Chapter 21: The TS Girl Reflects on Her Past

I stood quietly in my room.

It felt like my mask was finally starting to crack. Maybe everyone had already begun to notice.

Little slips were starting to show here and there.

For no particular reason, I made some miso soup. It was warm.

In the end, my true self is “me”—and that high-energy girl is just a façade.

…Well, maybe “just” a façade isn’t quite right. She exists somewhere deep inside me, after all.

I forcibly layered the persona of Akegami Yuri over my real self—a girl who absolutely adores the Connector, Shinozaki Nagisa, and seems to live for teasing him. A personality completely different from who I really am.

That’s why interacting with Shinozaki Nagisa helped reinforce that persona—but even that had reached its limit.

The last time I held his hand, I was still able to maintain being Akegami Yuri… but only barely.

How much longer can this fraying heart of mine hold together?

Before I knew it, I found myself thinking about him from the past… Kumoyama Yuri—the name I chose for myself.

This is a story from before I became Akegami Yuri. I won’t say what my name was back then.

Naturally, I used “ore” to refer to myself. I didn’t bother softening my speech to sound feminine—because I wasn’t a girl.

Back in elementary school, I played rough with the boys—ball games and all kinds of mischief. My younger sister used to make fun of me for it.

Things changed drastically in middle school. As the physical differences between boys and girls became more apparent, I quickly found myself alone.

If I spent time with boys, people said I was flirting. But I couldn’t properly interact with girls either. They complained I stood too close, that my sense of distance was off… one thing after another, until before long, everyone kept their distance.

I knew I’d messed up. But even then, I didn’t want to abandon the feeling that I was a guy just to fix things. The thought alone made my skin crawl.

…Well, to be fair, a few people still approached me—probably because I looked decent.

Even so, I spent more and more days zoning out in class, chin in hand, staring into nothing.

That’s when I met him.

The classroom felt suffocating, so during break, I stood absentmindedly in the back courtyard.

"…Huh, someone’s already here."

I turned toward the voice and saw a familiar face. Someone from my class—one of those guys who could get along with anyone.

Kumoyama Yuri.

"Come to think of it, we’ve never talked before, right? Akegami, was it?"

Even someone like me—someone who got nothing but cold looks from the rest of the class—he spoke to me with an easy smile. What is he, some kind of social butterfly?

"Yeah, yeah. Kumoyama Yuri—the guy who’s nice even to the class outcast. What do you want?"

"Man, you’ve got some serious thorns. Did I do something to you?"

"Shut up. Get lost already."

"Why? It’s fine if I stay here. Let’s talk a bit."

I waved him off like I was shooing away a stray cat, but Kumoyama just laughed it off.

What’s with this guy? I’m clearly pushing him away, and yet he looks like he’s having fun… what a weirdo.

I tried to keep my distance, because getting involved with me would only cause trouble.

"There’s nothing to talk about."

"Don’t be like that. Come on, it’s fine."

And just like that—because he kept pushing—I eventually gave in and ended up talking to him.

We chatted about trivial things, like what we liked.

It had been a while since I’d talked to a guy, and before I knew it, the conversation dragged on. Normally, just being friendly with a guy would earn me resentment or weird misunderstandings, so it was always a hassle. Maybe this was just a rebound from that.

"Hey, Akegami—let’s be friends."

"…Huh?"

I had just started thinking that talking like this was surprisingly fun, when he suddenly dropped that on me. The surprise made my voice come out lower than usual.

"You’re actually pretty interesting."

"Gee, thanks. But you’re a pain, so I’d rather not go out of my way to be your friend."

"Haha, I see. Then at least talk to me like this sometimes."

Even when I brushed him off coldly, he didn’t seem discouraged at all. What is with this guy?

At first, I kept trying to push him away, but little by little, I gave in and started talking to him anyway. I couldn’t understand what he found so appealing about talking to me.

And just like that, before I knew it, I’d become friends with Kumoyama Yuri. Or rather, he made me his friend. It started as just humoring him, but he kept stepping closer, and I couldn’t quite refuse… until one day, I found myself nodding along when he said, “Let’s be friends.”

We didn’t talk much in the classroom, but we’d chat occasionally in the back courtyard. It was a strange relationship, and I vaguely thought it would stay that way.

"Hey… why do you go out of your way to talk to me?"

One day, I asked him that.

I couldn’t figure out why he bothered with me at all.

"If you find a stray cat, you kinda want to mess with it, right?"

"Who are you calling a stray cat?"

"I mean, you’re all guarded at first, but once you warm up, you come closer, don’t you?"

"I’m not warming up to you."

The smug look on his face seriously pissed me off, so I jabbed him in the side with my elbow.

"Ow! Hey, take it easy!"

"That’s what you get for saying stupid stuff."

"I was just being honest. Though, to be fair, the reason I first talked to you was because you’ve got a nice face."

"Hey—don’t just say that so bluntly."

He said it so casually.

Kumoyama Yuri was fairly popular. Not exactly a heartthrob, but good-looking enough, and friendly with everyone.

That’s why I figured he wouldn’t care much about my looks—but apparently, I was wrong.

"But I mean, can you blame me? You’re pretty cute."

Hearing that said directly to my face caught me off guard. Did this guy not feel embarrassment at all?

"Do you say stuff like that to girls all the time?"

"Nope. Just to you, Akegami."

"…Seriously? You say things way too suggestively."

"Hm? Like what?"

The blank look on his face irritated me for some reason.

"—You make it sound like you like me."

I expected him to panic and deny it.

Instead, his expression softened.

"Guess you caught me."

He said it so cheerfully that I was left speechless.

"…You’ve got zero sense of romance."

I couldn’t figure out how to respond, and somehow managed to squeeze out a few words. “Guess you caught me”—that’s not exactly the point.

"I just felt like saying it. Besides, if I tried to set the mood, you’d just run away."

"You know me well."

"…So, are you at least going to give me an answer?"

"…Does this even count as a confession?"

"It’s fine. Just answer."

"Ugh, you’re annoying. I’m not telling you."

He said it so openly, without a shred of embarrassment—it was dazzling, and I dodged giving him an answer.

I could feel his protesting gaze.

"Isn’t that kinda unfair?"

"That’s what you get for confessing in such a weird way."

"So I just have to keep at it until you nod, huh!"

"Man, you’re ridiculously positive."

"At least call me ‘Yuri’ instead of Kumoyama, okay?"

"…………Fine. Yuri."

"Yes!"

Well… I didn’t dislike his dumb side. Though I couldn’t help but think—rather than calling my name, he’s making me call his.

Sure, right now I might look like a cute girl. But in my past life, I was a guy—and that awareness hasn’t gone away.

So there’s no way I can return his feelings.

Even so, the guy who disrupted my quiet life was slowly tugging at my heart… and I left things vague.

Not knowing it would all come to an end so soon, I carelessly let myself sink into this comfortable relationship.

Back then, I hadn’t really thought much about the fact that this world was the world of Last Inheritance.

Compared to now, the Deep Calamities didn’t appear all that often, and I was still resisting the idea of being a girl—so I didn’t think much about things like that.

But if I had realized it sooner… if I had considered that possibility earlier… maybe something could have been different. I kept thinking that.

That day, I ran into Yuri on the way to school—something that rarely happened. Normally, I avoided him, since talking outside our usual place caused trouble. But once we crossed paths, there was no avoiding it.

"Yo, Akegami."

"Yo, Yuri."

We raised our hands lightly in greeting. There wasn’t really anything to talk about in the morning.

Somehow, we ended up walking side by side. The same old streets—but with him next to me, the scenery felt different.

Since that day, it felt like the way he looked at me had changed. Or rather, it was like he’d stopped hiding his feelings altogether.

He stepped just a little closer—close enough that our shoulders might touch. He was becoming less reserved.

Well… whatever.

Even in silence, it felt comfortable.

Just the right kind of quiet.

“…At least, until we saw the school.”

"What… is this?"

The words barely came out.

The school we’d always attended had been reduced to a pile of rubble.

That red I could see between the debris… could it be—

I forced the thought away. If I didn’t, I felt like I’d lose my mind.

Ah… I see. So this is when I finally realized.

Those beast-like things with distorted outlines were Deep Calamities. I was a Curse Seeker. And this was the world of Last Inheritance.

I really was an idiot. Even my name was the same as a character from that game.

I grabbed Yuri’s hand as he stood frozen beside me.

"Run."

"Y-Yeah…"

It’s not like there was anywhere to run. I didn’t have the courage to fight yet. The Deep Calamities were appearing out of nowhere, destroying everything. It wasn’t safe here, so we ran.

I didn’t know where was safe—but for now, we headed toward my house.

But the world didn’t wait.

By the time we reached it, my house had collapsed—just like the school.

"A… ah…"

"Akegami…!"

Nothing but a broken sound escaped me. Even Yuri’s voice, trying to steady me, didn’t reach my ears.

The uniform caught in the rubble… the suit… I knew what that meant.

More and more Deep Calamities swarmed in. When I looked around, I realized we were already surrounded.

So this… this is what they did.

I let go of Yuri’s hand and used my skill for the first time. I hadn’t even meant to—I just wanted to lash out in anger.

I tore the head off a beast-like Deep Calamity. Gouged out its legs. Slashed its body over and over.

The second one came—I killed it.

I saw a hand wearing my mother’s ring.

The third one came—I killed it.

Between the rubble, I saw my sister’s stuffed toy—the one I gave her for her birthday.

The fourth came—I killed it.

The fifth came—I killed it.

I just kept killing them. I couldn’t bear to look at the fragments of my family scattered among the ruins.

And then, after I’d taken down several of them, reality suddenly hit me—and I collapsed on the spot.

My little sister, Akegami Yua… my parents… I’d never hear their voices again.

Yuri looked at me, about to say something, worry written all over his face.

But I didn’t want to hear anything. I spoke first.

"Yuri… can I say something selfish?"

"…What is it?"

"Will you… hold me?"

Yuri’s eyes wavered. Then, as if resigning himself, he sat down in front of me.

His arms wrapped around my back.

Warm.

It felt like my heart—torn to shreds, like the pain in my chest—was being gently stitched back together by Yuri’s warmth.

…Even though I was just taking advantage of his feelings.

Even though, on the way back here, I had seen that his house had collapsed too.

He really was a good guy.

After he let go of me, I somehow managed to stand. I should still have at least that much strength left.

"Thanks, Akegami."

"Hm? For what?"

"Having you here… it’s the only reason I can barely keep myself together."

In reality, I was the one falling apart—and he was the reason I was still holding on.

And yet he said it like he was the one being supported. What a sly guy.

"Yeah… sure."

Because of that, I couldn’t bring myself to thank him, and all I could manage was a blunt reply.

Yuri suddenly held out his hand.

"Akegami, can you hold my hand for a second?"

"…Fine, I guess."

I didn’t know what he was trying to do, but I took his hand. Something flowed into me through his palm.

"Feels like I became a Connector or something… figured maybe I could help you."

"…Thanks."

So he was going to fight too.

Then—

Just as I tried to steel myself, a violent shock hit us.

It felt like something had dropped from above. Dust filled the air, and I couldn’t see anything.

From the sensation of the hand I was holding, Yuri should still be there.

"Hey, Yuri! You okay?!"

No answer.

"Hey!"

I pulled on his hand.

It felt… strangely light.

Well, of course it did.

Because what I was holding was just his arm—there was nothing beyond the shoulder.

"Yu… ri…"

Blood dripped from the end of it, but the rest of his body was nowhere to be seen.

In front of me stood a swarm of Deep Calamities. They must have appeared suddenly, the shock blasting everything apart.

And beneath them, I saw patches of red.

After that, I don’t remember anything. I tore apart every Deep Calamity around me and killed them all.

When it was over, I just stood there, clutching Yuri’s arm, until someone eventually found me.

All I remember is that it was quiet… and nothing happened.

I had no reason left to live. My family was gone. My friend was gone. I drifted through empty days.

It was later called the Third Deep Calamity Disaster—the one that struck us.

Only a handful survived. Around thirty students from that middle school. Every one of them had become either a Curse Seeker or a Connector.

Back then, even middle schoolers were still allowed to be deployed. All of us went out—not because we were ordered to, but because we needed an outlet… or maybe because we were rushing toward death.

One by one, everyone did reckless things and died.

It couldn’t be helped. They had given us a reason to die, after all. None of the survivors were exactly sane.

What about me?

I had nothing. It would’ve been fine if I died.

…Was that really true?

This was the world of Last Inheritance, and I was Akegami ██—a heroine destined to die.

There was no need to rush it now.

In the end, I didn’t have the will to live—but I was afraid to die, too.

And if I died now, it would probably disrupt the scenario.

So, for the sake of the protagonists who would one day play their roles… I decided not to die, at least for now.

By the end of middle school, only three of us were left alive: me, Haraguchi, and Honoka.

From here on, it was high school—and the story would truly begin.

I didn’t think I could function properly in my current state if I joined the protagonists’ team.

So I decided to put on a persona. A brighter, more cheerful girl—completely different from before.

I didn’t have the courage… so I borrowed Yuri’s name.

I figured that if I became like my friend, I might somehow manage.

And that’s how Akegami Yuri was born.