One-way traffic

Thinking back carefully, it seems like these two have been at odds ever since the rehearsals, haven't they?

"Alright~! Next up, please welcome the true stars of our live performance, the two idols ranked first and second in Academy City—!!!"

"Eek!! It's time to go on stage!"

The person in charge of organizing this live event was completely dumbfounded. He could even imagine the disaster that would result from the two guys suddenly having a falling out on stage.

When he looked at the two of them, he found that neither Accelerator nor Kakine Teitoku paid any attention to him.

The idols, who held the first and second positions, walked straight into the venue.

"Mr./Ms. Responsible person!"

"Oh no... I'm doomed, I'm definitely doomed this time."

Having given up completely, the person in charge clutched his head, feeling dizzy as if he had suffered a stroke, and deeply felt that everything he was about to do was hopeless.

Then it started.

But then came a series of cheers.

"…Huh?"

Not long afterward, even as it was almost time for the actual singing, the harmonious atmosphere outside remained unchanged.

Huh?!

"What, what's going on?"

The person in charge hurriedly ran to the backstage area on the second floor, which was like a distant grandstand.

Through the huge floor-to-ceiling window, he could see directly everything being performed on the stage.

The fans were cheering.

The stage lights and special effects shone on the two of them, and they did not rely solely on the effects created by the stage equipment itself.

Kakine Teitoku adjusted the ungenerated matter to a unique specification.

Accelerator, on the other hand, used his ability to manipulate the direction of energy to fine-tune all the released undetermined matter.

The sky was filled with fine, white feathers, as delicate as snowflakes. They scattered among the crowd, yet did not harm anyone.

Through Kakine Teitoku's special adjustments, these feathers not only do not turn people's bodies into sand, but they also become softer, so that simply touching them is enough to make people feel extremely comfortable.

In other words, it created a very harmonious environment for the event.

The two main characters stand on opposite sides, one on the left and the other on the right.

They were facing the entire audience, in a venue with nearly a thousand people, yet they presented an absolutely perfect coordination and arrangement.

Whether it's the coordination in singing.

It was still a performance showcasing his abilities.

Everything about it seemed so impeccable.

"Are you kidding me... this is absolutely a joke!"

Who could imagine that two people who were locked in a life-or-death struggle just a minute ago could perform so perfectly together once they were on stage?

The staff in charge of this concert were so stunned they were speechless.

"These two are really interesting."

The audience seats were not only occupied by people from Academy City.

After being manipulated by special abilities, Hatsune Miku and her friends are sitting in a location that is difficult for anyone to notice.

This includes Last Order, Hatsune Miku herself, and... Takibayashi, who is also standing beside them.

"Look! Accelerator actually created that atmosphere with his ability! Whoosh! Are those snowflakes?! They really are snowflakes!" Misaka Misaka shouted uncontrollably!

The final work was utterly astonished by the sight before it.

White feathers drifted everywhere in the sky, those snowflake-like things covered with a transparent film, scattered like feather scales, and when they landed on people, all they could feel was comfort.

This feeling seems like an artificial sensation deliberately created to create an atmosphere, but its effect is basically only a visual experience.

The main force behind creating this atmosphere is the two people on the stage.

"It's unbelievable. I always thought these two people couldn't possibly get along."

"Huh? Mr. Takibayashi... do you know about Mr. Kakine?"

Seeing Takibayashi's seemingly sentimental expression, Hatsune Miku became vaguely curious.

"Could it be that the two of you had already met before coming here?"

"No, it's just that I might know him, but he definitely wouldn't know me."

...?

The incomprehensible words caused Hatsune Miku to tilt her head again.

Takibayashi didn't seem to intend to explain.

"This atmosphere is so lovely, I really hope it can continue like this forever..."

"If Mr. Takibayashi says that, does that mean... something big will happen in the future?"

"It's not that something big is going to happen, it's just been going on all along."

Perhaps Hatsune Miku isn't ready to fully immerse herself in the role yet.

But Takibayashi, in the time that neither of them knew, had indeed experienced countless things.

…It was because he had experienced these hellish worlds that he understood how rare it was to have a peaceful atmosphere like the world where Accelerator and Hatsune Miku lived.

"But saying all that is really pointless."

Instead of thinking about all sorts of things, Takibayashi simply smiled and looked at the people around him.

"Anyway, everyone here is living happily. Yifang is also very different from when I first met him. In short, compared to the old him, the current Yifang... is probably a more humane person."

"You can enjoy your own peace in this world, accompany the people you want to accompany, and even if you have to go to other worlds to fight from time to time, you still have a warm place to belong."

"That's enough... My purpose in coming here this time is not to tell you that the future will inevitably become a world of despair and destruction... You don't need to imagine such negative things at all. This world, just like it is now, is simply a place that can bring people a sense of belonging."

"As long as I know that you, Yifang, and your other partners are all happy, that's enough for me."

As a result, a satisfied expression appeared on Takibayashi's face.

I'll leave here soon.

"Huh? Are they... already leaving?"

"Yes, after all, I have a lot of things to do here. After confirming that there are no major problems on your side and that you are still maintaining your normal routine and peace, there is no need for me to stay any longer."

Hatsune Miku looked at Takibayashi with a thoughtful expression.

Although Takibayashi speaks these words in a very calm tone, the content of his words subtly reveals a heavy feeling.

It was as if he was silently carrying something on his shoulders.

Nevertheless, the expression on Takibayashi's face remained that of a sunny and harmonious smile, with not a trace of darkness obscuring the scene.

"However, even though I'm leaving now, it doesn't mean I won't come back to find you in the future."

"Is everything alright? Um... this isn't the world you've always used to rest, Takibayashi. Is it really okay to come back here anytime, anywhere?"

"No problem. I also have some unique little tricks, so I can come here even when the system isn't issuing any tasks."

It was as if they had made a pact.

Takibayashi glanced around; the entire live venue was reaching its peak atmosphere, indicating that the concert was nearing its end.

I'll leave this world after the concert ends.

——————————————————————————————————————

In conclusion, Takibayashi did indeed intend to leave alone.

"...This is the drink from Academy City? The taste is really weird."

Standing in front of a vending machine at a street corner not far from the 7th school district, Takibayashi simply bought a relatively normal can of beverage using the currency copied after his identity was replaced.

Other things like strawberry oden, soybean powder condensed milk, black bean apple juice... Takibayashi had never even heard of these before, not even in the near future.

The apple honey soda in his hand was so much better than the ordinary apple honey soda.

"It seems that whether it's technology or food culture, this city is indeed very different from the outside world."

Actually, for Takibayashi in the past, this world had its own form of expression.

It is presented to the world in a way that resembles comic books, novels, and animation.

Takibayashi had learned about this world through anime, so he was somewhat aware of some characters who, even if he had never met them, did exist in this world, such as Kakine Teitoku, the second-ranked character in Academy City.

But the knowledge you have in your mind is completely different from the feeling you get from actually experiencing life in this city.

However, after actually experiencing it... it really is quite strange.

Leaning against a roadside utility pole, Takibayashi opened a can of soda and took a small sip of the strange-tasting liquid.

I'd say it's alright...

"Whether it's Miku or Accelerator, as long as they can find their own normal daily lives, that's fine. I was worried that getting too involved in powerful battles might prevent them from returning to their daily routines, but now that's no problem..."

It's about time I left.

Takibayashi drank the strange liquid in the jar in one gulp, then casually threw it into the trash can, intending to leave this world forever.

—That moment.

Suddenly, from the direction above the sky.

It brought an unprecedented sense of shock.

"…Varied?"

The vibration is not transmitted through the air, but rather it shakes the entire space directly.

This earth-shaking force spread through space itself, affecting the sky, and then even the entire Academy City below.

No.

The scope of the impact is likely not limited to just one city.

"It came from the sky? No, this is...!!"

It seems like he's thought of something.

Takibayashi stared wide-eyed as he looked up, ignoring the telephone poles and walls around him that nearly collapsed due to the overwhelming force of the shockwave.

He looked up at the sky.

The blue sky and white clouds that should have been azure were suddenly torn apart by something strange.

Bang——! !

It was a huge crater.

Like a black hole, it spread out directly, even multiplying, and continuously expanding throughout the sky.

It happened in less than two seconds.

The entire sky above the planet Earth was almost entirely covered by countless black voids.

"This feeling... have those guys finally made their move?!"

Chapter 656 Chaos Envelops the World

Just as mentioned before.

The world has fallen into chaos.

"What the hell is going on, you bastard!"

This is the United Kingdom.

Due to the time difference, it is daytime in Japan, but still nighttime in the UK.

Even though it was night, everyone could still see the things in the sky.

It is a vast network of countless black holes covering the entire world.

"What exactly are those things? And why are they being developed all over the world?!"