Memory Revisited

Boom--

An inaudible roar exploded beside Soga Toyura's ear.

The girl who had stretched out her hand to gaze up at the moonlight came back to herself, only to find her eyes already brimming with tears.

She remembered--

She had finally... finally remembered.

The person she had once been determined to protect no matter what.

The person she had once hurt... yet also once tried her hardest to protect with everything she had.

The person who had feared the darkness in her place.

How could she have forgotten?

How... could she have forgotten?

Even if the world changed, Youzi was the one person she should never have forgotten.

Soga Toyura clenched her fists.

Then... the most important thing now was figuring out how to find Youzi.

Youzi was right beside her.

Yet she couldn't see her. What could be more ironic and tragic than that?

Scene after scene--

Countless memories surged back like flowing water, and tears streamed uncontrollably from the corners of Soga Toyura's eyes.

"Bastard, bastard, bastard!!!"

"Don't let me hear that a second time."

"Ishikawa Irube!"

"Next month is her... my birthday. I don't want everyone to be unhappy because of a fuss at a time like this."

She seemed never to have spoken to Uncle Ishikawa in that tone before.

Although she had rarely spoken with Uncle Ishikawa in the first place... Aunt Asami was not someone anyone should provoke.

"Elder Sister--"

Her first "reunion" with Youzi.

The girl smiled brilliantly, yet made her feel as though she had fallen into an ice-cold abyss.

"If Elder Sister has nothing else to do... then I'll take my leave first."

"My friends~ are still waiting for me."

"..."

And then... in the movie theater, because that vile "Goddess of Destiny" had bestowed Grace upon her again and again