Vol 6 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Volume 6

Maria Otonashi+'s elder sister, Aya Otonashi+, is dead That's what the records say, at any rate

I discovered this before the events of the 'Ga into Maria Otonashi+'s background, hoping to improve my control over my 'box'

Maria Otonashi+

She is the second daughter of a high-ranking executive orked for a large finance firm The house she lived in with her fae, her hborhood in the Hyougo prefecture The age difference between her parents was rather great; when Maria was fourteen years old, her father was already in his sixties, while her mother was just thirty-five On top of that, Maria's e's third wife

Clearly, Maria's family situation was rather…complicated This held equally true for Maria's relationshi+p with her sister Aya Aya's birth e's previous wife In addition, Aya was only three rade

In order to avoid drawing attention to this state of affairs, Michishi+ge sent theh schools

According to irls were polar opposites

Aya, the elder sister, really stood out She was extreht, athletic, and popular to boot No one was surprised when she took on prominent positions like president of the student council; every student knew her name

Her little sister Maria, on the other hand, was quiet and reserved Apparently, her failure to stand up for herself led to a lot of teasing while she was in eleht have been why she frequently complained of headaches or stomachaches, which allowed her to stay at home or seclude herself in the infirrades left much to be desired

However, the true problem student was not Maria, ouldn't open up to anyone and was frequently absent, but Aya, the seely superb student

Soifted student can be a source of trouble, especially if she's fully aware of her gifts, and displays them unabashedly

Aya was more academically talented than her teachers, and didn't hesitate to correct their errors When bullying took place in her class, she dealt with it far more effectively than any teacher could When there was a disagreelehandedly refuted hih that teacher was supposed to handle the matter

Aya rapidly proved that she was sharper-witted than her teachers, and the difference in ability was so glaring that even her classmates were aware of this

There was no way that they would respect such incompetent teachers Aya had deeply under in disobedient behavior on the part of all her classmates Their condition deteriorated—not blatantly, but in an uncanny manner that would not become noticeable until some serious incidents occurred

For exaed in self-mutilation and attempted suicide

Three teachers lost their jobs because they came in contact with Aya One became a burnout, one attacked a student, and one fell in love with Aya and began to stalk her

Despite their disparate personalities and different birth ood ter over the phone, or spending ti hands A classmate of Aya's who joined them from time to time told me:

”They were totally close to one another! And more than sisters or friendstwins? No, that still doesn't feel right I guess what fits best would belovers?”

My investigation failed to uncover any dark side to their relationshi+p Considering the ”complexity” of Maria's family environment, I came across remarkably few proble Aya's e had divorced after Maria was born), either, because she had been taken care of with a generous financial settlee was fully aware of his unconventional familial situation, and had properly dealt with it

Of course,documented records and via secondhand inquiries It's impossible to learn the details of ent on between them without actual firsthand involvement However, it's definitely true that there was no obvious familial crisis, as was the case with Ryuu Miyazaki and Riko Asami

However, the Otonashi+ family is no more

Everyone except for Maria died in a traffic accident

The details of that accident remain unknown because there were no witnesses; two cars collided head-on, and the driver of the other car died instantly

Save for Maria, who had stayed hoeable fact

Maria Otonashi+ was alone

Unable to open up to anyone outside of her immediate and deceased family, Maria Otonashi+ was alone in the truest sense of the word

After her parents' estate had been dealt with and custody of Maria awarded to Michishi+ge's younger brother Kyohiko, Maria disappeared without a trace

That is nearly the sum total of what I could learn about Maria Otonashi+

I don't kno she came in contact with the miracle of the 'boxes' after that, nor do I knohat rants wishes and enabled her to acquire her 'Flawed Bliss'

That being said, it had to be related to the loss of her family

Their deaths transformed Maria and instilled an abnor birth to the transcendent person she is today

Interestingly, she was given the opportunity to reinvent herself Thanks to the repetitions of the 'Rejecting Classroom', she had all the time in the world to do so She evolved into a copy of Aya of sorts, perhaps thinking that by becooal

Ah, armed with that stack of information, I should have understood the true nature of 'O' far earlier

No, not quite Linking 'O' to a thing as earthly as her family had been problematic for other reasons

The better you understand the supernatural, the more it loses its mystery Unless you believe blindly in it and abandon all attempts to comprehend it, you will be unable tofrom the mysterious

However, the act of renouncing deeper thought is the very thing that I hate the most

That condition contradicts my 'wish', so there's simply no way I coulda 'box', I thus had to set strict restrictions on the capabilities of my 'box' But thanks to those restrictions, I was able to obtain a 'box' that I can actually handle—the 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment'

Understanding 'O' was only a matter of time

'O'

All along, it was just the initial letter of ”Otonashi+” And given that Otonashi+ uses her sister's name, I'm sure that the correct interpretation of that letter is as follows

'O' stands for—

”Aya Otonashi+”

Otonashi+, Yuuri Yanagi and I are still inside the 'Wish-Crushi+ng Cinema', the 'box' that consists of a crimson movie theater

The theater is so insanely sterile that it sees, and I feel its constant overbearing pressure It keeps chipping away atmy 'box'

As I resist this pressure, I a over a particular question

—It's odd

I look around

We are in a completely dust-free red corridor that forms a perfect circle, and is connected to four theaters Before us lies the entrance hall A digital info panel is displaying the e ”The movie Repeat, Reset, Reset has ended”

So far I have been shown three ainst my will

”Close-Up Goodbye”

”60 Feet and 6 Inches Apart”

”Repeat, Reset, Reset”

They each revolved around my past, viewed from the perspectives of Miyuki Karino, Haruaki Usui, and Maria Otonashi+, respectively It's a gorgeously produced presentation of my sins intended to exhaust me, so to speak Given the number of theaters in this co

Its title reads ”Piercing at Fifteen,” and it's scheduled to run from 22:30 to 24:00 My defeat is practically set in stone if I don't ht

But it's odd

I thought that this duel had already been ended

”Oo?”

Someone asked me a question because of the expression on my face

Maria Otonashi+

No She is no longer that reserved and tiirl; I shouldn't call her that

”Aya I have a question” I speak her na

Ah, no wonder When I firstClassrooirl who is standing beforethe countless time loops as she pursued her ideals, ”Aya Otonashi+”

It was beyond my power to call her ”Maria” ere trapped in those endless iterations In the first place, Maria is a false name that should have sunken into oblivion; it was but a whim that made her mention it No person named ”Maria Otonashi+” existed, nor did Aya ever intend to allow such a person to exist

Thethat intention was a feat that only Kazu could pull off, as one of the few people who could retain their memories across those iterations

In a way, Kazu thwarted Aya Otonashi+'s plans and changed fate

I, on the other hand, could not bring about such a miracle It was i those loops

Therefore, she is and will remain ”Aya Otonashi+” to me, even if she borrowed that name from her elder sister

Without displaying any special reaction to the way I addressed her, she replies, ”What is your question?”

I describe the oddity that I have observed: ”Why hasn't the 'Wish-Crushi+ng Cinema' ended already?”

Aya raises an eyebrow

”What are you talking about? It's because Hoshi+no hasn't destroyed it, that's plain and sih”

”Don't you see what I' why he hasn't done so already His as broken the moment you abandoned your identity as Maria Otonashi+ Wouldn't he naturally give up on this battle? Why is the 'Wish-Crushi+ng Cinema' still intact?”

Right, Aya Otonashi+'s presence here indicates that the fight should be over

Because that means Kazu's scenario of absolute despair has come to fruition

But why are we still here then? Why hasn't he given up?

”It see, Oomine You are unaware of Hoshi+no's true caliber”

”What do you mean?”

”I simplya muscle

”Hah?”

What's that supposed to mean?

Kazu's goal is to provide Maria Otonashi+ with an everyday life free from 'boxes' But that's obviously not possible anymore, since Aya has decided to erase ”Maria Otonashi+” once and for all and enter the 'Cineoal has become impossible; he should know that better than anyone else

And yet his will is unbroken?

”So—you mean—he still thinks he can rescue you?”

”Exactly That guy is abnoroal, whether it's actually achievable or not I'in with”

Incapable of giving up?

That's absurd But as it stands, the 'Wish-Crushi+ng Cinema' hasn't ended yet In addition, I don't think Aya would e Kazu's nature

In other words, she's right

Which means that

”Ah, crap!”

This battle has always been focused on breaking his spirit

Kazu isn't able to achieve his goal now that Aya has made her choice He has effectively lost I'm convinced of that, no matter what he thinks

However, his defeat doesn't , ill both suffer defeat If his will doesn't break and this 'box' isn't destroyed, I will have to watch the fourthat Fifteen After that, my 'box' will break whether I want it to or not, and if that happens,'Dog Huo to waste

As things stand right noill lose as well

How did it coed to nullify his Trojan horse, Yuuri Yanagi, and bring Aya Otonashi+ here Nonetheless, I've reached a deadlock I'h I haven't lost What on Earth is that guy? An undefeatable boxer or so?

I'ainst Kazu

”Otonashi+-san” Yuuri Yanagi suddenly breaks her silence in order to speak to Aya

I listen up in case her comments could lead to a solution to my current dilemma

”In the last fewKazuki-kun by his first name, haven't you?”

Despite getting my attention, all she has to offer is pure rubbish

That really rubsway

”What about it, bitch? Had to confirone their separate ways? You're a nuisance, so shut the fuck up”

”Eeeeh?! What's with that abusive language?! That's nasty! Beside, haven't you been treating ?!”

”Of course, your time in the sun's over Aya is already Kazu's ene body and keep silent, or you'll just get us all bogged down”

”I-I'm not even allowed to speak?!”

I ignore her since any response would be a complete waste of time

Though she's right—Aya has changed how she refers to Kazu Most likely, now that they're eneer refer to him in such a familiar way

Enemies

Enemies

”By the way, Aya, let ht: Can I count on you for help? Kazu won't leave you alone as long as his will remains unbroken, so you also need to defeat him”

”Yeah, you can I can't just turn a blind eye to Kazuki Hoshi+no He uard down I still consider hioal”

”I guess so So, I think it's a good idea to join forces until he's taken care of What do you say?”

Aya keeps silent for a moment, but eventually opens her mouth ”I detest that 'box' of yours, the 'Shadow of Sin and Punishainst ree that we are alike, I won't ever agree with your approach”

”So you have no intention whatsoever of cooperating with me?”

In that case, my hands are tied

Kazu still hasn't given up despite the dire straits he's in If there is a way to break his spirit, then Aya's bound to be part of it

”No I shall give you a hand”

It comes as no surprise that I'm relieved to hear her say that

”Crushi+ng him definitely comes first in ation to assist you—I'oals For instance, you're constrained by a ti you”

”The saoes for me I'll betray you if required”

”Fine”

”Okay, then hoe get started? I can't coht now, but you can, right? Tell me: What is the most effective way to attack Kazu?”

”” Aya remains silent

I'ht actually be able to co I overlooked, since she knows Kazu so well The other reason is that I want to confirm she really has completely abandoned him

While I'm pretty sure she has cut off all ties, I remember the depth of their relationshi+p It wouldn't surprise s for Kazu were still present at soht propose a half-hearted plan because deep down, she's still attached to him If that's the case, she'll be a burden as a partner, and I'd be better off taking advantage of her asher away from Kazu

However, Aya's reply is:

”I'll just have to forget about Hoshi+no”

It's a reply that rules out any lingering attachht still possess

”I can easily forget about hi will re world That's all we have to do”

Her plan will—

Her plan will succeed

Kazu only hasn't given up—and still has hope—because he knows that he's someone special to Aya

Put differently, that's all he has left; without it, he won't even have a glimmer of hope anymore

So they just have to becoers The special bonds between them just have to vanish

However—

”But Aya”

Her suggestion makes my hands tremble

How can she say so?

He and Aya were a tea bonds Deep bonds that shaped them into totally different people

Nevertheless, Aya Otonashi+ proposed to trash those bonds without a second thought

”Aya, are you really okay with that?” I ask offhandedly, but the answer is apparent

She is Otherwise, she wouldn't propose soin with A superhuet about Kazu There is no comparison between me and an ubermensch like her

However:

”I'm not”

”What?”

I freeze

I didn't expect that I would have been unsurprised if she'd said that she didn't care at all, but I didn't see that co

”Of course I'm not okay with that If I were, I wouldn't have tried to stay with Hoshi+no for so long I would be denying the truth if I refused to ad as I deny that, I can't oppose him”

Aya is clearly saying that it hurts to forget about Kazuki Hoshi+no

But that doesn't make sense!

”But then—”

How can she make such a proposal? One that cos?

”It doesn't matter what Hoshi+no is to me”

”Why?!”

”Because s do not pose a threat to my plans”

”———” I holdwith absolute conviction

”I don't take heed of feelings that stand in the way of oal My mind is not that weak My will shall not be swayed by s”

Seeing how transcendentally she behaves—how she can exas fro is evident

She's telling the truth

”I'rants wishes In other words, a 'box'”

Of course that's just a figure of speech; Aya is by all accounts a hu that she lives her life with inhuman resolve

But she really does live that way

For Aya, the sole oals She doesn't let her feelings or desires interfere with those goals in any way—not even for her dearest friend or to avoid her own death

—MachinePuppet'Box'

I also aspired to such perfection

I also sought to create a perfect world

But after seeing how she burst the boundaries of huine myself at her level?

””

——Impossible

It would have been easier to tolerate if she'd said that she were okay with forgetting about Kazu, because that's so my heart

But that's not it Even while experiencing such extreoal

I can't do that

Impossible

At the end of the day, I'm just human

Even worse, I am—

Suddenly, the 'Shadows of Sin' within e

”Argh!”

Even worse—I ht lose my ability to resist the pain caused by the 'Shadows of Sin', even though I accepted that pain in order to [control] others The 'Shadows of Sin' shriek and rage whenever I leave the worse

I clenchthrough my veins Why does self-inflicted pain hurt so much?

Will my 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment' break after I've watched the next movie? Haha, can I even hold out until the movie starts? Maybe I'll be ruined even before that The pain is unbearable; awaiting my inevitable ruin is equally unbearable

Why am I mediocre to the core?

Why was I born as a regular person, incapable of perfor miracles?

I touch e I don't want to revert to the fool that I used to be I want to keep offering resistance against this Godforsaken world

But,

But,

But, in reality—

Light Darkness Sea World Hotel Womb Joined hands Tears Victory World Skin Cold Cold Catcher's mitt on my left hand Numbness Difference in talent Envy Dreaarettes Burns shi+vers Fear Hatred Hatred Hatred Hatred Hatred Hatred Hatred Sin Punish

I touchrestlessly

When did I create a hole in ht forces me to recall the person I hate the most Miyuki Karino

Rino was unable to repent for what she had done She didn't realize that she had done so I had toher a lesson for what she had done to Kiri; doing so was the only way for me to live with the unfairness of the world That's why I acted the way I did I decided not to forgive her until she showed regret But Rino wasn't aware of her guilt; she could only offer superficial apologies Because of that, I couldn't forgive her, nor did I intend to ”Please tell me what I have to do!” Why can't you come up with that yourself? ”I love you I did what I did because I've always been in love with you, Dai-chan” Stop fucking withto makethatto tellRino I couldn't believe what I was doing Attacking a childhood friend ofto violence caused h I could feel the violence I was doing, it was like an out of body experience That guy beating Rino wasn'twithin me who had defied my control ”I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!” You don't say sorry to someone who hurts you, damn it!

Nothing was solved

Nothing was solved

There was no solution for anything

I was completely powerless without a 'box'

I know I'h in that hotel I kno Rino feels about ths: she's cheerful, sociable, considerate, sys and saddened by bad things I know she's not a bad person Yet, I can't forgive her I can't I can't forgive her That's why a conflict occurred Even though attacking her was anathema, I had to do it Consequently, I fractured my mental perception of Rino and erased the part that caused the conflict I forgot that we had been friends since childhood

And so I cornered Rino

I dyedI wanted to become a different person from the old ”Daiya Oomine” If my sociability was the reason for what had happened to Kiri, I wanted to destroy it

I don't need anyone to tell me that I'm nobody special

I can't become like Aya Otonashi+

The only thing that distinguishes s from a more abstract viewpoint

And that's fine

—That's perfectly fine

I finally ain control of myself

”What's wrong, Oomine?”

”A-Are you okay?”

Aya and Yanagi are talking to me

”It's nothing”

hell, why am I so nervous?

I may still have weaknesses, but there's no need to be so pessimistic

If I can't handlethem I don't have to confront them head-on like Aya does I've always kno to sidestep my emotions, and thanks to reat weapon I should be proud of my qualities

After getting a grip, I speak up again

”Aya Getting back to your proposal, I agree that we should make use of the 'Flawed Bliss' to defeat Kazu Do you already have a specific plan?”

”No, not yet I've only just come up with that idea, after all”

I thought so Aya Otonashi+ is surprisingly bad at coht principles ie in indirect attacks Yeah, even Aya has weaknesses; why bother coths with hers?

”Can I ask you to share your thoughts, Oomine?”

”I' you lose your memory will prove effective But there's no point unless we let hiht?”

”He would find out about it soon enough even if we didn't, right?”

”Soon enough for you, maybe, but I don't have time I need to confront him directly with your memory loss”

”Mh In other words—”

”Yeah, we'll have to use the 'Flawed Bliss' right before his eyes”

”While it is possible to slip into a 'box', it's iet out I'm in here now, so that means that we'll have to—”

”Call hi Cinema',” I say as I complete her sentence

That's the prerequisite for breaking Kazu's will

”But hoe do that? It's much more beneficial for our enemy to hide somewhere safe and wait for your 'box' to break Hoshi+no just needs to wait another two hours or so I don't think he would risk co here”

”That shouldn't be too much of a problem if we use my 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment'”

”Besides, who do you plan to use 'Flawed Bliss' on, Oomine?”

”It depends on what Kazu does next, but right now the three of us are the only ones here Which means that there's only one real candidate,” I say while looking at Yanagi

”Huh?”

”Great news, isn't it, Yanagi? You've just gotten a new role and regained some value!”

”Eh? Huh? Ah” sheat

Aya steps between i and takes on a protective stance

”Sorry, but I have no intentions of using my 'Flawed Bliss' on anyone who doesn't seek my help Not even when it's required to defeat Hoshi+no”

I see Her rules remain the sae efficacy over avoiding the use of others?

No, in a sense that was to be expected If she acted otherwise, it would contradict her goal ofothers happy

”Okay I guess I'll have to find someone else then”

I iive in, so I use some empty words to smooth this matter over for now

Aya nods slightly She seems content

To be honest, it's a breeze for i ask for help since I have absorbed her 'Shadows of Sin' She suffered deep scars during the 'Game of Idleness'; since her sin is worse thana bit of salt into that wound will do

Of course, Yanagi isn't the only candidate I could use any of Kazu's friends to make Aya lose her memories of him

However, I can't blindly hope that souaranteed sacrifice

After reaching that conclusion, I return my attention to our discussion

”We'll bring Kazu into the 'Wish-Crushi+ng Cinema' before the last movie ends, and then we'll use the 'Flawed Bliss' on one of his friends before his eyes Noe actually accomplish this?”

”Yeah You stated that doing so wouldn't be difficult; could you elaborate?”

”How to go about it, hm”

How about threatening to kill Aya if he doesn't abandon the 'Cinema'? I don't know if the threat is credible or not, but Kazu is likely to obey if Aya's involved, even if the threat seems fishy

So can I use the 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment' and coht be surprisingly difficult to reach him in the time I have left Jeez, if I had the help of 'O' it would be no prob———

—Do you have a wish?

———No, wait I' i Cinema', anyway?

He obviously received his 'box' from 'O' He asked 'O' for help in order to defeat me

'O' is on Kazu's side, not on mine

I know for sure that 'O' gave him a 'box' Unless they have become enemies since then, I have to account for the possibility that they're cooperating

Let's pretend that I executed my plan to threaten hi ht reveal that it's just a bluff if she doesn't like the direction that things are taking? Can I rule that out?

No, I can't That scenario is perfectly plausible

So I'll also have to outwit 'O'

'O' isn't quite o that happens If I blurt out my plan, chances are that 'O' will become aware of it However, 'O' can't read minds I can hide my intentions if I keep silent about them; she's no more than human in that respect

In other words, I have to'O' believe that things are going well for Kazu and hiding my true plan from Aya

What the hell? That's ridiculously complicated

”Oo trouble co up with a plan?”

I gaze at Aya's face

Expressionless A face that is concealing her feelings

Suddenly, a few lines from Repeat, Reset, Reset come to mind

”I knohat such a 'wish' leads to It ends in,”

Ruin

”But ould I do if you learned about the 'boxes' and obtained one nevertheless? I would not take it froht not oppose you”

”Maybe I'd teaain—No, that's out of the question I wouldn't cooperate with you Nor would I want to interfere in any way Our aims just happen to lie in the same direction We were never supposed to become partners Yes, in reality, we are—”

”Kindred spirits, I guess”

”How nostalgic,” Iso

Those suddenone of those endless iterations, are confounding me

—What is 'Aya Otonashi+' to me?

For Kazu, 'Aya Otonashi+' is an eneht to call her Maria—into his everyday life, and because 'Aya Otonashi+' is the reason that Maria calls herself a 'box' and has given up on being huoal

However, for me it's quite the opposite I don't want her to be 'Maria Otonashi+'

””

I don't?

Why?

Because Aya's goal and ? Because ere also cooperating within the 'Rejecting Classroo None of those possibilities feel quite right

My need for her is more fundaoal

There's no need for oal In the near future, I will break under the burden of oal by then But I don'tas there is someone who takes on es for the better I don't care if I die, hated by everyone and treated like trash

But in that case—

Aah I got it I knohat Aya Otonashi+ is to me