My 'System' Is Myself!?

Haruno saw the change in her sister's expression and immediately pressed her advantage.

She knew Yukino was hesitating. Her convictions were wavering, and she was beginning to reconsider everything.

She had to keep pushing while the opening was there. She had to make Yukino understand that what Genichi had done was not cruel, selfish, or insane.

It was necessary.

"You might ask why Genichi can't simply grant his power to other people. Why does he have to conduct these Ghost Wielder experiments?"

Haruno's voice grew more urgent. "But every time Genichi grants someone power, he loses a drop of blood. Do you understand what that means? Even if he drained every last drop from his body, how many people could he empower?"

Yukino's lips trembled slightly.

She had never considered that.

She had assumed Genichi could grant others power without limit. She had believed that his power was inexhaustible, that he was merely stingy and selfish, unwilling to share it.

But she had been wrong.

That power was his blood. It was his life.

She had no right to demand that Genichi harm himself just to save other people.

Yukino was kind, but that did not make her a sanctimonious hypocrite who would sacrifice someone else to satisfy her own sense of virtue.

"Besides, those people are complete strangers to Genichi. Why should he share his power with them?"

A trace of agitation entered Haruno's voice. "And don't give me some speech about doing it 'for the survival of humanity.' If that's truly what you believe, Yukino, then I'll be very disappointed in you. Human beings are selfish by nature. Genichi has no obligation to give his power away for free."

Yukino lowered her head, her fingers tightening around the hem of her skirt.

She remembered what she had once said to Genichi.

"You're a selfish person."

Looking back now, those words seemed utterly ridiculous. Absurd, even. They had come back to slap her in the face.

What right did she have to call Genichi selfish?

What had she ever done for humanity?

What had she ever shared?

She had done nothing and given nothing, yet she had self-righteously condemned someone who was working to save the world.

"Genichi is trying to create Ghost Wielders so humans can harness the power of evil spirits and use it to fight them. The fact that he's willing to do even that is already an act of mercy."

Haruno's voice softened, but every word carried undeniable weight. "He could have done nothing. He could have stood back and watched the evil spirits run rampant. He could have protected only himself and the people he cared about. But he didn't. He's working. He's experimenting. He's trying to protect this world in his own way."

"And the people who became test subjects were already at the end of their rope. Some were terminally ill and wanted to leave money behind for their families. Others were crushed beneath enormous debts and planning to take their own lives. We gave their families a chance to survive, and in return, they agreed to help Genichi with his research."

"Yukino, not a single test subject was ever forced to participate."

At last, Yukino's tears began to fall.

They were not tears of sorrow or pain, but of deep, piercing guilt that words could not describe.

She remembered everything she had called Genichi.

A murderer.

A demon.

"You've killed so many people."

She remembered his expression when he heard those words. There had been no anger or sadness. He had merely watched her calmly, as though he were looking at a child who did not understand what she was saying.

Why hadn't he explained himself?

Why hadn't he told her the truth?

Why had he allowed her to misunderstand him?

"So now, I'm only going to ask you three questions."

Haruno's expression turned serious. She reached out and cupped Yukino's face, making her look directly into her eyes.

"Do you want to stay here and slowly rot away, or do you want to do your part to save humanity?"

Yukino stared into her sister's eyes.

She saw expectation, concern, love, and something she had never seen there before.

A plea.

Her sister was begging her to stop obsessing over this. To stop tormenting herself. To stop making everyone worry about her.

Yukino closed her eyes, and tears slipped down her cheeks.

Countless images flashed through her mind: Genichi's back as he stood before the window, the intense concentration on his face as he sat at the laboratory table, and the tenderness with which he had wiped away her tears.

She remembered what her sister had said.

"I believe in him."

She remembered her mother's words as well.

"This was our own choice."

Yukino opened her eyes and looked at her sister.

The weariness, despair, and lifeless gloom within them gradually began to fade.

In their place appeared a new light. It was neither cold nor sharp, but warm, resolute, and filled with hope.

"Haruno."

Her voice was hoarse, yet it carried a strength it had never possessed before.

"I want to do my part to save humanity."

The weight hanging over Haruno's heart finally disappeared.

Yukino threw herself forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her sister, burying her face against Haruno's shoulder as she wept in silence.

Haruno embraced her and gently patted her back, just as she had when they were children.

"I'm sorry," Yukino whispered. "I'm sorry I made you worry."

"As long as you're all right. That's all that matters."

The sisters remained in each other's arms for a long time, until the sunlight beyond the window had traveled from east to west.

At last, Yukino released her sister, wiped away her tears, and took a deep breath.

"Haruno, I want to see Genichi. Even if he won't forgive me, I still want to apologize. I'm the one who caused trouble for him."

Haruno looked at her and nodded.

"All right. I'll take you to him."

Yukino rose and walked over to the mirror, studying her haggard reflection.

Her hair was disheveled. Her eyes were red and swollen, her lips were cracked, and her face was deathly pale.

She took a deep breath, picked up a comb, and began brushing her hair.

Her movements were slow and meticulous, almost as though she were performing a sacred ritual.

Haruno stood nearby and watched, the corners of her lips lifting into a faint smile.

Once her hair was neat, Yukino changed into clean clothes and adjusted her collar before the mirror.

She looked at her reflection.

The coldness, pride, and self-righteous sense of justice that had once filled her eyes were gone.

In their place was something more mature, profound, and compassionate.

"Let's go."

She turned to face her sister.

Haruno nodded, took Yukino's hand, and led her out of the room.

Sunlight streamed through the corridor windows, casting warm patches of light across the floor.

The sisters walked side by side, their steps light yet resolute.

Genichi's laboratory stood at the far end of the corridor.

Yukino stopped before the door and took a deep breath. Then she reached out and pushed it open.

(End of Chapter)

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