ToaruMajutsunoIndex-SS1

<<CONTENTS>>

Illustrations

ToaruMajutsunoIndex-SS1

Prologue:TheCalmBeforetheStartofWar.Breakfast.

Chapter1:PotwithMeatandtheAppetiteforGreatTactics.A_Required_Thing.

Chapter2:ADullGrayAlley.Skill_Out.

Chapter3:Women’sDormoftheAnglicanChurch.Russian_Roulette.

Chapter4:ADrunkMother’sCircumstances.The_Two_Leading_Roles.

Epilogue:ASingleWillandaSmallKey.The_Present_Target.

Afterword

Credits

ToaruMajutsunoIndex-SS1

Prologue:TheCalmBeforetheStartofWar. Breakfast.

Therewasonetube-shapedkamaboko[1]leftover.

"Hmmm..."

Inthekitchen,KamijouToumaletoutagroan,asthetube-shapedkamabokowouldreachitsexpirationdateat10AMtoday...

Devotingoneselftosaladinsteadofhamwasthelatesttrend.Thekamaboko'scoloringhadshownthatithadgonebeyondbad,butontheotherhand,therewasanothertwoorthreehoursbeforetheexpirationdatepassed.

Forstudents,morningwasanimportanttime.

"Ican'talwaysbetroubledbymyluck,butwhatdoIdowiththisleftoverkamaboko?"Kamijouwasinaquandarywhenhelookedoverfromthekitchentoseeacalicocatassaultinghimbyconstantlypurring.Asitswintercoatwasgrowingin,itseemedalittlebigger.

…

Kamijou,fromthekitchen,turnedhisgazetowardswhatquietlysatonthebed.

Therewasasinglenunthere.

HernamewasIndex.

Despitetheprincipleof"earlytobed,earlytorise",shewasalwayslazilyidlingontopofthebed.Yetthistimeherbackwasstraightandcrisp,herkneeswereonthefloor,andherhandsweretogetherassheunderwentaquietprayerthismorning.

Thecalicocatcamethisway,asiftryingnottobotherIndex.

(Phew...)

Kamijoutooktheremainingkamabokoinacolumnand,leaningoverthekitchenfloor,spokeinalowvoicetoavoidalertingIndex.

"...Doyouwanttoeatthiskamaboko?"

"Meoww!"thecalicocatletoutinaloudvoice.

Feelingthathishappinessmaxedoutfromthelookofthesmallpet'stail,KamijouToumasqueezeddownonthetube.

Thecalicocatsankitsteethintothecenterofthetube,almostlikeadogwithabone,beforerunningofffromthekitchenonceagain.

Whencatsatetheirownfood,ifitexceededacertainsize,theywouldsneakoffandeatinprivacy.

ItwouldlikelysneakofftounderneaththeTVorsomewheresimilar,Kamijouthoughtappropriately,beforegoingbacktomakingbreakfast.

ReplacingthecalicocatwasIndex,whocameinandstartedherassault.

"Areweeatingkamaboko!?"

"Hah?No,thatwasthelastone!!"

ThecalicocatstaredquietlyattheglitteringglareofIndex'seyesonthekamaboko.Moreover,shewasgivingoffamuddy"Howwasthecalicocatsecretlyeatingwithoutmyapproval!?"-likefeeling.Kamijouquicklystoppedher.

Shewasn'tpicky.FromforeignfoodtoJapanesefood,atthatrate,everythinginthekitchenwouldbegoneinsteadofonekamaboko.

"Wait,Index,tenminutes—no,justsevenminutesandbreakfastwillbeready!!So,pleasedon'traidthefridge...!!"

"Kamabokoiskamaboko!!"

"Idon'tknowwhatyou'resayinganymore!Andwhattheheckwereyouprayingbacktherefor!?You,Sister-san,whosestomachisneverfull!!"

Wait,it'sonlyhalfwaydone,sowait!!ButKamijoudidn'thavetimetostopIndex,whoracedintothekitchenandstartedmovinghermouth.

October3rd,7:02AM.

Kamijoustood,andfoundhimselfdumbfoundedthat,asidefromthesidedishinonehand,hisownshareoffoodhadbeeneatenup,too.

Notes

1. ↑Alsoknownasfishpaste.Wikipediaentryhere.

Chapter1:PotwithMeatandtheAppetiteforGreatTactics.A_Required_Thing.

Part1

Variousthingswerepresentedduringlunchbreak.

"Bwah.Mystomachisgrowlinglikeananimal..."

Missingoutonbreakfastduetovariouscircumstances,Kamijousomehowmadeitthroughthemorningclasses.

Assoonasbreakstarted,hedashedfromtheclassroomtothecafeteriatomakeapurchase.

Fromthehallway,youcouldhear,"Hey,norunninginthehallway…!!"comingfromasmallteacher."…ifyou'regoingtorun,takeoffyourindoorshoesandslideonyoursocks!!"

"Unfoldedsocksdrift!!"asportsclubmember'svoicemixedin.

Whatspeed!Thesportsclub'swaywastheDopplereffect.

Evenwithhisaveragestrength,Kamijouwouldalwaysgetalatestart.

Alwaysbeingdelayedtolunchbreakwouldbefatal,buttodaywasfine.Withabang,hepulledathinstudentbagoutandplaceditonhisdesk,andfromithepulledoutakillerbentobox.

"Now,timetoeat,"hesaidwhilepullingoffthelid,butthecellphoneinhispocketsuddenlyvibratedbychance.

Checking,hesawthatthelatestnumberandemailaddresscamefromMisakaMikoto.

"Ah?"

Seeingthat,hescratchedhisheadwhilestaringattheLCDscreen.

Dataiscorrupted,thismailcannotbeopenedappeared.

(What?Howdidshesendmailoverhereinthefirstplace?)

Kamijou,littlebylittle,pressedthebuttonstosendamessagesayingthathecouldn'treadthemail,andtoresendit.

Heshovedthephonebackinhispocket,asitwastimeforlunch.

"Mnmn.Todayseemsweird,somehow."

GettingcloserwhileholdingasmallbagwasHimegamiAisa.

ShewasaveryJapanese-lookinggirlwithlongblackhair,andwouldbringabentoeveryday.

"Again,you'vebroughtsomethingdelicious."

"Thesidedishisn'tdivided.I'lltradeyou."

Aftersayingthat,Himegamidraggedoverachairwitha"zuzuzuzuzu"sound.

Kamijouhimselfpulledopenthetopofhisbento.

"…Therewasfoodleftoverfromyesterday,andIhadpackedadecentbreakfast,but…itwaseatenthismorningbythatgirl…"

"?"

KamijoufeltfaintasHimegamitiltedherheadtounderstand.

Afterlunchbreakstarted,themajorityoftheclassdisappearedintothehallwaytobuyfoodfromthecafeteria.Theremainingtookouttheirlunchesandencampedatsomedesks,withoutworryingaboutspace.

Kamijoupulledoutthecoldbarleyteathathehadobtainedonthewaytoschool(andwaslukewarmnow)frominsidehisbag.

"Himegami,youhavethedrivetomakenicelypreparedbentoseveryday.Ijustpackleftoversandit'stiringtodo."

"Onceyoumakeahabitofit,youwon'thavesomuchtrouble."

Thedifferencebetweentheirbentoswasobvious.Himegami'shadvegetabletempuraasthestaplefood,anditwasn'tmixedwithrice;itlookedverytasty.

WhileKamijouhadmerelypackedinleftovers,Himegamihadplannedfromthebeginningtomakeherbento.Evenworse,becauseofhiswayofcookingit,thebrothsurprisinglyhaderodedandleakedintotherice'szone.

Therewasasmalllookofpityinhereyeswhilewatchinghimgriptheplasticchopsticks.

"Thisdoesn'tlooklikeabento.Thebrothhasunexpectedly,skillfullysoakedin."

"...Soreloser?"

"Iamnot!Today'smealissimmeredinbrothmadefromtheperfectsoftpotato;soakingitintothericewasclever!Tch,ifyouwannamakethatkindofface,thentrythistaro!You'llknowKamijouTouma'sunderlyingstrengthofusingMirintokickitupanotch!!"

ThenHimegamiandKamijou'schopstickscrossedeachother'sastheyswappedherPumpkinTempura.

(Whatahassle,fryingitinthemorning,butit'sgood;justhowearlydoesthispersongetup?)

Maybeshewasasurprisinglyhard-worker,KamijouthoughtasheputtheTempurainhismouth.Itwasfrustratinglydelicious.ItshouldhavebeenalongtimesinceitwasputintotheBentobox,butitwasstillcrisp.Hepleadedwithhertoteachhimtherecipe.

Ontheotherhand,Himegamivaguelyrecalledherlearningtocookafterherfather'swork-relatedtransferleftheralone.

WhilestaringattheTaro,shesaidwhilechewing,"Hm.Notbad—"

Herwordsweresuddenlycutoffwitha"Nugh!"andamoan.Likethatroundingouttheback,sheplacedherhandsonherthroat.

Apparentlyherthroatwasblocked.

"A-areyouokay!?"Hereflexivelysaidinaloudvoice,butshedidn'treply.

Withtearsinhereyes,shereachedforthebottleofmineralwater.Kamijoupanickedwhenshegrabbedhishandandpulledittoherback.

"Eh,what?I'dbetterpatyouontheback?!"hecried,asHimegamiwasnoddingwithwaterinhermouth.

Toumamovedherlonghairtoexposeherback,whiledecidingtogentlyrubherbackupanddown,asshepainfullyshiveredinherseat.

"Damn!!Ishouldtakeyoutheinfirmary—!"

"Mugu!Mugugu!"

"Oh,youwantmetodoitharder!?"

Asshepointedatherbackwithhishand,shenoddedlittlebylittle.Kamijou,whowantedtohelpherassoonaspossible,losthimselfinherinstructionsandpattedherback,whensuddenly,asnapwasheard.

Theirregularfeelingofherbraunhookingcouldbefeltonhisfingers.

Tothat,shesilentlymoldedherhandintoafist,andmercilesslydroveitintohisstomach(Herbreastsshakingupwardsslightly).

*Zudom!!*Itwasasifhisstomachwasmakingthatsoundashisbodyflewbackwards,rollingonthefloor.Himegamiheldherchestareaassherantothebathroom.

"Guagh.I–Ijustdiditlikeshesaidtodoit.Whatwerethoseunpleasanteyesfor…?"Kamijouwasontheground,shakinglittlebylittlefromhiscorewhenaclassmatewithlongbrows,longblackhair,andhugebreastsnamedFukiyoseSeiricameinwhileholdingaSideBreadPlasticbaginonehand.Itseemedshehadgonetoherlockertogetthefoodshehadthere.

Inanamazedvoice,shesaid,"Whatareyoudoing?"

"Fu–Fukiyose?"

Heslowlygotupandsatinachairwhilelookingatherlunch.

"Whyareyoualwayseatingthatsortofhorriblebread?"

"It'snothorrible!It'sperfectlydelicious!!"

Sheshoutedshamelesslywhileholdingabundleofthebreadwiththewrapperthatsaid"Carries21nutrientstoincreasethebrain'scapacity."Itwaslikemedicineforlunch.

Frowning,FukiyosesatatKamijou'sdeskwhileshebitintoandguzzleddownthebread,whichstilldidn’tlookappetizing.

"Ifyoudon'thaveanysidedishes,youcanhavemytaro."

"I'lltellyounow:todayI'mwearingafronthook."

"?"

Notunderstandingthereasonforthatoutburst,hetiltedhisheadinconfusion.Whileshewatchedhiminthatstate,sheclearedherthroat.

"Still,it'srareforyoutomakeabento."

"Earlier,Himegamisaidthesamething.EvenIfinditunusual."

Kamijouonceagainstartedpokingatthebentowithhischopsticks,whiletherestofhisclassmates,whohadgonetobuysidedishbreadatthelastmoment,beganreturningtotheclassroomingroupswithitinonehand.Itseemedthecafeteriawouldbesetalittlelater.Nowthatthebanhadbeenlifted,theseason’strendseemedtohavebeenaboutgoingoutsidetheschooltobuythingslikeOdenatconveniencestores.Thatwashowstudentspassedtheirlunchbreak.

Aftereating,theyrolledupahandoutfliertoplaycatchwith,andotherspulledouttheircellphonestowatchavarietyshowwhileeating.Buttherewasonetopicthateveryonewasdiscussing..Asiflisteningtothemaimlessly,thesamethingcameoutofFukiyosemouth.

"…War,isit?"

Shesighedasthosedangerouswordscameout,andKamijouunintentionallystoppedhischopsticks.

Fukiyose,whilehidingafrownonherfacefromhisvisage,said,"What,youdon'tknow?Trycheckingthenewsalittlemore."

"Iknow.Ireallydo."

Rather,heknewbetterthananyone.Still,hecouldnevertellherthat.

"Well,atleastyouknowaboutthat.Somefightingfromsectsofareligiousgroupsomewherehascausedaworldwidemovementofprotests."

Thedegreeofthatsecond-handstoryFukiyosehadheardsomewherewasabitunreliable.

"MaybeI'llgo."

Hertoneheldasenseofanxietyandfearinthosewords.Kamijou'sfacewentdim.Hestoppednoticinghischopsticksandsheletoutasighbeforecontinuing.

"Butifwarstarted,thepriceofthings—suchasmeatandvegetables—wouldrise.Sowouldtheusualoil."

Thosesudden,out-of-placewordsconfusedKamijoualittle.

However,therewererumorsaboutitcirclingaroundaswell.

Thesportsclubgroup,whowerewatchingTVontheircellphones,said,"They'veplacedtighterrestrictionsontheexits,sothestoryisthattherewon'tbeanymoreschoolfieldtrips."

"Really!?Ichihanaransaiwillstillbeaffected!!"

Otherthingsweresaidbygirlsnexttothem.

"Butearlierinthestaffroom,IheardfromtheAnti-Skillteachersthatbecauseofthecounter-plan,themidtermtestgotlost."

"Lucky~!!Iwasn'tconfidentinthebodyinspection,sothissavedme!!"

"Excuseme?I'vebeentrainingextrahardtooutdoeveryoneatbendingaspoonwithonehand;whatamIsupposedtodonow?"

Andtheyalllaughed.

Thisschool...orrather,thisentirecitywasfilledwiththecurrent"Warcausesbigproblems"issues.

AcademyCityandtheRomanCatholicChurchdisputeshappen;eveniftheyknewthat,theyweresocementedintotheirpositionsthattheycouldn’tevenimagineit.

(Sogood,)Kamijouthought.

Sothatsuchanenvironmentwhereonecouldimaginesuchablooddrenchedbattle,wasatanend.

Sothatitdidn’thappen,KamijouToumatookaction.

"Why'veyoubeenquietforsolong?"

"N-no-nothing!"

"…Stoplookingatotherpeople'sbreastswhenthey'retalking.Geez,whatwereyouimagining?"

"I'mnotimagininganythinglikethat!OnceinawhileIhavetoshoulderseriousthings!!"

Inafitofirritation,hethrusthischopstickintothetarointhebentobox.

"But,whywouldmeatandvegetablesbesoexpensive?AcademyCityclonesmeatandhasartificialvegetables.Look,thereareagriculturalbuildingseverywhere.EvenDistrict17,whichisfamedastheindustrialarea."

"Besides,isn'ttherealimit?There'snosuchthingascompleteself-sufficiency—fromworkingwithpartnerorganizations,youcanjusttakeitfromsomewhereelse!"

"Hmph."

KamijousawthatHimegamihadjustreturnedtotheclassroomataglancefromthecornerofhiseye.

"Then,Iwonderifit'sbettertogetNabenow.Afterthepricerises,youcan'thelpbutthinkitisagoodvalue."

"Well,there'sareason.Thepricesinthesupermarketrisebitbybitduringthewinter.It'sstillearly,butIbetterbuyNabequickly."

Andafterthosewords,hecouldhearAogamiPierceandTsuchimikadoMotoharuneartheblackboardinadeepdiscussion.

"LikeIsaid,thelappillowdoesn'treallyexist.Thatwasonlyaproductoffiction!"

"…No,itdoes,nya~."

TheystoppedtheirconversationandlookedovertoKamijou.AogamiPiercesaid,"SoKami-yan,doyouwanttogooutforNabetoday?"

Tsuchimikadofollowedup,"Nya.Ifit'sSukiyaki,Iknowacheapbutdeliciousshop."

Thatconversationspreadtotheneighboringstudent.

"It'sOctoberandtoosoonforNabe.Right?"

Thecircleoftheconversationexpandedfromthereatonce.

Hisclassmatesgotcloser,one-by-one.

"What?Youguysaren'tgoingtothestoresomewheretoday?"

"Wewon'tallowyoutohaveamonopolyofthedeliciousshops."

"IpreferNabetoYakiniku,personally."

"Wait,wait,everyonepulloutyourcash.We'llletthemajoritydecidewherewego."

"Huh,"Kamijou'seyespottedit.

Thesubjectoftheconversationwentfrom"I'lleatnabe"to"Goouttoeatwitheveryoneinclass."

"Whydiditsuddenlygotonabeagain?"

"ThelaunchofthiswastheDaihaseisaisometimeago."

"ThisfeelslikepreparationsfortheIchihanaransai,doesn'tit?"

ThegroupsurroundingKamijouexchangedavarietyofsuggestions,untilhefinallysaid"Nevermindthereason!JustNabewillbefine!!"tochangethedirection.ButKamijou,whowasatthecenteroftheconversation,wasleftalone.

"Majorityvoting!!"

"Sukiyaki!!"

"BBQ!!"

"Oden!""Iwantodentoo!!"

"Whowasusingventriloquism?"

"Sha—bu—sha—bu—(x6)"

"5.1channelsurroundsound!?Someoneraisethesound!!"

Thenthewholeclassroombecamelikeastadiumwithanexplosionofloudnoise.

Intheend,Tsuchimikadoscreamedout"ThisTsuchimikado-stylehiddenstorecanmeetallofyourneedsnya~!"

AogamiPiercecounteredwith"Hopbymyplacewherethere'swaitresses!There'sonewithhugetitsandthesmileofanangelwithnoboyfriend!"

Anuproarof,"No,Iwantcheerleaderuniformwaitresses!"

"I'veseenit,it'smoreliketennis-wear."

Thedebatewasmovingontoapointwhereitwasn'tunderstandable.

Kamijouletoutanervous"Gyaa."

"Fukiyose-san,whatshouldwedoaboutthisdifficultthing!?"

"Geez…"

Fukiyosetookashortbreath,hidherfacewithbothhands,andthenraisedthembothbehindherheadatonce,sweepingherbackhairbehindherearsperfectly.Afterthat,shefixedherhairclips.

Shewasserious.

Kamijouletoutasmallcryreflexively.

"—Fukiyoseforeheaddeluxe!!?"

"Now!!I'lltakecareofthevotingquicklyandquietly!!"

Fukiyosewenttothepodiumandcleanlyclearedtheblackboard.

Part2

Thefemaleteacherwiththeappearanceofatwelve-year-old,TsukuyomiKomoe,andthefemalegymteacherwithenormousbreastsandwhoworeajerseyallyearlong,YomikawaAiho,werewalkingalongthecorridor.Lunchbreakwouldbeoversoon.

"Sotheysaythataneko-chan'sbrainisroughlythesameas1½-year-oldhuman's.AcademyCity'scurriculumbeginsat5-years-oldattheearliest:thisconclusionwasdrawnfromtheneko-chan'sbeingunabletouseabilities…ThiswasthebasisofIsoshio-san'sthesisfromtheKirigaokaFemaleCollege,but—"

"Seemslikealietome.Howwouldyouevenknowifastupidanimal'sabilitymanifesteditself?Well,theirregularabilitydevelopmentisthegimmickofthatplace.Itwouldn'tbestrangeifvariousideaslikethatcameflyingoutoftheplace."

Yomikawahalfheartedlyswungaroundherbundledblackhair,whileshesaid,"Kirigaokaiswherethatrunawaygirlunderyourcareisfrom,right?What'supwithher?"

"Tee-hee.WhenHimegami-chanenrolledintheschooldorms,itwasalittlelonely,butsinceMusujime-chancame,it'sfinenow.Shemust'vehadabadexperienceoverthere,butSenseiwillwaitforhertotellme.Becauseit'sdifferentfromdoinghousework,shecanstudybetternow."

"Ohreally?"Yomikawaletoutanadmiring,honesttone.

"Myfreeloaderheartlesslyleftratherquickly.Hedidn'tevenleaveanote.IgettheimpressionithadsomethingtowiththescrapofpaperIfoundthismorningfromNagatenjoukiAcademy.Seemslikehegotintothedormsoverthere."

"Eh!Theyaresaidtobethenumberonewhenitcomestoabilitydevelopment!Lookatthisyear'sDaihaseisaifestival,theyevenbeatTokiwadaiMiddleSchoolandbecamethechampions."

"Maybe,butstill.Somehow,itdoesn'tmakesense;forotherfreeloaderstogo

whereyoursleftfromseemsunnatural...well,therearevariousthingsoverhere,too."

Beitanargumentorwhateverelse,eachonerespectivelytookchargeasKomoe-senseiandYomikawa'sclasseswerenextdoortoeachother.

Theymayhavebeenthesameclassgrade,buttheatmosphere—orsotospeak,the"color"oftheclasses—wasdifferent.Yomikawa'swayofendinglunchbreakwastogatherupthenexthistorybookandthelikeaboutfiveminutesbeforetheend,andusetheremainingtimetoshoweachotherhomeworkassignments.Herbeinginchargeofgymhadnothingtodowithhistory.Itwassaidthatthehistoryteacherswerecryingintheirmindsfromhappiness.

Komoe-sensei'sclassontheotherhand…

"It'ssettled!!Everyone'sgoingoutforSukiyakitonight!!!"

"Doooh!"Likeafterlosttimeinagoalinasoccerstadiumhadbeendecided,acheercouldbeheard.ThatloudcheertoppledKomoe-sensei.Eventheglasswindowsinthehallwaywereshakingfromit.

Komoe-senseistruggledtogetup.

"Waaaah!Yo-Yomikawa-sensei,Itriedtotakecontroloftheclassearlier,butI'msorry—!!"

Komoe-senseijumpedintoherclassroom,allshookupwithanger.

Lookingatherback,Yomikawasighedandfeltdizzy.

"It'sfine.Itlookslikeit'sjustastupidissue…"

Part3

Variousthingsledtonight'sdinnerbeingSukiyaki.

Thepartythatconsistedoftheentireclass,Index,Komoe-Sensei,andSphinxwalkedtothenabeshopthatTsuchimikadoknew.SincethestartoftheDaihaseisai,Indexhadalreadybargedintotheclassfivetimesandhadbecomefamiliarwiththem,sotherewasnoneedtoexplaintoothersanymore.

Sinceitwaspastthetimetogohome,nobusesortrainswererunning.SoitwasdecidedtheywouldwalktothestoreinDistrict7.

Therewasacomplicatedcornerinsidetheundergroundshoppingcomplex,whichhadvariousexperimentalschoolcuisinesandnutritionshops.ThinkingthatTsuchimikado'sstepsister'shomeeconomicsschool'sshopmustbethereaswell,Kamijousilentlysighed.

Astheyenteredthepassagetothesukiyakishop…

"Uwah.."

Kamijouunintentionallyletoutamoan.

Maybeitwasbecauseeverystoreinthatundergroundmallwasbuiltaroundamoderndesign,butthesukiyakishoplookeduncannilyrun-down.Awreck,tobemorefamiliar.Therewasnosenseofittryingtoattractcustomers.

"Youwouldn'texpectthisplacetobesurprisinglygood,butthestubbornoldbosswon'tpaintit."

"Onthecontrary,becauseitlookssorundown,wouldn'titserveasgoodcover?"

Attemptingtogainconfidencebytakingadeepbreath,Kamijouwasinthefrontrowastheypulledopenthedoorwitharattle.

Theyonlyfoundanunmotivated-lookingstudentclerknearthecashregister,butfromtheinteriorofKamijou'sgroup,whosetotalcountwasfortypeople,heardanexchange,withthickprovincialaccents.

"Whoa—!!We'vegotabigcatch!!Thesalesfromtodayalonewilltopthecharts,"anexposedvoicesaidinaflurry.

Kamijou'sshouldersdropped."Well,theydon'tseemtobeorganized."

"Inthefirstplace,it'sstrangeforfortypeopletocomewithoutcallingahead.Iwantedtoseethatguy'ssmilingfaceinsteadofhisboringemptyone,nya,"Tsuchimikadosaid.Inthemiddleofit,

"Bytheway,"Komoe-senseiinterrupted.Shewasleaningonthewallwhileviewingasomewhat,seeminglyoil-stainedcatalog."Tsuchimikado-chan,thisshophasthirtykindsofbeers,andthat'sonlythelocalbrews.Also,theiralcoholistop-notch.Howdidyoucometoknowaboutsuchaplace?"

"Guh!?N–No!!It'sunthinkable,nya!!Howcouldahighschoolseniorevendrinkalcohol,nya!!"

"Tsuchimikado-chan?Tsuchimikado-chaaan?"

Komoe-sensei'sinfinitelyshadyeyespointedathimuntilthelongawaitednabefinallyarrived.Touma'sclassmatesgrabbedherwholebodywhilesaying"Now-now-now"andforciblytookhertothebanquethallforthegroup.

Senseitriedtosaysomething,buttheyseemedtoignoreher.

Naturally,havingonetableofnabeforfortypeopletopeckatwouldbeimpossibletodo,soitwasdecidedtosplitoffintodifferentgroupsandtables.

"Let'seat!""Let'seatsomenabe!"Everyone'stensionrose;sometwistedtheknobsonthegas-rangeonthetablesfornoreason,whileotherskeptbusywithacontestonwhocouldcleanlydividethewoodenchopsticks.

Thecalicocat'slittlenosebegantwitchingindelightasitmeowedwhilewatching,asitwasbannedonceagainfromsukiyakithathadnegi[1]init.

Pityingit,Kamijouhadlumpedinanorderofonigiriearlierwiththenabe,andplaceditinfrontofthecalicocat."Curses!!EveryonegetsmeatwhileIonlygetsalmon,"thecalicocatseeminglypoutedwhileraisingitstail,asitgrabbedbothsidesoftheonigiriwithitsfrontpawsandnibbledonitinjealousy.

Whilewaitingfortheorderofnabe,theclassbegantalkingonthetopicofthechaosonthe"outside"ofAcademyCity.

Himegami,inawhisperingvoice,wastalkingtoFukiyosewhileback-to-back.

"Cometothinkofit,apparentlythereistalkthatchildrenwithhigherabilitiesshouldsubmitpapersascertainingtheiridentities."

"Ifyou'retalkingaboutstrongeresperabilities,it'saproperwaytohandlethem,isn'tit?Humph,asIthought,ifitbecomesverybadwemightbetheonespayingthedearestprice!"

Onthecontrary,sittingnexttoFukiyose,Toumaponderedaboutitquietly.Nearby,Indextiltedherheadinconfusion.

AsseenbytherelationshipbetweenMisakaImoutoandMisakaMikoto,abilitycouldbedeterminedbyDNAinformation.Truthfully,theywouldn'twanttolosestudentswithvaluableskills.EspeciallyLevel5espersalone,whohadbeenworthenoughtomakeaprofessionallaboratory.

Inarelatedtopic…

"Hey,isittrueTokiwadaiMiddleSchool'sbusesarebulletproofandexplosion-proof?Rumorslikethathavesuddenlypoppedup;I'mworried."

"Nya.GossiplikethatbeingwhisperedontheSchoolGardenreeksoflies.Informationthereishighlyclassified,soIdoubtit'dbeleakedwithoutreason."

SittingacrossfromKamijouwasAogamiPierce,whohadlefttousethetelephoneandcamebackduringTsuchimikado'sspeech,feltitwasridiculousbuthadastrangecredibility.

Forexample,iftheOjou-samasofTokiwadaiMiddleSchoolwerelost,itwouldwithoutdoubtbeamajorblowtothefinancialandpoliticalworlds.People'slivesweren'tallworththesame,Kamijousighed.

"Haa!Thenumberofparentsmakinginquiriesthatsay"Ifwarbreaksout,AcademyCitywillbedangerousfortheirchildren"hasmultiplied."

"Eh,suchconversationsarebeingraisedaswell?"

Komoe-senseispokeinasmall,tiredtone,whileKamijouwaspuzzled.Shewassittingacrossthetablefromhimandwaitingforthenabetocomewithaglassof

coldwaterathermouth.

"Well,gettingtheirchildrenmaybeimportant.ButIcanalsounderstand…whereisthereanotherplacesaferthanAcademyCity?Whetherinsideoroutsidethecountry,Idon'tthinkanyothersecuritymeasuresareenough."

Doubtingit,Kamijoumadeabittersmile.Hecouldn'tevencounthowmanytimeshehadbeensenttothehospitalinthelastfewmonths.

SittingnexttoToumawasIndex.

"Touma,I'mhungry."

"…Thenabewillcomesoon.Butyoureallygoatyourownpace."

"IwantanOnigiri,too."

"Forgetit!That'sforthecat!"

Kamijou’sshoutmadethecalicocat'sfurstandonend."Gimmeabreak!Ican'teatmeatandnowyouwanttotakethesalmonawayfromme?"inamenacingpurringvoice.

Andthen…

"HerecomestheNabe"

Tsuchimikadocriedoutinaliar'svoice.

Kamijou'sgroupnoticedseveralemployeeswerebringingalargeblackpotwithbothhands.Therewasalreadyalowsimmeringsoundcomingfromthepot,justasTsuchimikadosaid,ascentthatcouldn'tcomefromonemadefromdriftedthroughtheair.

"Let'ssee"Kamijousaidashepeeredintothepottheemployeebrought.

Hewassuddenlycapturedbyhisclassmatessurroundinghim,Indexletoutasmallshriek,andFukiyosesighedwithagloomylookonherface.

"Gwah!?Whatareyoubastardsdoing!!?"

"Fool!!Ifyoukeepthatupyou'lloverturnthenabe!"

"Sosuddenly!Lookespeciallyatthatcutefaceandhugerackonthatemployeeareultra-dangerous!!"

"Withyourluck,we'llprobablystarveonceyoumakeamistake!"

Hewouldliketoargue,buthewasoutnumbered.TheImagineBreakerthatdwelledinhisrighthandwouldhavenoeffectonhisstarvingclassmates.

Perhapsbecauseofthatspecificevent,misfortunefailedtohappenthistimearound,withoutwarning.

Exceptforthatstoreclerk,thecuteonewiththebigboobies.ShemoreorlesscaughtKamijoured-handed,andsaid"Is-iseverythingalright?";whichhadhisclassmatesthinkhewasscrewed,afterall…

"…Ifhisbadluckdoesn'tbuttinnowatleast,I'llgetreally,reallymad"

"Don'tpoker-facewhenyousaystufflikethat,it'sscary!"

TherewasmuchwavingandflailingofarmsonKamijou'spartashecriedthatout,buttheclass'sattentionwasallonthenabe.

Hepulledhimselfbacktogetherandpickedtheraweggsforthesukiyaki,bangingthemonthecornerofthetable,crackingtheshellsopenanddroppingthecontentsinsideabowl.

Aclatterofchopstickscouldbeheardashebeattheeggs,butthenFukiyose,whowassittingnearbysuddenlyvoiced,withgreatdiscontent,"…Damnyou,Kamijou.Whateverthehellistakingyousolongtoscramblethoseeggs?"

"Eh?"

"GaahI'malreadyirritatedjustbylookingatyou!!Letmehavethatforabit,whenitcomestoeggsyouhavetodoitfast!Look,youdoitjustlikethis!!"

"Hiii,adirectcontroller!?"

Kamijou,withhisricebowltakenaway,nonchalantlydistancedhischopsticks

fromFukiyose.Atthatrateitwaslikelyonlyvegetableswouldbeheapingonthelong-awaitedsukiyaki.

Meanwhile,AogamiPierce,asifhetotallyreadwhatwashappening,keptasafetyzonewithafixeddistancefromFukiyose,thennonchalantlycalledouttoKamijou.

"Whenwelimitourselvestothemenu,thepricesstillhaven'tchanged,no?"

"Y-yeah.Butwe'reprobablyonthestocking-upphase.We'rewaitingandseeingwhetherornotthisistemporary,butthetruthistheredefinitelymightbeanimmediatepricehike."

"Inotherwords,wehavetoeattheseatonce!Yahoo—!!"

"'Yahoo—'myass,youmeat-only-pickingbitch!AndFukiyose-sanissomehowacarnivorousbastardwho'slikeablackbassdestroyingthenabe'scontents—!!"

Undeterred,Kamijoureachedinwithhischopsticks,butinnotimeatall,toseebroth-soakedshiratakiwhenhethoughtitwasmeatwithonlytinyscrapsofitremainingwhenhegrabbedthem,waspainful.Andtomakemattersworse,heunreasonablygotafistfromFukiyoseforsaying'stopchurningupthepotwithchopsticks;you'redestroyingthetofu'.

Nevertheless,nomatterwhatonesaid,everyonewashavingfunpartakingfromthepot.Orrather,whyhehimselfdidn'tgetmuchfromthepot,Kamijoupuzzledover,butthen…

"Ha!?Ohyeah…Index'sgastricproblemis—!?"

Wayfasterthanhimrealizinghisconcerns,thewhite-habitedgirl'seyessparkled.

Hefeltanunexpected,unpleasantpremonition.

Part4

Foradolescenthighschoolstudents,onlynabesetswereinsufficient,sountiladditionalordersarrivedattheirtables,everyonewasdoinghisorherownthing.Themajorityoftheclasswasscreaming*gyaa!gyaa!*noisesinsidethestore,butKamijouwentoutandwasrestingforabit.Onemightsay,astheywereintheundergroundmall,therewasnotmuchofafeelingofbeingoutside.

(War,eh…)

(Anunrealword—no,it'dbebetterasanunrealword,)Kamijousuddenlyremindedhimself.

Intheundergroundmall,orientedforcollegestudents,peoplealittleolderthanKamijouwerewalkingbackandforth.Andeveryonewaspleasantlysmiling.Thatwasitselfpeace.Itwaseverywhereinthetownscape.Anditseemedtodiminishthecredibilityoftheword'war'.

Evenso,scarscertainlyremained.

WiththeturmoilonSeptember30th,severalbuildingsinastreetblockweremoweddown,andtheoutersectionsofAcademyCitytookaland-transformingscaleofabombing.Thosekindsofscarswouldn'tgoawayinadayortwo.

Afterthis,'that'wouldprobablyoccuraroundtheworld.

Therewasnodefinitepromisethatworld-shatteringeventwoulddefinitelynotoccur.

TheRomanCatholicChurch.

AndtheGod'sRightSeat.

(...SeemsIhavetodosomething.)

Hedidn'tknowwhathecoulddefinitelydo.Inthefirstplace,hehadafeelingthathewouldbedoingmorethanwhatamerehighschoolstudentcoulddo.

However,VentooftheFront,whohadarrivedinthistowntheotherday,said,"—I'veattackedAcademyCitytoeliminateKamijouTouma."

Kamijouwasnotinthemiddleofalargeflow.

ThelargeflowwashappeningwithKamijouasthecenter.

(Idunnowhat'swhat,butifso,evenIcanprobablydosomething;I'mnotaspectatorhere.Idunnowhodecidedthis,butifI'mtheaxisofthestory,istherenoroomleftwhereIcanchangetheflowoftheevents?)

Evenwiththelong-awaitedpot,themorehethoughtaboutit,themorehewasfeelingdepressed.Withhismoodchanging,Kamijoutookouthiscellphoneandopenedit,unawarethathehadmail.

ItcamefromMisakaMikoto.

(Theusualfromlunchtimeeh,)hethoughtashetriedtoopenthemail,butevenasheopenedtheinbox,themessage[nonewmail]wasbeingdisplayed.Somehow,heraddresswastreatedasspamandwasautomaticallysegregatedintoadifferentfolder,butevenashepunchedhiswayintoit,thatspamfoldercouldn'tbefoundatall.Thatfunctionwasn'tusedmuch,sohehadnoidea.

"??…Whatwasthat?"

Hetiltedhisheadandfiguredhe'ddealwithitlater,soheputhiscellphonebackintohispocket.

"Kami-yan."

AvoicereachedKamijou'sback.

Turningaround,TsuchimikadoMotoharuwasstandingthere.

Hewasholdingasmallfifteencentimetermetallicbottleinonehand.Itscontentsmighthavebeenwhiskey.HehadprobablycometheretosecretlydrinkitandkeepitfromKomoe-sensei.

Tsuchimikado'sappearancewastotallynormal.Withoutevenasingleplaster.Howeverthatladhadprobablyriskedhislifeinbattle;lookingclosely,hisgaitwassuspiciouslyawkward.

Asusual,theself-styledspyTsuchimikadocouldseethatfromlookingatanamateurlikeKamijouthelatterwassuspecting[awkward].Asexpected,hiswasnominorinjury.

TsuchimikadoprobablyknewwhyKamijouwassecretlyexcludinghimselffromtheclass.

Hesmiledashesaid,"…You'remistakenifyouthinkthewarthatwilloccurfromhereonisallyourfault.Thankstoyou,everyoneintheclassisnotdraggedin.Youwereabletoprotectthosearoundyou.Andsoyouexperiencingfeelingsofalienationistoounreasonable."

"…Isee."

"That'sright.Thewaroccurredbecausesomeonebehindthescenesblundered.ForanamateurlikeKami-yan,tobeangrythatit'sthefaultofsomeonesomewhereelseisenough."

Onhearingthat,Kamijouinstinctivelysmiled.

Afterall,bothKamijouandTsuchimikadowerereallysimilar,burdeningthemselveswiththeirownbaggage.

Tsuchimikadosaid,"It'sstarting."

"Yeah."

"Thescaleofthewarischanging.Thisistotallybeyondamerebrats'squabble.Youbetterbeonthelookout,Kami-yan.Fromthewayitisnow,itmightbedifficulttoescapesituationsfromhereon."

"…Igetyourpoint."

Kamijouslightlyglanceddownwards.

Ontohisownflexingrighthand.

"EvenIdidn'tthinkthiswouldendupgood.It'sbecausethatratherthan'somethingisinsufficient',therearemanywiththeirowninsufficiencies.Whathappeneduptothispointismiraculous.Perhaps,iftheywererightlyrecognized,Iwouldn'thaveadvancedtothisfate."

"Theothersidewon'tbewaitingleisurelyforourpreparations."

"Thatmightbethecase.Evenso,IknowwhatImustdo.Nomatterhowsmall,I'llhavenochoicebuttolearnitindetail."

Havingsaidthat,Kamijoushiftedhisgazeup.

"It'snousecomplainingovertheinsufficiency.We'llbeadvancinglittlebylittle.It'sadifficultproblemeveninthebestofcases.Butifwedon'tdoit,wecannevergetclosetoourintendedpeople."

"Kami-yan…"

Tsuchimikadotriedtosaysomething,buthelditin.

Hewasaprofessionalspy,differentfromKamijou.ApersonwhoknewthedarknessoftheworldfarbetterthanKamijou.ThehesitationhaddisappearedfromKamijou'stone,whichcausedTsuchimikadotofumblefortherightwords.

"I'vedependedonothersuntilnow.AndI'veleftitalltoothersfortheworldIdon'tknowmyself.IbelieveevenIburdenedyouwithtroubles.Thesewillbenomorefromnowon.IhavetowalkonmyowntothenewworldIhaven'tseenuptonow!"

KamijouhadgottentheattentionofTsuchimikadoMotoharu.

HesilentlyclenchedtheImagineBreaker,hisrighthand.

"Tsuchimikado,I'vedecided."

Inavoicefilledwithastrongwill,heclearlysaidit.

Inasense,totheseniorofthatbusiness.

"That'sright,fromnowonI'llstudyEnglish!!!"

.....................

"Hah?"

AwarethatTsuchimikadowasreflexivelyandcompletelyagape,Kamijoubroughtouthiscellphonefromhispants.

"Nowlook,Tsuchimikado!I'vedownloadedamobileappcalledEasyEnglishTraining!I'montoLevel3ofdailyconversations,butasIthought,it'stough.ButIhavetoreasonablyremembernon-Japanesewords,sotheRomanCatholicChurchandGod'sRightSeatarenotalwayslimitedtoalwaystalkinginourlanguage!!"

"Errr…"

Steppingtoofarback,Tsuchimikado'sunintentionalexpressionwaslikehewastalkingtosomeoneforthefirsttime.

"WhyEnglishforthissituation?"

"Eh?Ifthey'reinRomethenItalianwilldo.However,therearetwobillionofthem.Forthat,Englishwilldo."

Kamijou'spuzzlinganswercameback.

Forsomethinglikeadefinitewaytosurvive,thatwasthelastthingonTsuchimikado'smind.

ItseemedthatKamijouwassomehowhell-bentonbeatingwordsintotwobillionopponents.

"Well,Iwasthinkingthatwordswon'tgothrough,butifthesoulissentalong,onewouldexpectthattheyshouldunderstand,Ithink.There'snoreasonwhyeveryoneshouldbefluentinJapaneselikeLidviaorBiagio.Orrather,everyoneistalkingtooneanotherinJapanese,butweshouldn'tbetoodependentonthat.Hencethat'smyreason."

"—"

Athick*BAM!!*soundresoundedintheundergroundmall.

Becauseoftheextremestupidity,Tsuchimikadoalmostreflexivelyunleashedhisfist.

Tsuchimikadoexasperatedlyshookhishead,ignoredtheladrollingnearby,andwentbackinsidethesukiyakirestaurantasheloweredhisshoulders.

Afterwards,itwentwithoutsayingthatKamijouToumawasunabletogetevenabitoftheadditionalpileofmeat.

Notes

1. ↑Negiisatypeofgreenonionandonionscancauseanemiaincats,alongwithliverdamage.

Chapter2:ADullGrayAlley.Skill_Out.

Part1

Itwasearlymorningthesameday,October3rd.

However,Acceleratorwasinarectangularundergroundareasurroundedbythickconcrete,sohecouldn’ttellifitwasmorningornight.Anditdidn’treallymatter.Hewasstandingwithhiscaneunderneathfluorescentlightsthatgaveoffuniformillumination.

Hewasinashootingrange.

Theroomwentabout50metersback,butonlythefront10metersweremadeforpeopletowalkin.Therestwascutoffbyanoblongtable.Therewereagreatnumberofhuman-shapedtargetsbeyondthetableandatrainingprogramcouldfreelymovethemanywherealongamesh-likeseriesofmetalrails.

Therewereanumberofthindividersontheoblongtablecreating13lanesfortheshootingarea.Thespaceforeachlanewasaboutthesizeofaphonebooth.

Acceleratorwasstandingnearthemiddleatthe8thlane.

Hisslenderhandwasgrippingasmallhandgunandtheareasmelledabitlikefireworks.

“ExerciseNumber42.Begin.”

Arecordedwoman’svoicegavethatannouncementas5targetsbegantomove.

(I’llgoinorderfromclosesttofarthest.Ijusthavetoblowthemawayoneata

time.)

Acceleratorheldthehandguninonehandandaccuratelyshoteachtarget.

Gunshotsrangoutinthelargeundergroundarea.Theloudnoisebouncedbackaddingevenmorepressuretohiseardrums.

Acceleratorwasright-handed,buthewasforcedtoshootwithhislefthandbecauseofhiscane.

“ExerciseNumber43.Begin.”

Heonlyneededabout70secondsperround.

(Ican’tfocustoomuchonthesight.Ihavetowatcheverything.Eventhemotionsattheedgeofmyvision.)

Ashethought,Acceleratorwasintentonhisshooting.Forhim,reloadingwasmoreofanissuethanthefiringitself.Ashehadhiscaneinhisrighthand,hehadtodosowithonlyhislefthand.

Heremovedthemagazine,spunthegunaroundsotheslotforthemagazinewaspointedupwhilehispointerfingerremainedonthetrigger,pulledamagazinefromhisleftsleevewithhismouth,putitinthegun,spunthegunhalfwaybackaround,puttheslideinhismouth,andpulleditback.

Italltookabout2seconds.

ButAcceleratorfeltthatwastooslow.

“ExerciseNumber44.Begin.”

Hehadtriedfiringplentyofotherguns.

(IhavetochooseagunbasedonthespeedwithwhichIcanreload,theweightwhenI’mswingingitaroundinonehand,andtherecoilwhenIfireit.)

Thetableinfrontofthelanehadmilitary,self-defense-use,sports-use,andplentyofothertypesofhandgunsonit.Italsohadshotguns,submachineguns,andrifles.

Therewereemptycartridgesscatteredabouthisfeetlikeapileoffallenleaves.Becauseofthevarioustypesofguns,theshellshaddifferentsizesandshapes.Somewerecopper-coloredmetalandsomeweremadeofblueplastic.

“ExerciseNumber45.Begin.”

Heshotthetargetsmovingathighspeedontherails.

(Don’trelyonthedestructiveforceofasingleshot.Shootingmultipletimeswithaneasy-to-shootbulletworksbestasagenericstrategy.)

Thetargetspickeduppaceandtheycouldturnsudden,sharpcornersatthenumerousswitchingpoints,buthepreciselyhiteverysingleoneregardless.

MembersofAnti-Skillunderwentformaltrainingandeventheycouldn’tdothat.Hehadjustbarelystartedusinggunsandhisposturewasunsteadybecauseofhiscane,buthecouldalreadyhandleagunlikehe’dbeendoingitforyears.

But…

“…Ican’tusethis.”Acceleratorsaidinanannoyedvoicebeforethemachineoutputhisstatswhichwereapersonalrecord.

Hepushedafewbuttonsonacalculator-likedeviceonthelane’stableandthetrainingprogramstopped.Hethenthrewthehandgunontothetable.

Hespokewithoutturningaround.

“Whatdoyouwant,youdisguisedbastard.”

Afterhespoke,apurposefulsoundingfootstepcouldbeheardfrombehindhim.Itwasmostlikelyinplaceofaknock.

“Iwastryingtosuppressmypresence,butitseemsIneedtopracticesomemore,”spokeasoftmalevoice.

Acceleratorturnedaroundtofindathinbrown-hairedboystandingthere.AcceleratorrecalledthathisnamewasUnabaraMitsuki.Butjustafternaminghimself,theboyhadsaidthathisfaceandnamewerebothfake.

“I’dactuallyliketoconsultwithyouonthatmatter.Youwereinthemiddleoftargetpractice,soitcouldn’thavebeenthatImadeanoise.Sohowdidyoudetectmypresence?”

“You’realwaysblabberingaboutsomething,aren’tyou?I’mnotgonnahelpyouwiththat.”Acceleratorspatout,buthehonestlyhadn’tnoticedUnabaraMitsuki’sapproach.

Atleastnotwithanyofhisnormalsensoryorgans.

But…

(Tch.They’retremblingagain…)

Thehandthathadheldthehandgunwashurtingforareasonotherthanfatigue.

Hedidn’tknowwhy,butthishadbeenhappeningeversincehehadfirstmettheguyafewdaysago.WheneverUnabaraMitsukiwasnearby,hisfingertipswouldtrembleunconsciously.Andhewouldfeelapressureonhischestliketherewasabasketballthere.

Onethingalwayscametohismindwhenithappened.

(KiharaAmata.)

Thepouringrain,adullpain,andtheiron-liketasteandsmellofblood.

(LastOrder.)

Thatsmalllifethathadbeentormentedbyunreasonableviolenceandseemedlikeitcouldslipawayevennow.

And…

(…Thoseblackwingsthatappearedonmyback.)

Itwasnothingmorethanavague,abstractimageinhishead.HehadonlystartedtobecomeawareofthatexistencewhenhehadjoinedGroup…no,ithadactuallybeenfromthepointwhenhehadcrushedtheresearcherknownasKiharaAmata.

Buthecouldn’texactlydiscussthatwiththemanbeforehim.

Hewouldgainnothingfromshowinganyweaknesshere.

“Iaskedwhatyouwanted.”

“Haveyoudecidedonaweapon?”Unabara’ssmiledidnotgoaway.“Youwon’thavetimetodotoocloseanexamination.Youhaveanurgentjobtodo.Youneedtolearnhowthingsworkaroundhereassoonasyoucan.”

“Sofar,nothing’sfeltjustright,”Acceleratorspatoutandlookeddownatthelargenumberofgunsontopofthetable.“ButsomehowIdoubtI’dfindonethatdidifIcheckedeverygunintheworld.”

“Howaboutyouputtogetheralistofequipmentyoucanusealongwithyourpowers?”

“Youjustdon’tfuckinggetit,doyou?”

Hetappedthechoker-styleelectrodeonhisneck.

“Ican’trelyonthisthing.”

“Whynot?It’sbeenimproved,right?ThereportfromGroup’stechnicalteamsaidthatthetimeyoucanuseyourpowerswasuppedfrom15minutesto30.”

“Group…”Acceleratorrepeatedasifhedidn’tcare.

OnSeptember30th,somepeopleinpoweredsuitshadappearedafterhehadpulverizedKiharaAmataandtakenhimawaytojoinaunitbythatname,butevenaformalmemberlikehimdidn’tknowthedetails.Currently,itseemedGroupactedasa4-membersetincludinghim.Buthedidn’tevenknowhowmanyothersuchunitstherewereoreveniftherewereanyothers.Thepeopleinthosepoweredsuitsmayhavebeenmembersofadifferent“Group”.

HehadtransferredtoNagatenjoukiAcademy.

ThatwaswhatYomikawaAihoandYoshikawaKikyouhadbeentoldhappened.EvenAcceleratorthoughtthatwasanicemethodofexplainingit.ItwastruethatnoonewouldfinditoddthatthetopschoolinAcademyCityhadaspecial

classthatstressedsecrecy.Therecouldverywellbeasingleresearchroomthateventheotherstudentsdidn’tknowabout.

Takingadvantageofthat,hewasregisteredasastudentthere,butdidn’tactuallyattendtheschool.

(It’sthepeoplewhocontrolGroup.Ican’tseethewholepicture,butthepeopleaboveusmusthavethepowertodothatandagoalthatrequiresthattheygotothatmucheffort.Soundssuspicioustome.)

AcceleratorknewtherewereanumberofsubordinateorganizationsthatworkedunderGroup.Theydevelopedandmaintainedequipment,transportedpersonnel,andcompletelydestroyedallevidenceofGroup’sactions.Ahugenumberofpeoplemustbeneededtodoallthosevariousjobsanditwasallforthesakeofjustfourpeople.

Oneoftherecipientsofallthat,UnabaraMitsuki,hadalookofpuzzlementonhisface.

“Areyoudispleasedwithhowtheelectrodeistuned?”

“Ha.Doesn’tmatterifit’s30minutesor3days,it’sstillfundamentallythesame.Ifsomethingfucksup,it’sallover.Iftheelectrodebreaksdown,Ican’tfightandthenI’mdead.”

ThesewerehisfeelingsafterfacingaformidableopponentlikeKiharaAmatawiththebatteryhavingdied.Hecouldnolongerfeelsafewhilehewasrelyingonsomething.

Fromnowon,hehadtofightnomatterwhatsituationhewasdriveninto.

“Haha.Soyou’resayingalltheeffortthetechnicalteamwenttoinanalyzingtheelectrodewasacompletewaste?”

“Idon’tfuckingcare,”Acceleratorresponded.“Isthatallyouwanted?”

“No,IwasabouttogettowhyI’mhere.”

Unabarapausedforabeatandcontinued.

“Grouphasgottenanorderforajobfromtheboardofdirectors.”

“…”

“AcademyCityiscurrentlyfortifyingitsanti-RomanCatholicbattlelines,butduetothefocusonanti-RomanCatholicthingsthedefenseontheinsidehasgottenthinner.OurjobistodoacleansweepofaforcethatisgoingtousethatgapinthedefensestodosomedamagetothefunctionalityofAcademyCity.”

“Heh.Hahaha.”

Acceleratorlaughedwithoutmeaningtoafterhearingthat.

“SoI’vefallensodamnfarthatIhaveacollararoundmyneckandhavetobeorderedtotakeoutthetrash?Lifereallyisfullofsurprises.”

Hisredeyesturnedtolinesinenjoymentandhislipsbecameashapeofscorn.

“IwastoldIhadtomakeupforwhatthatfuckerKiharadid,butIneverthoughtI’dbedoingboringshitlikethis!Haha.IguessthehigherupsseemeasthesamekindoftrashKiharawas!!”

“Youbroughtitonyourself.Noonemadeyoufallthisfar.”

Inresponsetothosewords,AcceleratorstretchedouthisslenderarmandgrabbedUnabarabythecollar.Hepurposefullyaimedfortheverycenterofhischest.

HegrabbedUnabarawiththosefingertipsthatcouldaltervariousvectors.HecouldevenreversetheflowofUnabara’sbloodwiththem.

“Listenup,kid.There’ssomethingyouneedtolearn.”Accelerator’sexpressiondidnotchangeashepulledonUnabara’sshirt.“Ahumanlifeisafragilething.Icandestroyonewithatouchofmyfinger.Sowatchyourself.Ifyoudon’t,Imightbreaksomethingyou’dratherIdidn’t.”

“I’llbecareful.”

ButUnabara’swordsdidnotmatchthesmoothtoneofhisvoiceandtherewasacalmsmileonhisface.

“Tch,”AcceleratorlightlyclickedhistongueandletgoofUnabara’sshirt.

“MayIcontinue?”

“Goahead.”

“ThetargetisSkill-Out.Youprobablyknowmoreaboutthemthanme.”

AcceleratorfrownedatUnabara’swords.

Simplyput,Skill-OutwasanarmedgroupofLevel0s.

One’sstatusinAcademyCitywasdecidedbyacademicsandpowers.BeingaLevel0waslikelivingyourschoollifewithatestyougota0onhangingfromyourneckanditseemedsomepeoplecouldn’tstandtobetreatedlikethat.

Potentially,therewerearound10,000Skill-OutmembersinAcademyCity.MostofthosewerepeoplewhorentedoutadormbutneverwenttoschoolandpeoplewhowenttoschoolbutactedasSkill-Outmembersatnight.TheSkill-Outmembersthatneverreturnedtothedormsandgavethemtheimageofanarmedgroupwasonlyabout1%ofthetotal.

Theyhadnoclearobjective.

IfagroupofLevel0boysgatheredinthestreetsatnight,theyweretreatedaspartofSkill-Out.Consequently,therewereSkill-Outgroupsthatwerejust3or4peoplegatheredinaconveniencestoreparkinglotandsomethatmadeteamsofahundredandstruttedaroundthestreets.

“Hey,now.Thescaleofthisjobkeepsgettingsmallerandsmaller.Thehigherupsaren’tbettingonhowfarI’llgobeforeIsnap,arethey?”

“Notatall.Justsoyouknow,Skill-Outhasapparentlyreorganizedrecently.WhenanAnti-Skillunittriedtosuppressthem,theyturnedthetablesontheunitforcingthemtoretreat.Soitisn’tallthatsurprisingthatthishascometoanunofficialunitlikeGroup.”

“Hmph,”Acceleratorsaidinannoyance.

Strategyorforce.Thegood-for-nothingsinthebackalleysmusthavecomeby

oneofthose.

“ItseemsSkill-Outismakingsometoys.”

“Toys?”

“Theyaredrillingintooakwoodandpackingexplosivesinside.Theyareabout5cmindiameterand70cminlength.Theyareprobablysupposedtoberocketsastheyarecompletelystreamlinedandhavebeenconfirmedtohave3PVCfinsonthesides.”

“Wait,they’remakingpolefirearrows?”Acceleratorcouldn’thelpbutlaugh.“ThosewereexperimentalweaponsintheEdoperiod.What,havetheygottenobsessedwitharcheologyorsomething?Theyweresaidtofly2000meters,buttheyweren’tallthatpowerful.Ifyoupacked‘emwithhighgradeplasticexplosives,thingswouldbedifferent,butthey’reprobablyusinghandmadeexplosives.Theycan’tmakeasinglefuckingscratchonaresearchfacilitywallwiththat.Howaretheysupposedtobecausingproblems?”

“Itseemsthatwithsomepreliminaryarrangements,theycanbequiteeffective,”Unabarasaidinacalmvoice.“Forthepastfewdays,theyhavebeendoingalotofwork.TheyhavebeenmovingabandonedcarsintothedesignatedemergencypathsandcloggingthedrainsaroundtheentrancesandexitstoVIPfacilitieswithtrash.It’sallsmallthingslikethatthataren’ttreatedassecurityissues.”

“…Whenthehelldidwegetstuckwithcleaningupkids’pranks?”

“Butitseemsthatover20,000oftheseproblemsthataretoominortoqualifyaserrorshavebeenpreparedalready.Andeventhoughtheycouldbeignoredinpeacefultimes,whenthealertisatorangeorred,theyaredetectedaserrors.Whichmeans…”

“Soanattackbythosepolefirearrowscouldcauseaproblem?”

“Iftheyusethoserockets,theycouldtriggeraCodeOrange.Andassoonasthealertlevelrises,the20,000‘bombs’Skill-Outhasbeensettingupoverthepastfewdayswilltriggeraserrorreportsallatonce.Ifthelargenumberoferrorreportsknocksouttheserverthatprovidessecurityforthecommunicationsnetwork,Skill-OutwillbeabletodowhatevertheywantaroundthecitywithoutAnti-Skillcoming.”

“Also,itseemsthis‘hole’inthesecurityisnotonethatcanbefilledinjustadayortwo,”Unabaraadded.

“That’squiteastory…Buthowcanyoubesosureoftheiraim?Isn’tthisjustyourguess?”

“Notatall.Ihavecapturedanumberofthemandseparatelymadethemtalk,sothere’snomistakingit.”

AcceleratorremainedsilentforamomentafterhearingUnabara’swords,buthedecideditwasn’thisplacetocriticizehim.Afterall,hehadtakenoutabout10,000morepeoplethanthathimself.

“Sotheycan’tfightwithoutmakingpreparations?Tothinkaboutallthatlittlestuff,theymustbenothingbutcowards.”Acceleratorspokeasifhewasspittingoutthewords.“Sowhataretheyafter?Aretheygoingtoattackamilitaryresearchfacilityandstealsomepoweredsuits?”

“No.Facilitieslikethathaveindependentsecuritydepartments.Mostlikely,Skill-Outissimplyattemptingtorebelagainsttheespers.”

“Ha.Sothey’rejustcuttingoffthecommunicationsnetworkandoverwhelmingthem?UsingpurenumbersdoesseemlikethekindofstrategyLevel0slike.”

Anywherefromdozenstohundredsofthemwouldcornerasingleesperandcrushthem.Iftheywentaroundthecityrepeatingthatstrategy,evenagroupofLevel0scouldcausequiteadisaster.

“…IfSkill-Out’splansucceeds,thecommunicationnetworkforatleast2or3districtswillgodown.Whichmeansweshouldassumethedamagecausedwouldberatherhigh.”

UnabaratiltedhisheadtothesideinpuzzlementandaskedAcceleratoraquestion.

“Skill-Outseemstohavequiteashowyplan,butwillitreallywork?EvenifafewdozenofthemsurroundedaLevel5likeyouarmedwithhandgunsandotherself-defenseequipment,Idoubttheycoulddoanything.”

“Evenasmallopeningcanlookattractive,andthoseidiotswilljumpatthe

slightestchance.Theirplanwillprobablyendupbeingadud.Ahalf-assedplanwillgiveyouhalf-assedresultswithonlyahalf-assedamountofdamagedone.”

TheonesthatSkill-OuthatedmostduetotheirclearinferioritycomplexwastheLevel5slikeAccelerator.

Buthedidn’tthinkanyLevel5swouldbedefeatedwithaplanlikethis.SothemembersofSkill-Outmusthavesettledforatargettheycouldattackmoreeasily.

TheonlyespersthatwouldbedefeatedwiththiswerepowerlessLevel1sandLevel2s.

Level2s.

Massproducedmilitaryespersandthesinglegirlthatcontrolledthemfromabove.

Whowasgoingtopayforthisviolencethathadlostsightofitsgoal?

“…Thisisbullshit,”Acceleratormumbled.

ThenhespoketoUnabara.

“Thedangerdoesn’tcomefromSkill-Out.”Acceleratorspatonthefloor.“ThedangercomesfromthepossibilityofsomereligiousgroupattackingattheholeopenedupbytheSkill-Outattack.Thosebastardsontheboardofdirectorsdon’tgiveafuckaboutthepeopleinthebackalleys.”

“Iseeyouhaveagoodunderstandingofhowthingswork.”

“Sowhatareyouwaitingaroundfor?Ifyouknowwhatthey’reafter,can’tyoujustturnofftheautomaticalertsystem?IfCodeOrangeisnevertriggered,thecommunicationsnetworkwon’tgodown,right?”

“Ifweweren’tatwar,wewoulddoso.Butthatwouldbeliketurningoffyourcomputer’ssecuritysoftwarewhenanattackcouldbecomingatanytime.”

“Sowe’vegotenemiesontheoutsideandinside.AcademyCityreallyhaspissedoffalotofpeople.”

“Anditisourjobtodealwiththosepeople,”Unabarasaidwhilesmiling.“RedoingAcademyCity’ssecuritysystemwon’tfixtheproblemintime.Anti-SkillandJudgmentareworkingtofixtheobstructionsintheemergencypathsandtheentrancesandexitsofVIPfacilities,butthereisnoguaranteethatSkill-Outwilljustwaituntiltheyfinish.Thatiswhyweneedtophysicallystopthem.”

“Haha.SoitneedstobedoneinawaytoodirtytoaskAnti-Skilltodo,huh?”

“Thetarget’snameisKomabaRitoku.HeiscurrentlyboththeleaderandbrainsofSkill-Out.”

Unabarapointedtoapictureonthescreenonhiscellphone.

“HeissupposedtobequiteaninfluentialpersoninthebackalleysofDistrict7.Haveyouheardofhim?”

“No.Ihavenoreasontorememberthosepeople.”

“ThistimetheSkill-OutplancanbepreemptivelystoppedbyquicklytakingcareofKomabaRitoku.”

“Thatisn’tgoingtostopthosebastards.Theirpreliminaryarrangementsarecomplete,right?Aslongasthealertgoestoorange,theywin.Currently,allofAcademyCityisatyellow.They’rehalfwaytherebeforestarting.Theirleaderdyingisn’tgoingtostoptherestfrom-...”

“Itwill,”UnabaracutoffAccelerator.“Theyhaveaspecificspotpreparedfortheexplosives.AsIsaidbefore,theyhavebeensettingthingsupattheentrancesandexitsofVIPfacilitiesandinemergencypaths.Well,itseemsthereisacharacteristicwaythattheyaredoingit.Anexplosioninaspecificareawillcausethatareatogotoorangeorhigherwhichwillcausetheautomaticsecuritytolookforerrorsthere.Thesystemwillfinda‘problemaffectingthesafetyofafacility’inthearea,soitwillcheckthenearbyareasthatpersonnelwillbemovedthrough.Itseemstheirplanisthatthiswillcontinueandtheerrorareawillgrowexponentially.”

“And,”Unabaracontinued,“itseemsonlyKomabaRitokuknowswherethespotfortheexplosionwhereitallstartsis.Attheveryleast,theSkill-OutmembersIcaptureddidn’tknowit.Itseemstherewasaneedtoholdthereinstightlyto

ensurethesuccessoftheplanandtopreventanyonefromstartingitprematurely.”

“Keh.He’sjustmakingsurehe’simportantenoughtokeeparound.”Acceleratorspatthesewordsoutandshookhishandslightly.“I’lltakeoutthatKomabaguyifyouwant,butI’dbeworriedaboutmetriggingaCodeRed.Unlikeyoupeople,thingscangetalittlecrazywhenIfight.”

“IfCodeOrangeorhigheristriggeredsomeplaceotherthantheplaceKomabahassetupfortheexplosion,hisplanwon’twork.BecauseAcademyCityisdividedupintosuchsmallsecurityareas,thatwouldlikelyonlytriggeranalertforasmallarea.Allthepreparationtheyhavegonethroughisneededforitspreadtoalargearea.”

“…Fuck,ifyouknowthismuchaboutit,howcanyounotknowwherethatcriticalexplosionpointis?Withthat,youcouldjustgetsomeonetoguardthatarea.”

“Well,theonlywaytogetthatinformationistoaskKomabaRitokudirectly…”

UnabaraMitsukigrinnedashespoke.

“Andifwe’regoingtodothat,wemightaswelltakehimoutwhilewe’reatit,don’tyouthink?”

Part2

Acceleratorheadedtothesceneinatruck.

Hewassittinginthepassengerseatofagarbagetruck.Butitsbodywasjetblackandallofthewindowsweresmoked.

“Wehavetocleanupbodiestoo,sothisisjustmoreconvenient,”saidthemiddle-agedmangrippingthesteeringwheelnexttohim.“Theinteriorofthestorageareainthebackcanbetakenoutanddiscarded.Aftereachcollection,it’sdisposedofalongwiththebodiesandreplaced.”

(Soit’slikeadisposablepackforavacuum?)

Acceleratorwasamazed.

“Sothegarbagethistrucktakesiscorpses,huh?That’saprettygrimjob.”

Itseemedtorunonelectricityinsteadofgasoline.Becauseofthat,itmadealmostnonoisewhenitran.Itwasperfectforcovertactions.

Acceleratorwatchedthescenerygobyoutthewindowandspoke.

“What’swiththesmoke-tintedglass?Idoubtyoucartanyonericharoundinthisthing.”

“Well,wecan’thaveourfacesseeninthisjob.”

Thetruckandthedriver’soutfitdidn’tlookthrowntogether.TheyhadbeenformallypreparedbyAcademyCityforthistypeofjob.Hedidn’tknowhowtheygottheirfunds,butwiththisequipmentitlookedlikeanentireAnti-Skilldistrict’sworthoffundshadbeenused.

Themiddle-agedmanspoketoAcceleratorduringabreakintheconversationhewashavingoverthetruck’sradio.

“You’repartofGroup,right?AndIhearthisisyourfirstjob.”

“Yourpoint?”

“Nothingreally,”thedriversaidwhilelookingstraightahead.“Ijustthinksometimesthat,eventhoughIhavenoskillsbeyondbeingabletodriveyouaround,therearepeoplewhowouldn’tbedraggeddowntohellifIwasn’there.”

“…”

“Well,I’msuretheycangetplentyofotherdrivers,butIstillthinkaboutit.For

instance,ifIjusthelddownthegasnow,Imightbeabletosaveatleastoneperson.”

“Ha.You’vegotguts.Withgutslikethatyoushouldn’tbewastingyourtimeonajoblikethis.”

“EveryoneelselikeTsuchimikado-sanandUnabara-sansaysthesamething.Iwonderwhy.”

“Becauseyou’reasentimental,goodperson,”Acceleratormutteredunderhisbreath.

TheGPSnavigationsysteminformedthemthattheyhadreachedtheirdestinationwitharecordedwoman’svoice.Theelectricgarbagetrucksilentlycametoastop.

Acceleratoropenedthepassengersidedoor,puthiscanethathadamoderndesignontheground,andfinallyputhisshoedownonthedirtyroadway.

Heheardavoicefrombehindhim.

“AsIwasinstructed,I’llbebacktopickyouupin20minutes.Becareful.”

“SoI’llbetakenawayonthatthingwhetherIwinorlose.EitherasIcameorasacorpse.”Withoutturningaround,herespondedwithaslightlyamusedvoice.

Thetruckdroveoffbehindhim.Heignoreditandlookedaroundslowly.

Itlookedlikemostotherpartsofthecity.

Butthisplacehadadifferentatmosphere.Itwasastrainedatmosphereanditfeltlikeevilpresenceswerewatchingfromthevariousentrancestothealleys.Itfeltlikeaswampyouwouldneverbeabletoleaveonceyouenteredit.

Whilestandingatanalleyentrance,therewerenumerousironstakesdrivenintotheroadsurfaceathisfeet.

Thepartiallyrustedstakeswereatvaryingheightsfrom10cmto30cmandwerecloselypackedtogetherfromtheentrancetoaboutameterin.Itwaslikeathicketofiron.

(Isee.Thisistokeepthesecurityrobotsout.)

Acceleratorlaughedscornfully.

Thedrum-shapedrobotsinAcademyCityweremadetoclimbupovervariouschangesintheterrainandtheycouldoperateelevatorsusinginfraredsignals.

Butanintentionallymadebarricadelikethiswastoomuchforthemtogetthrough.

Aftertheir“dangerousobjectevasionsequence”hadrepeatedacertainnumberoftimes,theywouldputthatareaonholdandoverlookitforthetimebeingandthengoelsewhere.

“…”

Lookingup,therewereplasticsheetsstretchedbetweenthebuildingsalmostcoveringupthesky.Mostofthemwereblueandsomewereredoryellow,butitwascleartheywerejustcoveringthespacewithwhatevertheycouldgetacross.Becauseofthis,thesunlightwastintedoddlysotheylookedlikespeckledstainedglass.

Theyweretheretoavoidsatellitedetection.

Anti-Skillwouldforciblyremovethisobstructiononaweeklyormonthlybasis,butSkill-Outwouldputitbackupsoonafterwards.Itwasapurposefulendlesscycleontheirpart.

Thatwashowtheydidthings.

Easilymade.Easilyabandoned.Easilyredone.

Iftheirbarricadewasdestroyed,theywouldprepareanewone.Iftheirbasewasdestroyed,theywouldmakeanewoneelsewhere.Iftheirorganizationwascrushed,failingpeoplewouldgathertogetherandanewonewouldbemade.

Thatwaswhytheywouldneverbegone.

Forthesamereasonthatroacheswouldnevergoextinct,theylearnedlittlebylittleandstrengthenedtheirresistance.

Thiswastheresultofatypeofevolutionfocusedonthenegativethatnoonewanted.

“…Whatanostalgicatmosphere.”

Accelerator’smouthloosenedonitsown.

Thedarkalleyspreadingoutbeforehimwasalawlessareawherethesecurityrobotsandthesatellitecouldnotreach.Whateverhappened,noonewouldseeit.Itwasaworldwherenoonecomingtosaveyouwasnormal.

“Nowthen…”

Ashewasabouttogoin,hiscellphonerang.

Hetookitoutwithanirritatedlookonhisfaceandthedisplaysaid“Entry3”.

“Tsuchimikado.”

“Irealizedyouwerestartingyourfirstjob.Beforeyoubegin,Iwantedtogiveyouawarning.”

“Soyou’regivingmeawarning,areyou?”Acceleratorspatout.“Whatisit,senpai.”

“Don’ttrustus,”Tsuchimikadoresponded.“You,me,andeveryoneelseinGrouparepeoplewhowouldfinditproblematicifwhatwe’redoingbecamepublic.AsGroupwascreatedusingpeoplelikethat,thereisnowayout.”

“…WereyouhopingI’dbegratefulyoutoldmethat?”

“Ifyoujustfollowtherulestheboardofdirectorshaslaidout,theyaren’tgoingtoletyouout.Thisismadesotheyprofitnomatterwhathappens.Youneedtothinkabouthowyoucanwininthissituation.Webothhavethingsweneedtoprotect.”

“…”Acceleratorbrieflyremainedsilent.

Hewasremindedofagirlwhomusthavebeeninthehospitalatthattime.

Buthesealeduphisexpression,hisactions,andhiswordsbeforethatcouldbe

seenbyanyoneelse.

“Isthatallyouwanted?”

“Yes,itwas.Finishthisupquicklyandcomeonback.Musujimeshouldbestartingherjobaboutnow.Makesureyoudon’tgetcaughtupinthat.”

(Herjob?)

JustasAcceleratorstartedlookingconfused…

Boom!!

Ahigh-pitchedexplosionresoundedfromdownthenarrow,narrowalley.

Itsoundedprettyfaraway,butalukewarmwindhithisface.Whilehewasbeingbathedinthedust-anddirt-filledair,AcceleratoraskedTsuchimikadoaquestion.

Forasecond,hehadthoughtKomabaRitoku’splanhadstarted,butTsuchimikadoseemedoddlycalmforthattobethecase.Afterthinkingforasecond,hecameupwithagoodguess.

“IsMusujimeusingbombs?Andnoonetoldmethiswasgoingtobeafuckingcompetition.”

“Sheisn’taimingforpeople;she’saimingformoney.”Tsuchimikadorepliedinanunconcernedvoice.“Skill-Outhasfundsfortheiractivities.Theyhavevariouswaysofdecentralizingitsstorage,butshe’stakingitoutanyway.Afterall,burningitisbetterthangivingthemachancetorunoffwithit.”

Thesoundofexplosionscontinued.

ButSkill-Outwasusedtofightsthatusedthatkindofweapon.Theywouldn’tfalterfromthatalone.Someonewithasuitablepowerwasneededtostandinthisbattlefield.

HewasprettysureMusujimeAwaki’spowerwasMovePoint.Shecouldmoveobjectswherevershewantedfreeofanythree-dimensionalrestrictions.

Shemusthavebeenusingthatpoweragain.

“Soshecanstillbeuseful.AndIthoughtshewasjustGroup’sdecoration.Wasn’therunstablementalconditionkeepingherfromusingherpowers?”

“She’sthesameasyou,”Tsuchimikadorespondedwhilelisteningtotheexplosionsoverthephone.“That’sbeingcompensatedfor.”

“Okay,fine.So,IcanjustusethisconfusiontotakeouttheSkill-Outmembersherebeforetheycanregroup,right?”

“Well,withtheirmoneysupplybeingattacked,Idoubttheirleaderwilljustrunaway,butyourmaintargetisKomabaRitoku,thebastardleadingthemall.Don’tlethimgetaway.”

“I’mmoreworriedaboutdoingtoomuchdestruction.Diggingfleshoutofrubblesoundslikeapainintheass.”

Acceleratordecidedtohangup.

Heputthephoneinhispocketandmovedhisotherhanduptothebackofhisneckwithoutlettinggoofhiscane.Itlookedlikehewascheckingthemovementofajoint,butthatwaswheretheswitchforhischoker-styleelectrodewas.

“Well,IguessIshouldgetstarted.”

Hesensedanumberofpeoplearoundhim.

Therewereover20sightsofhandgunsandbowgunspointedtowardshimfromwithinthealley,fromthewindowsofthebuildings,andfromanyothercoversomeonecouldfind.

Inresponse,Acceleratoreversoslightlysmiled.

Thiswastheplacehehadoncewantedtomakehiswayoutofevenifhehadtocrawlthroughthedirt.

“LookslikeIhavesomecleaninguptodo.I’llbedonein10minutes.”

Hewasbackwithasmileonhisface.

Part3

MusujimeAwakiwaswalkingthroughadarkalley.

Becausetherewerevariouslycoloredplasticsheetsspreadfrombuildingtobuildingaboveher,thesunlightwastintedinvariouscolorssuchasblue,red,andyellow.Theflowofairwasstagnatedandthesmelloftrashanddirtpermeatedthearea.ThewallswerecoveredincrudegraffitiandarustedremnantofanATMthathadbeenbroughtinfromsomewherewaslyingonthegroundwithitscoverpriedopen.Theareamusthavehadnoshortageofactivitybecausetherewerethingslikeasawwithbrokenteethandbrokenlumberlyingaround.

Andasshewalkedthroughthatarea,Musujimewaswearingapieceofclothwrappedoverherbarebreastsasinnerwearandablazerthatlookedlikeitwaspartofaschooluniformwornoverhershoulders.Thatandherincrediblyshortskirtmadeitlooklikeshewasaskingforsomethingtohappen.

Butnoonetouchedher.

Notasingleone.

“…Tooeasy.”

Thelargemanwhohadtriedtoswingametalpipeatherandtheskinnywomanwhohadtriedtoshootherwithabowfromawindowhadbeendealtwiththesameway.MusujimeusedherMovePointpowertotakethingslikerustedbrokendowncarsandmetaldumpstersthatwereintheareaandforciblymovetheminfrontofherasshields.Afterdefendingagainsttheattack,shewouldtakethecorkscrewsshehadanddirectlystickthemintoheropponent’sarmsandlegs.Italwaysendedwiththatsamepattern.

Spinninginherhandwasamilitaryflashlightthatcouldalsobeusedasabaton.Sheusedittoassistwithherpowerbyaligningheraimwithit.Becauseherpowerhadtoohighaleveloffreedom,ifshedidn’testablishherownpointofreference,heraimwastoovague.

Shespokeinaboredvoicewhileswingingthetoolinherhandaround.

“Youdon’tnecessarilygetanadvantagebygatheringalargegroupofpeopleandyoudon’tnecessarilywinbygatheringweapons.ButIsupposeonlypeoplewhocan’tfigurethatmuchoutwouldjoinabackalleyganginthefirstplace.”

Incontrasttohercalm,theareaeruptedintoaroaringstorm.

Todefendagainstattacksfromalldirections,Musujimehadcreatedatinytornadowithherselfatthecenter.Itwasformedfromanumberofthickmetalobjectslikeamanholelidandanironplate.HerMovePointmadenonoise,butthenumberofprojectileshittingthoseshieldsmadequiteadin.

Musujimepulledthepinoutofagrenadewithhermouthandthrewittowardsthenowlidlessmanhole.

Amuffledexplosioncouldbeheardcomingfromthesewer.

Fromtheinformationtheyhadgathered,asafeaboutthesizeofahandbagwashiddendownthere.

“That’s#9.…Thisjustisn’tsatisfyingenough.”

EversinceshehadcausedanincidentonSeptember14thandhadthetablesturnedonherbyShiraiKurokoofJudgment,amentalirregularityhadputherinaslumpwhereshecouldn’tuseherpowers.

Thereasonshehadrecoveredfromthatwas…

(…WhenIfirstheardaboutthis,Ithoughtitwascompletebullshit,butIguessthetechnicalteamisjustthatgood.)

Shehadelectrodesstuckonhershouldersandherbackthatlookedlikecompresses.ItwasasmallLow-FrequencyVibrationTherapydevice.Simplyput,itwasamassagemachinethatsentelectriccurrentsintoherbody.The

machinemeasuredthedisturbancesinherbrainwavesandcreatedthemosteffectivepulsepatternbasedonthat.

Itwasn’tperfect,butitcertainlyhelpedkeepherstressdowntoacertainlevel.

(Ontheotherhand,walkingaroundwithcompressesalloveryourbodyisn’texactlyhowagirlwantstoliveherlife.)

Eventhoughshehadbeenabletogetbackinactionwiththehelpofthesemachines,therehadbeenamajoreffectontheincidentfromSeptember14th.

TheringleaderofthatincidenthadbeenMusujimeAwaki,butshewasnottheonlyoneinthecriminalgroup.InordertostealtheRemnant,apartofTreeDiagram,shehadgottenthehelpofafewdozenesperswhosharedherideals.MostofthemhadbeendefeatedbythatRailgunandcapturedbyAnti-Skill.

Andshewastheonlyonethathadmadeitbackoutonthestreets.

Currently,therewasnoclearcrimeinAcademyCitycalledtreason.Butnoonewasgoingtoprotectthecivillibertiesofatraitorwhothreatenedthepeaceofthecity.Sothepunishmentwascarriedoutinsecretregardlessofthelaw.Anditwasdoneinabrutalwaythattookadvantageofthatlawlessness.

Shehadtodosomething.

Hercomradeswhohadoncewalkedonthesamepathasherwereintrouble.

“…”

Musujimethrewagrenadeintoacrackonalargeoutdoorairconditioningunitandthebundleofbillshiddeninsidewasblowntopieces.

Andshecontinuedfurtherintothealley.

(Cash,goldbars,anaccesscardtoanITBankunderafakecorporatename…Thisreallyisquitespreadout.Howdidtheygatherallthismoney?)

Apparently,KomabaRitokutheleaderrunningeverythingintheareahadbannedtheprostitutionofgirls.Sincehehadsealedoffoneofthequickestmethodsofgatheringfunds,hemusthavehadsomeothermethod.

(Isupposeitdoesn’treallymatter.I’mjustheretomakesureit’salldestroyed.Justanother14areasandIcanleave.)

Asshethoughtcheerfully,sheslowlyspuntheflashlightaroundinherhand.

“…I’dlikeforyoutostopthat,esper.”

AmalevoicesuddenlycutoffMusujime’sthoughts.

About10metersinfrontofherinthestraight,narrowalley,alargegorilla-likemanwasstanding.Hemusthavecomefromoneofthebuildings’backentrances.Hishardmuscleswerecoveredbyacheapjacket,butitlookedlikeitwasgoingtoripapartifheflexedhismusclesevenslightly.

Helookedlikeanincarnationofdestruction,buthisvoicewasquitemelancholyincomparison.

Hisvoicesoundedlikehehadcopypapercomingfromhismouthashespoke.

“Wedistributedourmoneylikethistopreventitfromallbeinglostatonce.Youcouldsayit’slikehowacowardafraidofbeingmuggedcarriesseveralwallets.Havingallofyourpossessionsstolenatonceisn’taverypopularoption.”

Insteadofresponding,Musujimepulledouthercellphonerightinfrontofherenemy.

Shelookedatthescreen,checkedthephotothere,andgaveasurprisedgasp.

“KomabaRitoku.Oh,my.ItseemsI’verunintothetargetfirst.”

Atsomepoint,theSkill-Outmemberswhohadbeensurroundingherhaddisappeared.

Komabamusthaveusedhisauthoritytohavethemevacuate.

Hedidn’twantthemtogetinhisway.

“Don’tbemad,Accelerator.”

“Thatname…IsupposeIshouldhaveabandonedthemoneyinsteadofbeing

greedyifsomeonelikethatiscoming…”

Musujimewasn’treallypayingattentiontoKomaba’swords.

Sheclosedhercellphonewithasnapandputitinherpocket.

Shethenslowlybroughtherflashlightupattheready.

“MovePoint,huh?Atroublesomepower.”

“Doyoureallythinkit’sonlytroublesome?”

“Isupposeyou’reright.Ihateitmuchmorethansomethingthatisonlytroublesome.”

ItmayhavebeenacharacteristictraitofmembersoftheLevel0groupSkill-Out,butKomaba’scopypaper-likewordshaddarkemotionsmixedin.

(Itdoesn’treallymatter),thoughtMusujime.

Hewas10metersawayonastraight,narrowpath.Shewouldusehercorkscrewsonhim.NomatterhowstrongKomabawas,hewouldfalltothegroundbeforehecouldtake3steps.Andevenifhewashidingahandgunorotherlong-distanceweapon,Musujimecouldjustcallina“shield”.

“I’llendthiswithonerightbetweentheeyes.”

“Soyou‘llsparemeanypain?…I’msomoved.”

Withoutsayinganythingelse,Musujimeswungherflashlightandsentacommandtoacorkscrewinherpocket.Ignoringthevisiblethreedimensionalvectors,thecorkscrewflewthroughspaceusingthetheoreticalvaluesofthe11thdimensionandheadedrighttowardsKomabaRitoku’sforehead.

Anditmissed.

“Wha-…?”

Seeingthecorkscrewappearinemptyspace,Musujime’seyeswidenedinshock.Shefeltaslightpaininherback.Inresponsetohertension,thestress-loweringlowfrequencyvibrationtreatmentdevicehadsentoutastrongerpulse.

Itwasn’tthatMusujimeAwakihadaimedincorrectly.

Komabahadsuddenlydisappeared.

Aroarlikeadumptruckdrivingbycamefromdirectlybehindher.

“…Tooslow.”

Alongwiththatquietvoice,shefeltadullpainontheverytopofherheadlikesomethingheavyhadfallenonher.Asherconsciousnessflutteredinandout,MusujimerealizedthatKomabahadforcefullyswunghisfistdownather.

Anelectriccurrentranthroughhershouldersandback.

Upuntilnow,thedevicehadhelpedher,butnowitwasjustbeingabother.

“Kh!?”

ShelookedoverhershoulderandcalledanoldabandonedcartothespotKomabawasstandingin.Thiswasnoshield;shewastryingtocrushhertarget.

ButKomabawasnolongerthere.

Hehadjumped7metersstraightupintotheair.

“Don’tbesurprised…”

Asignoranairconditioningunitmusthavebeeninstalledthereatonetime,becauseKomabawasstandingonarectangularprismofametalbarstickingoutfromthewallatthe2ndfloor.

Withanexplosivenoise,hekickedthemetalbar,breakingit,andthepiecesflewtowardsMusujimewithenormousspeed.

“I’mtakingthisseriously,”hecontinued.

Musujimecouldn’thearthesoundofKomabalanding.

Thiswasbecausethemanysharpcross-sectionsofthemetalbarquicklycameatherallatonce.

“!?”

Shehurriedlycalledtheoldcarshehadattackedwithtoappearrightinfrontofher.

Shehadintendedtouseitasashield,butthemetalbarsweremovingquicklyenoughtoeasilypiercethroughit.Musujimeinstinctuallyheldherhandsuptocoverherface,buttheyonlygrazedherthighandthebrutalweaponstabbedintotheasphaltandstopped.

Asshewatchedthemetalbarsvibratedslightly,achillrandownMusujime’sspine.

(Ashieldisuselessifit’sdestroyedsoeasily…!!)

“…Don’tlooksodissatisfied.Whenfightingagainstamonsterlikeyou,Ideservesomekindofpreparation,don’tI?”

KomabaRitoku’slowlaughingvoicereachedMusujime’sears.

Lookingthroughtherustedcar’swindowsthathadnoglassinthem,shemanagedtospotKomaba’sface.Hewasstandingabout10metersaheadinthesmallalleywaywithconcretewallsoneitherside.

(I’vegothim!!)

Musujimeconcentrated.Shegaveaslightwaveofherflashlightcallingfor5corkscrewsthatwerelyingonthegroundnearbyandmovedthemallatoncetocoordinatesinsideKomaba’sbody.

But…

“…Youwon’thitme.”

Therewasaloudroarthatdidn’tsoundlikesomethingthatcouldcomefromahumanbody.KomabazigzaggedleftandrightdownthenarrowalleyatatremendousspeedavoidingalloftheteleportedattacksMusujimesentathim.

Andthatwasn’tall.

“Youcanhavetheseback.Iprefercheapboozetofinewine.”Komabaliftedhislegashedodgedthecorkscrews.“Ihavenouseforcorkscrews.”

Hegaveakickthatsoundedlikeawhip.HislegaccuratelyhitthecorkscrewsthatwerestillfallingfromtheairandlaunchedthematterrifyingspeedtowardsMusujime.

“…!!”

ShehadnotimetomoveherflashlightanduseMovePoint.

Thecorkscrewsflewthroughthecarwindowsandstraightforher.

Sheimmediatelymovedherheadtothesideandreceivedalightscratchonherrightcheek.Thesoundoftheairbeingsplitsoundedfromrightnexttoherearandtheelectrodesonherbackandshoulderspumpedoutitsrelaxingsignaltoitslimits.

(Ow…Howcanaflesh-and-bloodhumanmovelikethat?)

Komaba’smovementsweren’tlikethoseofanautomobilethatjustmovesstraightahead.

Hismovementscontainedthesubtleandminuteadjustmentscharacteristicofalivingbeing.

“Thatmobility…YouhaveHardTaping[1]underyourclothes,don’tyou!?”

“Soyou’vefigureditout.”

KomabaslowlyapproachedMusujimewithundetectablefootsteps.

Thebrokendowncarwasbetweenthem,butKomabawouldeasilybeabletojumpoverit.

Tostophim,Musujimetookirregularstepsbackabouteverytimehetookonetoputsomedistancebetweenthem.

Atsomepoint,therolesofattackeranddefenderhadbeencompletelyreversed.

“Inmycase,Ihave6ligamentsinmykneeprotectedandthemusclesinmyleg

thatareconnectedtomyfemur,mytibia,andmyfibulareinforcedfromtheoutside.Ialsohavemetalplatesinmyshoestokeepmyfootfrombeingdestroyed…Gettingaholdofthisspecialmilitary-useultrasonicwaveelastictapingwasn’teasy.”

Thetapingwasmainlyonhislegs,buthemusthavehaditlightlyreinforcinghisentirebodyaswell.Youcouldn’tbalancewithjustyourlegsand,ifyoulostyourbalancewhilemovingathighspeed,youwouldcollapsespectacularly.

“Youcouldsaythisisjusttheportionofapoweredsuitthatgivesititsmobilitytakenoutandisolated.Ifyouwanttokillme,youshouldhavebroughtsomethingwithenoughfirepowertotakeoutanarmoredweapon…”

“Hmph.IsHardTapingreallythatconvenient?”Musujimespokewithasmileinherlips.

Butacoldsweatwasappearingonherface.

Shecouldmovevariousobjectsignoringthethreedimensionallimitationsbyusingtheoretical11thdimensionalvectors,butoneexceptionwasherself.Ifshemovedherself,itcausedherextremementaldamage.Thelowfrequencyvibrationtreatmentdevicewassupposedtocompensateforthis,butshedidn’tknowifshecouldactuallypullitoff.Theoddswereprobablyworsethan50/50.Itwasevenpossiblethatshewouldn’tbeabletobearthementalpressureandhermemorieswoulddistractherkeepingherfromusingherpowersproperlyormakinganyproperjudgments.

Shecouldn’tgetoutofthiseasily.

Butevenifshecouldturnthisaround,shehadtocreatetheopportunitytodosoherself.

Withthatinmind,Musujimemovedhermouthinanattempttostallfortime.

“Poweredsuitsaren’tthatbigbecausethepartsneededformobilityandthethicknessofthearmortakeupthatmuchspace.It’sbecausetheyhavetoputinsafetydevicesforthepilotsaswell.”

Asshespoke,Musujimecarefullyexaminedhersurroundings.

Thealleywasstraightandnarrow.IfKomabaattacked,escapewouldbeprettymuchimpossible.Thebrokendowncarwasinbetweenthem,butshedoubtedthatwouldstophim.

“Apoweredsuithasmuchhighermobilitythanafully-equippedvehicle.Itcanmoveatspeedsgreaterthan10timeswhatavehiclecan.Butit’sstillaflesh-and-bloodhumaninside.”

DodgingorblockingKomaba’sattackwasgoingtobedifficult.

Musujimegrippedherflashlighttighterandcontinuedanalyzing.

“Isee.…You’retalkingaboutthebodyprotection.”

“Ifyousuddenlygofromastandstilltohighspeed,thereisariskofpulledortornmuscles.That’swhythepoweredsuitshavemultiplesafetydevicescreatedtopreventthatfromhappening.SimilartothislowfrequencyvibrationtreatmentdeviceI’musing,themusclesareconstantlyhavingelectricalstimuligiventothemsothattheyarealwaysinastatesimilartoafterhavingperformedwarm-upexercises.Thatwaythedamagefromsuddenmotioncanbeprevented.”

Intheend,heronlychoicewastouseMovePointtodefeatKomabaRitokubeforehisattackarrived.

Ifshedidn’tendthisbeforehisfirstattack,herlifecouldbeindanger.

“YourHardTapinghasnosuchsafetyfeatures,”Musujimeinformedhimwhilespinningherflashlightinherhand.

KomabaRitoku’sexpressiondidnotchange.

“That’sadefectiveitemthatfailedAnti-Skill’stests.Itmaydoquiteabitofdamagetoyourbody.Although,itwon’tbeanywherenearasmuchasIwill.”

“Heh…”

Komabalaughedevenasaclearweaknesswaspointedout.

“I’mpreparedforthatmuch…IhavebeeneversinceIsworeIwouldfightmonsterslikeyoueventhoughI’maLevel0.”

Hisgiantgorilla-likebodyswelledupanothersizebigger.

Mostlikely,hewasworkingtoresistthedamageasmuchaspossiblebyregulatinghisbodyinarationalwayevenmoresubtlythanaprofessionalathletewould.Hisbodyhadturnedintoasinglegiantweapon.

“Ineedtofinishthisassoonaspossible.”

(Tch.)

“…IhavealotIneedtodo!!”

(I’mreallynotgoingtogetachancetogetaway!!)

Aloudroarsoundedout.

KomabaRitokushottowardsMusujimewithaspeedatwhichhewouldhavebeenabletooutstripatrain.

“!!”

Musujimeinstinctuallytookastepbackandspunhermilitaryflashlightaround.

ShethrewagiantsignatthespotKomabaRitokuwasin.

Butbythetimethecommandhadbeensent,hewasnolongerthere.Heranfurtherandfurtherforwardlikearocketshatteringtheasphaltunderhisfeet.

(Kh…He’stoofast.Idon’thavetimetoindicatehiscoordinates!!)

Musujime’sthroatwasdry.

Komabaflewtowardsherwitharoarandlandedontheroofoftheabandonedcarshehadbeenusingasashield.Thered,rustedmetalcrackedundertheforceandhisfeetsankdeeplyintoit.Ignoringthat,Komabaliftedhisfoot.HewasgoingtocrushMusujimeunderthatfootasshehidbehindthecar.

Hewasonlyastepawaynow.

“Ah-ahhhh!!”

Musujimemovedbackwhilefeelingachill.

Shegaveuponattackingandmovedanearbymetaldumpsterinfrontofher.Thethickmetalboxwasbigenoughtohold4unitbathsandsheusedittoblockKomaba’sattack.

But…

“Sothin…”

Musujimeheardafaintlaughingvoicefromtheothersideofthesupposedlythickwall.

And…

“…Youcan’tstopmewithameremembranelikethis.”

MusujimeAwakiclearlysawthedumpsterexplosivelyexpandfromtheinsideoutrightinfrontofhereyes.

KomabaRitokuusedoneofhislegswhichwerereinforcedbytheHardTapingtokickintoitlikehislegwasametalstake.

AnexplosivenoisereachedMusujime’searsdirectlyafterwards.

Komaba’sfootslammedintothedumpsterlikeadumptruck,toreintothethickmetalbox,andsmashedthecontentstopiecesscatteringthemeverywhere.

Anunpleasantclangingnoiserangoutfromthemetalfallingtotheground.

Thewreckageflewover10metersinfrontofKomaba.Itlookedlikeagiantdragonhadvomitedeverywhere.

Therewasnowaytodeterminewherethebodywas.Therewasjustsomethingreddishbrownmixedinwiththepartiallydecayedtrash.Thepurplepiecesmusthavebeentheorgans.Hermilitaryflashlightwaslyingontheground.Afterbeingcruellycrushed,therewasonlyaredliquidstucktotheground.

“Hmph…”

Evenafterseeingthehairmixedinwiththeblood,KomabaRitoku’sexpression

didnotchange.

Hemerelyspokeinhisusualwaythatsoundedlikecopypaperwascomingfromhismouth.

“…Thatwastooquick.Ididn’tevengettousemyspecialty…”

Part4

Justashehadannounced,AcceleratorhadquietedtheSkill-Outgroupwithin10minutes.

Buthehadn’tusedhispowersthatentiretime.

Atfirst,hehadmanipulatedtheatmospheretocreateagustofwindgreaterthan50m/sknockingmostofhisenemiestotheground.Hethenturnedoffhispowersandshotthemwhiletheirmovementswereindisorder.Whentheywereabouttocounterattack,hewouldcreateanothergustofwindandstartshootingagainoncetheywererenderedhelpless.Thatpatternhadrepeatedagainandagain.

Hehadeasilywonafter10minutes.

Becauseofthisstrategy,hehadn’tevenused30secondsofpoweredtime.

InhisbattlewithHoundDogandtheirleaderKiharaAmata,hehadlearnedjusthowmuchaweaknesstheelectrode’sbatterywas.Hehadtolearnhowtoeconomizeinhisuseofthebattery.

“Nowthen.Where’sthatbastardKomabaRitokueveryone’stalkingabout?Hewasn’tinthatgroupIjusttookout,washe?”

Acceleratormovedhishandtothebackofhisneckandflippedtheswitchoff.Helookedaroundtomakesuretherewerenoenemiesleftandheadedfurtherintothealley.

Hehadblowneverythingawaywiththewind,but,afterwalkingamere100metersin,thescenerywasbacktorustedmetaltrashandcoloredplasticsheetshidingthesky.

Acceleratorsuddenlystoppedandleanedonhiscane.

Musujime’sexplosionshadstopped.

“Tch.Soherquota’sdone.Idon’tlikebeingthelastonedone.”

Hetiltedhisheadtothesideinannoyance,but…

“Then…IsupposeIcanletyoutakeabreak.”

ThosewordsabruptlyreachedAccelerator’sears.

Hecontinueddownthenarrowalleyandfoundabuildingthatlookedonlypartiallycompleted.Itwasonlymadeoutofasteelframe,soitlookedlikeagiantjunglegym.Andonthe4thfloor,whichwasabouthalfwayup,alargegorilla-likemanwasstanding.

Themanspokeinaquietvoicethatsoundedlikecopypaperwascomingfromhismouth.

“Accelerator...Quiteafamousvisitor.ButIneverthoughtyou’dbehuntingusdownasadogoftheboardofdirectors…”

“SoyoumustbeKomabaRitoku.”Acceleratorlookedupatthesteelframework.“IsupposeIshouldask.Whatwasthereasonforthisplanofyours?”

“EvenifItoldyou,youdon’tactuallycarewhySkill-Outisattackingespers.”

“Hah.FromthatItakeitthatwhenyougotoutonthestreetsyouwouldbeattackingeveryoneindiscriminately.”

“No,notindiscriminately...Wewouldchooseourtargetscarefully…”

“Youseemprettycalm.Doyoureallyunderstandthesituationhere?”

“Therewasagirltellingmethesamethingjustabitago.”

Ashespoke,Komabatooksomethingoffofhisbeltandlightlytosseditdown.

Itwasablood-smearedmilitaryflashlight.

Ithitthesteelframeafewtimesonthewaydownandfinallyfellontotheasphaltwhereitsglasslensandlightbulbshattered.

“Ikilledher.”

“…”

Acceleratorremainedsilentforasecondatthatquickcomment.

Komabafrowned.

“You’retakingthispeacefully…Thisisn’tthekindofpersonIwastoldyouwere.Soyoureallyhavechanged.Lonersusuallydon’thesitateattimeslikethis.Andtheyendupdyingbecausetheytrytostanduptome.I’mwellpastthepointwhereIworryabouthowtocleanupacorpse…”

“Isee.”Acceleratorsmiledslightlyashespoke.“Didyouknowthatpeoplewhostanduptometendtoendupasmincemeat?”

Stillsmiling,hemovedhishandtotheswitchonthebackofhisneck.

“Hoo…”Komabaexhaled.“Ifyou’regoingtotrytoactcool,atleastbebattlereadybeforehand…”

“Youdorealizeyou’retalkingtoAcademyCity’sstrongestLevel5,right?”

“…ConfrontingmonsterslikeyouiswhatSkill-Outdoesbest.”

Komabatappedthebackofhisneckwithhispointerfinger.

“Thatelectrode…isatransmitterforsomekindofelectronicinformation,isn’tit?”

“Tch!!”Acceleratorclickedhistongueandflippedtheswitchfortheelectrode.

Healteredthevectorsforhislegs.TheasphaltbeneathhisfeetcrackedandheshotlikearockettowardsthefourthfloorwhereKomabawasstanding.

ButKomabawasfaster.

Hepulledwhatlookedlikeaspraycanfromhispocketandhititwithawhip-likekick.Hiskickwasdeliveredwithaforceonewouldn’texpectfromanormalpersonandittorethemetalcantopieceslikeitwasmadeofpaper.Itscontentsscatteredthroughtheair.

Thecontentswerethinsheetsofmetalaboutthesizeoftheleadtoamechanicalpencil.Theyglitteredinthedimbackalley.Theywerecomposedoftwothinwingssotheylookedliketinyhelicopterrotors.

Hundredsofthesethinsheetsofmetalstoppedinmidairwhileslowlyrotatinglikebamboocopters.

“…TheseareatypeofradiojammingweaponcalledChaffSeeds.…TheyuseamicromotortofloatintheairusingthestructureoftheseedsofplantsintheDipterocarpaceaefamily…”

Komaba’sexpressionremainedunchangedashespoke.

“IoriginallyhadthistoknockoutAnti-Skillradios.”

“!!”

Accelerator’spowerofascentsuddenlystopped.

Hedidn’treachthe4thfloorKomabawason;hefelldownandlandedontheframeworkofthethirdfloor.

Evenhisreflectionabilitymusthavebeenknockedout,becausepainspreadthroughhisbacklikeitwouldforanormalperson.

“Gh..ah!?”

Heletoutacry,buthedidn’thaveroomtowrithearound.

“Ihadseensomethinglikethatjustabitbefore.”

Whenheheardthequietvoicecomefromabovehim,Acceleratorquicklylookedup.

“Theteleporterwhoattackedhadsomethinglikethatonherback…HersprobablyworksdifferentlythanyoursandIdon’tknowexactlywhythetwoofyouarewearingthem…ButI’mbettingtheyassistyouwithyourpowers.”

Ashadowstretchedout.

Komabajumpeddownfromthe4thflooraimingforAccelerator’sgutwithbothhisfeet.

Ifthathithim,hisorganswouldrupture.

Hehadahandgun,butthatgiantbodywouldn’tstopifheshotit.

“Tch!Fucker!!”

Acceleratorgaveuptryingtoattack,broughthisarmsandlegsin,androlledlikeaballbackwardsonthenarrowframe.

Komaba’sfeetlandedforcefullyinthespotAcceleratorhadjustbeenin.

Alouddullnoisecamefromthemetal.

Stoppinghisroll,Acceleratorbroughthishandgunupandfiredinresponse,butKomabamovedhisupperbodydodgingthe3shotsfired.Hewasn’twatchingthebullets;hewaskeepingawayfromthebarrel.

Thecartridgesthatsmelledoffireworksfellallthewaytotheground.

“…Howunsightly.”AsmilespreadacrossKomaba’sface.“Ifyourpowerswereperfect,youwouldn’tneedagun…Andyouwouldn’thaveavoidedmyattack.”

(Goddamnit.Ijusthavetostophismovementsbyshootinghiminthelowerback!!)

Acceleratorgrittedhisteethandalteredhisaim.But…

“Heh…Don’tfalloff.”

Ashespoke,Komababroughthisfootdownandthe3rdfloorframeworkbrokeinhalflikeatreebranch.

(…!?Thatstrength…!!)

NonormalhumancouldproducethatattackandKomabawasLevel0.Thatmeanthemusthavesomekindofequipmentsupportinghim.

“…Kh!!”

Ashisalreadyunstablefootingslantedtotheside,Accelerator’saimstrayedagoodwaysfromKomaba.Andbeforehecouldbringitback,Komaba’sgiganticbodywasheadedforhim.

(Istillcan’tusemypowers!!)

ThenumerousglitteringmetalChaffSeedswerestillfloatingintheairlikebamboocopters.Theywerespreadevenlyallthroughoutthearea,sotryingtobrushthemawaywithhishandwasn’tgoingtohelpmuch.

AcceleratorclickedhistongueasKomabaRitokuapproached.

Therewasaroaringwind.

Evenwiththeunstablefooting,Komabahadmovedafewmetersinaninstant.

And…

Hewasusinghispowerfullegtoattackwithacrushingkick.

“!!”

Acceleratorimmediatelytwistedhisbody,butthatlegknockedhisgunoffoftheframe.Komabahadbeenaimingforthegunthewholetime.Hisspeedhadbeentoofasttoreactto.

“…You’regoingtoburstopenandpaintthisareared.”

Komabapulledahandgunofhisownfromhisbelt.Itwasalargehandgunwith

anoddformthathadtwothickmagazinesstickingintoitjustinfrontofthetrigger.

Thiswasn’tanattackAcceleratorcouldavoidbymovinghisheadtotheside.

(Shit!!)

Hepreparedhimselfandjumpedwithallhismighttothesideandthenrightofftheframework.

The2ndfloorwasnext.

Butsincehedoveoffwithoutlooking,hemessedupthetimingonhislandingandstrucktheframeworkwithoutbeingabletosoftentheblow.Hefelldownanotherfloorbecauseofit.Theimpactmadeadullnoise.Hehadpartiallylandedoncepartwaydown,buthehadfallentothegroundfromthe3rdfloorallthesame.Thepainwasmorethanonecouldbearjustbygrittingone’steeth.AndforsomeonewholefteverythingtohispowersinsteadoftraininghisbodylikeAccelerator,itwasevenworse.

“Gwaaaah!!”Acceleratoryelledwhileholdingthetopofhisshoulder.

Komabaignoredhisscreamandpulledthetrigger.

Asherolledonthedirtyground,Acceleratorsomehowmanagedtoavoidthebullet.

Thepowerofthebulletwasmuchgreaterthananormalone.Itpiercedasteelframepartwaydownandthethickpieceofmetalexplodedfromtheinside.TheframewastransformedintoalargenumberofsmallmetalpiecesandtheyraineddownonAccelerator.Hewasrollingontheground,buthestillreceivedsmalltearsonhisskin.

“Tch!!”

Acceleratorsearchedthegroundwithhisgazelookingforsomething.

(…!Thereitis!!)

HegrabbedhishandgunthatKomabahadkickeddown.

Herolledontohisback,heldthegunupinbothhands,aimedtowardstheframeworkabove,andpulledthetrigger.

Thegunshotrangout.

ButKomabawasn’tthere.Thebulletflewthroughemptyspaceandhittheedgeofoneoftheplasticsheetscoveringthesky.Thebulletmusthavehittheclaspbecausethesheetblewtotheside.

“Checkmate…”

Acceleratorheardthismonotonousvoicethatsoundedlikethewrittenwordswerebeingexpelledfromthespeaker’smouthcomingfromablindspotdiagonallyupfromhisposition.

Komabamusthavealreadymovedtoadifferentframe.

“Igiveyouonefinalchoice…WheredoyouwantmetoshootyouwhenIkillyou?”

“…SoyouhaveaSmartWeapon.”[2]

Acceleratormutteredthatinannoyance,butitwashardtoaimtowardsKomabainhisstate.

Heheardthevoicecomingfromoutsidehisvisionagain.

“MySmartWeaponusesinfraredraystoaccuratelymeasurethetarget’scomposition,solidity,anddistance.…Andthenitmixesthepowderthatwillcausethemostappropriatelevelofdestruction.…Thentheplasticinstantaneouslyhardensformingthebullet.Itcanshootthroughasteelplateoritcanleavethebulletinapieceoftofu.Ifyouhaveawayyouwouldprefertodie,tellmenow.IamconfidentthatIcancreatealmostanytypeofdeathwhileoperatingitonmanual…”

“Isee,”mutteredAccelerator.

IfAcceleratorwasdefeatedhere,KomabaRitokuwouldtriggerCodeOrangewhichwouldknockoutthecommunicationsnetwork.Thenhewouldtakeadvantageoftheconfusionandindiscriminatelyattacktheespersinthearea.But

nothingwouldbegainedbyit.Skill-Outjustwasn’tpowerfulenoughtogaincontroloftheentiretyofAcademyCity.

Thatwaswhytheyhadchangedfromtheoriginaltargetoftheirviolenceandwereaimingforan“enemy”theycouldactuallydefeat.

Theywereattackingalow-level“enemy”insteadoftheLevel5sandtheboardofdirectorswhotheytrulyhated.

TheskinonAccelerator’sfacedistortedintoasmile.

Thelawofthebackalleyswasruledbystrongvs.weakinsteadofgoodvs.evil.Hewassofamiliarwithit,hewantedtovomit.AndAcceleratorhadpartedfromtheworldoflightandplungedintothedepthsofGroupinordertofightthattypeoflaw.

Acceleratorgrittedhisteeth.

--AreyoutryingtoruleSkill-Outlikethis?

“Inyourcase,itmaybebetterifyouremainsuspiciousofothers’kindwords.Especiallyifyouknowthevalueofwhatyouwanttoprotect.”

--Areyoujustgoingtoenjoycausingtroubleatyourownconveniencelikethis?

“Nomatterhowunsightlyitmaybe,youhavenochoicebuttokeeppayingbackeveryyen,everyfractionofayen,youcan.Ifyoukeepaddingitup,yourpathwillsurelyopenupbeforeyou.Afterall,youhavepowerunlikeme.Thereareplentyofwaysyoucanpayitallbackatonce.”

--Areyoujustgoingtocontinuebringingmisfortunetoinnocentpeoplelikethis?

“I’mback,saysMisakaasMisakagivesthestandardgreet-…Ow!Whyareyourepeatedlychoppingmewithoutsayinganything!?saysMisakaasMisakaholdsherheadandpretendstocry!!”

(Ishejustgoingtodevourotherpeople’shappinessjusttoventhisownpentupangerandsatisfynoonebuthimself!?)

“Fuckthat,youpieceofshit!”

Andwiththosewords,twogunsfired.

Part5

Andwiththatthebattlewasover.

Whowonandwholostwasasclearasday.Accelerator’slastrayofhopewasthathisgunwaspointedtowardssomewhereotherthanthemetalChaffSeedsscatteredthroughouttheairthatwereobstructinghispowersorhistarget,Komaba.

AndKomabaRitoku’sSmartWeaponwasaccuratelypointedathimfromablindspot.Inshogi,thatwascalledaperfectcheckmate.Itwasasituationwherehisattackcouldn’treachandhisopponent’sattackcouldtakehislife.

Thefiredbulletpiercedsoftflesh.

ThebulletfromtheSmartWeapontorethroughthemeatofaperson’sside.Thescrapsofclothestornoffweresoakedwithbloodandtheweightkeptthemfromfloating.Thescrapsmerelyfelltotheground.

Asecondlater,aburningpainranthoughthatside.

Buttherewasnotimetoevenputahandtothewound.

“Why…?”

Thewordsnaturallyseepedout.

Thetasteofbloodspreadthroughthatmouthandthatredliquidspilledfrom

thoselips.

“Whyisyour‘reflection’back?”

LookingatKomabacoughingupbloodabovehimontheframework,Acceleratorgaveathinsmilewhilestilllyingonthedirtyground.

“Youidiot.”

Itwasathin,thin,thin,thin,eversothinsmile.

Itwasasmilethatlookedlikeithadbeensplitopenbyarazorblade.Itwasasmilethatstarvedforblood.

“Afteryouscatterthatfoilcalledchaffintotheair,itjamselectromagneticsignals.Sothesolutionwassimple.Ijusthadtogetthosethinsheetsofmetaloutoftheairsomehow.Withventilation,forexample.”

“You…don’tmean…”

Komabalookedup.

Oneofthevariouscoloredplasticsheetsthatwerespreadfrombuildingtobuildingasasatellitecountermeasurewasblownoutoftheway.Accelerator’sbullethadknockedofftheclasp.

Duetothesuddenwind,theChaffSeedshadblownwelloutofformation.Theycouldfloatundertheirownpowertoacertainextent,butitwasn’tenoughtostanduptoastrongblastofwind.Alargeholehadbeenblownintheircompactformationfrombefore.

“Nowthen…”

Thesoundofthegroundbeingstruckwasheard.

Acceleratormusthavealteredsomevectororotherbecause,fromlyingonhisback,hestoodstraightupwithoutbendinglikeadoorbeingopened.

“YouneedtorethinkwhatitmeansforaLevel0topickafightwithaLevel5!!”

“…Tch!!”

Komabaslowlyreachedforhispocket.

Whetherheusedhisspecialgunorstronglegs,KomabaRitokuhadnochanceofwinningnowthatAccelerator’svectortransformationabilitywasback.

SohemusthavebeentryingtodisseminatemoreChaffSeedsandretreat.

“Tooslow!!”

Acceleratorkickedsomepebblesathisfeet.

Thatwasallhedid.

Nevertheless,thevectorconvertedpebblesshotstraitthroughKomaba’spalm.Aloudroarcouldbeheardafterthefleshonhishandwastornopen.

“Gwaaaaahhh!?”

TheChaffSeedcontainerKomabahadtakenoutfellandhecroucheddownholdingthewristofthehandhit.Butthatwaswhenhelosthisbalance.Whilecroucheddown,hefellfromthe3rdfloorframe.

KomabaRitokuwasn’tgoingtodiefromjustthat.Hislegswerestrongenoughtobreakthosesteelframes.Ifhecouldregainhisbalancepartwaydown,hecouldeasilymakeaproperlanding.

Andforthatveryreason,Acceleratorshowednomercy.

“Haha!C’mon,letmehavealittlemorefun!!”

Healteredthevectorsofhislegsandshotforwardlikearocket.HegrabbedKomaba’sgutjustashewasabouttolandandslammedhimintoanearbysteelpillar.

HehadconvertedKomaba’sfallingvectortoonestraightahead.

Thethicksteelpillarbentunnaturallyfromtheimpact.Komaba’sgiantbodytrembled.HiscellphoneandthereserveChaffSeedcontainerscamefromhispocketandscatteredacrosstheground.

“Gh…bh…!?”

Komabacoughedupblood,but,regardlessofwhetheritwasgoingtoreachAccelerator’sfaceornot,herepelledittothesidesonotasingledroplandedonhim.

Herejectedeventhat.

“Nowit’scheckmate.Youhavenofeelingleftinyourlowerbody,right?”

“Kh…”

“YoudidagoodjobofactuallymanagingtokeepyourSmartWeaponinyourhandthroughallthat.I’llgiveyouthatmuch.Ifyouwanttocontinuethis,goforit.Seeingpeoplekillthemselveslikethatcanbequitefun.”

Whileholdinghistargetbythegut,theedgesofAccelerator’slipsliftedup.

“It’strueLevel0sareweak,butbeingweakdoesn’tmakeyouevil.”

Hewasenjoyingdisgracingthismanwhowasonthevergeofdeath.

“Peoplelikethataretreatedlikenuisancesbecauseit’salwayspeoplelikeyouinSkill-Outcausingtheproblems.Giveyourights?Aguaranteeofsafety?Fuckingridiculous.Can’tyoutellyou’restranglingyourselfbydoingthingslikethat?”

“…Heh.”

Allhisteethwerestainedred,butKomabastilllaughed.

“Here’sa…hypotheticalquestion…”hesaidinhisvoicethatsoundedlikecopypaperwascomingfromhismouth.“These‘harmlessLevel0s’you’retalkingabout…Ifattackingthemfornoreasonbecamepopularamongyourottenespers…whatwouldyoudo?”

Accelerator’seyelidsclosedslightlyoutofdisinterest.

“Problemswithaperson’spersonalityaren’ttakenintoaccountwhenitcomestowhethertheygetpowersornot…Therearesomepeoplewhohavepowerfulabilitiesbutareweakpeople.Thesehorriblepeoplecandonothingbutgloataboutit.…Ihaveseendozensofesperslikethatwhoarenothingbeyondtheirpowers.”

KomabaRitokudidn’tbegforhislife;hemerelylookedAcceleratorintheeyeashespoke.

Skill-Out.

Thatgroupwasoriginallycreatedinordertoprotectthemselvesfrompowerfulespers.

“Andif…itbecamepopularamongthosepeopletoplayagamewheretheyhunteddownLevel0swhoweren’tpartofanorganizationlikeSkill-Out…whatwouldyoudo?”

Therewassomethingglowingontheground.

ItwasKomabaRitoku’scellphonethathadfallenwhenhehadstruckthesteelpillar.Thephonehadunfoldedwhenithitthegroundandlightwascomingfromthestandbyscreen.

Thescreenshowedalow-resolutionphoto.

ItwasofasmallelementaryschoolagedgirlandKomabaRitokustandinguncomfortablynexttoher.

ItwasascenefarremovedfromtheSkill-Outandthebackalleys.

PerhapsKomabahadgonetoalotofefforttodistancehimselffromthatkindofthingforthatphoto.

(Thisbastard…)

ThereorganizationofSkill-Out.

Theobjectiveofthisincidentanditsresult.

WhatKomabaRitokuhadwithhim.

“Heh.IknewifIkepttakingout-of-placeactionsitwouldeventuallyendlikethis…”

AcceleratorliftedhisheadwhenheheardKomaba’svoice.

“ButIgottoseesomethinggoodintheend.Isupposeitallworkedout…”

KomabalookedatAccelerator’sexpressionandsmiledwithhisblood-coveredmouth.

WhatexactlyhadKomabatakenfromthechangeinthelookonthatLevel5’sface?

Withslowmotions,KomabapointedhisgunrightbetweenAccelerator’seyes.

“Itseems…youandIarelivingundersimilarcircumstances.”

Agunshotshookthearea.

Accelerator’s“reflection”madenoexceptions.ThebulletbouncedbackandflewbackintotheSmartWeapon’sbarrel.TheironweaponwassmashedtopiecesfromtheinsideandthebulletcontinuedonitspathandhitKomaba’sface.AndwiththatKomabaRitoku’sfacewasgone.Therewasarawnoise.Thetornpieceslookedlikeabowlwithchippededges.Itlookedlikeacrudecontainerwithskinandhaironitthathadonlybrainsinside.

Acceleratorsawitfrompoint-blankrange.

Hesawitfromcloserthananyoneelse.

“…”

Heletgo.

Thebodyfelltothegroundandthearmsandlegsbentlimplyandremainedstuckwheretheywere.Komabawasn’tgoingtosayanythingmore.HehadbeenatroublesomeenemywhenhestoodinAccelerator’spath,butallresistancehadlefthim.

AndAccelerator’sjobwasover.

Hisfirstjobhadbeencompletedwithoutahitch.

Part6

“Welldone,”UnabaraMitsukisaidfromtheotherendofthephone.“Allthatremainsistransportationofthebodiesaswellaseliminationofevidence.We’lltakecareoftheemptycartridgesandbloodstains.Thatblackgarbagetruckisonitsway,sogetonthat.”

“No,”Acceleratorrespondedwhileholdinghisphone.“I’llcomebackonmyown.Idon’twantanyfavorsfromyoupeople.”

“That’sfine,buttrynottorunintoanyoneyouknow.There’sareasonwekeepourselveshidden;standingoutisn’tgoingtobringyouanyfavors.Iwouldn’tadviseitforanyofus.”

“Quitspeakingdowntome.Doyouwantmetofuckingkillyou?”

Acceleratorgavethatpartingcommentandhungup.

(…Chaff,huh?Sothere’sanartificialwayofjammingelectromagneticwaves.MaybeIcouldcarryabomborsomethingaroundtoknockthatkindofthingoutoftheair.)

Helookedbackatthedirtygroundashethoughtaboutwhatheshoulddointhefuture.

KomabaRitoku’scorpsewastherewiththetophalfofitsfacegone.Themilitaryflashlightthathadbrokeninitsfallwas,too.

“Keh.”Acceleratormadeanoiseofannoyance.“Iknowyou’realive,MusujimeAwaki.”

Afterhespoke,heheardfootstepscomingfromfartherintothebackalley.

“Iwaswatchingfromawindowforsomeofit,butwhendidyounoticeme?”

“Heh.Itwasobviousyouwerethere.”

InordertoavoidKomabaRitoku’sgunshots,hehadjumpedfromthe2ndstoryoftheframework.

Acceleratorhadretrievedhisgunfromthegroundafterwardsandcounterattacked.However,whenhethoughtaboutitnow,itwasobviousthatthatwasjusttoomuchgoodfortune.Itwasprettyunlikelythathisgunwouldbewithinreachafterhefell.MusujimeAwakihadusedMovePointtomoveitwithinreach.

“Don’tinterfereinotherpeople’sfights.”

“Oh?Isthatanywaytotalktothepersonthatsavedyourlife?”

“…Doyouwantmetokillyou?”

“Rightbackatyou.”

AthinsmileappearedonMusujime’sfaceandshegotsoclosehecouldfeelherbreathonhisface.

Hereyeswereopensowidetheylookedlikedinnerplates.

“Didyouforget?TheonlyreasonI’mhereisbecauseyouinterferedwithmyfightonthatday.Ifitweren’tforyou,Icouldhavehiddenandgottenmorepeopletohelpme.ThenIcouldhaveattackedthefacilitymycomradesarerestrainedinandrescuedthem.”

Thesmileonherfacelookedlikeitwasslicingherheadintwoassheslowlyspoke.

“Heh.Hehheh.IfyouuseyourpowerstohelpmewithmyworkinGroupandmycomradesarereleasedasaresult,I’llforgiveyou.Butifyougetinmyway,you’redead.Makesureyourvaluetomedoesn’tfallanyfarther.Ifyoudon’tyou’llhavecorkscrewsalloveryourbody.”

“Shutthefuckup,woman.”Acceleratorcrackedhisneckasheresponded.“You’retheonethatdoesn’tunderstand.You’retheonethatgotsoupsetjustbecauseIsmashedsomeofyourluggage.Tryandgetthisinthatdefectivebrainofyours.Ifyouwasteevenasecondofmylife,you’regoingtobenothingmorethanastaininabackalley.”

“…”

“…”

Thetwostaredateachotherforabit,butthenacarhornsoundedmultipletimeswithshortintervalsbetween.Itseemedtheblackgarbagetruckhadarrivedattheentrancetothealley.

Thetensionbetweenthemdisappearedwhentheyheardthat.

“Fuckingridiculous,”Acceleratorspatout.

“You’vegotthatright,”MusujimeAwakinoddedandsteppedback.

Itwasn’ttimeforthatyet.

“HowdidyoutrickKomaba?”

“Itwasactuallyquiteeasy.Becausehislegsweresopowerful,hewasn’tgoingtoleaveacorpse.SoIusedadumpsterasashield.Itwasbehindarestaurant,soithadapigbonesandorgansinit.”

“IusedMovePointtomovemyself,soIdidvomitoncepartwaythrough,”sheadded.

Toaddmoredetail,shehadapparentlywrappedsomehairshehadpulledoutwithMovePointaroundherflashlight.Shecouldteleportsomethingasparticularasspecifichairs,butshestillfoundmovingherselfdifficult.

“…Soyouusedadumpsterfulloforgansthatjusthappenedtobethere.Thatwaslucky.”

“Yes,itwas.IwouldhavejustusedsomethingelseasashieldhadInotbeensolucky.IcouldhaveusedoneoftheotherSkill-Outmembers.IdoconsideritfortunatethatIdidn’thavetodothat.”

Musujimepickedherflashlightupfromnexttothecorpse.

“Youdidquiteanumberonhim,”shesaidinadisinterestedvoice.“Unabaracalledyou,right?Whatdidhesay?”

“Hesaidtogetonthegarbagetruckthatwascoming.IsaidI’dgobackonmyown.”

Musujimegaveapuzzledlookatthat.

“Oh?Doyouhavesomewhereyouwanttogo?It’sabittoosoonforlunch.”

“Thatelegant-actingmanaskedmethattoo,butit’snothingmuch.”

Acceleratorhadanothercellphoneinhishand.

Itwasaplasticelectronicdevicethatwascoveredinthebloodofamanwhowasnowgone.

Thestandbyscreenshowedayounggirlsmiling.

Andwhenhepressedafewbuttons,anumberofphonenumbersappeared.

Theentrycategorywas“PeopleRequiringSpecialAttentioninRegardstoAttacksonLevel0s”.

Helookedthroughtheentries.

Ashedid,herelaxedandspoke.

“Istillhaveajoblefttodo.Aspecialbonusjob.”

Notes

1. ↑Kanji:SpringBandage2. ↑Kanji:CalculationSmallArms

Chapter3:Women’sDormoftheAnglicanChurch.Russian_Roulette.

Part1

Morningcame9hourslaterinLondonthaninAcademyCity.

Withsoftsunbeamsandthechirpingofthebirdscominginthewindow,KanzakiKaoristooddumbfoundedinthechangingroomofthewomen’sdorm.

Infrontofherwasastate-of-the-artAcademyCityfullyautomatedwashingmachine.

“Itoldyou…Justbecausetheboxsaiditcouldwashanentirefutondoesn’tmeanit’strue.”

Becauseithadbeengettingcolderlately,KanzakiwaswearingajacketthatcamedowntohernavelinadditiontoherusualT-shirtandone-leggedjeans.Thejackethaditsrightarmcompletelycutoff,sohershoulderwasvisible.

“Thewaythiswashingmachineworksisalwaysgivingustrouble…”

Therewasasoundofanobjectfallingtotheground.ItcamefromShichitenShichitouslidingdownfromwhereitwasleaningagainstthewall.However,Kanzakididn’tevennotice.

October3rdwasherdaytodothewash,butthishadallbeencausedbyAgneseSanctissayingshemightaswellstickthefutonintheretoo,wrappingthethickfutonuptightly,andthrowingitinthewashingmachine.

ThefullyAI-runapplianceseemedlikeitwasabouttostartspewingblack

smokebecauseitwasemittingaworryinglowrumblingmoanasitrattledbackandforth.

“…”

SpeakingofAgnese,shelookedlikeshewashalf-in-tearsandhadherbackpressedtothechangingroomwallasshetriedtokeepasfarfromthewashingmachineasshecould.Shelookedlikesomeonewhohadbeendrivenintoacornerandshewastremblingenoughtogivethewashingmachinearunforitsmoney.BecauseAgnese’sshakinglookedlikeitcouldwhipcream,Kanzakiwasn’tsureifsheshouldberateherornot.

ThatwaswhenOrsolaAquinascamein.

Thelarge-breastednun’ssmilingfacewasallthatcouldbeseenbecauseshewascoveredfromheadtotoebyherblacknun’shabit.

“It’stimeforbreakfast.”

“It’stoosoon!!Can’tyougivealittlethoughttotheflowofthingssofar!?”

“Oh.ButIwouldthinkthathavingbreakfastatthesametimeasusualwouldbethenaturalflowofthings.Infact,isn’tthewashingmachinetheonlyirregularaspect?”

Kanzakifellsilent.

Whenshethoughtaboutit,Orsolawasright.

Whileherattentionwaspointedelsewhere,Agnesesangout“B-b-b-breakfast.Breakfast!”andranoutofthechangingroom.

Kanzakisighed,scratchedherblack-ponytailedhead,pickedherkatanaupfromtheground,andheadedforthedininghall.Orsolamusthavebeentired,becauseherbodyswayedleftandrightasshesmiledandwalkeddownthehallway.

“Oh,right.Kanzaki-san.”

“Whatisit?”

“Whatwasthatpackagethatcameaddressedtoyoutheotherday?I’mprettysureitwasfromTsuchimikado-saninJapan.”

Kanzaki’sshouldersjumpedinsurprise.

Shemessedwithherbangsusingherthumbandforefingerasshespoke.

“O-oh,itwasn’treallyanything.Ididn’tfeelitwasanythingworthmentioning.”

“Isee.Thelabelhad‘FallenAngelMaidSet’writtenonitinlargeletters,soeveryonefoundittoberatherdisturbing.Butitwasn’tanythingtoworryabout?”

“N-no!!Notatall!!”

Kanzakishookherheadbackandforthasshetrembledatahighspeed.

Orsolaeitherdidn’tnoticehowKanzakiwasactingorherthoughtpatternhadgoneforwardorbackwardstosomewhereelse.

“Bytheway,doesn’tthatlongkatanagetintheway?”

“F-forme,onewithalittleweighttoitiseasiertowield.”

“My,my.AndIthoughtitslengthhadsomereligiousmeaning.”

“Oh,itdoeshaveameaningfromJapaneselegend.”

KanzakiwasrelievedthatthesubjecthadfinallychangedandshecontinuedspeakingwhilewalkingdownthecorridorwithOrsola.

“TheonlyreasontherearealotofreligiouskatanaisthattherulingclassesofJapanheldkatanaandothertypesofswordsinhighesteem.Iftheyhadheldaxestothatsameesteem,therewouldbealotmoreaxes.It’sthesameashowinsomeareasthepeopleareproudoftheirfishandvegetablesandinothersit’stheirkitchenknivesandpots.Italldependsonwhatpeopleinthatareafindmostimportant.”

SheranherfingertipsalongShichitenShichitou’shilt.

“InShinto,everythingisbasedonthetheoryofthe8million.Inotherwords,it

isthoughtthatgodsresideineverythingandthereforeanythingcanbecomeamagicaltool.TheAmakusaChurchoftenusesthisideabycreatingspellsoutoftheobjectsathand.Butbecauseadifferentgodresidedineachobject,asingleobjectcannotbeusedforvariousdifferentkindsofspells.”

“Yawn…Iamquitesleepy.”

“!!Youaskedthequestionandyouaren’tevenpayingattention!?”

Kanzakiyelledinamazement,butOrsolamerelyrubbedhereyesandquicklyheadedintothedininghall.

Leftbehind,Kanzaki’sshouldersdroopedassheenteredthedininghallaswell.

Itwasalargeroom.

Originally,onlyabout70peopleusedit,buttherecentarrivaloftheformerAgneseForceshadaddedanother250tothat.Thefactthattherehadbeenroomforthemwasagoodindicatorofhowmuchspacetherewas.

TherewasnosettimeforNecessariusactivities,sothenunsatetheirmealsatdifferenttimes.Becauseofthis,thedininghallalmostneverfilledup.

But…

“Ican’tbelievethatwheneverOrsolaisinchargeofthemeal,everyseatisfull.Talkaboutonlycaringaboutyourself.”

Kanzakireachedhertablewhilestillinamazement.

Agnese,Orsola,Lucia,andAngeleneweresittingnearby.SeeingLuciawithherpointedeyespullingonAngelene’scheek,Kanzakiguessedthatthesmallgirlwithabentbackmusthavesnucksomefoodbeforethemeal.

“Bh-bhutIonlywanttoaskSisterOrsolaforhersecret.”

“Hersecret?Don’tberidiculous.”

“ButIwanttoknowhowtogetbigbreasts.”

(…Whataretheytalkingabout?)Kanzakithoughtasshecoveredherfacewith

herhandsinexasperation.

Meanwhile,LuciaandAngelenecontinuedtheirargument.

“SisterAngelene.Anundoesnotneedbreasts.Anunissupposedtocutherselfofffromeverykindofdesireandbreastsonlybringthedangeroftemptingmen.ItisSisterOrsolaandIwhohavethefaulthere.”

“Wah!Yousayallthat,butstilldeclareyourselfashavinglargebreasts!?Iwon’tletyoudrawthelineascruellyasthat!Andsomeonelikeyouwhocomplainsaboutherbreastsgettingbiggereventhoughyou’dthoughtthey’dstoppedgrowingandsayingtheyhurtwouldn’tunderstandhowIfeeghaah!?”

AsAngelenewasspeaking,Lucia’sfacehadturnedredandshepusheddownonAngelene’sbraidedblondeheadashardasshecould.Astheystruggled,theknivesandforksonthetablerattled.

Kanzakigavethemawarningasshewatchedoninutteramazement.

“Angelene.Andyoutoo,Lucia.It’stimeforthepre-mealprayer.Quitmakingsucharacket.”

ButAngelenewasn’tlistening.

ShelookedatanareaalittlebitbelowKanzaki’sface.

“AndthepointgoestoJapanesefood!!”

“Enoughwiththissacrilegiousconversation,SisterAngelene!Andyou,KanzakiKaori.Ifyou’reanun,putthosefilthythingsaway!!”

“Theyaren’tlikethistodrawattentiontothem!!”

Kanzakishoutedinreturnwithoutthinking,butthehumble(inbothmindandbody)nunsavertedtheirgazeandclickedtheirtongueslightly.

Andinthatstrainedatmosphere,theyprayedandstartedbreakfast.

Nothingparticularwasmadeforbreakfastinthewomen’sdorm.Thedaybefore,cardsindicatingwhatpeoplewantedforbreakfastthenextdaywerecountedand

thenasingletypeofmealwasmadeallatonceinagiantpot.

ButOrsolawasskilledenoughtomakeanumberofmealsallatonce.Shecouldn’tmakehundredsofmealsonherown,soafewdozenothernunswouldhelpher.However,Orsolaknewtherecipestoalargenumberoffoodsandshewasgoodataccuratelyinstructingothers.

SoinfrontofKanzakiwaswhitericeandmisosoup,infrontofAgneseandLuciawaspasta,andinfrontofAngelenewasFrenchfood.

Kanzakimuttered“itadakimasu”,pickedupherchopsticks,andspoke.

“Really,what’swiththatwashingmachine?Firstittookallthecoloroutoftheobitomyyukataandtodayitbrokesoeasily.AcademyCitydidn’tsendusawashingmachinethatwouldeliminatethespiritualeffectsequippedonourclothes,didthey?”

“Ah.Ahhaha.Let’sfocusonourfood.Okay?”Agnesetriedtochangethesubjectwithanoverlydrysmile.

Meanwhile,thetallLuciaandthebent-backedAngelenewerespeaking.

“Uheh?SisterLucia,thatmuchwillholdyouuntillunch?Thepastaonlycovershalfyourplate.”

“SisterAngelene,youaretakingtoomuchfood.Whatkindofmenuisthat?Anundoesnotneedchocolatedrinkoricecreamwithherbreakfast.Ifyoumaintainaspiritofmoderationandarethankfulforthefoodwithdisciplineandfaith,asingleplateofnoodleswillfillyouup.YoucouldevensaythatIambeingblessedwithtoomuch.”

“Hehh…Well,ifyoudon’tneedallthat,I’lleatitforyou.”

“!?Stopentwiningmypastaaroundyourfork,SisterAngelene!!”

Asthelargeandsmallnuncombostruggled,Kanzakiremovedthebonesfromhergrilledfishandsighed.Fromthewaytheyhadjustbeentalkingaboutbreasts,itwashardtobelievethatthosetwohadbeenpointingweaponsandaskingfortheirdeathswhilecallingthemhereticsjustafewweeksbefore.

(Itseemsone’sassessmentofpeoplecanchangegivenachance…)

Kanzakifinishedremovingthebonesfromhergrilledfishinanoddlysolemnmood,poppedopenasmallcontainerandpulledoutanumeboshi.Noartificialdyesmusthavebeenusedinitbecauseitwasmoreofabeigethanared.

And…

WhenKanzakilookedup,LuciaandAngelenewerelookingwide-eyedinherdirection.

“Wh-what?”

Kanzakiwastakenabackandthetwonunswhisperedtoeachother.

“(…SisterAngelene.TheAsianisabouttoeatsomethingI’veneverseenbefore.Isthatthe‘umeboshi’fromthecountryofthesamuraiI’veheardabout?)”

“(…Ibetit’snecessaryforanAmakusaspell.I’veheardtheyhavesomethingcalleda‘hinomarubento’there.Ithassomethingtodowithimitatingtheirflag.)”

“(…Doeseatingtheirflaghavesomekindofreligiousmeaning?ThiscouldbeourchancetolearnaboutwhatpeculiardirectionAmakusaspellshavetaken.)”

Kanzakicouldn’tdecidewhethertocorrecttheirmisunderstandingornot,andAgnesenudgedhershoulder.

Lookingover,KanzakisawthatAgnese’seyeswerefixedonherumeboshi.

“Whatdoesthattastelike?CanItryone?”

“S-sure.Idon’tmind…Wait,onyourpasta!?”

KanzakiwasshockedtoseeAgneseputtheumeboshiontopofherpastathatwascream-coloredasshehadalreadyputwhitesauceonit.AsAgnesemixeditaround,thepastaturnedtoalightpinkcolor.

Kanzaki’sfacepaledasshesawthat,butsurprisinglyenoughAgnesesmiledinenjoymentwhenshetookabite.

“Hm,thisisquitefresh.Ithasarefreshingflavor.”

“Really,really!?”saidLuciaandAngeleneinexcitement.ButKanzakiwasthemostsurprised.Japanese-stylepastawithsoysauceormentaikowasonething,butshedoubtedcreamsaucewithanumeboshiinitwasactuallygood.

Orsolahadn’tbeengettingintotheconversationverymuchandshehadhadherheadtiltedtothesideforawhilebythatpoint.Withacompletelyhappy-lookingexpressionshemutteredsomethingaboutwonderinghowmanymeterslongherpastawasasshecontinuedtospinherforkaroundinthinair.Shewasprobablyasleep.KanzakitiltedherheadtothesideinpuzzlementatthefactthatOrsolahadbeenabletomakefoodthisgoodwhileinastatelikethat.

Andthen…

“K-Kanzaki-san!Me,too!Me,too!!Iwanttotryanumeboshi,too!!”

Angelenewasyellingwhileleaningforwardonthetable.Lookingdown,Kanzakisawthathermaindishwasasoftcroissant.Kanzakiwasabouttoaskherwhatexactlyshewasgoingtoputtheumeboshion,butshesuddenlystopped.

(No,Ican’tgiveherthepreconceptionthatanumeboshiiseatenontopofsomething.She’sopentonewthingslikeAgnese.Onceshehastastedanumeboshi,sheshouldmakeherwaytotrueJapanesefoodwithnoproblem.)

“S-sure.Ihaveplenty,soifyouwanttotryone,goahead.”

Sheconsentedhumbly,butKanzakihadactuallydriedtheminthesunherselfontheroofofthewomen’sdormbecauseshewasn’tsatisfiedwiththecommercialones.BecauseshehadbeenworriedaboutnotgettingenoughsunlightwithLondon’sfrequentlychangingweather,shehadmadeaplasticgreenhouseforthemandhadgonebackandforthonwhethersheshouldjustusemagicallightoriftheyhadtobecompletelysundried.Thefactthatpeoplewerepraisingthemmadeherextremelyhappyontheinside,butshemadesureshewasatrueYamatoNadeshikobyhidingthatfeelingbehindacalmfaçade.

Kanzakitookanumeboshioutofthecontainerwithherchopsticksandputitonasmallplate.Angelenetookitwithacheer.

KanzakiexaminedAngelene’sfacetoseehowshewouldreacttoit.

“Youputanumeboshionsomethingtoeatit,right?Icanactuallybeabitweaktofruitpasteslikejamandmarmalade,though.”

“Hah?”Kanzakisaidashereyesturnedtodots.

Shehadafeelingtherewasagrandmisunderstandinggoinginhere,butshedidn’tdoanythinginregardstothosefears.

“Thisisn’tthesamethingasanEasternsweet,right?Ithinkthosearecalled‘wagashi’.I’vebeeninterestedinthemforawhile.”

Angelenepoppedtheumeboshiintohermouthwithoutanycautionatall.

Anddirectlyafterwards…

HereyesturnedtoX’s,herlipspuckeredup,andshefellbackwardsinherchair.

Sheabandonedhermealandranfromthedininghallscreamingsomething.

AnumeboshifullofthehistoryandtechniquesoftheAmakusaChurchwasnothinglikecommercialones.

Part2

Oncebreakfastwasover,itwasbacktobattlingthewashingmachine.

“Owner’smanual–check.Ascrewdriverandothertools–check.Thewarrantycardjustincase…Eh?ThesupportcenterisinJapan?Thatmeansit’llbeattheinternationalrate!”

Kanzakiwasrightatthelinebetweenbeingdeterminedtofinishanddecidingtogiveupasshetrudgedalongahallwayinthewomen’sdorm.

Thatwaswhenoneofthedoorsalongthehallwaysuddenlyopened.

SherryCromwellcameoutlookingsleepdeprivedandscratchingherdisheveledhair.Herblondehairlookedlikealion’smaneandherlightbrownskinmadeherlookwild.Thesunhadalreadyrisenhighintothesky,butshewasstillwearingablacknegligee.

Shewasholdingachiselandhammerforsculptinginherhands.

“…Oh,Kanzaki.Isthereanybreakfastleft?”

“Iseeyougotsoabsorbedinsculptingthatyouforgotwhattimeitwasagain.There’snobreakfastleft,butOrsola’sinchargeofthefood,soifyouclaspyourhandsandbegI’msureshe’llmakeyousomething.”

Asshespoke,KanzakilookedoverSherry’sshouldersandintoherroom.

Sherryhadrentedouttworoomsinthedorm.Onetosleepinandonetoworkin.Therewereplentyofpeoplethatrentedoutmultipleroomstohelpmanagetheirspiritualitems,butrentingaroomforsomethingthatwasnomorethanahobbywasquiterare.

Sherry’sroomwaslabeledasthe“SculptureRoom”,buttherewerenosculpturesinit.Therewereonlypilesoftheshatteredpiecesofformersculpturesinthefourcornersoftheroom.

Exceptforastatueofasmallboyinthecenteroftheroom.

Itwasalife-sizemarblestatuewith“Ellis”carvedintoitspedestal.

“Thatonewasafailure,too.”SherrymutteredwhenshesawwhereKanzakiwaslooking.“Eventhoughit’safailureIcan’tbearlookingat,Ijustcan’tbringmyselftodestroyit.”

SherrywasalmostspeakingtoherselfandKanzakionlyknewthatElliswasthenameofthegolemSherryused.Becauseofthis,Kanzakiaskedasimplequestion.

“Sothatisn’tthenameofthespellyouuse?”

“…WhenIwasnamingit,thatwasallthatcametomind.”Sherryrespondedsulkily.“IwascreatingapuppettoprotectmeandwhenIgottothestagewhereIhadtogiveitaname,hiswastheonethatcametomindfirst.I’mawareitmakesitlooklikeI’mclingingontoregret.”

Sherrychuckedthesculptingtoolsshewasholdingintotheroom,lockedthedoor,andheadedforthedininghallwithoutsayinganotherword.Kanzakididn’tknowthedetails,butSherry’sbacklookedsomehowsmallerthanusual.

(Well,askingfurtherwouldn’taccomplishanything.Stickingmyheadintootherpeople’sbusinessdoesn’tnecessarilyleadtothepathofsalvation.)Kanzakiwasthebearerofthemagicnamemeaning“reachoutthehandofsalvationtothosewithnone”soshewasitchingtodosomething,butsheforcedherselftoremainsilent.

“O-oh,thereyouare,Kanzaki-san…”

NowAngelenewashalf-runningtowardher.Shehadgottenupandlefthalfwaythroughbreakfast,butnowshewasholdingwhatalmostlookedlikeatubeoftoothpasteinherhandforsomereason.Itmostlikelycontainedganache.

“Whatisit,Angelene?Wherehaveyoubeen?Oh,Ithinkyourbreakfastwasalreadyclearedfromthetable.”

“Kh…N-no,thatdoesn’tmatter.Idon’tmind.Thatjustmeanslunchwilltasteevenbetter.”

“Then,howaboutyoutryanotherumeboshiatlunch.Thistimeyoucanactuallyputitonriceand…”

“Nothankyou!!I’mnotgoingtohaveanymoreofthatdevil’sfoodyoucallanumeboshi!Itmessedupmymouthandnotevendrinkinghotmilkmadeitgoaway!That’swhyI’meatingchocolatenow!!AllmyadmirationforJapanwasdestroyedinaninstant!”

HearingthatdisheartenedKanzakiKaori,butshegracefullycontrolledheremotionslikeatrueYamatoNadeshikosotherewasnooutwardchange.Orsoshethought.Inreality,hershouldersdrooped.

“Well,Iwon’tforceyoutotry…So,whatdidyouwantmefor?”

“O-oh,that’sright.Um,well,I’mnotactuallytheonethatwantsyou…”

“Oh,wereyouaskedtopassamessagealongtome?IsitfromAgnese?”

“N-no.Itisn’tamessage.You’reneededasarepresentativeofthedorm…Um,um,anditisn’tfromSisterAgnese.”

“Luciathen?”

“Um,well,itisn’tfromSistersLuciaorOrsola.NorisitfromSistersCatarinaorAgata.Infact,itisn’tfromanyoneinthedorm.”

“???”

(ThisistheAnglicanChurch’swomen’sdorm,butthere’ssomeoneelsehere?)

Kanzakitiltedherheadtothesideinconfusion.

“Umm,Ithinkshesaidshewas…”Angelenetiltedherheadtothesideabit,too.“Oh,right.Sasha.ItwasSashaKreutzev.”

Part3

SashaKreutzev.

ShewasanofficialmemberoftheunitoftheRussianOrthodoxChurchthat

specializedinmagicalcombat,“Annihilatus”.Theyspecializedintheannihilationofnon-humanthingsthat“shouldn’tbe”.Todoso,theywouldnothesitatetousemagicthathadbeencompletelybannedeversinceRasputin’scorruptionofthegovernment.Itwasn’trareforthemtodestroyeverythingintheareatheirtargetappearedinleavingnoremainsbehindandmakingmajorchangestotheterrain.Becauseofthis,therewerecurrentlylimitationsinplaceonentrytothecountrybypeoplefromcertainnationsthatwishedtoprotecttheculturalpropertiesthere.

OneoftheirmagicianswouldnotbequiteasstrongasamagicianfromtheAnglicanChurch’sNecessariusinaone-on-onebattle,butbyequippingherselfwithsawsandhammersandotherBritish-madespiritualtoolsoftorture,Sashacompensatedforthat.Shelookedlikeashortblondegirl,butwiththe7toolsaroundherwaist,shewasanalmightymagicianwhocoulddealwithanykindofsituationbychanginghertacticsaccordingly.Shehadgreatvalueasanagentofherorganizationduetoherideallevelofskill.

KanzakihadseenadifferentsideofheronthecoastofJapan,butitwasbesttothinkofthatasadifferent“her”.

SashaKreutzevwasanagentoftheRussianOrthodoxChurch.

WhywassheinLondonandwhywassheatthewomen’sdormoftheAnglicanChurch?

Itwasunlikelyshewassightseeingorhadgottenlost.

TheRomanCatholicChurchandAcademyCitywereinanexplosivesituation,soKanzakicouldnaturallysenseapoliticalscenttoSasha’svisit.

Shecouldhavebeenthereforanegotiation,todiscusssomething,totrytoworkoutadeal,oreventogiveawarning.

AsAngelenebroughthertothedormentrance,Kanzakibracedherself.

“Myfirstanswer:Iamlost.”

“Ehhh!?”Kanzakiyelledoutwithoutthinking.

SeeingKanzaki’sastonishedface,Sashanoddedslightly.

“Mysecondanswer:Thankyoufortheexcellentreaction.”

“Youwerekidding!?”

Kanzakididn’trememberSashaKreutzevbeingthekindofpersonwhomadejokes,butthensherememberedthatthatwasadifferent“her”.

“Mythirdanswer:AsIamsureyouhaveguessed,IhavecomehereasanenvoyoftheRussianOrthodoxChurch.ButIwouldliketoaddthatthisisnotaformalmeetingonthepartofmychurch.AsIwillbeexpressingmypersonalfeelings,thisisnomorethananunofficialconversation.”

Itseemedthiswasn’tacleardisplayofhostilityfromtheRussianOrthodoxChurch.

Kanzakiletherguarddownslightly.

“Isee…Well,Idoubtyouwanttostandthewholetimewetalk,socomeonin.”

“Myfourthanswer:Thankyoufor-…”

Sasha’swordscutoffsuddenly.

WhenKanzakiturnedaroundtolookather,Sashawasmovingherrighthandbehindher.

Itlookedlikeherfingertipswereshakingunnaturally.

“Myfirstquestion:Therearemagicaldefenseonthisfacility,aretherenot?”

“No…ThereissomebaitheremeanttolureinanyonewithinEnglandwhowishestobringunrest,sothosekindsofdefensesarepurposefullyleftoff.”

“Mysecondquestion:Thenarethereothermagicaloperationsoccurringwithinthisfacility?”

“Well…”Kanzakithoughtforasecond.“Nowthatyoumentionit,someofthepeopleinthedormcaststoragespellstoprotecttheirspiritualitems.ButIwouldn’tthinkverymuchmagicalpowerwouldseepouttoherefromthat.”

KanzakiwonderedifthishadanythingtodowithSasha’stremblingfingers.

Meanwhile,Sashanoddedslightlyasiftoshowsheunderstood.

“…Myfifthanswer:Itisnothing.Letusgotosomewherewherewecantalk.”

Shebroughthersmallhandtoherchestandbreatheddeeplybeforelookingforwardagain.Kanzakimayhavebeenmistakenbefore,becauseherfingertipslookedthesameasever.

KanzakimovedtothesideasiftoshowSashathewayandwonderedwheresheshouldtakeher.Thiswasthewomen’sdormsothereweren’tanyareasfortakingvisitors.ButsinceSashawasaspecialenvoyoftheRussianOrthodoxChurch,shecouldn’texactlytakehertoaprivatearealikeherownroom.

Itseemedthedininghallwastheonlyoption.

“Butwhyareyouhere?TherearerepresentativesoftheAnglicanChurchatSt.George’sCathedral.”

“Mysixthanswer:Vasilisa…Thatis,asuperiorofminewhosepersonalityIwouldrathernotdiscuss,isheadedthere.ShehasenteredEnglandforaconferencethereandIhaveenteredasheraide.”

Kanzaki,Angelene,andSashawalkeddownthehallwaytothedininghall.

“Thenyourbeingheremakesevenlesssense.Ifyou’retheaide,youshouldbebytheRussianrepresentative’ssideduringtheconference.”

“Myseventhanswer:TherearevariouscircumstancesontheRussianside.ItmaysoundrudetoyouontheBritishside,butIpersonallyfeelmybeinghereismoreimportant.”

“…”

Giventheunstablestateoftheworld,aRussianmagicianwouldn’thavebeenabletogetintoEnglandeasily,soSashahadusedtheconferenceasameanstogetin.

Thisseemedsuspicious,soKanzakibroughtherguardbackup.

“(…U-um,Kanzaki-san.)”

AngelenewastuggingonKanzaki’spants.

“Whatisit,Angelene?”

“(…Doyouknowher?And…shehasafairlyuniquewayofdressing.)”

SashaKreutzev’sshouldersgavealargetwitch.

Shewaswearingonlyarevealingstraitjacket-likecollectionofblackbeltsasinnerwearwitharedcloakoverit.

“Shh!”Kanzakisaidassheheldherindexfingertohermouth.

“(…Therearedifferentculturesoutthere.ThatoutfitmusthaveanimportantmeaningintheRussianOrthodoxChurch.)”

“(…E-ehh?Really?Itjustlookslikesomethingaweirdmiddle-agedmanyourunintoonadesertedstreetatnightwouldbewearing…)”

“(…Angelene!Don’tsaythat.You’dgetmadifsomeonemockedthewayyouexpressedyourfaith,wouldn’tyou!?)”

Sashawastremblingslightly,butsheneverreachedtheexplosionpoint.Therewereonlyfragmentsofsentencesoccasionallyescapingherlipssuchas“I’mnotdressedlikethisbecauseIwanttobe…”,“TheRussianOrthodoxChurchisn’tacollectionofperverts…”,and“IwillkillVasilisa….”.

Asthiswasgoingon,theyreachedthedininghall.

Breakfastwasover,butanumberofpeople–mostlyformerRomanCatholicnuns–weresittingatthetableschatting.Theyhadnosettimetheyhadtogettowork,sowhentheywereonstandbytheydidnothingelse.

“Hm?”

SherryturnedtolookatthethreewhohadenteredwhilestuffinghermouthfullofahamandlettucesandwichOrsolahadmadewithwhateverfoodshecouldfind(Orsolareallymusthavebeentiredbecausethecontentsofthesandwichwerestickingoutfromthebread).

“Someone’swearingaswimsuitanditisn’tevensummer.”

AveinshoweduponSasha’stemple.Shemusthavebeenoverlyshockedbyhavingsomeonewearinganextremelyrevealingnegligeesaythat.Shemuttered“IwillkillVasilisa.IwillkillVasilisa.IwillkillVasilisa.”underherbreathinafrighteningway.

KanzakiputherindexfingertohermouthtokeepSherryfromsayinganythingelseandspoke.

“U-umm.ThisisSashaKreutzev.SheisanagentoftheRussianOrthodoxChurchandshe’scomeheretohaveanunofficialdiscussion.”

EveryoneinthedininghallwaslisteningtoKanzakiwiththepossibleexceptionofOrsola.Shewassotiredshewaswalkingtoandfrobetweenthetableswhileholdingafancyteasetonatrayandwobblingbackandforth.

Inherplace,Agnesewhowasholdingsomeplayingcardsresponded.AcrossthetablefromherwasLucia’spokerface,Catarinawasnexttoherwithtearsinhereyes,andAgatawasdiagonallyacrossstaringatherowncards.AgneseturnedfromthemandlookedatKanzaki.

“IstheunofficialdiscussionthisSashawantstohaveaboutherwantingtofleehercountryandtakerefugehere?”

“Isee.Itlookslikethisisaliteralcaseofescaping‘withonlytheclothesonone’sback’.Well,you’llbefinehere.Don’tworry.”

InresponsetoAgneseandLucia’swords,thesidesofSasha’smouthfell.Inresponsetothis,KanzakiKaorigesturedfranticallytellingthemnottobringupherclothes.

Afterpullingherselftogether,KanzakiofferedSashaanearbyseat.

ItseemedOrsola’ssleepinesshadfinallyfadedandshebroughtoveracupofblacktea.

Sashasippedtheteatomoistenhertongueandspoke.

“Ihaveathirdquestionforyoualltoday.”

Herwordsseemedtospreadthroughouttheentiredininghall.

Andastheydid,theatmosphereturnedsolemn.

“WhichsidedoyouintendtotakeinthewaroccurringbetweentheRomanCatholicChurchandAcademyCity?”

Part4

War.

Thatwasawordthatnoneofthemcouldignoreanymore.

Uptothatpoint,warshadoccurredinareasmarkedbynationalboundaries,butthisonewasdifferent.Therewerenonationalboundariesinaconflictbetweenideologies.Itwaspossiblethateverypartoftheworldcouldsuddenlybecomeabattlefield.Therewerenocountriesthatcouldbeconsideredsafeandnoareasthatcouldbeconsideredtohaveimpenetrabledefenses.Therewasevenadangerofconflictsbreakingoutwithinasingleunit.

“Myeighthanswer:Thisisanicecity.”

Sashawaslookingoutofalargewindow.

“Toexplainfurther:TherearenotverymanydemonstrationsbeingcarriedoutbytheRomanCatholicChurchorthesciencesideinLondon.Incidentally,Russiaisinaverytensestateatthemoment.Thereisafearofsuddenriotsevenduringtheday,somoreandmorestoresareclosingtheirshutters.”

TheAnglicanChurchandtheRussianOrthodoxChurchwerebothstatereligions,butthepeopleofthecountrywerenotrequiredtofollowthatreligion.

Becauseofthis,therewereplentyofRomanCatholicbelieversinRussia.Andasforscience,therewereveryfewpeoplewhodidnotrelyonitbythatpoint.

Kanzakiwasremindedofthesefactsbeforeshebeganspeaking.

“Butwhydidyoucometous?WeareonlyonepartoftheAnglicanChurchandasingleorganizationisforbiddentoactcompletelyonitsownjudgement.Ifyouwanttoknowwhatactionswewilltakeinthisforthcomingwar,youneedtogotoSt.George’sCathedralandtalkwiththeArchbishop…”

“Myfourthquestion:Isthatreallytrue?”

“What?”

Kanzaki,Agnese,Lucia,Angelene,Sherry,andtheothersdisplayedsuspiciousexpressionsatSasha’swords.Except,thatis,forOrsolawholookedlikeshewasnoddingoff.

“Myfifthquestion:DoyoureallyintendtocontinueobeyingtheAnglicanChurchduringthiswar?”

“…”

ThewordsoftheRussianOrthodoxChurchrangthroughoutthelargedininghall.

“Toexplainfurther:KanzakiKaoriandAgneseSanctisareinasymbolicpositionasmembersoftheformerAmakusaChurchandtheformerAgneseForcesrespectively.AndmostoftheothermembersofNecessariusareintheAnglicanChurchinordertoaccomplishtheirgoalsinsteadofbeinginNecessariusbecausetheyareapartoftheAnglicanChurch.”

Herwordswereblunt.ShehadclearlydoneatlottoprepareforthismeetingbeyondsimplygainingentrancetoEngland.

Sashacontinued.

“Toexplainevenfurther:IntheRussianOrthodoxChurch’sopinion,theRomanCatholicChurchandAcademyCityarecurrentlyaboutequalwhenitcomestostrengthinawar.Therefore,thirdpartiesliketheRussianOrthodoxChurchand

theAnglicanChurchcanhaveagreateffectontheoutcome.TheRussianOrthodoxChurchhasnorealinterestinthiswar.Wedonotmindwhowins,butwewouldliketoallyourselveswiththevictorsoastohavetheupperhandwhenthewarisover.WeneedtoknowwhattheBritishsidewilldoinordertohaveamoreaccurateopinion.”

TheAnglicanChurchwasamajorinfluenceinthemagicside.

ItdidnotgetalongwiththeRussiansbecauseofthedifferencesbetweenthedenominations.Atthesametime,ithadaspecialpipelinewithAcademyCity.

Itwasdifficulttopredictwhichsidethismajormagicorganizationwouldchoose.

NottomentionthattheAnglicanChurchalsohadanumberofpeoplelikeKanzakiandAgnesewhobelongedtosmallerorganizationsthatwereaffiliatedwiththechurch.Individualscouldbethesame.StiylwouldgoanywhereanddoanythingforthisonesmallgirlanditwasunclearwhatsideTsuchimikadowasreallyon.SherrywasagenuinememberoftheAnglicanChurch,butduetoproblemsbetweenfactions,shehadtriedtokillIndex,amemberofthesameorganization.

Thekeymovementsinthisgreatwarthatwouldshaketheworldwerecompletelyunreadable.

Itwascertainlyworthlookinginto.

(…Ormaybeshe’stryingtothrowastonetoguideourmovementsinaneasiertounderstanddirection.)

KanzakiKaorithoughtaboutthemeaningofthewarafterhearingSasha’swordsthatcouldbeinterpretedastellingthemtosplitontodifferentsides.

ShehadalreadyremovedherselffromtheAmakusaChurch,butthatdidn’tchangethefactthatshestillneededtoprotectthem.

AndtheAmakusashadfoughtagainsttheRomanCatholicChurchwhenrescuingOrsolaAquinas.Sincetherewereonly50battle-readyAmakusamembers,itwasnexttoimpossibleforthemtosurvivewithouttheprotectionoftheAnglicanChurch.

Atthesametime,theformerAgneseForceshadtrulybecomeanenemyoftheRomanCatholicChurcheversincetheQueenoftheAdriaticincident.TheywouldgainnothingbyleavingtheAnglicanChurchduringthiswar.

Andthentherewasthefactthat,inthepast,KanzakiKaorihadhadanumberofpeopleimportanttohersavedbyAcademyCity…no,technicallyitwasbyasingleboywholivedthere.

(MyhearttellsmetosidewithAcademyCity…)

IftheRomanCatholicChurchwonthiswarandtheirinfluencespreadthroughouttheworld,theAnglicanChurchwouldlosesomeofitsweightandtheAmakusasandtheformerAgneseForcescouldbedestroyed.Thinkingofthat,shewantedtosidewithAcademyCity.

(Butthat’sthescienceside…)

IfAcademyCitywon,itwouldstillbeaverydangeroussituation.Itwaspossiblethesciencesidewouldridethewaveofvictoryandannihilatethemagicsideallatonce.Thenitwouldn’tmatterhowmuchinfluencetheAnglicanshad.AllmagicalpowersthroughouttheworldwouldbedestroyedandthatwouldincludetheAmakusasandtheformerAgneseForces.

Thiswarhadagreatmeaningbehindit.

Ifthewarendedinastandardwinner/loserfashion,itseemedliketheAnglicanChurchwouldlosequiteabitnomatterwhothewinnerwasandwhotheloserwas.ThatmeanttheArchbishopwouldn’tletitenditlikethat.Shemusthavesomekindofplanprepared.

SashaandtheotherRussianswereworriedaboutwhichdirectionEnglandwouldtake.

Togetthroughthis,theyhadtodoalotofplanning.

AndhowEnglandwouldactplayedheavilyintothatplanning.

(Kh…Itlookslikewehavenochoicebuttofightinthiswar.)

Allthisthinkingwithonlythebenefitofone’sownsideinmindwashardfor

KanzakiKaori.

(IhavethemagicnameIdobecauseIhatethinkinglikethis,butIcan’tseeanywayofavoidingitrightnow…)

Dependingonthesituation,shemayhavetoturnherswordonthe“enemy”.

Shewouldhavetohaveaset“enemy”andshewouldbefightingwiththeintentofkillinginsteadofsaving.

Itwaspossibleshewoulddestroythepeacefullifethatboyandgirlhadgraspedwiththeirownhands.

SashaKreutzevwasherefortheanswertoonemainquestion.

Whichsidewouldtheychooseinthiswar?

(I…)

Kanzakiinstinctuallygrittedherteeth.

(I…!!)

“Youdon’thavetoworryaboutthat,”OrsolaAquinassuddenlysaideventhoughshehadbeendozingoffupuntilthen.

Everyoneinthedininghallturnedtowardher.

Itwasunclearhowmuchoftheconversationshehadheard,butherwordswerequitedefiniteforsomeonewhohadn’tbeenlistening.

“Mysixthquestion:Whatdoyoumeanbythat?”

“ImeanexactlywhatIsaid,”sherespondedimmediately.

Shehadn’tthoughttoodeeplyaboutit.Orperhapsshedidn’tfeelitwassomethingsheneededtoworryabout.

“Whateverhappens,whatweneedtodoremainsthesame.Iftherearepeopleaskingforhelp,wewillreachourhandouttothem.Iftherearepeopleinpain,wewillhealandcomfortthem.Iftherearepeoplewhodonotwishforconflict,

wewillarbitrateforthem.Isn’tthatright?”

“Myseventhquestion:Thiswouldnotbeaproblemifwecoulddothat.Toexplainfurther:Thewarthatisstartingisnotsosimplea-...”

“Evenso,”OrsolacutoffSasha’swords.“Whatweneedtodoremainsthesame.Justbecauseawarhasstartedisnoreasontodenythosewhoareaskingforhelp.Norisitareasontowhipthoseinpainortoforceaswordintothehandsofthosewhodonotwishtofight.”

“…”

SashaKreutzevremainedsilentafterhearingthosedecisivewords.

OrsolaAquinaswasanexpertinspreadingtheChristianChurchesinpaganlands.

Shehadbeensubjecttohostilityfromallsidesandideologicalviolencecountlesstimesandyetshedidnotcarryaweapon.Shewasapersonwhoaccomplishedwhatshefeltsheneededtodowithherwordsalone.

“Doyouunderstandthemeaningofthesmallpowerwehave?”

Itwasforthatveryreasonthatherwordshereheldweight.

AtleastmoreweightthanthewordsofsomeonelikeKanzakiwhopickedupaweaponwheneveraconflictbrokeout.

“Thatsmallpowerallowsustocontinueforwardwithoutgivinginwhenfacedwithadisputethatseemsinescapableoritseemsinevitablealifewillbetaken.Thatpowergivesustheopportunitytosavethefutureofourallies,tonothavetodepriveourenemyoftheirfuture,andtoallgatherhereinasinglebuildingafterwards.…‘He’hadnopowerand‘he’didnothavetheproperbackground,buthewasabletodoit.Sowhyarewenotableto?If‘he’cansavesomanypeopleonhisown,justthinkhowmanymorewecansaveifweworktogether.Thereisnomeaningingivingup.Ifyouwanttofindmeaning,itiscrucialthatyounevergiveup.”

Everyonelistenedtoherspeak.

AgneselookedtheotherwayandAngelenegrabbedontoLucia’sclothes.Luciaplacedherhandonhersmallcolleague’sshoulderandSherrynarrowedhereyes.Theothernunsdidprettymuchthesamething.TheyallwereremindedofacertainboywhilelisteningtoOrsola’swordsandtheirthoughtsmovedonfromthere.Theybeganthinkingaboutwhatpaththeyshouldcontinueonfromthere.

Kanzakiwasnaturallyremindedofthefirsttimeshehadruninto“him”.

Thatboy’sfisthadbeenslicedbyherwire-attack,Nanasen,hehadreceivedblowsalloverfromShichitenShichitou’sscabbard,andyethestillstoodhisgroundbeforeaSaint.Sherememberedwhathehadsaidatthattime.

“Thenwhatareyoudoinghere!?”

Shetriedto…

“Ifyouhavethatmuchpower,ifyouhavethatnigh-almightypower…thenwhyareyousopowerless…?”

KanzakiKaoritriedtorememberwhatherexpressionhadbeen.

“Then…”Theonepersontherewhodidnotknowthatboycautiouslyaskedaquestion.“Myeighthquestion:Howwillyouallact?”

“Donotplacethedecisiononmealone.Everyonehastheirownthingsthattheymustdo.But,”OrsolaAquinassmiledasshespoke,“Ipersonallydonotatallseethisinblackandwhitetermsofwinningandlosing.Thereisathirdoption.Ifwedonotpreparethekindofhappyendingwherenooneisdefeated,wewillnotbelivinguptowhat‘he’wouldwant.”

Awarwasabouttobreakoutandyetshewasabletosaysuchashiningandpurethingandmeanit.

Part5

SashaKreutzevleftsayingthatshehadbeenunabletogetasolidgraspofthesituation.

Afterwards,KanzakiKaorileanedagainstthebackofthedininghallchairshewassittinginandstaredattheceiling.

(WhatIshoulddo…)

ThecircumstancesweredifferentforherthanforOrsola.Shewasoneofthefewerthan20Saintsintheworld.Herbattlepotentialwassimilartothatofthenuclearweaponsthesciencesidehad.Onceitcametowar,shewouldn’tbeabletostickwithonlywords;shehadtheabilitytotrulyaccomplishsomethingandthusshewouldbemadetoactdirectly.

(HowcanIcarryoutthemeaningcarriedinmymagicname…?)

Shedidn’thaveenoughpowertodecidetheoverallwinnerofalargewar,butshecouldcompletelyaltertheprogressofalocalpartoftheconflict.

Anditwaspossiblethatthatsmallvictorycouldstartachainreactionthatcouldaffectthewarasawhole.

Therewasamountainofoptionsspreadbeforehereyes.

Kanzakiwastroubledbythiswarnotbecauseshecouldn’tdoanythingbutbecauseshecoulddosomething.

(ThepowerthatonlyIpossess,huh?Thatcertainlyisanarrogantwayofthinking.I’dratherbegettingaheadachefromthatwashingmachinethanthis.)

Shesighed.

HerbenevolentspiritmadetheburdenofherpowerasaSaintseemevengreater.Essentially,shefeltthatshewasbetteroffthanthosearoundherduetoherpowerssoshehadtosaveevenmorepeopleinexchange.Dependingonone’sviewpoint,thiscouldbetakenasherlookingdownonothers.Itwasquiteanuglycharactertrait.

ToKanzaki,peoplelikeOrsolaor“thatboy”whowerepowerless(Kanzakifelt

thatthatwayofviewingofthemneededwork)andyetreachedahandouttootherswerealmosttoobrighttolookat.

“Kanzaki-san.Whatisit?”

AsKanzakihadbeenslowlythinking,Orsolahadreenteredthedininghall.

Kanzakifoundithardtomeethergaze,soshecontinuedtostareattheceiling.

“…I’membarrassedbymyownlackofdiscipline.ItscaresmetothinkthatsomeonethisimmaturewastheleaderoftheAmakusasevenforabrieftime.”

“Theroadtomaturityisnotaneasyone.It’ssimpleenoughtowanttounderstandtheteachingsoftheLord,buttrulyunderstandingthatpathisextremelydifficult.Infact,IfeelthatIsaidsomethingratherimmaturebefore.”

“Youdid?Imostlyagreedwithwhatyousaid.Justbecausethere’sawardoesn’tmeanyoushouldsticktoapathofkilling.Icompletelyagree.”

“Heeheehee.”Orsolagiggledforsomereason.

KanzakilookedoveratOrsolawhilestillleaningbackinherchair.

“Mostly,yousay?”

“Whatdoyoumeanbythat?”

“Oh,nothing.Thatjustmeansthatyoufeelthereisadifferentreasontofight.ItseemsTatemiya-sanandtheotherswererightontargetwhentheysaidthatthereissomeoneyouloveinAcademyCity.”

Kanzakifellbackwardsinherchair.

Sheyelledwhilestilllyingonthefloor.

“Wh-whywouldtheybesayingsomethingsoinaccurate!?What’sgoingonintheAmakusaChurch!?”

“My,my.ItwaswhenKnightLeadernervouslyshowingupinJapantownwithasingleflowerinonehandandthesubstitutepope,Tatemiya-san,wasspeakingwithhim.TheKnightLeaderwantedtoinvitetheAmakusaPriestesstoadance,butTatemiya-santoldhimitwasn’tgoingtohappenandtheygotintoaheatedargument.Inthemiddleofallthis,Tatemiya-sanshooedKnightLeaderawaywithhishandstellinghimthatthePriestesspreferstoleadyoungerguysthantobeledbyolderguysandthenmentionedwhatIsaidearlier.Ithasbecomesomethingofalegend.”

“B-butthat’scompletelyuntrue!Andwhyhasthatbeenpassedaroundasalegend!!Dammit,TatemiyaSaiji!Therearebetterexcusesyoucouldhavecomeupwith!!”

“Also,duringthisincident,anotherAmakusamember,Itsuwa-san,washeardtocomment‘I-Ihavetodomybest!!’.”

“Whyareyousayingthatlikeyou’reanewsanchorreadingfromateleprompter!?”

Kanzakiwasmakingquiteafussoverthis,butOrsolawasbeingtruetoherhabitofnotlisteningtoothers.Shesmiledfaintly,mentionedsomethingaboutthestockofblacktea,andheadedintothekitchen.

NowthatKanzakihadmuchtoolatebecomeawareofhowthesituationhadspiraledoutofcontrol,shecoulddonothingbutbedumbfoundedandblush.

Butthen…

“Gyaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!”

NowsheheardAgnese’sscreamcomingfromoutsidethedininghall.

“Agh!Ifit’snotonething,it’sanother!!”

Kanzakistoodupandranoutofthedininghall.

Shedidn’tknowexactlywherethescreamhadcomefrom,butsheknewthegeneraldirection,sosheintentlyrandownthehallway.

ShespottedAgneseSanctissittingontheflooroutsidethechangingroom.

AsKanzakiapproached,Agnesepointedtowardsthechangingroomwhilestillsittingdown.

“Th-thewashingmachine…Thewashingmachine…”

AnunpleasantnoisecamefromKanzaki’stemplewhensheheardAgnese’sbrokenupwords.

Itwasthatwashingmachineagain.

Ithadcausedaproblembeforebreakfastandnowitwascausinganotheronebeforethepreviousonecouldbedealtwith.

Herheadwasfullofthoughtsonthewarandpeoplesayingshehadfalleninloveandnowitwasthewashingmachineagain.

(Isthatthingreallysomedetestablehigh-techAIspysentbyAcademyCity!?Ican’timagineitwouldcausethismanyproblemsotherwise!!)

KanzakienteredthechangingroomwithenoughintensitythatshefeltshewouldsimplychopthethingintwowithShichitenShichitouifitcausedanymoreproblems.

ThebathwasalargetypethatwasrarelyseenintheWestandthechangingroomwaslargeaswell.Sheknewthewashingmachineshouldbeinacornerofthechangingroomalongwithascale.

Sheturnedhergazeinthatdirection.

AcademyCity’suselesspieceoftrashofawashingmachinethathadtakenthecoloroutofheryukata’sobiandmalfunctionedwhilewashingafutonwas…

Makingaloudwashingnoise.

Itwasproperlywashingthefutonthathadbeenstuffedinsideit.

“Wha-…?”

Kanzakihadtroublebreathing.

Thewashingmachinewassoldasbeingquiet,soitwasirregularforittobemakingthismuchnoise.Thatmeantthatitwasforcingitselftomove.Itwasoveritsdesignedmaximumloadandhadbeenorderedtogothroughanoperationfarfromitsnormaloperatingenvironment.Evenso,ithadenduredandenduredandenduredandwasfinallycarryingoutitstaskofwashinganentirefuton.

(Amazing…)

AllstrengthleftKanzaki’sbodyandshefelltoherkneesonthechangingroomfloor.

Herfeelingsofangerhadturnedtoonesofragingembarrassment.

(Iwasjustreflectingonmyownimmaturity,andnowthis…)

Thatwashingmachinehadhadagiantfutontherewasnowayitcouldwashstuffedinsideofit,hadneverthelesshaditsswitchturnedon,andhadKanzakigiveuponitandleave.Andyetithadbeenworkingonitsowntheentiretimesince.Ithadenduredthepainandsufferingcontinuingtodowhatitshouldandithadfinallyaccomplisheditssupposedlyimpossibletask.Andyetshehadbeenaboutreadytocutitintwo…

Thewashingmachinesaidnothing.

ItsAIhadnoconversationfunctionality,sothatwasobvious.

ButKanzakiKaorihearditnonetheless.

Sheheardthevoiceofthewashingmachine.

“Kanzaki-san.Ididit.”

“~~~~!!”

Tearswelledupinthecornersofhereyes.

Nowordscametoher.ShemerelythrewShichitenShichitouasideandembracedthesquarebodyofthewashingmachinelikeitwasalong-lostfamilymember.

Chapter4:ADrunkMother’sCircumstances.The_Two_Leading_Roles.

Part1

InAcademyCity,tenatnightwasrelativelylate.

Thiswasbecausethecity’strainsandbussesstoppedrunningafterallofthestudentsweresupposedtohaveleftschool.Insomeplaces,storeswouldcloseatthattimetoo,soitseemedthattheonlystoresopenwereonesgearedtowardsadults.

BecausemembersofAnti-Skillwhofunctionedasbothteachersandthesecurityforceswerepatrollingthecity,studentswhoweren’tpreparedtogetscoldedwouldstayintheirdorms.

Forthatsamereason,AcademyCitywasfullofdelinquentsatnightsoanormalstudentcouldeasilygetcaughtupinsomesmallbitoftroubleifhewentwalkingaroundthen.

Inoneofthosestreets,thesoundofacanetappingagainstthegroundcouldbeheard.

ItwasAccelerator.

(Ahhh…Dealingwiththatleftoverworkkeptmeoutprettylate…)

HewasnotreturningtoYomikawaAiho’sapartment.

HewasregisteredasafirstyearatNagatenjoukiAcademy,buthewasn’tgoingtooneofthatacademy’sdormseither.

HewasheadingforabuildingthatwasreferredtowithinGroupasthe“NapRoom”.

Itwasn’trequiredformembersofGrouptosleepthere.Apparently,TsuchimikadoMotoharuattendedanormalhighschoolandlivedinastudentdormandMusujimeAwakiwaslivingasafreeloaderwithsomenosywomanteacher.UnabaraMitsukihadn’tsaidanythingabouthislivingarrangements,butitseemedhehadhisownplace.Aslongastheydidn’tdoanythingtoonoticeableintheopen,theyhadsomefreedomastotheirbasicactivities.Attheveryleast,thehigherupshadn’tcomplainedaboutwheretheGroupmemberswereliving.

Acceleratordidn’tcarewheretheothermemberswereorwhattheyweredoing,buthewassuretheyhadtobethinkingthesamethinghewas.Simplyput,hewouldhavenoproblemiftheorganizationcalledGroupwasdestroyedsolongasitdidn’tdamagehimany.

(Thatwouldmakethisalleasier.)

Itwaspastthepointwheretheycouldconspiretogetherandchangethingsforthebetter.

“…Tch.IguessI’llstopbyaconveniencestoreandbuysomecoffee…”

Thecanhewascurrentlydrinkingwasprettymuchemptysohestartedwalkinginadifferentdirectiontogogetanewone.HeheadedtowardstheconveniencestoreonthefirstfloorofanearbybuildingasifhewasbeingattractedbythevariousfluorescentlightsthatmadeupthesceneryofAcademyCityatnight.

“Uhh…Uhhhhnnn…”

Avoicethatsoundedlikesomeonetalkingintheirsleepcamefromnexttohim.

Butthereshouldn’thavebeenanyonethere.Afterall,therewasonlyaredmailboxthere.Andthatmetalmailboxthatmadeonequestionitsusefulnessinthatageofemailwasclearlynotabed.

Andyet…

“U-ugyahh…Idon’tfeelsogooood…”

Astrangedrunkwomanwasclingingtothemailbox’ssupportpostlikeitwasadakimakuraandrubbinghercheekagainstit.

Shelookedlikeshewasacollegestudent.Shewaswearingasimpleshirtandslenderblackslacks,buttheywereprobablysomeexpensivebrand.Also,asmallhandbagthatcouldn’thaveheldanythingmorethanawallethadfallentothegroundalittlebitawayfromher.Everythingaboutherwasscreaming“Attackme,dumbass!”.Sheseemedso“welcoming”inthatwaythatitmadeyounotwanttotrytohelpher.

Acceleratorwasabouttoignoreherandheadintotheconveniencestore,but..

(Hm?Herfacelooksfamiliar…?)

Hesuddenlystopped.

Helookedcloseratthatdrunkcollegestudent’sface.Helookedathershoulder-lengthlightbrownhairandthewell-proportionedlinesofherface.Hereyeswereclosedsohecouldn’ttell,butheeasilyguessedthathereyeswouldbefilledwithexcessenergy.Herheightandproportionswerecompletelydifferent,butoddlyenoughthatgirlstillcametomind.

Sheobviouslycouldn’tbepartofLastOrder’sfamily.

Cloneespersdidnothavefamilies.

(…Whoisshe?Don’ttellmethisisjustacoincidence…)

Acceleratorcouldn’thelpbutbecuriousandhewasstaringatthewoman’sfacefromcloseby.

“Yaaawwn…Yes,yes.I’mMisakaMisuzu-saaan…”

Justwhenhesawhereyessuddenlyopen,thedrunkgrabbedontohim.Shemovedslowly,butAcceleratorusedacane.

Theybothfelldownontothedirtyroad.

Thewomanwasgrabbinghimaroundthewaist,butshedidn’tseemtonotice.

“Myhobbiesarenumbertheoryandstudying.Myspecialskillisswimmingandmyboobsare91cm…Oh,whoops.I’mmarried.C’mooon,don’ttouchmesofamiliarly,it’srudetopapa.”

Asshespoke,shepushedAcceleratortothesideandsatonthegroundabitaway.Forasecond,hefelttheurgetoshootherinthehead,but…

“Huh…?Where’stheDangaiUniversitydatabasecenter?Hey,whiteguuuy.Doyouknow?”

Shewascompletelydrunk.

Sheprobablywouldhavesaidthesamethingtoanyone,beitthechairmanoftheboardofdirectorsorthePresidentoftheUnitedStates.

(Th-thisissofuckingstupidthatI’dbeanidiottopayheranyheed.Ijustneedtogoandbuymycoffee.Fuckdealingwiththatwoman.)

Acceleratorstoodupwhilesupportinghisweightonhiscaneandwipedthedirtofoffhispantswithonehand.Hethensighedandstartedtoleave.

“Heeey,don’tbelikethat.Don’tignoreme,whiteguuuy…”

Thedrunkgrabbedontohisankles.

Acceleratorfellagainwithayell.

Thestrangedrunkclimbedontopofhimandspoke.

“Hey,whiteguuuy.I’mthekindapersonthat’llkissanyone–boyorgirl–ifthey’reyoungerthanmeee.”

“Quitblatheringonaboutmeaninglessshit!!”Acceleratoryelledbackwithoutthinking,butthenrealizedwhathehaddone.

Nowthathehadactuallyacknowledgedthatlonelydrunk’sexistence,hesawamostunpleasantsmileappearonherface.

“LikeIsaid…DoyouknowwheretheDangaiUniverstiydatabasecenteris?Misuzu-sanhastodosomestudyingtheeere.I’vegotreportspilingupafterallll.

Bwaaah…”

ThestrongstenchofalcoholslowlysurroundedAccelerator.

“WhythefuckwouldIknowthat!?Gocallataxiorsomething!!”

“Ahhn.HowdoIdothaaat?”

Luckily,ataxihappenedtobecomingby.Acceleratorhadbeenpushedtothegroundandhadsomeoneclingingtohim,buthestillmanagedtogethishandintheairandwaveitvigorously.

Thetaxislowlystoppedandthedriver,amiddle-agedman,jumpedout.

“A-areyouokay!?Didsomethinghappen!?”

“…Ifanythingelsehappensheretoannoyme,I’mgoingtobeateveryoneheretodeath…”Acceleratormutteredinalowvoice.

Heshovedthedrunkoffofhimtotheside.Heignoredthestrangewomansayingsomethingaboutthetaxiandyelledatthetaxidrivertellinghimtodealwithher.Hefinallymanagedtowalkoff.Henolongercaredabouttheconveniencestoreoracanofcoffee.Hejustwantedtogetasfarawayfromthatdrunkaspossible.

AcademyCity’sstrongestesperwashumananditseemedtherewasatleastonethinghehadtroubledealingwith.

Part2

“I’dsaycroquettesqualifyasatypeofnabemeal,”KamijouToumaexplainedtoIndexwhowaswalkingnexttohim.

Theyhadleftthesukiyakirestaurant,splitawayfromtherestofhisclassmates,andwereheadedbacktothedorm.Theyhadstoppedbyaconveniencestore,sotheyweren’twiththeguyswholivedinthesamedormbuilding(Andhedidn’twantanyonetofindoutIndexlivedwithhim,sotheyhadneededatimedelay).

“See,it’sthemostdeliciouswhenyouputacassettestoveonthetable,putanoil-filledpotonthat,andputtheingredientsintheoilwithbreadcrumbsalreadyonthem.Itcantakeawhiletocook,butyoucanfillthattimebyeatingotherfooduntilthecroquettesarefinishedfrying.”

“Butdoesn’tanyfoodtastebetterrightwhenit’smade?”

“Well,yeah,but…”

“Ah!?ThenfoodisthebestifIeatitallwhileyou’remakingitrightinfrontofme!?Wh-whatadiscovery!!”

“Screwthat!!Youwoulddeprivemeofgettingevenasinglebiteofthatdeliciousfood!?”

Kamijougavethesameexcellentobjectionanyonewould,butIndexandthecalicocatdidnothingbutsulkandmew.

Kamijouwascasuallycounterattackingbysayinghedidn’tfeelmuchlikecookingsotheywouldonlyhavefrozenfoodforbreakfastthenextdaywhenhesawataxistoppedontheroadtheywereheadingalong.Itsyellowblinkerwasflashing,thebackdoorwasopen,andtheupperbodyofawomanwholookedcollege-agedwasstickingoutontotheground.

Amiddle-agedmanwhoappearedtobethedriverwasarguingwiththewomanwhowaspartiallysprawledontheground.

“Itoldyounottoopenthedoorandgetoutlikethat!”

“What’dyousaaay!?AreyouchallengingtheAll-JapanHalf-OpenDoorAlliance!”

“Yeah,yeah.I’msureyou’retheonlymemberofthatwhateveralliance,soquittalkingaboutitandpleasegetbackinyourseat.”

“That’sit…NowI’mnotgettingbackinnomatterwhat.Hehhehhh…”

ThisconversationwherebothsidesseemedtobetalkingaboutcompletelydifferentthingsreachedKamijou’sears.

(Wow.Whatahorriblecustomer!!)

Kamijouseriouslybeganthinkingaboutgoingdownadifferentstreet.

Itwasn’ttheconversationthatwomanwasenjoying;shewasthekindofpersonthatenjoyedhavingpeoplelookafterher.Ifhegotwrappedupindealingwithher,hewoulddefinitelycontinuegettingwrappedupintroubleuntilshesoberedupinthemorning.

SinceKamijouwasindeliblystainedbymisfortunealready,hewasthelastpersonwhoshoulddealwithsomeonelikethat.

“Hm?”Thedrunkwomansaidassheturnedherheadtowardshim.

Herlowerbodywasstillinsidethetaxiandherupperbodywasstillontheground.

“Ahhahhahhhh!It’sKamijou-kun!It’sKamijou-kun!!”

Kamijoushouldersgavealargejump.

(Whydoessheknowmyname!?)

KamijoulookedatthedrunkagainandrealizeditwasMisakaMisuzuwhohehadmetduringtheDaihaseisai.ShewasthemotherofMikoto,thatelectrifiedmiddleschoolgirl.

“…Well,Iguessthisisaboutrightforsomeoneinherfamily.”

Thatwasarudethingtosay,but,whenMisuzuheardit,arelaxedsmileappearedonherface.

“Theearthsurehasalotofgravity,doesn’tiiit?”

“Hah?”

“Misuzu-sandoesn’tneedanythingellllse.I’lljustgotosleephere.Nightyniiiight.”

Thatwasfollowedbywhatreallysoundedlikethebreathingofsomeoneasleep,soKamijouwasunsureifheshouldwakeherornot.

ButthenMisuzu’seyessuddenlyopened.

“Oh,no.Ihaven’tdonemystretchesortakenoffmymakeup!Dammit.AllthisworkIhavetodotokeepmyskinhealthy.Iamamotherofachildafterall!!Ugh,I’mgonnavomit!”

KamijousworetohimselfthathewouldneverletMikotodrinkanyalcohol.

Itwasagainstthelawforminorstodrinkanyway.

Meanwhile,thetaxidriverwaslookingtowardsKamijouwithsparklingeyesasiftosay“I-I’msaved!Someonewhoknowsthisdrunkhasshownup!!”.

Also,MisuzuseemedtohavechangedhertargetfromthedrivertoKamijouandtriedtogetupwhilehavingherlowerbodyinsidethebackofthetaxiandherupperbodystickingoutontotheroad.

“Oof,oof.I-Ican’tgetuuup…”

Itseemedshecouldn’tgetup,butshewasaddinginalotofunnecessarymotionsoshelookedlikeasealinanaquarium.

Kamijoudidn’twanttoapproachher,buthecouldn’tjustleaveher,sohecarelesslyapproached.ThatwaswhenMisuzugrabbedontohimwithallhermight.

“Yaaaay!!Igotayoungguuuuy!!”

“Gwooooaaah!?”

Ifithadjustbeenahug,hisheartwouldhavebeenthrobbing,butitseemedMisuzudidn’tslackoffonexercisingbecauseacreakingnoisestartedcomingfromtheareaofhisbackbone.

“WhywasMisuzu-chanwanderingaroundsolaaate?Bwaaah…”

“Gwaah!Youreek!?”

“Huuhh?Youdon’tfindamotherwhostinksofalcoholandhasdrunkeyessexyyy?”

“Noneofthosewerepositivetraits!!H-helpme,Index!!”

Kamijoucalledforhelp,butIndexwasstaringathimwithcoldeyesandshowednosignoftryingtohelphim.Thecatinherarmsmustnothavelikedthesmellofalcoholbecauseitwasstrugglingtryingtogetaway.

MisuzustaredvacantlyatIndex.

“Heeey,who’sshe?Introductionpleeease.”

“H-hmph.Iseenoreasontotellsomeonelikeyoumyname.”

“Whatwasthaaat!?Ifyoudon’tintroduceyourself,I’mgonnastickmyfingersupthisguy’snoooose!!”

“Wahwah!!Index!I’mIndex!!”

Andlikethat,theMisuzuTyphoonblewingettingtheupperhandofevenIndex.

“Hey,heeey.DoyouknowwheretheDangaiUniversitydatabasecenteris?”

“Hah?”

“Oh,youknow…ThestoragefacilitythathasawholebunchainformationonprogramsdealingwithAIandoperationalsoftware…”

“N-no,youdon’thavetodescribethedatabasecentertome.Um,DangaiUniversityis…”

“Oh,right!Let’sexchangephonenumbersandemailaddresses!”

“Thatwassudden!”

“You’veexchangedthemwithMikoto-chan,riiight?Iwantin,too.Myaddressis…”

Misuzucarefullylinedupsomenumbersandlettersofthealphabet.Mikotohadworkedhardandsetupalargeplanwhichinvolvedgettinganewphonetoaccomplishthisandhermotherhaddoneitinallof3minutes.

“Okay,okaaay.I’veputyournumberinthe‘Friends’category.”

“WhydoestalkingwithyouremindmeofOrsola’sconversationalpattern…?”

KamijousuddenlyfeltexhaustedandfinallymanagedtotearoffMisuzuwhohadbeenholdinghimlikeavise.

“Actually,whyareyouhere?Youwouldn’thavebeenabletogetintoAcademyCitywithoutpermission.”

“Yes,yeees.Misuzu-sanisacollegestudent,soIhavetoturninareport.ButthedataforitisonlyinAcademyCity,soIhadtocomeaaaallllthewayhere.”

“Sothat’swhyyouneedtogettothedatabasecenter…It’snotsurprisingthisistheonlyplacewithadatabaseonAI.”

Itseemedthetaxidriverwasmakinghisescape,butKamijouglaredathimtogethimtostop.

“AndIthoughtI’dgoseeMikoto-chanwhileIwasheeere.ButapparentlyTokiwadai’sgirl’sdormisstrictsoIcouldn’t.Youcan’ttreatparentslikethat!”

“…Well,noone’sgoingtobelievesomedrunkwhocomessayingshe’sthemotherofastudentthere.Andyoudon’tlooklikeamotheratall.”

“Oh,thisguyjustcasuallycomplimentedmeee.Butit’snotlikethat.Iworkhaaaardtostaylikethis.Iswimaroundinanindoorpooleachweekandputonamoisturizingcreamaftertakingabath.AndifIslackoffevenabit,itallfallsapart.Kwaah!Ihateyouteenagerswithperfectskineventhoughyoudon’tdoanything!!”

Misuzustartedactingviolently,butthealcoholmusthavebeentakingevenmoreeffectbecauseherfootingseemedunstable.ThiswasgoodbecauseKamijouwasabletograbthetaxidriverwhowastryingtoescapeagainandhadhimhelpgetMisuzuintothebackofthetaxi.

“Heeey!I’mnotdoneyeeeet!!”

“Yeah,yeah.Wecanfinishthisconversationsomeothertimewhenthatalcohol’shadachancetoleaveyoursystem.”

“Dammit!You’retreatingmelikeachild!!”

Misuzutriedtocontinue,butKamijouwavedhishandandthetaxidriverdroveoffwithalookonhisfacethatsaid,“Isshereallygoingtobeabletopayme?”.Kamijouheardthesoundofthecar’sexhaustinthedistanceandsighed.

“Nowthen…”

Kamijousuddenlyfeltthepresenceofsomeoneseethingwithangerbehindhimandshuddered.

Thesourceofthispresencewasofcoursethenunholdingacalicocat.

“HowamIgoingtogetoutofthisone?”

Part3

Kamijouendeduphavinghisheadbittenmagnificentlyandheunlockedthedoorofhisdormroomwhilerubbingthebackofhishead.

“Nn…It’sabitchillyinhere.”

Heturnedonthelightsintheroom,grabbedtheremotetotheairconditioner,andturnediton.IndexranovertotheTVandsatdownwhileKamijouheadedfortheunitbathandusedthepanelnexttothetubtoturnontheautomatichotwatermode.Todaywasthedaytowashthecat,sohepreparedawashbasin.

(It’snicenothavingtomakedinnerorwashthedishes…)

Kamijouraisedhisarmstostretchandleftthebathroom.Hewasfull,soallthatwasleftwastosoakinthetub,brushhisteeth,andgotobed.Itwasjusttoonice.Ittemptedhishearttowardseatingoutmoreoften,but,accordingtotheaccountdataonthefinanceapponhisphone,he’dhavenothingtoeatbutwater

andsaltforthesecondhalfofthemonthifhedidthat.

Hehadstartedtowonderhowmuchthenabehadsethimbackandhadstartedtooperatehisphonewithhisthumbwhenthephonesuddenlystartedringing.

Whenhechangedthemode,hesawMisakaMikoto’snumberonthescreen.

Kamijouhitthetalkbutton.

“???Doyouneedsomething,Misaka?”

“Whenareyougoingtoreplytothatemail!?”

(Email?)Kamijoutiltedhisheadtothesideinconfusion.

“Hmm,Ican’tquiterememberwhatyou’retalkingabout…”

“!?Howcarelesscanyou-…”

Mikotowasyellingsomething,butitsoundedlikehervoicewasbecomingmoredistantandthenthecallsuddenlyended.Kamijoulookedathisphone’sscreen,buthestillhadastrongsignal.

(…Misakamusthavelosthersignal.)

Kamijoudismisseditandwentbacktothefinanceapp.

Heploppeddowninfrontoftheglasstableinthecenteroftheroom.

“Index,youshouldn’tsitsoclosetotheTV.”

“B-butthe‘ThinkingPower-IncreasingSFHealthQuiz’isreachingitsclimax!!”

“…Therehavebeenalotofthatkindofscienceandbrainrelatedquizzeslately,haven’tthere?”

(Well,someofthestuffcomesupinAcademyCityclasses.)

Kamijoudidn’treallycareaboutthequizshow,sohelookedoveratthecatonitsbackbaskingintheheatoftheairconditioner.

“Hm.Ifyou’renotdoinganything,IguessI’llwashyoufirst.”

Hetookoutabottleofanimalshampooandamini-spongeshapedlikeacat’shead,butthecatmusthavesensedsomethingbecauseitrantohideinthekitchenasiftosay,“Ihatewaterandbubbles!!”.Itwasprobablytremblinginfearwhilehidingbetweenthefridgeandcupboard.

NowitwascoveredindustsoKamijouwasgoingtohavetowashitevenharder.

Butthen…

“Hm?”

Hisphonestartedvibrating.

Itwasn’tfromMikotothistime.

Thesmallscreenshowedthenumberthathadbeennewlyrecordedjustalittleearlier.

Part4

Misaka.

Thatwaswhatthatdrunkwomancollapsedintheroadhadsaid.

(…Isitjustacoincidence?No.)

Acceleratorwalkedalonedownthedarkroadwithhiscaneandthought.

TheproviderofLastOrder’sgeneswasMisakaMikoto…butthatwasn’ther.So

thatmusthavebeenheroldersister.IfshewasinAcademyCity,shemayhavebeensomekindofesper,buthehadn’theardanythingaboutthat.Butsincehedidn’treallycareaboutothers,hedidn’tknowverymanydetailsaboutotherespers.

However,therewasonethinghefoundodd.

(Herclothes.Elmo,Az,Scale,Losib,andherperfumeisanewZeroPlusproduct…Wait,aren’tthoseallforteens?Well,shewasstillcoveredinbrandnameclothesandallfromcompaniesoutsideofAcademyCity.Thefactthatnotasinglethingcamefromhereisodd.)

Itwasconceivablethatsomeonewouldorderanentireoutfitfromabrandtheyreally,reallyliked,butthatdrunk’sclotheswereallfromdifferentbrands.Theshirt,theslacks,thebelt,theshoes,andthehandbagwerealldifferentasifshehadthrownabunchofthingsshelikedtogether.Itdidn’tlooklikeshewasparticularlypickyaboutthebrandsshewore.

ButthenonewouldexpectfortheretobeatleastonethingfromwithinAcademyCity.

Sincethereweren’tany…

(It’spossibleshecamefromoutside.)

Whilehethought,Acceleratorwaspurposefullychoosingpathspeoplerarelywentdowneventhoughnotmanypeoplewereoutatnight.

(Thenwhyisshehere?ShesaidsomethingaboutneedingtogototheDangaiUniversitydatabasecenter,butwouldtheyreallyletsomeoneinforthatwhilepreparingforawar?They’renotonlythoroughlycheckingthebackgroundofanyguests,butthey’redoingittothedeliveryworkerstoo.Sodoesthatwomanhavesomeotherreasontobehere?)

Areason.

AreasonforsomeoneintheMisakafamilytobehereatthistime.

Itcouldverywellhavetodowiththeoriginal,MisakaMikoto.Or…

(…Itcouldhavetodowiththatkid.)

“Tch,”Acceleratorclickedhistongueandpulledhiscellphoneoutofhispocket.

Heopenedtheaddressbookandmovedthecursortotheentryonlylabeledas“Entry3”andpressedthecallbutton.

ItwasthenumberofhisfellowGroupmemberTsuchimikadoMotoharu.

Heputthephonetohisearanditconnectedwithoutevenringing.

“Accelerator.Doyouneedsomething?”

Apolitemalevoiceanswered.ButAccelerator’seyeswidenedwhenheheardit.Itwasn’tTsuchimikadoMotoharu’svoiceandthespeechpatternwascompletelydifferent.

(Sotheycutinonthecall.)

“Youbastard.I’massumingyou’retheguyinchargeofGroup.”

“Icanansweranyquestionsyoumighthave.”

“Tch.…I’vegotnothingtoaskyou.Icanhandlemyownproblems.Soquitcommandinguslikeyou’reourfuckingguardian.You’regonnagetyoureyesgougedout.”

“Oh,Isee.Well,that’stoobad.TherewasamatterIwashopingIcouldinformyouofifyouweren’tbusy.”

“Ah?”

“It’saboutMisakaMisuzu-sama.Although,Isupposeyouwouldneedmorethanjustaname.”

“…”

Acceleratorlookedaround.

Nothingaboutthenight-timestreetseemedoutoftheordinary.

(Didsomeonegivethemtheinformationoraretheywatchingfromasatellite…?)

“AndwhoisthisMisakaMisuzu?IssherelatedtoRailgun?”

“Yes,sheis.Andthisisperfecttiming,thingsarejuststarting.”

(What?)

Acceleratorfrowned.

Withaboom,asuddenexplosionlitupacertainpartofthecitywitharedlight.

Itwasfairlydistant.Thesoundcameafewsecondsafterthelight.

Acceleratorturnedinthatdirectionwiththephonestillpressedagainsthisear.

Anunnaturallightwasflickeringnearthebuilding-coveredhorizon.

“ThatMisakaMisuzu-samaappliedforpermissiontousetheDangaiUniversitydatabasecenter,sowehaveattackedit.Sheistheonlyoneusingitandafewprivateguardshavebeenconfirmedtobethere,but,well,it’swithinwhatwe’reallowedtodo.Allofthemaindataisbackedupoverthenetwork,sothereisnoneedtoworryaboutanylossesthere.”

“Attacked?”

“Yes.”

“…WhoisthisMisaka?Sheisn’tsomeprofessionalagent,isshe?”

“Asyoumayhaveguessed,MisakaMisuzu-samaisMissMisakaMikoto’smother.Herbackgroundcheckwasclean.Soyouneednotworryaboutthat.”

(Hermother?)

AcceleratorrecalledMisuzu’sfaceandadubiousexpressionappearedonhisface.

Butwhatbotheredhimmorewas…

“Whyareyouattackinghermother?Andherbackgroundcheckwasclean?Whatthehellareyoudoing?”

“Anordinarypersoncanbedangerousinherownway.NowI’mgettingtotheheartofthematterImentionedbeforethatIwantedtoinformyouof.”Thevoiceonthephonespokequietly.“Doyouknowwhatarecoveryexerciseis?”

“It’sthatthingthat’sbeenhappeningalotlately.AcademyCitymightbebecomingabattlefield,soparentsarecomingtotaketheirkidssomewheresafe.”

“Thatreasoningitselfisnothingmorethanfoolishnessbroughtaboutbyacompletelackofunderstandingofthesituationofthiscountry’sdefenses,butitisstillaproblem.HavingagreatnumberofstudentsleaveAcademyCityisaproblemforanumberofreasons.”

“…”

Whywasthataproblem?

Didtheynotwanttoletgoofthestudentswhocouldfightawarforthem?

Didtheynotwanttheirresearchsamplestobeleakedoutsideofthecity?

(Thatisn’tit.)

Hewasspeakingwiththeperson“above”Group.Someonelikethatwouldn’thaveanormalopinion.Ifitwasaproblemforthem,ithadtobeaproblemrelatingtosomedeeperplan.

Forinstance…

TherewerethevariouspiecesofthingsbehindthesceneshehadcaughtaglimpseofonSeptember30th.ThingslikeKiharaAmata,HoundDog,thatgiantwingedmonster,thevirusinjectedinLastOrder,andthatsilentattackonAcademyCity.

“MisakaMisuzu-samaisaparentattemptingtocarryoutarecoveryexercise.Weknowthatsheisnotintentionallycausingaproblemforus,butanaccidentalproblemisstillaproblem.Ithastobestoppedhere.”

Thatdrunk’sfacecametothesurfaceofAccelerator’smindforaninstant.

Shewasanirritatingwoman,butthatwasnoreasontodragherdownintotheworldofdarkness.

Butitwastoolate.

Theexplosionhadalreadyoccurred.MisakaMisuzuhadmostlikelybeenblowntopiecesinthefirstblast.

However,thevoiceoverthephonespoke.

“Youwilljoinintoo,Accelerator.”

“What?”

“I’msayingyoucanearnquiteabithere.Skill-Outwashiredtotakecareofthis,but…theirperformanceislacking.IthadbeenconcludedthatbringingaproblemlikethistoGroupwastoodangerousfromanexposurepointofview,butthatthinkingappearstohavebackfired.Ifyouassistushere,yourpointswillgoupquiteabit.ItwillbethefirststeptowardsmakingupforthelossesonSeptember30th.Youwanttopaybackthearound8trillionyenyouoweassoonaspossible,right?”

“…”

Acceleratorthoughtaboutit.

Ifthepersonontheotherendofthephonewasn’tscrewingwithhim,MisakaMisuzuwasstillalive.

“No,thanks.”Heresponded.“Skill-Out?YoureallywantmetodooddjobsalongwiththoseLevel0fuckers?AndIdon’tneedtobowdowntoaccommodatesomeonelikeyou.I’mnotherebecauseofthatdebt.”

Ashespoke,hecheckedthechoker-styleelectrodeonhisneck.

Hehadhadabitoffunearlier,butthebatterystillhadplentyoftimeleft.

ItwasmorethanenoughtotakecareofonelittleSkill-Outgroup.

HewasgoingtosaveMisakaMisuzu.

Thatwashisnaturaldecision.ItwasthesamefeelinghehadhadduringtheincidentwithKiharaAmata.Atinylifewasindangerfromanunreasonablylargepower.Italmostmadehimlaughhowunpleasantafeelingitwas.Itmadehimwanttobeattheshitoutofthepeoplewhobroughtaboutthesituation.ItremindedhimofwhenhehadfoughtforLastOrder.

Eventhoughhewasofthedarkness.

“Someonelikeyoumaynotunderstand,butmylifeismyown.Idon’tgiveafuckwhatyouexpectmetodo.IdecidewhatIdo.I’mnotyourtool.Gotit?”

“Isthatso?Ifyouaren’tgoingtodothejob,thenjustcomeonhome.”Thevoiceonthephonesoundedabitdiscouraged.“I’lltakecareofyourpoweruntilyoumakeitback.”

Theelectrodeonhisneckgaveastrangebeep.

(Wha…t!?)

Acceleratorhurriedlyputhishanduptotheswitch,buttherewasnoreaction.Therewasnothingmorethanaclickingnoise.Hecouldn’tswitchbetweennormalmodeandpoweredmode.

“Youputsomethinginmyelectrode!!”

“Oh,istheresomethingyouneedyourpowersfor?”

“Tch,”heclickedhistongue.

InorderforGroup’stechnicalteamtoimprovethebattery,hischoker-styleelectrodehadbeenconfiscatedtemporarily,buttheymusthavemessedwithitsinternalworkingsinthattime.Thepersonoverthephonemostlikelyhadasafetydevicethathecouldfreelyoperateremotely.

Don’ttrustus.

AcceleratornowhadanideawhatTsuchimikadoMotoharu’swordsfromearlierthatdayhadmeant.

“Ifyouhavenomorequestions,I’llbegoing.Goodnight,Accelerator.”

Theconnectionended.

“Hmph,”Acceleratormadeanuninterestednoise.

(Excellent.NowIfeellikedoingthisevenmore.)

Therewasavillainouslookinhiseyes.

Acceleratorputhisphonebackinhispocketandgrittedhisteeth.

(…AllIcanuseismyhandgunandIhaveabout50shotsleft.IhavenoideawhatSkill-Outhasinregardstonumbersorequipment,butIbetIcangetthatdrunkoutoftherewiththis.)

Itwasatrickysituation,butatleastitwasn’tasbadaswhenhehadtakenonKiharaAmata’sHoundDog.Skill-Outcouldtakeonanormalesperwithweapons,buttheyhadn’thadprofessionaltraining.

ThebiggestproblemwasMisuzu.

Theattackwasalreadyunderway.AgroupofLevel0s–orrather,agroupofdelinquentsequippedwithweaponsandself-defenseitems–wouldbeenoughofathreatforanormalperson.Itwaspossibleshecouldevenbekilledbeforehegotthere.

“…”

Foraninstant,KomabaRitoku’sfaceappearedinthebackofhismind,butheignoredit.

Hehadnoreasontoberememberingavillaintakingout-of-placeactions.

Hehadmadeuphismindandhewasgoingtochargeinthere.

Thatwasall.

(Tch.Ijustneedtogetthispain-in-the-assproblemoverwithassoonasIcan.)

TheattackwastakingplaceatDangaiUniversity’sdatabasecenter.

Itwasafewkilometersaway.Asheusedacane,hehadnochoicebuttofindavehiclesomewhere.Asheheadedforamajorroad…

ThebackofacertainboydashedbyAccelerator.

“…”

Herecognizedtheboy.

Infact,therewasnowayhecouldeverforgethim.

Hehadamediumbuildandblackspikyhairandwasclenchinghisrightfist.Hewastalkingwithsomeoneonhiscellphonewhileheadingtowardtheblazingsiteoftheattack.Itwasobviouswhathewasgoingtheretodo.Itwouldhavebeenhardertonotfigureitout.

(That…bastard!!)

EitherAcceleratorwasintheshadowsorthatboywascompletelyfocusedonthedatabasecenter,becausehedidn’tseemtonoticeAcceleratoratall.Iftheyhadrunintoeachotherthere,theyprobablywouldhavegottenintoafighttothedeath.Thatwashowstronganopponenthewas.

Acceleratorshookhisheadtryingtorefocus.

(Tch.Thisisn’tthetimeforthat.IneedtodestroySkill-Outhere.Idon’tgiveafuckwhatthosepeople“above”want.Ihavenodutytodowhattheysay.IjustneedtothinkabouthowIcansolvethiswithonly50bullets.)

Hegrittedhisteethandstartedwalkingwithhiscane.

MisakaMikoto’smother.

Hehadnoreasontointerferewithherlife,butshestillhadaconnectionwiththatkid.ARadioNoiseclonehadnophysicalparentsandMisuzuprobablydidn’tevenknowaboutthatsmalllifethathadbeencreated,buttherewasstillaconnectionbetweenherandthatkid.

Thetwowouldmostlikelynevermeet(itwouldbeaproblemiftheydid),butthatdidn’tmeanheshouldjustletherdie.Thatconnectionwasprobably

somethingthatmustn’tbelosthereevenifneitherofthemwouldeverknowabouttheother.

Acceleratorwasavillain.

However,hedidnotputrestrictionsonhimselfbecausehewasavillain.Hethrewawaythepreconceivednotionsthatanevilpersoncouldnotsaveagoodpersonorthosewhowerenotgoodpeoplecouldn’tadvancealongtherighteouspath.

(Nowthen…)

AcademyCity’sstrongestespercameouttoamajorroad,staredattheheadlightsofataxiwanderingaroundlookingfordrunkcustomers,andgaveathinsmile.

(I’mnotgoingtobedoingoutofcharacterthingswithaseriouslookonmyface.I’llsaveherinthewaythat’sfurthestfromwhatonewouldcall“saving”.There’sgoingtobebloodeverywhere.)

Part5

Abitearlier,MisakaMisuzuwasinthedatabasecenter.

Thecenterhada50meterdome-shapedbuildingatitscenterandanumberofrectangularstructuresaroundthat.Atfirst,Misuzuwasinthedomedbuildinglookingsomethinguponacomputer,butshewascurrentlyinoneoftheadjoiningbuildings.

Thiswasbecausesomethingunusualhadhappened.

First,therewasanexplosionsoloudshethoughthereardrumsweregoingtoburst.Next,allofthelightsinthefacilitywentout.Therewasauxiliarypowertopreservethedata,butonlythecomputerswerestillfunctioning.

(Wh-what?What’sgoingon?)

Misuzuwaskeepingherbreathingquietinaspaceaboutthesizeof3schoolclassroomsinoneofthebuildingsnexttothedomedfacility.Shewasnothappy.

Itfeltlikehergoodmoodfromthealcoholhadbeenblownaway.

Therehadbeenaratherlargefirealongwiththeexplosion,butitseemedtohavebeenputoutrightaway.Ontheothersideofthewall–thatis,insidethemaindomedstructure–peoplewerecomingandgoingandthesituationseemedtobequiteirregularevenfortheoneswhohadcausedtheexplosion.

“Shit,whoforgottocutoffthesecurity!?Goddamnit.Weweresupposedtogetoutofhereafterthefirstblast!!”

“Whattimeisit!?Iftheautomaticreportwassentin,we’veonlygot5minutes!”

“No,it’sjusttheindependentlydeployedsecuritytoprotectthecomputersthat’sup.Thenormalsecuritywastakenout.”

“Soit’sjustthefirealarm,huh?Well,westilldon’thavetime.Okay,let’sfindthatwoman.”

Voiceslikethatwereflyingbackandforth.

Fromthesoundofthevoicesandthemannerofspeaking,theymusthavebeenboysinmiddleorhighschool.Thereweresomewherefrom10to20ofthem.Shedidn’tknowanydetailsaboutwhattheyhad,buttheclatteringofmetalwasenoughtomakehercringeinfear.Sincetheyhadcausedanexplosion,theyprobablyhadgunsandbombs.

(Woman.They’regoingtofindawoman?W-wasthereanyoneherebutme?)

Shehadafeelingthatshehadbeentheonlyoneusingthefacilityatthistimeofdayandthattheguardshadallbeenmen.Andfromthewaytheywerespeaking,theyweren’theretorobtheplaceortodestroyit;theywereherefor“that

woman”.

(No.Ithastobeme.I’mtheonlywomanhere!What’sgoingon!?)

Misuzuleanedbackagainstthewallandslidtothefloor.

Theroomseemedtostorethesubstituteprocessors;itwaslinedwithmetalshelvesalmostlikealibrary.Butinsteadofthickbooks,theshelveshadalargenumberofmotherboardsinclearcasesonthem.TheCPU’swereliquid-cooledinsteadofair-cooled,sotherewasnosoundoffans.Instead,bloodvessel-liketubeswererunningallovertheroom.

Intheroomdarkenedduetothefluorescentlightsbeingout,theredandgreenaccesslightsflickered.

(Th-theexit.Where’stheemergencyexit…?)

Shelookedaround,butcouldn’tfindadoorthatlookedlikeanemergencyexit.

Shecouldn’trunaway.Misuzuacceptedthefactthatitwasalloverifshewasfoundandfeltabitexcited.Perhapsherdrunkennesshadcomebackinanoddway,becauseitwasastrangefeeling.Itwasliketheupliftingfeelingonefeltjustbeforeamarathon.Shehadthoughtherdrunkennesshadbeenknockedoutofher,buttherewassomeleft.Inthissituation,itwouldbebestifshewasfullysober,butitwasn’tsoeasytoswitchover.

(What’sgoingon…?)

Misuzupulledhercellphonefromherpocket.

Therewasa3digitnumberinthemostrecententryofhercallhistory.Itwastheemergencynumberforthecity’skeepersofthepeace,Anti-Skill.Sherememberedhavingcalledeveninherdrunkenness.Shehadcalledjustaftertheattackandamanwithapolitemannerofspeakinghadanswered.Theboysstruttingaboutthemaindomedfacilitywereafraidofanautomaticreport,butMisuzuhadputinherownreport.Ithadbeenafewminutessincethen,soAnti-Skillshouldbeshowingupbeforelong.

Butforsomereasontherewasnosignofthemcoming.

(…Why?)

Misuzustareddownatthecallhistory.

Thenumbertherewascorrect.ShewassureshehadproperlycontactedtheAnti-Skillstation.Butnoonewascoming.Anxietycreptintoherheart.WasthatreallyAnti-Skill?Whohadthatoddlypolitemanbeen?

(Why?Whywon’ttheycome!?Icalled.Idideverythingright!Sowhydoesthishavetogobadlyforme!?)

Thetremblinginherfingertipsincreased.

Herfearhadbeendiffusedbyherdrunkenness,butitfinallyreachedhercore.

Itwasalloverifshemadetheslightestnoiseandyetshewantedtoforgetitallandscream.

(Ican’tdothisalone.Ican’tdothisalone.I’mcorneredallalone.Aconversation.Idon’tcarewhatabout.Idon’tcarewhowith.Ijustneedtogetthisoutbeforeitexplodesoutonitsown.)

Sheopenedherphone’saddressbook.

Forsomeonereasonherhusband’sfacedidn’tcometomindatatimelikethis.ShecouldcallsomethirdpartyoutsideofAcademyCityandgetthemtoreportthistothepolice,butforthemostpartAcademyCityhadextraterritoriality,sothepolicecouldn’tintervene.(Technically,theyhadtheirown“regulations”nottheirown“laws”,butmostpeopleviewedthatasreallynothingmorethanamethodJapanusedtokeepitsprideasanation.)Becauseofthis,shehadtocontactsomeoneinsidethecity.

Butshehesitatedtocallherowndaughter.Thatwasmostlikelyduetothelastofherprideasamother.Ifsheshowedweaknesstoherdaughterhere,shewouldprobablyneverbeabletonameherselfastheparentagain.

SheneededsomeonewithinAcademyCityshecouldcontactrightaway.

Andithadtobesomeoneotherthanherdaughter.

Onlyonepersonfitthosecriteria.

(Haha…)

MisakaMisuzuoperatedhercellphonewithherthumb.

Inordertoatleastslightlyrelievethegreatpressureinherheartthatfeltlikeitwascrushingher,shecalledacertainboy.

Part6

Whenallstudentsweresupposedtobebackfromschool,thetrainsandbussesinAcademyCitystopped.

“Damnit!!”

SoKamijouhadnochoicebuttorundownthedarkstreets.HestartedseriouslythinkingaboutgettingascooterlicenseasheintentlyrantowardstheDangaiUniversitydatabasecenter.

Atthesametime,hepracticallyyelledintothecellphonepressedtohisear.

“Misaka-san.Yousaidtheyhaveweapons,right?They’reprobablyaSkill-Outgroup.Ifitwasagroupofnormalespers,theywouldrelyonlyontheirpowers!”

“I’veneverheardofthisSkill-Out.”

“Basically,they’reanarmedgang.Thinkofthemasagroupofdelinquentswithdangerousweapons!”

Hecouldfinallyseethesilhouetteofthefacility.

Asheran,Kamijourealizedthattheflameshehadoriginallyseenweregone.JustasMisuzuhadtoldhim,thedatabasecenter’sautomaticfirefightingsystemwasfunctioning.

“Whyarethosedelinquentstargetingme?”

“Idon’tknow!”

KamijouthoughtitmighthavesomethingtodowithMikoto…butthenherealizedsomething.

“Misaka-san,haveyoucalledyourdaughter?”

“Eh?”

“She’soneoftheonlysevenLevel5sinAcademyCity!She’dbealotmorehelpthanAnti-Skill!Ifyouhaven’tcalledheryet,you-…”

“Wait!!”Misuzuinterruptedhimwithmoreforcethanshe’dspokenwithuptothatpoint.“Iwon’tcallMikoto-chan!Idon’tcareifshewouldbehelpfulhere.IfIgotherwrappedupinmyownproblem,Icouldneverlookherintheeyeagain!!”

Normally,Kamijouwouldhavefeltthatthatwasjustanoptimisticview.

Itsoundedlikethekindofargumentonewouldgivewhilereadingthenewspaper.

ButMisuzu’slifewasactuallybeingtargeted.

AndyetshestillimmediatelyrefusedtohaveMikotobroughtintothepicture.

“…Understood.”

Kamijouclenchedhisphoneasheran.

“Inthatcase,I’llgo.You’rehidinginthe'SubstituteProcessorStorageRoom',right!?”

“Eh?Wait…Ididn’taskyouto-…!!”

(That’senoughoutofyou,)Kamijouthought.

Hewasrightinfrontofthedatabasecenter.

ThefacilitywasadjacenttoDangaiUniversity,butthedatabasecenterwasabouttwosizesbiggerthantheuniversityitself.Hecouldhearsporadicgunshotsandsoundsofdestructioncomingfromwithinthedomedsilhouette.Perhapsduetotheinitialexplosion,therewereanumberofpeoplegatheredlookingon.AndyettherewasalmostnoAnti-Skillpresence.Theymayhavefearedasniper,becausetheywerecallingforbackupwhilehidingbehindtheirvehicle.Buttheremusthavebeensomekindoftrouble,becausetherewasanargumentgoingonbetweentheAnti-Skillmembers.

Kamijouranpastthemandtowardsthefacility.

TheAnti-Skillmemberscalledforhimtostop,buthepaidthemnoheed.

(I’vefoughtmembersofSkill-Outafewtimesinbackalleys,but…)

OnestrokeofgoodluckinthisbadsituationwasthatthesearchinsidethebuildingleftSkill-Out’sfocusontheoutsidelacking.Thismeanthewasn’tgoingtogetshotatwhileheadingthroughtheplazathathadnocover.

(Basically,I’veonlyeverrunawayorhiddenaroundacornerandcounterattacked.ThismaybethefirsttimeI’vegoneinontheattacklikethis!!)

Heenteredthroughthemainentrancethathadhadallitsglassbrokenoutandcomplainedtohimselfabouthowmuchthesituationsucked.

Part7

HamazuraShiagewaspissed.

Theoriginalplanhadbeentoapproachthefacilityinavehiclestolenunderthecoverofdarkness,fire8oftheirhandmadeincendiaryrockets,andrunoff.Theyhadaroughsketchofthefacilitysotheyhadknownwheretoshoottheirrocketsinordertoblockoffalltheexitsandhaveagoodchancetofilltheareawithsmoke.

Thefirstfailurehadbeenthat3ofthe8rocketshadmisfired.

Andthentheother5hadbeeneasilyextinguishedbythedatabasecenter’sautomaticfirefightingsystemshortlyafterigniting.Theexplosionhadscrewedupthestructureofthebuilding,butnotenoughtoutterlydestroythebuildingasiftheouterwallshadbeenmadeofsoapbubbles.Sincetheyhadn’tbeenabletousetheirprimaryweaponsoffireandsmoke,thetargetwasprobablystillalive.

Becauseofthis,Hamazuraandtheotherscouldn’tleave.Theyhadtokillthetargetthemselves.

Also…

“Haveyoustillnotfoundthatwoman?”

Theirclienthadonlygiventhemaphotoofherfaceandtheonlyrealfactabouthertheyknewwashername.Ifshemanagedtogetoutofthefacility,hidthecharacteristicaspectsofherfacewithsunglassesandawoolhat,andmixedinwiththecrowd,theywouldhavenowayofsearchingforher.Theyhadtotakeherouthere.But…

“Iaskedyouifyou’dfoundheryet!Goddamn!!”Heyelledinathroatyvoice,buthisequalsinSkill-Outonlyglancedoverathimandstartedsearchingagainwithoutopeningtheirmouths.

Thatwasright,hisequalsinSkill-Out.

Afewhoursbefore,theirleaderhadbeenamannamedKomabaRitoku.AsKomabahaddisappeared,Hamazurahadendedupinthattopseat,butthenewbalanceofpowerhadn’treallysunkinyet.Andhemostlyhadanatmosphereofdissatisfactionaboutthewholething.Afterall,whenevertheentireorganizationscrewedup,theblamewasshovedontohim.

ThedifferencebetweenKomabaRitokuandHamazuraShiagewasclear.Komabawasthekindofpersonwhonaturallystoodatthecenter,whereallthatHamazuradidwaspushjobshedidn’twanttodoonothers.Sonomatterhoweasyajobitwas,hecouldn’tshakeanout-of-placefeelinginsideofhimandhemadetheothersfeeluncomfortable.

Hamazurawaspissedbecauseheknewthat.

Itmadehimfeellikenotbeingabletofindthetarget,notbeingablecontrolthissearchproperly,andeverythingelsewasduetotheothersbetrayinghimandtrippinghimup.

Hetouchedthepiercingonhisnosewithafingertipwhilelookingpissedoff.Hehadgottenitpiercedjustthemonthbefore,butitwasn’tdoingwell.Theslightesttouchscrewedwithhisconcentrationandsweatcollectedthere.

“…We’refucked.We’retotallyfucked.Damnit,Komaba.Youcomeupwiththisgrandplanandthengooffanddie.Whatarewesupposedtodonow…?”

Anumberofboysgatheredinfrontofadoor.

Itseemedtheyhadfoundaroomtheyhadn’tsearchedyet.Forthemostpart,therewerenodoorsinthefacilitythatlocked.Whentheboysentered,awoman’sscreamcamefromwithin.

Itlookedlikethey’dfoundher.

Noneofthemwereusingradios,soHamazurahadtogivehisinstructionstotheotherswhoweresearchinghimself.Hefeltmorelikehewasdoingoddjobsthanbeingtheleader.Heheadedfortheroomabitlaterthantheinitialgroup.

“Thisisthecentraldome.ThetargethasbeenfoundintheSubstituteProcessorStorageRoom.We’lltakecareofherhere,soyoupreparetowithdraw.Bringthevehiclearound.”

Heexpectedsomehalf-heartedreplyasopposedtosomethinglike“Yes,sir!”,but…

“Gah!?Hey,you!Wai-…Ksshhshshhshshhh!!”

Hedidn’tknowwhattomakeofthewordsandthehorriblestatichurthisears.

Andthenheheard2gunshotsfromsomewhereinthefacility.

(Anti-Skill?Tch.Wetooktoolong!)

Hamazurawatchedthetargetbeingdraggedfromtheroombythebackofherneckandthoughtaboutwhatorderstogiveovertheradio.

“Heeeellllloooo,youfuckers.”

Hamazura’sshoulderssuddenlytwitched.

Evenwiththehorriblesoundqualityoftheradio,hecouldtell.Thisclearlywasn’toneofhiscomrades.Hecouldtellbecauseavoicethatsoundedlikemetalbeingrubbedtogetherwasn’tsomethingyouheardeveryday.Andwhoeveritwaswasn’ttryingtodisguisetheirvoiceintheslightest.

“Listenupallofyou.I’mgoingtobegivingyouanicedaytriptoheaven.Oh,andit’squiteaniceone,too.You’llprobablylikeitsomuchyou’llneverwanttocomeback.IsupposeI’llstartbygivingyouanicenear-deathexperience.”

Afterspeaking,theradiocutoff.

Andthen…

AsuccessionofgunshotspiercedHamazura’sears.

Part8

KamijouToumahadhisbackpressedupagainstacornerofthepassageway.

Hewasholdingtherectangularpieceofbulletproofglassthathadbeentakenoutofawindowframeinhishands.Theheavypieceofglassweighedsomewherebetween7and10kgandwasaboutameteracross.

Hehadfounditinsidethefacility,soitsbulletprooffunctionalityprobablywasn’tthatgreat.Afterall,theglassinthemainentrancewouldbethestrongestandithadallbeenbrokenintheattack.

Nevertheless,itwasbetterthannothing.

Itwasn’tunusualforSkill-Outtobearmedwithhandguns.

Hefeltthatwasatleastsaferthangoinginafterstickingmangamagazinesdownhisshirt.

(…)

Amanholdingastungunwascollapsedunconsciousathisfeet.Hehadhiddenuntilthemangotnearandswungthebulletproofglasssothestainlesssteelframehitthemanonthebridgeofthenose.Themanhadfallenbackwardslikehehadslippedonabananapeelandceasedmoving.

KamijouhadalreadytakenoutfourSkill-Outmembersinthatfashion.

Ifhewasgoingtofightwithenemieswhohadweapons,therulehehadtofollowwastonotevengivethemachancetoattack.Iftheybothhadtimetoprepare,hehadalreadylost.Butifhecouldkeepthemfromusingtheirweapons,hedidn’thavetofeartheirweapons.Whetheritwasaknifeorahandguntheywereusing,thatremainedthesame.

(Iftheyweremovingingroupsof2or3thistacticwouldn’twork.Thankgodthey’reidiots.Everysingleoneofthemiswanderingaroundonhisown.Someoneneedstoteachthemhowtousetheirnumberseffectively.)

Hepickedupthestungun.

HewasmakingsuretotaketheweaponsawayfromtheSkill-Outmembershedefeated,butthatwasmoretomakesuretheycouldn’tusethemagainthantoarmhimself.

Eitherway,hecouldn’texactlyuseotherweaponswhileholdingthebulletproofglassinbothhands.

“Nowthen…Where’stheSubstituteProcessorStorageRoom?”Kamijoumumbledwhilepickingthegiantpieceofglassbackup.

Thecenterofthedatabasecenterwasthemaindomedfacilityandthereweresmall2or3storyadjoiningbuildingsaroundthat.

Skill-Outwasclearlygatheringinthemainfacility,soKamijouwasusingthepassageslinkingthesmallerouterbuildingstocirclearound.

Thereweresomebuildingsthatonlyconnectedtothedomedfacility,butKamijouhadn’tcometoadeadendyet.Hestartedheadingforthenextbuildingthinkinghewouldtrytogoallthewayaroundusingthelinkingpassages.

Bang!Bang!!

Heheardgunshots.

“…!?”

Foraninstantachillrandownhisspineandhethoughthehadbeentoolate,butthissoundedmorelikethekindofdisturbancethatcameafterpokingatabeehive.Misuzudidn’thaveagunofcourse.Soitmusthavebeensomeoneelsereturningfire.

(IsitAnti-Skill?OristherefightingbetweendifferentSkill-Outmembers?Well,whateveritis,thisismychance!!)

EverytimeKamijoucametoacorner,hewouldcarefullycheckarounditandonlymovetothenextbuildingwhenhehadmadesurenoonewasthere.

Butbeforelonghecametoadeadend.

Moreaccurately,hecametoapointwheretheonlypathledtothemaindomedfacility.

(Agh.Ihadafeelingitwasgoingtocometothis!Well,Ican’tjuststophere!)

Heranalongthepassageandapproachedthedoorleadingtothecentraldome.

Heheldhisbreath,stretchedouthishand,hesitated,andthenslowlytouchedthedoorknob.

Withthedelicacyofsomeonedefusingabomb,heslowlyturnedtheknob.Heheardthesmallclickasthelatchmoved.Athinlineappearedbetweenthedoorandthedoorframe.

Hepeekedinside.

Agreatnumberofbusinessdeskswithcomputersonthemwerealignedinconcentriccirclesliketreerings.Thefacility’slightswereout,buttherewasadimlightcoveringtheroomsothemonitorsmusthavebeenworking.

Fourorfiveboysweregatheredononesideofthedomedbuilding.

AndawomanwhoappearedtobeMisakaMisuzuwasbeingforcedtositinthemiddleofthem.

Theywereabout10metersaway,buttheboysmusthavebeenfairlyhighupintheSkill-Outranksbecausetheywereallarmedwithhandguns.Ifhecarelesslyapproachedthem,hewouldbeturnedtoSwisscheese.

(…Thissituationisalmostlaughablyhopeless.HowamIsupposedtosaveherlikethis!?)

Theboysappearedtobearguing.Apparently,therewasadisagreementoverhowtodealwiththefirefightthathadstarted.OnesidewantedtojustkillMisuzuandgetthehelloutofthereandtheothersidewantedtouseherasahostage.

Thepro-killingsidekeptpushingtheirgunsagainstMisuzu’sheadandthepro-hostagesidekeptpushingthemawayfromher.Atthisrate,theycouldendupaccidentallypullingthetriggerandkillingherwithoutmeaningto.

“Damnit…”Kamijoumutteredandsteppedbackfromthedoor.

(Thereare4or5ofthem.Allofthemhaveguns.Ican’tjustyellandruninthere.)

HecheckedtheweaponshehadtakenfromtheSkill-Outmembershehaddefeated.

Hehadastungun,abaton,andalong-rangepesticidesprayerthatcouldbeusedsimilarlytopepperspray.Noneofthemweregoingtobemuchhelphere.

(Thisbulletproofglasstakesbothhandstocarry.Ihavetochoosebetweenaweaponorashieldhere…)

Kamijoulookedbackoveratthegiantpieceofbulletproofglass.

(No,Ican’tgetridoftheglass.Ican’ttakeoutsomeonearmedwithaguninoneblowusingastungunorpesticide.Andafterthefirstshot,they’resuretocounterattack.)

Thismeanthehadnochoicebuttogointothatdomedareawiththebulletproofglass.

Kamijouusedhispalmsthatweredampwithsweattograbtheglassagain.Hethenapproachedthemetaldoorandslightlyopeneditagain.

Thesituationhadn’tchanged.

The4or5boyswerearguingwhilesurroundingMisuzu.

Theywereabout10metersaway,butrowsofcomputer-covereddeskswereblockingtheway.

Hecouldn’tgettotheminastraightline.

(That’sprettyfaraway.)

ButKamijounoticedadirtybagsetdownneartheentrancehewasstandingin.Ithadbeencarelesslyleftonthegroundrightnexttooneofthebusinessdesks.ItmostlikelybelongedtooneoftheSkill-Outmembers.Thezipperwasopenandspraycan-likeobjectandahandgunwerestickingout.

(…)

Kamijouswallowedsomesaliva.

Thebagwasabout3metersaway,sohecouldn’tjustreachouttoit.Tograbtheguninside,hewouldhavetoopenthedoorfartherandslipintothedomedarea.

(CanImakeit?)

Thefacility’spowerwasout.

Theonlylightwasthefaintglowfromthecomputersthatwerepoweredbytheemergencypower.Hecouldbarelyseehisownfeet.

Andthefloorwascoveredinathincarpet.

Hecouldn’texactlyapproachMisuzuandgetherawaywithoutbeingnoticed.

Butifheonlyhadtomakeit3meters…

Hedidn’tknowifhecouldactuallyshootthething,buthewantedtogetthathandgun.

Hedidn’thavetomakeitallthewaytoMisuzuwhowasthecenterofattention.

Hejusthadtomakeit3meterswithoutbeingnoticed.

(…Ihavetodoit.)

Kamijouadjustedhisgriponthebulletproofglass.

(Ihavenoideahowtouseagun,butIshouldbeabletoatleastthreatenthemifIhavethesametypeofweapontheydo.AndIhavethisbulletproofglass.Ifthingsgetbad,Ihavetheadvantage.)

Kamijouforcedhimselftofindanylittlethingtobeoptimisticabout,broughtstrengthintohisshakinglegs,andplacedhispalmontheslightlyopenedsteeldoor.

Heslowlypushedforward.

TheSkill-Outmembersshowednosignofnoticingtheslightmovementofthedoor.Kamijoukneltdownandheadedintothedomedarea.Hemovedveryslowly.Thebagwiththehandguninitwasamere3metersaway,butitfeltterriblyfar.

AndthenKamijou’seyesmetwithMisuzu’s10metersaway.

“Eh?”

Theverysecondsheletoutthatnoisewithoutthinking,theSkill-Outmembersalllookedhisway.

Kamijouforcefullyjumpedunderanearbydesk.

(Thatstupidwoman!!)

Hewastremblinginfearandinrealtrouble.Hemayhavehiddenbeforetheysawhim,buttheyhadclearlynoticedthedoorstandingopenunnaturally.

Hecouldtellsomeonewascominghisway.

Fromunderthedesk,Kamijoucouldn’ttellwhowascomingorhowtheywerearmed.

Hecouldonlyheartheperson’sfootstepsapproaching.

Thespacebetweenfootstepswasn’tuniform.Asthefloorwasathincarpet,itwaspossiblethepersonwasstoppingtocheckforfootprintsleftonthecarpetasheapproached.Kamijouwasn’tsureifyoucouldactuallyseethecarpetclearlyenoughforthatinthedark,butitwasalloverifthispersoncould.

(Where’sthathandgun!?)

Kamijoulookedaroundtheareawhilehiding,butthebagwasontheothersideofthenarrowpathwaymadefromthegapsbetweendesks.Hecouldprobablyreachitifhestretchedouthisarm,buthe’dbefoundrightawayifhedid.

ImagineBreakerwouldhavenoeffectontheirhandguns.

Hecouldfeelacoldsweatcoveringhisback.

Iffeltlikehisheartbeatwasallhecouldhear.

(Shit…)

Hefeltlikehisteethwereaboutreadytostartchatteringtogetherfromhis

trembling.

Hewassotensethat,themorehetriedtosilencehisbreathing,themoreerraticitbecame.

Hecouldhearthefootstepsapproachingfromanareahecouldn’tsee.

(Ihavetodoit.IfIjuststaycurleduphere,I’llbefoundforsure.SoIhavetodoit!Ijustneedoneblow.IfIcangethimtoflinchbackfromthat,Icanpullthisoff.Afterthat,Ishouldbeabletojumpovertothebagwiththehandguninitandcounterattackbeforehecanrecover!!)

Andthen…

AlargefootsteppeddownrightnexttoKamijouashewaskneelingdown.

Hecouldn’twaitanylonger.

Ifhedid,hisopponentwouldgetthefirstattack.

“!!”

Kamijouinhaleddeeplyandsprangupfromhispositionunderthebusinessdesk.Alongwithhissuddenrise,heswungthebulletproofglasstotheside.

Alargemanwithanosepiercinglookedathiminshock.

Aninstantlater,theman’sfacedisappearedfromKamijou’sfieldofvision.Withadullnoise,theSkill-Outman’sbodywasknockedtotheground.Themetalpiercingmusthaverippedfromhisflesh,becauseitstayedoddlyintheairjustabitlonger.

Onedown.

ButKamijouwasfarfromhappy.

Thebagwiththehandgunwasrightnexttohim,buthehadforgottentoreachovertograbit.

Andaboywithanoddlypalefacewasstandingonlyameterawayfromhim.

(Twoofthemcamelookingforme!?)

Kamijou’sbodystiffened,butitseemedhisopponent’sdidtoo.Thestudentmayhavehadahandgun,buthehadnotrainingorexperience.Hecouldn’thidehisshockatseeinghiscolleaguesuddenlytakenout.

Kamijouheardasmallmetallicnoise.

Itwasthesoundofthenosepiercingfinallyhittingtheground.

“…!!”

“…!!”

Kamijouandthepaleboybothstartedmoving,butsomethingelsehappenedfirst.

OneofthemenstandingnexttoMisuzuaimedhisgunatKamijou.Hemusthavebroughtupthehandgun’shammer,becausetherewasasharpmetallicnoise.ThereweretwoofthemnexttoMisuzuandone,amanwithsmallchainswrappedaroundhisarmsandlegs,heldhisgunwithshakinghands.Theother,aboywithnumerouscutsinhisshirtandpants,triedtostopthefirst,butthetriggerhadbeenpulledbeforehecould.

“You’vegottabekiddingmeee!!”

Kamijouhadn’tyelledthat;itwasthepaleboynexttohim.

However,therewerenumerousgunshots.

Thethunderousroarandshockwavesfromtheshotsmadeatremendousnoise.

PainshotupKamijou’swristsasheheldthebulletproofglass.Theyhadn’tbeenhitbythebullets;thatwasjustfromtheshockbeingappliedtotheglassbeingtransferredtohisbones.

Meanwhile,thepaleboynearKamijouwasknockedtothefloorasifhehadbeenhitbyahammer.Whenhenoticedadarkredliquidcomingfromtheboy’sside,Kamijougrittedhisteeth,buttherewasnothinghecoulddoaboutitnow.

Hewasn’tsureifheshouldtakecoverbehindsomethingagain,but…

(Shit!Ihavetoputastoptothat…!!)

HekeptthebulletproofglassinfrontofhimandrantowardsMisuzu…orrather,towardsthetwoSkill-Outmembersstandingnexttoher.

Theywereabout10metersaway.

Kamijouranbetweenthelinesofdesks.

Butthenextroundofshootingcame.

Thebulletshittheglass,butitwasenoughtoalmostknockKamijoutotheground.Hejustbarelymanagedtoregainhisbalance,butmorebulletshittheglassandhishandsslippedfromtheframearoundtheglass.

Thelargewindowfelltothegroundwithametallicnoise.

Hedidn’thavetimetopickitbackup.

Hemovedhisgazeupfromhishandsthatwerecoveredinsweatduetopainandtensionandsawtwogunbarrelsstaringbackathim.Thistimeitwasn’tjustthemancoveredinchains;theonewiththesliced-uppantsdidn’thesitateeither.

Theywereonly5metersaway.

Evenwiththefluorescentlightsout,KamijoucouldseetheexpressionsontheSkill-Outmembers’faces.Hecouldtelloneofthemhadsweatdrippingfromhisnosetohislips.Thetremblinggunsight,theindexfingermovinglikearustedpuppet,andeverythingelseinthatinstantthatseemeddevoidofallsoundwasburnedintoKamijou’sretinas.

Finally,KamijousawMisuzu’sfaceattheedgeofhisvision.

Shewassittingonthefloorwhileyellingsomethinginshock.

Herlipsweremoving,butherwordsdidn’tmakeitintoKamijou’shead.

Hecouldn’tmoveatallanditfeltliketimehadstopped…

Butthenahigh-pitchedgunshotrangout.

Soundreturnedtonormal.

Inthatinstant,Kamijouseriouslythoughthishearthadstopped.

Buttherewasno9mmholeinhisbody.Hecouldtellthatoneofthetwoaimingathim,theonewiththechainswrappedaroundhisarmsandlegs,hadbeenblowntotheside.Adarkredtrailofbloodfollowedhimandhefelltothefloorwithnoresistance.

KamijoucouldhearMisuzu’smeaninglessscream.

Theboywiththesliced-uppantsturnedhisgazetotheside.

HeturnedinthedirectionofadifferententrancefromtheoneKamijouhadcomeinfrom.

SomeonehadshottheSkill-Outmemberfromthere.

“Y-youbastard!!”yelledtheboywiththesliced-uppantsasheheldhishandgun.

ThefeelingofparalysisfinallyleftKamijou.

Nowthathisfreedomhadcomebacktohimlikearopehardenedwithgluebeingbenttoregainitspliability,heimmediatelyhidbelowoneofthebusinessdesks.

Stayingthere,heyelledtoMisuzuwhowassittinginshockafewmetersaway.

“Getbehindcover!!”

AndyetMisuzucontinuedtositinshockandshowednosignofmoving.

“Misaka-san,getbehindcover!!”

AnumberofgunshotsdrownedoutKamijou’svoice.

Hedidn’tknowwhohadstartedthisfirefight,butastraybulletcouldeasilyhitMisuzulikethis.

(Damnit!!)

Whilehidingbehindthebusinessdesk,Kamijouinhaledslightly.

(CanIdothis…?Damnit.Ihavenochoicebuttogooutinthat!!)

Hejumpedoutwhilestillkneelingdownlow.

Heran5meters,andranintoMisuzusoastocoverherupwhilepushinghertotheground.

Thegunshotscontinued.

“We’regettingoutofhere…”

Therewasnopointinhelpingtobringthisbattletoanend.

“Hurry!!”

KamijougrabbedMisuzu’sarmandrantowardsanexittothedomedareaasquicklyashecould.

Part9

WhenAcceleratorenteredthemaindomedfacility,hestartedbyshootingeveryoneholdingagun.First,heaimedhisgunatoneofthetwomenstandingnearMisuzu,amanwithchainswrappedaroundhisarmsandlegs,andcasuallypulledthetrigger.

Adrygunshotrangout.

Seeingthemanbeingblowntothesidewithbloodspewingfromhisbody,

Misuzugaveashortscream.

Humanswerequiteinconvenient.

Nomatterhowbigtheygot,amere9mmholecouldtakethemout.

“Y-youbastard!!”theremainingSkill-OutmemberyelledandaimedhisguntowardsAccelerator.

However,hehidbehindthesteeldoor,letafewbulletscome,andthensprayedbacksomebulletsofhisown.

Themanwhohadcutsinhisshirtandpantshidbehindadesk,butAcceleratorsilencedhimbyshootingstraightthroughthedesk.

(Nowthen…TheonlySkill-Outmemberleftis…)

“Him.”

AcceleratoraimedandfiredtowardsadarkfigurethatwasdraggingMisuzubythearmtowardsoneofthedoors.

“Waaaaahhhh!?”

Heheardaloudyell,butthebulletspassedabittothesideofthefigure.AcceleratormusthavebeenworriedabouthittingMisuzuasshewasnexttothetarget.Hisaimhadclearlybeenlacking.

InordertoescapeAccelerator’saim,thefigurecontinuedrunningalongwithMisuzu.Apparently,raisinghishandsabovehisheadsandstoppingneverevenoccurredtotheguy.

“Tch,”Acceleratorclickedhistongue.“Heh,nowthisisinteresting…You’vegotgutstonotgiveuponyourjobafterallthis.”

AsmilesliceditswayacrossAccelerator’smouthandheaimedafteradjustinghisgriponhishandgun.

“You’rejustafuckingfailure!Imightaswellscrapyouhere!!”

“Shutup,youasshole!WhatdidMisuzu-sando!?YouSkill-Outbastardsjusttargetedaninnocentwomanandthenstartedfightingamongstyourselves!!Justkillyourselvesoffanddon’tbotherus!!”

Acceleratorheardawhiningvoice,butheconcentratedonpullingthetriggerinsteadoflisteningtoit.ButMisuzu’sbackwasinthewaysohecouldn’tfire.

Andthenthetwohadreachedadifferentexittothebuilding.

Acceleratorscratchedhistemplewiththebarrelofhisgun.

(…Wait?YouSkill-Outbastards?)

Hethoughtaboutthewordshehadjustheard.

(DidhethinkIwasoneofthem?Sohewasn’toneofthem?IthoughtMisakaMisuzuwastheonlypersonthatwassupposedtobeusingthisfacility…WashepartofJudgment?)

Italsobotheredhimthattheguyhadn’treturnedfirewithagun.Also,hismovementshadn’tseemedlikethoseofsomeonewhohadgonethroughAnti-SkillorJudgmenttraining.

(It’salsooddthatheknewMisakaMisuzu’sname…Well,Iguessitwasn’tnecessarilysomeonethatknewher.Skill-Outmayhavebeentoldthenameoftheirtarget.)

Forsomereason,Acceleratorfiredhisgunafterthemafewtimesandthenheadedfurtherintothedomedfacility.

“Nowthen…”

HedecidedtochaseafterMisuzuandthefigurethathadrunoffwithher.

Hedidn’tknowwhothatguywas,but,eveniftheguywaswithSkill-Out,heprobablywasn’tgoingtokillherbeforehegottoasafeplacejudgingfromthefactthathehadn’tjustshotherandranoff.AndsincenocounterattackcamewhenAcceleratorenteredthedomedfacility,hereallymustnothavehadagun.

Whichmeant…

(Ijusthavetocatchhimandfinishthisbeforehegetsoffofthedatabasecentergrounds.)

Afterdecidingonthat,heheardanumberoffootstepsapproachingfromanumberofdifferentdirections.

Theymusthaveheardthefirefight.

Itlookedlikehewasn’tgoingtobeabletocontinueoneasily.

(Ineedtofallbackandtakethemoutfromthere.Thesebusinessdeskswon’tblockbullets.)

Lookingforaplacetofight,Acceleratorlookedaroundthearea,butthenhisheadsuddenlystopped.

Therewere3piecesoftrashcollapsedinthedomedarea.

Andyettherewere4handgunsonthefloor.

Part10

KamijouandMisuzuleftthemaindomedfacilityandheadedtooneofthesmallerrectangularbuildingsviaoneofthelinkingpassageways.Theymanagedtogetoutsidethroughanemergencyexitthere.

Therehadbeenonlookersgatheredatthemainentrance,butnoonewasoutbythisbackentrance.

KamijouspokewhilestillpullingonMisuzu’shand.

“Weshouldfindsomewherewithalotofpeople.ThereareonlookersandAnti-Skilloutfront,soweshouldbesafeifwecirclearoundtothere.”

“Sigh.Whyareboysalwayslikethis?Ienduprelyingonyoufromtheverybeginningtotheveryend.Asaparent,I’msupposedtobetheguardian.”

Misuzuseemedabitdown,butitwouldhavebeenhardnottobegivenwhathadhappened.Kamijoucertainlydidn’twanttohavetodoallthatagain.

Becauseofthis,hedecidedtourgeherforwardratherthancriticizingher.

“Hurry.Wemanagedtogetoutside,buttherearestillsomeofthemleft.Ifwegetattackedagainhere,it’sbacktosquareone.”

“Iknow,Iknow.Pleasejustholdmyhandandescortme.”

Hearingthat,Kamijousuddenlybecameembarrassed.Hestartedtoletgoofherhand,butMisuzustrengthenedhergrip.

Itlookedlikeshewasteasinghim,butshemighthaveactuallybeenafraid.

Kamijoucontinuedtowalkthroughthedatabasecentergrounds.

Thedomewasabout50metersindiameterand,evenwiththesurroundingbuildings,itwasn’tthatbig.Itwouldonlytakeafewminutestowalkaroundtothemainentrance.Themostdangerouspartwasgettingoutofthebuilding,sohefeltsaferthanhiswordshadleton.Unlesstheywereupagainstpeoplewhowouldkilltheonlookersalongwiththem,Skill-Outwouldgiveupontheirownoncethetwoofthemmadeittothemainentrance.

But…

“Don’tmove.”

Afigurewasstandingblockingthepathtothemainentrance.

ItwastheguyKamijouhadhitwiththebulletproofglassbackinthedome.Hemusthavecometoshortlyafterwards.Becausehisnosepiercinghadbeenrippedout,hehadsomedarkredbloodonhim.Hehadn’treallyhadachance,butKamijoureallyshouldhavetiedhimupafterknockinghimout.

“Don’tmove…Whothehellareyou?Whydidyouhavetoshowupatatimelikethis?Wasthatjobafake?Werewesetup?”

Kamijoufrownedatthosewords.

“Job?”

“Whatthehellkindofquestionisthat?YouknowfullwellwhatI’mtalkingabout.Komabawaskilledforcingmetotakecommandinhisplace.Ihadtocleanupforhim.Ihadnochoicebuttomakeitupto‘them’tokeepusfrombeingwipedoutintheoperationtotakebackcontrolofthebackalleys.…Shit.Youwereplanningonusingusandtakingusoutafterwardsthiswholetime,weren’tyou!!”

“Ihavenoideawhatyou’retalkingabout.”

Kamijoutriedtosortoutthefragmentsofideasthismanwassayingandresponded.

“Icameherebecauseshecalledme.Idon’tknowwhatyou’reimagining,butthisisn’tthatcomplicated.”

Afterhearingthat,theman’smouthfellopen.

Thenhegaveasmalllaugh.

“Haha.”

Thelaughheldnoamusementatall.

“Sothat’swhathappened?We’realldoneforhere.We’reallgoingtogettakeninbyAnti-Skillandtheguyatthecenterofitdoesn’tevenknowwhat’sgoingon?Mylife,thelifeofHamazuraShiage,isabouttoend.Thisisthefinale...IthoughtIhadatleastgottenwrappedupinsomeconspiracyorbeendealingwithsomegeniustactician,butIwasn’tevenbeingtricked?Hahaha.Hahahahahahaha!!”

Ashespoke,themannaminghimselfHamazurabroughthisrighthandbehindhisback.

Hepulledoutaretractablebatonthatmusthavebeentuckedintohisbeltandforcefullyswungitouttofulllength.

“Ican’tfuckingstandit.Ijustneedtobeatsomeonetodeath.”

Hamazuraheadedstraighttowardsthem.

KamijoupushedMisuzutotheside.

Hewasonebeatslowbecauseofthatandheardsomethingslicingthroughtheair.Itsoundedlikeatennisracketbeingswunganditwas,ofcourse,thesoundofthebaton.

“!!”

Heimmediatelylifteduphisleftarmtoprotecthisface.

Theblowwasaimedforhistempleandithitthebottomofhiswristwithadullnoise.

Adisconcertinggroaningvibrationwentthroughhisbones.

AsKamijou’sfacetwistedinpain,HamazurajabbedhiskneeintoKamijou’sgut.

Aloudnoiselikeadrumbeinghitcouldbeheard.

“Gh…ah!!”

AirescapedKamijou’smouth.

Theshockcausedtheobjectsstuckintohisbelttofalltotheground.Theseobjectswerethestungun,thebaton,etc.thathehadtakenfromtheSkill-Outmembershehaddefeated.

(Damnit.ImagineBreakerisnohelpagainstaLevel0!!)

Kamijougrittedhisteethandquicklyleanedovertopickthestungunupfromthedampground.But…

“DidyoureallythinkI’dletyoudothat?”

HamazurastompedfullforceonKamijou’shandashegrabbedtheweapon.

Therewasn’tenoughtimetojustsittherefeelingthedullpain.

“Iknowbetterthananyonehowtousethiskindofthing!!”

Anunpleasantnoiserangout.

WhilestandingonKamijou’shand,HamazurahadusedhisotherlegtokickKamijouinthejaw.

“Bh…gah!?”

Kamijou’sconsciousnesswavered.

Attheveryleast,hehadn’tbittenhistongue.

Kamijou’sbodyarcedbackwardsandhefelltothegroundonhisback.Misuzugaveasmallscream,butnoonewaspayinganyattentiontoher.KamijougrabbedsomedirtfromthegroundandthrewitatHamazura’sface.

“!!”

Hamazuraprotectedhisfacewithonehandsohewasn’tblinded,buthestillflinchedandtookastepback.

Kamijouquicklygotuptoahalf-risenpostureandtackledHamazurasquareinthegut.AloudnoiselikeadoorbeingsmashedincamefromsomewherenearKamijou’sshoulder.

Hamazura’slegsslidalongtheground.

Evenso,hedidnotfallbackwards.

(He’sstill…!?)

“Sorry,butI’maLevel0,”cameawhisperingvoicenexttoKamijou’sear.

Hamazuraspokeatpoint-blankrangewhileKamijoualmostlookedlikehewasembracinghim.

“Todealwithespersinthebackalleys,youneedtobuildupastrongbody.It’sfuckingstupidreally.Wedothesamethingasathletes,butnoonepraisesusforit!!”

Ashespoke,heslammedthebottomofhisbatonintoKamijou’sneck.

AsharppainunlikeanyinthefightsofarranalongKamijou’sbackbone.

HegroanedandHamazurabroughtthebatondown2or3moretimes.KamijouwasswayingandabouttofallwhenHamazuragrabbedhiscollarwithhisfreehand.

Helaughedatpoint-blankrange.

“Isee,Isee.Ifyouaren’twith‘them’,thenthedealwiththemisstillgood.SoifItakethetargetoverthere’sdeadbodytothem,theymightstillshelterus.Hahaha!!”

However,thosewordsmighthavebeenamistake.

AdefinitepowercouldbeseeninthelightinKamijou’seyes.

“Trysayingthatagain,dammit!!”KamijouyelledfromhisbottomofhisgutandaimedfortheareabetweenHamazura’schinandlowerlipwithhisforehead.Withasoundlikeaflowerpotthathadbeendroppedfromsomewherehighup,Hamazura’sneckbentbackwards.

KamijouthenslammedhisclenchedfistintothetopofHamazura’snose.

Hamazura’sbodyarcedbackwardsandfelltotheground.

“Agaaaaahhh!!”

HamazurarolledonthegroundholdinghisnoseandKamijoutriedtokickhim.Butthedamagehehadtakenmusthaveaffectedhimmorethanhehadthought,becausehisfootingfaltered.

“Shit…Youhaveasloppywayoffighting.”

Hamazurahadmanagedtostandbackup.

Thepreviousheadbuttmusthaveknockedoneofhisfrontteethcrooked,becausehislipswerestainedred.

“Enoughwiththepointlessresistance.Justhandoverthatwoman’sbodyalready.That’sthedeal.SinceKomabafailed,wehavenothingleft.Wehavetofinishthisjob…”

Despiteallhisaggression,hiswordswereoddlyfrail.

Kamijoufrowned,butthenfigureditout.

HewasfromagroupofLevel0swhogatheredtogetheroutoffearofbeingunilaterallyattackedbythosestrongerthanthem.

Sonomatterhowstronghewas,hewasn’tusedtobeingpunchedbyothers.

Realizingthat,Kamijouspatouthisnextwords.

“Fuckthat.”

Ashespokeherealizedhiswordswererathersharp.

“Enoughaboutyourjob.I’mnotgoingtobekilledbysomeonewithnoreasontokillwho’streatingitliketheirhomeworkorsomething.Whatthehelldoyouthinkahumanlifeis?Doyoureallybelieveit’ssomethingthathasmonetaryvalue?Howcanyoubesofuckingstupid!?”

“Ihavenochoice.Level0slikeuscan’tlivewithoutdoingthiskindofthing!Wegetmockedwhereverwegoand,whenwemakeaplaceforourselves,itgetsdestroyedinthenameofmakingthearealooknice.Withthingslikethat,whatpathotherthanpreyingonothersisthereforaLevel0!?Well!?”

Skill-Out.

AgroupofLevel0screatedinthenameofself-defense.

Todothat,theircircumstancesmusthavedriventhemtoit.

Itwasaspiralofviolenceandabsurditythatremainedhiddenfrompublicview.

But…

“…Don’tputmeinthesamecategoryasyou.”

“What?”

“I’mtellingyounottoputallLevel0sinthesamecategoryaspiecesofshitlikeyou.”

“You…Wait?What’syourpower…?Youhaven’tuseditatall…”

HamazurawipedbloodfromhismouthandmovedhiseyesacrossKamijou’sbodyashespoke.

Kamijouignoredhimandsaidwhathewantedtosay.

“IsthereaplaceforLevel0s?Ofcoursethereis!Isthereapathforthemotherthanpreyingonothers?Ofcoursethereis!!ThereareLevel0salloverAcademyCity.Andtheygotoschoollikenormal,makefriendslikenormal,andjustlivenormallives!Theydon’tgetmockedwherevertheygo.You’retheonesthataremakingamockeryofLevel0sbythinkingthatway!!”

“Isee…Soyou’rethesameasus…!!”

“I’mnotthesame.Attheveryleast,Idon’tactlikeyoudo.Idon’tthinkmylackofpowerisanyreasontoattackthosewhodohavepower!ImaybeLevel0,butIhavenointentionofbecominga‘minus’whoenjoystrippingupothers!!”

“Aminus?”HamazurafrownedasherepeatedbackwhatKamijouhadsaid.“You’resayingwe’reminuses?Ridiculous.Ifanyone’saplus,weare!Justbecausesomeonedoesn’thaveanypower,isnoreasontorejectthem.PeoplelikeusinSkill-Outare100timesbetterthanthosethathavepowerbutdon’thelpusatall!!”

“Ifthat’swhatyouthink,haveyoueverreachedoutyourhandtosomeonewhowasaskingforhelp?”

“…!?”

“Ifyoucan’tanswer,thenyou’rethesame.Fuckingridiculous.Who’sgoingtohelpsomeonewhorefusestohelppeoplethemselves?Whowantstobearoundsomeonewhoassumestheyshouldbehappyandneverthinksaboutthehappinessofothers!?That’swhereyourproblemlies!!”

“Youpeoplearesuchidiots,”Kamijouyelled.

ThisLevel0wasjusttooweak.

Notonlywasheweak,hegaveexcusesforhisweaknesssohewouldnevergrowstronger.

“IfyouhadonlyusedthestrengthittooktoformSkill-Outandusedittohelpthoseweakerthanyou,thingswouldhavechangedforyou!!Ifyouhadonlyusedthatstrengthyouusedtofightbackagainstpowerfulesperstohelpthoseinneed,thepeopleofAcademyCitywouldhaveacceptedyou!!Ishouldn’thavetotellyouthiskindofthing!!”

“Shutthefuckup!!”Hamazura’sfacedistortedasheyelled.“OurLevel0leader,KomabaRitoku,livedlikethatandhediedearliertoday.Hediedwhiletryingtoprotecttheweak!Intheend,itjustisn’tthatsimpleforus.Whenthedropoutsinthebackalleystrytodothatkindofthing,wejustgetlaughedat!!”

“Isee.Butthatguymusthavehadsomethingyoudon’t.I’veneverseenthisKomabaguy,buthemusthavelivedinamuchwiderworldthanyou!Isn’tthatwhyhestayedandfoughttotheend!?Hewouldn’thavecalledthepeoplehewasprotecting‘theweak’;hewouldhavecalledthemhis‘comrades’!WasthatKomabareallygettinglaughedatfromallsides?Heactuallyfoughttothedeathforthem.Ifhecaredforhiscomradesenoughtoprotectthemlikethat,he,unlikeyou,musthavebeenlovedbyhiscomrades!!”

“Fuckthat…”

TwowordsseepedfrombetweenHamazura’slips.

Hiswordswerelikeapooloffilthoverflowing.

“You’remockingus.You’reaLevel0…Youdon’thaveapower…andyetyou’restillmockinguuuuuuusssss!!”

Hamazurabroughtuphisbatonandranforwardonshakinglegs.

KamijouToumaclenchedhisfist.

Hewasnolongerafraidofthatguy.

Hamazurahadbeenrevealedtobenotmuchofaman.

“Thereasonpeoplemockyouhasnothingtodowithyourlackofapower.I’llshowyouthatnow.”

EventhoughMisuzutriedtostophim,Kamijousteppedforward.

Ignoringtheincomingbaton,hemerelyclenchedhisfisttighter.

“Thisisthedifferencebetweenyouandme!Youcandosomethingaboutthatboringillusionofyoursonyourown!!”

Athicknoiserangout.

Batonandfisthittheirtargetedfaces,bloodflowedfromsplitforeheads,andtheybothlosttheirbalance.

Butonlyoneofthemfell.

Theotherwouldsurelynotfall.

Part11

Kamijouwantedtogobacktothisdormandsleep,butMisuzusaidhewasbleedingtoomuchtoignore,soheendeduphavingtocallanambulance.Itwasabitpathetic,butthesemedicalfeesandhospitalexpenseswereamajorreasonhisfinanceswereinsuchabadstate.

Atthemoment,hewasbeingtakentotheambulanceonastretcher.Misuzuwasstandingwithawhite-helmetedrescueworkerwhenshesuddenlylookedoveratKamijou.

“ItseemsAcademyCityreallyisn’tsafe.Although,Isupposeit’sthesameinanycity.Iwonderifthere’sanywhereinthiscountrywhereaparentcanraiseherchildwithouthavingtoworry.”

Thenoiseofthestretcher’swheelswassoloud,Kamijoucouldbarelyhearher.

“…Thetruthis,IcameheretotakeMikoto-chanaway.”

Evenso,thosewordsrangoddlyclearinKamijou’sears.

Misuzuclosedhereyespartially.

“Thingsaregettingdangerouswiththatwarstartingafterall.TheysaidonthenewsthatAcademyCitywassaferthananyothercityinthecountry,butIcouldjusttakeheroverseas,right?Well,leavingmycollegestudieswouldbeaproblem,butyoucouldsayitwouldjustbeanextendedbreakfromschool.Idon’tcareifIhavetorepeatthesameyearagain.I’mnotreadytoquityetthough,soIwasseriousabouthavingareportIneedtogetdone.”

Aftersayingallthat,shesmiled.

ItseemedtocomeoutnaturallyasshelookedatKamijou’sface.

“ButI’mnotworriedanymore.”

BeforeKamijoucouldaskwhy,shecontinued.

“Basically,thisproblemisliketheonethatboyfrombeforehad.Nomatterhowfaryourun,there’snosafeplace.Andthefeelingsofonepersontherecangreatlychangethings.SoinsteadofmovingMikoto-chansomewhereelse,she

maybesaferhavingsomeonelikeyoubyherside.”

Theyhadarrivedattheambulance.Asthelegsholdingupthestretcherwerefoldedup,Kamijoufeltaslightvibrationinhisback.

Theambulancemusthavebeenabouttoleave.

Misuzumusthavethoughtsotoo,becauseshefinishedspeakinginahurriedvoice.

“Inotherwords,ifyouallandpeoplelikeyouprotectMikoto-chan,there’snoproblem.”

ThestretcherKamijouwaslyingonwasputontheambulance.

Atfirst,KamijoujustlistenedtoMisuzurambleon,butthenhefrowned.

(You“all”…?)

Beforehecouldbringthatquestiontohislips,theambulance’sbackdoorswereslammedshutandtheambulance,alongwithitssiren,started.

Epilogue:ASingleWillandaSmallKey.The_Present_Target.

“Hmph.”

Hiddeninthedarkness,AcceleratorlookedovertothemainentranceoftheDangaiUniversitydatabasecenterandavertedhisgazewhenhefoundMisuzu’sface.

TherehadbeenmoreSkill-Outmembersthanhehadexpectedremaininginthefacilityandtakingthemouthadeatenupalotoftime.

ButsinceMisuzuwasfine,thepersonhehadmetinthedomemustnothavebeenherenemy.Shewasseeinganambulanceoff,sothatpersonmusthavegotteninjuredatsomepoint.

“Itdoesn’treallymatter,”concludedAcceleratorasheexitedthedatabasecentergroundsthroughabackentrance.

Thatwaswhensomeonespoketohim.

“Ihadheardyouwerehere.Fromthelookinyourface,Iassumeitwentwell.”

“Unabara,”mutteredAcceleratorasifhedidn’tcareandhelookedovertowardshim.

Thedarknessdidn’tsuitthatsilkybrownhairorthatagreeableandyouthfulface.Andasheapproached,Acceleratorbeganfeelinganoddpressureinhischest.

Hedidn’tallowittoshowonhisfaceandcasuallykepthisdistancefromUnabara.

UnabarawhoseemedoutofplacespoketoAcceleratorwhomadethedarknesshisown.

“Sowasthisanotherleftoverjob?Youshouldn’toverworkyourselfwhenyouaren’tevengettingpaid.”

“Ididn’taskforyouropinion,”Acceleratorsaidrejectingthecomment.

Lookingcloser,hecouldseeTsuchimikadoMotoharuandMusujimeAwakistandingnearUnabara.Thatmeantall4membersofGroupwerehere.

“…Whatdoyouwant?Didthehigherupssendyouheretopunishme?”

“Ofcoursenot.We’rejustheretoconfirmafewthings.”TsuchimikadostaredatAcceleratorfrombehindhissunglassesashespoke.“FirstonthelistisaboutMisakaMisuzu.FromwhatIcouldhearatadistance,shehasdecidedagainsttakingherdaughterfromAcademyCity.Soherdeathhasbeencalledoff.Itmayhavebeenmainlyduetosomeinjuries,butthatmatterissettled.”

“Willthehigherupsreallyacceptavagueconclusionlikethat?That’sjustwhatshesaid.Shecouldeasilychangehermindatanytime.”

“It’llbeaccepted.…ThatidiotUnabaraworkedprettyhardinthatregard.”Tsuchimikadomutteredasifhewasalmostsurprisedaboutit.

AcceleratorlookedtowardsUnabarawithadubiousexpressiononhisface,butUnabaramerelysmiledinthedarknessandspoke.

“Well,thatboywascarryingouthis‘promise’toprotecttheworldaroundsomeoneIhavefeelingsfor,soIthoughtIshouldhelpoutsomemyself.ItseemsIoverworkedmyshoulderabit.”

“…Damnprettyboy.He’sbeensayingthingslikethatwithoutgivingusastraightanswerthiswholetime.Hemusthaveusedafairlyunsightlymethod.”

Musujimebroughtherhandtoherforeheadandshookherhead.

Tsuchimikadorelaxedhisshoulders.

“Anyway.MisakaMisuzuisfine.Goodworkonyourfirstjob+extras,

Accelerator.How’dyoulikeyourfirstGroupjob?Basicallythesejobsarecleaningupafterthemessesotherpeoplemake,butthereareplentyofwaystofindthemworthwhile.”

“Goddamnit.Todaywasjustviolence,betrayal,andkillingonparade.”

TsuchimikadonoddedinresponsetothewordsAcceleratorspatout.

“Exactly.Butwehavetoprotectourownweakpointsamongstitall.Ourlivesmaybeeasierifweabandonthoseweakpoints,butwejustcan’tmakeourselvesdoit…They’reourworthlesstreasures.”

“…”

“Ihavemystepsister,Unabarahasthepersonhehasfeelingsfor,Musujimehashercomradeswhoonceworkedwithher,andyouhavetheclones.”

Tsuchimikado’slipstwistedupinacynicalsmile.

“Toprotectthoseimportantthings,wecan’tusenormalmethods.Thehigherupslinedthingsupfortheirvictoryfromtheverybeginning,butthat’sbasicallyalie.It’slikemakingariggedbet.It’smadesoyoucan’twinandyouloseyourmoney.There’snowaytogetoutofherebyfollowingtherules.Wecantrytowinbytherulesanyway,wecantrytofindaloopholeintherules,orwecanthrowthechessboardtothegroundandgoonarampage.Thoseareouroptions.”

“Whyareyoutellingmethis?Idoubtyou’resuggestingweallgetalongandworktogether.”

“Becauseyoucouldbecomeacardwecoulduse,”repliedTsuchimikadolightly.“Idon’tknowwhatthey’replanning,butyouseemtobequiteimportanttothehigherups.Fornow,theyseemcontentwithonlyhavingmessedwithyourelectrode,butthatmeansyouhaveachance.Let’sworktogether,Accelerator.We’llteachyouhowtoliveinthisworld,soyouwon’tdieeasily.”

“…”

AcceleratorlookedattheothermembersofGroup.

TsuchimikadoMotoharu,UnabaraMitsuki,MusujimeAwaki.

Allthreeofthemwerepeculiarpeopleandhehadnoideawhatanyofthemwereactuallythinking.Buthewasthesame.HewouldhavenoproblemusingtheminordertosaveLastOrder.

“Interesting,”hesaid.“Butifyougetinmyway,Iwon’thesitatetocastyouaside.Thisonlylastsaslongasyouhavevaluetome.Ifyouwantanythingmorethanthat,you’reoutofluck.”

“Hah.Excellentattitude.”

TsuchimikadolaughedandturnedhisbackonAccelerator.

Hewavedhishandurgingtheothersonasifhewasinvitingthemouttokaraoke.

“Comeon.Thehigherupsaregoingtocounterattackbeforelong.”

ThebiggestrestraintonAcceleratorwasthesafetydeviceforhiselectrodethatthehigherupscouldoperateremotely.

Ashecouldn’tusetheSisters’substituteoperationswheninanareawhereelectromagneticwavescouldn’treachhim,hehadnowaytoblocktheremotesafetydevice.AnythingthatwouldblockitwouldblockhisconnectionwiththeSistersaswell.

Atfirstglance,itseemedtobeaperfectmethodofcontrol,but,ifheonlymanagedtogetpastthat,hehadagoodchanceofescapingthem.

(FirstIneedtheblueprint.)

Hewouldgotothefrog-faceddoctorandgettheblueprintforthechoker-styleelectrode.Icanfigureouthowthesafetyworksfromhere.Andifthattakestoolong,Imaybeabletomakeasecondone.

(Thisisgonnabefun.)

Asmilenaturallycametohisface.

Fromadistance,theymighthavelookedlikefriendschattingastheywalkedalongthestreetatnight.

ButAcceleratoronlyfeltsomethinghotsquirmingaroundinsidehim.

Therewasthat“man”thathadtalkedwithhimonthephonerightbeforehiselectrodehadbeencutoffremotely.

HecouldberelaxingathishomeonacouchorhecouldbewalkingaroundintheverysameareaAcceleratorwas.Avoiceoverthephonecouldbeartificiallyaltered,sohecouldn’tevenbesureithadreallybeenaman.

Fromwhatthatbastardhadsaid,therewassomeonebehindallthis.

Someonebehindallthismisfortune.

(Havingagoalreallyisfun.)

Inahospitalatnight,thefrog-faceddoctorreceivedanemergencymessagewhilemakingadjustmentstoLastOrder’sbody.Itseemedtheusualboyhaddonesomethingcrazyagainandhadbeenbroughtthere.Hethoughtitwasoddthattherescueworkerhadreportedanemergencypatientwithabittersmileonhisface.

ThevirusKiharaAmatahadinputtedintoLastOrder’sheadonSeptember30thhadbeencompletelyeliminated.Withabitoflightrehabilitation,shewouldbebacktohernormallife.

(Avirus,huh?)

Ofcourse,gettingridofthatviruswasn’tenoughtohinderevenapartofAleister’splan.Ifthatwasatallpossible,LastOrderwouldnothavebeensoeasilyreleased.Asusual,alltheimportantpartshadbeenblottedoutandeverythingwasleftlookingpeaceful.

ButitwasclearthatLastOrder’sspecialcharacteristicswerebeingusedintheplan.Ifhefollowedthatlineofthinking,hemightbeabletoactuallyaccomplishsomething.

Thefrog-faceddoctorlookedatthegirllyingonthebed.

Shephysicallylookedaround10yearsold.Thegirlwassosmallitmadeyouthinkthebedhadmistakenlybeenmadetoobig.

“That’senoughadjustmentsfortoday.IhaveanotherpatientIhavetoworkon.Justgotosleepwithoutmessingaround,okay?”

Thegirlgaveaslightnodathiswords.

ThenLastOrdermovedherlipsslightlyandspoke.

“Where…?”

Thefrog-faceddoctorremainedsilentandlistened.

“…Whereishe?saysMisakaasMisakaasksherquestion.”

Thatwasmostlikelyaquestionnoonecouldanswer.Thefrog-faceddoctordidn’tknowofcourseandapparentlynotevenAccelerator’stemporaryguardian,YomikawaAiho,orthecreatoroftheclones,YoshikawaKikyou,knewwherehewas.

Evenso,thefrog-faceddoctorresponded.

“Soon.He’llbebacksoon.”

“Yeah…Misakamisseshim,saysMisakaasMisakanods.”

Thefrog-faceddoctorsaidgoodnightandleftthehospitalroom.

Hewalkeddownalong,darkhallwaytotheareaKamijouToumahadbeenbroughtto.

Ashedidso,LastOrder’swordswerecarvedintohisheart.

Hewasthepersonwhowouldgethispatientsanythingtheyneeded.

Afterword

Tothereaderswhoboughteachbookoneatatime,it'sbeenawhile.

Tothereaderswhoboughttheentireseriesatonego,wemeetforthefirsttime.

I'mKamachiKazuma.

Thistime,it'salittledifferent.ThisvolumeisnumberedasSS.Editor-sama'srequestwas'writeastoryyoucan'tnormallywrite'.IwonderifI'msuccessfulthistime?

Thus,there'snokeywordaboutmagicorscience;it'simpossibleforthisvolume.Also,Idon'tknowifthereadershaverealizedthattheendingofeachchapterhasasubtlespicetoit.Thehedgehogheadactuallyusingsomethingelseotherthanhisfist,andthatwhiteguyhavinganintentiontojoinagroup;there'salotofdevelopmentsinthevolumethatdidn'texistbefore.

Thebasicscriptisabouthowafterthemaineventsthathappened,thescrapsofinformationareaddedintoformalinearstory.Thisistheseriesof'storiesthatcan'tbewrittennormally'.I'llbeveryhappyifthereaderscanacceptthislackofbalance.

I'mverygratefultotheillustratorHaimura-sanandtheeditorMiki-san.It'sbecauseofyouractivenessthatIcanwritethissidestorylikeanotherstory.I'lllookforwardtoworkingwithyoutwoagain.

AndI'llalsoliketothankthereadersforbuyingthissidestory.

Andnow,thiswillbetheendofSS.

Ihopethenextvolumewillbethemainstoryagain.

I'llputmypendownnow.

-KamachiKazuma

ToaruMajutsunoIndex—SS1

Author:KamachiKazuma

Illustrator:HaimuraKiyotaka

TranslatedbyJs06