Active - Just_Relax
Kimura saw the man kneeling before her take a breath.
And a message reached the chat next to her.
Kura-uchi: "That was an excellent decision, Manager. ...As a fighter, it would be horribly shameful to explain how I ended up in my current position."
I imagine so, thought Kimura.
Those two were where they were now because they had lost a battle. But...
Kura-uchi: "Yagura is a strange place."
Ōji: "Is it?"
Kura-uchi: "It is."
Are they really so bad the Ōji Shooter has to mention it? wondered Kimura, but the boy continued.
Kura-uchi: "At Yagura, no one says that we are forced to join them in their branch. They are just saying that they will welcome us if we do in fact join them at some point. There are times when I nearly forget that we are not yet a part of their branch and are just up for consideration."
But...
Kura-uchi: "And because no one tells us to join either...it feels like we are being told that we can join whenever and will be welcomed no matter the circumstances."
.
Kon felt her heart pound when she saw Kurauchi's words.
...Ah.
She had heard something similar once a long time ago.
...Jinsei.
"Heh heh. There are many people who are like that."
From behind, Suzume pulled in Kon, Kagami, and Murakami. Her hair smelled just like a flower. And with that hint of peony, the entertainer sister spoke.
"When my foolish former captain asked for us to be on his team, he saw how we could be useful, but he said he didn't care if we were honestly strong."
In that case, thought Kon.
...Those words were a way of saying goodbye to the past, weren't they?
How did people feel in the present? Even if something lost had been found, was it a new present or a continuation from the past?
"It's hard to say," said Kagami. "Everyone builds up deep relationships with people while others are gone. Even if the latter arrives late and even if they build up a relationship, they can't hope to match the depth of the relationships people like Kon, Murakami-kun, and Misaki-chan have with some people."
"That's not-..."
Kon started to reply but stopped herself.
Relationships were no one else's business. There was no point in someone else giving their opinion about them. But there was something she had to say.
"Don't worry. There are different kinds of relationships."
"That's true. Yes," agreed Murakami. "For example, mine is a relationship between teacher and student with Akasora-sensei. And I think he sees it the same way as others who are in our class while also being a part of Border."
"But...there are combining techniques such as shudo for confirming the bonds between a teacher and student."
Tension filled Murakami's smile when Kagami said that.
...Ohh.
Honest Sister: "Heh heh heh! This doggy knight nearly died just from having his throat rubbed, so I wonder how far he can honestly go! And I thought my idiotic teammate was bad!"
Mi-Kon: "D-don't say it like that, Suzume! If you provoke him, it might ignite his beast power and cause him to overthrow his teacher!"
Black Wolf: "You're not helping, Kon!"
This was not the time to discuss any further developments.
Kon ignored Suzume behind her and placed her arms around Kagami and Murakami's shoulders.
"Okay, okay. We need to focus on Kimura, not the nonsense from the weird person behind us."
Suzume whispered "behind us" in the exact same tone, but Kon focused on ignoring her.
Then she saw Kimura's words in front of her.
They were words, but they were not sounds. They were text.
Manager: "I understand most of what's going on, but I would like to confirm some things about Futoyuki-san. Give me whatever information you can."
.
Kimura sat down once more.
In front of her, a man kneeled down and took deep breaths to calm himself.
It was Futoyuki.
...This is an interesting person.
That's disrespectful of me, she thought. I'm looking down on him, she added before asking a question.
Manager: "Akashi-san...how about it?"
Secretary: "You want to know about Futoyuki, right!? The information just came in from Akasora-san! This'll be long!? Are you sure!?"
Honest Sister: "Heh heh. Silly boy. How about summing it up in 5 words?"
Secretary: "A life of barely surviving. I guess that would do it!"
Almost Everyone: "See, you can do it if you try!"
Du-Sis: "Congratulations..."
Iko: "Well done..."
Shobu: "...Yeah... ...A round of...applause..."
Secretary: "What!? Why are you treating me like the dumb kid!? And this is proof that Tsukiko is a bad influence on younger people!"
White Fox: "Oh, Mei is almost here."
Everyone: "That subject change!"
Regardless, what Akashi had said was important.
A life of barely surviving.
That described Wanderers as a whole. After all, it was a small group of Neighbors with multiple other places wanting their attention or wanting their attention elsewhere so as not to deal with them. Which meant...
...They're a group that is just in the way for others.
A group needed resources and people. But when they tried to gain anything and increase their strength, they could not strengthen themselves well with other powers not doing much for them immediately or doing something too late.
So they desperately tried to hold back with what they could while gaining the protection of the major nations they decided would be best. But...
Secretary: "Even so, most times they have to fight on their very own or with minimal support. This is all coming directly from them. According to what Akasora-san said. On several occasions, Futoyuki himself has sent a suicide unit of Trion Soldiers of a few dozens to the center of an enemy force or used an ambush to achieve victory in real battles. Not like today's 'greeting'."
Shōgi Boy: "But that was probably on the fault and guidance of his team, wasn't it?"
Secretary: "Futoyuki took part as well."
Probably so, thought Kimura.
...That would be his pride.
He wanted to be a leader in more than just name, so he joined the battle.
He might have been in the way on the battlefield, but he appeared on the frontline and fought.
He might not have been as useful as the rest of his team with their fighting ability, but he had trained his body and maintained his strength so he would not just be a burden.
And the man in front of her was...
...A normal person.
Everyone had different tendencies, body types, and dispositions, and those would determine what they could and could not do. Those could be viewed as "talent", but they could also be seen as "gifts of hard work" when they were overcome.
This man named Futoyuki would probably have been a diligent and somewhat strict person if the world was not the way it was. But...
Manager: "He's the kind of person who refuses to lie to himself and will not fall back. I'm sure that is a reason as to why he can use a Black Trigger. Although he doesn't seem the best at using it."
After typing out that text, Kimura spoke out loud.
"Futoyuki-san. To reiterate, we cannot accept your request at the moment. Earth is currently trying to see whether or not we can handle any invaders. If we accept something that brings those same invaders to mind, we will be forced to reevaluate ourselves as well as those are providing our backing and other related subjects that involve us. ...And then your group will be a target for Aftokrator, any worlds against us, and even some who would also try to benefit from a relationship with Earth. ...Thus, we cannot accept at the moment."
"Th-then when can you...!?"
"Right. We can hear you out once we have confirmed our own power. But to be more accurate..."
Kimura breathed in.
"After we grow strong enough for any relationships to truly happen."
.
Yuki sensed the pause to make a decision.
Futoyuki stopped moving when he heard Kimura.
Time seemed to flow slowly for a moment. And then...
...What will he do?
With that silent question, Yuki lowered his hips slightly and leaned forward.
He was prepared to move in case Futoyuki tried something.
Next to him, Senzai used his fingertips to push his Raygust toward him. He was telling him to use both blades.
Murakami and Kanzaki also prepared for combat.
And then Futoyuki moved.
He swung his body down low and spoke.
"Understood."
He clenched his hands and placed them on the floor on either side of his body.
"I leave that decision to you...!"
.
"Then, Futoyuki-san, allow Border to introduce you as a person scouted by the Yagura Branch."
Yuki listened to Kimura's response.
And she raised her hand.
"'Yuki', prepare a safe place for him near a branch office. He will need some guards at the start, but he will be our agent and he must not be exposed to any danger from our own people."
"Got it," replied Yuki as he opened a tab on his phone. For the guards, he first checked around Border and then sent instructions to the the directors.
...So he is joining as a member of Border, not receiving our protection. Given Futoyuki's apparent personality, an unnecessarily heavy guard shouldn't be necessary.
If he cared about his life, he would tell them if his pride was not at risk.
So he needed to choose a location with plenty of options like that.
"I will prepare an apartment complex near Toby and Takeshi. There will be employment or schooling opportunities and he will be able to support himself. ...What kind of status should he have?"
Kimura answered that question.
"He won't be able to spread his wings if he stands out. ...Send him as a reserve lecturer student for a school where Akasora-san was teaching and he shouldn't have trouble getting along with people. Is that acceptable?"
"...Yeah."
Futoyuki bowed toward Yuki and Kimura over and over.
Oh, no, thought Yuki as he sent the instructions to the directors.
"All done. Approval won't arrive until later, so for today..."
"Yes," said Suzaku. He had already prepared a map of the city. "You can spend the night at the Yagura Branch behind us. We will have Yucchi and Akasora-san set you up with some money to use. They will also explain what you need to know later on as well."
"I am in your debt...!"
With that, Futoyuki's body went limp.
He had relaxed.
His tense expression loosened up and sweat poured from his brow.
...That's good.
With that thought, Yuki nodded toward Kon and Suzaku.
But then Suzaku frowned.
Eh? thought Yuki when he saw that expression and where the boy was looking.
"...There!"
Suzaku shouted toward something that appeared behind Futoyuki. They then heard a voice.
"Classification: Unregistered Reaction – Special – Forced Appearance from Covert Mode: Submit."
Immediately, the air audibly burst behind Futoyuki and something was blown away.
It flew through the air. And as Yuki looked up at it, he heard Futoyuki's voice.
"...Hatomi!"
.
Kimura saw a tall old man in the sky.
The gray-haired man wore a uniform like a hakama.
"Futoyuki...!"
Even as he shouted and flew through the air, he made a flip and a half to land on his feet.
And the old man kneeling there was Wanderers'...
Second-in-command.
"H-Hatomi! Why are you here!? I-I can get by on my own!"
"You fool...!"
The old man slapped Futoyuki's face with his raised right hand.
Futoyuki shrieked, held his cheek, and shook his body.
"You have guts claiming you can get by on your own, Futoyuki! Just now, you were getting help from the Miden's agents and - what, manager? Thank you. - Manager!"
Pokari: "Does this argument mean the only way to get by on your own is to live a wild life while entirely alone and gathering all your own supplies?"
Haru: "Well, these wanderers are primarily made up of tossed aside people, right? So that might actually be how they think."
Hero: "Back at the orphanage, we all helped each other out, so that kind of life is so very impressive in comparison. ...Hee hee. Now I understand why you saved me and helped me, Haru-san."
"Yuba-san! 'That Gunner' is rising to the top of Border's search list!"
The Wanderers' actions were the center of attention in Yuba Squad's operating room as well.
Yuba frowned at the information arriving via recording.
"'That Gunner', huh? ...It guess some people see things much like I do." He snorted derisively. "People, I will never accept this just because Hogo is happy, so don't worry."
Some people must have it tough, thought Kimura as she asked a question.
Manager: "Is someone leaking information on this meeting?"
Demon Child: "Whoever's behind it, it seems to only be information on the Gunner and his boyfriend."
Kuni: "Yeahhh, I wonder who it could be? Ah ha ha."
Ōji: "Yes, who could it be?"
Bamboo Sniper: "Can't you blame them all using joint responsibility?"
Wisteria: "I finally make it here and this is what I come to. You all seem to enjoy some odd things."
Umi: "I can cut off all data to prevent our own people from leaking anything out. What should I do?"
Manager: "It's harmless, so don't bother. In fact, this helps because it doesn't look like we're holding a meeting."
Inukai gave her a silent look, but she decided to ignore it.
Now that Mei was here, she was sure to take charge while sticking close to Yuki.
Wisteria: "Oh yeah, Kimura, you are still in charge of this discussion. I will only be here for some 'fun' with everyone and not because of my Side Effect."
Everyone: "She is laying it on hard for Kimura!"
Anyway, Kimura looked to the old man standing in front of her. A warning sign from Suzaku Squad was opened behind his neck and it was set to prevent any damage to them.
"Old man, who are you?"
"Right. My apologies. ...I am Wanderers' second-in-command and keeper of the prison Hatomi."
He faced her in a relaxed pose and lightly nodded.
"I am here to watch over my unworthy leader's departure and marriage!"
.
Marriage. wondered Mei with a tilt of her head.
...With a Neighbor.
She saw the others tilting their heads as well.
The crossdresser alone was focused on his talk with Sora on the phone.
"Manliness? But that can be divided into two categories: things you can learn and things such as body type and personality that you can't. Which one is more important to you? Oh, and I mean important to your ideal and your current self. ...Yes, it can be something else. There are no rules for this kind of thing."
Shobu: "...Kirikari-sama is...amazing."
Honest Sister: "Heh heh. That foolish man really likes listening to people. He keeps things going at just the right speed for them to reveal everything!"
Demon Child: "This is pretty entertaining, so should I leak it out?"
Umi: "P-please don't! What if people start asking the local shrine about it!? Shintai-kun has been saying something about starting a new show recently, so this is a dangerous time!"
It is hard to tell whether he is useful or a nuisance, concluded Mei in her heart. And when she looked forward, she saw Keeper of the Prison Hatomi facing Kimura.
Mei raised his right forearm and continued to refuse asking questions. She instead spoke statements.
"Okay. I am going to get right to the point."
"So you'll honestly be thrusting the point right on in there! Right, Mei-san!?"
Mei exchanged a thumbs up with Suzume and then continued.
"You, Hat-...there are so many similar names I am having difficulty telling them apart with my calculations, but you there. You mentioned marriage, but did not say who you will be marrying."
"Of course. In this case, it will be following what our former leader has said. Meaning..."
Hatomi looked at someone behind Mei.
"That ponytail girl with a sword. You will marry our leader, Leader Futoyuki."
It was Kanzaki.
.
...Oh.
Mei looked to Kanzaki.
Similarly, Suzume behind her, Murakami and Kon next to him, and the others around him...
"Um."
They all looked to Kanzaki who was entirely focused on eating.
She was eating a Shintai Shrine kudzu leaf meal called Leafstyle and a large yakiniku meal abbreviated as the Large Yak from Kageura's restaurant. The Red Lightning and others had prepared enough for everyone present and more, but the manager had contacted them earlier and said the Red Lightning's food was not going to be ready in time.
...I have determined that is a slight disappointment.
At any rate, Kanzaki was tilting her head back to stuff more of the Leafstyle's boiled leaves in her mouth. Then she kept her head tilted back as she poured the tea from the Large Yak in her mouth instead of the sake that came with the Leafstyle.
She used the drink to help swallow the boiled leaves.
"Ngah."
With a sound halfway between a voice and a sigh, she faced forward and toward Mei. Then...
"Do not worry. There is enough for everyone."
"No, Shizuka, that is not the issue." Mei nodded. "I have some bad news and some unimportant news for you."
"Then give them in order."
"She sure is decisive..." commented a few people, but Mei ignored it.
She sat down and spoke to Kanzaki.
"Shizuka...it seems the food from the Red Lightning will not arrive."
"My god..."
The empty container and the chopsticks slipped from Kanzaki's hands.
Her mouth fell slightly open and her eyebrows wrinkled somewhat as she looked to Mei. But...
"Unfortunately, this is reality," said the unquestioning girl.
"...How unfortunate indeed."
Kanzaki groaned, turned around, and ran off.
Mei and the others watched her leave. And after the span of a few breaths, Kimura spoke up.
"Um, hey."
"No, it is fine, Kimura. ...Uh, Shizuka, I secretly brought your serving along with me."
Mei pulled a Red Lightning paper bag from behind her back and waved it around. Kanzaki returned at full speed. Her feet screeched along the ground as she came to a stop and she fell to her knees.
"If it is a gift from you, Fuji-dono, I will eat it first!"
Kanzaki took the Red Lightning paper bag and Mei said "great" and nodded a few times. Then Mei spoke to the girl who was already splitting the baguette and making an extra-thick ham sandwich.
"As promised, I will now give you the unimportant news."
"Yes. What is it, Fuji-dono?"
"Right. Someone is saying they wish to wed a ponytail girl wielding a sword in accordance with what has been said by their former leader. ...That's them over there."
Kanzaki looked in the direction she indicated.
Hatomi and Futoyuki were there. Kanzaki viewed the two of them while chewing, but she finally audibly swallowed. And...
"Both of them do?"
"Hatomi! Were you planning on sharing my wife!?"
"Futoyuki! How dare you be jealous of your subordinate! Have you no shame!?"
"At least deny the accusation," everyone muttered as Kanzaki tilted her head.
"So who do they want to wed?"
"Eh?" said Futoyuki as his head fell forward. He seemed to be somewhat surprised, but he pointed at the Border group after a few moments.
His finger was clearly pointed at Kanzaki and Kanzaki looked at herself and then behind her.
"You were planning on growing out a ponytail and wielding a sword...Arafune-dono?"
Arafune silently stepped to the right, revealing...
"Oh, it was Kitazoe-dono."
"Eh!? Wh-what!? I-I was only checking my mailing orders on the network! I certainly wasn't doing anything wrong!"
"Kitazoe." Mei gestured toward Futoyuki. "He seems to wish to make you his wife."
.
"Eh?"
Mei saw Kitazoe look to Futoyuki. His eyes moved from the man's feet up to his head.
"A-are you trying to trick me when I'm not paying attention!? Besides, who decided on this!?"
"A leader."
"A leader!?"
"Yes, it was said by a leader," declared Mei. "As it is only right to follow a leader's words, Kitazoe, you must become his wife. Now, you have two options: think of him as less than a man and marry him, or ask Kimura or Yuki to rescue you. But you will not actually be lost if you are taken as his wife, so I must warn you that our usual forces will not be very motivated this time."
"P-please save me! Skinny Manager-chan!"
"You think I'll save you when you call me that!?"
"W-wait!"
Someone interrupted. It was Futoyuki. He was blushing and pointing at Kitazoe.
"I-I refuse!"
"Too bad, Futoyuki. Kitazoe refused first," resolutely stated Mei. "We win this round."
"W-wait!"
"If we wait, then we win the second round, so are you sure you want that."
"What kind of rules are those!?"
"The world of politics is cruel."
Mei opened her phone to check the time. She counted to 5, and...
"I waited 5 seconds. ...We win the second round."
.
Kuni: "Aren't these rules actually extremely simple?"
Demon Child: "Yes. I thought that too last time."
Manager: "Aren't any of you going to stop her?"
Almost Everyone: "Say that into a mirror!"
.
Mei saw Futoyuki sweat bullets and shake his head.
"N-no, wait!"
"You pointed at Kitazoe earlier. You make it seem as if you are going against what your former leader had said" she said. "Leaders are frightening. After all, if they name you, you must die. If they tell you to get married, you must do so. Of course, you can always die or marry without them telling you to."
Fuyushima had stepped out of the building with some guest tea in hand, but he immediately stepped back inside and closed the door. Suzaku shouted over at him.
"Ah, Fuyushima-san! Please at least leave the tea!"
"Umi! Umi! You're really on fire today, aren't you!?"
This place always has such a nice atmosphere, thought Mei before speaking to Futoyuki.
"Now, marry Kitazoe."
"D-do I have no rights here!?" asked Kitazoe.
"Th-that's right, Miden girl! Y-you need to respect his rights!"
"...I need to."
"Please respect his rights!"
"Right." Mei nodded several times. "Once you two are married, I will personally monitor the situation to ensure he is not a victim of rights-ignoring abuse."
Futoyuki's face passed red and turned purple.
"We win the third round," said Mei.
"W-wait! I was pointing to the person in front of him!"
"Oh, so it was Arafune."
Arafune shrugged.
"I want to watch a movie to forget all about this."
Indeed, thought Mei. And...
"Understood. There seems to have been a misunderstanding."
"S-so you've finally gotten it into your thick hea-...I mean, you've finally been so kind as to understand!?"
"Yes," concluded Mei. "I have it all figured out: Arafune, watch a movie. Futoyuki, marry Kitazoe and let the guards monitor you."
"Listen to meeeeeee!"
"She demoted him to the guards!" everyone shouted, but Mei tilted her head.
"You leave me no choice. Explain in a simpler fashion then."
Futoyuki fell to his knees and spent half a minute or so regulating his breathing.
"U-um!"
Once he recovered, he pointed at Kanzaki who was reaching for her second croquette.
"I will marry that girl, Kanzaki as you called her, as a strong fighter of Miden with a sword."
"Shizuka. You might have something to say about this."
"Eh?" Kanzaki looked back and forth and then tilted her head again. "Unfortunately, I intend to give up Kōgetsu and move to a different Trigger. I no longer feel like a simple Attacker. I am more like an almost-Lancer, so that would not work."
.
"Wait!"
Futoyuki shouted that word for the umpteenth time today.
...Wh-what is the meaning of this!?
He did not understand. It was all so crazy. Besides...
...The swordswoman will become a lancer!?
"Hatomi!? What is this!?"
"Don't let it get to you, Futoyuki!"
"Hatomi! Can we solve this if I don't let it get to me!?"
"Yes! We can come up with a good idea if you don't let it get to you! ...And you, girl!"
His comrade pointed at the ponytail girl who was eating some bread with vegetables and cheese between it.
"You say you intend to leave behind the sword to switch to a pole arm Trigger!? If that is why you are rejecting Futoyuki's marriage request, then first prove you are stronger than him!"
"Huh? So you want a duel?"
She stood up.
Seeing her casual stance, Futoyuki took a defensive stance as someone tossed him Kōgetsu.
...What is this?
.
The title of Ponytail Girl isn't just for show, thought Futoyuki.
She was only standing there, but he sensed a presence that felt like an attack coming from somewhere...no, coming from everywhere. And he was overwhelmed by a desire to flee.
...Sh-she's good!
But, he thought.
...I am Wanderers' former leader and former Black Trigger user.
He knew fighting techniques and was trained in sword fighting. In a limited head-on battle, he was confident he could hold his own against his team.
"In that case..."
Futoyuki lowered his hips in a combat stance. He held his left arm out front and slightly raised, he reached his right arm toward the sword at his hip, and he leaned his body to the left.
"Let's do this!"
A careless horizontal swing of the enemy's spear caught him in the jaw from the left.
.
Simple Boy: "Oh, I did not know people could make that noise."
Pokari: "Yeah, it sounded like it had to come from something else."
Black Wolf: "Also, he's kind of flying away."
Umi: "Oh, no. What do I do? He didn't go through the proper process, so he doesn't have a contract and I can't help from any damages done here. ...Kimura, quit playing with Krümel. Hey."
.
"Hm," said Kanzaki as she focused on the tactile feedback.
She had quickly reversed her grip on the spear and swung the bottom end. She had made it look like the attack would come from the right and then instantly switched to an attack from the left.
...To do that while standing requires anchoring your feet to the ground.
She was only able to pull this off after learning to create an axis line for her strength.
...I am gradually growing closer to the top level.
Meanwhile, Futoyuki had been knocked away.
"D-...!"
He got up with his hand on his cheek.
"D-damn you! That was a surprise attack! Th-this isn't over yet!"
.
She immediately hit him from the right.
.
Hero: "Huh? It sounded different that time, didn't it?"
Haru: "Shiro-chan, you don't mind watching something like this?"
Hero: "Eh? But when someone is demonstrating their resolve, you have to watch it through to the end. I see no meaning in feeling displeasure or disgust over something like that."
Haru: "Right. I agree."
Umi: "What!? What is this atmosphere!?"
Honest Sister: "You don't know, Suzaku!? That lovey-dovey couple is using this to rise to their next stage! At the final stage, the air honestly grows too thick to breathe! Here, use this oxygen mask! There's one for you too, Kō-senpai!"
Black Wolf: "Why are you pushing up your breasts!?"
Pokari: "Oh, it happened a third time."
.
Kimura watched the Wanderers' former leader roll along the ground a third time.
He stopped while sprawled out on his back. Even an amateur like her could tell he was taking direct hits.
...Doesn't that hurt?
Was this a sign of his pride, or was it something else? Whatever it was, the Wanderers' former leader looked discouraged. He sat up while crying and with blood dripping from his mouth and nose.
"Hatomi! Hatomi! I can't do it! There's no way I can win!"
"Argh! How weak-willed are you!? And you call yourself our second former leader?"
With that final comment, the Wanderers' former leader hopped to his feet.
Ohh, thought Kimura as she grabbed Krümel's front paws and made the dog dance.
...That brought back his motivation.
A fourth sound rang out.
.
Kanzaki thought:
...The Wanderers' leader uses some odd combat techniques.
He left himself wide open and let her hit him.
That was all.
She wondered if he had strong defenses and was trying to wear her out, but that was not the case. She could feel the blows reaching his bones.
She wondered if he had some kind of plan, but after she sent him flying a fourth time, that seemed unlikely.
No matter how I look at it, his fighting is entirely devoid of technique, she thought. He was the leader of a group, making this a duel against an A-Rank and Neighbor leader. This had to be some kind of plan.
...But is there any strategic value to this method?
She was inexperienced, but could she come up with anything here?
"—"
She could.
"Strange secretary! Is there anything to this!?"
"It isn't often you see someone rely on others to that extent, Yoneya-kun-wannabe-kun!"
He praised me. Then I need take pride in this.
"Yes. ...Because thinking is a pain!"
"Don't say that so loudly..." someone muttered, but she did not mind. The Secretary would answer her either way. As usual, he pushed his hair back a bit.
"This is...yes. The Wanderers' former leader might be doing this to demonstrate that he will not lay a hand on you. He might be filling you with doubt, wondering why he won't lay a hand on you."
Du-Sis: "Did you hit your head? How about looking at reality every once in a while?"
That conflicting opinion has helped balance things out.
But, thought Kanzaki.
...This is about whether or not I question his actions?
Kanzaki started by questioning herself and quickly reached her conclusion:
"Thinking really is a pain."
She could move her body though, so she hit him a fifth time as he got up.
.
This is just about over, thought Kimura as she reached for Krümel who was on the floor.
Krümel was usually in her arms at times like these, so he was not used to the floor right after being put down. She hoped to teach him how to walk without worrying so she could eventually go on walks with him. But for the moment...
"Okay, we have work to do, Krümel."
The quick rest and bit of fun seemed to have rid Krümel of his sleepiness. So once in her arms...
"Wan!"
"Good, good." Kimura rubbed his head and turned to face the Wanderers' former leader.
"I-I can't! Hatomi! If I keep this up, something inside me is going to break!"
"Argh! You sound like a delusional middle schooler! And you call yourself the Wanderers' second former leader!?"
But his former subordinate's scolding did not work a second time. He only continued weeping.
"D-dammit! And I thought I could get a wife in this new land and make a comeback! Just like our leader!"
Kuni: "Yeah. Guys have a way of including other people in their schedules without asking."
Demon Child: "Well, girls have a way of including other people in their own worlds."
Pokari: "Yeah, that's how doujinshis are made, isn't it?"
Bamboo Sniper: "You people don't hesitate to take swipes at each other, do you?"
Kimura could not agree more.
But then Kanzaki sighed and the Wanderers' former leader got down on his knees.
"Hatomi! I've had enough! I'll live alone! I can't be like our leader!"
"Argh! How can you say that after inheriting the name of Wandering Leader!? And you call yourself a man!?"
Kanzaki tilted her head at the Keeper of the Prison's words.
"I intend to permanently switch to this spear, not Kōgetsu. Thus, I will not be a 'ponytail girl with a sword', but if you do want to marry me, you just have to take up a sword to go along with my ponytail. Oh, but you will also have to be the wife since I will be the one maintaining earning the most money now."
Umi: "I'm sorry. I'm not quite sure what she means there..."
That was hardly uncommon.
But then the Wanderers' former leader gasped and turned toward his comrade.
"Th-that makes sense! Hatomi! I'm going to give up on being a man and become a woman!"
"Damn you!"
TetsuG: "I think he would have trouble being a woman too..."
Kuni: "Eh? What are you talking about, Arafune! Being a woman is super useful! If your negotiations aren't going well, you just have to scream and shout 'molester'!"
Almost Everyone: "That's blackmail, not a negotiation!"
We'll have to establish a cutoff point when they're arrested, carelessly thought Kimura.
Then she asked Kanzaki a question.
"You're not really thinking about getting married, right?"
"Correct. I have my hands full simply switching to a spear. It would probably take some training for someone to become my mother or Shinoda-san, but Earth has bigger things to worry about right now anyway. ...Besides, even if marriage interviews are an option, it would probably be best if it was someone I already knew."
"Then," said Suzume as she wrote something on her open and unlocked tablet. "If you were honestly choosing someone from your age, who would it be?"
"Well," said Kanzaki as she looked around and spotted the Arafune captain and other Sniper using their arms to shield Minoru.
Girls: "Ohhh..."
Next to Inukai, Oshiro only said "oh, my" and held his hands to his cheeks. Yuki and Mei silently ate their portable food.
Everyone responds differently, thought Kimura before Kanzaki nodded.
"I am not worthy of Kunichika-dono, so, well, if I had to choose...I suppose it would be Kimura."
.
Hokari and everyone else took a step away from Kimura.
Kunichika played a mellow song from her phone while singing "Chalala~ Chala, lalalala, chalala~" and wiggling her hips, but Kimura still turned back toward them all.
Manager: "W-wait! What is that distance for!?"
Suzume and Kagami pulled a long table and chairs from somewhere and sat down.
Suzume rested her elbow on the table and pointed at Kimura with her pen.
"This is honestly some top-tier material. You need to let me know what's going on here."
"And Umi-kun, how would this work?"
"Hmm, they're both from the same squad from the past, so a contract situation actually works out surprisingly well."
At times like these, our age really doesn't hold back, thought Hokari as Kanzaki asked Kimura a question.
"Kimura, do you dislike me?"
"N-no, it isn't that."
Everyone immediately looked toward a certain person: Mei.
Mei opened a tab with the Red Lightning mark on it and then faced the Wanderers pair.
"Another case closed!"
"Mei! Mei! I think that is something I am suppose to say!"
"My apologies, Yuki. But I thought I needed to say it until you began saying it, and I finally managed to do so here."
Does that make it okay? wondered Hokari as he looked to the Wanderers duo.
"Um, what do you have to say?" He asked.
"Kh..."
Futoyuki faced Kimura and took a combat stance.
"M-Miden Manager! I challenge you...!"
"Ah," said Hokari. "This could be dangerous."
.
He was hit a sixth time.
.
Kon saw Kanzaki stand in front of Kimura and speak in a dignified tone.
"You! Keep your hands off my wife!"
"Hatomi! Hatomi! I have no idea what's going on anymore!"
Kon could not agree more, but she felt no sympathy whatsoever. Was that because she was on Border's side?
...Umm, how is Kimura?
Their Manager was completely frozen and was not moving.
Meanwhile, Mei had joined Suzume and Kagami at the long table.
"Now, I am worried about Kimura's decision."
"Yes. If she makes the wrong decision here, it will really mess with our schedule."
As the artist agreed with Mei, Kanzaki turned back toward Kimura and asked a question.
"Kimura, are you okay?"
"...Eh?"
Kimura came back to her senses and Kanzaki said more.
"Despite what I said, I already have a lot on my plate these days. I apologize if I got your hopes up."
"Eh? O-oh! Don't worry, don't worry! You didn't get my hopes up and, um, we can put this on hold, okay?"
"O-of course you will!" someone shouted.
It was Hatomi. The veins were bulging from his temples as he pointed at Kanzaki and Kimura.
"Two girls!? You dare violate procreation so flagrantly!?"
"I was thinking nothing of the sort," insisted Kanzaki.
Black Wolf: "I kind of think she was."
Bamboo Sniper: "Huh? I thought your rules said she wins as long as she says it."
But someone glared sharply at Hatomi when he mentioned "two girls".
...That would be Suzume...
Could this end badly? wondered Kon when she saw how intensely Suzume was glaring at Hatomi. She spun her pen in her hand.
"You there. What was that about two girls?"
But before Hatomi could answer, someone stopped Suzume.
It was Kunichika. She had been behind Kon earlier, but she had circled behind Suzume on the right.
"No! You mustn't, Suzume! You mustn't give in to your thoughts that are shouting, 'No~, I want these two to be completely Yuri~ Smoochy, smoochy~'! Yes! Certainly not with these lips here!"
"H-hey! Please don't egg her on, Kunichika! And Suzume, don't let that moron get to you! Let's calm down, okay!?"
When Kon worked at a smile and looked back, she saw Suzume hanging her head, opening her eyes wide, and sweating.
Kon: "Kuniiiii!"
Kuni: "Eh? What?"
She was not listening. But Suzume did slowly lower her hips back into her chair.
"Okay, fine. So you refuse to accept two girls, do you?"
"Um, Suzume?"
Suzume ignored Kon and the strange girl raised her pen.
"Wanderers' second-in-command and 'Keeper of the Prison', I understand completely. ...You say it can't be two girls?"
"Th-that's right! Marriage opportunity must be equal!"
Wouldn't that mean two girls would be fine?
But Suzume simply nodded deeply a few times. And she stated her conclusion.
"Then I can honestly assume you're okay with two guys."
Almost Everyone: "Calm down!"
"Shut up, all of you!"
Suzume pointed her pen at the Wanderers pair.
"I made you into a doujinshi."
She used the past tense.
.
Suzaku saw Suzume sigh and sit down.
Umi: "Just out of curiosity, when did you draw that?"
Honest Sister: "Eh? Oh, I was honestly bored when they got here, so I drew it up. With them tripping, falling on their back, kneeling, and falling to all fours, I managed to snap some reference photos. And since the storyboard is important for this kind, I kept them mostly naked in the drawings."
Is that how it works? She really is the master, thought Suzaku.
"Ah," said Kagami as she checked Suzume's tablet. "Suzume-chan, I wasn't doing my job, so look. You missed censoring it here."
She held it out toward everyone while saying "See? See?", so Suzaku quickly covered Girikage and Oshiro's eyes.
"Y-you mustn't look at this! If you do, you'll fall in the Border caste system!"
"That's right," said Hitomi. She glanced at the tablet and nodded. "You mustn't look at this, everyone! Everyone's is different! And we wouldn't want them feeling inadequate!"
"You're not helping!"
As everyone shouted their tsukkomi, Kimura sighed and tilted her head.
"That will get banned, you know?"
"Heh. Don't be silly, Flat-chested Manager. We'll honestly censor it on site. Obviously." Suzume sounded entirely disinterested. "Of course, I get the feeling we'll forget to censor a few which will find their way out into the world. You will honestly forever rue the day you made an enemy of Border's Summit Flower."
"Wait!"
Both Wanderers shouted the word this time, so Kimura held out a hand, said "wait, I guess", and stood up. She looked to Yuki and Mei was the first to react.
Mei left her chair and held her phone displaying the Red Lightning mark to Yuki's right. And...
Almost Everyone: "C'mon!"
White Fox: "Eh!? Ehhh!?"
Kimura and Kunichika told him "Now! Do it now!" via eye contact.
Yuki finally lowered his shoulders in exasperation and breathed in.
"Another case closed!"
Everyone responded in accordance with the stupidity.
"Yes, sir...!"
They bowed down toward Yuki.
A large space had white-colored walls, the same colored ceiling, and a hard floor.
It was a dining hall.
The wall was engraved with the special emblem indicating it was a Border room.
The rectangular tables and the chairs all bore Border and the menu screen hanging above the counter contained a clock saying it was 1 AM.
The dining hall was currently only being used by those on break or performing routine duties.
Someone with brown hair walked through those with night duty. It was "Tenryū Aonegai" who was neither on break or performing routine duties. Instead she was just a guest who been allowed into the Border building under the supervision of the directors.
She had arrived in search of a light snack, but...
"Oh? Sawamura Kyōko-san, is everything done involving the Neighbors? I have heard that they are leaving now. That means that weird guy has joined your side as a member of Border and a citizen of Mikado City. Is that right?"
"Oh, yes, yes. We received all the information from Kimura earlier. It seems they had a rough time as negotiators."
"My teacher... My former teacher had a rough time of it as well. But apparently he was not trying to negotiate, so I suppose it does not count."
While wearing a long shirt and tights, "Tenryū Aonegai" regulated her breathing so her chest would not stick out. And she looked to Sawamura's hands.
…It doesn't look like she intends to talk about the results...
That was partially because she was focused on her work, but Sawamura had originally dealt with the fighting as well, so she did not draw any inferences before arriving at the conclusion. She always completed her work swiftly and made her decision only after viewing the result.
So while she was willing to chat, she would not make any inferences about what she was working on.
"Tenryū Aonegai" bowed toward no one in particular and went to get some tea from the counter. She also took a tangerine tart.
"Oh. Me too."
"Do you want the same thing?"
"Grab two extras."
Eh? she thought as she looked back, but she soon found the answer.
Someone was resting their head and sleeping on a table in the opposite corner from the entrance she had used.
It was Akasora.
.
...Okay then.
He had apparently come here to eat after finishing his own negotiations and arriving here.
With Sawamura as a director's assistant, paperwork for her own citizenship and Border enlistment had been passed down to the older girl. It was only right that she would be the one to greet the girl while she got a snack. For someone else with authority to be in the dining hall was unexpected.
Perhaps as a special treat from the usual head cook, Akasora's plate contained a heaping portion of leftover meat as well as some vegetables and a wooden container of rice. However, he had not touched any of it and slept with a tablet open. The sleepiness must have hit him when he was checking something like Sawamura.
"Tenryū Aonegai" placed a tart plate on the table next to him and then Sawamura sent a hollow voice her way.
"Tell him Tenryū-kun - the real one - was thankful for his negotiation.
"Why don't you tell him, Sawamura Kyōko-san?"
"I'm not as close to him as you are."
"Tenryū Aonegai" did not think Sawamura needed to keep that distance, but she did not seem to be getting up any time soon. So she decided to send Akasora a message and returned to Sawamura.
"Trouble sleeping?" asked Sawamura. "We gave you a place for the night after all."
"I'm fine. I can use medicine to sleep at any time if I have to."
"That's a relief."
"Tenryū Aonegai" placed a tart plate next to Sawamura. The girl had a tie holding back her hair and she immediately grabbed the tart with her right hand and took a bite.
"Oh. Sawamura Kyōko-san, don't you want a fork?"
"This cuts out the effort of washing it. I'm not showing off my navel for no reason."
"Oh, you're being economical. But please don't throw up what you eat."
"I can't really help that... Anyone would have the same reaction if they had so much to do."
Digging too deep into this would interrupt her thoughts, so "Tenryū Aonegai" grabbed her own tart.
"How does it taste?"
"Did you make them, Fake Tenryū-kun?"
"I chose them."
"It's sour."
They apparently were made with good tangerines. She thought it was improper to eat while standing up, but "Tenryū Aonegai" still took a bite of the tart. She stuck the point of the slice into her mouth, which seemed like a fresh new way to eat one.
"It really is nice and sour."
"Do you like them? People around her often eat tarts. Then is that the way to get them to grow now...?"
"If you are referring to breasts, I can only say it's a matter of your build and predisposition... Besides, I am often confused for a male, so I am a terrible example. Oh, but I do like tarts. I have a prominent memory of one. I think it was handmade by my teacher... Former teacher."
That received no response.
Had she interrupted Sawamura's thoughts and work? She did not know. But Sawamura said something else instead as she opened a tab to put some information from a paper she was holding.
"Trouble sleeping?"
.
Sawamura asked the same thing as before. But "Tenryū Aonegai" knew she was not the type to ask the same thing twice. So she nodded and looked to Sawamura's hands.
"Everyone seems to be too excited to sleep."
"We will be having two new people joining us soon from just today, but that is fine since Akasora-san is a nice man and will take care of you two until you know exactly what you want to do. You decided to take his sister's name, but he is overlooking that for both you and his friend who had a wife with the same name."
Sawamura typed something up on one of the open tabs with a finger to fill something out.
"Is this right "
That was very like Sawamura who did not like making guesses.
...She asked if "this is right", not if "this is about right".
Aware of that, "Tenryū Aonegai" nodded and spoke.
"If you used what I said to get that answer, then I think you really are suited for a high position."
"Thanks."
With her action validated, Sawamura continued her work.
As seen here, Sawamura's work involved "Tenryū Aonegai" herself and how to create a new life for her. She did not include her own feelings in it. Everything was sorted using the facts she had on the girl. There was no guessing or uncertainty other than a single area.
The name of the person.
...I am using a false name.
Sawamura was in charge of her for now. What mattered was that she properly got everything down correctly while also hiding anything that did not need to be known.
Something that was not to be hidden and what they all needed to know was not the false name of a dead woman but the true name of this living girl. Sawamura needed that information. Yet...
"You took up that name for Tenryū-san, didn't you? To try and make him just a bit happy because of your feelings for him."
"You understand what I felt at the time. I can see that and I can see who that is directed towards. That is all I can say though since you are way more truthful than I am."
"I am still behind, so there is no need to say that. Besides that, we have a liar ourselves, so you will fit in fine enough."
It was a bit unclear if she was joking or not.
There was no time to question her as she started to speak again.
"Now then... What will I be putting for your name? I refuse to put the name of Akasora-san's sister."
"I...am not too sure."
"Did you not have a name before taking that one?"
"I did. But it's not one I feel like remembering."
"Then pick one you like. One you can use for a new life in Mikado City. That way you really will fit in with the Yagura Branch."
"What do you mean...?"
Sawamura spoke her words so naturally that it felt like she had been through something similar before. As if this conversation had come up before in her life.
"If you come across the names 'Tsukiko' or 'Takato' in Border then you can ask them. You may need some help there with talking to them, but it will be worth it. For now you can give me a name you want. A name you will not regret and one that will help you get through your life here."
A name I won't regret...
That "you can give me" part was Sawamura's style of mercy and strictness.
"Can I... Can I call myself 'Misawa Arisa'?"
Kimura sighed as she looked out the window and into the night sky.
She was in the far room of the Yagura Branch that belonged to Border.
It was 1 AM, but the members of the Yagura Branch, Border, and others were lying or sitting on the tatami mat floor.
They had just finished eating the bentos they had ordered and they were now taking a break.
Those who had been down below had to be exhausted. Since they had been a part of the negotiations after that, they were now sleeping on the floor. Mizukami had been in the room organizing things instead of dealing with the negotiation, so he must have been able to catch a nap earlier.
"What's everyone sleepin' all over the floor for? Couldn't they at least take a bath first?"
Even as she said that, Yuki and Mei were covering them all with the blankets they had brought in.
"Satoshi, your bento is over there."
"Gotcha. The Shintai Shrine ones have a weariness-reducing medicine added to the included sake, so I'll wait 'til later."
And then...
"You too, Kagami?"
Kagami was sleeping in a half-sitting position with the empty bento boxes stacked up next to her. And she had two people using her lap as a pillow:
"Kirikari on the receiving end of all sorts of scolding from Suzaku-san. But..."
"But?"
"Well...you know how Kon-san is. After dealing with him so often, she needed to sleep to relax herself. Kirikari said he would crossdress and lend her his lap, but the sleepiness won out and this was the result. From there, Kagami-san and then Kunichika-san fell asleep."
Kagami had placed his track suit over the two sleeping on his lap and he had the Tachikawa Operator's track suit top placed over him. The Tachikawa Operator was sleeping while clinging to Kagami's butt and she had Murakami's track suit top placed over her.
Murakami was still awake, but he was clearly starting to nod off.
"Murakami-san, we have blankets now, so you can use one to sleep."
"Aeh? ...Oh, I-I'm fine."
"Do ya think yer the night watchman?" asked Mizukami as he handed Murakami three blankets.
"Three?"
"One for those three, one for Kagami, and one for you."
Sure enough, that would work.
Murakami placed a blanket over the three lying on the floor and placed one over Kagami. He wrapped it around Kagami's front side which hid Kirikari and the others.
He then placed the final blanket over his own shoulders and sat next to Kon, but...
"Kō, Kon's legs are stickin' out to the side there."
"I-I am not going to touch her while she sleeps!"
"I was actually trying to suggest ya use 'er legs as a pillow, but suit yourself."
Murakami blushed, but he showed no sign of leaving Kon's side.
...Yeah.
It only looked like Kon, Kagami, and that group were with Kirikari, but in fact...
"Oh, Kanzaki is over there."
She was asleep while sprawled out on the floor by the entrance. That was likely her position as a guard. When someone walked down the hall, she would grab the nearest object in her sleep, making a troubling noise. It was just like Yuki to have intentionally kept the blanket off of her dominant hand when placing it over her.
The Ōji duo seemed to be taking a break after eating their bentos beyond the partition placed at the entrance, and the others were much the same.
...'Yuki', Ikoma-san, Akashi-san, Arafune-san, and the others are here too.
Those were late night group.
Having finished distributing the blankets, Yuki and Mei were finally starting on the bentos they had not eaten before. Akashi was writing up a report on the events of the day. As soon as Arafune had arrived, he had said "This is Prez's current area, isn't it?", chosen one of the two chairs up there, and sat down while messaging Inukai.
It was unusual for this many people to be gathered like this.
Girikage, Narasaka, Oshiro, and some other who held no purpose for staying at the branch office had decided to go home for their own sleep.
"It's been an eventful day."
With that comment, Kimura relaxed her shoulders.
We had to go through a lot. "Yuki" and his own little group know more than any of us, so I guess they had to go through more. At any rate he knew all three sides that had been involved with the day's events. It created a situation where everyone was positioned in a certain way even if they were not aware of it.
...Is my position over there?
Kimura thought about her position within the geometric pattern formed by tatami mats and blankets.
With bento in hand, Mizukami sighed and approached the windowsill where Kimura stood.
"...Toh."
He sat sideways in the windowsill space as if placing himself inside the window frame. He stuck his left half out the window, but he held onto the window frame with his right arm.
"Keep up the good work," he said.
"You can eat inside."
"Things might start to smell and Hitomi and Pokari don't like the smell."
"I see," said Kimura as she turned to see Hitomi and Hokari sleeping alongside the Kotowari Squad's Sniper. They were by the wall nearest Kirikari's group. But...
"...What's goin' on there?" asked Mizukami.
Hitomi was collapsed in a shallow S-shape with her arms overhead, Hokari's head rested on her left hip, and Suzume covered her from right belly to chest.
Kimura thought back on what had happened.
"At first, the Kotowari Squad Dancer felt sleepy and borrowed Hitomi-san's lap. Hokari-san was watching her sleep and almost instantly fell asleep himself. Hitomi-san couldn't support them and collapsed, so she just gave up and fell asleep herself."
"Yeah, Hitomi knows they won't be doin' anythin' to 'er because of Azuma-san." There was a slight smile in Mizukami's voice. He grabbed some food with his chopsticks as he spoke. "This's sort of made for someone on a diet, ain't it? 'stead of a lot of food, it makes ya use yer chopsticks more often."
"Oh, so it makes you feel like you ate more than you did?"
"I guess ya wouldn't notice since ya take small bites regardless, Kimura."
Is that true? she wondered.
Mizukami then asked a question while grabbing some boiled sweet potato.
"What are we going to do now?"
.
"Well." Kimura responded to Mizukami's question. "The new Wanderers Leader has already gone ahead to their ship to depart and has done so long ago. Their former leader should be sleeping on the couch down below while to complete the process on our end. ...With their help, the plan is for Border to announce the amount of people trying out for the next Enlistment Day and send two of them to this branch."
"Gotcha, gotcha. And once that's done, we'll see if we can use that guy's connection, right?"
Mizukami used voice input to convert Kimura's explanation to text and then did some typing to fix a conversion mistake. He likely intended to inform some other teams. That said...
...There's no real point in telling certain teams this.
"Until that time comes around, we'll continue with worrying about the sponsors and the meetings that will come up from that. You aren't part of those, but you should still prepare yourself."
"...So the extra time's gonna be more about the sponsors than the Rank Wars, is it?"
Kimura looked over to see Mizukami grabbing more of his bento. You take pretty small bites yourself, she thought before correcting the boy.
"I will admit to forgetting that. Sorry. But besides all of that we're still students, so we have to take care of our schoolwork first. That's how I see it at least."
"I've never liked schoolwork. I find war a lot more exciting and fun. Although that can be applied to shōgi too, so don't get me wrong."
Suzume sleepily sat up and moved her unsteady right hand as if writing in the air.
"Kindred...spirits?"
After writing out those invisible words, Suzume collapsed back onto the floor.
Mizukami looked past his arm and at the others.
"Are those idiots gonna be okay?"
"I'd say that they're idiots, they're okay, and they're also dangerous."
"Saying that ain't gonna fix them."
Mizukami was quite strict. Could he say that because he had known them for awhile?
The word "old friends" came to mind, so Kimura asked a question.
"What do you think Director Akasora is planning with all of this?"
"Huh? How would I know?"
"You learned some things from him, didn't you? You can't make any guesses?"
"It was only a few lessons while Kō and Kiyoshi dragged me along. This is the first I'd heard of Akasora-san... No, he likes to be called 'Sensei'. It's the first I've heard of him having such dangerous friends. It does make sense that he wouldn't used it as way to negotiate under these circumstances. But..."
"Can you think of anything?
"Ya know as well as I do, don't you? Before he was a teacher, Akasora-san and some of the other directors were a part of the original Border and went around protecting people. This is coming from second-hand knowledge, but he said he went around visiting places."
"—"
That reminded Kimura.
...That's right.
Back during the start of high school, he had mentioned that in passing.
And at the time, he had said...
"He and Masafumi - Director Shinoda - caused their friend to leave Mikado City..."
"Yeah. Now we know that the friend he was talkin' 'bout was Tenryū's dad: Tenryū Seidō."
That was not the end of the story.
While speaking with the Wanderers, Akasora had acted more like a teacher first.
He really cares for everyone younger than him, doesn't he?
And then he had acted like a Border agent.
His priories are not mixed up since caring for the people younger than him also works as a way for caring about most of the Border members.
"And what about as a friend?"
"I'd assume that was mixed in to both since he managed to dump Tenryū off on the Wanderers," said Mizukami.
"Right," replied Kimura as she thought about this. If that was the same thing, "He is always keeping his friends, those younger than him, and his position has a member of Border in mind when taking things seriously."
"Probably. And if this was a way to make up for the past, Director Shinoda-san might also be doing his best to make sure it all works out. Even sayin' that, the only two people who would really know are currently in this room. One of them is sleeping over there and the other is busy taking care of others."
"I see," said Kimura with a nod. But then she heard a sudden voice.
"Um, M-Mei?"
It was Yuki.
.
Yuki was faced with a new experience.
He had never before come across this situation.
...Dealing with a drunk Rampage Dress!
Mei sat in front of him and turned her unfocused eyes toward him.
Her face was red, and occasionally...
"Nn."
She would tremble as if hiccupping.
What had caused this? The sake, obviously.
The Shintai Shrine's bentos came with sake. That sake of course contained a weariness-reducing medicine and it would not get you drunk even if you drank it like sake. The intoxication would be purified away as a byproduct of the medicine.
But it had been a poor match for a major lightweight like Mei.
The sake that had been sent by the local shrine had permeated her body after the weariness was removed. The intoxication would normally be removed as a byproduct of the medicine and at worse make the person sleepy.
...But she must be an extremely lightweight for this to effect her like this. I guess that's why I never seen any hint of alcohol in her house besides the rubbing kind.
Mei would normally cook away from any prying eyes so no one knew if she used any sort of alcohol for her meals. Certain Japanese dishes required it to give some flavor, but it seemed as if she did not use them.
But now she was drunk, even if only a little. As for why...
...That would be due to the burden of the battle.
Their lives had not been on the line this time. But Yuki remembered that Mei cared for his and Murakami's teacher a lot as well for their sake. "That copycat" was still the 5th most searched term on their network.
I can't take this lightly.
But...
"Listen, Yuki."
"Y-yes."
"Good. You listened."
...What was the point of that!?
But Mei patted her left hand on the tatami mat floor.
"Yuki, you have treated me quite well, but I do have one complaint."
"Wh-what is that!?"
Yuki realized Kimura and Mizukami were expressionlessly looking his way from the window beyond Mei. Mizukami moved his jaw to mouth "go on", so what even was this situation?
But Mei could not see them and she answered his question.
"Let's move to a bigger house soon."
"Y-yes! That's right! ...Wait! Do you mean together!?"
He was wholeheartedly fine with that. After all, he was only living with Oshiro and the pup he came with and the two of them had known each other long enough to where it would not be an issue. And they had enough possessions that it could fit in a single house. So...
"We can start by moving to a double-story house and, um, you know, we can get that nice desk you've seen been-..."
"No, not that."
Mei bluntly cut him off and suddenly straightened her wobbling head.
"I want to sleep with our beds side by side. No, if possible, in the same bed."
Mizukami briefly froze in place, but Kimura soon nodded to say "don't let it bother you". She then produce a sign from her notepad:
It's a necessary step for future generations.
...Our relationship is being regulated! This is the dark side of a regulated society! Wait! We aren't even together!
But Mei could not see the goings-on behind her.
"Yuki, I want to be able to touch you while I sleep. I would be so happy if you were right next to me when I woke up in the morning and when I woke up in the middle of the night."
"Well..."
"Thank you very much."
...I still don't understand and did she just take that as a yes!? This feels way too much like a confession!
Mei, however, raised her eyebrows a little and her head nodded a bit. He could tell she was sleepy, but...
"Yuki. Do you know how thankful I am for you?"
Yuki's words briefly caught in his throat.
Mei could ask him question while in this state.
That alone made his heart skip a beat for a moment.
He had a feeling "yes" was the wrong answer, but "no" also seemed like a bad answer.
As he tried to figure out what to say, Akashi held up a sign by the wall.
Talk about love. A love that will last more than a hundred billion nights!
It would seem people actually calm down when their anger reaches the limit.
But Yuki used the words that came to him naturally.
"I am thankful for you as well, Mei."
"I am more thankful for you."
"No, I am."
"No, I am more thankful."
"Are you, Mei-san?"
"I am, Yuki-san."
Mei mimicked his way of speaking and let her shoulders droop.
"After all," she said. "Ever since meeting you, I have wanted for nothing and felt so much happier than in the past. Even more so when you made up with the team."
Yuki did not know what to say or think.
Akashi held up another sign reading "She means children, not team".
...Mei...
He saw tears in her eyes.
She wiped the tears from her cheeks with a casual movement of her sleeve.
So Yuki opened his mouth.
"Mei."
"Wh-what is it?"
She was drunk, so would she remember this conversation? But he felt like this was something he could only say due to that uncertainty.
And he made sure to check on his surroundings.
...They're mostly asleep, aren't they!?
He felt like his future was forfeit simply because the awful Sniper captain was awake and talking, but he had no choice. He also saw Mizukami and Kimura staring out the window while blatantly keeping an ear directed his way.
But he could not let their presence bother him.
This was about Mei. So he moved his knees up toward her.
"Listen."
This is the reverse of earlier, he thought as he continued.
"I am no more than a faker."
That was true. He had nothing to his name besides taking from others to remake them and make them his own.
"So I merely devote myself to the things I can do and live my life without asking for much," he said. "But there is one luxury that I was willing to turn my back on that lifestyle."
"You mean...?"
"That is you, Mei."
Mei stopped moving. Then he raised his right index finger toward her.
"And now that one luxury in my life is saying she is happy with her life here. That is the greatest happiness for me and I take pride in it. I am glad I made the choices and decisions I did and I am glad I have you and everything about you."
"Then..." More tears spilled from Mei's eyes. "I need to make sure you make me even happier. And please tell me what I can do to make you happy. After all..."
After all...
"Your happiness is my happiness too."
Mizukami could be heard choking on his piece of meat outside the window. After a while, Yuki also heard Kimura saying "That's right, Mizukami-san. I know just how you feel."
Regardless, Mei seemed to have calmed down. She was still drunk, but...
"Yuki?"
"Yes, what is it?"
Mei patted her thigh.
What did that mean?
...? Am I supposed to focus on her thigh?
It was a truly splendid shape.
But then Mei once more patted her thigh as if prompting him to do something.
Eh? he thought with a tilt of the head. He saw her wrinkle her brow a little.
She was upset.
...Huh? Um, wh-why? What is all this?
Mei then slapped her thigh twice, but he still did not understand.
"U-um, Mei?"
"...Yuki."
She seemed to be saying "please understand without me needing to tell you". No...
...Mei would say "you had better understand without me telling you", wouldn't she!
He corrected himself, but the situation remained unchanged.
"...Ah."
Only after observing his surroundings did he understand what Mei meant.
To their left, the idiot and Kon were using Kagami as...
...A lap pillow.
I see! he realized, but he also shuddered.
At home would be one thing, but if he slept like that here, he could not even guess what the others would do if they woke up first. No, he could actually guess exactly what they would do and it scared him.
...I would easily fill the entire top 10 search terms on the Border network!
But Mei...
"Yuki."
Looking somewhat drunk, she raised her eyebrows a little, but she looked somehow uncertain of herself. In fact, she looked on the verge of tears.
...Mei is mustering her courage, too. I guess Rampage Dress doesn't shown since she isn't in her right mind.
When he heard her slap her thigh again, he spoke.
"Mei. We are being watched."
.
Kimura saw Yuki disappear.
...Oh?
The ninja-like boy vanished in an instant.
"Eh?"
Even while sitting right in front of him, Mei's shoulders jumped in surprise when he vanished. Kimura could guess this was Teleport, but why use it and where had he gone?
"...Ah."
She suddenly found Yuki lying with his head in Mei's lap.
Mei also finally noticed.
"Oh, dear," she said. "Yuki? Your hair is still covering your eye."
However, she did not try to move the hair. Yuki simply pushed the hair to cover both eyes.
And after checking on his surroundings...
"...This is a luxury."
"Yuki?"
"What is it?"
"Next time, can I use your arm as a pillow?"
Mizukami gathered the contents of his bottle into his mouth so fast the bottle started to shrivel up to nothing.
He then gulped down the drink with a loud and solid sound.
"...Today has been bad for my heart."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. ...Hey, look. Misaki-san is drawing out a storyboard in her sleep."
Something was also happening with Kirikari's group. Murakami had lost the battle against sleepiness and collapsed, so his upper body was draped over the idiot and Kon like a dog.
And in her sleep, the Tachikawa Operator was opening the stomach of Kagami's inner suit, so just how fully-automatic was that gaming Operator?
But, thought Kimura as she and Mizukami looked back at them all.
"We'll be busy in an entirely different way starting soon."