"So, Ageha, I have a lot I want to ask you."
I spoke to her once she had finally regained some semblance of composure. I had a mountain of questions for her.
"Fine. I’m finished anyway... Do with me as you please. Boil me, roast me, kill me, rape me—do whatever you like."
Ageha spoke with a listless, hollow air. The moment that word left her mouth, I found myself recoiling. What is wrong with this girl?
Regardless, I shook it off and began my questioning.
"Why did the world perish?"
"Because I nullified the fact that it was ever saved."
"Was that... your doing?"
"Yeah. It was."
"Why would you do such a thing?"
"Because..." Ageha trailed off, took a breath, and then continued. "I love you, Kiska, but you won't belong to me. So, I figured I might as well just destroy the entire world along with you."
She spoke with terrifying indifference. Yeah, she really is out of her mind. And now I’m the one stuck being loved by this psychopath. What the hell am I supposed to do?
"But for some reason, the world refused to perish. When I came to investigate, I found you here, in the world 100 years ago."
"I see."
So that’s how she found me and started her little game of murder.
"There's something else I've been wondering about. Why are there two Agehas?"
This had been weighing on my mind for a while. Every time I encountered her, her personality shifted so drastically it felt like she was a different person. I could still vividly recall the sight of two Agehas appearing simultaneously, one of them cutting the other down.
"It’s just a split personality."
"A split personality? That doesn't explain how there can be two of you at the same time."
"Not necessarily. After all, the 'me' standing before you right now isn't the True Form. My True Form is somewhere else entirely. Think of me here as a Clone. We are capable of housing different personalities within the True Form and the Clone separately."
"I... see."
It was the kind of explanation that made sense in theory but was hard to actually wrap my head around.
"So, which one is the real Ageha?"
"...I’ve forgotten. I don't remember which of us is the original. But I suppose I'm the Aspect in Charge of Malice, and the other is the Aspect in Charge of Goodwill."
Goodwill and Malice, huh? It certainly fit. The Ageha I first met had a much calmer temperament, whereas this Black Ageha was a concentrated mass of spite.
"Hey, Ageha."
"What?"
"If the world is destined to perish, then I want to change that fate."
"Why? As long as you’re alive, nothing but misery happens. Don't you think a World of Void—where nothing exists from the start—would be peaceful, quiet, and far more comfortable?"
"Maybe, but we wouldn't exist in that World of Void."
"I suppose not."
"I want to create a world that’s ideal for me."
I had no intention of ever returning to the miserable wretch I once was.
"What kind of world is that?"
"I'm not entirely sure. But at the very least, it has to be a world where I and everyone else can laugh."
"Heh. Well, if it’s you, you might actually be able to pull it off."
Ageha gave a small, weary chuckle.
"And just so you know, when I say 'everyone,' that includes you too."
I looked her straight in the eyes. I still hadn't figured out exactly what she meant to me. But since I wouldn't be here without her, there was no denying she was an important person to me. That was why I wanted to save her, too.
"Love."
The word escaped her lips in a whisper.
"Love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you."
She began chanting the words like a repetitive curse.
"Kiska, I love you... You really are my Destined One. So, Kiska... please, become mine and mine alone."
"Hey—why are you asking me that with a blade at my throat?"
Ageha was pressing her sword against my neck.
"If you refuse, I’ll kill you. And then I’ll kill myself. That way, we can be together in the afterlife."
Yeah, she’s definitely broken.
"I thought you gave up on trying to kill me."
I reminded her of how she had been the one to break first after our endless cycle of executions.
"...That’s right. I can't kill you. In that case, I'll just die alone."
She shifted the blade, aiming it at her own throat.
"Wait, why does it have to come to that?"
I reached out to take the sword from her.
"No! Stay away!"
"Then stop waving that sword around! It’s dangerous!"
"You're just going to leave me for some other woman anyway!" she screamed.
This was bad. To save the world, I absolutely needed Ageha's cooperation. I had to find a way to talk her down. Actually, I already had a pretty good idea of how to make her listen. I was just... hesitant to use it.
But I guess I have no choice. Time to commit.
"Ageha."
I stepped toward her.
"What!"
Her eyes were sharp and defiant.
"Ageha, look at me."
I held her gaze. She stared back, her eyes wide. As our gazes locked, she looked slightly embarrassed and tried to turn away. I caught her by the cheek, stopping her.
The moment her eyes met mine again—I kissed her.
A sharp clatter rang out as her sword hit the floor. It seemed she had finally let go of it.
"Ageha, listen to me. If you do as I say, I'll give you a reward."
"A... reward? What kind?"
"If I told you now, it wouldn't be much of a surprise, would it?"
She looked up at me with eyes full of desperate expectation.
"So, Ageha. What’s it going to be? Are you going to listen to me, or not?"
"I'll listen!" she asserted instantly, cutting me off. "I'll do anything you say, Kiska! Just... please, don't abandon me...!"
"I won't."
I nodded and gently stroked her hair. She leaned into me, looking genuinely happy.
"Now then, Ageha. Help me save the world."
"Okay...!"
The fate of the world now rested entirely on my ability to keep Ageha happy.