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Chapter 108: Ryoko Shinonome 8 (FINAL)
Time to finish Ryoko’s story.
Music: Just Because (Composer: Azusa Chiba, Arranger: Rikako Watanabe)
…1985.
What’s the last thing you remember?
426… He got away from me. I won’t let him escape next time.
…… I see. All right.
Ryoko’s head is pounding.
My head really hurts…
Maybe I should keep you here, for further observation.
My internal clock just needs a bit to readjust…
Ryoko’s head is pounding.
You’re putting too much of a burden on your nervous system. You need to stop shifting. Do you still have your pills? Make sure you’re taking them.
Ryoko’s head is pounding.
Consider Pills
(This should make me feel a little better.)
Consider Surveillance Footage
(Surveillance footage…? That’s right. I saw something important… …… I can’t remember. Maybe I should go look again. It was in Shikishima’s underground facility, in 2105. I just need to… get to the gate…)
Consider Gate
(They said the gate’s been sealed, but… What if it’s a lie? A way to try and keep me here? ……)
Let’s just head to the gate before Gouto shows up.
Consider Surveillance Footage
(Surveillance footage…? …… I saw something important…)
Music: Bleak Pressure (Kikuchi Yukinori)
You won’t be able to use it.
I knew it. It was you. You disabled the gates, not 426.
I won't let those damn mind-controlling pills screw with my head anymore!
Who told you that?
I saw it for myself. You're trying to mess with both me and Iori Fuyusaka's heads!
She's getting worse…
It separates the nanomachines from the rest of your brain. Your memories will keep disappearing. Those pills you've been taking… They inhibit that separation. They try to preserve the link. But its effectiveness has been gradually decreasing.
No. I won't believe anything you say!
Are you screwing him up too?
…!?
Music: Cognitive Dissonance (Rikako Watanabe)
You inserted the code that 426 created.
Ryoko’s head? Oh, you better believe that’s pounding.
I’ve told you the truth a number of times. But you weren't able to accept it. You couldn't hold on to the memory.
That's a lie. You messed me up with those pills. You made me confused.
Ryoko’s head is pounding.
It's all there. You just have to remember. The code that infected the Sentinels... DD-426… You were the one that gave it to Sekigahara.
You're lying…
Ryoko’s head is pounding.
For you to ask for me personally… I can't tell you how happy it made me.
I've been waiting. I need you to look at this.
Oh goddammit, more of this motherfucker’s malevolent manipulations!
Music: STAGNATION (Yoshimi Kudo)
Code DD-426…
There is a flaw in the program. It is inhibiting you from unlocking the full extent of their power. But, there exists a code to fix it.
A flaw…?
If we implement this, the Sentinels' capabilities will increase greatly. Morimura-san, however, does not agree.
Why?
She believes the Sentinels are more than capable as they are.
Ugh. Why is she like that? She's always going against you, Mr. Ida.
If only everyone was as understanding as you.
It'll be our little secret, of course. And then Morimura-san will see who was right. All you have to do is put this code into the Sentinel.
Okay, I'll do it.
Fuck off, Ida!
Nothing that concerns you.
*angry sigh* A fourth wave is approaching. We need to get ready.
Music: Cognitive Dissonance (Rikako Watanabe)
Ryoko…
After you shifted, you went missing. It took a long time to get you back. When we finally did, your condition was already terminal. We’ve been able to keep it at bay with the medication. But the destruction of your memories has already begun.
For you… We tried to reinforce your memories with nanomachines. But… it hasn't gone well.
We thought if we let you roam free… That your memories would stabilize.
However… Your memories kept failing. It only made you become further detached from reality.
Even still. It is imperative that you remember. Only you can clear the infection within the Sentinels. Because only you know the password.
Oh shit.
We don't have much time. Please. You must remember.
Poor Ryoko. It seems like literally every single thing in this game is somehow her fault. Unfortunately, it only seems that way because that’s kind of the truth.
Try and remember.
Ei… kun…?
That’s right.
I…
Is that my name? It doesn’t sound familiar… Oh, right. I need to find… …What was I looking for again? I can’t remember.
Music: Staring Into The Void (Yoshimi Kudo)
You don’t have to anymore. You don’t have to look for anything, Ryoko-san. More importantly, how are you feeling?
I feel… good. Refreshed. Peaceful, even…
Maybe it’s just not possible.
The nanomachines linked to her memory have all separated. She barely has any memories left.
……
What are they?
We did the same for all of you. When you were connected to the learning devices… You gained the knowledge needed to control the Sentinels and the gates. Those memories were backed up, in case there was an accident.
So she has her memories of what happened before the incident.
No, not all of them. We only backed up those which pertained to learning.
The password to remove the infection…
Gone, along with the rest of her memories. We can no longer rely on the Sentinels.
So that's it? You're giving up? There is still one way to use the Sentinels…
No. Further exposure to the infection… And there's no guarantee you'll survive.
He's not talking about himself. After everything you've taken from her, it still isn't enough? I won't let you put her in the Sentinel.
No… No, Ei-kun.
Music: Self Sacrifice (Yoshimi Kudo)
Sentinel No. 14… It was made just for me. By Mr. Ida.
Goddammit, Ryoko! Even after all this!?
Ryoko-san…
Poor, poor Ryoko.
We finally got another locked Mystery File. Let’s open it up.
And that’s gonna do it for Ryoko’s story. Pretty tragic.