Muv-Luv Reversal

by Zuoriel

Takeru has been leading a normal life until now. During the summer vacation of his second year in college he's invited by his high school friends to meet up again, to which he agrees. Shirogane doesn't know that this decision would release the nightmares that have been haunting him for some time, nightmares that would be better left forgotten.

4. Break Point

Chapter 4: Break Point

---

August 11th. Around 9 AM.

(Street.)

[Takeru]

---

A red head was spewing steam behind me, trying to get my attention. I grabbed my bag tightly and kept walking in silence. That didn't last for long.

"Takeru-chan, can you talk to me?" Sumika sounds slightly annoyed as she gets to my side, leaning her face near me. I ignore her and continue walking. "Hey, you idiot! You deaf or something?!"

Scream all you like, you won't get a reaction out of me. I'm gonna cry, I know. Been having nightmares of all the deaths every single F-ing day since then.

Mom and Dad didn't forget about me when we talked, and they also haven't forgotten about the things I asked them to test if their memories were working. Same for everyone I have interacted with, and nothing seems to be wrong. For now.

So, I think I'm safe. Probably. But I don't wanna risk it. Maybe the leak only happens with people that interacted with me in the other world. There's so much I don't know. I mean, I shouldn't have regained my memories in the first place. Sensei said it wouldn't happen twice, so much for that.

But I gotta keep my cool and not think about it too much. That means being chill and trying to avoid the guys.

"Takeru-chan? Hey really, what's wrong? You don't have to tell me why you went home alone after the tournament, but at least-"

"I'm fine. Cut it out already."

Her shoulders drop as she slows down her pace. Sumika has been trying to talk with me since she got back from the salon. At first I couldn't even look at her without having to hold back the tears, but now that I've had time to calm down I can hold it together, almost.

I know she is also stubborn to a fault, so I can't expect her to just stop talking to me overnight. I can only hope these little interactions don't cause her to be affected by the causality's influence, if I am a conductor.

There's also the possibility that I'm not a conductor and that the information is out there, waiting to be accessed by someone. Like with the Takemikazuchi and the BETA in Valgern-On. Or did that happen because I played Valgern-On a lot? I have no idea what's going on, and that only makes me more anxious.

Either way, I gotta calm down. And while I pushed Meiya away I might try to wait and see what happens, since I don't have enough info to know for sure what is going on. But openly talking about it with Sensei is the last resort, to use only when I confirmed the worst case scenario. After all I'd have to reveal a lot of info to her, and that means remembering a lot of little details from that world. I don't know if that's safe right now. I do not want to see everything going to hell again.

Today's classes went by rather fast, I didn't bump into anyone from the gang today. Some of my classmates did congratulate me for the tournament, and I told Onimura about how he inspired me to beat the Elefs, as well as my inner promise to buy him lunch for a week.

When I got out to the gate I saw two little silhouettes waiting for me. Mikoto and Tama in their casual clothes waved at me as I exited the U's campus.

"Takeru-san, good afternoon!"

"Hey Takeru! How are you?"

"Yo Tama, Mikoto, what's up?"

"We were waiting for you, since today we get out at the same hour." Tama says while tugging at her pink jacket. It looks like she wants to say something else, but chose to remain silent.

"Hey Takeru, what are you gonna spend the prize money on?" Mikoto asks me curiously.

"I saved it up, I don't really need it right now."

"Huh, I was planning on getting a PC for myself. I'm tired of having to go to an internet cafe whenever I need to search something."

"Yeah, that's a pain. Shame we can't have something like a portable browser machine, similar to the Game Guy."

"Totally that! That would be really awesome!"

We kept doing some small talk in our way home with me just answering yes, no and some three worded answers. I wonder if they'll remember this talk tomorrow. Since they have to go to the station it was a short travel.

"Well, see you later guys!" I said as I went my way.

"Um Takeru-san!" Tama raises her voice as she calls out to me. "U-Um, you see, the thing is… I wanted to… Eer…" Her eyes dart down, and it looks like she's quivering.

"Tama, I don't bite. What's up?" I try to calm her down, but I don't know if it worked.

"Takeru-san, what happened on the day of the tournament?" And there it is. THE question.

I can feel Mikoto's gaze on me too. So, here's our second chance Takeru. What do you do? Act normal or push them away?

"I was… not feeling so good after fighting with the guards, so I went home."

"Takeru, why did you fight the guards? That was really dangerous! You could have been sent to the hospital!" Mikoto scolds me, looking upset at my recklessness.

"They started the fight, and I just defended myself."

"But Tsukuyomi-san said you injured some of the guards!" Tama seems serious right now. She truly is worried.

"And they would have had no problem in harming me if it meant doing their job. It was their fault for resorting to violence first."

"I mean, you're right, but…" Mikoto couldn't bring himself to agree with me.

"I was in a foul mood and I didn't want to ruin your party. At first I thought you guys were in danger, but once I knew you had Meiya there I had nothing to worry about."

"But that's… not what I asked…"

"What was that Tama? Couldn't hear." Playing dumb is all I can do. Can't really explain what's going on in my head to them.

"Nothing. If you're fine that's enough, see you tomorrow!" Tama recovers her smile and goes her way.

"See you tomorrow Takeru!"

"Yeah, later."

I arrived at home, ate something light and went to study to my room. Just gotta keep living like I was, can't screw this up.

---

August 15th. Around 9 AM.

(Street.)

---

The rest of the week went by fast. My studies were going steadily, I kept doing normal conversation with the guys when I ran into them and they didn't forget about me. Maybe I'm not a conductor after all, otherwise something would have happened already.

I've been having trouble balancing my feelings towards the girls and Mikoto. While it kinda hurts when they treat me as just another friend, it also feels weird when they do act nice towards me. It's also a problem when they remind me of the times we spent together in the other world, my heart is a mess right now.

During my walk to college I ran into Tama and Mikoto again.

"Yo guys, good morning!" I wave at them, finally releasing a bit the cuffs on my heart.

"Good morning Takeru-san, Sumika-san!" Tama's cheerful smile greeted us. Always so bright, so charming.

"Hey Takeru, Sumika-san! Morning!" Mikoto also is always smiles. Though he's usually lost in his own tempo. Usual Mikoto stuff.

Spending my days like this fills me with both bliss and regret. On one hand I'm really happy to be here, to not have to worry about a sudden BETA invasion or to always have to eat synthetic food, to be with my beloved ones spending our days in peace. And it also fills me with regret, for how I failed my squadmates. They also deserved this life, more than anyone. They didn't deserve to die like that, not the girls from squad 207, not the Valkyries, not a single of the MP of our base. I didn't stay to make sure they saw how beautiful a peaceful world can be. It makes me feel like a coward, like that time I ran away while the fight was not yet over.

No, that fight is not over. And I'm still here.

"Takeru, Takeru. What do you say of going to the arcade tomorrow?" Mikoto throws the suggestion out there.

"I'm fine with my studies, but what about you?"

"All good, don't worry! I've been wanting to challenge you to a match again!" He seems really motivated to beat me.

"Guys, do you think I could go, too?" Tama wants to tag along? Didn't see that one coming.

"Sure Tama, don't see why not. You wanna come too, Sumika?"

"Sure! Miki-chan, wanna try playing with me? You won't get better teachers than a pair of champions!" Sumika says while pointing at Mikoto and me.

"Ahahah, thanks! It does seem to be a lot of fun, so I might give it a go. Just be patient with me, please?"

"Don't worry Tama, I'm sure you'll do just fine!" I give her a thumbs up.

Having made plans for the weekend, we part ways at the gate to go to our own classes. This will be a nice chance to see if they forget something, I remember that Meiya did forget the plans we did when I got back and trying to recall that caused her to forget about me. So, this is the last test, to see whether they truly forget or not. But I'm truly at a loss right now, I don't know if I'm being paranoid or relaxed.

So far, I've been acting as usual and nobody has forgotten about me. There's also no incidents going on, no sudden accidents on Kashgar or Canada. Maybe, just maybe, everything will be fine. Here's hoping I can finally put this fear to rest.

---

August 16th. A bit over 10 AM.

(Takeru's House.)

---

"I'm just going with the guys to the arcade, don't worry." I say to Mom as I tied my shoes.

"Even so, are you sure? You won't fall back on your studies?"

"It's fine. I'm keeping up alright. And I need a break." I double check everything is in place.

"Hmm… You have been strangely down for a while. OK, don't be late, yes?" Mom gave me a smile and went back to the kitchen.

This usual routine is something precious to me. I didn't knew I missed my parents so much. Of course, my feelings are kinda weird. I do remember being here for, like, forever. But I also know that I got sent to the other side.

Sharing lame jokes with Dad, receiving a hug from Mom when I come back home, always having them pestering me about my studies.

…I missed my family. Funny, I had forgotten about them back there, and yet I can't see how I could do that now. Am I such a coldhearted bastard? Maybe the war just didn't give me time to think about them.

I get my little bag and grab the doorknob. As I open the door, the clear sky greets me. The wind blows, and as I get out I look around the place. No fallen Gekishin, no ruins.

"Hey, Takeru-chan!" Sumika's happy shout calls out to me. I smile at her and we make our way towards the station.

I'm back. I'm back home. Even if I failed to protect you… We did it. As an outsider, I'm glad I could lead you to a better world, according to Sensei.

…I think I could slowly start feeling truly part of this world again. Maybe I'll write the story of our struggles and make a book out of it. So that your memory never dies.

---

[Takeru's Parents]

---

"So you don't think he's being weird?"

"No? He's usually in his own world, right? Leave him be, he's doing fine in college right?" Kageyuki says as he eats his breakfast.

I turn to the sink again and start washing Takeru's plate.

"So… When do you think he'll bring a girl home?"

"What? Are you in a hurry to become a grandma?"

"Kage! Why you!" I throw a small paper that was near, he just laughs as he looks at me.

"Let him be. He'll eventually find someone. Can you blame him? That Mitsurugi girl came here and played with him in the end. I still don't know what that was about."

He's right, Takeru did seem heart-broken at the time when we came back. I was sure that Meiya girl wanted to make him her consort, but what happened? Did Takeru screw it up? Knowing him, that's probably what happened. He's as dense as his father.

"…So we lost again, huh?" Kageyuki makes a sad face as the results of the baseball games appear on the news.

"Stop getting sad over a sport."

"Oh, shut it. This season's being totally awful for us! We haven't won one… Huh?"

Hm? Kage became quiet all of a sudden as his eyes widened. He placed a hand over his mouth as he watched the news. What are they showing now?

"…the police have finally detained the man responsible for the murder of Marimo Jinguuji."

…What? What did it say? Marimo… Wasn't that Takeru's teacher during his last year in high school?

"The incident happened on the late evening of the 5th of August. Apparently Jinguuji and the murderer were in a relationship since January, and during June they had an argument that caused Jinguuji to break up with him. This is the reason why the man carried out the murder, the police found out that he had posted in an internet forum that he was going to make his ex pay for ridiculing him a few days before the murder, after they accessed the PC on the suspect's house. He already had a story of violent breakups and was addicted to a certain illegal drug."

"Honey, this Marimo was…"

"Takeru's teacher, yes."

I can't help but feel bad at this. She was such a sweet person, from the impression I got during the few times I met her.

"That's why the man intercepted her on a street near the victim's house around 7 PM on the 5th, and tried to ran over her with his car. Witnesses say that she managed to dodge him the first time but he turned around and tried again. He was clearly conscious of his actions. And when he tried again, Jinguuji-san couldn't dodge it. However, the man was not satisfied and ran her over once more, this time running over her head. After that, the man proceeded to make his escape, and had managed to avoid being caught thanks to a friend of his that-"

I turn away from the news. That's sickening, I can feel my stomach turning as the image unwillingly made its way to my mind. Who would do that kind of stuff? What is the world coming to?

---

Some minutes after that.

(Train Station.)

[Takeru]

---

"Takeru-chan, you sure it's okay to go have fun now? What about your studies?" You sound like my Mom, by the gods!

"If you're so worried you can leave before we get on the train."

"That's not what I… Oh, whatever. So, how's everything? Feeling fine?"

"A-OK, no problems. Hey Sumika, random question. What did I ask you to bring yesterday?" Let's see if she still remembers.

"Huh? The guidebook you lent me some time ago? I got it here, don't worry." She shows me the magazine folded in her bag.

So she does remember. Unlike last time, where people that talked to me would forget what they spoke with me the day before, now there's no such issue. It's been, what? A week? I think it's safe to say I'm in the clear. This is a different world, I don't have to be always on edge or marching at a high pace.

I exhale, relaxing my shoulders. I feel as if I got under a warm shower after a really long day.

My fight… is over.

We rode the train, and when we got to the arcade Tama and Mikoto where already waiting for us.

"Takeru, Sumika-san, how you doing?"

"Good afternoon Yoroi-kun, doing just fine. Hey Miki-chan, here!" Sumika gives Tama the guidebook I asked her to bring.

"Huh? What's this?"

"It's a guidebook with a lot of info about the last updates of the game." I said in my hype voice. "It would be boring if you didn't recognize which mech is which. It also has a very nice section of beginner tips, to give you an idea of what to expect when you get to play."

"Thanks a lot Takeru-san! Sumika-san, do you know how to play Valgern-On?"

"Not really, I just tag along. I know the controls but I'm not that good."

"Alright! Let's go! Before all the terminals get occupied!" Mikoto rushes into the arcade, only to be met with a loud roar.

It seems people recognized him. Of course they will, some of the regulars here are die hard fans of the-

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH IT'S SHIROGANE-SAMAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Wait, what?

And before I knew what was happening, I was in the center of a human twister. People asked me for autographs, pictures, game tips and who knows what else. After a little while, people literally stepped aside for us to use whatever terminal we wanted to use, the owner even said he'd let us play for free, since he'll use it as advertisement for his arcade. I let out a heavy sigh, but everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves with the treatment so maybe it's not all bad.

We played some matches, I ended up defeating Mikoto twice. Sumika and Tama were having a lot of fun too fighting against each other. We then played a two man battle with Sumika and me versus Mikoto and Tama. Sadly I was backstabbed by Sumika, who landed a fully charged ballistic shot at my core. If she actually tried to do that she wouldn't be able to do it, but of course when she DOESN'T have to…

"Takeru-chan, don't look so angry please? I'll pay the lunch, okay?" Sumika was trying to stop my epic pouting maneuver, and failing miserably at it.

"Not even Mikoto could land such a hit! How on earth did you hit my core from that far away?!"

"I dunno! I just started button mashing because I forgot which combos to use!"

"You just had to push the first trigger to give me some support! Why did you push both triggers and the lever?! And why did you aim at me when you were charging?!"

"I was aiming at Yoroi-kun! You are the one that was jumping around super fast! I didn't even see you!"

"You bastard, I don't think anyone has ever done such a good shot with the laser ballista either. And to waste it on your partner…" That really was a nice shot. If she hadn't hit me with it, I'd be showering her in compliments.

"What do you mean, 'you bastard'?! I was doing my best to help you!" She starts punching me lightly while pouting. She's really cute when she's flustered. Sadly, she's also so much louder.

"Ahahah! That was truly something else. Who would say Takeru-san would end up being defeated by his partner?" Tama joins in the teasing. My child, how much have you grown.

"Totally! Sumika-san, the partner killer! You already have a nickname!" Mikoto gives Sumika a thumbs up. You're probably mad that she took me out when you couldn't do it in our matches.

"Don't go giving me weird names Yoroi-kun!" She makes her pouting face as she whines at Mikoto.

"Ahahahaha, he's right though." I can't help but to laugh. We all start laughing.

Today's been really fun. This is how things should have always been. I really shouldn't have let my emotions ruin our reunion at the salon.

Yeah… This is my life. I finally got my peace back.

We stayed in the arcade for a while longer, playing other games. Mikoto again beat me in the racing one, and we got Tama and Sumika some plushies from the crane games. All of us enjoyed ourselves, it feels good to let loose after so long. Then, we went to eat something at a family restaurant, sharing jokes and jabs, and after that we made our way to the station.

But as we were getting closer to it, a slight tremor could be felt. It then turned to shaking, and it grew more violent in a matter of seconds.

"An earthquake?!"

The land shook with a raging fury. We had to lay against the wall to not fall. It was becoming more and more violent. Glasses shattered, the little children started crying, some cars had to stop suddenly, almost starting a chain of crashes.

I can barely stand as it is, what about the others?!

And then, as if in slow motion, I saw it. A light post was falling on top of Tama and Sumika. In an instinctive reaction I dashed from where I was, trying to reach them.

But I couldn't.

I managed to grab Sumika by the collar, making both of us fall backwards as the shaking made my footing unstable. The thing fell just by my side. Blood was splashed onto me.

Tama's blood.

Right besides me… Tama's hair… Tainted with blood…

She was… completely… squashed, beyond recognition.

"A-Aaaahhh!" I try to move away, but my eyes cannot release themselves.

The image of the Superior turning her into a Soldier-Class returns. My throat dries up and my hands start shaking. Again, I can't even cry nor look away.

Sumika was speechless with fear, she just grabbed me, shivering with tears running down her face like a waterfall. We couldn't stand up, the shaking wasn't stopping. I grab Sumika tightly, closing my eyes. T-This has got to be a nightmare…

No. This is no nightmare.

Tama was squashed by the light post. This isn't an accident, this the causality isn't it? Is this is how she died in Kashgar? Tama… Is this my fault for interacting with them? No, wait, if this happened to Tama then…

Mikoto!

And then a tearing noise could be heard. I looked upwards, and saw how some power cables got loose and broke. Mikoto, alongside many other people that were nearby, couldn't react to it. The cables fell with sparks flying out of them. And as they hit the group of people, an electric shock was discharged.

I could only watch in silence as Mikoto and at least another ten persons were electrocuted to death, all the while the ground kept shaking.

Time stopped. At some point the shaking stopped too. Sirens could be heard in the distance. What didn't stop was the irregular beating of my heart and the searing pain that was splitting my head apart.

The scenes play one after the other. Mikoto's death in her Gekishin when we were sent on a suicide mission, the last words we crossed during Operation Ouka, the letter she had left me, the times we spent together.

Tama's sauntpaulias appear on my mind, how we grew them on the base. How she died fighting to the last breath when I couldn't help Sensei with Alternative IV. Her shape as the Superior was twisting it into a BETA.

Forgive me, Mikoto. Forgive me, Tama. I got you killed again.

What an idiot I am. What am I doing?! I was just slacking off, living the easy life and because of that…

If my memories came with me… There was the chance that something else…

No! I already knew of the Takemikazuchi and the BETA being on Valgern-On. That was proof enough, right?

So, does that mean that my inaction killed them once more?

Again… My hands are stained with the blood of my beloved. The realization makes a sting drive itself into my chest. I did this… This is my fault, isn't it?

"Takeru-chan, are you alright?" Sumika asks me, with a broken voice.

Only then I realized what was around me. A familiar and unfamiliar landscape. It's almost as if our city had fused with the city of the other world, creating a chimera with some buildings intact, some completely collapsed, and smoke rising to the heavens.

"What the hell is this?"

"What are we gonna do? How are we gonna go home?" She said with a tiny voice holding my arm tighter and tighter.

"Look, there are some officers coming. They'll get things under control." I rub her head slowly, to calm both her and me.

I can't… If I focus on the memories again… Sumika… Meiya… Kei… Chizuru… Marimo-chan and the Valkyries…

I gotta get out of here. I gotta get back before it's too late. Sensei… I gotta find Sensei!

Police officers were running around. I could hear the chimes of the firefighters. The city was probably in a horrible state. Will it go back to how it was? Or will this place turn into some ruins, too?

We, and many other civilians, were taken to this 'safe area' until the police guarantees we can go back safety. We were later questioned about what happened and what we saw. I told them that the corpse under the pole post was Tama and about what I saw in as much detail as I could, since Sumika was made a wreck of tears.

Eventually, things settled down a bit and we were made to ride a bus of the police to be escorted to our houses along many other people. Sumika's eyes were completely red by that point and she said no word during our travel.

I gaze at the aftermath through the window as we move. This was no doubt done by a leak from the other world, yet I'm supposed to not be a conductor anymore. I'll have to look for Sensei as soon as possible, assuming she didn't die during this.

Sumika's head falls on my shoulder, she fell asleep. I saved her from that pole, right? I saw how they were going to be crushed and managed to react just in time. Was Sumika going to die? Or was she going to be reduced to a brain like the time I ran away?

No, what does that matter?! That means I just changed the outcome of the causality! How was it that Yuuko-sensei said? Things get reversed so the effect appears before the cause?

Regardless, I just contradicted Sensei's theory again. Something that should have happened, didn't. So, if I sense that an accident may happen before I go back, I can try to prevent it.

Well, none of this should be happening so I can only pray Sensei has an answer for this and is willing to hear me out.

---

Same day. Around 9 PM.

(Takeru's House.)

---

My house was okay, but Sumika's house looked exactly like the one from the other world, minus the collapsed Gekishin of course. Her parents were found below the rubble. My parents pretty much forced her to stay with us. There's still some sirens in the distance, a lot of people are probably trapped in the fallen buildings or injured so it's going to be a long night for the rescue teams.

"…half the city has taken severe damage, with many important buildings collapsed. There's also places where the electric service is not available. The municipal forces are doing their best to both rescue any survivors and repair the basic services as fast as possible. The only hospital that hasn't taken serious damage is-"

The news continue to report the status of the city, with images taken from a copter filling the screen. It's obviously not as bad as the other world but this is still really bad for what we're used to in this world.

"…the estimated amount of casualties is somewhere around a hundred. However, since we haven't scoured all affected areas yet the number will surely rise."

My mind drifts to what happened to Mikoto and Tama. Was that how you died back there? Just to protect me?

And yet I couldn't stand up. I saw how the cables were going to fall, but I couldn't even move with all the shaking. I couldn't reach Tama, even if she was just a bit farther away. I couldn't warn Mikoto, even when he was also close by.

Again, all I could do was stand by and watch someone important to me die.

"Takeru, go call Sumika. Dinner's ready." Mom tells me.

I'm not the only one hurting, so I have to keep my shit together. Like Hayase said once, I can't go pushing my emotional burdens onto others.

I go to the small storage room where we put a futon for her. Knocking the door before I speak, I call out to her.

"Sumika, dinner's ready."

No answer. I don't think forcing her to come out is a good idea. She must be feeling horribly right now. Not only she saw what happened to the guys, but when she came home there was no home left. Not the building, not the people.

Maybe I should just bring her food here. As I was leaving, I heard the door opening. She slowly got out, gaze on the floor, and walked up to me.

She looked so faint, as if she would vanish into the air when I stopped looking. She never looked so weak, ever.

"You okay? Want me to bring the food to you here?" She shakes her head. "Okay then, let's go to the table."

We go to the kitchen, but she's walking so slowly. I wait in the hallway, just to make sure she doesn't fall or anything. She looks devastated, I can't even imagine how she must be feeling right now. How did I feel the first time I lost everybody?

I go up to her and grab her arm to help her walk.

"Thanks, Takeru-chan." Her voice is almost a whisper.

As we got to the table I was going to lower the volume of the TV, but the person on the screen prevented me from doing so.

"…believe that it's in these situations that those at the top must do everything they can to aid their fellows. That's why the Mitsurugi Group will donate the materials for the reconstruction of the city, as well as food and medicine for those in need of treatment or shelter. We will also cooperate by hiring laborers to bring the city back on its feet as fast as possible." Meiya looked completely different. Right now she was like the other Meiya, resolute and unwavering. Her usual smile and light tone were nowhere to be found. That's Meiya for sure, always ready to rise to the occasion.

And here I am, doing nothing again. If only I could do something to help, but I'm merely a civilian here.

"Meiya-san truly is amazing." Sumika said. "Even in this situation…"

"Well, we do know she always goes overboard when someone needs help. She is so used to doing things in an extreme way, this is like the perfect work for her." Even indirectly, you always bring me back on my feet Meiya.

"Sumika-chan, here. I hope you like this." My Mom had finished placing the food on the table.

"Thanks, really." She said quietly as she sat down.

There were no words to say. We just ate in silence, listening to the news. Some streets looked destroyed, a school caught on fire, the train station got wrecked.

Even if I want do something, right now I don't think I could do anything. Not only I'm just a civilian here, but I'm feeling horrible now that everything is sinking in. It's clear that this happened because of me, and with all that's going on I can't go ask Sensei for help. Not like we could just snuck into the reactor again in this mess.

I go back to my room and throw myself onto the bed. I need to get back there ASAP. Let's start preparing an explanation for Sensei. At least I can do that right now.

---

August 19th. Around 8 AM.

(Takeru's House.)

---

Yesterday I caught a broadcast where they said that the public security force was taking people to help as volunteer workers. Since there will be no classes with all this, maybe I should go help. With my current strength and stamina I'm sure I'll be of use. And this is my fault, least I can do is try to do all I can to help. I also can't meet with Sensei until things settle down, so, even if it's just a little, it's in my best interest to help.

I told Mom and Dad that I was going to help out during dinner last night. They objected. They don't know how strong I am now. My reflexes are also much better than before regaining my memories, so no worries there either.

As I was getting ready to leave Mom kept pestering me.

"Takeru, I know you've been exercising a lot. But you shouldn't push yourself to help. There's other people that can-"

"Mom, I'll be fine. If we young ones don't rise up to aid in times of need, this country is screwed." I know that the values I learned over there may clash with how things are here, since nationalism is seen as a rather bad thing here. But I want to help my city, in any way I can.

"There's an emergency alarm, do you know what that means in Japan? To forbid people to go to work? That's how bad this is. The city is in ruins, what can you do to help?"

"A little something is better than nothing." And this is no ruins. We still are very far from that reality.

"You're so hard headed. Why did you have to take after Mom like this?" She sighs as she fumes and complains about Grandma, apparently giving up on stopping me.

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll be back before dusk."

"You better! If you get injured, I swear, I'm not letting you off easily!" She starts waving her finger menacingly at me.

She says I'm stubborn, but she's the same. Both her and Dad are always doing whatever they want without telling me anything. And if I ask they just insist they're doing fine, because they're adults.

And then they get surprised at how I turned out, hehe.

"Takeru-chan? Where are you going?" A frail voice comes from the hallway.

"Good morning, Sumika. I'm going to volunteer to help with whatever it is I can do."

"Eh? Will you be alright?" Despite being so weak herself she still worries about me.

"Don't worry! I'm going to be fine. You rest up and eat, yes? You look like a ghost. No pushing yourself or anything, alright?" I pat her head softly before going towards the door.

"Okay. Be careful." She gives me a small smile and goes to sit at the table.

"Well, I'm off. Mom take care of Sumika."

"Like I need you to tell me! Be careful, okay?"

I wave as I leave. I catched the address of the office where they are accepting volunteers on the news while eating breakfast. I read the paper I had written the address of the place to go volunteer and take off.

They gave me one of those yellow things that the transit people use, but in blue. I was assigned to a team of another five volunteers under a police officer. It looks like they are sending my group to deliver supplies to shelters and hospitals.

The others seem to have some problem lifting some of the boxes, but this is nothing for me. I end up delivering three or four more boxes than what I should have, but thanks to that we were speeding up the process.

We started at 10 AM, and it now was around 3 PM so we stopped to have lunch.

Since I've been training I'm still as fit as when I was a soldier, this kind of work is nothing to me. The other guys asked me what kind of routine I did, I shared some advice with them on how I exercised as we finished eating our lunch and got back on the van.

"All right, listen up crew! We are going to pick up some more supplies and take them to the last hospital. Then we go to Hakuryo Highschool, that is currently being used as a shelter for people of the neighborhood until the nearby shelter is repaired. Then we will deliver water and food to the neighborhood, since it seems some places have no water and electricity. You got that?!"

We all replied in unison. This guy… I think I've seen him somewhere. Can't remember well where. Wait… isn't he one of the MP that was on guard when I arrived at Yokohama Base?

So the school is being used as a shelter, huh? Wonder how many people are there.

We delivered the supplies to the hospital and went our way to the school. When we got there it was obvious it was filled with people. Some kids were playing near the gate, a few teenagers were hanging around the courtyard.

The leader confirmed with one of the guards our order, showing them a paper. He then gave the us the okay to take the boxes to the gym. As I was taking a box with medicinal supplies to the gym a voice called out to me.

"Shirogane? That you?" Kei was also here, with a nurse hat on her head.

"You helping out too, Ayamine?" Don't think about what happened. Stay cool.

"Yes. What's that?" She says pointing at the big box I was carrying.

"Medicinal supplies. Taking them to the gym."

"They send me to get those. Lucky." It's amazing how you can keep your cool and smile in a situation like this Kei. Even though I know that inside you're also nervous and scared, I'm still amazed at how strong you are.

We go to the gym together. The hallways are full of people, to think all of them lost their homes is just horrible. And like Sumika, they may have lost their families too. It reminds me of how Yokohama Base was after the attack of the BETA.

We reach the gym and another familiar voice reaches my ears.

"Ayamine?! Why did you come back without the supplies?!" Chizuru berates Kei, like she usually does.

Of course this would happen. They volunteer to help and end up together. Those two are joined at the hip by some cosmic force.

"I did bring them. With Shirogane."

"Shirogane? What does he has to-"

"I'm the one bringing the supplies, Sakaki. Give me a minute and I'll bring the rest." I tell her as I put the box on the floor.

"You're helping, too? Heh, that's reassuring. Ayamine, go and help him bring the boxes please." Chizuru says as she starts taking the supplies in the box to the other nurses and doctors.

"Okay."

"Thanks for lending me a hand Ayamine." I told her as we made our way back to the van.

"It's nothing. Can't believe you are helping."

"Hey, I also a have a good side, you know? And since I can lift this is something I can reliably do."

"What's up with that? When did you get so buff?" She starts poking my sides with an accusing glare. Kei stop that, please. That dubious look…

It's just like when we got together in both worlds and she got suspicious of something. I look away, embarrassed and sad after remembering our relationships.

"I just exercise a lot, that's all."

"You're blushing. How cute." Damn you, Kei. You have no idea how much it hurts to hear that from you.

"E-Enough with the teasing, that van over there is where the supplies are."

The guys in the crew were surprised, but the leader welcomed the help. We finished bringing all the supplies in a flash.

There were more people here than I thought. I haven't had the chance to go look at the city from the top of the hill, it must be a shocking sight to behold.

"All right boys! Is that the last one?" The leader says as one of the other guys brings the last box. The man nods and we all prepare to leave.

"Alright, guess I gotta go. Keep up the good work Ayamine."

"You too, Shirogane." She smiles as we part ways.

As we were making our way to the van we hear a commotion. Someone seems to be fighting. Then a loud noise could be heard.

A gunshot.

When we got outside we were greeted by a horrible visage.

The guy we left to watch over the van and the guards of the gate were on the floor in a lake of blood. There were a lot of people with their faces wrapped up in clothing with baseball bats and other blunt weapons, one of them had a pistol. What the hell is happening?!

"Get inside! Everyone get inside!" The leader got most of the other guys back into the school, but some of them were shot by the aggressors.

"Who are those guys?! Terrorists?" I can't believe these guys choose to do this now. Why is this…

…The attack on Yokohama Base. It's repeating itself right now. Or is it the coup? Are both incidents mixing each other here?! I don't even know anymore.

"You know the orders, boys! Let's thrash this place!" One of the hooded men screamed as he started running towards the gate with a metal bat on his hand.

The rest soon followed. There were maybe thirty of them.

"Hey! All of you! I'm a police officer! Drop your weapons or I'll have to arrest you!" The leader screamed at the mob, showing his badge and pistol to them.

They didn't stop. All the other people had ran inside already, only me and the leader were at the gate.

"Shirogane, it's brave of you to stay. But I can't involve a civilian in-"

"Sir, I've received some military training. You don't have to worry about me!" I said to him while dodging a bat and countering the guy with a punch, knocking him out in one go.

As the one with a gun shot at the air, we hid behind the gate. The thugs used that slight breach to rush into the school, we leaped from behind the walls towards them, I took on three of them as they came at me.

Some of the guys flat out ignored us and ran inside the school as others blocked us. The sound of shattered glass and screams tainted the air. Five of the thugs tried to prevent us from following the rest after they had gotten inside.

We quickly knocked them out, they were just runts. I'll never lose to scum like that, it'd be an insult to the Instructor and all the people that trained me in the BETA world.

"Shirogane, on me! If you have to use a bat or something to subdue them, do it!"

He had to shoot some of those guys on their feet to make them stop thrashing about before knocking them out. We rush into the school without waiting a second.

We had to split up since they had gone in different directions and were destroying the school and hurting the civilians inside. I smack a bat into the head of a guy that was trying to beat up some boys. There's another one on the end of the hallway chasing someone!

I ran after him, but hearing something I stop and take a step back.

BANG!

A loud noise rang in my ears. One guy was in a nearby classroom and threw a homemade bomb at me. I dodged the thing just in time, talk about the devil's luck.

The thug kicks me in the face as he laughs.

"What's this?! A hero! The hell you think you are, bitch?!" He starts kicking me in the stomach while I'm on the floor. But his kicks don't hurt me, if he were kicking my head that would be another story.

I grab his leg when he goes for another kick and twist his ankle. I stand up, a little sore from the kicking, and give him a strong chop to his neck. Out cold, you won't be kicking nothing for awhile.

With all the noise it's not hard to find them, but the damage is already done. Some people were hit on the face with a metal bat, some were cut with a knife.

All the training in close combat I did with Meiya and Kei allowed me to best them in combat, even when they had a weapon. And when they threatened a civilian and I 'surrendered', my reflexes and muscles allowed me to strike them when they didn't expect it or to withstand some hits from the bats until I could counter. Luckily I wasn't the only one fighting back, but I was the only one with training fighting back.

After a short while, the police arrived at the school. The leader vouched for me, as well as many people that saw how I fought to stop the aggressors.

"So, is it over?" I ask the leader as I put some bandages over a cut I got on my hand.

"No, they took some hostages to the gym. Since it's separated from the school building it only has one entrance. Don't worry, we have it surrounded."

I breathe a sigh of relief. It was a rather short fight, but it feels as if I had been running around for an hour straight. I sit on the floor to catch my breath, I can feel my heart in my neck. The leader hands me an ice pack to put on my bruises. This is nothing, compared to how I was after the BETA attack on our base, I can endure this much.

I stood up and we went to the courtyard since the leader wanted me to tell the head officer that came here what happened when I fought with the thugs, in case what I knew was useful.

When we got there, it seemed that the thugs were trying to negotiate with the police, showing all the hostages inside the gym.

I felt a shiver when I saw that Kei and Chizuru were in the group of hostages. The hooded men opened the door to show that all the hostages were fine.

"So, officers, as you can see all the hostages are in prime condition. But depending on your actions, some of them may have a little accident."

One of the thugs inside the gym waves a bat towards the head of a little boy in slow motion. Those bastards!

"So, what do you want? A helicopter?" An officer that was dressed like Chief Yoroi addressed the thugs.

"Hoho, you catch on quick! That and five million yen."

"What? Five million?" I can't help but be surprised at his claim. How on earth is the police supposed to bring them that crazy amount of money?

"Crazy, right? Can't tell what these guys are thinking." The leader is as surprised as I am.

Actually, all the officers here are surprised by the claim. Where do they want the police to get that much money from?

"We do not know if we can get you the amount you ask of us. But, we can bring you-"

"Nope! Five million or nothing! Didn't the Mitsurugi Group said that they'd take care of the expenses of the city? Then, just think of this as another expense and that's it! Problem solved, amirite?"

"We can't confirm that they'll agree to do so. We can get you the helicopter and a smaller-" The thug interrupts him again.

"Stop wasting my time! For every hour that you take, we'll kill one of the hostages! So, that's what? Eight hours? So get it done, we clear? Unless you don't care 'bout their safety." The guy waves his gun towards the hostages. And with that, he went back inside the gym.

All the officers started to discuss what to do frantically, while the one with the coat took out his cellphone and made a call.

"Shirogane, after you tell us what happened you can go home. You've done enough today." The leader gives me a pat on the back.

"I appreciate your concern, but my friends are in there. I'd like to stay here, until this is all over."

He looks at me in the eye, smiles and gives me a strong pat on the shoulder, like how Kyozuka-san used to.

"Okay, boy. But go back inside the school. Leave this to the police, no matter how much training you've had, you're still a civilian."

I can't do nothing but accept that. Here, I'm just a college student. I'm not a Cadet nor a Lieutenant anymore. Imagine if I flew here in a TSF, heck even the suit would be an awesome thing to have. I bet I could take a gunshot and shake it off like it was nothing.

The man that was dressed like Chief Yoroi came over and asked me about what happened. I told him everything truthfully.

"…And then I ran into the police and the leader, who told me about the hostages. After treating my wounds, we came here."

"I see. You've done a great deed today, Shirogane-kun. You have my thanks."

Just as he said that, another younger officer comes the man in a suit looking pale, brows arched.

"Sir! We have contacted with the Mitsurugi Group, but they do not wish to cooperate."

"What?! You did tell them of their threat of killing each one of them for every hour that passes?"

"Yes, sir. Of course we did. But they claimed that this is the responsibility of the police. They do not wish to give such a large sum for some hostages."

"Damn them! It's not like I expected them to agree to that crazy amount, but at least give us something. We can't get anywhere close to that amount."

The officer then goes up to the phone they had set up and called them himself. Soon after that he started cursing whoever was on the other side of the line. I don't know who they are talking with, but it's probably a third or fourth line employee. Damn, if the Mitsurugi Group doesn't give us a hand… There's no way anyone can fork that amount of money. Kei… Chizuru…

Wait… Do I have Tsukuyomi-san's number on my cellphone? Yes, I do.

Should I… Would she even pick up? After what I did on the salon? After what I said to Meiya? No, this is not the time for dark thoughts. I can help the police. I can help Kei and Chizuru.

I'm sure that if Meiya hears about Kei and Chizuru being in danger she would definitely help us. She may even bring more than double of the amount they ask, knowing her.

They might hate me, but those two should be important for Meiya. So, even if they yell at me and insult me, I have to do what I can to help them. If I don't…

The final moments of Tama and Mikoto resurface within me. I'm not letting the causality take anyone else from me. Finding my courage I dial the number.

…

The tone rang, but she didn't pick up.

Heh, of course she wouldn't. Not with all the horrible things I said to them.

At least I tried, now it's up to the police. This is so frustrating, to have no power to do anything. It's not like I can rush in there and beat them up, that'd only make things worse. Not like the police would allow me to have a part in this.

I lay against a wall, looking at the courtyard from afar. Now that I get a good look at it, it's amazing how similar the school and the base are. Sensei must have ordered the aboveground building to be rebuilt to the smallest detail over there.

But, how did Chizuru and Kei die in Kashgar? As I was trying to recall how things went in the moments before I went into the reactor my phone started ringing.

This number!

"Hello?" Tsukuyomi-san's voice, with a cold tone, sounds on the other side as I answered.

"Hello, Takeru-sama. Did you call me before, by any chance?"

"Yes, Tsukuyomi-san. I have something to tell you."

"Is there anything I could do for you? I'm a very busy person." She's mad. Can't blame her. And despite that, she still called me.

"I didn't call you to ask something for me. Ayamine and Sakaki need Mitsurugi-san's help, would you be willing to listen?"

"Your friends? If this is a trick-"

"They are being held hostages in the gym of Hakuryo High School. We were here as volunteers, but suddenly a group of thugs broke in. They started to hurt people, and then took some of them to the gym. They asked the police for a helicopter and a crazy amount of money, or they will kill one hostage every hour. They said that the Mitsurugi Group could easily fork over that amount. The police has no way to get the money, and they are negotiating with someone from the group. But it seems that it's not going well."

"…Is this true?"

"If you don't believe me, you can ask your employees. With your position I'm sure you could get more information about this incident than what I know." I heard her shout some orders to the Three Idiots, and after a few moments she replied back.

"So, you wish to ask Meiya-sama to save your friends, by giving some lowly thugs a giant amount of money."

"Well, yes. She's the only-"

"However, we have no obligation to do so. This is the police's job. The Mitsurugi Group is not the state, and it is certainly not responsible for the well-being of Japan's citizens. Would you have us do the same for every criminal that asks the Group for ransoms in the entire country?"

She has a point. If they do this once, other criminals may try to do the same. And if people start expecting the Group to do it, when they eventually refuse to do so, who knows what problems that will cause them? No, think of the political implications it would cause to have them fix the problems of the state. The ripple effect may just be terrible.

Now that I think about it, the first guy did say something about orders, and they specifically requested the Mitsurugi Group to bring the money. This may just be a play in someone's chessboard.

"You're right. I shouldn't have asked you to take responsibility for this. Forget I called you."

"I didn't say we weren't going to help."

"Huh?"

"If Meiya-sama finds out her friends were harmed while we knew of this and didn't inform her, she would certainly ask for our heads. So Takeru-sama, I'll talk with Meiya-sama about this. However, we won't let the criminals escape either. And I'd like you to know that we will ask you to repay this favor tenfold. Please put the police on the phone."

"Wait! There's… something I should tell you."

"What is it? Can it wait?"

"The criminals… may have powerful explosives with them."

"What?! How do you know this?!"

I remember there was a giant explosion just before I went to the reactor in Kashgar. At that point, Mikoto and Tama were still alive dealing with the door BETA, I think. And Meiya was the last one to die, so if I had to guess, I'd say Chizuru and Kei used their S-11s to blow themselves up. They died in a giant explosion. And if what's happening right now is the causality trying to balance itself…

"I have a hunch it'll be like that. I know it sounds crazy, but…"

"…I suppose it would be in our best interest to remain ever vigilant. After all, this whole accident would seem to have been staged. Thanks for the warning, Takeru-sama. Let's hope it's just a hunch. Could you put the head officer on the line, please?"

I go up to the officer, that was still shouting at the receiver, and after a short and vague explanation he agreed reluctantly to talk with whoever was on the phone. His face changed as they spoke, the agitation left his voice.

"Shirogane, who did you call?" The leader asked at me, curiously.

"An old friend. I just hope they go easy on me when they want me to pay this favor back." I say with a light smile.

I'm glad they agreed to help, but that bit about paying the favor sounded really ominous. Who knows what kind of revenge they have in mind for what I did.

"Shirogane-kun, I won't ask how you did this, but you have my most sincerest thanks. You may just have saved the hostage's lives." The officer said as he came to give me back my phone.

"I just did what I could to help, sir." I had to keep my hand in place to not do a salute.

The officer informed the thugs that they agreed to their terms, and asked them some time to bring them the copter and the money. And so, we waited for the help to arrive.

…

This may just have been the longest hour of my life. After what felt like an eternity, a helicopter appeared on the sky and landed in the track field, and from it Tsukuyomi-san came out with…

Wait a sec… Did Tsukuyomi-san use glasses? No, she didn't. Her hair color is different too.

A woman that looks very similar to Tsukuyomi-san, alongside some people in suits, came out of the helicopter.

"Hello, officer. My name is Maya Tsukuyomi, I was sent by Meiya Mitsurugi-sama to deliver both the helicopter and the money. What is the situation like?"

So her name is Maya. I wonder if she works with an attorney…

I stayed near the school building, letting the police and Maya-san deal with this incident. I can only hope that these guys truly do not have any explosives.

As the police called out to them, the same thug came out to talk. If I could explain with words the face he made I would. It's like in those manga where the eyes of a character shoot out in a dramatic fashion when they get surprised. He definitely wasn't expecting the police to bring the money, so what was his goal?

The guy goes back inside, and slowly the thugs go out of the gym towards the copter. They had a teacher with them, holding a gun to his head.

But when they got near the helicopter, in a split second, the thugs ended on the floor crying in pain. The Three Idiots appeared outta nowhere and smacked them hard. Thank God they can be reliable when we need them.

"Hey! Get off me, dude!" One of the thugs tried to fight back as an officer was cuffing him.

"This isn't how it was supposed to go, dammit!" Another was kicking up a fuss, until Maya-san punched him hard in the stomach.

I forgot how scary Tsukuyomi-san was in the other world, and if this Maya is just like her, that guy is not waking up soon.

"Hehe… Heheheh… You think this is over, dogs?!" The thug that did the negotiations with the police started laughing like a mad man.

"Hey! Stay quiet, or we will have to use force to detain you!"

"Who cares if you have me?! We won't go down without doing our part! MAY THE SAKURAS BE TAINTED RED!" He screams something at the top of his lungs. What the hell is he… Was that some sort of code? What could it-

BOOOOOOOOM!

There was an explosion inside the gym, wings of blazes stretched out of its windows. The hostages… were still inside. An image of Kei and Chizuru dying in an exploding Gekishin came back to me.

Just like on Kashgar, everything is repeating itself. They're… They're going to…

"Chizuru! Kei!" I leap towards the gym, but hands grab me from behind preventing me to go to their aid. "Let go off me!"

"Oi, Shirogane! Calm down! You'll die if you into the gym!" The leader and another three officers were tightly grabbing me, and even so couldn't fully stop me.

"Shut up! They're going to-"

"Shirogane-sama." A sharp and cold tone spoke to me, and Maya-san came into my vision. "There is no need to worry, Meiya-sama sent with me capable people to take care of this. Take a look."

She gestured towards the gym's gate, where the men that came with Maya-san charged into the gym wearing something that looks like gas masks and some weird looking black suits. Slowly, the tension leaves me, and as the hands release me I fall to the ground.

I can't do anything… Useless again. I can do nothing but watch…

They managed to rescue all the hostages in mere minutes, without anyone of them suffering injuries or burns. Had I jumped in to help, I would just have been a burden.

I got closer to see the people as they were carrying them out, but I couldn't believe my eyes. Kei and Chizuru were burned. Badly. Their bodies looked scorched.

I feel a twister tearing my heart from within. Again. I failed again. How many more times am I gonna screw up? I should have left as soon as I regained my memories.

…No, it would have been better if I weren't here to begin with. I shouldn't have come back if this is what it would cost.

The men took some of the hostages in the copter to a hospital after treating them with some of the supplies we had brought. The thugs were taken by the police.

This little incident was over. Was this enough? Did I manage to save Kei's and Chizuru's lives? Had I not called Tsukuyomi-san they would have died, the fact that the thugs set those explosives on the gym is proof enough they didn't have plans to leave the hostages alive. But, can I call this a good result? Are they even going to survive? How will they live from now on? Will they recover? How long will that take?

If only I had acted as soon as I got my memories back. No, how would I have convinced Sensei to help me? Sigh… Useless…

I didn't think today would be such a crazy day too. Everything was fine last week, why did everything start happening now all of a sudden?

As I was resting against a wall while looking up, I heard someone approach me.

"Shirogane-sama." It was Maya-san.

"Hello, did you need anything from me?" Get your act together. I'll cry when I get back home.

"Yes, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Maya Tsukuyomi, cousin of Mana Tsukuyomi. I also serve Meiya-sama as one of her personal retainers." So she's just like Tsukuyomi-san. Cousins, huh?

"I'd like to thank you for coming to help today. I know it was selfish to ask you to take responsibility for this."

"Please, do not thank me. I was just carrying out the orders Meiya-sama gave me. She's the one you should be thanking."

"I know that. But you were the one that came here, along all the other people. You also deserve my gratitude. Thank you very much." I say as I bow to her. This is the least I can do, it's all thanks to them that the hostages may survive.

"Hmm, I was told you were a rather rude person. Seems like you do know how to be polite when it's needed." She adjusts her glasses as she looks at me intently. Can't blame her for thinking that, I used to be quite a prick.

"So, Maya-san, what did you need from me?"

"Maya-san?" She looks surprised I used her first name.

"Sorry, if I called you Tsukuyomi-san I'll end up confusing both of you in my head. Is it alright for me to call you that?"

"If that is how you wish to address me, you may do so Shirogane-sama. Now, regarding my business with you. You shall be receiving a call shortly to inform you of what we desire in exchange of this favor. Considering what you just went through, I believe it best for you to return home now."

"I'll be awaiting the call then. Thanks again for coming to help, tell Mei… Mitsurugi-san that I'm truly grateful for this."

"There is no need for such words. I just did what I was ordered to do. I shall relay your words to Meiya-sama. Well then, I have some business with the police yet. This will be all." She gives me a small bow and goes her way.

Right now, I don't know what could I tell Meiya regarding what happened at the salon. Don't know if I'm still a conductor or if there's a leak, but the matter is that I have to find Sensei and get her to listen. Before Meiya suffers the same fate as her other self.

The police thanked me for my actions a thousand times. Some of them even asked me if I had any interest in joining. I gave the leader the blue uniform of the volunteers before leaving. He insisted it was okay for me to leave, and that he'll take care of explaining what happened to his superiors.

I wanted to walk home, but the leader insisted on driving me there. Nothing was said as we got in and he brought the car to life. I remain looking up through the window, feeling hollow and exhausted.

"You know, Shirogane. Many officers go their whole life without firing their guns even once." I look at him, his jaw tense as he slowly drove through the ruined neighborhood.

"I can see that happening in this peaceful country."

"Yeah. I'm not one of those." His face is covered by the shadows that only someone who has seen a dead body could possess. A face I know all too well. "It was something similar to this, in a hostage situation we couldn't pacify the aggressor. The hostage ended up falling from a window at the fourth floor of an apartment. That shit messed me up. So, I'm not gonna tell you to not worry, but don't hold back the tears. These things… It's better to take them off your chest. Let it out. You did enough today, kid. If it weren't for your help, those bastards would have messed me up big time at the gate, and thanks to you the hostages might survive. You did more than the police, when you think about it." He laughs dryly.

I guess that from his point of view I did a great deed. And I can totally understand what he means, about letting things out. After all it's what I did when I came back. When Marimo-chan comforted me.

…Wait one second. The leader… He was one of the MP back at the base, right? Didn't he die during the attack? Does that mean that… I prevented his death?

"We're here." I look out the window to my right and see that we arrived at my house. I feel a palm on my shoulder. "Rest well, Shirogane. You deserve it. You'll have to go for a visit later at the hospital. Can't be all gloomy when you go there, right?"

"…Yeah, I can't look like this. Thanks sir, take care." I return his smile and get off the van.

"You too, kid."

Slowly, the van goes its way into the street. I saved him, didn't I? That means that… Chizuru and Kei will live too, right?

When I got inside Dad was in the kitchen, which is weird since he doesn't know how to cook.

"Dad? What are you doing?"

"Takeru! Where were you?!" He looks worried as he rushes to my side. Who are you and what have you done to my Dad?!

"I was in the school when there was an explosion, and…"

"You were there? I just saw it on the news. Thank God you're safe. Were you kept there by the police?"

"Yeah, something like that." He doesn't need to know, let's just shut up about it.

"Okay. Now Takeru, I want you to stay calm. I know that what I'm about to tell you isn't nice…" What's up with him? He sounds really on edge. Don't tell me something else happened… "We had to take Sumika-chan to the hospital. When your Mom went to call her for lunch she was very weak, couldn't even stand by herself."

"What?! Is she still in the hospital?"

"I came back when we saw that it was something serious. So that when you came back you wouldn't find the house empty. But you took more time than I thought." It is near six PM after all, the sun is already going down. Visiting hours may end any second now.

"Can we still go to see her?"

"I think so, get in the car. We may have to go over the speed limit. We gotta pick up your mother anyway."

We got to the hospital in no time, cutting it close to driving through some red lights. Dad took me to the room she was in. With heavy footsteps and even heavier breathing, I marched through the halls despite Dad telling me to slow down and some nurses complaining. Please Sumika, be alright. I prevented the event that would have crippled her, so she should… She has to be alright!

Drowning out every other sound, almost breaking into a sprint, pushed forward by a cold shiver on my back, recalling our times together, I kept a lead on Dad until the flow of nurses died down.

When we got to the room, Mom was crying by a bed. Sumika was laying still in it. There was an annoying sound in the room.

The sound that the thing that counts heartbeats does when a heart… stops beating.

Slowly, I went near her. She looked as if she were sleeping. I grabbed her hand, it was cold. It had no pulse.

…

Why?

"We couldn't determine the reason, but her vitals were plummeting very fast. Her heart stopped just a few minutes ago. We tried everything we thought of in the little time we had, but to no avail." The doctor explained to us in their usual slow, detached, and calm tone.

Huh? Sumika is… dead?

…

Huh?

…This can't be. Why? I avoided her death. She shouldn't have… No, wait. Just like after Operation Ouka, sleeping peacefully in her bed, Sumika laid unmoving. However, the one in my dream isn't Sumika but the 00 Unit. And to make it…

That's right, Sumika had two accidents in the other world. The first was when the BETA reduced her to a brain. The second when we killed the brain to give birth to the 00 Unit. I prevented the first one, but…

Kasumi's words echo through my mind: "Sumika-san is dead. Your fight is over."

Over. Tama's shape squashed by a pole comes back. Again.

Over. Mikoto's screams as the cables fell play on loop. Again.

Over. Kei's burnt arms and face flashed in my mind. Again.

Over. Chizuru's scorched hair and upper body overlaid themselves with my vision. Again.

Over. And Sumika… peacefully sleeping, lacking all heat and life. Again.

They're all dead. All over again.

My mouth can produce no sound as my lips part and move in vain, my eyes get hot as the tears start to pour from them. I fall to my knees abruptly, I feel my Dad arm's on me as he hugs me.

Everything became a black void. I don't remember what happened after that.

When I came to I was in my bed, and it was bright outside.

---

August 26th. 08:45 AM.

(Takeru's room.)

---

Knock!

I rustle under the sheets, barely opening my eyes. Looking towards the window, rays of light greet me as I frown. I cover my head with the sheets, diving back into my pillow.

There's another knock. I ignore it and shut my eyes tight. Then, I hear the door opening and a few steps coming nearby.

"Takeru? Hey, are you awake?"

"…What do you want, Mom?"

"You haven't left your room in these days and you expect me to simply leave you alone? Come to the kitchen, have breakfast at the table."

Sigh, what will that even achieve? Just let me rest, there's nothing to do now. Mom takes my blankets off, then takes my pillow from under me.

"You're getting off that bed, now. Go take a shower and come eat, Takeru."

"Sigh, I got it." She gives me a side glance, I sit on the bed letting my feet search for something to wear. "Sorry, Mom. Didn't mean to make you worry."

"Okay, that's enough of that attitude." She clenched one hand as her brows furrowed, then sighed. "I'm not scolding you, I understand how you must be feeling. But you need to take care of your health, Takeru." She turned around after giving me one last good look.

No, Mom. You have no fucking idea how I feel. But I can't keep acting like this, even if it feels like there's nothing I can do now.

After taking a short shower, I go to the kitchen and fall onto a chair. Ruffling my hair, I look up as I lean back onto my seat. Can't get a hold of Sensei, she isn't answering her house's phone. Without her, I can't do anything. Is the Conductor still active? And if it is, why? But if it isn't, how do I fix this? What if… there's nothing that can be done?

Mom serves me breakfast and we eat as the news play in the TV. A report of the contributions of the Mitsurugi Group was being shown. I wonder when will Meiya call me to tell me what she wants in return for the favor. Poking at the food, I slowly munch and swallow, drink and rest. Nothing can fill the void left running amok in my chest now.

Some days ago, when I went to the hospital where Chizuru and Kei were supposed to be, I found Chizuru's Mom crying on the reception. As well as Akane near her, looking just as she did when we left for Ouka with one eye patched up and one arm bandaged. I told them of what happened at the school, of how the Mitsurugi Group managed to rescue them before they were scorched to death. However, they told me they had died the night before despite the doctors' best efforts and some stuff that the Mitsurugi Group provided for their care.

Chizuru's Mom thanked me for calling for help, since it seems they could say their goodbyes thanks to that. Me and Akane talked for a second about how crazy everything was, as she also thanked me for calling Meiya since also could at least talk with Chizuru one last time. To say she was destroyed would be an understatement, she didn't even try to hide her tears and her creaky voice as I was doing.

But, thing is, in the middle of her cries, she told me her sister died too during the earthquake when I told her of what happened to Tama and Mikoto. Haruka-san died that day too, during the earthquake. She then was taken by the nurses so I couldn't ask her anything else, but that in turn got me to check the list of victims of the earthquake, to quell my doubts and fears.

As it turns out, all the Valkyries are dead already, save for Munakata and Kazama it seems. Even worse is that… Marimo-chan was killed in an all too similar way to her previous deaths on the evening of the 5th, just as I recovered my memories. That's all the proof I needed. I'm the cause of this shit, conductor or not. The only question that remains is whether this can be reversed or if it's permanent.

My nightmares have become more and more vivid. It's like I'm cursed, Operation Iceberg, Marimo's deaths, Ouka. I brought all this shit with me. All that's been happening just like the end of last loop, it's too similar to be a mere coincidence. Of my squadmates that died over there only Meiya is alive now, and probably not for long.

Apparently, going by the news, things are settling down and soon everything will 'return to normal'. I want to get out of here as soon as I can, but I guess it'll have to wait until we can use that reactor. And even then… What if…

I hunch over into the table, hiding my eyes behind my arms, feeling the back of my head going numb.

"Sigh…" In the end, I can't do jack shit myself.

Ring! Ring!

Mom was cleaning the dishes, Dad had gone to pick up the laundry. Slowly getting off my chair, I go pick up the phone and answer it.

"Hello?" A familiar voice sounded on the other side.

"Hello, Takeru-sama. Would you happen to be free as of now?"

"Yes, Tsukuyomi-san. I suppose this is about the favor I owe you?"

"Indeed. Would you be free this afternoon?"

"Yes." Not like I have anything to do now, I don't know where Sensei lives.

"Well then, Ichimonji will go pick you up at four. Meiya-sama wishes to have a talk with you." I suppose she herself wants to tell me what she wants in person, along asking for some explanations about the matter on the tournament probably.

"Roger. I'll be waiting then." She gives me her goodbyes and ends the call.

I fixed myself up, and then told Mom and Dad that I was going to visit a friend. When I heard something by the door, I looked out the window and saw the familiar giant limo. Takahashi-san greeted me as he opened the door. I never thought I would ride this thing again.

We eventually reached a very tall apartment in the nice part of the city. It looks like this part is in good shape despite the earthquake. At the door, Maya-san was waiting.

After our greetings we got inside and we rode the elevator.

"Meiya-sama will meet with you in her personal room. You shall be alone with her during your talk. I believe there is no need to remind you, however should we hear anything-"

"I'm not going to do anything to her, Maya-san." At least not physically. I don't know how she may take whatever I end up saying.

"Forgive my rudeness, Shirogane-sama. But now that Meiya-sama is the head of the Mitsurugi Group we have to be extra careful. And now that we know that you can defeat some of our best guards, it would be foolish not to warn you. Though I suppose it was just a waste of words."

"Were those really the best guards you had?" I'm genuinely curious. Those guys weren't so strong, and they were not particularly skilled either.

"Yes, while they were not as skilled as me or my cousin, they were certainly some of the best men we have."

"Huh." I never really realized how strong I got over there, compared to how things are here my squad would be like an elite team or something even before getting commissioned.

"If I might be so bold to ask, how did you get so strong? I was under the impression that you were a normal boy."

"So long as we have an objective, humans can do anything we put our minds into."

"Did you have a particular reason to pursue such strength?"

"To… protect those I care about. I don't want to stand watching when someone dear to me needs help."

"I see. So that's why you called us for help, despite knowing what you had done could have made us unwilling to listen to you."

"Basically. I knew that if it were for me, you wouldn't lift a finger. But since Sakaki and Ayamine were in danger…"

"You knew Meiya-sama wouldn't allow anything to happen to her friends. But there's something wrong with your reasoning, Shirogane-sama."

"Huh? What is it?"

"Had you been the one in danger… Meiya-sama would have taken far more drastic measures to ensure your safety."

…Huh?

"What do-" Before I could finish my question the door opened and Maya-san got out of the elevator.

She took me through some hallways until we reached a double door. Tsukuyomi-san was standing in front of it.

"Good work, Maya. Takeru-sama, Meiya-sama is waiting inside. Please, do go in. Just walk forward and you should reach the living room"

"Alright."

"Takeru-sama, if I may…" Tsukuyomi-san stops me just before I went into the room.

"What is it?"

"Could I ask you to refer to Meiya-sama as you used to? I know not of your reason, but please refrain from calling her by her surname." She was serious, I don't know what got into her.

Shouldn't it be the other way around? You should be telling me to show respect to her, not to talk to her casually. After what I did to you and what I said to her, she still wants me to call her Meiya? Does she still have feelings for me?

"…If you say so, I'll do it. Anything else?"

"No, forgive the interruption." She stands aside, leaving the way open.

I give a little bow to both of them before going into the apartment. But more than an apartment it looks like a mansion. This place is probably bigger than my house, though it's not surprising considering who is waiting for me here.

As I got to the living room, slowly minding my steps… I saw her. Couldn't help to squint my eyes, bite my lips, as I tried to bury those times where I wasn't enough. She was in a suit that reminded me of the UN uniform, gazing out the window.

Sighing hard, inhaling sharply, I swallow my fears and take that first steps towards her.

"H-Hello Meiya." I should try to start the conversation, whatever it is she wants to speak with me.

Just because she's always been nice to me doesn't mean she will always be like that, even less now after what I said. I have to give her my thanks properly.

She twitches as she heard my voice, but doesn't turn around to face me.

"…How are you faring, Takeru?"

"Feeling fine, despite all that has happened."

"I see. Please, sit down." She finally moves from the window and sits on a sofa.

I sat on a sofa that was in front of her, waiting for her to speak. She grabbed a cup and drank, keeping her gaze down. As she put it on her lap, she remained silent.

…How much time has passed? She's just there, drinking without even looking at me. Should I try to start the conversation? I can't really read her poker face now, so let's try to be civil.

"Um… Thanks for sending help so quickly in such short notice, Meiya. If it wasn't for you all the hostages would have certainly died back then."

"I see." She takes another sip, still not looking at me.

Is she collecting her thoughts? With how busy she is I don't think she would have called me here to do this.

"Uuh… I owe you an apology for what happened at the salon, assaulting your guards and Tsukuyomi-san. Sorry." I bow to her, but she still doesn't move an inch.

I don't know what else I can do in this situation. Why did she call for me? Or did she do it on impulse and is now regretting her decision? If she's having trouble putting her feelings in order, just talking might do the trick.

"Meiya, what did you want to talk about? Why did you call me here?"

"Would you happen to be in a hurry, perhaps?"

"No, just curious. It feels weird to be called by someone, and then be totally ignored."

"I am not ignoring you."

"Then, why-"

"Sakaki and Ayamine… passed away. From what the doctors I sent have told me, they had severe burns all over their body. They passed away yesterday."

"…I know. I went to check on them and ended up seeing Sakaki's mom devastated on the reception." She grimaces as she hears me.

So she was just being considerate. Sigh… Gotta stay cool. I can cry all I want back home, but for now I gotta keep my emotions under control.

"Sorry to have pressured you, and thanks again for sending help."

"You have no idea how worried I was." She finally looks at me, purple fire coming out of her eyes. "You suddenly call again, tell us about hostages and bombs, and you even expected us to give five million yen to the criminals?!" I have never seen Meiya so enraged, not even on the other world. Guess that's to be expected since we're not on good terms anymore.

"…Sorry." That's all I can say right now, since I couldn't do a thing yet again to help those I care about.

"Stop apologizing. It is unnecessary." She clears her throat and speaks again. "So, Takeru… How have you and Kagami been faring? I'm sure all this must be taking a severe toll on both of you. I heard from Tsukuyomi that Kagami's house crumbled during the earthquake, and that she is living with you now." She adverts her gaze at the end. So you still have feelings for me? "With all that has been going on, I didn't have the time to call you, and I needed Tsukuyomi by my side. Are you two alright?"

"I've been fine. Still have Mom and Dad, after all. Sure, can't say I'm alright, but I'm hanging in there."

"I see. You do seem… different, somehow." Our gazes met, she looks so different. This world's Meiya was always so shining, the other so resolute. Yet, her eyes now had a hint of a shadow in them. That confident air almost gone, Meiya was stiff as a statue. "And what about Kagami?"

"Sumika… died." No use in sugar coating it.

"Eh?"

"The day of the attack, when I returned home, Dad told me she was very weak, that they had to take her to the hospital. When we arrived, she was already…"

"What happened to her? Did she have some kind of internal damage?"

"No, the doctor couldn't find anything wrong with her. Her vitals just plummeted according to him." I know what happened. The digitalization of the brain or whatever it was called, I don't know how the causality balanced that but it's the source of her death.

"…How could this happen? Forgive me, Takeru. Making you remember this…"

"You didn't know. I'm sure you have more on your shoulders than me right now." She must be so busy with all the rescue and rebuilding efforts. And yet, she's sparing some time for me.

"Even so… Well, I'm truly sorry." She takes her cup again and drinks a slowly from it. After closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she faces me again. "Now then, about what I called you here for. Could you explain to me what happened in the salon?" She's dead serious. I don't think I'll be able to lie much, but she deserves an explanation.

"I was looking for everyone with Mikoto when we split up. I felt like someone was following me so I started to take random turns until I made it back to the lounge, where I saw Mikoto being forcefully taken to the elevator by some men in suits. Then the ones that were following me got close and asked me to go with them. I refused and they got violent."

"Why did you not agree? And why did you react so violently?"

"They started it. I was… tired, and I thought they wanted to harm us. When one of them started to threaten me and attacked me, I defended myself and lost my cool. The other guard said they weren't going to harm me, but when we got out of the elevator five other men tried to assault me. Then I stopped caring and started fighting seriously."

"I see. Did you not hear that they were sent by the Mitsurugi Group? I told them to inform everyone of that as soon as they got out of the elevator."

"No, I don't recall them saying anything about that. Maybe I was so angry I didn't hear them."

"Alright. Now then, can you tell why did you hurt Tsukuyomi?" This time I could feel the anger in her voice and eyes, those purple embers darkening as she frowned.

After all, Tsukuyomi-san is very dear to her and I smashed her against a wall. But how do I explain this? Can't tell her about my memories, that's for sure.

"I… was in a foul mood. After Tsukuyomi-san told me you were there, I knew the others were safe. But I felt that if I went inside, I would have ruined your party. Then I tried to leave and she grabbed my shoulder, I reacted on impulse and threw her away. That was not my intention, I swear. I'm sorry, I was just… angry at the time." At myself, as I remembered how useless I was during Operation Ouka.

"You still were angry after Tsukuyomi told you I was there? You weren't… happy that you could see me again?" Don't look so sad, dammit. You're only making this harder on me.

"I had just… recalled some bad memories. I didn't want to be near anybody at that time." Meiya's death comes back again. No, dammit! Keep it inside, don't lose it.

"Takeru? Why are you wincing? Is there a problem?"

"Sorry, I just…"

"What happened to you? You told Tsukuyomi you had… remembered our promise, right?"

"The one in the park?" She gives a nod, avoiding my eyes.

"You also told me… that you had someone else. But you were lying. Why did you say that?"

"What? Lying?" How does she knows that I'm lying? I mean, technically it's not a lie. "Meiya ,I wasn't lying about-" She interrupts me mid sentence, as she suddenly speaks up in a louder tone.

"I've kept a close eye on you… since I broke my engagement." She says as her voice slowly fades into a whisper.

"You got a close eye on me? You were stalking me?!" Meiya, what the hell?! I didn't knew she could be so… obsessive? Well, if she still has feelings for me…

"Huh? No, nothing of the sort! I just knew how you were doing in college and your general routine. Nothing more!" She says waving her hands around with a blush on her face.

"That's what stalking is, Meiya."

"No, it isn't! Nobody was following your every step, so it is not." Just how much does she know of what I've been doing? She's seriously scaring me right now.

"But why did you do that? Couldn't you just call me or something?"

"Well… yes, but…" Her gaze returns to the floor, as she starts fidgeting in her sofa. I wait for her to find the words to whatever she has to say. It's not normal to see her like this after all.

If anyone were watching us they wouldn't be able to tell this was the head of the most important business group in all of Japan talking with an average college student.

"Takeru, are you… angry about the promise?" Again with this?

"I told you I'm not, and I was the one-"

"No, you didn't. You haven't been in a relationship since you entered college." The way she says it as if it were a fact is somewhat scary, it's almost as if she were scolding me for even saying it. "Why do you lie? Are you trying to make me not feel guilty?"

"No, that's not it."

"Then, why? Do you not want to say that you truly are angry, and are using excuses to end the conversation?" Her cold tone returns as she shoots daggers at me with her eyes.

"Again, no. Just… I thought that you didn't want to see me anymore. That's the impression I got when I called Tsukuyomi-san to invite you to the meetup."

"Huh? Why would you-"

"She didn't talk to me like she used to. She kept the conversation short, was really cold to me, and it sounded as if I were a bother." That's how I felt after the thing, she kept answering in one or two words and hanged up without letting me finish talking.

"Tsukuyomi was just surprised. We didn't expect you to suddenly invite me somewhere after such a long time without contacting us."

"You live in a different world now, it's not like I can call you whenever I feel like. And with all that happened during the scandal…" I did feel conflicted back then, but settled on keeping my distance. What could I have said to her? Getting closer at the time would only have given her more problems with the media.

"That… was my fault for not standing my ground and accepting to marry another. I know you must have felt betrayed when you remembered our promise. Forgive me."

"No… that's… Don't apologize for that. I'm sure you were under a lot of pressure. You did nothing wrong Meiya. I don't hate you or anything, you're still Meiya to me. And I also didn't get a clue until it was too late." That's a lie. I looked the other way so that I wouldn't have to hurt anyone.

"Takeru… Thanks, you don't know how much it means to hear those words from you." And for the first time since we started talking, she smiles. "So, um, Takeru… now that we have cleared all the misunderstandings, would you tell me how have you been since we ended school?"

"Don't you already know that? Since you've been observing me." She shoots a glare at me while folding her arms.

"No, I don't. And I want to hear it from you. As well as the tournament, I was watching the entire time and it was truly amazing!"

Is this even safe? I mean, I shouldn't be a conductor anymore. But with everything that's been happening…

She stares at me with pleading eyes. What are you, a puppy?! Stop that! No, don't remember her last gaze. Don't remember her last words. And yet, she starts groaning while remaining staring. Ugh, fine. If it'll make her stop that, I'll talk with her for a little while. My heart can't take this.

"I mean, I don't mind telling you but, do you have the time? Are you not busy?"

"Do not worry, I left Tsukuyomi in charge of everything." She declares with her usual confidence.

"Which one? Tsukuyomi-san or Maya-san?"

"Maya? Takeru, why do you use her name?" Is she… upset? And why is she folding her arms like that? Oh, she's jealous.

"If I called both of them Tsukuyomi-san it would be confusing, right?"

"Yes, it would. But you could have simply called her Tsukuyomi." I can't believe she's slightly pouting because of something like this.

"I guess… But, well, before anything there's something I'd like to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Listen to me closely, and please don't freak out. I know that what I'm going to tell you sounds crazy." If I don't warn her now, I might not have the chance to do it later. Who knows what the hell is going to happen to Meiya if the causality brings her death's information here.

"Alright, just say it. I shall remain calm."

"Meiya, your life is in danger."

"What?" Can't blame you for not believing it.

"Remember how I told Tsukuyomi-san that the thugs may have explosives?"

"Yes. What has that to do with me? Are you saying they're going after my life?"

"Would you believe me if I told you I saw what was going to happen to Ayamine and Sakaki in a dream?"

"In a dream?" Of course she wouldn't believe me, I know this sounds crazy.

"Yes, I saw them dying in an explosion in many dreams I've had. And in one of those dreams I've been having lately…"

"You see me dying?"

"Yes, you're being… restrained by something. You cannot move, and there is a blast that destroy the place you were being restrained at." That's the best explanation I can come up with now, if I try to remember anymore I might start crying again.

"I'm restrained? And the place where I am explodes too?"

"You don't have to take me seriously, it might just have been a coincidence that what happened that day was similar to my dreams."

"If you felt like it was important enough to warn me, I'll take it to heart. Don't worry, Takeru. I'm not dying so easily." She shows me her usual wide, confident smile. The one only this world's Meiya makes.

"Heh, I know you won't."

"Now then, tell me about your first year in college. How was it?"

I think Meiya spent two hours asking me all kind of questions about college, my everyday life and the tournament. She told me how much her grandfather suffered to recover from the poison, and how horrible it was to be married to that man. She made an effort to remark many, many times that there was no love in their relationship and that nothing happened between them. She also told me of how hard it was to remain calm when all the media ganged up on her. She felt so far away from the life she had led when she was living with me, and she felt so guilty about breaking the promise that she couldn't bring herself to call me, or anyone from the school group. If only I had the guts to have called her back then…

"Meiya-sama, forgive me for interrupting you, but it is rather late. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." Maya-san spoke from the door that lead to the entrance.

"Is it so late already? Forgive me for keeping you here, Takeru. Would you like to have dinner with me?"

"Thanks for the offer, but I better go back home. Mom and Dad are surely worried about me."

"That's a shame, but we've spent enough time talking today. We'll continue our conversation another day. Maybe then I'll ask you to…" She breaks eye contact with me as her voice fades away.

"Ask me what?" She now looks somewhat sad, eyelids going down and lips twisting. I can guess what she wants to say, but since I want to leave this world I better shut up.

"…Nothing. Do not mind me. Tsukuyomi, please escort Takeru to his home. Takeru, I'll call you when I have some free time. If you ever are in need of anything, do not hesitate to call me."

"Thanks, but I'll try not to bother you too much. Well, I'll be going. Later Meiya. And… sorry for how I acted at the salon, and for what I said when you called."

"Do not worry about that, it's in the past now. See you later, Takeru." She gives me a smile as we stand.

Smiling suits you the best Meiya, I can only hope my warning was enough to prevent whatever is going to happen.

"Please follow me, Shirogane-sama."

"Sorry for the trouble, Maya-san."

"Just call her Tsukuyomi like I do, Takeru." Why is she so upset about it? She shouldn't get jealous of her subordinates.

Maya-san takes me to the elevator and later to Takahashi-san's limo. In just a few minutes I was back home.

I definitely didn't expect her to be so nice to me. It almost feels like she forgave me too easily. At least I got to warn her about what might happen.

Now, I gotta keep up with my training and wait until things settle down again. And I need to think on what I'm going to tell Sensei.

---

August 28th. 7 PM.

(Takeru's house)

---

The city was slowly being brought back to life. Mom and Dad returned to their jobs and their routines. My classes started again too, but I haven't gone back to college. I couldn't do a thing to help them, even though I knew something was going to happen. I find it amazing that I can even get out of bed. I usually wake up without opening my eyes, waiting to somehow find myself in my room in the barracks. Or that I would warp myself after setting foot outside. But obviously nothing happened.

I've been debating with myself what should I do now. Talking with Sensei was my first idea, but I don't know if she will help me. Last time she had some papers that the other Yuuko had sent her, so she may not believe me. And even if she did she may not be able to help me this time. At least nobody is forgetting about me this time.

Going back to the BETA world is my best option, but what would that achieve? Yuuko-sensei has forgotten about me there, going by her words, and if I'm not useful to her she won't be willing to help me. There's also the fact that if I'm not a conductor anymore I might not be able to return there in the first place.

Maybe I should just stay here and do what I can to save this world. But then, what can I do? If all the deaths in the BETA world come to this one things are going to get ugly. Who knows what humanity will do in the face of such a crisis without a common enemy to fight against.

As I left a kettle atop the fire, I sat down and turned the TV on.

"And in just a few minutes, the new power plant will be inaugurated. The Mitsurugi Group helped speed up the process by bringing professionals from-"

Right, part the old power plant stopped working after the earthquake so the new one got priority to get in working condition. It's apparently rather far away from the city since there were plans to expand it in the future.

This kind of thing will always surprise me, how on earth does Meiya arrange these plans in such a short time? We're talking about a whole power plant here, in just over a week.

She appears on the screen and starts giving a speech. She looks so different, almost as if the Meiya I know is another person entirely. This, somehow, feels as if I were seeing her imitating Her Highness as she did in front of Sagiri during the coup again.

Then the Mayor announces that they will start the plant, as Meiya cut a long ribbon that was on the gate of the power plant.

Then it came to life, many lights started shining. The news showed some houses light up again, the streets that were completely in the dark now were illuminated with bright clarity.

The city will recover from this, but that doesn't mean this will be the last incident. After all, the other side's city was ruined beyond possible repair, it wouldn't surprise me if suddenly the school got turned into a military base too.

Then, in one of the images, there was a spark. Then another. A light bulb broke. What is happening?

As the screen went back to the power plant I saw Tsukuyomi-san take Meiya away from the stage. Smoke was coming out of the power plant, then there was a bright flash. The signal was lost.

"What did just…"

"We are trying to connect to the site. We are awaiting for… Huh?" The lady in the screen made a horrified face.

I did too once she announced what had happened.

"It seems that… that the power plant has exploded. The cause is still unknown, and the damage is still being-"

Exploded? The power plant? Meiya was there, was this…

She died in an energy blast, almost like an explosion. What killed Meiya was the XG, the fact that she couldn't move was secondary. I killed her by shooting the blaster.

I don't think she could have made it out alive of such an explosion. She's… She's…

"…You've got to be kidding me." This wasn't an accident. This was, once more, the causality's ripple.

No tears fall this time despite the dread that floods my heart. It happened again. I got all of them killed again. I couldn't do a thing. Again. The deaths come back once more as I slowly shiver in place and the color vanishes from my sight as the world around me becomes black and white, a noise ringing in my ears, a cold sensation creeping up my back.

Didn't I stop being a conductor? Why is the causality following me then? Am I cursed to be followed by these disasters all the times I return here? I keep shivering in place, feeling a tightening noose on my lungs as if I were holding my breath underwater. Unable to cry, my chest moves up and down, my heart pulsating with the intensity of a full boost jump inside.

"Why… Why did she have to die too?! Sensei, you said everything was going to be alright once I wasn't a conductor anymore!"

I hit the table repeatedly in long intervals as I rest my head on top of it. Meiya died, Sumika died, Mikoto died, Tama died, Kei died, Chizuru died, Marimo-chan died. All over again.

What is this shit?! She said everything was going to be normal, that destroying what made me a conductor was enough!

"Why? Did she lie to me?! Was this another of her schemes or something?!"

Is this what I get after all that fighting?! To watch as my beloved ones die again in front of me?! To end up alone again?! To be unable to protect them?!

Or is all of this my fault? If only I wasn't here… this wouldn't have…

I should have erased myself when I recovered my memories. The timing of all the deaths is just after I regained them. Conductor or not, this isn't a coincidence.

This is my fault.

This is all my fault.

I shouldn't have come back if this was the price that had to be paid.

Why did she lie to me? Why, Yuuko? Was that last smile of yours a lie too? Why didn't you tell me this would happen?! I trusted in you… After all that happened… Why…

"Takeru we're home! Hey, you left the kettle on the fire!"

Doesn't matter, it's just a kettle Dad. I think I'll just go to sleep, I'm feeling like shit.

Like always, I can't do anything when it matters the most. In my first loops I was just a useless Cadet, when I got full of myself I went berserk and got the Instructor killed, then when I said I was a man I made Sumika unstable and fucked up the Sadogashima Operation, and in the end…

I was just a spectator pushing buttons. I couldn't even do it out of conviction, I hesitated to do it. Meiya was the one who, like always, got me on the right path. And then I ran back here. I didn't try to argue or to question anything. I accepted that my part was finished and ran away.

Humanity's hero… I'm nothing grand like that. The Valkyries and Yuuko were the true heroines of the war. I was… a liability most of the time. And in the end… all I achieve is to bring more and more pain to those around me.

…I shouldn't have returned.

"Takeru, I'm talking to you! Help your mother make dinner or something, did you take out the trash?"

Shut up, Dad. Can't you just give me some space?

"Hey, answer me when I talk to you!"

"…What?" He took a step back, he seemed scared.

"What's wrong with you, Takeru? Why do you look like that?" He got closer, curving his brows downwards.

"Look at the news." He seemed shocked about it, Mom had her jaw on the floor.

"Oh shit, things are going from bad to worse. How many people died this time?" Dad grimaced as a heavy sigh left him.

"Meiya was there."

"Huh? What?"

"Meiya was at the power plant when it exploded."

"You mean… the Mitsurugi girl that came here when you were in school?"

"Yes, she was inaugurating it."

"I see. But you don't have to be like this because of her, Takeru. You just knew her for a few months and then she disappeared from your life. With all the ugly rumors I've heard, you got lucky she got bored of you. Don't shed a tear for that woman, you got lucky to not have been wrapped up in her sick life."

…

…Dad, what the fuck did you just say?

"What did you say about Meiya, Dad?"

"Huh? She was just a thot, she only played around with you."

"You're wrong." I slowly stand up, taking a sharp breath. You better apologize now… while you still can.

"Huh? How so? She just came here, bribed us with money to do whatever she wanted, and when she got bored she left and never talked to you again. She was just a spoiled rich bitch. Sure, I don't wish a death like that to anyone, but-"

THWACK!

I sent Dad crashing into the wall with a single hit.

"You take that back! Apologize right now!"

"Ouch… Dammit, what the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Shut up! Apologize Dad! Say you're sorry!" I scream my pain, shredding my lungs out. For the first time ever, I saw him shaking.

"…Hey, what's gotten into you all of a sudden?"

"I told you to apologize! You take back those words or-"

"Takeru! Calm down! Are you out of your mind?!" Mom grabbed my arm and placed herself between us, glaring at me.

"Mom, stay out from this. He better apologize, or else-"

"Hey, Takeru… I'm sorry, so please calm down. Okay?" Dad said slowly as he got up, moving both hands down as he did. I felt my heart in offside once the rush subsided. "Were you two still in contact?"

"It's not about distance. She… Meiya was…" I narrow my eyes, biting my lips in silence.

Dad sighs, rubbing his chin and looking away. What do you know anyways? You never had to fight for your life ever. I close my eyes, feeling tears come out of them.

"Takeru, why are you crying?" Mom gets close to wipe my cheeks of the rain that had started to fall. "What happened? Were you two still friends?"

"She was… important to me." I claw at my palms, having nothing to throw my frustration at. Meiya… and everybody else… Because of me being here, they had to die all over again. I close my eyes and finally let the tears out without fighting the pain.

"Um… Sorry for saying bad stuff about her. I shouldn't have… not after what happened to Sumika-chan… I'm really sorry, Takeru." Dad comes closer and clasps my shoulders, shaking me a little as he stared into my eyes. "Takeru, these things… It's completely out of our control. I've lost many friends during these days too. I don't know how much it must hurt, but… don't take it so hard. Life goes on." That's the problem, Dad.

What's the point? Why live on if you end up alone? If I can't go back to the BETA world… I don't think I'll be able to live with this guilt. How could I carry on… How could I move on from this? How could I try to help this world if… all the shit over there comes here? Who would believe me? What could I do?

Nothing. There's nothing an average college student like me can do. Again… I would only be able to watch.

…I shouldn't have remembered, I shouldn't have come back. Because of me being here…

"…I'm going to bed. Night." I don't feel like dealing with these two. They know nothing, and they were never there when I needed them. Always doing whatever they pleased without any explanation.

"Takeru, you should eat something. It'll be bad for your health if you don't." Thanks Mom, but no thanks.

"I don't feel like it." I feel like dying right now. Just give me some space, dammit.

"Takeru, you sound like a dead man. You have to eat something!"

"You're wrong." I'm still alive. They died. Because of me.

"What do you mean? If you don't eat, you won't have energy to-"

"Just leave me alone."

"Takeru! Wipe that look from your face! You're having dinner and that's final!" She grabs my faces and drills her gaze into me.

She was trying to hold it together, but the darkness of worry in her eyes snapped me out of my inner misery. I'm not the only one hurting, after all.

"Sigh… Fine. I'll go take a shower. Sorry." I really can't get mad at them. They're just worried about me. They're… all I have right now, until the causality comes for them too.

The sudden realization froze my heart. They… were dead over there, weren't they?

"That's better. Don't be so down, I know it's going to be hard, but you can't let your sadness ruin your health." She smiles and gives me a gentle push towards the bathroom.

I got in there, went into the shower, and opened the water. I just stood there, letting the water flow over me for minutes. Hidden under the warm water, my tears run amok. I lean on the wall, coiling my fists and letting the sounds of the shower drown my pained screams.

According to Sensei I shouldn't be a conductor anymore, so she was either mistaken or something is wrong here. But she said I would end up in a world that was affected by Sumika's wishes as she died… I don't see this as that world.

That world's Yuuko-sensei lied to me. Either that or this is something so messed up even she didn't see it coming.

But that… doesn't absolve me from the guilt. I could have acted before this got to this point. And I didn't.

Sumika, Meiya, Kei, Chizuru, Mikoto, Tama, Marimo-chan, everyone from the Valkyries, and all the innocents I involved in this… Forgive me for failing again.

I'll do better next time… I swear… so please…

Give me another chance… to truly fix this mess.

Please, tell me there's a solution to this madness. Please Sensei… Tell me you didn't lie. Tell me you have an answer.