I just wanted someone to acknowledge me.
That was all.
And yet, I had never been able to achieve even that simple thing.
I was afraid. I was desperately, helplessly afraid of exposing my true self, my true heart, to others. So I ran. I lied. I glossed everything over, playing the role of "Amelia Rose."
In the midst of that, I went searching for myself.
But a "true self" didn’t exist.
I was fine just as I was, but I couldn't accept that until now.
I had defined my current self as a fraud... as a tragic heroine... I had simply convinced myself that was the truth.
I despaired, believing there was no meaning to my life, no destination to reach—that my existence was merely a series of mechanical actions.
But everyone... Ray acknowledged me.
He told me I was fine just as I was.
And Ray said he would search with me.
That’s right. Even Ray isn't perfect. He is who he is today because he suffered, worried, and struggled, just like me. It is exactly because he is that kind of person that I can stand beside him.
If I am with him, if I am with everyone, then I am certain... there is a place I can reach──.
"..."
I took a slow step forward.
The stadium was at a fever pitch. The roar of the crowd, the voices of the commentators, and the cheers from the Amelia Cheer Squad—it all reached my ears with perfect clarity.
I happened to look up at the sky; it was a beautiful, clear day.
No, the sky had been clear this whole time. But I had been fighting through such agony that I lacked the luxury to look up at something so beautiful. I had thought I could find something through the act of combat.
But I had already found it.
My answer wasn't waiting for me in the fight. The answer had been right beside me... within me. I was able to find it because of Ray.
I am fine as I am. And I will continue to live my life with everyone, and with him.
The very path toward finding that answer is my reason for living.
"So you have come, Amelia."
"Ariane..."
"It seems the haze has finally lifted from your eyes."
"Because Ray helped me."
"I see... So I was not enough, after all. No, I suppose it is because it was me that it was impossible."
"Ariane..."
She spoke those words while looking away.
Ariane surely had her own struggles. She had likely worried over what to do for me as I wallowed in my doubts.
I wondered why that was. Now, I felt I understood.
I felt like I could see everything clearly today. I felt like I could sense it all.
Even though I was in the same world as before, it felt as if I were living in a different one entirely.
"Now then, Amelia. The finals."
"Yes."
"I will be the victor."
"No. It will be me."
"I see. Then let us settle this. Let us decide which of us is worthy of being the champion of the Magics Chevalier."
"Yes."
We faced each other.
Maintaining our gaze, we took our designated positions.
Ah. It was almost time. It was about to begin.
Looking closely, I saw that Ariane was no longer holding a sword. She would likely use that ability the moment the match started. Since she had already shown it in the semi-finals, she had no intention of holding back.
It was a fighting style typical of her.
On the other hand, I had no plan. I had come to this stage completely without strategy.
If it had been the old me, I probably would have been trembling here, accepting my own destruction.
But for some reason...
My heart was racing with excitement.
A fire was burning deep inside me.
Ah, this was surely thanks to Ray. Because of him, I could face her. I could face Ariane, and myself.
In that instant, his face flickered in my mind. Burning that image into my memory, I smiled.
──Ray. I’m going to win.
Just for today, just for this match, I will dedicate this victory to you alone.
Because I believe that is the greatest way I can repay you.
"──Match start!!"
The moment the command registered, Ariane's limbs were dyed a burning, scorching hue. Blackish-red codes were generated in an instant, and she vanished with an explosive boom.
The ground where she had stood was gouged out, and she reappeared directly in front of me.
It wasn't teleportation. It was the pinnacle of physical speed, far exceeding my perception.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
With a war cry, Ariane unleashed a punch. She aimed straight for my solar plexus. A memory flashed through my mind—the gruesome conclusion of the semi-final replayed in my head.
But reading the trajectory by intuition, I swung my sword vertically to meet the line of her attack.
"Gu, guuuuuu...!!"
I braced myself with everything I had, but the impact sent me flying backward.
Of course, the sword shattered from that single blow.
An ordinary sword wouldn't work against the current Ariane. I already knew that.
Even as I thought about how easily my defense had been bypassed, I managed to take the fall without breaking my gaze.
I had guarded in time.
I had taken damage, but I could still fight. I had sustained several scrapes as I tumbled, but those were trivialities.
Right now, I simply could not take my eyes off Ariane as she continued to move at high speed.
But Ariane, who should have been right there, suddenly vanished from my sight.
──Where did she go...!?
Almost the moment the thought occurred, I heard a faint breath from behind me.
"──Sss."
"……Behind me!!?"
The moment I cried out, Ariane's fist was unleashed with overwhelming pressure.
I no longer had a sword.
I had no choice but to counter her with magic.
Combining Quick Magic and Chain Magic, I layered numerous ice walls on that spot.
I chose this believing that a physical attack required a physical defense... but in an instant, the ice walls before me shattered. Ariane's right arm burst through them.
But it was a decoy.
I already knew. I understood the meaning of my ability now... and the current me could handle it.
I ran a new Code.
Prima Materia = Encoding = Material Code Material Code = Decoding Material Code = Processing = Acceleration Embodiment = Phenomenon
What manifested were Crimson Butterflies. Dyed a deep red, they swarmed around me in massive numbers, instantly covering Ariane's arm and... they erupted.
"Ha... ha... ha... ha..."
Holding my throbbing head with my right hand, I stared at Ariane as she was blown backward.
I didn't look away for a second. I wouldn't let my guard down.
To the current Ariane, distance meant nothing.
She could close the gap between us in a single step.
Brushing away the fragments of ice, I focused once again on the butterflies manifesting around me.
This was the ability I gained from my fight with Ray.
I could manipulate the exploding butterflies at will.
This was my Origin Magic.
If I hadn't met Ray, if I hadn't spoken with him then... I probably would never have been able to activate this power.
But... it was still so hot inside me.
Thump, thump, thump. My heart hammered against my ribs. My body was telling me. It was telling me that there was still more, that I could reach further than this.
"Heh... hehehe... I see... Amelia, you were... hiding an Origin Magic as well..."
Ariane emerged from the black smoke, her body covered in burns.
Most likely, while she was activating that ability, her defense in other areas became thin. Her limbs were still dyed blackish-red, but she had clearly taken damage elsewhere.
"Amelia... I shall also get even more serious... I am going at you with my true, genuine full power..."
She was likely muttering to herself.
I could barely catch the words, but her eyes were fixed on me as if staring into a void.
"──Ogrification: Scintilla."
Aiming for that opening, I manipulated the butterflies to close in on her. Simultaneously, I used a massive amount of Quick Magic to fire a Mid-tier Magic, Icicle Pierce, aiming for the rose on her chest... but everything was erased by a single streak of light.
"...Electricity?"
I whispered.
Yes. Her limbs were crackling and sparking with electricity that coiled around her.
Standing there serenely, she looked beautiful.
Ariane had completely brought that electricity under her control. The sparking, glowing light seemed to represent her noble will.
I see... I realized that her ability allowed her to imbue her limbs with attributes.
"Now, Amelia. You face the strongest. Come at me with everything you have."
"I... I will... never lose!!"
We both lunged across the ground once more.
『AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!』
Our voices overlapped. Both of us were already heavily damaged. Neither of us could fully deal with the other—me with her overwhelming physical strength, and Ariane with the butterflies I produced.
The infinitely generated butterflies swarmed her in overwhelming numbers.
But Ariane destroyed them all and came at me again and again. Each time, I used my palms to guide the butterflies and make them explode in sequence.
Explode. Explode. Explode.
Yet, Ariane always emerged from the black smoke.
Neither of our hearts would break. When would this fight end? When would the opponent fall? Without even the time to be conscious of such things, we simply continued to fight.
In the heat of battle, I ran the Code once again.
Prima Materia = Encoding = Material Code Material Code = Decoding Material Code = Processing = Embodiment =
I felt a sense of dissonance.
My magic, my Origin Magic of exploding butterflies, was still active. But I felt something was off. As if there were a blank space there, I felt there was still more to this ability.
And then, the moment when this seemingly infinite time would finally end arrived.
"Ah... ha... ah... aah... cough..."
"Ugh... ah... ha... ha... ha..."
Both of us were exhausted and broken.
Ariane was blackened from the explosions, while I had completely overtaxed my magic. My brain felt like it was burning. But... Ariane still tried to stand.
The final exchange.
She closed in with a desperate, all-out charge. Perhaps Ariane thought I wouldn't detonate the butterflies at cross-range, where the damage would hit me as well.
However, I had no hesitation.
Covering my body with the bare minimum of Prima Materia while protecting the rose on my chest... I blew myself up.
The blast sent us both flying, tumbling across the arena.
But the roses on our chests had not yet scattered... and the will to fight remained.
Though I was crawling on the ground, my heart would not admit defeat.
"Uuuuu... aa... ah... aa..."
My voice was hoarse.
Move, move, move.
I prayed for it, but strength wouldn't return to my body.
I tried to stand up, but my legs buckled. Even standing was a struggle.
On the other hand, Ariane stood up unsteadily.
What was it that drove both of us this far?
This was the proof of our own existence.
Through this fight, we were proving that we were here.
That was why we wouldn't stop.
Until this body stopped listening, until our hearts gave out... we would keep fighting... or so it should have been. But my body had finally reached its limit.
"Ha... ha... ha... ha..."
Ariane was breathing heavily, but her body moved, and her heart still held the will to face me.
Ah... I see.
I lost... didn't I?
The realization sank in.
I was going to be defeated here.
But I worked hard, didn't I? I worked hard to get this far, right?
If it had been the old me, I would have encouraged myself like that and called it a day. I would have praised my struggle and left it at that.
But now... I didn't want to lose.
I absolutely, absolutely did not want to lose.
That feeling took priority.
My body wouldn't move. I could only lie on the ground, watching Ariane as she slowly approached.
Even now, in this unsightly state where defeat was certain...
I... I don't want to lose!!
I absolutely, absolutely want to win!!
I prayed for it... but reality was cruel. Nothing was left. No matter how strongly my heart wished for it, if this body wouldn't move... there was nothing I could do.
And just as I was about to accept defeat, a vivid presence burst into this silent, colorless world.
"AMELIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! STAND UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!"
Into the world where color and sound had completely faded... his voice... Ray's voice reached me.
In an instant, the world regained its vivid colors and beautiful melodies.
──Ah, I wonder why.
At a time like this, everyone's faces came to mind.
Elisa's gentle smile. She was a bit shy, but she was a hardworking, intelligent, and kind girl.
Clarice's prickly attitude. But sometimes her face would turn bright red and she would show a gentle expression. Her way of speaking could be harsh, but she was actually a very kind girl.
Evi's beaming expression. That bright smile he showed everyone. His obsession with muscles was equal to or greater than Ray's. And despite his large build, he was a wonderful person who was meticulously attentive to those around him.
And Ray's clear, beautiful eyes.
What was reflected in those eyes?
A life that was far too harsh. It was surely something I couldn't even imagine.
Overcoming that, he stood in the same place as me and stayed by my side.
And Ray had been afraid, just like me.
Afraid of touching another person's heart.
But our hearts had connected.
And we had sworn to live together—to find the meaning of living together.
That's right.
I am going to live. Along this path with him, with everyone... I will find my reason for living.
There is no inherent meaning to life. That's why you have to find it yourself.
『Let's find the meaning of living together. Let's live while supporting each other's weaknesses. I want to move forward with you.』
Ray's words echoed in my mind.
As his gentle smile appeared in my thoughts... my heart leaped. It was the strongest beat yet.
Thump, thump, thump. My heart accelerated its rhythm even further.
Then, an image suddenly formed in my mind.
The bird in the cage stood up. The key to the locked door clicked, and the door swung open. Before its eyes spread a vast, transparent sky. Then, the bird began to walk slowly and looked up at the deep blue sky from the exit.
In an instant, I understood.
Ah... I see. So that's what it meant.
This was what Ray was talking about.
It clicked. I was certain. I understood.
The essence of my ability... was right here.
And then, as if filling that blank space, I ran a completely new Code all at once.
Prima Materia = Encoding = Material Code Material Code = Decoding Material Code = Processing = Aitia = Constitutive Qualia = Formal Qualia = Efficient Qualia = Final Qualia Embodiment = Causality
In that instant, from my back manifested even more... no, a countless number of Crimson Butterflies, as if ascending to the heavens.
They drew a spiral, rising higher and higher into the sky.
Scattering deep red Prima Materia that was visible to the eye, those Crimson Butterflies rushed toward the far reaches of the sky.
I stood up slowly.
I swept my right hand to the side, bringing the columns of butterflies into a perfect horizontal line, and then I snapped my fingers to release them all at once.
The fluttering butterflies continued to manifest in a spiral, surrounding me.
Amidst those infinitely increasing Crimson Butterflies, I stood serenely.
Then, letting a single butterfly rest on my fingertip, I coolly declared my true ability's name.
"──Butterfly Effect."
The Bird in a Cage was released into the vast sky──.