Epilogue A: The Festival Begins

* * *

The arrest of Caitlin Ann Austin was reported the following day.

"Corporate Security Captain Caitlin Ann Austin, apprehended on terrorism charges."

Caitlin had recruited collaborators through a community of Anti-Reality groups called the Assembly of the Anonymous and plotted to assassinate Koito-senpai. According to the newspaper's estimate, her sentence would exceed four hundred years.

"It's wild that they're still holding Day 3 like normal after an incident like that."

We, Team Koito, were staring up at the brand-new arena. Mef responded to my comment.

"...Well, incidents of that level are a daily occurrence in Fructus."

Different culture, I supposed. Having just come up from the surface, I still hadn't acclimated.

(In the end, apparently there were hardly any casualties either.)

Our class representative, Lan, had fallen for Maestro's temptation and participated in the ritual of Los Devotos del Silencio Eterno. Her life wasn't in danger, and she was reportedly being interrogated in the underground prison in District 12.

"But still, this area was insane yesterday! The Demon Lord's giant was going berserk, the arena was half-destroyed, fires everywhere -- it was a total mess..."

Looking around, you'd never know yesterday's chaos had happened.

"Corporations is especially loaded with talent, after all. They probably had a student with a Half-Wing that 'fixes broken things' or something. No doubt they worked their asses off, though."

From early in the morning, Koito-senpai had been stuffing her face with a hot dog from one of the stalls.

"Ahh, didn't we totally crush it again? Bonuses for sure!"

"I think our Leader did truly wonderful work," said Mef.

"Yeah, gotta admit, when it comes to fighting in the wilderness, she's totally reliable. In everything else though? Zero," added Koshiba, nodding along.

"When our captain doesn't have to think, she's the strongest! Her brainpower though? Zero."

Koito-senpai smiled sweetly.

"Mef. Nyao. You two are getting pay cuts."

"Whaaaat?!"

"Whaaaat?!"

Team Koito was getting along just fine today too.

"What are you looking for, Kotoha-senpai?"

"Huh? N-no, it's nothing..."

-- I had been searching the crowd for the Black Demon Lord.

(The reports said both the Demon Lord and Maestro had escaped, but...)

She was an Apocalypse, and a villain. And yet, I found myself hoping I'd get to see her again. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what that feeling was. But something about her stuck with me -- that much was certain.

"Alright, all missions accomplished, and we're off the clock! Today's a full day of free time!"

Koito-senpai had already ditched her uniform, thrown on some flashy celebrity-looking jacket, perched a pair of tacky sunglasses on top of her head, and was gleaming with excitement, guidebook in hand. She looked like a total tourist.

"Here, participant passes. With these, we can get in anywhere at the Sky Tournament. Nyao and I are going on a food tour, but what about you two, Mef, Kotoha?"

"I..."

Mef started to say something, but I cut her off.

"Mef, wanna go hang out together?"

"!"

Mef's eyes went wide with surprise.

"Kyaah!"

For some reason, Koito-senpai was the one blushing.

"Remember, I promised you before? That we'd hang out sometime. Figured this was a good chance."

"Ooh, really? Then Koshiba should come too--"

Koito-senpai clamped her hand over Koshiba's little mouth.

"Ohohoho. That sounds like so much fun! You young folks go enjoy yourselves. Come on, Nyao, let's go!"

"Mmph--!"

Koito-senpai dragged Koshiba away. That left just the two of us.

"......"

"So, Mef."

"Hyai!"

Mef seemed to be flustered about something. What was up with her? I always tried not to read people's thoughts at times like these. It felt like the right thing to do.

"Shall we go?"

"......"

"Oh, uh. If you've got something else going on, that's totally fi--"

"I don't have anything else going on."

Mef looked away, fiddling with her bangs.

"...It was just so sudden. I was a bit surprised, that's all. It's not like... yes... um... I'll go."

"Great, glad to hear it!"

During this whole ordeal, I'd realized something.

(The Apocalypse Stagnation Committee. -- The world was on the brink of the Apocalypse, and there was so much going wrong.)

People we cared about were getting hurt in places we'd never know about, and there were mountains of schemes and machinations lurking in the shadows.

(But that was exactly why we laughed.)

In our everyday life. In our ordinary days.

No matter how much sadness or hardship hit us, we wouldn't keep crying forever.

When the sun rose, we'd laugh our heads off, recklessly bet our lives, and keep walking forward.

(... Gotta enjoy it while I can. My life's gonna be short anyway.)

-- That was what the Apocalypse Stagnation Committee was all about.

"So."

Mef murmured quietly.

"...Where are we going, exactly?"

"Oh, the hotel."

"The hote--"

Mef stopped dead in her tracks, frantically waving both hands.

"W-wait! No! I mean! Isn't that a little too fast?! I-I mean, even if it's the first da-- outing, going straight to a hotel is...! Ah. No, I mean... it's not that I'm against..."

"Oh, no. I want to go to the hotel's casino."

Mef blinked.

"...Who does?"

"That would be--"

The patter of approaching footsteps rang out.

"Kotton!"

"Lea!"

The silver-twintailed young lady, Léa, high-fived me the moment we met up, bumped fists with me a few times, tapped fingers together rhythmically, and threw in a fist bump for good measure.

"Long time no see, bestie!"

"I've been dying to see you!"

And that wasn't all.

"Master-chan! I'm telling you, this girl Lea is the best. We hit it off so hard. We like all the same stuff -- it's seriously unreal."

"Luna-san is such a wonderful person! That's Kotton's friend for you!"

Luna and Léa had already been at the meeting spot, and it seemed like they'd completely hit it off. Luna and I thought alike, so it made sense she'd get along with Léa too.

"......"

Mef froze for a moment, then smiled.

"Ah, so that's what this is. Right, right. I understand completely. Yep. Got it. ...I knew it would be something like this."

Mef kicked the back of my shoe. Why was she kicking me?

"Mef, this is Léa. She's a student at Chaos Institute and a friend of mine."

"Mef-san! I've heard so much about you!"

Mef tilted her head.

"Heard a lot... meaning?"

"Kotton and I talk on the phone almost every night, and he always goes on and on about Team Koito. It's my first time meeting everyone, but it doesn't feel like it at all!"

"...Every night... on the phone. ...Huh."

Mef smiled.

"Kotoyorozu-kun, you certainly have a lot of female friends."

"Huh? ...No, I don't think so. It's just Magina-senpai besides her."

"......There are more?"

For a split second, I felt like I was being glared at by some ferocious predator, but it was probably just my imagination.

"...Whatever. ...All that nervousness earlier, and for what. ......So stupid."

Mef kicked the back of my shoe one more time, lightly, then smiled in her usual way.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Mehleeza Janebekova. Let's have a wonderful time today."

"Yes! Let's enjoy ourselves to the fullest! Viva casino!"

Léa threw her fist in the air, and Luna and I followed suit.

"Viva casino!"

"Gonna blow my whole savings!"

"...Luna-san, I don't think that's a good idea."

That maid had zero self-control when it came to stuff like this. I'd have to keep a close eye on her.

"In exchange, Kotoyorozu-kun. Treat me to lunch."

"Huh? In exchange for what?"

"Shut it. Just do as I say."

"...I mean, if that's all it takes."

When I muttered that, Mef let out a small laugh.

"...I'll let you off with just that for today."

I didn't really get it, but Mef seemed happy, so that was good.

"Hey, Master-chan. What should we do first? I wanna play some messed-up Anti-Reality games--"

"Oh my, they have those? How scandalous! What wicked games!"

"Corporations has weirdly lax gambling laws for some reason."

We chatted as we walked.

Through this city where, just twelve hours ago, we'd been fighting for our lives.

We walked on, laughing. Together with friends. Without a care in the world.

(-- This was the Apocalypse Stagnation Committee.)

Living like this, and someday, dying like this.