Angel Beats: Harmonics girl
Disclaimer: I do not own Angel Beats
Warning: I am still studying so please forgive me if there is too much grammar mistake
Chapter 46
My Most Precious Treasure
Recommended BGM (MUST): Theme of SSS, Brave Song, My Most Precious Treasure
"President, please retreat first! We can't effort to lose you!"
"No! The student council will hold off the Shadows until every one of you reached the surface! I am not letting anyone to be devoured anymore!"
Yuzuru's voice went clear and strong across the entire tunnel even with the gunfire going on. The mixed army of Human Association and Black Hands acknowledged Yuzuru's order and quickened their pace. They wanted to stand their ground together with the president and fought the shadows until the last man standing.
But they knew that was not correct, the president was risking his own existence to get everyone to safety, the least they could do is to honour his wish.
There were two lights in the tunnel, the countless yellow eyes of the shadows in the void chasing after the humans, and the light of the student council's guns that were blazing in all direction stopping the advance of the shadows.
Although retreating step by step, Yuzuru never let go of the triggers of the assault rifles in his hands. Bullets chased after bullets before they hit their target, the shadows running both above and below the tunnel. Although before them was a deep void of shadows crawling towards them in high speed, every single bullet countered and keep the void at bay, buying more time for the humans to reach the surface.
Click!
There was no time for Yuzuru to hesitate, the two empty weapons were immediately discarded and his hands reached for the machine gun hanging by his back. A split second of looking at the gun made him realized it was also a TDI vector, the gun Yuri used to take on the shadows. The entire changing of weapon process took less than three seconds and the Shadows that took this as an opportunity to move in was instantly shot down. Yuzuru's finger never stopped pulling the trigger, he knew that for every second a bullet was not there to stop the shadows, the bigger danger he would be putting everyone in.
Even though Yuzuru was facing the entire void of shadow army itself, he does not fear the existence that only knew how to devour before him. As a leader, he could not be the one that was afraid, he must be the best to be the leader. Even in crisis, he must be the one who remained calm and strong to get everyone out safely.
And the president was never alone too, there were always people who were at his side. The shiny examples were Rei and Igarashi, his loyal friends who would never left his side. Even though they were standing against the shadows, they continued to stand strong and believed in Yuzuru. To them, Yuzuru is their president, their leader-
A messiah, that was what the others saw him as.
Beep.
"This is Mio, the army has reached the surface without any casualties. Should I return and help?"
Mio's static voice came through from the ear piece Yuzuru has by his ear. Keeping his right hand on the trigger, his left hand came up and turned on the ear piece to issue his new order.
"No. I want you to take charge and set up a defensive perimeter around the school's field. Have them set up sand bags and any other defensive mechanism they could think of. I will be joining you shortly, until them set up the defence base until the shadows arrive."
"Got it…You must return to the surface, president."
"Don't worry. I will."
Beep.
The clear sound signalled the end of the conservation. Even though he was facing the greater threat himself, he was relieved of the entire army and Mio's safety. He knew that it would not be long before the shadows found another passage to reach the surface. He needed to hold the shadows here as long as possible for the army to finish up their defences.
Even if there were only three of them- Because there were three of them, they must hold the shadows here as long as possible.
Yuzuru's retreating footsteps stopped. Igarashi and Rei instantly understood the meaning behind it and held their ground. The three of them could feel the wind blowing past them, signalling that they were near the exit already.
"So this is as far as the shadows go, huh?"
Igarashi commented while reloading another magazine into his MG3 given by a HA member before the fighting begun. The MG3 fired powerful shoots into the darkness, keep the shadows at bay and from coming any closer to them.
"I am fine with whatever the president says. There is no way that some shadows will be able to take us down after all."
Rei joined in the conversation with a RPK 74 in his hands. A machine gun was not a preferred choice of weapons for him but anything that could help the president was fine to him. Right now the three of them are the only ones standing between the army and the shadows. He would use anything in his disposal to ensure that they would hold this line until the president said so.
"You guys…don't get too cocky or you will really die."
Yuzuru smiled and continued to hold his ground despite how threatening the shadows were, especially when they were just a few meters from the shadows' reach. A few years ago, he would have deemed that it was too dangerous and retreated to hold his ground with the rest of the army.
But he has everyone to protect, the only way to protect them was to stand against the threat himself. He knew that saving everyone was impossible, even when he was in SSS, there were some other members who were devoured by the shadows as well.
But that would not stop him from trying to save everyone. He stayed back in this world to help them to move on, there was no meaning if he did not hold onto the reason why he was still here.
"Let's do this and graduate together with everyone, until then we can't die."
"The only one that needs to graduate from here is you only, Otonashi Yuzuru."
Yuzuru widened his eyes when another's voice could be heard. He could recognise this voice. Or rather, he would never forget this person's voice, the person who was the very source of this madness.
The shadows in front of them slowly retreated to the side before a silhouette could be seen approaching them from the middle. Even without the light shining on her face, they knew who to expect, who could have controlled the shadows.
""Damn you!""
"Stop it! Igarashi! Rei!"
Yuzuru's orders went a second too late before the two student council members fired a few rounds towards the girl. However the bullets were easily repelled off. Igarashi and Rei held their fire as the girl slowly appeared in front of them.
"Greetings, Otonashi-san. I see that you have quite some troubles with the shadows, don't you?"
A smile that contained nothing, that was how Yuzuru saw the girl, Midori's smile was. Every time she smiled, he could not feel anything from that smile at all, it was only a mask, nothing else.
That was the existence Midori was, a mask. Yuzuru immediately noticed it when he first saw her. Unlike the NPCs who still felt human-like to some standard, Midori was different. She was like a broken doll-
-an empty human.
"Who are you, Midori."
Yuzuru asked, that was what he wanted to know the most.
What is the existence 'Midori' to this world?
A virus?
A Shadow that has human form?
A corrupted human?
All these possibilities went through his head but he knew that they were all wrong. Midori was a special existence. Mio argued why he believed that they were all wrong. Honestly, he does not understand why as well.
He does not understand why he does not believe that Midori is a danger like a virus.
He does not understand why he does not believe that Midori is a mindless monster that only knows how to devour.
He does not understand why he does not believe that Midori is not human.
All these suggestions felt wrong to him. The only thing he knew that Midori was a special existence, not evil but unique.
Midori smiled again, and again, that smile had no emotion.
"I am just a daughter trying to fulfil her father's wish."
An absurd answer that meant nothing, that was how Igarashi and Rei interpreted it.
But to Yuzuru, he felt that that answer was sincere. He could not understand why himself too but he knew that Midori was not lying.
He knew that Midori would not lie to him.
"Then my second question, what is your father?"
Not who but what, Yuzuru wondered why he avoided using 'who'.
Midori looked into Yuzuru with her empty smile. When Yuzuru saw it, he always felt that something was missing and it was because of him, something inside Midori was missing.
"My father, he is a broken man that forgets how to smile anymore. That's why I want to fulfil his dearest wish so that he can truly smile again."
"Is that the reason you are so empty, Midori?"
"Who knows? My father may want me to be like this all along. But then again, I personally do not believe that a man who forgets how to smile will try to make a daughter who can smile. So I am fine as I am now."
Are you really fine with it?
Yuzuru wanted to ask but no words came out. He knew that those words should not be spoken.
Or rather, he has no rights to say that to her.
"You should really go back, Otonashi-san. This world is reaching its final moment already. I believe that you would want to be with her when everything ends."
Her.
Midori said her.
Kanade's face flashed over his mind, with his grip on the gun tightened as he brought it up at Midori.
"What did you do to Kanade, Midori!"
Beep!
"President!"
Immediately, Mio's voice came through the ear piece. From her tone, Yuzuru knew that she was injured and risking her life to call him. He quickly turned on his ear piece to know what happened.
"Kanade! Kanade is-!"
Crack-
Before Yuzuru could hear anything else, a thin black spear pierced through the ear piece. The ear piece cracked into half and fell down onto the ground in crumbles. Yuzuru glared at Midori, who was holding onto the spear with her constant smile.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to go and confirm the situation yourself?"
"…Let's go, Rei, Igarashi!"
Yuzuru dashed out of the tunnel without turning back. Igarashi and Rei glared at Midori, worrying that she would make any sudden moves to attack their president's back. However they had no choice but to follow after Yuzuru.
"I guess I am really empty like you said, father."
Midori muttered as she looked at the deserted tunnel. There was no point for her to wait here anymore.
The rest is up to the corrupted angels now.
Kobayashi Mio has always prided herself as the president's most trusted assistant among the student council. Although it was clear that the president loved Kanade, everyone knew that he trusted Mio more to complete a mission (mostly due to the fact that Kanade actually lacked some common sense). As oppose to Rei and Igarashi who were by the president's side in action, Mio was the president's eyes and ears in another place, letting him to 'be' in two place at once.
Because how much trust the president has placed into her, Mio vowed that she would not let the president down.
The president's ear piece was destroyed before she could even descript the situation of the surface to him. Without any knowledge about the president's situation, she is on her own now. Even if she has to face two corrupted angels with only Kotori for the Army to gain enough time to set up their defences.
"…Kanade…"
Mio's asymmetrical eyes fell upon her friend, the vice president of the student council. She could barely recognise her friend if not for the devilish smirk that the other angel has.
The Kanade before her changed. Her prided unique crimson pair of eyes was replaced with dark yellow pupils. At the end of her snow white hair were the stains of black left behind as evidence of her corruption. Although Kanade has always been a quiet girl, the Kanade before her has no emotion at all-
-as if her soul has been devoured.
"What are we going to do, Mio? Facing against Kanade and that other angel is impossible. Should we request help from the army?" Kotori asked beside her. She has been by her side since the entire time and although she was keeping calm about Kanade, Mio knew that she was worried about her as well.
The Army was just behind them, setting a barricade to prepare for the final stand against the shadows. A few of them were already aiming at the two angels behind the sandbags but Mio knew better that bullets were useless in front of distortion. The Army needed time to prepare for the final stand, the president ordered her to have the Army prepared their defence, she will make sure that the Army will be able to construct their defence unharmed.
Mio took out a pair of long combat knives she kept under her skirt. Kotori sighed 'Yare yare…' and took out her stun baton. Both of them knew that in terms of skills and power, they were way weaker than the two angels.
But even so they have people to protect, they have a mission to fulfil.
"Do you two really think that you two stand a chance against us, you mere humans?"
The other angel had a wicked smile as she summoned her Handsonic. Unlike Kanade's Handsonic which was pure white and holy, the other angel's Handsonic was stained with shadows around it, leaving a trail of darkness when swung. Beside her, Kanade also summoned similar weapon.
Mio knew that those blades were not any average blade in Afterlife. Those were blades that could devour human's soul. There was no second life after you were cut by it.
Even so, Mio has a mission, a duty to protect everyone here.
"Even so, the president trusts in us to protect everyone here!" Mio pulled aside her hair covering her right crimson eye, she would need both of her eyes and personalities for this fight. "We will not let him down! Let's go, Kotori!"
"Got it, Mio!"
The two student council's members readied their weapons and dashed towards the angels. Even though they were facing against all odds, they believed in one miracle-
-the miracle that the president will be there for them.
"Naïve humans…Let's show them the difference between them and us, Kanade." The older Kanade led and readied her shadow blade. With overdrive and shadow blade, she knew that there was no way that they would lose to mere humans.
"… …" Kanade stared at the approaching two humans silently. She felt that she knew them before… her heart was trying to tell her something, tell her that the two people are-
"Kanade, let's go."
"… Yes, Onee-sama…" All hesitation in Kanade vanished with the call of her sister. Since Onee-sama said to cut them, she would cut them like she said.
She was the little sister after all.
"Shadow skill: Shadow blade."
The tainted blade emerged out from the back of Kanade's hand as she prepared to face her enemies. Since they were humans, they must be mother's enemies. Her mother's enemies were her enemies.
But so why was she still hesitating when they were enemies?
"I see…why it's only two humans. I will help you get rid of your old ties, Kanade."
The older Kanade smiled gently at Kanade, a smile that told her that her sister would help her solve the uneasiness she has. She then went forward and faced off the two humans.
Kanade felt a bit of gratefulness to her sister, she do not want to fight the two humans. The thought of fighting them, the thought of deleting them made her felt as if her heart was crutching itself.
Even so, she was still uneasy looking at her sister fighting against the two humans. Her sister was superior in skills and experience. The outcome was clear. Her sister would kill the two humans and reassured her that her easiness was solved and they could concentrate on finding their little sister again.
So why was she worried, when there was no need to be worried about her sister?
Nevertheless, Kanade noted that the two humans were unusually skilled. They were faster than average humans and could work together in pair to hold themselves against her sister. From a distance Kanade could tell that her sister was frustrate, not about the humans being stronger but she was wasting more and more time dealing with them when she could be looking for her third sister.
Her older sister really loved her sisters, Kanade noted another trait of her sister down. When she woke up yesterday, she was all over her. She was always by her side and would be anxious when her eyes left her for even one second. Kanade pondered what happened to her sister to make her this over-protective of her sisters.
"Mio! Kotori!"
!
Kanade's eyes widened and immediately fell upon one of the three humans that arrived to the aid of the previous two. To the left of the man with blond hair and orange eyes, to the right of the red haired man with a green bandage, in the middle was an orange haired man charging at her sister. When her sister saw the orange haired man, she cursed and lunged towards him first.
Her sister's attack was repelled with two of the girls previously tried to attack her back while the other two stepped in front of the target and fired a few rounds at her. Her sister was forced to retreat or risk behind stab from behind.
Even when her own sister was in danger, Kanade still stared at the orange haired man. She felt that she knew that man before. She knew that he was someone very important to her but she could not remember anything at all. However her eyes could not seem to divert their attention away from that man.
Then that man turned his head and met Kanade's eyes.
Kanade then knew who was that man was.
He was the owner of her heart.
Kanade softly grasped the heart inside her body. Without a doubt, the heart inside her belonged to that man. The heart- His heart was telling her something, trying to remind her about who that man really was.
He was the one that rescued her when she was all alone with no one to rely on.
He was the one that recognised her as a different individual made her human.
He was the one that filled her up with different emotions and help her get along with everyone in the student council.
That's right, he is
Bang!
"Argh!"
Kanade's thoughts were cut off when her sister's cry of pain could be heard. When her sister was trying to fight off the five humans surrounding her, a sniper appeared and shot her sister's right leg. She immediately lost balance and fell down onto the ground.
One of the humans, a human girl with asymmetrical eyes immediately dashed forward towards her sister with her long combat knife in hand. That instant, Kanade knew that the girl was going to kill her sister. The scene and thought of losing her sister came into her mind.
She could not accept that.
"Onee-sama!"
In one single leapt, Kanade flew across the field and towards the girl with the knife. Her uneasiness towards hurting the girl was gone with the fear of losing her sister taking over. There was no hesitation anymore. The other three humans were too surprised to stop her sudden approach and she immediately landed beside her sister and cut the knife that were going for her sister in half.
Then Kanade glared at the girl who was shocked by her appearance. Anger and fear of losing her sister fuelled her hand to draw back and ended the threat to her sister once and for all. With her sister at stake, there was no hesitation anymore. She drew back her blade and stabbed it towards the girl.
But she never saw the faded image of the man pushing the girl away in time, before she could change her hand's path, the blade already dug into the human there.
It was not the girl she wanted to kill, but the man she knew to be important to her.
"President!"
The girl that was pushed aside screamed. Kanade wanted to scream but she could not remember the man's name. Slowly, she pulled her blade out of the man. When the man lifted his head up, Kanade was expecting the man glaring at her for killing him.
But the man smiled, he smiled as if he gained back something important. Even as the shadows from the wound were starting to take control of his soul from the inside, Yuzuru held up Kanade's hand and put on a gentle smile.
"You came back to return me my watch as promised, Kanade. Thank you."
Kanade's eyes slowly fell from Yuzuru's eyes and to the hand he was holding. She never noticed that there was a watch on her left wrist. Despite what happened to the wearer, the watch was still clean and pure.
That watch, Kanade remembered. That was the watch that that man gave her. She promised that man that she would return to him.
Her heart-Their heart was starting to remind her about that man. That man was the one that promised her salvation and called her for her, not the original. That man was the one that walked beside her through this endless cycle of time. That man was the one that cared for her most.
That man was also the one that she loved.
She remembered, that man was
"Otonashi Yuzuru! Die!"
Yuzuru's head snapped towards the source and saw that Kanade's sister has healed and her long shadow blade was headed towards them. At this rate, Kanade might try to push him away to save him.
He does not want anyone to get hurt anymore. Resisting the gruesome pain from his wound, Yuzuru pushed Kanade away from him and prepared to accept the blow.
"Yuzuru!"
Stab
"… Kanade…why…?"
Kanade's sister looked at her sister in shock. She could not believe what she herself had just done.
Her own blade stabbed through her own sister. Kanade has pushed Yuzuru away a split second before the blade stabbed her. Because of that, she ended up stabbing her own sister.
The shadow blade would not devour their soul because they never had a soul in the first place. The most it would do to Kanade was erasing all her memories again. There was no need to worry if Kanade would leave her.
But she stabbed her sister, that was a grave sin she could not forgive herself.
You have done enough, my child. Thank you for everything.
Wait, mother! What are you doing mother!? Kanade-Kanade is!
Kanade's sister's voice went unheard as she started to dissolve into the shadow on the ground. She struggled in the shadow with all her might. She needed to be beside Kanade to comfort her about the pain. She needed to be beside her to seek forgiveness for stabbing her. She needed to be beside her so that she would not be lonely again.
"Kanade-"
Her sentence never finished before she dissolved into the shadows. Kanade stared silently at her sister before her legs gave up and she fell.
"Kanade! Kanade!"
Yuzuru rushed forward and caught Kanade's falling body. Even though he was injured more severely, he still resisted the pain and tried to hold Kanade. But soon his legs quickly gave up on him and he landed on the ground while holding onto Kanade.
"President! Kanade!"
The other members of the student council quickly rushed towards the two with the latest being Mafuyu, who returned to the surface via another route and sniped Kanade's sister. The five surrounded the two and formed a protective barrier in case Kanade's sister returned.
"Kanade! Are you alright, Kanade!?"
"…You are so strange…Yuzuru…Even though you are the one bearing more pain than me… …."
Kanade smiled weakly in Yuzuru's arms. Although this was the second time she was stabbed, the pain was still intensifying. This time, Kanade knew that the shadows were not just trying to devour her soul-
"… …Yuzuru… this wound of yours would devour your soul when it completely took over your body. This wound of mine would take away all of my memories and there would not be a second miracle like this for me to remember you again. It is the end for us…"
"Don't say that! There's still hope! Everyone here will make sure that you will gain back your memories and we will be together like a family again!"
Yuzuru shook Kanade in his arms and shouted. There was no such thing as death in this world, there was always a second chance like life. Yuzuru believed that there would definitely be a way for Kanade to remember her memories again like just now.
"But you won't be there anymore…Yuzuru… …Unlike me…you are not going to stay in this world for long anymore…I don't want a future without you… …"
Kanade clutched onto Yuzuru's uniform and touched his wound that she inflicted. The shadow from the wound was slowly spreading, devouring up the soul in the body. When the shadow devoured everything, all would be left would only be a body that would become a NPC.
"Kanade… …"
Yuzuru feel so hopeless right now. In the end, he could not protect everyone. Kanade was in pain because of him and he did not have long before his soul would be devoured by the shadows. He felt so weak and helpless of the situation. No matter how smart he was, he could not think of any way to save anyone. He was supposed to be the president, he stayed here to help everyone else to move on from this world.
Yet, Yuzuru looked at the student council members surrounding him, if he disappeared while leaving them behind, would they really be able to move on? Yuzuru knew that they would not, they loved him too much.
Or rather, he loved them too much that love manifested itself. Because of love, the people he was supposed to help move on in the end were not able to move on because of him.
Because of him, everything went wrong.
"I am sorry, everyone…I….I…."
I can't do anything.
Yuzuru hung his head down in shame. He failed everyone. Because of him, everyone has to lead the solitude life he led. They would never be able to move on from this world anymore.
"…Mio… …It's sudden but…it's time for everyone to part, isn't it?"
Shifting inside Yuzuru's arms, Kanade looked at Mio and asked.
Mio looked at Kanade, then at Rei, Igarashi, Kotori and Mafuyu. All of them were smiling at her.
"…Well there is no other time than now after all. Let's do this seriously until the end, Kanade."
Mio replied energetically, different from the solemn girl who was watching Yuzuru and Kanade dying. Yuzuru looked from Mio and then to the others. All of them were having a comforting smile-
-as if they knew that they were not going to see each other again after this.
"You guys…what were you all planning…?"
"President."
That was Mafuyu's voice. Mafuyu slowly walked in front of Yuzuru and sat down in front of him. Her long blond hair landed on the ground and gathered around her. Yuzuru could never mistake the emotion that could be seen from Mafuyu's clear blue eyes. It was an emotion that he had always seen when he helped people to move on.
Inside those eyes was salvation.
"President….for taking care of me for all these years, thank you very much!" Mafuyu bowed. When she lifted her head, tears were at the brim of her eyes but she did not cry. "I was a lonely girl, I was bullied by my classmates, and there was no one at home bothered about my existence. But when I arrived in this world, you are the one that is there for me. If I hadn't met you, I would be alone again. Because of you, because of everyone here in the student council, I lived a loved life. For taking care of me…for playing with me…for loving me…thank you very much!"
Mafuyu bowed her head again. However when she lifted it up this time, she has calmed down. She could not cry yet, not until the end. Holding back her tears, she stood up and left. This time, Kotori was the one that came in front of Yuzuru. However instead of sitting in front of Yuzuru at the same height level, she faced Mio first.
"Mio, do you still remember our first meeting when I stole you snacks? Nostalgic, isn't it?"
"…There is no way that I would have forgotten about it. At that time I was still a fake-rich girl and you were still a thief. We really make a weird combination together, don't we? A fake rich girl and a thief." Mio smiled as she was reminded of her past self.
"I agree, we really became a weird combination. But even so, if not for you persistently trying to stop me, I would never have opened up to anybody. For trying so hard to talk to me, thank you, my best friend, Mio."
"The honour is mine, my best friend, Kotori." Mio smiled back, her red eye covered and her blue eye shining radiantly.
"And then President," Kotori then started to sit down on Yuzuru's level and faced Yuzuru. "Thank you for giving me advises to open up myself to Mio back then. Thanks to you, I started to be able to trust people and have hope for the world. For letting me trusting you…for not betraying me…for being my family… …everyone, thank you very much!"
Kotori then stood up and left, staying with Mafuyu at the side. After waiting for a few seconds, everyone other than Yuzuru glared at Igarashi.
"Ah that's right, I was next. My bad-ouch!"
Igarashi jumped forward when he was kicked by Rei from behind. He wanted to kick him back but the glares around him were holding him down. He gave up and sat down across Yuzuru. This time, to the surprise of everyone, Igarashi took off the old green bandage from his head.
"President…No-Otonashi, do you still remember this bandage? This was the same bandage you gave me when I was hurt in the head when we were alive. This bandage is amazing. Of everything, it was the only thing that came with me to the Afterlife world."
Igarashi stared at the green worn out bandage in his hand. Since it was on his head the entire time, he never had a good look at it. When his classmates asked why he wore that worn out bandage, every time he would proudly tell the story of the man that gave everyone hope in despair and saved everyone.
"… …How did you die…Igarashi…"
Yuzuru asked. He knew it was impolite but he needed to know. Igarashi smiled weakly at Yuzuru's question and answered.
"It was another railway accident just like the previous. There were more food and water available for everyone. However a leader like you was not there to create order and give hope to everyone. I tried to become a leader to lead everyone but I failed. In this end, none of us lasted for five days until all the food and water was finished. Regret was not being able to save anyone like you could."
"Igarashi…"
"But I get to meet you again, Otonashi. That is a greater encounter I can have than anything else. I might not be strong enough in the past but by following under you, I knew that I have become stronger. This time when the same thing happened in the living world, I am going to make sure that I will be able to save everyone! If not for you, I would not have lived longer. I probably would just die meaninglessly without having a single regret worth living for. That's why for showing me bravery and making my life meaningful, thank you, Otonashi."
"Yeah, I am sure that you will able to become a hero when you reborn again." Yuzuru replied as Igarashi gave a confident smile in return. After Igarashi left, it was Rei's turn.
"President, do you still remember our first meeting during the exams? Even now, I can still remember and recite every single word that you told me. 'One person needed courage to face the past. Another person needed effort to make a dream come true. Yet another person needed time and friends.' For me, I needed people who could rely on me. That person was you, President." Rei sat in front of Yuzuru and said. "I achieved nothing in life and died without gaining anything. However you are different, you tried hard to become a doctor and at the end of your life, you became a hero. By following after you, I became useful and managed to help a lot of other people to move on. This afterlife of mine, it is definitely not meaningless. For being a great leader and helping me to become better, thank you very much, President!"
Rei bowed down respectfully like a student thanking his master for teaching him all these time. However the student and master both knew it was time that they parted.
So the student, Amano Rei turned away. There was no need to hold each other back. The master taught and helped his student, the student learnt enough and achieved his dream. It was time, there was no need for any regrets during parting.
"I planned to celebrate our graduation in a grand and fashion way but I guess in the end, the most important thing is to have everyone together." Mio said when she came forward, signalling she was the next one to give her confession.
Yuzuru looked up at his most trusted subordinate and smiled apologetically. "So you are the mastermind behind this scheme. If I had tried harder and be stronger, you would have been able to plan your secret graduation celebration. Sorry about that…"
"…This is supposed to be a happy occasion so don't make me angry, President." Mio said threateningly with her crimson eye slowly became visible when the wind blew the hair blocking it away. Mio stepped forward and glared down at him. "President, you ignored your own safety to save me. If you had not jump in, I would be the one receiving the end of that blade and the one lying on the ground. Don't apologize when you done nothing wrong!"
Mio continued to look down from above while Yuzuru also smiled apologetically again. However after a few seconds, Mio gave up and sat in front of Yuzuru, and sighed.
"But I guess that is why we all respect and love you. Despite the situation, you always put others first and the one that apologize for any trouble…Now that I recalled about the past, you also took the knife that was meant for me during our first meeting. You really liked saving people don't you, President?"
"…That's why I stayed back in this world in the first place…"
"…You are too kind…but I like that part of you. If not for you, if it was anyone else, I doubted I would be able to walk so far and become emotionally stronger like today. Your kindness and heart to accept and help anyone is what made us follow you until the end. President, thank you for staying in this world and help people like us to move on. Thank you very much."
Yuzuru nodded his head as Mio stood up. There was no much time left. There were a few more people to go before they ended the ceremony. Mio then stepped aside and started to call the next person that was supposed to confess in order of the time of their first encounter with the president.
"Setsumi-chan, it's your….turn… …"
"… …"
A sudden gust of wind below through the student council members and all of them paled. They never thought that there would be worse situation like missing Setsumi from their graduation. Kanade and Yuzuru were going to die was one thing but, forgetting one of their own family member for the graduation was plain cruel.
"… …Everyone repeat after me." Mio broke the silence and led. "'The girl Setsumi Shimamura never existed'."
"The girl Setsumi Shimamura never-"
"Don't just erase my existence because I am late!"
The student council members turned their head towards Setsumi's approaching figure. Even though she was originally half the field away, in seconds she was in front of Yuzuru, panting from the sprint she ran all the way from the Black Hand's elevator to the school field. Behind her was Tsuda Yuuki who caught up with her without any effort at all.
"That's…It's cruel to forget about me…" Setsumi scolded while panting. "Not to mention….trying to delete my existence…"
"Ah…that is just a joke." Mio smiled.
"What kind of obvious excuse is that!?" Setsumi retorted. "If not for Kanade calling me to come through the ear piece, I would have been forgotten!"
Mio and the others looked down at Kanade who was glaring at them for making fun of the situation. Mio turned her eyes away, Igarashi and Rei scratched their heads while Kotori and Mafuyu just smiled at the situation.
Although Setsumi herself was almost forgotten by her family, she was not sad at all. Rather, she was grateful for the nostalgic scene of chaotic situations of the student council. It was great to be able to be in a ruckus again.
Because it's almost time. Setsumi glanced at Yuzuru's wound. It has expanded and already covered most of his stomach. It would not be long before it took control of every part and devoured the soul.
"Well then, it's my turn to confess." Setsumi muttered and bended down at Yuzuru and Kanade's level. She has been practising for this moment since a long time. They were supposed to celebrate their graduation but-
-anywhere the president is will be fine.
"President, Kanade, if you two did not take me in and decide to help me with my regret when I first arrived, I would not be able to be this strong today. I would most probably spend years trying to wait for the miracle that Akito would also come to this world. It was thanks to both of your kindness that I was able to move on from my death and looked forward to a better future. Although we were just strangers from the start, in the end, thank you for being my family. Thank you very much!"
Setsumi bowed towards everyone once more before she stood up. Rei was about to step in but Mio halted her. Setsumi turned towards Yuuki with a grateful smile.
"Tsuda-san too. Thank you for taking care of me in the Black Hands. Because you are there for me, I was able to blend into the unfamiliar organization and made friends there. Whenever I am in trouble, Tsuda-san would always be there. For being there for me, for taking care of me, thanking your very much!"
"…Anything for you…Setsumi." Yuuki replied before he turned to Yuzuru on the ground. To the others' surprise, he kneeled on the ground with one kneel and gave him a promise.
"President, I will succeed you and become the next president and continue to help the remaining humans to move on. So just leave the rest to me, President."
"It's going to be a lonely path…Everyone you met would soon leave you…in the end only solitude awaits…" Yuzuru muttered, remembering his first love's life as the president. Yuuki knew that Yuzuru was not going to last for long. Yuuki mustered his breath and answered.
"Solitude is not just the end of this path, President. Look around you, you are surrounded by everyone. Today, you graduate with everyone, president. So be proud, you are not alone."
Yuzuru listened sincerely to Yuuki's words and looked at his friends- family around him, then at the girl in his arms.
Mio, Setsumi, Igarashi, Rei, Kotori, Mafuyu and then Kanade, all of them stayed in the Afterlife world because they wanted Yuzuru to move on too. Even though he wanted to help people move on, there were also people who wanted to help him move on.
That's right… He thought. I am not alone.
"…Now that everyone has confessed already…I guess it's my turn…"
In the comfort of Yuzuru's arms, Kanade knew that time was running out for both of them. In three more minutes the shadows would have consumed their soul and memories. Although she wished to delay the graduation a little bit longer so that she could spend more time with Yuzuru, she knew what was best for everyone.
"Yuzuru, our first meeting wasn't peaceful, was it? We hated each other and fought each other to kill. But after a few months, you began to accept me, not as Kanade's clone but as another special existence. When I wanted you to like me, you told me that I don't need to be like the original but be myself." Kanade's crimson eyes became blurry as tears began to gather. But she could not cry yet, everyone promised that they would not cry during graduation.
So she must not cry for everyone's sake.
"I am really happy to hear that. You like me because of who I am not and who I was from. Back when everyone distrusts me, you are the one that continued to stand by my side. Whenever I am troubled, you always come to help me with the problem. Thanks to you, I am never alone, I am always surrounded by love. Even though Mio was the one that was responsible for the graduation, I was the one that proposed it so that you can move on."
"Kanade, what about you?" A sudden realization struck Yuzuru and he paled. He stared at the girl in his trembling hands and continued. "Are you able to move on?"
Kanade held Yuzuru's trembling hand. The warmth transferred from her hand warmed and calmed his hand down. She then grasped his hand and answered. "I am a clone program created by Harmonics. It is most likely that I do not have a soul to move on."
"But then…Kanade, you won't be able to move on?"
"There's no helping it, I am not human after all."
Even though she said that, Kanade still smiled. To Yuzuru's horror and suffering, Kanade still smiled. He could not understand why Kanade was smiling. Why was she smiling even though the graduation meant the separation from everyone?
Why was she having that smile, the smile that his first love had when she was about the move on?
"Kanade..No …Kanade…You are joking right? There's no way that something absurd like that can happen. It's impossible! You are here and a human!"
"I emotionally became human, Yuzuru. However in the end, I was still only a clone. Since I am just a clone, I won't have a soul." Kanade explained, all the while smiling at him. "Don't worry about me, Yuzuru. I will be happy if all of you can move on safely. So please for these last moments of mine, please let me see you all move on safely. That is my wish."
"Kanade!"
Yuzuru shouted but he knew it would not change anything. The other members were surprised by the turn of events but they have accepted the worst. There was nothing they could do.
To Yuzuru, he cursed the god that was unfair to him. His first love moved on and left him behind. No matter how much he loved him, she chosen to move on.
But yet now god was toyed with his afterlife by forbidding Kanade to move on when everyone was readied too. The worst was how Kanade has the same smile as the original when she left Yuzuru.
He could not accept that, it was not fair!
"Kanade!"
Yuzuru wrapped his arms around Kanade and hugged her tightly. Moving on or staying back, he does not want to let go of the girl he loves anymore. If God existed, he would have questioned why he allowed all the unfortunate incidents to happen, why did he create the afterlife and what did he do to cause so much suffering.
"Cough-!"
"Yuzuru!?"
Kanade cried out in concern when Yuzuru coughed and started to clutch his heart. When he looked down at the wound, the sight of his body instantly told him how much time he had left.
The shadows have covered most of his body and were expanding towards his upper body. At this rate it was going, he has less than one minute before he lost his soul to the shadows.
He does not have much time to stay in this world anymore.
"…It's time, President. If we wait any longer, you will-"
"Don't screw with me! I won't accept this kind of ending!"
Yuzuru's furious voice jolted everyone around him. The student council members were surprised by their president's outburst. They never saw their president being angry in their afterlife and he would normally only felt annoyance towards their action. He never showed that he hated anyone like Midori and Ueda Ryuu.
This was the first thing they saw Yuzuru let out of his feelings. The regret he kept inside him for all these years since Tachibana Kanade moved on was released. All the sadness, the anger and the unfairness of the world reached everyone.
"Moving on and leave you behind? Do you really think I can move on with that kind of ending? I won't! Even if it's against God's will, all of us are going to move on together!"
"But Yuzuru…I am-"
"I love you, Kanade!"
"!"
Yuzuru embraced Kanade tighter and buried her head in his chest. There was no doubt about his feelings, he was not going to hide them anymore. He loves Kanade more than anyone else in the world.
"I love you, Kanade! You are a human! Even if you started off as a clone, you learnt, you grown and in the end, you gained emotions like any other humans! There is no way that the girl I love can't be human. You definitely have a soul, Kanade! I know that you love me! How can you love me if you don't have a soul? I love you, Kanade! Let's all move on together!"
Kanade was still as she tried to take in Yuzuru's words. Yuzuru had just repeatedly confessed to her, telling her that he love her. She was truly happy to hear Yuzuru's own words. There was no greater joy she could have experienced other than Yuzuru confessing non-stop to her like now.
She should be happy-no, she is happy.
But then why is she crying?
Because you love him, seeing him this sad makes you sad too.
There was no choice, nothing she could do. She was just a clone, she has no soul, she does not even have the right to love and be loved.
But you love him, you know that you love him, Kanade.
But I am just a clone, I have no soul. I can't love.
But you are crying now. You are crying because you love him. Search where does this sadness comes from, Kanade. There you will find your answers.
Sadness, why would I find where does it come from?
Kanade closed her eyes and focused in her mind. Most of her mind and body was taken over by the shadows already. To find where this source of emotion was from was hard and near impossible. She could only see pitch black darkness inside her.
It is impossible, there is nothing inside her. As she thought, she is just a clone.
Do not give up, Kanade! Feel where do all your emotions come from! Remember it! Remember your love for the student council, remember your love for Otonashi Yuzuru! Feel it! Feel where are all these emotions coming from!
My love for everyone… …
Kanade concentrated more, she tried to remember the times with everyone in the student council. All of those times she spent with everyone were precious. They were her most precious treasure.
And then she could see it, a burning light hiding beyond the darkness. It was being fogged by the shadows clouding in her body. But that light was definitely there.
That is…
That is your soul, Kanade. You are not just a clone, Kanade. Always remember, you are a human, and my precious daughter.
You are-
Kanade only managed to see a glance of blue hair before her eyes snapped open. She could feel it, her soul was burning bright in her body. However the shadows were strong, they immediately sensed the brightness and were trying to devour it already. She has little time left.
The person she loves is just in front of her, she has more than enough time.
"That's right! I am human, I have a soul, Yuzuru! Let's move on together!"
"Kanade…" Yuzuru muttered, he wondered if Kanade lied but he could feel it from his chest, the burning light that was so close to him.
That was definitely Kanade's soul.
"Then give the order, President. Let's go back to the living world!" Mio said.
"Don't worry President, I am sure fate will bring us back again!" Kotori said.
"For teaching me, for helping me…thank you very much!" Rei bowed.
"Oi don't cry on us now! We are all going together with a smile!" Igarashi patted Rei's back.
"Everyone…all these time, thank you for being my family!" Mafuyu bowed and cried, but she was still smiling.
"Not you too…" Setsumi patted Mafuyu's back, then she faced Yuuki. "Tsuda-san, thank you for everything until now. I…I really like you."
"….I like you too, Setsumi." Tsuda-san replied. Setsumi was surprised with the reply but then, she smiled.
"Yuzuru. Let's go together." Kanade said as she tried to stand up while supporting on Yuzuru. Yuzuru staggered on his steps but he still managed to stand up. Looking at everyone for one last time, he announced with the same loud pitch he had during the Afterlife Battle Front Graduation Ceremony.
"Otonashi Yuzuru's student council members, dismiss!"
The moment the order was given, everyone put on their greatest smile to each other. All of them were glad that they could finally graduate together, in a family.
The second after, they were gone.
"Is it really alright? You loved her, didn't you?"
"… …She has found peace. That is more than I could have asked for."
Turning around, Yuuki walked pass Haru who just talked to him. In his hand was Setsumi's Frozen Edelweiss that dropped onto the ground when they moved on. He held it tight and started moving towards the Army behind them.
"What are you going to do now? I doubt you still have any regrets left. Aren't you going to move on with Setsumi?" Haru asked as she followed behind him.
"…I promise that I will become the new president and succeed his duty to help the others to move on. Now, I am going to lead everyone and make sure that they survive this battle. I am just going to do that, with or without any regrets to tie me to this world."
Without turning to Haru, Yuuki continued to walk in front alone. Slowly, Haru caught up his pace but kept being behind him. At one point, Yuuki hesitated. But in the end, he decided to let her follow.
The two Black Hands slowly walked towards the Army without any conservation. Both of them lost their loves ones before their love could be fulfilled.
One has a duty to uphold. He promised him.
One was ordered to move on with a smile. At her current state, it was impossible.
Both of them only have despair in front of them now.
But in the future, a new possibility may open.
Yuuki was not the only one that witnessed the disappearance of the student council. In fact, everyone witnessed the end of the student council. There were some in confusion and those in panick. There was a special individual glad that she finally fulfilled her father's wish.
Then there was another individual who could not believe what happened.
"No…Kanade…how can this be possible….Kanade…."
After Midori released her hold on her, Kanade's sister reached back to the surface a split second in time to see Kanade disappeared from this world forever.
That is not what should have happened! She was supposed to rescue both of her sisters so that they could live together like a family again! How is it possible that she can no longer sense the bond she has with Kanade anymore?
"…Kanade…where are you…Kanade…."
"Kanade-Nee-chan has moved on, Onee-chan."
Snapping her head behind her, it was her youngest sister, called Tachibana behind her. She has been searching for her for a long time and now finally, she has appeared in front of her.
The only problem was she was stained. She needed to be cleansed.
"Shadow skill: Shadow blade."
The black blades emerged out of Kanade's sister's hands as she slowly approached Tachibana with a broken smile. That's right, Tachibana was just in front of her. After she healed Tachibana, they would find Kanade together and they would be a happy family again.
"Tachibana… Your sister-"
"I will handle her myself, Sekai." Tachibana said, holding her hand to stop Sekai from interfering. "She is my sister after all."
"Guard skill: Handsonic version two."
Thin white long blades emerged out of the back of Tachibana's hands as she approached her sister too. The two white haired angels slowly walked towards each other-
-and the fight between the two angels began.
Yuzuru: Eh…where is this place…?
A/N: You have been invited as an honoured guest that fulfilled the author's regret. You get to have this little corner for a while.
Yuzuru: Ehh? Why me?
A/N: Because I like you- scratch that, I meant I respect you. Even though you are just a fictional character, you are still a hero. I guess that makes Maeda Jun-sama a god then. Anyway as a special occasion, the author wants to thank you for appearing well in this chapter. This is a chapter that I have long dreamed to write. And today I finally completed it. I felt I could die in peace now.
Yuzuru: You are not going to die right?
A/N: Close enough. Four more chapters left, I am going to end this story at chapter 50. This chapter must be the longest, exceeding 9,300 words.
Anyway, the story is reaching it's end. Thank you for your usual review, Fenichi. I really appreciate some of the last reviews I could cherish before the story ends.
Please read and review! Bless the story and may it end well!
