"Yugo..."
"But you overcame it. You keep walking even while carrying the weight of your regrets. You told Claire the truth, you accepted what you did, and you’re still moving forward. Zenon... no, Seto. You’re strong. I mean that from the bottom of my heart."
Zenon took a sharp, quiet breath at the praise. Unaccustomed to being validated like this, he remained silent, unable to find a response. Yugo watched him with a wry smile.
"Accepting your own weakness and moving forward through the tears... it’s incredibly hard once you’re actually faced with it. I guess it makes sense that the people who could pull it off were the ones who became gods."
Zenon didn't quite grasp the full meaning of the words, but he could tell Yugo was trying to settle his own feelings. He desperately searched for the right words to say in return.
"I think you're the strong one. I respect you for never giving up and for continuing to fight through every hardship. I wanted to be more like you. I’m still not there yet, but... I’m truly grateful to you, Yugo."
"...Thanks, Seto."
The two men smiled at one another, calling each other by their names from their previous lives rather than those of this world. Yugo let out a soft breath before speaking again.
"I’m sure you regret doing whatever you wanted in this world. But that doesn't mean it was all for nothing. That regret is what made you who you are now. You learned strength and kindness through all that struggle, and it's because you were here that I’m able to stand here today."
"...And I was only able to return because you were here, fighting for everyone even when things were at their worst. I only got a second chance to stand back up because of you. We’ve been hurt, and we’ve hurt each other... but it wasn't all for nothing, was it?"
"No, it wasn't a waste. We met so we could be hurt, refine one another, and eventually shine. It might have been a long, winding road, but it definitely wasn't for nothing."
With intense trust and friendship in their eyes, Yugo and Zenon—Yugo and Seto—spoke simultaneously with firm, powerful voices.
"Let's win this, Seto. And once we do, let me introduce you to everyone properly. As my new friend!"
"Yeah, let's win, Yugo! Let's seize our future together!"
They nodded to each other, and then Zenon withdrew his mental body.
Yugo placed a hand over his chest, offering a silent prayer for Zenon's safety and tomorrow's victory. Claire’s voice eventually broke the silence.
"Thank you, Yugo-sama. I believe Zenon-sama was very happy to hear those words."
"I should be the one thanking you. I’m constantly leaning on both you and Zenon."
"...It is a strange sensation," Claire murmured, looking at him. "You have the face of Hugo Clay, but someone else is inside. And yet, I cannot bring myself to think of you as a complete stranger. It truly is a mysterious feeling."
The girl who had once been Hugo Clay’s fiancee watched the man before her return her gratitude with a smile. Yugo looked a bit sheepish at her remark, prompting Claire to let out a small breath.
"I feel the same way Zenon-sama does. Let's win and take back the future. I will give everything I have to make that happen."
"Yeah... thanks, Claire. If you guys weren't here, I think I'd be finished. You’ve really saved me."
"The feeling is mutual. It is only because you were here that both Zenon-sama and I were able to recover."
Despite their history as former fiancees, the current Yugo and Claire had surprisingly few points of contact. It felt more like they were building an entirely new relationship from the ground up. It was a strange dynamic, but neither of them felt uncomfortable with it.
"...Maybe I should have apologized before thanking you? I know I caused a lot of trouble for a while," Yugo admitted.
"Please, do not worry about it. You have already done more for me than I could ever repay."
They spoke as if finally settling the accounts of the past. As Yugo felt their old engagement truly come to an end to make way for a new bond, Claire cleared her throat. Her expression grew serious.
"Yugo-sama, regarding tomorrow's strategy, there is something I must ask you."
"...What is it?"
Pressed by the gravity of her tone and her somber expression, Yugo matched her seriousness. Claire looked him straight in the eye, took a deep breath, and quietly posed a question.
"This is just a 'what if' scenario, but—"