I am talking with Selene. She has descended into Selena's body. I am in my house and Mizuki and Mary are with me.
"I will take the offer though."
I say. To what Mizuki and Mary become more confused. Selene is contorting her face.
"Why?" (Selene)
"Because she said she will give me a proper birth. I was not born normally. And my soul is just a stray soul. If I die here, I will be destroyed. So I think I should take her offer."
"Are you sure?" (Selene)
"It's rare for a whimsical goddess like you to worry about me."
But she didn't respond to that. I should talk with Mizuki and Mary.
"Mary….the thing is that…I need to leave."
"..."
"Don't just stay silent. I have to go…"
"I get it….." (Mary)
She started crying.
"Because I am already dead. The me you are seeing is a temporary one. Soon Izanami will come chasing me. I have to leave before that or you all will get involved in this."
But she didn't say anything either.
"Thank you, Mizuki. For wishing that I should come back."
I thank Mizuki.
"If you hadn't wished so hard for it then it wouldn't have happened."
"I know." (Mizuki)
"I'll be done soon. So I this will be our last goodbye."
I say that with an awkward tone. The whole situation has become awkward. Mary is crying. Mizuki is silent and Selene who is in Selena's body is silent too.
I was about to stand up and leave but Selene stopped me.
"Wait…" (Selene)
"What is it?"
"I will give you some powers too. A blessing of the goddess of the moon." (Selene)
"Then I will take them."
And my body glowed. Did it happen?
"I have given you the power to manipulate any and all elements. You have immortality as well. You can reincarnate as much as you like. Along with a special privilege that you will find out later." (Selene)
"Doesn't that sound broken?"
"I have an idea about who gave you the offer. So when you die, I will meet you again." (Selene)
"So I won't die just once. That's…" I can't say anything.
"So this is goodbye. But don't just stop because of me. Live on and live strong."
I told them and then left. What happened afterwards is completely unknown to me.
(Mary POV)
Akatsuki left. He just said goodbye and left. I couldn't stop him. Because I understood it.
He is no longer alive. What we were seeing was just a temporary form? He would have to go away eventually. But I still can't accept it.
"Don't cry, Mary."
Selena told me. But who is this? That's not Selena. Akatsuki referred to her as Selene.
"Are you a goddess?"
"I am." (Selene)
"Then bring Akatsuki back."
I tell her to bring him back.
"No. I can't do that. Reincarnation isn't my job. That falls under the heaven management. And he has already departed from this world. He will be going THERE!!!" (Selene)
She is making a worried face!
"There? Where exactly is he going?"
"A distant place. But what I am worried about is the one who offered him the contract. THAT isn't a good one." (Selene)
"I am telling you, what is that?"
This woman is dragging things out. I am seriously worried about Akatsuki now.
"She is a goddess. Albeit weaker in authority and power than me, she is given the full control of a planet. She is extremely selfish and narcissistic. So the moment she loses her interest in Akatsuki, she will toss him aside." (Selene)
I really want Akatsuki to come back now. Akatsuki was never very good with women. He can only freely talk to the women he knows. And he has fallen into the trap of such a woman. This is troublesome.
"But Akatsuki knows it as well. However, he went. So he is aiming for that. A proper birth." (Selene)
"A birth!!!"
"You know how he was artificially created my humans. But part of the blame comes to us as well. But he was given a deal. Where he would be able to be born properly this time with his abilities intact. So he chose that. A proper human." (Selene)
Akatsuki talked about something like that too. And Mizuki looked at us. She is still in disbelief.
"Did my parents really do it?" (Mizuki)
"Yes. They were responsible for his assembly and growth. And they were the ones to actually save him. When the project was to be scrapped, they took him and ran away and then faked Akatsuki's death. By doing that, they were freed from the government." (Selene)
"But how does that involve me?"
I ask. Akatsuki said that my parents knew it.
"Your family was actually the one funding this project but when they learnt of the actual project, they stopped the funding. So project Akatsuki was scrapped and Akatsuki ended up with his parents who raised him." (Selene)
So this actually happened because my family was funding that experiment. But my family...ahhh…. My family does have a connection with the government. So I think they used that.
"Tell me, about the the world Akatsuki is going to?" (Mizuki)
"If you want to say then it's a fantasy world. Magic and swords are everywhere and demons terrorize humans. Anyway, I guess the goddess thought he would be nice target." (Selene)
"Target?"
"His desire to become a complete human is just too great. So even if this deal hurts him, he will take it. That's why she gave him the deal. Once Akatsuki is done, she will throw him away." (Selene)
"Isn't that bad? He would be thrown away."
"I gave him immortality for that reason and enough skill to hide from her. Once she is done, he can fake his death and live quietly until the right time." (Selene)
"That's good then. So he will come back."
I am relieved to know that he will come back. But Selene is making a weird face.
"I don't know if he will come back alone or with someone." (Selene)
"What does that mean?" (Mizuki)
"You know what I mean! That guy is popular isn't he? If he meets someone over there, she will be struck the moment she sees him. It depends but I think most will fall for him immediately." (Selene)
I get what she is saying. Akatsuki has always been popular. He never noticed it but he was always popular.
"I don't understand though. How is he so popular? He doesn't have any redeeming qualities and he isn't a looker too." (Mizuki)
"That's a trait he got from his father." (Selene)
"Father? But didn't you say he was an artificial human?"
"His body was artificial. However the soul residing in that body had parents. Akatsuki is also related to me like that. If I have to say then he would be something like a cousin. Anyway, his father is a real player. Maybe he inherited some of that?" (Selene)
Akatsuki's soul….again with the absurdity. But his father is a player. He never acted like it though.
"I can understand your confusion. But think about it. A guy who is always quiet but smiling. He is self sufficient and can do the chores too. He seems reliable enough and will do anything you ask him nicely. Isn't he quite the catch?" (Selene)
When she puts it like that, he sure is like that. And guys his type are all secretly popular. They aren't too flashy but they will care for you.
"But he has some problems as well!" (Selene)
"You look tense. What are these problems?" (Mizuki)
"He is indecisive and cruel. He will not blink an eye to crush a girls heart. And if he is pressed for answers or decisions, he will run away." (Selene)
"You look like you speak from experience?"
"I remembered that his father is the same. It took a long time for his mother to marry that guy. But she attacked him head on so she won. Unless you go on the offensive you can't win against him." (Selene)
"Offensive but how?" (Mizuki)
"Push him down…that's how his parents got married." (Selene)
"I think my mother said something similar as well." (Mizuki)
What has your mother been teaching you?
"Anyway, Akatsuki will be living in another world for a while. He will be at least 5000 years old when he comes back." (Selene)
"Wait 5000??? Is that even possible?"
"He is immortal. So it is nothing for him. Anyway, let's go. We have to retrieve his body and give him a proper burial this time around." (Selene)
"Burial…didn't he leave for another world?"
"No. He had to clean up the mess. Project Akatsuki may have been canceled but another project was ongoing. So he had to clear up that mess. Let's go." (Selene)
We got to a place. This teleportation is not my thing. It feels weird every time.
And this place is a wreck. A collapsed building in the middle of nowhere. Where are we?
"This is the research facility. Akatsuki already wrecked it and killed everyone here. But what worries me is that." (Selene)
Selene points at a glass pod. And a girl sitting under it.
"Hello, Nino. How are you feeling?" (Selene)
But that girl didn't respond.
"Who is she?" (Mizuki)
"Akatsuki's sister. Born from the same DNA as Akatsuki. She is his biological sister." (Selene)
"His sister? Where is Akatsuki?"
"I don't sense his body either. Maybe he blew up with the facility." (Selene)
So Akatsuki is finally gone. But the matter with his sister….what should we do with her?
"Take her home or abandon her. She is still a baby. So killing her would be the best choice." (Selene)
What?
"No. We can't kill her."
"Then will you raise her? She looks like she is old but she is still an infant. Her mind isn't developed enough." (Selene)
"That's all the the more reason to raise her. Don't worry. I will take her home and raise her. So she can lead a normal life. When Akatsuki comes back, he will probably be shocked."
"Then let's wait and see. But about Selena, she won't remember the time I was descended into her. So please fill her in about it later." (Selene)
"Ok."
A new life begins and now I have to raise Nino to be a good person. It's gonna be lonely without Akatsuki but he will come back. At least that's what I hope for.
Mizuki is looking forward to meeting him again. So let us be off and wait for Akatsuki.