PHASE 59 - THIS HUG IS NOT GAY!

I can still remember what Asumi-nee told me when she gave me the platinum ring.

“A-Are you sure you’re going to give me this ceremonial ring, Asumi-nee? This ring is only used by married shrine maidens, right?”

“Yes~” Asumi-nee gave a wide smile. “You and Alaric would end up married anyway, so I should give it to you! I’m such a genius advanced thinker! Make sure that you give that ring to him during your confession!”

“Y-You sound like I’m going to propose for marriage.” I made a forced smile.

Asumi-nee raised her index finger as she started her lecture.

“That ceremonial ring of the Kozukata Shrine is a container of prana. You should have Alaric pour some of his magical energy on your ring, and you should do the same to his too. In that way, your pranas will stay connected. With that said, you can open a Gate and immediately transport to his side. Isn’t that sweet~”

“...Open a Gate to his side?” I mumbled.

This might be a useful thing. We can be separated and miles away from each other, but with this ring, I can immediately go to where he is.

I never thought that it can also be used to connect his heart to mine. Now he can draw the anywhere, anytime.

<>

Rikkun’s green eyes glowed as he shouted with full force.

“!!!”

Twelve glowing orbs were released by Rikkun’s left hand. Those twelve mini-stars revolved like a ring as it went through the charging fake god.

“What the-”

Rikkun didn’t let the Yellow King finish his sentence. He raised his rusty buster sword up, and mercilessly smashed it to the enemy’s head!

It didn’t stop with just a powerful blow! Rikkun continued to make blinding and powerful slashes and hacks to the enemy! For each strike, one revolving orb connected a line to another. The blonde knight continued to attack until all the stars have made all possible linear connections to each other. The ring of light is now converted into a glowing magic dodecagon!

For the final attack, Rikkun made a swift stab at the center of the dodecagon constellation with full force.

“Burst!”

The twelve orbs exploded with colorful lights, reanimating a miniature big bang that created a single small galaxy. Then the spinning swarms of light dust exploded once again, making everything in the surrounding white.

<>

When the smoke faded, it revealed my evil twin in his poorest form. His divinity is about to wear off. His golden cloak has been tattered like a dirty rag, his crown has been shattered, and the tentacles on his body has been severed. For some reason, he can no longer regenerate his extra limbs. He doesn’t even have the power to stand up.

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My twin brother fell down on his back. He’s now breathing like an asthmatic, clinging on for dear life.

Rikkun is also heavily panting, but not as severe as before. He can still cast a spell or two with the powered-down in his hands. He slowly walked to his long rival, sat on his belly, and delivered the finishing blow.

“Rikkun!!!” I shouted.

Stab.

His blade went down.

But not on Diadem. Rikkun thrust the sword a few inches from my twin’s left ear.

“...Alaric Eisenhower... “ Diadem’s crimson irises are shaking.

“I made a promise to Tiara… that I will do everything I can to reunite her family. As much as I wanted to kill you, I can’t. Because the only way for Tiara to be happy… is to forgive you.”

“...You’re saying that but…” Diadem’s voice is shaky. “I have killed your friends. I have killed you countless times in the previous timelines. It’s even my fault that Helena is now crazy and running amok. Are you still saying that you can forgive me?”

“Of course.” Rikkun made an innocent smile.

“Heh. You don’t know what you’re saying. Nobody can accept me. Not you, not my sister, not my mother, not my father. Not even myself. I’m a Cursed Guardian. I can never forgive myself. And that is my sin.”

“I will forgive you, even if you don’t forgive yourself. I will remove the chains of hatred in your heart. You’re not at fault here. It’s your sin that is at fault. You never knew love in the first place. That is why I will show you love.”

Rikkun’s eyes locked on Diadem as his face drifted closer.

Wait, wait, wait! I have seen scenes like this on the previous season! I remember! When Rikkun became a Cursed Guardian, Necchan gave a taste of love to him when they shared their very first kiss.

Back when we fought Shirayuki in the Brightmore Town when I was also on the verge of being cursed, Rikkun is there who showed me love by giving me my kiss.

Love is the answer to cure the cursed hearts of the corrupted Gate Guardians, that’s a fact. I know it’s a process to defeat the curse from Cursed Guardians, but… are they really doing it?

Is Rikkun…

...going to kiss Diadem!?

Noooooooo!!!!

I covered my eyes! I don’t want to watch! Yaoi is never my stuff! I can’t believe Rikkun has a thing for boys! That’s a forbidden love!

Grab!

That’s not the sound of a kiss. It was a sound of an immediate hug. It was a tight hug that Rikkun never had the intention of letting go. This is a form of unconditional love with no romance involved. This is true friendly love.

“A...laric...Eisen...hower…” Diadem’s jaws remained open as tears ran down on his cheeks.

“I forgive you for all the sins you have done. I want us to start together as friends, with all the painful memories set aside.”

I held my throbbing chest. I have never said that I have forgiven his sins to me during the previous timelines. And now, I think this is time to convey my feelings to my lost twin.

I approached the two and comforted my brother with my words.

“...Diadem, my brother… I forgive you too. We should forget all those things and make new cheerful memories together, okay?” I made an innocent smile.

“...Tiara… my beautiful sister…” It won’t take long before Diadem starts to holler out loud. “Y-You do too? Even if I made you suffer, you’re… willing to forgive me?”

“Yes!” I smiled.

“I forgive you too.” Eliseo butted in as he scratched his head. “W-Well, you have never made anything bad for me since this is really our first meeting, but since you’re handsome, I’ll forgive you anyway~”

“If Master Alaric forgives you, then I’ll forgive you too!” Emily said.

“See? Even the side characters wanted to be your friends.” Rikkun said as he stood up. The blonde prince lent out his hand. “It’s never too late to change. Come, join us.”

But Diadem refused to take the hand. It’s not because he doesn’t want to. Instead, he used his arm to cover his eyes as he dives himself into tears. He made an inaudible loud holler as he cried out all the sorrow stored in his heart.

Golden particles of light started to drizzle upwards. Diadem’s crimson irises slowly faded, and it was replaced by golden brown irises with a glowing cross sigil.

The curse in my twin’s heart has finally subsided.