Chapter 900: with translation of chapter title

NO. 23: What are each of their wavering determinations?

"They said it would be two days, and it really is two days..."

On the rooftop of Tokyo Metropolitan Guigui High School, Gui She overlooked the distant cityscape, simply confirmed he hadn't returned to the wrong place, then looked down at the students on the playground below.

"Memory is still there; that guy isn't under normal influence—he actually dares to twist my hatred, and coming back to this bunch of bastards' oppressive environment really makes me want to kill."

"School atmospheres everywhere are the same; don't act like you're some embarrassing thing who killed people just because you couldn't stand the school vibe."

"What did you say? Wanna fight!"

"Oh? This is truly a grand invitation full of courage," the chain on his wrist extended into a snake-headed staff, Aomo examined Gui She's slightly sweaty tense expression, "Where should I start striking?"

"Aomo-san—" seeing Peng just arrived and already causing this contradiction, he felt somewhat helpless.

Cleary the past two days of getting along had been fairly peaceful, but as soon as we got here… uh, actually he also thought Gui She's earlier remarks were rather embarrassing, only his sociable emotional intelligence gave him the courage to stay silent.

This also allowed Aomo to become his mouthpiece.

"Don't rush, I haven't made a move yet—rather, you should worry about your own school life," Aomo said, poking the slightly rusted rooftop door with his staff, snapping the lock in one go, "On TV, infighting among Duìyou, what state would the two-day-absent student Ma Zhongpeng be in? Really worrying, huh?"

"..." Peng heard this, lowered his head, and clenched his fist.

He wasn't planning to punch Aomo; he was just feeling conflicted.

Well, let me introduce this further.

A first-year student at Tokyo Metropolitan Guigui High School, Ma Zhongpeng.

When his parents divorced in third grade of elementary school, he lived with his mother but kept in touch with his father, occasionally going out to eat together.

Recently, unable to get used to his mother's boyfriend Mr. Shangtiao's concern for him, he has been trying hard to move out of the house...

Unsuccessful.

Compared to the cost of moving out, the bigger problem is obviously his mother's disagreement.

Aside from that, his life is going smoothly; he has several close classmates and friends, including many of the opposite sex, making his student life quite colorful.

At the same time, he joined the 'Monster Eugenics' ideology and once persuaded everyone to use monsters for good deeds, reforming society in a relatively gentle way, to the point of being featured in news and variety shows, and in his class he is undoubtedly the 'top popularity'.

But the problem lies right here.

The earlier internal conflict with Chen was plain for all to see; if not for Aomo actively protecting the local crowd, who knows how many little pastries would have been stepped on.

Even if observant people could see that the Falling Flowers Flowing Water monster intentionally shielded the crowd, thereby protecting Ma Zhongpeng's position, the ensuing social commentary and various attention were enough to make a 15‑year‑old boy want to hide like an ostrich.

Although spending two days in the Jiemen Zone felt unfamiliar everywhere and reminded him of this place, now that he's truly arrived here…

Just taking the first step makes him clench his fist.

"Peng."

"Shijia-san…?"

At that moment, Shijia's greeting made him turn around, and he saw Shijia, He, and Chen all looking at him.

"You're different from us; you grew up here, you have family you live with, and friends you've known longer than we have," Shijia said, his gaze as gentle as his tone, "Before, when you came with Chen, we welcomed your joining, and we still do, but I also hope you won't so easily sever ties with them."

The current Shijia has already recalled Captain Shimma.

He also recalled that Captain Shimma had clearly suffered betrayal alongside them, yet while struggling to prepare a counterattack, he betrayed them.

He severed ties with them.

Gui She and Chen don't seem particularly bothered by this, while He has outright forgotten his past memories, but he is different.

What he longs for most is that captain named Shimma, who once he believed he needed, and who likewise needed him; but the captain's betrayal undoubtedly dealt the biggest blow to his thinking.

In SSSS. Denkou Machine King, he saw himself lose in a clash like Shimma's, somewhat understood Shimma's reasons for betrayal, and likewise saw Peng's path, which is far happier than the present.

Peng himself is the same.

Aomo's words weren't entirely a joke; everyone here, except for the one named Sai Luo beside them, has already seen another version of themselves.

For Gui She and Chen, that work merely displayed a failure and its causes, fundamentally unable to shake either of their wills.

But he believes that for himself, for He, and for Peng, the impact of that work will certainly not be low.

Especially Peng himself.

What feeling would it be to watch the path taken by a braver version of oneself?

Shijia himself can't imagine it.

But he has experienced the feeling of being betrayed by a companion he considered very close; regardless of whether he understands it now, at least that moment's sensation, he does not want Peng's friends and family to feel that too.

Even though the fundamentals of the two are completely different.

"If you can't find a goal, then come eat all kinds of delicious food with your sister!" When the atmosphere grew heavy, a slap landed on Shijia's back, while He also smiled and greeted Peng.

Just as Aomo said, he's different from everyone else.

An invisible big hand twisted everyone's cognition, only He was unaffected.

On the contrary, SSSS. Denkou Machine King gave He some feelings, but only that.

She and that He are similar only in the confused stage; after that, the goal she found is completely different, which also sets her apart from Shijia and Ma Zhongpeng, making her the most peculiar position in the team.

In this incident, she is like a passerby, and when facing the path taken by her counterpart in another universe, she also only has some slight feelings.

Even after setting aside Ma Zhongpeng and the original 'Monster Eugenics' group, they still lack identity and belonging in the present world, yet each retains their own persistence and obsession.

But He does not.

As a person with no past memories, she is like the amnesiac protagonist in today's popular mobile games—having arrived, she just settles in; she doesn't understand any events, life, plans… she has none, so for now, let it be this way. jpg

The urgent matter is to think about what to eat for dinner, what dessert to have.

Just as she told Peng earlier.

She decided to first enjoy her present life; if Peng also can't find a goal, she would welcome more companions on the food‑exploration tour.

"Although I'm a monster controller, I can still have friends and colleagues who aren't monster controllers; that's not a specialty of my universe." Seeing both say that, Aomo didn't mind adding a few more words.

Under Peng's dazed gaze.

"Unlike the grand goal of a society that needs monsters, this is an achievement that can be attained with just a bit of personal effort."

However, those who can make this effort must first make up their minds to do so.

Aomo said, striking the ground again with his staff, and completely pushed open the rooftop's large door.

"Living under the cultural background of my society, I made that choice without hesitation, but what about you? Ah Peng?"

"I..."

Including Chen and Gui She, who had not taken part in the dialogue, and Sai Luo standing at the edge of the wire fence, Peng, who was the focus of everyone's attention, opened his mouth, then relaxed his fist, and rushed toward the entrance.

"I'll go and come back right away!"

"Don't forget to watch the stairs."

Aomo, however, did not forget to add a more crucial reminder, lest the staggering footsteps turn into rolling sounds.