"Would you be willing to give me a chance?"
As Shinji spoke these words, his voice trembled. There were many people here whom he valued, and he hoped to seek their forgiveness. He truly didn't want to lose them.
He kept his head lowered, waiting for the final answer.
The people he cherished didn't make him wait long.
"We don't need any chance at all—because Big Brother is the strongest, and Sakura is dumb, so whatever Big Brother says, Sakura will do. If Big Brother thinks it should be told to Sakura, then tell her; if not, then don't say it." This was Sakura's response. She had always been like this, and since the night she regained her memories, this resolve had become even stronger.
"My answer is the same as Sakura's. I will support you no matter what you do." This was Fujino's response. Her attitude towards Shinji was even more intense than Sakura's. It wasn't just about family affection; it was a kind of devotion, almost like a belief. To put it exaggeratedly—Shinji was her god.
"Sakura, Fujino..." Shinji's gaze softened. The pure and untainted sincerity of the two girls was the best comfort for him.
"You have the power to decide what to do, as long as you give me a reason when the time comes. This was a phrase you said to me before, and now I'm returning it to you." It was Justeaze who spoke next.
"Justeaze..."
She was the first person with Shinji to form a bond within this world, his contracted partner. Their destinies were intertwined, and there was no need for many words—they had already done so, so there was no need for an apology.
"My life, my 'Overlooking View,' everything was given by you. I don't have the position to ask for an apology." The fourth response came from Kirie. Her voice was as gentle and soft as she was.
"It's not about positions. I just want to hear your true thoughts." Shinji wasn't a saint, and he didn't have that noble sentiment of granting forgiveness without seeking anything in return, but that was for outsiders. Since they were family and friends, there was no need to calculate so much.
"True thoughts, huh..." Kirie tilted her head, and the way her jet-black hair brushed past her ears had a certain charm to it. "I'm still a little angry, just a little bit... Hmm, if you're willing to spend a day playing with me, then I'll forgive you."
"No problem." Shinji patted his chest and assured her, "And you, Mikiya, Shiki, what about you?"
Mikiya didn't answer. He just looked at the girl in the kimono sitting across from him. "Shiki, what do you think?"
"I don't have any opinion. Matou hasn't done anything wrong," Shiki leaned against the back of the sofa, like a lazy cat.
"Eh? But you got hurt and almost died!" Enjou protested on Shiki's behalf. "It's all his fault."
"But I didn't die, did I? The one who died was the one causing trouble."
"But, but—"
"You're so annoying, Enjou!" Shiki impatiently interrupted. "Regardless of the process, as long as the outcome is good, it's okay."
"Shiki is right," Mikiya smiled gently, as calm as ever, seemingly unaffected by anything. "Although there was danger, I believe Shinji wouldn't just stand by and let someone die. Besides, it was Shiki's responsibility to get injured so severely."
If Shiki hadn't insisted on settling things with Araya and instead chose to cooperate with Justeaze, she wouldn't have had to fight to the point of mutual destruction.
"But Shinji's handling of things wasn't without problems. Let's consider it even."
"To be so troubled over such a small matter and apologize so formally, Matou, you're troublesome, Enjou too."
We were thinking about you, so how did it end up with us being the troublemakers?
The two people who were deemed troublesome by Shiki exchanged a glance and helplessly shrugged their shoulders.
The only one who hadn't responded yet was Touko—
"Forgiveness... well, it's not impossible. As long as you count it as repaying my debt, I can forgive you multiple times."
Upon hearing this response, Shinji's expression froze. While Touko's behavior could be understood as being playful, she was blatantly taking advantage of the situation and extorting him.
In the face of such an unreasonable demand, Shinji's response was, "No deal."
"What's with you? Your attitude toward them is so good, why is it so terrible when it comes to me?" Touko protested.
"Because I'm afraid you'll run away."
This response seemed to strike a nerve with Touko, as her jesting or serious demeanor gradually faded beneath a calm exterior. "I won't run away, but I won't forgive you so easily either. I'm not like those little girls, easily fooled."
That night, what Touko referred to as "considering it even" was just Shinji's mistake. This time, her dissatisfaction was with Shinji's attitude. "Am I not worth your trust, Shinji?"
"Hmm, I know."
"If you were easily fooled, you wouldn't be the Touko that I know. If you were easily fooled, I wouldn't feel at ease going to London."
"Don't worry, if you knew what I was planning, you wouldn't have made that request just now."
"What is it?" Touko's curiosity was piqued.
"Lifting your 'Sealing Designation.'"
"!!!"
With Shinji's casual remark, the impact on Touko was even greater than Araya's shattering of space. It was so overwhelming that Touko felt as if the world had become unreal.
"Sealing Designation" was a nightmare that had plagued Touko for many years. No one knew how much she had suffered and endured to evade the "Sealing Designation." She had thought that she would have to live a life of hiding forever, but today she heard such news.
After a while, Touko asked with doubt.
"Are you... serious?"
"Of course."
"You're not joking?"
"I wouldn't joke about something like this."
"I... still find it hard to believe... Since the appearance of the 'Sealing Designation,' I've never heard of it being revoked."
"It's just that the conditions for revocation weren't met."
Anyone who heard Shinji's statement would consider it a fantasy. The Mage's Association had been established for so many years, issuing numerous "Sealing Designations," and to this day, no one dared to question the authority of the Mage's Association.
In reality, Shinji didn't dare to do so. Although he was strong, he didn't dare to claim that he could single-handedly confront the Clock Tower's elite force, the "Executor" unit. The reason he said such words was solely because of a memory from his past life—a memory of Touko Aozaki lifting the "Sealing Designation."
Before the chimes of the new century rang, a major upheaval occurred at the Clock Tower's Astronomy Department, the Mage's Association's headquarters. It was said to be a tremendous event befitting the end of the century, causing a more intense impact on the Clock Tower than the death of Lord El-Melloi. Several individuals had their "Sealing Designations" lifted during this event, and Touko Aozaki was one of them.
This event was described as background information in the "El-Melloi II Case Files." Although the details were unknown, it was certain that the magus who had been "Sealing Designated" united and engaged in an unprecedented conflict with the Mage's Association, dealing a significant blow and forcing the Association to begrudgingly compromise.
Engaging in a war with the oldest institution, the Clock Tower, undoubtedly carried great risks. Shinji didn't want Touko to bear such risks, so he prepared to negotiate with the Mage's Association differently.
The Mage's Association belonged to the Department of Policies and Law, and since it was the Department of Policies and Law, there was nothing that couldn't be discussed. Moreover, the future Lord of the Department of Policies and Law, Barthomeloi Lorelei, owed him a great favor.
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