The hallway was quiet.
Too quiet.
Yuji and Takeru reached the doorway—
and stopped.
Inside—
Nanami stood.
Burned.
Broken.
Half his face gone.
Still standing.
Mahito faced him.
Smiling.
"…You're persistent."
Nanami didn't respond.
He just stood there.
For a moment—
everything slowed.
Then—
he turned slightly.
He saw them.
Yuji.
Takeru.
Standing at the entrance.
Nanami's expression softened.
Just a little.
"…You've got it from here."
A simple sentence.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Entrusting everything.
To them.
Yuji's eyes widened.
"…Nanami—"
Takeru didn't speak.
Mahito stepped forward.
"…How touching."
His hand raised.
No delay.
No mercy.
"Idle Transfiguration."
Contact.
Nanami's body—
—shattered.
Gone.
Silence.
Blood—
everywhere.
Yuji didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't blink.
Takeru stood beside him.
Still.
Nanami's blood—
on them.
On their faces.
On their clothes.
Dripping.
Mahito turned slowly.
Looking at them.
"…I am You…"
A grin spread across his face.
"…and You Are Me."
Nothing.
No reaction.
No movement.
Just—
stillness.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Then—
CLAP!