"You need to pull yourself together, Aozaki Touko. This isn't like you!"
Aoko shook Touko by the collar.
"The Touko I know is always decisive whether it's a good idea or a bad one, good or bad, once you decide, you act, even if it ans losing or dying! Because that's how my sister is!!!"
In her urgency, Aoko called out that long-unused word—sister, the one she admired, trusted, and respected since childhood.
Even when breaking ties with the family, accused of killing their grandfather, she didn't refute. She left for London alone, taking on debt to enter the Clock Tower, confronting magi to gain power, sparking the chaos of Mahoyo story.
She was always strong, proud, and aloof, refusing to explain, covered in scars, bloodied yet unyielding.
Such a sister, hated by many, moving forward alone—how can she be so weak now?
"Then what do you want to do?"
Touko let her crazed sister shake her.
"Make a decision. Confess, reject, or... whatever. Just don't be like this. It's pathetic. Show so of that fighting spirit! Ten seconds. If you don't decide, I will!"
"Only ten seconds? Isn't that too short?"
"Not at all. Ten, nine, eight, seven..."
"Fine, fine, I'll decide."
Maybe worn out by Aoko, Touko scratched her head ungracefully.
"That's the Touko I know. So, confess or reject? I'll punch anyone who objects."
Aoko finally released her, ready to fight. The Witch of Destruction saying she'd punch soone was enough to make even Zelretch would think twice.
"Neither," Touko shook her head.
"Then what—?"
"I'm going to take a gamble."
"Gamble on what?"
"Fate. Didn't he talk about destiny, past lives, reincarnation last night? I'll bet on it. The stake is myself. If we're fated, when I see him again, I'll give myself to him. If not, there's nothing more to say."
Touko headed to her room, Aoko quickly following.
"You're leaving?"
"Yes, leaving Hokkaido now."
I've been tied to you for so long, I've forgotten my own heart. I need to leave to truly understand myself. Even if I lose, I want to lose completely.
"Is this okay?"
Aoko watched her in shock.
"You told to decide. Why hesitate now?"
Touko countered.
"No, it's just different from what I imagined."
"If you could guess so easily, how could I be your sister? Oh, right, you made decide, so bear the responsibility."
"What? Responsibility?"
"Yeah. Since 1995, I've been living off his allowance, and his little lover manages my inco. Without that, I'll be broke, so I'll have to rely on you for a while, dear sister."
"Wait, wait, that sounds weird. Is he supporting you?"
"If you want to see it that way, that's fine," Touko said shalessly.
"..."
"Regret making decide?"
"A bit."
"Too late. Once I decide, I don't change."
"Wow, you're so decisive in a place like this."
Aoko wanted to bang her head against the wall at this point.
"Fine, fine, let's go. It's been a long ti since we last... Huh? Did you just say you have living expenses? From 1995 to now?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Then why are you still spending money in my na? The person who can help you with the Sealing Designation can't be stingy, you, you-- pay back, pay back, pay back, pay back!!!"
"I don't have money, but I have a life to give."
Touko put her hand on her hip and played rogue.
"If you're capable, then kill ."
"I, I'll kill you--"
Aoko pounced on her with her teeth and claws bared, but before she could touch Touko, she was stopped by the next sentence.
"Your face changes as soon as you ntion money. How did you call just now, sister, sister, sister-- ah, it's been so many years since I've heard you call sister. Call a few more tis, maybe I'll be in a good mood and pay you back."
"Touko, you..."
"Not calling sister anymore? Little sister."
"Ugh! I'm such an idiot to worry about you."
Aoko went crazy.
"You know it."
...
All the fighting and bickering aside, once Touko made a decision, she would act on it imdiately. Aoko was the sa, since she had forced her sister to make a decision, she would be responsible to the end.
By the ti Shinji returned, the house was already empty, leaving only the uncleaned bowls, chopsticks, and teacups on the table and the overturned note.
A line of words was added to the originally blank back.
"I'm gone, don't look for , see you if fate allows."
It was signed by Touko Aozaki. Compared to previous signatures, this one was particularly flamboyant, and one could feel a sense of unrestrainedness just by looking at it.
"Well, she's gone."
Shinji put down the note and sighed with a complicated look on his face.
"Why did she leave as soon as she arrived? Did sothing happen to the Tohno family?"
Asked Justeaze, who was unaware of the situation.
"Not them, she's gone, and she's never coming back, not to the Tohno or the Aozaki."
"But, but didn't she just take Miss Satsuki as her disciple? How could she just..."
"That's the nature of Touko, she's the wind, and she can't stay in one place forever. I guessed this day would co when I signed the contract with her. I guess Aoko's arrival awakened her true nature."
"How could this be, I, we've always considered her family, why... why..."
Justeaze was a little distraught, she had always regarded Touko as her friend, and now she was suddenly gone, which was hard for her to accept.
Shinji gently took Justeaze into his arms: "It's okay, even if she's gone, she's still family. Don't you feel it? The longing contained within, she will co back, soday."
Justeaze let out an "mm": "She didn't even wash the dishes, she won't last long."
"Even if she can hold on, I have my ways, she can't run away."
Shinji grinned, his teeth flashing coldly.
...
Half a month later, Touko received an envelope from Danzou Katou, who had rushed to et up with them.
In the envelope was a photo of a drunken Touko and Aoko hugging each other, head to head, face to face.
On the back of the photo was a familiar slippery face and a ssage.
"Have a nice trip."
"Aoko."
"Hmm?"
"Go kill him, I won't stop you."
"...No."
"Why?"
"Don't drag into your flirting."
"..."
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