The Breath of Atonement and <Flame>

The brighter the sun shines down,

The darker the shadows it casts.

What kind of epilogue will the interpretation of the Laurants bring about?

I was never all that healthy as a child

But I’ve always dreamed of being a mother of a big family

So why wasn’t I able to protect <the child that was a blessing for me, yet a stroke of misfortune to others>[my first child]?

The color of an unforgivable sin - a blue spring

I will bear this sin my entire life

And live in repentance, abandoning all notions of lament

The mornings I dreamt of

And the sleepless nights

Are all your stories

I want to remain as a mother

That doesn’t curse her own fate

I thought that having a new child

Was an act of betrayal against my previous one

But after many repeating mornings and nights…

I realized that giving the [utmost happiness]

To my new child

Would be the truest form of atonement

Perhaps my wish on the Ema reached the gods, but my pregnancy was going miraculously well.

“If the gods were to kill 1000 people, then you just need to give birth to 1500!”

Says my life’s partner with a laugh, a husband in all but name

“Since when did this become mythology!?”

“Akitsu…mythology?”

“No, not that!”

“Oh really?”

“Geez…you’re just saying whatever comes to mind.”

-Things were smooth sailing,

And I found myself so happy that I could even make these jokes

After

going

straight

down

this

slope

That I’ve tread on countless times

“The road’s a bit bumpy, but bear with it. We’ve fought a long battle, but we have the gods’ blessings now.”

It’s time to wage a war I cannot afford to lose

Within these white walls

Intermittent...pangs of pain...increased their frequency…

“Nami, how’s your waist feeling? The massage’s doing its job, right?”

As well as their intensity...I knew the time was near…

Even if this were to last till this long night turns to dawn

“Alright, take breaths with me! Pant pant blow! Pant pant blow! Pant pant blow! Pant pant blow!”

There is no pain too much for a mother to bear

“Yes, keep it up!”

All of this suffering and all of this sadness

“Keep holding on Nami, I know this is painful, but we’re not playing singles here, it’s a team match!”

The pain of overcoming thousands of nights

Are all for this day

My abdomen feels like it’s burning

And...with my...fading consciousness..

I feel...your breath…

“What are you saying!? Stay with me! Nami! Please! Nami!!”

“Good morning…Homura...”

“The purpose of life is to create the next generation.

And anything that interferes with that could be considered a defect.

Nami, you wanted to prove something even if it costs you your life.

But as long as you’re alive, I don’t need anything else.

Homura, you are not a life that should’ve been born…”