Every shape in sight registered through me as something familiar. Regardless, I am still lost and at the mercy of my friend's colleague. Her steps are as hesitant as my own. For some reason, that made me feel less afraid. The endless white illuminations does little to reveal the hooded girl that I am following, but I managed to figure out that she will not move forward unless I was close by. I am her motivation and she is mine.
The white reflection of our city's pond flows as fluently as the real thing. No sound produces from its waves, which disappoints both of us equally. Translucent crystalline stairs develop before us as our next obstacle. Scenery like this is what dreams are made of. If I had not already pinched myself until I started to bruise, I would not have believed in where I am.
We ascended to the top of the spiral which must have been at least a kilometer high. Looking down at the body of white water was unusually more unnerving than it was earlier..
"Once this ritual concludes, you will start to see the world for what it truly is," my guide said. "Beyond that point, there is no turning back. Are you prepared?"
The one who seems ill-prepared is yourself. John briefly told me what is expected to happen to me after this. What about this girl?
"At the cost of your burden, you will gain a new perception of reality," she continued. "The burden and the responsibilities that follow will be transferred to me."
"Something's up," I believed out loud. "What's in it for you? And what's this talk about a burden?"
Before anything goes down, before I can see incredible things, I want to at least be able to see what is right in front of me. I've been charging blindly for ages. Who knows how much I missed just by looking in only one direction? Maybe... if I saw him for who he was sooner... maybe we...
"Tell me Suzumiya... what would you do with enough power to control the universe?"
This situation has become the equivalent of hell. The silver lining in this predicament is that all of the gateways that spawned the Shinjin have closed thanks to the help of our latest mystery guest. Judging by how Ms. Kimidori clung to the hooded individual since it arrived, one can assume that they are somewhat close. A sudden explosion near my blind side served as a sharp reminder that there is not a moment's time to let my guard down. By the time I turned around, all that remained was the chilly aftermath of an instantaneous ice barrier that Emiri put up to shield me.
"Please do be careful," Emiri suggested. "When the Shinjin Nexus rises, we will require as much power as applicable."
"The Shinjin Nexus? Impossible!" Arakawa exclaimed. "What you speak of is the very source of the Shinjin that sleeps underground! Why would it awaken?"
The hooded accomplice answered in the place of Kimidori. "The Shinjin Nexus shares two forms in two domains. If one form awakens, so does the other."
"Then Sasaki..." mumbled Arakawa.
So in the end, the ones who followed Sasaki will have their way and Haruhi Suzumiya will lose her ability to change reality. No matter how frequently I assess such an option, the route Kyon is choosing never struck me as logical. The convenience of having the indirect ability to influence the flow of the universe seems to be too grand of a privilege to pass up. Furthermore, the only real cost in accepting such a role was to simply follow the source in all of her glamour. Would that not have been the ideal happy end? Evidently his ideals and my own are not the same.
"Maybe you can learn from his ways, Koizumi," said the respectable voice of someone who should have still been recovering. "Having known you for so long, I would assume that you have been constantly alluding towards decisions that you would have made in hopes that he would live out your dream."
"Captain Mori..."
She sighed an amused air before continuing. "To some people, being able to decide for themselves is more important than what others would want. Even with that in mind, Lady Tsuruya and I believe that Kyon is always thinking about us."
A massive quake followed her statement and all of the ground level became encased in the neon antimatter that our Organizations' eyes have burned into our retinas. The Shinjin Nexus took shape before our eyes. Its half body is nearly twice as big as the average foe, and its demonic bullhorns serves as the feature that sets it apart from other Shinjin. Captain Mori believes that Kyon always thinks about us. After looking at our new opponent, I'm starting to question whether or not that would be good thing...
"That's a strange question," I stated while a luminous giant rose from the depths of the lake. It loomed over our sides observing us as if it were an attentive judge. "I never put much thought into things like that, but... I guess if I controlled the universe, I would do things like give miracles to the needy and wrath to the wicked. I mean what conscious God would not want to be active?"
"Someone like me would be too hesitant to decide on things just like that," the girl replied.
"That's no good! If you had the power to control the universe, then it would be a total waste not to take advantage of it!"
She nodded as if she understood before replying, "This much is true. However, I have my doubts that there is a human alive that would be suitable for the task. Humans such as you and I are cursed with imperfections such as emotions, personal judgment, and underdeveloped knowledge."
This girl's existence aroused me further for some unknown reason. Will she disappear along with John when this is over..? Nevertheless, I respectfully disagreed with her outlook.
"Not even an inhuman God would know everything. There are new things to learn with each passing second of life. God would have to adapt to change just as we do, right?"
She started to laugh shortly after I answered. I still do not fully understand the relevance behind this conversation, but this is somewhat entertaining.
"I apologize," she said. "Just now, I found myself amused at my own opinion that you would make a far better God than I would."
"That's not true."
"...Are you certain?"
Forget the meaning... The details do not matter anymore! "Many years ago, I shared the exact same opinion as you do now. That was a darker time in my life where there was absolutely no one that held a significant place in my heart - friends and family alike... All it took was slightly opening up to one person. He and a few others slowly changed me into who I am now. Even now, it's hard to believe that I warmed up to him as much as I did..."
"Did you... have any regrets?"
I thought for a moment before answering. "I was too stubborn to realize how I felt about him. By the time I was strong enough to figure it all out... it was too late."
"I see..."
"Nevertheless..." I continued. "Time moves forward. If you waste time looking backwards, you will bypass everything in front of you while the past continues to grow farther apart."
"Look forward, eh?" the cloaked girl replied while turning to face the giant who watched over us without motion the whole time. "In that case, I've decided that it's enough if you say so – and maybe some things are that simple."
I too decided to face the overseer along with my hooded friend. "You there! I met someone similar to you in a dream once. You were looking for me and I wanted to join you. A close friend of mine, who was also in that dream, prevented it from happening. Whatever you're here to do, I'm ready now. I'm absolutely ready!"
After the creature heard me, it turned to the only other person in sight. I cannot see her face, but she seemed slightly intimidated. She spoke after facing me one more time.
"I can fathom no way to be fully prepared for a responsibility of this magnitude. So.. in compensation of my weakness, I will see to it that I place more faith into my allies just as they have been doing for me. Therefore, I am also ready... I can only hope my sense of responsibility will suffice."
Two giant arms sprouted from the alien body after a loud, low-pitched roar. Its enormous hands descended down to the both of us as one would react to a housefly. Some odd moments later, I opened my eyes to find myself deep within the body of the giant. Nothing outside of it is distinguishable from this angle. The only object I can perceive was the body of the girl who I have just spoken to moments ago. At some point after being engulfed, all of our clothing vanished. As a result, I am now able to see the image of my new friend. Mildly to my surprise, I made an instant discovery at that moment.
We have met before.
"Ah, welcome to the show!" an enthusiastic maid greeted. "We hope you all will enjoy our performance!"
Thank you for your greeting, but the three of us are here to help. Although it is most likely that the girl in my arms will be providing the most assistance out of the three of us.
"Maid Mori!" exclaimed the other girl that entered the space with Nagato and I. "You should totally still be in the hospital!"
"A final symphony cannot be conducted without the maestro," Mori energetically replied.
"Koizumi!" I shouted, forcing him to face us. Sometimes it seems that he took my relationship with Nagato harder than anyone else. "I owe you an apology."
"Do you care to explain?" he replied in an uncharacteristically normal tone.
"Despite how much you've done for me, I've done far too many things behind your back. Even now, I decided to get Sasaki involved without bringing it up to you until things became irreversible. I've been cruel to you for a long time; it's about time for me to make up for it."
Mori placed a hand over Koizumi's shoulders while saying to him: "It's just as I said."
Just then the mutated avatar that stood tall and motionless lit up as if someone flipped the on switch. It gave a low-pitched roar that disrupted my train of thought.
[CUE MUSIC – God Knows]
"The ritual has begun between Haruhi Suzumiya and Sasaki!" Mori shouted while looking at the espers hovering about the sky. "The power transfer will only be successful when we defeat the Shinjin Nexus right here! Aim for its center in groups in two or three!"
"Right!" confirmed the espers in unison. Mori and Arakawa transformed into energy form to join everyone.
"Us non-espers should stay together," suggested Emiri, who came to our side with a cloaked Kuyoh. "Observe each esper's patterns and buff them accordingly."
"Wouldn't it be better for you guys to join them in the fray?" I asked.
"The Shinjin that the espers battle can disable our abilities if we are within a certain vicinity of their bodies," Kimidori answered. "They possess the same Null Aura as an Ancient Feral."
That would mean that the aliens' existence in a Closed Space is a risk in its own. A closed-ranged unit such as Asakura would never want to be here...
"Itsuki, what are you waiting for?" Tsuruya yelled. "Aren't you going to join your people?"
Itsuki sighed before replying, "I have full intention of doing just that. However, I must first clear my mind of all negative thoughts regarding what will happen once everything resolves."
"Negative things like what?" asked Tsuruya as Itsuki turned towards the esper war.
"Once the power of God shifts from Haruhi Suzumiya to Sasaki, our obligations as an organization will be complete. The SOS Brigade is certain to disband some time after. My obligations to accompany Haruhi Suzumiya... will also end."
"That last part is wrong, Itsuki!" I stated just as I witnessed a familiar barrier shield a distant group of espers from a savage attack.
"What is the basis behind your opinion? Once Haruhi Suzumiya becomes a normal human being, my Organization would no longer require me to watch over her."
"Would you not want to watch over Haruhi even after she loses her power?" I asked while giving him the opportunity to answer a question that I already know thanks to Nagato and her altered universe. "After this is over, you can still watch over Haruhi; this time, not as a member of a secret organization, but as Itsuki Koizumi! In fact... I was sort of counting on you to do that for me, but that would be making plans behind your back again."
The priceless look that Itsuki gave me served as proof that he did not take into consideration the fact that he would be more or less free to make his own decisions from now on.
"Watching over Haruhi Suzumiya... as myself?"
No more false smiles and sacrificing the spotlight for my sake, old buddy!
"Danger," uttered Kuyoh at the sight of a horrendous neon projectile hurling at our direction. Koizumi took one half-glance at our threat and completely negated it with an exaggerated swipe of one arm. For an instant, it looked like a single wing composed of Koizumi's red energy sprouted from his backside.
"It looks as though the time has come for me to play my instrument in this symphony," Koizumi said in his normal, drawn-out tone. "Kyon, I would like to thank you in several ways. For now, I will start by using my body."
Damn you, Itsuki! If you didn't morph into your esper form right after you said that, I would have punched you again!
Even after Itsuki merged into the ranks, his aura held a strong flare that Tsuruya and I were able to follow with our eyes.
"Now that's the youthful energy I wanted to see from you Koizumi!" praised Arakawa.
Mori hovered to me as well, "Koizumi! We held our own with no casualties so far, but unfortunately, we have made little progress. The Shinjin Nexus is quite formidable. Getting too close is ill-advised."
"Have someone open a path for me, and you all may consider the nexus eradicated."
Captain Mori beamed at me. "For Suzumiya, Itsuki?"
I faced my enemy before replying, "No... For me."
The Shinjin Lord launched a concentrated fist at the three of us. Captain Mori confidently stood before it and powered down. Not only did the fist meet Mori's thick barrier, but Nagato's patented shield also kicked in simultaneously. The mighty giant toppled backwards from the recoil which served as the signal for comrade Arakawa to make his move. He positioned himself within proximity and readied his Gale Break, which is a technique that specializes in exposing the heart of Shinjin. The crossed projectile launches itself with more that twice the intensity as Arakawa's maximum power. This is because a concentrated coat of fire was added to the attack through the aide of Kimidori and her elemental prowess. The end result sears through the Nexus as seamlessly as the air it traveled through.
The heart of the downed opponent throbbed before my sights. While hearing its disgusting sounds, I conjured the single orb that would pierce the heavens and change the world – but even with my enhanced confidence, I am unable to create energy large enough to match the size of the heart. After pumping as much energy as I can into my specialty, the ball I held completely changes form. A noir coat envelopes my sphere and brims with a dark electricity. This development has undoubtedly come from the hooded alien, whose true identity is all but obvious to me. The newly concocted energy was so immense in power that I felt my vitality struggling to hold it up. The time has come to release this energy with all that I have...
"FULL PANIC!"
Stay tuned for the final chapter of the Gamma Dimension: Nightfall.
"What? That's all you're going to say after coming this far?"
I've performed enough endeavors; the time has come to start winding down and tying loose ends.
"Can you believe it's been over a year since you started?"
For that, I should either be embarrassed of my procrastination or proud of my dedication.
"There's no point thinking about such things; All that matters is that you end this."
Precisely. To everyone that has followed me to this point... Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.