"You remember my name?"
Misaki's question caught Touma off guard. The way she asked it implied that he was supposed to have forgotten her name. Before he could dwell on it further, the sound of shattering glass drew his attention. He turned around to see a girl in a racing swimsuit, surrounded by swirling white dust akin to a tornado.
"You've completely lost your memories. You have no recollection of Mitsuari Ayu or Shokuhou Misaki. We are complete strangers to you. You shouldn't even be here," Mitsuari stated firmly.
The revelation of his lost memories took Touma by surprise, particularly coming from a total stranger, at least in his perception. He looked from Misaki to Mitsuari. "So you know about my memory loss," he replied, his voice tinged with a somber tone. Despite the passage of time and his acceptance of himself, the issue of his forgotten past still weighed heavily on him.
"Yes, I know you. You were my hero. When I was on the brink of ending my own life, I reached out to you. I wanted to be saved. I wanted you to save me. But you didn't arrive in time, all because of HER! AND FOR THAT, SHE DESERVES TO DIE!" Mitsuari's rage intensified, causing the white dust to coalesce into the shape of an octopus, its tentacles extending from its lower half.
The tentacles surged forward like whips, aimed at Misaki. Touma positioned himself in front of her, ready to defend. This only fueled Mitsuari's anger even more.
"Why are you defending her? Hasn't she been saved enough?" Mitsuari's words hung in the air as Touma remained silent, bracing himself for the impending whip attack. His Imagine Breaker wouldn't have any effect on the white dust, and dodging wasn't an option. He chose to use his own body as a shield to protect Misaki, resulting in various cuts all over his body, blood flowing from the wounds.
"Touma!" Misaki shouted in concern, cursing her own inability to assist him. In a hidden corner of her heart, Mitsuari felt a pang of worry seeing Touma bleed like this, but her hatred for Misaki overrode any sense of remorse, and she launched another attack towards him. However, the attack never came. Hokaze intervened.
Hokaze moves with a speed that surpasses human limits, her movements a blur as she intercepts the attacking tentacles. Her fists become a blur of motion as she delivers powerful blows, each strike accompanied by a resounding impact. The tentacles recoil under the force of Hokaze's blows, unable to penetrate his defenses.
"Mitsuari-san," Hokaze addressed the girl, recognizing her as one of her former friends from the Ideal lab. Mitsuari lowered her gaze, unable to meet her friend's eyes.
"You not only stole my future and the person I was proud of, but also my friend. How much more are you going to take from me, Shokuhou Misaki?" Tears streamed down her face as she spoke.
Touma couldn't bear to witness it any longer. He knew he had to act swiftly. Turning to Hokaze, he said, "Hokaze-san, please take Misaki to safety. I'll handle Mitsuari Ayu."
"But..." Hokaze protested.
"No, Hokaze-san. Mitsuari Ayu ended up like this because of me. She fell into despair because Kamijou Touma couldn't save her before. But this time, I will save her. Please believe in me," Touma insisted.
Moved by Touma's unwavering determination, Hokaze agreed. "As you wish, Kamijou-san." She helped Misaki to her feet, but before they left, Misaki grabbed hold of Touma's arm. A single look on her face conveyed her thoughts and desires.
"I now understand that you were also someone unintentionally cut off from me due to my memory loss. But don't worry, I'll make up for the lost time," Touma reassured Misaki with a warm smile. Satisfied with his response, Misaki released her grip on his arm, allowing Hokaze to assist her.
"I'll be waiting, my prince," Misaki thought.
Amidst Mitsuari's cries of despair, Touma surged forward. The materialized Octopus reacted, using its tentacles to launch a relentless barrage of attacks. However, Toumahe rolls on the ground, narrowly avoiding the grasping appendages that lunge toward him. The octopus's tentacles thrash and whip through the air, seeking to ensnare Touma, but with agile roll and leaps in the air, Touma evades the incoming onslaught. He approached the high-pressure zone created by Mitsuari's uncontrolled power. With a mere touch of his right hand, he dispelled the zone, reducing it to nothingness.
Mitsuari screamed and hurled insults at him, but Touma remained resolute in his advance. Finally, he reached the source of her anguished cries. Embracing the girl, Touma's right hand made contact with her, nullifying her power. As a result, the artificial octopus disintegrated into white dust.
"Mitsuari," he spoke softly, his voice carrying a mix of compassion and resolve. "I may not remember our past, but I can't ignore the suffering you're going through. I won't let you drown in your despair. I'll do whatever it takes to save you from this darkness."
Mitsuari's eyes glistened with tears as she trembled, denying his words. "You don't know me. You can't save me. No one can. I'm broken, beyond repair. I've lost everything, even myself."
"You're not beyond repair, Mitsuari-san. None of us are. We all make mistakes, we all carry pain. But we can find healing and redemption. And I believe that you can too."
Mitsuari's resistance wavered as she felt the sincerity in Touma's words. Her voice cracked as she struggled to hold back her emotions. "I... I don't deserve your kindness. I've hurt so many people, including you."
Touma shook his head, his eyes unwavering. "We've all made mistakes, Mitsuari-san. But that doesn't mean we're beyond forgiveness or redemption. You're not alone in this. I'll be here to support you, to help you find your way back."
As Touma's words sank in, Mitsuari's facade crumbled, and tears streamed down her face. She couldn't hold back the pain any longer. With a choked sob, she fell into Touma's embrace, her body trembling with the weight of her sorrow.
Touma held her tightly, offering her comfort and solace. He let her cry, allowing her to release all the pent-up emotions that had consumed her. In that moment, Mitsuari felt a glimmer of hope, a flicker of light in her darkness.
Mitsuari allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was a path to redemption and a chance for her to find the salvation she deserved.
"What are you doing here, old hag?" Misaki's voice dripped with disdain as she lay on the hospital bed in a certain medical facility. They had all been brought here for treatment after the incident.
"And here I thought you might show some gratitude to the person who helped save your life," Seria retorted, a hint of mock surprise in her tone.
"Don't hold your breath for a thank you," Misaki shot back defiantly.
Hokaze, attempting to ease the tension, interjected, "You two seem like such great friends." Both Misaki and Seria turned to Hokaze, their expressions a mix of disbelief and irritation.
"Friends with this old hag? Don't make me laugh," Misaki scoffed, pointing an accusing finger at Seria.
"Likewise, I have no desire to associate myself with someone so immature," Seria countered, meeting Misaki's glare head-on.
The two girls squared off, their animosity sparking with electricity.
"Ah, Queen, Kumokawa-senpai, please calm down," Hokaze tried to intervene, but her words fell on deaf ears.
"Keep it down!" a nurse scolded them for their disruptive noise.
"I'll be straightforward with you, little girl. What are your plans for Mitsuari?" Seria asked, genuine curiosity in her voice. Mitsuari, who had exhausted her powers and passed out, was also being treated at the same hospital.
"Minding your own business would suit you better," Misaki retorted with a smirk. Seria sighed.
"I'm concerned because now it involves him," Seria confessed.
"If that's the case, then you have nothing to worry about. Mitsuari-san will be enrolled at Tokiwadai. I'll manipulate the teachers' minds to make them believe she was only absent for a week," Misaki revealed, giving Seria a sly wink.
"Are you sure about this? She tried to kill you," Seria questioned.
"I'm doing it because that's what he would have done. This is an opportunity for Mitsuari-san to turn her life around," Misaki explained.
"Toumaaaa!" A loud commotion erupted from the room above them.
"Please, Index-san, have some mercy on this poor Kamijo. Othinus, help me!" Touma pleaded for assistance as Index closed in on him, her teeth gleaming like a predator.
"But look at me when clearly it's your fault," Othinus disregarded his pleas. Index pounced on Touma's head.
"Such misfortune!" Touma cried out in exasperation.
Touma massaged his head, nursing the slight pain from Index's playful bite. He understood that she was worried about him and possibly upset for getting into more trouble, but he wished she would express her concerns in less violent ways. Index and Othinus had gone to grab something to eat, leaving Touma alone in his room.
"Can I come in?" a familiar voice called out.
"Yes," Touma replied, and the door swung open, revealing Misaki in her school uniform.
"They really went all out with a personal room for you," Misaki remarked, amusement evident in her voice.
"That's all thanks to that frog-faced doctor. He thinks I can't stay away from the hospital for three days," Touma grumbled.
"Isn't that true, Kamijou-kun?" Misaki's remark caught Touma off guard, causing him to freeze.
"Even so, I'm determined to stay away from the hospital as much as possible. It's draining my wallet. As a Level 0, I don't receive the same financial support from the city. If I keep getting admitted here, I'll go broke. Such misfortune," Touma lamented, his frustration evident.
Misaki sweatdrop at Touma's usual complaints about his financial struggles.
"So, how are you feeling, Kamijou-kun?" Misaki inquired.
"About the same as usual. And how about you?" Touma replied.
"Well, all my tests came back normal," Misaki shared.
"That's good to hear," Touma responded. After a brief moment of silence, he mustered the courage to ask Misaki about their shared past.
"Shokuhou-san, what was our relationship in the past? I gathered from Mitsuari that I knew you and that we were involved in some kind of incident." Misaki sighed and looked at Touma with a mix of nostalgia and sadness.
Misaki took a deep breath and began to speak, her voice filled with reminiscence. "Kamijou-kun, the truth is, we truly met for the first time during the summer break. It was a complete coincidence, nothing special at first. But as we continued to bump into each other and spend time together, something began to change."
Misaki smiled, her gaze fixed on some distant memory, "Each day spent with you was better than the previous one. Every little thing we did together felt like an adventure to me. From the simplest conversations to the wildest escapades, they became the best days of my life."
Misaki continued, "On that fateful day, we were attacked by Deadlock."
Touma listened intently, his expression reflecting a mix of confusion and curiosity. The mention of Deadlock triggered a memory, as he recalled the encounter with the Deadlock member who had mentioned something similar.
"We were outnumbered and outmatched, but you stood your ground and protected me. In the end, we emerged victorious, but not without cost. You were severely injured. In order for the paramedics to treat you, I used my power to block your sense of pain. However, this had an unintended side effect on your memories associated with me."
"What do you mean by side effect?" Touma inquired, his voice tinged with concern.
Misaki hesitated for a moment before answering, "Your memories that were connected to me were destroyed. No matter how many times I told you my name, you couldn't remember it. No matter how many times we met, you couldn't recall my face. The moments I disappeared from your field of view, you forgot."
A gentle breeze blew through the open window, adding a somber touch to the room. Touma remained silent, absorbing the weight of Misaki's words. The guilt began to wash over him as he contemplated how many times they had crossed paths, how many times Misaki had introduced herself, and how many times he had unknowingly hurt her.
"I thought I would forever be a stranger to you, until that moment when you said my name. I don't know what happened, but somehow you were able to remember me," Misaki said,her sad smile turns into a bright smile, gracing her face.
If Touma had to hazard a guess as to what had triggered the restoration of his memories, it would be his intense battle with Othinus in Infinity Hell. In that realm, Othinus had repeatedly killed and resurrected him, seemingly toying with his existence. It was possible that during one of those resurrections, Othinus had inadvertently repaired his damaged memories.
Misaki wiped away the tears forming in the corners of her eyes and said, "Let's not dwell on the past. Instead, let's have a meaningful, heartfelt conversation. A conversation filled with sweetness, kindness, and importance."
A few days had passed since the incident, and Misaki and Mitsuari found themselves near the entrance of the School Garden.
"On second thought, I'm not doing this," Mitsuari declared, turning away from the entrance.
"What? Getting cold feet?" Misaki teased, a playful smile on her face.
"Shut up! I can't just show up after being missing for a whole year," Mitsuari snapped at Misaki.
"We've already discussed this. I'll use my power to make everyone believe that you were only gone for a week," Misaki reassured her.
"Why not make them think I wasn't missing at all?" Mitsuari suggested.
"Oh, I want you to at least face some consequences from the dorm manager," Misaki replied, giving Mitsuari a mischievous wink.
"Why you..." Mitsuari started, but Misaki interrupted her.
"Now, let's not waste any more time," Misaki said, taking Mitsuari's hand and dragging her into the School Garden.
