Epilogue

Itsuki woke up.

The world greeted him with stark white walls, unblemished, and the setting sun, every so beautiful.

A world filled with the soft and waning noises of the afternoon on its way to becoming night. buildings turning on their lights one by one, as the sounds of engines and tires lowly reverberated in the city ahead of him.

A beautiful and peaceful city shone in his eyes, which softened at a sight so heart-warming, so peaceful.

Itsuki turned around. At that moment, he was met with a small, light missile. Her head landed on his chest, and her arms tightly hugged him.

He heard soft sobbing and a tight hug that threatened not to let him go. Instinctively, he headpatted her and looked forward.

For a moment, he saw silhouettes of the past overlap with the present. For once, their faces were proud. They nodded to him and went their ways, vanishing into the ether.

Now, just the present was before him, as was revealed in full glory. Shu Jinko, Yae, Ran Nejima. And hugging him, Yaya.

“Hey there, people, he woke up?” The last voice she heard as she entered was Madoka.

Itsuki looked confused at them. Nejima didn’t return his gaze; he merely looked away, a hint of shame on his face.

Yae had a hint of satisfaction, while Shu had a proud look on his face, and Madoka kept her usual happy outlook.

“Mister Itsuki! Please don’t throw your life away so carelessly! I don’t want you to die!” Yaya cried over him, as Itsuki was just more and more confused over what had happened.

Yae stepped forward, sensing his doubt. “You nearly died. You just saved Madoka and kept her from being drained dead by that thing.” Yae said with a smile, which turned soft and kind.

“It gave Madoka time to banish that thing, it restored her health, and that of a few other people in a coma, who also awakened a few moments ago.” Itsuki crooked his head to the side.

Memories slowly cleared in his mind, a veil over them lifted. He remembered channeling something he was not sure if it was his power or something brought from the past.

He hit that thing with all of his might, and Madoka banished it. He nodded his head. “You nearly died doing that, doofus. Your body was fuming and bleeding all over. It is a miracle you survived, even with Shu’s help.”

Itsuki’s eyes widened as Yaya held him even tighter, with all the strength her small frame allowed her to use. Itsuki patted her more softly, as if to soothe her fears away.

“Don’t worry, Yaya. I won’t die so easily.” He was a survivor, through and through. His words reassured them and also worried them about him. They were talking about Itsuki, after all.

Not and not getting messed up was not mutually exclusive. Shu walked forward and also hugged him. “For a moment, I thought we would have to expel you eventually, man. It is nice to see you are finding a better path.” His hug took Itsuki aback. He looked over to the rest of the Student Council members.

Both Yae and Madoka held their thumbs up; Nejima grunted.

Itsuki thought he didn’t deserve it; he was not finding a better path, far from it. Yet, something in his heart made him return their hugs, tightly.

It felt nice to feel this warmth. It felt true.

It felt real.

His reality.

He learned into their hugs. Madoka soon joined him. Nejima tried to step away, but Yae elbowed his side as she went to join the group hug. With a defeated sigh, Nejima too joined.

Itsuki didn’t know what they had seen in him, or what he did to make them change their minds about him.

They all had their reasons.

Yaya simply liked him; she never doubted him.

Shu could see something had changed in Itsuki, his eyes not so void after all, a new light gleamed in them. A light so human and vulnerable. A vulnerable side, he was fine with showing them in that moment. His truest self, and there was nothing more manly than showing his true self to others, his weaknesses.

Madoka knew who Itsuki was in the past, and who he was in the present, yet the person before her, his future, was nothing like he once was. He was way more tease-able, much like Momo. She could tell his tough act was a bravado with a glance; it would be fun to tease him, but also to see him grow past what he once was, like a flower that has just blossomed for the first time.

Yae saw through his heart. It was not as turbulent as it once was, while it still had storms, a sun shone on the horizon. He saw that whatever was afflicting him was gone now, all the bloodied washed away by rain, a new beginning. She didn’t trust him fully, but she trusted him enough not to go to bad paths again and resist the urge to give in to violence when it called.

Nejima didn’t like Itsuki, not a bit, but he saw his face on his broken body. There was not a single ounce of regret on that pace. He held his own, and would lay his life for Madoka at that moment. A man’s measure was what he was able to rise above, and for now, Itsuki had risen above enough to warrant their trust again.

Itsuki leaned into the group hug, in their warmth. It felt nice to be part of something bigger once again, to feel like he mattered, beyond what he was able to provide, beyond the violence and the pain.

He felt at peace again.

For now, he had places to be. And one last thing to do, but that could await, that hug, their presence, was what mattered to him the most.

It took a few hours for the hospital to let him get out after a few exams. It was well into the night.

Before him were a bunch of things from his old life. Of his vengeance, of her, things he has kept.

They were all gathered before him, coated in gasoline. In his hands, a portrait of her. Something he kept close to his chest, in places he could always see back in his first hideout.

He threw it with the other things.

Someone joined his side. Her eyes were grave as always. “Those were all your stuff. Are you sure you want to burn them?” Momo questioned him. Itsuki’s answer was to light up a match.

“I need to get rid of them, of my past.” He threw the match, and soon flame consumed his old stuff.

All objects related to his old vengeance and obsession.

On another part of the Fujiwara Ward, his old hideout burned too, a short-circuit igniting the place ablaze, as if feeling the old feelings and hauntings that permeated it burning in the wind.

“I need to find another solution. One not that craved by violence and hurt. I… need to find a new way, Momo,” he spoke solemnly, but resolute.

Momo nodded by his side, as the flame burned, reflected in their eyes. “I will be leaving the Fujiwara-Senki. I need to find my own way, my path. I hope you understand.”

Momo closed her eyes and extended her fist towards him, hiding her face by looking away. “I… understand. Make sure to make it count, then. I will not forgive you if you become a hobo passing out on the streets again.”

Itsuki extended his fist towards hers, a fist bump shared between them. Momo held back tears and bit her lip. They went through much together; it hurt to let him go, but she knew it was the better path for him, to let him fly with his wings.

“I won’t. If the Fujiwara, if you ever need me again, I will be by your side, Momofuuki.” Itsuki said teasingly, a small blush appearing on Momo’s face. Wordlessly, they gave each other their backs and walked out.

Fate had laid its hand on them.

Although he would travel through darkness, there was a light at the end of his path. A light not even a cruel, sadistic mistress, or an unrelenting lord could vanquish.

In Itsuki’s pocket, a small letter hung out.

“If you ever want to hang out with other awakened, feel free to join. - Xo Xo, Marisa, from ID”