Battle Museum (Sudachi)

Fumufumu! (Thanks bst for reviewing!)
==========

Sudachi
[If I recall my "original resolution" at the Memory Museum, then I can grow as both a mahou shoujo and as an adjuster...]
[That's what Livia-san told me, then I ended up inside of this book.]
[That's when I remembered myself right after "the incident".]
[...At that time, someone with a gun broke into the classroom at my school, and I was offered as a "sacrifice" by my classmates.]
[But it was everyone else who was killed. Because of the wish I "chose", everyone else is dead.]
[After that I became afraid to "choose". At that moment, the thought of me just quietly being killed was the only thing spinning in my mind.]
[This is my memory of that time.]

---

Sudachi
[I wanted to die to atone, but I couldn't choose between living or dying.]
[I started exterminating witches since I was told it's a mahou shoujo's "mission".]
[If it's a mission, I thought, then it can't be helped, because It wasn't something I chose.]
Fumu!

Witch
…………！

Sudachi
Fumuu...!
[But I was so weak I couldn't even put a scratch on a witch...]
(What do I do, at this rate...)
(...But it would be better if I just die like this...)

???
YAAaaAA!

Mahou Shoujo (Pink)
Huu... You alright?

Sudachi
Fu-fumu...

Pink
Haven't seen your face around here. You new? ...Wonder if you're an elementary schooler.
...Wait, you. Think I've seen you somewhere before...
Are you... Did you survive that incident...?

Sudachi
――っ!?

Pink
Knew it... ...Eh, but timing like that,
You... What the hell did you wish for?
You weren't a part of that incident... You weren't, right...?

Sudachi
(I made a horrible wish... This girl is going to find me out...!)
(.....I have to run.)
[I didn't want to kill everyone. But still, everyone died all because of my...wish.]

---

Sudachi
(I don't want to exterminate witches... I'm sure I won't win.)
(...But my soul gem, it's getting really cloudy.)
(Kyubey said that witches can make criminals,)
(like the one who attacked all of us...)
…………
(It's my mission...so I don't have a choice, right?)
[I've never beaten a witch, so I haven't gotten a grief seed, and the more I fight, the more cloudy my soul gem gets...]
(Just like before, my attacks don't do any good at all...!)
Fuguuu...!
Fu-fumu...
["Take responsibility for your sins and die." What that criminal said back then has been stuck in my head since.]
[But "live on for those who died"...was something people were telling me too. I couldn't choose between either.]
[But if I'm killed by a witch, if I die, I wouldn't have to choose anything anymore, so wouldn't that be easier? ...Is all I thought.]

Witch
☆▼◎△★…!!!!

Sudachi
(Yes...I can finally... Take responsibility for my sins...and die...)

???'s Voice
That ain't happenin'! Gettem, folks!

Livia
You doin' okay there!? I'll get ya purified right away.

Sudachi
(Why...help me...I was ready to die...)

---

Livia
Ahh, you're up. If yer lookin' fer the witch, it's gone now.
Well, I ain't the one who beat it. That's on the other mahou shoujo.
I'm just like ya, not so good at the witch huntin', ya see.
I get some help from time ta time.
-Oh, nearly forgot to introduce maself.
I'm Livia Medeiros, travelling adjuster.

Sudachi
(Adjuster...?)

Livia
But enough about me, how's your body doin'? Your magic's lookin' filled up.

Sudachi
(My body...? Now that she's mentioned it, it feels a little light?)

Livia
That's what ya call an "adjustment".
...So, without further ado, how'd ya like to be an adjuster too?

Sudachi
Fumu...?

Livia
Guess ya'd be at a loss havin' that sprung on ya. I'll give ya the quick rundown for now.
[So about this adjuster thing... It's a business of fiddlin' with a mahou shoujo's soul gem, strengthening their abilities or makin' them easier ta use.]
[As for the charge, the mahou shoujo pays me with a grief seed.]
[Some of the girls rush in with injuries, but this ain't exactly a hospital. Well, adjustments can help the recovery process, s'pose.]
And ya have the qualities to becomin' an adjuster yourself.

Sudachi
...Fumu?

???
Livia-saaan! You heeere?

Livia
Whoops, customer. Why don't ya come help me a bit?

Sudachi
Fumu-!?


-2-

Mahou Shoujo (Blue)
Livia-san, thank you!

Livia
Thank ya fer the business now! And thank you too for your helpin' me.

Sudachi
(It feels...more like you made me do a bunch of random chores...)

Livia
Oh, that time already is it?
I didn't get ta finish tellin' ya how you got the qualities to bein' an adjuster.
I'll drive ya back near your home, so come on back tomorrow.

Sudachi
(Huh, I'm supposed to come back on my own tomorrow...)
(That's a little annoying, but... Refusing this woman seems even worse.)
Fumu...

Livia
Mhm, that's a good girl now!

<The next day...>

Livia
Ah, could ya go get the grief seeds outta the back?

Sudachi
Fu, fumu-!
(I ended up being her maid again today...)

Livia
That's just awful news. Ya can always come to us, ya hear?

Blue
Yeah...thank you, adjuster.

Sudachi
(I thought she was just a huge slob, but this woman is depended on...)

Blue
Ah, did you bring me some candy? Thanks!

Sudachi
Fu, mumun...

Livia
You've been puttin' in some work. Thank ya, honestly.

Sudachi
(It feel kind of weird...)
(I have what it takes to be an adjuster,)
(but helping people out this way isn't bad either, is it?)

???
Hello in theeere.

Sudachi
(Oh, that voice... That girl from before...!)

-Flashback (Outside, night)-

[You... What the hell did you wish for?]

-Classroom-

[Take responsibility for your sins and die.]

-End Flashback-

Sudachi
Fumu...mu, mu...

-Classroom-

[The nightmare I had there was of the gunshots and screams echoing in the red, red classroom of that day.]
[That is, the results of the wish I chose.]
[Since that day, I can't stop hearing the words "take responsibility for your sins and die".]
[It's been so hard, day in and day out...]

-Trailer-

Sudachi
――っ!?

Livia
You're alright, easy now...

Sudachi
(That's right...I'm... I am...)
Fumumumu, fumumun. Funmumunmumunmu!
(If I died back then, no one else would have died!)
Fumumu, fumunmu!

Livia
You oughta'd just went 'n died for your sins? That what ya trying to say?

Sudachi
――っ!? Funmu...

Livia
That look on yer face is askin' how I'd know that.
...One of the qualities of bein' an adjuster is bein' a kid who wished fer a curse...
...Just as I did.
I go round lookin' out for kids like ya and teach 'em ta adjust.
I remembered yer photo in the news and saw that ring of yours.
And just maybe...I thought, if I go lookin' round here,
I'd find ya in a barrier, and bingo! That's how I found ya.

Sudachi
…………

Livia
And this isn't somethin' I told ya, but us adjusters,
when we adjust someone, we get little peeks here 'n there of that person's memories.
I ain't lookin' just ta look, though, so have some forgiveness, would ya?

Sudachi
(I can't believe it...)


-3-

Sudachi
(She knows everything... All of the things I've done...)
Fumu...!

Livia
Hold on, don't be runnin' away.
I don't want things worse for ya, so why not have a little drink o' tea?

---

Livia
Now that th'other kids are off, how 'bout we have a relaxing chat?

Sudachi
(...I couldn't run away.)

Livia
Oh right, I got some donuts here. Ya like chocolate or strawberry more?

Sudachi
…………

Livia
What's this now, can't choose?

Sudachi
(I don't...want to choose...)

Livia
Oh well then... Guess I'll be eatin' 'em both maself.

[*Munch*]

Sudachi
(Ah...)

Livia
What's 'ith that face?
Ya didn't choose, so it's yer loss.

Sudachi
Fumuu...

Livia
I ain't intendin' ta be mean. This was just me leadin' ya in a bit.

Sudachi
Fumumun...?

Livia
Yer avoiding makin' choices.

Sudachi
Fumuu...

Livia
Ya know, ya think ya didn't make a choice,
but not choosin' is makin' a choice too.
In fact, just now ya made a choice,
so I got ta eat both donuts, ya see?

Sudachi
…………

Livia
Ya feel responsible for the wish ya chose ta make.
I may not be able ta understand those feelin's of yers, ya know,
but even so, carryin' your sins – you dyin' just ain't right.
First of all, the bad one here's that criminal, and it ain't like ya coulda made a composed judgment call in that situation.

Sudachi
Fumu...

Livia
Well, that alone ain't enough to be expectin' forgiveness for yer sin though.

Sudachi
…………

Livia
Ya sacrificed all their lives and regret havin' survived yerself.
I got somethin' good ta share with ya.

Sudachi
Fumu...?

Livia
[Ya got the ability ta become an adjuster. That means ya got potential ta save a whole lotta mahou shoujo.]
[Who's gonna be happy if ya atone by dyin'? Who in the world's gonna benefit, ya see?]
[Well, it may be easier for ya ta jus' run from yer sins, but that criminal and all yer classmates are dead. It's unfortunate and all, but dead people don't come back.]
But you...Sudachi, how many people can ya save from now on then?

Sudachi
(I can...save...?)

Livia
It's true, some people may have died 'cause of yer choice.
There ain't any taking that back, but ya can equal that out, or more.
Sudachi, ya might be able to do some savin'.
Talkin' about lives like they're nothin' but numbers ya could say is awful improper.
But even so, Sudachi, rather than goin' and dyin', if ya live and go on ta save,
won't ya end up savin' a whole lot more people in the end?

Sudachi
(I never even thought about something like that...)

Livia
If so...the sin won't be wiped clean, but wonder if ya'd be forgiven a bit.
...At least that's what I think.

Sudachi
…………

Livia
Oh right, I had this all ready for ya.
I totally missed the chance for ya ta use it, but...here.

Sudachi
(...A little whiteboard...)

Livia
In yer own words, Sudachi, could I ask for yer answer?

Sudachi
(If there's anything I can do, it's...)

[*Squeak...squeak*]

Sudachi
...Fumu.
[May I become an adjuster too?]

Livia
Obviously ya can. I'm the one who found the good in ya after all.
Well, yer gonna need a whole lotta training though.

Sudachi
Fumu-!?

Livia
That's right as rain. Also, ya got such tiny handwritin' there.

Sudachi
Fumumu-!

Livia
Hm? Ya mad at me? Ya ain't scared in the slightest?

Sudachi
(This woman's kind of mean... ...But, this woman,)
(Livia-san, I want to be with her...)


-4-

Sudachi
[And then Livia-san came to my house to greet my mother.]
[To get me into adjuster training, she wanted to keep me under her care for a while and treat it like home-schooling.]

Livia
What yer girl needs right now is ta see the wide world and learn from it, don't ya think?

Sudachi's Mother
Yes...you're right, home-schooling... Yeah, maybe that's best for her.

Livia
.....Thank ya kindly. Deciding so quickly saves me lots of trouble.
Well then, I'll pay ya a visit real soon to handle all the bits and pieces of the process...
...That's right, nearly forgot to offer these donuts as my gift to ya.

Sudachi's Mother
Aww, that's okay, you didn't have to...

Livia
I got chocolate and strawberry, but do ya happen to have a preference?

Sudachi's Mother
Um...I don't mind either or... I'm grateful just to get anything.

Livia
Well now...it wasn't from the incident. This whole time she just got it from her mother.

Sudachi's Mother
...?

Sudachi
(Ha-...if this keeps up, Livia-san's going to eat them both...!)
Fu...funmu-!

Livia
Oh...are ya gonna choose for her?
~ Alright then, how 'bout we eat the rest up in the trailer? ~

---

Livia
Alright now, starting today you're spending your time here, and...

???'s Voice
Sensei, I have returned.

Livia
Oh, yer back, huh. Now there's some good timing!

Sudachi
Fu-fumu-!?

Livia
That's right, y'all haven't met before.
This here's another of my apprentices, Yozuru. She'll be learnin' with ya, so get along.

Yozuru
A pleasure to meet you. I go by Sasame Yozuru.

Sudachi
Fu-fumu... Fumumumu...fumunmumu...

Yozuru
Hah? I'm unable to understand what you are saying.

Livia
It's kinda hard ta explain...Sudachi can't talk fer various reasons.

Yozuru
...Is that so; why is that? Why is she unable to speak?

Sudachi
Fu-fumumu...

Livia
That's enough, Yozuru... It ain't my place ta speak for her,
but askin' her so bluntly right out the gate ain't kind, now is it?

Yozuru
Ah...apologies. A moment, please, my memo...

Sudachi
(A memo...? What's that about...?)

Yozuru
Ah! Here it is!
...When regarding the private matters of individuals, be careful not to make invasive statements...
Apologies, was that a personal matter to you just now?
By the by, what brings you to the adjuster shop?

Livia
...Yeah um, that's a bit personal too.

Yozuru
Ah-...I was, um... I am incredibly sorry...

Livia
Excuse her, this girl's got a lot goin' on so she ain't great at dealin' with people.

Yozuru
Nevertheless, I have the memo you gave me on kind behavior, Sensei.

Livia
Even if you got a memo, it ain't helpin' if ya don't follow 'em.

Yozuru
...You are correct.

Sudachi
(Oh...maybe this person's not so scary after all...?)
(Also, the mood here is kinda peaceful...)
[Because of that incident, the adults are all really nice to me. They're probably treating me delicately, I think.]
[That's why I thought the air between those two was kinda nice back then.]
[But the more I thought how fun it was, the more I wondered if it was okay for a sinner like me to laugh, and I got filled with anxiety instead.]
[So I decided to tell them, in my own words, what I did.]

---

Livia
I got the picture from back then... ...That explains it all well enough.

Sudachi
...Fumunmufunmu?

Yozuru
Do you hate it? Why is that?
Since you've been scouted by Sensei, you must have your special reasons as I do.

Livia
...She's got that right, we're all carryin' our sins; that's why we gotta save others.

Sudachi
...Fumumu, fumumumu. Fumumu, fumumufumumun.

Yozuru
To live and atone for our sins...? ...Yes, let us both do our best together.

Sudachi
Fumufumu-!

Livia
...Ya know, I've been wonderin' for a bit,
but how come Yozuru's the only one understandin' what Sudachi's sayin' here?

Yozuru
...Eh? No, we've been using telepathy like normal...

Livia
The heck, she hasn't done that with me...!

Yozuru
Ahh...would it have been kind to have kept that hidden since it would be boasting?

Livia
Boasting...ya didn't even do it intentionally, yet it's more annoyin' that way...

Sudachi
Fumumu.

Livia
Goodness... Well, it's a step forward I s'pose.
Don't get so attached to just her now and take it easy round here, Sudachi.

Sudachi
Fumu-!
[And so, to become an adjuster, and to live to atone for my sins, I took my first step forward.]
[Every time I save mahou shoujo, I feel like my sins wash away, little by little. Plus, ever since I came to Kamihama, I became friends with Mii-chan.]
[But I'm sure my sins will never really go away. ...I don't want them gone.]
[Even so, I'll live, and I'll keep on living. I wish to save everyone. Because that's the path I chose.]
["Take responsibility for your sins and die." Those words will never leave my heart, but...]
[I'll "keep on living" as my decision. My feelings at this time, they're my original resolution... My true start.]