Chapter 7: Phantom
"Kurumi — of five years ago!?"
- Few minutes before Shidou went up to the rooftop of the building. Shidou was astonished at the words Kurumi said.
'Yes. As I said earlier, I'm the only person in the world that could control time. — And in the past you are in, the person who have <Zafkiel> in possession is also me, of five years ago.'
"But I have a time limit, don't I? Even if I search for you from now…"
'Please do not worry about it. I'm sure I visited nearby back five years ago.'
"Nearby…?"
- Shidou knitted his brows at such convenient coincidence, but he then realized something.
"Ah… could it be that Kurumi also met me back five years ago? You're not going to say that, right?"
'No, if my memory serves me right, I never have met you. The reason I was in this town was to observe the fire that happened out of sudden.'
"You came here to see the fire?"
'Because for such a large fire, spirit-san might be involved.'
"……"
- Shidou sweated at Kurumi's words. If Shidou didn't sealed Kotori's power back then, he and Kotori might have been found by Kurumi and may got eaten by her. Kurumi laughed at Shidou's silence,
'Please don't think like that. I'm not that prideless to take such actions.'
"…O-okay."
- Shidou answered Kurumi vaguely then clear his throat to change his mood. Kurumi then continued,
'I was nearby back five years ago, however, I didn't met you. …I could guarantee you about this. But — no, that's why this action have a meaning.'
"What do you mean?"
'Please think about it. If Shidou-san could met me from five years ago who never met Shidou-san — that fact alone would means we could change the past?'
"You're right… that should be the case."
'Anyway, let's hurry. As you said earlier, we don't have much time.'
"Okay — I understood."
- Shidou gripped his fist tight.
"Kurumi, tell me. Where should I go?"
- Shidou make a determination and asked Kurumi in his head.
- And then fast forward to few minutes later. Shidou took a deep breath tried to calm down his heart that is beating fast while staring at the other girl on this rooftop. Over there, there is Kurumi who no different than Kurumi in his memories.
- Or more accurately, the only thing that doesn't looks different is her age, there are few appearance in her looks. Kurumi is wearing a blouse full of frills and laces; her hair is not tied up, but instead she wear a hairband decorated with a rose on it.
- The most particular feature of her is her face, she wear an medical eyepatch on her left eye, as if she is trying to hide the clock dial under it. Shidou knitted his eyebrows at her looks and asked Kurumi in his head with a low voice.
"…Kurumi? Why were you wearing an eyepatch?"
'Please do not mind it.'
"Were you wounded or something?"
"Please do not mind it.'
"But…"
'Please. Do. Not. Mind. It.'
- Kurumi said to him with a strong tone. Shidou can't help but to keep quiet. After that, the Kurumi of five years ago who stood before him made a reaction.
"Ara, ara, ara." Kurumi inclined her head. "Why are you talking with yourself? What are you doing here?"
- Kurumi said in a friendly tone while still being cautious. Since Shidou doesn't have much time, he put up his courage and asked,
"Kurumi! I have a favor!"
"…Ara?"
- Kurumi knitted her brows when Shidou called her name.
"You knew my name… who could you be?"
- Kurumi summoned a gun from her shadow and pointed her gun at Shidou. Shidou wave his hand trying to calm her down and make an excuse,
"Wait, wait, I didn't meant to offense you —"
- Kurumi shot her gun to the floor under his foot.
"Uwa!"
"Please do not move without my permission. — I have a question. If you do not answer them honestly, I won't be able to guarantee about your life."
- If Shidou didn't answered her honestly, her bullet will surely pierce through Shidou's heart. Shidou raise up his hand and opened his mouth,
"I-I'm Itsuka Shidou. I came from 5 years from now! Kurumi, please lend me your power!"
"What did you just said?"
- Kurumi changed her expression after she heard Shidou's answer.
"You can't say you were joking afterward?"
"No way I could stand in front of you joking…! Please, listen to me."
- However, Kurumi only stared back at him. Kurumi in Shidou's head then suggested,
'Ara, ara. The past me seems very cautious. — I don't want to waste too much time, Shidou-san, please try to touch myself of the past.'
"Trying to touch you… how absurd."
"…What are you saying?"
- Kurumi who pointed her gun to Shidou knitted her eyebrows. It's not surprising, from her, it should looks as if Shidou talked to himself out of sudden. Shidou braced himself that he might get shot and reached out his hand to Kurumi.
"Please. Still pointing your gun to me like that is fine, but please grip my hand."
"Do you think I'm such a pure girl who is going to follow an instruction from some unknown person?"
"'Kurumi' — want to talk with you."
"…!?"
- Kurumi raise up the tip of her eyebrows. The fact that Kurumi is able to share her sense with Shidou is also Kurumi's own power, it is not strange if Kurumi of the past also have some idea about it.
"Hmp… so that's the case."
- Kurumi stared at Shidou then walked to him and touch his hand. The next moment Kurumi shivered a little as if a little electric current just went through her body.
'Long time no see… is that the right word? Myself.'
"…I see. This is indeed my voice. — What happened in five years from now?"
- Kurumi could hear the voice of Kurumi in Shidou's head. Kurumi from the original world then started explaining about the situation in summary, about how Shidou and Kurumi tried to change the past and failed — and about how they want Kurumi of the past to cooperate in order to redo it once again.
"…So you're saying I should shoot <Yud Bet> to this person, myself?"
'That's right, can I asked you to do it, myself?'
- Kurumi of the past kept quiet of few moments before make a sigh.
"…Fine then. Even though it may be only a little, please let me help you."
"! R-really!?"
"However — I'm going to take the necessary spirit power from you."
- Kurumi said that and danced few steps down while holding her right hand up high and summoned <Zafkiel>. Hearing Kurumi's voice, <Zafkiel> — the same angel the sent Shidou back five years in time — appeared from the shadow.
- The shadow under Kurumi's feet then started expanding to Shidou's feet. Shidou felt a fatigue all over his body. He could remembered this feeling. Kurumi of the present also did this to him before she sent him back five years to now.
"<Zafkiel> — [Yud Bet]"
- Kurumi rise up the gun in her hand. A dense shadow then poured down from <Zafkiel>'s XII number into the gun muzzle.
"Well then, let's go."
- Kurumi pointed her gun at Shidou. Even though Shidou knew that he won't feel any pain from getting shot with [Yud Bet], he still tighten his body, reflexively. Kurumi saw that and lift up the corner of her mouth.
"Shidou-san… was it? — I wish you a good luck."
"…Ah, thank you. — Also, Kurumi."
"? What is it?"
"That eyepatch, it looks good on you."
'…gh!'
"Ara?"
- Kurumi in Shidou's head choked up at Shidou's words while Kurumi in front of Shidou broke into a smile.
"— It is such a honor to received such a compliment. Let's meet again five years later."
- Kurumi said that and pulled the trigger of her gun that was brimmed and shaking with spirit power. The bullet from gun muzzle created a straight black line into Shidou's body. Shidou felt his body is becoming screw-shaped with the rotation of the bullet. As if he got caught up a swirl — Shidou vision then became completely dark.
'—dou-san, Shidou-san.'
"…!"
- Shidou opened his eyes after getting called by the voice in his head. A moment later, he then realized he is laying down on the rooftop of the same building as before. However, there is no Kurumi to be found, and Nankou Town has not yet turned into a sea of flames.
"It — was a success?"
'It seems like so.'
- Kurumi answered to Shidou's monologue. Even though Shidou don't know the exact time of it, he has now travelled back in the time once again to the past, to before the fire started, to before Kotori turned into a spirit. — To before Origami killed her parents.
'It's not a time to be filled with such a deep emotion, Shidou-san.'
"Yes, I understand."
- Shidou stood up then look around the scenery of Nankou Town once again. Shidou gripped tight his fist, then mumbled as if he is calling to Kurumi's voice.
"— Let's go, to change the world."
- Kurumi caught her breath for a moment before she replied with simple "yes". Shidou heard her answer and ran down the fire escape.
"But even though I'm success in going back to before the fire started — what should I do from now?"
'You looked really cool earlier, and now you've ruined it.'
"Ugh… it's not I could do anything about that! …Also don't you get really cold to me since earlier?"
'No, I'm not.'
- Kurumi said in a sulking tone. Shidou wondered if he said something that displeased her.
"Kurumi, could it be that eyepatch"
'Anyway.'
- Kurumi raise up her voice interrupting Shidou's voice.
'We won't do anything good by just running around. The result will be the same. — The only difference between us earlier and us right now is that we already knew what will happen from now. So let's sort out the situation while keeping that in mind.'
"R, right."
'First, what is that we must accomplish?'
- Kurumi said as if she is a teacher. Shidou thought about the answer while continued running downstairs.
"Well — to make Origami not killing her parents."
'Yes, that's correct. In order to accomplish that, what can Shidou-san do?'
"…Stop Origami anyhow?"
'Even though that sounds like the most simple way, I don't think it is very realistic.'
"Ugh… you're right…"
- Shidou frown and groaned. Origami who thought <Phantom> is the one who killed her parents is completely a revenger, even if Shidou called her, it's doubtful that she will noticed. Not only that, spirit Origami is also very powerful. Shidou could barely caught up with her when she were fighting with <Phantom>.
- Even though the possibility is not zero, Origami may be able to notice Shidou and talk to him, however, Shidou's time limit is only until the first bullet Kurumi shot to him is still in effect. He can't took such an optimistic actions.
"Then, how about letting Origami's parents escape somewhere?"
'I see. That sounds much more possible than dealing with Origami-san.'
"I-isn't it, then —"
'However, if some unknown boy appear at their house telling them to escape because it is dangerous, do you think they will believe it?'
"I-I'll just explain them the situation —"
'That I came from the future, and you two will be killed by your daughter from the future, so please believe me — are you going to say that?'
"Ugh…"
- Shidou sweated at those shady words. Kurumi of five years ago could believe Shidou because she had the ability to control time, and because of Kurumi's voice in Shidou's head. However, if Shidou were to explain it to Origami's parents who knew nothing about spirits, the fire would probably started before he could finished explaining.
'And… even if the explanation went well, there's no guarantee that everything will settled nicely.'
"Eh…? What do you mean?"
'If the world tried to correct itself for integrity with the original world — then it could even be possible that Origami-san's ray of light will be shot to where they refuged to.'
"…!"
- The fact that Shidou is sent back in time once again by Kurumi of five years ago already make the current world different from the original world. It's too dangerous to assume everything will went according to Shidou's and Kurumi's knowledge. However, Shidou is not very convinced —
"Kurumi. Didn't you said you don't believe that the history could correct itself?"
'Ara, I never deny it. I only asked whether it has been proven.'
"……"
- Shidou feel Kurumi evaded the answer. But it's not a time to do chatting, Shidou shake his head and changed his mood.
"So what should I do."
'Let's see…'
- Kurumi thought for few seconds, then continued,
'— What about making Origami-san not noticed that she is the one who killed her parents?'
"What…? What are you trying to say?"
'Ara, it do make sense, don't it? The reason Origami-san turned Inversed was because she realized that her long enemy was herself and became despair.'
"I-it's true that's the case, but that doesn't changed the fact that Origami killed her own parents, does it?!"
- Shidou can't resist and shouted. Even though the way Kurumi suggested may able to prevent Origami from turning Inversed, that still doesn't change the fact that Origami killed her own parents.
- And if Origami's parents are killed, her flame of revenge will still be headed to someone. Let it be Kotori who caused the flame, or the person who gave Kotori that power, <Phantom> —
"Ah…"
- Thought up to there, Shidou then realized something.
'? What is it? You've stopped running.'
- Kurumi said, Shidou then noticed for the first time that he had stopped moving. However, before he could move his feet, Shidou said those words that popped up to his head to Kurumi.
"Hey, Kurumi."
'What is it?'
"— So if the 'enemy' wasn't there when Origami shown up, that should do it, right?"
- Five minutes later, Shidou is hiding himself in a thicket in the park staring at the swing. A girl about 8 years old with her hair tied with ribbons, kept on swinging the swing looking bored. She is Kotori from five years ago.
- Shidou can't help but felt the pain in his chest when he saw the listless expression on her face. Today is Kotori's birthday, Shidou from the past went to the next town to buy a present to surprise her. He never thought Kotori would become this lonely.
- While Shidou felt the pain in his chest looking at Kotori, Kurumi's laughing voice is heard from inside his head, telling him that he looks like a pervert doing this. Shidou groaned at her for pointing out something he tried to not think about.
- Even though for a scene of high school student kept staring at elementary school student in secret is no doubt something of an incident, it's not that Shidou want to record the young Kotori's shining moment in his retina forever — Shidou is currently waiting. Wiating for <Phantom> to appear.
'Anyhow, you did suggested something quite extreme.'
- Kurumi said to Shidou in a tone that making fun of him.
"…There's no other choice. You even agreed with it."
'Well, that's right. — It's true that if you could drive <Phantom> away before Origami-san make her appearance, she would lose her target to attack.'
"But really, if possible, I'd like to have a talk."
'A talk? With <Phantom>?'
- Kurumi surprised and asked back.
'That's surprising. I thought Shidou-san treat <Phantom> as your enemy.'
"…Well, that might be true. After all, <Phantom> is the one who turned Kotori into a spirit. It's not that I don't have problem with it. …But before that, I don't know anything about <Phantom>. If I were to judge it before I could get to know, then I won't be any different from those that treat Tohka and Yoshino as a disaster."
- Kurumi kept quiet for few seconds in amazement and then,
'Fu–fufu. Ahahaha'
- She started laughing.
"W… what is it."
'No, just that I thought as expected from Shidou-san.'
- Kurumi laughed, then continued,
'However, I don't recommend you to do it. It's quite pointless to talk to that person. That person would just easily evaded question from someone as simple as Shidou-san.'
"Eh…? Kurumi, you knew about <Phantom>…"
- However, Shidou have to cut his words before he could finished it. In his line of sight, "something" is visiting Kotori who is playing alone in the park. "Something" that is covered with a noise that blocked out any possible recognition of it.
- <Phantom>, the being that turned Kotori, Miku and Origami into a spirit, just now appeared in front of Kotori. When Shidou saw the it, he felt itching on his skin. It reminded him of Kotori's painful expression after she turned into <Efreet>.
'Shidou-san, you shouldn't act rashly.'
"…. I understand."
- Shidou breath out to calm down then hug himself with both of his arms to stop his shivering. Enough for his fingernail to eat into his upper arm.
- Shidou can't stop Kotori from becoming a spirit. That's what Kurumi warned him from earlier. — After Kotori and <Phantom> exchanged some words, <Phantom> hand over Kotori a red gem. The moment Kotori touched on that gem, her body started to lighten up.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh…"
- Kotori screamed in pain. The same moment, a heat wave started whirling around Kotori, and a pillar of fire rose up to the sky. Shidou lowered his posture to get through the heat wave. Few moments later, after Shidou opened his eyes, over there, there is Kotori in traditional Japanese cloth-styled Astral Dress. Kotori just became the flame spirit <Efreet>.
"Kotori, I'm sorry."
- Shidou said in pain and stared at the noise in front of Kotori, then jumped to <Phantom> back with firm determination.
"Hey!"
- Shidou shouted,
[…Hm—?]
- <Phantom> response with a voice that could not be distinguish whether it is a male voice or female voice. That moment, the mosaic also moved a little. <Phantom> turned its head to look at Shidou.
"I always want to meet you — <Phantom>"
- Shidou called the name of the noise with calm voice. His words is not a sarcasm nor a lie. Ever since Shidou could recalled his memory after he sealed Kotori, Shidou always wanted to meet with <Phantom> once again.
- The monster that could "turn humans into a spirit". The very cause that turned Kotori, Miku and Origami into a spirit and turned the world into chaos.
- Shidou even feel some kind of fate and destiny with this "something" that changed his life forever. However, what <Phantom> said back to Shidou is not something he expected.
[——Eh?]
- <Phantom> said in a small voice. Shidou saw the noise moved a little. Even though it appeared as if a mosaic space just moved a little, for some reason, Shidou felt that the reason behind that was because of a confusion and unrest.
- Even though it's not surprising for something to be surprised since Shidou called it out from behind, but <Phantom>'s reaction is a different kind of surprise from that.
[…It can't be— Why, why are you…]
"What…?"
- Shidou make a dubious looks,
"You… know about me…?"
[——]
- When Shidou asked, <Phantom> only kept silent. However, it's not that <Phantom> is ignoring Shidou or don't want to answer — Shidou thought as if <Phantom> is stupefied and couldn't spit out a word.
- Shidou could not understand and knitted his eyebrows. The <Phantom> before him is too different from the <Phantom> in his memory always looked on everything with detachment. It is as if someone on the other side of the noise is a completely different being.
[…, …]
- The noise covering <Phantom> moved a little before <Phantom> started running away.
'Shidou-san!'
"I know!"
- Shidou then started chasing <Phantom>. He saw Kotori who just got an unknown power sunk down to the ground kept repeating "onii-chan, onii-chan." Shidou felt his heart is being squeeze tight, but decided to continue chasing <Phantom>.
- In Shidou's memory, Shidou from the past will arrive here in few moments, and in no way Shidou would met with himself from the past.
- More importantly, Shidou can't let <Phantom> escaped. Shidou kept chasing the noise that could disappeared at anytime if he did not pay attention.
- Even though Shidou's success in driving <Phantom> away from the park, however for Shidou and Kurumi's objective, this is not enough. Their objective is to make Origami unable to found <Phantom> — and in order to do that, having <Phantom> lost to Rinkai is the best way.
'—That was really unexpected.'
- While chasing <Phantom>, Kurumi said to Shidou.
'Shidou-san, are you an acquaintance of that person?'
"…, at very least, I don't have an acquaintance, that covered up whole body with a mosaic…!"
'Hmp… is that so.'
- While running in the burning town, Kurumi respond to him with a flat voice. Shidou wasn't lying to her. The only time where Shidou met <Phantom> was five years ago. And that "five years ago" is now.
- However, <Phantom> definitely know about Shidou. And Shidou know a person who made the same reaction the moment he saw Shidou's face. — DEM Industry's managing director, Isaac Westcott.
- When Shidou evaded into DEM Japan to save Tohka, that man laughed manically when he first saw Shidou. Before he left, he called Shidou with a different name. "Takamiya."
- Shidou's heart is beating fast, not because he is running, but because of other reason. "Takamiya" is the same name as the girl who claimed to be Shidou's sister — Takamiya Mana. And Shidou — who is an adopted son of Itsuka family — don't have any memories from before he was adopted.
"What… do you know about me, <Phantom>…!"
- Shidou shouted while chasing <Phantom> in the burning town. Shidou don't know what he did before he was adopted into Itsuka family. He don't know why Westcott know him. Before that, he don't even know what his sealing ability actually is. Even though he sealed 7 spirits and live with them, he still don't know anything.
"Ugh…"
- Shidou grind his teeth and stepped forward. That moment — <Phantom> who is running in front of Shidou suddenly stopped. Shidou also make a sudden stop in following it.
"…, <Phantom>!"
[……]
- When Shidou called the name, <Phantom> moved its body that is covered with noise. Seems like <Phantom> has turned toward Shidou.
[…<Phantom>…, huh. So I have been named like that.]
- <Phantom> mumbled the name, as if <Phantom> is ruminating over it then breath a small sigh.
[…I'm sorry for running away. — I thought it would be better if we are not in front of her.]
- <Phantom> continued, "her" in this case probably means Kotori. Even though Shidou still don't know <Phantom>'s true intention, what <Phantom> said is true. If they stayed over there, the past Shidou and Origami will eventually appear.
[……]
- <Phantom> kept quiet and stood still. Seems like <Phantom> is carefully looking at Shidou's appearance.
[…Ah, I see. You are as I thought.]
- <Phantom> nodded in conviction. The next moment, the noise surrounding <Phantom> disappeared as if it was a mist.
"Wh…"
- Shidou widen his eyes at the girl who appeared from the noise. A girl with interweaving hair with a gentle looks. Shidou felt his head is turning around. Shidou felt as if he had saw this face somewhere before, or maybe not — the girl gave such a strange feeling.
"That looks of you…"
"…I still can't show you 'myself' so please excuse me with this temporary looks. — Since I could finally talk with you, it's uncanny to do so with the barrier."
- When Shidou said that, <Phantom> responded with a clear voice of a girl. <Phantom> said this is her temporary looks, so this means this girl is not actually <Phantom>. However, why should <Phantom> do something in such roundabout way —
- Shidou thought of it in a split moment. However, <Phantom> smiled as if she see through Shidou's thought and opened her pink-colored mouth,
"…So, 'when' did you came from? Judging from your appearance, maybe from about 5 or 6 years later?"
"! …Wha!?"
- Shidou shocked at <Phantom>'s words. Shidou didn't thought that not only she did know about Shidou, she also know about the time travel.
'……'
- However, in contrast to Shidou, Kurumi still stay calm, as if she knew beforehand that <Phantom> could have correctly guessed it. <Phantom> then continued with a calm voice.
"…So, what do you want from me? You don't use the time traveling bullet back here just to sightseeing, do you?"
"……"
- Shidou glanced behind for a moment to confirm that the spirit in white Astral Dress still haven't appeared at the park <Phantom> were in. Have confirmed that, Shidou then opened his mouth,
"You… do you know about me?"
"…Yes. I know about you, very well."
- <Phantom> answered Shidou's question. Shidou fingertips is shivering with a tension.
"Tell me. Who… I am? What is this power?"
"……"
- <Phantom> remained silent for few seconds and shook her head before she answered,
"…Even though I wanted to tell you, I still can't say it without knowing about which condition you are in in the future. — And there's that girl listening."
"Eh…?"
- Shidou widen his eyes. <Phantom> the continued as if she could see through everything.
"Hey… Tokisaki Kurumi, you're listening, isn't you?"
'Ara, ara.'
- Kurumi calmly answered <Phantom>'s words in Shidou's head.
"…So is this it? Then this is some very luxury use of 'time'."
"…, no."
- Shidou looked down and shook his head.
"That was just my question. I still have something to ask you."
"…What is it?"
"Can you disappear from here?"
- Shidou stilled wanted to ask her about a lot of things. She is someone who knew about Shidou's past that Shidou finally found. Shidou wanted to know. No matter what he must do, he want to ask about himself from this "something."
- However, the word he must say is that. For now, he must prioritize the prevention of Origami turning Inverse over everything else.
"…Is that an indirect way of saying 'I'm going to kill you'?"
- However, <Phantom> only breath out a sigh.
"Well… it's not that I never thought about the possibility. If you in few years from now on to be loved by the hard to please spirit of time, then possibility of you coming up with such idea is also exists — even though I wished that is not the case."
"……"
- Seems like <Phantom> misunderstood that Shidou is here to kill her. Shidou gripped his fist tight. It would be a lie to say Shidou don't have any hostility toward <Phantom>, the fact that she caused such a pain to young Kotori is not something forgivable. However, don't have any intention to do anything to her. Shidou took a deep breath to calm himself down.
"It's not about killing or not killing. I want you to hide yourself. You can go to Rinkai, do you?"
"…Hmp?"
- <Phantom> continued interestingly continued,
"May I ask you about the reason?"
"That is…"
- She asked that but Shidou couldn't answered. The reason is simple. Shidou don't know the true objective of the girl in front of him. It's easy to tell her that Origami — the girl <Phantom> turned into a spirit — from five years alter will come and try to defeat her. And as a result, that girl will turned Inversed, and Shidou wanted to prevent that from happening.
- However, if this girl's objective is the same as DEM's Isaac Westcott, that is to make spirits turned Inverse, then giving her such information would be a bad idea.
"……"
- While Shidou is still thinking about what to do, <Phantom> breath out a sigh in impatient.
"…Well, I don't mind if you don't answer. — I'm sorry, but the answer is no. I still have something left to do."
"What…!"
- Shidou panic at <Phantom>'s answer.
"Wait a minute! From now on, to this era —"
- Shidou opened his mouth trying to tell her about Origami. However — that moment, Shidou couldn't move his body, he felt as if his body is being put down by an invisible hands. It feels similar to when he is being pushed down by AST or DEM wizards's Territory. Shidou couldn't moved his finger, nor he could open his mouth.
'Shidou-san, what happened?'
- Kurumi asked in doubt, however Shidou can't answer. <Phantom> then walked up to Shidou and touch his cheek. — That moment.
"……!?"
- A strange feeling runs through Shidou's body.
"Ah—"
- Shidou don't know why, but he is sure in an instant. Shidou knew this feeling. — Shidou knew about this "being" in a form a girl.
"…For today, I guess I have to thank spirit of time."
- <Phantom> said while still touching Shidou's cheek and said in a small voice,
"When the time comes, let's meet again. For that time —"
- <Phantom> whispered her words into Shidou's ears.
"—I won't leave you again. I definitely won't make a mistake again."
- Those words.
"——!?"
- Shidou caught his breath. He can't remembered where he heard it. However, Shidou is sure that he heard these words somewhere before.
"…, …"
- Shidou tried to ask "Who are you" but the voice do not come out from his mouth. <Phantom> remove her hand from Shidou's cheek and covered herself up with a noise, then jumped up to the sky.
- Few seconds later, when <Phantom> is up high to the sky to where Shidou cannot reach her anymore, the invisible power that is binding up his body is finally loosen.
- Shidou collapsed on his knee in a forward posture then coughed up few times. However, Shidou thought he shouldn't be doing this and looked up to the sky.
"What is she trying to…"
- That moment a ray of light came from eastern sky to <Phantom>.
"…! That is—!"
- Shidou shook his shoulders and looked to the direction where the ray of light came from. Over there, there is a girl in pure white Astral Dress who is releasing a ray of light from her [Feathers] into her enemy — Tobiichi Origami.
"Origami…!"
- Shidou screamed her name, however her voice could not reach her in any way. When Origami saw <Phantom>, she poured down a rain of ray of light into her but <Phantom> only lightly evaded it while running around in the sky. Origami didn't gave up, continued chasing her while releasing the ray of light into her.
- The scene before Shidou's eyes is the same one as before Shidou asked Kurumi of five years ago to sent him back in time. Kurumi's words from earlier flashed up in Shidou's mind — that the world may try to correct itself for integrity with the original world.
"Dammit…! I won't let that happen…!"
- Shidou shook his head to throw away his resignation and started chasing them. The scene he saw from earlier flashed up in his head. The ray of light pouring down from the sky, the remains that was once human's parts. And a girl whose eyes is brimmed with hatred and revenge.
- Origami only tried to protect her parents, only tried to overturn her destiny. For such a genuine emotion to ended up with such tragic —
"I will… definitely change it!"
- Shidou shouted and put even more strength into his legs. Shidou could not precisely chase Origami and <Phantom> who is fighting in the sky, however — Shidou's objective is not to pursuit them.
- Shidou ran in the town that is covering in flames without any hesitation to his destination. To where Origami parents are killed in the "previous world."
- What Shidou must do is not to stop Origami and <Phantom>'s fight, what he must do is to stop Origami from mistakenly killing her own parents.
"…! I found them…!"
- Shidou widen his eyes while running in the street that is covered with flames. At the end of his sight, there is Origami from five years ago — and a little far away from her, Origami's parents is turning their back to him.
- Shidou could not waste any time for any tedious talk. Since he already failed at preventing Origami and <Phantom> to met, there is no other way to change the history except to bring Origami's parents to somewhere safe.
- Since now is the time of emergency, it should not be strange for someone to urge someone else to take a refuge. It might even be possible for Origami's parents to simply follow his instruction.
- However — Shidou's body stiffen up the moment he widen his eyes. Before he knew it, Spirit Origami and <Phantom> are already at the sky above Origami's parents.
- While Shidou is grinding his teeth, Origami is releasing multiple rays of light to block <Phantom>'s escape path. At very same moment, Origami also concentrate her [Feathers] and point the gunport downward to the ground.
- Shidou turned pale at the same scenery "as before".
"No, Origami!"
- Shidou shouted, but his voice couldn't reached her. There is not even an allowance to urge Origami's parents to escape anymore. A moment later, that deadly attack will pour down from the sky. The two probably won't be able to feel anything before they are drawn up to the heaven.
"Dammit!"
- Shidou put even more strength to his legs and kicked the floor.
'Shidou-san!?'
- Kurumi's surprising voice is heard from inside his head, she probably didn't thought that Shidou was going to take this action. However, since the situation got to this point, Shidou could not come up with any other ways. — The utmost attack is then released from Origami's angel up in the sky.
"Uohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh———!!"
- At the same moment, Shidou shouted and jumped into Origami's parents to pushed them away.
"Wha…!?"
"Gya—"
- Origami's parents let out their voice. Shidou pushed them with all of his strength, so they might get hurt a little. Maybe even some graze on the skin. Shidou thought that for that little wound, it should be forgivable.
- Shidou then realized he just made a really dumb decision. With his sight being filled with light, Shidou twisted his lift with a self-derision smile.
"——!"
- That time, someone's voice reached Shidou's ear. Shidou thought that was Kurumi at first, but no, the voice is from the outside. Before his sight is fully filled with the light, Shidou then noticed. The voice is from the Origami of five years ago in front of him.
- Shidou and Origami's eyes met for a spit moments. In her eyes, there is no burning flames of revenge. It is still not filled with hatred or rage.
"Ah… thanks goodness."
- Shidou mumbled in small voice before he lose conscious inside the light.
2014-09-20, 22:57
Graphic Designer
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