Follow the Script

Chapter 18

Koishi: It's a lie, everyone fears me, why should I bother?

???: Unknown situation, analyzing for possible solution.

Y/N: ?

Footsteps behind him were heard and a silhouette took position by his side. It wasn't the small girl but rather a woman wearing a dark suit and wielding a large spear. Gray hair fluttered in the air around them before finally settling against her back. Dulls eyes close to a doll averted in his direction.

Y/N: Alice? What are you doing here?

Alice: ...

???: Both of you, calm down.

To his right, another person entered the scene, another one of the librarians who fought against the shrine maiden and faced the witch on her own for the majority of the battle. Still holding onto a rapier, her fighting posture was calm and calculated, just like her strategies, one of the reasons why she was the leader of the group.

Y/N: Maria...

Maria: One is wishing to keep her eyes opened while one is wishing to close them forever, only one can remain.

Y/N: ...I see.

2 sides were exposed to them, both sides that cannot coexist together, one must be eliminated for the other to remain. Trapped inside that conflict, the librarians were forced to take a side and protect one of the girls while getting rid of the second one.

Koishi-2: I want someone to care for me, no matter who I am.

Koishi: All will hate me because of my powers, I have to get rid of them.

Maria: ...I understand the situation now.

Y/N: You do?

It was a surprise for him since the woman died a long time ago, she shouldn't be able to understand what was going on but for some reason, his expectations were shattered. Giving the man a smile, she explained.

Maria: The fear of rejection, the sorrow of being abandoned, those are probably the emotions inside this eternal duel. They both want to be accepted by others but with different solutions for the problem.

Alice: The shadows are the reason for this, we must remove them of the equation.

Y/N: That I can do, I'll try my best.

All he needed to do was deal with the fight and follow its rule. By doing that, the end of this charade would arrive and the wounds in her heart would be healed, at least partially. As Koishi's friend, he wished the best for her.

[Passives]

-The End of my Torment: The battle is lost if [Koishi Komeiji] has been defeated. The battle is won is [Koishi Komeiji] deals the fatal hit to the distorted [Koishi Komeiji].

-Degradation of Sanity: At the beginning of each turn, all librarians take damage equal to 5% of their Max HP. This effect is cancelled once [Acceptance] has been activated.

-Subject of Mockery: [Koishi Komeiji] is unable to use any offensive actions until all shadows have been cleared. If a total of 30 damage has been dealt to that character, uses the attack "Desperate wish to be accepted", targeting all characters. Inflict 5 damage to themself when a librarian is damaged by the distorted [Koishi Komeiji]. This effect is cancelled once [Acceptance] has been activated.

-Acceptance: When all shadows have been eliminated, all librarians recover 100% of their Max HP and Stun Resist while [Koishi Komeiji] permanently gains Strength, Defense and Evasion equal to 20% multiplied by the amount of living librarians. If no librarians are alive during this state, [Koishi Komeiji] immediately dies.