Tokyo: Oreimo

Ryosuke quickly found the post that Kikuchi Shota had mentioned, opened it, and scrolled through the content.

The entire post was filled with an atmosphere of 'war'.

A large number of netizens joined the discussion about whether Fate/stay night exists.

"What? Why are all the reviews negative?"

"Takashiro Ryouno said in an unhappy tone."

She saw it all clearly from the side; most of the replies were critical.

They're hyping up a game that doesn't even exist; it's actually the latest scam.

Ling Nai even saw someone preparing to trade CDs offline, and then had their account banned by the website administrator.

Having played the official version of Fate/stay night, she knows how well-made the game is, and she immediately showed some anger at these unfounded taunts and accusations.

"After all, the number of demo discs released is limited, which is only a small fraction of the website's users. This forum also does not allow individual users to upload pictures, so there is no way to prove it."

“Offline transactions are indeed quite risky for website operators.”

"Try contacting the administrator. The best way is to ask them to help promote it, which will solve the problem at its root."

Ryosuke identified a user in the post who used a 'black cat' as their profile picture.

The other person's ID is 'Luna of Clow Reed'.

Chapter 64 Cherry Blossom Dream

"Could this name be a fan's name?"

A proud expression appeared on Takashiro Ryouno's face.

Clow Reed is from "Cardcaptor Sakura", while Luna is a guardian beast-like being from "Moon Witch Transformation".

Based solely on the name, Ryosuke could conclude that, just as Ayano said, the other person was very likely a fan of these two works.

"The good news is that, in this case, they might be someone we can communicate with."

Ryosuke sent a private message to the other party to express his greetings.

However, after waiting for more than ten minutes, there was still no reply from the other party.

"Are you offline?"

Ryosuke looked up at the time; the clock pointed to nine o'clock.

Waiting like this isn't a solution; we still haven't figured out when the website administrator appears.

"Get out of the way once you're done, I need to continue my strategy."

Takashiro Ryouno, meanwhile, was idly swinging her legs on the bed.

"Well, it seems there won't be a reply for now. I'm going back to my room. If they send me a private message, please pass it on for me."

"Okay, I know, get out of here."

Takagi Ryouna impatiently shooed Ryosuke off his seat, clicked on the FSN icon, and the CD drive started spinning again.

"Don't stay out too late."

"You're so long-winded. I'll go to bed on time."

.....

After seeing Ryosuke off, Takagi Ryouno continued her strategy and soon returned to the same option she had chosen earlier.

After a brief struggle, she chose to kill Saber.

Without encountering any resistance, the screen flashed back to the moments when she met this Knight King. Having completed the Fate route, Ling Nao felt as if a knife had been ripped from her heart.

"This kind of thing..."

Ling Nai's face showed a look of considerable reluctance, and her breathing became somewhat rapid.

Since you've chosen this path... you must keep sacrificing important things for the one and only person you truly love.

Watching Shirou Emiya's monologue on the screen, Ling felt a deep empathy.

When he pierced the opponent's chest with the projected gem sword, he abandoned his long-held beliefs.

“If he were a champion of justice, he would never do such a thing. To stab me with this sword would not only betray Saber, who has always protected him, but also his long-held ideals.”

"That guy, after this game is released, he might actually get razor blades in the mail, right?"

But it must be said, this is the right option.

Saber's figure shattered and sank into the black mud.

Ling Nai discovered that the plot had changed and was completely different from before. She once again saw the perspective of the sisters Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Matou fighting.

The girl in red, wielding a jeweled sword, displayed a powerful and overwhelming presence.

"We should be able to win. After Saber was killed, even if we call for help, she can't come to our aid. We've lost our strongest Servant."

To the girl's surprise, Rin Tohsaka gave up the chance to kill Sakura Matou at the last moment, in exchange for Sakura regaining her senses for a short time.

"It's time for me to make my appearance. Is this the true ending without a doubt?"

Ling muttered to herself.

On the screen, Shirou Emiya projected 'Breaking the Rules with All Signs', which pierced Sakura Matou's chest.

"I see, so this is the correct way to use this Noble Phantasm. This way, we can have a good ending, right?"

"Rin and Sakura are not dead. Now all we need to do is destroy the huge void in front of us..."

"and many more--"

Takashiro Ryouno watched the words jump before her eyes, and the plot seemed to be developing in a strange direction.

[Projection... Begin —]

The body is dead. But the soul remains.

.....

The body is dead... What does this mean?

Takashiro Ryou clenched her back teeth tightly.

No way, please?

.....

[Adopt an archery stance. The burden is transferred from the body to the soul, and further, its significance—]

.....

This represents the death of Shirou Emiya as a person.

.....

"Are you kidding me?!"

Seeing this scene before him, Ryosuke's words echoed in his mind once again.

—So-called love means being able to give up everything for it, even one's own life.

—Just so you know, there's no happy ending for everyone in the HF route.

"Is that so? Is that what that sentence meant?!"

Takashiro Ryou suddenly felt an urge to smash her keyboard.

He had saved Sakura, but he died. In the end, he still couldn't have a happy ending?

It's a date.

When winter passes and spring arrives—

Damn it, damn it!

Takashiro Ryou was quite angry, but even stronger than that emotion was sadness.

When she saw Matou Sakura, now fully conscious, searching the world for any trace of Emiya Shirou, she could no longer hold back her overwhelming emotions, and the tears that had been building up in her eyes burst forth.

"What...."

The blonde girl kept wiping away the tears that streamed from her eyes.

"Why did that guy have to insist on ending things in such a disturbing way?"

Although she couldn't hide her emotions when facing the endings of the Fate and UBW routes, this was the first time she had felt such pure sadness and regret.

It took Ling Nai some time to suppress the sadness welling up inside her.

The end credits on the screen had long since ended, leaving only the empty "END" lettering.

She clicked again to return to the game's main menu.

Just like in the previous rounds of completing the game, the main interface will change as the ending appears.

This is an Easter egg that Ryosuke deliberately left behind.

In the background, the sky is filled with cherry blossoms, as if struck by a bullet, and the sadness that had been suppressed resurfaces.

"That guy is awful!"

Ling Nai quickly clicked on the CG to avoid the scene.

I took a few deep breaths before I was able to shake off that sad feeling.

Looking at the screen, I could clearly see the result she had achieved.

——【Cherry Blossom Dream】

In the window corresponding to each ending, there is a very conspicuous area that has not yet been unlocked.

"what?"

I thought the ending of the HF route would always be this cruel, but it seems this time it's not a true ending.

"It's not the real ending? Is it because the prerequisites weren't met? Does that mean there might be a happy ending?"

Takashiro Ryouno suddenly felt a little happy, but she was still somewhat uneasy.