Her fingertips trembled slightly.
The instant she picked up Zafkiel, the sight of Shido dying countless tis, and Yutsuki's final smile, appeared before Kurumi's eyes.
"I..."
——
① I cannot accept this future.
② I will accept this reality.
——
The flintlock slipped from her powerless fingers, fell into the withered leaves, and scattered into particles of light.
"No... no... I can't anymore..."
Kurumi collapsed weakly to the ground, and a tiny whimper escaped from her throat.
One step.
It was only the choice of one step, yet it was so far beyond reach.
The fear and despair brought by those loops still clung to Kurumi's heart like a nightmare that would not fade. They had already shattered the defenses of her heart.
She had had enough. She had had enough long ago.
No matter how she struggled or resisted, what waited for her in the end was always the death of the person she loved.
Once, twice, three tis, ten tis, a hundred tis——the result never changed. In the end, what she had done was no more than playing with the life and dignity of the dead for the sake of her own selfishness.
And now, not only Shido, was she going to disturb Yutsuki's rest too?
"So... you plan to give up?"
A clone said.
That cold tone stabbed Kurumi's ears so painfully.
"Ah... An Angel that can turn back ti... the only existence that can make 'if' real... those are just pretty lies... This world is always like this... When I'm about to give up, it gives a tiny bit of worthless hope, then lets fall into an even deeper abyss..."
As if trying to defend herself, Kurumi showed a self-mocking smile.
"And besides, didn't all of you say it too? Even if I go back to the past, what waits for us may only be an even more hopeless future. Then..."
At this point, Kurumi's voice choked. Only after a long while did she finally speak with difficulty.
"Then... accepting this 'reality'... isn't so bad either..."
In that instant, as if she had taken an irreversible step, Kurumi saw the shadows of her clones gradually grow faint, becoming as unreal as bubbles.
——Is that so? So this is your decision.
——Although it is a little regrettable, 'our' role ends here. Now, you no longer have any reason to need 'us.'
——We are you. Your past selves.
——You are the accumulation of us, and the destination we will reach in the future.
——Therefore, even if you choose to run away, we can only accept it.
——But only one thing. Please rember this.
——Do not waste her kindness, or his.
As their voices fell, the clones beca particles of light and vanished into the air, just like Zafkiel earlier.
And what remained in the forest was no longer the existence called 'the most evil Spirit.'
It was only a girl whose heart was full of wounds, broken and full of holes.
"Gh——ahaha... u... uwaaaaaaaaaah——"
Tears flowed once more, useless and uncontrollable. Kurumi covered her swollen red eyes and collapsed to her knees, sobbing until she could not speak.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Shido-san... I'm sorry... Yutsuki-san... I... u... I... already..."
In that silent forest, only Kurumi's broken sobs echoed through the night.
—————————
What does happiness sll like?
Yatogami Tohka sotis thought about this question.
If it was simply the taste of "delicious" or "tasty", Tohka could understand that easily enough.
High quality ingredients, first rate chefs, and dishes created through refined skill could indeed satisfy the body's desire for taste to a great degree. That answer would probably be accepted by most people.
But that was not the taste of happiness.
It was not only satisfaction of the body.
From a lively family al to an ordinary cup of water, as long as sothing called "love" was poured into it, it could make a person feel truly happy.
Honestly, Tohka did not really understand the deep aning behind that kind of comforting saying.
But it was true that no matter how popular or high class a restaurant she went to, Tohka still preferred returning to the apartnt and eating the als Obaa-chan made together with everyone.
Then, one day, on the way ho from school, in order to hand a wallet she had picked up to the police station, Tohka took a slightly longer route.
On that rarely used road ho, a faint scent sohow caught Tohka's attention.
Unable to hold back her curiosity, Tohka followed the scent and eventually arrived in front of a shop.
"A bakery..."
Tohka could not help muttering.
The als at ho were usually Japanese or Chinese style dishes. Although breakfast would sotis be western style, it was only the simplest toast, bacon and eggs.
Since losing her mories and being adopted, this was the first ti she had co to a shop that specialized in bread.
"Umu. There really are many kinds of bread."
After entering the shop and seeing the many different breads displayed in the case, Tohka could not help exclaiming.
Then, her gaze stopped at one place.
"Kinako bread——gulp."
Tohka swallowed.
The other breads looked very tasty too, but for so reason, only this bread, whether its scent, its appearance, or even the sound of its na, strongly tempted her appetite.
Although dinner was waiting for her at ho, after hesitating for a long ti, Tohka still bought ten pieces of kinako bread to satisfy her craving.
"Thank you for the food. Ha——m!"
The instant she took the first bite, Tohka's eyes widened.
The sweet kinako and the soft bread created a perfect texture. The fried crust was crisp and sweet, rich but not greasy. The mont she bit into it, the fragrance of butter and black sesa spread through her mouth, making her smile in pure satisfaction.
"It's delicious... happiness..."
It was delicious.
So delicious that Tohka could not help shedding tears.
She was certain that if the world truly had sothing called the "taste of happiness", it had to be the taste of kinako bread. (TL: ahh Tohka you sweet sweet child...)
From that day onward, Yatogami Tohka had a dream.
To open a bakery, and let more people taste the flavor of "happiness."
And so——
"Are you an idiot, Yatogami Tohka?"
After looking at what Tohka had written on her career survey form, Tobiichi Origami mocked her without rcy.
"What do you an by that, Tobiichi Origami?"
Hearing Origami's words, Tohka frowned unhappily.
"I filled in what I want to do in the future exactly like the teacher said."
"True. I don't deny that. With your grades, compared to sothing unrealistic like going on to higher education, this goal is slightly more practical by a tiny bit."
"Is that sarcasm?"
Tohka felt her anger starting to rise.
"But you're not good at cooking at all."
Origami said without changing expression.
"Ugh——"
Being stabbed right where it hurt, Tohka was left speechless.
"I-it's not that I'm bad at it. I'm just not very used to it yet. Back then, I just didn't know you can't put eggs in the microwave, so it exploded... As long as I work hard, one day!"
"I'm not interested in spirit based theories."
Origami shook her head and cut off Tohka's words.
"And even if I take ten thousand steps back and say your cooking skill really improves, there are still many things to prepare. Funds, the shop, choosing the location——there is a pile of things to consider. And making others taste the flavor of 'happiness' is too abstract. Other than kinako bread, I haven't seen you show much interest in other breads or western sweets."
"O-other breads are delicious too."
"But what you an here is basically only kinako bread. The flavor of 'happiness' changes depending on the person. Your happiness does not equal other people's happiness. If you want to open a bakery for that reason alone, I can guarantee it will close down within a few days."
Saying that, Origami sighed sowhat helplessly.
"I'm not trying to discourage you. No one will stop you from liking kinako bread. But this concerns your future, so you should be more careful when choosing your path."
"I know that too..."
After muttering quietly, Tohka seed to change the topic and asked Origami.
"Then what about you, Tobiichi Origami? What did you write on your survey?"
"...Secret."
Origami answered plainly.
Tohka felt dissatisfied with her attitude.
"What's that supposed to an?! You ca to ask about my future path, but you won't tell yours?"
"...You told on your own. I do not have any obligation to answer your question in exchange."
"What?!"
Hearing that, Tohka felt a burst of anger.
"Hmph! Fine! I'm not interested in your choice at all! Whether you go to a famous university or study abroad, do whatever you want!"
—————————
After returning ho, Tohka decided to discuss her future path with Obaa-chan.
"Opening... a bakery?"
"Mm. So I want to work part ti at a nearby bakery and learn there. Then, after I graduate, I want to open a bakery."
While carefully watching the other person's expression, Tohka spoke restlessly.
"...Is... that so?"
With a slow sigh, the old woman nad Tsukino Yumi showed a slightly complicated expression.
(Again... that expression.)
For so reason, Tohka felt a pain in her chest.
It was the sa as that day, when she had co ho carrying a bag of kinako bread. For just an instant, Obaa-chan's gentle and kind face had sohow looked troubled and pained.
Honestly, compared to Origami's lecture, Obaa-chan's tired expression hurt Tohka far more and made her feel far more guilty.
"U-um, if it's no good, then forget it. I only wrote it casually because I had to fill in the career survey. Origami also said I had no chance."
However, just as Tohka was about to get up and leave, Yumi took her hand and shook her head with a bitter smile.
"...Silly child. I haven't even said anything yet, so why are you overthinking and worrying so much?"
She sighed with a smile.Yumi seed to have realized sothing, and spoke softly.
"That's true... Opening a shop really is very difficult. But if you truly want to do it, then of course Obaa-chan will support you."
"R-really?!"
Tohka asked in surprise.
In response, Yumi smiled and nodded.
"Of course... Tohka finding sothing she wants to do makes Obaa-chan happy more than anything."
Hearing those words, Tohka was overjoyed and hugged Yumi.
"Thank you, Obaa-chan! I love you the most!"
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