Chapter 36: The Disappearance of Iwazawa

"The next song is called 'My Song,'" Iwasawa announced as she began to play. The NPC trainees were intrigued, for none had heard it before—was it a new piece? Their enthusiasm was rekindled, but soon they sensed the difference. Unlike previous songs, which stirred their blood with fiery passion, this was a ballad. The lively atmosphere gradually calmed; even Miyuki and the others ceased their accompaniment, listening quietly to Iwasawa's singing. It was now Iwasawa's moment alone. Every cheer faded away, and in that instant, only her guitar and voice echoed through the academy.

"The hypocrites are laughing,"
"What lies will they tell next?"
"What have they gained with their lies?"
"Can those things ornament a life?"
"But we mustn't stop walking toward tomorrow..."
...

As the song ended, all gazed at Iwasawa in silence. It seemed as if a white light shone from her, and she vanished before their eyes. Her unsupported guitar fell helplessly to the floor, and everyone stared quietly at it lying there.

After a long pause, Yechen finally spoke with a sigh, "Iwasawa is gone..."

"Yes, she fulfilled her wish and left without regrets," Bai Ji replied softly, sensing the sorrow in Yechen's tone. She came behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her head gently on his back. "You'll have a chance to see each other again someday!"

Kanade Tachibana gently grasped Yechen's hand and said, "Iwasawa's song was beautiful. She was content..."

"Don't worry, I'm not so fragile that I need your comfort. The ones who truly need consolation are them." Yechen glanced toward the stage at Hisako, Miyuki Irie, and Shiho Sekine. They had spent the most time and shared the deepest bonds with Iwasawa; no one needed comfort more than they did.

With Iwasawa's disappearance, the concert drew to a close. The vast crowd of NPC trainees and teachers began leaving the gymnasium one after another. Hisako and the others walked backstage, dazed and dispirited. Even though they had prepared themselves mentally, the sorrow was overwhelming when Iwasawa truly left.

Yechen, together with Bai Ji and Kanade, approached them. The three girls immediately found their outlet, each embracing one of them and breaking down in tears. Yechen awkwardly held the fragile Miyuki Irie in his arms—he couldn't push away a sobbing girl, so he silently endured Bai Ji's gaze.

With their comfort, Hisako and the others gradually regained their composure. Especially Miyuki, timid by nature, who after calming down realized she was still in Yechen's embrace. She quickly put her hands to her chest and looked at him shyly, her cheeks tinged with red.

After escorting each of them back to their dorms, Yechen noticed it was getting late and suggested he walk Kanade back as well. By now, Yuri and the others should have left. With Bai Ji and Kanade's consent, he took their hands and walked them home.

Meanwhile, in Kanade's room, Takeyama and the others spent some time searching her computer and found a suspicious program. Within the [Guard Skill] menu, they discovered [Hand Sonic], [Distortion], [Delay], [Harmonics]—each icon revealed its respective ability, complete with detailed notes and design statements.

Yuri's brows furrowed deeper with each discovery; every ability had appeared in their battles with Kanade, and it was clear these were skills she herself had designed. As an angel, she possessed no divinely granted powers—so why create her own abilities?

Only when they clicked the [Harmonics] button did Yuri discover a skill she had never seen before. On the screen, a figure split into two identical shadows—clearly a duplication ability, and its display made Yuri's deduction easy.

Their only gain from this operation was the realization that the angel developed her own abilities. Yet this only proved there was no connection between the angel and God.

"Yuri, the concert is over. Iwasawa has disappeared," Yusa suddenly reported over the intercom, her calm voice laced with sorrow, interrupting Yuri's thoughts. There was no more time to linger—the concert was finished and Kanade would soon return. Yuri said to the group, "The concert's over; the angel will be back any minute. Retreat immediately!"

Yuri rushed to the door, meaning to open it, but it was pulled open from the outside. Kanade stood at the doorway, expressionless, tilting her head in confusion at Yuri. Instantly, Yuri drew her pistol and aimed at Kanade's forehead. "Angel!"

At Yuri's shout, everyone raised their weapons and aimed at the door. Her mind raced: "The angel is blocking the door. The window isn't guarded, but jumping from the fourth floor would mean injury if not death. There's only one exit left, but to leave we'd have to fight the angel. Damn, we're trapped inside! There's no way to escape unscathed!"

As she plotted their escape, Kanade quietly asked, "You haven't left yet? Would you like some tea?"

"Huh?" Yuri was startled—was Kanade planning to poison them with tea?

"Don't want tea? Yechen, Bai Ji, what would you like?" Seeing Yuri's conflicted expression, Kanade assumed she didn't want tea and wasn't sure how to entertain those already in the dorm, so she turned to Yechen and Bai Ji.

"I'm fine with anything. If there's juice, that would be even better," Yechen replied, not fussy about food or drink.

"I'm the same as Yechen," Bai Ji echoed.

Hearing Kanade's voice, as well as Yechen's and a girl's, Yuri and the others felt as if they'd found salvation. "Is that Yechen outside?"

Yechen entered with Bai Ji and Kanade. With so many already in the room, their arrival made it feel crowded. Noda stood ready with his massive double-bladed axe, prepared to attack Kanade at any moment, and the tension in the room rose.

Yechen, seemingly oblivious, greeted the SSS members, "Hey! The concert ended a while ago—why are you all still here?"

"Didn't the concert just end?" Yuri asked in surprise. She had just received Yusa's report and was about to leave—the timing was never delayed. The main reason was the last song's allure; even Yusa was entranced for quite some time before remembering to report to Yuri, so they ran into Yechen and the others returning.

"Is it true that Iwasawa has disappeared?" Yuri paused, unable to deny the bond they'd formed.

"Yes, she vanished without regrets..."