“...”
Different from me? No.
“You can’t fool me.”
“!”
My words made future Rekka stop in his tracks.
“No matter how many incredible abilities you may have acquired, there’s no way you can save every story in both worlds.”
A single world was big enough as it was. Big enough that there was no way any one single person could keep track of everything that happened within it.
“The reason the goddesses’ game has dragged on for thousands of years is because both worlds were overflowing with Namidare power.”
According to Yuuhi, the so-called Namidare power didn’t only belong to us Namidares. There were people all over both worlds with Namidare power, each of them saving stories in their own way. It was because of that—because of them—that the two worlds had existed for so long with comparable levels of happiness.
“So if we’re going to save the world, we need quantity over quality. Even if you alone have amazing power, you still can’t help everyone all at once.”
“Quantity over quality? Just because someone tries to save a story doesn’t mean they can,” future Rekka said with a pained expression. “People try and fail all the time. All over the world. So no matter how many people have Namidare power, that won’t save—”
“What’s important is that you try!” I yelled at my future self. “Whether you’re alone or whether there’s someone there to help you makes all the difference in the world! Don’t you know that?! Who’s going to save you if there are no other heroes?!”
Future Rekka fell silent, his fists trembling. He then shouted, “Even so... I can’t just abandon the heroines who I’ve saved so far!”
“...”
It was now my turn to fall silent. Future Rekka and I were weighed down by different burdens. If he lost, several hundred heroines would be thrown to the wolves of cruel fate. But no matter how big a game I talked, there was no chance of me winning this. And even if I did win, I had no idea how I was going to save everything.
There’s no way I can beat him in this state...
Wasn’t there something? A way to win against future Rekka and all his crazy abilities... A way that every heroine could survive...
“...”
Wasn’t there? There had to be. No, such a convenient power couldn’t possibly—
Wait, convenient power?
That rattled something in the back of my mind. Something I’d forgotten. It just hadn’t seemed relevant... until now.
“Like I said before... Hate me if you must. I came ready for that,” future Rekka said, assuming a fighting stance once more like he was ready to end things.
“Wait, there’s still—”
“...”
I tried to stop him, but future Rekka’s determined expression told me he wouldn’t listen to another word I said.
Damn it! I thought I’d almost figured something out!
I just didn’t have time to put it all together. He was gonna take me out before I could! I clenched my jaw, ready to accept defeat, but then...
“Rekka!” Yuuhi called out to me as she swiftly moved around behind future Rekka and pinned his arms.
“Yuuhi?!”
“Ask... Sith...!” she eked out, trying her best to contain future Rekka.
But what was she talking about? What good would Sith do now?
“Oh!”
Just then, everything snapped into place. Yuuhi had given me the last piece I needed. I immediately turned on my heels and darted over to the corner of the arena where Sith was watching the fight.
“Sith! Is that offer still good?!”
“Wh-What offer?”
“I was supposed to get a power for clearing the trial, right?!”
That’s what Yuuhi had told me—that the divine trial was meant to bestow worthy individuals with power. I’d only taken on the trial to reach Sith, so I’d completely forgotten about that part.
“A power? Y-Yes, I can give you that, but... what would help you win in the fight against your future self?”
“Uh...”
From magic to science, ancient artifacts to superhuman blood... Future Rekka had obtained all kinds of power from hundreds of stories. What on earth could trump all that?
I can only receive one power... A breaker ability like Yuuhi’s? No, he figured a way around that... Maybe a one-hit KO power, then? No, he’d probably figure a way around that too...
A full-body paralysis attack? Mind control? Several cheat-level powers I’d seen in comics before crossed my mind, but I couldn’t imagine being able to use any of them effectively enough to win against future Rekka. I’d never had a power of my own. I was always relying on the powers of others when I got involved in stories...
“...”
Hold on.
No power of my own...?
I couldn’t remember exactly when, but at some point, both Dad and R had used a certain metaphor. They said Namidares were the substitute main characters for stories that had lost theirs, leaving them spiraling towards unhappy endings. And yeah, that was basically how it worked. I got involved in story after story, borrowing the power of the stories’ heroines in order to make a difference. What if I kept that up now that I was the one that needed help?
Is that... even allowed?
If I could still rely on them, I was pretty sure I could solve anything. Even the hardships I was facing now. However, objectively speaking, I knew what I was asking for would be a huge pain for everyone. It would be for future Rekka too, considering he was my future self. But mostly I was concerned about Satsuki, Iris, Harissa, and everyone else I’d saved... plus everyone I’d save in the future.
Would that really be okay?
When I asked myself that, a certain voice from the past resurfaced in my head.
“Now come on. Ask us. Say, ‘I’m putting you all in danger. Will you stay with me anyway?’”
That’s what Satsuki had said to me when I was in big trouble during Hibiki’s story. She’d scolded me when I tried to distance myself from the heroines to avoid putting them in harm’s way because of my bloodline.
Heh, I’m still worried about causing them trouble... If they knew I was hesitating over that, I bet they’d all be pretty angry.
Until now, whenever I’d asked them to help me out, they’d always come running. The goodwill they’d shown me and the number of times they’d saved me... It was endless, but I remembered every single occasion. R had repeatedly asked me to choose between the heroines, but my useless ass was as indecisive as ever. Each of the heroines was wonderful and had given me far more than I deserved. Believing in them was the least I could do to repay that.
If I caused them trouble, then I’d just apologize for it. If anyone grew to hate me for it, they’d just stop being my heroine. And when that happened, surely they’d be released from this power. In fact, some of them might quit right away. But if any of them were still by my side after I gained this extremely annoying power... then I’d be happy to accept their goodwill once more. I’d love for them to save me. In return, I’d become strong enough to protect everyone.
I recalled Satsuki’s words and the vow I made that fateful day once more...
“Sith, I know what power I want.”
And made a wish to a goddess.