Episode 19: "Fallen Comet"

Sui Yakumo
"I... lost? Did I... really lose? Aaah... Aaaaugh!"

Sui fell to his knees, right in the place he stood; his devastated gaze focused at the ground in front of him.
As he did so, the points above his head sharply dropped...
And the points above Yo's head suddenly began to rise.

System Voice
"A large increase in dominance power has been detected. You have reached the top rank; a change of throne has transpired. Your rank has been upgraded to King. Congratulations."

After the system voice rang out, a crown appeared over Yo's head.
They'd been able to dethrone Sui. They'd accomplished their mission.
However...

Yo Kuronaka
"..."

Even with the announcement of their victory, Yo didn't feel that swell of happiness in his chest.
His consciousness felt almost hazy, leading him to be unable to fully recall the battle he had waged with Sui.
He could sense, though, that he'd said some horrible things in the heat of the moment.

Sui Yakumo
"Ah.. Yo... Tsuki? I..."

The words tumbled from Sui's mouth as he staggered to his feet. His expression was vacant as he looked over to Yo and Tsuki.
It looked somewhat more peaceful, as if all the hostility he displayed earlier was little more than a dream.

Tsuki Iroha
"Sui... are you back to normal? Our feelings must have gotten through to you!"

Tears of joy streamed down Tsuki's cheeks as she ran toward Sui.
Sui struggled to stay on his feet, but Tsuki extended her arm to help him and was met with... (Slap!)

Sui slapped her arm away.

Tsuki Iroha
"Huh? Sui..."

Tsuki's eyes widened with surprise at the hand Sui had shaken off.

Sui Yakumo
"I... haven't changed. I've always... wanted to beat Yo.
I came back to life, became one of the Numbers... I thought I'd finally be able to pull it off. Damn it..."

Sui let out a scream as he banged both hands against the ground.

Sui Yakumo
"Damn it! Damn it...! Why... Why couldn't I win?!"

Every time Sui struck the ground, the area around him shook.
It was as if the world itself was trembling and weeping.

Tsuki Iroha
"Hang in there, Sui! We'll get you back to normal, just hold tight!
Zero! Break him free of the brainwashing! You promised you would, didn't you?!"

Zero
"...Brainwashing? Right, right, I suppose I did say something like that."

There was an undeniably stark contrast between Tsuki's desperation and Zero's indifference.

Yo Kuronaka
"Just get him back to normal already. It's okay, Sui, we'll—"

Sui Yakumo
"You're the one who needs to go back to normal..."

Yo Kuronaka
"...Huh?"

Sui Yakumo
"Just stop it, all of you... Stop looking at me like you pity me or somethin'.
It's always... ALWAYS like this! I'm sick of it! Damn... Damn it! Why... can't I win?"
Am I just always gonna lose to you?!"

Sui looked completely baffled.
This state of confusion only seemed to worsen every time Yo or Tsuki would extend their hands to help him up.

Yo Kuronaka
"Sui, calm down! Just tell us what's wrong!"

Just as Yo said that...

System Voice
"A large decrease in dominance has been detected. Your rank has been downgraded to Beggar. Please increase dominance at once if you wish to avoid further consequences."

Yo Kuronaka
"Wh-What the...?!"

The system voice announced Sui's drop to Beggar rank.
They'd been made aware that a higher rank's loss to someone of a lower rank would result in a massive point drop, but they hadn't expected that one defeat could drop him all the way down to Beggar.

Tsuki Iroha
"Huh? W-Wait, hold on a sec! Please, stop! I'm begging you...!"

Tsuki looked up and shouted in the direction of Space Envoy 3. She pleaded for Sui's life to be spared.

Koishi Kohinata
"It's too dangerous for the both of you to stay so close to him!"

System Voice
"Your time is up. We hope you will be someone of high society in your next life. Goodbye."

The system voice was merciless in its announcement of Sui's departure.
The laser's reticle then locked on to Sui's body.

Tsuki Iroha
"Hurry, we have to save him! There has to be a way!"

Sui Yakumo
"Ugh, you're so annoying... just get the hell away from me already..."

Sui murmured...

(Bam!)

And then pushed Yo and Tsuki away from him with both hands.
The moment after he did that...

Sui Yakumo
"GAAAAAAAaaaaahhhh!!"

The laser beam from Space Envoy 3 fired, piercing through Sui like a sword.

Yo Kuronaka
"Sui!"

Tsuki Iroha
"Suuuiii!"

Tsuki's heart-wrenching cry echoed throughout Azabu Crossing.