Epilogue 8

Tori: ...Thanks, Hiyori-sama.

Hiyori: Fufu. I haven’t done anything that warrants that.

Tori: Whatever your reason was, you still helped me when I collapsed like a loser. And then you gave me the strength to get back on my feet.

And to begin with, you gave me something to chase after. You gave me a dream. You know it was back when I saw you and everyone else performing in fine that I decided I wanted to be an idol.

Hiyori: So I’ve heard. Well, I’m honored.

...I didn’t really want to be an idol at first, though.

I guess I was partially inspired by Nagisa-kun always going on about wanting to be an idol—

But I didn’t come to Yumenosaki to be an idol; I did it to be with Nagisa-kun. I know how selfish that is.

And there were a million terrible moments when I thought I just couldn’t do it anymore. Seriously.

Practice was the absolute worst, and even when I worked myself to the bone it still didn’t always pay off—

But you know what? When I stand on a stage like this, I feel so alive.

Ah, here I am! I’m alive and kicking! I feel it so strongly that I can say I love my job now! I’m so happy I chose this path!

Who cares how it all started, right? Whether it was fame or fortune or anything else!

As long as we can stand on stage together as idols, then surely we can share in our joy, right?

So let’s keep spreading our sparkle and shine out as far as the eye can see! All of us, together!

We’ll smile and make everyone happy until all the sadness and darkness in the world disappears!

Tori: Yeah... ☆

(That’s enough for now. It’s enough to just be on stage.)

(So for now I’ll focus on being part of that brilliance.)

(There are still a bunch of problems I can’t ignore, and I’ve already gotten knocked down by them once.)

(But I really, really want to become a better version of me! A really great version of me, one that I can be proud of!)

(But I’m still lacking in too many ways to become my own ideal.)

(And that’s super frustrating—)

(But tomorrow I’ll be a better me than I am today. If I believe that, I can fight back against the harsh reality of things once I’m off stage.)

(I’ll solve all my problems one by one, and I’ll grow stronger and better at the same time.)

(When I become someone I’m not ashamed of, I’ll be able to shine even brighter on stage!)

(Just like Hiyori-sama, just like Eichi-sama, just like all the other idols I respect! No matter how many times I’m knocked down, I’ll get back up and fly through the sky!)

(I’ll shine down on everyone from up high and light up the whole world! Just like the sun!)

“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”

Hiyori: “~... ♪”

Nagisa: ...And they all lived happily ever after, as it goes.

Eichi: Do you earnestly believe that?

Nagisa: ...Not really. The immediate problem has been resolved, but that is all.

...I have sinned. In the throes of negative emotions, I attacked and eliminated another human being.

...That sin can never be absolved. Something of that sort cannot ever be forgiven.

...I think that I have finally come to understand your feelings, Eichi-kun.

Eichi: Hmm. Yet I still don’t understand yours in the slightest.

You prattle on with all your pure, saintly nonsense, and you seem to have everyone else fooled by it. But my eyes won’t be deceived, Nagisa-kun.

Nagisa: ......

Eichi: You must have gained a great power from this.

Surely you were compensated as a reward for helping to defeat Gatekeeper’s nemesis, the Priest, correct?

That’s the kind of man Gatekeeper is: not quite so upstanding, but certainly one who fastidiously measures out the pros and cons before making his move.

That is a fact I became sure of during our negotiations for the establishment of SANCTUARY.^[1]

Gatekeeper left satisfied.

Nemesis though he was, I doubt that defeating the Priest, someone he has presumably ignored up to now, was that important to him.

No. He got something else he wanted, too.

For example, the true successor to the God he so loves.

Nagisa: ......

Eichi: Subaru-kun’s father didn’t want that. Even acting as a stand-in, the Priest was far too lacking in capability and, well, everything else.

But you are worthy of that inheritance.

You’ve proven that you possess the skills necessary by influencing, by manipulating, everyone around you during this event.

You will become the God of the coming era. A new God. I assume Gatekeeper interrogated the Priest once he was captured and extracted intelligence about every one of his vested interests within the industry.

But Gatekeeper has no interest in idols. He has likely learned by now that sticking his fingers in this pie will only get him burned.

So he won’t be able to make effective use of what he’s acquired.

Which is why he’s entrusting it to his beloved God’s rightful heir, to the one and only human being other than Subaru-kun’s father whom that God loved.

That is you. You will inherit all of the assets, connections, influence, power—every last thing the Priest possessed and reign as the new king of darkness.

Within this idol industry, and within the world we cherish.

Nagisa: ......

Eichi: No matter how dirty, money is money.

That raw power, cleansed through the purification ritual of SS—all that the Priest possessed will become yours.

You chose to play the part of the defeated, and in doing so became the ultimate victor. In pretending to be the pious martyr, you have become the new God.

A great being, the object of worship.

The next God, newly awoken.

And what do you intend to do with that power?

Nagisa: ...Nothing, for now.

...I cannot say that I never wanted to become God. However, I did not anticipate all that I gained here.

...I will ponder how to manage this after the new year.

...But, allow me to say one thing, Eichi-kun.

...Even though you are but mortal, and not a God, you continue to warp this world as if you were one.

...You twist and deform reality according to your dreams.

...If you are ever to go mad, or to be consumed by evil intent, and incite calamity which could destroy everything—

...I will not hesitate to destroy you before it’s too late.

...I will not turn a blind eye again.

...Divine retribution awaits the foolish mankind which has encroached upon the dominion of God.

Eichi: I’ll keep that in mind.

Oh, but... fufu ♪ I probably shouldn’t be happy about this, but I can’t help but smile. It seems as if there are many interesting tales in our future.

My relationship with Tori, you as our latest threat, a corrupt idol industry even after removing the root cause... My problems are only growing, and the headaches never end.

But that’s exactly the reason why I can’t die just yet.

No, it would be a shame to call this our “fine” ♪

Nagisa: ...I share the sentiment, old friend.

...I cannot collapse here under the weight of my sins.

Nagisa: ...A vast, abundant world lies before us.

...Let us turn it into a garden of Eden where those I love can live, content, with smiles on their faces.

...To that end, even with the burden of sin upon us, let us move forward, one step at a time.

Eichi: Let’s all go together, Nagisa-kun.

Nagisa: ...Yes, Eichi-kun.

...And this time, I will not sacrifice anything.

“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”

Eichi: “♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”