Editing City Series:Volume8b Chapter11 (section)

===Aoe’s Continued Board Mode: In DT Castle===

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

You are lying face down on the floor.

Some kind of stick is pressed against your back, preventing you from moving.

Daikatana stands to your right.

Aoe: “Kh. Is that your metal staff pinning me down? Then the person in front of me must be…”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Yuo stands in front of you.

Algo stands behind her. Alternative and Suedomsa are there too.

Aoe: “So sis is my enemy too.”

Alternative: <Sorry for making my sister cry.>

Aoe: “Your sister?”

Aoe: <So they really were sisters, just like Yuo suspected.>

Alternative: <When she was in Japan, Uncle Ungyou and I didn’t have the…I guess you would say ‘guts’ to tell her.>

Aoe: “Ha. So even that was an attempt to preserve her feelings. That sounds like you. But…”

Aoe: “You say Yuo is crying?”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Yuo’s eyebrows are drooping somewhat. It is a look of sadness.

There are tears in the corners of her eyes.

Yuo: “Senpai…”

Aoe: “You idiot. Listen, Yuo. The only tears I want to see are tears of joy at me showing up to rescue you.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Her eyebrows are still drooping, but she is smiling a little.

Yuo: “H-how can you say that when you’re crawling on the floor like a frog?”

Aoe: <She needs a talking to later.>

Algo: “Optimistic of you to assume there will be a ‘later’, Aoe.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Algo is simply looking at you. He is expressionless.

Yuo looks back at him with her hands still held behind her back.

Yuo: “Algo, um, could you stop this?”

Algo: “Unfortunately, that is a question we have all asked countless times by now.”

Yuo: “Then…!”

Algo: <That statement does not lead to a ‘then’. We decided to follow it up with a ‘but’.>

Algo: “We left the task of stopping us in your hands.”

Algo: “Listen.”

Algo: “If it weren’t for you two, I doubt we never would have decided to do this.”

Algo: “It reminds me of what Master Ungyou said to me.”

Algo: “When I was feeling down after learning of Alternative’s day of destruction, he challenged me to a duel and gave me the position of Martial Arts Master and the strongest Minus power. Then he told me to look after the two of you if I was going to fall to the Minus side.”

Aoe: “Ha. You expect me to believe you learned the strongest Minus power from that Plus old man?”

Aoe: “The strongest power surpasses a killing power! How could you obtain it through killing!?”

Algo: “You have no right to ask me that when you do not know what the strongest power is or how it is fulfilled. You must find the answers for yourself.”

Algo: “And Master Ungyou also said you would never be able to obtain the strongest power from him no matter how much you worked at it.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Algo’s lips are bending slightly. It is a small smile.

Aoe: “Don’t you underestimate me!”

Algo: “I am not, I assure you. We haven’t gone easy on you, have we? And now we will do what it takes to end things between you and Yuo. Then we will move on to the next step.”

Algo: “I will tell you one thing, however. Or has someone already told you? Our fight will not end even if you do stop Master Suedomsa’s godtact experiment that is about to begin.”

Algo: “If you do manage to stop him, Alternative and I will take over and begin the next godtact experiment.”



'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Algo is looking down at you with no change of expression.

Aoe: “So it was true!”

Yuo: “What!? How could you possibly do that!?”

Algo: “Myst and Excel are currently copying the Questron’s texture and control programs. We will be taking those to Babel and using them there. As for the vessel, we have Alternative and myself. Her, pure and unsullied. Me, a long-lived immortal thanks to my position as Martial Arts Master.”

Algo: “If we share our settings and make some modifications, we can be used as a single vessel.”

Aoe: “You can what!?”

Algo: “The problem is that we will not be indestructible, but that can be partially patched using the backup feature of the NPC Body containing Alternative.”

Algo: “Although at the moment it looks like the past debts will be paid and we will never have to play our role. Those 11 Demigods must feel guilty about their past sins because their heart isn’t in this fight.”

Algo: <Aoe, I know you are upset, but do you still think you can pay those past debts in their stead and reach your actual fight with us?>

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Algo’s expression remains unchanged. He is still smiling.

Algo: “As things are, we need Yuo, but this is the end for you, Aoe.”

Aoe: “Hah. So you planned that second godtact experiment just to be safe?”

Aoe: “Stop acting above it all. You think this is the end? This isn’t ending!”

Algo: “Even if Yuo loses her memories?”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Algo nods just once.

Algo: “What reason does she have to be with you after losing her memories? You aren’t going to act like the law or righteousness has any role to play there, are you?”

Algo: “Losing Yuo should be enough of a reason for you to drop out, shouldn’t it?”

Aoe: “Don’t be absurd. I-”

Yuo: “Um, Senpai? T-time out on getting all worked up, okay?”

Aoe: “Mh?”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Yuo nods in your direction too.

The tears are gone from her face.

Yuo: “Algo, what happens to me if I do lose my memories?”

Algo: “Not much changes really. You will simply have different memories. So…”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Algo sticks his left hand into his white robe and pulls out Yuo’s Mouse.

Algo: “This Mouse’s memories will not change and your body will remain the same. The x5 hamburger you just ate to return you to full size will also remain in your stomach.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Algo holds the Mouse up in his left hand. That left hand is a prosthetic.

Yuo frowns and lowers her head. She appears to be thinking.

Yuo: “Umm.”

Aoe: “Mh. Don’t think too much. No one wants you overheating your brain.”

Yuo: “Is now really the time?”

Algo: “Have you arrived at a decision?”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Yuo raises her lowered gaze.

She looks to her own Mouse in Algo’s grasp.

Yuo: “It’s only my memories I’ll lose, right?”

Suedomsa: “Correct. Your memories of the past 2000 years will unravel and lose all meaning to you and the seal on your old memories will be broken. In other words, your old memories will be written on top of your current self.”

Yuo: “You mean my memories will revert to a time when I knew you were my dad?”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Yuo gives a small nod.

She closes her eyes and breaths in deep.

Yuo: “Um.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

She moves her head a little bit.

She sucks in a deep breath of air.

Yuo: “Listen, Algo…and dad.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Yuo opens her eyes and looks first to Algo and then to Suedomsa.

Yuo: “Once I regain my memories, if I, at any time, choose not to give up on everything, please smile and let me go free.”

Suedomsa: “I…”

Suedomsa: “I know this is not a Minus thing to say, but that is not possible, Yuo. Your memories will return to just before the 2nd Godtact Experiment – just before you entered the Questron 2000 years ago. You will return to a time when you already had given up.”

Suedomsa: “And you say at any time, but you will have less than an hour from your memories returning until the godtact experiment begins. When will you even have time to abandon your resignation?”

Yuo: “That isn’t for you to worry about.”

Yuo: “It is true I think I would do everything the same if I forgot everything. But I also think I could change if someone gave me the chance. You don’t have to give me any power or any object. Just let me know that there is a better option out there than giving up.”

Yuo: “Once I know that, I will be able to act on my own. So when that time comes…please smile and let me go free.”

Suedomsa: “You sound confident this will happen. Why is that?”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Yuo looks to you with her eyes narrowed and her lips loosening. It is a small smile.

Yuo: “Because I know Senpai will come for me. He might lose, he might get hurt, he might even appear to have given up, but he has always come for me. It may have taken him 600 years, but he still came for me here.”

Suedomsa: “You think he will change your mind? But…”

Yuo: “But nothing!”

Yuo: <Everyone else might say ‘but’, but I’ve decided to say ‘then’!>



'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Yuo nods.

The motion of her head sends tears falling from the corners of her eyes.

Algo nods as well.

Algo: “I see. Then let me ask one thing: what happens if Aoe does not come for you?”

Yuo: “Then I lose and I will likely become your vessel.”

Yuo: “Oh, but you don’t have to apologize. If I win, the great god won’t be activated and you can’t save Suedomsa and Alternative. We are both working against each other here.”

Yuo: “I know that, but I still want to win. Strength is not something you are given – it is something you reach out and take. And something you take back if it is taken from you. Isn’t that right?”

Yuo: “I will not be lost. I know some small amount of me will remain in here somewhere. Deny it all you like, this version of me will not vanish from myself and from others.”

Yuo: “Just like my past self tried to bring back the me who had my last name changed. So even if my memories are erased to create a different version of myself, I doubt that me will be able to deny the me speaking to you now.”

Suedomsa: “I see. Algo, can you get the process rolling?”

Algo: “Let’s give them a minute to say goodbye. Aoe, switch to Sight Mode please.”

'''<Aoe’s Board Mode has ended>