Chapter 19

“Why…? Weren’t you going to defeat the monsters on the other floors?”

Takanashi posed the question to Toujou, who shouldn’t have been here.

Toujou took Takanashi’s hand, gently helping her stand as he spoke.

“I already beat them. I took them down quick and came to help you.”

“Wh-Why… come for me…?”

Takanashi didn’t understand.

Even if Toujou had defeated the monsters, why would he come rushing to help her first?

Instead of Kisaragi, Usami, or Saionji.

“Let me ask you something instead. Why did you stay on this floor?”

“Huh…?”

“You knew the monster on this floor was the strongest. So why did you choose to stay here? Why lie to Saionji to do it?”

“…!?”

So he knew, Takanashi thought.

“Takanashi. Are you sure about this?”

When Toujou said that, he must have already realized what I was planning to do.

“B-But… it’s because the President… her feelings for Toujou-kun…”

“…? What about Saionji and me?”

“N-Nothing!”

Having almost exposed Saionji’s feelings for Toujou, Takanashi hastily shut her mouth.

“Th-This isn’t the time for that… W-We have to fight the monster…”

“You’re right. Takanashi, stay back. I’ll take this monster down myself.”

“A-Are you sure you’ll be okay alone?! Let me help…”

“In your state, you’d only get in the way. Takanashi, just rest.”

“…”

Toujou was right.

Takanashi was no match for the monster.

If I join the fight, I’ll probably just be in the way.

Frustrated, Takanashi decided to trust Toujou and leave it to him.

“Are you the one who defeated Venom and Gotees?”

The monster, blown away by Toujou’s magic, approached again.

Chunks of its body had been blasted off by the magical explosion, but they were already starting to regenerate.

The monster seemed to have a powerful regenerative ability.

“What if I am?”

“I heard a mysterious man defeated Venom and Gotees. Considering the damage you’ve dealt me, it’s safe to assume you’re him.”

“Don’t tell me you were also created by someone?”

“Indeed! My name is Orochi. I’m a monster created by that person to defeat you, the one who took down Venom and Gotees! I will be the one to defeat you!”

“‘That person’ again. Who are they?”

“Heh heh… A being so powerful you and I aren’t even worthy of standing at their feet. You and the other magical girls will never discover their true identity. Before that happens, you will die, and the surface will be conquered by us monsters.”

“Was it Gotees I fought before? He said something similar right before I beat him. What do you make of that?”

“I’m not like the small fry you’ve faced! Don’t get cocky!”

“The last one said that, too.”

“I’ll shut that noisy mouth of yours.”

The monster Orochi lunged at Toujou.

Toujou fought back with magic.

“Incredible… Toujou-kun, you’re this strong…”

Toujou was fighting on equal footing with the monster Orochi, a foe Takanashi had been powerless against.

Takanashi, at a loss for words, watched the battle between Toujou and Orochi.

Toujou landed magical hits on Orochi’s body again and again, but each time, Orochi regenerated with its incredible healing ability.

Gradually, however, its regenerative power began to wane, and the monster Orochi weakened.

“I-Impossible… To this extent…”

And then, finally, one of Toujou’s spells struck the center of Orochi’s body.

A hole opened in its massive torso, and Orochi stared at Toujou, its eyes wide with shock.

“Who in the world are you…? To do this to the great Orochi, whose power and regenerative abilities far surpass those of Venom and Gotees…”

“One last question. Who is ‘that person’?”

“If I answer, will you let me live?”

“Of course not.”

“GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!”

The monster Orochi roared and charged Toujou.

KABOOM!

Toujou’s magic blasted through Orochi’s head.

Orochi’s head shattered, and its body collapsed to the ground.

“I-Incredible…”

Takanashi’s jaw hung open. Toujou had defeated a monster on par with the strongest they’d ever faced, all by himself.

Having defeated Orochi almost completely unscathed, Toujou walked back toward Takanashi.

“Now, let’s continue our talk.”

Toujou stared at Takanashi, his expression faintly menacing.

Takanashi swallowed hard.

“Why did you lie to Saionji? With your detection magic, you must have known that thing was the strongest, right?” Toujou said, pointing at Orochi’s corpse.

Takanashi said, averting her gaze.

“I-I just thought if someone had to die, it should be me…”

“So that was it…”

Takanashi flinched as Toujou’s expression hardened.

“I knew something was off. I could also sense the strength of the monster on this floor. That’s why I thought it was strange when you told Saionji to head up. I wondered if you had a plan. But after I went upstairs and beat the monster there, I knew you were lying. The thing upstairs was small fry. That’s when I realized you were trying to sacrifice yourself. And that’s why I came straight here.”

“…T-Toujou-kun, I just… I didn’t want the President, or you, or Mikan-chan, or Chiyo-chan to die…”

“I get it. But promise me you’ll never do something like this again.”

Takanashi flinched, jolted by the serious look in Toujou’s eyes.

Toujou gripped Takanashi’s shoulders.

“Stop lying to sacrifice yourself. I… I’d be sad if you died, Takanashi.”

“From now on, you talk to us. Don’t just decide on your own who to sacrifice and who to save. We’re all on the same student council, right? We’re comrades. We should decide how to handle problems like this together, as a group.”

“O-Okay…”

“If something comes up, rely on me. Don’t just sacrifice yourself without a word. I don’t want anyone to die.”

“I-I’m sorry, Toujou-kun…”

“No, I was wrong, too. I should’ve realized sooner. I’m really sorry.”

“No, it was my fault. I’m so sorry for acting on my own.”

“I’m just so glad you’re safe, Takanashi.”

“Yeah… yeah…”

Tears streamed down Takanashi’s cheeks.

Relief from the fear of death, guilt for trying to sacrifice herself, and the kindness of Toujou’s concern for his comrades—all these emotions mixed together, spilling out as tears.

As Takanashi sobbed, Toujou gently wrapped her in his arms.

Shortly after, more magical girls arrived as reinforcements, and all five monsters in the shopping mall were defeated.

Saionji, Kisaragi, and Usami had each succeeded in buying time while keeping casualties to a minimum, and every member of the student council made it through the disaster safely.