Episode 20: "Anguished Beast"

Sui Yakumo
"Ah.. gaah... haaa... haa..."

Sui was still breathing, despite the fact that his body had been pierced through with a laser beam.
His breaths were incredibly labored as he made a desperate effort to stand.

Koishi Kohinata
"Wait, he's still alive?! We may still have a chance to treat him, then!"

Koishi sprinted toward Sui and began to administer first aid.
It was apparent, though, that Sui's condition was dire. His entire body was covered in burns; even a skilled medic like Koishi wasn't likely to save him in this state.

Yo Kuronaka
"Hey, Zero... heal Sui! I want to switch my reward to that!"

Yo made the snap decision to plead with Zero to change his reward.
Since Sui's brainwashing hadn't yet been undone, he was still within his right to request a new wish.

Zero
"Not cool, Yo. You shouldn't be so wishy-washy when it comes to making promises.
Buuuut... I guess we can call it even, since it would've been impossible for me to undo a brainwashing that never happened to begin with."

Tsuki Iroha
"Huh?"

Yo Kuronaka
"What are you talking about?"

Sui hadn't been brainwashed? A dumbfounded look appeared on Yo's face; it was apparent that he couldn't process what Zero had told them.

Tsuki Iroha
"But... but... Sui's only been acting weird because you brainwashed him, right?!"

Zero
"Honestly... Even I find it kind of pathetic how self-centered your train of thought is.
It's not really my problem if Sui is actually much different than the idealized version of him you've propped up in your mind."

From the way Zero replied, it was obvious he was sneering a bit from behind his mask.

Tsuki Iroha
"B-But...! That's just not the Sui I know! Sui was..."

Zero
"You speak as if you know everything about him. Listen to me.
You didn't know his true feelings. The feelings he'd been hiding so desperately all this time. Isn't that really all there is to it?
As far as I'm concerned, it's rather arrogant of you to insist that the version you remember is the real one, and the person standing before you somehow isn't."

Tsuki Iroha
"There's no way that's true! We always talked about everything!"

Tsuki was desperately trying to deny Zero's assertions.
She didn't want to believe that the Sui they'd met in Minato City was the real deal.
Yo understood all too well just what Tsuki was feeling.

Zero
"Seriously... just give up already. Both for his sake, and for your own.
Though I'll just say this: there are things you haven't told Yo either, correct?"

Tsuki Iroha
"Th-That's not true! I swear, Yo!"

Panic overtook Tsuki as she vehemently denied Zero's statement. It was obvious that she was trying to gloss over something.
Just as Yo began to wonder what it was that Tsuki was hiding...

Sui Yakumo
"I... I... I just...!"

Koishi Kohinata
"Yo, Tsuki! Sui's awake!"

Thanks to Koishi's efforts, Sui had regained consciousness.
Yo and Tsuki were quick to run to his side.

Yo Kuronaka
"...Sui! Sui, you okay?"

Sui Yakumo
"Ah... Auuugh! This time... This time I'm gonna beat you!
I'll go head-to-head with you... over and over... 'till I'm dead!"

Sui still hadn't regained his sanity.
The moment he saw Yo, he attacked.

Tsuki Iroha
"Yo, watch out!"

Sui Yakumo
"Get the hell out of my way! Move it!"

Tsuki Iroha
"Hnnngh!"

Tsuki had leapt in front of Yo to defend him; Sui responded mercilessly by punching her.

Tsuki Iroha
"Urk..."

She crumpled to the ground, letting out a pained sound in her half-conscious state.

Sui Yakumo
"That's what you get for butting in! Keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you!"

Sui spat his words out at the injured Tsuki.
Seeing Sui act in such a cold manner caused a lava-like rage to well up in Yo's chest once more.

Yo Kuronaka
"So, then... is this who you really are? If so, then I—"

Sui Yakumo
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UPPP!! I'M GONNA KILL YOU ALL!
LET'S DO THIS, YOOOooooOOoo!!!"

Sui had begun to screech like an unhinged beast; it was no longer possible to reason with him.

Sui Yakumo
"GRAAAaAAAAaaaAaAAAAHhhh!!!!!"

There was nothing else he could do; Yo clenched his fists tightly as he steeled himself for what was to come.

Yo Kuronaka
"If that's what you want, then fine!"

Yo and Sui's third battle had begun.
Though really, it was difficult to even properly call it a battle.
Sui had already been so severely injured by the lasers that each swing of his bat caused him to cough up blood.

Sui Yakumo
"GRAAAaAAAAaaa...AaAAAAHhhh!!!!!"

Yo and the rest of the Trash Tribe called on Sui repeatedly in an effort to get him to stop.
Sui had no intention of doing so, however, and continued to swing his bat.
He had made Yo his sole target.

Yo Kuronaka
"...Tch! Sui!"

Yo retaliated by landing multiple punches on Sui.
It wasn't as if he'd wanted to do so, but it was the only option he had in front of him if he wanted to stop the raging Sui.
Each time his fists made contact with Sui's body, Yo felt as if his own was being stabbed.
Why did things have to come to this?
As Yo continued his assault on Sui, he cursed his luck with each and every punch.

Sui Yakumo
"GaAAAAAHHhh...!"

Then, after some time, Sui fell to his knees. He coughed up blood before his body fell completely to the ground.