He hid the extra death-lines, leaving only the one that belonged to Magano itself.
A leisurely swipe of his finger—the line snapped as if made of paper.
"Magano is collapsing!"
Because her very being was linked to that world, Chinu felt the change the moment Tatsuki moved. Magano—the entire alternate dimension—was crumbling.
"Magano's gone; will you die with it?" Tatsuki asked, genuinely curious.
Chinu hastily lowered her head, nerves taut. "Master, although I'm connected to Magano, its destruction won't erase me— only stop new Impurities from being born, so my power can never grow again." She did not truly crave more strength anyway.
"Good. Let's leave—this place is about to disappear."
[Ding! You have eliminated a future apocalypse factor—Magano and the Impurities. Reward: 1 000 000 Apocalypse Points.]
Added to the 1 500 000 already earned from the Impurities, Basaras, and the King, his total now stood at 2 500 000.
…
First-hand witnesses Yui and Yumiko learned a few club secrets from Megumi, while Yukino chatted with Benio. With a handful of careful leading questions Yukino drew out the basics about Magano, Impurities, Basara, and Onmyouji. A simple girl, she judged—then felt a flicker of guilt for using tactics borrowed from her sister. Still, smoothing Tatsuki's path was part of her role as a wife; a twinge of guilt was a small price. She was becoming more like her elder sister, yet didn't resent the change. As that sister would say, she was shedding childish idealism—just as she had once asked big-sis for certain blush-worthy tips and poses.
Clack!
The Paranormal Research Club's door flew open.
Tatsuki returned—barely minutes after the others, long before the class break ended. He was not alone: behind him floated two petite girls who were identical except for skin tone, both dressed as Onmyouji.
"You two are Onmyouji as well?"
Benio assumed so; the simplest way to spot a Basara was the single black eye, and Chinu's eyes looked perfectly normal.
The fair-skinned girl in mid-air planted her fists on her hips, beaming. "I am the Onmyouji, Abe no Seimei!"
The dark-skinned one shot her a sidelong, faintly scornful glare. "I am the Basara, Chinu."
"Abe no Seimei? A Basara?" Benio blurted. Those names should never appear together— and Lord Seimei had died centuries ago! Whatever the truth, a Basara was still an Impurity. She drew twin blades, guarded.
"Hmm? Are you this generation's yin-star?" Seimei sensed the lunar power inside Benio, then sighed. "But with Magano gone and Impurities erased, the Twin Star Exorcists title has no meaning anymore."
"What do you mean, Magano and the Impurities are gone?" Benio frowned.
"Exactly that: Magano, the King, every Basara, every Impurity—all erased by this gentleman here." Seimei pointed at Tatsuki, equal parts elated and uneasy. A millennium-long war had ended, but how could someone as overwhelming as Tatsuki even exist?
"?" Benio stared hard at Chinu. "But she's right here, and she's a Basara."
Chinu smiled softly. "Merely the servant of my master."
"Easy, girl," Tatsuki said, soothing. "Chinu's under my control—think of her as a shikigami."
"!"
Had she mis-heard? Turning a Basara into a shikigami—was that possible?
Believe it or not, Yukino and the rest did believe; with Magano gone, she exhaled—one less threat.
"Tatsuki, this is Benio Adashino, an Onmyouji," Yukino introduced.
He nodded. "I figured as much."
"Benio Adashino, investigate Magano's destruction on your own. Run back and deliver a message to the Onmyouji chief: Meet me within a week—tell him Abe no Seimei is with me."
"…"
"Go on, child," Seimei added gently.
"I… will deliver it."
After a brief inner struggle Benio sheathed her blades, vaulted through the window, and was gone.
"Eh? She doesn't use doors?" Marin Kitagawa blinked her lovely eyes.
"Maybe that's an Onmyouji thing," Seimei laughed awkwardly—this generation's yin-star seemed adorably dull.
With outsiders gone, attention shifted to Yui and Yumiko.
Gulp. Both swallowed hard.
"Um… Tatsuki-kun, you're not going to… do something to us, right?" Yumiko clutched Yui's hand. After all this supernatural chaos her worldview was shredded, and every movie told her people who learned the secret were silenced—maybe dumped in Tokyo Bay.
"Relax, no one's getting silenced." Tatsuki rolled his eyes, having heard her thoughts. He sat between Megumi and Yukino; each girl set hands on his shoulders, massaging. Eyes half-lidded with comfort, he spoke.
"Rather than killing witnesses, I have a nicer option. I can erase memories—you could simply forget today."
"No!"
The word exploded from Yui like a bristling kitten. Eyes red, she shook her head fiercely. "I don't want to forget—I want to understand Tatsuki-kun better!"
It sounded perilously close to a confession; everyone's expressions turned subtly awkward.
Yukino gave an inward shake of her head. Because she was closer to Yui than most, she had long sensed Yui's feelings toward Tatsuki. The girl had already fallen—much as Yukino herself once had—she just hadn't accepted it yet.
"Is this what humans call emotion?" Chinu stood to one side, watching with keen interest.
"You've got time to care about that? Have you checked your own condition lately?" Abe no Seimei hovered at her shoulder, muttering in a low voice.
Chinu only curled her lip. "My condition? Following Master, I'm not about to die."
"What about you? Think that tattered soul of yours can hold together seven more days?"
"…" Seimei flinched; Chinu's reminder made her realize her own spirit was still leaking away!
Yui's reaction was intense because she couldn't let go of her feelings for Tatsuki. Yet Tatsuki was no longer a hesitant man. When he should act—he would.
He rose at once, strode to Yui, and fixed her with a gaze both gentle and profound.
"Yui, do you remember my confession?"
Yui nodded shyly.
"As I said: yes, I already have many girlfriends, and I do love you as well. I can't give you some romantic pledge—I'm a two-timing scoundrel."
"But I can promise one thing: I will always love Yui."
"So—will you be my girlfriend?"
Better plain, direct words than endless dithering.
"!" Yumiko, standing right beside Yui, was struck dumb.
Many girlfriends? A shameless playboy? And he's confessing anyway? Anyone would refuse on the spot, wouldn't they? She even wondered if Tatsuki were delusional. But reality is often stranger than fantasy.
Tears welled in Yui's reddened eyes. She threw her arms around him, voice choking.
"Tatsuki-kun, I'm a despicable person…"
"On Yukino's birthday, I shamelessly imagined I was the one beside you—stealing her happiness for myself…"
"…" Yukino lifted her lashes.
"I want to be with you, but I'm terrified that my selfish wish will ruin everyone else's happiness."
"…"
Tatsuki hadn't expected this. Yui's silence hadn't been because he had too many girls, but because she feared disrupting Yukino and the others. He cupped her cheeks, thumbed away her tears, and spoke softly: "Yui, that's always been your nature."
"In front of me, you never need to watch anyone else's expression." Then he lifted her face and, without another moment's hesitation, kissed her.
"Mm—!"
The sudden kiss made Yui feel secure. She clung to him, responding clumsily. Their near-forgetful embrace left Yukino and the others helpless; Miko peeked through flushed cheeks, while Chinu and Seimei watched with unabashed curiosity. Only Yumiko stood rooted like someone struck by lightning. Yui actually agreed? She had wanted to intervene, but in such rapt absorption there was no opening—couldn't they see Yui's bliss?
After a long while the two finally parted. Yui's cheeks were apple-red, her eyes moist and dazed as she leaned weakly against Tatsuki. With that kiss, their relationship was sealed.
"…Yui…" Yumiko called instinctively.
Yui hid her face against Tatsuki's chest and murmured timidly, "Yumiko, this is my choice…"
"…"
With Yui saying that, Yumiko had no rebuttal. What could she possibly do? Tatsuki had openly admitted he was a scoundrel, and Yui dove in with eyes open—how do you argue?
Holding Yui, Tatsuki looked at Yumiko. "Do you want your memory erased?"
"Uh…" Caught off guard, Yumiko froze. After a moment's thought she shook her head. "I don't, either."
"You're certain?" he asked, brow lifting.
"…"
The scene of wetting herself while he held her flashed through her mind; her face flamed. Mustering false bravado, she pulled Yui from his arms and turned aside. "I don't want my memory erased— I want to join your club."
"Why?"
"To watch you—so you can't bully Yui!"
"Yumiko, Tatsuki-kun won't bully me," Yui said in a syrupy voice.
"…"
Yumiko's expression crumpled. Yui, give me a way out! Aren't you the expert at reading a room? Why does that fail when it comes to Tatsuki?
Seeing her predicament, Tatsuki offered a step. "All right—write an application."
"Okay!" Yumiko beamed gratefully, though she dare not meet his gaze. After all, wetting yourself on a guy—it was mortifying. Her toes curled just remembering.
Eyes darting, she asked in a whisper, "Could you erase just a tiny part of my memory?"—of course meaning the accident. The request surprised Tatsuki.
"If you're certain, it's possible. But I'm not going to erase it myself."
"…"
Her blush deepened. Deleting only her own recollection would be self-deception. Shoulders slumping, she sighed, "Forget it. I trust you won't spread it around."
"Mhm." Not exactly bragging material; even if it involved a cute girl, he still found it gross—he wasn't a pervert.
Relieved, Yumiko turned. "Yui, come with me to find a teacher."
"Eh? But Tatsuki-kun—"
Rolling her eyes, Yumiko dragged her off, calling back, "See you in a bit—help me write the application!" Yui's clingy reluctance left everyone half amused, half exasperated.
...
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