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Chapter 94: Iori Fuyusaka 7 (FINAL)
Music: Bright Days Ahead (Azusa Chiba)
Uh, yeah! Good idea. You can choose, Miwako.
…… Is something wrong, Usami-chan? First you helped me look for that record… And now this.
Oh come on, don’t overthink it. I just figured, y’know… You know all the best places to go.
Might this be after Universal Control altered Miwako’s memories? That would explain why Tomi’s being so accommodating…
Hmm… Are you sure?
Huh?
Are you sure it’s okay for me to decide?
Of course!
In that case…
Yes, is that okay?
What do you feel like today, Miwa-chan?
I thought those places didn’t open till late.
They don’t, but you can still order yakitori for take-out. I’ve been wanting to try it forever!
It’s hot off the grill, and charred just right…
You’re right… People are giving us looks.
They say high school girls can get away with anything… But this is embarrassing.
Just try a bite, Usami-chan.
I love the sauce.
Do you have something to tell us, Iori-chan?
Don’t think we can’t tell.
*blushing* What are you guys talking about?
Come on, spill the beans.
Are you not going to tell us what happened with your crush? We have a right to know!
Don’t tell me… You just ran up to him and confessed.
*blushing* Uhhh…
Use Ei Sekigahara on Miwako Sawatari
Of all people…
You know him, Usami-chan?
Well, uh… Let’s just say you should stay away from that guy.
Why?
He’s not a normal high school kid. He’s involved in some shady business…
……
I know our ways of life are worlds apart.
*shock*
It may be dangerous. It may be stupid…
It’s both of those things!
But I can’t stop how I feel.
Oh jesus, speak of the devil!
Music: STAGNATION (Yoshimi Kudo)
Come with me.
Wha? But…
You… What do you want with Iori?
Tomi Kisaragi… There’s no time to explain.
Classic line, A+ for delivery.
Just come. Please, Fuyusaka.
If you need to go, then go!
R-Right!
Huh?
The premonitions you told me about.
Yes…
They’re not actually premonitions. They’re the memories of Chihiro Morimura.
Our teacher?
You received them in a memory transplant.
No way…
Future technology does have that capability.
You mean… Ms. Morimura is from the future?
Correct. Just as you saw in your dreams.
If that’s true…
Kurabe? You’re acquainted with Tamao-san?
Tamao? No… I meant Juro Kurabe, from my class.
Juro… So that’s it.
Why did I have a memory transplant?
If I had to guess— No. It’s better you hear it from her directly.
From Ms. Morimura?
We’ll be seeing her soon.
……
What is it?
Um… Hey, Sekigahara-kun…
All right, this is a little cute, mostly by virtue of how silly and petty it is compared to the main plot.
You people really need to learn to take those pills with some water.
……
Music: UNPREDICTABLE (Yoshimi Kudo)
You know… I grew up just like you.
Well… 80 years into the future, that is.
Just as you saw in your dreams… This town will come under attack by the Deimos.
If those dreams were Ms. Morimura’s memories… That’s why you both came here, right? To fight the kaiju…
Huh? Didn’t 426 also say something like that last time?
At this point, it’s up to us.
Us…?
You’re one of them. But…
Huh?
……
The city may go down, but it won’t take us with it. 16 more years should be enough time to prepare. We’ll win next time.
Use Miwako Sawatari on Ei Sekigahara
And so are my parents. What would happen to them?
They’ll be attacked by the Deimos, and that’ll be it.
Chihiro Morimura came here from Sector 1. You’re no different.
*chuckle* Oh, come on.
……
They’re my family…
If you decide to stay here, you’ll perish along with them.
…… I don’t have a choice, do I? In that case, I’ll do it. Just like in my dreams. I’ll fight and protect everyone!
And how do you plan on doing that?
……
But I expect you’ll have his help.
You mean Kurabe-kun? What about you? Won’t you be fighting too?
I can’t afford to stay around.
Oh…
That’s the kind of guy I am. I don’t deserve your love. Do you get it now?
……
Ei-kun… Um… Well…
Oh, there she is. And she’s wearing the catsuit that inexplicably allows her to show off everything at the same time. Your spine must ache, lady.
She looks just like in my dreams…
Why did you bring her here?
To expose your secrets. She has a right to know.
……
Go on. Tell her.
……
Use Strange Dreams on Ms. Morimura
Music: Cognitive Dissonance (Rikako Watanabe)
Are my dreams really your memories? Why would you do such a thing?
If you’re not going to talk, I’ll do it.
What!? Well, that does line up with 426 saying she was trying to do the same thing to Juro...
She was trying to assume your identity.
Fine. I’ll explain.
Oh, this better be good.
But things have changed.
Off to a bad start, Morimura.
Oh?
Operation Aegis is all we have left.
What’s going to happen to me?
Well, I hadn’t gotten to the final step. You’ll continue on as Iori Fuyusaka. You do carry my memories within you…
Thanks to him, my memories are nothing but dreams to you.
You mean… the Kurabe-kun I saw in my dreams?
426… Did you perform a memory transplant on him too?
If it were up to me… I would have changed him back into the old Izumi-kun.
This is getting mighty confusing with all the different versions of Juro running around. I think they’re only ever talking about versions of 426 here, not the current Juro Izumi/Kurabe from this loop. Basically, 426 prevented Morimura from taking over Iori… somehow, probably involving nanomachines. Not quite sure what Ei is asking in regards to performing a memory transplant on 426, or Morimura mentioning “his current state.” We know she tried to give Juro Kurabe née Izumi 426’s memories, but I’m not sure if that’s even what’s being referred to here. If she is only referring to 426 here and not Juro Kurabe, then “the old Izumi-kun” must be the Izumi she knew before he became 426… right?
Your memories just hit me. I understand how you feel…
……
Is that why you transplanted the memories of Tamao Kurabe?
Oh, right, someone transplanted Tamao’s memories, too.
It can’t be. Tell me your real objective.
Yes, I transplanted memories into Tamao Kurabe and Shu Amiguchi. I had to deliver on a promise I made.
So that explains Shu’s deal as well…
But there has to be a reason they were compatible. That’s what I need to know. That’s why I called you here.
…… Tell me.
When the reset occurred… The world that I was in was taken over. At that time… the real me died.
Then what are you now?
An illusion produced by Universal Control. That’s all that’s left of me.
How did that happen? Isn’t Sector 0 supposed to prevent that? Going there allows you to escape to the next world.
The concept of living through a reset is something of a misunderstanding. In short, it’s not possible.
Wait, what?
Sector 0 is unique. Going there is not akin to a typical sector shift. Instead, it scanned me in as data. And with that data… Universal Control did its work. It created a perfect replica of me in the next world.
…Holy shit.
What plan?
The plan made in the year 2188 to continue the species. But I’m no longer a part. I’m nothing but a doll, held captive in the five sectors. I’m incapable of fulfilling my mission.
…In that single Gouto event we saw, didn’t it mention that Morimura lost “compatibility”? Maybe that’s somehow related to this…
So you turned to the version of you who was born into this world. Iori Fuyusaka. In time, she and you would be one and the same. That’s how you planned to reclaim your humanity.
Sekigahara-kun… I gather you intended to make use of Sector 0 as well.
You would be correct.
And you planned to put a stop to Operation Aegis, didn’t you?
Are you going to shoot me right here and now?
This world would be cut off from Universal Control. What would become of you then?
Data stored in Sector 0 can function independently of UC.
Human or not.
Wow… trying to save her own skin? Man, all the adults in this game kind of suck. Even the ones who are just other versions of the protagonists! Which is basically all of them except, like, Onishi!
I know this is a serious moment and all, but I’ve been holding this in for too long: Ei kinda runs like a putz.
Now there’s a spirited running animation!
I’ll protect you. Let’s do this together.
……
Music: A Cruel Thesis (Yoshimi Kudo)
Consider Sentinel No. 15
(Ei-kun’s Sentinel… No. 15.)
First you show up at school all of a sudden… And then you pull me away to a place like this?
Whoa, dude!
Oh, he was looking for that. Okay.
Also, looks like it did matter where Megumi shot people.
Whoa… What is that?
An activation switch. It’s used to call your Sentinel. Don’t move.
That’s all I need to do. I registered my Sentinel. Sentinel No. 15. It’s a robot used to fight the Deimos. It was mine… But it’s in better hands with you. I really was worthless in the end.
Don’t say that.
Fuyusaka, I…
…?
Never mind. It’s nothing. Just… forget what Morimura said, all right? Believe in yourself.
(I’m going to believe in myself now. Mom… Dad… Miwa-chan and the rest… I can do it. I can protect you all… It’s time!)
Activate Sentinel
Music: Dawn of the Sentinels (Yoshimi Kudo)
Ha!
And that’s Iori’s story complete.
3 down, 10 to go.