血海
Sea of Blood


And then, at the end of a short melee---
Having left the kugutsu with Kei-kun, Uzuki-san steps forward to attack with Ito in hand.
Raising Ito as if to rest it on her shoulder, she lets it fall with an ear-splitting cry.

Uzuki: On Maka Shiriei Jiribei Sowaka!

And, the one at the end of her sword is...

Kei: ---!?

Before I know it, Uzuki-san's facing takes a half turn, heading in our direction.
It's destination, Kei-kun.
Of course, she did come to Hemidzuka to kill Kei-kun, but Uzuki-san isn't one to take back a word she utters before her mouth even goes dry---

Mikage: Power is used to duplicate our form on a solid wall. Though a deception, it is not an illusion, but a concrete phenomenon.

That's right, no doubt they have projected their own appearances in front of us.
Worst of all, Uzuki-san doesn't realize she's been set in a trap.
What's more, Kei-kun, having come to provide cover for Uzuki-san, is also unaware.
With only a fleeting glimpse at Uzuki-san, he's returning his attention to the kugutsu.
At any rate, the blade hasn't fallen yet. Perhaps my brain is releasing some kind of natural drug in response to the desperate situation. I feel like time is being stretched many times more than normal.

What do I do, what do I do... no, this is no time to think that.
Maybe this also is strength born of crisis. I move my body at a speed I never have before.

Kei: Uzuki-san, stop!!

Uzuki: ---Mirror!?

The illusory space is broken, and as she recognizes my appearance, Uzuki-san's expression is frozen.
My face, reflected in her eyes, is frozen in terror. Ito's blade does not stop.

Mixture of screams: Kei---!?

As I push Kei-kun away, the world is dyed red.

Kei: Ah......

Spraying out with incredible force, the blood dyes the world red.
As if entwined in the sticky substance, the world decelerates. One moment is stretched many times wider.
I slowly collapse, and I take in the surroundings as if looking at a stranger's house.
In the midst of a sea of blood that must have still been warm, carrying the wet, red Ito in hand, Uzuki-san is frozen.
Maybe someone was caught in the kekkai. I can hear a sound like exploding sparks.
Come to think of it, didn't I hear Yumei-san's voice back then?

Yumei: Kei-chan---

Look, it really is her.
The sound of a spirit body frying in the kekkai does not cease.
Yumei-san, it's no use. If you don't use a trick like Nozomi-chan and everyone did, a spirit body can't enter.

Yumei: I'll use my power to heal you, so---

Yumei-san doesn't give up.
Even though there's no way she can gain anything, putting herself through that to heal my wounds.

Yumei: ---so, Kei-chan, please---

Huh? Can't the phrase "doctor's neglect of health" be used in this instance?
Gradually, my consciousness fades to white---

Yumei: ---don't die!!

And then...
the kekkai...
...breaks.

一面の赤ー赤い世界ー 世界が白くーあの花の白にー
A wall of red - the red world. The world shifts to white - the white of those flowers.