Epilogue

Epilogue

~~~~

"So that's how it is… I was never speaking to Otohito in the first place."

"I did trace his thought process, so in a way, that's not entirely true. The real one is still sleeping."

"That said Koto, why in the world did you do something like this? Even changing yourself to 'Tazuru'."

"I could ask you the exact same thing."

We laughed for a bit and it eased the tension quite a bit.

"'I want to save you.' That's all I was thinking."

"Even though I'm not someone worth saving?"

"If it's to save the person I love, being pure evil has nothing to do with it."

"..."

She was speechless.

"Now back to you, why did you become Otohito?"

"Surely there was another way?"

"That's because…"

"For a bit longer, I wanted to be with you."

What is she saying…

"That doesn't make any sense."

"If it's to save the person I love, logic has nothing to do with it."

Hah…

"...So in the end, all that effort was meaningless. This entire time, I wasn't talking to Otohito. I was talking to you…"

I laid onto the chair I was sitting on.

"It hasn't become meaningless, though."

"Live on, and get out from here."

"This time there's truly nothing stopping you. Go speak with Otohito-kun."

"...What if I said that I would hate you if you don't accept my help…?"

"I'll make you agree, even if I have to kill you."

"...That's a contradiction."

With her arms behind to her back she said "Everything in the world is contradictory"

"...You're right."

She was always right…

"Tazuru"

"Hey, Tazuru"

"Yes?"

"Tazuru"

"I'm listening."

"I'm…"

I couldn't see in front of me.

"...scared of dying… I think… I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. There's nothing wrong with that at all."

"I'm the one who should be over there."

Tazuru starting whispering.

"After this, I'll reveal everything to Nomura-san. Please go along with it."

"You were forced into this by Kazami Tazuru. You wanted to stop the killing but you couldn't do anything out of fear."

"I've arranged for Otohito-kun to be sent to the hospital. Go take care of him and go live with your family."

What is she saying?

"...I can't… I can't do that."

"Everything was done on my orders."

"Your sin of traveling with me ends with this."

"Leave behind the punishment that's meant for me and get out of here."

"...Tazuru…

No…

"Be sure to return home properly."

"I have to go now Koto."

"Stop!!!"

"I love you."

"For letting someone terrible who can't even be called human. A murderer like me."

"YOU CAN'T!!!"

"I CAN'T LIVE BY MYSELF!!!"

"Do one final thing that could be considered right."

"WAIT!!!"

"I'm sure that the only upright part of my heart is you.

"NO!! TAZURU!!"

"TAZURU TAZURU TAZURU… TAZURU!!"

"DON'T GO!! I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU!!"

"I'm really glad."

"That you fell in love with me."

That was the last time I saw Kazami Tazuru.

The moment of her waving her hand goodbye and the door shutting behind her is a scene I will never forget in my life.

Then after about half a year I was found innocent and was released.

Kazami Tazuru's execution was simultaneously carried out.

After that I was let out and I seeked Technician to fix my appearance back to its proper form.

I found out through Nomura-san that there was a suicide who fell from the Tokyo Skytree on the same time me and Tazuru were talking. The DNA was unidentifiable. I had a feeling that it was Sora. I feel bad for him and all I can do is pray that he rests in peace but I find that we would go to hell rather than heaven for the atrocities we have done.

I was reminiscing in a cafe currently.

"It's been a while."

"Thank you for taking care of me during that time Nomura-san."

"Without your help Tazuru's last wishes couldn't have been fulfilled."

"...That was the first time in my life I committed perjury. But just telling the truth then wouldn't have been just. It's also why I quit being a prosecutor."

"...The air around you has certainly changed a lot."

He turned from a prim and proper person who was always seen wearing a suit to just another tired middle aged man.

"Same for you."

I became more reserved. I don't believe that I'm worthy of being with my family ignoring all of the things and sins I have committed."

"Not long ago, I visited Otohito-kun."

"!"

"Naturally he didn't know anything."

"It was as if time had rewinded."

"It's an indescribable feeling.

"And I heard that you still haven't gone back to your family?"

"...I didn't know if I should go back."

"I threw away time with my family and shoes to travel with Tazuru."

"Then I selfishly intended to die. But in the end I got scared and ran away… I can't just go back to living with my family after all this time…"

"MAKE ME ART!!!-"

"I don't know what to do anymore…"

Outside the window next to us there are countless protestors yelling and raising signs…

"MAKE ME ART!!!-"

"MAKE ME ART!!!-"

"MAKE ME ART!!!-"

"MAKE ME ART!!!-"

"...Even after Kazami Tazuru's execution the world hasn't changed at all."

"In fact I'd say it's only gotten worse."

"The number of copycats has increased dramatically. At this rate, we'll reach three times as much as last year…"

"...Are you okay with quitting prosecution then? I would have thought that someone like you would want to do something, Nomura-san."

"I am doing something, actually. Come with me."

"From here I'll be broadcasting a video of Kazami Tazuru when she was alive to the whole nation."

"Eh?"

"I had always felt that the world would become like this. That's why she gave me a suggestion. In order to stop more copycats and followers, she would leave behind a few words."

"Without any confusion, she agreed after just that back and forth."

She introduced me to a collaborator who would help me with the video. On the condition that I didn't pry into their identity, anyways. And finally, we hacked into the airwaves."

"!?"

"Wha… did the police agree to something like this?"

"Of course not. This is strictly confidential."

"This is my… Final Justice."

The large screen that would have news stations started buffering.

"...This is death row inmate Kazami Tazuru speaking. This video is being recorded right before my execution is to be carried out."

Panic ensued amongst the crowd. However I had no time to look or even acknowledge their presence.

"For the final time in my life…"

"What the hell is this!?"

"Is this real!?"

"Kazami Tazuru!?"

"Tazuru…"

"I'm leaving a message here."

"Now then everyone can you explain why killing someone is wrong?"

"Because it's bad? Because it's sad?"

"...Or perhaps… because is it against the law?"

"Wrong. Strictly speaking murder is not prohibited by the law."

"Article 199 of the penal code states this: 'A person who kills another shall be punished by the death penalty or imprisonment with work for life or for a definite term of not less than five years.'"

"In other words, when you kill someone you 'receive a punishment'."

"'Killing is forbidden' has not been written anywhere."

"We live in a country where killing entails a punishment. The reason being that if there were no punishment, the country wouldn't function properly."

"I placed my curiosity above my reverence for that kind of society."

"In exchange for committing crimes that entail the death penalty. I would be able to understand what humans are."

"Because to understand people I had no other option."

"Because I'm just your average person. Because I'm irredeemable scum. Because I'm the worst kind of human being."

"...To the fools who worship and imitate me I say this."

"Do not be like me. Stop copying me, and find an answer in your own words."

"Does that mouth exist only to judge others? Is that brain just a decoration? Are those eyes just pointless orbs floating in your head?"

"Think about it yourself and if I see this nonsense continue for any longer…"

"...Even if I have to revive myself to do it, I will kill you."

Tazuru…

The person I love…

You've gone and left without me…

"That's all for my message from death row…"

"Well then, bye bye."

In a world without you…

"What…"

"Should I do…?"

"Tazuru…"

"---"

Ahh…

'Koto.'

I see…

'Don't be like me.'

'Stop copying me."

'And with your own words…'

'Find your own answer.'

"I…"

"The place I want to go…"

I've been crying a lot lately…

"Dad…"

"Mom…"

"Otohito…"

"Fumi…"

"I want to see you… I want to see everyone again…"

It took me a while to stop.

"Are you alright now?"

"Yes."

"So, what will you do now?"

With a smile I reply.

"I'm going home."

The End.

A/N: Thank you all for reading this webnovel of mine. I know this isn't the best nor had the best story compared to others… (Mostly because I'm just copying and pasting from the manga itself…) But thank you all.