Chapter 30: After the End Roll

"Sorry to keep you waiting!!"

"You're still as fast as ever."

"Does that mean I spoil easily?"

"What are you even talking about…"

"Hahaha…"

Trading lighthearted jokes, Saori and the others regrouped with me.

"Yurizono Seia is behind this door."

"Understood. Azusa, bring it."

When I reached out to take the Halo-destroying bomb from Azusa, she hesitated slightly.

"…It’s all right. I won’t let anyone die."

"I know. I do… But this thing can kill someone. It’s not just about Suou. I’d rather no one carry something like this."

…The Halo-destroying bomb—a weapon capable of killing.

The problem isn’t whether to use it or not. Just having it means that the option to kill settles somewhere inside you. It means you could kill, whenever you chose to.

…And that’s exactly why I can’t let Azusa be the one to hold it.

"……That’s true for me as well. But still, this isn’t something you should bear alone. I’ll be fine. Leave it to your big sister."

Besides, if I don’t take the Halo-destroying bomb now, our entire plan will fall apart.

"……"

"…Yes, I understand. Thank you."

She handed it over without protest. A relief. This wasn’t the time to argue—huh!?

"An explosion!?"

"No, that’s not… this is…!!"

A transmission suddenly came through from Shio.

"S-sis… Misono Mika’s on the move! We’ve got her contained with the 7th Squad for now, but—kyah!!?—we might not hold for long…!"

So that wasn’t an explosion. That was… Misono Mika fighting!?

"…! Understood! Change of plans!! Captain of the 6th Squad, can you hear me!?"

"Wha—L-Lieutenant!? It’s getting bad, I can’t—uwaaah!!?"

"Misono Mika’s on the move!! I’m sending the 7th Squad to assist you!!"

"S-Shio-chan, right!? Got it, pleaaase hurry!!?"

"Squad—can you stall Misono Mika for me?"

"Leave it to me!"

"Eh, I-I’m not sure I can—!"

‘Now’s not the time to say that. Let’s do our best, okay?’

"Y-yes ma’am!!"

"You’re all so reliable!! 7th Squad Leader!! Pull back immediately and support the 6th Squad!!"

"R-right, I’m on it…!"

And with that, our last line of defense was gone. No spare forces left. We had to move—fast.

"Fili!! Pull the lines back while leading Mine-san to Yurizono Seia!!"

"…Got it……… Everyone… retreeeaaat……"

"8th Squad Leader… Misaki… Azusa… Hime… Hiyori… I’m counting on you!!"

I separated from the others and opened the door.

A refined interior awaited me—white chairs, simple candleholders, and an air of solemn dignity.

And in the center stood a girl with large, foxlike ears.

"…"

"……Yurizono Seia."

"Ah, that’s right. I’ve been waiting for you, member of the Arius Branch—Lieutenant, Suou Kirihana."

"…!"

So… that’s how it is.

For just a moment, a faint, foolish hope had taken root inside me—

───That Yurizono Seia’s knowledge of the future might belong to the original story’s timeline.

Because think about it—this world’s future has already been altered. By my existence. The script has changed.

So if Yurizono Seia’s foresight wasn’t bound to a fixed future, maybe—just maybe—her resignation could be overturned.

But the truth was otherwise.

Yurizono Seia’s foresight shows even the already altered future.

Whether she desires it or not. Even her own visions are absorbed and confirmed as part of that inevitable outcome.

"…Yes, it’s been a while—since our meeting in that dream, Yurizono Seia."

"…No sign of surprise, I see. Just as I saw in the dream. Saves me the trouble of explaining."

"Not at all… That shima-enaga (long-tailed tit) of yours is adorable, by the way."

"Isn’t it? But you didn’t come here to make small talk in the middle of a battlefield, did you?"

…So she already knows exactly what’s coming.

"……Then let me ask you one thing. Why didn’t you run?"

"…You’re the one asking that? I thought you already knew the answer."

…Yeah. I figured as much.

"Because there was no point in doing anything."

…I can’t save Yurizono Seia.

"You must know the feeling too. No matter how much you try to build a better future… No matter how much effort you pour into changing the course… In the end, the future can’t be changed. Once you realize that, it drains away the will to struggle, doesn’t it?"

"…Ah…"

No. Don’t remember that.

It’s fine. For now, at least, Arius is heading in the right direction. It’s fine. It is fine.

"……I don’t think so."

"Of course you don’t. ‘But that doesn’t mean doing nothing is justified’—those were your own words. Truly baffling logic."

"That’s right. Even if everything ends up meaningless, that’s no excuse to do nothing. The things we could have gained—the things we could have left behind—they’ll all vanish if we stop trying."

"A difference in philosophy, then. No matter what you wish for… Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas. Everything is vanity. That is the truth of this world."

"…Well. Perhaps so. Or perhaps not."

I can’t save Yurizono Seia… but.

Right here, right now, I can still do what I can.

And maybe—this very action will someday be the thing that saves her.

"I'm sorry. This was the only way I could think of. For about a year… I’ll be forcing restrictions on you."

…Yurizono Seia must proceed along the original path.

"I don’t mind. It’s not what you want either, is it? Besides, in dreams, I can still move freely."

"……"

"But you know, this very action of yours… I think it ends up proving my theory right."

"Haha… No. You’ll understand someday."

"……I see."

"This is a ‘Halo-destroying bomb.’ There are many ways to ‘destroy the Halo.’ You only need to keep inflicting lethal damage—drowning, poisoning, an endless hail of bullets. What this bomb does is bypass all of that. But I’m not going to use it. Instead, you’ll simply be rendered unconscious."

"Ah, I know. You were taught that, weren’t you? Or rather, I thought you already knew that I knew."

"……Just to be sure."

For this plan to work, Yurizono Seia’s knowledge must remain as close to the original as possible—so that one day, she’ll come to realize she shouldn’t stop fighting.

"…Just to be sure, huh. Is that also why, despite supposedly knowing the future, you’re asking me for advice?"

…So she’s calling it “future sight.”

She must have deduced from my actions that my knowledge of the original story is a kind of precognition.

"……No. My ‘future sight’ was a one-time thing. I only saw fragments of the future before it changed—at the moment I was born into this world."

"……What?"

"So I only know the broad strokes. I don’t know what’s going to happen from here on."

"……You… you’ve been living like that all this time…"

"…"

"……I see. That explains it. Your actions in the future… and why you still struggle."

…That’s not quite it.

Even if I’d seen a fixed, immutable future, I’d still be doing the same thing.

I do what I can do.

"I thought I could share the same suffering as you… but it seems what you carry is something completely different."

"……Then tell me. In the future… what happens to my sisters?"

"……Your sisters, hm. I don’t really know. Only fragmented glimpses of the future—of you, the self-proclaimed older sister."

"……"

That’s the real reason I’m here.
The biggest goal of meeting Yurizono Seia this time—was to ask what becomes of my plan.

No one else knows. This is just between the two of us.

"If I answer bluntly… your sisters’ fate is unknown. It’s a matter of luck, really. As for your plan—better that you don’t tell me. It can’t be helped; it’s no one’s fault. The impossible stays impossible. The meaningless stays meaningless, no matter how far you push it."

"…!!"

…I was prepared.

I was prepared, but hearing it out loud is still… too much.

…And yet, even so—

"……But there’s still a chance my sisters can be saved, isn’t there?"

"…Yes. In that sense, perhaps… your plan could succeed."

Perhaps. Luck will decide.

…An uncertain answer.

Which means—

"In other words, Seia-san. You only know the future up to a certain point, don’t you?"

"…What?"

"You haven’t seen all of our future. Isn’t that right?"

Yurizono Seia’s expression stiffened in mild surprise.

"…That’s right. I’ve only seen up to a point. I stopped looking. It was too painful. After seeing the epilogue of sorrow… there’s nothing left but grief, is there?"

"Is that so? You’re the type who skips the end credits in a movie, then?"

"End… credits?"

"I’m the kind who sticks around after the credits, just in case there’s something more. I can’t help it—I always watch."

"……And what exactly are you trying to say?"

"Don’t decide my future for me. None of us know what happens after this, do we?"

At the very least, today, Yurizono Seia revealed a misunderstanding about my supposed “original knowledge.”
She doesn’t know everything about me.

The future still isn’t fixed.

No one knows how my plan’s endgame will unfold.

And just knowing there’s still a chance—just knowing I might be able to save everyone, even now—that alone is more than enough.

"…But in the future I saw… you…"

"I’ve already heard that. Still, that’s no reason to stop struggling."

"…!"

"If we start changing things now, maybe we can make it work. And after that… maybe a twist toward a happy ending awaits. I’ll just keep trying—to reach a better future."

"…Even if what waits beyond that… is nothing but suffering?"

"…Yes. I’ll say it over and over again, as many times as it takes. Saying everything is meaningless… is never an excuse to do nothing."

"…I see. Even for those who know the future… such perspectives can still differ so greatly."

Strictly speaking, what I have isn’t foresight. From the beginning, the conditions were already in place to reach a better ending.

But—even if it were meaningless…

"…Surely, my actions here wouldn’t change."

"…Ah, yes. That’s necessary for you, isn’t it?"

"Yes. So… watch me."

"…?"

"This is a duel—between you and me, over who’s right. So watch. Watch my actions, and see what kind of ending they lead to. To the very end."

"…Hah… very well. I’ll watch closely. Though I may look away occasionally."

My hands tremble.

Of course they do. From here on, I’m about to push the child before me… into a state of unconscious, critical condition.

"…I’ll make it as painless as possible."

"…How kind of you. Don’t worry, my body’s naturally weak. I’m sure I’ll lose consciousness quickly. The pain will be brief."

I place the mystically infused bomb into Seia’s hands.

"Ah, yes. I’m counting on you with this child. Unlike us, she isn’t particularly sturdy."

"…Yes. Come here…"

I take the long-tailed tit and gently stroke it.
Tilting its head adorably, it seems completely unaware of what’s about to happen.

"I’ll leave her care to Mine-san."

"Ah, yes. That’s best. She wouldn’t survive well in Arius’ environment anyway. I’ve been giving her proper food, and temperature control is essential."

"Hahaha… such a pampered little one."

I focus mystic energy into my palms, enveloping the tit in protective warmth.

"…Good night, Yurizono Seia."

"…Good night, Suou Kirihana. Farewell."

The bomb detonates. The tit flutters toward Seia.

…The usual sound of an explosion—but today, it’s different. It lingers in the ears, heavy and viscous, refusing to fade.

"…I’m sorry, Seia."

The wind blows, carrying a sound that feels unbearably unpleasant.