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VOLUME 9 – THE SPIRIT OF SALVATION epilogue

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Ishii silently looked at Makoto, who lay on the bed

Makoto had been brought to the hospital by ambulance iery, but she hadn’t woken up

– It’s my fault

He should have been the one on that bed, but Makoto had used her own body to protect him

He was always like this People always protected hi hot welled up within Ishii

It was anger

– Unforgivable

He couldn’t forgive Nanase Miyuki, who had stabbed Makoto, but ive his powerless self

‘Ishii-san…’

He heard a voice Makoto’s voice

When he looked at her, he saw that she had her eyes open, though only slightly

’M-Makoto-san,’ said Ishii, in surprise and relief

’Thank goodness… Ishii-san, you’re all right,’ said Makoto weakly

So hot stabbed Ishii in the chest

– Why?

Makoto had suffered soout of her mouth was concern for Ishii Ishii didn’t understand why

All he understood was that there were tears co?’

Makoto sh it looked like she was in pain

’I don’t know’

Ishii shook his head

Perhaps it was inappropriate, but he was just so happy He was so happy that he could speak with Makoto like this again

Ishii sniffled and wiped his tears with his sleeve

’Ishii-san… are you all right?’

Makoto gripped Ishii’s hand There wasn’thi –

’Makoto-san, why did you save me?’

When Ishii asked that, Makoto’s eyes narrowed It looked like she felt aard

’I wonder why I don’t know… Before I’d noticed, I was standing there…’

’Please stop it’

’Eh?’

’Next ti that sort of thing I’d rather die than lose you’

Ishii himself was surprised by the words that ca, but at the sas That hat Makoto ht at Makoto, which made her hide her face with the blanket

’Please don’t look at ’

’Ah, er, um, I’m sorry’

Ishii hurriedly bowed his head

Ishii was the one who felt erabbed his hand

’Could you stay just a bit longer?’ asked Makoto, her face red

Gotou was sitting on the bench in the waiting roo, ’Daed ten years

’It really is,’ responded Gotou with a bitter smile

’How’s that newspaper reporter, Hijikata?’ said Miyagawa, sitting next to Gotou

’The injury was shallower than expected, so her life isn’t in danger Ishii is with her now’

’Oh? That’s great’

Miyagawa sighed in relief

Gotou felt the same way He had been worried for a while He wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night if somebody became a victim in front of his eyes And –

’How’s that brat?’ asked Miyagawa, interrupting Gotou’s thoughts

He was probably talking about Yakuer either’

’That’s great’

’But the place where he was cut…’

’His red left eye…’

’Yes’

Nanase Miyuki had cut Yaku for the results, but the worst-case scenario was that he ht in that eye

If that happened, hoould Yakuine

’So how’s the case?’ asked Gotou There was no point thinking about what he didn’t know