Chapter 33
I can feel an enormous power heading here from far away .
I’ve been standing on the sports ground of the school, motionlessly looking up at the silver full moon, waiting for that time to come .
“Naba, is that Chako?”
The Yuusei-kun standing behind me speaks .
Yuusei-kun probably also felt the enormous power heading here .
“Un… Chako was also about this strong in the 4th round . ”
The 4th round . It was the time Chako disappeared from school, had her ego broken and appeared on Valentine’s Day .
I think it’s fine because Chako is coming here herself .
However, being anxious as expected, I glance at Tomotaksenpai standing beside Yuusei-kun .
“Aa . It’s Chako… It will be fine . I think she still has her ego . ”
“Amazing . Isn’t this about as strong as the older Kuo?”
Tomotaksenpai gives a small nod, and Yuusei-kun laughs in enjoyment .
Seeing that, Kousuke-kun makes an unpleasant face .
“Why, do you look happy sheesh . ”
“Three strong phantoms are gathering at the grounds in the night… Kamo and I are here, and so is Director . On top of that, the Priestess of Ominous Clouds . It gives me the thrills . ”
“… Stop it . ”
The Kousuke-kun and Yuusei-kun having their usual back and forth .
When I see those figures, I can feel my eyebrows that converged tightly loosen .
Next to the two are Tomotaksenpai, Sensei, and Tomoyuki-san…
I don’t know what Chako is doing .
However, it will surely be fine if everyone’s here .
――We will surely save you .
When I clench my fist tightly looking up at the sky again, I see the shadow of a bird far away .
It steadily heads here, and when it reaches the end of the grounds, that figure changes into a huge, light brown wolf .
“Yui-chan, I’ve kept you waitingー . ”
The voice I haven’t heard for a long time is an alto voice like a boy’s .
However, that lax manner is indeed Chako’s .
“Wow . So everyone’s here too . ”
The light brown wolf looks behind me, and raises a voice like it’s laughing .
“In other words, Yui-chan, were you able to properly talk to everyone?”
“Un… everyone was waiting for Chako . ”
“I see I see . I’m glad . ”
The words I haven’t heard for a long time are amiable like always…
Suppressing my feeling of wanting to jump at it immediately, I stare motionlessly at the light brown wolf .
“Heroine and her friends VS Villain, what an extremely good composition huh . ”
The light brown wolf’s eyes blaze .
“Well then, Yui-chan… Shall we have the promised conviction?”
The light brown wolf fires disturbing words, and removes its gaze from me .
Then, it looks at the Kousuke-kun and Sensei behind me with a sharp glint in its eyes .
“Since you heard from Yui-chan, did you hear that I’m Tomotaksama’s familiar?”
“Yeah . We heard . ”
“Hmm . I see . How about, me having been hindering Yui-chan’s romance?”
The light brown wolf’s provocative eyes shoot through Kousuke-kun and Sensei .
The face of Kousuke-kun who’d replied Chako, frowns at the statement that seemed to be pressing for an answer .
Then, Sensei gives a small sigh .
Seeing the state of the two, the light brown wolf goes “So that’s it” and nods .
“Ah, you don’t seem to have heard that huh… Were Yui-chan and Tomotaksama abiding by the arrangement that day?”
a
… The arrangement that day .
That was probably the time when Tomotaksenpai let go of Chako’s hand .
『I didn’t intend to tell Kousuke-chan or Sensei』, said Chako .
That’s why, I didn’t tell them that Chako approached Kousuke-kun and the rest with an ulterior motive .
Perhaps…
Chako will return, and stay here while concealing that . I thought .
“Kousuke-chan, Sensei . You know what, I was told to hinder the romance between phantoms and the Priestess of Ominous Clouds so I’d been hindering for a long time . ”
As though to reject the consideration of Tomotaksenpai and I, Chako informs straightforwardly .
“Let’s see, I said suggestive things, and took on suggestive behaviours? … Both of you easily turned to love . ”
The brown wolf lowers its posture .
“I didn’t particularly, liked you two!”
It springs at Kousuke-kun and Sensei . There is about 20 metres from the brown wolf but, it closes that distance before I know it .
The brown wolf’s forefoot draws nearer to the two .
However, before the brown wolf’s forefoot reaches us, it is repelled by a transparent wall-like thing .
“Ow!”
The brown wolf’s body is repelled, and flies backwards .
The brown wolf fixes its posture in the air, landing firmly on 4 feet .
“Ei, I thought the early bird gets the wormー . ”
“It was a pity . ”
As the body of the repelled brown wolf shivers, it raises a dissatisfied voice .
Tomoyuki-san chuckles at that voice gently .
So it seems that, Tomoyuki-san raised a barrier for us on the fly .
“Well that’s fine . Let’s have a bout, for now . ”
The brown wolf removes its eyes from Tomoyuki-san, looking at Kousuke-kun and Sensei .
“Even if Sensei is The Strongest Phantom In This World… you transferred power to Kousuke-chan right? If so, sheesh, I dunno who’s the strongest . ”
Both Kousuke-kun and Sensei firmly look back, not averting their eyes from the brown wolf .
“Cause I ate a whole bunch . I became considerably strong too, you know?”
Amber and gold eyes glint under the moonlight .
“Cmonnn, Kousuke-chan and Sensei have lots to say too, right? That’s whyyyy, like the phantoms we are, let’s have a bout of strength . Who’s top . Determine it?”
The brown wolf shows ferocious fangs, laughing with its split mouth .
Kousuke-kun’s mouth pulls up just a little at that, shuddering once, and transforms his body .
Sensei too, after glancing at Tomoyuki-san once, transforms .
Tomoyuki-san sighs “Good grief”, and removes the spell he had been using .
“… I’ll have you know I became strong . You’re gonna regret it . ”
“Fūn . 『The Good-For-Nothing Fox』is acting strong . ”
The brown wolf sneers at the words of the huge orange fox .
The orange fox opens its mouth at those words, showing its fangs, and springs at the brown wolf .
“In the first place yanno, you were too easy . What? Falling just cause I smiled a little?”
“… Shut it!”
The orange fox jumps at the brown wolf . The brown wolf swings its right forefoot, aiming at that head .
The orange fox avoids that, biting into the forefoot swinging down .
That the sharp fangs were firmly stabbed in, is something I can tell from even here .
However, unafraid of its forefoot being hurt by the fangs, the brown wolf changed angle, sticking that forefoot into the orange wolf’s mouth forcefully .
Too appalling for the orange fox, it coughs nauseated and jumps away in a hurry .
“Uhaha, I won’t mind if you’d a longer tasting . ”
The brown wolf laughs happily .
And, looking at the huge gold fox that hasn’t moved as yet, “Fu” it sighs .
“Sensei too, don’t watch like that and do it quickー . The way you sham leisure, acting coolー, I really don’t think that’s good you know?”
“Is that so . ”
“Yep yep . Even Sensei’s itching right?”
The brown wolf stretches its forefoot and lowers its head .
With its butt up, taking a posture like it’s stretching, its tail shakes .
“Come on, let’s do it . ”
Gold eyes shine provocatively .
Having seen that the gold fox laughs “Haha” and, springs at the brown wolf .
“I’m strong y’know?”
“Yeah . But yannoー, on the mental frontー . Sensei’s also too easy . You’ve gotta be able to bear more because you’re popular . ”
“It can’t be helped . Because you have the same eyes as me . ”
“Eh . I guess gold and amber are similar . ”
“… That’s not what it’s about . ”
The bodies of the brown wolf, orange fox and gold fox entangle .
Although the attacks are serious and wounds are increasing around their bodies, that battle appears like they are playing around .
“Oh, I almost forgot because I was having fun!”
The brown wolf fighting as though it was playing suddenly raises a voice .
Then, spinning its body swiftly, it sends the 2 foxes clinging on its body flying off .
The brown wolf which lost its obstacles looks straight at Tomotaksenpai .
“… Chako . ”
When Tomotaksenpai calls the name softly, he seems to feel something and starts reciting a spell .
The brown wolf’s gold eyes glint, and it springs at Tomotaksenpai .
As though he knew that, when Tomotaksenpai’s spell reciting finishes, a black whip-like thing materializes and hits the approaching brown wolf .
“Ow! Wow, nostalgic, you’re the worst!”
The brown wolf which right flank had been whipped gives a sliding sound at the ground, managing to brace its limbs .
“That whip of Tomotaksama, I abhor it! Also, I believe you’re the worst for forcibly making me a familiar!”
It yelps out complaints at Tomotaksenpai .
It’s the first time I see Chako speak so brokenly towards Tomotaksenpai .
Tomotaksenpai gives a small nod at the words of such a brown wolf, but gives a big swing of the black whip again .
At the attack aiming for the brown wolf’s forefoot, it jumps and avoids .
“Ah, sheesh! I said, I abhor that!”
The brown wolf glares at that whip with annoyance .
Then, seeing the smirking Yuusei-kun next to Tomotaksenpai, “Gururu” it groans .
“Ah! That face of Yuusei-chan! Really sucks! Gross, aren’t they? Otakus . ”
Yuusei-kun doesn’t reply to that, only letting his black eyes shine dubiously .
He’s probably enjoying so much that he can’t help it because of the 3 strong phantoms playing around .
Seeing that, the brown wolf mutters “Yuckkk”, and looks at Tomoyuki-san .
“Ah, you know Director, I think you made yourself look too young . Well, that’s fine since you give me money!”
The brown wolf laughs “Ahaha” .
“Oi, your opponents are here . ”
While the conversation was ongoing, the gold fox seems to have regained its stance, biting the brown wolf’s tail .
Then, giving a big swing of its head, it flings the brown wolf .
At the brown wolf that lands while raising large clouds of dust, an orange fox jumps even as it drags along its hind foot .
The brown wolf returned to fighting the 2 foxes but, continues to disgorge affronts .
While laughing, with fangs, nails and… those words it wounds everyone .
… Surely everyone doesn’t think those words are sincere .
I think they’re letting the brown wolf’s words in one ear and out the other .
However, those words are still bitter…
Sometimes, Kousuke-kun will breathe painfully, stopping his movements .
Then, the brown wolf won’t overlook it, inflicting an attack on Kousuke-kun .
… Ah .
I see .
Looking at the fighting figures in this manner, I finally understand what Chako’s trying to do .
『Villain』
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Chako was fixated with that .
Exactly now, Chako’s trying to be the villain .
I introduced everyone and Chako, and we went to play .
Leaving my seat many times, I induced everyone and Chako to become friends .
I set up the table, presenting Chako to everyone .
However, Chako said she didn’t need the otome game’s heroine role…
Chako’s trying to implement those words .
Shouting “I don’t need it!” and thrusting away the thing I presented .
――Trying to return it to me .
The bout of the three who had been fighting as though they were playing reaches a conclusion before long .
In the time that had been repeated until now, Chako had won and had lost, it was assorted .
However, I think the Chako up till now wasn’t serious because she had to protect Tomotaksenpai and I or fight reluctantly .
The Chako today is the strongest I’ve seen up till now .
Kousuke-kun and Sensei are strong too but, protecting Kousuke-kun whose body stiffens inadvertently from Chako’s words, Sensei falls first .
Then, Kousuke-kun falls too…
The brown wolf looks at the fallen fox, and laughs “Ahaha”
“Sure enough… the villain gotta be strong and cool huh…”
It, probably can’t sustain the form of a huge wolf anymore .
Changing that form into the form of a small wolf, it walks here with shaky footsteps .
“Chako! … Chako!”
Heart hurting from the weak figure I’ve seen so many times, I rush over in a hurry .
Without minding that I’ll be stained by dirt, I kneel on the ground, tightly catching that small body into my arms .
The black miasma inside Chako is swirling slowly but, it doesn’t stop there and appears to be gradually coming undone from the outer parts .
“Yui-chan . I defeated both of them… am I amazing?”
“Un . Amazing, Chako sure is strong . ”
“… Was I cool?”
“Un… Cool . ”
Chako looks at me with upturned eyes like she wants to be praised .
Desperately suppressing the thing trying to overflow from my eyes, I nod with an “Un” .
And, softly placing my hand against Chako’s back, I put in order the flow of the miasma swirl .
Because if I do this, I should be able to talk to Chako, a little more .
“Ah, … that, feels good…”
Perhaps it was comfortable because Chako’s eyes narrow ecstatically .
“… Hey, Chako? Why did you do such a thing?”
Brushing such a Chako’s back, I softly speak the words .
When I do, Chako glances at me, and slowly speaks .
“Because, Kousuke-kun and Sensei… are too easy… I’ve gotta betray them heavily, and rough them up . ”
Chako boldly answers “It can’t be helped right?”
“I also roughed up the others with words…”
And, gives a small “Hihihi” laugh .
“With this, I think I returned everything to Yui-chan… I accomplished the villain role… I should’ve properly reinstated Yui-chan as the heroine…”
Chako’s small voice stuffs my chest painfully .
I know .
I do .
Firing bitter words at everyone was all for my sake, right?
Whenever .
However many times .
Chako played the villain for my sake, right?
“… Idiot . Chako’s an idiot . ”
Those feelings of Chako hurt .
“Didn’t I say don’t be the villain?”
You thinking of me, makes me happy…
However, it’s sad .
“Even though I said you can live freely…”
“Un… sorry . ”
“Chako, you always, don’t listen to me . ”
“… Sorry . ”
Although there should’ve been other words, what comes out of my mouth are uncute words .
Chako glances at such a me with upturned eyes, and apologizes .
That voice is gentle, causing tears to spill from my eyes involuntarily .
“Yui-chan…”
Seeing such a me, Chako’s gold eyes widen .
And, she closes her eyes painfully .
“Because . ”
A slightly timid voice .
“Because… I want Yui-chan to become happy . ”
Saying just that, Chako’s head rubs against my shoulder .
And, she looks at me fixedly .
“Previously, I told you my wish right? … That I want Yui-chan to be happy . ”
That was during the Cultural Festival .
When I listened to Chako’s secret, and we held hands together .
“It became weird because Yui-chan… tried to turn over the heroine role but… I properly, played the role of the villain so… surely, I think Yui-chan can properly become the heroine . ”
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Chako lets out a small breath .
“I didn’t play the villain role… because I’m a fake… I sincerely… chose this road . ”[1]
Informing that, the face Chako has been looking up at me with hangs .
It may be tiring to continue raising her head .
“… Yanno Kousuke-chan and Sensei, they’re all roughed up so, Yui-chan should heal them . ”
Chako talks about Kousuke-kun and Sensei in a small voice .
“Surely, both of them will come to like Yui-chan after you heal them . ”
And, laughing “Ehehe” .
“And then yanno, I think Yui-chan’s power will also calm down a little . ”
Ah…
This is the usual when it ends .
Chako will teach me how to use my power .
“Quit being something like a Priestess of Ominous Clouds . Phantoms and onmyoujis and the Kamo faction and Abe faction too . Those have no relation with Yui-chan . ”
I can’t help putting strength into the hand embracing Chako .
“You don’t have to live for something like the coexistence of phantoms and humans . You can ignore all that . ”
The words Chako’s saying are…
“Yui-chan doesn’t need to work hard . You don’t have to work hard . ”
Warm .
“Even if the power of the Priestess of Ominous Clouds is lost, I think your onmyouji power will remain . Like Yui-chan said, working as an onmyouji, together with Yuusei-chan and Tomotaksama…”
Kind .
“Going to school, having a romance, working full of vim and vigour…”
The words said as though this is a dream .
“With a cool husband, surrounded by cute children…”
The gentle voice .
“Smile always, Yui-chan . ”
Are painfully direct .
“I wish you don’t get embroiled in some weird conspiracy . Live very long, laugh a lot . ”
An unknown amount of tears flow .
Although it’s probably already painful to raise her head, Chako looks up at me with all her might .
I look at those gold eyes and, nod “Un un” again and again .
“Got, it… I wi,ll . Absolutely, become happy . ”
At my words, Chako’s eyes close softly in satisfaction .
“Un… Ah, I’m tireddd… I wonder which true end is this…”
And, muttering the usual『True End』 .
Yes .
This is the end .
Always failing .
Chako disappears here, and I do it over .
――But, I won’t return again .
I hug the small wolf with its eyes closed tightly, and spin my words softly .
“Chako, I, … have been turning back time . ”
That’s a secret I’ve hidden all along .
I’ve finally told Chako but, my voice shamefully shook .
“… Turning back time?”
They were probably unexpected words .
Chako again opens the eyes that were closed .
Looking at those eyes, I bite my lips once, and open my mouth .
“Un… I’ve always been repeating from the entrance ceremony till today, Valentine’s Day . ”
Gold eyes blink again and again .
Softly smiling at those eyes, I continue my words .
“Chako, you said this is the world of a game right?”
“Un…”
“That game you said… does it repeat the same time again and again?”
“… Let’s see . Clearing it once… un, you should be able to do over again and again . ”
After Chako seemingly thinks a little, she heaves a sigh .
“… I see . Yui-chan, was so well-informed… So you’ve always CONTINUE’d and worked hard…”
The gold eyes looking at me are gentle .
“… It’s been tough huh . ”
The me full of failures .
The time full of regrets .
To such a pathetic me .
Chako always softly wraps up .
“Chako… disappears even when I do it over again and again… That’s why, I can’t move forward . ”
“I see… sorry… Ah… It’s already time for me to disappear now…”
I don’t know how to stop my tears .
Because Chako makes a painful face while looking at such a me, I unthinkingly hug her tightly .
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“Hey, Yui-chan . . you won’t, return again right?”
“… Un . ”
I nod at Chako’s small voice .
“You see, there’s… no more power… I used it . ”
“… Is that so?”
“Un… I think I can at least heal Kousuke-kun and Sensei… However, I definitely can’t turn back time . ”
“I see…”
Chako slowly breathes at my words .
“… But yanno, if you did it over again and again, that means for a long time… we were able to be together right?”
Chako’s words resound in my heart .
My pathetic past full of failures .
The time everyone forgot .
However, even towards such a time, Chako’s happy to have been with me .
“Un… I restarted in the middle before but, we were together for 4 years . ”
“I see, that… kinda makes me happy…”
A small muttering voice .
To that I, reply “I agree” .
Perhaps Chako too…
Every time she disappears, perhaps she thought about wanting to return too…
“Chako . What will you do, if you’re reborn?”
“… Reborn?”
I softly place my cheek on Chako’s head, and ask .
When I do, Chako mutters in a small, small voice .
“Let’s seeee… I don’t, want to be the villain anymore…”
I hug Chako with more strength at those words .
“Un, that’s right . Absolutely, don’t want to do it again . ”
“As expected…”
Chako lets out a feeble voice, that somehow seems to be laughing a little .
The black miasma swirl inside Chako continue to disappear . It might have disappeared a long time ago if I haven’t been putting it in order .
When I do, the Tomotaksenpai who had been behind me until now, kneels next to me .
When I part my cheek from Chako, he softly, and gently strokes Chako’s head .
“Chako… you’ve accomplished your duty . ”
“… That’s, the last…”
The Chako whose head was stroked lets out an exasperated voice .
“Aah…”
And, her body slowly melts .
“… With this… it’s farewell huh…”
She always laughed in satisfaction .
Closing her eyes, not looking at me .
However, for one final time, those gold eyes look at me .
“Yui-chan…”
――Don’t leave me behind .
The words of Chako that were not voiced .
However, I clearly heard them .
“… , Chako, Yuusei-kun made a road . ”
Sure enough, Chako’s an idiot .
“Ro, ad?”
“Yes . A white, straight road . Can you see it?”
Chako was the one who said she’d disappear so I should move forward .
“Nn… ah, … I see it . ”
“It will be fine if you go straight on that . ”
The one who leaves me behind is always Chako…
There’s no way I’ll leave Chako behind .
“… U, … n . ”
“A nostalgic voice should call you . ”
When it’s unclear whether I finished saying my words or not, the body of the small wolf disappears .
The warm body inside my arms is no longer there .
… Surely, all of it was properly conveyed to Chako .
Chako disappeared like before but…
But, it’s different from before .
I wipe my tears with my right arm, and look at Yuusei-kun standing next to me .
Yuusei-kun looks at me, and nods firmly .
It’ll be fine .
It will surely go well .
Tomotaksenpai who’d knelt on the ground with me also stands up .
And, turns to the still-collapsed orange fox and gold fox .
Tomoyuki-san’s already by the two, and gives a small nod while looking at me .
Using the small bit of power left, I send some to the two .
When they are able to return to their human forms from their fox forms, I talk a little with the rest, and leave the school .
I get in the car prepared by Tomotaksenpai, and head to the destination .
「Attaining Everything」 route branches .
「The Beast of Black Miasma」 route has been unlocked .
[1] Our Chako didn’t play the villain role because of the real Chako, but because our Chako chose to .
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