Because it was the first time he was brought into his memory world. Everything he saw, down to the tiniest details, matched mine. Although my faceless protagonist still did not believe what he saw was his real life. It did not matter so much at that point.
Truthfully, I thought that that faceless person would remain the same way he was. He would free each of us by touching us on his volition, and we would see the fragments of his life that he left behind. Occasionally, some would kiss him, and they would see a different thing that would change them forever. It was like that with Laura and with Rachel. It should have been the same for me. Or at least, that was what I thought.
My fault. I kept on applying logic to something illogical.
Still, hearing him sharing the same past lives as mine gave me an idea.
I wished to remind C of his life. By doing this, I was hoping C could see and remember, even a little bit, he could be happier.
"Shall we take a walk?" C asked me in the kindest way possible.
*Rumble rumble*
"I would love to." And I smiled hearing his invitation. The booming thunder strikes above our heads were redundant.
Holding his hand tightly, we walked toward the school's building. There was no one in this place anymore. All had disappeared.
"So, is this what would happen when the game reaches its end?" With my free hand, I pointed at the corroding materials around us.
"Yes. This triggers when one condition in two is achieved." Walking close to me, C nodded as he glanced in my direction.
"And what would those be? We have managed to help Han get with those girls. That should be one, correct?"
"That is true. It does not matter who Han ends up with. The game will end as long as he lives until the final confrontation and survives."
We walked in the school corridor, classroom by classroom. There were no shadow people, no teachers, and no main characters. This place had become an empty place without a single speck of life. They have all perished under the destruction of the system without fail...with the exception of two system errors.
C.
And me.
"One out. Two more to go!" I exclaimed cheerfully.
"I have an idea. Why don't you take a guess? Miss librarian?"
"Hoh! You're on!"
"Take your time. Until everything collapses, we will be together." He stroked my hair. "Come, follow me this way. Let's go to the rooftop to see what an apocalypse really is."
"Okay! But...you have the key, right?"
"Of course I do! What do you think I am? Stupid? Don't answer that, though. I don't want you to remind me of the truth about my non-existent brain."
I chuckled at his lame self-burn. C always had a funny bone and a clever way with his jokes. Never would I ever doubt his intelligence. Although not academic, he was definitely gifted at socializing. That would explain why we flocked to him like birds. He was charming in his peculiar way.
Putting a hand under my chin, I asked: "Does killing Han or everyone count as one of the conditions?"
"Nope! Killing them all can only trigger a reset, not an apocalypse like this." He then stopped for a second. "Oh! Hey, Kurokawa! Look! This is the place where Rachel and Adora had that huge fight! I did not think that princess and Han's worshipper would work together to murder our housewife."
We arrived at a section of the school's corridor where the tiles were broken at various spots. Here and there, one could see slashes made by sharp weapons. It must have been weird to see such a scene inside the school. Yet there we were.
"Yeah, I remember. It was so bloody and gory, though."
"Luckily, we stood aside just to watch. It was a great decision from you."
They fought because I was pulling strings in the background, but C did not need to know that. A couple of anonymous letters, a couple yandere girls obsessed with Han, and they would do the rest. I did not care what they were doing, but our school life was in jeopardy because of them. That was the reason for me to deal with it.
"So, do you need hints regarding the two conditions?" My protagonist continued walking.
"If I'm putting this like reading a book, then is it related to the plot? Similar to how I close the covers when reaching their conclusions, I think the world ends because there is nothing more written in the system. Therefore, it restarts." Still following C, I pondered for a while.
"Exactly! You're such a genius! A beautiful genius!"
"Thank you very much. Don't worry. I'm your genius only." My lips turned into a bright smile.
"Ack! My heart!" C jokingly grabbed his chest. "I'm going to die because of diabetes!"
"Come on, you're so cheesy!" We shared a few laughs together, ignoring everything. Even when I saw the ground and windows starting to erode, I still did not care. All I wanted to do was to spend every last second with him.
*Kachak*
The familiar door leading to the rooftop opened, and C bowed respectfully: "After you, my lady!"
"Such a gentleman." Holding on to his hand, I walked forward.
Long gone the beautiful blue canvas. Long gone dreamy white cloud made of cotton wool spots. Long gone our warming sun.
On top of my head was not the scenery of a peaceful rooftop on a sunny day but flashes of destruction and dust. When the materials surrounding me dissipated, they were swept up by the whirlwind into the air, creating tornados made of dust. Occasionally the grey clouds would rumble loudly, and flashes would travel through the air. Truly a sad sight to witness.
"It's not something you would see every day." The love of my life whispered quietly.
"Well, in a way, it is magnificent. Learn to appreciate life. Even in unsightliness, there can be something breathtaking. That's what you taught me." I held his hand tight.
"Countered by my words. Touche. Touche indeed." C made an awkward smile.
After that, the two of us coincidentally grew silent. Standing on the highest point of this world, we had to witness the finality. That was not a choice but an obligation.
*Rumble*
*Boom!*
The frequency of thunder started to increase. As I looked at the buildings around us, I could see more and more dust devils forming.
C was the one to speak up first. However, his voice was shaking. "Darkness is consuming the school ground. Soon, we will disappear, Kurokawa. You...will disappear."
He once again came closer and kissed the scar on my forehead.
"I wish I could do more to prevent this inevitable outcome. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do. This world was designed to have a conclusion. Nothing else exists after the all-consuming void."
"Please, don't cry, C." I touched his cheeks. The tears flowing out from his eyes warmed both of my hands up. "This is not the end. You know that."
"I know it is not the end for me. But...it is the end for you. This...is where we part ways, Kurokawa." His eyes gazed into mine, full of regret and sadness. I did not need to hear his inner voice to know C could not let me go. "I tried. Many times. I tried. I did everything the same way and couldn't bring anyone back. You saw with your own eyes. This game world was fictional. And just like every fictional work out there, it will finish. In other words, there is literally no future for anyone. To be born into this world is a curse on its own."
Unable to say anything to him, I hugged C's chest and listened to his heartbeat.
Even when this was the end for me, I still did not feel any fear or uneasiness. If there was anything in my heart at this moment, there would be only a sense of longing for C. I wanted to be with him for years until I gave birth to an adorable girl whom I could shower with everything I never could. I wanted to be with him until we could hold each others' hands and gaze up at the blue sky under the Sakura tree as a family. I would love to tell her the story of how her father and mother met and the weird circumstances she came to be.
But... Albeit short, I had never felt this much happiness. If I were glass and C's affection was water, it would be overfilled.
"Ah! I almost forgot. I have something for you. I need your left hand."
Reaching for my pocket, I took out a fresh piece of bandage. As for C, he did not question me. My protagonist did what I told him exactly.
"In the name of The Past," I wrapped the piece around his ring finger and quickly tied a knot. "...The Present, and The Future, I, Kurokawa, take you, C, to be my wonderful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow. This is unbreakable. This is my faithful oath to you."
"I...I..."
"You may now kiss your wife."
After that sentence, we shared one more passionate kiss.
The world could end however it wanted.
I already had a husband.
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