Author's note: Thanks for waiting! And now, the epilogue.

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Almost many of Ayatsuji's underlings were left stunned, even as she was brought off the island and into a boat. Said boat would travel itself back to the mainland, and back into the town which was home to Shiroiwa Junior High.

Keiji, Kanami, Shouichi, Whirlwind, Miyuki and a wounded Takagi were all home again, but still had to take care of unfinished business with the black-haired woman.

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As soon as Shouichi made his return, the townspeople rejoiced in massive cheers. The government officials that had sided with Ayatsuji were speechless, not having any idea was to say as they were clearly defeated.

Once he was welcomed back with open arms, he had an appointment to make a big speech.

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As for his son and his allies, they had taken the woman to a familiar location, after taking Takagi to a hospital to have his wounds treated. Her mouth gaped as she recognized the empty house before her eyes.

"This used to be where I lived..." Ayatsuji muttered. "Let me out of these ropes." she added.

Keiji nodded, before untying her. Once she was no longer restrained, she stood there as memories began to overtake her.

"What happened to my parents when I won?" she asked.

The brown-haired boy sighed, before he replied, "My dad told me how your parents were horrified to learn of something like that; so they decided to move to Ehime and try to consider disowning you."

"They what?!" Ayatsuji inquired, eyes widening in shock.

"They moved to Ehime, Miss Ayatsuji." Kanami said. "Not to mention, my cousin Kei...she was also in that same Program."

The older woman shuddered, before falling to her knees. "What have I done?" she said to herself in a quiet voice, close to breaking into tears.

"Miss Ayatsuji...you've no one to blame but yourself. And now, after all this, you're gonna step down and help us put an end to the government with my dad's help." Keiji told her.

Ayatsuji slowly craned her head up to see him, her eyes now full of tears. "Now I remember all the horrors I have done...I'm so sorry..." she said.

She began to cry whilst hugging at the young man's waist, prompting him to gasp in surprise. However, he smiled held her close, before Kanami approached him before hugging him as well.

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"Today is a very important and very special day in the history of our country, and I am here to give you such happy news. I have put an end to the Program, and that we will design a memorial dedicated to all the students that perished under so much bloodshed. I've also brought it upon myself to contact the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia, and remind them that they were the ones that won World War II."

As Shouichi spoke those words, the many people present before him clapped and cheered. He smiled, before resuming his speech.

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Somewhere in the United States, Shuya Nanahara and Noriko Nakagawa were at a diner together. When Shouichi's speech rang out onto the radio, this caused them to take notice.

"To the brave students that fled, do come back to Japan. For we will welcome you back with open arms. For the chaos is no more."

The young man's mouth gaped in surprise, and the brunette next to him shuddered in joy. He looked over her and said, "We're going home, Noriko."

"Shuya..." Noriko managed to say, but then had the courage to add, "Before we leave, though, I just want to say something to you from the bottom of my heart. I love you...Shuya."

Shuya smiled with her, even as he replied, "I love you too, Noriko." before they hugged and shared a loving, passionate kiss.

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After being hospitalized, Takagi had high hopes that he could make it. Yes, the operation was going to be an uphill battle of sorts, but he was confident that he would live to see another day.

While he was in his hospital bed, the door to his room began to open. He soon noticed the person entering was Ayaka, his best friend, who had brought with her a bouquet of flowers for him.

"Mitsuyoshi..." she said, her eyes glimmering.

"Ayaka..." he replied with a shudder.

Ayaka would then run over to the side of his bed, putting the bouquet into his vase, before finally chatting with Takagi. He had been through a hell of a lot during the Program, but he came back not just for his family, but for his girlfriend.

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Christmas Day

Keiji smiled at the tree, fully decorated with glitz and gold, but he knew he wasn't the only one. Next to him was Kanami, who snuggled next to him.

"So...what do you think, Kanami? You're liking what you see?" he asked her.

She nodded, before replying with, "I do. Come to think of it, thank you so much for the new apron you got me this year."

Keiji shook his head in agreement. "Thanks, Kanami. By the way," he said, before changing the subject, "I've even heard Takagi is doing okay, and Ayatsuji is on the road to recovery."

Before Ayatsuji could return home, she had been assigned to undergo counseling, so that she could try and bring her mental state back to the way it was before she and her class were chosen.

"And last, but certainly not least...all is peaceful in Japan. The Crusade has been won; and it's all thanks to me and my dad. And my friends, too."

As he said those words, Keiji ran his fingers through Kanami's light brown hair, his eyes twinkling. "Merry Christmas, Kanami."

"Merry Christmas, Keiji."

The two leaned in to finally have their first kiss, a soft and sweet peck. Of course, he wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her in for a deeper kiss.

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And thus, the Program was no more, and Japan had been brought to a semblance of normalcy with the new government.

The battle royale...was over.

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Oh, man, this certainly took a lot out of me. But I just wanna say thanks to everyone that read this piece: I know it took a whole decade, but we made it!

With love for my fans,

Chrissy