"Is all of this not just your own self-inflicted ss?"
Looking at Shido calmly, Yutsuki asked the question as a matter of course.
To this, Shido was speechless, as if his throat was being squeezed tight.
That was right. Just as Ryougi Yutsuki said, all of this was Itsuka Shido's own fault.
Early on, after first eting Hoshimiya Mukuro, Yutsuki had clearly stated that Hoshimiya Mukuro was a Spirit who did not need to be conquered. If it were not for DEM, she would not have attacked Earth at all. If she had no dissatisfaction with her life and caused no harm to the people on Earth, sealing her Spirit energy was completely unnecessary for Mukuro.
On the contrary, if her heart was opened, Mukuro would not be as reasonable as she was at the start. No one knew what her original personality was like. Just as Yutsuki said, whether Mukuro was extrely possessive, or jealous and depressed enough to commit suicide, or had murderous tendencies, none of it would be surprising.
No matter how you looked at it, Shido's decision to conquer Mukuro was completely uncalled for. If he had followed Yutsuki's plan and worked with the Mukuro whose heart was not yet opened to fight DEM, things definitely would not be as bad as they were now.
It was Itsuka Shido himself who ignored Yutsuki's warning and insisted on opening Mukuro's heart to seal her Spirit energy.
Without a doubt, the reason he was in this ss was not because of Mukuro, and not because of anyone else, but because of Itsuka Shido himself.
"Besides, has that Spirit nad Mukuro not already made a compromise for you? Everyone has forgotten you now, so they can live normal lives without being affected even if you are not there. You can also finish your own goal without any worries and stay with Mukuro to seal her Spirit energy. From that perspective, is it not also a good thing?"
"..."
"...Haa, since you are not saying anything, I will take that as a yes. You made this mistake, so you carry the weight of it. Good luck."
Seeing Shido remain silent, Yutsuki sighed in disappointnt and turned to leave.
But before Yutsuki could walk out of the park, she felt her arm being grabbed tightly by Shido.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Yutsuki stopped helplessly and looked back at Shido, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"I am not so free that I can play a silent ga with you. If there is nothing else, please let go. Otherwise, I will have to shout for help. I really hate using that trick, so do not force ."
"I..."
Seeing the annoyed look on Yutsuki's face, Shido felt a pain in his chest like it was being pierced by a sword. He instinctively let go, lowered his head, and barely squeezed out a few words.
"Sorry... it was my fault... please help ..."
"I am telling you, Itsuka-boy..." Yutsuki looked at Shido speechlessly and said, "In this society, not everything can be brushed aside with a simple apology. If you want to act spoiled, would it not be better to just go find your Mukuro?"
It was a natural, yet incredibly sharp answer.
Forgiving him just because he apologized was a privilege Yutsuki gave to her family. Now that she had lost her mory, Yutsuki naturally had no reason to accept his apology. Shido had known this all along.
It was not until the mont he lost it that Shido realized how much Yutsuki had tolerated him.
(If only she could get her mory back... wait!)
Thinking of this, an idea suddenly ca to Shido. If Mukuro had used Michael to lock Yutsuki's mories, then if he used Haniel to copy Michael, he could use the sa thod to restore everyone's mories.
As long as the locked mories were opened, Yutsuki would naturally forgive him too.
The mont he realized this, the idea of using Michael on Yutsuki took root in his heart, began to sprout bit by bit, and pushed him to act imdiately.
"And, you say you want to help, but what exactly do you plan to do, Itsuka-boy?"
"...Eh?"
But Yutsuki's sudden sentence made Shido freeze.
"After all, did you not open her heart because you planned to seal that Spirit nad Mukuro from the start? And now you are asking for help to restore everyone's mories. Does that an you already plan to give up on that Spirit nad Mukuro?"
"—?!"
After a long silence, Shido suddenly snapped out of it.
(What on earth am I doing?!)
Restoring her mory just to get Yutsuki to forgive him? That was just a selfish and spoiled thought to protect himself from being hurt. If he did that now, how would it be any different from when he ignored Mukuro's wishes and forced open her heart?
Realizing the stupid thought that just popped into his head, Shido grit his teeth in guilt.
(Calm down. Why was I willing to fall out with Yutsuki back then? It was not to have Yutsuki tolerate my selfishness, but to stand on equal ground and get her approval and reconcile. Did I not decide that long ago?)
And—
[Indeed, judging from the current situation, Biri-chan's proposal is undoubtedly the most advantageous thod for us. But that doesn't an Boy's idea is wrong. At the very least, if we followed Biri-chan's way of thinking, the Spirits, including myself, couldn't possibly be saved.]
[Saving Mukuro and protecting everyone—you can do both! Prove it to Yutsuki with your actions!!]
[Shido, although I don't plan to support your idea of saving Mukuro, since you've made your decision, absolutely do not regret it.]
"I... want to save Mukuro."
Shido took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, raised his head, and looked straight at Yutsuki as he spoke.
"You are right, Yutsuki. Everyone forgetting is entirely my own fault, and Mukuro herself has done nothing wrong. Since I was the one who opened her heart, then I naturally have to take responsibility and save her, seal her Spirit energy, and stay with her until the end. But—"
A bitter feeling spread in his mouth, but Shido swallowed it down and continued with courage.
"Tohka, Origami, Yoshino, Kotori, Kaguya, Yuzuru, Natsumi, Miku, Nia—and you, Yutsuki. I do not want to be forgotten by you all. Everyone... you are my most important family..."
Saying this, Shido held back the urge to cry, bowed deeply to Yutsuki, and pleaded solemnly.
"I do not want to give up on either side! I know this is a very unreasonable request, but lend your strength, Yutsuki!"
"..."
Ti passed second by second. Just as Shido was thinking Yutsuki was going to leave in his nervousness, Yutsuki suddenly spoke.
"Raise your head... it is not an unreasonable thing."
"Eh?"
Hearing this, Shido raised his head and asked uneasily.
"Not wanting your precious family to forget you, wanting everyone to rember you. That is a natural thing, there is nothing wrong with it."
Pushing Shido's shoulders to make him stand up straight, Yutsuki explained calmly.
"Does that an... you are willing to help ? Yutsuki?!"
"OK~ since you have said that much, I have no choice but to help you."
Looking at the pleasantly surprised look on Shido's face, Yutsuki nodded and said with a bitter smile,
"In fact, I had planned to find Mukuro and make everyone rember from the start."
"Eh?" Hearing this, Shido asked in confusion, "But Yutsuki, did you not just say you were going to class at school, and that this was all my own fault..."
"Sigh—I guess I should stop calling you Itsuka-boy and call you idiot Shido instead. It fits better."
Seeing Shido's honest and dazed look, Yutsuki shook her head helplessly.
"The words from just now were obviously just to tease you. Who would find out their mories were being played with like toys and then say nicely, 'Oh, it does not really affect daily life anyway, so let it be,' and act like nothing happened?!"
Saying this, Yutsuki cracked her knuckles, showing her anger and killing intent without hiding it.
"Honestly, if that woman nad Hoshimiya Mukuro appeared in front of right now, I would definitely slap her in the face without hesitation!!!!!"
"Haha... that is true."
Looking at Yutsuki who was now ready for a fight, Shido could only laugh awkwardly.
(Co to think of it, Yutsuki always says she does not lie to family. Does that an, the other way around, if the person is not family, she can lie without changing her expression?)
As expected of Yutsuki, Shido thought, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Well... that is how it is. I was just testing you earlier. Sorry for being an, Itsuka Shido."
"No, that is not it." Shido shook his head and said gratefully, "I am the one who should thank you, Yutsuki, for being willing to go along with my selfishness."
"Well... as I just said, I do not think your request is unreasonable, and I do not think your idea is selfish. Well, I guess it is selfish in a way."
What am I even saying? After giving a bitter smile like that, Yutsuki thought for a mont and then said,
"After hearing your description of Hoshimiya Mukuro, though it is rude, I have always had the impression of soone with a ntal illness. To save soone like that, if you cannot make up your mind to stay with her until the end, you will definitely regret it."
"...!?"
Seemingly understanding sothing, Shido held his breath.
Yutsuki looked at Shido and gave a reassuring smile.
"But if it is you, there should be no problem."
...
[But Shido, have you ever thought about what kind of person Mukuro would be after unlocking her heart?]
[Let's make a comparison. What if Hoshimiya Mukuro is actually a woman with extrely strong possessiveness and jealousy? After unlocking the seal, she falls hopelessly in love with Shido, and then upon seeing you being affectionate with other girls, she becos dissatisfied and starts a massive fight with Tohka and the others.]
[Let's make another comparison. What if Mukuro's heart was actually locked by soone else, and the original her actually had extrely severe depression? What will you do if she chooses suicide right after you unlock it?]
[Ah, maybe Mukuro was actually a pervert murderer with abnormal fetishes a long ti ago. Once you unlock her heart, she'll run around the world killing people...]
[Yutsuki, you don't understand anything at all!!!!]
...
—Even if it is just as you said, Yutsuki, I will not give up. I will find a way to stop Mukuro and save her, so she can live a peaceful life.
(If... I had chosen to answer that way back then, then maybe... we would not have argued at all...)
After realizing Yutsuki's true intention back then, Shido felt his eyes sting.
(The one who did not understand anything... was .)
"Hm? Itsuka Shido, what is wrong?"
Yutsuki waved her hand in front of Shido. Seeing no response, she felt a bit annoyed.
But right at that mont, Itsuka Shido suddenly opened his arms and pulled Yutsuki into a hug.
"—Eh?!"
It took a second for Yutsuki to finally realize she was being hugged, and her cheeks turned fiery hot instantly.
"Hey, what are you doing? Quickly—"
"...I am sorry."
The choking voice in her ear made Yutsuki fall silent.
"...I am sorry... I am sorry... I am sorry... I am sorry..."
The boy held her very lightly. Instead of a hug, Yutsuki felt like she was being carefully protected in his arms like a precious treasure.
"..."
Yutsuki did not struggle, just leaning quietly in Shido's embrace.
Although with her strength, she was sure she could easily break free even if Shido held her with all his might, she vaguely felt that if she did that, this boy who was crying while apologizing to her might be hurt by it.
(What exactly is family?)
For so reason, Yutsuki suddenly thought of this question.
If answering just based on common sense, the most correct answer would be blood relations. The sa blood flowing in their bodies is the most unshakeable proof of being family.
But this answer did not work for Ryougi Yutsuki. After all, if that was the case, Tohka, Origami, the Yamai sisters—none of them were her family.
To Yutsuki, what mattered for family was not bloodline, but the mories built up from living together.
If you think about it from another perspective, if a stranger suddenly ca to your house with DNA test results claiming to be your parents, you would probably be very confused too.
So for Itsuka Shido, although Yutsuki found many pieces of evidence that proved he was her family, she was missing the most key mories, which made her very troubled about how to treat Shido.
"I am truly... sorry."
"...Honestly, just how long are you going to cry?"
Hearing Shido's sobbing words, Yutsuki could not help but smile.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing, Yutsuki reached out and gently patted Shido's head.
At this mont, well... how should she put it? Yutsuki suddenly had a feeling in her heart of "Ah, he really is my family." She accepted this fact very easily.
"Forget it. Since you apologized, I will forgive you."
(TL:man....I love yutsuki...)
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