Fifth Loop, Chapter 26 : 断片的な記憶 (Fragmented memories)

My mind was a storm of unanswered questions, each one swirling endlessly like a tempest that refused to calm. And yet, amid the chaos, a single memory clung to me—fragile, yet persistent. It haunted me like a broken melody, lingering at the edges of my consciousness.

I closed my eyes and exhaled a shaky breath.

"Before I blacked out… I saw something." My voice barely rose above a whisper, as if saying it out loud would make it slip further from my grasp. "A girl… holding my hand. She looked at me like I was her whole world. Who was she? Why did it feel so real?"

The other me—if that was even what I could call him—studied me carefully. His usual stoic expression softened, something unspoken flickering in his gaze. Bittersweet. Almost… mournful.

"That wasn't an illusion," he murmured, his voice steady yet heavy. "It was a memory. A fragment of your past, buried deep within your heart." He hesitated, as if weighing whether he should continue. "Do you… want to remember it fully?"

I sucked in a sharp breath.

The war inside me raged on—fear against longing, hesitation against desperation. Did I really want to see it? What if it hurt more than the emptiness I already felt? What if knowing the truth shattered me beyond repair?

But…

That fleeting warmth—the way her fingers had intertwined with mine, the way her eyes had looked at me—wasn't something I could just let slip away.

I clenched my fists, forcing my voice to steady.

"Yes," I said, my determination sealing my fate. "I need to know. I have to."

The other me stepped closer and placed a hand on my forehead. His touch was warmer than I expected, grounding me even as the void around us seemed colder than ever.

"Brace yourself," he warned softly. "This memory is both a treasure and a wound. It may give you strength… but it will also remind you of what you've lost."

Before I could question him, a surge of energy coursed through me. The oppressive emptiness shattered like fragile glass, dissolving into nothingness.

And then—

I was there.

The cold void was gone, replaced by a breathtaking world bathed in golden light. A soft breeze carried the sweet scent of cherry blossoms, their pale petals drifting gently around me. My fingers brushed against cool, dewy grass, and when I looked down, I realized I was sitting on a picnic mat. Beside me, a small basket of untouched treats lay waiting.

My breath hitched.

"What… where am I?" My voice trembled as I took in the scene, my heart pounding against my ribs. "Is this… my memory?"

"Daichiii!"

A voice—clear and bright, filled with warmth.

I turned sharply, my breath catching as I saw her.

A girl ran toward me, her hair swaying with each step. A simple ribbon tied it back, and her blue blouse shimmered softly under the sunlight. She wasn't just beautiful—she was radiant. Her glasses framed sparkling eyes that held warmth, mischief, and something else. Something that made my chest tighten painfully.

Something… familiar.

"Izumi…?"

Her name escaped my lips before I could stop myself, my voice barely above a whisper.

She tilted her head, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "Of course, it's me, silly," she teased, placing her hands on her hips. "Who else would it be?"

My body moved on its own.

Before I could think, before I could question, I was already on my feet, stumbling toward her. My arms wrapped around her tightly, my whole body trembling.

"I thought I lost you," I choked out, my voice raw and broken. Tears burned in my eyes, but I didn't care. The warmth of her in my arms was too real, too overwhelming. "I thought… you were gone forever."

She stiffened at first, startled. But then, slowly, her arms circled around me, returning my embrace.

"Daichi…" Her voice was softer now, tinged with concern. "What's gotten into you?" She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine. "You're acting so strange. Did something happen?"

I shook my head against her shoulder, refusing to let go.

"No… nothing happened." My voice cracked, but I forced a smile. "I'm just… so glad you're here."

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but instead, she let out a soft chuckle. "Well, of course I'm here, dummy." She flicked my forehead lightly. "We're celebrating our anniversary, remember? There's supposed to be a meteor shower tonight. I promised we'd watch it together."

A sharp pain shot through my chest.

Anniversary… Meteor shower…

The words unraveled something deep within me.

This moment. This perfect moment.

It was real.

It had happened once, long ago—before everything fell apart.

Swallowing hard, I forced myself to nod. "Yeah… I remember now."

We sat together beneath the cherry blossom tree, the world around us painted in hues of pink and gold. The first meteors streaked across the darkening sky, and Izumi's face lit up with wonder.

"Look, Daichi!" she gasped, pointing upward. "Isn't it beautiful?"

I barely heard her.

Instead, I watched her—watched the way her eyes sparkled with excitement, the way the starlight danced against the lenses of her glasses.

A soft, nostalgic smile curved her lips as she turned to me. "Hey, Daichi… do you still remember the promise we made that day?"

My breath caught in my throat.

"You told me you would protect me—no matter what happened," she continued, her voice carrying a quiet longing. "I still can't believe it's been almost fifteen years since the day I first met you."

Fifteen years…

She studied me carefully, her amber eyes filled with a warmth that sent a painful ache through my heart.

"You were so different back then," she murmured, leaning back slightly. "Always keeping to yourself, barely talking to anyone… To be honest, you kind of scared me at first."

She giggled, nudging my arm playfully. "You had this really menacing vibe, you know?"

I let out a breathy laugh—one that sounded more like a sigh.

She paused, her expression softening.

"But after spending time with you… I realized something." Her fingers curled slightly over the fabric of her skirt as she smiled. "You weren't scary at all. You were just… lonely."

The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the faint scent of cherry blossoms.

"And you know what?" she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Even now, after all these years… I still believe in that promise you made."

She smiled at me then—warm, gentle, and filled with a quiet trust that made my chest tighten unbearably.

I wanted to tell her.

I wanted to tell her how much she meant to me. How much I wished I could stay in this moment forever.

But before I could speak, exhaustion crept over me, pulling me under like a rising tide.

My body betrayed me.

I slumped against her shoulder, my eyes fluttering shut.

Izumi blinked, startled, but then she chuckled softly.

"You've been acting so strange today, Daichi," she murmured, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

Her voice was the last thing I heard before sleep claimed me.

"But it's okay. I'm here. I will always be by your side, Daichi. Always."

When I opened my eyes, the serene beauty of the cherry blossoms had vanished.

The scent of burning flesh and smoke filled my lungs, thick and suffocating. The metallic taste of blood lingered on my tongue, a cruel reminder of reality. My heart plummeted into the abyss of my stomach as I looked down.

Izumi lay in my lap, motionless.

Her once-pristine white blouse was now soaked in crimson, the delicate fabric clinging to her frail body. Her glasses—those glasses she always pushed up with an embarrassed little laugh—were cracked and askew, barely hanging onto the bridge of her nose. Her chest did not rise. Her warmth, the warmth that had always comforted me, was slipping away.

"No… no, no, no…" My voice wavered, barely more than a whisper. My hands trembled as they reached for her, cradling her fragile frame. I shook her gently, desperately clinging to the hope that she would stir, that she would groan and complain about how rough I was being.

She didn't.

"Izumi… wake up." My voice cracked. The plea tumbled from my lips in a hoarse whisper, my breath shallow, uneven. "Please… Please don't do this to me…"

A single tear dripped onto her pale cheek.

"Don't leave me alone, Izumi," I choked out, my grip tightening around her. If I just held onto her—just a little longer—maybe she wouldn't slip away completely. Maybe the universe would show mercy, just this once.

"You promised… you promised you'd stay…"

I lowered my forehead against hers, my body trembling violently.

A voice cut through the silence like a knife.

"It's over, Daichi."

The words were cold. Unfeeling.

Shadows loomed over me. I forced my gaze up, my vision blurring with unshed tears. Under the dim, flickering glow of a streetlamp, they stood—a circle of ten figures, their presence suffocating. The Judgment.

One of them stepped forward, their voice dripping with condescension. "You should have known the consequences of your actions, Daichi. Refusing to join us was a mistake."

Another spoke, their tone deeper, more commanding. "Now, decide. Will you die by our hands, or will you swear loyalty to The Judgment?"

The man in the center tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable beneath the shadows. "Choose wisely."

I said nothing.

I couldn't.

My arms remained wrapped around Izumi's lifeless body, my hands trembling as I clutched her closer. The weight of her still form in my embrace was unbearable, crushing me beneath its grief. My fingers curled into the fabric of her bloodstained clothes. My breathing hitched.

A storm raged within me—grief, rage, helplessness all colliding in a violent whirlwind.

But in that chaos, one thing burned clearer than anything else.

Their voices.

Their faces.

Their names.

A slow, shuddering breath left my lips. I lowered my head, my bangs casting shadows over my eyes.

Then, I whispered.

"Astra… Leo…"

A pulse.

Raw, crimson energy surged through my veins, rippling outward like wildfire. The air trembled. The very space around me distorted, a violent storm of rage and sorrow manifesting in the form of crackling energy.

The Judgment instinctively took a step back.

For the first time, they looked afraid.

Then—

Darkness swallowed me whole.

I gasped, my breath ragged as I tumbled into the void.

The weight of an unseen force pressed against my chest, suffocating, unrelenting. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the cold nothingness beneath me. My hands shook as I clutched at the empty space, my mind spinning with the flood of memories crashing into me all at once.

Painful.

Vivid.

Inescapable.

"I… I remember it now…" My voice quivered, barely more than a whisper. My wide eyes stared into the abyss before me.

Faces flickered through my mind—smiling, crying, calling my name. Those people. My past.

Izumi.

The images felt so real, so tangible, yet they had been locked away for so long, buried beneath an ocean of forgotten time.

A lump formed in my throat. My fingers curled into fists against the emptiness. My heart ached.

"Izumi…" Her name escaped my lips like a prayer. "I can remember all of them now."

A bitter, hollow laugh bubbled up from my throat. It was filled with grief rather than mirth. "But it's too late, isn't it?" My words dissolved into the void, swallowed by the silence that loomed over me.

The past had returned.

But the person I longed for the most was no longer here to hear me remember.

Then—

A voice.

"Your father, Professor Arata Takahara, foresaw the possibility of this happening."

I turned sharply, my breath hitching.

A figure stood before me. Familiar. Too familiar.

"He created two androids based on you and Izumi, embedding your personalities within them. When the world fell, he transferred your consciousness into the androids, hoping to give you a second chance."

The other me—Alter Daichi—knelt beside me, his golden eyes locked onto mine. "You made a mistake, Daichi. But this second chance isn't just a gift—it's a responsibility. What you do now will decide if their sacrifices meant something."

A second chance.

My hands trembled. My fists clenched.

"Why… why did she have to die?" My voice wavered, grief cutting through every syllable. My gaze dropped. My heart clenched. "She didn't deserve this… none of it…"

A hand rested on my shoulder. Steady. Grounding.

"You can't change the past," Alter Daichi said. "But you can honor her sacrifice."

My throat tightened.

"You still have a chance, Daichi. A chance to make things right. For her. For yourself. For the world."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "How?" My voice cracked. "How do you undo destroying an entire world?" My fingers curled into my palm, nails digging into my skin. "And Izumi… Alter Izumi—she can bend time. She's unstoppable. What could I possibly do against her?"

Alter Daichi didn't flinch. "You're not powerless." His voice was calm, unwavering. "You've survived everything thrown at you. Because you're stronger than you think. And now…"

He took a step forward, his expression softening. "I'm going to give you what you need to finish this."

I stared at him, my breath catching. "What…?"

"My power."

My eyes widened. "But—what happens to you?"

A faint, bittersweet smile tugged at his lips. "I won't be gone. Not really. I'm not giving up my existence—I'm giving it to you."

A surge of warmth spread through me as his hands pressed against my shoulders. Light—golden, radiant—began to pulse from his form, merging with my own.

Memories. Emotions. Strength.

His power became mine.

I felt it.

The hopes of everyone we had lost. The love we held for Izumi. The resolve to finish what we started.

A red glow formed on my palm. The Leo symbol.

Alter Daichi's voice echoed in my mind, steady and resolute.

"You're not alone, Daichi. Fight for them. Fight for her."

I opened my eyes.

And the void shattered.