Vol. 5 Ch. 1 Ep. 24: Ordinary Events

My only desire was to be good enough to stand by Ayame's side.

I was afraid she would realize my incompetence, so I pretended. I pretended to be good enough.

But one day, I looked back and realized everyone's eyes were on me.

I was scared.

Because I'm not someone to look up to. They misunderstood my act for reality.

You're amazing. You're so impressive. You're good enough for Ayame.

That's all I wanted...

So I struggled with all my might, but it wasn't...

"It was good enough."

...?!

...Wh-What?

"What's so bad about trying to grow into a better person?"

"Why can't that be who you really are?"

"It doesn't matter if it feels like a lie."

"You fake it until you make it, right?"

"It's natural to try your best."

"It's natural to want to look good in front of your peers."

"All of these things are ordinary events in a person's life."

That's...

What kind of justification is that? Did you really think that would work?!

Lies are bad! Hurting people is bad! Look at what happened because of their lies!

Are you well?

Your unflinching courage to stand up in the face of injustice.

It was most impressive.

...!

Leave it in the hands of the Hyakkaryouran from here. Now then...

Renge possesses an indomitable heart... She's quite inspiring to a wavering spirit like mine.

We owe much to Renge. You think so as well, don't you Yukari?

Yes!

Bold of you to tell Nagusa that you think Renge is more impressive, Yukari.

What?!

Hey, don't tease her cause you want to embarrass me! Some things are too much to hear, you know?!

...It's weird to hear heartfelt praise from someone so refined.

Heehee.

It's simple. Your work as the Hyakkaryouran's operations officer has garnered both you power and respect.

Not just from the regular members, but from me as well.

"It might have felt like an act to Nagusa in the beginning."

"But Nagusa worked hard and grew."

"She became someone those three could look up to."

"Yes, Nagusa became exactly who she set out to be."

...!!

They're terrible! They'll betray and fight each other! Their trust shatters like glass.

No matter what they do, they'll hurt each other! Their very natures foster hate. How can you say that's okay?!

"I'm sure they'll act petulantly, blame, and even hurt one another."

"Like I said. Those are ordinary events. It's okay."

"They'll just have to figure out how to say 'sorry'."

"And they won't have to do it alone."

Are you joking.

The idealism is just dripping from your words.

Your solution is...disgusting! Your story has no elegance whatsoever!

You will not get in the way of my ghost story!

I'll destroy you before that happens, Sensei!

I will be the bulwark against your evil deeds!

"Yukari! You're okay?!"

No! You were devoured by the Katashiro! This can't be happening!

I found myself floating in an abyss... But a voice reached me...

It must have been Sensei's voice.

And then I heard Nagusa, as if she were right by my side.

And so I, Yukari, have been resurrected! I am here!

What're the words coming out of your mouth right now?

Are you so stupid that you forgot already? You were abandoned by the world, trampled on, betrayed again and again.

Your hatred was so strong that you birthed the Katashiro!

That kind of emotion and hostility doesn't just fly away into the wind!

No, it doesn't! I still bear the burden of my pain!

So much so that the pain weighs upon my heart, constricting my very breath.

But Sensei's words reached me in that darkness.

It took me longer than it ought to have, but I can understand Sensei's words now!

Do elaborate on this nonsense.

All that we have done, all that we have suffered through... It is merely another facet of being human.

Nagusa might've lied, but she was hardly the only guilty party.

I lied about many things.

Renge and Kikyou too.

Humans lie for a great number of reasons: fear, to mislead, or even to protect our loved ones.

And nothing good comes of it! You'll simply hurt and be hurt.

But that's simply how life is. That's what it is to be human.

What...?

There's always space to say "sorry" after a fight.

I choose to believe in Sensei's words.

I care not for our conflicts! I, Yukari, am going to make up with everyone.

I wish for us all to forgive each other, and for the Hyakkaryouran to return to its happy days!

The audacity of your immaturity knows no bounds.

I! Do not! Care! You, the one named Yabuki Shuro...

I, Yukari, will defeat you and save the Hyakkaryouran.

After all, that is my job as the Hyakkaryouran's Elite!

Hah. Talk your talk. Throw around your bravado.

None of it matters. The Katashiro you created is still alive.

I'll put an end to Nagusa and Schale's Sensei for good! And then I'll stomp on this impertinent child who doesn't know her place.

All of you...!

...What?

Haha! We made it!

Are you injured, Yukari?

...Ah.

AHH! Renge! Kikyou!

I'm relieved you're okay.

Let's just say we've made a lot of great friends here at Hyakkiyako.

It appears we've left the frying pan to jump into the fire however.

...Yabuki Shuro of Nature's Beauty.

As the operations officer of the Hyakkaryouran, I demand your complete and total surrender.

Hah.

Haha.

Hahaha!

You want me to surrender now? After all this? This pathetic ending is how you want me to give up?

Just try me! Make me surrender!

If you're going to ruin everything...rewrite the ending of my ghost story...!

I'll just do it all again! Over and over and over until we get it right!

Finish them!

Destroy the Hyakkaryouran!

Kikyou, Yukari, Sensei!

There's no means of retreat.

Then we have no choice but to face them head on!

Eek?!

Ugh!

...!

"(There's no end to them... And our attacks are still...!)"

Shut up.

You shut up! And you! Shut UP!

I've already told you. It's futile!

It doesn't matter how fancy your little speeches are!

You can try and try and try as hard as you want!

But I wrote this story! Me! No one else can rewrite it!

Why? Because you can't defeat the Phantom Fables without the Authority of the President!

I plotted all of this. So the ending is mine to choose. Mine!

Yes...

Unless you bring back Ayame, you have no president!

But don't worry, you'll join her soon! I'll send you to the spirit realm to be with her forever!

What...?

What am I looking at?

How is this possible?

I defeated you. Completely and thoroughly.

I broke you down over and over again. You should have never risen again.

Who do you think you are?

Look at yourself, Nagusa.

Your ugly face has snot all over it. I can see your legs shaking from here.

I know you want to run away! Like you always do!

So how dare you stand there and pretend to be president? Nagusa!

You are not Ayame! You will never be Ayame!

You're right. I'm not Ayame.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

I've tried so hard to be her.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

I'm lacking in every way.

So much so that I ruin everything I touch.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

And I was so afraid of my own incompetence.

That it was all my fault.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

I ran from the me that wasn't good enough.

I lacked the strength to face people's judgments.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

I was utterly terrified of being exposed as the fraud I was.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

But─

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

There is something I am much, much more afraid of.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

I'm afraid of losing Yukari the way I lost Ayame.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

I'm afraid of losing Kikyou and Renge! Of losing everyone!

Shuro

Nature's Beauty

Nagu...sa...!

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

You read me like a book, Shuro.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

I'm a liar. I pretend.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

Ayame wouldn't have cried as she stood before you. Not like me.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

But I don't need to do things as she did. I only need to protect everyone with what little strength I have.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

I will not crumble under my fear of derision. I'll continue to lie to myself, to everyone.

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

I'll lie, and I'll become the Hyakkaryouran's acting president,

Nagusa

Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council

Goryou Nagusa!

So Yukari, Renge, Kikyou...and Sensei.

Please, help me.

We're by your side!

I've been waiting to hear those words.

...Yes.

"You don't even need to ask."

...!

No, not yet...!

Hold it right there! Don't move a muscle.

You think you're so big and strong now! But your bullets can't hurt me.

As long as I hold my tome, there's nothing you can do. So you can take your idealistic little...

"Now!"

A-Augh!

That shouldn't have hurt me! H-How is that possible?

...

You?! The Authority of the Presidency?

You're trash! You're an idiot! It's not possible!

How can you claim Authority with a couple of pretty speeches?!

Haa!

Urgh! No! Not yet!

Artifact Spirits! Come to me!

"Renge! They're all yours!"

Finally!

She took down all of them? Who are you?!

Captain of the Hyakkaryouran's assault squad, Fuwa Renge.

I've trained my marksmanship tirelessly during my time in the Hyakkaryouran.

Bring on as many monsters as you want! I traded my entire youth for these marksmanship skills!

Damn it!

I'll regroup! I'll just do it all again.

My retreat route!

Allow me. You intended to block our field of view, retreat to safety, and then summon more Artifact Spirits.

Your simplistic tactics are child's play.

Kiryuu Kikyou! You think you're so great!

Well, go ahead! Shoot me! You're powerless before me.

Th-Th-The floor?!

Battle is strategy, not strength. I only needed to make you fall.

Unless you intend to use that little book of yours to grow wings and fly?

Ugh! Faceless Katashiro! Come!

I won't be defeated. As long as I have my Katashiro...

...Where did it go?

I've banished it.

I strengthened my resolve. You will never play with my emotions again.

...Kadenokouji Yukari.

Yes. I am Kadenokouji Yukari.

As a member of the Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council...

Yabuki Shuro, you're under arrest!

!!

Ur...gh...!

Surrender now.

I don't...understand...

Up until now, you were lying to each other, betraying your precariously built trust...

Didn't you hate each other? You're supposed to hate each other!

How can you band together now, after everything you did to each other? How? HOW?!

...Because I realized I had a dream.

Even if it's a lie...

I wanted to stand together with everyone again, as a member of the Hyakkaryouran.

Exactly what she said!

...!!!

"It's over, Shuro."

Even Schale's Sensei is patronizing me.

Hah. Haha.

Hahaha!

HAHAHAHAHA!

Nagusa...

Nagusa, Nagusa...

Ugh! Fine! This is the worst! You guys suck!

But the story is yours now. You can write the ending. You win.

But, I promise you, this isn't over.

I'll try as many times as I need to...

Next time I will create the perfect Phantom Fable to offer Kokuriko!

"Everyone! Look out!"

She grabbed the book?!