Hidan No Aria
/ Hidan no Aria Volume 12 Chapter 5
Thanks:
Well here it is. The end of Volume 12, but not the end of the arc, or even close to the end of this series!
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As always, things movde much slower on this chapter than we had hoped. Please believe me that it is just as frustrating for us trying to get the chapter done as fast as we want to as it is for you to wait for it to be finished. We appreciate your patience and hope the chapter is well worth the wait!
The Release and Future Plans:
Afterword was short and is included in this release, but Illustrator notes weren’t because it was a generic plug for the next volume. If you really, really want it, let me know and I’ll get to it. Chapters seem to be getting longer and longer (70+ pages at last look), so expect some good content, but a bit longer wait between than previous volumes (~40 pages). (Sorry!) 😦
My first priority is TL’ing Volume 13 and everything else is currently on hold.
Final proofing edits for the ‘Volume 12’ tab and PDF release will delayed unless some kind soul wants to take another look over the text, proof it, and put it together for us. Shoot us an e-mail on the ‘Contact’ page if you are interested in helping out. I have a Word Doc file of Vol 12 that can be used. There’s a Proofer and PDF designer credit in it for anyone who completes job.
We can probably give you a fancy title for the Discord Channel too in case that motivates anyone…
Anywho… On to the actual chapter!!!
Chapter 5: Enlightening Emptiness
(BEGIN TEXT)
Walking back home late at night, the effects of Hysteria Mode wore off…
With the tension released, I sprawled out on all fours. Ashamed of my actions, I crawled along the streets
I-I shuddered at how badly I had made a mess of things.
Snubbing the yakuza’s hospitality like that, and patting the head of their leader.
Just what the hell were you thinking… Hysterised me!?
When I am in Hysteria mode, this sense of an alternate reality builds up, so that when I look back on everything I do it feels like waking up from a dream.
In reality, in that state I was able to defeat Count Dracula, infiltrate a crowded nuclear submarine with only a gun and blade, knock down a missile with my bare hands and emerge victorious.
I wish it could all be just a dream. But that is the kind of ending I hate the most. The god in charge of my story wouldn’t write such an ending.
I left Butei High in order to become a normal person…
But 10 days later, I am drinking tea with the yakuza!
Kikuyo is sure to follow me around. Sooner or later, she will appear again.
What can I do?
Now with Hysteria Mode dispersed, I can’t think of anything. To top it all off, I am more useless than usual.
After entering Hysteria Mode, I always become drowsy and sluggish.
I’ll take a day off from school tomorrow…
But I can’t do what I did in INQUESTA and buy Riko a game to mimic my voice and answer roll call for me.
I haven’t been good with attendance at that school anyway. I really should go.
First of all, I should show my unconquerable warrior spirit by standing up…
And like a newborn foal, I stood wobbling…
「Even if you crawl, I won’t throw you any money, Tohyama.」
From the top of a lamp post, I heard a preschool-like voice.
Looking up at the owner of the voice– *Whoosh!* I hastily averted my eyes.
I don’t want to see them.
「Do not act as if you do not wish to see me!」
With a pounce, her short miniskirt flipped completely up (I didn’t see but I guessed), landing in front of me was– Tamamo.
The girl-shaped fox. Or maybe it is the fox-shaped girl.
C-come on… give me a break…!
I’m trying to become a responsible citizen.
「Why have you stirred outside the exorcism barrier1? Since days of old, you Tohyama warriors have been unpredictable.」
I drooped my head… and since it could not be avoided, I raised it again to look Tamamo straight in the eyes.
One of the reasons I had looked away was the fact that although Tamamo was dressed like a preschooler, she was wearing a short miniskirt.
I didn’t see it for myself, but shouldn’t her tail be lifting the skirt, fully exposing her underwear?
「How is this? With these garments I look like a normal maiden, do I not?」
With a spin, she twirled a 360 in place.
I was worried– but thanks to the difference in our respective heights, I did not see anything dangerous. Thank goodness.
「Maiden, you say… Even though you are 800 years old…」
She was wearing a cap with ears, but inside it her real ears were waggling and her tail shaking–although there is the slightest chance that someone would overlook that, it’s still strange.
Tamamo is pretending to be a kindergartner, but she looks to be about 7 or 8 years old.
That means she would have had to repeat kindergarten. But since it looks like I might have to repeat a year of high school, so I don’t have any room to speak.
I should buy clothes for her so that she would blend in with society better… but if I, a high-school boy, where to buy clothes for a little girl, I’d probably be reported.
A policeman would mark me out as a suspected child abductor.
I’m not interested in picking up any more labels, so I should steer clear. I know that much.
「So, what are you doing here?」
She asked, staring blankly up at me with her rounded fox eyes…
「…I really don’t know.」
I answered truthfully.
She wore an temple offertory box on her back like a kindergartner’s backpack, following me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Thinking about it, it must look like I am escorting an elementary school girl to some kind of X-rated cosplay. It is late at night after all.
And so, avoiding the glances of strangers, we sneaked back to my house…
Reki’s shoes were in the genkan. It seems that she made it home safely after we separated at the cram school.
「Tohyama. We ought to conduct a purification ceremony. Your unhappiness may be due to possession of an evil spirit. We should exorcise it.」
You can exorcise an evil spirit. You can’t exorcise yourself. That’s physically impossible. 2
「Oi! Hold on…!」
If my grandfather found out that I brought an elementary school girl to my house, he’d line up the firing squad without waiting for a court-martial–
With quick steps, Tamamo passed down the corridor toward the bathroom
By ‘purification’, did you mean take a bath…!?
Yes, now I recall that Konayuki used those Shinto religious terms as well.
And so, before telling Reki what had happened after we left the cram school–
I ended up following Tamamo directly into the bathroom.
「These modern clothes are so difficult to remove.」
「…*Gasp!*…」
Grunting with the effort, Tamamo was… already half naked…!
She was wearing a pair of underwear that looked like it had been stolen from that little brat Aya Hiraga’s wardrobe, but then with a *Swish!*…
Sh-she’s…! completely naked…!
If my grandfather or grandmother were to discover this, I’d be in for a full course of corporal punishment.
–Run!
As I intended to back up the corridor from the changing room we were in…
「Hey! Stop wasting time. Can you not see that I require someone to help me bathe?」
「Don’t be so loud…!」
Although I could sense that everyone is asleep for the night, if someone were to wake up… it would be “The End of Kinji”…!
S-so I can’t help it. I will have to take part in this coerced bathing event as well.
Goddammit! Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Today has been an unlucky day unlike any other. There have been altogether too many unlucky days.
And so I began to undress sullenly.
「Tohyama, place me upon thy shoulders. I want to use that new bar of soap.」
Jumping up and down while her tail swished from side to side, stretching her washboard squid body while trying to reach the milk-based soap on the top shelf.
「I think that’s the family’s soap… For you, the dog shampoo they use for Haimaki should be good enough.」
Despite my grumbling, I grabbed the soap.
As if I would put a naked elementary schoolgirl on my shoulders.
Besides when it comes to hygienics, doing that before a bath is questionable.
B-but… does she really expect me to wash her? Just now this mini-person said that she needed someone to help her bathe.
Although I don’t go for younger girls, when it comes to Hysteria Mode I’m fine, but if she wants me to wash her naked body, I can’t express the same confidence.
She might be tiny, but Tamamo does have a feminine form…!
This situation might be more dangerous than when I ate with the yakuza… what should I do..!?
What is the god in charge of my story thinking? Is he an idiot?
It would be a problem if this naked elementary school girl made a fuss. More dangerous than being abducted by the yakuza.
And with the testimony of three Butei, my guilt would be a foregone conclusion. As for school, I’d spend the rest of my time in a reform school.
If I get into the bath with her I’m in for hell, and if I leave I’m in for hell…!
All at once, as I covered myself with a towel, the sliding, frosted glass door to the bath slid open… Huh…?
I saw a wall of steam in front of me. I was grateful because now Tamamo was obscured.
「… 」
It seems that someone left the hot water tap running.
Ah, what a waste!
Our bath is large, but it isn’t a public bath.
「… 」
I tried to escape reality but…
「–It appears that I shouldn’t have wasted the time worrying about you after all.」
From beyond the steam, I was accosted by Reki’s angry voice.
Since her presence was almost imperceptible, I did not notice until after entering the bath, but…
Why… what is she doing here…!?
「Oh, so the Azure Maiden Reki is here as well.」
Tamamo said something baffling as she waved her tail like a fan to disperse the steam–
Seeing me enter the bath with a young girl as if it were the most natural thing in the world, I saw Reki’s mouth compress into a tight ‘へ’ shape… Reki was already in the bath tub.
And of course, Mint-chan Yada was stark naked as well…!
Her shoulders were slightly reddened by the bath water, and her figure was adorned by glistening water droplets from the bath.
I really need to get out of here. But there’s Tamamo. If I were to leave and she made a loud fuss, I would start my life a convicted felon.
So even though I am not in Hysteria Mode, I set my brain to the task of figuring out how 3 people can bathe in on bath.
Then it hit me.
H-hurry Kinji! With how fast you had that flash of inspiration, you might have hysterised already…!
Snatching the bath bucket from Tamamo’s hands–
*Whoosh!* *Swish! Swish!*
Using the ‘High-speed bathing’ technique that I had devised a while ago in case Shirayuki or Riko tried to force their way into my bath, I bathed myself in an instant.
I covered myself with soap from head to toe, and probably because of the strange movements that accompanied this technique, Tamamo and Reki drew back, giving me some space–
Washing my hair quickly, I turned toward the tub–
「R-Reki. Get out here and bathe Tamamo.」
Eyes shut, I carefully entered the tub with my back turned.
Then, as you might expect of this inconsiderate behaviour, or because she was angry that I had brought the naked Tamamo into the bath… As we passed, Reki struck my undefended head, but…
She didn’t put too much force behind it.
She used her hands in this gentle way as if to say: 『I’m glad you’re safe.』
Ever since we dropped out, I’ve noticed that Reki’s actions have become more and more human.
Sure, she’s still as expressionless as ever, but now…
Probably because she is used to washing animals, Reki is scrubbing Tamamo down.
Behind the screen of steam she is skillfully bathing her. But as she was shampooing her tail…
「As I thought, Tohyama! Not only the Himiko, but the Rimiko is also your woman!」3
Remarking that to me, where should I begin to correct her?
「Who is this ‘Rimiko’?」
「That refers to me.」
Said Reki.
「I sort of gathered that, but… are you a miko?」
「In my homeland, I performed the duties of what is known in Japan as a ‘miko’. I have excused myself from that role, but the Wind has put my intention to resign on hold.」
The…Wind…
I had thought that the idea of ‘The Wind’ was all in Reki’s head, but…
It seems to have something to do with Irokane. Specifically the Ririirokane.
But this is a topic I don’t like to deal with, so to avoid getting involved, I won’t ask any more questions.
「Himiko, Rumiko, Rimiko, these are the three types of Irokane mikos.」4
Ms. Rumiko, please don’t appear! Shirayuki and Reki are quite enough to deal with! Please don’t show up! Don’t even think about it!
「… In short, Shirayuki and Reki are similarly mikos. But the kind of Irokane that they are linked with differs.」
「Augh! I give up. If you are going to keep talking, talk about something else!」
My spirit has already been worn down by my unfortunate encounter with Leon. Talk like that will completely exhaust my mental strength, and I’ll faint and drown in the bathtub.
「Hmm… Perhaps it is as you say, and the only thing the Tohyama are suited to is battle.」
If that’s the case, then don’t make me help you bathe.
「As for another topic… Oh, that’s right! Far East Warfare. The last battle between DEEN and GRENEDA.」
Enough already! My HP has already hit zero!
「I’ve had a telegram from Europe. Meiya of the Vatican sallied forth to attack Katze, the Witch of Cursed Water. But without decisive victory–They both retreated to their own bases, and afterward Liberty Mason’s exorcists traveled to Berlin from London to capture the weakened Katze. They should be searching for her as we speak.」
Saying that, she sketched out the military positions like pieces on a game-board.
A game like that including a map of Europe would sell well.
I continued to listen to Tamamo as if it were someone else’s problem that I was hearing.
「Sooner or later our forces in Europe will be depleted, and they will send to Tokyo for reinforcements.」
Tamamo glanced at me.
「…Don’t look at me. I won’t go. I absolutely won’t do something like going overseas.」
But, even as I give an absolute refusal… for some reason I have this jinx that makes my refusal into a reality. So I shouldn’t say any more.
Besides, there’s the Karagane– if we don’t recover the thing that housed the Hidan that Sherlock shot into Aria from the members of GRENEDA within the next few years–won’t Aria become the calamitous Scarlet Goddess?
Even so, such talk seems like a fantasy.
But if Aria’s level of brutal violence were drastically increased, she might just split the globe in a fight with me over the television channel.
For the sake of everyone in the world, that is something that must be avoided.
「Well, when it come to the matter of Sherlock shooting Aria with the Hidan, I was a part of that… So I will have to do something about the Karagane.」
「When it comes to the Karagane, I have sensed that one piece has crossed back into Japan from Shanghai. Probably with Rampan.」
Ugh… It turns out the board-game was not someone else’s problem…
「…There’s something I’m a little nervous about, Tamamo. Your detection ability, does GRENEDA have anyone that has an ability like it?」
「Everyone has the ability. Even in a dark room, you can sense that someone is in the room with you, can’t you? Birds, fish, animals, and even humans have this powerful ability. My kind has only developed it to an extraordinary degree.」
「Then, if GRENEDA has someone with supernatural powers like yours… Wouldn’t they be aware of our own movements?」
「It’s probably safe to think so. The enemy’s last movement was probably prompted by the Baskerville General stirring outside of the exorcism barrier. 」
I’m… a general? I’d rather be demoted to private.
But in any case I’m just a single piece in 『Far East Warfare』–this game of superhumans with Asia as its map.
*Sigh*… I want to become a normal human quickly…
But, as I thought, there really is no way for me to become an ordinary person. Not even here.
After that, Tamamo slipped on some soap and fell into the bathtub in a stereotypical performance that is impossible to describe–even in modern light novels–, fainted, and sank to the bottom of the tub.
Not wanting to know what kind of curse would fall upon my family if a god died under our roof, Reki and I lifted her out together.
I didn’t know which part of her I had grabbed, but I realised it was her tail…
I should consider the fact that Tamamo’s back was turned toward me as the drop of happiness in my misfortune. Just thinking if it had been the front makes my spine freeze.
If I has hysterised because of Tamamo, I would have had to commit seppuku with the Scientific Swordswoman Kaname to behead me afterward.
Returning alive from that life-and-death bath, it was about midnight.
I-I’m exhausted…
I crashed onto my futon with a flop.
A bath is supposed to be relaxing… but now I’m somehow more exhausted than before.
But bathing with two girls and managing not to hysterise, I want to praise my own powers of endurance.
The fact that 『immediately after hysterising it is harder to hysterise again』 could be said to be a positive side effect.
「So, when are you leaving?」
I asked Tamamo who was wearing a sailor suit uniform that the Butei High interns wore and gulping down milk from the carton she held in both hands — plundered from my family’s refrigerator — as she sat seiza on my futon.
「Uhmm… I plan to stay for a while. I’m going to haunt you and be your personal bodyguard.」
She answered, with her breath smelling of milk.
‘Haunt me’, you’ve already been doing that.
「Well, maybe as a ball…」
I said, voicing my thoughts…
But carrying a Japanese ball doesn’t fit my character.
It’s not like I fit in at school, anyway. But if I start carrying something strange like that, no one will come near me.
「… No, not that, if you want me to carry you around, you’ll have to become something inconspicuous.」
「Something inconspicuous? Hmmm…」
Saying that, Tamamo’s tail bent into a ‘?’ shape as she considered it, and I finally went off to sleep.
Lately I’ve had trouble with insomnia, but after hysterising, I slept much more soundly.
This too is a drop of happiness in the midst of my misfortune.
…but tomorrow…
How will I face them at school?
My classmates saw me: The fight in front of the cram school.
There were many eyewitnesses who saw how I dealt with Leon before the the police arrived. There are too many mouths to keep quiet. And Moe saw everything.
Now… everyone will be afraid of me, hate me. That’s for sure.
Until now, it seemed like they ignored me, but now things will be difficult.
Tomorrow, how am I supposed to go on at school…?
「Kinji-san… If you don’t get up now, you are going to be late…」
Reki, the human alarm clock was waking me up….
For some reason, my futon in nice and warm.
Thinking about what it could be… Th-this is… peeling back the blankets, it was just as I thought–Tamamo was sleeping soundly.
And she was using me as a body pillow.
Reki immediately stiffened with a sour expression, while at the same time:
「…That’s my Aniki for you. He doesn’t discriminate and no game is too big. I respect that.
G-3 said as he read the family scrolls on the walls.
「N-no, this isn’t a kidnapping or anything…!」
While Tamomo stirred with a mewing sound and pawed at me, I tried to give an explanation.
「This is a god, a real one. Even more powerful than our Tsukumo. You’ve had a god working for you this whole time?」
G-god you say. If she’s a god, then I’m becoming an atheist.
「As for her working for me… Ow-ow-wow-ow! Oi, what are you trying to do Tamamo!?」
「Inarizushi.」5
Saying that while half asleep, Tamamo had begun chewing on my hand so that I had to beat her in order to get her to let go.
W-what sharp teeth you have, Tamamo! They’re as sharp as Aria’s.
In the end, because of having to deal with a sniper, god, and Genion, I was a little late that morning.
When I get to school–my seat will still be there, won’t it?
Because the students had seen me act violently, they might begin agitating for my expulsion by taking away my desk.
Worried, I peeked into the classroom from the corridor, and it seems that Homeroom has already started.
My desk is still there, but… my neighbor Moe, is absent.
She has broken her record of perfect attendance that she has held since kindergarten.
But this isn’t the time to be worrying about someone else…
So, timidly…
「…Sorry I’m late.」
I quietly opened the sliding door at the back of the classroom, and slipped in..
As soon as I set foot in the classroom, everyone turned to look at me.
And in unison,
「Waaaaaah!」
But it wasn’t a cry of fear. They were cheering me with smiles on their faces.
The entire class. As soon as they saw me.
「…? ? ?」
As I stood there without a clue as to what was happening, first the athletic boys stood up–
They crowded around me energetically, as if they wanted to hoist me onto their shoulders.
「Tohyama, I can’t believe it! Is it true that you beat up a big bruiser yesterday!?」
They said, their eyes all a-sparkle.
「N-no, I just got lucky… I’m really clumsy. My body just sort of moved, and the other guy had already fallen down.」
「But I saw it, and it didn’t look like that to me! Were you boxing?」
That was my opponent.
「I’ve never seen anything like it! Do you come from a family of ninjas, or something?」
That’s my Amica Fuuma.
「No, you see.. I… that…」
From all sides, the excitement grew until I was assaulted with a barrage of question, and before I knew it, I was also surrounded by girls noisily showering me with adulation.
In this too unexpected situation, all I could do was look around me like a cornered crook.
In other words, Homeroom was interrupted because of me…
Thinking that, I turned toward the teacher’s desk where Gori was watching the scene, and his expression said: 『Yes, it’s fine, go on.』
Seeing that, I finally understood…
…Ah…
So that’s it.
Everyone was tired of these ordinary, boring days–
I was not the only one at this school. Everyone else was tired of it.
Where nothing ever happened, and there was unbroken peace, they were starved for excitement.
And then, I had beaten back the obviously ruffianly looking Leon–
Or opened a wind-hole, as Aria would say.
Afterwards, during class breaks, my classmates kept asking me things like:
「You must be really strong, right?」
「Tohyama, that guy must have been a washed-up boxer!」
「What style do you practice?」
To which I replied, respectively:
「Not really.」
「I knew that.」
「None in particular.」
I tried to say as little as possible in response, but my popularity could only increase from there.
Forget breaks, during the lunch period there was another Tohyama-mania craze as the boys and girls from neighboring classes invaded our classroom…
A-at this rate, It will be hard for me to stay at this school, but for a wholly different reason…
So holding my head, and being unable to even leave the classroom–
A tall lanky student unexpectedly appeared.
「C’moooon! Don’cha see y’all only buggin’ ‘im!」
With this horribly enunciated rebuke, he dispersed the students that held me under house arrest.
And over there shooing everyone away…. was Asao, wearing his uniform properly,
That must mean that the thin student is Fujikibayashi? I didn’t recognise him because his hair is dyed black
「S’all right, Kinji. Everyone in this lot is definitely gonna want to bug you today.」
「You should leave quickly.」
I thought that both Fujikibayashi and Asao hated me, but for some reason I don’t understand, they are helping me–
「Y-yes, you really saved me.」
I thanked them honestly, and with those two acting as guards, I escaped the classroom.
**************************************************************************
–As expected of a bunch of yankees6, the knew of a good place to hide.
I hadn’t noticed it, but up above the roof, on top of the big school clock there was another rooftop.
No one comes here.
Going up a concealed service ladder, I was finally able to pause to take a breath.
The view was pretty good, and I gazed out over downtown Ikekuburo…
「Please, let what happened between us be water under the bridge. I’m sorry.」
「Sorry!」
Side-by-side, Fujikibayashi and Asao bowed.
I can’t really remember you hurting me, so you don’t need to apologise…
Or so I was thinking, but they are men bowing their heads, so…
「Understood.」
I merely replied.
At that, they seemed relieved and sitting in seiza looked up to me smiling.
It’s a look of expectation..
It’s as if they expected to hear me chew them out.
「… Weren’t the two of you suspended?」
「We’re done finished.」
‘Done finished’?…It seems that Fujikibayashi has more trouble with Japanese than I do.
It reminds me of Shirayuki’s 『Kin-chan-sama』 using two honorifics.
「We is in the same class.」
‘We is’?… Whatever.
「To tell the truth, we wanted to stop coming to school, but… Kinji-san is here, so we kept coming.」
Asao said in a low voice, to which I replied with a 『Huh?』…
「We told Gori, and it made him happy.」
Fujikibayashi said smiling.
Ahh… So that’s why he didn’t ask too many questions about my violent encounter off school grounds.
Gori-sensei. So that’s it. Keeping students from dropping out of your class can only be good for your career.
「So you are going to come to school… then what are your plans afterwards?」
I asked, just for reference–
「Kinji-san, just like you are going to attend a cram school and work hard… I am going to study hard too. I want to become a doctor. That’ll make me popular.」
「I’m gonna take over my pop’s fishing business. But my mama says I gotta finish high school.」
Huuuuh…?
These hooligans have their futures better planned than I do.
「But really Kinji-san, yesterday was super totally unbelievable! Leon might be an old East Ikekuburo student, but he’s a real pain as a person, right?」
Even though we were classmates, Fujikibayashi had used honorifics in order to start sucking up to me.
「That might be true…」
I said that, but Leon–had climbed up onto the roof…!
He was wearing an old school uniform, and apparently he tailed Fujikibayashi and Asao and sneaked into his old school. In order to find me.
Fujikibayashi and Asao’s faces turned as red as tomatoes, and even I was a little surprised–
「–I’m not giving you a revenge match, Leon. How did things go with the Kagataka Family?」
「They kicked me out. I’m fine though.」
Just in case, I looked him over…he didn’t look particularly injured.
Aside from the bandage over his nose from my kick.
「I’m here on orders from the Family, but even so.. I’m sorry. Please forgive me…!」
In a louder voice than Asao had used, dropped and bowed on the spot.
Ah! I get it. He had tracked me down in fear, and came to make his apology.
I should be the one apologising though.
In our fight…
I vented all of my stress on you.
「That’s enough, it’s really not necessary. If you don’t pick a fight with me, I won’t raise a hand against you. Live your life the way you want to.」
Slightly embarrassed, I unilaterally ended the conversation.
Then he stayed quiet for a while…
He was different than Fujikibayashi and Asao, and he studied me with his semi-pro eye.
「… Are you sure that you’re simply human?」
「I’m not very sure, but I hope to be one.」
「Let me be your little brother!」
This… again…?
「I told Kikuyo the same thing: I have enough younger brothers.」
I said harshly.
「I’m not used to the kind of ‘games’ you play. I’m just an amateur. If you want to be delinquents, then do whatever you want. Fight if you want to. if you get suspended or arrested because of it, it’s your life. But don’t drag me into it.」
I took the opportunity to look at Fujikibayashi and Asao and turn them down as I said this…
And one by one, they all nodded. They looked a little disappointed, and I felt a small twinge of guilt.
As a rule, I dislike those kind of ‘problem children’ that act out but…
I couldn’t help but feel a little sympathy for them. I was a problem child too at my old school.
But this is no good. I have to clearly sever our ties here.
I have no intention of becoming an outlaw.
「I want to pass my days in this school normally. I tried to peacefully integrate into society and live a tranquil life. So I don’t want to be bothered by your problems. Got it?」
I repeated myself, and Fujikibayashi and Asao both nodded at the same time.
They must be good friends.
But…
Leon looked like he had something that he wanted to say, but he swallowed his words. And his close cropped head nodded agreement.
Then I began to feel something–
*Grrrrrr!*
The grave tone of the scene was ruined by the sound rumbling from my stomach.
At lunch today, everyone had rained a hail of questions on me, and because of that, I hadn’t eaten anything.
「You’re hungry! Be right back!」
Fujikibayashi’s face suddenly lit up, and he decided to be the errand boy and run to buy something to eat…
Before I could say 『No thanks』, he had already dashed off and disappeared.
Haa… but if I left now I would only be mobbed by everyone again. So I just ate while waiting for my classmates to either leave for home or go to their clubs.
Fujikibayashi ran to the nearby Yoshinoya7 location, and bought a big bowl of gyudon, a cup of miso soup, and a lot of soft-boiled eggs.
As the smell of Yoshinoya gyudon is like that of McDonald’s, having a scent that could stimulate anyone’s appetite…
Seeing me receive this food, it seemed like Asao and Leon did not want to be outdone and without missing a beat, they also left, and after a while–
They offered me a tribute out of a travel bag.
A T-Tokkoufuku…! 8
I’m holding a gaudy Bousouzoku-style coat.
And on its white back, 『In all Heaven and Earth, I alone am worthy of honour 』9 had been embroidered, but… they messed up on one character.
「Kinji-san this is so perfect for you!」
「We want you to wear it. Although they have broken up, this is from my old gang, the legendary–」
Asao and Leon began explaining the origins of the coat. They apparently didn’t hear what I had just said, and as I was quivering with rage so that I was about to snap the chopsticks that came with the food…
*Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!*
There was a tapping on my shoulder.
But I couldn’t see the hand responsible.
G-G-3! I told you not to follow me…!
But this guy doesn’t listen to anything I tell him to do.
But what’s this? English Morse Code?
『Nice coat. Can I have it…?』
You like things like that? But loud, flashy things must be G-3’s style.
Pretending to scratch my shoulder, I tapped a message in Japanese on my younger brother’s hand in reply: 『Don’t follow me again, Kinzou.』 as I said aloud:
「I won’t wear it, but my younger brother will love it.」
I have to get out of here soon…
But checking, there were still a lot of students at school.
With a sigh, I sat down again, and Asao took out a beer can and started drinking.
「Oi! You shouldn’t drink alcohol!」
「It’s no big deal. The can might say that it’s harmful to minors, but..」
「That’s not what I’m worried about. I’m talking about your control. In a fight, alcohol… will hurt your response time.」
Caught up in the Butei-esque atmosphere… I slipped and said that.
Asao looked happy at my teacher-like reprimand and closed the can–
Now Fujikibayashi and Leon were looking at me in obvious expectancy.
They were hoping I’d give them some other advice like what I had just said.
I still can’t leave, so there’s no help for it. I’ll kill some time chatting with these guys.
Rather, I couldn’t help but say something to them.
The secret of my level of experience was already out, so I’ll give these three a few tips on personal safety.
With a slightly serious expression, I turned to face them.
「From now on… Fujikinayashi, you should stop wearing your earrings.」
「Huh? Too flashy?」
「No, but when you grapple with someone, they are going to be ripped out. That was what I was taught.」
His eyes glistening at my frank advice, Fujikibayashi took out his earrings.
「…Leon. You have the bad habit of hanging your arm outside the car window like you did yesterday. 」
「Hmmm?」
「Fix it. You’re going to break an arm.」
I said several thing like this that Ranbyou had taught to us…
…Checking back every now and again until the number of students had thinned out.
「From here on out– There is nothing between us. There’s nothing good that can come out of it. By thy way, Leon…」
Standing up, I turned to look back at Leon–
I gave him one final heartfelt warning.
「That Makarov. Was it the Family’s or yours?」
「…It’s mine.」
「Have you looked it over?」
「No…」
「It was full of dirt and debris from being fired. Forget a disassembly, it looked like it had not received even normal maintenance. When you pointed the gun at me, your posture was sloppy. How can you carry a gun when you don’t know how to aim, fire, or care for it?」
「…」
「I gave it back to you that time, but someone who carries a gun has a certain duty. They accept the moral responsibility that at some point in time, it might be necessary to use it. If you draw a weapon needlessly, it will cause everyone around to panic. That is what happened yesterday. If you take it without necessity, not only your enemy, but there’s the chance that everyone carrying one nearby could also draw theirs. It could be me. Or maybe some policeman. And let me tell you, a policeman will shoot to kill. Between a rookie who drew his gun without thinking, and a professional trained to use it–Think hard about which one is more likely to survive.」
「…」
「You should understand this. An amateur should not be carrying a gun. The only one who should be carrying a gun is someone whose job requires them to do so. The American law that is slowly lifting the ban on the sale of old weapons is wrong. Nowadays, you can get a used Saturday Night Special for 7,000 yen10. Your gun goes for about 30,000.11 And if you go flashing your gun around recklessly,– it will be a double suicide. For you and your gun.」
It looks like if you really took the time to speak honestly, he would understand…
Leon remained silent, listening to my frank words.
「Ask yourself, is you life worth so little to you? If you’ve given up on being a yakuza, you should get rid of it.」
I concluded my speech.
「…I understand. I’ll take it to a collection point tonight and get rid of it.」
Leon said, seeming to have taken what I said to heart.
He’s not talking about using a vise to destroy it, but rather disposing of it in the official manner…
But I had handled it by illegally disposing of the bullet prize from the Sports Festival a while ago by burying them. What does that say about me?
The next morning, Tamamo used her powers of transformation to turn into a 『Road Safety Amulet』.
I took her to school, wearing it under my shirt.
I thought she had been quietly keeping watch or sleeping in her own 『dimension』, but she had plundered my Nintendo DS and had been idling the entire time.
Such a care-free god…
Grumbling about this NEET god, I avoided everyone as they left the few scattered school buildings and slipped away–
In the sunset, I picked up Reki wearing her poker face in front of the school gate and headed home.
「We’re home…!」
As we arrived home, G-3 was putting the last few touches on his constructed greenhouse.
In the sitting room, Kaname is sitting in front of my late father’s shogi board, reading a book written by Shogi Master Habu.
My grandmother was playing the koto in the living room… That song… is the same one Shirayuki plays, isn’t it?
Well, it is a well-known song, I guess.
Out from under the eye of my grandmother, my grandfather is reading.
He’s put a cover on it, but judging from his grinning face, it’s one of his precious French Shoin books.12
Giving this ordinary scene a sideways glance, I entered the six tatami room that was mine.
「…」
*Swish!* *Swish!*
My room is separated from the next where Reki stays by only a sliding screen. Because the noise of Reki changing out of her uniform is too exciting, I left my room and went out onto the porch to pass the time in watching the glistening snow that was still falling from the sky.
The sun is already low in the sky.
Well, how to say it…?
Today was a hard day at school, I’m being haunted by a fox spirit, and there are several strange things going on at my house–
Despite that, I get the feeling that I am becoming an ordinary person. But I also feel like there is something that can destroy this sense of peace.
I’m thinking of something Kana told me:
When people leave behind their old norm—they have new experiences and learn from them. By doing that, they will establish a new norm.
…That’s how I feel.
I wouldn’t have had these experiences if I hadn’t left Butei High.
I learned a lot there that I couldn’t elsewhere.
But–what Kana said had a continuation:
But if a person isn’t where they need to be, they will never fit in.
…I watch the snow for little while and pondered this…
「Kinji-san, it is almost time for dinner.」
I had no idea how long she had stood there, Reki pointed this out to me–
Lately Reki has taken to wearing her Butei High sailor suit around the house.
The family and border all together, we ate a bountiful meal… afterwards, since even the strangest of pets must be vaccinated, Reki took Haimaki for his inoculations– Since night time was the only time that such business could operate, Reki took him to a certain veterinary in Nerima. Since there were several kinds of inoculations, Reki and Haimaki had been going there twice a week.
As for me…
Despite lecturing Leon about it, I myself wasn’t maintaining my Beretta at all. So I thought I should check it once in awhile, and took out the gun from the cabinet…eh?
Someone had actually cleaned and serviced it. It was a modified gun, yet the maintenance was done perfectly. There were even fresh traces of lubricating oil.
…?
Turning it over in my non-Hysteria Mode brain…
My mobile suddenly began playing 『Hana no Uchi ni』13.
I picked up, but the number was strange to me.
「…Hello?」
I spoke a single word–
「–It’s just awful, Tohyama. Using your henchman like that.」
The voice answered with a suppressed smile.
It was Kikuyo.
It seems like she got my number from somewhere.
「…What do you mean?」
I had a bad feeling about this, so I listened instead of hanging up…
「Hmmm. I see. It was nothing. I was checking.」
「…?」
「Changing topics– I had a little chat with Moe Mochizuki and asked what she is to you.」
–!
That must be why Moe was absent today, even though she had perfect attendance.
It was Kikuyo…!
「…You kidnapped her, didn’t you?」
「Don’t say something so scandalous. I just wanted to invite you back to my table again, but when I started talking in the cafe she freaked out! I thought she was a quiet girl, but she has guts! So I had her stay until she calms down.」
「…!」
Now she’s done it. She’s taken a hostage.
「But back to the topic of your henchmen. Leon tailed us with Asao and Fujikibayashi to the shop where Moe and I were going to have tea. And then, as my people were trying to calm Moe down–those three idiots just burst in!」
「What…?!」
「Fufufu! I had to protect myself. But no matter what, the three of them wouldn’t give up your name. No matter how we asked–they only said that it was someone, and Moe had nothing to do with their friend, and I should let Moe go so that they could live a peaceful life.」
Until now Kikuyo had mixed in laughter with her words…
「–The yakuza can’t let that go. The four of them are your people. How are you going to pay for this?」
Now her true colours were exposed as Kikuyo’s voice became cold and serious.
「You haven’t killed them?」
「Of course not. They’re alive. For now.」
「I want proof.」
「I thought you’d say that. –Here, Moe. It’s your unrequited love.」
Kikuyo’s voice sounded slightly farther away…
Sounds of a struggle, and then a muffled voice…
「Tohyama-kun, don’t come…」
After saying that, Moe was gagged again…
I’m sure that was Moe’s voice, and I paled.
「…Tohyama. Let me tell you two facts: First, over 8,000 people are reported missing every year. Second, the yakuza know places where something can be buried and no one ever find it.」
「Threats… they’ve always been your specialty.」
「What now? You’re making me feel bad. They’re just facts. You can find them written in books.」
She’s an ex-Butei, and an ex-member of LEZZAD. That makes her hard to deal with,
There’s a well-known saying around Butei High: ASSAULT is weak against LEZZAD.
If you want a historical comparison, it’s like the relationship between the samurai and ninjas.
The samurai were stronger. They carried good swords, and were excellent swordsmen.
They had good food, and via hard training, strong bodies. And since they lived in fortified castles, their defence was perfect.
Anyone who wanted to kill them–for whatever reason– was unable to.
Attacking head-on.
But if they were attacked from behind, they could be killed.
That’s what the ninja did.
A ninja never fought like a warrior in a spectacular way. They would creep in close unnoticed, use long-ranged weapons, attack while their enemy was sleeping, use poison, and any method that could be called ‘sneaky’.
But they never thought it was shameful. They only cared about winning, and this was practically the opposite of rigid discipline.
This way how Kikuyo had been trained–as an intelligence gathering operative, this was how she worked. Such people regularly take hostages.
Even the 『Western Ninja』 Watson was able to kidnap Aria.
And although the tactics were only slightly different, I’ve been played the same way. A Butei from ASSAULT falling into a cliche trap.
「–So, how about another date? Moe is anxious to see you as well–」
Leaving me with those words, Kikuyo ended the call and sent a map to my e-mail, whose address she had probably gotten from Moe’s mobile.
It was Kikuyo… the Head of the Family’s, main residence.
『Come if you want the hostages released.』 — that was her message.
Those were her final words.
I can’t help but go.
If I don’t go, Moe and the others’ lives will be in danger. The yakuza don’t think twice about killing. Kikuyo said that they were experts at making people disappear. If anyone in the organisation is accused of a crime, arrested, indicted, and receives a prison sentence they earn praise and promotion.
These despicable people, that’s practically the opposite of what normal people would think of a criminal.
But the blame here…
Is completely mine.
In order to buy time for Reki to escape, I had messed around with Leon in front of Kikuyo’s eyes. I went into Hysteria Mode and that was a huge mistake.
Everything is my fault–and I shouldn’t drag anyone else into it. Even my family that is living their everyday life.
I can’t destroy it. Their peaceful, everyday life.
So I have to take care of it myself.
Reki’s absence in taking care of Haimaki might just be a drop of happiness in a sea of misfortune.
But…
Reluctantly, I donned my bulletproof Butei High school uniform and holstered my Beretta but– I’m still me, without the influence of Hysteria Mode.
What can the normal ‘me’ do?
In Kikuyo’s main residence, the executives and their henchmen are sure to be there.
If can’t fake Hysteria Mode because Kikuyo is used to seeing me in that state, and I won’t be able to fool her sharp gaze.
If a fight broke out, even the normal ‘me’ can deal with a bunch of small-time thugs, but these are professionals.
…In the end, this won’t be settled by talking.
Thinking that, I slipped out into the dark street without a word to anyone–a light snow had fallen.
White breath puffing, I hurried to Kikuyo’s grand mansion in West Ikebukuro.
This has turned into an infiltration.
When crossing enemy’s defensive lines, Butei call it an 『Infiltration』.
The word has its origin in the kind of circles Kikuyo runs in, and it’s jargon for the disputes between rival families.
On full-alert, I peeked around the corner at a huge, extravagant Japanese style door…
「…Leon! Fujikibayashi! Asao…!」
Tattered and bloody, they were collapsed rather than leaning, against the side of a wall.
Panicked, I rushed over and knelt by them, and when I reached them… it was horrible.
The three of them had been pummeled mercilessly until their faces were monstrous.
It… doesn’t look like they were able to put up any kind of a fight, and they were beaten and left here.
「Why did you fight them…? Against the yakuza…?」
As I hurriedly looked them over to make sure they didn’t have any broken bones or ruptured organs…
「Ki…Kinji-san…sorry…」
With his nose broken and good looks spoiled, Fujikibayashi tried to apologise.
「E-even though we promised not to drag you into this… we ended up dragging you in anyway…」
T-that promise–
You did all of this in order to keep you promise to me?
You didn’t have to keep that promise in this kind of emergency.
「You said that you wanted to pass the time going to school normally… So we tried to get Moe Mochizuki back from the Family to honour that promise so K-Kinji-san could live his life, but… we’re s-sorry…」
Asao said weakly, his thick right arm was broken. That will take a month in order to recover.
…Because I tried and failed to forcibly make a normal life for myself at that school, these guys… tried to fix it themselves. Because I had said 『Don’t drag me into it 』.
Coughing violently and showering the snow with thin streaks of blood, Leon said–
「I-it’s alright..!」
Alarmed, I turned toward him.
「I went in bare-handed. Because of our promise. I didn’t pack any heat.」
Despite his tattered and worn out appearance…Leon showed a boastful smile.
Wh-what the hell…!
What are you guys planning on doing? Keeping that promise to the letter?
They had done all of this for me…!
「Why did you fight… until something like this happened?! If you had given my name, called for me… something like this would never have happened…!」
In my eyes, tears I couldn’t explain began to well up.
「Fujikibayashi, Asao, Leon…! You don’t owe me anything! We only fought and afterwards ate on the roof. There’s nothing between us…!」
「–Not true!」
Despite his battered appearance, Leon put on a renewed face.
Fujikibayashi and Asao… laughed weekly.
「At school, everyone looked away from us. But you looked at me and Asao and faced us head-on」
「Ki-Kinji-san, you took us seriously… Heh Heh… That actually made us glad.」
Fujikibayashi, Asao…!
「…So we just wanted to take your wishes seriously, that’s all.」
Leon…!
So that’s it…!
The three of them… had been isolated and lonely.
Shunned and ignored at school and by society, they had nowhere to belong.
I understand how painful that can be. I’ve experienced it as well.
I faced them head-on, and even though it has only been a short while, it’s like we have become friends.
They had done this for only that reason…
「B-but in the end, we… only managed to cause you trouble… Making you come out someplace like this… W-we’re really sorry…」
「Hehe… Scum will always be scum, and that’s us. A place like this is right for trash like us… Hehe…」
「People like us… you just shouldn’t have anything to do with… People like us… The world looks at us like worms.」
To Fujikibayash, Asao, and Leon I replied…
「They’re wrong…!」
Rising, I glared at the entrance to the Kagataka Family’s home.
「You fought. To help Moe, to help me. You fought fearlessly to help someone else. That’s not something anyone can do!」
I don’t know any words other than Butei words. So I spoke to them as if they were injured comrades.
「You aren’t worms. You are human. Falling while fighting for someone else with all your might is something you should be proud of. It’s human. And if anyone says anything different– They’re asking for a beating…!」
It’s me. I should be the one apologising.
I have power, and you, without power, fought my battle for me.
I can’t let that go.
–A person carrying a gun, has a responsibility.
I’m ashamed that I had the nerve to say that to Leon on the rooftop that day.
Not just with guns.
Anyone who holds power has a responsibility.
A responsibility to fight for those without power.
I had made them my scapegoats… and I was too stupid to see it until now.
They made me realise this for the the first time since leaving Butei High.
「–Kaname.」
I raised my voice and addressed myself to the street corner behind me…
「Aha! You got me!」
Saying that, Kaname appeared in her school uniform and skipped toward me.
「Hello! I’m the cute little sister that takes care of her Onii-chan from ‘Good Morning’ until ‘Good Night’.」
She offered a phrase similar to something that Shirayuki would have said.
「You didn’t think that you could tail a person on a snowy day, did you? Even though you stepped in my footprints, I heard the sound of your footfalls.」
「I knew that you had noticed me, but you didn’t tell me to go away.」
「If I had, you would have followed me anyway.」
「I guess so. Hee hee!.」
「But this is far enough. I’ll make these yakuza pay each of us to settle this fight. They have only increased my determination to do so.」
「Huh? Let me do something. I won’t tell Reki, Third, or anyone.」
「Well… You can get these three to a hospital for me. Also… Thanks for taking care of my Beretta」
「Thanks are illogical. That’s what a little sister is supposed to do.」
Saying that, Kaname winked at me in an adorable manner–
I was only half sure, but it seems that she was the one who serviced my gun so scrupulously.
Reki won’t touch anyone else’s gun without permission, G-3 treats his guns like toys, and Grandfather and Grandmother have always taught me: 『You should take care of your own things.』
So, by process of elimination I reached this conclusion: Kaname had been the one to service my gun. I owe her.
But now–
My present state of mind. Is that from my time at Butei High. I have the feeling that I have reverted.
Anger at the Kagataka Family is filling my chest, but I am still calm. Even though this situation occurred, rather than rage, my head is cool and collected.
The worrying thought of stepping into a life-and-death situation is merely a pleasant notion.
–I’m not a respectable person.
「But… Will you really be alright alone? It doesn’t look like you are in HSS.」
「I’ll figure something out.」
「Well… I believe in you.」
Kaname and I had this conversation as she lent Leon a shoulder–
「Moe is inside, right?」
I asked Leon a question.
「Y-yeah…」
He nodded.
Let’s go. The mission: save Moe. Number of enemies: Unknown. Their weapons: Unconfirmed. Forget King or Berserk, I wasn’t even in normal Hysteria Mode, I was simply me. This job is going to be difficult.
But isn’t it always? It’s the sort of steep path that I’m used to walking.
「Good evening.」
Despite it’s old-fashioned design, the door was automatic and slid open…
Neatly dressed in her updated Kimono, Kikuyo greeted me.
「I’m sorry Tohyama. But it looks like I’m the type of girl that bothers the people I love.」
「I’m not in the mood to listen to your jokes. Is it this way…?」
The snow had accumulated in the spacious Japanese garden, and walking through it we passed a koi pond with fish that must have cost several million yen apiece.
We entered the house’s genkan.
As we walked I had seen a line of Ferraris in the garage, a huge Harley-Davidson motorbike, and a motorboat sitting on a trailer.
「Fu Fu! Your face, Tohyama, is lively like I thought.」
Entering the genkan that was larger than my entire room, Kikuyo covered her mouth with the long sleeves of her kimono.
Thinking she has her prey caught in her web, she looks pleased with herself.
「Where’s Moe?」
「Really now. You’re already talking about another girl. This way. That girl really has a bad temper, don’t you think?」
Whirling away in a huff, Kikuyo turned and started down a corridor. The walls of the corridor were an aquarium made of a huge tank embedded into the wall and had large fish swimming in it.
Following her down the hall, she led me into a room that was probably over 100 square metres.
「… 」
The walls of the room were covered with amazing oil paintings, and off to the side of the support pillars there were celadon vases with the image of Asura, and a glass table with a lamp.
These treasure would have cost several million yen.
There wasn’t even a trace of continuity in style, but the yakuza don’t trouble themselves about such things. They hoard pieces of art in their mansions in case the police freeze their financial assets. Because real estate and art are assets that can be liquidated easily.
But these things are not what should be noticed. Instead, the yakuza scattered throughout the room should be observed.
First, the ones I know–the executives…
The lanky Todai Graduate was sitting on the sofa wearing a suit.
In addition, like dependant children that have yet to leave home, five yakuza wearing black suits were standing by the door–
Holding assault rifles.
Five AK-47’s…?
That must have been hard to pull off.
Adopted by the former Soviet Union, they are now mass-produced in China–and it isn’t the best gun.
It’s accuracy is low, and it has design flaws. But putting that aside, it is an assault rifle, and, of course, it can fire automatic bursts.
And despite the fact that its comparatively larger and more powerful 7.62 mm bullets reduces its loading capacity, it still carries more bullets than my pistol.
It’s firepower is not something the normal me can deal with.
Although it also has the reputation of rusting easily and the rifling wearing down, it won’t fail easily.
It is a weapon designed with War in mind, and a reliable gun.
「…Gunrunning?」
As a Butei, I foolishly pointed out the obvious.
Riko’s would be easier to get into the country, but assault rifles– they would be a lot harder to get through inspection. One or two, I could understand, but a full set like this…
There’s no way that they could be registered, and they have to come from the black market–contraband guns. All of them.
With connexions to China, Kikuyo has an easy route for gun smuggling–
「I just haven’t gotten around to registering them yet.」
Her silly answer implied I was correct.
「So they don’t work?」
「Want to find out…?」14
The Todai Graduate burst into laughter at our exchange, as off to the side–
「…Tohyama-kun…!」
The executive that looked like a host pushed Moe ahead of him into the room.
「Moe…!」
I rushed over to her and saw that her two thumbs had been tied together behind her back. This is the simplest, but most effective way to immobilise someone’s hands.
Perhaps because she was so flustered, but Moe crashed into me and fell in a heap–
「They haven’t done anything bad to you, have they?」
I asked, bending down on one knee to meet her eyes and calm her.
「N-no…They haven’t done anything to me, but…」
Suddenly she looked angry.
「Fujikibayashi and the rest are at a hospital. They’ll be fine. They aren’t going to die.」
At my words, Moe’s face became calm again…Kikuyo said 『Of course they are!』, sulkily pouting.
「–Kikuyo, you have illegally detained a minor; that’s kidnapping.」
「What if we were just playing with a st
Chapter end
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