In a near-future Tokyo where everyone lives part of their lives in the metaverse, the popular sport 'Hollow Clearer' allows players to battle as fantastical avatars. The scene is split between idol-type and Vtuber-type competitors. Asuka Mahiro is a high school student who fights as the most hated villain avatar in Japan: 'Blackwall Orcus.' Only his teacher, Kozue Ritsuko, knows his true identity.
Meanwhile, the brilliant and elegant young lady Asogi Miu is secretly celebrated in the underworld
Persona Non Grata - The Confession at the Farthest End — The Two Who Remove Their Masks
The moonlight over the ruined city cast cold shadows across the skeletal frames of collapsed buildings.
Miyu stood at the center of the field, her avatar still wreathed in white mist. Her fingertips trembled. Not from the cold. From fear.
(I'm standing face-to-face with the one I should hate.)
(But—more than that, I came here to take back the person I love.)
Across the field, the jet-black armor moved. Dragging a massive wall-shaped shield, Kurokabe no Orcus walked slowly forward. Long black hair rippled like shadows. The darkness at his feet writhed as though it had a will of its own.
"So you came after all, Ojou-sama."
Orcus wore a thin smile. His canines peeked out, slightly sharp.
"I figured you'd run. When you find out how obsessed that bastard Mahiro was with you, you'd laugh yourself sick."
Miyu's fingertips trembled harder.
(This person is—the darkest part of Mahiro-kun.)
(But he's also Mahiro-kun himself.)
Miyu gripped her sword of light with both hands. Her mist-white avatar glowed a little brighter.
"Please give Mahiro-kun back to me."
Orcus tilted his head.
"Give him back? I am Mahiro. Erase me, and Mahiro disappears. Kill me, and your precious man never wakes up again."
Orcus slammed his shield into the ground. The impact sent debris flying.
"So, what'll it be, Ojou-sama? Will you kill me with your justice? Or lose the man you love forever?"
Miyu gritted her teeth.
(I won't do either.)
(I'll take back both.)
Miyu stepped forward.
"Orcus. You called me 'Ojou-sama' just now, didn't you."
Orcus's brow twitched slightly.
"Mahiro-kun calls me 'Miyu.' The reason you call me 'Ojou-sama'—isn't it because you want to keep me at a distance?"
Orcus's smile vanished for just an instant.
"...And? What of it?"
"You carry all the feelings Mahiro-kun has for me. The jealousy, the obsession, the possessiveness—which means."
Miyu raised her sword of light.
"Doesn't that mean you want me too?"
Orcus's expression twisted for the first time.
"...Shut up, you little girl."
Orcus swung his shield up.
"Then—I'll seal that mouth of yours forever!!"
A jet-black wave engulfed the entire field.
BOOOOOM!!!
Orcus's attack exploded toward Miyu.
Miyu thrust a shield of light forward with both hands.
CLAAAAANG!!!
The shockwave pulverized the ruined buildings one after another. Miyu's body was pushed back several meters.
(He's strong...!)
(But—)
Miyu stared straight at Orcus, who was laughing from behind her shield of light.
Light overflowed from her fingertips.
"Orcus. I've studied your fighting style completely."
Miyu spoke quietly.
"You strike at the wounds in your opponent's heart. The reason you broke Grand Chevalier wasn't because his 'justice' was fragile. It's because—he doubted his own justice."
Orcus's movement stopped.
"You dig precisely into the most fragile place. That's—because you know your own most fragile place better than anyone, isn't it?"
"...Don't get cocky, Ojou-sama."
Orcus's voice dropped low.
"What do you know? I am—the emotions Mahiro threw away. The anger, the jealousy, the destructive impulses—I carry them all. Mahiro gets to stay pure. Because I'm the one who gets dirty."
"What's wrong with that? You only love the pure parts of Mahiro, right? Then—I'm not needed."
Miyu's chest tightened.
(I see.)
(This person—thinks he isn't needed.)
Miyu slowly lowered her sword of light.
"...You're wrong."
Miyu's voice grew quiet.
"I want all of Mahiro-kun. The beautiful parts, the ugly parts, the kind parts, the cruel parts—including you. All of it."
Orcus's hand trembled slightly.
"...What did you say?"
"I didn't come here to hate."
Miyu stepped forward.
"I came here to live with you."
In that instant—
Cracks spread across Orcus's jet-black armor.
"...W-what, is this?"
Orcus looked down at his own body. Light was beginning to leak from the surface of his armor.
"U-ugh...what is this...!?"
Orcus's body was being pierced by light from the inside.
Miyu watched the spectacle and slowly approached.
"Mahiro-kun. Can you hear me?"
Miyu stood before Orcus.
"I've been searching for you all this time. As Shroud, I chased after you. But—what I was really searching for wasn't your true identity."
Miyu gently reached out her hand.
"It was a place where I could be with you."
Orcus—no, Mahiro's body was being wrapped in light.
"...I'm, I'm...!"
"It's all right. You're not alone."
Miyu's fingers touched the jet-black armor.
In that instant—
Light engulfed the entire field.
WHOOOOOSH!!
The jet-black armor crumbled into particles. The shadow-rippling black hair dissolved into the light.
At the center—Mahiro stood.
His usual slouched posture. Dark brown eyes. Unkempt black hair.
But his eyes—were crying.
"...Miyu."
Mahiro's voice was hoarse.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry, I..."
Miyu shook her head.
"Don't apologize."
Tears spilled from Miyu's eyes too.
"I didn't come here to hate you. I came here to live with you."
Miyu ran to Mahiro.
And—embraced him.
"Mahiro-kun. I love you. Including Orcus. I love all of you."
Mahiro's body trembled.
"...Me too."
Mahiro wrapped his trembling arms around Miyu.
"I...love you too, Miyu."
The light of the field slowly faded.
The arena was beginning to collapse.
"We need to log out, now!"
Miyu wiped her tears and smiled.
"Yes. Let's meet—in the real world."
Their bodies dissolved into the light.
In the final moment, Miyu gripped Mahiro's hand tightly.
As if to say she would never let go.
The doorbell of Café Noir chimed softly.
Kurosawa Genichirou stopped grinding beans behind the counter.
"Oh my."
Genichirou looked at the entrance and smiled faintly.
There—stood Mahiro and Miyu.
Both looked a little tired. Mahiro's shirt was wrinkled, and Miyu's hair was slightly disheveled.
But—their hands were firmly intertwined.
"Welcome back."
That was all he said, pointing to two seats at the counter.
"The usual, right?"
Mahiro gave a small nod.
"...Yeah. Please."
Miyu smiled too.
"Yes, please."
Genichirou asked nothing.
He simply ground the beans, boiled the water, and poured coffee into two cups with his usual quiet movements.
Steam rose between them.
Miyu wrapped her hands around the cup.
"It's warm..."
Mahiro looked at her and smiled a little.
"You do have a side like that, huh."
"A side like what?"
"...Never mind."
Mahiro took a sip of coffee.
Bitter. But—warm.
"Miyu."
Mahiro set down his cup and looked straight at her.
"I—haven't completely erased Orcus yet. He's still inside me. Just sleeping."
Miyu nodded quietly.
"I know."
"I don't know when he'll go out of control again. He might hurt you."
"Even so."
Miyu gently took Mahiro's hand.
"Even so, I'll stay by your side."
Mahiro's throat caught.
"...Why would you go that far?"
Miyu tilted her head and smiled softly.
"Isn't it obvious? Because I—love you."
Mahiro looked down.
But—his lips were smiling.
"...I guess that's fine."
Mahiro raised his head.
"Miyu. Even if I'm someone you should hate—I want to keep loving you."
Miyu's eyes widened.
And—a tear rolled down her cheek.
"...Me too."
Miyu wiped her tears and smiled.
"I want to live with you too."
The two shared a gentle kiss across the counter.
A short, tender kiss.
Genichirou watched from behind the counter, his eyes narrowing quietly.
That night—
Sector Central, the top floor of Paladin Networks.
A man stared at a monitor.
The screen showed—Mahiro and Miyu facing each other at Café Noir.
"...Interesting."
The man swirled a wine glass.
"Kurokabe no Orcus and Shroud. To think the two of them would make it this far."
His fingers tapped the keyboard.
Mahiro and Miyu's ID information appeared on the screen.
"...This is still just the prologue."
The man tipped his glass.
"Entertain me, you two."
Outside the top-floor window—the nightscape of Neo Tokyo glittered coldly.
Meanwhile—
Sector North, Mahiro's apartment.
Mahiro lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
(Orcus is—still there.)
(Just sleeping.)
Mahiro looked at his right hand. The hand that had been holding Miyu's until moments ago.
At his fingertips—he thought he saw a black shadow flicker for just an instant.
'...Not yet.'
A low voice whispered from the depths of Mahiro's mind.
'I'm—not finished yet.'
Mahiro closed his eyes.
(I know.)
(But—I'm not alone anymore.)
Mahiro picked up the mobile device beside his pillow.
A message from Miyu was on the screen.
'Good night, Mahiro-kun. See you tomorrow.'
Mahiro smiled faintly and typed a reply.
'Yeah. See you tomorrow.'
He pressed send.
In that instant—he thought he saw a streak of light cross outside his window.
Mahiro looked at the window.
But there was—nothing there.
Only the neon lights flickering emptily.
Mahiro closed his eyes once more.
(—It's not over yet.)
(But for now.)
Mahiro quietly drifted to sleep.
In the palm of his hand—unnoticed, small black particles gathered, one after another.
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