Ever since that day, when your thunder tore Ash's past and future apart, I picked up the parts of him that were bestial instinct and desire, and only then made it this far!
"Our school? Back then, we..."
Back then, hadn't we blasted away that strange being full of dark power, something that obviously didn't look like it was up to any good, with our finishing move? Seeing how its entire body had cracked apart, it shouldn't have been able to survive. If that was the case... you, could it be?!
"Could it be that you're that strange black shadow from back then!?" The two immediately clenched their fists and went on guard. "If you want revenge, then come after us! Why—why attack other people too!?"
"Looks like you didn't understand. This isn't revenge, it's genuine gratitude! It was because you acted that I had the chance to appear—this is a story that began with you!"
Gratitude? Even if he was spouting nonsense, why did he have to keep repeating that word?
Honoka, whose mind worked more quickly, mulled over Ash's words. Recalling the stories those girls had told about how fractured Ash truly was, an astonishing idea gradually took shape in her mind.
"Could it be... like this?!"
If that was true, then—what role had we played in all this, and what had we done?!
Ash turned the O Scanner Ring sideways and forcefully swiped it across the six golden coins at his waist. A massive blast of air erupted from his body, completely scattering SplashStar's finishing move.
The sound of flesh writhing came from behind Ash. Six overlapping scythe-like constructs, connected to the tentacles on his back, were dragged out amid blood. They transformed into six sharp, wildly flailing tentacles, propping him up from the ground before the