Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

The girl gritted her teeth and demanded, "Why! Why do you have to stop me!"

"………… Youzhu."

Shirou walked up to the girl.

She was extremely unwilling to accept this.

This is not the outcome they (Kuonji Yuzu) wanted.

Whether it's the kind-hearted Yuju or the wicked Yuju, they both harbor the same deep desire—

It is being accepted and recognized by someone when you expose your ugliest side.

But Shirou refused.

Shirou rejects and denies the evil Arisa.

Therefore, it was not only the evil Yuju who felt despair, but also the kind Yuju.

After all—they were originally one person.

She was born into this world as a witch, not an ordinary girl; that was her destiny.

In the end...

You can't truly understand me either.

Shirou-kun, you are not a place for me to "stay" either...

Already used to it.

Anyway, there's nowhere in this world that would accept a witch.

"!"

Seeing Shirou raise the greatsword at her without the slightest hesitation, Yuzu's expression crumbled.

With tears streaming down her face, she flicked her finger—the last act of resistance the unwilling young girl could muster.

At the same time, she was also prepared for the consequences.

Let's stop here...

There is no point in resetting time and space any further.

Everyone will be happy if I disappear.

Let Kuonji Aratsu disappear along with this distorted world (Fairy Realm).

The girl closed her eyes, resigned to dying by Shirou's sword.

"?"

Strangely, the painful, cold death did not come.

Instead, it has a very warm feel.

Confused, Yuju opened her eyes and saw that her hand had pierced through Shirou's body.

This cursed blow burned through the boy's internal organs.

In contrast, Shirou used his last bit of strength to stretch out his arms and gently embrace the witch's body.

"…………Shirou-kun?"

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Volume 2, Chapter 144: I'm sorry, please, I was wrong, please don't!

"..."

Kuonji Yuju stared blankly at what was in front of him.

Hot blood flowed down her fair and slender arm.

In addition to his weight, what Shirou transmitted was also the strength from his arms.

Despite bleeding so much blood and having dropped the sword in his hand, he still held Youzhu's body tightly.

"……Why?"

Why didn't it come down?

Why don't you kill me?

The witch trembled and kept questioning her.

"In Aoko's words... I'm probably an idiot..."

Shirou, his breath weak yet bearing a defiant smile, murmured.

"Didn't you just say that... Yuzhu?"

"You are... a monster I created... so... the one who should die isn't you, it should be me."

Shirou thought to himself.

In any case, I never intended to harm Yuzhu.

In fact, it was known from the beginning that the so-called "evil Ariju" was just a self-escapist personality created by the girl to avoid scolding and responsibility.

As long as she blames all the trouble on the "bad witch," she can continue to exist as the "good witch."

Even after everything is over, she can still receive comfort from the boy she likes—

...Shirou had long since noticed such a despicable thought.

But it's not a big deal.

Because everyone has a dark side.

It's just that the darkness of Ayumi is a little heavier and deeper than that of ordinary humans.

Yu-joo has been working hard all this time.

Despite having nothing to do with her, she upheld the duties of a witch and maintained order in the magical world.

Her parents, who could praise her, are no longer here.

The magicians looked at her with strange eyes.

Even Shirou, the only person who could understand her, always ignored Arisa's good intentions.

Despite clearly sensing Yuuka's feelings, Shirou pretended to be oblivious and refused to respond.

So... even if I'm killed by Ayumi, I deserve to die, Shirou thought to himself.

Why did I only realize it at the very last moment? I'm so incredibly stupid.

If only we had noticed it sooner.

Sigh, but there's nothing we can do about it.

The only thing Shirou can't overcome, no matter how hard he tries, is the "woman's hardship," so he has no choice but to accept his fate.

"There are beads."

Shirou hugged Yuzu tightly and whispered.

"I like Aoko..."

"........."

Yu-zhu remained silent, her slender body trembling slightly.

Shirou continued.

"In a 'future' you don't know about, I met her through you."

"I begged and pleaded with you to introduce Qingzi to me."

"While I wouldn't call it love at first sight, I don't know when I started to be attracted to her."

"I was planning to make my move on her after this time travel ended..."

"Although she was already an unattainable mage to me at that time, I really didn't intend to give up... After all, my only advantage is stubbornness, haha."

Youzhu: “…………”

"but."

Shirou's throat seemed to be blocked by blood gushing up from his trachea, and he looked extremely pained as he spoke.

"I really can't just ignore Arima after all..."

I want Yu-joo to stay by my side forever, and I want to see Yu-joo always smiling.

I want to see your cute expression of jealousy because of how intimate Aoko and I are...

I want to see your smug look on your face as you emphasize how good our relationship is in front of others...

On the way here, I finally realized that I couldn't lose Yuju, so—"

Shirou buried his face in the girl's soft chest, revealing a peaceful expression as if he wanted to feel her heartbeat.

Despite having her chest pierced and her internal organs burned, he was unmoved by the witch's cruelty and simply held her tenderly as if she were a precious treasure.

"If Akane doesn't like that, then I won't confess to Aoko."

"Why……?"

Shirou's words made Yuzu's dark eyes widen.

The boy spoke quietly.

"If that is a 'future' that would make pearls cease to be pearls, I will do everything in my power to deny it—"

More important to me than "liking Aoko" is "cherishing Ariya."

"Amamiya... kun".

Shirou's body temperature is rapidly decreasing.

In the end, he never fell in love with Youzhu.

Despite knowing Aoko for longer and having lived together harmoniously for so long, Shirou ultimately couldn't develop romantic feelings for Ayumi.

So—Shirou's biggest regret at this moment is not that his life is about to end, but that "after facing his own feelings, he still cannot reciprocate Ariya's feelings."

"I'm sorry, Arisu..."

The boy used his last bit of strength to apologize.

Then, his temperature disappeared.

Her arms, which had been tightly embracing Kuonji Yuzu's back, fell naturally to her sides.

"Although I can't fall in love with you, but—"

I cherish the time I spend with you more than anything else.

"…………"

Yuzhu stared blankly at the lifeless boy.

Time and spacetime in the Fairy Realm can be reset.

However, the only entity capable of resetting this is Yuju herself, who is the lord of the domain.

Humans who die completely in the dense fog obviously cannot be reset, so...

Shirou is dead.

I killed him with my own hands.

I died because of my stubbornness.

She died to atone for my sins.

Even in his final moments, he was still blaming himself for not being able to soothe Yu-joo's wounded heart.

but……

this is not right.