Chapter 14: 8th person

8th person

I remembered everything.

About Sumire.

The day we met.

How I had admired her.

Even why I had lost my memory.

I remembered everything, all of it.

The headache that felt like it was going to split my head stopped immediately.

Still, I couldn't bear it mentally, so I shouted out in a shameful manner, oblivious to the people around me.

"Koharu!"

Kaoru-chan hugged me from behind.

But I continued to scream.

She was the most important person to me.

I killed her.

I wanted to protect her.

I killed her.　

"Ugh――"

I was hit by an intense wave of nausea.

I brushed off Kaoru-chan's arm and ran away, leaving Sumire behind.

At some point, I can no longer bear it and vomits out everything in my stomach.　

It's dirty.

It's only natural that it's dirty.

Because I'm the one who killed my best friend.

"You mean, you remembered?"

Roy asked.

"Why now-- ah, I see."

"She remembered...?"

"In fact, she met Sumire a year ago."

"What do you mean!?"

"She had been close friends with Sumire, but for some reason she lost her memory of it. However, it seems she has remembered now... at the worst possible time."

"No way..."　

Kaoru-chan and Roy were talking. I could hear what they were saying clearly, but the meaning didn't sink in. I was only able to hear the surface of what they were saying.

What occupied my mind was the image of Sumire when she was alive.

Memories of her from a year ago.

She handed me the book I dropped.

We eating together.

She call me by the name "Koharu."

One after the other, thoughts came to mind, then vanished covered in blood.　

"It's my fault!"

"No! It's not Koharu's fault--"

"Stop!"

I shook off the hand that was placed on my shoulder.

"Don't be nice to me! I'm a murderer!"

"Stop it. It's not your fault. Of course not Alice's too. I'm the one to blame."

"Mitaka-san..."

“I’ve always been the one to take charge of this situation, and I’m the only adult here. I’m the one with the most influence, and I made a hasty decision that affected someone’s life or death, driven by personal feelings. It’s clear where the responsibility lies. And… I also put a lot of pressure on her.”

"Well, if I hadn't made a contract with Sumire in the first place, she wouldn't have died. I invited her into this cruel world..."

"No way... it's all the fault of the 'Eighth Person'! If only there hadn't been an 'Eighth Person' in the first place..."　

Kaoru-chan said, and Asahina-san agreed, "That's right!"

"The Eighth Person..."

A voice filled with resentment came from Nemuri-chan.

"That's right. Tachibana-san was gathering information using magic, right? She probably knew the true identity of the 'Eighth Person' as well."

"Now that you mention it, that's true... Have you heard anything from Tachibana-san?"

There was a lackluster response from Roy.

"What's wrong?!"

"Ah, yeah... sorry. She told me who is the 'Eighth'."

"So you know!"

Kaoru-chan said with a hint of excitement. And it seemed that her enthusiasm was spreading to some of the other people.

As for me, I wasn't at all interested in the identity of the "Eighth Person."

Because Sumire is already dead.

I don't have the desire or energy to try to turn the situation around now.

However, that doesn't mean I think it's okay to leave the "Eighth Person" alone and let everyone all die.

So I want everyone to deal with that except me.

Somehow, I was tired.

"Who is the 'eighth' person?"

"About that... I want you all to promise me one thing first."

"……what?"

"Do not attack the 'Eighth'. It's all over now."

"What do you mean...? Are you saying we should just let it all go? How can we--"

“If you can’t promise me that, then I have no intention of telling you. Of course, I’m not saying this to trap you. I'm not one of the 'Eighth' people, so you can trust what I say."

"...I understand. I promise."

Mitaka-san reluctantly agreed.

"I'm grateful. ...The 'eighth' is―"　

Roy took a breath and said the name.

◇◆◇◆

"I already knew who the eighth was."

"Eh?!"　

When I casually dropped the bomb, the screams of shock that came from him were so predictable that I almost laughed.

I like how honest Roy is.

Naturally, Roy's eyes light up and he takes the bait.

"What do you mean you know already? Who is it?"

"Now, now, don't panic. I'll explain to you properly."　

But I wanted to enjoy Roy's reaction, so I purposely teased him.

"The 'Eighth Person' is..."

Roy watches with bated breath.

"…………"

"Who's the 'Eighth'?"

"That girl..."

"Who is that?!"

"Yes, that's girl."

"Who do you mean?!"

"You know, that girl."

"So who is that girl?!"

Maybe this is the time to pull out....

"It's Koharu."

"That girl, is it...?"

Roy's tone was laced with great agitation.

It's no wonder. He had been watching my relationship with Koharu from the sidelines. The innocent Roy would have been shocked.　

"That girl who was your friend a year ago... how could that happen...? She was a good girl."

"Precisely because she is a good girl."

"...What does that mean?"

"The 'Eighth' will be sent in to eliminate us magical girls. To do that, it's best to survive until the end if possible. Good girls are less likely to be suspected."

"So it was all an act, like you."

"No, she's a really good girl. Did you see that 'Recovery Magic'? The magic she uses reflects her personality."

"But that contradicts what you said earlier, that her goal is to eliminate us."

"That's the goal of sending in the 'Eighth Person'. In other words, it's the goal of the sender, not the one who is sent in."

"You mean..." Roy's voice trembled. "Is she unaware that she's the 'Eighth'?"

"Ding dong."

"What a thing..."　

Roy looked up at the ceiling.

“Magical girls are always close to death. So if an 'Eighth Person' were to show up, it’s bound to cause chaos, even if the person herself doesn’t want to.

Well, it will probably take some time for things to escalate into a killing spree, but if there's an opportunity, things will only get worse. What if someone loses a fight with a demon, or dies in an accident? When a magical girl disappears, it's not necessarily in a situation to determine whether it's because of the "Eighth" or not."

Well, it's anime, so things get worse quickly.

They can't broadcast a show where nothing happens for weeks.

"When that happens, Koharu's personality makes it hard for her to become suspicious. Also, magical girls with that kind of temperament are more likely to awaken to defensive magic, so having the means to protect themselves increases their chances of survival. That's probably why Koharu was chosen as the 'Eighth'."

"I see."

"Furthermore, if the defense-specialized 'Eighth' survives as the last one, humanity will lose all means of attacking the demons. In other words, we will have no choice but to watch with our fingers crossed as the world comes to an end."

Roy was speechless.

The purpose of the "Eighth Person" and even the reason for her selection are all directly connected to the "Destruction of the World" scenario. It's no wonder that such ferocious malice leaves one speechless.

...Well, all of that malice belongs to the anime staff.

The title itself is like that.　

[Magical Girls Kill Each Others]

It's only the Magical Girls that kill.

The "Eighth Person" doesn't kill anyone.

They have neither the means nor the will to kill.　

In the final episode, all the magical girls die, and Koharu, who is left alone, witnesses that all the chairs in the tower are gone.

Koharu falls to her knees in the empty Sousei Dome Tower and cries.

Since Koharu has put her "Wish" on hold, audiences and speculators have been whispering that the matter might be resolved in the final episode -- but in the end, the matter is never resolved, and the story ends with a scene showing the appearance of a new demon in town.

It is speculated that Koharu probably committed suicide out of a "Wish."　

The internet was pretty upset about the truly bad ending, but I don't dislike it.

To be honest, I remember getting chills during the scene where Koharu falls to her knees and cries.

At that moment, I heard the sound of my "fetish" being forcibly twisted.

From that day on, I started writing Koharu-clouded short stories, but that's not really important.

The important thing is that this setting can be used to achieve even greater levels of cloudiness.

◇◆◇◆

"The eighth person is Kisaragi Koharu."

"Eh……?"

I turned to Roy.

What is he saying...?

I'm...the Eighth Person...?

Everyone's eyes are on me.

If gazes were bullets, I'd be full of holes by now. Nemuri-chan's gaze is like a cannon.

"What are you talking about? There's no way Koharu is the 'Eighth'. I've known Koharu since elementary school. She's not that kind of person."

"That's not true. To begin with, the 'Eighth' is not a traitor. And she has no awareness of being the 'Eighth'."

"Is that so..."

Mitaka-san blurted out something. She seemed to have come to some kind of understanding, but I don't know why.

"If Tachibana isn't Black, I would have thought Akabane or Kisaragi would be the next most suspicious. If the theory that magical girls are distributed in this city so that their residential areas don't overlap is correct, then either Akabane or Kisaragi would be left over."

I remember what Yuzuriha-san had said before.　

"A week ago, after Sumire escaped. I thought the two of you were a little suspicious. I think Raika probably thought the same."　

At the time, I interpreted it as a lie I had told to adjust the guard rotation being exposed, but in truth, I think she had suspected me and Kaoru because of the logic Mitaka-san had explained to her.

However, Mitaka-san's eyes were clouded by Sumire's extremely suspicious behavior and her hatred for her, and Yuzuriha-san ended up trusting us after she followed us...　

"If it was either Akabane or Kisaragi is Black, I thought Akabane was the suspicious one. According to what Tachibana said earlier, a person's inner self is revealed in their magical tools. That's why I thought Akabane, whose magical tools and magic are aggressive, was more likely to be the 'Eighth Person'.

But, if the "Eighth Person" doesn't even realize that in the first place..."

Mitaka-san gave me a quick glance.

Then she clicked her tongue and lowered her eyes.

"Is that true, Rococo? Hey! Am I the 'Eighth'?"

I asked Rococo.

But Rococo doesn't respond.

And that lack of response was the best answer of all.

"Why……?"

A tear that I thought I had shed rolled down my already dry cheek.

I looked around and saw that everyone except Nemuri was looking at me with sympathetic eyes.　

That's true.

Because...

If what Roy said was true, then I was the one who started it all.

If I hadn't been there in the first place, everyone wouldn't have suspected each other, they wouldn't have hurt each other, and Sumire wouldn't have died.

"No way... it's all the fault of the 'Eighth Person'! If only there hadn't been an 'Eighth Person' in the first place..."

It's just as Kaoru-chan said.

All of it...

"It's...my fault..."

"Koharu?"　

I looked up at Kaoru-chan.

"If only I wasn't here..."

"N-No! That's not what I meant--"

"Watch out!"

Just as I thought I heard a scream, someone rushed towards me at lightning speed.

The next moment, a loud explosion roared, shaking my body to the core.

The person who rushed forward was Asahina-san. She had me and Kaoru-chan hooked in her arms and was moving away.

To keep us away from the explosion.　

"Tengai!"

Mitaka glared.

However, Nemuri-chan wasn't looking at Mitaka-san.

Her eyes were on me.　

"The Eighth Person... I won't forgive you..."

"You were listening to what he was saying! Kisaragi has no ill will! There's no reason to fight anymore!"

"It doesn't matter!"

Nemuri-chan's eyes are fixed on me, and she is fixed with a strong murderous intent.

Normally it would be a situation where I should be frightened, but I thought it was just right.

I wanted to let her do what she wanted.

After all, I have no right to live. If Nemuri-chan's hands around my neck will satisfy her, then that's the best thing. This isn't atonement. It's just self-indulgence.

But Asahina-san picked me up and flew off. For some reason, Roy also followed.

Nemuri-chan immediately leaps into the air to chase after us, but is caught by Yuzuriha-san's chains.

Yuzuriha-san had been crying and wishing for death just moments ago. Her face was still a mess from tears, but her eyes were burning with determination.

However, Nemuri-chan, who was supposed to be tied up, was suddenly standing on the ground and had been released from her restraints. It is unclear what kind of magic was used. Perhaps it was teleportation?

As a result, Nemuri-chan got off to a slow start. Asahina-san was faster, so she couldn't close the gap.

Everyone is trying to get me away.

But that's a misguided effort, because I don't mind being killed by Nemuri-chan.

"Stop it..."

"What is it, Koharu-san?"

"Just give me to Nemuri-chan. Then everything will be solved. We won't have to fight anymore."

"What are you talking about?! That's not good--"

The next moment, my body was thrown into the air.

Asahina-san was still moving towards the sky, but for some reason I was the only one who had returned to the same spot I was just a few seconds ago.

Asahina-san and I had become separated.　

"Huh!?"

Asahina-san noticed her free arms and after a while spotted me behind her.

But she was going so fast that it took time for her to lose momentum and change direction.

There's no way Nemuri-chan would miss that opportunity.

She closed the distance in an instant and her hand reached out for my neck.　

A gunshot rang out. Nemuri-chan stumbled, as if repelled by the sound. Blood splattered. In the distance, Alice-chan was holding a gun.

Asahina-san caught me before Nemuri-chan could. We tried to escape the tower again. Nemuri-chan tried to chase after me, but was engulfed in the approaching white smoke.

Asahina-san and I escaped from the tower.