The World Only the Girls Know: Azalea Side

Chapter 89: Breaking Point

Author's Note: Characters from the Light Novels and Manga will be included as well

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Original Title: The World Only God Knows / 神のみぞ知るセカイ

Original Concept by Tamiki Wakaki

Written by: wrathie

Author's Notes: Thank you, Kaiser dude for the beta as always!

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'Wow, just... wow.'

Miyako was unable to say more than that as she sat together with her friends behind the backstage. She thought she knew how good Kanon was at singing, but that was off the charts.

She could feel it, she literally could feel Kanon's emotions while she was singing, and if she wasn't sure that she was actually back-stage with her friends, she would have thought she was dreaming at the sheer power that Kanon packed in that small frame of hers.

It was a sentiment that was echoed by everyone else with her, her friends and band-mates as they all just stood in shock and awe at that one song that apparently was Kanon's best performance yet.

Even her own back-stage crew was stunned, and her manager, Okada Tomoe, who had also congratulated them on their performance, was unable to give Kanon anything more but a big smile as she welcomed her back from that once-in-a-lifetime performance.

She had a few more songs to sing but somehow, everyone knew that this was probably Kanon's best performance for a very long time. Anything else wouldn't be able to compare to the raw emotions that they felt from her song.

'You know that it's going to make promoting that song even harder now, Kanon.'

Okada Tomoe groaned while massaging her temples but she still managed to smile nonetheless as Kanon sheepishly stuck out her tongue as her make-up artists started helping Kanon look presentable again.

'Ah... Hi.'

Kanon seemed to realize that her friends or competitors were here too, and she waved at them awkwardly even as Chihiro walked up to her and clasped her hands tightly.

'That was awesome, Kanon-chan! Really, that was awesome.'

Chihiro had no qualms showering praises on her and it broke the deadlock as everyone else started congratulating her as well.

'Chihiro's right, that was totally awesome. When are you going to release the single for it?'

Miyako heard Ayumi asking Kanon even as she turned to look at Elsi as well. The sister of their love interest seemed not to be there, her eyes staring and glaring at Kanon and she sighed. Looks like the 2B Pencil's tribulations weren't really over yet, and she reached out to touch her shoulders only to flinch when Elsi shrugged her off without thinking.

That was the most unlike Elsi she had even seen her behave, and Miyako narrowed her eyes slightly before calling her name.

'Elsi-chan? Elsi?'

Repeated name calling didn't work and this time Miyako tried putting both hands on her shoulders as she knelt in front of her to get her attention. This time though it worked, and Elsi blinked for a few moments before recovering herself and asking Miyako what was wrong.

'What was wrong... Elsi, are you feeling okay?'

Keima had asked her to keep an eye on her while he made himself scarce today. It didn't seem fair for them, but hey, they survived without him for a change, even if he was the one who prepared everything for them, but that counted for something, right?

But yes, Keima had been worried about Elsi, and from the looks of things, he was right to be.

Miyako wasn't the first to know or to suspect about Elsi's growing crush with her big brother, and Miyako supposed that would be inevitable considering how much Elsi hero-worshipped her big brother.

Maybe she might do the same after seeing how awesome Keima could be at the right time and opportunity. It was even enough to make her squirm more than just a little after considering that forbidden relationship between the two of them.

Yes, that's right, it was a forbidden relationship, and Miyako was relieved to know that even Elsi knew that it was forbidden. At least, she hoped that Elsi still remembered as she could've swore that Elsi snarled a little when hearing Kanon congratulating them about their performance too.

It wasn't enough to placate Elsi at least, and she might have taken it as a challenge.

But to Chihiro though, their fearless leader seeing it as an acknowledgement and she thanked Kanon for listening to them even while saying that they had fulfilled their promises with each other too.

..

'We performed on the same stage as you did, Kanon-chan! Even if we were crashing into your concert, I hoped we did well.'

Chihiro didn't seem nervous at all, and it was a sign of her growing confidence, or perhaps the aftermath of their own emotional performances that kept her from chuckling nervously as she usually did.

'Yes, all of you did great. I didn't think that all of you could do so well. Perhaps you could consider going to be professionals as well...?'

Kanon smiled and hinted at her manager, and for the most part Okada Tomoe didn't seem too interested in the conversation between the two parties but she did go into a contemplative mood when that was raised.

'Well, I suppose it could be possible seeing what I saw today, I'll consider it.'

Even as Kanon threw a bone to the 2B Pencils, she excused herself to continue her concert even as Ayumi and Chihiro just stared at her manager in disbelief even as Okada Tomoe studied all of them closely.

'Katsuragi has been doing a great job so far, and to be quite honest, I'm satisfied with your performance... perhaps we could start with a collaboration of some sorts... Kanon did say that there was one song that she wanted to perform with another group too...'

Kanon's manager considered it for a while even as the sounds of cheering could be heard from the stage behind her.

'Well, here's my card, write your details there and I'll contact all of you when we did firm something up.'

..

The odd sensation that Elsi felt every time she saw someone else with her Kami-Onii-sama was intangible at best, ticklish but really nothing that really bothered her so much as she knew that Keima would never go out with someone.

It would be against his nature, values, and words for him to do so as he was God. He really was God to Elsi, someone that she would have no problems worshipping and serving for the rest of her life.

That's why she was so upset and angry when she heard of the chance that maybe, just maybe, he might settle for being with someone in the end if it means helping and saving many other people instead.

It was something that couldn't sit well with Elsi despite that for it was something that ran contrary to what Keima himself had preached.

That he was God, that he was there to save the lost lambs from wherever they had gone wrong and to steer them to the right path. Even Keima's actions in potentially breaking the hearts of several other girls when he rejected Haqua-chan and Miyako-chan was proof of this.

That's why she worshipped him after all, he was someone who she could still reach and be 'hers' albeit as family as he would never allow himself to be drawn to another party.

That was his stance, absolute neutrality to all parties and she loved him for it.

She loved him, there was no concealing those feelings she felt for her Kami-Onii-sama, and even though it was wrong, she found no harm in harbouring them as long as she could hold herself back from committing the final act of affection.

It had hurt her more than anything else, she didn't think that she could honestly endure the pain that she had felt when she saw her friends confess to Keima.

But in the back of her mind, she felt happy and proud that they had also finally acknowledged the awesomeness and attractiveness of her Kami-Onii-sama. At the same time, the double-edged sword that it was hurt her badly as well.

She didn't want them to be heartbroken when Keima rejected them in the end or in the way that she was used to; having her remove their memories so they would be spared the heartbreak.

Elsi herself didn't really like or cared for what Keima was asking her to do, and she thought that she would actually like it better if Keima was a little more resolute in his decision to sever their relationships with him. But at the same time, she was happy that he was still caring and considerate to their feelings even if it might mean that they would have to go through life branded as one who toys with girls' feelings.

Elsi didn't mind, he was still her Kami-Onii-sama after all, and her Kami-Onii-sama was the most important thing in the world for her.

..

That's why she lost it when she saw Kanon kissing Keima by accident after her performance was over.

She didn't know why she lost it so easily, but in hindsight, she did know. Elsi had heard Kanon singing after all, and she knew without a doubt that she was singing that song for Keima.

Nothing could have prepared her for that song that she had performed, and even though Elsi knew first hand how emotional songs could make someone, she had cried when she had practiced their graduation song after all, she just wasn't prepared for the amount of emotional depth that Kanon had for Keima.

It sounded like she was confessing to him in private and in public at the same time, and if it stopped there, Elsi wouldn't have minded at all.

She did mind when Kanon put those thoughts into actions. That was why she had lost it; not because Keima had accepted her, she couldn't forgive that too, but Keima was her Kami-Onii-sama and she could never hurt him.

So there was only one avenue for redress left.

There was no use musing about what was right and what was wrong now that the act has been done, and Elsi acted on instinct upon that point onwards.

She would have no regrets about this, not for her Kami-Onii-sama... and even if the person was Kanon.

She couldn't forgive, she couldn't forget, she couldn't allow, and she definitely would not approve of this happening under her watch.
The fact that the Weiss inside her agreed made it even better.

..

It had happened without warning, and honestly, Miyako was caught off guard when she heard the sounds of screaming and explosions coming from the back stage that they had just vacated.

Everything was like a blur to her, and maybe to the rest of the 2B Pencils, it was something straight out of a movie as they were suddenly pulled back to the back-stage area by one of the crew for their own safety after hearing shrieks and screams echo throughout the entire place.

Was this the school that they were in? Was this the place where just about half an hour ago, they had the gig of their lives? It just didn't seem real, and Miyako was too out of it before Haqua pinched her on the hand to wake her up.

'Oww! H-Haqua-chan!'

'Now's not the time of this. Miyako, where's Elsi?'

'Elsi? Isn't she with us?'

'No she isn't, where's Elsi!'

Haqua asked her tersely, the strain must be getting to her as she shook Miyako hard while the other people present stared at her in confusion and shock at how she looked. Haqua looked like she was about to be sick, or simply ready to kill someone as she whirled around to stare at the others around her.

'Has anyone seen Elsi? Dam nit, where is she?'

As Haqua rubbed a hand against her head to stop the headache that she was feeling, one of the crew members started exclaiming and asking about Kanon as well.

'Where's Kanon-chan? She was with us just now right? Okada-san, Okada-san, were you with her?'

'Shut up and keep calm now.'

Okada Tomoe shouted, but her voice was calm even though they could still hear the sounds of screaming and people vacating the building behind them.

Miyako had no idea what was going on now but Okada Tomoe answered that for her easily.

'Just now there was some kind of explosion of some sort coming from the hall way. It might be that a gas explosion or some kind but well, you could see that I don't really buy that.'

She deadpanned even as she pulled the stage curtains back slightly to see that there was a large hole that had been blown apart by something at the side of the auditorium.

'Gas explosion? But that's impossible...'

One of the crew exclaimed and the manager of Kanon nodded as well before saying that it was probably much worse than that.

'It could be a terrorist attack. That's probably why everyone is fleeing right now... but that's unlikely as if it has been an attack, we would have all been dead by now.'

The absolutely calm way in which Okada Tomoe was directing and speaking to the people present unnerved more than one of them, but with her around, at least they weren't panicking like the general crowd who had fled the moment whatever that was had happened.

'Although we don't know what's going on now, we don't seem to be in any immediate danger seeing that nothing has happened so far. We're at a relatively safe spot and we'll be at a risk of being stampeded to death it we try to get out now anyway.'

She seemed almost resigned at the fact, in truth she really was. With Kanon's popularity there was a reason why she needed security guards after all. She crossed her arms and clapped her hands to get all of them to pay attention to her after her assessment caused some general unhappiness and unease amongst those present.

'We're all adults here, and even if Kanon-chan isn't here, we have the responsibility to keep things going for her and to take care of those who were left behind, aren't we?'

Letting loose a long suffering sign, Okada Tomoe pointed to some stragglers who were hurt and injured during the initial rush to get out and ordered all of her staff to assist them.

'It might be a dangerous situation still, but I won't forgive myself if we were to leave them behind as adults, come along now... for all we know, it could still just be an accident.'

It was incredibly irresponsible for her to behave in this way, highlighted so when one of the staff members asked her about Kanon again.

'Shouldn't we be trying to find her? You're Kanon-chan's manager after all!'

That seemed to stir up feelings of unhappiness as well, but they settled down quickly when Okada Tomoe said that Katsuragi was with her the last time she saw her and he'll take care of her. For now they should do their responsibility as adults and not bicker about the rest.

If the 2B Pencils flinched and looked unhappy at that, they didn't show it even as the staff told them to stay at the backstage to wait while Okada Tomoe herself checked out what was going on there with a few of her crew.

It takes nerves of steel and more than just a few experiences with events like these to keep one calm despite the carnage.

So no one really blamed her when Haqua disappeared after that too.

..

'That's enough, Elsi...'

Haqua nervously confronted her best friend as she had cornered and found her on the roof. She had been expecting this, no, she knew this was going to happen in the end and to be quite honest, Haqua felt a sense of deja vu as it was similar to how Elsi had saved her the last time.

She had hostages then, people she didn't really care about and who she didn't really went about finding out who they were. New Hell had taken care of it in the end in private while dismissing her actions after she sent in her report.

This was different, Elsi had a very important person taken captive with her right now.

Nakagawa Kanon, why wasn't she surprised that the Top Idol and the one girl that had always been in Elsi's radar to be the one to tip the scales at long last?

Haqua was relieved that nothing had happened to Kanon thus far, something she credited with locating Elsi as quickly as possible after giving the others the slip.

'That's enough, let her go, Elsi.'

In her defense, Haqua knew that the Weiss inside Elsi was taking effect and well, it wasn't as impressive as the Weiss that had captured her was. It was a Level 3 after all and the Weiss that was taking control of Elsi was at most and best a Level 2. Haqua had to give props to Keima for handling the Weiss even in it's dormant stage but now that it's out, Haqua didn't have a choice.

She'll have to capture it from Elsi, plans or not.

'No, I don't want to.'

Elsi replied childishly, even as she disregarded everyone's safety and New Hell's ground rules on being discreet, and even more discreet when going through missions. Haqua then knew how badly the Weiss was affecting Elsi but was also mildly impressed, she had held out longer than she did and was still reasonable, she was just focused and obsessed.

'You did well in resisting it for so long, Elsi. You know that and I know that... so please, release Kanon-chan and we'll find a way to get it out of you.'

Haqua was being reasonable with Elsi as at least she was being reasonable herself. A part of Elsi must still exist in that Weiss-controlled demon as besides blasting the wall down down was probably the first act that the Weiss did after Elsi gave up control; she hadn't hurt anyone or done any thing that would draw attention to her.

Besides abducting Kanon anyway, and besides that, Keima was no where to be found. Haqua reasoned that it was probably Elsi herself who didn't want Keima to witness the plans that she was going to subject Kanon into.

Thankfully Kanon was unconscious as well, and it gave Haqua much more breathing room to negotiate with Elsi.

'No, I don't want to. She has to pay, Haqua-chan.'

Haqua grimaced as Elsi said that in a tone that was similar to how she described her cooking, she was absolutely excited and happy about making Kanon pay and it was enough for Haqua to hold on to her scythe a little tighter. Even if she had to hurt Elsi, it was that or to allow Elsi to break the most fundamental rule of all.

That humans can't be harmed at all costs. If Elsi did harm one of them, and she was found guilty of doing so with malicious intent, there was no doubt what would happen to her. Haqua would never see Elsi again, ever and that was something that she wanted to avoid.

'Why... would you want to do that?'

Haqua asked her best friend cautiously, even as she followed Elsi's movement as she started walking and pacing around as well. She had a nagging suspicion, but nothing concrete to build in at the moment.

'She confessed to Kami-Onii-sama, Haqua.'

That was within the realms of error, and Haqua forced a small sigh from her despite how tense she was at seeing Elsi walking past Kanon again while pacing about. Even as she kept her scythe ready, Haqua tracked the movement of the other girls she was supposed to be guarding and wasn't surprised to see where they were.

He was up to something.

..

'It wouldn't really be the first time, Elsi. After all, the rest did confess to Katsuragi didn't they?'

All Haqua could do now was to actually buy for time as Elsi tilted her head and nodded in agreement to her words. But evidently Elsi didn't agree in the end as she smiled at Haqua.

A cold and terrifying smile that almost made Haqua drop her scythe in shock at feeling the murderous intent that Elsi was emitting just by that smile alone.

It terrified her and seeing Elsi that way was enough to make Haqua question the sway in which the Weiss had on Elsi

'I guess they did... but Kami-Onii-sama accepted her.'

Elsi's answer didn't surprise Haqua at all as she knew that out of all of them, Kanon was the most unstable one.

Well, was anyway as Elsi definitely deserved that title.

'She accepted her. Why did he accept her and not me? Accept? She didn't accept her? She forced herself on Kami-Onii-sama! Forced? I could have forced him! Chihiro-chan could have forced him! Ayumi-chan could have forced him! Miyako-chan could have forced him! Haqua-chan could have forced him! Forced, forced... That's right, forced. Kami-Onii-sama must have been forced to accept her... Kanon-chan, Kanon-chan, Kanon-chan forced Kami-Onii-sama! That's right! He didn't accept her at all! Who would want to accept someone who forced others! Who steals others from others! Who made everyone unhappy because of herself. She's bad, very bad, very very very very bad. And so, I'll punish her.'

Elsi said all of that in a quiet, unassuming and absolutely cold tone that made Haqua flinch. The absolute faith and belief in herself in achieving that feat was enough to make Haqua take a step back as Elsi slowly turned to glare at Kanon.

'I'll punish Kanon-chan for being such a bad girl, neh, Haqua?'

Haqua would have stopped her, she could have stopped her really, but she paused as the door to the rooftop slammed opened and the other girls made their presence.

'Elsi!' 'Elsi-chan!' 'W-What are you doing, Elsi!'

Great, she really needed backup on this one.

Author's Notes: Part 2 of three different releases for this week, please do support me in my other works too!