Princess Connect: Regret Override — The Single Taboo That Saves the Fallen
This is the story of a boy who commits a taboo to save his lost comrades.
The setting is the floating guild called Cafe Etoile, at the edge of the Astraea Continent. Its member is Rent, a boy who is a trainee cook. He is an ordinary boy — no talent for swords or magic. But his devotion to his friends is unmatched.
One day, a mysterious monster called Void Gate appears before Rent and his friends. This monster erases the very existence of anyone it touches. His comrades vanish one after another
Princess Connect: Regret Override — The Single Taboo That Saves the Fallen - An Unfamiliar Morning, a Me I Can't Remember —Reunion with My Little Sister and the Lost Laughter—
Morning light bleached the backs of his eyelids white.
Rent opened his eyes slowly.
Stone pavement. Hard. Cold. His back hurt.
(Where am I)
He sat up. Looked around.
The guild house. He was in front of it.
Cafeteria Étoile. A three-story stone building. Rent's home.
(I came back...)
Something warm bloomed deep in his chest.
(I did it. I made it back.)
Rent stood.
His legs shook. He couldn't put strength into them.
Still, his body moved on its own.
He grabbed the heavy wooden door of the guild house.
"Hey, is anyone there! It's me, Rent!"
His voice echoed through the morning quiet.
No answer.
He pounded again, harder.
"Open up! Everyone, you're in there, right!?"
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Only the sound of his knocking echoed back, hollow.
After a while, footsteps approached from beyond the door.
The door creaked open.
A large man stood there.
White chef's uniform. Thick arms. Stubble.
Karl, the gatekeeper head chef.
The man who had run the guild kitchen since before Rent could remember.
"Karl-san!"
Rent's face lit up.
"Thank god, everyone's safe. I'm a bit late, but—"
"...Who the hell are you?"
Karl's eyes glared down at Rent.
"Huh?"
"If you're here for the apprentice recruitment, we're not hiring. Get lost."
"What are you saying? It's me. Rent. The chef's apprentice here."
"Never heard of you. No apprentice by that name works here."
Karl's voice was cold.
The voice you use for strangers. The voice that pushes people away.
"You're lying... right? I was making stew here until three days ago. I burned it and Yui got mad at me—"
"Listen here, what are you going on about first thing in the morning? I told you, we're not recruiting apprentices."
Karl gave Rent's shoulder a light shove.
"Don't come back. Next time I'm calling the guards."
Slam.
The door closed.
Rent stood frozen in place.
(Why)
(Why doesn't he know me)
(I was here)
His legs trembled.
He couldn't stand.
He crumpled to the ground.
The cold of the stone pavement seeped from his knees through his whole body.
(I see)
(So this is what "cost" means)
Rent gripped the pendant hanging from his neck.
A silver pendant. Still stained with Yui's blood.
(My existence was erased)
(I've been written out of this world)
Something squeezed tight in his chest.
His breathing grew shallow.
He felt like crying.
But he wouldn't cry.
If he cried, he lost.
"...It's fine."
He told himself.
"I'll figure something out."
Rent staggered to his feet.
He looked at the guild house windows.
The first-floor dining hall. He could see his comrades preparing for the morning.
Someone carrying a big pot. A rookie polishing the floor.
Faces he knew.
And yet, not one of them noticed Rent.
They didn't even glance at him standing outside the window.
(I don't exist)
(I don't exist in this world)
Rent turned his back on the guild house.
He started walking.
His destination was decided.
Yui's bakery.
— Étoile Village mornings smelled of bread.
Stone-paved streets. Wooden houses.
A small settlement that had naturally formed around the guild house.
Population around eight hundred.
In one corner of it stood Yui's bakery.
"Yui's Bakery."
A small sign. White walls. Blue roof.
The shop Yui's mother had left behind.
After her mother died of illness when Yui was twelve, she had protected it alone ever since.
The morning-baked bread was popular. Regulars lined up before opening.
Rent stood in front of the shop.
(Is Yui doing well)
(Is she waking up early and baking bread)
As he thought about that, the shop door opened.
Yui came out.
Long flaxen hair. Braided.
Big sky-blue eyes.
White blouse. Light blue apron.
Flour dusted the apron pocket.
A silver pendant on her left wrist.
The matching half of the one Rent carried.
"—"
No voice came.
His body wouldn't move.
Yui noticed Rent.
And gave a light bow.
A polite bow, for a stranger.
Then she began sweeping in front of the shop.
As if Rent wasn't even there.
(Yui doesn't know me either)
Of course.
His existence had been erased from the world.
He understood.
He understood, and yet.
Rent collapsed on the spot.
His knees hit the stone.
It hurt.
But the pain in his heart was far greater.
(Yui)
(I came to save you)
(And yet, you don't know me)
Rent gripped the pendant.
His fingers went white.
"...Not yet."
His voice shook.
"I won't give up yet."
Rent raised his head.
He stared at Yui's back.
A small back.
A strong back that had protected the shop alone.
(At the very least, I'll find a way to stay by her side)
(I'll get hired at the bakery)
Rent stood up slowly.
And knocked on the door of Yui's bakery.
—
"...Huh?"
Yui furrowed her brow.
Her sky-blue eyes stared hard at Rent.
"You want to work here live-in? What are you even saying, out of nowhere?"
"Please. I'll do anything. Dishes, cleaning, chopping wood."
"So why here? Go ask somewhere else."
"Here is where I want to be. I want to work here."
Rent's voice was desperate.
Yui crossed her arms.
"You look young, but what's your background? You from this island? Where'd you come from?"
"...The mainland. Just got off the boat at the port."
"Hmm. So why a bakery? If you want to be a chef, go to the guild. Cafeteria Étoile is recruiting apprentices too."
"I can't go to the guild."
"Why not?"
Rent went silent.
How could he say it?
That he'd been turned away from the guild. That he was a man who didn't exist.
"...Anyway, please let me work here. I don't need pay. Just a place to sleep and food."
"That makes you even more suspicious. No pay? What are you plotting?"
Yui's eyes narrowed.
She was on guard.
No wonder.
A stranger walks up and suddenly asks to work live-in.
"I'm not plotting anything. I just—"
"Just?"
"...I like bread. I like the bread here."
Yui blinked, dumbfounded.
"Huh? You like bread? So you want to work here?"
"Yeah. I can make bread. A little."
"You can?"
"Test me. If I'm no good, throw me out."
Yui stared at Rent's face for a while.
Then she sighed.
"...Fine. Come in for a bit."
Yui led Rent inside.
—
The shop smelled of flour and butter.
Fresh-baked bread lined the shelves.
Croissants, campagne, bagels.
All baked by Yui alone.
"Here."
Yui handed Rent an apron.
"Show me what you've got in the kitchen. Can you knead dough?"
"Yeah."
Rent put on the apron.
He entered the kitchen.
Two stone ovens. A work table. Bags of flour.
Nothing had changed since the days he'd come to help Yui.
(Nostalgic)
Rent measured flour, water, salt, yeast.
Quickly, precisely.
Exactly as Yui had taught him in the guild kitchen.
Knead. Pound. Stretch.
He checked the dough's temperature with his palm.
"...Huh."
Yui let out an impressed sound.
"Not bad. You're skilled. Where'd you learn?"
"...A long time ago. A little."
"Hmm."
Yui watched Rent's hands closely.
"Next, cleaning. The shop, the kitchen, and out front. Broom's over there."
Rent cleaned as instructed.
Polished the floor, wiped the windows, dusted the shelves.
"Next, chopping wood. There's an axe in the back."
Rent chopped wood in the back yard.
He swung the axe down.
Crack, a satisfying sound.
"Next, dishes. Everything used today."
Rent washed the dishes.
One by one, carefully.
"...What are you?"
Yui called out from behind him.
"You look young, but you can make bread, and your cleaning and wood-chopping are perfect. Even your dishwashing is careful. You really do seem familiar... it's almost creepy."
Rent's hands stopped for a moment.
"...You've got the wrong person. I just got to this island."
"Right. I don't know you, after all."
Yui tilted her head.
"But somehow... it's a weird feeling. We just met, but it's like we haven't."
Rent couldn't say anything.
"Whatever. Three-day trial. I'll judge from that. If you're no good, I'll throw you out without mercy."
"...Thank you."
"Too early for thanks. Work hard until three days are up."
Yui said that and turned her back on Rent.
Rent let out a small breath.
(Thank god)
(Now I can stay by Yui's side)
—
After closing.
Rent cleaned out the storage shed behind the shop and made a bed.
He laid out flour sacks and spread a blanket.
(Harder than the guild beds)
But he couldn't complain.
Just being here was enough.
Rent looked at the shop light through the shed window.
Yui was still working on something in the kitchen.
(Yui always works late)
(She always did)
Rent gripped the pendant.
"...Yui."
He called her name, quietly.
No answer.
Of course.
She didn't know him.
—
The next morning.
Rent woke before dawn.
His body moved on its own.
The habit from the guild — always first to wake, always cleaning the kitchen.
He stepped out front.
The morning air was cold.
"...Alright."
Rent began sweeping in front of the shop.
Sweeping the stone pavement with a broom.
Swish, swish, the sound.
"Oh, you're early."
He turned. Yui stood in the shop doorway.
"Morning. When did you wake up?"
"...I've always been an early riser."
"Hmm. Impressive. Then help me with the morning prep?"
"Yeah."
They entered the kitchen together.
Yui lit the stone oven.
Rent measured flour, added water, started kneading.
"The dough you make has a nostalgic feel to it."
Yui murmured.
"...You think?"
"Yeah. It's like the dough my mom used to make. Really, it's almost creepy."
Rent nearly stopped kneading.
(Yui's mom...)
Yui's mother had been kind to Rent too.
Before the guild took him in, when he was wandering alone, she'd given him fresh-baked bread.
"You're hungry, right? Eat up."
He still remembered the taste of that bread.
"...My dough's self-taught. Just a coincidence."
"You think so?"
Yui watched Rent's hands closely.
"Hey, you. What's your name?"
"Rent."
"Rent... Hmm. Unusual name."
"You think?"
"Yeah. But somehow it fits. It suits your face."
Yui smiled a little.
Seeing that smile, Rent's chest felt like it would burst.
(Yui's smile)
(What I wanted to protect)
Rent looked down.
He felt like crying.
"What's wrong? Not feeling well?"
"...It's nothing. Flour got in my eye."
"Honestly, be careful."
Yui held out a hand towel.
"Here. Wipe with this."
"...Thanks."
Rent took the towel.
He felt like Yui's warmth still lingered on it.
—
Past noon.
The shop's business was done, and Rent was chopping wood behind the shop.
Crack. Crack.
He swung the axe.
Sweat dripped from his forehead.
"Hey, Rent."
Yui poked her head out the back door.
"Want to take a break? I made tea."
"...Yeah."
The two sat in the small garden behind the shop.
A tree stump served as a chair.
Yui held out a steaming cup.
"Here. Mint tea. Grown in our garden."
"...Good."
Rent took a sip.
A clean fragrance passed through his nose.
"Right? My mom loved this tea."
Yui wrapped both hands around her own cup.
"You know, after my mom died, I've run this shop alone the whole time. It was hard, but I couldn't quit. This is the place I promised her."
"Promised?"
"Yeah. 'Keep this shop going, always.' That's what she said at the end. So I decided I'd never quit."
Yui's voice was quiet.
But strong will lived inside it.
"...That's amazing."
"It's not amazing. I'm just keeping a promise."
Yui looked up at the sky.
"Promises exist to be kept. Even if the other person is gone."
Rent's chest ached.
(Promises)
(I made one too)
(That I'd run a bakery with Yui)
Rent gripped the pendant.
—
That night.
After closing, Rent was cleaning the shop.
Yui was doing tomorrow's prep in the kitchen.
"Rent, are you done over there?"
"Yeah, almost."
Wiping a table, Rent happened to look out the window.
The stars were beautiful.
Mirage Island's night sky always had stars so close.
(That day, the stars were beautiful too)
A memory from age ten surfaced in Rent's mind.
—
The summit of Mount Étoile.
The highest point on the island.
Four hundred meters above sea level.
A two-hour climb one way, on a maintained trail.
Ten-year-old Rent and nine-year-old Yui.
The two stood at the summit.
"Wow..
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