"Sister!" Kurome's eyes widened. she rushed to the front of Kaede and lifted Kaede's mangled hands, her eyes filled with tears.
"...Sister..." Akame opened her mouth, but in the end, she could only manage that one word before falling silent. She stared at Kaede's bleeding wounds and the curse marks that were continuously surfacing from them.
Suddenly, Akame felt a certain string in her heart snap. Her hand holding Murasame loosened at some unknown point, allowing Murasame to fall to the ground as she stared blankly at Kaede.
Once upon a time, her sister had given up the chance to enter the Elite Group and gave that spot to her.
Once upon a time, her sister held her as she fell asleep. How much had she admired that smile when she woke up?
Once upon a time, for her and Kurome's sake, her sister had traveled through the night to the Putuoladi Land, just because she was worried about their safety.
Once upon a time, when she betrayed them, she didn't even dare to see her sister's face, for fear that she wouldn't be able to maintain her resolve.
Once upon a time, when she met her sister again, she didn't see any intent to blame her.
Once upon a time, when she was about to kill Kurome and her sister swatted her away, she saw that painful look in her sister's eyes. Her sister wasn't blaming her for the betrayal; she was angry that she would actually try to kill Kurome...
And now, she had actually cut her sister, with Murasame!
What on earth had she done? What had she done? Akame clutched her head with both hands, her crimson eyes flickering. Up until now, what was the point of everything she had done?
Even if the revolution succeeded, what would be the point? The sister who cared for her most in this world, the one she admired most... was gone.
At this time, Kaede looked at Kurome, her crimson eyes revealing gentleness and lingering attachment.
Kaede still managed a smile for Kurome, but curse marks had even begun to appear on her face.
Sister is gone, you must continue to live well with Akame... do you hear me?
Even at the very end, Kaede still said this.
Sister...
Kurome's tears fell as if they were worthless, "Nothing will happen, Sister!"
Akame, do you hear me?
Without looking at Kurome again, Kaede turned her head to look at Akame. Even now, Kaede's voice remained calm, without the slightest intention of blaming Akame.
However, Akame held her head as if she hadn't heard Kaede's words. Looking at Kaede's still-gentle gaze, Akame felt her heart crumbling even further. She could no longer open her mouth, and even if she did, she could no longer make a sound.
Why? Why be so gentle even now? Why not scold me? Why not punish me? Even if I were to die, I could never repay this feeling, why!
Kurome was there crying, while Akame stood to the side as if she had lost her soul.
So... did you hear me or not?
Without looking at Akame and Kurome again, Kaede looked up at the sky. The sky today... is cloudless.
She seemed to remember that day at dusk, when she took Kurome to the Elite Group to find Akame, and Akame had been waiting for them under the setting sun...
That time, when Kurome saw Akame, when Akame saw Kurome...
How wonderful.
Strength slowly left her body. Kaede looked at the sky, or perhaps her gaze, looking at the silhouettes of the three of them under the setting sun, also slowly began to unfocus.
I'm... a little tired.
Can I rest now?
With a faint smile, Kaede closed her eyes. She was truly... tired.
Her body was tired, and her spirit was riddled with holes. In such a broken state, it was time to rest, right?
Tired, weary, wanting... to end it all...
Sister!!
Holding Kaede's body, Kurome could no longer hold back and cried out loudly.
General?
Koujo Shizuka froze at that moment. She approached Kaede step by step, her body feeling as if it had been hollowed out, her gait moving forward like a zombie.
In the end, Koujo Shizuka passed by the standing Akame and came to Kaede's side, looking at the sleeping face that still carried a faint smile, and those eyesore incantations...
General?
Koujo Shizuka called out softly, as if afraid of disturbing Kaede.
Tears began to fall from her eyes involuntarily.
General?
General? Wake up, it's dawn, Shizuka... Shizuka has something to ask you...
General?
Koujo Shizuka looked at Kaede's face, as if seeing her as she was at the border...
The first time she met Kaede, Koujo Shizuka had killed a Soldier, because that person had killed her family. For the sake of revenge, she had been planning, and finally succeeded in poisoning that guy.
Having completed her revenge, she stayed there, as if her life had ended right there, and she no longer wanted to live.
Then, she met Kaede. Kaede asked her for the reason. Looking at Kaede's emotionless eyes, she answered on an impulse.
Then Kaede let her stay by her side. All the harassment from others was blocked by Kaede. When Kaede slaughtered a squad for her sake, looking at Kaede's heroic figure, Koujo Shizuka understood, understood her future path, her own life.
Everything, everything dedicated to the person in front of her, that was enough!
But now, now, Kaede had fallen here, and the life she had found collapsed once again...
Akame... Akame! It's you, it's you again! Why is it you again!
Koujo Shizuka turned around suddenly, looking at Akame, her eyes wide, roaring at Akame.
The hatred was already carved into her bones!
Every time the General was despondent, it was related to her younger sister. Koujo Shizuka knew better than anyone how much suffering the General endured at the border. However, later Koujo Shizuka learned that the reason the General suffered this was because of her younger sister...
Because her sister betrayed the Empire, from that moment on, Koujo Shizuka began to hate Akame, and then watched the General heartbroken time and time again, even to the point of being soul-less...
Then, the General's eyes turned into Dragon Pupils, and she recovered. Koujo Shizuka was very happy. Unlike others who saw the General for the first time, back at the border, Koujo Shizuka was often able to see the appearance of the General's Dragon Pupils.
However, now.
Why? Why treat the General like this? Do you know how much the General has done for you? Why hurt the General like this!
And as for Esdeath, she was also stunned. What exactly happened? Esdeath did not believe that Kaede didn't know that the sword was Murasame, but why, knowing that, did she still catch it with her hand?
No, it should be said that even if it wasn't Murasame, she shouldn't have caught it with her hand!
If it were in the past, Esdeath would have surely said the reason was that Kaede was too weak, but at this moment, Esdeath could not say it no matter what.
She had just confirmed her feelings, and there would be more and more requests in the future, but why did you just leave like this?
Tilting her head, looking at Akame standing over there, Esdeath drew her sword, her eyes revealing naked killing intent. Esdeath had never wanted to kill someone as much as she did now.
Walking towards Akame step by step, Akame stood there without moving, even seeing the sword in Esdeath's hand, she had no intention of dodging.
Hmph!
Esdeath snorted angrily and thrust the sword down. Be grateful, if you weren't Kaede's sister, I would make you wish for death!
However, at that moment, a figure blocked in front of Akame.
What?
Esdeath widened her eyes, seeing the figure, and forced herself to stop the sword. Although it still struck in the end, the opponent's injury was not serious, at least avoiding a fatal wound.
What are you doing! Koujo Shizuka!
Esdeath's face was annoyed, and she roared at Koujo Shizuka. Did she not want revenge!?
That's right, the one blocking in front of Akame was actually Koujo Shizuka.
Why... why?
Akame looked at Koujo Shizuka standing in front of her. Didn't she hate her? Shouldn't she want her to die?
Why block in front of her? Was that deep-seated hatred fake?
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