Hidan No Aria
/ Hidan no Aria Vol 2 Chapter 5
After Golden Week, Adseard will start.
Aru=Kata, in which I have to perform, is during the closing ceremony, so recently I've just been passing the time doing random things, since the classes are shortened.
Yesterday, after Shirayuki went back to Academy Island...she said she had forgotten something, and she went back to her own dormitory.
And before long, she sent me an SMS.
"Kin-chan, I'm sorry about tonight. You must be angry. I can't face you right now, so I'll be staying over here for today."
To be honest, I've had enough of continuously guarding her against a non-existent entity...
And really, I left her completely unguarded at night, and still, nothing happened, so-
"I'm not angry. Let's just count that as over and done with. There's no need to worry about it anymore, alright? Also, if I stop being your bodyguard in the middle of the assignment, Masters will get angry, so I'll continue with it. Tomorrow, after you're finished with your committee work, call me."
-I sent her that message, and went to sleep, alone.
However, I couldn't sleep at all, last night. It was partially because I was feeling regret about the incident at the artificial beach, but also, for some reason...I was extremely uneasy.
But I don't know why I was so uneasy.
...And so, because of this, I didn't get enough sleep at all.
Right now, I was holding back my drowsiness and punching tickets with Muto at the auditorium doors, which had already been converted into the stage for the Adseard opening ceremony.
This auditorium may have many doors, but because it's located deep within Butei High, I don't need to act as security at the same time.
And the door we were responsible for was the only exit to the media lounge.
So I couldn't skip even if I wanted to.
Even though, in the period before the opening ceremony, several camera-carrying and headset-wearing journalists had hurriedly passed through...
"...The song we're performing, 'Who Shot the Flash', is a cover version, and it's also a copied version. Added to this, the lyrics were replaced, right? Changing it to that degree is just a joke."
Muto, bored out of his mind from the work, was sitting on a folding chair, complaining.
"Why did they choose that song?"
I, who had nothing to do as well, asked him.
"You know how the 'Bang Ba-Ba-Ba-Bang' lyrics were the only ones that weren't changed? It's because they thought it sounded like gunshots."
"Ha...as expected of Butei High, people will..."
I struggled to hold in my yawn, and looked up towards the sky, which was also clear, today.
"Anyways, in the end, did Hotogi-san...join the cheerleaders for Aru=Kata?"
"Shirayuki? No, she didn't."
"Is that so-"
Muto suddenly started dragging his words, as if he was feeling a profound regret.
"Kinji, now that I think about it...you're a bodyguard for Hotogi-san right now, right?"
"That's right. Along with Aria."
"Hotogi-san, even while protected, doesn't feel strange at all. After all, she's one of those people that people would give anything to protect."
"I don't really think she needs to be protected."
She's able to fight on equal terms with Aria, after all.
"...Then...Kinji. Who is it?"
"What?"
"I'm asking, as for Shirayuki and Aria. Which one is your type?"
"Huh?"
My eyebrows shot up.
"Neither of them", before I could say that...Muto, with a clatter, turned his folding chair to face me.
"It's Aria, right?"
"Why would it be Aria?"
...Why did I pause, there?
"About that... Well, I was thinking that you get along better with girls that looked younger."
"Who would be able to get along with that lion cub. I'm a human, you know?"
"Before, when Aria was talking with normal girls during school...all she could talk about was you, you know? You guys are lovers, right?"
"Impossible."
"Th-then, Kinji...Do you want to have a relationship with Hotogi-san, then?"
"...You know something? Why does even Muto have to guess about these sort of things?"
Thinking back to what happened with Shirayuki last night, I automatically became angry.
"Hmph, well...Aren't Butei supposed to be infinitely curious?"
"...Curiosity killed the cat. Even that is written on the Butei textbooks."
I tossed those words down, and slumped down on the desk, not willing to answer anymore questions.
"Come on, answer me. If you don't, I'll get a 4 ton truck and squash you to death."
"Ooh, why don't you try it out? I'll meet you with my Kinji Model Beretta."
I used a manner of speaking akin to those in Assault, and entered my Ignore Muto Mode.
Even with this, Muto didn't give up.
With a, "Come-on-and-tell-me-already" expression, he continued to stare at me.
1 minute.
2 minutes...
When the third minute had elapsed, Muto's spiky head bowed down towards me...
"--I'm sorry!"
"What's this, all of a sudden? You're too loud."
"I, nearly became a bastard!"
"?"
"Because I tried to get you to like Aria. Also...I was praying that you could get along well with the girl you like."
Muto, finishing his sentence, folded his arms and looked up resolutely.
...I don't get it.
I don't get any of them.
I wasn't willing to return to those topics, and Muto seemed to feel the same way, so we started talking about music, movies, and motorcycles, slowly whittling away the time.
At 4:00, Muto's class had ended. It was only me left, in front of the unused door. I had nothing to do, so I just sat there, willing the time to pass.
...Nod...Nod.
In the sunlight, I was sitting on the folding chair, like that...I was totally burned out from my continuous guarding, and I hadn't gotten enough sleep...Finally, I descended into a haze.
In my dream I saw Aria crying while chasing a peach bun, rolling down a ramp. When she had accidentally fallen inside the water...
"Hey, Kinji--!!"
Thud!
With Muto grabbing me by the shoulder, I woke up.
"--?"
This isn't good, I had completely fallen asleep.
The clock on the wall had advanced steadily while I was asleep.
It was already 5:00.
Did Muto run back here? It looks like he's out of breath.
Is he angry because I fell asleep? -- That doesn't seem to be it. What happened?
"What is it?"
I wrinkled my eyebrows--
Muto pointed at the cellphone in my pocket.
"Situation D7, we have a Situation D7."
-- With a start, I woke up.
Situation D -- It's a code especially for Adseard, one that means something has happened within Butei High.
And, for it to reach D7, it means: "The current events are not clear, only the people receiving this message can act. Also, to protect the target's safety, do not let this get out. Butei High will continue on with Adseard as planned. The incident must be solved secretly." -- a situation like that.
I took out my cellphone, and noticed that I really did receive a message from Butei High while I was asleep.
What on Earth has happened?
Not even leaving me time to read the message, Muto whispered into my ear, saying,
"Hotogi-san seems to have disappeared. We haven't been able to reach her since noon."
"-- Disappeared?"
I hurriedly confirmed the contents of Butei High's message --
and noticed that Shirayuki had sent me one new message.
And the contents --
froze the blood running through my body.
"Kin-chan, I'm sorry. Farewell."
-- This is too weird.
For me, her childhood friend, I understood. These words were too strange.
Because even if she was brooding about the events of yesterday, and leaving home, it's impossible that she would do this.
What had happened at the man-made beach should have been resolved by the SMS I had sent yesterday.
I wasn't really sure what Shirayuki was thinking, but she's always been absolutely obedient to me. If I say it's over, then it means it's over. She won't ever speak about that again. She'll pretend it never happened.
Also, Shirayuki's sense of responsibility is very strong. She would definitely put her work -- her work for Adseard first, she would definitely wait until the closing ceremony is finished. And so, because she suddenly disappeared, Butei High felt the need to give the order for a Situation D.
I understand completely.
This is not an ordinary disappearance.
Something dangerous must have happened to her -- !
Letting things become the way they are now -- whatever I say, are all just excuses.
I never could have imagined that Shirayuki was in danger.
And even Aria, who was so alert in the beginning, gave up on the assignment.
But even though that was the case --
I was too stupid.
I was too careless.
Shirayuki might really have been targeted.
I thought back to what I had screamed at Aria only 2 days earlier.
"Just hearing that "Durandal" could appear is already enough to make you think "I hope that he appears." And without knowing it, you're deluding yourself into thinking that the "enemy" is here!"
That...Maybe I had gotten it the wrong way around.
I was the one that was thinking "I hope he doesn't exist."...and without knowing it, I had treated him as "Non-existent".
I rushed through the road leading up to Butei High --
I knew nothing about where she might be, so I could only search this one, small road.
I had split up with Muto to look for her, but, where on Earth do I start?
The me as of right now doesn't have a clue.
But this is Situation D7. If I start asking random people, I might be putting Shirayuki in danger.
When I called Shirayuki, it didn't connect, so I called Aria. However, she, for whatever reason, didn't pick up. Her phone should be ringing.
(Aria...!)
If I had done what we should have been doing from the very beginning, and been protecting Shirayuki, this wouldn't have happened.
However, the reason she's gone is me.
I didn't take her at her word, and now...because I didn't trust her, these were the consequences --
(I...aren't I the most retarded, idiotic, piece of trash!)
Shirayuki -- said she "trusted" me. From the night I started to protect her.
I trust you.
She said that, clearly...
But, I betrayed her trust--!
Like a dog, I searched every road, every corner.
But time continued to pass, while I hadn't found anything.
I...Can I not do anything?
The me right now --
I can't even protect one girl?
Why -- am I -- so useless!
(But...Even if I am useless, I still have to do something!)
Even if I have to turn this island upside down, I have to continue to look for her.
Search. Only that. That's all I can do.
Shirayuki.
I'm not a hero like you said I was.
I'm a scumbag that lies sleeping while you're in danger.
However, even if I'm a scumbag, even if I can't change that, the trust that you put in me, I have to repay it!
-- If I can't even do that, I'm not worth of even being a scumbag!
While I was running around the southern corner of Butei High -- my phone rang.
In one movement, I took it out and pressed the answer key.
"Kinji-san. This is Reki. I'm watching you right now."
-- Reki!
"A Situation D7 seems to have occurred. I looked at my phone during a break in the Snipe competition."
"Ah, yeah."
Now that I think about it, Reki is the Japanese representative at Adseard.
And I could hear through the phone, faint voices shouting: "What are you doing, Reki!" "You could've gotten a world record!"
Whatever Reki was saying was overshadowed by those voices.
"Reki, where are you right now? It's too noisy over there, I didn't hear what you said just now."
"I am on the seventh floor of Snipe."
"Snipe--"
Hearing that, I turned northwards.
Snipe is next to the underground sniper range and is situated at the northern reaches of the island, a large building.
"I'm sorry about the noise. That had nothing to do with Shirayuki, don't worry."
"What? What's going on over there!"
"I left the field in the middle of the competition, so I was disqualified. Everybody is extremely angry now."
From the phone, I heard a *thud* from a window being opened.
And a Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
Woah, those voices from just now flared up again.
Reki--!?
When I was about to call out her name, *crack*!
A fragment splintered off the lamppost next to me.
"Kinji-san, please calm down. When people become upset, their effectiveness is decreased by half."
Ju...just now, was that something that Reki shot?
From the Snipe building to here... It has to be at least 2 kilometers, right?
"That's exactly what you are right now. Have you calmed down?"
"Ah... Yeah."
Kch, I could hear her loading another bullet.
Talking on the phone--
and shooting with such an outdated SVD sniper rifle. How can she still be so accurate?
"I don't know where Shirayuki is -- but the currents don't feel right. Check gutter 9."
On the outskirts of this artificial island, there are 28 gutters.
They're used to control the water levels on the island, holes that water can be pumped out of.
"Wh-which way?"
I had just asked, when
"I am...a single bullet."
The only response was Reki's habit when concentrating, those mantra-like words.
Crack.
On the asphalt a little away from my foot, a deep mark appeared, created by a sniper rifle.
Crack. Crack. Crack Crack.
Wha...What's going on?
Reki was using the SVD's semi-auto to write something on the road.
When it was finished --
"Please go investigate in that direction. I will continue to look out for Shirayuki-san from here."
--it was an arrow sign that would fit exactly within a circle with a diameter of 30 centimeters.
I didn't notice anything out of ordinary with the flow in the gutters...
But next to the grating of gutter 9, I found signs that someone had removed it and put it back on.
From that distance, she was able to see such minute changes within the currents... Hey, this isn't the time to be stunned by Reki's superhuman sight.
I flipped open the Butei handbook I always kept with me, and checked to see where this gutter led to.
"The underground warehouse--!?"
My own words caused me to start sweating.
This wasn't because I was running. It was a cold sweat.
In the extremely dangerous Tokyo Butei High, this, along with Assault and Masters was recognized as the third danger zone...the underground warehouse.
The underground warehouse is just a pretty name we use for outsiders' benefit.
That place is actually--
the armory.
This isn't good.
This is horrible.
I may not be Aria, but even I get a bad feeling about this.
While Butei High remains ignorant... Something is going to happen.
And Shirayuki has been sucked into the middle of it--
Under Butei High, the rooms are multi-layered, like cabins in a ship. From the second floor below ground and onwards, it's all below water. I ran down the stairs, rushed towards the elevator, disregarding the forbidden access sign, and punched in the emergency code--
But, the elevator didn't move.
That's weird.
This isn't normal. I know that much, already.
I stepped into the Pressure Room, and pulled the cover of the circuit box for the elevator.
The emergency stairs, leading into the floor like a manhole, was meant to be used in case of flooding, so the walls were made of three metal plates.
I entered in the confirmation password, inserted my keycard, and used the magnetic IC inside the Butei handbook to open the door, and ran the stairs down to the floor below--!
I also used the emergency stairs for the boiler room below, and that way, I reached the 3rd floor, the 4th floor, the 5th floor, continuously going down.
The stairs were already rusty, and I fell while hurrying down. I received many scratches and bruises while sliding down.
...Ouch.
It hurts.
But, I don't have time for this right now! If there's even a 1% chance that Shirayuki is here, I have to continue going down!
For her sake. Shirayuki, who trusts me implicitly -- I have to save her--!
Thinking this way, I finally reached the 7th floor--
The underground warehouse.
This is the deepest part of Butei High.
The place that gutter 9 links to.
Of course, this isn't a place one can enter just by going through the gutter...but if one tries, it is possible. And also, the students regularly say that Butei High, because it's such a big place, doesn't have good security against intruders. Everyone just assumes that nobody is stupid enough to try and enter an island filled to the brim with hundreds of Butei.
After reaching one of the corners of the underground warehouse, an unused records room...I noticed something.
--Darkness.
I opened the door noiselessly, peering out into the corridor, but everything was still pitch black.
The electricity's been cut.
I took out my cellphone, planning to call Muto and Reki -- But for some reason, probably because the signal transmitter inside the room was broken, I had no signal.
Damn it.
I was angry because I couldn't even predict this happening.
This isn't like a game, flashlights or walkie-talkies won't appear out of nowhere.
But even if that's the case, going up to the surface to call for back up is a waste of time.
More important than communication, than light, is time.
I don't know whether this decision is correct.
But, Shirayuki might be hurt right now. All because I was so stupid. The only thing I can do is save her immediately! Anything else is unimportant!
I tried to lessen the noise of my footsteps as I walked through the halls, looking for a trace of Shirayuki.
The corridors were very wide, and on each side were rows and rows of ammunition racks.
I used the light of my cellphone to take a look at my Butei handbook. In front of me should be an empty space, much like a hall.
It's the storage place for the underground warehouse's most dangerous armaments. The room called the big warehouse.
From there...
"..."
I could sense somebody.
There are people arguing.
I may not be able to hear what they're saying, but there are definitely people there.
I reached for my Beretta--
I brushed the handle, and then frowned.
In the red light illuminating the darkness, I could see warnings like "KEEP OUT" or "DANGER" written all around.
This is an ammunition dump.
If a bullet accidentally hits something dangerous, and it explodes -- Butei High would be blown away.
That isn't an exaggeration.
Academy Island would become just like a ship that got hit by a torpedo. There are armaments in here easily able to cause that level of destruction. Also, the armaments in here are stored messily.
If an explosion sets off any secondary explosions, then Butei High's faculty, alumni, and every competitor in Adseard -- the elite Butei from all over the world -- will be slaughtered.
That isn't it. A lot of journalists and the like are here to report on Adseard. If an incident like several hundred Butei getting blown to pieces actually occurs, they will most definitely get the news out.
...In short, I cannot use my gun.
I felt for the butterfly knife concealed among my clothes, and opened it, soundlessly.
Illuminated under the red light, the knife edge was glowing.
The structure of the butterfly knife makes it easy for it to make a lot of noise, so it didn't fit a situation like this.
I can't wave it around, or I'll have to keep it.
Thinking this way, and using the knife edge as a mirror to look around corners...I took in a sharp intake of breath.
Under the red light, around 50 meters away from me, next to a mountain of ammunition--
stood Shirayuki in her Miko garments.
Shirayuki was talking to someone, next to the carelessly stacked...or maybe moved...stack of ammunition.
I wanted to charge in, but I quelled the impulse. I have to understand the situation first. And I can't be sure, but that unknown person might be pointing a gun at Shirayuki as we speak.
I stuck my body as close to the corner as it would go, and listened calmly.
"Why do you want me, Durandal. Why do you need, someone like me...a person without any special traits of any kind."
Shirayuki's voice was full of fear.
--Durandal--!
So, he really does...exist...!
"There are some people who keep themselves hidden in the shadows. And as for the people on the surface, they don't know the darkness within the darkness."
It was a strange voice. It was masculine, and the wording was ancient, yet -- it was a girl's voice.
"There are those who fade into the darkness, ready to attack. But in a battle, those that hide themselves deepest are the victors. My great ancestor was facing that darkness -- which also means, she was part of the light. And so, my ancestor was tricked by the darkness."
"What are you saying...?"
"The enemy is already in the darkness, training ability users. And so, we, unbeknownst to our enemies, have to train stronger ability users -- those diamonds in the rough -- So, the fact that we we reach our hands out towards the gemstones that that defective Butei are protecting, is something completely natural. This isn't strange at all. Shirayuki."
"Defective...Butei...? Who are you talking about?"
From within Shirayuki's voice came a hint of anger.
And the girl she was facing adopted a mocking tone.
"The Holmes girl was extremely troublesome -- but as I predicted, the person who finally chased that girl away is Tohyama Kinji. If that guy isn't a defective product, then what is he?"
"Kin-chan -- Kin-chan is not defective!"
"But in reality, he was unable to protect you."
"Th...that isn't it! Kin-chan didn't lose to someone like you. I-I just didn't want to trouble him...so I didn't call out to him!"
"You didn't want to trouble him, huh. But Shirayuki. You also played in my plan, you know?"
"Me...?"
"You remember that phone call, right?"
The voice that came out of the darkness nearly made my heart stop.
Right now, is she mimicking my voice!?
"Come quickly, Shirayuki! Come! I'm in the shower!"
"--!"
I realized that Shirayuki was so stunned, she couldn't speak a word.
That girl seemed to think her reaction was very amusing, and so she continued to speak,
"Holmes set up several traps and probes -- but the person observing your room, was me. I saw that you were in the living room, and that the light had gone off in Tohyama's shower... Also, Kanzaki Aria had just arrived. How could I have left such a perfect opportunity alone, knowing your personality?"
"It was you who pretended to be Kin-chan and goaded me into action -- and Aria and Kin-chan's relationship...you destroyed it...?"
"Things just went downhill from there. Within the space of a few days, Aria had left you two."
She...was watching us?
Has she...always been hiding around us?
--Durandal.
She was at our side. At Aria's and mine, as well as -- her target, Shirayuki's, side.
She got rid of Aria, the main protective force. And then she waited for me to show an opening.
And now, she wants to take Shirayuki away...!
"Come with me, Shirayuki. But...before you can become one of us, you should first let go of Tohyama. The person that deserves your devotion is someone else."
Her next words rendered my mind a complete blank.
"Right now, I'm going to bring you to -- I-U."
I-U.
The organization that made Kanzaki Kanae -- Aria's mother, carry 864 years worth of crime, the people behind Mine Riko Lupin the 4th, the "Butei Killer"--
Who killed my brother--!
Nii-san.
Ever since I was little I respected the person who was stronger than anyone, who was smarter than anyone, and who could still be so compassionate -- Nii-san.
But Nii-san, by those bastards...!
I understood. I understood that my blood was going into a frenzy.
Clenched in my fist, the butterfly knife that my brother had given me was trembling.
Click. Click...
"There's one more thing."
The girl's voice became slightly clearer.
"In this matter, I made one miscalculation. I read your personality wrong. I thought that you had a very obedient character."
"...What is that supposed to mean...?"
"'I will hand myself in to you without struggling. But in exchange, do not hurt any Butei High students, especially Tohyama Kinji.' -- is what you agreed. And I kept to your conditions. However, you secretly -- called him."
Her last words, changed their target.
Clearly, she was speaking directly with me.
--So I've been noticed already--
This thought flashing into my mind, I—
"Shirayuki, run!"
—shouted, and charged towards Shirayuki.
I had gone mad. Well, if I had gone mad, I was only half mad.
I hadn't charged in without thinking at all.
Judging from her voice -- I know the enemy's rough location.
I want to try and force the enemy into submission with one move.
This is the ammunition dump, after all.
I may not be in Hysteria Mode, but the enemy can't use guns.
There was about 50 meters between us. I can cross that in 7 seconds.
She only has 7 seconds to grasp what weapons I have, decide whether to run or fight, prepare her weapons, and assume a defensive stance -- how could anyone do that?
"Kin-chan!?"
Shirayuki's scared voice echoed throughout the warehouse.
"--No, don't come! Run away! Butei cannot beat Choutei!"
Following that cry, more like a wail-
Next to my foot--
Kch!
Something, moving at a speed my eyes could not possibly perceive, hooked my foot.
"Woah!?"
The *Thud!* from my fall echoed around the warehouse.
Next to my foot was a beautifully curved, silver blade.
I've seen this in the Assault textbooks -- It's called a Yataghan, a French blade. It was in the section for ancient weaponry, a blade meant for fencing.
"'l'anse de la Pucelle' -- I'll make you taste the shame of those who are shackled, Butei."
In the wake of her voice, from within the blade, some sort of white stuff was leaking out. I knew nothing about it besides that it was white, but with a *crackle*...*crackle*, it firmly stuck my calf to the ground.
I-I can't move.
"--Wha-!?"
That white stuff started to reach up my thigh, preventing me from standing up.
What is this...!?
It's cold.
...Ice...!?
I didn't see anything on the blade. And the floor by my feet was ordinary cement.
How did she do it?
I can't stand up anymore.
--I was firmly stuck to the floor by the ice.
"My bloodline has always walked in the light, but that substance belongs in the darkness within the darkness -- I am a much more proficient tactician than any counselor. And so, the thing I hate most in this world is 'Miscalculation'."
After this enemy, who I had never seen before until now, spoke, *Pa* --
The emergency lights inside the room went out.
I was completely wreathed in darkness.
"...N-no! Stop it! What are you doing! --Uu...!"
Clink Clank...!
From Shirayuki, I heard the noise of iron.
The enemy is moving.
"--Shirayuki!"
But even with my call, Shirayuki -- didn't answer.
What happened? What happened to her?
I was extremely anxious, but --
Stuck to the floor by ice, I could do nothing.
Th-This isn't the first time.
I haven't been able to do anything yet.
I'm not saving Shirayuki, I'm just making things worse.
And from the start, that was all I'd been doing. From the time I started being Shirayuki's bodyguard.
I had no way of assessing the situation, I made no preparations, and just whittled my time away. But when something really happens...I, still unable to think of anything, came here, just causing her more trouble.
Even with my eyes wide open, looking at Shirayuki in danger, I could do nothing.
I could only spectate as the situation grew worse and worse--!
Kch!
The sound of another blade cutting through the air reached me.
Even in the darkness, I understood.
That is the blade that is meant to kill me--!
Fyuu - The sound of the other blade came from behind me -- Clank!
And in the air, it burst into sparks.
I...
am still alive.
What happened?
Just now, what happened--?
"It's time to switch out."
As if cutting the darkness and despair in my soul, a voice rang out.
Chh. The warehouse became slightly brighter.
That light -- *pa, papa, papapapapap*
As if trying to surround this warehouse, as big as a sporthall, lights continually flared up.
The darkness from just now, not even allowing me to see my own hands, was replaced by blazing light.
"You're there, aren't you 'Durandal' --! For the crime of abducting minors, I'm taking you into custody!"
*Click*, stepping on my back and head while striding forward -- was someone wearing Butei High's sailor school uniform,
"Aria!?"
"Holmes, hmm?"
That unseen girl's voice came out of the shadows.
And any sign of Shirayuki...had disappeared. It looks like she was forced into another part of the warehouse.
The empty space in that stack of ammunition.
Kich Kich! Two of the blades flew through the air, towards Aria.
Aria, watch out!
She immediately spun her own wakizashi around like a whirlwind, deflecting the two blades.
"How many more are you going to throw at me? You're like one of those baseball machines."
Aria raised her blade in a batting position --
Clatter...
The sound of a door closing reached us from somewhere.
...After a while, there was still silence...
"Looks like she ran away."
Aria turned her head, and threw aside the blade that was stuck into the ground next to me.
And afterward, she crouched down by my head.
"Well, it looks like Idiot Kinji has some uses after all."
"Wh-what does that mean?"
"If you are brave, be brave. If you are pretty, act pretty. If you are noble, act noble. And if you are an idiot, just be an idiot -- there's a saying like that, right? So the best thing for Idiot Kinji to do is go into Idiot Kinji Mode."
...I didn't think that she'd be able to say idiot five times after just appearing.
Also, don't crouch down in front of my face.
To avoid looking up her skirt, I moved the only thing I could, my neck, and turned to one side.
Aria stood up, and she started running over to the pile of ammunition, checking on Shirayuki -- Squeak.
The sound of her sneakers suddenly stopped.
"...?"
I raised my head to look over.
Only to see Aria take a step back hurriedly, and raise her blade towards the air.
And she sliced something that I couldn't see.
"...What is it?"
"It's a steel wire. To be more precise, it's a TNK steel wire. Exactly where my head was."
Whoosh. Aria, turning to look around, swung her blade again.
"And this one is at your height. If you had run towards her, your carotid artery would have been cut. She was probably planning to kill you with this if the throwing knife didn't hit."
"Sh-she's really cunning...I didn't think she would manage to bring Shirayuki away while setting these traps up..."
"But, all this is useless. It cannot escape my eyes."
said Aria, full of confidence. She picked up the blade that she had thrown aside just now, and walked towards Shirayuki's.
--And, she immediately returned to crouch by my side.
"How is Shirayuki?"
"She isn't hurt. But she's tied up. We're going to help her, you come as well."
Aria, finishing what she was saying, placed her knee onto my body. Scrape, Scrape.
And used the edge of her blade to scrape away the ice holding me to the floor.
"Aria...After you disappeared, what happened?"
"'Durandal' was watching Shirayuki from somewhere we couldn't see. Also, I could sense that she was getting closer and closer. But, if Reki and I were there, she definitely wouldn't attack. So I gave up on being a bodyguard on purpose."
"After the fight with me in Assault...leaving, was that planned as well?"
"Butei Charter 2. You must fulfill the contract in the commission. I will never give up. You, sleeping on the roof, really made me angry, but I thought that it was a good opportunity."
Crack. Aria chipped off the ice by my elbow as well.
"'Durandal' is one of the few spies in I-U. As long as you are the only one carelessly guarding Shirayuki, she won't pay any attention to me. You look unsatisfied. Is there a problem?"
Finally regaining my freedom of movement, I faced Aria, who had basically been calling me an idiot the whole time...I'll hold off on my sarcastic comments for now.
After all, she did save me.
"The enemy--seems to have disappeared. Looks like she ran."
According to the map I saw on the handbook, there should have been no way to move to any other floors from this room.
"If there is more than one enemy, she will keep her distance, and think of a way to split up the opponents---and take she will take them one by one. That is how Durandal fights."
I see...Then, were Shirayuki and I separated according to her plans as well?
"The only thing is, when a tactician's plan is broken, she will be inclined to reduce everything to 'nothingness'. So, she might come back to kill Shirayuki. First, we have to get Shirayuki to safety."
Aria finished speaking and stood up, pulling my sleeve towards where Shirayuki lay.
Shirayuki, by the wall of the warehouse, was restrained by manacles.
Her mouth, bound by a piece of cloth, continued to emit sounds like "MMPH."
I took the gag out of her mouth,
"Kin-chan, are you alright!? You aren't hurt, are you!?"
...She continued to selflessly worry about me.
"I'm fine. You should be more worried about yourself..."
I said, lifting up the lock around Shirayuki's chest.
From every angle, the lock looked like a giant, heavy hamburger. And there were 3 successive locks, a setup some called a "Drum Lock". It's very rarely seen, and it was binding her extremely tightly.
Aria and I took out our lockpicking tools from the Butei toolkit, and we tried to pick the lock--
However, the structure of the locks were too complex, and we couldn't even open one of them.
"Kin-chan...I'm sorry...If I didn't hide it from everyone, and come here dressed like this...she said she would blow up Academy Island, and kill Kin-chan..."
Hearing this, feelings of agony once again surfaced in my heart.
I--without me even knowing, I was treated as a hostage?
"When did she say this to you?"
"Yesterday...when Kin-chan went to buy the fireworks, she sent me a message threatening me...I was scared that Kin-chan would be hurt...and so, I accepted...uu....Uuu..."
"It's fine now. Don't cry."
So, that was when--huh.
No wonder Shirayuki was acting so strange when I returned.
"Aria...I'm sorry. I've been treating Aria so badly...yet you came to save me..."
Hearing Shirayuki's words, Aria went "Hmph," and her cheeks reddened a little.
"I-I...was only protecting you because of the contract. And my real goal is only the capture of Durandal. There's no need to thank me."
Saying this, she pulled at the chains binding Shirayuki, moaning.
What you're saying and what you're doing is really contradictory...Well, right now, that isn't important.
But anyways...there's no way I'm going to be able to open this lock.
If Shirayuki was using her inhuman swordsmanship, then maybe--but Shirayuki is the one that is bound, and her katana has been taken.
I'd like to cut the chains connecting her to the wall, but it would be impossible to move that without heavy machinery.
Aria investigated the links in the chain to see whether there were any weaknesses...
and she asked Shirayuki,
"Did you see Durandal's face?"
"No...she was always hiding inside the shadow of the mountain of ammunition. And even when she escaped out that door, I couldn't see what she looked like."
Shirayuki's eyes motioned towards a door, leading up the roof, and Aria put on an expression that said "As I thought."
"...That's to be expected. Durandal would never let anybody see her appearance."
From what Aria said, it appears that she already knows a lot about Durandal from all her research.
And so, I asked something that I had been curious about the entire time.
"Aria. Just now, that ice..."
The ice that held me to the floor.
At the beginning, I suspected that she had used liquid nitrogen, but that can't be it. When I was in Assault, I used liquid nitrogen to freeze time bombs. However...it was a completely different method.
Aria--
"She has an ability,"
she said straightforwardly, giving me the answer I least wanted to hear.
"Yeah, about that...If we measure her by governmental standards, she's a type III ability user--She could possibly be called, a magician."
Shirayuki's in depth explanation made me frown.
Magician...huh?
"Impossible..."
"It's completely possible. Recently, the elite Butei have been getting used to these kinds of situations. Our school has the SSR too, right?"
This...I understand. I just wanted to clarify.
The SSR.
Shirayuki was in that department, undergoing extremely strict training in areas like divination, ability investigation etc. Many methods of abnormal investigation are researched there.
But the SSR is the one class about which every piece of information is highly classified, so all those with no relation to it only know the basic details.
And obviously, I, who wanted to become a normal person, tried my best to stay away from that most abnormal of worlds. Even in rumours, I had never heard of anything like magicians, who I thought only appeared in games.
"There's nothing frightening about it, Kinji. The power of ability users, from my experience--is only at the level of street magicians. They're no match for bullets."
"But, she has a special ability. She might even have an attack that we don't know about."
"You're really cowardly. I hate it when Kinji is like this. But...Well, relax. I haven't taught you how to 'awaken' by yourself yet, so you can sit this one out. I can take care of her by myself."
As if refuting Aria's words...
Rumble--!
A deep noise echoed through the underground warehouse.
We looked around, hurriedly--
Gurgle, Gurgle...
Water was not draining out the holes in the floor--it was rising up through them.
The amount of water flowing out continued to increase, and within a minute, it had already turned into a fountain.
The rising water started to creep around our feet.
"...It's seawater."
Aria said, twitching her nose like a rodent.
"Yeah. There's probably a malfunction in the water pumps."
The water went from our feet...to our ankles. And from our ankles, to our calves.
It continued to rise.
This isn't good.
At this rate, even inside this warehouse, which is as big as any sporthall--within 10 minutes, the whole place will be submerged.
Although that's more than enough time for Aria and I to get out through the stairs to the roof, we couldn't leave Shirayuki behind.
Tactician...huh.
"...That girl really is a tactician, Aria. It's been discovered."
Aria didn't answer, and she continued to look at the water, slowly panicking.
"Discovered...what are you talking about...?"
Hearing Shirayuki's question, Aria's face turned bright red. She raised her head and glared at me, as if saying, "Don't you dare."
But...seeing the current situation... Forgive me.
"Tsuduri said this before, Aria can't swim."
"Th-that's not it. I-if there's a life ring, I can still...!"
"...Why would that sort of thing be here? Aria, go up first."
"I...I can't! Leaving you alone and running by myself, I won't do it!"
"That's not it, this isn't running away, it's attacking first. Quickly, go up. Steal the key back from Durandal--Even if you stay here, you won't be able to open this lock. You should know that by now."
"...Bu-but."
"Only you, whose battle ability is high, can take care of that girl quickly! I don't have any experience fighting against Choutei, only you can do this! ...Quick! Every second counts!"
Thinking back to the basics of Assault, I made my decision.
Aria looked at Shirayuki again, worried, and then she took another look at the water, already at her thighs--finally, she gave her own lockpicking tools to me.
"...I understand. But, if you can't take it anymore, call me, understand?"
Even if I call you, we still won't be able to open this lock--
All three of us understood this.
Alright, I answer Aria, who was turning around hesitantly.
The water continued to rise, furiously.
The lock on Shirayuki was still unpickable.
It will only be 5 minutes before the entire warehouse is submerged.
I searched through the water, hoping to find some sort of tool...but I couldn't find anything.
The water had already risen to around my shoulders.
What do I do...
What the hell do I do...!
"Kin-chan...Go,"
Shirayuki said to me, who could only stand there, doing nothing.
And, she strongly...smiled.
Even now, she still worries about me--
"...Don't say that."
"The Miko of the Hotogi are armed Miko. They are destined to sacrifice their body and soul for people. Kin-chan, run away, quickly. Just leave me behind..."
"How could I leave you here by yourself!"
When Shirayuki was about to answer me, who was shouting--
The water finally reached her mouth, and Shirayuki contorted her face, looking up in order to breathe.
"Don't worry, even if I die, nobody will be sad. The teachers and students may praise me, but those that really like me...don't exist--Fuah, they all...they don't like me, they just appreciate my powers as a Hotogi Miko...Fuah..."
Shirayuki was now thrusting her face up just so she could breathe.
My feet finally lifted off the flow, reaching the point where I had to swim to stay afloat.
"Shira...Shirayuki! Aria will bring the key back immediately! Even if it's 1 minute, you have to endure! Breathe in deeply! The client has to listen to the bodyguard! I'll think of a way to get rid of the lock--"
"Your contract! It's void! Run away--live on...!"
"Shirayuki...! Aaah, Fuck...the reason this happened...it's all my fault...!"
"Kin...chan, this isn't your fault!"
With that final sentence.
Shirayuki--
Closed her eyes, and submerged herself.
"Shirayuki--!"
Shirayuki's hair, inside the water--floated around, powerless.
She seemed to have resigned herself to her fate already, and she was dipping her head, not looking at me.
"Shirayuki...!"
Do you really want to die?
You want to die just so I'll leave you and go?
After dispelling the contract, you still said, "this isn't your fault," trying to protect me--
"How could this not be my fault...!"
Thump! I smashed my fist into the wall.
How could I not be in the wrong.
This is my fault.
The reason things became this way. All of it, all of it is my fault.
I didn't listen to the warnings, I didn't guard against the enemy, and I just sat around idly while things got worse--
Of course all of this is my fault!
Things have already come this far...I.
Decided something.
--Shirayuki.
You've always been very obedient to me.
Now that I think about it, everything I've said has been utterly selfish.
But now, it's time for me to hear your words.
You have three requests of me.
1. This is the one you said just now,
You said, "Live on".
Fine.
I will live on.
How could I die in this kind of place.
I will live on, and live on, and continue to live. I will defeat Durandal, and all of Aria's other enemies.
And afterward, I will return to my normal, peaceful life.
--Also.
Your second request.
You told me this. I remember. It was the night when I started being your only bodyguard.
You said, "Protect me."
At that time, we didn't know of the enemy's existence. So, what you said back then was meant to be inconsequential. However, I responded, with a "Yeah."
I have--to protect you, the final trump card--the power.
Even if I have always, always, been running away from that.
Something that I haven't even told you, my childhood friend.
But ultimately, at the end, my body still holds that final power.
During the plane-jacking, it was only partially of my own will. At that time, to escape the notice of the enemy, I sealed Aria's lips. More importantly, at that time, if I didn't change, I would die.
But, now--
The reason I choose to use this power now is not responsibility.
Aria said, I can sit this one out. Shirayuki also said, the contract to protect her is void.
So I, in terms of responsibility, if I were to run away, I would not be breaking anything.
Even if it would leave me with a lifetime of regret, I could choose not to use this power.
But, I.
For the first time since my brother died, I have decided to use this power.
I have decided to use what is hidden in my body, the final trump card--
Hysteria Mode!
Shirayuki, you said "Your contract! It's void!" right?
" Fuck that! "
I roared, sucking in a deep, deep breath.
I continued until my face turned red. Until my lungs were about to burst. Until I could not breathe more in.
Like that, I breathed, I breathed -- I breathed in, deeply--!
Splash.
I dived.
I grabbed hold of Shirayuki's arms, which were powerless, hanging in the water.
Shirayuki's big eyes were so shocked that they opened even wider, she was shaking her head wildly inside the water.
And her eyes were blinking, giving me a flash signal.
"Don't die. Don't make up for it like this."
It seems that she thought I would prefer to have a lover's suicide with her.
...As expected of Shirayuki's thought patterns.
But, you're wrong. You're wrong, Shirayuki.
You had three requests of me.
There's still one more I haven't mentioned.
It's -- "Kiss me."
I'm sorry that I have to do it like this.
But your wish--is my command!
I only returned two words to Shirayuki, using flash signal.
"Breathe in"
After I did, I immediately--
Embraced Shirayuki.
"!"
I locked my lips with hers.
Shirayuki's lips--
I deserve to burn in hell for comparing, but compared to Aria's--it was even more gentle.
Hss. In the air that she sucked out of my mouth, a little of Shirayuki's, sweet, peach aroma was mixed in.
...Ahh.
I understand.
I understand that Shirayuki is breathing.
And--
I understand, the Kathump, Kathump...This is.
My heart, pounding.
My blood, aroused, used my lips as a starting point, and it rushed through my body--gathering at my core.
I never thought that I would do this with her, my childhood friend.
This action filled my body with excitement, gradually heating my body up.
It's as if all the time I had spent with Shirayuki, from when we were kids, was compacted into a ball of scorching heat. In my core, in my core, it burned within me, a throbbing ache--!
Aah...
I'm changing.
I'm entering, Hysteria Mode...!
Gurgle. Gurgle...Gurgle.
Air came out of Shirayuki's mouth.
She can breathe.
Our lips still together, I let her breathe once, twice--before I left.
I dived down below Shirayuki's chest, and I reached my hand towards the drum lock.
I concentrated, and re-inserted the lockpicks.
If the water reaches the ceiling, I won't even be able to go up for another breath.
From my calculations, there should be 3 minutes left--No, not even 3 minutes.
In my normal mode, picking the lock would take 12 minutes.
But, just through the feeling in my fingertips, I could understand all the workings inside the lock as if I were seeing them--
--Click--
In just 10 seconds, this lock that Aria and I had so much trouble with, was opened by me.
Number 2 was opened as well. After I had taken another breath--I gave Shirayuki some air as well, and took out the tools in the Butei Toolkit in the chest opening of her Miko outfit--
Number 3.
Click--
Following this light click, the enormous drum lock binding Shirayuki came loose.
That heavy lock slid down the wall with a rattle.
Shirayuki and I headed upwards,
--Fuah!
We surfaced at the same time.
It's a relief that I managed to do it.
Although our heads were about to hit the ceiling, the warehouse hasn't been completely submerged yet.
"Kin-chan!"
Shirayuki, splashing through the water, tightly embraced me.
"--Shirayuki. Just now, you said it. You said "It's void."
Ah, I'm such an idiot.
Why am I using such a deep, alluring voice.
Also, don't look at her so directly. You poser!
"Ah...Yeah."
I used my wet hands to lightly touch her cheek by her ear.
And at the same time, I used my thumb to brush away a strand of her black hair.
"This has nothing to do with the contract. I want to protect Shirayuki. Because it's Shirayuki, I want to protect you--No matter what. I hope that my burning, burning feelings...that Shirayuki will accept them."
My soft voice was like a whisper, but I was still able to say it so clearly.
Shirayuki's grateful expression took on a look of surprise--
She furiously
Nodded.
But that head, with a thud--
Smacked the ceiling.
Oh right. This isn't the time to say such sweet words.
This is a bad habit of mine after entering Hysteria Mode.
We have to go up a floor immediately.
"Bu-but, Kin-chan. The opponent is a magician, I want to fight as well."
"You're such a brave girl."
Seeing Shirayuki's eyebrows shoot up, I chuckled.
Although I don't wish to let Shirayuki get into any more danger, it isn't a good idea to go against a woman's determination.
"I hope it doesn't happen--but, if I am really unable to handle it, you can help. Aria and I are fronts. Shirayuki is--support. We're counting on you to give us all you have."
Alright, I've played all my cards.
Right now I have to meet up with Aria, assault, and--
capture that unseen agent--Durandal.
The opponent is a tactician, and also an ability user. A normal Butei can't match her.
But, we are far from normal Butei. We have Quadra Aria, the me in Hysteria Mode, and Shirayuki in support.
With these three cards--even if the opponent is Durandal, we definitely match her. No, we are above her in power.
I was thinking this while pushing this on the emergency valve leading to the upper floor.
The water had pretty much reached the ceiling by now.
Clank. I opened the triple-layered steel valve, and to avoid being sneak attacked, I used my knife as a mirror to look at the situation above. It should be fine. When I had just thought this--the door appeared to have a device attached to it--Rumble. A muffled explosion tore through the entire underground warehouse.
"...Kch!"
The water suddenly rose.
My submerged eyes scanned the extent of the roof to the floor. The raging torrent forced us onto the floor of the level above.
"Kyaa--!"
Shirayuki, forced onto level 6, slid on the slippery ground with a "Kyaa!"
"--Be careful, Shirayuki! Take out your secondary sword!"
"Ah...Yes."
I wanted to go after Shirayuki, who had been flushed into the darkness--but right now, the most important thing is to stop the flow of water.
Unable to let go of the valve, I tried to close it against that enormous amount of pressure.
"Uu...NNGGHHH!"
I used all my strength to push the door, and with a *Thump* It finally closed.
Fu...
I finally--sealed the water.
If I were in Normal Mode, there's no way I'd be able to do this.
"--Shirayuki."
There was no answer.
"..."
You can't mean that...
She noticed the enemy's tracks, and now she's trying to avoid detection.
After all, Shirayuki's role now is support.
I looked around the level, the water already around my feet--forming countless walls was a huge computer, the HPC server--it's known as the supercomputer room.
Emergency lights were constantly flashing, all around me.
But...there were no signs with "Danger" or "Caution".
I drew my Beretta and ejected the magazine, blowing out the water that had permeated the gun.
The current generation of guns won't become unable to fire just because a little water got in.
I was feeling a little sorry for Informa and Connect, but the ban on my gun had lifted.
The supercomputer components were like a barrier. Basically, it formed a maze.
Although I don't need to be as cautious about things flying towards me around corners, I can't be sure of the enemy's location.
In the corridor formed by wires and silicon--I lightened my footfalls, and ran.
I raised my gun as we were taught in interior-combat classes, and moved like soldiers in the special forces.
Two, three--
I stayed cautious while turning corners, keeping to the walls.
"--Kinji."
I met up with Aria.
She appeared to have heard our voices, and returned from within the elevator room.
"I'm glad you're alright..."
I lowered my gaze, and put my gun to one side.
Aria, seeming to feel extremely guilty about leaving the warehouse first, saw that I was alright, and her face relaxed.
However, once she reached my side, she looked up at me with her Eichornia eyes.
"--Why didn't you run. I said you could 'sit this one out', right?"
She softly rebuked me for going against her orders.
"I'm not as irresponsible as to leave the cute maiden, Aria, by herself."
"...Wh-what's that supposed to mean?"
Grr. Seeing Aria bare her canines as usual, I relaxed, and answered,
"Once I thought that Aria might want to see me--I couldn't stop myself from coming."
"We-we-we're already in this kind of situation, and you say that?"
On my face was a smile worthy of Shiranui, making Aria breathe in and out, her cheeks reddening as usual.
The time from normal to full-blush was a mere 0.5 seconds. Congratulations on your new record, Aria.
"Nevermind that, Aria, where's Durandal?"
"...I haven't found her yet. That coward doesn't have the guts to face me."
"--Is that so."
"However, I can confirm that she's hiding in this room. The locks on all the doors leading up are broken, and the elevator doors are sealed. Also, this was all done from inside."
Aria, concentrating again, explained the situation to me. It looks like she really hasn't faced the enemy yet.
"Oh right, I heard her voice just now...Shirayuki was saved too, right? She isn't hurt, is she?"
Looks like Aria really was worried about us, so she confirmed the situation with me.
She really is a good girl. She has such a heavy sense of responsibility.
"Yes. But, we got split up just now. If we split up, we'll be walking into the enemy's trap. We have to rejoin Shirayuki."
I had just spoke, when—
--Ku, Ku Ku
—I heard a weak coughing noise.
It was a soft noise that even the me in Hysteria Mode could barely hear, but Aria, who seemed to have the senses of an animal, turned her head around.
"It's Shirayuki. She's over there."
"Let's go. But, Durandal might attack. Aria, I'll be your shield,"
I said, stepping in front of Aria, going towards the noise.
As I brushed past her, I saw something out of the corner of my eye--
Aria's camellia eyes opened wide, as if she had noticed something about me.
We found Shirayuki immediately.
She was in the only clearing in the HPC server room, the elevator lobby.
She had wandered into one of the roads by it, hiding in the shadow of one of the computers, nearly 3 meters tall.
Thump. Shirayuki was lying on the floor like a mermaid--
She probably ingested some seawater as she was carried by the current, and she was grasping her neck and coughing.
"...Ku, Ku ku...Wh-where's the enemy...?"
"We haven't found her yet. Shirayuki, don't leave us."
Shirayuki nodded her head at Aria, who was bending down.
"Kin-chan..."
Shirayuki raised her head, and directed that half-weak, half-happy gaze at me.
Her soaked Miko garments were stuck to her body, exposing those sensual curves that a high-schooler should not have.
The me in Hysteria Mode could remember the form, color, material, as well as every little decoration as if I had taken a photo of it with my mind.
But--today, Shirayuki was not wearing that black underwear, and instead she seemed to be wearing thin armor.
"Just now, I didn't hurt your lips, did I?"
"No, you didn't."
I carelessly asked, making Shirayuki nod heavily.
"It's bleeding, isn't it. Let me see."
"There's no need. It's not serious, the skin just broke a little."
--So that's it--!
"Aria, run!"
While shouting, I fired at Shirayuki.
Shirayuki--seemed to have predicted this, and *Pa*--!
"!"
She used her wet sleeves to knock aside my hand, dodging the first bullet.
The bullet, hitting the floor, ricocheted and hit one of the huge computers, raising a shower of sparks.
"Kinji!?"
Shirayuki moved with a speed that normal eyes couldn't follow, quickly turning towards Aria.
Bang! Bang Bang Bang!
The Beretta that I had switched to burst-fire roared.
But, the bullets only hit the hem of her hakama.
Shirayuki took advantage of this situation and she bent
Chapter end
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