://Roots>>Episode 26

Determination
We start off with Haseo walking around in town,he takes a turn and a familiar voice speaks of him being safe.Its Touta,and asks whats with those equipments.Haseo has no clue,Touta comments about thats what they meant by "initialized".Haseo looks at him and what he meant by that,Touta says its nothing,and is glad he is safe,Haseo starts to walk off.But Touta stops him,he tells him Phyllo wont come here anymore.Its not like he quit,but Touta guesses the result is the same.Haseo doesnt get it,Touta says its noisy here and suggests to go somewhere else,he has something to tell Haseo.At the cathedral,Ovan is standing there saying Shino's name,along with this being the beginning,a type of static is shown behind Ovan,he turns to look.Outside of the cathedral,Tabby warps in and says she has to report to Shino.A type of disturbance happens around her,she notices it but ignores it,she runs to the cathedral and heads inside,looking at the alter.

Back to Haseo and Touta,Haseo says that Phyllo was always in the game,he never did anything,he was always...Touta says he is right,he was always there,and was worried about Haseo until the very end.In the end,Phyllo entrusted Haseo to Touta.Haseo doesnt understand,Touta asks why is that,Haseo brings up that if Phyllo had cancer and had only eight more months to live,how could he be playing a game like nothing's happening,and with how Phyllo was worried about Haseo...Haseo thinks he should have worried about himself.Touta tells him how cant be worried about him,Phyllo was worried about Haseo after he took care of everything in his life.Haseo still doesnt think that,Touta asks him if he were told he had only eight months to live,what would he do? Touta also adds that there are those who would fall in despair,those who would feel sorry for themselves,and those who would be desperately trying to leave some proof of his existence,he believes those are what others can think of.However,Phyllo wasnt any of them,to peacefully live out the rest of his life as if nothing has changed,that was the path he had chosen.Haseo says the word "peacefully",Touta quotes what Phyllo told him,"I know I dont have much time left.But even you guys,who have no concept of death,might die tomorrow because of an accident.At the instant before our death,which one of us will say 'Oh shit!?'",Phyllo said that and laughed.Touta adds that Phyllo said Haseo was taking too much responsibilities,and regrets that he said too much.Haseo doesnt remember anything Phyllo told him,he just remembers him as an meddlesome old man.Touta quotes another message from Phyllo,"Faith will break through no matter what."Haseo thinks even if he didnt tell him that..

In the monitoring room,Pai informs Yata that she has discovered an unknown phenomenon.In a dungeon,a statue is being swallowed up by a black substance,Yata asks about Kuhn.Pai tells him he is in the main room,he wants that target destroyed,and to recover a sample if possible.At the temple dungeon,Touta approaches Saburou,she asks about at a place like this,Touta tells her Haseo is back.Sabu knows,Touta asks if she is sure she doesnt want to meet him.Sabu sees no point,Touta understands.Sabu comments the fact is that he logged in proves that he is fine,keeping herself at a distance from him is her creed.Touta also comments about her being a bystander until the end.She doesnt want to get involved and then get burned,Touta comments it depends on who you get involved with.Sabu comment Touta always gets involved with the wrong person,and then gets himself into troubles.Touta wont deny that,Sabu compares Haseo like Chinese food,you get full just by smelling it,Sabu says he is kind of like that,but its a nice smell that arouses your appetite,you cant be content by watching it.Touta asks if Sabu is planning to keep on watching just because of the smell,Sabu says yes and because its fun and then asks if he went to the washroom.Touta says as long as someone like Sabu is around,there would be nothing for him to worry about.Sabu asks if he is quitting again,instead Touta comments its a game because there is a reality, he has things he has to do.Sabu doesnt quite understand,but if its Tawaraya,she is sure he can do it,Sabu suggests to leave here to her,and go for it.Thats what Touta was planning to do,he appreciates it.

At the dungeon where the statue is being consumed by the black substance,Pai and Kuhn are getting ready to attack it.She informs him to get his avata ready and to attack it,if it becomes too much for him,dimiss his avatar and let Pai handle it.Kuhn says this isnt the first time,he knows the drill.Two long sharp weapons with hooks on the end of them,start to appear from the substance,Kuhn asks if they should do it.Pai says to wait,there is something in the bug hole, she asks Yata what to do.Yata wants to see whats going to come out,he runs a scan on it.He thinks its trying to imitate an organism,Pai says Yata's name.The bug tries to attack the two,Kuhn asks what their instructions are,Yata tells them,its enough and to destroy it.Pai tells him to not loose his focus,Kuhn understands.The light markings appear on his body,he is going to let his avatar out.Back in town,Haseo is at the spot where Phyllo used to be,off to the side a faint image of Phyllo was next to him,Haseo turns to look with a smile,but it was only his imagination.Haseo cant believe he really died,he says his name,he wonders if he really thought Haseo would accept that,and why.Back to Kuhn and Pai,pieces of the statue are on the floor,the bug is gone.Kuhn is exhausted and says forget about the sample,that was a monster,Pai suggests they go back.Kuhn agrees,Pai thinks if things like this start to populate the game...it would be the end of this world.

Haseo makes a visit to the lake,from behind him,some player who has the figure shape of Ginkan,is talking behind him.He realizes he is Haseo,who he has heard so much about from the BBS,a lot of things happened to him too,and believes they can become good friends.Haseo refuses,Ginkan understands,he also adds that "'kan means 'man'",its a pity,they both have the same smell.He also suggests to meet again,if fate allows them,Haseo refuses that as well.Back in town,Touta is talking to the merchants,telling them they should play normally from now on.Piros smiles and shows a guild card,they created an information club.Touta asks about that,Piros says its really true,an information club,Piros believes they are better at doing those things.Touta cant believe it,Piros says Touta should go ahead and do his best at school,Iita says for him to come over anytime,if he ever feels lonely.Tabby spots Touta and approaches him,Touta realizes its her.She apologizes to him,he asks why.Tabby destroyed the guild he helped her to build,he says its fine and realizes that she has calmed down now.She holds up her paw weapons and says she doesnt need them anymore,Touta asks if she is quitting.Tabby says she has found her goal in real life,Touta would really like to hold on to those for her,but he is quitting too,he also has circumstances in real life too.Iita speaks up saying she can keep them for her,Piros says they will always be here.Tabby says they arent for sale,Touta grabs the paws and tells her these guys are his successors,and wont sell them.Tabby asks if that is true,Touta says it is. Tabby understands,she will be back after she has accomplished her goal.Touta claps his hands,but Piros says his usual phrase of "Thanks for coming!".It seems Touta has lost his line.

Out in a field,Haseo is sitting on a rock watching other players in the distance,he realizes he is alone at the end.Sabu approaches him and sits down next to him,she asks if he wants to go back.Haseo says he cant turn back time,she thinks if he could do that,he would lose his enthusiasm,thats not what Haseo meant.Sabu asks if its lonely to be alone,she also adds if he looks around,there are a lot of people,including her.Haseo asks about her,Sabu comments when there was no TV,people watch each others beside fireplaces,Haseo asks where she comes up with this stuff.She answers him by saying,if you call something "visual",it has to have something moving in it.Haseo doesnt follow,Sabu asks if he didnt get it,Haseo says he doesnt.So she tries again,"there are those who are watching you,and those who are worried about you, so start moving!" Haseo says thats selfish,Sabu says it is. Haseo thinks thats all she wanted to say from the beginning.Elswhere Seisaku approaches a player with a big smile on his face,asking her if she wants go heal some PC with him,this player is also a cat girl.He asks her that healing is needed in this game..but he is interrupted by Hideo,he tells him to stop flirting at a place like this.He tells Hideo to wait,while saying "*nya*" a few times,the cat player calls him a creep.

Back in town,Tabby is sitting down next to a fountain,she spots Haseo who is walking in town,she runs to him while calling out his name several times,and hugs him.Haseo demands that she let go of him,but she says she is so happy,Haseo says she is annoying.Tabby laughs saying Haseo is Haseo,Haseo wonders what she meant by that.She continues saying its really Haseo,while Haseo tells her to get off,in the distance,Ovan is watching the two.They both head off to the cathedral,Tabby says he is lying.Haseo asks why he would want to lie to her.She apologizes,but wants to know why Phyllo didnt say anything,even though they talked so much.Haseo thinks its not really a topic you would bring up and talk about.She brings up how Phyllo was an adult,she is about to say something else,but says nevermind.Haseo says he is leaving now,she asks where he is going,he isnt sure,but he cant stand still and wait.Tabby asks if he will become a PKK again,he says he wont.He realizes there is no point to repeat the same thing,Tabby understands,asks if he is going to continue the game,even though he got "initialized".Haseo cant think of anything else to do,Tabby brings up how Haseo is the only one who can save Shino.Haseo denies that,and thinks he isnt the only one,Tabby understands.Tabby tells him she wants to be a nurse,Haseo says thats nice.Its something she wants to do,and wants to help Shino in reality.Haseo asks how many years is that gonna take.Tabby forgot about that,Haseo comments he would have saved her by then.Tabby thinks what if it were the case he couldnt do it,Haseo frowns at that comment.Tabby tells him to dont be reckless,if he couldnt do it,she will do it,Haseo doesnt understand.She walks over to him and says she loves Haseo,she will do her best at school,and wants him to do her best.Haseo understands.It also seems Yata and the rest were watching them in the monitoring room,Yata says its about time,Pai asks what he meant.He is talking about Raven,for the sake of gathering all the people who hold the factor,Yata suggests to contact Haseo.Pai says to leave it to her,he then brings up the data of the bug from earlier,he asks of what they should name it.Kuhn asks about a name,Yata tells him a name will affirm that entity's characeristics,therefore,you have to be extra cautious.Yata suggests,"A.I",Pai asks if he meant "Artificial intelligence"?,Yata adds on,"The unknown phenomenons might be the results of these A.I.'s that were born on the net going rampant".That is what he meant by an unknown phenomenon cause by an A.I.he will name it AIDA.

Deep inside the net,we see Tri-Edge with his comrades of Balmung and Orca,while Ovan is inside the cathedral.He says for Haseo to become stronger,strong enough to kill him,if he doesnt do that.. the scene switches to the waterfall area,Haseo is thinking about certain memories or flashbacks,the time he was first PKed,the place where he met Ovan,the time he met Phyllo,the time he first met Shino,the time he spent with Shino at the lake,the time with her at the waterfall and when they were close to each other,and the time she changed her outfit to show her change of heart.Haseo keeps staring at infront of him,an image of Shino is there,and starts to talk about this place,and how it makes you feel you can calm down and think about things? As if you can see what you need to do,this is where she decided to change her PC color to this color,its also the place where she decided to search for the Key of the Twilight with Ovan,it is also the place where she first knew about Haseo.When something happens,this is the place where she always come. Haseo smiles for a bit,he then closes his eyes,strange markings start to form around him,a familiar figure appears behind him,it is Skeith. The markings and Skeith disappear,Haseo opens his eyes,he says he wont hesitate anymore.

That is the end of Roots.

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