"Masaomi! I mean... you're a complete wreck, but are you actually okay?"
"Yeah... mostly. My head is spinning and everything hurts, but I'm definitely still breathing."
"Oh, thank goodness... I'm so glad you're alive, Masaomi!"
Now that our battle had finally reached its conclusion, Masaomi was sprawled out on his back. He was covered in a terrifying array of cuts, burns, and lacerations; just looking at him made my own skin crawl. Cleria was sobbing as she gave him a lap pillow, doing her best to tend to his wounds.
Despite his state, Masaomi looked remarkably happy, his eyes drifting toward Cleria's nurse outfit with a dazed grin. I figured his life wasn't in any immediate danger if he still had the energy to be a lecher. Masaomi, I get it, but have some self-restraint, I thought. I handed over some medicine and used a bit of my Partner's power to secretly seal his more life-threatening injuries.
I could have healed him completely with my Sacred Gear, but Lovestar—the hamster currently perched on my shoulder—stopped me. The battle was over, but the situation wasn't fully settled. He warned me that using the Gear's power too openly while we were still on high alert was a bad move. Besides, we weren't alone.
"Ow... damn. Still, Cleria, you really surprised me when you showed up. And when that magic bolt 'missed'..."
"I'm so sorry," Cleria whispered. "I knew it was dangerous, but I had this bad feeling I couldn't shake..."
"No, don't apologize," Masaomi said, closing his eyes. "If you hadn't intervened, I would have been in real trouble. It's my own incompetence that forced everyone to step in. I feel pathetic."
Masaomi looked down, his face tight with regret. When we had arrived, the fight had been at its absolute climax. Masaomi had managed to snap the Holy Sword and was moving for the finish, but then Shidou had pulled that dirty trick with the illusion of Cleria.
I remembered what Mephisto had said about Masaomi's weakness, and it left me speechless. No matter how much you know a vision is a fake, no one can just cut through the person they love most without hesitating. For someone like Masaomi, who had bet his entire life on her, it was an impossible ask. If I had seen an illusion of Lavinia like that, I would have frozen too. It's only human. In a fight to the death, it might be called "soft," but it's what makes a person real.
"…Well now. You certainly kept a terrifying trump card hidden, Masaomi," a voice croaked.
"Touji... are you awake?"
"Yeah. Rest easy. Even I can't move anymore. And my stomach... it's killing me..."
Shidou, who was lying several yards away in a similar state of collapse, opened his eyes. Our combined strike had finally knocked him out. While he was under, Lovestar had neutralized any remaining threats on his person and performed a quick diagnosis. He was in no condition to keep fighting, so we left him where he lay.
Lovestar had leaned in and whispered to me, looking remarkably guilty: "Kanata, please... use your Gear to at least patch the holes in his stomach."
I had nodded in silence and done it. For a Great Devil to look that pitying... Shidou, just how many 'direct attacks' did your ulcers take during that fight? Even my Partner had sent me a mental wave of "yikes" while we were healing him.
I managed to perform a pseudo-recovery on the multiple holes that had opened up in his gut. I was worried about his shoulder wound too, but Lovestar assured me that while the stomach was a disaster, the shoulder wouldn't kill him. I applied basic first aid and kept him bound with a magic spell, though the hostility in his eyes seemed to have vanished entirely.
Shidou gave us a weary, pained smile, then turned his gaze toward me. I flinched. To him, I was the biggest anomaly in the room.
"So... who exactly are you?" he asked.
"I... er... I'm Milky Red. A passing Messenger of Hope who was drawn here by the love-energy of Masaomi and Cleria to lend my strength."
"…So you're really going to stick with that story? Why did you pick 'Magical Girl' as your disguise? Having to report to my superiors that I was defeated by a 'Passing Magical Girl' is giving me a massive headache. Or maybe it's just my stomach again..."
I'm sorry, Touji. I know it's a lot to process. Just... please mention the Super Robot in the report too.
"Um... you don't want to fight Masaomi anymore, right?" I asked.
"My Holy Sword is in pieces and my body won't move," he sighed. "It's physically impossible."
"Touji..." Masaomi murmured.
"More importantly, Masaomi... what comes next? You beat me, and that's impressive, but the Church isn't going to give up on your purge. From here on out, the whole world is going to be gunning for you. Can someone like you—someone I managed to push to the brink—really protect her forever?"
Shidou's question wasn't a taunt. It sounded like genuine concern, wrapped in a layer of deep sadness. Masaomi looked away, searching for an answer but failing to find the words. He fell into a heavy silence.
"Masaomi. If you don't fix that 'softness' of yours, eventually it will cost you your life—and hers. The world is not a kind place. Do you have the resolve to handle that?"
"I... I don't... but..."
The atmosphere became suffocatingly heavy. Shidou was looking at Masaomi with pity, Masaomi was spiraling into self-doubt, and Cleria looked crushed by the guilt of her image being used as a weapon.
I couldn't help it. I let out a loud sigh. Everyone was overthinking it. My gut was telling me that we should just be celebrating the fact that everyone was still alive. Why dwell on the darkness of the world when you just survived a near-death experience? Today had been the most high-stress day of my entire life.
The strike in the Underworld, Cleria being kidnapped, the purge in Kuoh, being forced to become a magical girl, a giant robot attack, and then a life-or-death sword duel... Give me a break. I just want to go to sleep.
"Excuse me, Touji. I have a question. Is being 'soft' really such a crime?"
My voice rang out louder than I expected in the silence. Shidou looked up, genuinely surprised by the question. Masaomi and Cleria both blinked, turning to look at me.
"That softness almost got him killed today," Shidou argued. "That's why—"
"But he's still alive, isn't he? Sure, he got into a tight spot today, and maybe he will again. But isn't it also true that his 'softness' is exactly why he's being saved right now?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm here—and I worked my heart out to save them—because I was drawn to that very softness. I met the people of Kuoh Town, I felt their kindness and their warmth, and I decided I wanted to be their friend. Because they are the way they are, I decided I would do everything in my power to protect them."
Shidou was right—being soft is dangerous. I'd heard that a thousand times since entering the Under-world. Lavinia had told me that sometimes you have to discard your kindness. But you don't have to throw it all away right this second. Kindness isn't just a weakness.
"Your way of thinking is definitely soft, Kanata. But I happen to like your desire not to hurt anyone."
I had stopped hesitating because I loved their kindness. Cleria was bright and gentle, always looking out for others even if she was a bit of a klutz. Masaomi was honest and devoted to love, always trying his best even when he stumbled. Luciana was the reliable Queen who kept them on track with a well-timed chop. And the Belial peerage were the hardworking support system that held everything together.
Ajuka had warned me that this world doesn't run on idealism. Kindness can be repaid with betrayal. Effort often goes unrewarded. But accepting that and giving up is just wrong. Telling someone to discard their heart because they might die is a hollow argument. It would be like someone telling me that if my Partner vanished, my "death flags" would decrease, so I should just let them take the Gear away. I'd refuse that in a heartbeat.
And if we're talking about being "soft," I'm the worst offender in the room. A Satan literally called me "greedy" for wanting to save everyone. This current moment—this victory—is the result of my own selfishness. If I hadn't been "soft," I would have just accepted Cleria and Masaomi's deaths as an inevitable tragedy and given up.
To hell with that.
What's the point of living like that? There's no joy in just "surviving." I'm a fool and a softie, but that's exactly how we carved out this path. It might get me killed, or I might face things that terrify me. But I can say with confidence that this is my way of life.
Besides, if things get truly desperate, I'm shameless enough to throw away my pride and beg everyone for help. Don't underestimate the tenacity of a weak human backed into a corner. I'll bow my head to anyone if it means getting the help we need. And I'll work twice as hard to pay back every debt I owe.
"I can't see Masaomi's kindness as a bad thing," I said firmly. "If the world is unkind, and the people in it forget how to be kind too, then there's really no hope left for anyone, is there?"
"But if you lose everything because of it..."
"Then you make a better plan! I don't want my friends to die either. But if their kindness is going to cause the world to turn its fangs on them again... then I'll just keep standing up to protect that kindness as many times as it takes."
I stared Shidou straight in the eye through my mask. I refused to accept any other outcome. I wanted the happy ending where they could laugh together.
"I love the Cleria and Masaomi of now. They matter to me. So I'm going to protect what matters. If I can't do it alone, then I'll find a way for all of us to do it together."
"…Doing whatever it takes to protect them as they are," Shidou whispered.
People talked about Masaomi "tripping up," but honestly, the man was naturally prone to blunders and too earnest for his own good in daily life anyway. Would discarding his "softness" even change his fundamental nature? I doubted it.
"Look, let's just reflect on what happened today and do better next time! That's all there is to it!"
"You... you make it sound so simple."
"Why not? Besides, we just beat you—the guy who discarded his softness—so I'd call that a win for the softies. If we run into another strong enemy, we'll just gank them together!"
I raised my fist in a declaration of victory, but then I realized all three of them were staring at me with their mouths hanging open. Wait, did I say something weird? I knew it sounded a bit stupid, but we were the winners. This future had been secured by the hands of many people.
There was no guarantee things would always work out this well, but for me, this was a massive boost in confidence. Protecting my friends' smiles made me proud. I had caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people to get here, so I had a lot of apologizing to do, but I was okay with that.
"…Heh... haha... Hahahaha! Gack... cough...!"
The silence was broken by a sudden burst of laughter from Shidou. Now it was my turn to be stunned. Masaomi and Cleria watched in shock as the priest laughed until he started coughing up blood again.
"I see... I see now. This truly is a miracle. A dream that should never have come true was rewritten by a single gift from a child. The importance of believing, the courage to stand tall, the power of unseen feelings... it seems your 'unreasonable hope' has crushed our logic."
When he finished laughing, the darkness in Shidou's eyes had vanished. His eyes were moist—maybe from the pain, or maybe from something else. He looked refreshed, as if he'd finally found an answer to a question he'd been carrying for a long time. I was just standing there frantically wondering if he was okay since he was still spitting up blood.
"…Masaomi. Cleria."
"Yes?"
"I lost. Everything I said before was the truth—I was worried for you. But looking at you now, I feel like you might actually make it. I have no logical reason to think so, but it's a strange feeling nonetheless. …You both have a very good friend."
"Yes!" they both answered in unison.
Touji's violet eyes softened, offering a silent blessing to their future. Having accepted his defeat as a swordsman and a warrior, he looked as though a massive weight had been lifted from his soul. Masaomi answered with tears in his eyes, while Cleria bowed deeply toward the priest.
"Well now, it seems this matter is officially settled," Lovestar chirped.
"Oh, Lovestar! You're back. What about the other side...?"
"Don't worry. I've sent word of our success to the Underworld via a gemstone relay. They're about to call checkmate over there. The park is all cleaned up too. Everyone is on their way here."
After we took down Shidou and confirmed Cleria and Masaomi were safe, Mephisto had gone to contact Ajuka and Professor Azazel. I let out a massive sigh of relief as Lovestar hopped back onto my shoulder. If Ajuka and Diehauser were on the move, the Old Devils didn't stand a chance. And I was glad to hear Lavinia and the others were unhurt.
"So that means..."
"Yes. Kuoh Town and the Underworld are secure. There's still a lot of work to do and plenty of mess to clean up, but from here on, it's a job for the 'backstage' crew. That includes the negotiations with the Church."
Lovestar spoke with a quiet pride that began to sink into my heart. I did it. If the rest was just administrative work, then my part was truly over.
"So, you can relax now. You saved your friends, Kanata. You've secured the future where you can all laugh together."
Mephisto's warm voice and the way he gently patted my cheek made my mind go blank for a second. The adrenaline that had been keeping me numb finally started to fade, and the reality of what he said hit me. As the weight of the achievement settled into my heart, a slow wave of emotion rose up.
I felt a wet sensation on the back of my hand. I looked down and saw a drop of water. Then another. The tears I hadn't even realized were forming were now streaming down my face.
"Ah... ugh..."
"It's okay. You can cry now. You've worked harder than anyone."
Just like when I first met the people of Kuoh three months ago, I couldn't stop the tears. I didn't feel any shame; my emotions had grown so large they just pushed everything else aside. Mephisto pulled out a handkerchief and wiped my face, staying close to me.
I had been so scared. My meta-knowledge had been like a constant voice accusing me, asking if a kid like me could really change the flow of this world's "canon." I had questioned myself every single day. But I had kept pushing, forcing my legs to move even when I wanted to stop, charging toward the future I wanted.
I really did it. I made it to the end. I couldn't put all my feelings into words, but I let myself feel the pure, unadulterated joy of success. Reincarnator or not, right now, I just wanted to cry like the child I was.
I knew that once this was out of my system, the tears would stop and I'd be okay. I'd be able to look forward and smile again.
The tragic story that was supposed to happen ten years before the original series began had been fundamentally rewritten by the intervention of a single child. The world had changed.
***
"Hello there! I'm Lovestar, the adorable mascot of the Magical Girls! Nice to officially meet you."
"Right... yes. I've decided to simply stop asking questions about that. …You and the boy are just 'passing magical girls' drawn here by the power of love, with no direct connection to Masaomi at all. I get it."
After a while, Kanata had stopped crying. His eyes were red, but he had a bright, clear smile on his face. Masaomi and the others had talked with Shidou for a while, resolving the lingering tension between them, until they received word that a "Super Robot" was waiting at the entrance to pick them up. Touji Shidou looked like he wanted to cry for entirely different reasons.
Then, Milky Yellow (Miltan) arrived. Since he couldn't reveal his identity, he didn't say a word, but he wept huge tears of joy at the priest's safety and gave him a massive, crushing hug. There was a brief moment where Shidou nearly suffered a "Stomach Balance Breaker" from the stress, but a quick poke from my Partner's energy settled him down. Finally, supporting the injured Masaomi, Kanata and Cleria headed for the exit. Touji Shidou watched their backs in silence.
He had fought with everything he had as a warrior of the Church and lost to their bond. As the loser, he had chosen to watch over the winners' future. He would likely be reprimanded by the Church—maybe not exiled, but his position would be precarious. His years of achievement might be erased. His family and subordinates would face hardships.
But he accepted it. If everything was gone, he would just build it again. He would rethink what it meant to have "the courage to believe" and rebuild himself as a warrior from scratch. He would apologize to his wife and daughter and support his men as best he could. As he stared into the distance, pondering the mountain of paperwork and cleanup ahead, a hamster appeared before him.
"Hahaha, I appreciate you playing along. …It looks like you've found some peace of mind."
"Thanks to you. …It seems this incident had a 'backstage' much larger than the Church realized. Between the Underworld crisis and that psychological 'Nurse-Cosplay' attack, we were dancing in the palm of your hand the whole time, weren't we?"
"We just lent a little help," the hamster replied. "The one who worked the hardest to save them was that boy. His effort—and his many screw-ups—gathered the necessary 'crystals' to create a happy ending that exceeded even our expectations."
Lovestar chuckled. Shidou leaned back into a nearby chair, his body aching, and let out a long sigh. The red-clad boy had accepted the "softness" of himself and others and stood up to face the world anyway. Normally, such words would be dismissed as the delusions of a child. But the boy had made them real. He had proven his point to both the Devils and the Church.
If Masaomi and Cleria had that boy and the people who supported him by their side, maybe they really could be happy in this world. It was a baseless hope, but Shidou wanted to believe in it. He wanted to believe that even a Devil and a priest could overcome their nature and their status. He realized he truly wanted to watch over them, regardless of the world's rules.
"Yes, yes. I think I can leave this to you after all," Lovestar noted.
"…What do you mean?"
"I told you, the boy built a path to a happy ending that went beyond our calculations. He set the stage. Now, it's our turn to answer his expectations. Don't you think that's our responsibility as adults?"
Shidou looked confused, but the idea of a "happy ending that exceeds expectations" made his heart race. If such a path really existed... if there was something he, who had been so powerless, could do for Masaomi, Cleria, and the boy who called himself their friend... he wanted to do it. No matter how small the task, he wanted to be their strength.
This was Shidou's honest feeling—the "softness" he had finally accepted in himself.
"I may not be able to do much... but if I can be of help, I'll listen to what you have to say."
"Glad to hear it. And if all goes well, we might even be able to lighten your punishment."
"That's..."
"Shidou, sometimes you have to be a little cunning to survive. You might as well come along for the ride. It'll make Masaomi and the boy happy, after all."
Shidou gaped at the hamster's casual tone, then offered a helpless smile. He wondered just how much chaos that boy had caused behind the scenes. To prepare something that could satisfy the Church's high command was no small feat.
He realized that behind that boy—and including this hamster—there were some incredibly powerful figures. Several of them, his instincts told him. Masaomi and Cleria had triggered a miracle by meeting that child. A cold sweat broke out on Shidou's brow as he considered the sheer, incomprehensible potential of the boy.
"…Masaomi's going to have a hard time," Shidou muttered.
He sent a silent prayer of encouragement to the man who would now be living his life as the boy's friend. Just being involved with that kid is going to lead to some massive headaches. But since it was Masaomi's own choice, Shidou decided to let him handle it.
"Still... for you to reach out to us—your enemies—just because it would make them happy... you're quite a softie yourself, aren't you?"
"…Well now," the hamster said, looking away. "My motives aren't quite as pure as theirs. This is partly an apology for all the things my 'ward' has broken and the various other messes he's made. I'm hoping this settles the score... I really am truly sorry for my boy's behavior."
"Wait, what?"
Shidou's cheek twitched at the dead-serious tone of the apology. To have a figure of such obvious power apologize so sincerely... What on earth did that kid do to me while I wasn't looking? He felt like another ulcer was about to open if he thought about it too hard, so he simply nodded and dropped the subject.
***
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