Chapter 32: The End

The missile was successfully stopped.

The plan had been to repeatedly jump to and from Kuroko, deploying a large-scale "Crack Shield" in the missile's path. That idea played out with no major issues—well, I did get a little woozy partway through, but all in all, the interception was a success.

The missiles were utterly destroyed by the impact with the "Crack." Just to be safe, Mikoto shredded them further with her iron sand, so there’s pretty much no chance of any collateral damage.

“……Phew.”

With that, I left behind Mikoto and the others, who were now fast asleep on the plastic tarp, utterly exhausted. I made my way to the final battlefield.

“…Um, Miss Reicia, are you really sure about this? You don’t have to push yourself—Rinka-san could step in if needed…”

“No, this is something I must do myself.”

This is the GMDW’s crowning achievement—the culmination of so much effort. If I don’t see this through to the end myself, I’d never forgive myself. I’d die with regrets.

Honestly, the fatigue from using my powers nonstop for over an hour and a half up in the sky was far worse than I’d imagined. The moment the adrenaline wore off, the drowsiness hit me hard… but I’ve still got enough left in the tank.

Just one more push.

So please, just let me hang in there a little longer.

“——This will be the last.”

“Hey! Miss Reicia, don’t say things that sound like a death flag! You’re making it sound like you’re going to die or something!”

“If I should die, scatter my ashes to the sky—”

“Reicia-san!! This isn’t the time for jokes!!”

Ah, thanks to Yumetsuki-san going off like that, my drowsiness lifted just a bit.

“——That concludes the presentation by the Comprehensive Molecular Dynamics Research Society. Thank you all for listening.”

I bowed, and was met with a modest round of applause.

Well, that’s pretty standard for an academic conference. Actually, thanks to some people from Judgment and Anti-Skill showing up this time, the audience was a bit larger than usual.

Normally, grades for the Academic Meet are awarded to individuals. But this time, I insisted we enter under our group’s name. I mean, sure, I wrote the paper, but most of the data collection was handled by the group, and even the experimental setups were proposed by them.

To be honest, my only real role was organizing everything and acting as the official representative in this technically individual competition.

“Great job out there!!”

The moment I stepped off the stage and left the venue, Yumetsuki-san welcomed me with open arms. And not just her—everyone from GMDW, who’d been working behind the scenes adjusting the equipment, gathered around to greet me.

……Haaaaaah. Finally. I can relax now.

Maybe it was the relief, but my body suddenly wobbled a bit.

“Ah—Miss Reicia, the presentation’s over, so how about heading back to the dorm and getting some rest? The rest is just other people’s talks anyway!”

“Mmm… yes, you’re right…”

Honestly, I was already thinking the same. I’ve hit my limit. And going back to the dorm is probably the smarter choice, looking ahead.

“Then, I’ll head back a bit early. …Everyone, thank you so much.”

As I bowed and said that, everyone started saying things like “Don’t be so distant!” or “No, thank you!” One even teared up and hugged me.

No, seriously—thank you. Really.

Chuckling softly, unable to move under the sudden hug, I looked around at all the smiling faces of my group and added one last thing.

“———I love you all!”

After that, I took a relaxing taxi ride back to the dorm, got in the bath, and changed into the embarrassingly sheer black negligee I hadn’t touched in the past two months.

Honestly, being able to handle that with such ease shows how much I’ve grown these past two months. Nowadays, even seeing Reicia-chan’s naked body is something I can just flinch at and move on from. Sorry, Reicia-chan.

…Still, man, this thing is embarrassing. Black and see-through… Reicia-chan really wore this regularly? Even for someone who’s been totally naked before, this kind of thing—clothing that adds eroticism just by being worn—it’s on a different level. Yeah, probably best not to think too hard about this.

Anyway. Let’s see… the notebook’s prepped on the desk, bath’s done, pajamas are the usual ones…

When I wake up, things should be as calm as possible.

Yeah. Nothing left to worry about.

Ahh—now, I can finally sleep.

‘I’—this sense of self as “me possessing Reicia-chan”—was never meant to exist.

I was never supposed to be in this world. And in the life of Kurumida Shiren, I was never meant to have this kind of overtime. That’s what “the me who possessed Reicia-chan” really is.

Not that I’m saying I want to die or anything, okay? I’m not that twisted. I don’t have the kind of pride or resolve that someone facing death would have. I’m just a normal person.

But still, it really was like a dream.

I mean, I was a girl… and yeah, that was pretty confusing at first! But I got to experience a youth I’d missed out on, made friends, got fired up about things, had some tough and painful times too… but these past two months were really, truly happy.

So even if I were to die right now, I think I’d be okay with it.

…Besides, if I stick around any longer, I’ll just be a huge burden to Reicia-chan.

The growth in her abilities—that caught way too much attention from researchers. It was a total oversight. Looking back, yeah, it makes sense, but I’d never even considered it before.

Anyway, these two months were a blessing. Reicia-chan’s relationships have improved a lot too. There’s really no reason for me to keep stealing her time. As for regrets…

…Yeah. None left, I think.

From now on, this sense of “me” will probably fade rapidly. Like a candle burning down, the flame will gradually shrink and finally flicker out. Honestly, even the fact that I can still form thoughts right now—this might be the last time.

All the knowledge that never should’ve existed in this world, all the growth that never should’ve happened, it’ll all disappear cleanly. Reicia-chan’s oddity will vanish too. And soon, the weirdos giving her special treatment will stop.

Everything will settle down, neatly.

Maybe—just maybe—Reicia-chan might feel a little lonely not being able to talk to me anymore, but I’m sure the folks at GMDW and Seme-san will cheer her up.

If you think of it as a kind of farewell that adds to her life experience, then maybe my disappearance will actually help her. Sadly, I’ve never really said goodbye to anyone myself, so I don’t have a strong grasp on it. I died pretty young in my previous life too.

Well… that’s that.

No lingering regrets.

I flopped onto the bed, picturing all the people I’d met in my mind as I whispered:

“…Everyone, everyone, everyone, everyone, everyone… thank you so much. Good night.”

Chapter 3: I Won’t Let You Get Away With Just Winning — (N)ever_Give_Up.
Episode 26: The End — Start: "Villainess"

My memory’s hazy.

It feels like I’ve just woken up from a long, long dream.

—That was the first thought that came to her when she opened her eyes.

It felt as if she’d been drifting through water for ages, lingering in a world where everything lacked a certain reality.

From within that space, she’d been looking out at the world through some kind of filter.

Not everything, of course. It was a fragmented sort of awareness, like she’d been half-asleep. And yet, she’d seen all the things that truly mattered.

With a sluggish motion, she sat up.

She must’ve pushed herself way too hard. Her body felt unusually heavy. Her eyes were puffy, her shoulders stiff. Her physical condition wasn’t the worst it could be—but it was far from ideal.

As for what she was wearing… barely a nightgown. It looked like she’d managed to muster up the strength to take a shower, at least. When she checked the clock—it read 12:00 p.m. Her presentation at the Academic Society had been around eight, so she’d slept for about three hours.

Honestly, she still felt like she hadn’t gotten nearly enough rest… but even so, she couldn’t bring herself to just crawl back under the covers.

“I am…”

That girl—

Reicia Blackguard—already had a vague understanding.

That everything had come to an end.

That the personality of a certain young man had fulfilled its purpose, and now lay in a quiet, eternal slumber.

“I... I am…!”

As the fog of sleep lifted and her mind cleared, a sudden and inexplicable wave of anxiety began to wash over her.

Grasping for something to cling to, she rushed to her desk—where she found over a dozen A4-sized notebooks scattered across the surface. Each had a date scribbled on the cover, and on the last one were the words: To Myself.

…He’d been preparing for this from the very beginning, hadn’t he?

Despite relying primarily on a tablet device, he’d bought a handful of notebooks during their first outing together.

Even after they reconciled, he kept going out to get new ones, filling them up one after another.

And now the reason for all of that was laid bare before her.

A collection of advice, written for Reicia. A set of journals, now turned into a sort of guidebook.

He’d likely left them behind so that she wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes after his personality disappeared. Or maybe to ensure that the words he wanted to say to her would still reach her.

…The title, To Myself, was probably just a bit of tact on his part, meant to avoid the watchful eyes of whatever monitoring system might be in place. Even so—That’s what you chose to be careful about? Reicia couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh. If he was that concerned about appearances, maybe he shouldn’t have tried to reconcile with everyone in the first place. Anyone would find it suspicious if an arrogant, high-handed girl suddenly started acting like that.

Seriously… everything he did was clumsy in its own way, like he was trying so hard to be considerate but never quite pulled it off.

And yet, beneath all of it—what lay at the core of him was this painfully sincere kindness. The kind that made her want to scoff, and yet at the same time, warmed the corners of her smile before she could stop it.

…Because Reicia already knew. She knew that it was precisely that foolish softness that had saved her.

In silence, Reicia opened the notebook marked To Myself.

Just as that young man had done, back at the very beginning.

＊＊＊

■ About Your Current State

You’re probably feeling very confused right now.

I’m the second personality born from you, after your attempted suicide. Over the past two months, I’ve been using your body freely.

I’m not entirely sure how much of what I did you were actually aware of, but… the world around you has changed a lot.

First, the faction that rejected you—the GMDW group. Your relationships with them have improved significantly. You’ve become friends with Misaka-san and Shirai-san, and you’re also on good terms with the developers, starting with Semi-san.

Also… I’ll explain more later, but I went ahead and made some friends of my own.

I’m sorry for dumping all the relationship-building on you, but for the details, please refer to the rest of the notebooks (the diary portions) and the summary memo I’ll be writing from now on. I’ll include everything I want to tell you there as well.

It might sound preachy, but I hope you’ll see it as my final bit of meddling.

…。

■ On Behavior

First of all, try to cut down on wasteful spending. I know you tend to see extravagant spending as a virtue of the wealthy, but that’s a misconception. Flashing your money around will only create friction with others. And frankly—it’s a waste. Before you spend, ask yourself whether it’ll really benefit you.

That said, if you believe something is necessary, you don’t need to hold back. Money is one of your strengths. As long as you’re not forcing anything or going overboard, use it as much as you like.

This is a similar point, but—when dealing with people, you don’t need to go out of your way to assert dominance. Things usually work out without it. You’re already attractive just the way you are, so if you try too hard to display superiority, it might only push people away. Show the world the real Reicia Blackguard. Just doing that will make a huge difference, I promise.

…。

■ About Kamijou Touma and Index

I’m sorry—I know this is kind of a lot to ask.

But I think you’ll get along with them just fine. They’re both incredibly kind people. You might even be able to talk to them honestly about my “disappearance.” I’m sure they’ll be there for you.

And if you’d rather not get involved with them… then just be honest. They’ll understand. Personally, I think having them in your life would be good for you, but that’s not something I can force.

…Ah, but as long as you continue spending time with Misaka-san, chances are you’ll end up crossing paths with Kamijou-san again somewhere down the line. Well, I think you’ll manage just fine, so please do your best.

Kamijou-san is, to put it simply, dense, hot-blooded, and oddly sharp only in very specific moments—a straightforward, unpredictable young man with no real pretense. His usual insensitivity might make you feel a bit irritated now and then, but he has this unnerving way of picking up on subtle shifts in expression and stepping right into your business without hesitation. So, watch out for that. Still, his choices somehow tend to inspire the people around him, so even if his lack of delicacy frustrates you, it might be worth pausing and reconsidering. More often than not, there’s something valuable hidden beneath it all.

That said, he does have a tendency toward self-sacrifice, so be careful not to rely on him too much. If you lean on him too hard, he might suddenly break. No, I don’t think that’s likely to happen under normal circumstances… but still, he’s human. Try not to overestimate him. As long as you don’t get the relationship wrong, there are few people in this world more reliable than him.

…………………

■ About Stiyl Magnus and Others

I really am sorry about this one!! I wasn’t able to resolve the negative feelings he has toward us… Truly, I’m sorry. I’ve at least sent a letter to try and smooth things over, so after that… I’ll leave the cleanup to you. I really am sorry for dumping this on you.

If I were to offer some advice—he’s incredibly prideful, but deep down, he’s a kind-hearted boy. If you show him you respect his pride while also demonstrating a quiet strength of your own, I think his attitude will soften, at least a little.

Also, if you keep an eye out for that kindness in him, you’ll notice it pop up in the little things he says and does. Kanzaki-san is extremely understanding, so as long as you explain that you’re a different personality now, she shouldn’t have any issue. But if you try to hide it poorly, they’re both quite perceptive, so it could easily backfire and strain the relationship.

………………………

■ About Semi-san and the Development Officers

They might have seemed like unreliable adults to you before, but that’s no longer the case. I can say this with full confidence now: these people are your partners, working toward the same goals. And when you’re in trouble, they’ll be there—capable, trustworthy supporters ready to guide you.

Since they’re brain development specialists, they’re also well-versed in your thought patterns. You might hear things that are hard to swallow at times, but I believe their words now come from a place of genuine care. If you truly listen, you’ll hear their messages differently than you did before.

But—don’t be afraid to vent your frustrations or insecurities from time to time. I’m sure they’ll take it seriously and respond with sincerity. I guarantee it. Also, if you ever find yourself truly lost, you might want to visit that frog-faced doctor in the Seventh District.

……………………………

■ About GMDW

There’s not much I need to say here.

Those girls already had the capacity to accept you from the beginning. I just helped unravel the knots in your relationships, but it’s something you could’ve done yourself. All you needed was the courage to show your vulnerability.

I know—for you, that probably took a lot of bravery. It’s scary, isn’t it? I understand. But I believe you’ve already overcome that hurdle. So, you’ll be fine.

As long as you don’t think in terms of being above or below anyone, and interact with them on equal footing, I believe they’ll welcome the real you—just as you are.

Ah, and just a heads-up: Yumetsuki-san tends to be a bit hot-blooded, so when she gets fired up, hold out until Rinka-san steps in to calm things down. Though Rinka-san herself can get a little carried away too, so if that happens, it’s up to you to rein her in before things go too far.

And obviously, don’t use threats or intimidation. Just telling them “please stop” is enough—they’ll listen.

As for what comes next…

…………………………………

■ In Closing

I’ve said a lot, but I think… the person you are now will be just fine. That’s what I believe, as I sit here writing this. So why did I go through the trouble of writing all this…? Honestly, I’m not really sure. Maybe it’s something like a parental instinct. I know that probably sounds presumptuous, though.

But I truly believe you’ve already seen so much through my eyes. Which means, everything I’ve written here—maybe it’s just a reminder. A little record you can turn back to when you need to. And if reading these words brings you even the smallest bit of comfort or strength… then that would mean the world to me.

Well then—I think it’s time for me to put down the pen.

Reicia-san, thank you for letting me borrow such wonderful days.

I’m just a little worried whether I was able to return them properly, but…

I wish you happiness.

………………………………………

"...Truly..."

A single word.

It slipped from the girl's lips, faintly.

"...Tru–ly..."

The hue of her whisper was pure passion.

"Truly, truly truly truly truly...!!"

It wasn't gratitude. Nor farewell.

She was overwhelmed by sheer, uncontainable emotion.

"Don't you dare mock me...!"

It wasn’t that his words hadn’t reached her heart.

If anything, it was the opposite. His words had pierced straight through Reicia’s heart.

If it had come from someone she’d just met—a stranger who did nothing and merely flapped their gums—it would be a different story.

But he was different. He’d spent the past two months pushing himself to the limit, clumsy though he was, never giving up as he struggled to convey those very idealistic words to her.

That’s exactly why Reicia was able to stand here now.

Because she’d witnessed it all—every step of his journey—from the front row.

But... maybe that’s exactly why she couldn’t accept it.

Yes, the "person inside"—that young man—was originally someone who should have been dead. Terminal cancer, his time arrived with absolute finality, and he passed on as a natural course of history. In other words, a person who rightfully should no longer be among the living.

For someone like that to linger within Reicia’s body, even consuming the smallest part of her brilliant future alongside her loyal friends... perhaps that was unacceptable. The dead should stay dead, fading away with dignity. From the perspective of others—or even from his own—that might be the correct choice.

"This is how it ends? Don’t make me... Don’t make me laugh!"

But who was it, then, who took Reicia’s future, which had all but crumbled, and raised it up into something radiant?

Reicia could answer that question without hesitation.

It was that hopelessly selfless fool who went and got satisfied all on his own, scribbled down some smug diary entry, and vanished.

Which is why this is the only natural conclusion.

For someone who reached out with such confidence—not only to Reicia but to everyone—pretending like it was only right to help them... and then disappears without letting anyone help him in return? No. She would never accept that.

Not from him. Not ever.

"I refuse... I absolutely refuse to accept this ending."

Saying he had no regrets? That was a lie.

After all, this world must have been something precious to him, too.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have felt genuine friendship for the members of GMDW.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made friends of his own.

Otherwise, he never would’ve expressed gratitude for being “lent such wonderful days.”

Surely... surely, he must have wanted to live longer.

To bask in more of those beautiful days.

Now, and in the past—he must’ve felt that way all along.

And yet he’s giving up, sealing away his true feelings, trying to vanish without a word.

"...I need to see you...! I have... so many things I need to say...!"

A single stain bloomed at the corner of the open diary.

A line on the page blurred ever so slightly.

Just like back then.

But this time, no more stains followed.

Placing the notebook gently on the desk, she slowly stood up.

Tracing the final line written within, the girl let a small smile rise to her lips.

It was a small smile, yes—but one laced with a boldness that seemed to declare war on the entire world.

Close her eyes, and she could see it: that infuriatingly good-natured idiot, looking unbearably carefree, enough to make her want to slap him across the face, saying it with that same simple grin.

“I hope... you’ll be happy.”

And that is exactly why this girl would never give up.

"Oh yes, I will be happy. Just like the selfish, arrogant villainess Villéinesse I am... I’ll get everything I want—every last bit."

The extra persona who fulfilled his role and disappeared, everything returning to how it once was?

...Tell me, what villain would ever sit back and accept such a neat and tidy ending?

"...There’s no way in hell I’m letting you get away with a ‘clean win.’"