Toyokawa Shoko doesn't want to become a witch

Xiangzi's world has fallen into a vast void, just like Sisyphus pushing a boulder uphill, he will always return to the same foot of the mountain.

If the final outcome is not something she can decide, then what is the point of everything she has done?

Xiangzi casually picked up the Walkman next to him.

The music had reached its end, and the tape stopped spinning.

She stared at the tape recorder, and inexplicably, she wanted to take it with her.

So Xiangzi put the Walkman back on the table, turned around and assembled the parts piled on the table into a pistol, stuffed it into the holster under her skirt, then picked up the Walkman, walked past the dressing table, and headed towards the elevator that was not far away.

"Are you leaving?" Toyokawa Shoko asked in the mirror. "Where else can you run to?"

"do not know."

Xiangzi hung his head, opened his mouth dejectedly, and said in a hoarse voice.

"All I want right now is to leave here."

The elevator only has two floors to choose from.

The first layer and the top layer.

Xiangzi took the elevator to the first floor and arrived at the tightly closed door.

Why can't the door of the cocoon be opened?

The reason is simple: it can only be opened from the inside.

The only way to get out from inside is if Oblivionis dies and is reborn inside the cocoon when the barrier resets.

Oblivionis, who has forgotten that he is actually a familiar, will remember his identity when the timer resets.

In that case, all the mysteries will be revealed.

"I am going to die" originally meant this.

The locked door opened automatically for her, and the blood-red sunset shone into the cocoon, which was as thin as a sheet of paper.

Xiangzi closed his eyes, as if using all his strength, and stepped out.

Open your eyes again.

She had returned to Chu Hua's doorstep, her hand resting on the fingerprint scanner on the doorknob.

Toot——

drop.

The indicator light turned green.

The Tale of Nirvana: Maintaining One's True Self: Chapter 125 Decadence

The indicator light turns green.

Click.

Xiangzi turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.

“I’m back,” Xiangzi said.

The room was lit, but completely silent; no one answered her.

Until a shadow blocked Xiangzi's view.

Xiangzi barely managed to lift his eyes and look at the person standing in front of him; his gaze was as haggard as that of a dead man.

It is Chu Hua.

This was the first time Xiangzi had seen Chuhua with a long face and eyes as cold as the December wind.

"Where are the others?" Xiangzi asked.

"Yukina and Kasumi for some reason for forgetting you. We left as soon as we received your message. After leaving RiNG, we disbanded to avoid suspicion."

Chu Hua stated this expressionlessly.

"What you did or said to Yuki is not important. The most important thing is that you are alright."

"Now that we've confirmed you're safe and sound, what's the next step?"

"We are all waiting for your instructions."

"instruct......"

Xiangzi looked away, not daring to look over.

"It doesn't matter anymore, what other instructions could there be..."

Just as she averted her gaze as if trying to escape, a loud slap echoed in the room.

Snapped!

A bright red handprint appeared on Xiangzi's face as she turned away. The burning sensation slowly reached her brain after half a second. She raised her hand and touched the bright red handprint with her fingers.

She was hit by Chu Hua.

"What I just said... was the opinion of the second most influential person in this makeshift team when you weren't around, not the opinion of Mikasa Hatsuka."

The cold gaze melted away, Chu Hua lowered her slapping hand, bit her lip tightly, and her purple eyes were covered with a layer of mist.

"Xiaoxiang..."

She asked in a trembling voice.

"What are you thinking...?"

Xiangzi kept his head turned away, drooping limply as if his neck were broken.

"...I don't even know what I'm doing anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't care about anything anymore. Nirvana, reed plains, I don't want to care about any of it."

Xiangzi was still holding the cassette player she had brought out from the barrier, a player that seemed to mock her for her lack of success.

"So be it."

A person who bets all their possessions on the gambling table will have an indomitable spirit until the dice stop rolling.

But when she hit a wall and lost all the pride and resources she was so proud of, she could no longer see what lay ahead, or even the people who had always supported her.

A complete collapse is often the end for this group of people.

Xiangzi was probably the same.

"Are you planning to give up?"

"Ah."

"You've worked so hard for so long, almost risked your life, and now that you're just one step away, are you planning to give up?"

“Yes, I quit.” Xiangzi raised his head and looked at Chuhua with those dead-like eyes. “It’s over. The rest is enough for those Protagonists.”

"Xiao Xiang still prefers to do things on his own as always, and never discusses anything with others before doing it."

"..."

“Even when you were giving up… you never thought of telling us. You just suddenly announced, ‘I give up, it’s over, everyone go home.’”

Although Chu Hua couldn't figure out exactly what happened inside RiNG, those few seconds of forgetfulness were like a scratch left in her heart, and every heartbeat would trigger the pain of that scratch.

If Xiangzi hadn't come back now, she doesn't know what would have become of her.

"It's clear...it's clear you promised that you could rely on me more when you encounter problems. It's clear that so many people are already around you, but you're still like a lone person. You never consider how many people can help you, nor do you consider why these people are willing to stand by you without hesitation."

Chu Hua had never been so angry before; her voice trembled so much that she almost cried.

"Stop thinking only about yourself!"

"Feel sorry......"

The apology sounded like a wounded wildcat, whimpering softly from under the car.

"I really don't understand... what's the point of living?"

Xiangzi found herself enveloped in warmth. Chuhua choked back tears as she hugged Xiangzi and held her close.

If you can't figure it out, then don't try to figure it out yet.

Chu Hua said in a low voice.

"I don't want to know what you're thinking or what you're planning. I don't care whether you give up or not. I just want you to be okay."

Chu Hua felt that she probably would never be able to do it in her lifetime.

"Take a good rest first, okay?"

Xiangzi nodded gently in her arms.

Even though she couldn't understand, Chu Hua was unconditionally tolerant of her and always stood by her side.

But the more tolerant Chu Hua was, the more ashamed Xiangzi felt.

How could she possibly face those people who were always thinking of her?

Xiangzi ran away again. (The last part appears to be a string of random characters and doesn't translate directly.)

She lay unconscious in Chu Hua's arms.

The Walkman fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.

==========

Head hurts.

Xiangzi opened his eyes in bed.

The familiar star-studded ceiling twinkled in the dark room.

How much time has passed? What time is it?

Xiangzi turned his head to look out the window, where a faint, pale dawn appeared on the horizon.

Is it almost morning?

The feeling of being abandoned by the world suddenly overwhelmed Xiangzi, and he rolled over and curled up.

My brain is throbbing with pain.

What on earth did she do...?

"It's fine to just give up like this."

A figure sat by her window, gazing at the pale dawn sky.

Toyokawa Shoko, she came out with Shoko.

"..." Xiangzi pretended not to hear, turned over, and closed his eyes.

“Life is so tiring, isn’t it normal to take a break and relax a bit?” Toyokawa Shoko said again.

"Maybe," Xiangzi sighed.

"This is the first time you've agreed with what I said, and it really touches me." Toyokawa Shoko's tone was laced with sarcasm.

"As you wish."

Xiangzi reached out from under the covers and touched the phone on the bedside table.

The phone screen illuminated Xiangzi's face, reflecting a square spot of light in his eyes.

Ding dong.

A message popped up at the top; it was a private chat with Mu.

【睦】：祥，好好吗？

Xiangzi stared at the screen for a while before realizing he was daydreaming, and then tapped the screen twice.

[Xiangzi]: Hmm.

【睦】：That's good.

【睦】：(typing)