“Fufufufu… so that’s how it was…”
Reine mutters while looking down, but the corners of her mouth curve into a crescent moon shape.
“How strange! Ahahahaha!”
I had gone just as mad as the other three. I wanted to go mad.
If it were just the [Diary], there might have been a possibility that what Shino said was dubious, that it could be dismissed as a bad made-up story and mere coincidence.
Through the gap in the curtains, a piercing mad laughter echoed through the quiet darkness where everyone had gone to sleep.
This world is fabricated—
[Saionji Satsuki] was created not by her parents, but by the creator of this world, a doll programmed to fall in love with [Sano Yuuto].
The life I’ve lived until now has all been a game of pretend built upon a prepared scenario.
Our joys, sorrows, experiences, origins, circumstances—everything is nothing more than pieces to complete the story called [LoD]. Even our lives.
But—
“I don’t want to die…”
That fear, as if something viscous and formless was gripping my heart, was the only driving force for us who had become empty. Driven by impatience, without needing to signal each other, we began searching through the room.
Even though [Iriya Satoshi] saved our lives, I couldn’t shake the anxiety that the 『World’s Corrective Force』 might activate again, that man might have his way with us again, that we might be caught up in another scenario where our lives are put on a scale.
“Nothing… nothing’s coming up.”
Many mementos of him and me keep appearing, but they’re all irrelevant. We no longer have the luxury to immerse ourselves in false memories.
In the first place, even [Iriya Satoshi], who came from the upper world, couldn’t escape the 『World’s Corrective Force』. Even if we know about it, what can we possibly do?
“Haha, whatever we do, it’s probably useless…”
An unpleasant sense of despair dominated me. I felt sorry for the other three desperately searching for clues, but I no longer felt like my body could move.
I sat down at the loft stairs and took out the [Diary] again. Then I flipped through it page by page once more.
“Amazing. You’ve been helping us all this time…”
It must have been hard enough with just me, but it was four times that. Our daily lives were supported by [Iriya Satoshi]. And yet—
“If we’re going to suffer like this, wouldn’t it have been easier to die that day…?”
I’m the worst. I’m blaming my life’s savior. Asking why he didn’t let us die easily. Why he left behind such a terrible [Diary].
I looked down from the loft and measured the distance to the floor, but it wasn’t enough.
If only it were a bit higher…
I flipped the [Diary] all at once to that day of the graduation ceremony.
The resolve to not value one’s life is what brings victory—
That sentence caught my eye.
“How pathetic… I am.”
[Iriya Satoshi], who knew the day he would die, must have felt fear dozens of times greater than ours. And he sacrificed his own life to save us.
“What should I, what should we do…?”
Powerlessly, I looked up to the heavens, but the ceiling was right there. It’s natural since it’s a loft, but the sense of despair of hitting the wall called 『World’s Corrective Force』 no matter what we do becoming reality made me sick. However, part of the ceiling was dented with what looked like bloodstains, and I couldn’t help but stare at it.
The culprit is obviously [Iriya Satoshi]. He must have tried to escape from the sense of confinement in this situation where he could do nothing. Though it seems to have been futile…
The [Diary] that had left my hands was placed open and backwards. It seems I had unconsciously handled it roughly. Feeling guilty, I tried to pick it up carefully when something caught the corner of my vision.
“What’s this…”
Something was peeking out from under the futon, so when I flipped it over, there was a torn piece of paper hidden there. The layout and design were very similar to the [Diary], so when I checked the [Diary], there was evidence of one page having been torn out.
“Eh—?”
My pupils dilated greatly, and I unconsciously crumpled the fragment of the [Diary] in my hand.
I can’t stay like this—
“E-everyone! Come down and gather here for a moment!”
Even though it was the middle of the night, I raised my voice. I might have disturbed the neighbors. But even disregarding consideration for others, I had to tell them.
“…What’s wrong?”
“I found it! W-we’re already…”
My words choked up. My voice caught, unable to form language. Like a baby, all I could do was draw attention by crying.
While running down the loft stairs, I jumped partway through, but failed the landing and fell.
“Satsuki-san, please calm down…”
“That’s right~, what did you find~?”
“Um, well, you see—”
“Take a deep breath first…”
“But… but!”
I forgot how to breathe, and what I wanted to say wouldn’t become words. Since it would be faster to show them, I handed over the crumpled fragment of the [Diary] as it was. I heard the sound of it being spread out with a rustle, then a sharp intake of breath.
“Th-this is…”
My vision is blurred and I can’t see anything, but I know what the other three are feeling.
We’re truly saved. We’re [free] now—
To Satsuki, Reine, Shuna, and Shino
You probably won’t believe this, but I was saved by you all in my previous life.
In that dark room, for me who had nothing, your joys and sorrows and that story were my emotional support.
I’m sorry I couldn’t guide you, to whom I owe such a great debt, to a happy ending.
I’m sorry for giving you a bad ending.
I’m the worst, but I’ll protect your future no matter what.
The scenario of [LoD] depicts high school life centered around the protagonist: [Sano Yuuto], so once you graduate,
the 『World’s Corrective Force』 that bound you will disappear.
In other words, if you overcome the death ending, you’ll be truly “free.”
Someone might end up with Sano,
or you might find someone better.
I don’t know what will happen in the future…
Well, not knowing what will happen is what the real future is all about.
Even so, I’m praying for your happiness.
good-bye
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
“—and that’s what he said~”
“I see~”
“That’s fascinating.”
“This is a girls’ gathering… it’s fun.”
In the softly lit room, endless laughter echoed. Around the central table, the four of us sat down. Despite it approaching 3 AM, the scene of high school girls absorbed in idle chat at a family restaurant seemed somewhat strange.
“By the way… we were able to go outside the 『World’s Corrective Force』 of [LoD], right?”
Reine called out to us reservedly, as if confirming.
“Yes. If we take what’s written in this letter at face value, the stage of [LoD] ends with the three years of high school. It means there’s no scenario from university onwards. We won’t be manipulated by the 『World’s Corrective Force』 anymore.”
“I’m so glad, I’m truly glad…”
We won’t have our will and hearts manipulated, forced to love someone. And our lives won’t be put on a scale. We’ve truly been liberated and gained freedom. Being completely relieved from the bottom of our hearts, we kept confirming it over and over, sharing our joy.
And then—
“We have to thank Iriya Satoshi-kun~!”
Shuna put her palms together in front of her chest. The image of the [Saint] revived, and warmth dwelt in her words.
“That’s right…”
“Yes…”
“Yeah. That’s right… I hope he wakes up soon.”
At this point, it doesn’t matter who [Iriya Satoshi] was. He saved our lives when we were supposed to die in the world of [LoD]. He gave us a future.
It’s been almost a week since the accident, but we want him to wake up soon.
I want to say thank you for protecting us all this time. I want to apologize for not noticing. And then—
“Satsuki-chan, your face is red~?”
“Eh!? No, that’s, I mean, Shuna, your face is red too!”
“Eh, eh~, I don’t think so~”
“No, you’re very red. Like a boiled octopus.”
“Before talking about others, why don’t you look in a mirror? Shino is the same.”
“…I return those words right back to you, Reine-san.”
“How noisy…”
A strange silence flowed between the four of us. Even as each tried to hide what was in their hearts, our bright red cheeks told everything.
This is the second time seeing this scene. I don’t know what expression I’m wearing, but looking at the three of them, I’m probably making the same expression.
“We might have similar tastes…”
“It seems so…”
We smiled at each other awkwardly. Once, I felt disgusted that the other three held these feelings. But now, I felt joy that we were all thinking of the same person. It’s strange since only one of us can be with him, meaning we’ll end up fighting the same formidable rivals anyway.
“Hey…”
Then, Reine murmured hesitantly. We all looked at Reine at once.
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