The Witch Trial Begins with the OO Buckethead Zombie

Her parents had long since disappeared.

If the adults in the orphanage are good people, then maybe it's alright.

But the adults in the orphanage were the perpetrators themselves.

Crying will stop you from crying, it will only bring more pain, and it won't solve anything.

Over time, Tachibana Sherry stopped crying.

There's no good in crying when you're in pain, is there?

What no one teaches her is that when she's in pain, she can cry; when she's in pain, she needs to be comforted; and when she's in pain, she can lean on someone's arms for warmth.

there has never been.

It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt.

You may have heard of it, or you may not.

But the tenderness felt during the pain seemed to really reduce the pain through words and actions.

It still made Tachibana Sherry subconsciously feel the urge to cry.

It's cheating.

She took advantage of her feelings for him.

Take advantage of your trust in him.

Use your feelings of attachment to him.

She will feel pain.

They cry too.

That......

Where is Hoshino?

“My situation is a bit more complicated.” Hoshino Utsunomiya sighed softly, then sought Sherry Tachibana’s opinion: “May I try looking back at death?”

It's not that he can't even do this kind of thing, it's just...

Wasn't Shirley a little reluctant to hear his overly detailed description of his feelings about death?

“...I’ll pinch your thigh if you do that.” Tachibana Sherry whispered.

She was reluctant, but the problem wouldn't be solved if she didn't continue the conversation.

"It's okay, it's only three times, and I've already said most of what I needed to say." Hoshino Utsunomiya reached out and patted Sherry Tachibana's head.

"Let me think about it..."

"When I was stabbed to death, I actually told Meruru that I was afraid of pain and hoped that she could finish the job quickly and cleanly."

"Actually, I should be able to cry, but how should I put it..."

Somewhat troubled, Hoshino Utsunomiya rubbed his head.

"At the time, I was feeling a bit depressed. I didn't know about the existence of the witch, nor did I know about the fact that I could go back in time."

"In other words, he just wants to die."

Before Shirley could say anything, he added repeatedly, "Not anymore."

After adding the details, he returned to the previous topic.

"Although it hurt a lot, because Meruru is a very kind and gentle person, and because Meruru has healing magic, I was still quite afraid that she would stop healing me if I cried or begged for mercy."

"If you suffer this much pain and don't die, it feels like you've suffered for nothing."

"So I obediently accepted my fate and died."

Tachibana Sherry really wanted to pinch Utsunomiya Hoshino's thigh.

But she held back.

"The unexpected flashback leaves us confused. Will it happen again? Or was it just an accident?"

"I don't know, but I would like to let people try again."

"It's simply a matter of starting over again."

"But if I could, I would still prefer a quicker way to die."

Actually, now that time has passed, my memories of those days have become a little blurry.

Even Hoshino Utsunomiya might not be able to fully grasp his own thoughts at the time.

Just to say...

It should be like this.

"I'm trying my best, but I'm not really trying hard to die. If I don't try, I'm actually chasing after Meruru."

"But perhaps it aroused the witch's jealousy, and Meruru still died."

If I were to talk about this, it would sound like I'm recounting the entire flashback.

"The next thing to happen is what I told you about before, Shirley: voting."

"Everyone is pushing the witch too far," he said. "It will drive her to her limit."

"I don't really like seeing someone die in front of me, it's just that...

Hoshino Utsunomiya continued to touch Sherry Tachibana's thigh.

"I can't stand it, I don't want to see it, I can't turn a blind eye."

"It's probably a form of escapism. If I die first, it doesn't matter."

"So I sought death again."

Shirley Tachibana gently bit her lower lip with her upper teeth.

Seemingly noticing the change in the girl in his arms, Utsunomiya Hoshino raised his hand and patted her little head again.

"This is the last time I will voluntarily seek death."

“It’s not that I have any masochistic desires or want to be killed. After realizing that something was causing time to rewind repeatedly, I stopped actively seeking death.”

"The last time it happened was just an accident."

"I have no problem with Nanoha Kaori and Rhea."

"Because it really was just an accident, no one can be blamed but yourself for the accident."

A closed door, a darkened light, a stressed-out girl, a misunderstood identity...

Hoshino Utsunomiya looked up at the door of the infirmary.

"So how should I put it... I'm sorry for saying things like 'I should just die' that day."

Lowering his head and leaning against the girl, Hoshino Utsunomiya took a deep breath.

“I…” Shirley’s voice also changed.

If we were to put it that way...

If you're going to say something like that...

She, who initially agreed to his words about dying, should also be considered guilty.

At this point, it seems we've reached a dead end again.

"No, no, no." Shirley Tachibana shook her head repeatedly: "You value yourself now, and you won't be so eager to die anymore."

"That's not the problem."

Hoshino's words were very clear; Hoshino's self-awareness was correct.

Where could the deviations lie?

So where is the problem?

The girl raised her hand and wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes.

He turned his head again and glanced at Hoshino Utsunomiya, whose expression was slightly bitter.

“That’s the problem…” The girl twisted her body and reached out to touch his cheek.

Not dry, but not as smooth as I imagined; not rough, but with a slightly bitter taste on my cheeks.

"Why aren't you crying?" she asked.

"Sherry, it's because I don't know how to handle pain, it's because I don't know how to cry out my emotions when I'm in pain."

"But what about Hoshino?"

"Why don't you cry? Even when you just died and then went back in time, you didn't think of crying at all. Instead, you were forgiving Nanoha and comforting Rhea."

why?

"..."

Hoshino Utsunomiya also wanted to know.

Humans are emotional beings.

It can cry, laugh, get angry, feel sad, feel upset, and feel happy.

Crying and laughing are the most direct expressions of emotion.

But if someone can only laugh and never cry...

That would undoubtedly be considered as something being lacking.

Emotional deprivation can lead to a sense of inhumanity, essentially because the lack of emotion makes it difficult for him to empathize with others in this regard.

"I'll still feel sad." Hoshino Utsunomiya raised his hand and wiped away the tear stains on Sherry Tachibana's cheek.

“When I listen to Shirley talk about her past, I feel sad, I feel upset, I care, I mind, and I feel protective.”

"When you're in pain, you'll feel sad, you'll feel disgusted, and you won't like the feeling."

"but......"

Hoshino Utsunomiya paused slightly, his thumb lightly brushing against the girl's lips.