MGSFV?! Chapter 347. Bringing Elysia Home?
"Elysia, do you want to find someone to help you stream again?"
Hokuto asked quite considerately.
"No need."
Elysia answered firmly this time.
"The rest of the story… I should know most of it… so, it's fine…"
As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward the box of tissues on the table.
"Mm… since that's how you feel, I won't press further."
Hokuto responded, ending the topic naturally.
Elysia quietly took a breath, gazed at Eden's character card with an inexplicable emotion, then tapped into the Flame-Chasers Archive.
Back in the story—
The perspective finally returned to Mei.
Clearly, the truth Mei sought was about to be revealed.
At this moment, no matter what emotions the players held, everyone focused, eyes glued to the screen.
The ending—they had to see it!
Even if it would surely bring pain.
The world began with white.
An endless expanse of white enveloped Mei, carrying her into a realm that could not be said to exist—nor not exist.
Scattered thoughts drifted in the void, converging to form a path without beginning or end.
Mei slowly awakened along this pure white road.
"This place… is inside my own memory…?"
Obviously—
Mei had completed the operation Elysia once described as "like riding a rollercoaster while eating peanuts with your eyes"—the so-1129 procedure.
All she needed now was to relive every moment with her, recollecting through memory, stitching through longing—until she could fill the blank canvas with the colors of that girl.
Until she could reconstruct a Flame-Chaser who had already disappeared.
Seeing this, everyone felt overwhelmed with emotion again.
Since first reading this story, they'd been wondering—
In what form would Elysia return? How would she come back? Was it possible she hadn't really died?
Now, as the method was fully laid before them…
Maybe—this was the most fitting way for Elysia to return.
If it hadn't been Elysia of the True Self, if she hadn't given her all to Mei without reservation, if not for that…
How could Mei ever bring her back in such a poetic way?
True, Mei's first attempt had failed, but that was only because of interference from the Herrscher of Corruption.
…
But that's a story for another time.
Now—
After recalling the process to restore Elysia, Mei once again steeled her resolve.
She stepped forward.
Standing before a towering door.
When this door appeared, Mei showed no particular expression in-game.
She simply murmured, "Behind this door… are my memories of her?"
But players who had experienced Chapter 25 reacted very differently.
A white… chocolate door?
What was this?
[This pure white reminds me of Himeko-sensei.]
[Chocolate Door 2.0? I'm kinda scared to go in now.]
[Actually… it's not bad. Walking toward this door carries hope… though come to think of it, the chocolate door also carried hope? Yeah, kind of. Just that… that one hurt more.]
Players were triggered into PTSD flashbacks by this Chocolate Door 2.0.
Meanwhile, Elysia quietly guided Mei toward the opening door.
"Without realizing it, so much has happened. Then… let's start from the beginning."
Inside the white space.
A familiar lounge appeared, the familiar sofa, and—
The familiar pink-haired beautiful girl.
Naturally, everyone's attention was drawn to her.
"…Do you remember who I am?"
[(Silence)]
[Hare.]
[Pink Miss Fairy.]
This scene—they remembered it well.
It was when Elysia brought the newly-arrived Mei into the Hall of Elysian Realm…
Truly…
Just as Mei said, without realizing it, so much had happened.
They looked at Elysia on the screen and felt deeply moved.
Then, as if part of a ritual, they gently tapped the same choice they once made:
"Pink Miss Fairy?"
"Not even close!"
Elysia immediately retorted, "What's that, a nickname you made up for me? So you're that kind of flirty person, huh?"
But Mei gave a completely different response than before.
She smiled: "From the way you reacted back then, you clearly liked that nickname, didn't you?"
"Just kidding, of course I remember."
"A name spoken by all, someone no one could ignore… Even if it were you, you wouldn't forget."
Every word from Mei at this moment felt like the very things the players themselves wanted to say to Elysia.
"Elysia… just as her name suggests, truly a beautiful girl."
"And her heart is as pure as her name implies."
Mei was so direct now.
But that wasn't a bad thing.
If the players had the chance to enter the game, they'd be far more direct than Mei ever could be.
…
As Mei's gentle voice fell—
Another door appeared before her.
Even before she moved, she saw Elysia's shadow dart through the slowly opening door.
The players snapped to attention, eagerly directing Mei to chase after her.
But once through—
They saw Elysia holding a weapon.
"?"
Fortunately, Elysia simply greeted her as usual.
"Hi, how do I look?"
"This should be the first time I've drawn my weapon before you, right? Does the bow suit me?"
[Of course it suits you!!!]
[I even bought Elysia so many skins! Though… I still don't have Elysia…]
[Oof, that's a sad story.]
"Thinking back, the first Flame-Chaser who stood opposite me… was you."
Mei wasn't blaming her.
"In hindsight, that fight was barely a skirmish. For you, it was probably just a date, wasn't it?"
"A little unfair, don't you think?"
"Oh, and I never got to answer before—the bow suits you, but I'd love to see you with other weapons too."
[Like… Black Abyss White Flower?]
["Not cute enough. Rejected." – Elysia, probably]
[Every memory with Elysia is so happy… I'm breaking down.]
Flashback arcs remain one of the most timeless storytelling tools.
If placed well, the effect is unmatched.
Even though they had gone through so much pain before this—so many battles—
At this warm, hopeful moment, the players once again reached for tissues.
And in-game—
Elysia, hearing Mei's blunt praise, responded in her usual style:
"Ara, being praised so suddenly, it's a little embarrassing."
"But compared to Kevin, maybe I'm just… a tiny bit weaker."
"A tiny bit...? Sure. I'll believe you."
Mei's tone now defied description.
"In return, show me—Flame-Chaser of Fire, deputy leader, the very first of them all—your true power."
And there really was a chance to do just that.
Next—
Another door.
Once again, Elysia's shadow ran through it.
Mei hurriedly followed.
Another memory surfaced.
The time when Elysia gave her the Crystal Flower.
Mei remembered it all, her heart full of emotion.
"Will you be there at the end of this journey… to give me a graduation gift?"
Soon—
That memory faded, followed the same rhythm as before.
Another door.
Another shadow of Elysia—closer, more tangible.
Everyone's eyes sparkled, hearts full of anticipation.
Everything was getting better. Truly, it felt like everything was getting better!
Then more joyful memories passed—so bright they felt almost dreamlike.
Elysia's little trumpet.
Elysia's line: "I really want to touch Mei's horns… So curious, so curious!"
…
Until everyone and Elysia's shadow stepped through the final door together.
"We're… so close now."
Everyone could feel it. Really, it was so close.
Elysia…
"Hi, Mei. Every time I see you, I feel so happy."
The glowing fragments of memory grew clearer, forming a warm sunlight.
"I've always been happy. Being with you—who wouldn't be?"
Those radiant lights flowed deep into Mei's soul, merging into a sea of stars.
"So? Have you fallen in love with this place? Or… maybe with something else? Hmm?"
A door of memory opened before her.
"Leaving a little suspense is how we make sure there's a next time—isn't that something to be happy about?"
The girl's silhouette was slowly taking shape in Mei's heart.
Emotions rose in everyone.
"We've barely known each other for long, but she was always like that—appearing unannounced, leaving shadows of different lengths in people's hearts."
"No one was more sincere. No one more pure."
"…"
"She never forgot what was left in Elysian Realm…"
"So she… should never disappear from Elysian Realm's memories—"
Mei voiced her thoughts softly.
Many players echoed them in their own hearts.
In that moment, it felt like all their longing had gathered into one.
All to bring one person home.
"You promised to reveal everything about Elysia, and all about the Thirteenth Herrscher…"
"Now, I've come to you."
"So answer me, Elysia… just like you always have."
Everyone took a deep breath.
Their yearning—if they could just push open this final door—
Their expectations would receive a beautiful answer…
They believed—
The still memory space stirred like a breeze, just like the night before the girl vanished.
Everything resembled their memories so closely, as though the entire space was preparing for her return.
Players guided Mei as she slowly pushed open the last door before her.
Yes, it was first-person controlled—for immersion, right? (
White light burst through the door.
Everyone truly got excited now.
[Elysia! We're here to bring you home!!] N
But beyond the door… there was nothing.
Only an empty white void.
???
That incomprehensible truth cast the livestream into a long, long, long silence.
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