Chapter 63: Useless

Two precious things were placed upon the scales. I looked at them closely—carefully, painfully comparing the two.

I had been thinking about it for so, so long. Over and over, again and again and again.

Thinking. Rethinking. Still thinking.

Yet no answer came. Eventually, I began to think that was fine too. Both were precious to me—both were things I couldn’t bear to lose. If I could somehow choose both, that would have been enough. There were even people who told me that was okay.

So when the time finally came—when I truly had to choose—by then, for Shirasu Azusa, there was no choice left at all.

"……"

She wasn’t allowed to hesitate. To think. Not even to regret. Her body wouldn’t stop trembling. The blood in her veins ran cold. The hard weight of the gun pressed deep into her bones.

"……I’m sorry, Hifumi. Everyone…"

Her vision had frozen, yet everything within it spun wildly. She forced her ragged breathing down through sheer willpower.

She could feel everyone’s attention turn toward her.

"The one who’s going to drop their weapon is you, Kirifuji Nagisa."

Whether it was fear, confusion, or accusation—it didn’t matter. For Shirasu Azusa, it was unbearably heavy.

So she looked down. She turned away.

Because if she hadn’t… maybe—

"Azusa-chan…? Why…?"

"…!!"

Maybe she wouldn’t have had to hear her friend’s voice like that.
That bitter thought left behind only the taste of regret.

"!! Hifumi-san!!"

—They got us!

Kirifuji Nagisa’s thoughts filled instantly with that blunt, almost cliché phrase.

A moment’s relaxation born from the certainty of victory—a fatal lapse. She had been caught in that opening.

It was likely her earlier words had exposed her closeness with Ajitani Hifumi. As a tactic to freeze someone, even for an instant, it was devastatingly effective. Above all—

"!? Azusa…!?"

Sensei had been completely neutralized.

She had believed in her. Foolishly, naively believed. From Nagisa’s perspective, there could be no greater mistake.

Once a Sensei is betrayed by a student—and that same student takes another hostage—there’s almost nothing he can do.

"……"
"Don’t—!!"

A student from the Justice Realization Committee raised their weapon, but Nagisa instinctively stopped them.
That single instant of hesitation was enough for a flash grenade to be thrown.

"!!"
"Azusa, what are you—!?"

She could hear one of the Arius students shouting. They were likely planning to carry their wounded and flee.
The only ones unable to move were the girl with the long indigo hair—and several others who had already lost consciousness.

Then came the sound of footsteps—several students running, as if on cue.

"Tch…!!"

And among them, one figure stopped.

"Azusa!! What the hell are you doing!?"

As Nagisa’s vision began to clear, she saw Shirasu Azusa shielding the long-haired girl—and beside her stood Hifumi, protecting her as well.

Protecting them from Shimoe Koharu’s bullet.

"Why… why are you helping them escape!?"

"……"

"Answer me! What are you doing!?"

"Koharu-chan…"

Hanako placed a hand on Koharu’s shoulder as she tried to raise her gun again, gently shaking her head.

"……!!"

"Azusa-chan. The secret you’ve been hiding… is this what it was?"

"…Yeah. It is."

Azusa, as if accepting her fate, quietly pulled on her gas mask.

"I’m… a student of Arius Branch School. I have been, since long ago."

"…You were lying to us…!?"

"That’s…"

For the first time, Azusa’s words faltered.

She couldn’t speak. Didn’t want to speak.
No matter what she said, it would only sound like an excuse—a hollow attempt at justification.

"…Azusa-chan?"

Then Hifumi noticed something.

"!? An enemy attack!? No—reinforcements!? What is the Justice Realization Committee doing—!?"

Before she could finish, an explosion shook the area—followed by Nagisa’s shout.

"Something…!! Something’s coming this way—fast!!"

Everyone there could feel it too.
A deafening sound was approaching—like the very world itself was being torn apart.

"…It’s here."

Only Misono Mika understood what that sound meant.

"!? Hey—are you okay!?"

One of the Committee students cried out.
There lay a guard—one of their own—blown away and broken.

"Finally caught up, huh."

Tap, tap.
Light footsteps echoed—too soft for the chaos surrounding them.

"Everyone. Prepare to withdraw."

The figure approaching wore a white coat that gleamed against her pure white hair. A shattered crown of thorns rested upon her head. From behind her mask, deep green irises reflected the light with quiet brilliance.

"…!! Suou…!"

"Sorry for the wait."

At last, she had arrived.
Breathing heavily, Suou allowed herself that small thought.

The Justice Realization Committee stationed outside hadn’t been particularly strong, but even so, her weakened body had been pushed to its limit.

"Suou…! You’re awake…!"

A faint voice crackled through her earpiece—Saori. Suou kept her gaze forward, careful not to draw attention.

"Listen carefully. The situation is the worst it’s ever been. Azusa—"

"I know."

She knew.

This entire disaster had been caused by her own failure. She understood that perfectly.

"That’s why… please, do as your big sister says. Listen carefully."

She knew what had to be done next, too.

"I’ll buy us time. Arius Branch School—all members, retreat."

"!? What are you—"

"She’s been muttering something for a while now."

Saori’s startled voice was drowned out by Nagisa’s words.

Suou kept her focus, taking in every detail of the current situation.

The Supplementary Lessons Department—guns trained on Azusa.
The Volunteer Activities Club—watching closely.
The Justice Realization Committee—fingers tightening on triggers.
And Sensei, with a pained look, staring—not at Suou, but at Azusa.

"You're a student of Arius Branch School. Is that correct?"

"Yup, that’s right. So—shall we begin?"

Nagisa’s words weren’t even a question—more like a confirmation.
Without waiting for a response, she closed the distance and sent a Committee member flying upward with a kick.

"Wh—!?"

"Okay, that’s one down~"

The student, eyes wide and disoriented, slammed into the ceiling before peeling off and crashing to the floor.
Nagisa hurled a bomb toward him mid-fall and kicked it hard.

"Hey, hey, don’t you think you’re being a little too slow?"

"Kh…!"

Terror—undeniable fear.
The Committee member froze as Nagisa’s gaze fell upon him.

"The one standing before you right now… is the monster who fought Mika-san. Your enemy, you know?"

"A—aaAAAAH!!"

Screaming in panic, the Committee members charged at her in a frenzy.
Suou, in contrast, remained perfectly calm. She caught one of their punches, twisted the arm, slammed the student to the ground, and drove her heel into their stomach.

"—gh!"

"And that’s the end of you."

She aimed her shotgun and fired point-blank into the student’s face, knocking them out cold.
When Suou glanced toward Saori’s group, they still hadn’t moved. If anything, they looked ready to fight back.

"Saori. Misaki. Azusa. Atsuko. Everyone. Run. I can’t hold them off for long."

"Suou…!"

"There’s no way we can! We’re in this mess because we can’t just run away! We’ll all go together!"

"…Run. That’s an order from your superior officer."

"—!!"

The words superior officer’s order visibly wounded them.
It was the first time Suou had ever given a command so directly—by her own will.

"Urgh…"

A blow from one of the Committee students connected, making Suou grunt softly.
Not wanting the others to notice, she retaliated by smashing the attacker with her gun.

"…Alright. I think I’ve recovered a little."

"Mika-san."

Seisoen Mika moved.

Both were battered and bruised. But in terms of recovery and natural healing, Kirihana Suou had the advantage.

"Haaah!!"

"Kh—!!"

Mika no longer had the stamina to fight properly after her injuries.
Suou struck her, sending her flying backward.

"Sei—!"

"!?—"

Before she could hit the ground, Mika planted her left hand against it and used the force to propel herself forward.
Accelerating using only the strength of her left arm—it was reckless, but devastating against the current Suou.

"Guh—!"

That was her last attack. Mika collapsed to the ground, completely spent.
Suou, too, was blown back—landing somewhere else entirely.

"…Saori. Azusa."

There stood Saori, Azusa, and the members of the Supplementary Lessons Department—along with the Volunteer Activities Club.

"…Just this once. Even if it’s only once… I swear I’ll make it work this time."

Saori had never heard Suou’s voice sound like that before.

"If we stay, we’ll all die. I’ll be fine on my own."

And yet, that voice carried something strangely familiar—
the same fragile weakness she’d heard a year ago, when Suou first met Mika.

"Trust your big sister… and run, all of you…"

"—!!"

Saori hesitated.
Hesitated, and hesitated again—until there was nothing left but the choice itself.

"…All units—retreat…!!"

"…Thank you, Saori."

Hearing that, Suou smiled faintly.
It was a satisfied smile… yet tinged with quiet sorrow.

"…Then, I’ll be going."

Turning her back to them, Suou dashed forward—
back into the battlefield.

"…Azusa. Let’s go."

"…Yeah."

"Wait—ahh!?"

As Saori and Azusa prepared to move, Hifumi reached out to stop them—
but an explosion went off, cutting her off completely.

"Please… wait… we still…"

Her outstretched hand reached only into the void, fading into darkness.

"We still haven’t gone to the beach… or shopping… or bowling… or karaoke…"

Her list of regrets sounded distant—even to herself.

"We still haven’t really… talked properly, have we…?"

She stared at the tears welling up in her eyes as they fell.

"…Azusa."

"…Yeah."

Azusa, too, shed tears as she ran for escape.

"I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, everyone…!"

"…"

All Saori could do was rub her back gently as they ran.

And then—back on the battlefield.

"Gyahahahaha!! Long time no see, huh!? 'White Devil of Arius'!!"

"I don’t remember ever getting a chuunibyou name like that! You’ve got the wrong person!"

At last, she arrived. Because she’d been circling the perimeter, her arrival had been delayed—
but now, Kenzaki Tsurugi was here. The undeniable strongest force of Trinity.

There was no longer any chance for Kirihana Suou to win.

"…Ha. Fine by me."

Even so, she was ready.
Not to fight—and certainly not to win. But to buy time.

"Let’s start off simple, yeah? How about a little tear gas to warm things up!?"

"Sensei, please take command!"

"…Got it."

"A—alright, I’m going!"

With that, Tsurugi stepped forward. Maybe because Sensei was watching, her stride was just a little—really, just a little—more reserved than usual.

"…None of you are getting past here. For at least ten minutes, I’ll hold this line!!"

"…Stay quiet here."

"Haha… pretty cold place, huh? It’s already autumn, you know. Would’ve been nice to hole up somewhere warmer—but, ah, she’s gone already."

…Right. I’m alone now.
It’s been a while since I was last by myself.

At least I managed to buy everyone enough time to get away.
So, what was it again…?

"……"

Ah, that’s right. I was talking about how I misread Mika’s expectations—
her thoughts, everything—and failed.

"—gh!!"

…Failed. Failed, failed, failed, failed, failed!

"……!!"

Azusa… her identity was exposed. She’ll be expelled from Trinity.
She can never go back now.

"Why…?"

Because the Eighth Squad was in trouble.

"Then that means…?"

Because the Eighth Squad tried to help me escape from Mika.
Because Mika noticed something—and agonized over it, alone, all this time.

"…So that’s it."

Yeah. It was simple.

"—ah… ahh…!!"

It’s all my fault.

"AaaAAAAAHHHH!!"

I knew it.
I knew this could happen.
I knew the arrogance of relying on my own knowledge—the danger of underestimating how answers can change.
I knew… and still, I failed again.
I hurt someone again.

"…Just die already!!!"

What’s changed since back then, huh?

"Nothing’s changed at all, has it!? Nothing!! Just die!! Die!! For every bit of pain you’ve caused, for every wound you’ve made, suffer just as much and die in misery!!"

It’s me.
It’s all my fault.

"AaaaAAAAAAHHH!! You’ve gotta be kidding me!!!"

The pain all over my body didn’t matter anymore.
Right now, all I wanted was to erase my existence completely.

"Haa… haa… damn it… damn it all!!"

Crying, screaming, cursing myself—none of it meant anything.
All it did was feed some nauseating illusion that I was justifying myself.

"…I have to do it."

Even now.

"That one person… Beatrice. I have to kill her."

There’s still something only I can do—something I have to do.

"Yeah… that’s right. That’s the only way… That one, she’s the only one…!"

So I’ll kill her.
Protect everyone.
And then die too, like the worthless piece of trash I am.

"…Kill."

Yeah. Kill her. That’s the only reason you’re still alive.

"Kill…! I’ll kill her…!!"

Do what you can. Fulfill your role.
And then die.

Because this time—for real—
that’s the only thing left I can do.