Vol. 3 Ch. 4 Ep. 27: Epilogue

I-I've never gone this way before...

What if it takes us somewhere horrible?

We won't know until we try, Hiyori.

From now on, every path we take is an unknown.

...That doesn't make it less scary.

...Huh?

Wh-Where's Leader?!

Huh?

Wasn't she behind us?! She disappeared! Maybe she was eaten...

...Tsk.

Misaki...?

Leader left.

Left?! What do you mean l-left? How could she leave? Where'd she go?

I don't know. She just said to take care of the others.

But why? Leader...

...

It's unfair, Saori. If I have to do this on my own... I...

It's too heavy for me.

It'll be okay, Misaki.

Hime...

Saori will need some time.

She needs to learn who she is, to reflect on her questions.

She'll find the answers she needs on her own.

B-But...will she come back? I miss her already...

Of course. She would never abandon us.

So we have to keep going on our own? Without her?

Saori has taken care of us all these years. We owe her this much.

But how?

Where do we go?

Arius, Trinity, Gehenna... We're not welcome anywhere.

We'll be on the run. Never staying in one spot too long to avoid capture.

Are you prepared for that life, Hime?

Yes. I was prepared the moment we decided to live.

...

Oh no...

Hime. Ideals won't feed an empty stomach.

I know. But we can do it.

...

Wildflowers bloom through cracks in the concrete.

Azusa said that to me once.

We will continue struggling, even if it is in vain.

If Azusa did it, so can we. We've been through a lot together.

And this time, we're not entirely alone.

...Sensei.

...Okay.

We'll find a way...

Yes. We have our work cut out for us.

...

Heeheehee. What's your story, newbie? No one ends up here without one.

Not the talkative type? Eh, I don't care either way as long as you're skilled. What kind of request you looking for? Easy or hard?

Give me an expensive mission. The hardest one you have.

(I'm a criminal on the run now. I know it won't be easy.)

(But there has to be an end to the road of pain I've walked all these years.)

(Is there a happy future for us if I reach it?)

We'll have our happy ending.

I have faith in the wildflower blooming in concrete.

I have faith in you, Saori.

...

...

...

Sensei. I'm unable to have prophetic dreams anymore.

That was the price I paid to escape my neverending dream.

I have to discuss my last prophetic dream with you.

But perhaps...at a later date.

Right now, I want to remember this moment.

We've all finally been reunited.

And, as always, we will work together to overcome any obstacle.

"Okay, let's start the hearing."

This isn't what I'm owed!

Hm? I don't follow.

What's with this? This isn't even half of what I was promised!

You're the one who broke our promise.

It says right here on the contract, student pay is a thousand yen.

But you hid the fact you were a dropout, so it's five hundred yen.

What? Wait, that's...

This is the calculation after subtracting taxes, various expenses, and meals. Any problems?

Also, it looks like you're wanted. Wouldn't you get in trouble if anyone knew you were here?

I'll have to deduct an additional fifteen percent as an information protection fee.

What? Wait, then...how much do I get...?

Zilch. Nada. Nothing.

The exit is right that way.

Do you have any complaints? I'm sure you could direct them to Valkyrie Police School.

...No, I get it.

I'll consider this lesson learned.

E-Excuse me.

Oh, you're...the one I gave the commission to last time...?!

Oh, yes, yes... U-Umm... I forgot something...

Forgot something? But we've already finished the calculations.

U-um, right. S-So...

F-Forgive...

Forgive?

I won't forgive you!!!

P-Please! Have mercy!!

How dare you steal Aru's money?! I'll never forgive you! I'll make you wish you'd never been born!

Eek.

A-Aru said I should go and make my point...to tell you to do the calculations correctly...

I-I think I made my point...?

...

O-Oh! I didn't know there was someone else here!

I-I'm so sorry for the commotion! I'm sorry f-for existing!

...It's not a big deal.

O-Okay! Th-Then I have some bombs to install... Bye!

Is this how the criminal world operates?

Wh-What?!

I-I'm sorry.... I'm sorry. I just don't know how to do anything right. I'm sorry for upsetting you. Do you want me to disappear? I should never have been born.

*sigh*

Ahahahaha! You're really the best, Haruka! You definitely made your point!

Those were some big, bad guys you blew up. Whatcha gonna do now, huh?

This is gonna be a pain. Can we have one day of peace?