Epilogue

Epilogue

When the sun finally started to set, most of the stalls started to shut down. Then it was at last time for the grand finale of the third day of the collaboration festival—MIO’s surprise concert.

“Students of Mitsuhashi and Juumonji High Schools, as well as all the visitors who came to the joint festival! Thank you for three days of hard work and good fun! As a little reward for everything you’ve done, please enjoy my special performance and close out this year’s festival with a bang!”

Mio’s lovely voice echoed all over the campus through the PA system, causing all the students, families, and faculty members to cheer at once. There were fans of MIO’s in the crowd who were unbearably excited to hear about the surprise event she was having here. It really was a great way to close out the festival with a bang.

“Wow, Mio really is amazing...” I remarked in wonder.

Her singing voice was enchanting crowds all over the school. Some people were listening intently, and some were just enjoying it as the background music to the final moments of a great festival.

Which was it for me, I wonder? I was honestly feeling a bit wistful, but maybe that was just from the overwhelming relief of having saved another girl from her suffering.

“She sings some good songs,” Touko murmured beside me, looking up at the stage.

After losing to me in the game world, I let her recover at the inn before we returned to reality. She had a calm, refreshed look on her face I hadn’t seen before.

“But I still have to say using that cursed game was unfair,” she said.

“The power of your words is way more unfair,” I said right back, retuning her banter with more banter.

“You may be right,” she agreed with a laugh. “The world truly is a big place... Far bigger than I ever imagined.”

“Don’t worry. Even outside the game, there are plenty of other worlds and even outer space. In the grand scope of things, your power only plays a small part in the picture.”

“Somehow that’s actually convincing coming from you,” Touko replied with a laugh. “I feel like everything will be okay. I can live with a little more peace of mind thanks to you. Because if I ever lose control, you’ll make sure to stop me, right?”

“But I know you won’t, Touko.”

In her own words, she might just be a weak human, but...

“You’re too kind.”

“Huwah...?”

Touko let out a strange noise, taken aback by the sudden compliment. She must have been embarrassed, because she quickly turned away.

“I think I figured out why you’re always surrounded by girls,” she said, fiddling with her bangs.

I could get why she was feeling bashful, but I didn’t think it was anything worth blushing over.

“Rekka!”

As I was chatting with Touko, Satsuki and the other girls spotted us and came over. Though my first high school festival was long, fraught, and exhausting, I think everyone ended up having fun in the end. Maybe next year I’ll join the festival committee proper so I can help President Momone plan something even bigger and better... It might have just been wishful thinking, but all kinds of grand, dreamy thoughts passed through my mind as the seemingly magical night wore on. Endless possibilities lay ahead.

—Fin—