At last, the four lips met. An emptiness opened within Shu Ouma's heart as Mana's body slowly dissolved into radiant silver light, merging into his soul.
In truth, before the final battle, Shu wasn't thinking about how to save his sister. Instead, he wondered—what would it even mean to save her?
His sister was the Demon King who had once sought to destroy the world. No one would ever accept her. There was no place for her in this world.
Until Kurumi Tokisaki told him one simple truth: "You've realized it already, haven't you? Your heart is incapable of producing any negative emotion."
In that moment, Shu understood. He grasped Kurumi's meaning. The only place capable of accepting his sister—was his own heart, a heart that could never hate anyone.
That was the moment Shu discovered his true purpose. The so-called King was nothing more than a vessel—a container to seal the Demon King within. And Shu Ouma accepted that destiny. He accepted the coronation of the Crown.
Mana vanished in Shu's arms. Calmly, Shu looked toward Gai Tsutsugami and said, "I've won. You've lost."
Those words were directed not at the man, but at the virus itself. Enraged, Gaia's consciousness roared, instantly shattering Gai's body and surging violently toward Shu.
Yet, before it could reach him, a figure appeared before Shu—a girl clad in a black-and-red Astral Dress, twin tails flowing behind her.
Her golden and crimson eyes, however, were hollow—devoid of all emotion. This was not Kurumi Tokisaki, but Alaya's consciousness possessing her body.
"How pathetic—you lash out at anyone like a rabid dog." The cold voice dripped with disdain. The Alaya-possessed Kurumi gazed contemptuously at Gaia's halted consciousness.
"You've lost. According to the law, you can no longer interfere with this world." With one downward motion of her hand, the clouds of viral energy convulsed violently, as if struck by a fatal blow. They were driven into the depths of the sea, dissipating completely—returning to the planet's will.
At the same time, Kurumi's body slowly collapsed. But Shu didn't catch her, for Inori Yuzuriha and Miku Izayoi had already caught her from either side.
"Kurumi-chan, we did it." Miku's eyes glistened with tears. Though every one of Kurumi's clones had fallen into darkness, Miku alone had remained uncorrupted. Humanity's collective faith had given her wings—wings that guarded her, wings that kept her singing again and again.
In the sky above, the crimson light faded. The viral particles vanished. Those who had been half-crystallized slowly returned to normal. And then—Miku's song echoed within every heart.
At last I see,
All dreams have blossomed bright,
Youth's song so clear and high,
At last I soar,
With heart unafraid, I gaze beyond,
Wherever wind may blow,
There I shall fly.
Invisible wings,
Let dreams outlast the sky,
Leave behind one wish—
To let imagination fly.
"Angel!" someone cried out. And soon, countless voices joined in. Tears streamed down their faces. The Angel's song pierced the darkness—hope rekindled in every heart. The Angel's song would live forever in the world.
"Angel! Angel!" People shouted in ecstasy, passing the name to one another, spreading the joy of rebirth. In every street, every alley, whenever two people met, the first word they spoke was the same—"Angel! Angel!"
"Kurumi-chan... Kurumi-chan..." The call grew clearer. Kurumi slowly opened her eyes.
"My head hurts..." She lifted a trembling hand to her forehead, lying beneath a blanket. Her tired eyes turned toward Inori and Miku, who had been calling her name.
"Looks like... it's almost dawn." Her mind was hazy. Blinking, Kurumi saw that the dark crimson sky had vanished. The faces of Inori and Miku were clear again. After a night of fierce battle, they had finally won.
Struggling to sit up, Kurumi turned toward Zafkiel. Its clock hands were nearly touching twelve—the point that was both the beginning and the end.
"My time... has almost run out," she murmured, her voice tinged with melancholy. She felt the bittersweet ache of one who had fought for decades, only to find herself back where she began.
Then—a ray of sunlight broke through, piercing the misty sky. Dawn came suddenly. The world lit up all at once. There was no half-light, no lingering shadow—just brilliance.
The dawn had come at last.
"Hm?" A colorful light shimmered nearby, drawing Kurumi Tokisaki's attention. She reached out and picked up the glowing object—it was a small fragment, crystalline and radiant. Under the sunlight, it refracted into seven dazzling colors, changing hues as it turned, beautiful and mesmerizing, like a kaleidoscope of living light.
"That's Daryl's Void," Miku Izayoi said softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "When the defense line collapsed, Daryl used his Void to protect you, Kurumi-chan. But he was torn apart by the swarm... not even a trace of him remained. He was a true knight." Over ten thousand GHQ soldiers had fought at their side—now, only a few dozen survived.
"How foolish." Holding the fragment toward the sun, Kurumi gazed at it quietly. "I only joked about making you my knight... I gave you that title on a whim, just to give you a reason to exist. Why take it so seriously? You poor, love-starved child." She turned the fragment in her fingers, watching its colors shift and swirl. A faint smile touched her lips.
"Kurumi-chan?" Inori Yuzuriha tilted her head in concern. What was wrong with Kurumi-chan? Was she feeling unwell?
"It's so beautiful. Why does the kaleidoscope of light remain? The man is gone, and yet this fragment lingers. What holds it here, I wonder? Some lingering attachment... something he couldn't let go?" Kurumi sighed softly. "Very well. If that's the case, I suppose I should take this a little more seriously."
Her expression became solemn. Then, in a clear, sacred tone, she spoke: "Though my body shatter and my soul perish, I shall not regret. In the name of the Angel, I hereby anoint thee as my guardian knight. Title: Shield of Dawn."
The divine light faded. Kurumi smiled gently and whispered, "My knight... I am safe now. You may rest in peace."
The fragment began to crumble into dust, each speck glimmering with a kaleidoscope of color. The motes of light floated into the sky, scattering, vanishing—impossible to hold on to.
(That's right! I sent another guy off with a bento! When it comes to men, I show no mercy—either a tragic death or a rejection flag. There's never a third option. I am the Queen of Bento!)
...
"Ten days until return."
When Alaya's consciousness transmitted that message, Kurumi was already back in her rebuilt home, lying comfortably on her bed while her maids massaged her shoulders and legs.
When she had commanded the Kurumi Army, every clone's death replayed in her mind. It wasn't physical pain—but the accumulated weight of so many memories made her spirit feel utterly exhausted.
"Oh! This cake is amazing! I'll take some to share with Kurumi-chan!" Tohka Yatogami shouted with enthusiasm, cheeks smeared with cream, clutching a large cake as she dashed away.
But a hand suddenly reached out, catching the collar of her shirt.
"Kotori! That's so mean! I just wanted to share it with Kurumi-chan!" Tohka turned, her eyes teary and pleading like a scolded child.
"Don't bother Kurumi-chan. She's sleeping." Kotori Itsuka, her twin tails tied with black ribbons, pulled the lollipop from her mouth, ignoring Tohka's deflated expression. Then she turned toward Segai.
"Segai, from today, you are the new President of Japan. Go and rebuild our country."
"Angel-sama! Why say such a thing? With your divine presence here, how can we—" Segai's words faltered. Then, as realization dawned, his expression turned to sorrow. He understood what this meant—what she was giving up.
Kotori sighed softly. "What do you think we are, really?" she asked, still holding her lollipop.
"You are gods—beings above all humanity," Segai replied at once, eyes burning with fervor.
"Mm, don't look at us with such fanaticism. Think carefully. When did we first appear? Ten years ago. And why did we appear? Because of the apocalypse—because humanity faced extinction. That's the answer. We are the Heroic Spirits of the divine—the guardians of humanity. We exist only when the world is in peril. Now that the crisis is over, it's only natural that we, too, fade away." Kotori crossed her legs and placed the lollipop back between her lips, looking up at the ceiling.
"But, Angel-sama... you saved humanity! Let us at least find a way to repay you!" Segai clutched his chest in anguish. How could he accept this?
"This isn't something we can decide. And besides, divine authority and royal authority cannot coexist. In times of crisis, divine power may supersede human rule—but in peace, the world needs no gods." Kotori's voice was calm, her gaze distant. She knew—if they stayed any longer, the world would only grow heavy with grief.
Segai's hands trembled. Veins bulged on his arms as his face twisted with emotion. "Damn it! Who would dare to forget such grace?! I—"
"Segai! That's an order." Kotori's sharp voice cut through his protest. He froze instantly. An Angel's command could not be defied.
"You will assume office as Japan's President immediately," Kotori said firmly. "Announce to the world that the apocalypse has ended. And in secret, inform all world leaders—the Angels will depart from this world in ten days. Execute the order."
Segai clenched his teeth, eyes filled with pain. At last, he bowed deeply and turned away, his steps unsteady as he left the room.