Chapter 9
Camaraderie, Pt. I
Things went better than expected. Given how a large part of the Funeral Parlor was mobilized throughout the city to assist Inori and me during our persecution yesterday, almost everyone already knew about me. Moreover, all those that were by the tunnel had actually seen me in battle wielding Inori's sword, and testified for my combat prowess.
They overestimate me… the only reason I was able to fight was the fact I had Inori by my side, allowing me to use her as a weapon. If she were away from me, I'd be powerless. Therefore, I need to undergo combat training. And that's why I'm here back in the library with Gai and Shibungi, the Parlor's second in command who welcomed me together with the rest after I was formally introduced.
A little away from us is a fourth person, reluctantly keeping us company from her wheelchair. Gai insisted to have her present, and thus Ayase joined us shortly after lunchtime. She is still hostile towards me, though I don't know if it is because of the misunderstanding with Inori or because of the incident this morning… or both.
"I'll be frank with you, Shu."
Gai interrupts my train of thought.
"Training you to fight on par with us will be impossible – most of our members have already undergone at least a year of rigorous drills and preparation. Time is pressing on us very hard at the moment, so we'll only be able to teach you the basics and punch into you a slightly better physical condition."
He explains the situation to me, to which I attentively listen. I myself know very well that my physical condition is poor and my combat abilities are mediocre at best. For some reason, today I've been feeling more lively than usual, but I shouldn't trust the unexpected surge of vitality will last forever.
Shibungi, who had been silent until now, proceeds with the explanations.
"Your greatest strength is Inori's Void, and therefore she will be with you at all times during deployments. However, Inori herself is your lethal weakness: if she dies, her void will be destroyed as well."
Gai continues elaborating in Shibungi's stead.
"This means you will have to defend not only yourself, but also her; you cannot afford putting yourself in extreme situations, nor can you recklessly charge against the enemy and leave her behind on her own."
No need to worry about that; the reason I got to join the Parlor in the first place is I decided I would protect her from any and all harm.
Gai takes word again.
"I'll try to be by your side myself whenever possible, but I will assign someone to be with you in addition to Inori if the situation requires me to be elsewhere. Therefore, your team will be a three-member cell most of the time."
So I'll have my own team, then… Things will be insane every time Gai joins us – we will make for an unstoppable power trio, and none will endure opposing us.
Shibungi adds a bit more.
"Also remember you are out trump card, so our tactics will be centered on you as our main unit in the whole field. As such, you'll have to keep your cool at all times and strictly obey Gai's orders – chaos will ensure if our plans fall into disarray."
That's a heavy role, but I expected he'd say something like that; I am a juggernaut if Inori is with me, so it is only natural it would be expected of me to do most of the fighting. Having someone able to shrug off bullets and slice Endlaves apart with a single blow surely counts as a decisive advantage in open combat.
The Parlor's second in command takes on from where he left off.
"The one problem is you are vulnerable if Inori's void is sheathed inside of her. That makes you very susceptible to sniper fire and explosives, which will be constantly aimed at you as soon as Sephirah finds you hold the Power of the King."
And that is terrible. Not the snipers nor the missiles, but the last part… Haruka will know. How will she react when she learns about it? How will I dare to ever face her again? I need to see her soon… I must have a very serious conversation with her, and persuade her to stop working for Sephirah Genomics at once.
Gai takes on the explanation, I think… I'm too distracted to know who's talking anymore.
"We'll take measures to protect you from enemy fire before you are deployed, but staying alive in the field is entirely up to you. Yet, the greatest threat to your life will be the assassination missions the Anti-Bodies will throw at you after knowing your identity."
How will I convince Haruka? And what will I do if I find she has known about Sephirah's objective all along? Or worse… what will I do if she is involved in the research surrounding the Void Genome?
"Tsugumi is currently contacting a mole we managed to infiltrate into the GHQ a few months ago. He has been leaking information to us, and so he'll be able to tell us if the enemy has already identified you as one of our members. "
I hope I haven't been branded as a terrorist yet… I know my life as a civilian has met its end, but I do not want to lose the last remaining family I used to have. A quarrel with Haruka is the last thing I need, but I do not see any way I can avoid it other than having the fortune of not being recognized by anyone in the GHQ during the persecution… which is a far too optimistic hope; there is no way I wasn't seen and recorded.
"There is a very small chance that your name is still relatively clean… we had Tsugumi hack into the surveillance cameras by the areas where you were present, you see. The problem is that even if there are no video records of you, we cannot do anything about the Anti-Bodies that saw you themselves… so we must wait for our mole to tell us exactly how much they know about you before we can determine any course of action."
Wait, Gai just said something important. Tsugumi is really, really saving my ass more than I deserve. I'm starting to feel very positively about her… she has already earned my appreciation, and so I think I'll be looking for a way to reward her for her help. It bugs me to be indebted to others… it is my obligation to answer in kind when someone assists me.
"And therefore, we will use this time to assess your capabilities so we can know where to start your training from."
I expected as much. Alright, I'm casting my thoughts aside for now… I have to listen to Gai and Shibungi with closer attention.
"Ayase, you'll be responsible for overseeing his development from now on."
"Eh?!"
I couldn't stop myself from expressing my surprise. Dirty bastard, I did not expect that one. Neither did Ayase, I'm guessing.
"Me, Sir?"
See? She didn't see it coming either.
"He'll be getting in your way as he is now. If you value your own life, you'll do it."
The look in Ayase's face is one of utter dismay. I'm not too happy about Gai's decision, either… My head is still in pain, and I am not the type that forgives and forgets easily. Just the way I intend to repay Tsugumi's kindness, I'll also return to you what you've given to me, Ayase… as soon as I dare to lay a hand on a girl in a wheelchair. That'll probably be never. Damn it.
But still, I need not lay a hand on her… I can find a way of getting back at her indirectly. I'll think of something… just you wait, my dear Ayase… my cunning knows no equal. Despite this, however, vengeance can wait. I must first clear a doubt that is bugging me.
"Gai, I'll ask merely out of curiosity… why her?"
She'll be training me? I don't mean to be rude, but being in charge of my physical education seems unfitting for a wheelchair-ridden girl. Unless Gai intends to… oh shit.
"Ayase will be your third team member whenever I'm not around."
"WHAT?!"
Both of us scream in unison. Even Ayase, who is way more respectful to Gai than anyone else I've met so far couldn't stop herself from showing how hard the shock hit her. To be fair with her, I must outline I am quite shaken too: why is Ayase, of all people, paired with me? And on top of that, in her Endlave! Gai, is this for real?
I hasten to see my soon-to-be sister in arms.
And her face… is… PRICELESS!
I'm still disgusted over Gai's decision, but seeing how she is looking at him in horror, mouth wide open, partially covering her distraught expression with her two hands – I am barely able to keep myself from laughing my ass off.
The best thing is, she is completely unwilling to question Gai but yet she finds his order to be utterly unacceptable – she is visibly fighting an all-out inner conflict that threatens to break her reserved attitude towards her leader.
"I am tasking you with preserving Shu's life, Ayase – protecting our greatest chance for victory against Sephirah is in your hands. I trust you will do as I expect you to."
My composure isn't as strong as it should be. Gai exits the room together with Shibungi after leaving those final words behind him, and as soon as the door closes, the memory of Ayase's expression breaks through my willpower in the form of laughter and tears.
The girl doesn't take it very kindly – she looks at me seriously as I support my weight against the column by my side, attempting to suppress that sound which shouldn't be bursting from my mouth.
"I'll defend you only because he confided in me to do so, pervert."
The air around her seems solemn, somehow. She managed to break off the shock very well. I believe Gai's words deeply touched her… and here I am in contrast, still chuckling like an idiot. But how can I help it? She still looks funny for some reason, despite the heaviness of her presence.
Ah, I see now… she's blushing. You can't hide your fluster from me, Ayase: you are very formal with Gai and evidently hold him in high regard. Judging from how you immediately changed after he said he was counting on you, I can accurately say:
"You like him, don't you?"
She gasps, pushing herself back against her wheelchair.
Hohoho… bullseye.
"You idiot! I respect him! Respect! Know the difference!"
She barks her refusal at me, leaning towards me as she emphasizes the respect part.
"Sure, sure… that's how they call it nowadays."
I cast her words aside as the mere excuses they are – Shu of the Funeral Parlor will not be fooled by a mere girl. Much less when she - uh oh! What's this tension? I feel almost as if the air itself had grown cold. Ah, I see… this ominous feeling comes from that direction.
"Do you have a death wish, Ouma Shu?"
Parked in her wheelchair, Ayase is extremely close to emanating an aura of darkness from her. Hell, her Void would undoubtedly be something sinister like a scythe if I took it out this instant… I think I should stop teasing her for now.
"I'll pass this time, thank you."
I dare not tell her to calm down; saying that always has the contrary effect. Keep it cool, Shu… stay casual, and you may leave this room with your head still attached.
"Good."
Very good indeed – I didn't get hit by her again. Despite how I'm growing a taste for bugging her, I still haven't figured out a way to defend myself from her without feeling guilty about it… her walking disability keeps me from doing so.
"Let us go to Tsugumi, then. She should have already gotten information about you from the mole, so we can ask her about it before she performs a physical assessment on you."
Hm… that's curious.
"Does she know about medicine? She was the one who fixed my head after you did me the favor of extending my sleep."
I ask as I walk towards Ayase.
"Only a little, but it is enough to tell if you're worth anything for us or not."
Well, I'd be surprised if she were well versed in not only the computational field, but also on medicine. She looks very young, after all… I doubt she has had much time to study about the human body. In fact, it amazes me to know she's the Parlor's hacker – just who on Earth is she?
"Pervert… what are you doing?"
Me? Uh…
"Giving you a ride, I think."
I am behind her, grasping the push handles of her wheelchair. And I think I screwed up.
"Let go at once, if you are so kind."
Yep, I screwed up. She didn't attack me despite her threatening tone, though… I guess she has already hit me enough for a day after breaking a damned glass on my head.
"Right. Sorry."
I feel like a douche.
"This wheelchair is something that makes me who I am. I don't need your consideration, understand?"
I know, I know… you are a soldier, Ayase – the fact I casually offered to push the wheelchair for you made it seem as if I were looking down on your condition.
"I wasn't thinking, I'm sorry… I didn't even notice."
I speak truthfully – I truly did not realize what I was doing until she objected.
"Yes, well… it's good you get my point. Let's go."
She hesitated? Even if only for a moment, Ayase acted a little bit soft despite the apparent harshness her words. Something must've crossed her mind. I take she accepted my apology, then? I don't know anymore… I can't crack into this girl's head easily.
We move out of the library and head over to the computers room where Tsugumi is usually stationed, according to Ayase. Said and done, the young girl is there busily working on a large table full of electronic parts and tools, apparently repairing a small… oh God, please don't tell me –
"How is Funell doing?"
Damn it, Ayase, you confirmed it: Tsugumi is repairing the little bugger.
"Not very good, Aya… he took a couple of bullets and some water too, it is a miracle my dear baby did not pass away."
Those words were a hammer just now, crashing against my skull.
"Tsugumi… did you make him?"
I ask somberly, fearing for the worst.
"Yes, I'm his mama."
Part of me has died today.
"More importantly, Shu – you're clean! Kyle told me your identity still remains secret, the GHQ only wants to contact you for some minor interrogation related to Inori's shooting by your school, but that's all."
"Oh… that's great."
I reply disinterestedly at whatever it was that she said. Tsugumi made Funell.
"Hey, pervert… Shouldn't you be happy about it?"
Leave me alone, Ayase… Tsugumi made Funell.
"Shu? Are you alright?"
Of course I'm not, Tsugumi. You made Funell…
"Pervert?"
"Aya, call him by name."
"Sorry."
The one I swore to punch in the face is the same girl who I am indebted to.
"Shu, you look pale! Aya, what did you do to him?"
"Nothing, I swear!"
"The glass may have done brain damage after all… go get Gai, fast!"
"Y- Yes, immediately!"
Tsugumi made Funell. Tsugumi made Funell. Tsugumi made Funell. Tsugumi made –
"Shu, hang on! Here, lay on this desk over here… come, follow me."
I stop the girl who is trying to help me walk. I hold both of her shoulders with my trembling hands, not knowing what to do. Fixing my stare upon her eyes, I wonder of what my course of action is supposed to be. Should I strangle her? Should I cry? The heavens have cursed me with the worst of all punishments.
"You look terrible, boy… say something."
I let go of her and let my butt drop flat down on a chair. I bury my fingers through my hair as I look down, still processing the abominable piece of knowledge that entered my brain just a moment ago.
"I need a moment to think… that's all."
Tsugumi sits by my side in silence.
A couple of minutes pass, and Tsutsugami Gai enters the room accompanied by a shit-scared Ayase. I'm already feeling a little bit better, though only enough to feel some warmth from the terrified look portrayed in the wheelchair-ridden girl's face.
"Shu? Ayase told me you were feeling poorly."
"I just learned something I shouldn't have… you were right in saying ignorance is bliss."
Gai seems confused.
"What did you tell him?"
He asks the two girls seriously.
"Nothing! We just walked into Tsugumi fixing Funell, and she told him his name is clean! That was all!"
Gai seems indeed very, very confused.
"Please leave us… I need a word with him."
And there he goes, intending to fix my head.
"No, they're fine… it has nothing to do with my name being – wait, what?"
My name is clean? For real!?
"Yes, I contacted Kyle and he said he's free of any criminal charges."
Tsugumi confirms what I think I heard.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner!?"
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"
The two girls in the room scream at me in one voice – even Tsugumi lost her nerve.
"Shu… you really suffered brain damage… We're getting a medic at once!"
"Damn it, Gai! I'm fine!"
"No, you're not! We must take a look at your head; if we don't act soon you may -"
"I said I'm fine, Tsugumi! What blew my mind off was learning that you made that damned little bugger, that's all!"
And there's silence.
Fuck.
"You really, really suck, Ouma Shu…"
Ayase leaves the room.
Tsugumi is standing there quietly, appearing to be in the verge of tears. As I should've seen from the start, it seems Tsugumi is really very, very attached to her prized creation called Funell, which I just insulted with utmost hate.
"Gai, please punch me."
He smashes his fist against cheek without objection, not even a word. I take the hit like a man, feeling how the impact carries some leftover anger from the incident with Inori.
"You can swing one too… the other cheek is fine."
I swallow my pride as I offer a free hit to the girl before me, placing more weight upon my debt to her than on my wish for vengeance against the little bugger.
"No… it's fine… if that's the way you see him, it's just fine."
The fuck? It's not fine at all! See, Tsugumi? You're leaving the room too! Agh, damn it all! She follows after Ayase, unwilling to stay with me any longer – she even left the bugger there unassembled in the table.
"You are terrible at dealing with people, Shu."
"No shit, Triton."
Thank you for stating the obvious.
"I guess we'll leave your training until tomorrow… I need a word with the girls."
Triton offers his help.
"No, don't bother. I'll deal with them myself; it is something I must do alone."
Which I reject.
"You sure?"
He insists.
"Yeah… I cannot have others fix my problems for me anymore."
And I decline again. I really feel that way… I must overcome my social inaptitude by my own accord, or else I'd be unfit to be part of the Funeral Parlor. Everyone here seems to be quite close to each other, so I must learn how to be part of a group as well – I cannot make them adapt to me; it should be the other way around.
And besides, there is something else I have to do before I start training. I ponder about it for a few seconds, considering whether I should deal with Tsugumi and Ayase first or if my unfinished matters in the city are more urgent.
I sigh, giving more importance to the latter option.
"Triton, this is sudden, but… I'd like to go back to my house for a day or two."
I am answered with a questioning look, like I thought I would. I just got here, and thus I know it would be weird to ask for a couple of days of absence, but I know it will be impossible for me to concentrate if I don't do what I must.
"I want to apologize to someone."
Triton laughs.
"You fucked up elsewhere too?"
I sure did.
"Yes, I accidentally involved a friend in the madness yesterday. The uniform Inori wore was hers, you see… I must give it back and beg for her forgiveness."
Triton seems to dislike the idea.
"You should stay here, Shu."
He must be worried about my safety.
"I really must go, Triton… my false innocence will be exposed if I suddenly disappear. Don't you think it'd be useful if the GHQ were ignorant about my true identity?"
I'm evil.
"There's still the off-chance that you'll be in danger outside… But if you put it that way…"
I know it is dangerous, but all I want is to reach Hare and have a word with Haruka. However, if I point out something potentially useful to Tsutsugami Gai, such as the possibility of keeping my name clean for a little longer… I just may sway him into approving my suggestion.
"Haruka still works with Sephirah… if you continue living normally for the following week or two, we may find a way to allow Tsugumi to gather important intelligence about the GHQ… and we will also be protecting you from any assassination attempts if you are believed to be an ordinary student…"
He's saying some dangerous things as he submerges himself in deep thought.
"Keep Haruka out of this, I don't want to endanger her. But I do like the part about avoiding the assassins, so I think I should keep my innocence intact for a while."
I try to object.
"No, the assassins are not a problem if we keep you here. We only need to keep you hidden from them, and nobody knows our location – so if we lock you up in our headquarters, you'll be perfectly safe."
Damn it, Gai.
"So keeping my public image clear will be useful only for spying on Haruka?"
"Exactly; that is its only potential use for us as an organization."
"And so, you mean to say that having the assassins unaware of my existence is important only if I do agree to spy on her."
"Yes, that is correct."
We're clashing here.
"I won't let you out needlessly, Shu. If you want to return to your civil life, even for only a few days, you must be serving a purpose for the Parlor. You can't expect me to allow you to casually walk in the open now that you have the Power of the King, can you?"
But he's got a point.
"No… I guess I can't."
Triton looks at me seriously.
"If you want to apologize to your friend, then do so while you fulfill a mission for us. That way you won't be wasting time you could be spending here on training."
So he's offering me a deal.
"Haruka may have access to information we need. Should you agree to sneak some files for Tsugumi into Haruka's work computer, I'd have a reason to let you go outside. This is an optional mission, however… so I won't force you to undertake it if you do not wish to."
I don't have a speck of intention to put Haruka at risk of any kind, but I do need to go out and talk to her… I guess I'll play along with Gai for now.
"I'll do it."
Gai sighs.
"Then I'll make some necessary preparations… wait for me in the library room."
We part ways as I take the one chance I have to protect my family – if the Funeral Parlor's objective is to destroy Sephirah, I absolutely must keep Haruka away from the fight. Even if it means I'll have to disobey Gai… I won't abandon anyone dear to me anymore.
I will have a word with Hare first, and then a long and serious conversation with Haruka when she gets home; they are the ones I need to see the most right now. Please wait for me, you two… I'll be seeing you soon.