Chapter 480: Empty Eyes. Full Hearts. No Regrets.

And so the Ark sailed with them through waves like mountains. Noah called out to his son, who stood apart, ’O my dear son! Come aboard with us and do not be with the disbelievers.’

He replied, ’I will take refuge on a mountain, which will protect me from the water.’ Noah cried, ’Today no one is protected from Allah’s decree except those to whom He shows mercy!’ And the waves came between them, and his son was among the drowned.

And it was said, ’O earth! Swallow up your water. And O sky! Withhold

your rain.’ The floodwater receded and the decree was carried out. The Ark rested on Mount Judi, and it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people!" -Hud 11:42-44

_

{Inner Sanpaku}

Within the hospital room holding Scylia and Aiden, both patients are now awake, both sitting up, and both have defeated expressions on their face.

With Saku and his close followers having left upon Katsu’s arrival, the only representative of Izanami Division in the room is Itsuka.

After her long day, the tall woman is relaxed in a cushioned chair.

The Vinland medic who bandaged up Daisuki’s pinky is now rebandaging Aiden’s unpredictable injury.

Vinland Medic: "Those heated blades may be hot enough to cauterize severed limbs, but if not treated and cleaned properly afterwards, you could get blood poisoning.

Make sure you change the bandages as much as possible."

Having lost his prescription glasses in the accident, Aiden’s visuals are blurry, but clear enough to notice the bandaging and no feeling under his painfully sore, right ankle.

Aiden(mumbling): "...thank you..."

Having experience with soldiers losing limbs in battle, the work focused soldier tries to lift the young man’s spirits.

Vinland Medic: "Hey, cheer up.

I’m not saying I would want it to happen to myself or anyone else, and it may seem like this is life changing, but ankle disarticulation is surprisingly the easiest of amputations to rehab."

Both Katsu and Shelly are sitting on their friend’s bed, listening to the woman trying to help their ally.

Shelly looks down at both her hands.

Unknown to the rest of Takamagahara (except Katsu) she is capable of providing an experienced opinion based on her Makeshift Mindscape battle.

Shelly(thinking): *I’m lucky my default fighting technique is with my weapon gripped in my teeth.*

Katsu: "Yea Aiden, you can get a peg leg!

And don’t worry, we will find you some new glasses!"

On the opposite side of the room, Charybdis and Daisuki are still beside Scylia’s bed.

Daisuki: "How are you feeling, Seal?

A little sore?"

The brave woman doesn’t say a word.

She gives a soft nod in response.

With sympathy in his eyes, the caring younger brother looks at his pitiful elder sister.

He is trying to act cool headed as if he knew his strong, beloved sibling would be fine all along but he is relieved of what felt like a giant weight on his chest.

Also in the back of the lover boy’s mind, the fact Persephone’s Aunt is their opponent’s leader, and that same witch who ended up knocking out the only woman he loves more.

Being the leader of the group, Daisuki is able to read the emotions from his bride to be, and his main Gunner.

In an adorable way, Mina squishes Scylia’s cheeks into the middle of her face as he lifts her head up, EyeEngaging together.

Daisuki: "Listen, Scylia...

I love you.

I love everything about you, especially your spunky tenacity. It’s the reason Sanpaku has expanded and is safer, but you could have gotten hurt a lot worse if that woman really is as strong as Ms. Laban and Shelly claim..."

As he takes his hands away from her face, Scylia notices the gauze wrapping around her love’s pinky, but doesn’t acknowledge it out loud.

Daisuki: "...I appreciate your dedication to me, Zoram, and Sanpaku.

I know once she hears about your altercation and why you put yourself in it, our wife will also feel the same pride and concern for you as I do."

Tears and snowflakes fall from Scylia’s face. She finally speaks on her own behalf, choking through the lump in her throat.

Scylia: "I’m sorry, Mr. Daisuki.

While I was running towards Ms. Itsuka’s SoulSeiõr, there wasn’t any thought in my mind of me participating in a fight. Unless she was in absolute trouble."

Getting struck with guilt, and her resting eyes closed, Itsuka shrinks down a little in the chair.

The medic is now tape wrapping Aiden’s leg to hold the bandages together.

Listening to the conversation, and without having most of the details, she can tell there is love amongst them.

Scylia: "It wasn’t until I saw that woman, I realized it was her fault.

I couldn’t have the best day of my life tomorrow, because of her petty grudges..."

Katsu peeks over at Shelly, and secretively, he enjoys seeing her mentally locked in.

Scylia: "...That’s when I made my decision.

I challenged the source of our problems, even though I knew there was no shot at beating her."

Every word of lost hope from the considered foster sister in love hits Shelly’s eardrums, and adds even more fuel to the fire in her now scowling, deep blue eyes.

Katsu(thinking): *You have that golden hue in your SoulSeiõr for a reason, Shelly.

I’ve been putting my hope in you since the beginning.

It’s why I’ll go through infinite amounts of torture, all for you to be the greatest.

Use Scylia’s distress as your inspiration to win tomorrow.

As well as...*

He turns to face his friend, who is forced into an unexpected new reality.

Katsu(thinking): *...I can only hope pre-Anjell Eye me and my current self, along with Shelly, have given you plenty of support and a sense of true friendship, Aiden.

Eventually, you’ll have to be removed to create Shelly’s utopia. Until then, I need you to pull through this.*

Char: "And what about me?"

The question makes both Scylia and Daisuki turn to see Charybdis holding back tears.

Char: "My whole life, there’s been that benefit of having a sister who could substitute as either parent, to make sure I was safe and happy, or to point me in the right direction when I needed guidance..."

The emotional little brother uses his forearm to wipe his eyes. Pain in his voice can clearly be made out.

Char: "...I was providing cover fire for Itsuka, so I was able to watch you activate your cool SoulSeiõrShield.

At first, I felt a rush of pride knowing you’re my big sis, but when I realized you were putting yourself in trouble, I felt sick, and scared, an-and angry."

As Charybdis pours his heart out and being able to relate to him as well, Shelly can only crack her knuckles with her thumb, thinking about how scared and angry she was earlier.

Char: "The entire time I was running to your location, I was wondering if I would get to talk to you again.

Thinking if you died against Persephone’s Aunt, I was going to be left alone in this world."

Scylia: "But Charybdis, you don’t understand!

Persephone is the exact reason why I am so obsessed with getting married.

She may be the girl to take you away from me someday, and I don’t want to be the one who gets left behind in this world!"

The wholesomely dramatic family confession hits everyone in the heart, even the Vinland doctor pauses from her duty to think about the strangers.

Vinland Medic(thinking): *These people have their hearts in the right place.

They really do care about one another.

If the Mainland Vinland has lost this battle, it’s no wonder why.*

Standing up from the bed, Katsu looks back and forth between Charybdis and Scylia.

The charismatic and (seemingly) unselfish Izanagi Captain smiles at his division members.

Katsu: "What are you both talking about?!

Takamagahara is a family!"

He grabs Shelly’s hand, making her blush, and displays her tattoo alongside his own inked thumb.

Katsu: "As long as we have these tattoos, we’ll never be alone."

Both Scylia and Charybdis look down at their right hands, and the broken heart tats on their ring fingers.

He then looks back at his depressed #1 Academic Ranked school mate and walks over, putting a hand on the bed ridden brainiac.

Katsu: "...And when tragedy happens to one of us, all of Takamagahara and Sanpaku as a whole feel the ripple in loss..."

Knowing just how good Katsu is at pulling a team together, quarter blind Aiden is captivated by his best friend, with tears in his eyes.

Katsu: "...But that’s why we can’t get down on ourselves, or blame the universe for the misfortunate moments.

As long as there are two of Takamagahara standing, there’s a shoulder to lean on."

Shelly has also been emotionally touched by Katsu’s words. Her moist eyes drop a small tear on the back of her right hand, underneath her broken heart tattoo.

Balling the hand into a fist, Shelly closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and the adorable, relaxed smile returns as she exhales.

Daisuki can’t help but admire his student’s rallying ability, strong enough to make the speaker cry himself.

Katsu: "...Because our lives might not be the best of stories, but what matters is us working together for the best possible outcome.

Empty eyes.

Full hearts.

No regrets."

Ruining the sentimental group moment in the room, and scaring everyone (except Shelly) Saku’s panicking shouts come from a portal that was growing on a wall without anybody noticing.

Saku: "We need to get out now!

D, start opening a portal big enough for everyone to escape out of Inner Sanpaku!"