Prologue: The Monologue of Nanase Tsubasa

I can still vividly remember the shock I felt that day.

Of the cruel reality that presented itself to me without warning.

The light of the evening sun shining throughout the old apartment.

A long, large shadow slowly swinging from side to side like the pendulum of a grandfather clock.

Despite looking straight at it, I couldn't understand a thing.

That warm hand that would caress my head.

That gentle smile that healed my soul.

That sincere gaze that taught me admiration.

That silent, blank expression that brought me to the edge of despair.

A strong, gentle person who worked harder than anybody else without ever giving up.

In no way is it right for such a person to forever remain unable to grasp hold of their dream.

Of course, I am well aware that I'm contradicting myself here.

But I can't forgive.

It's difficult for one to fight while burdened with feelings of guilt.

Therefore, they assert their legitimacy and fight under the banner of their own brand of 'justice' instead.

And as long as they have that justice… As long as they cling onto that very conviction, they can continue to fight.

But I, with my own fragile heart, simply cannot support such a 'justice'.

And that's why, 『I』 will.

[TL note : From here on out, I will be using 『I』『I'm』『My』and other similar terms to refer to when Nanase uses 'boku' instead of her usual 'watashi'. It will be far more natural to read that way, and I won't need to leave translation notes every time she does it moving forward. If you ever see me using these brackets around one of her terms, it's me signalling that she's speaking with boku. Just a heads up.]

That way… I can retain the will to defeat Ayanokōji Kiyotaka for real.

To send him back to the place he's meant to be.

Because, if I don't, there will surely be a second or even third victim that follows.

And that alone must be avoided, no matter the cost.

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka stood before me, his eyes fixed in my direction.

If there's ever a place or time for me to end all of this─ It's right here. Right now.

And then, I can finally move on to the next step.

After all, my true objective lies far beyond defeating him.

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