Kiyotaka got up, standing straight as he looked at Emilia.
Kiyotaka: (Sorry for being selfish, but give me a second, Emilia.)
Kiyotaka: [The second trial. Put me through it.]
Echidna: [So soon? Very well.]
Kiyotaka: (I still trust Emilia to do this, but... I want closure as well...)
Kiyotaka fell unconscious.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Kiyotaka's eyes were closed as he felt something soft underneath him.
???: [Kiyo, wake up!]
Kiyotaka opened his eyes to see that he was in a bed. He took off his blankets, folding them neatly and then opening the curtains to let light in.
Kiyotaka: (I'll enjoy this for a bit and then find some closure.)
Kiyotaka had already noticed the difference in his height, but looked at the mirror regardless.
Kiyotaka: (13 years old... this body is weaker than I'm used to.)
Kiyotaka walked down a flight of stairs and sat down at a table. Mika walked over to him, placing a plate of food in front of him. She was smiling, but there was some sadness in her eyes.
Kiyotaka: [Thank you for the food, mother.]
Mika: [It's fine. Eat up and get ready, okay? We need to get going.]
Sayuri walked down the stairs, stretching as she had a genuine smile on her face. She was clearly not bothered by whatever was bothering Mika.
Sayuri: [Good morning.]
Sayuri sat down to eat her food.
Mika: [Sayu. Are you coming with us?]
Sayuri: [... Yeah, alright, but don't expect me to be sad.]
Mika: [Just be respectful. You should learn a thing or two from Kiyo.]
Sayuri: [Huh!? Sis, what do you mean by that!?]
Mika: [Look at Kiyo. Eating his food like a refined gentleman and then look at yourself.]
Sayuri was eating a bit messily.
Sayuri: [You'll really take any chance to brag about Kiyo, won't you?]
Mika: [Well, of course.]
Mika stuck out her tongue with a genuine smile at this, and Sayuri got irritated at this.
Mika: [I wonder when I'll be an Auntie too.]
Sayuri: [Huh? Not this shit again.]
Mika: [If you don't find a guy soon, you'll be one of those old aunties that men avoid.]
Sayuri: [Huh? The hell you say? You got no right to talk about that to me.]
Mika: [What is that supposed to mean?]
Sayuri took a deep breath as her eyes were downcast.
Sayuri: [Besides, I'm already someone men avoid because of my scar.]
Mika: [I'm sure I could find a nice man who wouldn't think too much about it.]
Sayuri: [Hell no! You have terrible taste in men.]
Mika: [I have what? Sayu!]
Mika and Sayuri began arguing as Kiyotaka calmly ate his food, taking his time and enjoying it.
Kiyotaka: (A real family. This is nice.)
Kiyotaka took another bite.
Kiyotaka: (Oh, woah. This food is even better than Horikita's cooking. If Horikita's was five-star, then this would be six-star... no seven star.)
Kiyotaka finished eating and walked to the sink, washing the dishes as Mika and Sayuri kept arguing. After he was done, he began preparing everything necessary for the trip. They seemed to stop arguing as they saw Kiyotaka waiting at the front door.
Sayuri: [You prepared everything, huh? You're a good kid.]
Sayuri patted Kiyotaka's head as Mika nodded in agreement. She got the keys and opened the door as they left the house.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
They were standing in front of a gravestone as Mika lit some incense.
Mika: [I brought Kiyo and Sayu today. I hope you're happy to see us. I miss you, Mom.]
Sayuri put her hand on Mika's shoulder, whose voice was breaking a little.
Sayuri: [It's okay, Sis. I'll handle the rest.]
Sayuri stepped up.
Sayuri: [While you had your memories, we never got along. You felt more like an enemy to me than a parent. And it's 100% your fault, but... those 9 months while Mika was pregnant... I felt like I really had a mom. So... I finally decided to visit cause I wanted to say... thanks.]
Mika: [Sayu...]
Kiyotaka clasped his hands together in a prayer.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
1 year later, Kiyotaka felt his consciousness return.
Kiyotaka: (A timeskip?)
They were sitting at the dining table, eating lunch.
Sayuri: [Kiyo's going to be heading to Advanced Nurturing High School soon, so I think it's time I started looking for a man.]
Mika looked excited.
Mika: [I'll phone some friends and...]
Sayuri: [Hell no. I'll be finding a man myself.]
Mika: [I see. So you only said that you were going to find a man so you could go out drinking and partying.]
Sayuri looked shaken at her intention being found out.
Sayuri: [Haha... not at all.]
Mika: [I'm calling my friends.]
Sayuri looked to Kiyotaka as if to say, "Save me Kiyo".
Kiyotaka: (Sorry, but I can't help you on this. Something in my very being is telling me not to defy the being known as my mother. I don't know why, but I keep getting flashes of an image that looks like a slipper. Why does it feel worse than Horikita's compass, too? In the first place, why do I feel fear at the thought of a mere slipper? Strange.)
Kiyotaka involuntarily shivered slightly.
Kiyotaka: [I hope you find a very nice man, Auntie Sayuri.]
Sayuri felt despair at this as Mika smiled, patting Kiyotaka's head.
Mika: [But about going to Advanced Nurturing High School. I'm really proud of you, Kiyo. I mean, going to the best school in the country?]
Kiyotaka: [Thank you, mother. I'll do my best to continue making you proud.]
Mika: [But if you want, you can take it easy.]
Kiyotaka: [What?]
Mika: [You can relax. You've done so much that I honestly think you're too hard on yourself.]
Mika kissed his forehead.
Mika: [Try to enjoy your time there, okay?]
Kiyotaka: [Alright... I will.]
Kiyotaka smiled.
Sayuri: [Even if you're gonna take things easy, you're going to the best high school in the country. You're incredible, you know.]
Mika smirked proudly.
Mika: [Of course he's incredible. My son is a genius with an Eidetic memory. Top of his class as well.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Kiyotaka made it to Advanced Nurturing High School as he stepped out of the car with Mika and Sayuri.
Kiyotaka: (This place... I think I'll always be fond of it.)
Mika pulled him into a hug.
Mika: [Kiyo. Stay safe, okay? I know you can't call, but you can tell the teachers if it's something serious. Make sure to take care of yourself and...]
Kiyotaka: [It's alright. I'll be fine.]
Mika smiled, letting go as Sayuri walked over and patted his head.
Sayuri: [Don't enjoy yourself too much. After all, it would be bad if you ended up getting a girl pregnant.]
Kiyotaka: [...]
Mika: [Sayu!!! Don't even joke about something like that!]
Sayuri: [What? The kid's handsome. There's no way there won't be a few girls looking his way.]
Mika: [That may be true, but my Kiyo is way too responsible to do something so reckless.]
Kiyotaka remembered the night he had with Ichinose.
Kiyotaka: (... Well, you're not completely correct on that.)
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: (But I'm a different person from back then. Forming a relationship where two people use each other for their own purposes, like that, isn't my goal. Besides, in the end, that whole debacle was just to get Ichinose to do what I wanted and do it well.)
Kiyotaka turned to Mika and Sayuri.
Kiyotaka: [I'll miss you two. I'll see you at Parent Teacher Conferences.]
Mika and Sayuri nodded as they had happy smiles, but a few tears as Kiyotaka stepped towards Advanced Nurturing High School.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Kiyotaka sat down as a girl with lilac hair was seated next to him.
Kiyotaka: (Sakayanagi huh?)
Kiyotaka: [Hello. My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. It's good to meet you.]
Sakayanagi looked at Kiyotaka with an evaluating gaze. Her interest seemed to pique.
Sakayanagi: [Sakayanagi Arisu.]
They shook hands as Kiyotaka sat down and Mashima stepped inside, explaining the S-System. After class ended, Kiyotaka approached her.
Kiyotaka: [I know this is out of the blue, but would you care for a game of chess?]
Sakayanagi: [Chess? I'm not particularly fond of it, but alright.]
Kiyotaka and Sakayanagi walked to the library and sat down with a chessboard between them.
Sakayanagi: [It has been a while since I played.]
Kiyotaka: [Same for me, so it should be fine.]
They played several games, but Sakayanagi was unable to win even one game.
Sakayanagi: [How are you...?]
Sakayanagi compared him to the White Room students and was sure that he was even better than them. In Chess, at least.
Sakayanagi: [It's frustrating to lose like this. I'll definitely challenge you again.]
Kiyotaka: [I'll look forward to it.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Kiyotaka felt his eyes open as he walked through the gates of Advanced Nurturing High School, having graduated from Class 3-A.
Kiyotaka: (Graduating from Class A is difficult, but I've managed to do it three times. Well, it's time for some closure.)
As he thought, he looked ahead to see Mika waiting.
Kiyotaka: (Our last goodbye. More like... our only goodbye.)
Kiyotaka walked over to her.
Mika: [You graduated. I'm so proud of you.]
Kiyotaka bowed to her.
Kiyotaka: [Thank you for everything... for everything you've given me.]
Mika tilted her head in confusion.
Mika: [What do you mean?]
Kiyotaka: [Thank you for loving and fighting for me.]
Mika: [If anything, it was you who did so much for us. You came up with all these ideas that...]
Kiyotaka: [You're wrong... if it wasn't for you... I wouldn't be who I am today.]
Mika: [Where is this coming from all of a sudden?]
Kiyotaka: [I just really wanted to see you.]
Mika walked over, hugging his head to her stomach.
Mika: [Silly boy. It's only been a year since the parent-teacher meet-up. Crying over something like this...]
She said this but had a happy smile.
Kiyotaka: [It just felt a lot longer than that.]
Mika: [You're such a crybaby, but it makes me happy that you missed me that much.]
Mika chuckled, pulling him up to look her in the eye.
Mika: [You're pure and serene, just like your name. You were named after the man I loved because I knew I would love you even more than him. You're my pride and joy. My precious son. I would die for you.]
Kiyotaka: [Mother...]
Mika: [Whatever happens in your life and wherever you end up. Know that I'll always be with you.]
Kiyotaka: [How would you even know that for sure?]
Mika pressed her hand to his chest over where his heart was.
Mika: [Because you were born with a piece of me inside here.]
Kiyotaka: [What is that piece?]
Mika: [My love of course.]
Kiyotaka hugged Mika until they eventually let go.
Mika: [I'm going to go and start the car, okay?]
Mika walked away as Sayuri walked over to Kiyotaka.
Sayuri: [It's perfect, right? This world.]
Kiyotaka: [Almost perfect.]
Sayuri: [You have your mother here so...]
Kiyotaka: [It was a good effort. A near-perfect world with my Mother, but this world is missing the top 3 people in my heart. Ichika, Emilia and Ram. Without them, there's no way I could accept a world like this.]
Sayuri sighed.
Sayuri's form changed into Echidna.
Echidna: [I have your answer. I guess the Soul Transmigration magic I gave Roswaal won't entice you anymore.]
Kiyotaka: [Knowing I was loved by her without condition is enough for me to move forward. I know this is what she would have wanted. For me to move on and live my life.
Echidna sighed.
Kiyotaka: [Goodbye. I'll reach out to you one more time when all of this is over.]
Echidna: [See you then.]
The world around Kiyotaka faded into white.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Kiyotaka woke up as his eyes were softer. They didn't hold the same amount of darkness they had before.
Kiyotaka: (I've finally found closure. My mind is at ease.)
Kiyotaka comforted Emilia, slowly waking her up.
Emilia: [Kiyo?]
She began to panic slightly, but then locked eyes with him. The calmness in his eyes made her feel safe, as Kiyotaka was able to help her snap out of it and led her to her room, where she could get some rest. As she was sleeping, Kiyotaka reached out to her neck as he felt his hand sting from ice forming on them suddenly.
Kiyotaka: (Well, that really hurts.)
Puck: [You're pretty sneaky, Kiyotaka.]
Kiyotaka: [Well, it seems like it worked, Puck.]
Puck: [Um... Sorry about leaving you two alone all this time. Also, it's good that you called out to me. I'm really happy about it.]
Kiyotaka: [Don't you think it's time to explain yourself to Emilia?]
Puck: [You're right. I'll have a talk with her when she wakes up, okay?]
Kiyotaka: [No matter how she feels, you've protected her like she's your daughter. I'm sure your feelings have gotten across, so if this is goodbye, then say it properly.]
Puck: [Lia...She's a lonely girl, you know. She doesn't know how to make friends. When she calls you Kiyo, it's because she wants to be closer to you.]
Kiyotaka: [I know.]
Puck: [Then if you feel the same way, then why don't you come up with a nickname as well? I'm sure Lia would love it.]
Kiyotaka: [I'm not really good at things like that, so how about... ---]
Puck: [Yeah. That works... I'm okay with it too.]
Kiytoaka: [Alright then.]
Puck: [Kiyotaka...]
Kiyotaka: [Yes?]
Puck: [Thanks for everything.]
Kiyotaka: [Don't worry about it. You can leave the rest to me.]
Kiyotaka left them alone.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Kiyotaka met Roswaal as Ram was in the room.
Ram: [Roswaal-sama. I want to know what you're planning right...]
Ram noticed Kiyotaka.
Kiyotaka: [Sorry to interupt. It's important. I'll also get to something about his intentions, too.]
Ram nodded.
Kiyotaka: [Roswaal. Can you really bring my mother here?]
Ram: [What?]
Roswaal: [Oh? Why would you think that?]
Kiyotaka: [That's what you and that witch had planned, right? To get me to do as you say?]
Ram was shocked at this.
Roswaal: [And if I can?]
Kiyotaka: [Then, can you show me some proof?]
Roswaal: [Oh? You're doubting me?]
Kiyotaka: [Why should I work with you without proof?]
Roswaal sighed as he took out a book. Kiyotaka pointed his finger at it.
Kiyotaka: [Goa!]
Kiyotaka fired a fireball at the book, burning it to a crisp.
Roswaal: [What? Why would you?]
Ram also looked shocked.
Kiyotaka: [I've made it through two of the trials. You thought it would give you a weak spot to take advantage of, but in truth, it's just planted me further on my path. Thanks to that, 400 years of your planning have just gone down the drain.]
Roswaal: [What are you talking about!? People's feelings don't change. Your feelings of wanting to win no matter what shouldn't change!]
Kiyotaka: [Oh, I'm still going to win, but everyone else standing beside me is going to win as well.]
Roswaal: [You fool! Everything could have been perfect. You could have been perfect again.]
Kiyotaka: [Being perfect isn't all it's made out to be. It's a dead end with no room for growth or improvement. It is the death of a person's drive.]
Roswaal: [Who the hell do you think you are?]
Kiyotaka: [Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Read as serene and pure. That's the life my mother wished for me, and that's the life I want to live. For the woman who died for me, loving me unto her last moments.]
Roswaal laughed a little as Ram looked at Kiyotaka in amazement.
Ram: [Ayanotaka...]
Kiyotaka: [Now to make this official, let's make a bet, okay?]
Roswaal: [A bet?]
Kiyotaka: [I'll thwart your plans for both the Sanctuary and the Mansion. If I lose, I'll do as you ask. But when I accomplish it, you'll cease these plans of betrayal and sacrifice and devote yourself entirely to Emilia. No more sacrifices. No more tests.]
Ram: [Ayanotaka...]
Roswaal: [Then this will be our final showdown.]
Kiyotaka: [I hope you haven't forgotten that I've never lost once.]
Roswaal: [Right. Then I will be the very first person to beat you.]
Kiyotaka: [Just saying that proves you'll end up just like all the others.]
Kiyotaka left Roswaals room.
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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