For Sanae-sama, who thought that Luke's wish is for Asch to kill him.

Green eyes found a book opening by itself on the table out of everyone's gaze.

Green eyes found the words written on the opened page.

Green eyes got narrowed a bit, as if he was waiting for something to happen, but it never did. Amidst the screaming, no one paid attention to the book. Understandable really, but still.

Green eyes got closed, and he took a deep breath.

I know that it's only in my head.

I know that Natalia, someone who's as benevolent as her, wouldn't say such things. Even to me. Even if I've wronged her. It's just... couldn't be. I know. I really do. But...

But I still couldn't hear what she truly said.

"You can go now."

"It's okay. You're not needed anymore."

"After all, we've got someone better."

Impossible, impossible.

"Yeah. You're not even worth killing. You're not important. Aren't you happy?"

"Guys, don't say that. He can't leave yet."

"Oh?"

"He's still hiding Luke after all."

"Right. Silly me."

It's just a dream, she couldn't possibly said it. It's just impossible. The others too, they couldn't possibly said it... they could snap, and get mad, I know, but they're not the type of people to just... to just send me away. To just abandon me. Just because they had the better person...

Maybe in the past, they were... but not now.

Not now...

They've changed. I've known it for a while now, haven't I?

And I know I should be happy with this development. I need... I really need to stay. To have Jade look for ways to get the replica to go away. I know. It's unreasonable for me to remember that dream again, to have panic attack like this!

I bit my lip and clenched my fist, stabbing my palm with my nails. The pain was enough to make the ringing less noticeable. But Natalia had stopped talking. She's waiting for me to respond. Everyone was looking at me expectantly.

I swallowed the lump that had formed on my throat and nodded.

"... Yeah."

"You can stay here with Guy. Would you like that? Or would you rather go to our resort?"

"Here is fine. I need... My business with Jade is still unfinished."

"I see. I understand then."

She approached me then, and I don't know why I found it harder to breathe.

"Don't forget your promise. Tell me when it's all over. Alright?"

I nodded and let myself be embraced by her.

Hesitantly, I hugged her back, and she squeezed harder. I sighed in relief then. Yeah, it's just a dream from long ago. I wouldn't be told to go away. Not by her, because she's so kind, and not by anyone. I'm still needed. The replica is no more after all.

Yeah.

He's no more.

To everyone, he doesn't exist. Not anymore.

That's why...

"We're staying too."

Anise insisted, and Tear could only sigh.

"Anise, we've talked about this. You can't stay."

"I said we're staying for a week, and we will."

"No, you said we'll be travelling for a week. And you hear what Grand Maestro Tritheim said. You can't leave Daath that long. You're still in training."

Anise pointed at the smiling replica next to her with her thumb.

"Which is why I brought him, the ultimate Daathic Artes teacher. Who can better teach me than the master itself? It'd be faster than from theory, I tell you."

"Anise, Florian can't abandon his study for your sake."

"Why do you think I brought you along? You're his teacher."

Tear eyed the younger oracle with an eyebrow raised and arms crossed, her ultimate look, as someone once said so very long ago.

"Anise..."

After few moments of glaring contest, finally the Fon Master-to be sighed in resignation.

"Fine! We're leaving the day after tomorrow. Happy?"

"No. But I suppose it's acceptable."

She said, which meant that what she wanted was to return as soon as possible. That very day if she could. Party pooper.

But she supposed, Tear had her worries. Most likely, she's afraid of a rerun.

Anise had had the feeling that history would repeat itself, that someone would hurt Asch again, whether it's physically or mentally she wasn't sure however. But she never thought that that someone would be her of all people.

Well, at least it's not from seeing Asch, but still.

She let out a sigh.

"I'm fine. I won't do that again."

"That's good. But still."

"Yeah, yeah."

Who knew that the seemingly strong Luke was a frail person. Anise wanted to snort from the thought.

She sighed again.

She had realized it.

Asch, Luke... in her mind, it's getting mixed up. Now that there's the possibility of Luke the replica really haunting Luke the original (and it's almost a certainty too), it's getting worse. She's getting headache just from thinking about it.

'Come on, girl. It's simple. First there's Luke, and then Commandant happened, and he became Asch. And then Natalia happened and he became Luke again. Simple.'

And then... this happened.

Anise closed her eyes forcefully, hoping to be able to erase the confusion.

There's still tomorrow.

She's not too late.

He said his business with Jade was still not done, so that means Luke's still here somewhere.

'Yeah. I can still find him.'

Anise didn't know about the others, but in her mind at that moment, they've became traitors. How could they side with Asch like that? How could they let him go to Jade to exorcise Luke? To kill Luke?! How could they?

How could...

"Anise, please make sure he's okay?"

Florian's words echoed in her mind. She tried to block it off but to no avail.

'But I am going to make sure he's okay! I'm making sure Luke is okay! I am I am I am I...'

Anise groaned and bury her face on her pillow.

She's getting things mixed up again. It's supposed to be simple, damn it.

"Luke... where are you? I need you..."

She said dazedly, already close to tears again.

And then, the bed creaked, and when she realized it, Florian's face was already filling her blurry sight.

"Florian..."

"Hey, Anise."

He said with a smile, a hand snaked up to cup her cheek. His thumb wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"I can't sleep."

"... that doesn't answer my question."

"Since I thought you wouldn't be able to either, I thought we could hold that pyjama party you promised now. Or is it a bad time?"

"No... no. It's perfect."

She said as she sighed. It's really calming, being near Florian like this. To feel his warmth. Although she cursed herself for forgetting to lock her door, she was a bit relieved that she did. She needed this.

"I think I packed some gameboards. I was in a hurry so I'm not sure what I took though."

"I said pack wisely, didn't I?"

"It's useful for times like these, right?"

His smile got a tad bit wider, and Anise laughed shakily due to it. Then she reached out and hugged him.

"Florian..."

She could feel Florian smile on the crook of her neck.

"Yes, Anise. I'm Florian."

"You're not Ion."

"Yeah."

"Luke's not Luke."

"Luke is Luke, Anise."

She nodded in agreement despite it.

"Then... who is he?"

"He's Luke's replica."

"... I get confused, Florian."

"Yeah. It's confusing, isn't it? It's like being asked who Ion is."

"Ion is Ion."

"That's right. Your Ion is Ion. And how about Arietta's Ion?"

"... Ion is Ion," she said, because she couldn't answer him any other way.
At her answer, Florian shifted and hugged her back.

"It's okay. It'll be over soon. And then you won't get confused anymore. I promise."

He said before kissing her forehead, and Anise could only nod.

She wished with all of her being that it's not just some empty reassurance.

Knowing Florian though, it'd come true. His words always came true. Even though she had forbidden him from reading Scores, even though she knew he'd never read more Scores since Mohs went away, they always came true.

She hoped it's the case too this time.

Looking up, the sky was cloudless indigo. The moon was full, and the stars were like diamond dust.

I found the replica in the library, looking up to such sky.

He was mumbling incoherently. As I walked closer however, his words became clearer and clearer.

"I'm sorry I was born."

"I'm sorry I was given your name."

"I'm sorry I took your place."

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you."

"I'm sorry I took everything for granted."

"I'm sorry I stole everything from you."

"I'm sorry I made things worse for you."

"I'm sorry I hurt you."

"I'm sorry I killed you."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell anyone about the end of our battle."

"I'm sorry I confused everyone."

"I'm sorry-"

Again and again. The list was endless. He repeated some, again and again. Most often was the first.

I listened to him. I didn't comment on his words. I wasn't even sure he'd realized that I was there.

Somehow, his list made my chest aches. I took a seat and sighed audibly, perhaps unconsciously hoping that it'd make the pain disappear.

"Hey..."

I asked him after what felt like eternity. I'm not sure if he'd heard me. He kept on apologizing monotonously, face blank and eyes focused on the moon.

"If your regret is existing itself, then what should I do?"

He stopped then, and turned to me. His head was tilted slightly.

"What are you wishing for? What do you want of me?"

Emotions swirled in his eyes, visible due to the moonlight.

"... I'm sorry I keep on bothering you."

"..."

"I'm sorry I made things worse for you."

"Dreck..."

He went on and on again, with his apologies.

"I'm sorry I keep on hurting you."

"Shut up."

And then he stopped. I saw tears falling from his green orbs. His eyes were on me now. His breathing had hitched, and now I couldn't even tell if he was breathing or not.

"... I'm sorry you can't kill me."

He took a gasping breath through his mouth before continuing.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

I was mistaken then.

At first, I had thought that he wanted to come back to life again. To be 'Luke' again. I had thought that he was just being his idiotic self, and tried to hide the truth for my sake.

But...

To Jade, he admitted that he wanted to be gone. I could usually read people well, and I'm not getting any hint that he's lying. Even though yes, I got the feeling that he didn't like it. He didn't like going away, like he wanted to stay, but for some reason I got the feeling like he didn't want to stay forever.

I suppose if he's like this, it's painful to live. I could somewhat understand. I was once like that after all. Like pebble on the side of the road.

I was unneeded.

The promise I made with Natalia... there was another who could fulfil it for her, for me, after all. But then, he went away, and I got a place to return once again.

Even though I knew it's not permanent. Once Natalia's problem was solved, once the nobles could get it into their thick skulls that yes, she's not the king's blood daughter, yes, her mother was just a mere servant, yes, her father was that Largo the Black Lion the villain (although he's decent to me, compared to the other crazies in Van's ranks) and yes, she's going to be queen and there's nothing they could do about it. Not sending assassins to kill her (thank Yulia Tear had taught her hand to hand combat moves), and certainly not trying to get to my side.

I may be the secondary heir to the throne, but I'm not going after the throne. No thank you. I didn't want it as a child, I didn't even thought of it as reason why I had to go home during my escapes, and I certainly didn't want it now. Uncle and Father asked me to be her fiance again to protect her. Because well, if worse came to worst, I could just be figure head while Natalia do all the work. That's all what she wanted to do anyway. Work. To help people. I just want to protect her. It's win-win solution.

The nobles agreed, but for a whole different reason.

For some reason, I was seen as soft target for their manipulation. It's easy to figure out that they want me to be their puppet king. Idiots. I'm not the dreck. I'm not above abandoning all manners (like the replica had manners anyway, ha) and use my fist to make the thought got through to their skulls easier. Although yes, I had to admit I would find it hard to stop myself from killing them, so I just kept it to myself.

… okay maybe, I screamed at them. Once. Couple of times. Sometimes.

Surely it'd help though. To get the idea that we (Uncle, Father, me and all citizens of Baticul) couldn't care less about her heritage. It's not her fault anyway a crazy Scorer told her crazy grandmother that she should switch the dead baby princess with her own granddaughter to calm the Queen because it's what her Score said. Although I'm grateful for it. If not because of those crazies, I wouldn't be able to see how wonderful she is.

Once they could accept her... then I wouldn't be needed anymore.

But it's okay.

It'd be just like before. Like pebble on the side of the road.

I'd be there, but invisible. Ignored. Wouldn't be heard. Wouldn't be able to do anything. I'd be lucky if someone decided he wanted to use me, to play me.

I was lucky. Maybe.

So I'm used to it.

The replica... not so much. I could tell. It's his scariest nightmare.

"I'm not going home before you're gone."

I said to him, and after a while he nodded, still apologizing to me.

I approached him then, and took his arm. I dragged him out of the library, and went to the room Guy had provided me. There, I coaxed him to lie down on the sofa, and draped him with blanket.

"... Luke?"

"If you say sorry once more, I'll seriously throttle you."

"Why are you being nice to me?"

He asked. His one visible eye was glassy with tears (the other was covered by his long bangs), and he was trembling slightly.

I stared at him. At his frail looking figure, curled up there on the sofa.

"I'm happy... I'm really happy... For a long time now, I've wanted to... to coexist... with you. But... not like this... never like this."

He let out a choked sob then.
"I wish you could kill me..."

I can't.

I'd promised after all. I wouldn't kill again. Natalia's fiance couldn't be a killer. If I started with him, even in his condition, I'm not sure I'd be able to stop myself from going after other people I wish could just go away. Like the nobles for example.

"I can't kill you."

He nodded.

"But I want you out of my sight."

I said. Because that's what I want. I want him to stop what he's been doing. To stop caring for me. To stop encouraging me. To stop apologizing.

Because it's wrong.

He shouldn't care. He should be mad. He should want me dead for having filled his place again.

He should be trying to kill me.

But he's not.

And I'm on edge everytime, my mind always questioning when he'd finally stop this sick torture and just be done with it. Kill me. Go back to life. Replace me again. Live happily ever after with everyone.

It's tiring.

I want it overwith quickly.

If it's Jade, he wouldn't make him go away, I think. He'd probably come clean tomorrow. He'd try to get him back to life again. I'm sure of it. If he really wanted to help me, he'd just stab him and be done with it. He'd obtained heart. I know. I've realized it.

If it's Jade, he'd surely succeed.

And then, I wouldn't be needed anymore.

"... and then, everything will be just like before."

He nodded again. As if agreeing with me even though he couldn't possibly read my mind.

I watched him crying himself to sleep before settling on the bed.

It's okay.

I'm used to it.

I won't freak out like earlier, not again. I'd go before they ask me if I have to.

I promised myself and closed my eyes.