"MAKUA!" I was tackled by Hiro, Jiji and Gami plus the pets, which made me smile as I hugged them back.

"Wow, I think I have a newfound appreciation for Noboru. That was not easy." Shin Tasuku wiped sweat off his forehead.

Akira-san nodded. "Man, that took so long, but it was worth it. The faces of all those ****ers who kept on demanding that Haneul should just commit suicide were so satisfying when the verdict was given."

"After examining the... Various evidence," The judge paused as he looked at the huge group, which made me want to hit my head on the wall due to how ****ING EMBARRASSING they were. "We have decided that while their actions were law-breaking, they had only gotten into it due to the actions of a... Pascatmon? Is that a cat?" He was squinting at the paper too.

"Not a cat. A really ****ed up humanoid Digimon. Gemini was better than her," Shin Baku said with a dark face.

Team Demigod nodded in agreement.

"I... Will need a full debrief after this," He said while rubbing his temple. "I have never taken on such a bizarre case like this before."

"Good. We're the first then," Mei said with a grin.

I actually hit my head against the table here, which Shin Noboru snorted at. "This insanity is normal. Just be thankful that it's not them against some poor civilian."

"They would break their mind just for the sheer fun of it with all the info we have. Just reality shattering." I didn't look up. "Your Honour, please just end my suffering."

"Right. Well, after a thorough examination, we have determined that the defendant, Akashiro Eos, who has also changed their name to Haneul Scirocco, is..."

Everyone held their breath. I was not confident that I would win. This was murder, after all, so...

Still, watching the others wait in bated breath made me want to hope, just a tiny bit, so I thought, 'Lord... Please may the verdict be according to Your will. Thank you, in Jesus' Name, Amen.'

Going to church had taught me how to pray, which... Would hopefully help me when I went to priso-

"We... Have found Haneul Scirocco INNOCENT and an unwilling accomplice to Pascatmon's evil."

My head shot up. Shin Noboru gasped.

"W-What?"

"While, of course, the killing was committed, we found that they had been emotionally manipulated into doing so, and thus we rule them innocent, with the punishment of returning all the money they had made from assassinations, rehabilitation and therapy for a year, and a probation period of another year."

There was an uproar. People were screaming about how I had to pay, and one even said, "WHY DON'T YOU JUST JUMP OFF A ****ING CLIFF ALRE-"

"ORDER IN THE COURT!" the judge roared, and there was silence. "No matter the situation, telling someone to kill themselves is out of the question. Suicide is a very serious problem, and they are no longer killing, which should be a testimony to how they have grown. As a result, I would like the audience to shut their ****ing mouths."

Mei was clapping while Yuga whooped. "Oh my Dragod I LOVE THIS DUDE!!"

And the rest of the Mystic Detectives cheered and roared.

I couldn't hold back the tears as I bowed to him. "Thank you... So so much..."

He smiled, and Manami Yukichi answered, "You have worked hard, Haneul. Keep up the good work."

I smiled happily at that and wiped the tears off my face. "Of course!"

"And I contacted a friend of mine in university. Hera should be able to homeschool you with the stuff you need to know before you can start the course," Semo-sensei said.

"It's all finally coming together, huh, Bol?" Uju walked over and gave me a hug. "Congrats, dear leader!"

Akira-san then went to his knees and did the dogeza. "Oh, great leader of our group, you have passed the trial of the trial. We are utterly in awe at you as per usual."

"Oh my LORD. AKIRA-SAN STOP IT!!" I covered my face.

But the other Pneuach members had joined Akira-san, even Uju as they chorused, "Our great leader has prevailed!"

"You got yourself a loyal cult," MusosIatreiamon joked from Aoi's shoulder.

"Don't. Even. Join. In." I had never felt this flustered. "Mei-"

Mei was just grinning from ear to ear. "Not my issue."

"I cannot believe you all!" I huffed.

The rest just snorted before Morinomiya adjusted her face mask as the nine of them got up. "Shouldn't we c-celebrate?"

"Oh true! We should! And I know the PERFECT place!" Dan grinned.

"Please no more fast food, D."

"Oh, of course not."

"Huh?" I blinked. "Where is it then?"

The answer to my question was given after a quick portal from Solisamon. "Mikono Cafe?"

"The stars had predicted your innocence," Cross smiled while Leonidas chuckled, helping Gao's grandma and Miko finish cooking takoyaki and other foods. "So we prepared in advance."

"Let's eat then! I spent 2 nights working on that case!" Dad cheered.

"Yeah!!!" We agreed.

And so I watched as Asagao-san and Gami engaged in yet another singing contest with Eri and Yunbae, Morinomiya and Hiro babysat Gammamon and Solisamon, not to mention Lovimon, Tianheng and Koutarou began gaming with Dia and Yuga, Dantella, Mika, Amato, Ruri, Jang and Aoi discussed some new ideas for Lirurun and how to make it more inclusive of the others, with Amato offering a name change to accommodate for it, while Pandora and Dad strategising various tactics to block off thieves, with Storm and Semo-sensei joining in. Dondokomon was making things cheery as well. Nohemon grinned from the sidelines. GranDracmon was now talking with Wagner as well. Darcmon, Manticoremon, Ophanimon Falldown Mode, QueenChessmon, Aldamon and Daipenmon were also joining on, much to Takuya and Masaru's surprise.

I sipped on coke while Uju leaned on my shoulder. "This is really nice, Bol."

"I agree, Honoo. The year is... Starting off pretty nicely, but... It's gonna get harder from here."

"At least we will be together through it all, huh?" They said.

I grinned. "Always, Tak Uju. Always."

They smiled back as I pecked them on the forehead.

Akira-san smiled, holding the two Digitamas. "Have fun, you guys. I'll be busy getting readjusted, but if you need anything..."

"Thanks, Akira-san. We'll keep it in mind."

His only reply was a thumbs-up as the party raged on.

Watching Pump and Baku play with the pets while Boko chatted with Robinhoodmon, it really... Hit me that I had nearly lost everything last month.

"Broken hearts unite to heal,

Mistakes are faced without a choice.

Begin and end with a single appeal

When pain and sorrow find their voice," I quietly said.

The first line had been referring to Perfectio with their mission. The second was about me facing my past mistakes head-on. The third had been about Pascatmon asking for the position of Spirit, and then the ending with Ciel asking Akira to command the attack that would take them both out. And the final one...

It was about me confessing to the world about my diagnosis. About letting me be me fully around the others, finding my place with them at long last.

"And... Before year end, a choice is made.

Angels and demons will fully bow.

Virtue or vice shall completely fade,

With the blood of a sacrifice; a sacred vow."

The choice to succumb to the Codes... Before the end of the year, and the blood of someone innocent, Eosmon's sacrifice had been what this prophecy was truly about instead of my sacrifice for Pascatmon's plans.

Sacred vow... It was referring to how Eosmon had promised herself to protect me, wasn't it?

I chuckled. Now that everything was clear, it felt... Relieving to see that everything was working out.

This was... Hopefully the last time we would deal with the Co-

ERROR ERROR ERROR...

ʇɟᴉɥS ɐɹǝɯɐƆ

In the fragmented space where the final battle took place, two figures were searching through the rubble.

"Grrr!! It has to be here! Where is it?!" One of them, a peacock-like Digimon growled.

"Aduyvesmon..." The other Digimon that resembled a banshee looked over. "Please calm down..."

"I... I know, Bensidmon... Sorry," He said while taking a deep breath. "Where are those Codes, though...?"

She then blinked as she pointed to his left, where two small glows could be seen.

His eyes widened, rushing there and pulling it away to see 2 Fractal Codes.

"Our Codes... Finally, we can be complete again...!!" Aduyvesmon smiled. Bensidmon too cracked a smile as the two reached out-

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

"....."

"...."

"... Hhehehhehee.... AHAHAHHAHAHAH! FINALLY! WE CAN GET OUR REVENGE ON THE SEVEN SIN CODE DIGIMON!" Aduyvesmon's Code Mark glowed powerfully while Bensidmon gave a slight smirk, her own mark glowing.

Aduyvesmon then held out a tube, where the other parts of MetalFantomon floated.

"It is time, Bensidmon. It is time to ascend past Child forms... And go for Champion and beyond."

As it turned out...

Our fights against the Fragmented Codes were not over.

No, Aduyvesmon and Bensidmon were dead serious about getting revenge...

We just didn't know it yet.