Kamen Rider Date A Live

"Oh? What is it, Shido-kun?"

"So... Kurumi, who exactly are the people you killed?"

Ninety-eighth Covenant of God

Ninety-eighth Covenant of God

P.S.: I've recently become obsessed with "Touhou Chronicles." Although I finished writing it yesterday, I forgot to upload it. As compensation, I'll post two chapters today and one tomorrow.

"But this has created a new problem, Kurumi."

"Oh? What is it, Shido-kun?"

"So... Kurumi, who exactly are the people you killed?"

Shido raised a strange question. Although Kurumi was also puzzled by the question at first, she was indeed highly intelligent and quickly understood what Shido meant. She was once again impressed by Shido's keen insight.

However, Kurumi did not explain directly, but instead asked Shido some questions.

"Shido-kun's question isn't a big deal... but I also have some questions I'd like to ask you. May I ask them?"

"Kurumi, you want to ask me... I don't really care, but the question I asked you earlier was very important to me... But since you put it that way, how could I possibly refuse after asking so many questions?"

Shido answered Kurumi with a rhetorical question, but the meaning was self-evident.

"Oh, thank you, Shido-kun. Actually, the question I want to ask is very simple. I just want to know, Shido-kun, what was the price you paid for your power? I'm very interested in power from other worlds. But I have another question... I'll ask you my question after you answer mine."

Kurumi said this.

"Um... I don't quite understand why you said that, Kurumi, but I will answer you. Besides, my speculation is not finished yet."

Shido paused for a moment, then continued.

"As for the price I paid for gaining this power... to be honest, I don't know. But I might have a clue. If I'm not mistaken, the price I paid for this power was to continue fighting them. However, it was my own choice, and I have no regrets. It's just that it's a different kind of price... which I really don't like."

Shido's expression turned extremely bitter, but within that bitterness was a hint of fear.

However, Kurumi couldn't understand why someone who had gained such power would have such feelings, and couldn't help but ask.

"Shido-kun, could you tell me about the other kind of price? This is the first time I've ever seen you so afraid of something, Shido-kun."

"Hey! Kurumi, you're not saying that right! What do you mean 'feel fear'... I'm a human being, of course I feel fear! Isn't that a natural emotion? Humans feel fear, that's what makes us human. But..."

Shido's expression turned sorrowful, but after a moment of silence, he uttered something that seemed completely nonsensical.

"...Hey, Kurumi, tell me, do you believe in God?"

"...God? Why are you suddenly bringing this up, Shido-kun? But speaking of gods... I really don't believe in them. Although our existence is indeed quite incredible, if there really is a god (Why! Why did we have to go through this!!)... I really don't believe in so-called gods. But in the end, what exactly are you trying to say, Shido-kun?"

Kurumi, reflecting on their long history as spirits, showed a hint of confusion, but quickly suppressed it and voiced her bewilderment.

Shido, preoccupied with his own worries, failed to notice Kurumi's earlier confusion. However, he did hear Kurumi's question and, after a moment of silence, gave his answer.

"...What I want to say...well, it's the fear of myself, the fear of becoming a god in the future..."

"Ah!!?" ​​×2

This time, not only Kurumi was shocked by what she said, but even Mana, who had been standing by and watching for a long time, was taken aback. Of course, their first reaction was something like, "What nonsense is this kid talking about?"

Strangely, in the distant sky, in the realm of Fraxinus, who had been observing for an even longer period, the entire conversation between Kurumi and Shido was overheard. All the crew members, including Kotori, were silently cheering for Shido. However, when Shido uttered the words, "Fear yourself, for you will become a god... yourself," everyone looked on incredulously, unable to believe it.

However, there was only one exception, and that person was none other than Kotori!

At this moment, Kotori's expression and actions seemed completely out of place compared to others.

Because at this moment, Kotori's reaction to Shido's words was not one of confusion, but rather an extremely complex expression. Furthermore, the fact that her clenched fists had turned bright red with blood revealed just how complicated her feelings were.

Kannazuki was the first to notice Kotori's abnormality, and cried out in anguish, "Commander! Your hand!!" This brought Kotori back to her senses, pulling her out of her reverie.

Coming to her senses, Kotori saw Kannazuki approaching with a band-aid and a lewd smile on his face. Almost instinctively, she snatched the band-aid, kicked Kannazuki away, and, ignoring his ecstatic voice, uttered a sentence that shocked everyone who heard it, together with Shido on the screen.

"Becoming a god... is no joke, but the price is losing all of Shido's emotions!"

—Back to Shido's side—

"Losing all emotions!?"

Kurumi and Mana shouted in unison, their faces clearly filled with disbelief.

"Yes, losing all emotions, after my power evolves to become the White God—the Creator of Light, I will become a god who sees everything with absolute reason. Of course, absolute reason is just a nice-sounding term. But since I am the creator god, at least I won't be a heartless god."

Shido chuckled self-deprecatingly and continued.

"However, I knew about this before I even met Yoshino. So, that's probably why I've never been able to rise."

Shido's self-deprecating expression deepened, as if he were mocking his own weakness.

"Shido-kun..."

"Brother..."

Kurumi and Mana both looked at Shido, who had a self-deprecating expression, with complicated expressions.

However, Mana felt heartbroken seeing her older brother like this, and the possibility of losing all her emotions in the future.

Kurumi, however, was thinking even more deeply. Seeing Shido's self-deprecating expression, she couldn't help but think of herself, who had abandoned all emotions for her own purposes...

Yes...we are so similar...we are both people who would abandon our own feelings for our own purposes...so, we are kindred spirits...Shido-kun...

Reasons for the Ninety-Nine Battles

Reasons for the Ninety-Nine Battles

Kurumi thought about it more deeply. When she saw Shido's self-deprecating expression, she couldn't help but think of herself, who had abandoned all emotions for her own purposes.

Yes...we are so similar...we are both people who would abandon our own feelings for our own purposes...so, we are kindred spirits...Shido-kun...

As Kurumi thought this, an extremely complex emotion welled up in her chest, an emotion that could not be described in words.

In Kurumi's original understanding, Shido was an extremely powerful person. Although he was not as powerful as the person she had secretly met before, the one who made her tremble just by seeing him, Shido was now considered extremely powerful. Although he was not as powerful as Tohka, who was of AAA level, he could defeat Spirits who were not strong in combat (such as Kurumi).

But this powerful person was actually afraid and terrified of losing his emotions in the future. This brought Kurumi back to her senses. The Shido-kun in front of her, although he possessed great power, was fundamentally just a human who had lived for sixteen years.

(Mysterious voice: No, no! Although he spends most of his time training, Shido's age is definitely over twenty... (dragged away by the author))

Kurumi thought to herself, but Shido had no way of knowing what she was thinking. Instead, he interrupted her train of thought. What a hopeless idiot, Shido! If Kurumi had kept thinking, she might have been able to convey her ideas to you more effectively.

But since it's already been said, there's no going back. After all, it's not like I'm some blue tanuki robot from the future that can travel back in time.

"In short, I've answered my questions. Now, it's Kurumi's turn to answer mine. I'll ask one more time: Kurumi, who exactly did you kill...?"

At this moment, Shido's expression no longer showed the worry and fear he had just displayed, as if it had all been fake. However, Kurumi could tell that Shido was simply burying these emotions deep within his heart, not wanting others to discover them—a feigned strength.

Yes, it's just like me; haven't I always been pretending to be strong...?

Kurumi was thinking, but her outward expression didn't reveal what she was thinking, and Shido couldn't tell either.

"Hehe, since Shido-kun has answered my question, how could I not answer it?"

"The people I kill... well, most of them are young people like the ones I just killed. These kinds of people tend to have the longest lifespans, which means they have the most time."

"However, why is Shido asking me this kind of question? Shouldn't you be asking Mana-san, who is an AST member, about this kind of information?"

Kurumi pointed at Mana, who was still lost in thought. Upon hearing Kurumi point at her, Mana immediately snapped out of her daze and became alert again. She also recalled what Kurumi had just said and realized why Kurumi had called her.

"Hmph! Although I'm annoyed, Nightmare is right. Shouldn't you be asking me this kind of question, brother?"

Seeing Mana's confused and angry expression (mysterious voice: What's there to be angry about...), Shido couldn't help but smile wryly and said.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Everyone's subjective consciousness is different, and their perspectives on things are also different. If I asked you the truth first, you would definitely tell a lie hidden in the truth, wouldn't you?"

"! Waaah..."

Hearing Shido say that, Mana, who actually had such a plan, turned her head away rather awkwardly and simply became mute.

Seeing Mana's expression, Shido knew he hadn't guessed wrong, and he couldn't help but rub his head helplessly. However, at this moment, Shido's brain was also working at super high speed, because his intuition told him that Kurumi's words were definitely not that simple.

But where exactly did things go wrong? After spending these past few days with Kurumi, Shido knows that Kurumi doesn't lie, but she also never tells the truth directly. Therefore, there must be a reason why Kurumi did what she did hidden in what she just said.

On the other hand, seeing Shido's thoughtful expression, Kurumi's heart couldn't help but beat faster. Kurumi knew that she had inexplicably fallen for Shido's handsome appearance when he was thinking seriously.

Well, as expected of a woman in love, her IQ really drops drastically.

(Mysterious voice: The narrator has been dragged away by Kurumi...)

However, this scene didn't last long. After about two minutes, Shido opened his half-closed eyes, his gaze revealing an "I see" look. Kurumi naturally saw this and knew that now was the time for her to ask Shido one last question.

However, even though it's all for nothing, we still need to confirm it!

Thinking of this, Kurumi revealed a captivating smile.

However, since Shido had just opened his eyes at that moment and didn't turn his gaze to Kurumi, Mana, who was watching Shido the whole time, didn't see her either.

However, in the sky above Fraxinus, most people witnessed this scene and were stunned by Kurumi's charm at that moment—of course, this only applied to men.

Shido, who hadn't witnessed this scene, looked at Kurumi again, smiled confidently, and said...

"I see... Kurumi! As expected, my resolve doesn't need to change!!"

"!!"

"Kurumi, the key phrase in what you just said was 'like those people.' This refers not only to their age but also to the similar things they did! Right, Kurumi? The people you killed were the kind of people who 'harmed innocent lives for their own selfish desires'! Isn't that right!"

“That’s right, Shido-kun. But maybe it’s just a way of comforting myself…” Kurumi chuckled self-deprecatingly and continued, “But, Shido-kun, what was this determination you mentioned earlier? May I know?”

"Ah, of course! Because I've completely figured it out now! I won't change my mind about protecting you, Kurumi! Because I think I know now that your ultimate goal, Kurumi, is to go back to the past! Right, Kurumi!"

"!!!"

"Now, I completely understand! Perhaps until just now I was afraid, confused, and bewildered, but when I picked up the kitten, I understood the cause and effect, why Kurumi, you killed someone. Although what Kurumi did was really too extreme..."

Shido gently put down the kitten he was holding and shooed it back into the woods.

"Moreover, when I obtained this power, it taught me what justice and evil are..." When Shido said this, his expression carried a sense of vicissitude that did not belong to someone his age!

"If you are bound by so-called justice, you will ultimately be unable to protect anything; if you blindly indulge in the evil before you, your heart will weep..."

"I think Kurumi went to kill with the same determination. I might not have understood this determination before, but now, I kind of understand it..."

Even if misunderstood, betrayed, and hurt by others, even if burdened with all the darkness and countless bloodshed, we fight according to the voice of our hearts, protecting those we believe in and those we love… or the things we cherish…

"This is us..."

"Kamen Rider!!"

The Hundredth Death

The Hundredth Death