Toyokawa Shoko doesn't want to become a witch

Unlike her, who was soaking wet and disheveled, Toyokawa Shoko was like a lotus leaf in a pond. The rain did not leave any trace on her. The raindrops fell on her complicated braids and her skin, turning into pearl-like water droplets that fell to the ground with the help of gravity.

This is... the rooftop where the lamp left.

Yes, right where she was just standing.

"Why don't you get wet?" Xiangzi breathed out a puff of hot air and wiped the raindrops from his face.

“I hate the feeling of being wet.” Toyokawa Shoko clenched her fists in the rain. “I hate this feeling of being down and out, I hate the feeling of being powerless and helpless in the rain. I understand how you felt back then.”

"So, just not getting wet is enough?" Xiangzi said. "Does simply not getting wet mean you won't fail, won't be down on your luck, won't be sad, and won't despair?"

"Of course not!" Toyokawa Shoko suddenly raised her head.

opportunity!

The rain curtain was cut in two by a flash of silver light.

Two similar figures passed each other once again, and their footsteps echoed in the empty, pure white hall.

Xiangzi turned around and looked at Fengchuan Xiangzi, who was more than ten meters away from him.

Such a spacious hall, decorated in pure white, reminds me of only one other place like this—the "cocoon" of Nirvana, the place where she once dueled with Oblivionis.

"This is the inside of the cocoon." Xiangzi looked at Fengchuan Xiangzi. "But why are there two elevators leading to the top?"

Is the layout slightly different from what I remember?

“Because there are two of me here.” Toyokawa Shoko stepped into the elevator beside her and pressed the up button. “I’ll be waiting for you at the top.”

"and many more!"

Xiangzi lunged forward, but the elevator doors had already closed, and the elevator shaft where Xiangzi was located shot upwards at high speed, quickly disappearing from sight.

"Tsk!"

Xiangzi turned and ran to the open elevator across the street, pressing the up button.

The elevator doors closed, a pressure pressing down on her shoulders before quickly disappearing. She knew she was rapidly approaching the top of the cocoon, and the other person was surely waiting for that moment inside the elevator.

Xiangzi took a deep breath, gripped the handle of the gun blade, slung it over his shoulder, and assumed a posture ready to wield the knife at any moment.

The elevator continued its rapid ascent, seemingly without end. However, Xiangzi knew that the elevator would eventually reach its top, and the person on the other side knew this too, and was certainly prepared.

Xiangzi stared at the crack in the elevator door, unmoved, banishing all distractions and focusing all his attention on the center of the crack.

He could even feel the slight vibrations from the elevator's ascent. Xiangzi seemed to have entered a state of oneness with nature, his breathing so heavy that it could almost be counted.

The elevator is going up.

The elevator is shaking.

The elevator is about to reach the top.

The two elevator doors are facing each other, meaning that at the moment the elevator doors open—

Ding dong.

Through the crack in the door, a face and a body in the same pose were visible on the other side.

when----!

Flames filled the carriage they were in, pushing them out of the room. Two strikingly similar figures crossed paths for a moment, and a booming sound rang out between them.

Xiangzi stopped in front of the sedan chair opposite him, and Fengchuan Xiangzi also stopped in front of the sedan chair where Xiangzi had just been standing.

The blades in their hands simultaneously emitted a crisp sound before shattering into fragments on the ground.

They were panting heavily, sweat dripping onto the ground like a waterfall. Only when their breathing gradually became steady did Toyokawa Shoko lower her head and look at her trembling hands.

The same movements, the same force, the same timing, the same striking point. Everything is the same, so naturally the final result is the same.

"It seems there's a problem between us..." Toyokawa Shoko's voice became a little hoarse; she hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

"...This can't be solved with violence." Xiangzi sighed, turned around, and said, "Let's talk."

Beyond the Time: The Stars and Us - Ending E (Part 2)

"Xiangzi went to rebel against the universe, so what should we do next?" Miaomeng said.

“Wait,” Hailing said. “Del hasn’t arrived yet.”

"Who exactly is she?" Miaomeng tilted her head. "Xiangzi trusts her so much."

“I don’t know, but Xiangzi must have her reasons.” Hailing turned her head to look at her two teammates, “Right, Mu, Chuhua?”

Mu nodded silently.

"Yes." Chu Hua nodded with a smile, "So, the people she trusts, we should also—"

"Ugh! Climbing this building is going to kill me!"

A soft, panting voice came from the direction of the fire escape staircase. Then, a fluffy white ball of fur slowly peeked out from under the stairs.

Del climbed to the top, propped the long object behind him against the side, and gasped for breath.

Her body was the kind that even becoming a magical girl couldn't save; after running around the city for a while and climbing a building, she was already on the verge of collapse. She managed to catch her breath a couple of times, only to feel several burning gazes fixed on her. Looking up, she saw the magical girl on the rooftop casting a curious look at her.

"Um...long time no see, no, you probably don't recognize me." Del scratched his head. "But you should recognize it, right?"

She pointed to the top of her head.

"Hi, I'm back again." Curby, curled up on Del's head, waved his ears at everyone present.

"You're... Del? The person Xiangzi was talking about?" Miaomeng raised an eyebrow, looking at her with suspicion. "Why are you with... that thing on your head?"

“Ah, yes! I am Del.” Del patted his chest. “As for Delete, I brought it with me because I am Delete, the future Delete.”

"Delete is also Del, the Del of the past," the Delete above said.

"We are now..." Kyubey and the magical girl above spoke simultaneously, "...a being of one mind and one body."

As Delete in the B timeline, Del quickly realized one thing upon encountering her past self: the world had split apart, and the self before her was both her past self and more than that. Their thoughts synchronized at lightning speed the instant they met, creating an unprecedented "chemical reaction." Delete, already lost and confused, became intertwined with Del after accepting her thoughts, a state of mutual understanding and connection.

This saved Del a lot of effort in convincing herself; they quickly reached a consensus and decided to carry out their resolve.

We must bring the hope of a new world to Xiangzi.

"No wonder, in the memories transmitted from the future, there was always a strange white-haired figure." Flame lowered her head and murmured softly, "So it was you..."

"Wow..." Miao Meng opened her mouth in a daze and exclaimed, "That's so cool!"

But she quickly realized what was going on.

"Wait, you mean, Xiangzi solemnly told us that the person we're asking us to help, which is you, is the future Delete?" Miaomeng's eyes widened. "How could she possibly believe you?!"

Miao Meng thinks it's fine for anyone to believe Delete, but Xiangzi is the only one. Miao Meng can guarantee that Xiangzi is the only person in the world who would not trust Delete, yet before heading to the anti-universe, she solemnly tells them to trust her—this Delete who has returned from the future.

"Well, actually I'm not really sure either," Del chuckled and scratched his head. "Why don't you guys go ask her yourselves?"

"Anyway, Xiao Xiang needs your help right now, right?" Chu Hua stepped forward. "What do you need us to do? How can we help you?"

Regardless of whether the little guy in front of them, who looks somewhat like Xiangzi, is Delete or not, since Xiao Xiang left a message, they should believe him.

"Help, help me?" Del blinked. "I don't need your help. I can handle the rest myself. But I did ask her to make you listen to me."

“But Xiang told us—” Mu stopped abruptly halfway through her sentence, “—I understand now, it’s not you we need to help, is it?”

“Hmm.” Del nodded. “I will send one of you into the anti-universe as well.”

"What are you doing?" Flame asked.

“Bring Xiangzi back.” Del curled his lip. “That guy never planned to leave himself a way out.”

"But Xiao Xiang promised—"

"Whatever she told you in the end, she lied." Del frowned. "Even if we haven't entered the anti-universe and can't know the full picture of the plan, she must have guessed that there was no chance for her to come back alive in this plan. That's why I left some things untold to her."

She glanced at the magical girls in front of her.

“Go into the anti-universe and bring her back. I will tell you how to leave the anti-universe,” Del said.

"Anti-universe? Is that where Xiao Xiang went?" Chu Hua murmured. "What kind of place is that?"

"It's probably a strange space that transcends time and space, made up of memories." Del explained the anti-universe in the simplest terms. "You don't need to understand much. Once you enter the anti-universe, you will travel between countless spaces created by memories. Unlike Xiangzi, you cannot determine your own coordinates after entering the anti-universe. To find her, you must overcome numerous difficulties."

Del looked up at the moon in the sky. She sensed that the rules of the world were beginning to change, and that time was running out.

She closed her eyes, let out a long breath, and then opened them again.

"Time is limited, so you can decide who should search for Xiangzi."

“Then leave this job to me.” Miao Meng raised her hand. “This is my specialty.”

“No, if we’re traversing through memories, many of those memories will harbor dangers.” Hailing frowned. “I’ll handle it. I can handle those dangers.”

“My wish… is related to peace,” Mu said softly.

“Arguing like this is a waste of time. Since you all have your reasons, how about we just draw a turtle?” Del said, a little impatiently.

“Me too…” Chu Hua bit her lip.

"Do you have your own reasons?" Del said. "Then let's smoke turtles together?"

“No…” Chu Hua shook her head.

Everyone seems to have different reasons. What about her? She herself feels guilty. She's very good at fighting, but still not as good as Hailing. She can also use the Hundred Aspects to become good at reconnaissance, but definitely can't compare to Miaomeng's experience. She and Xiaoxiang have a deep bond, but it's not as... profound as Mutsu's.

Everyone has their own characteristics, but she is the most mediocre one. She has everything, but she doesn't excel in any one area.

Chu Hua lowered her head and gritted her teeth.

but.......

The concept of moderation implies that one can think more comprehensively and lead everyone to make the right choices when Xiangzi is not around.

“Del,” Chu Hua’s tone suddenly changed, “how many people can you send into the anti-universe at most?”

“I left a super-causal link from World Line B in my possession,” Del said. “The number of people sent isn’t the problem; the problem is that the more people there are, the more accidents will happen, which is why I recommended only one—”

"No, if one person has an accident, no one will know. When two people need to split up, they will become two individuals, making it difficult to deal with unexpected situations. Three people is a more ideal number, but even when splitting up, someone will still be left alone. Four people are the best number. They can act together or split into two pairs."

Chu Hua spoke very quickly.

"Does that mean I can join you too?" Su Shi, who had been waiting for a long time, finally found a chance to speak. "I also want to do something for Xiao Xiang and Deng."

"Me too. It's my duty to help our seniors," Yan said.

However, Chu Hua shook her head.

"Four people is theoretically the optimal number for a team. Any more than that, and a team of five would be too bloated. Without Xiao Xiang's leadership skills, it would be impossible to lead more people. Four people is within my capabilities. Let's go together and bring Xiao Xiang back."

Chu Hua's gaze swept over her companions and finally landed on Del.

"Moreover, we are birds of a feather and share a common destiny."

"So, that's what you all think?" Del looked around and glanced at the others.

Although no one answered verbally, their eyes were enough to tell Del the answer.

“Then, prepare yourselves, gentlemen.” Del hoisted the long, rectangular object on his back and spoke in unison with Delete above his head, “This is the final battle.”

================================================== =======================

One hand places the record on the record player, and the other hand takes the stylus from the side and places it on the outer ring of the record.

The rustling sound continued for a while, and then music came from the record player's amplifier, drifting in the warm afternoon air.

Xiangzi put down his phonograph needle, turned around, and sat back down at his usual spot at the tea table.

Another version of herself sat directly opposite, holding a teacup. The pillars of the pavilion subtly divided them into two different areas.

This is the garden of Moon Forest. Sometimes, young ladies will bring their record players to the garden pavilion and play them while having afternoon tea with everyone.

Xiangzi was one of them back then.

“This is life before the dream shattered.” Toyokawa Shoko put down her teacup. “Before that night, our life trajectories were no different.”

She was referring to the night the Soul Gem cracked, when she failed in her suicide attempt and no longer had the courage to face death.

"During that time, my only desire was to survive." Xiangzi lowered his eyes.

“But loneliness still made you create someone to accompany you, and that’s what makes us different.” Toyokawa Shoko rested her chin on her hand, lazily half-closing her eyes. “I was saved by Homura. She told me the truth about reincarnation and hoped that I could help her solve the problem. I am not lonely, but on the contrary, guided by Homura, I no longer have the pride that belongs to Toyokawa Shoko.”

“Without this pride, my spirit became more fragile. Although I did not develop a new personality because of loneliness, I am actually better at escaping and better at doing things that are harmful to others and benefit myself,” said Shoko Toyokawa. “My illness directly led to the birth of Delete, and it naturally proposed this plan for me, which led to you all.”

“Although we are all Toyokawa Shoko, it might not be an exaggeration to say that I am your ‘mother’.”