Chapter 475: Thank You, Rikka

“Did I… did I… forget something very important?!”

A strange shiver ran through his heart.

Himekoji mustered all his kindness, forcing a smile—

“That’s not true at all, Rikka. You just need to remember what Rikka should remember.”

Himekoji turned and gently pulled Rikka into his arms.

The girl’s body felt small and cold against his, shivering uneasily.

“Really now, don’t think about unnecessary things,” Himekoji said softly, patting her back comfortingly.

“Mm!”

Rikka buried her face in Himekoji’s less-than-broad chest and nodded. Being held tightly by him gave her a sense of security.

“Alright, back to the topic of food, shall we? What would you like?” Himekoji asked.

“Instant noodles!” came the reply almost immediately, without any thought. Rikka clung to Himekoji, both hands tightly clutching his shirt front.

At that, Himekoji’s smile stiffened.

“Next time? This time, let’s have something else, okay?” He spoke, trying hard to keep his voice normal.

“Then I want omurice!”

“Sure, okay.”

…

After lunch, the two got on the train heading back.

Rikka’s unease had come quickly but faded just as fast. Soon, she seemed to have forgotten all about it, becoming lively once more.

Sitting next to Himekoji, she noticed the bandage wrapped around his left eye.

“Akito, why is this like this?” Rikka asked, pointing.

“Huh? Ah…” Before Himekoji could respond while still dazed, Rikka had already supplied her own answer.

“I know! You finally remembered, right Akito?!”

“Huh?”

“The bonds of our past life! Restoring your memories means awakening, right, right? And because the power you awakened was too strong, you had to self-seal the left eye holding the power of the Demon King…”

The little chuuni babbled in excitement, happily building on Himekoji’s ‘setup’.

“Hah~” Himekoji lightly patted her head, smiling fondly and nodding without refuting her.

Before, he probably would have grumpily given Rikka a sharp ‘chuuni-banishing hand chop’. But now, he found himself strangely nostalgic for this feeling after such a long time. So, he cherished it and went along.

After the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye disappeared, Rikka’s right eye had returned to normal.

Only Himekoji’s left eye remained beneath the bandage, burning fiercely with a molten-like, blazing light of bright gold. A lonely, brilliant light.

It was the last trace the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye left in this world. The only proof she had truly existed here.

Himekoji raised his hand, his fingertips gently tracing the bandage.

“Akito,” Rikka tugged at his sleeve.

“W-what’s this?” Rikka pointed blankly at her own phone.

Filling the phone’s screen was a large photo—

In it, “Rikka” wore a wedding dress, holding a bouquet, her face blooming with the sweetest smile.

Anyone seeing that smile would instantly think only one word: “Happy.”

Below the photo was a line of small, neat handwriting:

‘Thank you, Rikka~’

Unable to think of a way to thank her directly, she had left behind this picture and these words.

Seeing this, Himekoji suddenly felt his throat clog painfully, as if blocked shut. He sucked in a sharp breath through his nose, forcing himself to swear angrily:

“Damn it! Couldn’t you at least thank me too?!”

Almost as if that sulky complaint took effect, Himekoji’s phone suddenly vibrated.

He took it out and glanced at it, then let out a puff of laughter. It was a smile that looked worse than crying.

‘Thank you too, Mr. Himekoji~’

Accompanying it wasn’t a regal wedding dress this time, but the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye playfully sticking her tongue out at him with a cheeky grin.

“If you’re going to thank someone, say it properly to their face!”

Himekoji finally couldn’t hold it back, his voice cracking into a harsh complaint.

Honestly!

What kind of leaving was taking off without even saying goodbye?!

“Akito?” Rikka beside him jumped, startled.

Himekoji quickly turned his face away. “No, sorry, I wasn’t talking to you.”

“Eh? W-well, who were you talking to?”

Rikka looked around. The train carriage was empty, except for the two of them.

“Talking about a certain rascal who left without saying goodbye.”

“Oh… oh…” Rikka nodded, not really understanding. She asked again, “By the way, what does this ‘thank you’ mean?”

Himekoji’s mood had somewhat steadied. Hearing this, he managed to put on a smile.

“Thank you just means thank you. Maybe, Rikka, you did something that made someone honestly want to thank you, without even realizing it yourself.”

“Eh?” Rikka still looked completely adrift and confused.

Himekoji continued, “So, later, no matter what happens, you mustn’t think it’s your fault.”

Even if you learn of the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye’s existence. Even when you found out she disappeared. Don’t ever think any of it was your fault.

The fault lies with the so-called Brave. It lies with him. It lies with those cursed ones like them, wrapped up by the System, living cursed lives.

Bringing misfortune to the people around them.

So, here, today, he would settle things with the Brave. Settle things with the System.

Bury the misfortune right here.

There shouldn’t be any more innocent victims anymore.

…

“Why… was I wearing a wedding dress in that photo?” Rikka’s question left Himekoji stumped, unsure how to answer.

“Maybe… it was sent from the future? Who knows?” Himekoji shrugged, making it up off the top of his head.

Luckily, the train reached the station just then. Himekoji stood up, effectively ending the conversation.

He walked Rikka back home.

When Touka heard Rikka call out “Holy Mediator!” instead of “Sister!”, she froze for a long time.

Her expression visibly complicated. As her big sister, maybe she sensed it too?

This wasn’t that “Rikka” anymore.

She didn’t cry. She didn’t laugh. Or perhaps— she held back the tears, and she held back the laughter.

If she cried, Rikka would feel sad. If she smiled, the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye would feel lonely.

Touka, never one good at expressing her feelings, simply grabbed her pots, pans, and cooking weapons when Rikka spouted more chuuni nonsense. She engaged her sister, whom she hadn’t seen like this for a long time, in another long-missed invisible, surreal battle.

Seizing the moment while the two sisters were locked in furious, chaotic combat, Himekoji slipped out quietly alone.

Standing under the hot afternoon wind, he looked up at the harsh sun.

“Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye… I will win.”

Himekoji unwound the bandage. His gleaming left eye shone brighter than the sun.