Published at 26th of March 2019 12:07 am

Volume 6, Part 4

◆◆◆ Daiya Oomine - 09/11 FRI 22:12 ◆◆◆

Why should I put all my eggs in one basket?

I think highly of Iroha Shindou, but I never expected that her mission would have a 100% success rate. Because of my time limit, it would be fatal for me if I relied on just one person and that person failed to deliver.

Therefore, setting up Shindou's attack wasn't the only thing I did with my [servants]. While she was working toward showing Otonashi how Kazu would betray her, I also had a few other things going in parallel.

I also tried to convey a message to Kazu over the TV. I gave [orders] to eleven sinners who I considered guilty enough to turn into 'Dog Humans'. Their task was to write "Come to the cinema!" on their naked bodies and expose themselves on TV. There's no way to guarantee that they successfully accomplished that goal, but my guess is that one or two of them must have succeeded.

When Aya entered the cinema, I first thought that that maneuver was now a waste, but it just acquired new relevance.

That maneuver prevents Kazu and the others from breaking off contact with me.

He just needs to wait until the end of the 'Wish-Crushing Cinema' to defeat me, so his optimal strategy was to hide from me and break off contact. But if I'm able to create a massive commotion on TV and it even spreads over the web, there's a high probability it will reach him or his allies, and then he will realize how risky it is to shut off communications.

My 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment' is a lot more effective when I can establish contact.

We are still in the entrance hall; Piercing at Fifteen has not started yet. Since my actions will be highly circumscribed once the movie begins, I have to map out my strategy in advance.

17 minutes are left until the movie starts, but I only have 12 minutes because we'll be teleported into the theater five minutes before that. Damn...I'm constantly short on time.

"So, to summarize," Aya starts to recap the plan I have given her. "We'll have Kasumi Mogi use the 'Flawed Bliss'. Since she is still in distress due to her disabilities and unrequited love for Kazuki Hoshino, she won't turn it down. And then I will forget about Kazuki Hoshino."

I nod. Aya continues.

"Since Hoshino doesn't want Mogi to recall the 'Rejecting Classroom' and her partial paralysis makes her a liability, it's safe to assume that he hasn't partnered up with her. In other words, once your [servants] have made contact with her, you can carry out your plan without worrying that he'll get in your way. Moreover, she's a sitting duck because we know that she's in the hospital."

Well, to be honest, I don't care about Mogi as long as Kazu comes here. But of course I stay silent.

"Kasumi-san..."

The cheeky little minx butts in again. Shut up, bog body bitch.

"...You're saying rude things about me in your head, aren't you? It's written large all over your face! I'm really good at reading expressions, you know?"

I decide to join her one-sided commentary.

"...I'll ask just because: You know Mogi?"

"Well, she's a rival in love and we share the same enemy, after all. We occasionally exchanged information at the hospital. Ehehe!"

"Planning the perfect crime to get rid of Otonashi, huh? How's it going? Is that wheelchair substitution caper coming together? Pretty clever to use the fact that people think Mogi is unable to move on her own for your alibi!"

"Why is your murder scheme so specific?! Could you please change your opinion of me?! It's about time you did!"

"But putting that aside, why did you suddenly speak up when we mentioned Mogi? Is there something on your mind?"

"Eh? ...No, nothing in particular..."

What a waste of precious time. I should just permanently ignore that girl already.

"All right." How am I going to use Mogi...?

Although to be honest, it would be more effective to use Aya rather than Mogi as a decoy for Kazu. It may sound pretty obvious, but it'd be optimal to have my [servants] threaten him with Aya. They could tell him something like this:

"If you don't come into the 'Wish-Crushing Cinema' before the day ends, I will kill Maria Otonashi."

I guess I could go with a time limit set to five minutes before midnight. That threat would be effective; Kazu couldn't be sure whether I'm serious about killing her or not, since I'm obviously stuck between a rock and a hard place.

So why do I plan on using Mogi nonetheless? Why do I need to take this step when I'm going lose a considerable amount of time by involving her?

Sure, Aya has to believe that we'll have Mogi use the 'Flawed Bliss'. But there's another reason.

Like I just said, using Aya is a very effective threat.

The problem is that it's too effective.

If I used her, my victory might seem certain.

To whom?

—To 'O'.

"I just had an idea about how to get Kazu here," I say to Aya.

"Tell me."

"We'll just have one of my [servants] break Mogi's fingers."

"......What are you talking about?"

As I expected, she wrinkles her brow.

"We'll force him to come here by making him watch as her hands are ravaged. He can't possibly keep listening to the sound of a girl's fingers breaking, especially one he used to love, can he? Especially since that girl only has use of her upper body; her hands are even more dear to her!"

"I won't approve of that!"

"I thought you didn't like Mogi? Didn't she even stab you once?"

"How many times do I have to repeat myself before you get it? My personal feelings are of no consequence. I won't let anyone get hurt, no matter who it is."

Well, I expected such a reaction. There's no point in getting on her bad side right now.

"...Okay. I'll scrap that idea."

I pretend to give in.

She can't check on the [orders] that I give, so it doesn't matter what I tell her. There's no need to keep my word. I'll break Mogi's fingers whether Aya approves or not.

That fake speech was for the benefit of 'O'. I need 'O' to believe that this is my trump card.

For Maria's sake, Kazu might abandon Mogi even if her fingers are being broken right before him. Kazuki Hoshino is capable of anything, no matter how extreme, once he has made up his mind.

I'm sure 'O' realizes that as well. For that reason, 'O' won't take my victory for granted; she will conclude that she can continue to observe without interfering because it seems like my plan will fail.

In reality, threatening him with Aya will be my real plan. But I'll keep that to myself by making 'O' believe that threatening Kazu with Kasumi Mogi is the crucial point.

It's arguable whether it's even possible to deceive a being like 'O'.

My answer to that is:

—It is.

It seems that 'O' can observe the whole world. However, 'O' said it's similar to looking at the earth through the lens of a satellite camera. If that's true, it should be impossible to understand what my intentions are at the finest possible level of detail. That's the weakness of 'O'.

Therefore, my deception is possible. Like a conjurer who distracts his audience with a gaudy performance while carrying out his trick, I will hide my plan to threaten Aya by threatening Mogi for now.

Of course I can't say for sure how 'O' functions, so I can't just relax. I have to be prepared to change my plan on the fly if necessary.

But I'm already in the process of understanding the thought patterns of 'O'. I was almost led astray by her god-like powers, but—for better or for worse—I found out her true identity, allowing me to analyze her more precisely.

The nature of 'O' is not that of a god or a devil, but that of a peculiar human. Her intelligence seems to be very high, but it doesn't exceed the bounds of humanity, either. There's nothing truly mind-boggling to worry about. I bet the personality of 'O' was created in imitation of the real 'Aya Otonashi' by a certain little sister.

In that case, I should be able to predict her course of action with my keen analytical skills.

For example, there is one thing I can say for sure. 'O' is going to appear before me once more before this day is over.

"...Iroha!" Yanagi yells suddenly. I turn toward her.

Iroha Shindou is standing in front of the info panel. She's obviously exhausted; her clothes are covered with red paint and her face is stained with dirt.

"W-What's wrong, Iroha? Isn't that blood? Are you wounded?"

All aflutter with worry, Yanagi rushes over to Shindou.

"It's artificial blood. I'm not wounded...but I guess you could say that I was killed."

"W-What do you mean?"

"My 'box' was destroyed."

Yanagi's eyes widen in surprise, while Aya frowns sternly.

I also have a bunch of nagging questions, but there is one thing I have to say first.

"What's with this silly performance, 'O'?"

Yanagi and Aya turn their surprised faces from 'O' to me instead.

"......Oh?"

Shindou's exhausted expression changes back to her usual look of gentle charm.

But I have to say—I go off on a complete tangent while looking at her face—that gentle expression and the look on Kazu's face when he sent me here really resemble one another.

"Geez, it's really regrettable that you won't let me deceive you at all, Oomine-kun! Would you mind telling me what gave me away?"

"...Well, just a gut feeling."

In reality, I've been expecting her arrival for a while. Given her personality, 'O' will want to observe me and Kazu close-up.

Of course I don't tell her any of that. I mustn't let her think that I can win, so I should avoid raising uncalled-for suspicion by giving up my real plans.

'O' doesn't seem to suspect a thing. I guess she's not too interested.

"......'O'." Aya has been scowling at us with hatred in her eyes while we talked.

"Long time no see," 'O' says.

"Have you finally decided to give me a new 'box'?"

"There's no way I would do that, is there? I even bothered explaining to you once that you're about as interesting to observe as a vacuum cleaner. I have no plans to intervene for someone like you who's basically a dumb robot!"

While observing them, I wonder: What's with all this crap?

Why does 'O' act so offensively while claiming that she has no interest in Aya? 'O' doesn't act like that around anyone else. Why doesn't that make Aya suspicious?

This train of thought is forcibly interrupted by 'O', who focuses her attention on me once again.

"Oomine-kun. I want to tell you something. Can you spare me a moment?"

That's surprising. 'Surprising' because I was convinced that 'O' wouldn't depart from her neutral stance as an observer unless Kazu were to fall behind.

I look at my watch while pulling myself together and reflecting on my failed predictions.

22:19

"I hope what you've got to say is worth my time? I have fewer than six minutes left to talk freely. If you're just looking to chat, then I'm afraid I'll have to refuse."

If I choose to listen to 'O', I will have no time left before I get forcibly transported into the final theater, and I won't be able to act freely anymore.

"It's something important!"

That's all I needed to hear; I can't turn down her offer now.

"Got it."

I have nothing left to do anyway, except for repeating the plan to Aya. I have already given my [orders] regarding Mogi; one of my [servants] and fanatical believers is already on the way to Mogi's hospital.

"Excuse me, but could I ask the others to leave? This is for Oomine-kun's ears only," 'O' says to Aya's dismay.

"Wait. Why—"

"Sorry," I cut her short, "but there's no time for questions. Please just hold back your objections for now."

While Aya still seems displeased, she doesn't say anything else.

As soon as Aya and Yanagi have disappeared, I quickly start the conversation. "Make it short," I tell 'O'—who is still assuming the shape of Shindou.

"Mm, I shall," 'O' agrees, and gets straight to the point. "Kazuki-kun and I have become enemies."

She drops a bombshell.

"———"

I've been caught by surprise. To be honest, I would like to mull over this revelation for a bit, but time is running out.

Ignoring my unsettled feelings, I ask a question of paramount importance for me.

"Are you on my side, then?"

My heart and mind may be in disarray, but I'm still able to put two and two together. There's no time to confirm or delve further into her statement right now; I have no choice but to assume that she's telling the truth, and ask if it's advantageous for me.

"I won't side with you."

"Why not? Kazu has become our common enemy, hasn't he?"

"I don't think that your approach is sufficient to break his will. In other words, I see no benefit in helping you."

"But you won't get in my way to make him win, right?"

"No, I won't! In fact, let me tell you something that will please you: Your plan of using the 'Flawed Bliss' right before Kazuki-kun's eyes is the best action you can take at this point. I promise."

There's no time to confirm that, either. I'll have to take 'O' at her word.

"Let me ask another question; why has Kazu become your enemy when he used to be the person you were most interested in?"

"You make it sound as if he couldn't become my enemy because he attracted my interest, but it's exactly the opposite! He attracted my interest because we've been enemies all along."

"Don't waste my time. I want to know what has turned you against each other."

"Now aren't you a boring fellow? If you consider me a being that preserves Maria Otonashi as 'Aya Otonashi', then you can consider Kazuki-kun a being that erases 'Aya Otonashi' from Maria Otonashi. It's completely natural for us to oppose each other, is it not?"

"I guess so. He may believe that too. But...so what? Sure, Kazu is exceptional, but he's also just a human. Are you telling me that he has a special power that lets him erase you, even though he's just a human?"

"Yes, he does. Kazuki-kun has obtained the power to forcibly crush 'boxes'."

I've been proceeding without pause up to this point, but I'm forced to stop momentarily.

"...a power to crush 'boxes'?"

Isn't that cheating?

For a moment there, I thought she was talking about the 'Wish-Crushing Cinema,' but that's wrong. That 'box' is specially tailored to crush my 'box'.

"Why does Kazu have such a power?"

"Just like I did, he has received a power from the 'Flawed Bliss'."

"I don't understand. How would Kazu have gotten a power from—No, I'll have to swallow that for now, but there's still something that doesn't make sense. I don't know exactly when Aya obtained her 'box', but I'm pretty sure they didn't know each other at that point, right? Then how can Kazu have been influenced by the 'Flawed Bliss'?"

"It's not all that difficult: My counterpart existed from the very start, but that position was left blank because Maria Otonashi was unable to imagine something capable of opposing me. But the role of the counterpart was there—just unoccupied! And eventually, someone worthy of that position appeared: Kazuki Hoshino, the aberrant human who was a 'savior' for a certain being. There was but a slight time lag."

I see. The powers of a 'box' allow for causality violations.

That being said, something else has been bothering me.

"There's something I want to know."

"What would that be?"

"What the hell are you?"

"'What'? Now that's a crude question. Your question's wording is too vague to answer!"

"I know that you're based on the real Aya Otonashi. I also know that you're under the influence of the 'Flawed Bliss'. However, I don't quite get how Kazu is your counterpart, and how he can erase you with his special power."

"Aah, your understanding was incomplete? You see, the primary purpose of the 'Flawed Bliss' is to let me exist as 'O', because that's how it grants 'wishes'. As a consequence, I would no longer be able to exist as 'O' if the 'Flawed Bliss' were destroyed."

Those new truths leave me completely amazed, but I have no time left to deal with my emotional confusion. I try to respond to 'O', depending entirely on dispassionate logic.

"Does that mean that, strictly speaking, I have used Aya's 'Flawed Bliss' as well?"

"I suppose so. I wouldn't exist without the 'Flawed Bliss', after all."

"But doesn't that mean that it's untrue that Aya loses her memory when she uses it? After all, she still remembers everything even though I am using a 'box'."

"Oh, it's not a lie. She only loses her memory when she decides to use the 'Flawed Bliss' of her own accord."

"What a convenient exception."

"I wonder…Don't you think that that's what the 'boxes' are like to begin with? Maybe you should think some more about why she loses her memory, anyway."

Upon hearing that advice, I recall the farcical conversation 'O' and Aya engaged in earlier.

Why is Aya so dense when it comes to the question of just who 'O' is? That's what I thought back then.

I realize why.

The answer is: Because otherwise, the 'Flawed Bliss' wouldn't work.

Aya mustn't realize that 'O' was created by her 'Flawed Bliss', let alone that the character of 'O' strongly resembles that of the real 'Aya Otonashi.' She mustn't find out how her 'box' grants 'wishes'. If she did, her 'Flawed Bliss' wouldn't be flawed but simply defective.

Therefore, she has to forget whenever she learns the truth behind that system.

Aya and 'O' are merely actors in a grand game of cat-and-mouse: she supposedly obtains a new 'box' from her nemesis, so that she can make her 'wish' perfect and unflawed.

However, she won't ever be able to obtain the 'box' that she's yearning for. Of course not.

The very act of fighting against 'O' means that she is trapped in the 'Flawed Bliss' herself.

"———"

What the hell?

How futile is that? That's like making sandcastles that collapse as soon as the tide comes in. That's what Aya has been doing all this time? That's what she has killed her own personality for, spending a whole lifetime in torment? That's what she is risking her life for?

"......"

Has Kazu noticed how futile her efforts are? No, I'm sorry to say this, but he's not smart enough to analyze her so critically.

But he must be intuitively sensing the underlying tension.

He must be grasping the truth of her 'box' by instinct.

Right; that's what Kazuki Hoshino is like.

Therefore, he will try without fail to crush the 'Flawed Bliss' in order to free Maria Otonashi from this self-defeating system. And needless to say, the 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment' will be in his way.

"How exactly does Kazu crush 'boxes'? How can he crush mine?"

"If Kazuki-kun touches your chest, he can take out your 'box' and destroy it. He did just that with Iroha Shindou's 'box'."

"...What? Shindou was really defeated? ...No, more importantly—"

—Just by touch? Huh?

That's not good.

I'm currently trying to get him into the 'Cinema'. However, if I manage to do that but he can destroy my 'box' just by touching me—

"Hell, I'm up against the wall."

If I wait here, my 'box' will be destroyed, but if I call him here and he touches it, it will be destroyed just as well. What is this sh*t? That's unfair as hell!

Okay, I should think this through in specific terms. For example, I could put my arm around Aya's neck and take her hostage to prevent him from touching me.

However, that's impossible. I'm not morally opposed, but it's physically impossible; I will be in the theater by that point. The 'Wish-Crushing Cinema' forces an unbearable listlessness upon me when I try to do anything other than watch the movie that's playing. I can't threaten Aya while resisting that listlessness.

So do I have to make Aya use the 'Flawed Bliss' and forget about him whether he's here or not?

But that's not possible, either; things won't go so smoothly. Aya said that she won't use her 'box' on anyone who doesn't literally ask for it, and her principles are unbending. I don't have enough time to pressure Yanagi or Mogi enough to make them want to use a 'box'. Kazu would crush my 'box' before that.

...No, there's another basic concern that arises if the power of the 'Flawed Bliss' is equivalent to using a 'box' from 'O'.

"Can a person who has already used a 'box' use the 'Flawed Bliss'?"

'O' answers me without showing any special reaction. "You can't use the same 'box' twice, but if it's a different one, then it's possible! Personally, I won't give a 'box' to the same person twice, though."

Which means that in theory, Yanagi and Mogi can use the 'Flawed Bliss'. But how do I get them—

"......Gh!"

My thinking suddenly slows down. I'm approaching my limit. My head hurts because of the information dump that I have yet to fully process. I'm probably at my limit when it comes to astonishing facts that I can accept and understand without switching off my mind.

I look at my watch. I have one minute left before I get teleported into the theater.

"'O'."

But there is still a matter that I have to confirm no matter what. Something I've wanted to ask ever since I found out what 'O' really is.

"Yes?"

Depending on the answer, my will might break. That's how crucial my question is.

"Is the 'Flawed Bliss' an external 'box'?"

There are two types of 'boxes': external and internal. The type of a 'box' is determined by how strongly the 'owner' believes that his or her 'wish' can possibly come true in the real world.

So let's pretend the 'Flawed Bliss' were an internal 'box', reflecting the scenario where an 'owner' didn't believe in her 'wish.' While it can vary depending on its level of power, an internal-type 'box' usually does not affect the real world. That means that all the miracles that have been called forth by a 'box' up until now—the 'Rejecting Classroom', the 'Sevennight in Mud' and the 'Game of Idleness'—would have taken place in a fake world. This whole story would be no more than a dream of Aya's.

Of course, the same would apply to the 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment'.

I can't accept such a laughable outcome, nor would I be able to endure it.

If her 'box' is not external, all my actions will have been rendered futile.

"Yes, it is; and level 10 even. She believes that she can make others happy with absolute purity. Rest assured, your concerns are superfluous."

It sounds like she's telling the truth.

Aah, that's a relief. The things I've done won't be rendered null and void.

All of it—my plan to improve the ethics of the world, the punishment I have inflicted on previously unpunished sinners, the pain I've suffered due to the 'Shadows of Sin', the damage I have dealt upon Iroha Shindou, my murder of Koudai Kamiuchi, or the many lives I have twisted with my 'box'; nothing will be rendered null and void.

I'm relieved... I should be.

Truth be told, as an 'owner', I've instinctively realized that my 'box' is an external one. But since I'm a person who doesn't trust his gut instincts, and this is a matter of crucial importance, I wanted to have additional confirmation.

All right, there's another vital question; one that arose when I heard about Kazu's power.

"Kazu is a being that crushes 'boxes', right?"

"That's what I said, yes."

"We could become 'owners' because we were attracted by our 'boxes' and accepted them. But a person who destroys the 'boxes' is essentially the opposite of who we are."

'O' is listening to me with an ever so gentle and sublime smile.

"Can someone who denies 'boxes' so much become an 'owner' himself?"

'O' gives me a short and precise answer.

"No."

✵

Right after that exchange, I experience my n-th teleport and end up sitting in front of a screen once more.

In five minutes, the last movie, Piercing at Fifteen, will begin.

I am surrounded by inanimate individuals who are mere shadows of themselves. Compared to the audience for the other movies, the number of faces that I recognize among those expressionless puppets has increased. Behind and to my right is the real Yuuri Yanagi, and behind and to my left is Aya Otonashi. The version of 'O' who had taken on Shindou's appearance is no longer present.

Moreover, the abnormality particular to this 'box', the pitch-black void, has come even closer and is only two seats away from me. The absolute darkness—the abyss.

Finally, next to me sits—

"Ah."

Of course.

Kazu can't become an 'owner'. He couldn't have created this 'Wish-Crushing Cinema'. In fact, he couldn't possibly create a 'box' that exists solely for the sake of crushing my 'wish'.

Then who is the real 'owner' of this 'box'?

Someone who thinks only of me—

Someone who could make a 'wish' just for me—

There is only one person who could do that.

Ah, sitting beside me is the lead character of this final movie.

——Kokone Kirino.

The air conditioning in this theater is too strong. I feel as if the unnaturally cold air is ripping holes in my skin. I touch my piercing. I have already created so many holes in my body, but it's still not enough. There aren't enough openings.

Kokone.

No matter how many holes I make, you just won't leave my body. Just seeing you like this causes you to return. The warmth you gave me when I embraced you won't stay away from me. The gentle warmth that used to surround us conflicts with reality, and seeks to drive me crazy with the grinding sound that it produces.

There is no way in hell that I can finish watching such a movie.

My mind is going to break in the midst of this movie.

Why—

Why——

Why———

Why did it come to this?

The 'box' I'm opposing is Kokone's?

I've been fighting against Kokone?

No.

We're not fighting, no. Something's awry.

Then who am I fighting with?

What am I fighting with?

How could we have become happy?

Wrong.

It's wrong to have such thoughts.

I didn't choose happiness.

I chose justice.

This outcome was to be expected.

This has always been a story of my ultimate ruin.

Aah, my mind will break soon. I'm going to plunge into ruin. But that's fine. I just have to grasp, seek, and act on what's right, and my body will keep fighting on its own.

I know what this situation is.

It's called despair.

But a long time ago, I already gorged myself on more despair than I can bear.

Aah.

The screen flashes white, and in the next moment projects a red light. A familiar scene is coming up—the end of a world.

We shall now see the cheesy love drama of a naive middle schooler. It'll be a smash! Get your tissues ready! You all love this sh*t, don't you? Stuff where someone suffers, where you can feel good as you shed some tears of pity. Why don't you have some popcorn as you enjoy the show?

May I ask for a round of applause, everybody?

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap clap.

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