Right after Shidou collapsed, Reine surprised everyone by being the first one to prevent him from hitting the ground, moving at lightspeed.
She immediately took him to the infirmary, helped and followed by the Spirits, whom Shidou's unexpected reaction startled.
Only Kotori remained behind in the main control room, along with Elliott Woodman and Karen Mathers.
Kotori took several deep breaths in order to calm down and spoke up.
"If anything happens to Shidou after that, I will not forgive you. Even if it's you, Woodman-sama."
It was the first time Kotori ever talked to Woodman like this. She always respected and admired Ratatoskr's chairman, but the truth he hid for so long as well as her worry for Shidou were too much.
Neither Karen nor Woodman bulged at Kotori's words. Maybe, because her anger was perfectly justified.
Woodman simply nodded.
"I would understand, Commander Itsuka. But I felt like I had to tell him that story, and to you as well. You deserve to know the truth and I can assure you my intentions were not to harm your brother in any way."
"That, I can believe. But still…"
Kotori played with her ribbons, offered by Shidou, thinking.
Learning that her brother was someone else who had somehow been given a second life was hard both to understand and to accept.
Besides, was it even possible? For a moment, Kotori thought that maybe, it was false or wrong but the pieces of the puzzles fell together perfectly.
It was not like Woodman to mistake someone and Mana's presence and story, as well as the fact that she somehow knew Shidou was her brother, now made sense.
However, did it mean that the existence known as "Itsuka Shidou" was ephemeral? Did he exist only for the sake of his past self? Was he another person?...
Was "Itsuka Shidou" going to disappear one day?...
After all… if he appeared, or came back to life one way or another… the possibility of him dying as suddenly was also real.
At that thought, Kotori shivered.
For her, her brother was her savior…no, he was more than that. To say he was her most precious treasure was not an exaggeration.
And aside from her, Kotori apprehended what the potential disappearance of Shidou would cause.
Shidou had saved countless lives without knowing it by preventing the existences known as Spirits to cause spacequakes and moreover, had saved these very Spirits.
If he were to disappear…
There was no doubt that every Spirit would Inverse.
Kotori suddenly had a terrifying idea.
What if all of this was orchestrated by DEM?
A way to harm Shidou without having to fight Ratatoskr, so all the Spirits under their protection would Inverse?
(No… I am thinking too much. There is no reason to believe Shidou will disappear. And this whole thing, is surely an accident, caused by something Woodman-sama himself is not aware of…)
"Commander Itsuka. You better go and see if Itsuka Shidou is fine. I am certain he will need you. I shall take my leave with Karen and keep you in touch. We do not know how DEM will attack but if they are willing to do everything to kill your brother, we better prepare ourselves for an open and decisive battle."
Kotori lightly bowed and exited the control room, heading for the infirmary.
When she arrived there, Shidou had been laid on the bed of Fraxinus's infirmary.
The room next to the infirmary was a small office, unfit for the actual number of people present at this very moment.
Chief analysist Murasame Reine was talking to Tohka, Yoshino – and Yoshinon –, Yuzuru, Kaguya, Miku, Origami, Natsumi, Nia and Mukuro when Kotori joined them.
Reine had a hard time trying to calm them, given the commotion caused by Shidou suddenly collapsing.
"Everyone. I will explain to you what happened to Shin."
It was unusual for the Spirits to see Reine in such a state. She herself looked very affected, as if she had lost her legendary composure.
"From the things Shin mumbled and our own hypothesis, based on chairman Woodman's story… It looks like Shin is sharing his body and conscious with another one. Somehow, Shin already has memories of a previous life."
"I always knew Boy was special but to think he had the power of reincarnation… that's…"
Reine shook her head.
"I don't know if this is reincarnation. His brain wavelengths are however in conflict… I've never seen that before. Without the testimony of Elliot-san, we could have easily mistaken that state for schizophrenia."
"Nushi-sama…"
"Shidou-san is still… Shidou-san?"
Nia, Mukuro and Yoshino voiced their worries.
"It seems surreal but given the circumstances, we have no choice but to accept that possibility" Origami said. "And from my point of view, it doesn't seem that strange. Shidou can regenerate fatal wounds, he has travelled back in time, among other things. Reincarnation seems a small feat."
Origami's comments made everyone smile bitterly.
"Muuu…but why did Shidou lose consciousness? Why did his nose bleed?" Tohka asked, confused and concerned.
"That, I can explain."
Reine played with her stuffed teddy bear in her breast pocket a moment.
"Humanity has always been looking for immortality. Today, science allow us to understand the body better, but that goal – reaching immortality – is still impossible as of now. There are two main reasons to that."
All the Spirits were now listening carefully. It did not concern them, as Spirits seemed not to age, but it was about Shidou's condition so it was important.
"The first one is of course the human body. It is simply not lasting. An average human will live for roughly eighty years though people reaching a hundred years are not that rare. Aside from diseases, the human body just dies with time. The heart, the brain, the stomach… all the organs, or rather our cells, age. That is merely logic but important."
"Indeed. Mortals whom are not granted the Holy Grail cannot last through the ages" Kaguya said while nodding as if she was a wise old man.
"Confusion. Did Kaguya just make a Fate reference to look cool?"
"Ugwah! I am discovered!"
"If you're that enthusiastic about it, I think you only played the first route with the nudity filter on…" Nia smiled.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Suddenly, they noticed Kotori's glare and stopped.
"Thank you" Reine said. "Then, allow me to continue…"
"Yes. Sorry."
"Apologies."
"The second cause lies in the soul. One can only have one soul."
"Soul?" Miku tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"Excuse me. It has been determined that your memories, your habits, your knowledge…everything that makes you "yourself" are, one way or another, stocked in your neuronal system. That identity is what we call "soul". There are billions of connections there, billions of informations that just represent what you are. Basically, these informations are filling up your neuronal system, thus, they can be called a soul."
"Filling up… like a pork cutlet curry bowl?"
Tohka tilted her head.
"…well, this is not the best picture, but yes, you can imagine it like this. The thing is, Shin already has a "soul", an identity within him. For some reason, after chairman Woodman talked to him, another one awoken. But the human neuronal system is not designed for this situation. All these informations, coming from different lives, are probably conflicting with each other."
Reine raised a finger.
"Imagine that you know that your favorite color is green. It's something engraved in you. But all of sudden, another information is forcefully engraved in you as well: your favorite color is red. It creates a conflict, a sense of unease."
"Yeah… It's like, when you try to decide which song you prefer, right?"
"Indeed, it's a good comparison. Now you may spend some time thinking about it but it's not an issue. However, it's still a conflict. But in, Shin's case… Imagine that it concerns his whole existence."
"Muuu?..." Tohka looked lost.
"… if you try to fill an already pork cutlet curry bowl with a bowl of pudding, it will not only overflow but destroy the flavor of both of them."
"Oooh, I see now!"
Tohka's exclamation was quickly followed by a worried expression.
"But… Shidou…"
"That's right. That is surely his current condition. Having the memories of two distinct lives battling inside of him is affecting not only his "self" but also his body and mind."
"And if there is no solution… maybe we better prepare ourselves for the worst… I mean, in movies and anime, it never ends well…" Natsumi muttered.
"No… If anything were to happen to Darling, I'd better kill him myself and then follow in the grave, Roméo and Juliette style!" Miku firmly said.
"Why do I have the feeling that you are enjoying this even a bit…" Natsumi whispered.
"Muku could not bear the loss of Nushi-sama… Nushi sama hast…saved Muku…" Mukuro said in dejection. "Tell Muku that a way exists to save Nushi-sama…"
"There is. Please calm down. In order to stabilize Shin's condition, we will have to first anchor his memories. Which is why, I want all of you to go and talk to him. I want you to make him remember who he really is… as long as it is related to a moment of the life you shared with him, it will help him to determine his true self. This method is also use for people who had a cerebral stroke. It helps to stimulate the brain cells that contain the memories and the body functions."
"Yes. I've heard of that therapy for patients suffering of memory loss or brain damages. " Origami nodded. "But… is this a solution in the long run? Even if we do that, the thing is, the memories of that Shinji Takamiya will still haunt him."
"Indeed" Reine answered calmly. "I am sorry about that, but the only way we will have is to erase Shin's other self."
"…"
The Spirits observed a tensed silence.
"Is it the same as… killing him?..." Kaguya finally asked.
"Yes… and I am truly sorry about that" Reine sincerely said. "But there is place for only one Shin here. Think about it. If the person you loved the most were to live only if you killed someone else… would you do it?"
Kaguya blushed, but all the Spirits thought the same thing.
Between the life of a stranger and Shidou's…
Yes… if they had no other choice, they would do it.
Not that they wanted to. But between a ghost of the past, and Shidou…
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Nia demanded. "To erase a soul? Do you have a special skill to do so or a legendary item?"
"It is possible I already found the solution, but I need more time to confirm it. Then, please."
Shidou woke up in an infirmary bed. His memories were hazy.
It was the same state one would sometimes feel after a good night: being unable to remember who and where they were.
Excepted this horrible feeling did not go away.
Shidou didn't know who he was anymore. He doubted his own existence.
Having memories of two different lives was as shocking and confusing as to be amnesic.
Which memory were you to believe?
Who were your real parents?
Your real family?
Your preferred dish?
The girl you liked?
The color of your toothbrush?
Which school did you attend?
When was your birthday?
Your favorite manga?
Your neighbours?
All these details built one's identity.
And the main issue here was that, by believing in one, he would reject the other.
But since he was also this other person, since he did really live these moments, it was the same as destroying himself.
An endless, torturing loop where "Shidou" was the judge, the executioner and the victim.
And as the person known as "Shidou" was about to lose his mind, the Spirits entered his room.
At first, he almost did not recognize them.
But a part of himself could never forget.
And so, one by one, the Spirits retold Shidou their stories, how they met, how he saved them and how they fell for him.
Tohka made him remember how he was the first one to accept her in this world.
Kaguya and Yuzuru how he allowed them to live together and grant their wish.
Yoshino and Yoshinon how kindly he behave with them.
Miku how he reminded her that she was still human.
Mukuro how being loved was pleasant.
Natsumi how friendship was a wonderful thing.
Origami how it felt to truly know parental love.
Kotori confessed how it was reassuring to have a big brother like him but worrying at the same time.
Each one of these stories appeased Shidou.
They comforted him for who he was.
He was almost the same as before, laughing with embarrassment despite his weakened state.
The shadow of the person known as Shinji Takamiya was now pushed back in a corner of his consciousness, overwhelmed by all these souvenirs belonging to Itsuka Shidou.
The room that looked so gloomy half an hour before was now resonating with laughter, exclamations and filled with warmth.
It simply looked like a group of friends visiting an ill close person – excepted that they were all girls and the ill one a boy –.
Eventually, Nia's turn came last.
Again, she told Shidou her whole story and how she had been saved by him from a certain death.
"All these years, I refused to believe in people. I had lost faith in humanity… and what disgusted me the most was that I used to be human" Nia said. "But you… have been the first one I accepted. Because you didn't lie to me. Because you were exactly what you looked like… a hero" she whispered.
Shidou made a wry smile. Being complimented by an older girl had this kind of effect.
"I'll never be able to repay you. But to you, who are used to save damsels in distress, I'm probably only girl #9."
"No, that's not…"
"But even if that's the case… Thank you, Boy…no. Thank you, Shidou."
It was perhaps the second time where Nia called Shidou by his name.
The sincerity of Nia's feelings were conveyed to Shidou the moment she called her by his name.
Both of them blushed, raising graosn and murmurs from the other Spirits.
"To me, you are Shidou. You are not Shinji Takamiya or whatever is his name. You are Shidou. The one who saved me. The one I l… the one who saved all of us. So please, don't lose yourself. Stay with us…"
Nia's declaration became a plea.
She was begging him to stay as he was.
To stay with them… with her.
"It'll soon be a month since we met each other, Boy. I want at least to celebrate this anniversary. So please…"
Shidou smiled, his cheeks slightly red.
"An anniversary, huh… I like this idea. We should make more anniversaries."
"Aaah unfair! I want to celebrate my meeting with Darling everyday!" Miku interjected.
"Everyday is already an anniversary" corrected Origami.
"Muuu, Shidou, an anniversary isn't when you eat cake?"
Nia's suggestion soon was adopted by every Spirit in the room.
Then, she smiled again and presented her hand to Shidou, her little finger raised.
"Let's make a pinky promise to make it official, alright? Like in shoujo mangas! A promise to hold more anniversaries and to rejoice. And if you don't keep it, you'll have to swallow a thousand needles!"
Shidou chuckled.
"Uwah, scary… I guess I'd better keep my word then."
He smiled and approached his little finger from Nia's.
However.
At this moment.
Shidou twitched and blinked his eyes several times, as if he was waking up.
He stopped his gesture, aghast.
Shidou's eyes looked to everyone in the room, to the room itself, and finally to himself.
"Wh-what…"
"Boy?"
"Where am I?..."
"Shidou?"
"Shidou…san?..."
"Darling?"
"Nushi-sama?"
"Who are you… who are you, all of you? Where am I?!"
Shidou began to shake and tried to stand back, which was hard since he was in an infirmary bed surrounded by girls he didn't recognize.
"No…you are… the girls he met… No, it can't be, because it would mean I am… But where are… Mio? Mana?!"
Nia froze and tried to get a grip on herself, her hand and little finger still raised.
"Nee, Boy, stop joking around…it's me…"
"Who are you in the end?! Are you from these DEM guys?! Don't come near me!"
Shidou's words pierced Nia's heart, when she realized she was not talking to Shidou.
His voice was filled with fear, confusion and sobs.
"Where am I?! Mio?! Mana?! MANA!"
Shidou began to yell and sob at the same time.
He started to struggle violently.
"H-hey! Stop it! You'll hurt yourself!"
Kotori tried to stop her brother.
Incidentally, at this moment, Mana entered the room, her ponytail swinging.
She claimed to be Shidou's biological sister and shared resemblance with him, from the color of her hair and her boyish manners.
"Nii-sama!"
"Mana!... I was dead… I am… Mana!"
"Nii-sama! It's alright! I'm here! I'm right here!"
Mana pushed the Spirits aside and immediately embraced Shidou, who looked like a lost child, sobbing and crying to be found.
Eventually, Shidou fell asleep from exhaustion.
Kotori immediately left the room to talk with Reine and to get explanations about what had just happened as well as to find a way to cure Shidou.
Mana, usually so cheerful, was patting her brother's head.
Shidou's face was pale and wet with tears.
All the Spirits were tensed and silent.
"… I just arrived and I crossed the path of chairman Woodman… He explained me everything. Like Nii-sama, I had a severe headache, but I now recall everything… And Nii-sama is…"
"…"
Nia was shocked.
How did they come to that situation?
Shidou was supposed to feel better. He was smiling, laughing, he was himself.
So why?...
Nia shook her head, trying to put order in her thoughts.
She had to behave like the heroine of a shoujo manga ; she could not afford to lose her time and become depressive.
"Nee, Manacchi…"
"Stop calling me like that, I'm not a Pokémon…"
"You said you did not collapse like Boy…does that mean, you are still yourself?"
Nia's question was quite vague but everyone in the room get what she meant.
Was it possible for Mana to be a "reincarnated" person too?
"… yes."
"How is that possible?"
Mana laughed bitterly.
"It seems DEM applied several modifications to my body and sealed my memories. Because of that, I gained my actual strength, but my lifespan has decreased and I kept my childish appearance. Though the first issue has been solved by Ratatoskr. Technically, I didn't… die."
"And Boy…"
"… I don't know what really happened back there since DEM kidnapped me at that time. But… Nii-sama…"
Mana did not achieve her sentence.
Silence came back, with a growing uneasiness.
Nia didn't like that. It was her role to dispel this kind of heavy atmosphere…
"Say, imouto-chan #2…"
"Why don't you just call me Mana?!"
"Your first Nii-sama… No, Shinji Takamiya. How was he?..."
That question made the other Spirits raise their heads as it was truly intriguing.
"… why are you asking that?"
"I am curious. Isn't it natural for an author?"
"I guess…"
Mana took a look at Shidou's sleeping face and closed the eyes to gather her memories.
"Nii-sama… was a coward, indecisive, timid, easily flustered virgin!"
That sudden declaration surprised the Spirits, who expected a passionate and lovey dovey speech from a brocon sister.
"He could never take a decision by himself, he could never say no to someone – especially a girl – and he would always come back earlier at home, not going in any club!"
"Mmmh…for some reason, I can picture that character very well…"
Nia had a smile, while Mana was still grumbling.
Eventually, she grinned.
"Yes, Nii-sama was just like this. But… he was also kind. He would always lend a hand to someone needing assistance. Since our parents were often overseas for business trips, Nii-sama was a very skilled cook. Nii-sama… was ready to save even a stranger. You know, he's the type of person to help a granny cross the street, and so on."
Mana paused and suddenly pouted.
"But he was also reckless, imprudent and not paying enough attention to himself!"
That made all the Spirits chuckle.
Mana's description perfectly matched the Shidou they knew.
Nia's hilarity came to an end.
"Yes… it is exactly the Boy I know…"
"But…if Shidou-san and Shinji-san are so similar… why is that they fight?..." Yoshino asked.
"Yes… I too find it strange" Mana said. "The two Nii-sama I know would be ready to give up on their own life to save someone else. So… why, indeed…"
"Suggestion. Maybe because… both of them have something they hold dear in their heart. Something so precious they would definitely live for it…"
It was Yuzuru who suggested that, with a desolated expression.
For once, Kaguya did not find any chuuni thing to say and remained quiet.
The other Spirits nodded in silence.
When they were persuaded that they had to fuse and that one of them would disappear, the Yamai Sisters wanted the other one to live at all cost.
They even fought to save the other.
However, in the end, they admitted that they didn't want to disappear but to live and spend more time together.
"…how about we go and eat something?" Nia suddenly proposed. "It's not like we're helping Boy and ourselves by staying here…it's quite cramped. We better try to relax ourselves and fill our stomachs!"
At the same moment, Tohka's belly growled.
"Umu! And we'll bring back Shidou lots of food so he can get better quickly!" the black haired princess approved.
"… you're saying that because you know that we're only being a hindrance to him and that if he awakes again as Shinji Takamiya he will be scared and faint again–"
"Stop, Natsumin. If you keep going like that you will really scare him" Nia interjected.
"..Sorry."
"Approval. Staying here to weep and make theories will not be of any good."
"Guuuh…it pains this noble me to admit it, but the truth is I need to refill my energy…"
In truth, even if they voice their approval, the Spirits did not really want to leave Shidou alone.
They secretly feared to find someone who would not be the one they knew.
But at the same time, they wanted to escape the terrible atmosphere filling the lonely room.
Yes, it was as if they were witnessing the last instants of a close one.