Retro Hero (End) - 29

Millennium Prize.

The Game Development Department managed to finish their game just in time for the deadline. Most of it was thanks to Rio's help. Of course, it wasn't the real deadline. It was just about submitting the game before the Millennium Prize judging and uploading it to the internet to showcase it to the public.

"All that's left is the judging process."

"I-I guess so, Sensei!?"

Sensei sits in a chair, drinking black tea. Momoi seemed a little anxious, but Alice encouraged her.

"The Millennium Prize. It's not over just because you submitted it. The judging results are announced a few days after submission. And during that time, the game can also receive public evaluation."

"But... this is only our second game. Will it really be okay?"

Even the optimistic Momoi and the realistic Midori were anxious. Yuzu had developed the prototype of Tales Saga Chronicle, and even the main game she made with the Saiba sisters was criticized and received negative feedback twice in a row, so she lacked confidence.

"As a gamer, I found it enjoyable. I don't know if it's a masterpiece, though."

"Toki, in times like this you're supposed to be encouraging us. I don't think we can easily determine the value of the game we made."

Toki stared at Rio as if she were a monster because of her uncharacteristic remark.

So, all that was left was the result. All they could do was wait for the Millennium Prize awards ceremony, which would be held in three days.

Rio gets up and leaves the club room.

"Where are you going?"

"To my house for a bit. It's been empty for too long, so it must be dusty. I need to run the robot vacuum cleaner since I have some time to relax."

"I see. Then shall we go together?"

"...Right, I don't know the location. I'll ask for your help, Sensei."

Rio doesn't know the location of her residence, and leaves the club room with Sensei. But the moment they open the door... the temporary wall collapses.

Rumble!

"Eh!? The wall!!!"

"Ah, it's a temporary wall... so it's not strange for it to collapse at any time."

"I heard rumors that they've been cutting costs on materials lately..."

"I think that's separate from the temporary wall."

"Rio-senpai! Are you alright!?"

Sensei was about to leave, so she was fine, but Rio, who was hit by the temporary wall, slowly gets up, holding her head. It was a temporary wall, so it was made of light material. But...

"Why did I..."

"...Rio."

Rio's pupils were shaking, and her body was trembling. Her red eyes move, and she glares at Sensei.

"...Ha, I see. It was all according to plan from the beginning, wasn't it? When I got hit by that beam and lost my memory, it was all your plan, wasn't it, Sensei?"

"Not exactly... but it's true that I took advantage of the situation."

Rio had regained her memories. Toki had been eating snacks, got up, and subtly moved behind Rio. Of course, there were snack crumbs on the corners of her mouth.

"Rio-senpai?"

"Don't call me that."

Rio glares at Alice, who calls out to her. Alice flinched at Rio's chilling, disdainful gaze, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"I take full responsibility for this incident. So, please blame me."

"Ha, you say that while in the form of Trinity's student council president?"

Currently, Sensei is in the form of Kirifuji Nagisa. The atmosphere was similar to an inter-school conflict... Sensei smiled bitterly and said,

"I just wanted you to enjoy a normal youth."

"Is this gaslighting now? Did you do this because you failed to brainwash me?"

"I had no such intention. That responsibility at the very top, it's heavy. I know it well. The position where you have to take responsibility for everything and make decisions, and the position where you have to be prepared to know everything. I just wanted to give you happy memories, a vacation."

"To me, who had amnesia. It just sounds like an excuse to me, Sensei?"

Rio regained her memories, and returned to her original personality. Having experienced amnesia, she seemed to have become even more suspicious.

She had seen the power of the princess through Sensei, so her wariness towards Alice had increased even more... but the tearful Alice came into Rio's view.

Rio flinched at the sight of Alice. In her ice-cold heart, she felt an unknown emotion.

"In the few days you spent in the Game Development Department, did you not feel anything, Rio?"

"...Nothing at all."

"I see. For now, that's enough."

"............"

Sensei nodded with a faint smile. Then, she entered the club room.

"Now, you can go alone."

"...Do you think I'll just leave?"

"I didn't know you wanted to fight SRT, Rio."

"............"

It was impossible to fight Sensei who currently held absolute power. Reluctantly, Rio took Toki and left the Game Development Department.

"Rio-senpai!"

"...."

"Alice doesn't know why Rio-senpai is angry! But... Sensei taught me that if you fight, you must make up! Alice will wait! Later, I want to make up with Rio-senpai while playing games together!"

Hearing Alice's shout, Rio stopped for a moment. Taking a deep breath, Rio walked down the hallway again.

"Sensei... will it be okay? Letting her go like that."

"It's fine, Momoi. For now, we both need some time to think."

"Rio-senpai... seemed like a good person, though."

"Yeah... she was a good senpai."

"Alice believes. That we can play games with Rio-senpai again."

Rio left the Game Development Department. She was heading to the student council president's office, not her home.

"If you order it, I will kidnap Miss Alice right away."

"...."

Toki asked Rio for an order, but Rio didn't give one. She just had complicated feelings.

"Ah, President Rio. You're finally here?"

"It's been a while."

"Uh...."

Entering the seminar room, she greeted them casually and went straight into the student council president's office. Alone.

"...So, who are you?"

"I'm Toki."

"No, besides your name, who are you ..."

"C&C 04."

"...Right."

Thinking that talking would only be a loss for her, Yuuka gave up on the conversation, and Noa was puzzled, recalling the unusual look on Rio's face.

"I must eliminate her... Alice is a threat to Kivotos. I must eliminate her..."

The past few days were spent with the Game Development Department.

If it had been the original Rio, even if she had spent the same time with them, she wouldn't have hesitated to eliminate Alice in the end.

But... the past few days spent together as an innocent girl who knew nothing, perhaps... it was a moment that Rio, not as the student council president, but as a girl, had longed for.

The only one under the heavens.

Rio had no friends, focused solely on using her genius and abilities for Millennium and Kivotos, was wary of Himari, whom she acknowledged, and had only a business relationship with C&C.

She had only a superior-subordinate relationship with Toki... at least, for several years, she hadn't spent time with anyone she could call a friend.

For her, the past few days... she didn't have to think about the Nameless Priests, the Decagrammaton, or the political situation of Kivotos... she experienced an ordinary life that a genius could never have.

"I... the princess of the nameless gods... Alice..."

It was like a midsummer night's dream.

A few days later, at the Millennium Prize awards ceremony.

Although there were only seven awards, Tales Saga Chronicle was recognized by critics and the public, and received an eighth special award that didn't exist.

The Game Development Department cheered. Having achieved such great results, there was no longer any danger of disbandment. Of course... there was still one variable.

"Now that things are settled, I'll be going."

Sensei, in a shabby outfit. Sensei, who had become a student of the Red Winter Office, packed his things and left the club room.

"Are you leaving just like that, Sensei!? What if we disappear because of her!"

Momoi was worried that the club might disappear because of Rio's power. Seeing Momoi like that, Sensei grinned.

"Trust."

Leaving those words behind, Sensei left the Game Development Department.

"Trust what?"

"I know, right..."

Midori and Yuzu were also puzzled by those words... A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Momoi went to open the door, and Yuzu hid behind the sofa... Standing in front of the door was Rio.

"......Congratulations on winning."

Rio averted her gaze and held out a bouquet.

"Y-You're congratulating us!?"

Momoi was flustered, Midori was surprised, and Yuzu peeked out from behind the sofa.

"...The world is all about results. It's a world where only the strong survive... so I have to acknowledge those results. There will be no disbandment."

After handing the bouquet to Momoi, Rio turned around and tried to leave the club room. A small hand grabbed Rio's hand.

It was Alice.

"It's not us who should be congratulated."

"...."

"It's all of us! Rio-senpai! Since the game we played together won, Rio-senpai should also be congratulated."

"But, I..."

"...Hmm, that's right! You weren't an official member, but~ you were definitely a creator!"

"Well, even if you didn't create it, you were part of it. Alice couldn't do it, and neither could Toki."

"...I also think Rio-senpai should be congratulated with us."

As the Game Development Department students said with bright smiles, Rio's body trembled slightly.

"...Hey, can I, sometimes... play games with you?"

"Yes! Of course, Rio-senpai!"

Trust. That one word from Sensei.

Fighting with each other is not a problem. Just make up and be together again.

"But Rio-senpai is in charge of today's celebration party!"

"Because you're rich~"

"Me too, I like that."

"I'll go too."

"Toki is here too! The party is back together!"

"......Seriously, you're all idiots."

A foolish daily life. A peaceful moment. Everyone longs for such ordinary things.