Owari no Seraph – Ichinose Guren, 16-sai no Catastrophe v5c2

In the Hyakuya Orphanage’s front yard, Hiragi Mahiru was looking at the phone she just hung up, and laughed lightly.

Then, she raised her head and looked at the sky.

There was not a single cloud in the sky, but in Shibuya, the street lights were too bright, and she could not see the stars.

At this time, September was about to end, and the temperature wasn’t too warm or too cold; it was just nice. Last time, it used to be Mahiru’s favourite time of the year.

But in this world, these comfortable days would not happen again.

Because, in 3 months, the world would end.

Then,

“……should I take this chance to go and eat some Saury fish?”

Wait, Mahiru thought. The fish should still be in season. In the first half of September, the fishes are usually the fattest, then as the days go on, they get thinner.

Ah ah, either way, they were going to be roasted over a charcoal fire. Near the river or anywhere else, the fire still burns strongly. The grease from the charcoal grill, the smell wafts all around and the promise of delicious food tempts the mind.

Appetite.

Sexual desire.

A desire to live.

“Wah, it does look really delicious” —— she said this just like a normal girl, thinking about eating it together with Guren.

They surely would be happy.

Since the world is going to end soon.

“If the world was going to end tomorrow, what are you going to do?” This kind of stupid questions were very popular in schools when Mahiru was still a kid.

Everyone would ask and answer that question several times a day.

But no one has ever asked Mahiru this question. Because in the high class Hiragi family, there was no one that would spend time asking such frivolous questions.

Therefore she was crowded around by adults.

But, she did see everyone happily answer that question.

One boy said that he wanted to eat all the curry he could; until he was stuffed.

Another girl said she would like to thank her parents.

She thought, “since I had never been loved by my parents, I have no idea what this feeling is like.”

Then, all of a sudden, she too started thinking about the answer to that question.

Although there was no one around to ask it, but if there happened to be someone to ask her, how would she answer?

If the world ends.

If the world ends tomorrow, what will you do?

“…………”

The people that may ask her this question, are not by her side today.

But, using today figuratively as the last day on earth, Mahiru thought about the question.

If today is the last day on earth, what will she do?

“In the end, I still want to eat Saury fish……”

Then, someone from below answered her.

“Ah, that, Saury fish really is tasty, right!”

Mahiru looked down at the direction of the voice. She saw a young girl holding a dodgeball standing there.

She must be one of the girls living in the Hyakuya Orphanage.

Probably 6, 7 years old.

The same age as her sister Shinoa. Maybe even a bit younger than her.

The girl frowned and said.

“But I don’t like the inner stomach, because it’s too bitter~”

It looks like a cute kid.

The meat of the inner stomach was indeed bitter. Then she can give that portion to Guren then. Because he was always pretending to be an adult, surely he would eat it.

“Who are you?” Mahiru asked, and the girl replied.

“I’m Akane. What about you, big sister?”

“I’m Yamada Miyuki.”

Mahiru said a fake name. Immediately the naive Akane believed her.

“Then, Yamada-san”

“Just call me Miyuki.”

Either way it’s still a fake name.

“Then, Miyuki big sis. Can I ask you something?”

“Eh, what is it?”

“Big sis, are you gentle?”

She was asked such a pure and straight forward question.

Was she gentle?

If she was asked, unfortunately, Hiragi Mahiru wasn’t a gentle person. Suffice to say, she was a person who followed her desires.

She was a person, that with three months left on earth, still persistently wants to eat Saury with Guren. That kind of selfish woman.

But, what about Yamada Miyuki?

“Hm—, how do I put this. I’m a little unwilling to call myself gentle.”

From the start, Yamada Miyuki isn’t even a real person.

But Akane replied.

“Even if you think like that, then just tell me, are you a gentle person?”

Mahiru lowered her head and looked at the girl.

Akane was quite determined to get an answer. She continued to ask.

“Is it because big sis is one of those? One of those people that come to take one of the kids here away?”

The kids referred to the children that were in the orphanage.

The reason that Mahiru was here was to take a 4 year old kid called Juni.

To use as testing material.

To research on the 《Seraph of the End》

Akane continued to asked.

“Big sis, are you gentle?”

“…………”

“Big sis, are your parents gentle?”

“…………”

“Will you treat Juni gently?”

Akane furiously asked, and Mahiru gently patted her head.

“Ah……”

Then, Akane couldn’t help the tears streaming down her face as she cried. It was probably because she was upset that the kid called Juni and her would be separated. They don’t have any blood relations, but she saw him as a little brother anyway.

But, that kind of feelings, Mahiru understood it more or less because she had a little sister too. She too would more or less be like that if such a thing happened. Also, in order to save her sister, she risked her own life. So she could understand these feelings.

Mahiru continued to gently pat Akane’s head, and said.

“Based on what you see, what do you think of me?”

Then, Akane replied.

“You’re very beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“Also, you look very gentle.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

“Then, are you okay with giving Juni to us?”

But, Akane continued speaking.

“But, although you look gentle, you look a little bit sad.”

“Eh.”

Akane also said,

“You also look very sad. Big sis, are you sad?”

No way.

She stood in front of the mirror countless times practicing this smile, to the point that it looked natural. She had been practicing since young.

But, if that smile could been seen through by this small kid, then.

“……maybe.”

Mahiru answered.

Then, Akane looked up, her face full of worry.

“Big sis, are you alright?”

Mahiru let out a mischievous smile.

“Recently, I’ve run into some romantic problems.”

Akane’s expression became a little more interested. Although she was still a child, she was also a girl. And girls would always be interested in romance.

“Are you on bad terms with your boyfriend?”

Regarding that question, Mahiru shrugged.

“We aren’t dating yet.”

“Unrequited love?”

“Hm~ How do I put this?”

“What kind of person is he?”

“He’s a childhood love.”

“Ah, a childhood love! Then your relationship must be very good right? Then, that guy didn’t confess to you?”

Mahiru laughed and then said,

“Really now, why are you asking all sorts of things about me~? Shouldn’t we be talking about Juni?”

Then, Akane let out a laugh and said,

“Ah, that isn’t a problem anymore.”

“Eh? Why?”

“Because when big sis was talking about the person she likes, your expression became really gentle.”

That seems to be the case.

When she was chatting about Guren, her expression seemed to have naturally become gentle.

Then, she was a little stunned.

“……Really, what a simple-minded woman.”

Mahiru smiled as well.

Thinking about this, Shinoa had also once said that of herself.

She said, “When sister talks about being with Ichinose Guren, only then she has a happy expression.”

Then she thought about the two of them standing in front of the dressing table, practicing their smiles together so they would look cuter.

Then, Mahiru could immediately force a fake smile onto her face, while Shinoa couldn’t at all.

『Is it like that? Is it like that?』

Thinking about Shinoa’s smiley-squinting face as she said all this, Mahiru’s mood lifted a bit.

My innermost feelings——they have been devoured by my demon until there is little left, but even like this, the reason I move is for Guren and Shinoa. Then, if I need a warm and gentle smile, I will think of Guren. As she was thinking about Guren and smiling, she also said to Akane.

“By the way, do you have any guy that you like?”

After hearing that question, Akane’s face turned totally red.

“Ah, um that, I……”

“Aha, you do have some guy you like. Who?”

“Uh uh uh uh uh” (T/N: too bad that guy likes a certain salt king)

At this moment, a voice came from the main building of the orphanage.

“Akane-chan!”

It was someone with an exceptionally clear voice.

Then, Akane’s body seemed to tremble a little in happiness.

It was a reaction that Mahiru understood very well.

So it is like that.

Mahiru turned towards the direction of the voice.

Towards the person that Akane likes.

Then, an extremely beautiful kid with a few other children appeared.

Soft blond hair.

Snow-white skin.

He must not be a pure Japanese. She had seen him on the reports.

His name was Shindo Mikaela.

Of course, he wasn’t told this, but he really was an excellent test subject. Such an excellent test subject, that the 《Hyakuya Sect》 will never let go of him.

“Mika!”

Akane called out the boy’s name. Her voice went a few pitches up. That was the sound of a girl in love.

No, even the kids surrounding Mika seemed to like him alot. Speaking of which, the information that she had did not mention that he was some sort of leader of the orphanage kids.

Because they were only interested in using him to get experimental data, they didn’t care about what else he does.

Currently, there was a small child wrapped around his torso. He was Juni, the kid that the Hyakuya Sect was going to give her.

Juni was crying.

Then, next to his side, there was the old lady that was in charge of the orphanage.

Behind them, there stood a man attired in a black suit. He was sent over by the 《Hyakuya Sect》, a guy called Saito. Saito’s cool gaze was directed over here. Mahiru ignored him.

“Mika-nii! I don’t want to go! I don’t want to go!”

Juni hugged Mika’s waist tighter.

Mika gently patted Juni’s head.

And then looked over.

Sensible blue eyes.

A blue that seems to be able to see through everything; it was a frank, pure and intense.

Mahiru’s face slipped into the smile that she had been practicing since young, and said.

“Juni-kun, you don’t need to be afraid, because my family is a very normal family. Nothing to worry about.” (T/N: mmhhmm stop lying)

Juni didn’t turn around to look over.

Rather, Mika spoke.

“And you are?”

Then, Akane answered him.

“Mika, this is Yamada Miyuki-san. She’s going to become Juni’s older sister.”

“I don’t want a new sister! I……I want to be with Mika-nii and Akane-nee!”

Juni screamed, crying.

Mika continued to pat his head as he glanced at Akane.

“So?”

Then Akane answered.

“Hm, she’s a really gentle person.”

It looks like Akane was sent by Mika to check her out.

Mika-kun.

Her eyes are really sharp~

“Oh……”

Mika closed his eyes and then looked over once more.

“Then, Yamada Miyuki-san, where are your parents?”

Mahiru answered.

“Ah, if so many adults suddenly come, Juni-kun would be scared. So they decided that I come along first. Father said that since my age was closest to his, it’ll be easier for me to interact with him……really though, I’m already 16, and no one sees me as a child anymore, what a headache.”

As she said this, her fake smile appeared again.

All of these lies sprouted from her mouth.

“But if you don’t think I’m reliable, and that you’re uneasy that my parents didn’t come……”

Hearing this, Mika shook his head.

“No, it doesn’t matter. Sorry for asking you such weird questions.”

After saying this, he bent down so he was eye-level with the crying Juni, and gave him a warm smile.

“Juni, she looks like a really warm and gentle person.”

“No! I don’t want to go!”

Juni screamed.

“Juni. For sure you’d be better there than here.”

“But I want to be together with Mika-nii!”

Juni lamented as he screamed some more.

“Yeah, I also want to be together with Juni too. But Juni would have an even better family.”

“But the family here at the orphanage is my real family!”

“Yeah.”

“Mika-nii, you said that before! You said that we are no longer alone! You said that everyone in the orphanage is my family!”

“Yeah, I did say that. We will forever still be Juni’s family and friends.”

“Then why!”

Then, Mika embraced Juni warmly , saying.

“Because we’re your family, we want the best for you.”

He hugged him tighter.

“Juni, don’t cry. If you’re a big boy, then you’ll have to bravely move forward. Don’t worry. Because if you want to run away, we’ll always be here for you to come and find us.”

“Wah~ wah~ wah~”

Hearing this, Juni couldn’t help but cry some more.

“Mika-nii”

“Yeah?”

“…….I……I, I don’t want to be separated from everyone.”

“Yeah.”

“I want to be together with everyone.”

“Me too.”

“But, do I really have to go?”

“Yeah.”

“If I don’t go, will Mika-nii be disappointed?”

Mika shook his head and gently said.

“I won’t be disappointed. How can I be disappointed in what my family does? But, Juni, you will definitely move forward. Because I know better than anyone else, that you’re a strong kid.”

Then, Juni’s body quivered a bit. Although he was just a 4 year old child, but he had thought through Mika’s words and had an answer.

Because he wanted to be praised.

This was about the age where children would desire for acknowledgement.

In order to win Mika’s praise, Juni will work hard.

And only this child called Mikaela has that kind of power over him.

Although it was only a few words, it managed to leave a deep impression on Juni.

His checks and experimental data didn’t reflect his overwhelming leadership ability.

Everyone here has been trapped by Mika.

“Then……if Mika-nii praised me……I, I will work hard.”

Juni said.

He will make use of his small self and take a steps out into the world.

Then, Mika patted his head one last time, smiled and said,

“Good. Go on, Juni.”

Juni turned his head around. He was no longer crying and screaming. He slowly walked towards Mahiru.

“Then, then……please take care of me.”

Juni said.

Mahiru smiled and said.

“Of course.”

She nodded her head at him.

Then, if he started working hard right now, he would prosper. But I don’t think such a good thing will happen to him.

A world where small efforts of strength and convention are paid back in kind, is beautiful.

But,

“…………”

Unfortunately, the world right now is not like that.

If the world was like that, then her childhood romance would have had results, and she would be studying some in some high school, but would still skip class and eat Saury fish with Guren along some riverbank.

And then make him eat the bitter part of the inner belly. He would probably laugh and say “ really, Mahiru is so willful.” If he laughs, the bitterness from the fish would spread to his lips and make it even more bitter, but he would still endure it.

“Come on, let’s go.”

Mahiru and Juni linked hands.

Juni nodded his head. He walked a few steps, and then turned around. Although he looked like he was going to cry, he tried his best not not.

Mika smiled and nodded.

“Very impressive!”

“Yeah!”

Juni nodded his head vigorously.

Then, Mika said.

“Um, Miyuki-san……”

Perhaps she had been too engrossed thinking about Guren, Mahiru forgot who Miyuki was, and hesitated a while.

Ah, yes, it was the fake name she used.

“Yeah?”

Mahiru answered.

Then Mika said.

“Juni like reading picture books. He likes adventure stories like 《Momotaro》.”

“…………”

“Although he’s afraid of ghosts……if you tell him that he needs to become strong like Momotaro, he would be brave enough to sleep alone.”

“…………”

“Also, he’s a really hard working child…… he would look after the kids smaller than him……he was abused by his parents and they abandoned him, but he doesn’t hate them for it……so,”

Juni’s body shook a bit, and his grip on her hand tightened. Juni began crying.

Mahiru looked at Mika.

Then Mika looked over and said.

“So, if you could rescue Juni from this place, please treat him well. Because he likes learning, and he’s really smart, so please allow him to get a good education.”

“…………”

“He has enough painful memories already. I think it’s time for him to have some good ones for a change.”

Mika said.

What a smart kid.

This kid is only 8 years old.

His past wasn’t at all good.

In this orphanage—— in a place where the children are being gathered as testing subjects, there is no kid that has a good past.

But, yet he still wishes that Juni would have a good future. He felt responsible for Juni’s happiness.

But even if that was the case,

“…………”

No matter how smart they are, they are still kids, Mahiru thought.

When she was young, she too had thought about these kind of things.

Whether or not she had the right to happiness.

But, this kind of right does not exist.

If one wanted to obtain this right, then one needs to disregard their life, screaming and crying, while counting on himself to obtain it.

That’s why I turned into a demon.

My desire for more power.

Then, since it is so, Momotarou will not be able to come to the island of demons that is my heart and slay the demons there.

My shining prince will no longer come.

Where did Cinderella lose her glass slipper?

“ ……Don’t worry. I will make sure he’s happy.”

Mahiru promised Mika.

Mika smiled in relief.

“Then, Juni-kun, let’s go.”

Juni nodded.

And then they walked out of the Orphanage.

Just a few steps outside, there was a small car parked. Mahiru opened the car door and got Juni to sit in the backseat.

The man sitting on the driver’s seat turned around and said,

“Oi, who are you?”

Then, Mahiru gripped the man’s neck and killed him.

With a cracking sound, the car was filled with the sound of someone’s neck being snapped.

Juni couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

“………………Well……eh，what……”

“You don’t need to be scared. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Mahiru smiled as she said this. Then she hit Juni’s heart, and he lost consciousness. He will no longer witness scary things. He will no longer be afraid of ghosts. He will no longer need to become Momotarou, nor wait for a shining prince. Whether or not this is a good thing can be debated.

Mahiru pulled the seatbelt over the unconscious Juni, and put the dead driver in the passenger seat and also put a safety belt over him.

“That’s done.”

At this time, Mahiru remembered that she was still in the sailor uniform of the high school. If she started to drive, would the police catch her?

“……ah, if I get caught, then I’ll just kill them all. But the question is, what if they’re not policemen?”

Mahiru sat in the driver’s seat. She jiggled the ignition and then started the car. She then fiddled around with the audio system, and god-awful rap music filled the car.

At least the two of them don’t have to hear such awful music. Lucky people.

She switched to the radio and chose a station. There was one that was playing jazz music. That will do. The car filled with the sound of bass and drums.

“♪”

The car entered the highway. She switched lanes, following the other cars that were moving forward.

Then, from the mirror, she could see a car following hers.

Not the police.

Them was it the 《Hyakuya Sect》?

Or was it 『Mikado no Oni』?

Regardless of who it is, I can take care of it.

If it was a human, she could take care of it.

But, today was different.

No matter how one puts it, she has already meddled with the one thing that humans decree that should never be touched.

The forbidden taboo.

It was something that could cause the end of the world.

And the name of the experimentation was called 《Seraph of the End》.

To prevent the outside world from knowing about this experiment, there have been a lot of spells and enchantments in the Hyakuya Orphanage.

But once you arrive on the outside—— you would be chased by those who want to protect world peace, those 『Righteous fellows』

“……It looks like they’re here.”

Mahiru looked at the back mirror and muttered.

The mirror revealed them.

The car that was chasing them, there was an inhumane thing sitting on the roof of the car, gently swinging standing up.

Mahiru narrowed her eyes and stared at the mirror, which was showing it’s mouth.

The mouth was long and there were fangs.

What was there was a vampire.

A monster that no human could hope to match.

They consume human blood for food, and those of a high class had 4 fangs—— for the safety of the world did they come.

If she was a normal human, then they would grudgingly allow the vampires to take the research.

Before their hunters, they can only beg for a small part.

But,

“……I’m no longer human~. Come out, Asura.”

Calling her demon, a katana appeared in her left hand.

She took off her safety belt.

At this time, the mirror showed that vampire flying over.

And there were two of them.

Their movements were extremely fast. A speed at which no normal human could follow.

Mahiru looked back, and the vampire was already next to the car. They lifted the car next to hers and wanted to throw it on her car.

“Wah— how dramatic. Just like a movie.”

Mahiru laughed as she took the blade, and as she sliced off the part where she was sitting, she flew out of the car.

Chapter end