A certain scientific Saten Ruiko

"and then?"

Riri Saten stared at Kamijou Touma's spiky-haired face. Even though the eyes are the windows to the soul, this guy still had his head lowered, so she couldn't see what his expression was.

"But now, aren't everyone saved? Even the people I couldn't save were saved, right? There is no tragedy, no death, no accidents, and no broken hearts in this world. After seeing these perfect things, can I still say that everything should be restored to the way it was?"

Kamijou Touma raised his head, with reluctance, grievance, and helplessness deep in his eyes.

"Doing this is already evil. Even if it's right, it's still evil. It's like taking back my own world and taking away the smiles and lives of those who were just laughing!!"

"maybe......"

Here, Stiyl and Kanzaki did not lose Index.

All my sisters are alive in this world.

Misaka Mikoto and Accelerator no longer have to bear this sin.

There were also many people she didn't know who made her smile.

but........

Saten Ruiko looked seriously at Kamijou Touma's eyes which were mixed with various complicated emotions.

This seemingly unremarkable hedgehog-headed man in front of you has almost lost his life many times because of his own views on good and evil, but he still tried to prevent tragedies from happening.

But all this was forgotten by those he had helped, and Othinus took away everything from the young man in front of him.

"In fact, didn't you notice that Othinus was afraid?"

"......What?"

“If everyone still remembers the old world, then everyone who is saved here will have to bear the fact that Kamijou Touma has disappeared. This is what Othinus is afraid of.”

"From what I understand about Mikoto, if she knew that everything she saw was caused by your disappearance, she would definitely choose to leave this perfect world. I believe there are people like this among the people you know. It is precisely because of this that Othinus made a move here."

"You would give up your only place to live in order to protect everyone's smiles. Because you are such a person, there are definitely many people who would be troubled by losing you."

"Actually, coming back to the point, although it's a bit embarrassing, I am actually one of them."

"From the beginning, everything you said is inseparable from human nature. Perhaps it is because Othinus took advantage of this that you didn't notice it."

"Not everyone will accept the world we get in exchange for Touma's disappearance, and this choice is fundamentally unfair. If things really develop into that, they will definitely collapse."

"Besides, do you think it makes sense for you to act as if nothing has happened and then force others to accept an outcome that you yourself cannot accept?"

Kamijou Touma lowered his head. After all, he had no idea how much weight he held in other people's hearts.

To be honest, he didn't think he was that important.

"Forget it, forget it. I've told you so many things. Actually, I just want to ask you a question."

As if to interrupt Kamijou Touma's thoughts, Saten Ruiko lifted up Kamijou Touma's lowered head and stared into his eyes seriously.

The boy's face flushed slightly, but Riri Saten didn't care about it and asked in a light but serious tone.

"Are you... willing?"

Those few simple words were like heavy hammers, hitting Kamijou Touma's heart one after another.

After asking this question, Riri Saotome let go of the other person's face, walked to the single bed in the room and sat down, waiting quietly, giving him time to think carefully.

The sun had completely set outside, and the stars were twinkling around the full moon.

Inside the house, Kamijou Touma remained stiffly in the same position he had just taken.

a long time......

His lips trembled slightly.

"I see... So... I still can't accept it..."

Tears flowed like a dam bursting, and he couldn't stop. He finally burst out everything in his heart.

"Of course I'm unwilling! How could I not?! I just want to return to my original world, cook for Index, go to school, and play with my friends after school as usual! Why is it considered absolutely evil just to take back these natural things? Why should I suffer alone in order to save the whole world?!"

"Othinus, this bastard, has his brain completely filled with water!!"

"Why do I always encounter such misfortunes!? I finally managed to calm everything down, but that guy ruined it all! How can I accept this!?"

"The road I had walked with great difficulty was easily crossed by that bastard! She took away everything!! She took away everything I had!!"

"Asshole! If there is such a convenient method, why don't you help everyone from the beginning!? Since there is such a convenient ability, why not use it sincerely?! How long can such a world last? As long as Othinus gets tired of it, this world will be reduced to ashes! After all, it can be easily created!!"

"No matter what I do, Othinus can do it with just a swing of his gun!"

"No matter what I do, I can't defeat Othinus. I can't make everyone laugh sincerely even if I have a hundred years!"

His voice was choked with sobs as he cried loudly.

"I don't want to fight anymore. I don't want to face a monster like that again...!"

"In the final analysis, I never wanted to fight...but I just couldn't ignore the pain!!"

"I've been through so many things that made me feel that my hard work and efforts were meaningful, but it was all an illusion!! She took everything away from me!!"

“Besides that, what else can I do!? I’ve already… I’ve been defeated to this point, I can’t even take one more step forward!?”

........

Riri Saotome just listened quietly, listening to these voices from the heart. They didn't sound very beautiful, but they were extremely real.

"I feel relieved when you can say these words."

Kamijou Touma was stunned and raised his head quietly.

"Just once, can't you consider yourself the most important person?" Saten Ruiko sat back on the floor and looked at Kamijou Touma straight in the eye: "If you believe that everyone should be treated equally, then why can't that person be yourself?"

Kamijou Touma could understand what Riri Saotome meant, but if he had to abandon this perfect world and let everything go back to the way it was before, his heart would definitely break.

As soon as she saw Kamijou Touma's expression, Riri Saten guessed what he was thinking.

"In fact, returning to the original world has nothing to do with hiding the fact that you failed to save everyone. That was just what you wanted to do."

Suddenly, Kamijou Touma's mouth formed an ugly smile: "I will definitely be slaughtered by everyone, right?"

"It's simple. Just go and apologize. Apologize to everyone after explaining everything clearly."

"Isn't this what you have always done? Didn't you also deal with those powerful enemies who were angry because of irreparable tragedies one by one? This is in line with your style."

Kamijou Touma was stunned for a long time before he whispered, "Is this all that's needed?"

"Of course, and I believe you can solve the problem smoothly as usual. You are the protagonist."

"What? If I were the protagonist, I wouldn't choke on water."

"Okay, enough teasing, then, it's settled."

Riri Saotome stood up with a relaxed smile on her face.

"Let's put an end to it. Let's fight that god who thinks she has won so much and is so proud of herself. Let's surprise her."

"Um......"

Kamijou Touma slowly stood up, his eyes fixed towards the dormitory door.

The sound of the door opening and closing echoed throughout the small room.