Part Eighteen: Peace

"Previous life…?" Nozomi questioned, "What are you talking about?"

'You know what she's on about?' Nozomi asked Tamashi.

"No fuckin' clue," Tamashi admitted, "It's rare for me to not know something like this, though. I do know who Uto-chan is, though."

"He doesn't know yet," Gura tugged on Amelia's dress, "Are you sure we should tell him? Especially since he looks just like those bad guys?"

"Yeah, we can tell him," Amelia said, "He's not like them."

"Alright," Gura pulled back, "I trust you, Ame."

"So… what's this previous life business all about?" Nozomi asked.

"You see this?" Amelia pointed to a stopwatch in her hand, "This is a time machine I invented in my previous life. I was an inventor back then, and I was known as Amatsuka Uto."

"Uto-chan's never mentioned this to me before…" Tamashi pondered.

"After some insane bastard angered the gods and tried to overthrow them using the combined power of five sealed deities, the gods released Niku upon the world," Amelia retold, her eyes drifting off, "I… had to see a lot of people die. It was horrible. And I couldn't take it anymore. So I used this time machine to prevent that insane bastard from attempting his plans.

"But it would seem even time travel couldn't fix the foolishness of humanity," Amelia rolled her eyes, "As the world I left behind reordered itself. This is where the Mirror came from."

"Wh-what…?" Nozomi stumbled back.

"What the hell…?" Tamashi seemed even more shocked than Nozomi did, "Th-that's impossible… the Mirror's been around since the beginning of time…"

'She said the universe reordered itself when she time traveled…' Nozomi reminded him, 'It could be that the universe made it so the Mirror was there since the beginning of time.'

"I…" Tamashi began, "I might just throw up…"

"So, how did you hear of the name Amatsuka Uto?" Amelia interrogated, "It's not something anyone should know, considering it's my old name from a previous world line."

"When I was talking to you and Gura earlier," Nozomi began, "I blinked and suddenly appeared in the sky. Stumbling to my feet, I found a girl with blue hair and a short blue dress, with blue eyes quite similar to your own, Amelia."

"The physical description matches what I used to look like," Amelia nodded, "Although I have no idea why I'm wearing a blue dress. Continue."

"She introduced herself as Amatsuka Uto, and as she looked into the sky she expressed her happiness that you and Gura got together," Nozomi described, "When I asked her how she knew Amelia, she laughed and said she was Amelia. Before I could ask her anything else, my vision faded and I was back in the real world."

"That's weird," Amelia put her fingers to her chin, "I was never the mysterious type back then. But I guess we all change."

"Tamashi also said she knew Uto-chan," Nozomi claimed, "He hasn't said anything substantial about it yet, though."

"It's a mystery to me, too," Amelia shrugged, "I know I'm a detective and stuff, but I'm sure we'll figure it out."

'You sure you don't wanna speak up?' Nozomi asked.

"I'm good," Tamashi claimed, "I've only spoken with her once or twice, and the conversations have been quite short."

'I see,' Nozomi nodded, looking at Amelia.

"Do you ever regret going back in time?" Nozomi asked. The blonde-haired girl winced slightly.

"If you asked me a week or two ago, I would have said yes, it's my biggest regret," Amelia looked down, "But with the help of a few amazing girls, I've since decided to move on. It isn't my fault that the Mirror exists, and now I can keep on going without living each day with a burden on my heart."

"That's honestly quite heartwarming," Nozomi smiled.

"Oh, even when I was still blaming myself, there was one thing I always regretted in my first life," Amelia remembered.

"What's that?" Gura asked.

"It's that I never summoned the balls to ask you out," Amelia giggled, looking into the shark girl's blue eyes, "It's something I made sure to do on my second runthrough."

"Wait, you liked me even back during your first life?!" Gura gasped.

"I'm surprised you haven't gotten it yet," Amelia smiled, patting the shark girl's head, "My love for you transcends world lines."

Nozomi chuckled at the two blushing newlyweds, who quickly withdrew from each other when they remembered the glasses-clad teen was watching.

"Uh, I'm sorry if this ruins the mood a bit, but…" Nozomi began to ask, "Who was this 'insane bastard?"

"That's…" Amelia and Gura shared concerned expressions, "That's probably something you should find out for yourself, or at least speak with Tamashi about. It's not our place."

"I… see…?" Nozomi nodded, somewhat confused.

The three walked off of the balcony, looking towards the happy group of people. Nozomi looked at them with determination.

"Peace…" Nozomi thought out loud, "It's something you don't really treasure when it's there, yet people will slaughter their fellow man to obtain it."

"What, you a philosopher now?" Amelia teased.

"Nah, it's never been my strong-suit," Nozomi shook his head, "But I will share with you my life's philosophy."

"It better be wise…" Gura said.

"My life's philosophy is…" Nozomi began, " 'Don't die and don't let others die.' "

"I see…" Amelia thought for a moment, "That's kind of stupid."

"Yeah, I know," Nozomi put his hand on his neck in embarrassment.

"But it's honestly quite sweet," Amelia smiled, "You barely know us, yet you're so devoted. I appreciate that."

Nozomi smirked, gazing at the group of smiling faces.

"I won't let any of you die."

...

"Poor thing," Miyabi frowned, taking a long look at the white-haired girl in the vat of green liquid, "I can't believe they're doing this to you… you'll be out of there soon, I promise…"

He summoned a branch from a cherry blossom, quickly disappearing into the ground and appearing outside.

...

"You good, Mouse?" Connor grunted, brushing off dust from his suit.

"Hah! I should be asking you that, Connor," Ironmouse scoffed, "You barely have any fighting experience, don't you?"

"I mean, I guess not," Connor admitted, putting a rose back in his suit, "I'd like to say I'm a natural, though."

"Oh please, Connor, I had to save you like four times," Ironmouse rolled her eyes as the staff she was clutching faded away.

"Tch, you've got nerve, Mouse," Connor rolled his eyes, "But still, those things were weird. Any idea why they attacked us?"

"I know as much about this place as you do, dumbass," Ironmouse said, crossing her arms. Just then, a red-haired boy emerged from the ground, with yellow eyes, a white cloak, and a cherry blossom petal in his hair.

"Oh, uh, hello," the boy awkwardly waved, "I wasn't expecting to see anyone…"

"Who the hell are you, fucker?" Ironmouse vulgarly said, summoning her staff. It had a bow-like "arrowhead" at its tip.

"H-hang on! I'm sure we can talk this out!" the boy waved, "I'm Hanasaki Miyabi! I'm from the first generation of Holostars and I woke up in this place against my will!"

"Huh, he's kinda like me then," Ironmouse said to Connor, once again making her staff disappear, "I mean because he's a V-tuber that woke up here without his consent."

"D-did I get summoned here because I got a Live 2D…?" Connor questioned, facepalming, "Ugh, I should have never gotten that thing…"

Ironmouse giggled at the white-suited man's unfortunate, while Miyabi just watched as the chaos unfolded.

"So, uh…" Miyabi said, "I know where a few more people are trapped, and I can get you in there, I just need some extra manpower. You guys in?"

"Sure," Ironmouse smirked, "Better than just waiting around in this hellhole."

"Mouse, are you not the least bit worried?" Connor asked in disbelief, "Not afraid of getting hurt? Or dying?"

"Oh, sure I'm afraid," Ironmouse nodded, "I'm just pretty good at hiding it."

"You're stupid, Mouse," Connor shook his head, turning to Miyabi, "I'm in, too."

"Great," Miyabi smiled warmly, "Come over to my place. I'll tell you everything."