Follow the Script

Chapter 19

He had to take the life of many people and so, the small fire that pushed him to put his life on the line grew out of control, now unable to accept death until the end was in front of his face. That was why he was intending to fight those that were currently aiming for the library if he had to, all for the sake of the ending.

Y/N: Then we should hurry.

Finally doing what he once wanted to do before being interrupted by the girl's cries, he took a hold of the pills given to them by the doctor residing inside the bamboo forest and the fire of insanity from the previous guest he fought, one who probably didn't expect to meet their end there of all places.

Everything else was back at the circle, waiting for his return so that their role could be fulfilled. Making sure to not peek at the dangerous light that seemed to never extinguish, he glanced in the direction of the entrance, where everything will end, no matter what the outcome is. He could feel a small sense of fear going through his body but he pushed it aside, no point fearing the future.

Koishi: ...

While he was busy gathering his thoughts, the girl standing behind him silently read them all. With her solidified will, she paid no mind to them at first but it soon came to a point where ignorance could not persist. The words she heard left her own mind ponder, think about the voice that spoke to her.

'This will be the final action I take, a good one.'

'No point fearing death, both paths lead to the same outcome.'

Koishi's mind: Is that what it was trying to warn me about?

It told her many times that this ritual would not grant them the solution they wanted... or at least not the outcome SHE wanted to see. Maybe for the man, his decision was based on the fact that the ritual would bring his friends back, whether they come to him or he has to do the travel. That possibility shed some light onto her, her eyes widening slightly.

He was willing to bet his life during the whole ordeal, she should have seen it a long time ago. He didn't have any certitude that it would work, he simply hoped that it would allow him to see those that passed on.

Koishi's mind: I have to do something... but what am I supposed to do?

She innocently helped him gather everything he needed, she couldn't obstruct his path anymore. Fighting him? That wouldn't change anything from the outcome, he yearns for the end and she could tell he would fight until his last breath.

She needed another plan.

Y/N: Is something wrong?

Koishi: I-I'm fine!

Y/N: ...You're spacing out a lot.

'I guess she's still not used to it.'

Clearing the suspicions off of her, she followed the librarian and during that walk leading to the place where they would perform their final act as allies, she desperately tried to call the voice residing inside her head.

Koishi's mind: I want to do something, tell me what to do!

No answer, it seemed to have decided to leave her on her own. The walk they were having felt much more shorter than she would have hoped and time was running thin for her. Repeating the same process, she focused to the point of giving herself a headache.

Koishi's mind: Tell me what to do!

'Free him of his regret.'

Finally giving up, it told her what she wished to hear, a response to her beggings. Now in possession of the key, she needed to utilize it... but how? How was she supposed to know how to release his emotions? Unlike him, she wasn't assisted by the library, like when he entered her nightmare before getting rid of her feelings.

Y/N: While you were asleep, I prepared almost everything so we won't waste much time.

Koishi: Almost?!

Y/N: Is there something wrong about planning in advance?

Koishi: Well... not really I suppose? Did it take you long?

Y/N: Not really, around 5 minutes.

Here goes her idea of buying time by 'accidentally' breaking everything. Her only lead was given to her by the unknown voice, she needed to find a way to free him of his emotions. Her gears turning rapidly, her mind was unable to provide her with a plan of action.

...Should she confront his feelings? How would he react if she tried to do something like that? If she was too persistent, he might try to get rid of her so that she wouldn't be in his way.

Koishi's mind: I need an appropriate time to approach him.

She needed a good time if she wished to have a chance to get through him. After all, her objective changed from assisting the man to a completely new position, her goal was now to make the man unload his emotional baggage so that she could help him without resorting to his extreme method.

Finally concluding her decision, the duo emerged from the thousands, even millions of bookshelves. Standing at the entrance of that infinite well of knowledge, the youkai stared at the entrance and only exit of this place. The last librarian, however, had his eyes on the final piece of his life.

He could feel his cowardice begging him to not proceed but his guilt quickly shun that choice, telling him that it was his only choice. Otherwise, he would never be able to forgive himself for everything that happened.

Y/N: There, you see it?

Koishi: Hm? That looks like a fire.

'It is going to be one once it's done.'

Koishi's mind: Is he going to burn himself?

Once more, she deviated from her choice but realized that mistake, forcing herself back on the path of defiance for the greater good of a single being. She wanted a good ending and now aware that their plan was not the solution, she would have to take actions on his behalf, even if she had to force him into a different solution.

She would be ready for anything, she needed to be strong in order to support him, just like how he supported her. It was time to pay the kindness he gave her in a way that he would not call sympathy. Instead, she would have to become his enemy and dig out the dirt from inside his heart, forcefully extract the thoughts that were guiding him.

Koishi: So why do we need the pills?

She knew the answer but asked so that she could save more time. Looking in her direction, Y/N didn't answer until a few seconds passed.

Y/N: You'll see.

'She definitely will if she wants to assist me to the end.'

Koishi's mind: No, I won't see, I refuse to see this sight. I'll make sure of it.

One way or another, she would stop him. Now, however, was where the most important decision of this journey would take place. At the final gate, it was now time to choose when to plan the defiance, when she would try to inquire about his feelings.

When?

>Intervene during the ritual

>Intervene outside of the ritual