Please don't go

"I was bitter, but I understood that you never did anything wrong. Moreover, music does not lie. Lila was the one who told me that, and I listened to all your songs repeatedly. Each of your songs contains so many beautiful feelings and deep emotions. How could I possibly think of you as a bad person? You always worked hard to make people smile; even when you left, you always thought of Lila so dearly. How could I hate you? Please live a long and healthy life."

Lila felt the tears well up from her eyes and watched as her mother hugged Haruka.

"Thank you, your a very kind child. It wouldn't have mattered to me if I had died sooner. I had such thoughts. I have already received so much happiness. But your right. I have to live a long life." She turned to father and winked. "It would be a waste not to see Yuhi-san as a handsome old man."

"You really-"

….

After she left her parents, she told Haruka to rest in the room and had a long talk with Rinna. Right after Rinna left, she saw one of the servants acting strange and approached her.

'A--a message. T-they told me to deliver this to you.'

When she saw the seal, Lila immediately understood. The reason why Rosalia-chan could enter this mansion was because of this servant. Lila's gaze turned cold at the memory. The girl was begging for forgiveness, but when she recalled Nobuhiko's state, she didn't hesitate to break the girl's arms and send her out.

'That won't kill her, but she won't entertain the thoughts of revenge.'

The message was from Sophia. It was simple; it didn't say give Haruka to her or anything.

Drink this. It will end this situation quickly.

There was a crystal bottle with a strange red liquid inside. The moment she held it, she understood what it was. It was a poison, but not a normal one. Normal methods cannot kill the current her. Her body is dissolving away to become one with the new world. But this would most likely kill her.

If she drinks this, the situation will indeed come to an end—the threat of her resetting the world vanishes. No matter what outcome the fight is, Sophia would have already achieved what she wanted. If she dies, Haruka will fall into despair.

'I can't allow her to win.' But Lila stared at the bottle; how many people have lost their lives since this started? Even though Hyou4 made plans to explain how all those people's deaths are due to train collusion. The pain and agony of losing their loved ones will not vanish.

Her thoughts broke off when somebody snatched the bottle from her hands. Lila exhaled deeply. "I told you to rest."

"I caught that servant on the way out. Tsk, how dare she even give you this?"

"It's okay. I was just looking at it."

At those words, Haruka sat down beside her and stretched her cheeks. "Are you sure? You better not have any weird thoughts. Like your father was so adamant about keeping your mother alive. The same goes for me. You better not think of dying Kanagawa Lila."

Lila blinked when she heard the words that escaped his lips. Oh that's-

Haruka awkwardly ran his hands through his hair. "Does it sound weird after all? If you want a better name, tell me. I could get a name change."

Lila had to stop herself from grinning like an idiot, but she still laughed. Haruka is so cute. She didn't think he would be troubled by this. She rested her head on his shoulder, and Haruka relaxed.

"Are you alright? You seemed a bit shaken when your mother said that stuff earlier."

"Mm, it felt a bit sudden. But I made the final preparations a month after I formed the assembly. We are more than ready to have a final fight with Sophia."

"Your scared?"

"Yes. I'm scared you will do something stupid and let her words get to you."

She disliked the adjustments in the plan. After they learned of the sphere's existence, it became clear that the one to switch it off would be Haruka. Mother could get close to the sphere, too, but Haruka understands how it works better than anybody as one of the creators.

For Haruka to reach the sphere, he will have to face Sophia.

"It's fine; nothing she says now will affect me."

"Why?"

"Because no matter what happens, my love for you will win."

"This mission is still too risky; you could die. The last time when she captured you, she tortured you to the point of insanity. Haruka you- I want you to stay behind." Lila admitted. "Please don't go."

She wants to ensure her mother's safety and ensure that her mother does not go near the sphere. But how could she possibly allow Haruka to walk into Sophia's hands again?

Even now, the horrifying scars Sophia gave him have not vanished. Whenever they did anything, she would see it and burst into tears. How could she have allowed him to get so hurt? She blamed herself terribly for leaving him alone in New York.

'If I never left, he would never have gotten hurt.' Sophia would never have been able to trick him with her around. Even if Haruka says, he is okay and does not blame her. This is a guilt that will never disappear.

Those scars will serve as proof of her greatest sin.

"Why would you go this far?"

For a moment, Haruka is quiet before he turns to her with a serious look in his eyes. Lila knew it was stupid, but she felt her heartbeat increase. Oh no, whenever he looks at her seriously, it is bad for her heart. His hanyou state makes him ten, no a hundred times more handsome than usual.

Haruka placed his hand on top of hers casually. "I am doing this for two reasons. The first one, I told you before that this fight isn't completely unrelated to me, right?"

"You did say that."

Back when she started to investigate Zane's side seriously. Haruka told her that there was a reason why he joined hands with Zane other than protecting her.

She sensed that there was something else even long before then, but she knew better than to ask. Haruka's past was shrouded in mystery. The more she learned, the more she realized it involved opening up his mental scars.