One-way traffic

"At the same time, she was also the one who protected me."

These words cannot be explained simply by romantic feelings or attraction.

It's visible.

Even though Alice was not aware of the detailed past between the two, she could still see things that belonged to them.

It's like finally getting a bit of warmth after struggling through countless hardships.

It's like the warmth that still exists after the malice in this cold and ruthless world.

For Accelerator, that person... that girl, was someone he would definitely protect, someone he would protect with his life, someone more important than his closest relatives, just like the petite figure who occupied the most important person in his heart.

Similarly.

That girl is also someone who can protect and save this white monster.

The two complement each other.

Even in the most terrifying world, the strongest monsters can unleash their claws to protect the girl from harm.

When the monster's minions are corrupted by too much sin and darkness in the world, the girl will come to their rescue.

Just like light and shadow, yin and yang.

Their relationship is one of mutual complementarity...a relationship that transcends mere romantic love.

This is not something that can be explained in just a few words.

Rather, it is a unique story formed by the two of them after traveling through countless worlds.

and so.

"...I see."

Alice had finally found her own answer.

"If that's the case, then I understand."

Accelerator couldn't help but frown.

Because of Alice at this very moment.

She shed tears in front of him.

However, the girl's face did not show any sadness.

Instead, he wore an expression of relief, joy, and complete understanding.

I've been alone for a long time now.

This was true in Gensokyo, and it was true before I became a mage...

until that day.

From the day he saved Accelerator, who was covered in wounds, he was changed.

It was Accelerator at that time that brought a completely different style to her life, and it was Accelerator at that time that made her realize that she... would not be alone.

So, that's why.

Only then will Alice understand what true belonging should belong to Accelerator.

She laughed and cried as she approached the first person.

The well-intentioned act ignored the ultimate reflective membrane that could defend against all forces.

—In front of him, I lightly kissed his cheek.

"you…"

"Don't say anything else, that's fine."

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Alice turned away, wiped away her tears, and smiled contentedly.

"Thank you, that's fine now."

After doing all this, the girl had no more worries and left without looking back.

Only the pure white first one remained alone.

Accelerator pondered for a moment, then gently touched the mark on his face, as if the girl's warmth still lingered there.

"This is more troublesome than...fighting anyone else, damn it."

Chapter 688 Just be yourself

"So, even if you want to go back to Gensokyo, there's nothing you can do!!"

Marisa and Reimu were sitting on a bench near a street.

Because they lack a connection to the world's currency, they have neither identity nor a place to live.

Fortunately, there were no security guards patrolling at this time; otherwise, their current attire alone would have been enough for the guards to mistake them for suspicious individuals with ill intentions and take them away.

Incidentally, Remilia and the others temporarily used Izayoi Sakuya's ability to manipulate time to prepare a simple place for themselves to stay.

Remilia, with an arrogant expression, laughed and said, "If you're willing to kowtow to me, Reimu, a mere place to live is nothing!" These words immediately enraged Reimu.

Because of that one sentence, Reimu made a firm decision: she would rather sleep on the streets tonight than stay with Remilia and the others.

And so it ended up like this.

"Sigh... I wonder how Alice is doing."

"Didn't she already have someone she likes? Then she definitely won't end up sleeping on the streets like us..."

"It's not like we're sleeping on the streets! Look! If we want, you can just float in the sky and take a nap, and I can just lie down on my broom and sleep. We can both sleep in the sky together!"

"How could I possibly fall asleep! I was dozing off while flying in the sky, do you want to fall asleep and then crash to the ground and turn into a pile of mud?!"

Although the outcome certainly wouldn't be as bad as Reimu described, she would never take the method Marisa suggested, just to be on the safe side.

"Ugh... This is so incredibly boring, Da☆Ze~"

The black-and-white mage pressed his body weight directly onto the bench behind him.

Marisa looked helpless, yet she had no choice but to accept this reality.

"So what did we come to this world for in the end? No way, I suddenly really want to go back to Gensokyo..."

"Save your energy. Didn't you say it yourself? Returning to Gensokyo is completely impossible under the current circumstances..."

Reimu has given up all struggle.

She clasped her hands behind her head, narrowed her eyes, and shook her head helplessly. She was already prepared to sleep on the streets tonight, so she should seriously consider what to do about the dinner problem that still hadn't been solved…

"what…"

Not long after, she noticed someone walking towards her in the distance.

I glanced at the time displayed on the electronic streetlights that are everywhere along the road... around 10:30.

Who would be walking on the street at a time like this...?

Reimu blinked, and only then did she notice the figure walking towards her from a distance.

A blonde girl dressed in blue and white, as beautiful as a porcelain doll, and holding a pink rabbit doll in her arms.

"That, isn't that Alice?!"

Marisa also noticed this and immediately exclaimed in surprise.

Alice, without raising her head, walked step by step toward the two of them like a broken doll.

"Waaah... what's wrong with her?"

Reimu shrank back as if disgusted, while Marisa quickly ran over.

"Hey Alice, are you alright? Didn't you go to that house with Accelerator and the others—wait, wait, wait?!"

The black-and-white magician couldn't help but be surprised.

As soon as she got close to him, Alice suddenly buried her face in his chest.

Then, she started sobbing repeatedly.

"Why are you crying, Alice? Cheer up! Hey!! What... what is it?"

No matter how much Marisa asked, she just kept hugging herself and crying, without responding at all.

"Hey, what's going on here?"

"I don't know either! Alice! Cheer up... Ah, I know! Could it be that Accelerator bullied you?"

After taking this for granted, Marisa angrily rolled up her sleeves.

"Alright, I'll take care of that! That brat... how dare he make Alice cry, I'm not going to let him get away with it!!"

"That's true, but even if you go there, you still won't be able to beat him."

"...That's true!"

Hearing what the two were discussing, Alice quickly gritted her teeth and forced back her tears.

"No... don't blame him, don't blame that person... it's not his fault."

"Eh…?"

Marisa and Reimu immediately turned to look at her.

"This is my... own choice, don't blame that person... don't..."

"Alice, you..."

The girl sobbed softly as she wiped away her tears.

This scene is truly unprecedented.

Neither Marisa nor Reimu had ever seen Alice cry so hard.

Her delicate face was red from crying, and her eyes were the same color. Her beautiful blue eyes were filled with sadness and sorrow.

“I already know… In that person’s heart, the most important thing is not the status of a lover… but the person who needs to be protected.”

"That was... a position equivalent to his emotional support... I couldn't possibly be a part of that... That's right... Everything we went through was simply not enough to reach that level..."

"Alice..."

For Marisa and Reimu, these things are still somewhat obscure and difficult to understand.

but.

Even so, they still understood one thing.

"Are you really going to give up...?"

"…Um."

The girl clasped her hands tightly and sat between her two friends.

The magical girl has always been alone since long ago.

Before entering Gensokyo, before becoming a mage... it was always like this.

Even after arriving in Gensokyo, it was the same.

Every day, in order to research a great deal of magic, she needed funds, so she chose to perform puppet shows for the villagers in the human world.

Everyone enjoyed her performance, and Alice's popularity grew in the human world.

…But in reality, nothing has changed.

Although he has become very popular, he is actually still alone.

No one can be close to me.

No one can truly understand themselves.

Occasionally, passersby would get trapped in the Magic Forest. After rescuing them, he could only keep them for one night. During this time, because of his temperament, lifestyle, and research, no one dared to become close to him.

Gradually, Alice also forgot how to negotiate with people.

I also stopped trying to develop deep relationships with anyone.

That's fine, all alone, with countless dolls for company...