Episode 25: The Pain of a Friend
Amid the battle inside the gymnasium, Kanosuke was enraged as Yakushiin mocked Touka.
The memories he had tried to forget—
the wounds he had buried—
were torn open by his anger.
---
Kanosuke was born into a prestigious family and joined the Magadan Corps for the sake of his family.
He was deeply affected by the deaths of his comrades.
Even so, little by little, he began to grow accustomed to life within the Corps.
And then one day, he was assigned a partner.
Her name was Kamishiro Touka.
---
The two headed out on a mission.
Inside a building’s food court, they confronted a Marei.
The creature unleashed wide, razor-sharp attacks that took away Touka’s ability to walk and injured civilians nearby.
Touka was certain she was going to die.
—but Kanosuke destroyed the Marei.
---
In its final resistance, the Marei released flames.
Kanosuke shielded Touka and took the impact.
He was burned, but it wasn’t fatal.
However—
the seeds of something sinister left behind by the Marei began to awaken.
The fire spread across the entire food court.
---
As civilians fled, Touka saved a child who had lost the use of one leg.
Using Reverse Stitching, she paid the price—coughing up blood.
The two barely escaped the building with the child.
---
But it didn’t end there.
Touka used her power again to save a critically injured civilian—
and once again, she paid the price.
Kanosuke tried to stop her.
But Touka wouldn’t stop.
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“Touka…! That’s enough…!”
“Cough…! I can’t…! Kanosuke…! I have to stitch…!”
She coughed, struggling to breathe.
—and still, she tried to keep saving people.
---
Then, another child cried out from the fourth floor.
“Damn it…! I can’t do anything…!?”
Kanosuke clenched his fists and shouted.
---
At that moment—
a girl named Shirakiri Yukino appeared.
She extinguished the flames, saved the child, and healed the wounded—including Touka.
Before leaving, she said only this:
“…Next time, don’t die.”
---
Later, on the quiet train ride home—
Kanosuke asked:
“…Hey. Why do you go that far… risking your life to stitch people?”
---
Touka answered quietly:
“…There’s a reason. It’s a long story… and pretty heavy. Still wanna hear it?”
“…Yeah. Tell me.”
“…Alright. I will.”
---
Bathed in moonlight, the train swayed gently.
Under that quiet, full-moon glow—
their distance began, little by little, to close.
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“…I’ll start with the conclusion.
I’ve killed people before.”
Kanosuke’s eyes widened.
---
“But it wasn’t on purpose. Back then… my body lost control.”
“…Your body…?”
---
Seventeen years ago—
Touka was born an ordinary girl.
—or rather, she wasn’t ordinary even at birth.
Her father was already gone.
Her mother was only eighteen.
Abandoned, inexperienced, and alone—
she could not raise a child.
---
Eventually, she left baby Touka at a remote temple.
There, Touka was taken in by Kongouji Daiken.
He raised her like a treasure.
To Touka, he was her true father.
---
The temple was filled with children like her—
all without families.
They laughed together.
Ate together.
Lived together.
---
But one night—
a Marei appeared.
---
It slaughtered everything.
Daiken tried to protect the children—
but he fell.
One by one, the others followed.
---
Touka was beaten down, on the verge of death.
And in that moment—
her fear awakened something.
---
Her body transformed.
Purple armor.
A blade in her hand.
---
She became a monster.
And without thought—
she cut everything down.
---
But she didn’t stop.
She moved toward where people were.
Toward a facility—
a place under Magadan Corps protection.
---
There—
she killed again.
Even those she shouldn’t have.
---
When she finally collapsed—
the transformation ended.
---
Only silence remained.
---
Kurose arrived too late.
He found the aftermath—
and wept.
---
Touka survived.
But others didn’t.
---
When she awoke—
she learned the truth.
She had killed.
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“…You are not at fault.”
Kurose said.
“…Your power ran out of control. That’s all.”
---
And despite everything—
he chose to protect her.
---
Touka was given a second chance.
A weapon:
“Houmeigu: Gyakuen.”
A blade that enhanced her stitching ability—
while still carrying its unavoidable cost.
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“…You cannot escape it.”
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From then on—
Touka chose to live.
To save more lives than she had taken.
---
Back on the train—
Touka finished her story.
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“That’s why… I have to keep stitching.”
---
The train slowed.
The doors opened.
A cool night breeze flowed in.
---
Kanosuke spoke:
“…I’m not smart enough to fully get it.”
“But I know this.”
“You didn’t choose that.”
“And… you deserve to be happy.”
“So don’t push yourself too hard, alright?”
---
Touka’s chest tightened.
That straightforward kindness—
was the warmest thing in the world.
---
“…Thank you, Kanosuke.”
“…Actually, I…”
---
The train began to move again.
“…Never mind. I’ll tell you after the war ends.”
“Huh!? Why!? Just say it now!”
“Nah. It’s better this way. Just wait.”
“…Alright!”
---
They laughed together.
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“Cough…”
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A bitter taste filled Kanosuke’s throat.
Blood.
---
Reality snapped back.
---
“Looks like the poison’s kicking in.”
Yakushiin smiled.
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“…I won’t forgive you.”
“You’re the one I’ll kill.”
---
Kanosuke gripped his metal bat.
His veins bulged.
---
“Come at me…!”
---
That night—
Kanosuke inherited the will of the fallen,
and turned his friend’s pain
into his weapon.
