Chapter 1: Chapter 0
Foreword
Thank you for taking the chance to read my rendition of the sequel to Muv-Luv Alternative.
Before we begin, I'd like to point out the following so that you may know what to expect:
This story is written in a POV format, which means that each episode is seen from a particular character's point of view. While I will try my best to capture the Alternative universe in the eyes of different characters, I think it's important that I highlight that, due to this format, there are three things to keep in mind:
Firstly – that these are chronicles of a person's inner thoughts. Unlike a real story, the narrator is simply 'thinking' as the events around them take place. As such, a lot of the sentences are fragmented, sometimes jumbled and incoherent—contrary to the formal literary style of any other story. Line breaks, ellipsis and punctuations are freely used to represent the pacing of the character's mindset. This format is on purpose. That said—don't read this like a story, rather like a journal/diary. If you're coming from the Visual Novel (I hope you are, else none of this would make sense!), this would be very similar in nature.
Secondly – because these entries are an observation of what the narrator sees, don't take the viewer's thoughts and opinions as ABSOLUTE fact. Because,
'Perception is reality'
As in real life, the things I observe around me are my reality, just as your observations are your own reality. In this story, whenever a character makes an assumption based on what they notice, take their assumption with a grain of salt. For example, Sakaki Chizuru might look at Shirogane Takeru's confused face and assume that he's ogling at her, when the reality might be that Takeru is actually seeing visions of past worlds with Chizuru. However, in Chizuru's point of view, that is what she observes and that is her perception, and thus her reality, so that is what appears in her inner thoughts.
Finally – since there are different characters with different POVs, some observations of the world around them will not be exactly the same as another character's, as there will be chapters where two characters share the same scene but have their own POV.
As an example, someone who sees Takeru every day will not have the need to mention his brown hair, but someone who meets Takeru for the very first time might make it a point to bring it up in their inner monologue. Yet another example would be that character X sees the colour red whereas character Y sees it as dark orange.
Also keep in mind that memories are not always accurate. Think of ML Extra, where Takeru just couldn't remember if it had been Meiya or Sumika he kept playing with in the playground. So, a character going through the same scene from his/her POV may have a different recollection of the actual happenings in that scene. A small illustration would be character X saying 'Hello' but character Y's POV remembers it as 'Hi'.
Yet another factor to consider might be their sense of time (time is relative, eg. time flies when you're having fun), so other events might be taking place while they're immersed in their thoughts.
In conclusion, there are things that only you, as the reader, will realize. For example, Takeru's growth wouldn't be something he'd notice and point out himself though you as the reader would.
I will try to keep each character's useless thoughts and reflections to a minimum, but one of the charms I miss from Muv-Luv is that the little things, usually taken for granted, are what deserve to be cherished the most.
PS: Due to the format, this story is best viewed on the mobile app. If unavailable, perform the following adjustments to your desktop reader (found just underneath the story summary) for the best reading experience: Decrease story width to 1/2, Tighten line spacing, Increase font size as you see fit.
Enjoy.
Prologue
'I did love you, Takeru... see... you... later…'
These were the very last words I heard as I faded away. The figure it came from was difficult to recognize.
It wouldn't be entirely accurate to describe this sensation as 'fading away.' If you imagine for a moment that our eyes were like TV screens, our brain is really just watching a movie of our life.
I've reached a transition slide, and it happened within the blink of an eye, so an entirely different scene is now in front of me.
'...A tunnel?'
While I study my new surroundings, a strong force pulls me into what I believe to be a tunnel. This must be what swimming in the rapids is like—only I'm not surrounded by water. Yet the current that's pulling me is as real as my beating heart; I could tell it'd be useless to go against the flow.
Left with no choice, I might as well enjoy the view until this ride is over.
However—there isn't exactly a view in here (wherever here is).
Right now, the only thing in here is this tunnel, and the only thing in this tunnel is me.
I'm floating on nothing, yet nothing is carrying me away somewhere.
'Where am I?' I think to myself.
...
'Oh—that's right.'
I've lost my sense of time ever since I arrived, so I'm not entirely sure how fast or slow these events have been taking place.
What I do recall is that—just before all this, I watched Yuuko-sensei and Kasumi saying goodbye.
'I loved you, Takeru...'
That was from Kasumi.
It's—slowly coming back to me.
We destroyed it.
The Original Hive.
And I'm no longer a Causality Conductor, so I should be going home now, according to Yuuko-sensei.
'Are you still watching me at this moment, even in this place, Kasumi?' I ask to no one in particular.
Yeah—my memory grows clearer by the minute.
It was finally over, wasn't it? I left that world with a chance at victory, with a hope for freedom.
I left it with a future.
You caught me off-guard with that abrupt confession, Kasumi, so please accept the only gift I could leave for you in return.
'Though I'm sorry for not making more memories with you like I'd promised.'
I just want to return to my old world now. I deserve as much. Anyone should deserve as much, if they'd gone through what I have.
'Is that too selfish of me, Kasumi?'
I apologize to one who isn't here, not knowing exactly what for.
...
This tunnel, this—place.
As I inspect it more closely, I'm convinced I've been here before.
Not just once, either. It must've been several times, in fact, if my memories serve me correctly.
This tunnel... is the Causality Conductor.
The physical manifestation of the pipeline where information flows between the worlds.
Yuuko-sensei mentioned the existence of something of the sort. The way she described it... I thought it'd look... more... sophisticated... than this...
But that must explain why more and more of my memories are coming back to me as I go through the tunnel.
Su...mi...ka...?
Each of the memories feels fresh even as I pick them up, piece by piece. Every memory, and every emotion it comes with—it feels like I'm experiencing them for the first time all over again.
Meiya...
The Earths... the people... the events. Fear, anger, despair, love, kindness, hope, frustration, joy, relief—
It all floods into me.
And as it does, I feel... more... wholesome...
Tama...
Hmmm...
Looking closer, this tunnel is starting to resemble a library somehow.
Even I, someone who seldom spends time in libraries, know what it looks like inside one.
Outlines of rows of shelves filled with books take shape on the walls of the tunnel, each book representing a piece of memory.
There must be thousands—no, several hundred thousands of these!
Are all these books mine, from every loop, every lifetime, I've ever been through?
Mikoto...
I try pulling on the first book within my reach, but it doesn't move. As a matter of fact—none of them would so much as budge.
And there is one other thing that's been bothering me.
'Huh, some shelves have empty slots.'
I hadn't noticed that until now. I wouldn't have even noticed it if it wasn't for a book that materialized to fill the empty slot when I passed it by.
Come to think of it, these shelves didn't have as many books the last time I was here.
Class Rep...
Now that I've noticed it, all the other empty slots have become more obvious to me. Brand new books appear out of thin air to occupy the blank spaces as my trip continues through the tunnel. Before I could find reason for this strange phenomenon, a thought disrupts my inner monologue.
Ayamine...
That's right—once I return to that world, I will have no proof the world I left behind ever existed. And even if I try to tell anyone, they'd think me insane and probably admit me into a mental asylum!
First Lt. Munakata, Second Lt. Kazama...
My old world can't even begin to fathom the existence of another Earth—one living under the threat of aliens such as BETA. Their carefree, clueless, everyday lives will carry on.
'Tsk,' I click my tongue.
First Lts. Hayase and Suzumiya...
My body shudders a bit at the thought.
'But that's how it should be,' I decide.
After all, I fought to destroy the BETA at home so that humanity could live with the same freedom as my old world.
Capt. Isumi and Second Lt. Kashiwagi...
This whole world, and everyone in it—the only proof it'd ever existed is in the memories in front of me, in this tunnel.
Right here—in this library.
My right hand unintentionally stirs to rest on top of my chest, feeling for a heartbeat.
'No,' for some reason, I loudly declare.
'Our memories are permanently etched in this heart,
Your names will still be whispered, although you are far.
Even when no one else believes my story of you,
You shall forever live on in Shirogane Takeru.'
After all, people never truly die until our memories of them are forgotten. Isn't that right, Capt. Isumi?
...
...
...
'Hahaha,' I chuckle lightly.
That was a terrible poem; not to mention cheesy! Did I really come up with that on the spot? I can't believe I recited that out loud! It's a good thing no one else is here, or else I'd die of embarrassment for sure!
This must be proof that I've grown up, if only by a bit.
A sigh heaves out of my chest.
The old me would never say something so—ridiculous. But even as I think all that, my palm lightly clenches my heart, as if afraid to let go.
Marimo-chan...
'Wait, wait, wait–!'
All this time, I've been telling myself something wrong...
Something...
Very wrong...
Hoping it would help, I shake my head to sort out my thoughts.
Since when did 'home' become 'this world'?
That's not it!
The home I'm going to is 'that world', not 'this world'! And when did home become 'that' world?
How can I forget where I truly belong?
I shift my body position so that I'm lying down, then I form a cross with my arms to cover my face.
I'm exhausted, I just want... to finally... rest...
Still—the tunnel kept flowing, and the memories kept gushing.
Wait a second.
'Are all these memories coming with me?' the worry pops into my head.
I've heard of cases where people wake up from a coma and claim to have lived an entirely different lifetime in their slumber. I imagine they'd have an extraordinary tale to share upon waking up.
But—wouldn't it be depressing to wake up and realize that it was all just a fantasy? A dream sequence?
That the life they thought they'd lived was fake and without purpose?
After spending so much time in this world, this is the only life I've ever known of...
'Will I be able to truly live a normal life if I bring all these painful memories with me?
'I wonder what kind of world I'm headed for.
'Will everyone still be alive and well?
'I'm not slowing down, what if I miss my stop and end up in a completely different world—'
'I'll always... be watching you... Takeru... no matter what world you're in...'
I had no time to find out where that voice just came from.
A more pressing matter demands my attention.
'Huh? My... hands? They're gone?
'My arms—they're... vanishing?
'My legs, they're not there either!
What the hell's happening?
Part by part.
Piece by piece.
My body has been painlessly deconstructing without my notice.
This is bad! I have to stop this!
Am I—dying? After all that I've been through, I don't want to die like this!
'...!'
The end of the tunnel, I can finally see it. I just have... to get... a little closer...
Faster...
Just a little further...
'Home... I'm almost home—!'
But my voice trails off, and a different sound takes its place.
'Ha ha. Hahaha! Hahahaha!' My maniacal laugh resonates all throughout the seemingly endless echo chamber.
It's—hopeless.
No one can hear my cries for help in here.
No one can help me even if they'd wanted to.
And just before the last of me disappears, a book takes form to fill the last empty slot in the tunnel...
Revised: January 27, 2020