𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙥𝙚 | 𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘩. ᯓ ᡣ𐭩

038. | ᴛᴏ, ꜱᴛᴀʀ

With a deep breath, she embraced the inevitable conclusion she had always been resolved to face. Sacrificing her own life to save his was a fate she had accepted long ago, but now, the determination burned stronger than ever. She would carry out his final use of the contract, even if it meant her end. With a final, resolute glance at Aki, she transformed, ready to face the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the one she loved.

As Touko concentrated, she felt the familiar tingling sensation of her doppelganger abilities taking hold. Her body began to shift and morph, muscles realigning, bones reshaping, and her features transforming. She could feel the essence of Aki, his strength, his resolve, and even the pain from his injuries, merging with her own. Her hair darkened, her frame broadened, and her eyes took on the same determined glint that Aki's always held.

With a final surge of energy, she completed the transformation, standing tall and resolute as Aki. The weight of his contract now felt like a tangible presence, a burden she was ready to bear. She glanced down at her hands, now strong and calloused, gripping the nail sword with a firm resolve. Every movement, every breath, felt foreign yet familiar, as if she were truly embodying his spirit.

Pushing herself up to her feet, she felt a wave of determination wash over her. The pain in her side, now his pain, was a constant reminder of the stakes. But it also fueled her resolve. She was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice, to use Aki's contract one last time. With a final, resolute glance at the looming threat, she stepped forward, embodying Aki's strength and unwavering commitment to protect those he loved.

Aki's eyes widened in shock as he watched Touko's body begin to change. Laying on the ground, the pain in his side momentarily forgotten, he struggled to comprehend what was happening. His heart pounded in his chest as he saw his own features, his own form, emerging from hers.

"What the hell are you doing, Touko?!" he shouted, his voice a mixture of confusion and anger. "Stop it! This isn't what we agreed on!"

He tried to push himself up, but the pain was too much. He could only watch in horror as her transformation completed, leaving him staring at a mirror image of himself. "Damn it, Touko! You can't do this! I won't let you!" he cursed, desperation clear in his voice.

Aki's mind raced, trying to find a way to stop her, to reverse what she had done. But he knew, deep down, that her determination was unbreakable. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut, and he could only watch helplessly as she, now in his form, prepared to face the threat he had sworn to protect her from.

With the nail sword firmly in her hand, her transformation complete. Aki's appearance, her eyes filled with determination. The illusion stood there, its sword arms glowing, ready to attack. She knew the odds were against her, but she wouldn't back down. She couldn't. She looked through Aki's eyes, her own resolve unwavering.

Touko, now fully transformed into Aki, tightened her grip on the nail sword. The illusion, with its glowing sword arms, stood ready to strike. Despite the overwhelming odds, her determination never wavered. She looked through Aki's eyes, feeling his strength and resolve, and knew she couldn't back down.

"Aki, it's no use," she said, her voice now perfectly embodying Aki's steady but filled with emotion. "You don't need to sacrifice yourself. I can take your place. I've accepted my end a long time ago to make up for everything." She took a deep breath, her eyes locking onto the illusion. "This is my fight now. You need to stay alive... for both of us."

"Touko, no!" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. He took a step forward, his hands trembling uncontrollably. "You can't do this! I can't let you take my place. It's not right!" His voice was filled with a raw, unfiltered emotion that he had never shown before. "Damn it, Touko! What the hell are you thinking? This is insane!"