Cyberpunk: Nirvana of Shoko Toyokawa

Page 57

Xiangzi's words became colder and colder.

"You should have almost forgotten it."

"…Why? Why do you want me to forget? We used to have such a good relationship. We were happily together every day, but now we are going our separate ways. It's so weird!"

Su Shi couldn't understand at all and refused to give up.

"The band is a community of shared destiny. Wasn't it Xiaoxiang who said that at the beginning?"

"……destiny."

Fate. Haha, fate.

What do you know about fate?

Xiangzi turned around.

Su Shi, who hadn't been seen for a long time, clenched her chest. Behind her was Mu, who had a sad face.

"So, what is your life now?"

Xiangzi asked.

"!"

"You're still in school and still in the band, right? No need to worry, you can continue living like this."

"you misunderstood!"

"What misunderstanding? What you said and what you did are all contradictory."

"..."

"Crychic is destroyed. There is absolutely no way he can be resurrected."

"!"

"Why……"

Su Shi shook his head, unable to accept it.

"Please! I want crychic to start over!"

"I want to get back the happy time that belonged to everyone! Xiao Deng and Li Xi also hope so! I also plan to find Xiao Mu and Xiao Xiang to return to the band together—"

……Ha ha.

what are you saying?

Xiangzi just thought it was ridiculous.

Ten hours ago, she was still in the wilderness, fighting for her life with dangerous elements, will-o'-the-wisp youths, machine guns and turrets. She drove desperately, escaped from a burning house, and attacked a cyber psychopath to stop him from strangling everyone.

But now, she was standing here. Standing in front of the eldest daughter of Moon Forest, listening to her begging for her to return to the "happy days".

"Is that right?"

Xiangzi looked at Mu.

"I……"

Mu was silent.

"Eh?"

Su Shi turned his head in disbelief.

"……Why?"

"Am I the only one who thinks so?"

"..."

"But the person who formed crychic was Xiaoxiang."

"So, I have ended it myself," said Xiangzi.

“It’s not over yet!”

Su Shi suddenly shouted.

"I have been working hard for crychic!"

"No one asked you to do that."

"!"

Xiangzi didn't want to continue this meaningless conversation.

Nagasaki Suyo.

She simply didn't understand what kind of situation a person who voluntarily disappeared in the City of Joy would face.

There's no point in saying more.

"This is my last piece of advice," Xiangzi said. "From now on, don't have anything to do with me anymore."

She walked towards the exit of Toyokawa Park.

"……Wait a moment……"

Sushi trembled.

"do not go!"

She suddenly yelled.

"That's not the case! I really value you all and I like you all very much..."

"……don't want!"

Su Shi rushed forward and grabbed Xiangzi's hand.

"Please! If it weren't for Xiaoxiang and the others, I would..."

Haha.

What now?

What are you doing?

"let me go."

Xiangzi waved his hand and pulled Su Shi away.

However, Su Shi fell to his knees.

"What do you want me to do to make you come back?"

Su Shi begged.

"As long as I can do it, I'm willing to do anything!"

Ha ha ha ha.

Willing to do anything?

Are you willing to be [cleansed]?

If I asked you to do hard labor for 16 hours a day, would you be willing to do it?

If I asked you to pluck out one of your eyes, would you be willing?

If you were asked to expose yourself to the danger of death for your companions, would you be willing?

Someone like you, who is used to a comfortable life.

Do you really understand what "willing to do anything" means?

"...How confident are you that you said that?"

Xiangzi didn't want to listen anymore.

"!"

"You are just a student. Do you think you can shoulder the responsibility of other people's lives?"

While you were waiting for my text message at 7pm, I was being chased by dozens of crazy motorcycles that wanted to smash me to pieces.

While you were trying every possible means to get Mu to contact me, I was in the basement of the Walled City, being pressed against a game console and beaten.

I stood up and fell down again.

Stand up again and fall down again.

Stand up again.

Because I don't want to kneel.

I want to stand.

Stand and live.

Do you know how hard I tried just to stand?

What about you?

My mother was a high-ranking member of the Toyokawa family, and she went to a noble school, had training classes, and tea parties. Without doing anything, the attribute points representing "strength" would increase at a fairly fast rate.

If you want to do something, you can do it immediately if you pay a little attention. If you want to meet someone, you can meet them if you say hello more often.

...Even wanting to become a [big shot] is much easier than other people.

and then?

You're just kneeling down and begging me for a past, falling apart band?

“[Willing to do anything] is such a heavy statement.”

"If you can't do it, don't say it casually."

Facing the shocked Sushi, Xiangzi looks at her from above.

See it.

You kneel down, and anyone can look down on you.

Even a guy like me who has fallen to the bottom can do it.

So, you don't mind?

"(Nagasaki Suyo.)"

Xiangzi thought.