Epilogue: Crossing the Magpie Bridge

Whuh!?

Damn, I was so shocked seein' you two together I accidentally did a double take. What're you up to toda

!!!

Uh, Prof? I know she dresses kinda wild, but she's a good kid at heart.

I dunno what she did to piss you off, but go easy on her, 'kay?

Huh!?

Damn, you must've really screwed up. How come you got called to the principal's office?

Hey, so, like...

I mean, I figured you could use a good scolding. But, I gotta know, like...what'd you do to EARN it though?

What's the deal!?

Why does everyone think I'm going in for detention or something?

We're just having a little wrap party to celebrate making it back from the Rayshift!

I suppose it just goes to show that what goes around comes around.

Also, this isn't a wrap party. I was just having a smoke when you sat down. Uninvited, I might add.

Aw c'mon, Prof, don't be like that. We just got back from fixing a Singularity together, right?

Not to mention that whenever I'm with you...

...I can feel Ashiya Douman eyeing me with a certain amount of pity. It kind of pisses me off.

Hmm... Eh, I bet Mambo-chan's just jelly about being left outta the fun.

So we'll just have to invite him to join us when we go out for some fun later!

...Nagiko, please don't bother Lord Zhuge Liang too much.

In fact, now that I think of it, you didn't make too much trouble for him during your Rayshift, did you?

Heeey! That's crazy talk, Kaorucchi!

Hehehe... I wish you could've seen it.

There we were: the mood maker, the tactician, and our special guest star high school girls, dropping sharks left and right like POW!

Stop, please. No one will understand a word of this if you're going to describe it that way.

Still... It's true. Sei Shounagon was a big help.

I probably would have had a hard time resolving that Singularity without her and the other two.

See!?

That grin! So...bright...! Gnnnnnn!

I see. A curse from Owadatsumi-no-Kami...

It sounds like a curse of eternal, absolute dominanceone that curses not only that person, but all their descendants as well.

Truth be told, I can't blame this Umisachihiko person for wanting to use the Holy Grail to be free of it.

Hmm, Sacchi's actual wish was even simpler than that, though. It was a real nasty curse, that's for sure.

... ...

I must say, after hearing that story, I can't help but wonder...

...why did Yamasachihiko need to curse his brother in the first place?

Hmm.

Good point. It was Yamasachihiko who forced the exchange of the bow and the fishing hook. He was also the one who lost it.

So his actions in response to his older brother's anger would seem to be somewhat disproportionate...

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!

I've actually got a theory about this! You two mind being my sounding board?

You mean, a theory about why Umisachihiko ended up so cursed, Nagiko?

Oh well, I guess there's no harm in hearing you out... Go on then, let's have it.

Okay, I was hoping for some actual enthusiasm...but, eh, I'll take it.

Okay, so, according to Japan's big creation myth, the god Susanoo ruled the sea after Japan was first formed, right?

But then he went to Haha-no-Kuni, and there was no one around to take over his job for a while.

But eventually, Owadatsumi-no-Kami stepped up and became the new ruler of the sea, right?

So then, that went on until Amaterasu's grandson, Ninigi-no-Mikoto, came into the world.

This new god, along with his familywhich included the Sachi Broswent on to rule the earth.

The Owadatsumi-no-Kami must've been worried sick that Umisachihiko in particular would one day try to encroach on his sea territory.

He knew that Amaterasu's descendants were already ruling the land, so he figured it was only a matter of time until they tried to expand their rule to the sea as well.

So, when he just happened to hear about strife between the Sachi Bros, he came up with a plan.

He would take advantage of the younger brother, Yamasachihiko...

...to curse Umisachihiko, who lived in harmony with the sea, with a body that could no longer survive in water.

Yamasachihiko would then go on to marry Owadatsumi-no-Kami's daughter, but they end up splitting up at the end, right?

So now, Umisachihiko can no longer go in the ocean, and the boundary connecting the land and sea's been closed off.

That made the sea an impenetrable realm no one could ever steal from its ruler.

That's, um... How can I put this...

I think it seems a little bit...preposterous!?

You do? Awww, I shoulda known.

... ...

An unwitting pawn in someone else's game...

Maybe Umisachihiko really did sense something in Siebold that reminded him of himself...

Perhaps that was why a Divine Spirit who normally wouldn't obey a human's commands decided to answer his summons. Or, perhaps not.

C-come now, Lord Zhuge Liang! Don't you start humoring this nonsense, too!

... ...

Hey, Professor Mellocchi. Can I ask you something?

Siebold got to see Otaki and Ine again thirty years later, right?

Do you think Umisachihiko'll ever get his wish, visit Owadatsumi-no-Kami...

...and get to see his loved ones again at some point?

... ...

Oh, I almost forgot. Today's Tanabata, isn't it?

The day when a weaver and a cowherd cross a bridge formed by magpies so they can be together for just one night.

Hm?

If those two can be reunited, even temporarily, because someone wished for it...

...maybe Umisachihiko will get a miracle of his own one day too.

Maybe.

... ...

Da Vinci looks like a cat mesmerized by outer space...

？！

...Okay, better snap out of it. I can't afford to be freezing up over this kinda stuff.

Not with swimsuit season just around the corner! So, for the time being...

I'm glad to see you back safe and sound, Fujimaru. I'm sorry for putting you through yet another ordeal.

The minute Singularity is all repaired now, and the city of Nagasaki is back to its proper historical course.

...Okay, better snap out of it. I can't afford to be freezing up over this kinda stuff.

Not with swimsuit season just around the corner! So, for the time being...

I'm glad to see you back safe and sound, Fujimaru. I'm sorry for putting you through yet another ordeal.

The minute Singularity is all repaired now, and the city of Nagasaki is back to its proper historical course.

Um, Da Vinci? Can I ask you a question?

Siebold and Otaki did get to see each other again eventually, right?

... ...

Yes. In 1859, thirty years from this last Rayshift...

...Siebold's banishment is lifted and he does return to Japan and sees Otaki again...

...along with his new family.

... ...

Yes. In 1859, thirty years from this last Rayshift...

...Siebold's banishment is lifted and he does return to Japan and sees Otaki again...

...along with his new family.

His...new family? Then, you mean...

I guess it just goes to show you: life isn't a fairy tale.

Otaki had a hard life, raising a mixed child in an era that was much more hostile to such things. And of course, Siebold was banished, unable to return to Japan.

Both were young and they were never formally married... They couldn't wait around for each other to begin living their lives.

I guess it just goes to show you: life isn't a fairy tale.

Otaki had a hard life, raising a mixed child in an era that was much more hostile to such things. And of course, Siebold was banished, unable to return to Japan.

Both were young and they were never formally married... They couldn't wait around for each other to begin living their lives.

... ...

Yes... I suppose you're right.

We can't keep moving forward if we're always focused on what's behind us.

？！

Huh?

Yeah, that's true.

Nothing lasts forever, but that doesn't mean what we build disappears entirely.

Otaki did a great job raising her and Siebold's child. That child went on to become a doctor just like her father.

The same is true for Siebold, who never stopped calling for Japan to open its borders even after he left.

So I like to think that their desire to see each other again gave them both strength to keep living their lives.

But then...maybe that's just me being a romantic.

Yeah, that's true.

Nothing lasts forever, but that doesn't mean what we build disappears entirely.

Otaki did a great job raising her and Siebold's child. That child went on to become a doctor just like her father.

The same is true for Siebold, who never stopped calling for Japan to open its borders even after he left.

So I like to think that their desire to see each other again gave them both strength to keep living their lives.

But then...maybe that's just me being a romantic.

N-no, not at all!

I'd like to think the same!

... ...

And...I think the same must be true for Orihime and Hikoboshi as well.

？！

Oh, right. I've actually been thinking about the story of Tanabata ever since I first heard it, Senpai.

In particular, I've been thinking about how the lovers must spend the year while they're apart.

At first, I thought they must be desperately sad, being forced to spend a whole year without each other.

But, I see now there's more to it than that.

They have faith they'll see each other again, and that gives them the strength to keep going.

I think it must have been the same for Siebold and Otaki, too.

？！

Oh, right. Today's Tanabata, isn't it?

Emiya's been cooking up a storm to celebrate. Why don't you two go enjoy the feast?

I'll open up the simulator too, in case you want to see the stars. It won't be quite the same, but hey, it's better than nothing.

Oh, right. Today's Tanabata, isn't it?

Emiya's been cooking up a storm to celebrate. Why don't you two go enjoy the feast?

I'll open up the simulator too, in case you want to see the stars. It won't be quite the same, but hey, it's better than nothing.

Thank you, Da Vinci!

Welcome back, Master♡

It's me, your Kiyohime! Congratulations on another job well done!

The Tanabata feast is all ready. Why don't you come with me to the cafeteria and

？！

Yes?

？！

Oh, this?

When I woke up today, I was already wearing it.

While we were apart, I figured something incredible must have happened: our undying love transformed me into my ultimate form.

Is that not the case?

？！

...would you please take good care of her? For me?

For me?

For me...

Does this mean...

...Otohime Kiyohime's obsession was so powerful, it actually affected Kiyohime all the way from the Throne?

Seriously? Yikes.

Waaah! Now what is it!?

Seriously? Yikes.

Waaah! Now what is it!?

U-um... It looks like another new minute Singularity has just appeared!

Already!? Oh come on!!!

It's happening on Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean! The one with the moai statues!

We're getting a clear signal on the monitor... Oh, it looks like there's writing on the ground.

"SOS... Help us, Manager"...?

Um, what? Is that code for something?

？！

Senpai...? Why are you smiling?

？！

H-huh? F-friends, you say?

？！

Phew.

Okay, we have our message all set. But, do you really think he'll see it?

Of course! Great work! Don't worry, he'll find us in no time, I know it!

Heeeeeey!

If you're done over there, then come give me a hand already!

Moa moa moaaa!!!

How dare you heretics intrude on our holy land!? We're going to sacrifice you to King Moai for this!

Kiiing...Moaaaaaaiii!

What!? Don't listen to them! That's no moai statue!

All right, Hibiki! And, uh, what's-your-face with the green hair!

It's Azumi-no-Isora time!

Shouldn't you know my damn name by now!? And what're you doing just showing up here like it's no biggie, anyway!?

Come on, Chika! Let's do this thing!

Manageeer! Come and get us alreadyyy!!!