Re: Freedom: Regaining Freedom In Another World

FYI

Scene/ POV

: Speech

- Thoughts

[Flashback]

"Quoting"

(Author Note)

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Trials

I was back at the Tea Party.

Echidna: You've passed the first trial. There are two more. Are you going to continue?

Koji: I am.

Echidna: Then why don't we discuss how you're in love with Emilia?

Koji: I'm not. I only see her as the one who will make my life easier when she's the ruler. At most, I see her as a friend.

Echidna: Is that so? A good lie but someone you don't consider abandoning even once while dying 150 thousand times isn't someone who you consider as just a friend.

Koji: ...

Echidna: You went through all of that thinking. I could escape with Emilia and her alone but not once did you think I could just leave her here.

Koji: That's... true.

Echidna: That's not something you do for a mere friend. So tell me why exactly do you love her?

Koji: She's just... I've never met someone who was willing to go so far out of the kindness in her own heart. I know she has an ulterior motive but I also know she's being genuine when she says she wants equality for everyone in Lugunica. In my last world, I was hard-pressed to find someone like her. It was... refreshing. Of course, she's also beautiful. Apart from that I just enjoy spending time with her. She's an interesting person.

Echidna: I see. But what about your first love?

Koji: What?

Echidna: I'll show you.

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Tokyo

Horikita was putting up a poster with Ayanokoji's face on it. It said missing.

Horikita: I'm sorry Kiyotaka. I... I don't know how to feel about you but I'm worried. I just want to talk to you one more time. In the end for our first two years, I forced you to help us reach Class A. I was unfair. I know that so let me apologise.

Sudo: Suzune. You need to go home and rest. We'll keep looking.

Yukimura: Kiyotaka. Where did you go?

Haruka: Kiyopon...

Akito: Kiyotaka come on.

Koji- Suzune...

Koji sighed.

Koji: There's nothing I can do from here on.

Echidna: You disappeared just like that you know.

Echidna clicked her fingers.

Echidna: It was quite the shock you know.

Koji: Of course, it would be.

Echidna smirked.

Echidna: Do you have no regrets?

Koji: Of course I do but regardless of those regrets there is nothing I can do for them so it's not worth my time to think about.

Echidna: But you've never even considered returning to that girl Horikita. Can you really say that you loved her? If not do you even understand what love is?

Koji: Even if I was just fooling myself I don't regret falling in love with Horikita. Even if I am causing her pain I don't think I would change my choice. It's selfish but that's how I feel. Thank you Horikita for everything you've given me. You're the reason I can now find myself in a new world.

Echidna sighed.

Echidna: Well you passed that test pretty quickly. It's so boring that you did. Maybe I should have swapped the order? It thought for sure that if I started the second trial right away it would be more interesting.

Echidna began pouting.

Koji: Sorry to disappoint you then.

Echidna: Well as you would say what's done is done. Do you have any questions for me?

Koji: Not really.

Echidna: Then I suppose I should wake up up.

Echidna flicked my forehead as I woke up lying next to Emilia. She was trembling.

Koji- I guess she wasn't quite ready to confront her past.

I walked over and sat down holding her hand.

Koji: Breathe. Emila. Breathe. Control your breath.

She began to calm down a little as she woke up. I could see in her eyes that she was still terrified as she clung to me.

Emila: Kiyotaka? Right... I was undergoing the trial... and...

Her pupils undilated.

Emilia: I'm... It wasn't me. It wasn't! And yet... I keep telling you it wasn't me, and yet... Don't look at me like that! 

She covered her face.

Koji: Just try to stay calm. You're not there right now. You're here with me.

I tightened my grip on her hand a little as she seemed to recover a little.

Emila: Kiyotaka? I...

Koji: Whatever it is you can tell me when you're ready.

I got her into a princess carry as I walked out of the trial temple.

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House

Ram: The aroma hypnosis should prevent any nightmares.

Koji: Thank you, Ram.

That young-looking elf girl then stepped inside.

Koji- She's the one that Echidna was talking about. The potential vessel for her soul.

???: I heard you brought in more people from outside, Young Gar. Let me introduce myself. I am Ryuzu Bilma and I am what you could call a representative of this community. At the same time, I am old and frail as you can see.

Koji: Honestly I'd find it easier to perceive you as a child rather than an old woman.

Ryuzu: While I'm happy you don't think I'm old that's insulting in its own way. Anyways you are Ayannokoji Kiyotaka so you are young Kiyo.

Koji- Giving me a nickname all of a sudden?

Ryuzu: Well you should all rest for now.

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Room

I was sleeping on a chair when Emilia who was sleeping in bed slowly woke up as she felt my hand in hers.

Koji: Good morning Emilia. I hope you slept well.

Emilia: You... you stayed with me through the night didn't you?

Koji: It seemed as if holding my hand was calming for you. I suspected it would be best if I was here.

Emilia weakly laughed.

Emilia: You always talk like that. So rigid.

Koji: Well to be honest you talk as if you're and old lady.

Emilia pouts.

Emilia: That was so mean!

Koji: Sorry sorry.

Emilia laughed but then she made a shocked expression.

Emilia: You're smiling so softly.

Koji: I am?

Emilia: I didn't expect that from you but... I'm glad.

Her face turned to a look of guilt.

Emilia: I'm sorry about yesterday I...

Koji: It's fine. Had I known you would be facing your past I wouldn't have let you go like that. Not without further preparation.

Emilia: Did I hold your hand all night? It... it must have been hard for you to... right your training.

Koji: It doesn't bother me in the slightest so don't worry.

Emilia: Really?

Koji: It doesn't.

Emilia: I'm glad.

Koji: Can we talk about your past or is it too sensitive?

Emilia: I'm sorry I just... I can't

Koji: I understand.

I got up.

Emilia: Where are you going?

Koji: If I can't do anything to help you right now I might as well help the others and talk with Ram.

Emilia: Kiyotaka...

Koji: I must use my time wisely. I'll only hinder you as of right now so I'll leave you here and come back when yo call for me.

Emilia: Okay.

I left the room and met with Ram outside.

Koji: Ram. Not everyone here wants to free the sanctuary, do they?

Ram: Correct you are Ayanotaka.

Koji: I want you to keep a closer eye on Lady Emilia. It's likely those people will target her.

Ram: Of course.

I then walked over to meet with Roswal.

Roswal: Oh Kiyotaka. What a nice visittttt.

Koji: While no one else is here can I ask you something?

Roswal: Why of courseeeee.

Koji: Why have you been absent throughout every major event involving Lady Emilia?

Ram: Ayanotaka what are you?

Koji: It's all part of your plan isn't it to give us credit for those achievements? I wouldn't be surprised if the Mabeast Incident was your doing.

Ram: What!?

Ram glared at Roswal.

Ram: Ayanotaka what proof do you have of this?

Koji: None. Just experience. This is just the type of plan my old self would do. It seems that we are alike in that manner Roswal.

Roswal: Well everything worked out for the best thanks to you Kiyotaka. Whatever that ability you have is, it allows you to avoid any and all intolerable outcomes.

Ram: What? You really... what about Rem? You endangered her!

Roswal: Yes I did but Kiyotaka here didn't let her die. He managed to prevent it. What is that ability? A Divine Protection Of Precognition?

Ram looked at me stunned.

Ram: Ayanotaka can you?

Koji: Incorrect. If that were the case everything should be much easier.

Rowal: Ha ha. That is trueee.

Ram looked at me with confusion as I walked out of the room.

Ram: This ability. What is it exactly?

Koji: Trust me it would be better if you didn't know.

Ram: Fine then.

I walked over to the temple where Emilia was sitting on the steps.

Koji: Are you alright?

Emilia: No.

I sat down and hugged her to my chest. She began telling me everything.

Emilia: Even after that the way you look at me hasn't changed.

Koji: Of course not.

Emilia: I guess your past is a lot worse than mine so that's why your reaction isn't so strong.

Koji: Emilia. You do need to face your past. Whether you're able to do this will be an important part of you becoming the ruler. After all a ruler who cannot fae their past will be unable to look at the future clearly.

Emilia: I know.'

She looked down.

Koji: Take as many times as it takes. In the meantime, I'll be heading back to the mansion to check on something.

Emilia: What? Why?

Koji: I have a bad feeling.

Emilia: Alright.

Koji- I need to inspect the situation more which means I need to go to the mansion and see the aftermath and then I can decide on how to go about this in the next loop.

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To Be Continued

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