*Shiii*
As the army mobilized, Yuno and Tsubaki's diaries changed. Simultaneously, a voice echoed from the screen.
"Colonel! What is the purpose of this?! Whose order is it to mobilize the self-defense forces?"
The Prime Minister of Japan, clearly furious, found his words stuck in his throat as the figure on the screen was not the colonel but city-destroying monsters.
"Well, another bothersome politician."
"Kill him. That annoying worm is the one who gave the order and hurt Yuki."
With this brief exchange, Tsubaki shrugged. Like Yuno, she was furious. Yuki getting hurt in the confrontation with military planes meant this man deserved death.
The country would descend into frenzy, and so would the world.
"You!"
*Bang*
On the other hand, the Prime Minister shivered as a chill ran down his spine. His eyes darkened, and blood spilled.
(Only 18 hours left...)
Time was running out, and Yuno's options were dwindling. She paid no attention to the screen and focused on her diary. This was the final battle.
---
*Shiiii*
"These brats!"
Minene frowned as she saw her phone's entries change. Apparently, these two kids were causing a significant disaster.
"But all is well. At least, I don't have to keep searching blindly."
Since killing Keigo, Minene hadn't rested. She searched for Seventh's whereabouts, but hours passed, and she still couldn't find him. He must have a good hiding spot.
However, his hiding place was useless against Tsubaki and Yuno, who found him through Rasiel.
"Sakurami City again? That city?"
Reading her phone entries, Minene felt foolish. After all, Seventh was right under her nose, and it was strange.
Sakurami City lay in ruins, but there was something about that city. Almost every confrontation happened there.
"No matter, the end of this game is very close."
But Minene didn't delve into overthinking about it. For her, the final battle awaited, and with it, victory.
So, her body flashed, disappearing instantly.
---
"Marco... Why?"
Reading the message in her diary, Ai trembled. Tears gathered in her eyes; it was the message of her boyfriend's death.
"They found me, huh? Well, it's time to end this."
But unlike Ai, Marco gritted his teeth. He knew this would happen. They had been running, and now they were finally found. It was inevitable, as Yuki said, hiding was impossible.
"How can you say that?! Your life is at stake; we should run!"
"No, that's impossible. We've been cornered."
Rejecting Ai's suggestion, Marco closed his eyes slightly. His diary's message confirmed it; if they ran, they only delayed the inevitable. Besides...
"If we run, we'll only cause more deaths. I don't want another city to suffer the same fate as this one."
How many died in this city?
Marco didn't know, but the numbers must be in the millions or even more. In his orphanage, no one survived; all died due to collateral damage. The same happened in the Omekata sect and the city center.
Every encounter among the participants was an atomic-level battle. No ordinary human could survive, and Marco no longer wanted to kill more people.
He killed in the past and knew how terrible it was, especially if his conscience had to bear the weight of the deaths of thousands of innocents.
"You should go, Ai. At least one of us must live..."
"What?!"
"Be the decoy. Those women probably still don't know we are two people. I'll take advantage of that while you run."
"What nonsense are you saying, Marco?! Run while you hold them off? Do you think I'd do that?"
Unable to contain her anger, Ai grabbed her boyfriend's shirt. They were a couple; both were Seventh; they were supposed to be in this together. Even if Marco died, she was more than willing to accompany him to the other world.
"No, you have to do it..."
However, Marco didn't change his mind; instead, his determination strengthened.
"Why, Marco? Don't you trust me? Our diaries are for exchange! I'm willing to die for you!"
As her emotions grew stronger, tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. Her gaze became fiercer.
After all, she couldn't understand why Marco was doing this.
"I'm not doing it for us... I'm doing it for our child."
"Eh?"
"Ai... You're pregnant."
However, Marco had a motive, one he wouldn't mind dying for if it meant the survival of his love with Ai...
"Marco... You..."
Marco's words hit Ai like an arrow. She lost strength in her body as her gaze fell to her abdomen.
"You're two days pregnant, Ai. The diary confirmed it."
Showing his diary, Marco smiled bitterly. Even he didn't expect this. It probably happened when he and Ai left the city for their date, before Eighth died.
The world's fate changed too much. With the Demon King protecting the world, the mother of all was giving life to the world again. And Ai, being sexually active, it was only natural.
This was one of the advantages of Yuki coming into the world. In the parallel timelines that Reisuke showed, Ai wasn't pregnant until the third timeline, the perfect timeline, where she married and created a family with Marco.
"I'll gladly die for you and our child. It's my duty as a father and as a man... Ai, you must live and protect our child. Live for him."
"Marco..."
Like Marco said, it wasn't about the two of them anymore; it was about the life growing in Ai's womb.
It's one thing to die as a couple and another to die protecting their children.
And Marco was aware of this.
So, what if he dies?
As long as he dies for the woman he loves and his child.
That's why...
"This is not like before, Ai. Our child deserves to be born. We'll be future parents, and as a father, I'll protect my child and my wife... Ai, you must live for our son."
"..."
Losing strength in her arms, tears flowed from Ai's eyes. She had no reason to oppose Marco anymore; she couldn't.
Because now, she also wanted to live...
To live and give birth to her beloved's child.
"Marco... Marco... Marco!"
"It's okay... Calm down."
Holding his girlfriend, Marco lowered his head and kissed her lips. This might be the last time they see each other. The future and their destiny decided to separate them. Still, Marco had no regrets about it.
*Shiiiiiii
But as they kissed, the diary sounded again.
"Marco..."
"You have to go! There's no time, Ai. Promise me you'll live!"
"Marco... I..."
Unable to bear the pain of leaving him, Ai clung to his chest. However, Marco urged her to run. Time was running out, and the enemy was approaching. So, he handed over both future diaries. After all, he no longer needed his own, and it would be dangerous if, for some reason, his diary was destroyed, leading to Ai's death.
"Ai!... Please... Do it for our son."
Seeing the smile on his beloved's face, tears flowed even faster, and he embraced both diaries.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry... I love you, Marco!"
So, her body flickered, disappearing instantly. She couldn't endure this any longer. She feared that if she stayed a second longer, she wouldn't have the courage to leave.
"Live, Ai..."
Closing his eyes slightly, tears ran down Marco's eyes. Making this decision wasn't easy. After all, he would love to see his son grow up, but it was okay. If Ai was there for their child.
*Shuaaaaaa
*BOMMM
Unfortunately, Marco didn't have time to think, as a missile fell at high speed, destroying a large part of their hiding place.
---
*Author's Note: Well, we've entered the final phase of this volume. I hope you like what I have prepared.*
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