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[Location: the Devil’s Peak, in the statue room. Akira, Masaru, Yuan, Oboromaru, Sundown Kid, Cube, and Pogo are each standing in front of their respective statue. Oersted is kneeling by the doorway]
Oersted: Why…why can’t I win?! Isn’t this my destiny?! What is the difference between you and I?! What do you all have that I don’t?!
[Oersted slams his fist onto the floor. Yuan and Akira instinctively flinch when Oersted raises his voice; Yuan shows visible fear, while Akira tries not to show his own fear]
Akira: Hey, Oersted! Or Odeo…or Inko…or whatever the hell your name is! Just get a grip already, would you?! I don’t give a damn about fate, or destiny, or any of that shit, and neither should you! This isn’t something that other people, or some god, decides for you! You’re in charge of your own future! Also, you say you hate people, but you’re still human yourself! And all that makes you is a fucking hypocrite!
[Oersted softly gasps as he looks up]
Oersted:…I forgot I was human…and I chose the wrong path…
Akira: You sure fucking did, you dumbass!
[Oersted chuckles before sighing somberly]
Oersted: I appreciate your honestly, child.
Masaru: Hey, Oersted.
[Everyone looks over at Masaru, who has his arms folded. Masaru is giving Oersted a stern look]
Masaru: I’ve got something to say, too. Becoming strong by itself…that’s not strictly evil. But I want to strengthen my heart as well as my muscles. You should, too.
[Oersted slowly sits up. He then places a hand on his own heart]
Oersted: Strength…of heart…? I never thought of that…
[Oersted sighs out of regret]
Oersted: Oh, this is all because of my own weak heart…
Pogo: Love!
[Everyone in the room looks over at Pogo, who keeps pointing at Oersted]
Pogo: Love, love, love!
Oersted: Ah…love? Perhaps that’s all I really wanted…
[Yuan looks around the room. He sees the Sundown Kid slowly adjusting his hat, he sees Oboromaru closing his eyes out of contemplation, he sees Cube just sitting there, he sees Masaru awkwardly rubbing the back of his head, he sees Pogo looking at him out of confusion, and he sees Akira nodding at him]
Yuan: [speaking in a squeaky voice] So, it’s…it’s my turn to speak now, yes? Um…alright…well, uh, mister Oersted…um…perhaps…you’re simply…too pure. And…and that could have caused trouble for you. But…when that happens, there are…two paths you can take. It’s…it’s the choice that you make that’s important.
[Yuan clears his throat and looks over at Akira, who nods and grins proudly. Yuan then looks over at Masaru, who stoically nods]
Oersted:…Fate has punished me for running away…
Yuan: [speaking more clearly] Um, I’d like to say more, if you don’t mind…
Oersted: Ah, you have more to say, child?
Yuna: Yeah! Um, let’s see, what would Li say…? Um…I think she would tell you…that it’s wrong to envy others the same way you do. And that…you should never give up. If you keep going, you’ll succeed at…some point.
Oersted: I’ve given up…on being human already…
Yuan: Uh, let’s see, now what would Sammo say? I think he would say that…he wouldn’t be able to hurt people even though he’s been hurt by others.
[Oersted chuckles]
Oersted: It really is that simple, isn’t it? I’ve been just as cruel to them as they were to me…no, that’s not quite right…I’ve been even worse…
[Oersted sniffles. Yuan rushes over to him and kneels down to his level. Oersted instinctively grimaces…but then he relaxes when Yuan hugs him. Yuan hears the other heroes muttering to themselves]
Masaru: Oh, Yuan…
Pogo: Love…
Akira: [warmly] Nice job, little buddy.
[Oersted whimpers out of confusion as he lets the tears stream down his face]
Oersted: What…? You…you’re giving me…affection? But why? I…I did so many horrible actions…
Akira: So? Humans make mistakes, don’t they?
Oersted: You don’t understand, child. I…I’m a demon…I don’t…I don’t deserve any of this…
Masaru: That doesn’t matter.
[Sundown Kid clears his throat]
Sundown Kid: Oersted, was it? Listen. I, too, am running away from people. Always roaming. But…all of that time alone…it makes you long for companionship once in a while…
[Oersted says nothing for a while. He then hugs Yuan and rests his head on the boy’s shoulder]
Oersted:…He’s right. All of that time hating humans…all of that time being alone…it makes me realize that I, too, am human…
Oboromaru:…The world cannot be changed by force. Such forcefulness will only lead to more sorrow. Ryoma Sakamoto…he taught me that the only way to change the world is to put our trust in each other.
Oersted: Trusting people…learning that the world cannot be changed by force…I believe someone told me that a long time ago…
Yuan: Mister Oersted?
Oersted: Yes?
Yuan:…I…I think that humans made it all the way to the distant future…not because of selfishness or greed, but because of altruism.
[Yuan pulls away from the hug and puts his hands on Oersted’s shoulders]
Yuan: It seems like there’s a lot of humans in the distant future. You…you may have heard of humans doing bad things all the time, but there’s still a lot of humans left. I think…if humans really were cruel at heart, then there would be nobody left.
[Oersted’s eyes widen]
Oersted: You…you make a compelling argument, child. Humans…must be kind at heart. How else could they have lasted to the distant future? How else could a…a machine from the distant future make it here?
[Cube beeps a few times]
Oersted: Yes…even a supposedly soulless machine can be altruistic…
[Oersted sighs out of relief before hugging Yuan again]
Oersted:…All of you…especially you, child…I thank you. You will all surely be rewarded greatly in the afterlife.
[Oersted pulls away from the hug…and then he gently kisses Yuan’s cheeks, to everyone’s surprise]
Akira: Dude…
Masaru: That’s the kiss of peace, right?
Pogo: Love! Love!
[Oboromaru and the Sundown Kid both sigh out of relief. Cube emits a few happy beeps. Oersted warmly smiles at Yuan for a few seconds before gently kissing the boy’s forehead]
Yuan: Uh…wow…so, mister Oersted, are you feeling better?
Oersted: I am, thank you. I’ve gotten the love that I wanted before my death. I realized how foolish it was of me to judge humanity so harshly. And…I feel less alone. All of you will be rewarded greatly in the afterlife.
Akira: Uh, I think you said that already.
Oersted: Yes, I suppose I did…
[Oersted chuckles warmly. He then gently pushes Yuan away. Oersted then starts breathing heavily. The Sundown Kid lowers his gaze. Oboromaru sighs somberly. Cube emits sad beeps. Pogo whimpers. Akira folds his arms and starts shedding a few tears. Masaru lets out a quiet sorrowful growl. And Yuan starts crying as he puts a hand on Oersted’s shoulder. Oersted gently pats Yuan’s hand and squeezes it before letting his hand fall]
Oersted: When I die, you will all be able to return to your own worlds…
End