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