The one who asked that while holding out a single sheet of paper is a blond elf beautiful enough to turn anyone's head. She is wearing a dress as dark as the night, and standing in the Mitsugos.h.i.+ Co. building in the deep of night.

Gamma accepts the offered piece of paper and struggles for an answer.

"Umm, Alphsama... I, I don't really..."

"Ah, sorry, it must be hard for you to answer."

The elf called Alpha laughs lightly. The paper in between them is a wanted poster. On it is a sketch of Shadow's figure in a jet black coat.

"Sworn enemy of the kingdom, Shadow. Charged with indiscriminate murder, confinement, arson, and robbery... what a terrible person this is."

"There is also a wanted poster for Shadow Garden with Alphsama's name on in. All they have is your name, though."

"Let me see."

Alpha reads the other wanted poster taken out by Gamma.

"Shadow Garden... this is a pretty terrible organization too, isn't it."

The light of the fireplace illuminates her from the side, giving her beauty an almost fantastical edge in the darkness of the night.

"But what a pity. I hurried back as quickly as I could, but almost everything was already over by the time I arrived."

Alpha throws the wanted posters into the fireplace. She watches as the dark stain at the corners of the papers spreads.

" 'Bring to us all the sins of the world. But nothing will change. We will still carry on doing what we ought to do.' ... what wonderful words indeed."

As Alpha continues watching, the wanted posters gradually turn into ash, and crumble away.

"Somewhere in my heart, I had thought us to be on the side of justice. But apparently it was not so for him."

Her beauty as illuminated by the flickering fire changes along with the s.h.i.+fting shadows, her expression giving off differing impressions accordingly.

At times like a G.o.ddess, and at times like a devil. Back and forth, and back and forth. Whimsically, capriciously, fickly.

"It is our duty to answer to his resolve."

Alpha turns around, the expression on her face causing Gamma to swallow her breath.

"Gather all of the Seven Shadows who are free."

"Yes ma'am, immediately."

Gamma bows her head. Cold sweat slides down her neck, slowly making its way down until it disappears between her cleavage.

Then after a slightly chilly gust of night wind, Gamma raises her head to see that there is no longer anyone there.

All that is left is the flames in the fireplace flickering vigorously.

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"Umm...!"

Hearing a voice calling out to him in front of the half-burnt academy, the common-looking teenage boy with black hair turns around.

"Aah, sorry, sorry, I was thinking about something. So, what's up?"

"Someone told me that I would be able to meet you if I waited here. Because I have something I wanted to tell you..."

The pink-haired girl looks straight at the boy.

"Sure, I still have time until it's my turn for the witness interview. And since cla.s.ses would be off for quite a while."

"So, um, thank you very much for the other day."

The pink-haired girl bobs her head.

"Sid-kun was really a huge help."

"Nah, I didn't really do that much."

"If I was alone, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish anything."

"Don't worry about it, really."

"So actually, what I wanted to tell you today, is that I'm going to study abroad."

"Aahh, that explains the luggage."

The pink-haired girl is holding a large piece of luggage.

"Yes. I'm going to get on the next carriage. I'm going to Rawagas."

"The academy city, huh... wow."

"I, I've found something that I really need to do. And the amount of knowledge I have at the moment is far too little to do that thing."

"I see. Hope you get to learn a lot over there, then."

"And also... I no longer have a reason to stay here anymore."

The girl looks back at the school with a sorrowful face.

"I really wanted to talk with Sid-kun more, but..."

"Un. Let's meet again, someday."

"Yes, let's."

The pink-haired girl smiles, then walks past the boy.

"Oh right, wait a second."

"Yes?"

The girl turns around at the boy's voice.

"Can... Can I ask what it is that you need to do?"

The girl gives him a slightly troubled smile.

"It's a secret."

"I see."

"But, just that, if everything finishes... would you care to listen to my story?"

"... Anytime."

The two exchange smiles. Then they both turn around and begin walking off.

The burning summer sun is suddenly obstructed by a large c.u.mulonimbus. The tepid wind brings with it the smell of rain.

"I, definitely will..."

All of a sudden, the wind carries the girl's voice to the boy's ears.

That small whisper that normally would not have been heard by anyone was clearly heard by the boy.

He turns around, gazing at the girl's dwindling back.

Then plop, plop, comes tiny raindrops from the sky. It slowly wets that pink-colored hair.

The boy walks on as if nothing had happened.

The two of them never turned back again.