's impossible.'

 

 

 

"...What?"

 

 

 

Yume said with an awkward smile at my guess.

 

 

"...Sigh..."

 

 

 

Of course, my life wouldn't be that easy...

 

 

 

"No, I knew it. Yeah, I knew it..."

 

 

 

'But, what I said then was true!'

 

 

 

"...Huh? Oh, yeah. That... You said I could go home if I died, right?"

 

 

 

That's a relief.

 

 

 

"Thanks to you, I've become a suicide maniac, but yeah, it's a relief if it's true."

 

 

 

'Ugh...'

 

 

 

"It's okay. It's okay."

 

 

 

It's really okay. Yeah, really.

 

 

 

So.

 

 

 

"Say your goodbyes properly. This might be your first and last chance, right?"

 

 

 

'...Huh? Well, that's true, but how did you...'

 

 

 

...Well,

 

 

 

"It's written all over your face."

 

 

 

'You look like you're so sad this is the last time, how could I not notice.'

 

 

 

"So, go on and do your best, Abydos Student Council President."

 

 

 

'...Okay!'

 

 

 

Yume, encouraged by my words, ran towards Hoshino with a much brighter expression than before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortly after Binah fled,

 

 

 

"Hoshino-chan!"

 

 

 

"Ah, Yume-senpai..."

 

 

 

Yume, with a relieved expression, ran up to Hoshino, who was catching her breath.

 

 

 

But

 

 

 

"Hey, Hoshino-chan... Huh? Hoshino-chan, are you feeling unwell?"

 

 

 

"Eh? Oh, no... I'm fine..."

 

 

 

Hoshino couldn't greet Yume with a smile.

 

 

 

No matter how miraculously she was seeing Yume again, she wasn't foolish enough to believe this miracle would last long.

 

 

 

And above all,

 

 

 

Believing Yume's death that day was her fault, Hoshino couldn't smile at all.

 

 

 

...But even so, Hoshino wanted to convey this much, so she forced herself to speak.

 

 

 

"I'm... I'm sorry, Senpai..."

 

 

 

 

"Huh?"

 

"That day, I said harsh things... and... I tore up the poster... I'm really sorry..."

 

 

 

"Because of me... Sob... Because of me, Yume-senpai..."

 

 

 

Her tears finally broke free.

 

 

 

So, Yume embraced Hoshino with a gentle smile.

 

 

 

"It's okay, Hoshino-chan. It wasn't your fault."

 

 

 

"Actually, I'm more sorry. I shouldn't have brought up that topic so insensitively that day."

 

 

 

"But!"

 

 

 

"Hoshino-chan."

 

 

 

Yume held Hoshino tighter and said,

 

 

 

"Remember what I said last time? Being able to face you like this is a miracle to me."

 

 

 

"It's the same now. Facing you, who protected Abydos so diligently, is such a joy and a miracle to me."

 

 

 

"So, let's not talk about such dark things during this miraculous moment, okay?"

 

 

 

"Yume-senpai..."

 

 

 

"Hmm... Oh, right! You have some really cute juniors now, Hoshino-chan. Won't you introduce them to me?"

 

 

 

"Ju-Juniors?"

 

 

 

"Yes!"

 

 

 

At Yume's request, Hoshino

 

 

 

"...Okay!"

 

 

 

With a faint smile, she began introducing her precious juniors one by one.

 

 

 

"Hmm... Hmm... They're all such good kids."

 

 

 

And as Hoshino introduced each one, Yume listened with a genuinely happy expression.

 

 

 

But

 

 

 

"Oh... I guess it's time for me to go."

 

 

 

Their miraculous reunion was coming to an end.

 

 

 

"...What? No! Not yet...! I still have so much to say and show you...!"

 

 

 

"I'm sorry... I want to stay longer too... But the dead must depart..."

 

 

 

"Sob... Hiccup... No...! Yume-senpai...! I want to... stay with you..."

 

 

 

"I'm really sorry..."

 

 

 

"But Hoshino-chan."

 

 

 

"You're not alone anymore, are you?"

 

 

 

"...Huh?"

 

 

 

"Nonomi-chan, Shiroko-chan, Serika-chan, Ayane-chan, and..."

 

 

 

"Even Sora-chan."

 

 

 

"You have such wonderful people supporting you, right?"

 

 

 

"...And above all,"

 

 

 

"Hoshino-chan, you're the proud Vice President of Abydos."

 

 

 

"..."

 

 

 

"So, I'm sure you'll be fine, Hoshino-chan. I guarantee it as the Student Council President."

 

 

 

"You'll be fine, Hoshino-chan."

 

 

 

"Hiccup... Senpai... Senpai...!!"

 

 

 

"...Thank you, Hoshino-chan."

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

"Thank you for being my junior, for crying for me like this."

 

 

 

"If we meet again in the distant future, will you tell me the stories we couldn't share today?"

 

 

 

"Hiccup... Yes...! Definitely!"

 

 

 

"Hehe, thank you... Then, farewell, Hoshino-chan."

 

 

 

"My cute, reliable, and proud Vice President."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

..

 

 

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Uh... Hmm..."

 

 

 

'...It's damn awkward after all that just happened...'

 

 

 

With Yume gone, Sora returned to her body, but having witnessed everything, she couldn't bring herself to speak.

 

 

 

Especially since she was back in Hoshino's arms.

 

 

 

And seeing her like that, Hoshino said,

 

 

 

"Uhehe, welcome back, Sora-chan."

 

 

 

Though still teary-eyed, she greeted Sora with a relieved and joyful expression.

 

 

 

"Ah... Ahaha... Yes..."

 

 

 

'...I never thought I'd say this line.'

 

 

 

"I'm back."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Countermeasure Committee Arc—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"But Sora-chan, your halo is gone. Are you okay...?"

 

 

 

"Ah... Yes. I don't know either, but my body feels fine."

 

 

 

"Uhehe, let's go to the hospital anyway. I can't trust your 'I'm fine'."

 

 

 

"...Eeh...?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

At that moment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bang!!!

 

 

 

 

A single bullet fired from behind

 

 

 

"...Huh?"

 

 

 

"So-Sora-chan...?"

 

 

 

 

Pierced Sora's chest.

 

 

 

"This concludes our deal, Takanashi Sora."

 

 

 

 

"It was a truly beneficial transaction."

 

 

—The End