Media

Ending: Parting, and a Promise to Reunite


Translated by Arctic Passerine

The Dark King had at last been defeated. The darkness had been driven from this world.

Hiyori
Look! The scenery is going back to normal!

Ayumi
Y-Y-Yes! We finally did it...!

Rino
Yeah! We saved this world! Right, Alice?

Alice
Exactly. You did well, all of you.

Inori
Well, it was nothing to me!

Homare
Ha ha, good work, everyone! You too, Rago.

Rago
Gyao!

Rino
Well, then, now we just have to find a way back home!

Ayumi
T-That's right! Will it be hard to find...?

Hiyori
If we all look together, then we'll manage!

Alice
... There's no need for that.

Rino
Alice...? Kya!?

Rino
W-What's this!? Why is everything around us lighting up all of a sudden!?

Alice
This world... Or rather, this book, is returning to its original form.

Rino
Huh...?

Alice
Now that the Dark King has vanished... I finally understand everything.

Alice
This world... Or, I should say, this book, contains all of the emotions of the person reading it.

Alice
Its power to gather these emotions is something like magic. By some coincidence, you all just happened to be pulled in by that same power.

Alice
... No, it was no coincidence. It was because... I wanted to tell you this, Rino.

Alice
A single bit of bravery can chance the world. And once you set out upon that adventure, it will never end.

Alice
... However, your adventure in the world of this book must end here.

Alice
None of you are characters in the story of this book, so you'll soon be ejected from it... And that will mean goodbye, for now.

Alice
But there's no need to be sad. Because we've achieved a happy ending here.

Rino
......

Alice
What's the matter, Rino? Why are you making as moody a face as when we met?

Rino
... I don't want to go.

Alice
You have to, though... You have to say goodbye.

Rino
I said I don't want to!

Rino
I don't want to say goodbye to you forever, Alice! You're my friend!!

Rino
I don't want to be separated from you forever! If I don't leave, then you won't disappear, right!?

Rino
Huh...?

Alice
Honestly... You haven't been listening. I said it would be goodbye "for now," didn't I?

Rino
Wait, Alice! There's so much more I want to talk to you about! So much more I want to do with you... So much more...

Rino
Please, stay with me forever... Weren't our hearts supposed to be as one...?

Alice
... It'll be all right. I'll be seeing you again soon.

Alice
Because I'll always be right there, within this book. So you can come see me whenever, right?

Alice
Our story together may end here, but my story will continue within this book. So, you need to go continue your story in your world, as well. Promise?

Alice
Don't worry, you're not alone. Because you have lots of friends whom you can rely on. Isn't that right? Yuuki.

Yuuki
1. "That's exactly right."

Rino
Big brother...

Alice
Not to mention... You said you'd one day make clothes that looked like me, didn't you?

Rino
Alice...

Alice
I am your hope. And that hope will surely be within the clothes you make... Which means I'll be there, too!

Alice
Well, of course, it'll be difficult to make something as adorable an elegant as me. But I'm looking forward to seeing what you can make during your lifetime...

Rino
... I'll make it.

Rino
Absolutely... I'll absolutely make it! And it'll be completely full of my hopes...!

Rino
I'll do it for you, Alice... The cutest, coolest, kindest, best friend I could imagine... So just wait for me!

Alice
Ha ha... Then, until then, we'll have to say goodbye.

Alice
... I'll see you again, Rino.

Rino
... Yes. I'll see you again! Alice...!

They leave the book, and are back in the general store from the opening.

Rino
This is...

Shopkeeper
Y-You guys!? I thought you'd left, but here you are again, all of a sudden! If you're practicing magic tricks, do it outside!

Ayumi
I-It looks like we're back. We're out of the book's world...

Homare
Judging by the shopkeeper's reaction, not much time has passed since we were pulled in.

Inori
Whew... That was an insane experience.

Homare
But it was quite fun!

Rino
......

Yuuki
1. "That book..."

Rino
Yes, it's Alice's book. The book that we had our adventure inside. We only met just now, but... It's strange.

Rino
Huh? I feel like there are more characters in this book than before... Was the picture on the page always like this...?

Rino
The girl in Alice's outfit was there before, but... Is there another girl here?

Hiyori
Hey, hey, that girl -- isn't it you, Rino?

Ayumi
I think so, too! Her hair is the same color as yours.

Rino
I'm in Alice's book...?

Homare
Rino, why not try flipping through a few more pages? There may be still more interesting things to find...

Rino
Homare...? Um, okay, then...

Hiyori
Wow! It's Alice, and the other girl... It's definitely you, Rino! The two of them, plus a mysterious rabbit and a cat -- they're fighting against the Dark King!

Rino
I don't think this page was here before, either...

Ayumi
T-This rabbit and cat are the two of us...! Amazing... Our adventure is part of the story now...!

Inori
Eh, um, um, the queen and the lady here, is that me and the Boss?

Homare
Most likely. Ha ha, how nice, Inori.

Inori
I feel like you're taking this a little too lightly, but I won't mind it for now!

Rino
......

Rino
Alice is... continuing her adventure within this book.

Yuuki
1. "You should keep your promise, too."

Rino
Big brother... Yeah, that's right.

Rino
I promised... Alice would go on in her own world. And I'd continue my adventure in my own world.

Rino
But... I'm nervous. Will I be okay without Alice?

Rino
Can I really keep this promise? With just my own power...

Hiyori
Of course you can, Rino!

Ayumi
Yes, you can definitely do it, Rino...! I believe in you!!

Hiyori
Yeah, yeah! After all, you're the savior, Rino!

Inori
W-Well, it might still be tough by yourself, so I'll help you out, too.

Rino
Everyone...

Homare
Rino. Won't Alice be upset if you show such weakness again?

Rino
... Yeah, she would! I'll do my best, and one day, I'll make Alice real!

???
Ha ha... Do your very best, now...!

Rino
Eh...!?

Yuuki
1. "Is something wrong?"

Rino
... No, nothing's wrong at all.

Rino
(Alice... I'm really glad I met you...)

Rino
(From wherever you are, please, watch over my adventure from now on...!)

Softly, Rino closed her eyes. Within her expression, a true determination resided, one that was different from what had been there before.