Writer's Note: Well, here we go. Last sprint to the finish line for this "Season". Anyways, since I don't celebrate my birthday, I guess I'll just invert it and give you all a present instead. Enjoy the next chapter.
CapoExecutor: Sooner than you might expect, my friend. Sooner than you might expect.
JohnPeacekeeper: Yeah, Vine always gets his butt kicked. He's got "Grade-A Cannon-Fodder Denizen" stamped all over his arse. Come to think of it, I don't think anyone's ever really given the concept of "disappearing" in the SnS universe serious thought. Do you realize just how much implication and affect is involved when a person disappears? Especially when there's unconsumed direct family members in the picture? It makes my head spin... As for Kumiko Nakamura... that might not be a bad idea. XD
Isekaijin: Thank you. Keep your fingers crossed, we're nearing the end of the first section of this crazy ride.
The Light Hidden in the Shadow: Well, thanks. Frankly, I'm just relieved that most of the readers didn't take to the idea too badly.
ColinatorGX: Thanks. You flatter me, seriously. Chigusa smiling and whupping Denizen arse? Scary, no? Frankly, the whole idea for Yuji having been responsible for that part of Shana's past just kinda... came to me while I was idly sitting in the family car one day. And as for whether Yuji recognizes Shana or not... I guess you'll just have to find out, no? XD
"...We're now on the final stretch of the first, aren't we?"
The Writer of Questionable Stories nodded.
"Quite. With just six more chapters or so to go after this, we'll finally have a lid on this situation. I can't wait to finally get a break and take a vacation."
"Don't get your hopes up too soon. With your propensity for drinking inordinate amounts of guava juice, and your constant propensity for writing... Anyway, don't be so eager to end it all. Besides, it seems like you've actually garnered a few fans."
The Writer of Questionable Stories frowned as he looked up from his papers.
"...That's what I'm afraid of."
The lazy days of summer were nearing their end. At Misaki High's swimming pool, the students were gathered for swim classes, shrieking and yelling with delight as they were gathered at the water's edge.
TWEEEET!
Setting down his whistle, Sydonay called out to his students.
"All right everyone, you've got fifteen minutes left for this period, so I'm leaving the rest of the time as free activity for you to do with as you please. Enjoy yourselves."
Most of the class cheered and promptly began jumping or diving into the chlorinated water. Hecate, in sharp contrast, was simply engaged with sitting at the water's edge and staring over at Yuji, who was happily paddling in the shallow end a short distance away. Despite the placid expression she outwardly showed, Hecate's mind was intensely focused on the young boy swimming in the water in front of her.
Hirai-kun... I am not giving up on you. I'll never let you go. Ever.
Shana, swimming over in the deep end of the pool, suddenly noticed Hecate staring in Yuji's direction. The female Mystes scowled and dove back into the pool as her own face suddenly started to turn red with the memory of the kiss she'd given the Flame Haze all those weeks before.
Suddenly, her scowl deepened as she saw a pair of legs in the water. Ascending, Shana took a deep breath as she surfaced next to Yuji. The frown was still on her face as she looked over in the direction of two particular figures standing in the pool and gestured with a nod.
"Oi, Yuji... are you sure it was a good idea to let those two live? It's kinda... weird having them here in this school."
Yuji blinked as he looked over in the direction indicated by Shana and glanced at the Doubting Couple, now forever forced to live out the rest of their lives as ordinary humans instead of the Denizens that they really were. Tanaka and Ogata were busily engaged in a small argument.
"...You idiot! You're not supposed to swim that way! You're dragging your legs during the kick, and you're moving your arms too slow... Honestly, and here I thought you just might be able to-"
"Now, now, Oga-chan... don't be so angry..."
"I'm not angry! You're just being so irritating! Stupid Tanaka!"
Suffice it to say, the argument was heavily one-sided. Yuji chuckled as he watched two continue their awkward, lopsided bickering.
"I don't think there's much of a problem having those two here. I actually think they're taking to the whole thing pretty well. Plus, as long as they keep showing up here, it'll be easier for us to keep an eye on them."
Shana huffed.
"Hmph. Whatever..."
Above the skyline of Misaki City, a lone girl in ruffled, shoulder-length tan hair stood atop the highest tower. Clothed on her slender but curvaceous form was a long, loose overcoat of intricate color, with pastel patterns that would have looked well on a summer kimono. Slung over her shoulder was a massive, oblong object swathed in coarse cloth.
As the girl continued to look out over the city, one of her hands brought up a strange-looking monocle of gold to her eye. Flames of azure soon winked into view.
A playful and mischievous smile came to her face as she lowered the peculiar looking-glass and hopped off her perch.
SHAKUGAN NO YUJI?
Chapter 1776: An Old Story
"Well, that's quite odd..."
"Thousand Strategies" Ike scratched his head as he waited in one of the myriad hallways that ran through the length of the Palace of the Stars, the headquarters of Bal Masque.
A short distance away, a girl with short brown hair and dressed in white robes had a worried expression on her face. Anxiety laced the tone of her voice as she spoke.
"...Ike-kun, what's going on? The entire Palace of Stars has been vacated. Just what are you planning to do with the Midnight Lost Child anyway?"
The Denizen gave the girl a strange smile, one that was disturbingly intermingled with love and obsession.
"Now, now... don't get your pretty little head all mixed up with worry, my dear 'Siege Glorious'. Suffice it to say, it'll all be for your own benefit, my lovely Kazumi. By the time we've finished, this entire Palace of Stars will become a bottomless fountain of Power of Existence... and you'll have an eternal existence to call your very own."
Kazumi's frown only deepened, but said nothing as a new figure ran into the hallway. Ike's smile turned into an annoyed scowl as he recognized the visitor.
"Ah... she's here. Perfect lady for the job, but..."
Kazumi blinked as the approaching figure resolved itself into the form of a young girl, wearing eyeglasses and sporting short, dark hair that seemed to bear a peculiar mixed tone of olive-green and black. Draped over her slim figure was a spotless white lab coat. Ike tried his best to conceal a groan as the female Denizen ran forwards.
"Ike-kun! It's been awhile! Listen, I got your call about the Midnight Lost Child, and I swear, the ideas I've got for handling the matter are boundless! But I'll need you to look them over and make sure they're carried out properly..."
Before "Thousand Strategies" could move or react, the bespectacled girl grabbed him by the hand and dragged him down the hallway. Ike's shouts of protest could be heard bouncing off the walls.
"'Restless Seeker', wait! Fujita, I said, WAIT...!"
Heedless of his words, "Restless Seeker" Fujita, Bal Masque's resident scientist, continued to drag Ike down the hall. Ike turned back and looked over in Kazumi's direction beseechingly one last time before he was dragged around a corner. The voice of the Siege Glorious held a note of anxious concern as it spoke.
"...I wonder if he'll be all right..."
The early morning sun shone brightly over the suburbs of Misaki City, and over the small, slim figure of Shana, busily engaged in a morning jog. Alastor's Cocytus hung onto a strap next to her waist.
"I don't get it... Why is Yuji ditching today's morning training?"
Alastor's voice was a mixture of soothing placation and rumbling confidence.
"I think your guardian Wilhelmina wanted him to assist her with something in the kitchen. In any case, don't worry so much about Yuji. He has good reasons for whatever he does. Don't drop your pace."
"Understood."
"Eh? You want me to teach you how to... cook?"
Yuji blinked in mild bewilderment as Wilhelmina nodded.
"Truly, it is so. I am... lacking in that skill. Shana is a growing girl, and I have come to the conclusion that instant cup-noodles are lacking in the nutrients necessary for her healthy development. Also..."
Wilhelmina's face fell, her features showing a degree of consternation.
"...I wish to be a better parent for her. Truly, I cannot replace the ones she has lost, but I must do my best."
Yuji was quiet for a long moment before he finally spoke.
"So... you're not her real mother, huh?"
Wilhelmina sadly shook her head.
"Truly, I am not."
"Does Shana ask or say anything about them?"
Another shake of the head.
"No. She never mentions them. Truly, I think she does not have any recollection of them now."
Yuji turned abruptly quiet. Somewhat puzzled, Wilhelmina looked over to Yuji. For a brief moment, Shana's guardian could have sworn that she'd seen a look of intensely pained regret flash across his face. However, the look was gone before Wilhelmina could blink. Smiling widely, Yuji turned to Wilhelmina and grabbed an apron off a nearby hook.
"Understood. All right, I guess I could teach you a few pointers. First, you'll have to..."
Reaching the crest of the embankment, Shana paused for a brief moment as she looked out over the Mana River. All the way down the length of the embankment, the female Mystes could see workmen hanging up various wickerwork ornaments and paper lanterns on nearby posts. Shana smiled at the sight as she realized what was going on.
"Ah... they're getting ready for the Misago Festival."
Alastor's voice had a questioning note of curiosity in it as he spoke.
"Misago Festival?"
Shana nodded as she continued to stare over at the workmen, busily engaged in setting up the decorations.
"Yeah. It's like this big party that Misaki holds every year. It's really popular. The food's pretty good, too. A shame they don't sell melon bread in the stalls, though... Nonetheless, it's a lot of fun."
Suddenly, Shana's smile fell as her mind drifted back.
Wilhelmina told me that I used to attend this festival with my parents a lot when I was really young. But... I don't remember anything about it. It might have been because I was so young back then. But then again... it's like there's no trace of them left in the world. When I was younger, I used to find it odd that I couldn't find anything with my parents in it. I used to think that they'd just simply abandoned me. But now, after having met Yuji... I can't help but wonder now, sometimes...
The female Mystes' voice was quiet as she finished the rest of her thought out loud.
"...Did they get eaten by a Crimson Denizen?"
Alastor's voice mumbled in puzzled confusion.
"Hmm? Something the matter?"
Shana, snapped out of her brown study, quickly shook her head.
"No. It's... it's nothing. Anyway, what about Yuji? Do you think he'd be interested in going?"
Alastor chuckled softly.
"Considering that this is Yuji that we're discussing here... I have no doubt that he would be very much interested in going."
Shana's smile returned in full force.
Hecate looked up at the workmen busily engaged in the act of putting up festival decorations.
The Misago Festival... This year... I will tell him. I will tell Hirai-kun...
Looking up towards the nearby embankment that skirted the edge of the Mana River, Hecate spotted a familiar, unwelcome figure running along the embankment's crest. The teal-haired girl's eyes narrowed.
I will not lose to you.
Yuji chuckled in wan sympathy as he looked over at the soggy, half-charred blackened lump that sat on the plate in front of Wilhelmina. Shana's guardian had a decidedly... dissatisfied look on her face as she stared down at the food fiasco sitting in front of her.
The dish sitting in front of Yuji, in stark contrast, was a beautifully crafted little pile of stir-fried vegetables, beef, and rice.
Still chuckling, Yuji shrugged.
"Well... it takes some practice. I didn't do very well myself on my first try. And at least you didn't burn the kitchen down."
"Truly, however, I came close to doing it. If you had not acted as quickly as you did with the fire extinguisher..."
Suddenly, the front door to the apartment could be heard opening. Shana's voice echoed down the front hall as she walked in.
"...I'm home."
In the blink of an eye, Wilhelmina dumped the misshapen lump into the garbage disposal and slid the plate into the dishwasher. A moment later, Shana walked into the kitchen. Yuji looked up from the plate of stir-fry he was wrapping with cellophane.
"Welcome back."
"Yuji, I'm done with the training."
Shana walked over to hand back Alastor's Cocytus, but then paused in mid-step as a peculiar smell reached her nose. Sniffing and wrinkling her nose in disgust, Shana suddenly looked over in Wilhelmina's direction.
"Wilhelmina."
"Yes?"
"...Were you trying to cook something again?"
"Truly, what brings you to that conclusion?"
Shana frowned.
"Whenever you try to cook something, the kitchen smells like a charnel house. Ah, never mind. I'm going to take a bath."
The female Mystes abruptly shot a glare in Yuji's direction.
"No peeking!"
With that, Shana walked off in the direction of the bathroom. Blinking in some puzzled confusion, Yuji looked over in Wilhelmina's direction. Shana's guardian simply shrugged as she placed the remaining dish of stir-fry into the fridge.
"Truly, in any event, have you given any thought to attending the Misago Festival?"
Yuji blinked again.
"Misago Festival?"
Wilhelmina nodded.
"Truly, have you never attended a festival before?"
Yuji shook his head and smiled.
"No... but it sounds interesting."
"Have you a yukata?"
Yuji shook his head again. A strange glint suddenly appeared in Wilhelmina's eye, but then disappeared just as quickly as she continued.
"I see. Truly, it seems that I will have to fill that deficiency."
"You don't really have to go to all that trouble-"
Wilhelmina did not let Yuji finish his protestation.
"Truly, I am certain that Shana would not mind seeing you in a yukata."
Shana's guardian suddenly turned to the kitchen doorway, an almost imperceptible smile playing about her lips as she continued.
"Truly, is that not correct, Shana?"
Shana stumbled out from behind the kitchen doorframe, blushing up a storm.
"Wilhelmina...!"
Blinking in bewildered, confusion, Yuji tentatively spoke up.
"S-Shana? Is this true?"
The blush on Shana's face turned even redder.
"Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP...!!"
Despite the fire in Shana's words, Wilhelmina couldn't help but note that her young ward hadn't actually denied Yuji's query.
"Shana, wait up!"
"Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!"
Still red-faced, Shana didn't stop running down the street as the hapless Flame Haze ran after her full-tilt. Yuji was about to intensify his pace when Alastor suddenly spoke up from his Cocytus.
"Let her go, Yuji. It doesn't help to press a young lady like that."
Reluctantly, the Flame Haze slowed to a halt. Dismay clearly showed in his eyes and tone of voice as he watched Shana's rapidly receding figure in the distance.
"But..."
"Just let it go. Besides, you'll have your hands full enough when she actually makes up her mind."
Yuji raised an eyebrow in bewilderment.
"Eh...?"
Alastor metaphorically shook his head in disbelief at the lack of comprehension on the part of his Flame Haze.
"Never mind."
Suddenly, a soft, female voice broke in.
"...Hirai-kun."
Yuji turned around to see Hecate standing behind him.
"Hecate-san... Is something wrong?"
The girl tentatively shook her head.
"Nothing is wrong. I was just wondering... if... if..."
Yuji blinked.
"If what?"
Hecate took a deep breath.
"...if... if you could... accompany me to the Festival..."
"Gosh, I'm so bored..."
Ogata groaned as she buried her head in her arms and slumped forwards onto the school desk which she occupied. Margery Daw had gone home early due to the flu. Thus, the English class was now stuck in self-study mode. Tanaka looked up from his textbook and gulped.
"Ah, erm, Oga-chan..."
The One Engulfed in Doubting Others turned and half-glared at her counterpart.
"...What?"
"Ah, erm, I was just wondering if, er, uhm... if you would be willing to..."
Ogata raised an eyebrow and scowled with impatience.
"What, what!? Spit it out!"
Finding his nerve had suddenly fled, Tanaka suddenly turned away and shook his head.
"Ah, erm... Never mind..."
Still scowling, Ogata grumbled and looked away in disgust as she mumbled out of earshot.
"Geez, don't be such a pansy. If you're going to invite me to that silly Festival, just tell me, stupid Tanaka... Not that you'd ever have the courage to say it..."
Shana stared over at the Doubting Couple for a moment longer, then turned her thoughts inwards and towards a certain young male Flame Haze.
Hmph. I guess I should just work up my courage and invite him out... And I guess...
A blush stole upon her cheeks as she finished her thought.
...Yuji in a yukata wouldn't look too bad...
The late afternoon found Hecate walking back home from Misaki High.
An intermingled expression that combined disappointment, resignation, and determined hope graced Hecate's face.
...Either way, I will definitely tell him. Everything. At the Festival, I will find him and tell him... my feelings. All of them. Regardless of how he feels towards me.
Hecate's eyes suddenly caught a pair of wooden geta standing on a sales shelf in a nearby store window.
A moment later, the footwear was nestled within a bag along with a sales receipt. Hecate hesitantly squeezed the bag to her chest as she began to head back in the direction of home. At that moment, however, a figure abruptly stepped into her field of vision.
A young girl, about her age, dressed in a colorful loose overcoat of pastel shades and possessed of tan, shoulder-length ruffled hair, stepped towards her. Slung over her shoulder was a massive, oblong object wrapped in heavy canvas. Hecate took a step back in slight bemusement as the stranger continued to walk in her direction. The stranger suddenly stopped in front of her and giggled.
"Ah... don't be frightened. I simply require some assistance. It's all right. I don't intend you any ill will."
As if to further daze Hecate's grip on reality, an old, elderly voice spoke into the air.
"Mmm. Then again... this is the first one in this city who hasn't run away screaming at our approach."
The strange girl pouted and crossed her arms.
"That's because you've been speaking up at every opportunity... Honestly, if you had just kept quiet, none of this trouble would have started..."
Hecate blinked.
"...Whom are you talking to? Are you on a cell phone?"
The stranger looked up and laughed.
"Ah! Hahaha... Sorry about that. I should have made the introductions first. Sorry about my manners. I'm the 'Mobilizer of Ceremonial Equipment', the Flame Haze Kimiko Nakamura, and this is my partner, the 'Steadfast Sharp Peak', Behemoth."
As she spoke, Kimiko brought up a hand. Hecate noticed a strange, red-and-yellow beaded bracelet affixed to her wrist. The elderly voice spoke again.
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, child."
Hecate blinked. The bracelet had actually talked. Before she could recover from her astonishment, however, Kimiko spoke up again.
"We need your help with something. Erm... tell me... do you know the truth about your world?"
Hecate took a step back due to instinctive reflex.
"...The truth?"
"Ah, don't run off yet... Here, take this."
Kimiko reached into one of the pockets of her overcoat. When she withdrew her hand, a strange-looking monocle of gold was nestled within her fingers. Without any further words, Kimiko smiled and placed the looking-glass in Hecate's hand. The teal-haired girl looked at the object for a moment in askance. Kimiko chuckled.
"Take a look through it."
Hesitantly, Hecate brought the monocle up to her eye. Within moments, flames of azure suddenly materialized within the centers of several people standing in the monocle's field of vision.
Hecate's eyes widened.
"...What is this?"
Kimiko chuckled again.
"The truth."
Margery Daw, to put it bluntly, felt like crap. Her head hurt, her whole body ached, and she felt like she was on fire. The worst part was, in her opinion, was the fact that the headache wasn't hangover-induced, and therefore couldn't even be temporarily chased away by a nice shot of iced Jameson.
Groaning, the English teacher grumbled under her breath as she struggled to make herself comfortable underneath the blankets.
"...Hell of a time to catch the flu..."
Suddenly, there was a knock at her bedroom door. Still grumbling under her breath, Margery mustered up enough strength to call out weakly in irritation.
"Come in... the door's not locked."
Keisaku wordlessly walked in. Marcosius' Grimoire was slung over his shoulder. After a moment's pause, he sat down next to her bed and spoke.
"Just to let you know, I'm not going to insult your intelligence by asking how you're feeling."
Margery rolled her eyes.
"Much appreciated. Now what brings you here to disturb my attempt to get some rest?"
Marcosius cut in, laughing so loudly that Margery could literally feel his peals of laughter hammering in on her head like blows from a tonfa.
"Hahahahah! Oh, not much! My hormonal hero's just feeling up to gawking upon your hot, sweaty, sexy for-"
THWACK!
Keisaku wordlessly cut Marcosius off with a sharp punch to the Grimoire's leather-bound cover. Despite her illness, Margery couldn't help but weakly grin.
"...Thanks."
Keisaku briefly smirked.
"Don't mention it. Here..."
Reaching behind him, the Chanter of Elegies brought out a small, damp headcloth, wrapped around an icepack. Without another word, the Flame Haze quietly set it on Margery's forehead and then rose to his feet as he made to leave. Margery's relief showed in her weak attempt at cracking some humor.
"What's with the sudden pampering? You're not trying to seduce me, are you?"
Keisaku rolled his eyes.
"Don't be stupid. I'm your roomer, remember? It's just part of paying the rent."
Margery snorted as she closed her eyes and slipped into sleep.
"Rent. Riiiight..."
Keisaku had been about to leave, but the Flame Haze suddenly hesitated as he reached the door. After another moment's consideration, he quietly sat back down in the chair next to Margery's bed and tried to catch a nap of his own.
Hecate sat down heavily onto the bench. Part of her still wanted to deny everything, to drop the monocle in her hands and run home screaming. The other part of her, coldly clinical, simply shrugged and accepted the situation before her.
Kimiko sat down next to her and chuckled in some sympathy.
"It's not easy to accept the first time, isn't it. You should be proud of yourself, though. Most people just go into flat-out denial whenever we explain the situation to them."
Hecate didn't hear. Her mind was still spinning with what she had seen, and from the words that the girl Kimiko had spoken. After another moment, Hecate suddenly turned to Kimiko.
"What about... What about..."
Kimiko blinked.
"Your family? Oh, they're all right. They haven't been consumed. It's one of the requirements, after all."
Hecate shook her head, although a part of her felt some measure of relief upon hearing that her family was fine.
"No... I meant... What about Hirai-kun? Is Hirai-kun...?"
Kimiko frowned in puzzlement.
"...Hirai..."
After another moment, her frown deepend and she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know. You will just have to find out the truth for yourself."
Hecate looked back down at the ground.
"...I see..."
Smiling, the Mobilizer of Ceremonial Equipment got up and stretched. It had an oddly carefree appearance to Hecate. Behemoth spoke up.
"Well, don't worry too much about it. Most likely, he hasn't been consumed yet. In any case, we'll give you a bit of time to think it over. Don't worry about finding us, we'll find you."
The Flame Haze turned to leave. Hecate hesitantly spoke up as she gestured with the monocle in her hands.
"But... what about...?"
Kimiko looked over her shoulder and chuckled again.
"Oh, that? Don't worry about it. Just keep it. Consider it a gift."
With those words, the Flame Haze walked away, turned a street corner... and vanished.
Yuji nodded in approval as he felt the flow of Power of Existence suddenly surge into him in a burst of intensified focus.
"Mmm. That's right. You've got a good sense of control over your Power of Existence, Shana."
Suddenly, the timer in Shana's hand beeped. The female Mystes looked up from the stopwatch.
"It's time."
Nodding, Yuji released his grip on Shana's hand and returned Blutsauger to his nightcloak. Even as a nearby belltower began to strike midnight, Shana sat down on the scratchy park grass and looked up at Yuji.
"Yuji..."
The Flame Haze blinked.
"Hmm?"
"Erm... Are you busy tomorrow night?"
Yuji scratched the back of his head as he suddenly remembered the promise he'd made to Hecate.
"Well..."
Shana tilted her head expectantly.
"Well?"
"Uhm... Actually, Hecate invited me to the Misago Festival this morning."
Shana suddenly felt cold in the pit of her stomach. Before she could speak or respond in any way, however, the conversation was suddenly interrupted by a familiar, cynical voice.
"Hmph. I thought I'd find you two lovebirds here."
Yuji smiled weakly as Keisaku walked into view with Marcosius slung over his shoulder. Shana simply glowered at the Chanter of Elegies. She wasn't sure whether to feel angry or relieved at having the moment interrupted by the Claw and Fangs of Violation. Yuji blinked as he spoke.
"So what brings you here?"
Marcosius spoke. His voice was oddly serious.
"...We just learned this afternoon that 'Thousand Strategies' Ike returned to the Palace of Stars."
Alastor's voice spoke up in alarm.
"You don't mean...!?"
Keisaku nodded grimly.
"Bal Masque knows."
Shana looked up in puzzled confusion at Yuji, all thoughts of Misago Festival chased out of her mind.
"...Bal Masque?"
Yuji's expression was a mixture of apprehension and worry as he looked over to Shana.
"Bal Masque is a Denizen Organization. One of the most powerful, in fact. It's headed by 'Thousand Strategies' Hayato Ike, whom you've already had the 'pleasure' of meeting, and 'Siege Glorious' Kazumi Yoshida. If 'Thousand Strategies' has returned to Bal Masque, that can only mean one thing."
Alastor grimly completed the thought that was left hanging in the air.
"Every Crimson Denizen now knows where the 'Midnight Lost Child' is."
Yuji's eyes tightened in barely restrained worry as he spoke.
"It looks like we'll have to make preparations soon."
Shana looked up at Yuji in askance.
"Preparations? For what?"
Yuji looked over to Shana.
"...You'll have to make ready to leave Misaki City soon. We can't put this city in danger."
Shana suddenly felt a stormy wave of tangled emotions. Shock, bewilderment, puzzlement, and not a little bit of fear. As Shana stared out at the Misaki City skyline that stretched before her, it seemed as if she was just now seeing the city for the first time. Despite all the times she'd declared the city tiresome and annoying, and how she couldn't stand it...
...she now belatedly realized just how much she'd grown accustomed to living in Misaki. And also, with a deep pang of regret, that she had come to view it as home. Yuji, seeing the sudden distress on her face, quickly spoke up.
"We won't be leaving right away. We can't afford to be hasty or ill-prepared. We still have some time."
Yuji suddenly smiled.
"Besides, it'll be all right. I'll be with you."
Shana blinked up at Yuji.
Leaving Misaki... with Yuji next to me...
Suddenly, for some reason, leaving Misaki didn't feel so bad. Shana quickly turned her head to hide it, but she couldn't help smiling at the thought. All thoughts of the Misago Festival had now thoroughly vanished from her mind.
Back at the apartment complex, Yuji sat atop the roof, staring down at the streets below. Shana had already headed inside and gone to bed. Alastor's voice broke in.
"You seem troubled."
The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter quietly nodded.
"I am. With Bal Masque now aware of where the Midnight Lost Child is, we're running out of time... I'm running out of time. I'll need to tell her soon."
Alastor's voice was quiet as well as the Crimson Lord continued.
"Are you sure about telling her the truth? It may be best not to bring up such matters, especially now."
Yuji shook his head.
"No. She needs to know. She deserves to know. It's not fair to hide it from her. I'll tell her at the Festival. She can make her decision then."
Even with his words, however, a troubling thought snaked through Yuji's brain.
But... if I tell her... how's Shana going to react? After all that... will she still want to leave with me? Will she...
That last thought was almost too much to bear.
...Will she hate me?
"Piling it up, eh?"
The Writer of Questionable Stories glared.
"Don't rub it in. I've got other matters to deal with now."
"Whatever."
To Be Continued...?