A human... no, rather something that once wore human form, a higher being merely pretending to be human, still agreed to the outstretched hand of another, equally pretending "human."
He extended his hand, and in that moment, everything was decided. The final answer, like a period in an argument where everyone desperately insists on their rightness. After all, they all came to this island for their dream, right? That's why he exists. And if not? If the answer is "no"?
Then I don't know what all this is for.
In his eyes, which had long hidden endless contempt under a layer of indifference, a tiny spark finally flashed. Hope, too small to call light, but it was there. And strangely, he found salvation in me. In an ordinary guy who doesn't fully understand whose side he's on or if he's right at all.
This time, I abandoned the usual path of logic. This step not by facts, but by heart. From now on, I'll go not by mind, but by feelings.
He stood, accepting my hand, and said with gratitude:
"This isn't superficial politeness, but real gratitude. From the heart, never thought someone would stand up for me and see it through to the end."
"No need. I'm ordinary, banal, completely unremarkable guy. I ended up here just like you," I said. "Better tell me, what do we do now?"
Then something strange happened. No, not magic. Just... strange. Turns out, Enua knew the translation of the inscriptions all this time. And just... didn't say.
"You understand, no one will believe us without proof," I said.
"I thought about it the whole time you were deciphering... and realized, in their eyes, no argument will be proof. None," Enua replied, as if resigned.
And he was right. Everything staged too perfectly. The witch directed it ideally, coming now with a confession is like surrendering. No one will buy the "mistake." It looks... too skillful to be coincidence.
And then cold. Sharp, instant, like inhaling through a broken window. Someone touched my shoulder.
It was Morgana.
"Ah... it's you... Almost killed me," I exhaled.
"Sorry if I scared you," she replied so quietly, as if trying not to wake reality itself.
And behind her stood he, Cheryl. Eternally serious, so serious that maybe he jokes, but we just never get it.
"Hope we didn't interrupt? You were talking so seriously... Thought maybe we can help..."
"Don't lie," Cheryl cut her off. "You just couldn't stand the helplessness because you couldn't help with translation."
Morgana looked away and lowered her head.
"Sorry..."
"No big deal. We'll manage, while others aren't back, there's some time."
But before I could ask, Kamiki and Tiamut appeared.
"Well well. Looks like you finished already," Kamiki said, as if we were late with homework.
And then Yahweh's team, but something off about them. Too serious, too quiet. Didn't look like they came to share results. More like jurors with a verdict already.
I stood. Morgana too.
"Could it be... you're the killer's accomplice, Aragi?" Kamiki asked. His voice heavy like a hammer on glass.
...
"Answer. How do you explain this? Everything points to you."
...
I was silent. Not because I didn't understand, but on the contrary, I understood perfectly. Just didn't know how they found out.
"Stop! Mister Aragi doesn't even understand what you're..." Morgana intervened.
"Morgana, stay out. They know more than you," Cheryl said calmly but strictly.
"He's right," Yahweh agreed. "No need to interfere."
Silence fell. The kind where even walls start whispering. Kamiki stepped forward, as if pronouncing sentence.
"We gave you until the second night. But you never cleared yourself. Look out the window, see?"
...
Enua looked. His eyes... no longer sought light. They already knew nothing remained.
"Time's up. You didn't even try to defend yourself. Pathetic."
"I...! You...! You can't...!!"
Enua's voice exploded. Anger, rage, despair, all at once. But Kamiki just smirked and pulled out a device, a bug. One press, and the world heard the truth. Their conversation with Enua, his confession.
With this move, Kamiki checkmated.
"Sometimes accept reality, Aragi," Hov put a hand on my shoulder. "It was leading to this."
"We saved your life," Yahweh added. "Be grateful. We found the real killer."
"And now?" I asked.
"No one's killing him," Kamiki said. "He just leaves the mansion, and then... let him live as he wants."
Leave the mansion...? That's the sentence.