Chapter 791
"Illya!"
Miyu reacted quickly; she had seen this move many times before.
Chloe, who quickly moved behind Illya to prepare to attack, was stopped by Miyu.
"Kuro, stop!"
"Get out of my way, Miyu. I've had enough of that guy who only shows up now and keeps talking to himself."
Chloe scoffed and looked at Illya: "Are you trying to say 'Don't fight for my sake'?"
She actually came here, thinking she's a princess?
This is infuriating! How angry do you want me to be before you're satisfied?
Please, listen to me.
Illya tried to persuade Chloe, but Chloe wouldn't listen at all.
"What a joke! What else do you want me to hear now? I've already heard your wish."
So you want to "go back to your old life," right? If that's the case, then don't get involved with us anymore.
"Get out of my sight right now."
"..."
Chloe had expected Illya to talk back as usual, but--
"... sorry."
Illya lowered her head, looking guilty.
"What?"
I know what I said caused a misunderstanding, please allow me to apologize.
"Misunderstanding? You call it a misunderstanding?"
"Yes, Kuro should understand. Because Kuro is Illya!"
Upon hearing what Illya said, Kuro's expression turned to astonishment, and Miyu was also taken aback.
Because Illya was more unwilling to admit it than anyone else.
Now, Illya has admitted that the Kuro is herself.
So, you should understand. Understand how I feel right now.
Indeed, I used to run away because I was afraid of the unknown forces within myself.
I escaped from everything, locking myself in my own cage...
"Thanks to my brother Miyu, I was able to pull myself together again."
After saying this, Illya raised her head and met Chloe's gaze without fear.
"But even if you close your eyes, even if you run away, nothing will be solved."
So, from that moment on, I made up my mind... I would never run away again!
I will never pretend that nothing happened, whether it's the people I meet or the events that occur!
"..."
"Kuro is Illya, you should understand that, right?"
So I said you misunderstood my wish! Now I can say without hesitation that I would never say I wish you to disappear!
"..."
"I absolutely won't deny that I met Miyu and the others! I can only say that it was so wonderful to meet everyone!"
Illya declared firmly, tears streaming down her face.
"... Thank you for your insightful comments."
Chloe looked at her indifferently and spoke calmly.
"So, what should we do next? Just go home and make up? And then what?"
Are we to continue living with my true identity hidden forever? This kind of life can't last."
She added, "It's already quite a stretch," and then lowered her head with a gloomy expression.
Chloe shook her head, shaking off the weakness on her face, and continued with a gentle expression.
What is Illya's daily life like? She has family, a home, and friends.
I haven't even received these things that I should have taken for granted.
Because I am "Illya who is treated as if she doesn't exist"...
Illya couldn't understand her words, but she deeply sensed Chloe's despair and could only listen in silence.
I don't know what kind of miracle allowed me to stand here now.
It has the consciousness to think and the ability to move, therefore...
Chloe's initially weak voice gradually grew stronger.
Then, she pointed the knife at Illya.
The murderous aura that had previously vanished filled the surrounding air once more.
The brown-skinned girl pierced through her other self with a powerful gaze and continued speaking.
"I want to reclaim my daily life with my own hands."
"..."
"Illya, there are two of us. But we are given only one everyday life."
She concluded with an unwavering tone, then gripped her twin swords tightly.
"The fake daily life is over! Since you say you won't run away anymore, then fight me!"
"Stop, Kuro!"
Chloe lunged at Illya, but Miyu her sword to block her.
Seeing them like this, Illya cried out with tears in her eyes.
"You two wait! I have something else to say—"
At that very moment, something flew over everyone's heads.
Everyone looked at the object; it was a silver sports car.
Illya and Chloe recognized the car; it seemed familiar as it flew past.
That is...
"... Mother?"
As Illya finished speaking, the car crashed into a tree and came to a stop without slowing down.
Everyone present was frozen in place, completely silent.
No one could understand the situation when a voice came from inside the car.
"Ah, found it, found it... Shirou? Seriously, why are you carsick again? My driving skills are perfectly fine!"
That was a voice Illya knew all too well.
She had a premonition when she saw the silver sports car, and it came true as she predicted.
The woman who emerged from the gull-wing door after it was kicked open...
"Hey, long time no see, Illya- chan! How have you been lately?"
Irisviel greeted them in a cheerful voice, waving as she scooped the dizzy Shirou under her arms.
"Mom, Mom, Mom... Mom!?"
Irisviel was still the same as always, completely oblivious to the atmosphere, utterly ruining the seriousness.
Illya's mind went blank when her mother suddenly appeared, but Miyu roughly understood what was going on.
This person... is the savior Mr. Shirou brought!
Hmm... that seems really unreliable... Is everything alright, Mr. Shirou?
"Oh dear, oh dear, what's going on? Illya, when did you become a twin?"
And you guys look so cute in your outfits!
The three of them were dressed in clothes resembling those in a children's anime, and stood in the forest holding weapons.
Illya was so ashamed of being seen dressed as Magical Girl by her mother... No, she didn't have time to worry about that now!
"Mother..."
A faint sound came from beside me.
Illya turned around when she heard the sound and saw Chloe standing there.
Chloe lowered her head, her body trembling violently.
Then, she suddenly looked up and glared fiercely at Irisviel.
The next instant, she swung her twin swords and thrust forward.
Seeing this, Illya reacted immediately, rushing to Irisviel and barely managing to block the attack.
"Kuro, what were you thinking! She's my mother! She's my... our mother! How could you lay a hand on your mother!"
That's right, Kuro and Illya are the same person.
So for Kuro, Irisviel is also her mother.
Seeing Chloe attack as if she really wanted to kill her mother, Illya was furious.
"I miss you so much, Mom..."
Ignoring Illya's anger and confusion, Chloe spoke in a low voice.
Her voice was filled with sorrow...
"The best mom ever, who pretended my problems didn't exist 10 years ago!"
"!?"
Chloe shouted excitedly and leaped into the air to launch her attack.
"Ruby, physical protection!"
"No, Illya! With your current magic power, you can't possibly stop Kuro..."
"Cone Defense!"
Illya transformed her physical barrier into a hexagon, blocking the "pseudo- Spiral Sword" fired by Kuro.
Since Chloe appeared, Illya has been training alone every day to make up for her reduced magic power.
She is no longer the little girl who wanted to run away from the battle.
"..."
Chloe smacked her lips.
Why attack your mother?! What good will it do to attack her?!
This is outrageous! Do you know what you're doing?! Please, stop right now!
Illya let out a mournful cry.
The sight of someone with the same face as her trying to kill her beloved mother must have been heartbreaking for her.
Hearing Illya's cry, Chloe—
"... don't know."
"Kuro?"
"I don't understand... I can't even figure out my own feelings..."
Kuro's gaze wandered aimlessly, and she made a dull sound; she looked both timid and lonely.