Chapter 47

FINAL CHAPTER A New Beginning — “…Gah?!” When Sir Mordred opened her eyes, she was in an alleyway between some skyscrapers. Her back was pressed against a wall. She leaned her battered body against it as she slumped on the ground. “…Are you awake?” Next to her, Sir Dinadan rested against the wall, smoking a cigarette. “How do you feel, Sir Mordred? …Oh, you should keep still for a while. I slathered Recovery Salve on you, but it did nothing for your larger wounds…” Sir Mordred took a good look at her body… She was covered in sloppy bandages. “…Did you save me, Sir Dinadan?” “More or less. I’m your Jack…and I’ve always been proud of my quick escapes.” Sir Mordred looked at him in disbelief. He grinned. “I’ve severed our ties with Hitoshi Kataoka’s faction. I imagine he’s out of the battle anyway. And from now on, we’ll…” Sir Dinadan started to expound on their plans… “…Why?” Sir Mordred continued to hang her head. “Why…Sir Dinadan…? Why are you…bothering with me…? Both then…and now?” He narrowed his eyes, silent. “I killed you! And for selfish reasons, too! I killed you—even though you cared for me since I was a child! Why?! Why…?” Sir Mordred asked. “…I just can’t seem to leave you alone.” As he looked at her, Sir Dinadan let his mind slip into the past. “…It’s time to part ways, Sir Dinadan… Good-bye…” You had spat that line, looking down at me… “How do you expect me to leave you…after you sobbed when you stabbed me? In fact, I failed you for not recognizing your feelings when I was with you. I didn’t know you’d been driven into a corner… I’m the one who’s sorry… Tristie always told me that I’m bad with women.” He smiled bitterly, letting smoke leave his lips. “Dina…dan…” Her head slumped. She started to snivel and cry. “Ugh… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…Dinadan… I…I… Hic…” She buried her face in her knees. She looked her age. Sir Dinadan placed a hand on top of her head. “…Let’s redo this. From the beginning. The fight had just begun.” “…Redo…what…?” “I don’t think you were entirely wrong. I don’t think you were lying when you said you wanted to save the world. I think you’ll discover your own path as king. Something that’s true to you. Let’s find it together in modern times… It’s never too late.” “Sniff… Dinadan… Okay… Thank…you… Hic…” Time started to pass for the pair who suffered a great loss at the start of the succession battle. Their moments together weren’t melancholic. There was something light and airy about them. She opened her eyes. “…Hmm…” Her consciousness resurfaced from wandering through the dark. Luna was awake. She found herself in a bed in the school nurse’s office. A group of silhouettes gathered around her, peeking into her face. “Luna…! What a relief…!” “You had us worried there.” Felicia and Sir Gawain let out a sigh, finally comforted… “Ha-ha-ha. I suppose…luck wasn’t on our side, Luna…” Emma had woken up before her. She smiled wryly. “L-LUNA! I’m so happy! I was so worried when you were the only one who wouldn’t wake up!” Sir Kay was bawling her eyes out, finally materializing again when Luna had gotten back her strength… “Seriously, I told you she’d be fine…” And…Rintarou was there, sarcastic smile plastered on his face. “What’s up? How was your nap, king?” “……” Luna slowly peeled herself out of bed. She didn’t feel all that bad. “I smashed that white sword. All your king’s blood should be back with you now. But I guess that doesn’t do anything for your physical wounds… How do you feel?” “…I’m fine.” Luna blinked in surprise, examining her body. “!” Suddenly, she noticed something. She was holding a hawthorn cross in her hand. It wasn’t the one that Luna had given Rintarou. This one had been made many years ago…by her dear childhood friend. “……” A smile broke out on Luna’s face. It felt like she had woken up from a pleasant dream. “Hey…Rintarou, will you always be with me? Will you always be by my side?” “Uh-huh. Don’t worry. I’ll be there until the very end. I’ll clear the path to your future.” …I don’t think that was a dream… “Hey, what’s up with you? Luna? What’s wrong? Your grin is giving me the creeps.” Rintarou scowled. “Hmm.” Luna used her pointer finger to motion for him to come closer. “Hmm? What? Do you want to tell me a secret?” “Just come here! Lend me your ear.” “Okay… What is with you…?” Rintarou approached Luna’s bed, realizing he didn’t have a choice. He inched closer to offer an ear… Luna pulled him into a big hug. “What?! Wait—?!” Rintarou wasn’t the only one who was surprised. ““……”” Felicia and Sir Gawain were similarly shocked by the sudden development. “Wh-wh-what…?” All the blood drained out of Emma, who started to tremble… “AAAAAH?!” Sir Kay screeched. The room was going up in flames… “H-hey…Luna?!” He was gaping at her. Luna brought her lips closer to his ear. “Welcome back,” she whispered. “!” He didn’t know what to do for a little while. He scratched his head. “Welcome back? Shouldn’t I be saying that to you?” “Maybe. But…welcome back.” “……” He was silent, searching for the right words. “…Thanks. I’m home,” he replied uncomfortably. “Wait a second?! Luna! You have no shame! Do you have any idea what you’re wearing right now?!” Emma interrupted, attempting to pull Luna away from Rintarou. “Hmm? What? ……Aaaah?!” Luna looked down at herself. She was in nothing but underwear and bandages… “Aaah!” “Ah?” “AAAAAAH! Rintarou! Perv! Idiot! Lecher! Deviant! Peeping Tom!” Her face instantly flushed, veritable steam coming out of her ears. She shoved him away before wrapping herself in a sheet. “Gah! But I—I didn’t do anything—AAAAH!” BAM! RATTLE-RATTLE! CRAAAAAAASH! Rintarou collided headfirst with the medicine cabinet. The room was in shambles. This was their MO. “Geez…” Luna shouted at him, holding him by the collar with tears in her eyes. He looked down on her, exhausted. Sheesh… Guess I’m going to keep protecting King Airhead and sticking by her side… Hello, antacids, my old friends. He heaved a sigh and shrugged. But…he didn’t mind this. Not at all. He didn’t mind this embarrassing feeling… He looked around and saw Emma and Sir Kay in a panic. Felicia and Sir Gawain seemed beat. Everyone was there. The people he couldn’t bring himself to hate. Well, I feel like I’ve finally gotten it back…even though it’s not my style. Rintarou could feel a dry smile sneaking onto his face. “Oh, right, Nayuki.” He tried to find the person who had made it possible for him—Nayuki. “You saved me this time. Because of you…” He stopped. “…Nayuki?” She was nowhere to be found. “I think…it’s…better this way…” Nayuki could smell the night air carried by a chilly breeze, which tousled her hair. She looked up at the sky. The panoramic view made her feel like she was free-falling through the sky. She strolled through the school grounds, taking her time. Loitering. “Rintarou will be fine with Luna… It’s better this way,” she repeated, as if to convince herself, talking to no one in particular. …Nayuki walked forward. Aimlessly. Without a destination in mind. The intimate scene between Rintarou and Luna flickered in her mind. She moved as if to run away from them, as if to shake them off. …She ambled forward. …… “Why…?” In front of the water fountain in the front yard, Nayuki stopped in her tracks. Noise canceled out by the gentle lapping of the fountain…droplets quietly plinked by her feet. She wasn’t talking to anyone. “This is what I wanted… This is our happy ending… So…why…can’t…I…stop…crying?” Nayuki looked up at the stars, which were almost close enough to touch. She was weeping. Distant memories flashed before her eyes. “Tch… You throw me off my game…” “Hee-hee-hee… Good boy, Merlin… I’ll pat your head.” “I can’t return to the past… I don’t go by Nimue anymore… I’m just his classmate now… Then why…? Why am I…?” Was she thinking about undoing the Masking spell that hid her identity? Was she considering telling him that she was Nimue? But it was impossible. She didn’t have the right to do that. She knew everything would be over when she broke the spell. She knew it would mean she would have to leave his side… She knew he might even kill her if the reveal went bad… “I already let him go…to atone for my actions… I decided to wish for his happiness… I thought I could leave Rintarou in Luna’s hands…” Nayuki wiped her tears with the back of her hand. But they kept coming, even when she rubbed at her eyes. “…Then…why…? There was no one to answer her question. Her small chest flooded with emotions, crushing her heart. They washed over her like tides in a storm. As she thought back on their happy memories, tears continued to trail down her face, forlorn and forsaken.