Chuckling softly, Azuma narrowed her eyes with amusement. Although she couldn’t understand what was so enjoyable about toying with someone’s heart, it was clear that she must harbor a deep resentment towards Tsugumi.

…Azuma claimed it was for a noble cause rather than revenge, but no matter how generously Tsugumi tried to see it, it seemed like she was prioritizing her personal feelings.

—Is this really the justice that Nemesis endorses? Tsugumi found it hard to believe.

While she was lost in thought, Azuma turned her gaze toward Chidori and, as if struck by a sudden idea, began to speak.

“—Even so, your sister’s life has been quite the rollercoaster, hasn’t it? Her biological mother was that Sakurako Akane, and because of that, she caught the attention of the cult leader, was abducted as a sacrifice, and as a result, her mother died. Then, her kidnapper’s brother, acting as if nothing happened, lives with her, forcing her to play at being a family… Wow, saying it out loud, it’s an even more hellish situation than I imagined. Is your sister’s mental state okay?”

Azuma looked at Chidori with pity, her gaze one of scorn, as she rubbed her arms as if she had goosebumps. Though her words sounded concerned, there was no mistaking the mocking tone.

Chidori, on the other hand, remained silent, head down, making it impossible to read what she was thinking despite Azuma’s taunts.

Seeing Chidori’s state, Asakura spoke up, attempting to dissuade Azuma.

“Please, don’t bully her too much. She hasn’t done anything wrong herself, so it’s cruel to speak to her like that, isn’t it?”

“Well, if Sakurako Akane hadn’t interfered, the ritual might have succeeded, you know? So, I think she shares a bit of the blame for that. It’s only fair to at least complain, right?”

“I understand how you feel, truly. But even so, it’s not right to blame someone who’s already hurting.”

As Asakura was trying to calm Azuma down, a sudden jolt like electricity ran through the entire hall.

Tsugumi looked around, startled, but there was no sign of an attack.

Curious, she glanced at Azuma, who, looking dissatisfied, addressed Asakura.

“…It seems an uninvited guest has entered the city. They arrived sooner than expected.”

“How many?”

“Probably just one. Judging by the speed, it’s likely a high-ranking magical girl.”

—An uninvited guest. Could it be that help from the government has arrived?

Though Tsugumi felt a glimmer of hope, she couldn’t shake a lingering unease.

As long as this area remained contaminated, an ordinary magical girl wouldn’t be able to operate here for long. They likely had some countermeasures in place, but if it came to a fight, they’d likely be at a disadvantage.

“Hmm, are you sure you can handle this?”

Asakura stroked his beard thoughtfully as he asked Azuma.

“There’s no problem. No matter how strong a magical girl she may be—or rather, because she’s a magical girl—she won’t be able to function properly here.”

Azuma then turned to Tsugumi and spoke.

“This city is already within the belly of that god. Even though the ritual isn’t complete, the god’s power has already seeped in enough. For someone who lacks the god’s favor, this city itself will become a poison. You’ve entered the barrier of another magical girl before, so you might have some idea of what that feels like, right?”

“…You mean, it’s the same as that time in the amusement park?”

Tsugumi’s eyes widened in realization.

—When a magical girl enters the barrier of a god with whom she hasn’t contracted, she suffers a severe debuff.

Was this city currently in that state?

Back then, Tsugumi felt an unbearable discomfort, as if her body was being twisted from the inside. Whatever effect it had, she doubted she’d be able to fight properly under such conditions.

…In the worst-case scenario, she couldn’t count on help from the government.

“Do you really think any magical girl could defeat me, especially in this miserable state? —Too bad, no one’s coming to save you.”

Azuma delivered this message to Tsugumi with a smirk before turning toward the door and adding.

“Well then, I’ll go hold them off. The rest is up to you, sensei.”

“Alright. —Please be careful.”

As Asakura called out, Azuma slipped into her own shadow and disappeared from the spot. She had likely teleported to confront the intruder.

…Tsugumi was concerned about the safety of the person who had entered the city, but first, she had to resolve the issue in front of her.

Depending on how she looked at it, this might actually be a great opportunity. With only Asakura, a non-combatant, left here, there was a chance to win if she could just free herself from these restraints. If Azuma had stayed behind, she would have certainly been subdued, but with just Asakura, she had a fighting chance, even unarmed.

The only concern was… what Chidori would do.

If Chidori had been informed of the ritual by Asakura, she should understand the dangers lurking within it. Even if she had feelings toward Tsugumi, Tsugumi could be certain that Chidori wouldn’t side with Azuma and the others.

It was uncertain whether Chidori would follow Tsugumi’s lead, but if Tsugumi framed it as a way to minimize the damage, she might be able to persuade her.

With these thoughts weighing on her, Tsugumi let out a small sigh.

‘…The truth is, I don’t want to dress this up as something noble. I’m just scared of being treated coldly or met with hostility when I talk to Chidori.

I had prepared myself for being disliked, but no matter what, I can’t help feeling hurt by Chidori’s words.

Still, I can’t keep avoiding this forever. Somehow, I have to reach out to Chidori.’

Just as Tsugumi was lost in thought, Asakura approached Chidori and began speaking to her.

“We still have time, so talk with him as much as you want. This will be the last time… so you should do so without any regrets.”

Asakura said this while gently pushing Chidori toward Tsugumi.

…It seems Asakura, like Azuma, had no qualms about offering Tsugumi up as a sacrifice.

When they talked at the hospital, Asakura hadn’t seemed so hostile, but perhaps that only meant he was good at pretending. It was enough to make Tsugumi doubt her trust in people.

Chidori, nudged forward, glanced at Tsugumi with a moment of panic before she seemed to steel herself. She tightly pressed her lips together and began walking slowly toward Tsugumi.

When she reached Tsugumi, who was lying on the ground, she knelt gracefully in front of her, then turned to Asakura and spoke.

“…I’m sorry. I appreciate you giving us this opportunity to talk, but I don’t want anyone to hear what we’re going to discuss. Could you please give us some privacy, Asakura-san?”

Asakura showed a slight hesitation but then shrugged lightly and nodded.

“Well, I don’t mind. When time’s up, I’ll pull you apart, though. Is that alright?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

With that, Chidori responded, and Asakura walked over to the wall, away from the platform. It seemed he really didn’t intend to interfere.

Tsugumi, on the other hand, tensed slightly as she watched Chidori’s feet.

…She had known Chidori for a long time, so even if Chidori was overwhelmed with emotions, she was confident that she wouldn’t resort to violence immediately. Still, it was frightening not knowing how she might react.

I wonder if this is what a criminal feels like before being judged, Tsugumi thought, trying to distract herself from the reality of the situation as she waited quietly for Chidori to speak.

—However, the words that came out of Chidori’s mouth were completely unexpected for Tsugumi.

“—I don’t hold a grudge against you, Tsugumi. Please remember that.”

“…Huh?”

Just as Tsugumi was about to ask her to repeat herself, Chidori gently raised a finger to her lips and shook her head silently.

“Please, just listen to me for a little while.”

Chidori said this while gazing steadily into Tsugumi’s eyes.

◆ ◆ ◆

Tsugumi, who had quietly accepted Chidori’s words and prepared to listen, saw Chidori exhale with relief and smile.

…Given her current appearance, it felt somewhat incongruous, but no matter what form she took, Tsugumi was still Tsugumi. That thought brought Chidori a bit of comfort.

“I’ve heard various things from Asakura-sensei, and it’s made me remember a little bit about the past. …It’s been over ten years, so my memories are quite vague.”

Chidori said, furrowing her brow in a troubled manner.

—After hearing from Asakura, it was as if a key had been turned, unlocking a flood of past memories and emotions. However, most of them were fragmented and confusing.

Especially on the day of the great fire, there were many gaps in her memory. She remembered her mother creating a hole in the ceiling of this great hall to rescue her, but she couldn’t recall the details of what happened during that time. All she could remember was the overwhelming fear.

—Even with these fragmented memories, the sheer volume of what was coming back was overwhelming.

Her mother. Her grandfather. Her father who had passed away when she was young. The shock of learning the truth eleven years ago, and the sadness at not being informed by Tsugumi. All these mixed together, leaving Chidori barely able to keep herself conscious.

Given her state, Chidori was brought to this ruinous place with little resistance, as Asakura had instructed. During this time, explanations were given about the ritual’s dangers and the enmity with Azuma and the others, but Chidori struggled to grasp them fully.

She couldn’t figure out what to prioritize—her bloodline, the actions of Sister Sakyou, the events from eleven years ago, or that Tsugumi had been Hagakure Sakura. Each was too significant for Chidori to process all at once.

Stunned and finally faced with Tsugumi, who was now in the form of Hagakure Sakura, Chidori came to terms with the reality of the situation.

Recalling the shock from that moment, Chidori spoke with a wry smile.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? I always thought you resembled Sakyou, but when I looked closely, your way of expressing yourself is so much like Tsugumi’s. …Even though I thought I was paying attention, I guess I really wasn’t seeing anything at all.”

Looking back, Chidori realized that the name Hagakure Sakura became well-known from that day—when she almost got caught up in the appearance of a magical beast in Hakone.

People praised the day’s actions as noble, but unless she was delusional, Chidori could only think that the reason Hagakure Sakura engaged in a hopeless battle was to buy Chidori time to escape.

What else could you call such selfless devotion if not love?

—Tsugumi had always been there to help Chidori.

Perhaps Tsugumi hadn’t meant it intentionally, but whenever trouble seemed imminent, she had always offered a helping hand, and Chidori had noticed.

—In contrast, what should Chidori truly cherish now?

Her mother, who died protecting her? Or her grandfather, who was not just a step-relative but her real grandfather? Or perhaps Tsugumi, who had lied to her all this time?

Sorting through her jumbled thoughts, the only thing that remained clear was—her love for her family, Tsugumi.

Chidori gently stroked Tsugumi’s cheek with her fingers and whispered.

“Maybe I’ve always wondered if we weren’t actually blood-related. —But, is that really important? If we’re not blood-related, does that mean we can’t be a real family? …I don’t think so.”

For a child, eleven years can be a lifetime compared to what adults might imagine.

Chidori was now eighteen—meaning she had lived with Tsugumi since she was seven. That was more than enough time to rewrite all perceptions.

…Even if Tsugumi was the indirect cause of her real mother’s death, Chidori couldn’t possibly hate the family she had spent more than half her life with.

She couldn’t believe that all those days had been a lie, nor did she want to.

Chidori believed that Tsugumi had remained by her side in silence, keeping the truth hidden because she felt the same way.

—Chidori Nanase cherished Tsugumi Nanase more than anyone else.

That was something that wouldn’t waver, no matter what.

She couldn’t afford to lose someone so precious to her in some incomprehensible ritual. Even if it meant making enemies of everyone.

Now, the stage for the ritual was set as if replaying that day, and Tsugumi’s life was in danger. …Although she had no concrete evidence, it seemed that the unpleasant feeling was stronger than during the previous ritual. Even if this was a grand plan to save Japan, if Tsugumi was to be sacrificed, Chidori saw it as nothing but a meaningless act.

…Why, Chidori wondered, had Asakura brought her here?

Was it purely out of goodwill to allow her to say goodbye to Tsugumi, who had been her family? Or was it to confront her with the truth and hurt her, the daughter of the mother who had ruined the ritual? Whichever it was, it was clear that Asakura’s values were twisted.

Most likely, Asakura and Azuma expected Chidori to blame Tsugumi. Such a thing was inconceivable, even if the world were to turn upside down. They were truly strange people.

—Regardless of their intentions, it might have been lucky to have this chance to speak with Tsugumi alone. It was an opportunity to discuss how to escape.

Tsugumi was bound hand and foot, unable to use her abilities, and Chidori was also restrained with shackles on her neck and hands, preventing her from contacting her powers or deities.

Still, what needed to be done was clear.

“I have so many questions and so much I want to talk about. And I’m sure you have a lot you need to tell me too, right, Tsugumi?”

When Chidori asked, Tsugumi nodded shyly. Her demeanor was reminiscent of a child who had been scolded for mischief, and Chidori found it endearing.

Chidori gently cupped Tsugumi’s cheeks with her hands and made eye contact.

“I’m going to say something very important.”

Speaking with heartfelt sincerity, Chidori hoped that her feelings would reach Tsugumi.

—She wished that her feelings would truly be conveyed to Tsugumi.

“Let’s live together and go home, Tsugumi. No matter what happened in the past, I consider you an important family. I forgive everything. So, please, don’t blame yourself any longer.”

As Chidori slowly said this, Tsugumi’s eyes widened in shock. She closed her mouth tightly, as if trying to hold back tears, and eventually whispered, “Thank you,” in a trembling voice.

◆ ◆ ◆

—Since learning the truth of the past, Chidori has no way of knowing how much Tsugumi has struggled.

And Chidori will never know how much her words have been a relief to Tsugumi.

Tsugumi thinks it’s better this way. Such heavy emotions surely don’t suit Chidori.

—In reality, Tsugumi had hoped to find some way to escape with just Chidori. However, she knew that Chidori would never permit that. It would be absurd to obtain forgiveness only to end up with such a situation.

And so, Tsugumi believed Chidori’s words and made a decision.

◆ ◆ ◆

Tsugumi struggled to control her breathing, trying to hold back her sobs, and said softly to Chidori.

“There’s only one plan to escape from here. It might be a bit difficult, but will you cooperate, Chidori?”

—Even without being asked in this manner, Chidori’s answer had already been decided from the start.

Chidori might have little talent for fighting, but she was determined to do whatever was needed to get through this situation. With a bright smile, Chidori gave her answer.

“Yes, of course!”