Hello again, everyone, and welcome to the next Volume of my genderbent re-imagining of "Hundred". Now, the reason it's being uploaded on the first day of the month is because I actually been wroking on this Volume and managed to complete it before hand. So...

Enjoy


Volume 2
Divo of Love Song

Prologue

A week has passed since the Savage attacked the Kingdom of Gudenburg in the territory of Britannia.

The children in the surroundings, all of them, while sobbing, are calling their dad, mom, and those who are no longer in this world.

It's the same for me.

I lost my relative due to the attack of the Savage. I was holding a stuffed bear in my arms as I was sitting on my knees and thighs at a corner of the institution where the children who became orphans were received; I was shedding tears, calling out for my mom.

I know that I'll never see her again.

My mother died protecting me from the falling debris.

Although I was still young, I was aware about 「Death」.

Still, I talked with my mom a lot of times to escape from this painful and difficult reality.

With that, I can remember the smiling face of my mom, and I can be happy even if it's just for a moment.

But, loneliness came right away….

I, I want to speak with my mom again.

Tears passed down my cheeks.

When I went through that again, I heard voices saying to me that I have to be strong from now on.

Encouraging me in circle, it belonged to small children.

While looking at that situation, I felt envious.

I didn't have a partner with whom I could comfort myself, I didn't have someone with whom I could swear that we will do our best together in order to keep on living.

On the contrary, I didn't know anyone in this country.

I just came to Gudenburg, accompanying my mom who was a pianist, when the attack of the Savage occurred.

But, in that loneliness, there was a person who called out to me.

– Would you like to talk about anything, if it's okay with you? You seem to not have any acquaintances here, and we have time.

I raised my face, I was surprised.

The color of the girl's hair reflected in my eyes, and her slightly yellowish skin color are from the birthplace of my mother, her origin was the same as those who are born and raised in the Empire of Yamato.

And the girl was leading by the hand a boy that seemed to have the same age as me. His hair color is the same, their features are similar.

When thinking that they might be brother and sister, the girl introduced the boy.

– He is my little brother Kaoru. Come Kaoru, say hi.

However, the boy introduced as Kaoru, as he was scared, kept hiding behind the girl and didn't try to come out.

Even with the girl ahead of him telling him to come out, he shakes his head to the left and right, he won't respond.

While showing an exasperated expression looking his behavior, the girl turned once again to me.

– I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do with his fear of strangers. If you don't mind, could you tell me your name?

– It's Satoru.

I answered.

– So, it's Satoru, that means you also born in Yamato? But I can't see that…

My hair and skin color are different from Asian people, so it's natural for her to think so.

– My dad is from Rasiya, and my mom from Yamato, therefore…

At the same time I say that, my mom's smile crossed my mind, I unexpectedly was moved to tears.

– Ah, that… I'm sorry…. The situation isn't the best to talk about that now.

The girl, who showed a panicked behavior, started to feel for something in the bag that she had in one of her hands.

– Is there something you like? If there's something you want, I'll do anything.

– …my mom…

Even though a lot of sweets came out from the bag, I said so.

I wasn't trying to be unkind to the girl.

Honestly, that was the word that popped into my head.

Naturally, the girl has a troubled look.

– Umm, is there something else?

– Songs.

That was the next thing that crossed my mind.

– …songs?

I nodded.

– Songs you say, then you mean to sing a song. What kind of song?

– A song that my mom sang. At sad times, at painful times, my mother sang a song.

– Then, sing that song. If we know it, then we might be able to sing it together.

– That's impossible…

– Why, is it a difficult song?

– Because it's a song that my mom created for me.

That's what my mom left me, a precious treasure.

– Your mother created a song?

– She was a pianist.

– Okay then, let us hear the song.

– Eh…

– Isn't she amazing for creating a song? That's why I want to listen to it. Or you can't?

– No, I can.

I was happy to be told that my mom is amazing. I wanted them to listen to the wonderful song of my mom.

Therefore, I sang.

It's a tender song, like a lullaby.

It was my first time singing it by myself, I was moved to tears many times during its duration, but I could sing it properly.

– Splendid, isn't it?

*Clap* *Clap*, the girl claps her hands.

– You think, so…?

– I don't really understand that much about music, but that's what I think. What about you Kaoru, don't you think so too?

Kaoru also nodded.

– I think you are skillful.

That's the voice of the girl's brother, I heard it for the first time.

– Umm, I feel that it was something like this, right?

As soon as the girl started to sing the song, her brother pouted his lips.

– Nee-san, your tune, is off.

Indeed, her tune was way off.

– Then you should sing it.

When the girl says so, her little brother started to sing.

It was a pristine, lovely voice.

– Oh, you are good.

The girl was surprised, her mouth was completely opened, then she began to sing, following him.

However, their voices didn't play harmoniously.

That's because the girl was out of tempo.

– Nee-san, you have no ear for music.

– Are you saying that I'm clumsy?

As if was natural, I laughed with their interaction.

At the same time, I noticed something.

I was able to laugh for the first time since I lost my mom.

After that, I ended up singing songs together with them….

Several hours later, we three finally smiled, because we played harmoniously well.

After that, I don't know what happened to them. The day after I met them, I was taken over by my father who I met for the first time since I became old enough to understand what's going around myself, and left the institution.

Of course, I never saw those siblings again, but I have never forgotten that day.

Thanks to that day, I loved singing and I was able to find out how to keep living in this world, my purpose to live.

Thanks to them, I could overcome many painful shit that came after that.

End of Prologue


Chapter 1
Sham Battle/Classmate/Request

In the practice field after school, a sham battle was about to begin.

While its composed by freshmen, in one of the pairs are Kisaragi Haname and Ellie Crossfodde who in a blink of an eye became members of the selection force under direct control of the Student Council――Selections, and the ones who sorted out to fight against the Savage.

On the other hand, the ones who have done 10 sham battles since their enrollment a month ago――the result is 10 victories for the pair of Fiona Glanz and Laetitia Saint-Émillion, so the degree of attention is quite high.

Not only freshmen but also many upperclassmen gathered in the watching space, their gazes were towards the four people standing in the center of the field who have already changed to their Variable Suit and have acquired their Vital Rings.

– Deploy your armaments quickly. Show us the strength of the Selections.

Although Laetitia has a generic simple Hundred armament, he already deployed his armament.

He has a Martial Arts type that fights primarily at close quarter combat using armament similar to brass knuckles equipped on his hands, and using an armament like boots equipped on his feet.

Fiona that stands next to him also deploys a generic Hundred.

It's a Long Shooter type weapon specialized in long range fire, that is, the rifle on his right arm, and the power of the bullets of light emitted from that rifle is powerful.

It takes time to inject energy and to set the aim――and because the weight of the rifle is high, the mobility is poor; that being the case, the armor that covers his body is very thick.

Haname is completely aware of the special characteristics of their Hundred.

It's thanks to the knowledge she has accumulated in various fields such as this world, the Savage and the Hundred from the lectures received in the martial arts department of Little Garden for over a month now.

– First, thanks for hearing us. We haven't had a sham battle with members of Selections yet. I wanted to ascertain how high my true strength is.

– Yeah, if we can win against you――no, even if we lose, if the match is in equal terms, then not only the day when we can receive an exclusive Hundred will be closer, but even entering Selections won't be just a dream anymore. With that said, don't hold back.

Following Fiona, Laetitia added his words.

In short, for the two of them, this sham battle will serve as a distinction whether they can enlist Selections or not.

– Got it. Then, I'll do it seriously.

Ellie, who said that vigorously, threw to the air the reddish-brown ore that he was holding in his hand, and shouted.

HUNDRED ON!

The ore popped into particles while releasing blue light, then it created a number of floating objects covering the surroundings of Ellie's body.

It's an Innocence Type Hundred, a special armament that can freely change its shape and property depending on the intention and energy of the operator――Fog that Covers Everything Arms Shroud.

– Haname, you too deploy it quickly.

Hurried by Ellie, who finished the deployment, Haname grasped tightly the reddish-brown ore that she had, and shouted similarly.

HUNDRED ON!

At once, the ore shone in a particular red, it popped and became particles, a jet-black armor similar to a samurai armor was in her arm――and in her hand a huge sword, Hien, was created.

Incidentally, Haname and Ellie's Hundred are customized for individuals, unlike those of Fiona and Laetitia.

– You all seem to be ready, so let's start the match at once.

Laetitia was impatient to fight.

He's loosening his body while jumping up and down.

Ellie asked a question there.

– Before that, can we check the rules?

That's what he thought when asking Haname.

Although she had a one-on-one battle with the President the day after enrollment, neither of them have participated in a sham battle or tag battle before, so they don't know the rules.

– Simply put in a sham battle we do whatever we want. There aren't clear rules in it but――that's right, let's have the same foundation as if it was a duel.

– For duel, you mean as if it was a tag battle?

Haname asks to the two of them regarding her own doubts.

– Well, almost. Team battles are done by 3 or more people, but the difference from one-on-one matches is that, as far as you can see, there are two patterns for victory. One of the patterns to win is when in a match someone in a team became unable to fight, another pattern for victory is when the entire team becomes unable to fight. Besides those, there are also defensive battles and the like where you must protect a flag in its respective position, but let's not do that for now.

– In other words, we should do one of the first two. Anything is fine by me, but what about you, Laetitia?

– If so, how about the pattern when all of the members of a team are unable to continue, making the match to end? That seems to be the standard for duels.

– I don't have any objection with that, what about you guys?

Agreeing with Laetitia's proposal, Fiona asked Haname and Ellie.

– I'm OK. What do you say, Haname?

– If all of you are fine with it, then I agree too but…

– What is it, don't be indecisive.

– Think about this seriously.

– What are you talking about? Laetitia said that we shouldn't go easy on them, right? Besides, there are so many spectators. This duel will look like a real battle. As a matter of fact, since I haven't moved my body properly since the previous resistance, my body is itching to do it.

– Fine, I'll fight do it seriously…

Haname answered while sighing.

Doing something like this under their own accord, despite knowing that this will make the President angry, it can't be helped if this happens.

(This Ellie, I thought that he has calmed down these days, but he is the same as always…)

She ended up fighting right after enrolling, but she didn't realize that he's a man because he has been acting in a feminine way, but in the end, that's only her opinion of him.

In the first place, if that's the case for Haname, she has numerous hunches that there are a lot of people who are hot-blooded Slayers as him.

Even Laetitia, at some extent, will have that tendency.

Anyway, they decided the rules of the sham battle in this way.

The time limit is 15 minutes――they lose if both are knocked down or if they give up.

Alphonse Brewstadt, a freshman living in the same dormitory, will play the role of the referee.

His body is round, his personality is gentle making him look as if he wasn't a Slayer. He has a rare type of Hundred, a Tamer type. The user changes the Variable Stone into the shape of an animal and orders it to fight.

– You fo〜ur, are your preparations okay?

The thick voice of Alphonse, the freshman living in the same dormitory who's standing in the center of the field, echoed in the practice grounds.

The four of them nodded, and confirming that they were ready, Alphonse waved one of his hands that was raised high towards the ceiling.

– Well then, begi〜n!

At the same time with that voice, Laetitia rushed out, detonating the sense energy at his feet.

– Haname! I know how powerful your Hundred is because of the battle with the President, so the victory goes to the one who makes the first move!

– … kh!

Haname dodged the fist that was swung downward leaping horizontally, but the pinch didn't end there.

A mass of strong force was approaching from the front.

It's a beam bullet that Fiona fired.

– I'm sorry, but this is our win!

In other words, Laetitia was a diversion, he acted as decoy.

– Gah…!

Haname rapidly deployed an E-Barrier and attempted to block the light bullets, but she is pushed by their power, her body bounced off behind.

– Are you okay, Haname!?

– This is not the situation to be looking away!

Laetitia launched a kick to Ellie who's worried about Haname.

– …kh.

Even though he was surprised, Ellie quickly intercepted it with his arms.

Continuing, Laetitia released a roundhouse kick, then he consecutively pushed out his fists, Ellie stopped the blows using Arms Shroud, and diverted his body, dodging with light movements.

– As expected, his movements are fast, but――

And Ellie, who was completely devoted to defending, began to attack.

He instantly moved two of his Arms Shroud behind Laetitia, he changed them to floating batteries and fired beams from them.

– Wha!

He probably didn't assume that he would attack from behind.

Laetitia was struck by two beams on his back, and fell to the ground from the front.

– Gha… you did it…!

Since in such condition E-Barrier wasn't deployed, the damage was considerable. Tears were rising from the corner of his eyes.

Despite that, and while he was standing up, he swung downwards his fist to the ground with all his strength.

– Deei!

A cloud of dust rises due to wind pressure, and Ellie's line of sight got blocked.

Since he can't identify his target, it's impossible for him to attack with the floating batteries.

That seemed to be the strategy of Laetitia.

– Take this, a retaliation of just now!

Running through the cloud of dust, Laetitia tries to strike Ellie. But he didn't swing down his fist.

– What!?

Laetitia approached Ellie until their distance was around 1 meter, then he rapidly brought his body backwards, and with both hands on the ground, he jumped back while doing a backward somersault.

As the cloud of sand disappears, the figure of Ellie, who was projecting out a spear is visible to the eyes of Haname――

– Wasn't your Hundred a Dragoon type…?

He never saw a battle of Ellie; it was unknown to him that his Hundred is a changeable type.

Laetitia couldn't hide his surprise.

Aside from the shape, there's hardly any Hundred in the world that change its type, so it's natural to react like that.

– My Hundred is a bit special made one. Given that, I was wondering if Laetitia could be defeated, but――

Ellie projects the spear again.

He evaded it by jumping――or at least Laetitia pretended to look like that, then he came down and entangled his legs to the spear that was in the air, and lifted the body of Ellie with the principle of leverage.

Due to that, Ellie, who lost the balance of his body, is knocked down on the ground.

– It hurts, your movement…. As expected of a user of the Martial Arts type. That was pretty smart…

– Fufun, it's one of my specialties when fighting a spear opponent.

– Ellie, are you okay?

Haname asked Ellie through the Vital Ring.

– Yeah, I just fell, that's all.

Ellie quickly stood up and picked up the spear that had fallen from his hand.

– See, are you recognizing that we too are doing our best?

Laetitia, with a hand on his waist, got cocky and showed a proud smile.

– That might be sufficient, for now. But we won't lose.

Ellie readied the spear, and talked with a low voice through the Vital Ring.

– I think Haname already knows it but, Long Shooter type Hundred shouldn't be able to move properly right after a bombardment. Aim for that gap, and set off an attack on Fiona.

– …got it.

– Then, I'll leave it to you.

As Ellie and Haname move separately to the left and right, the timing that she should be aiming at her is right now.

It is because she fired a bombardment.

Without a moment's delay, Haname accelerated and evaded the bombardment, then she tried to launch an attack, but a bombardment was fired again shortly afterwards.

(Wha, how――!?)

Thinking about it, these two consecutive bombardments had the shape of bullets, in comparison to the laser-like ones that were fired right after the start of the sham battle.

In other words, she fired bit by bit of all the energy accumulated, meaning that it may be possible to do a rapid-fire.

To the approaching Haname, Fiona released a third and fourth light bullet in succession.

Haname approached Fiona while making use of the accelerator to dodge to the left and right.

(…this is different from the strategy, if so at this distance!)

Hien was raised overhead, to seize the body of Fiona.

The voice of Laetitia arrived there.

– I won't let you do as you like, Haname!

Nonetheless, Fiona's light bullets are far away, those should have been fired from a distant place. And yet――

– ――huh!?

Haname felt a dull pain in the back of his head, falling forward and collapsing.

– Ouch… what was, that…?

She got up and turned her eyes towards Latia, she could see that the knuckle of her right hand was rotating.

Moreover, his arm was coiling around something like a tornado.

– How is it? Since close quarter combats has its limitations, this is why I learned a technique like this――like this wind!

Laetitia pulled his right arm and released a spiral wind to Haname.

Haname judged that the wind would only go in a straight-line, so she got up and avoided it moving to the side.

Fiona aligned the sight of the rifle's sensor there.

– How about this!

Haname tried to dodge the bullets of light that were fired by rolling, but then she was driven to the wall of the battlefield.

In this situation, if she is under the aim of Laetitia's spiral wind and Fiona's light bullets, then she won't have a place to escape anymore.

She experienced in the fight with the President that this is a dangerous position.

(What do I do…?)

During her hesitation, Laetitia created a tornado in his arms, and tried to release the spiral again.

– This will――stop it!

Elliot set off an attack there.

– I won't let you attack Haname anymore!

– Kuh, it seems like we were exposed to his aiming!

– That's right!

Laetitia changed his objective and released the spiral wind, but Elliot used energy to jump high and attempted a falling attack with the pointed end of the spear.

Laetitia avoided it doing a back step, the spear pierced the ground.

Towards Ellie who's trying to pull it out, Laetitia jumps at the same time he lands and released a turning kick.

– Kuh!

Ellie extracted the spear and defended against the turning kick by using it like a shield, then he pushed his arms forward with vigor, trying to keep away the body of Laetitia.

Laetitia lost the balance of his body, but he didn't end up collapsing, and tried to regain his posture by doing a backward somersault in the air.

And again, Ellie pushed out the spear.

– What…!?

As one would expect, Laetitia didn't seem to be able to fend off the attack right after landing.

Instantly taking a defensive posture and stretching the E-Barrier, he tried to endure it, but the spear broke through it and this time his body hit the ground.

Immediately afterwards, he changed the tip of the spear to a muzzle, just like when he was fighting one of the Student Council Vice Presidents of Little Garden――Lloyd Steinberg.

– Now this will decide the game!

– I won't let you!

It was Fiona who raised her voice towards Ellie, she was trying to fire light bullets.

The rifle of the right arm is directed towards Ellie, she's finding the timing to fire the bombardment.

– Now, Haname!

– Roger!

Haname understood the intention of Ellie and immediately accelerated, setting off an attack on Fiona.

That's when she noticed.

Fiona cancelled the bombardment on Ellie and, rapidly turned the muzzle of the rifle towards Haname.

(This is bad!)

Haname thought, but Fiona didn't bombard him.

(The charge of energy, isn't ready yet?)

Then, now this is her chance.

Haname granted sense energy to Hien that she had readied from an overhead position and swung it down without hesitation.

Speaking of its power, it should be enough to blown away the body of Fiona and bring her down…

– Wha…

Fiona stopped the blow of Haname with the rifle in her right arm.

There was nothing else she could do, her facial expression distorted in pain, her arms were worn-out and trembling.

– See, I managed somehow to endure it with an E-Barrier!

– I've not finished!

When Haname puts more strength on both hands, the body of Fiona… moves slightly to the back.

Forcing her way like this, when she thought that she might be able to knock down the body of Fiona, Haname felt something like intense light in front of her.

(Bad news!?)

The crevice between the fingers of the armor of the left hand of Fiona is directed to Haname, it shines violently with energy.

– Not bad, Haname. Now we are tied.

– When did you have that muzzle――?

– If I didn't have this, then you were likely to defeat us. So, I hid it for a moment like this.

Fiona loosened her mouth and shot two lasers from her left arm.

The front of Haname dyed white.

… and, at the same time.

*DOKUN*, her heart beat very loudly.

(This, is…)

There have been two times where she has been in a similar situation.

At the time she fought with the President and in the fight against the Trenta Savage.

In both of them she felt danger, as a result of that, the moment when the power of the Variant activated.

As far as she can tell, those situations are the same as now…

Her body became hot from the core, consciousness began to diverge from her body.

In order to keep the consciousness in her body, Haname suddenly clenched her teeth and tried to endure it.

(――It's fine, I can do it…!)

She was able to withstand it once, and in this month, after school and after returning to the dorm, she received training from Ellie to control her energy.

She was told that this was the cornerstone to control the power of the Variant.

Now it's time to try the fruits.

– Uoooooooooooooooooooooh!

With the roar that Haname raised, her armament changed.

So far, she hasn't lost her consciousness.

On the contrary, it seems that power is gushing forth from the depths of her body.

As the armament covers her whole body, Hien expanded up to two times its original size.

When she swung it horizontally, the body of Fiona was blown away to the bridge of the field.

As soon as she hits the wall, her armament is cancelled and her body falls to the ground.

Subsequently, a reddish-brown ore also fell on the ground. Until moments ago, it was Fiona's Hundred, the one that gave him a thick armor that covered her body as well as the giant rifle in her right arm.

– Fiona, are you alright?

Laetitia, who was watching the situation rushed over to Fiona in concern.

– …I guess…. But, you sure about it? Even if my Vital is zero, the match continues…

Fiona raised her trembling arms and showed a thumb up along with a smile.

But she was forcing herself, it was so obvious to the extent that it was painful to look at her….

– Don't say stupid things.

Laetitia raised both of his hands.

– I give up.

Alphonse ran with heavy steps from the referee's seat towards the center of the field and put up his hands high.

– We have a winner! The victory goes to Kisaragi Haname and Ellie Crossfode!

Haname, who sighed and cancelled her armament, walked toward Fiona, who was borrowing the shoulders of Laetitia to raise her own body.

– I'm sorry, in that state, I can't control my own strength…

Haname apologized, thinking that she went too far, because no matter how you look at it, it was a sham battle.

– Take it easy, we were the ones who told you that you had to do it seriously. If it wasn't for your full armament, then you would be the one driven to the wall.

Although she won this, she didn't react with an expression of joy, but she was glad that she could control her power properly.

– But, my full power bombardment wasn't effective, this is beyond cheating… it hurts…

Fiona stood up with the hand that Haname stretched out, but her body hurts a lot.

She soon tumbled down from her waist.

– Don't try to force yourself. I'll take you to the medical office.

– Sorry.

Fiona responded with a faint smile.

– What, as I'm your partner, it's natural to do it.

– Would you like me to help you?

Ellie called them out, looking at Laetitia trying to get up the staggered Fritz with his shoulders.

– No, I'm fine. But it was a complete defeat. Selections is still far away from us…

Laetitia sighed with a *Haaa*.

– … you think so?

– Well, if you have a dedicated Hundred, your attack power will rise. Even us wouldn't act carelessly then.

– If you say so, then I'll believe in myself.

In response to Ellie's words, Laetitia gladly smiled from the bottom of his heart.


After seeing off Laetitia and Fiona, who left the practice grounds towards the medical office,

– Well then, shall we go to change our clothes?

– Sure.

And, two girls came close to them, when Haname nodded regarding Ellie who called her out.

– Kisaragi-san!

– Congratulations for your efforts!

In the entrance ceremony, the boys who were told to leave Little Garden, the ones who were about to be dropped out. The one with the longest hair is Noah Sheldon of the Yamato lineage of Liberia and the person with the short hair is Ryu Shuemei of Qin Empire Chiney.

Since that event, Haname was often able to speak with them.

– Congratulations on your victory of the sham battle.

Following to what Noah said, Shuemei opened his mouth,

– You received a shot from Glanz-san but, are you okay?

– Eh, yeah…. Somehow, as you can see…

– What a relief, as expected of Kisaragi-san.

They nodded by looking at each other.

– The thing is, actually we wanted to ask something to Kisaragi-san…

– We can successfully do a deployment but we are having issues granting energy.

Following Shuemei, Noah said.

– I have a rapier of the Chevalier type. Ryu has a long spear of the Phalanx type, and just like Kisaragi-san, our fighting style is by employing weapons with our hands.

– That's why, can Kisaragi-san teach us since they are similar styles… or it's impossible for you?

Shuemei and Noah appealed to Haname while looking up to her, and there, sounds of footsteps were approaching that place.

It's Alphonse who served as the referee in the previous sham battle.

– Hey, Haname〜. If you are going to train their Hundred, then teach me too〜.

– Err…

*TAP* *TAP* *TAP*, it's his Tamer type Hundred, which is like a dog type home robot that went after Alphonse and sat down at his feet, but honestly, it doesn't seem like it can fight.

– I don't really know anything about that Hundred…

While it may be true that he may say something about the Long Spear type of Ryu and the Chevalier type of Noah, there's another problem to that.

(Although I can use the Hundred, I'm not in a level where I can teach other people about them…)

During the past month, classes using Hundred also started.

For the instructors who belong to Warslan as well as the Slayers, and those who make of the Hundred as members of Selections, there's a practical curriculum that teaches them how to fight using their Hundred, and this is what the students of the martial arts departments are interested the most, as this is also an important lesson for them.

Incidentally, among the freshmen, only around 20% of them could perfectly use their Hundred since the beginning, another 30% can deploy the shape of their weapon――and the other 50% are at the level where they can transform their Hundred, but can't adjust it, it can't even be grasped by themselves yet.

The two boys in front of him were exactly in that 50%.

The thing is, she immediately learned how to deploy an E-Barrier and to deploy her Hundred, and then tied in the duel with the President――after that, they probably thought about trying to request to Kisaragi Haname, the anticipated freshman, who had become a member of Selections, slaughtered a Trenta Savage, and had the highest reaction value of all time, to teach them.

Nonetheless, to be honest, Haname doesn't know how to teach.

It would be different from the way Ellie was doing it.

(At that time, I felt like I had to try and do it, rather than being taught…)

In the past month, Haname realized that she was too much different from the other freshmen.

At any rate, a thing that they couldn't do even in half a month, she did it in mere 10 minutes.

Whether it's thanks to the sense that was originally in Haname, or thanks to the power of the Variant, it's something that can't be determined at this stage.

(Waaa, what shall I do…)

Troubledly looking towards Ellie, he was also being asked to practice, surrounded by female classmates.

Looking at the sham battle just now, there were some who became a fan of his and others who are interested in his Hundred, and also those who press questions to him.

– Haname.

Ellie called him out as soon as their eyes met.

– From now on, we should teach everyone how to use their Hundred.

– It is good and all that you are excited, but it is impossible for now.

Following Ellie's grateful suggestion, the voice that echoed in the practice grounds belonged to a boy wearing a blue special uniform walking towards Haname who's standing in the field――he's one of the Vice Presidents of the Student Council of Little Garden, an upperclassman who has a short-cut hairstyle and red underframe glasses, Eric Candle.

– Kisaragi Haname, Clark-sama is calling for you. Please come to the Student Council Room with me right now.

– Eh…

– It's to talk about a mission of the Selections.

This was the first time since Haname has joined the Selections that she was being summoned.

– Only Haname is being summoned?

Ellie asked in discontent, as he's also a member of Selections, his aura of wanting to listen with Haname was released from his whole body.

But Eric flatly rejected him,

– Only Kisaragi Haname is being called. I will guide him to the Student Council Room. Please follow me.

She can't even procrastinate, not to mention to refuse it since there was a previous appointment.

– I'm sorry I entrusted the rest to you.

Haname, leaving the training to Ellie, changed her clothes from her Variable Jacket to her uniform, and moved to the Student Council Room following Eric who leads the way.


– Clark-sama, I brought Kisaragi Haname.

– Come in.

When Eric knocked the big door provided with the sign which has "Student Council Room" written on it, Clark's voice came from behind the door.

Along with Eric who opened the door, Haname set foot into the room.

– It seems as if you acted violently desuwane.

A boy wearing a special red uniform sitting on a desk chair at the back of the large room with a red carpet spread across――the Student Council President King Clark Harvey, stared at Haname.

– Umm, that, sorry…

She quickly understood that the cause was the sham battle with Laetitia and the others.

– If there's a sortie now, due to the lack of sense energy, you will be in trouble, yes? Although you are a first-year student, you are also a member of Selections, so considering that, you will be in trouble unless you avoid unnecessary battles masu.

– Now now, even if Clark-sama says it…

That's what was said by a girl holding a tablet PC that stands behind Clark.

Looking at the uniform, she is Christa Steinbelt, Clark's assistant and who seemed to belong to middle school.

– Be silent, Christa. It, it was certainly a mistake made by our Student Council before, but that mad dog, Ellie Crossfode, is also in the wrong desuwayo.

– Regardless of his true intention, let's end this conversation. There's an important conversation that we have to do.

– You, you are right desuwane…

Following the words of Christa, Clark continued, clearing his throat with a cough.

– Then, let's move on to the main subject. You know well that this ship is going to the Zwei Island next week, am I correct?

– Ah, yes….

Thanks to the Slayers of Little Garden, the Zwei Islands were saved from the evil hands of the Savage. Wanting to thank that, the government of the Zwei Islands contacted the Student Council, the headquarters of Little Garden, through Warslan Company.

Of course, members of the Student Council accepted this with pleasure. They decided to visit under the guidance of the governor of the Zwei Islands, and at that time Little Garden was in an island to the west of the Zwei Islands――it has been decided that they would be docking at the west land.

That was rumored also among the students of the martial arts department.

During the period of four days, the residents are basically free to come and go.

Moreover, because the schedule is on Friday's holiday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday's holiday, that means they have four consecutive holidays, so the topic in the dormitories is where they should go.

Anyway, the freshmen could breathe in the air outside Little Garden for the first time in almost a month. The daily life isn't bad, it's not uncomfortable at all but, it is a pleasant feeling after all to do this.

The inside of the ship is now being filled with such a mood before the trip.

– On Monday, which is the last day, Kirishima Satoru's live concert will be held at the Zwei Islands.

– If I remember correctly, Kirishima Satoru is the Idol and lead singer of Tokyo Hotel that was going to have a concert at the Zwei Islands when the previous incident happened desuyone?

– You may say that this is to take responsibility and redo the suspended concert at that time.

It was Eric who added an explanation.

According to him, Kirishima Satoru's live concert was interrupted by a Savage's raid, but the tickets haven't been refunded yet.

Kirishima Satoru was asked in an interview how he was going to deal with it,

– I pray for the reconstruction of the Zwei Islands and for that I want to do a consolation concert outdoors.

He answered that.

If you had the last concert ticket, then you are in the preferential venue. If you are a resident of the Zwei Island then your participation is for free.

In addition to that, Kirishima Satoru's plan was to invite the Slayers and citizens of Little Garden who saved the Zwei Islands from the evil hands of the Savage while they are docking during the duration of the live concert for free.

Of course, those who can't participate in this live concert will be refunded, and all the profits of the already sold live tickets will go towards the reconstruction of the Zwei Islands――the so-called charity live that Satoru had declared.

By the way, the events and holidays in Little Garden are held according to the Liberian calendar, which is the nationality of the ship.

Monday is a national holiday, the Liberia's Memorial Day to Mourn the Officers and Men Killed in Action Memorial Day.

It seems that Satoru has decided that day because it was also a holiday in the Zwei Islands, as a day to mourn for the Slayers and soldiers who died in the fight against the Savage.

The government of the Zwei Islands said that they accepted his proposal pleasantly and that they would cooperate holding the live concert.

– And so, the security for that occasion is to be undertaken by Little Garden. But one thing, a troublesome thing happened desuwa.

– A troublesome thing, you say?

– The client, Kirishima Satoru, has nominated you――Kisaragi Haname, as his personal security, or what is it called, his bodyguard desu.

– …nominated me, but why me?

– We enquired the client about that matter, but there was no clear answer deshitawa.

– Although Haname-sama's personal data is not open yet, we don't know what he knows about you. Speaking of a certain possibility is that, just like him, Haname is also from the Empire of Yamato, but you are not acquainted with Kirishima-san, correct?

– No, not at all.

To Christa's question, Haname answered.

Of course, he is not in her memory.

At any rate, she wasn't aware of his existence before this.

– If so, the great efforts of Haname-sama in the previous battle, and the aptitude value at the time of enrollment. It may be that rumors are being leaked out from somewhere. If there's any other reason, then maybe it's the possibility that a Savage is hidden in the Zwei Islands?

– Savage you say, what do you…

– The details will be told from me.

Eric opened his mouth in regard to Haname who was asking Christa.

– In fact, the number of Savage that came flying from the far outer space during the previous fight was a total of seven.

– Eh…

– Of course, Warslan's flying corps and the troops of the Kingdom of François could shoot down 4 bodies out of the 7 before reaching the ground.

In other words, the remaining three were the opponents of Haname and the others in the previous resistance.

– However, we found only 1 corpse from the bodies that were shot down――the remaining three are alive somewhere.

– Because they fell in the sea so it's difficult to find them, but we can't relax the vigilance. For that reason, Little Garden is going to guard the concert desuwa.

Clark continued the explanation of Eric, but his tone was containing more tension than before.

– In other words, the moment when the Savage appeared, was it meant that I was chosen as a Slayer to protect Kirishima Satoru…?

– I think such possibility is high.

Eric replies immediately.

– In this connection, LaZER has also judged that there's no problem if it's you, since the Slayers belonging to Little Garden and the members of Selections are doing the guarding of the live concert as a way to give our thanks, because they invited us to the concert and to dock in there, as this is also a strong request from the headquarters side.

Clark continued after talking about the premise.

– Therefore, Kisaragi Haname. I want you to take on this task desu.

– What happens if I say NO?

– Although you are a member of Selections, in the end this might be a trouble to your role as a student, so we will have to persuade our headquarters and we will have no choice but to ask the client to change desuwane. I won't tell you that you are forced to do it masenwa.

– Is that so…?

– What do you think, Kisaragi Haname? Do you want to take the request?

– …I'll do it. Let me do it.

Thinking a little, Haname replied. This is the first time that she will do her duties in a proper way after joining Selections. Of course, she is anxious, but since she was nominated, she would like to do it properly. It's not decided that she won't fight the Savage, but if the brain of Little Garden LaZER says that there's no problem, then there's no way for her to make any complaints.

– A good reply desuwa. Don't just give your best, accomplish it flawlessly so you don't have any troubles.

Looking at Haname and the determination she revealed, Clark slipped out a smile.

It was a very happy smile.

– Well then, I will contact you for details at a later date masu. Your vacations are a thing of the past, but a compensation for those days, a small pay will be issued. Is there anything else you wish for? If there is something, we will consider it.

– If that's the case, I have one thing in mind. I don't know if you can do it but…

– … what is it desuno?

Closing his eyes, Clark asks back.

– Umm, it's about the concert of Kirishima Satoru――

After leaving the Student Council Room, Haname went to the hospital as she was, mailed Ellie and left the school alone. It was because she wanted to tell Kaoru, her brother who's in the hospital, as soon as possible.

– Eeh, can I really see the live concert of Satoru-san!?

When Haname told him, Kaoru got up from the bed with so much force that he was about to come out of it as he was.

Haname, who was surprised by the distance of her face with the one of his brother who approached each other as if they were a pair of lovers, draw back without thinking and took a certain distance from his.

– I got permission from the nurse Minato-san, and asked the President to prepare a special seat.

The stadium which was the original concert venue was destroyed by the raid of the Savage, so a charity live concert will be held at a special venue mainly consisting of a simple stage set up on the site.

Therefore, there are no fixed seats. In the live concert everyone will be standing, and Kaoru who can't stand by his own for a long period of time won't be able to participate if it is a normal one.

That's why Haname asked Clark knowing that it was impossible, to prepare a place that will allow him to participate in the live concert with a wheelchair.

It's a rare big opportunity, as she wanted to show Kaoru's favorite artist's concert as close as possible to the stage.

Clark received Haname's proposal with a troubled expression at first, but he breathed profoundly and since it was inevitable, he smiled.

– Understood. If it is for your brother, we will do what we can. Christa, can you get in touch with the manager of Kirishima Satoru?

– As you say. I am going to ask if he can participate in a wheelchair and if they can prepare a place where the stage can be seen with no problems.

Christa immediately contacted the office of Kirishima Satoru.

As a result, it was arranged to prepare a place for the wheelchair which can specially look out over the stage.

– Thank you very much, Nee-san. Nothing but good things have happened to Kaoru since he came to Little Garden.

– Uwaa!

Kaoru, with a smiley face, embraced the neck of Haname without previous notice.

– That blond hair dri….no, President-san is actually a nice person, isn't it?

With those words, Haname smiled wryly remembering that Kaoru hated the President who sent her to the hospital.

– …well, of course Nee-san is also going to watch Satoru-san's live concert together with Kaoru. If so, then I can't stop my lessons. The most popular song Satoru-san is…

– It's regrettable but that won't be.

Haname said to Kaoru who took the tablet PC at the bedside and was about to begin singing the song of Kirishima Satoru.

– Eh, why is that? I thought that I was going to watch it together with Nee-san…

Kaoru casted down his eyes in sadness.

– Umm, I've been told that I mustn't tell anyone about this, but――

Haname whispered Kaoru about her first duty since she joined Selections.

– Eeeeeh, Nee-san is the bodyguard of Satoru-san!? BULLSHIT!

– Hey, lower your voice. What am I going to do if this was heard outside!?

– I'm sorry, it's just that I was very surprised… Please give me some time. I'm going to calm down.

*Inhaling* *Exhaling*, *Inhaling* *Exhaling*, Kaoru does deep breaths over and over again, but the excitement won't let him regain his cool, so he asks a question while being very enthusiastic.

– Err, since you are the personal guard of Satoru-san, then that means you are going to be by his side and that you can talk to him.

– Maybe, I wonder about that…

Her role is to be his personal guard――otherwise, she won't be able to fulfill her duty as a bodyguard.

When Haname answered, Kaoru opened his mouth while looking at Haname with sparkling and hopeful eyes.

– That's why Kaoru, has a favor to ask to Nee-san…

Then one week passed and the first day of the special vacation arrived――and the day of the first duty since Kisaragi Haname joined Selections arrived.

End of Chapter 1


Chapter 2
Satoru Kirishima/Bodyguard/Kaoru's Fortune Telling

– Uwaa, what's happening!?

Waking up with a violent vertical shake.

Haname rapidly jumped up to her feet from the bed due to the earthquake.

However, she noticed that there was another bed besides the one she was sleeping, and recognized the place where she was.

(Oh right, unlike Yamato, there aren't earthquakes in Little Garden…)

Anyway, this dorm is on the academy city ship floating on the sea.

Then it might be a storm―― but that wasn't the case.

Outside the window there's a deep blue sky, and in the first place everything except the airport section of Little Garden is sealed with transparent glass.

No matter how much it rains, or how much the wind blows, they won't affect the family area nor the military area, and on that subject, even if the ocean is quite rough, it is designed so that the shaking will hardly be transmitted, or that's what she heard.

(Then, what in the world was that tremor?)

For now Haname, who was in her undershirt and underpants, quickly wore a skirt and came out to the corridor with a PDA in her hand.

Right there she came across Ellie who came out from the opposing room.

Unlike the casual appearance of Haname, he was already wearing the uniform of the martial arts department, wearing his hair down in a perfect shape.

– Morning, Haname. What a terrible tremor!

Like Haname, he wondered about the tremor and went out of the room.

Even though he seemed to be in a hurry, Ellie greeted her showing a smile.

– What on earth could that be?

When Haname threw the question, *Rattle* *Rattle*, the ground shook more violently than before.

– Uwaah!?

– Waah!?

Haname and Ellie screamed in unison.

*Gogogogo*… and, although the sounds similar to rumbles in the ground and the short and repeated tremors continued, they gradually became weak and eventually stopped.

– I'm pretty sure it's because we docked.

– Does it mean that we arrived at the shore of the Zwei Islands?

They heard that that was scheduled at 9:00 in the morning. But it's just past 8:00, the docking happened 1 hour faster.

– Maybe, I guess.

After a short time, from the speakers installed in the dormitory, *Ding dong* *Ding dong*, the sound of a chime echoed.

Following that, they heard the voice of Eric Candle, the Vice-president with glasses.

『Simultaneous communication in the ship, simultaneous communication in the ship. Good morning to all the residents of Little Garden. From here, there is information from the Student Council of Little Garden. Right now, the ship has docked at the Eastland――the east island in the Zwei Islands』

– See? It's just like I said.

Ellie smiled proudly.

Then Eric, through the speaker, informed that after an hour of inspection they will do the opening, and they would be able to come and go freely for four days between the Zwei Islands and Little Garden.

– Which reminds me, from what time do you have to work today, Haname?

At the same time the simultaneous communication broadcast ended, Ellie asked.

The work is, of course, to be the bodyguard of Prince Sorcerer of the Land of the Rising Sun Oriental Wizard Kirishima Satoru.

Naturally it was confidential for who Haname was going to work, but it's obvious for Ellie to know about it since he's also a member of Selections.

– In the conversation of yesterday, I heard that it's from noon but…. Depending on the weather, they will summon me to let me know the moment it's official.

– If that's the case, would you like to go sightseeing Zwei Islands until then?

– What?

– There's no problem if we go back by noon, right? If so, then I guess we can go for a bit. Fisherman's Wharf on the west side of Zwei Islands where Little Garden is docking is quite attractive and looks fun, it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to reach there.

What Ellie wants to say is that they will be able to enjoy themselves, and that it would take them around an hour to travel back and forth from Little Garden.

– I really really want to go there, you know.

In case there was a summoning from the President, it will be problematic if she doesn't move to that place on time.

In yesterday's conversation, Kirishima Satoru, after getting down at the Eastland airport――at the east side of the Zwei Islands, he will be heading to Little Garden with the Student Council members.

In any case, if they go to Fisherman's Wharf, then just in case, it may be better to contact the President and get his permission――thinking about it, the PDA made an electronic sound.

– It's from the Student Council room….

Moreover, it's not a mail but a call request.

– Don't tell me, they are summoning you already?

While Ellie was showing an anxious expression, Haname touched the call button displayed on the screen of the PDA.

– Yes, it's Kisaragi Haname.

『Good morning, this is Eric Candle. Although timely, the schedule was brought quite forward. The client arrived in just one hour and a little』

Eric's tone contains the nuance that he was troubled regarding the schedule that went amiss.

『As you were told yesterday, originally Clark-sama and I were scheduled to meet him, but at this time we have talks with the Governor of the Zwei Islands and people of western cuisine. Therefore, since you are a member of Selections, you will head there as an envoy, so please join with the client without us. I will arrange for a hired car to meet you in the dormitory in 30 minutes so please follow the instructions of the envoy who is on board there』

– Ah, yes, I understand.

『Well then, we will leave it to you』

She was unilaterally informed of the matter and the call was terminated.

– Don't tell me you have to go already?

Ellie asked with a gloomy look.

– Yeah, it seems that I have to leave from here in 30 minutes.

– I see…

When he heard those words, Ellie dropped his shoulders, and muttered mixed with a sigh.

– It's regrettable, I thought that I could flirt magnificently with my precious Haname outside Little Garden…


After finishing her breakfast rapidly and finished changing clothes, she went out to the entrance and right there a black painted hired car arrived.

The front door opened, and who came out from the front passenger seat is Lloyd Steinberg, one of the Vice-presidents of the Student Council.

– Lloyd-san, is your health alright?

Haname asked while being surprised.

It was the first time since she saw him injured in the previous resistance.

– It is still impossible for me to come out in a battle, but I was discharged from the hospital one week earlier since I was judged that there was no problem to do my daily duties. I was told by Clark-sama that I still need medical treatment, but since I can do as much as picking you up, I offered myself to do it. Anyway, I have business to do in Eastland.

While saying that, Lloyd opened the rear door.

– Seeming that your preparations are ready, get in.

Hayato got into the car as he was told.

Next, once Liddy got into the front passenger seat the car started to move.

– We are heading to the airport of Little Garden.

– Eh, according to yesterday, he was going to land on the eastern island of Zwei Islands――on the airport at Eastland….

– Because he's arriving earlier than planned, it seems that he wants to look around Little Garden.

After 5 minutes or so, Haname arrived at the airport.

– I forgot, I am handing this to you.

She got out the car and on her way towards the waiting room, Lloyd took out a handgun from his breast pocket and presented it to Haname.

A tranquilizer gun against woman and Slayers――N Tranquilizer.

– … yes.

– Take it and keep it with you; anything may happen during your duty.

Haname nodded, received the gun and put it in a holster on the inside of the uniform's jacket.

Although there was a gun in her breast pocket, she wasn't used to it, but she wasn't bewildered.

She heard in advance that a gun was going to be handed over to her, to use it only as a personal protection of Kirishima Satoru, so every day after school for the past few days she had been training in guns.

The moment when a crisis has approached the escort target person, she would take out the gun by reflex, mark her objective and pull the trigger.

It goes without saying that she would have a hard time since she never shot a gun up to now, but with a training of near 3 hours every day for a week, she has reached the point where she can hit a target with the bullets.

Of course, in the end this is a tranquilizer gun, it doesn't have killing ability, but it was mentioned that it also has the function to neutralize an E-Barrier of an opposing Slayer and it's also possible to destroy the energy balance of the body.

… but, it's no more than a hasty preparation after all.

Naturally, deployment of Hundred is also permitted in case of emergency.

In the end, the N Tranquilizer is an insurance, but the escort target person is a worldwide famous Idol.

In case of something, she must keep everything in order.

– One more thing, this is a Probe Sonar.

What was presented next is a small radio-like device.

– I think you heard it but, aside from the hotel room, and if there is a request from the client, this is used to investigate whether eavesdropping devices, cameras, etc. are set up. We, the bodyguards, do not know where our enemies are and who they are targeting. Never lose your focus.

– Of course.

With a firm answer, and putting the sonar in the pocket, the PDA in another pocket sounded with a ringtone.

– Who is it…?

Haname took out the PDA and checked the screen.

It's a mail from Kaoru.

『Please get me a sign of Kaoru-san. During this morning, I told Nee-san's fortune for today and Caution with Water came out, so please be careful.

Kaoru 』

(Don't arbitrarily tell people's fortune…)

And, without thinking, Haname complained in her mind.

(Moreover, caution with water you say…)

Is he going to end up drowning or something?

Although she didn't understand a little about it, the fortune-telling of Kaoru was really off the mark, so Haname tried to not worry too much and put the PDA back in her pocket.

After a while, a man in the air traffic control room came there and told them that Kirishima Satoru will arrive in about 5 minutes.

She followed the instruction and came out to the deck with Lloyd.

When going out of the roof that covers Little Garden, the aroma of sea water became strong as a matter of course, and she could hear *Zaza*… *Zaza*… the roar of the waves and she could hear the chirping of the sea birds flying in the sky.

The rotating sound of propellers mixed in there.

When she looked at the sky, she could clearly grasp the figure of a helicopter with her very eyes. Hovering over the heads of Haname and Lloyd, the helicopter descended slowly on the deck――and the landing was completed.

The rotation of the propellers and the engine stopped, the hatch was opened.

Using the ramp as a foothold, a boy came down while his feet were doing *Tap* *Tap* sounds.

While taking off the black hood on his head, he saw the sky and muttered while blocking the sun with his right hand.

– So, this is Little Garden.

This boy is the subject of protection of Kisaragi Haname――the worldwide popular Idol, native of the Yamato Empire, lead singer of Tokyo Hotel, Oriental Wizard Kirishima Satoru.

Big and round eyes, a tank top with black colors leaving his shoulders visible, and blue pants revealing bulky and toned thighs. His long hair is black with some pink at the end of the front side, and his arms had tattoo patterns of Sakura flowers.

Besides that, his features are punk-like and at the same time, he looks just like Bill Kaulitz from (the REAL) Tokio Hotel.

On the other hand, there's a man in a suit, he was wearing smart and thin glasses and was coming down the ramp behind Satoru with a calm appearance.

Haname had already heard from Clark about that person that had a large suitcase in his hands, she knew him because of the picture that was shown to her. He's Soffiane Clearrail, the president of Satoru Management, the company that produces Tokyo Hotel and concurrently holds as his manager, as a matter of course.

– Nice to meet you, Kirishima Satoru-sama. Welcome to Academy City Ship Little Garden.

Approaching Satoru who descended from the ramp, Lloyd presented his right hand.

– Nice to meet you, you are?

Shaking hands, Satoru asked.

– I am the Vice-president of Little Garden, Lloyd Steinberg.

– …Vice-president, you say?

– In terms of an ordinary ship, please think of me as the Vice-captain. We Little Garden look forward to working with you.

– I'm indebted to you, so it is I who should say such words. And, this person is――

The line of sight of Satoru is directed to Haname.

– You are Kisaragi Haname, right? From today onwards, you are my bodyguard, I'll be under your care.

Satoru who came in front of her gave a smile and presented his right hand.

– Umm, well… nice to meet you.

She grasped tightly his hand, and like his body, it was very small.

– Then Kisaragi-san. Would you please show me Little Garden?

– … eh, me?

– You are my guardian from today, isn't it? Aren't you obliged to escort me?

– Umm….

Haname is suddenly bewildered…

It's been over a month after coming to Little Garden――it's not like she knows very well this ship to the point where she can guide people from outside.

Turning her eyes towards Lloyd to seek help, he cut into the conversation because she was in panic.

– That will have to wait, Satoru-sama. From here to Central there is a short distance and since the schedule waits for us, we have prepared a car. I will immediately call it, so wait a brief moment please.

Saying that, Lloyd contacted them with the PDA, and the hired car came right away.

It's the same car that Haname used to get here from the dormitory and the driver is the same.

she guessed that she was waiting for them nearby.

– Please, get in.

Lloyd opened the rear door of the hired car.

– Satoru asked an unreasonable thing this time, I am sorry for troubling you.

Saying that, Soffiane Clearrail who put on the suitcase in the trunk first, got into the back seat.

– It was nothing unreasonable or anything of the sort. Little Garden is not a private facility except for some areas, and I think that it is good to let the VIP to view our activities as well so――

– Your words are of truly great help. Satoru, get in.

– Yes, as you say.

Replying, Satoru got into the car.

Next, Haname also got into the hired car.

Although there is only one row of seats, the width of the car is wide, there is nothing like the shoulders of the three people touching each other.

Finally, when Lloyd got into the front passenger's seat, the car started to move gently.

Satoru was looking at the scenery of Little Garden while singing a song which he was humming from the beginning, and after a short time, he asked Haname.

– Kisaragi-san, have you heard my songs?

– Well, how to say it, to be honest I'm not that into music…

She was told by Kaoru that she should listen to music if it's true that she is going to be his bodyguard, but since she was very occupied training as a bodyguard, she couldn't listen to music at all.

– That means, you never heard them before. That's too bad…

Satoru turned his eyes to the outside through the window again, and pouted his lips like saying Oh man, so disappointing.

(Hmm, I guess that sudden impression was bad…)

In this case, as she was told by Kaoru, she should have listened to his songs properly, but now she regretted it.

Around 5 minutes after leaving the airport, the car arrived at Central.

– To say that it's the busiest district in Little Garden, when there aren't a lot of pedestrians out there.

As he got out the car, Satoru muttered.

– It is still early in the morning and the stores have just opened, and the majority of the residents of Little Garden are heading towards the Zwei Islands today.

Lloyd explained briefly.

According to him, the road from the side of Little Garden to the Zwei Islands is already open, but he has heard that the opposite road isn't ready yet.

They are anticipating that it will be crowded with tourists that will come from the Zwei Islands side in a few more hours.

– If they realized that Satoru-sama came for sightseeing when there were lots of people, that would turn into a big fuss so, this much was just right.

Then Haname and the others began to walk through the main street of Central, it's connected like a track-and-field track, it has an elliptical shape.

– Since it's called the Mega-float of Warslan Company which is pushing its way in leading edge technology, I imagined it more like a futuristic city, but it's like a commercial district that can be found in any country.

Satoru mutters a little disappointed.

– It is common for us to be told something like that.

Answering, Lloyd continued.

– It is possible to have a city that makes use of high technology, but to not bewilder the new residents and students that came to this ship, we aimed for a calm and relaxing city where everyone had immediate familiarity with it, that's why it looks like this.

In other words, it seems that this is the result of having studied and used as a reference a great number of cities.

– Of course, food, entertainment, etc. from various countries were gathered.

About what he said, certainly it does feel like that.

Although she came to Central a few times and she still wasn't familiar with the place, she didn't feel out of place as if she came to a foreign country.

She felt that she would get tired of being in a city that makes free use of technology, so this much may be good.

After a while, Satoru raised his voice, 「Ah」 and turned his eyes to a certain point.

– My promotional video is being played there.

Music devices and tablet terminals are being sold there, and in the publicity at the storefront of the multimedia shop, on the advertisement monitors, a punk appearance of Kirishima Satoru that looked just like a rockstar that comes out on stage was being displayed.

Four-beat drum pop-rock music that sink deep till the bottom of the body. It was cool and heavy, and the melody of up-tempo that was sending out was surging forward to the body similar to a wave――still, Haname was overwhelmed by the powerful singing voice that she couldn't imagine would come out of that little body.

– This is my song, how is it?

Haname, who finally regained himself with those words, realized Satoru's appearance who was looking up to her with hopeful eyes.

– Somehow, it's amazing…

Those are the only words that came out. Anyway, that video also used the latest CG technology, she couldn't take her eyes from it.

However, Satoru seemed to be satisfied with Haname's answer, and while showing a smile looking very happy,

– Thank you. Yeah, amazing, *giggle*…

At any rate, Haname thinks that he seemed to be in a good mood so all was fine.

In this condition, she's going to be able to fulfill her duties perfectly.

They advanced a little further and could see the hired car.

Haname and the others got in the car.

They went around the main street.

– Satoru, are you satisfied with Central already? If you don't move to the hotel soon, you won't have time later.

– Yes, it's enough. As I was in the airplane yesterday, and since I got in it I couldn't take a bath, and I have to change my clothes…

– Actually, I hate to tell you this but, you don't have much time until the next schedule. You have time for changing clothes, but the time to take a bath is――

– I wonder about it. The next schedule is about listening to the conversation with the governor before noon but…

Satoru frowned the inner corner of his eyebrows looking a little displeased.

– The time of the meeting and luncheon meeting with the governor of the Zwei Island hasn't changed, I would like to have a meeting with the President who planned to meet us at the airport before that…

According to Lloyd, Clark is at the Governor General Office and is waiting for the arrival of Satoru and the others to greet them and discuss in advance the security system of the live.

– I am sorry, I thought that both of you were comfortable, I did something impertinent.

Lloyd apologized, he felt regretful and bowed his head.

– That being the case it can't be helped. Have some patience and just change clothes.

– But, if it's to talk about greetings and security, I think Soffiane alone is enough. I'll go in time to meet with the Governor General before the time of the luncheon meeting, so shouldn't I leave it to you until then, or it's impossible?

– I don't mind but…. Lloyd-san, is that okay with you?

– Yes, if Soffiane-san alone can come, there is no problem. The greeting with our President will be managed again afterwards.

– Hooray

Saying that in a small voice, the happy Satoru took Haname's hand.

– Okay then, Kisaragi-san. Let's go to the hotel, just the two of us.

Although they had 2 destinations, the four people decided to ride the hired car.

The hotel that Kirishima Satoru is lodging is located at the west side where Little Garden is docking, while the members of the Student Council are waiting in the Governor General Office at the east side of the island, Eastland.

They are on their way to the hotel.

Haname and the rest crossed the checkpoint as they were in the car and in about 10 minutes they reached the hotel in the tremendous commercial district.

Satoru got out from the hired car following Haname who got out first from it and verified the surroundings. Lloyd and Soffiane remained inside.

– Another car should arrive in about 20 minutes. Please come to the Governor General Office as soon as preparations are completed.

– Understood.

Haname took Satoru's suitcase out of the hired car's trunk. It was Soffiane who told her to bring it to the room.

– Well then, I'll leave it to you.

When Lloyd closed the window, the hired car immediately started to move and disappeared from the front of Haname and Satoru.

There, a pair of men appeared, one of them is an old man who had white hair and a white beard and wore a dark blue suit, the other is a young man who also wears the same dark blue suit.

– Welcome back, Kirishima Satoru-sama. Following your last visit, thank you very much for using our hotel again.

It was the old man who greeted them lowering her head.

Looking at the name plate attached to his chest, he seems to be the manager of this hotel.

– Thank you for your courtesy. However, I don't have much time so I'd be happy if you guide me the room at once.

When Satoru said so, the other young man replied.

– Yes, that is what Soffiane-sama told us. I will copy the key data to the PDA at the lobby counter at once, so please come this way.

– Yes, I understand.

Satoru moved to the lobby counter with an experienced look, took out the PDA from his pocket and presented it to the young man.

There, Haname heard that not only for entering the room but also for the elevator to the suite room on the top floor where Satoru is lodging the key data is necessary.

Unless you touch the sensor in the elevator with it, it seems that it won't stop at the floor where the VIP room is, so Haname also decided to have a copy of the key data in the PDA.

– Well then, this way please.

The elevator which the young man led and got on, arrived at the top floor in a matter of seconds.

– Well then, I am sorry for my impoliteness… and, my late introduction. My name is Roy Martin. I have to return to the lobby, if there is something you need, please let us know.

Leaving behind Roy who left his words with them, the door of the elevator closed.

Turning around, they were 5 steps away from the door.

– Shall we enter?

When Satoru held over the PDA to the sensor to the side of the door, the lock was released.

– …

– …

Satoru didn't move, he was standing in front of the room.

– Why don't you enter?

– Kisaragi-san, you are my bodyguard, aren't you? I think that there's something that you have to do…

Showered with cold words out of the blue, Haname suddenly realized.

– Right, I have to enter the room first and check if it's safe.

Satoru continued as if he was exasperated towards Haname who said so.

Somehow, he feels that she changed her behavior a bit up to now.

– … are you really Kisaragi Haname, the genius Slayer who saved us and the Zwei Islands from the Savage?

He looked at her with suspicious eyes, as if he was staring with scornful eyes at her.

– Umm, regardless of whether I'm a genius or not, I'm sure that I'm Kisaragi Haname… it's just that I'm not used to this kind of work so… I'm sorry.

Haname put a hand on the door knob.

She doesn't know a thing about being a bodyguard. The work contents and knowledge were taught from lecturers dispatched from Warslan's HQ before last week, but because she was overwhelmed by this luxurious hotel and its treatment, she lost her focus.

(I can't get myself together properly)

Saying that to herself, Haname handled the door knob.

– Then if you excuse me, Boc-chan.

Being formal, Haname said that.

Satoru has his eyes half-closed, he was showing an uninterested expression.

– Drop that.

– …eh?

– It's fine if you call me Satoru. So, I guess it's fine if I call you Haname too?

– Is… is that so? That's comfortable to me too. If you say that you are okay with it, then I'll do so…

When Haname said so, Satoru made a big sigh.

– … I'm amazed. I told you it's fine to call me by my name but, since I'm the client, you suddenly said you to me, isn't it? I thought that like that, we could get closer to each other.

His way of speaking had small thorns in it.

– Ah… my bad…, no, I am sorry. And, I beg your pardon, I guess?

Because she was told to act in a comfortable way, in the end, she acted as she always does. She thinks that it's a bad habit of her.

– Haname is a bit clumsy, isn't it? I think that's a little cute, if I say so.

– Cute you say――

She was embarrassed just because she never thought that an Idol would say such a thing to her.

– Anyway, when we are alone, just call me Satoru. But, when we are with other people, address me properly. Are we clear?

– Understood.

– Then please say my name.

– Eh?

– Why aren't you saying my name?

– Umm, Satoru…

– Well then, Haname. Please do your work .

Satoru said with happiness.

Haname opened the door and stepped into a luxurious and spacious room.

As the role of the guardian, she checks all the rooms in case someone is hiding or if there's anything suspicious――of course, even in the bath of the toilet.

Of course, with the small sonar that was passed with the gun, she also investigated whether hidden cameras, listening devices and so on weren't installed.

– Nothing out of the ordinary. It seems it's okay.

Returning to the entrance, she reported to Satoru.

– Thanks.

Saying so, Satoru pushed Haname aside and stepped inside the room.

When Haname closed the door, it automatically sounded with a clink, it was locked.

The door, as a matter of course, is self-locking.

– Now, finally….

Satoru, who first entered the shoe room, looked backwards, and smiled with a puff.

– We are finally alone, Kisaragi Haname!

Because of the difference, he was having a looking down on people appearance, and his attitude until now was of a gentleman, but he feels like a King-sama now.

( Err, umm… what, what is this situation?)

Haname was puzzled with the sudden change, so Satoru opened his mouth.

– The truth is, I was interested in you when I watched the video of the previous resistance. You are this girl, right?

While showing a complacent smile, Satoru pushed out the PDA that he took out of his pocket.

Like he said, the figure of an armed Haname was there.

– What is, this…?

To the surprised Haname, Satoru continued.

– It was removed from the Cybernet. Looking at this, I got interested in you. And I asked Soffiane to do a lot of investigations.

As a result, Satoru got to know that the armed man displayed in the video was Kisaragi Haname.

– Knowing that Little Garden would visit the Zwei Islands, I decided beforehand to hold a charity live concert. And of course, to nominate you, Kisaragi Haname, as my personal guard.

Satoru put the PDA in his pocket and smiled in mischief, and this time he holds down Haname's cheeks with both hands.

– What do you think of me, Haname? Do you think am I hot?

– Well, that's…

He's hot, right?

Certainly, when looking at him, it's a fact that you surely can't deny it.

– Then, why don't you go out with me? I'd like to go out with you with the premise of marriage.

– Huh…?

What is this boy saying out of nowhere?

– Thinking about our age… besides, neither I nor Satoru are old enough to get married.

– That's something of the past, with our ages it's legal to get married in the current Yamato, and due to the global population decrease phenomenon caused by the raids of the Savage, it's recommended in every country, for the future of mankind, to have a lot of children with an early marriage. Besides, even more if those are children of Slayers.

She was surprised by the suddenly outrageous remark, but it's just as the boy said.

It's frequent for a child of a Slayer to inherit their characteristics. At the same time they are born, they receive an aptitude examination test as a Slayer, if they have the attributes, the countries covers almost all the raising costs.

– The worldwide popular divo――Oriental Wizard Kirishima Satoru and the young superior Slayer Kisaragi Haname who showed the highest reaction value of all time of Little Garden――I think that it can be interpreted that we are a good match.

– Well, about that I――

– Don't be humble. You are very attractive.

– Being told, something like that…

What should I do, in this situation?

She never thought of having such a situation just after the two of them got alone in the hotel room.

– Haname isn't happy because she got near me? Or maybe, you have a lover?

– Eh…

At the same time he said that, the face of Elliot passed through Haname's mind.

– …you have one?

His tone is heavy and strong.

He's glaring at him with sharp eyes.

– No, it's not like that, it's just that I don't know much about Satoru, and I think that it would be weird going out like this. There's an order in this kind of things.

– What? That's boring. The fun is always in the sudden.

Saying that, Satoru pouted his lips.

(Hmm, what's the deal with him…?)

First of all, what's this fun that the boy in front of her eyes know about?

At any rate, even Haname herself doesn't know that well yet.

And suddenly, she came up with something.

(Should I try it for a bit?)

Haname resolved herself and approached Satoru, pushing his body against the wall, she stared at his eyes and said.

– Are you really okay with me?

She tried to say it a little cooler.

She's absolutely inexperienced regarding how to deal with men, so she tried to escape from this situation by deliberately pushing it.

– Ye, yes…. I said so, isn't it?

Satoru replied, he was in a puzzled state, surprised that suddenly Haname became proactive.

So far, it's as calculated.

– Then, can I kiss you?

Holding with her hand the cheek of Satoru, Haname brought her face closer.

– Wai-, wait a moment, that sort of thing, I still need to prepare my heart…!

Satoru panicked.

That reaction is what Haname wanted….

– It-, it seems that I don't have much time, so this is as far as your teasing can go. I'm going to take a bath!

She felt relieved, seeing Satoru who said so and started running towards the bathroom.

(Anyway, he's a childish person, huh)

For some reason or other, she thought so.

(But, his live songs and gestures are very mature…)

She recalled his gestures and his charming singing voice in the promotional video she watched in Little Garden.

And Kaoru said that 「The songs and lyrics are composed by Kirishima Satoru-san」, she remembered that they were quite adult-like song lyrics.

(Hmm, I really don't understand boys…)

In any case, she's glad that she could get through the situation.

Haname moved to the living room, and sat on a soft sofa that was placed there.

The thing that she's thinking about is the video showed by Satoru earlier.

(Does Ellie know about that video?)

Not only herself, but Ellie was also displayed, though it was for a brief moment.

Although they don't know that he's a man, she's a little worried, so when she returns to the dorm, she's going to ask Ellie about it.

– Hmm…?

Suddenly, a song of Satoru came over there.

As echoes are applied, then the voice echoed, he's probably singing in the bathroom.

(As expected of a professional singer…)

His singing voice was somewhat comfortable, as it turns out that Haname doesn't understand about music, but she found it very fascinating.

Somehow, when listening to that singing voice, she felt that her mind calmed down.

She kept her back on the sofa, continuing to listen to the song, but then the singing voice of Satoru suddenly stopped.

(Something happened?)

As she was wondering that, this time she heard a voice from the bathroom instead of a song.

– Haname, can you bring me the PDA? I hit upon a good melody and phrase, so I want to record them. It should be on the shelf in front of the entrance door, probably.

– Got it, I'll check it.

The impression just now is that, he doesn't seem to be flustered as he was a little while ago.

Haname first moved to the entrance and decided to check on the side shelf.

Certainly, the PDA of Satoru was placed there, then she took it and head to the washroom that is connected with the bathroom.

(Ah, err…)

At the same time she opened the door, Haname smiled bitterly.

What is spread in front of her is a wide washbasin where three people are able to brush their teeth at the same time. Of course, the washroom itself is quite large, but that's not the reason of her bitter smile.

She already saw this place when she checked the room, so it wasn't a surprise for her. The cause is that the clothes he took off are scattered all over the floor.

(Good grief, even though there are a lot of shelves…)

Haname grabbed his clothes while sighing…

(This is typical of a child…)

When Haname was at the institution, she recalled that she had to tidy up the clothes that the children took off and scattered like this.

(Hmm…?)

At the moment she tried to put the clothes she picked up on the shelf all at once, something like a piece of cloth fell to the floor.

Those were, briefs….

At that moment, recalling the interaction with Satoru when she approached her face, now her face has suddenly become bright and hot.

(Wha, why am I getting flustered…?)

By the way, the underwear is also childish.

At any rate, the design of a bear is printed on it.

So, don't think anything unnecessary.

There's no need to make your heart throb like crazy.

And, she picked it up while telling herself that, and the door of the bathroom opened a little.

– Hey, not yet? Bring it quickly――wha…

The face that came in sight dyed red in an instant.

– Tha-, that…!

Satoru points out, of course, to the panties in Haname's hands.

– Wh-, why… my, br-, briefs are…

– That, si-, since Satoru took off the clothes and were scattered, I tidied them up so…

– Don't worry about that and hand it over fast! And get out of here!

That wasn't the briefs, of course, but the PDA that Haname had in her hand.

With that in mind, Haname presented the PDA at once.

Satoru stretched his hand and tried to grab it, but at that moment he lost the balance of his body.

His feet slid on the floor of the wet bathroom.

– Kyaa!?

Extending his hand, Satoru screamed in panic, but his body was already about to fall to the back.

In this state, he was unable to grab it with his arm to support his body.

*DON*, the floor made a violent sound.

– Are you okay!?

Haname opened the door of the bath with a high speed.

What is in front of her eyes is Satoru's figure, who has his buttocks on the floor of the bathroom, and his crotch opened like the M letter….

Not to mention the pecs of his chest, he wasn't hiding the important place of every man.

– Ouch, it hurts…

Muttering that, Haname's eyes were pinned to the body of Satoru, who has tears in his eyes.

(She has more pecs than what I thought… and that chick toy, why is that…?)

Haname's heartbeats accelerated more than what she thought, well, it was a pretty masculine body.

– Er-, err… this…

– …!

They finally recognized this situation clearly.

Satoru had his whole face dyed in pink and jumped to his feet in panic, then he sat down and basked on the floor.

He was pulling in his eyebrows; his body was shaking.

– Umm, this…

Haname decided to hand out the PDA for the time being.

Satoru grabbed it quickly,

– Th-, thanks! Also, the bear is special, okay!? It's not that I like it or something!

Hurried, he stood up and closed the door of the bathroom with a *Slam*.

(Haa, he completely hates me now…)

Sitting on the sofa in the living room again, Haname sighed profoundly.

To be honest, she was feeling down.

It was because she ended up thinking What should I do if I'm removed from my duty as the bodyguard because of now?

That would mean she has failed her first duty since she joined Selections….

(If I apologize, will he forgive me?)

However, she doesn't know to what she must apologize for.

Was it because she was trying to tidy up his briefs, or was it because she saw his naked…?

She isn't hearing the humming from the bathroom anymore.

Even though she brought his precious PDA to him, it seems that all that was in vain.

Without coming up with something, only time passed.

Before long, the sound of the hair dryer was heard from the washroom.

After a while, Satoru who finished changing clothes came to the living room.

Unlike a while ago, Satoru was wearing a white-collared t-shirt and brown cackies.

So far, he was a punk-dressed rockstar, but he seems more like a pure gentleman of a good family now.

Except the place where he is holding a big stuffed bear in his hands.

Surely it was in that big suitcase.

After putting it on the sofa to take care of it, Satoru turned around in front of Haname.

– Say, Haname…. How about these clothes?

He lifted the hem of the shirt and took a pose.

– Eh, well that's… I think you are hot. Wasn't suiting Satoru the one with which you came until here?

– What are you saying?

– Umm, until we came here, it had the perfect image of Kirishima Satoru who was feigning innocence, or something like that…

– …that answer has 50 points. No, 40 points.

– 40 points, huh…

It was a failing mark.

She's not good at all in this kind of things.

– Only the part where you told me that I'm cute is the one giving points. And also, there's the thing about the bath.

– Eh, ah… well. I'm really sorry…

– That answer has 15 points.

– … then how do I get a passing score?

– If you are a woman, think it by yourself.

– I'm not good in that sort of things.

– … forget it. It's almost time, so let's move.

He smiled happily and walked towards the entrance.

Anyway, she was relieved that he wasn't so upset.

If that's the case, it is unlikely for her to be fired.

When she came down to the lobby with the readied Satoru, Roy approached them and told them that the summoned car was arriving.

He led the way through the rotary front door of the hotel.

Haname and Satoru get in the rear seat of the hired car that stopped there.

Away from the central part of the city where the hotel was located, and crossing the bridge that connects the Westland and Eastland, the after-effects of the raid of the Savage came into view, buildings were destroyed, the road was covered in sediments and so on.

Nonetheless, not all the districts were destroyed. It seems that the Old Town where the Government General Office is, was one of the few fortunate to be safe.

Judging from the appearance of the magnificent building made of stone that came out among them, Haname and Satoru were next to the building of the Governor General Office, they arrived at the Governor General's official residence.

– We were waiting for you, Satoru-sama.

When they got out the hired car, a man in a suit with two men in military uniform got closer and thanked Satoru deeply.

Hearing her self-introduction, she seemed to be a high official of the Zwei Islands.

– The Governor General is waiting here.

They were guided by that man to a luxurious drawing room that was inside of the official residence.

There, a man who wore traditional costumes handed down by the old inhabitants of the island and Soffiane Clearrail were engaged in a conversation.

– Oh! Thank you for visiting the Zwei Islands once again, Satoru-dono.

He probably noticed that Haname and Satoru came to the room.

The Governor, who ended the conversation with Soffiane, approached Satoru and thanked him politely while stretching his hands.

– Greetings, my name is Kareniki Karaniopu, my duty, the one in which I am in charge of governing Zwei Islands as the Governor General, was given by the François Government. Thank you very much for giving me a lot of donations through the François Government, and I am truly grateful that you can make a sympathy concert.

Taking the hand of Satoru, they did a strong handshake, and the Governor General lowered her head many times while their hands were going up and down.

On the other hand, Satoru was different from himself when they were just the two of them, he was dealing with her as if he was a Bocchan.

(He really looks like a different person…)

As she thought so, the eyes of the Governor General were directed at Haname.

– Oh, you really are…

– I… no, I am Kisaragi Haname, a member of the special unit of Little Garden――Selections, and the bodyguard of Satoru-sama while he is staying in the Zwei Islands.

– Wow, you are the rumored Kisaragi Haname-dono!

After Satoru, the Governor General grasped her hand.

– I heard from the captain-dono with whom I met earlier, that you were an active role in the previous resistance. Thank you, thank you very much.

– Eh, no… yes.

She felt somewhat embarrassed when she received a direct gratitude like this.

But, she was glad.

Then Haname and Satoru moved to the reception hall and decided to have lunch with the Governor General. She headed there being told that a small lunch meeting was prepared, but honestly, it was more than she imagined.

The reception hall is like a party hall, there are several tables, and there are many people sitting there, regardless of their gender.

It looked like an all-you-can-eat buffet style, with hors d'oeuvre lined side by side along the walls, with many chefs standing there.

There seem to be various kinds of drinks.

Nonetheless, even when the lunch meeting began, neither Satoru nor Haname could set their hands on the cookery.

High officials of the Zwei Islands and influential people, even families came to greet Satoru one by one, so they were very busy occupied with those interactions.

Naturally, Haname was closely standing next to Satoru to protect him.

Satoru was riding a helicopter overnight last night, he hasn't had a decent meal for a long time.

With that much, he was getting tired and was becoming very hungry.

Still, without doing an unpleasant face, Satoru accepted the signs and greetings.

As expected of a professional, he was really amazing, Haname was impressed, looking at his figure.

Ultimately, it was after near an hour since the lunch meeting began that Satoru could relax and sit on a chair….

– That was arduous… are you tired?

Haname picked up the cookery and put it on the table where Satoru is sitting.

She feels somewhat like a maid.

She's able to do something like this because there were many SP and police officials of the Zwei Islands inside the meeting place, so she found that it was safe in there.

That's why Hayato doesn't have to worry about that much.

– I'm fine, it's always like this.

Listening to those words, she realized again that he's a professional.

And she's aware that there's still some way to go before being a skillful Slayer….

(I must work harder…)

She thought so, and noticed that there was no drink in front of Satoru.

– Would you like something to drink?

– Water is fine. But not a carbonated water though.

– Got it.

Haname said to herself: For the time being, I have to do what I can do now.

– Thanks for your hard work, Satoru-sama. Have you planned something to do after this?

Briefly after Haname and Satoru finished eating and the lunch meeting was about to end, the Governor General approached Satoru.

– There shouldn't be anything in particular…. Right, Soffiane?

– Yes, there is nothing for now. I have a certain preparatory meeting with the support members of the live concert at night, but Satoru will be unoccupied from his work until the rehearsal tomorrow evening. The meeting with the President-san of Little Garden may be set tomorrow at any time.

– Then, shall I show you the tourist spots of Zwei Islands with Soffiane-san until the evening of Today?

– Well, I guess…. But, I have been to most of those places already…

Satoru seems to not be very enthusiastic.

– Oh right. Leaving that aside, I wonder if you can show me the live concert venue? I might want to see early what is going on there.

– I understand. Of course, there is no problem.

The Governor General immediately accepted Satoru's proposal, and ordered the man who was nearby.

– Prepare the car and guide Satoru-sama to the venue. At once.

Haname, Satoru and Soffiane, those three people parted with the Governor General and the others and as it was arranged they moved to the live concert venue.

It seems that the distance is around 15 minutes by car.

(Surely this place…)

Haname, after advancing for 10 minutes, noticed that the scenery when looking outside the window was the same when she fought against the Trenta Savage during the previous resistance.

Although they have cleaned up the debris of the buildings that collapsed by the raid of the Savage and cleared the streets, it's definitely that place.

After a short time, the hired car stopped. It looks like they have arrived at the live concert venue. Haname got out the car and looked around.

What stood out were the many people who are desperately in the middle of setting up the stage, and speaking of other things, there are several prefabricated ones, and electric poles and electric wires for supplying electricity are there.

– It appears that it's almost completed.

Soffiane said that the set of stages, although outdoors, are as close as possible to the state of the original stadium, thanks to the cooperation of the staff from the event company, dispatched by him.

From tomorrow, under the direction of Soffiane and Satoru, the setting of detailed lightning, stage equipment, sound, etc. will be done.

– At any rate, it's a good venue. A lot of visitors are likely to come in, it will be such a good feeling, to fly around with all my heart.

(… fly around?)

Haname didn't understand the meaning of the words of Satoru who whispered while looking at the wide vast plain.

– There's a considerable distance to the back, however only on the scale of 100.000 people, I wonder if that's enough? It seems the audience space goes until it hits the cord that is drawn towards the back and if you look closely at it, you can slightly see the cord.

– Probably, I think I can go but…

– What on earth are you talking about?

Haname threw the question because she didn't understand the meaning of their conversation.

– Come to think of it, Haname doesn't know about my life style, right?

She already answered that she doesn't know his songs so she was thinking that it wasn't necessary to hide that now.

That's why Haname nodded.

– Then I'll show you something good. Soffiane, do you know if my clothes have already arrived at the dressing room?

– Yes…. Wait, don't tell me that you have the intention to try them on?

– Yes, I trust in this person. I want to go and try them as fast as possible… or it's impossible?

– … saying such a thing, when you just really want to show Kisaragi-san your stage outfit, isn't it?

Soffiane said sort of amazed, and Satoru laughed *tee-hee" to mislead him.

– Well, maybe. I truly think that it's a good opportunity to try them now, so let's go to the dressing room.

– Everything is fine inside of it.

Haname who moved to the dressing room with Satoru entered first to the room and confirmed that it was safe.

Unlike at the time of the hotel, she was satisfied that she could do her work properly this time before she was told to do it.

– Well then, Haname you wait here.

Saying that, Satoru went into the dressing room with Soffiane.

– Eh…?

About half an hour passed and when she saw Satoru coming out of the dressing room, Haname had her eyes rounded in surprise.

– Thank you for wai…wait, what is with that face?

– I was thinking about the costume, I was wondering if you would wear the same one that I watched at Central.

Even so, Satoru was wearing something like tights that covered his whole body.

After all, when looking with detail at him, he looked very young and his chest is also… she remembered the figure of his, when he was completely naked in the hotel bathroom, such a thing was on her mind.

– …maybe Haname noticed it?

– No, I wasn't looking at your chest!

– …chest you say, what are you saying…?

– Eh, it wasn't that?

– I knew it, Haname is stupid.

Satoru muttered, exasperated.

– For the time being, let's go to the stage.

Following Satoru who started walking and doing big sighs and Soffiane who was going with him, they reached the wing of the stage.

– Haname, look carefully. I'll show you that this stage is my battlefield.

Satoru started running to the center of the stage with a trot, there he raised his fist high in the sky.

What's inside of it is a reddish-brown ore….

– That's a…

No matter how you see it, it looked like a Hundred.

――maybe Haname noticed it?

She was thinking over the words of Satoru earlier and understood what he was trying to say.

(I see, those clothes look exactly like a Variable Suit…)

Satoru grasped the ore with five fingers, breathed in and out and shouted.

– Divo, descend HUNDRED ON!

Shouting, the ore shines in emerald green and wrapped up his body.

Then the shape of the outfit changed instantly to what it looks like a costume of a small fairy elf living in a forest, those who appear in fairy tales, the same as the promotional video she saw at the center.

On his back are four pinned feathers as well.

– Haname, this is my Hundred――Spinning Tale of a Fairy Fairy Fairy Tale.

With that said, Satoru kicked up the stage and flew to the sky.

– Awesome…

She couldn't see strings or anything of the sort, and of course it couldn't be CG.

He is genuinely flying in the sky using sense energy.

From the four feathers on the back, the appearance of the gorgeous emerald green appears, but like the vapor trail, it draws a beautiful trace in the sky.

(To think, he was indeed a Slayer…)

Dumbfounded, Haname was chasing the figure of Satoru with her eyes.

– It seems that you are quite surprised.

In response to the voice raised on the back of her body, Haname looked back.

– … Charlie-san, why are you here?

– Hi! It's the first time that I meet you without Ellie.

He's the Main Technologist of Little Garden, Charlie Dimandias, and he is with Man Man, his assistant that looked like a crossdressing cat ears maid.

– It's been a long time Haname-sama,

– Ye, yeah… it's been a while.

Haname returned the greeting, although she faltered to the tension of the tall Man Man as usual.

– … then, to answer your question. The reason why I came here is to see the stage where the Variable Stone is being used. If so, then I can say that you came together with them.

Charlie, who was looking at Satoru, continued talking to Soffiane.

– It's been a while, Soffiane Clearrail. He's been growing safely since that time, so I'm very happy for that.

– Charlie Dimandias. You came, huh.

Soffiane noticed the existence of Charlie as he was getting closer to where Haname and his were.

– What kind of relationship have the two of you?

– He's an old colleague. And, a benefactor.

It was Soffiane who answered.

– Satoru was involved in an incident a few years ago and wandered around the boundaries of life and death, it was Charlie who helped me at that time.

– He got that ability power at the time of such incident.

– That means, he's just like me――

A Variant.

That word crossed her mind.

– Almost close, but strictly speaking he's not. Unlike you, he can't create things like weapons. In that sense he's close to Ellie, but different. A sort of a different Slayer.

– What you mean is, that he can fly in the air as a Slayer?

It was surprising for Haname, more than anything else.

– It's a pretty difficult skill. After all, he can only fly within the barrier of the space that were made by himself.

– …barrier, is it?

– His Hundred type is a Spatial Controller type――so to speak, a Field type.

According to Charlie, Satoru, when he deploys his armament, forms a barrier with a certain space as his own area, and operating the Variable Stone within the range, he can generate virtual images with sense energy, in effect, he's like an Illusion user Illusionist.

– One of those powers is the ability to fly. He's floating by manipulating the atmosphere inside the barrier with sense energy.

– Because he has such ability, then that's the reason he's a Singer Idol?

– That's not it. Satoru loved songs from the start.

Soffiane denied the muttering of Haname.

– Satoru lost his beloved mother when he was a child due to an attack of the Savage. Therefore, he continued to sing songs with all his strength as much as he could, in order to give some momentary enjoyment in this painful living world and to heal the children who were hurt by the Savage's attacks just like him.

– That's how Kirishima Satoru――and Soffiane Clearrail fight for this world.

Following Soffiane, Charlie said.

Haname was shocked when she heard those words.

Because she thought that he was the same as her.

That's why she felt like she could understand Satoru a little.

– How was it, my way of flying? Under normal circumstances, the costume would change according to the song.

Satoru did a lap around the audience seats and came back to the stage, landing next to Haname. And then, he came near to her body by clinging to her, and asked her impression while looking up at her face.

– To be honest, it surprised me. Because I didn't know that Satoru was a Slayer. Moreover, it's an awesome power.

– Ehehe, if you say so. This stage is my battlefield.

Saying that, Satoru turned a marvelous smile to Haname.

– Thank you for today. With this, your work is over for today.

Soffiane told her that, as his PDA was copying the data of the room key in the lobby of the hotel.

After that, Haname and the others moved to the hotel, leaving behind the live venue with the hired car that was waiting for them.

– Eh, so soon?

It was natural for Haname to be surprised.

The time has barely passed 3 o'clock, it was too early for her work to end.

She thought that she was fired with that much.

– Perhaps I, did something wrong…?

– That's not it.

Soffiane unintentionally smiled, and continued.

– Since the live performance is done on Monday night, preparations and rehearsals are scheduled to be done tomorrow evening. Therefore, Satoru will be on standby until tomorrow afternoon. You can take a rest of your duty of bodyguard until then.

– … eh, is that true?

– Yes, the center of this city, and inside the hotel, many Slayers are protecting us, so we are safe while we don't get out from here. Besides, you are still a student, aren't you? Today it was arranged to summon you earlier than planned, so rest your body at ease from now. I will inform the President as well.

– Thank you very much.

At that time, it was the face of Ellie who seemed to be disappointed this morning that crossed Haname's mind. If so then tomorrow morning, as an apology for today, maybe she can go to Fisherman's Wharf together with him.

– Eh, but I have a place that I want to go with Haname tomorrow…

Satoru was discontent with the proposition of Soffiane.

Then, Soffiane's facial expression became grim.

– There are unfinished things yet, like the songs of the album scheduled to be released next month, isn't it?

– Ugh, don't tell me that you gave the rest of the day to Haname in order to make me work?

– Correct.

– Bu-, but only one song, then the half of the day…

– Impossible. We are one week behind the schedule now. The arranger is waiting for them, so finish them by noon tomorrow, are we clear?

– Fiine.

He replied, but with an unhappy tone of voice.

Anyway, Haname has finished with the task for today――and she got free time until tomorrow afternoon.

– See you tomorrow, Haname.

Such expression of Satoru was still in dissatisfaction, it was written on it that he would like to have fun until tomorrow's rehearsal.


– Oh right, once I finished my duty, I had to report it to the President…

When Haname descended to the lobby using the elevator, she took out the PDA from her pocket and when she was about to contact the President, Roy called him out.

– There is a message for you, Haname-sama.

– A message you say, from who?

– From Clark Harvey-sama, the President Student Council of Little Garden. To follow my lead and get in the waiting hired car.

– Oh, okay. I understand.

While Haname was wandering what exactly was, she was guided to the hired car and got in it.

According to the driver, they are going to the holiday house of the Harvey family placed near the harbor where Little Garden is docking.

After near 10 minutes, they reached that place.

– Uwaa, it's so big…

Haname muttered so, as she descended from the hired car.

Although it's small compared to the Governor General's official residence, it's a pretty big house. It's unmistakably bigger than the dorm where Haname lives.

– Err…

A big fence surrounds the garden and as she wondered what to do now, the door of the house opened and Christa came out. Unlike usual, he was wearing a shirt and skirt.

– We were waiting for you, Haname-sama.

– How did you know that I came?

The timing was too good, Haname asked spontaneously.

– Not so many cars stop around here, so I knew by the sound. And Soffiane-san has already contacted us that today's mission has ended so I judged that it was definitely Haname-sama.

While answering, Christa opened the fence in front of her.

– Please go inside. Clark-sama is waiting.

As Christa said, Clark was planning to listen to the task report from Haname after returning to the Student Council Room, but as it seems that free time was given sooner, it looks like it will have to be done in this holiday house.

She was guided to a spacious terrace on the second floor of the holiday house.

However, there's a pool of around 25 meters there.

It has three lanes, and Lloyd Steinberg, wearing white swimsuit trunks, was swimming in one of them.

(So this was the "business" of Lloyd-san?)

Perhaps, he's doing rehabilitation?

Speaking of other things, there are two umbrellas set up on the poolside.

A plastic deck chair is placed under each of them, and Clark is lying face down――Eris is also lying down on the other deck chair and was reading a book.

Clark's swimsuit is a red speedo, which was half-worn around his waist, and Eric wears dark blue swimsuit trunks.

– Clark-sama, Kisaragi Haname has arrived.

With that, they noticed the existence of Haname.

Clark turned his head towards Haname and lie sprawled as he was.

– Thanks for your hard work, Kisaragi Haname.

– Well then, I will prepare some drinks.

– Yes, please do it.

Receiving Clark's words, Christa returned to the residence.

– Well, Kisaragi Haname. It seems that your work finished quite earlier, but did your duty go well?

– More or less, but…

– That is a relief desuwa. I also got a message of gratitude from Soffiane-san.

– More than that, President, why are you in that appearance…?

– Why you say, you mean the swimsuit desuno?

– Yes.

– This is a holiday house. A place to relax. And if there is a pool in front of you, then it is natural to wear a swimsuit, don't you agree? Perhaps Kisaragi Haname is excited because of my swimsuit masuno?

– No, that's not the…

She answered that, but in fact, her heart was beating fast.

– Your innocence goes beyond my expectations, Kisaragi Haname. Isn't your face red masenwayo? If you like, I can show you my swimsuit properly and make it even more red, so should I?

– Please wait a moment, President!

Without thinking, Haname raised her voice.

Eric did the same.

– Clark-sama, don't do it! In this very moment I was spreading suntan lotion on――

Eric got up with enough momentum to drop the book he had in the poolside, raised his body and shouted to Clark who was trying to take a posture like a gravure model but it was too late.

The swimsuit that should hide the testicles fell down from the legs of Clark and a long, hard, thick stick met the eyes of Haname.

– … eh?

For an instant, he didn't know what happened, However, he seemed to have understood that the speedo fell on the floor.

– Kyaah!?

Clark hurriedly hid his crotch with both hands and crouched, screaming with tears floating in his eyes.

When she noticed it, Lloyd was standing up from the pool with a demon-like appearance.

– Hey, Kisaragi Haname, what are you staring at!?

Lloyd approached Haname with a quick pace and put a hand on her shoulder.

– Uwaah!?

– Wha!?

However, due to Haname who lost her footing, and was about to fall, Lloyd also lost the balance of his body.

They slipped――

Lloyd slipped forwards, his figure was as if he was looking up, and Haname also slipped looking up, but to her back.

Then, both of them tangled and fell to the poolside.

The front of Haname's eyes were in total darkness with that.

However, she had an idea about the soft warmth that she was feeling near her abdomen.

(This is, no way…)

She felt it when she pushed down the President during the battle, the feeling of the President's crotch.

It was almost the same as that time――no, this crotch has a little of tension… wait, this is not a situation to analyze it.

(For now, I can't move…)

She thought, and opened her eyes in panic――

– Uwaah!

What she saw was a white swimsuit that was driving between his dark brown buttocks. That means――

– Ua, aaa…

Following the voice of Lloyd that reached him weakly, the butt came closer to her face…

It's soft and it feels a little good, but she can't bear the agony.

– A, aagh…

– Ll-, Lloyd, what are you doing desu!?

– E-, even if you tell me, I don't know!

Lloyd seems to be confused, he didn't understand the situation well.

Jumping up as he was, he was trying to crush the face of Haname with his butt.

– Stand up at once, otherwise Kisaragi Haname will be in trouble!

– …fuee?

As it was told by Eric, he was finally aware of the situation.

– Hyaaaah!

While screaming, Lloyd stood up rapidly.

Clark's state was the same, he was crouching down and holding up his swimsuit…

It was the voice of Christa that reached the ears of Haname who was stretching as she was, lying down on the poolside.

– What did happen here, everyone?

Christa, who saw Haname and the others at the entrance of the terrace, naturally, she didn't understand the situation, and with glasses containing tropical drinks in her hand, she was showing a dumbfounded expression.


– …so, I called you here because there is something that I have to tell you that wasn't reported to you for the duties of today desu.

Clark, who cleared his throat with a cough, headed towards Haname and sat in front of her, he fixed his swimsuit and began to talk.

Athough Clark's face is still under a slight redness, his tone and expression are serious.

– Actually today, from the conversation I heard between Soffiane Clearrail-san, the president of the producer company of Kirishima Satoru and the Governor-General… and, before that, did you know about the Hundred being used for the live concert of Tokyo Hotel?

– Yes, that happened today, although Satoru showed me the armament deployed…

– … Satoru?

It probably weighed on his mind that Haname called his name as if they were close.

Clark's eyebrows moved with a twitch.

– Why are you addressing the name of the person to escort with such familiarity?

– No, Kirishima-san, told me to call him like that…

– … is that so? If he wished for that, then it's fine but…. Aren't you taking a strange distance masenwane? You will be incapacitated to be his bodyguard, as things like invitations, and romance can end up leading to something like a love relationship with the person to protect desuwayo.

– Of-, of course I am aware of that.

At any rate, she instructed herself with the bodyguard's text book manual, as that kind of things were also written there.

– Anyway, if you know about his Hundred, then let's go to point desuwa. Not only the Hundred, but also on the stage of Kirishima Satoru a variety of new technologies are being used, that use a Variable Stone. However, this seems to have been stolen from the live venue after the resistance.

The Variable Stone is a rare item, only a very small amount is on the earth.

It's traded under strict control of the United Nations at a price that isn't far from gold or platinum.

Therefore, its value is considerable, it isn't unknown to be stolen.

– Be that as it may, there it is very probable that a looter aimed at the opportunity of the Savage raid, it is possible that such a person may appear masu. Just to be sure, we will be arranging Slayers to be continuously around the venue, but if you catch sight of a suspicious person, please contact us, the members of the Student Council, as soon as possible, are we clear desuwane?

– Understood.

Haname nodded firmly.

– Well then, the conversation of your duty work is over with this desuwa. Let's talk about something more private.

Saying that, the President rose from the deck chair and walked to the poolside. He stopped in front of the shower installed on the wall. He spun the faucet and started to wash his body. Clark opened his mouth, thinking that it was wasteful as he was just specially spread with suntan oil.

– Kisaragi Haname, won't you do a revenge match with me masenka?

– 'Revenge match you say'…?

– A revenge match of the previous duel desuwa.

While saying that, Clark started walking towards the edge of the pool.

– I said that I should be the defeated one, but in Charlie's judgment it was a draw. As the result was that, let's settle it.

– No, that's a… In that battle, I was the one who lost for sure, and a battle here is…

– Although I said revenge, as a matter of course, it won't be something where we will be using our Hundred.

– Huh…?

I won't conduct you to use energy when you are still in the duty of bodyguard masenwayo. How about a swimming match?

That said, Clark jumped into the pool from the diving board.

The limbs boasting hunky curves advanced gently through the water.

That figure, he looked like a merman.

– What do you say, Kisaragi Haname――or should I think that you can't swim?

Turning up from the water, Clark asked Haname.

– Swimming? I can swim but… Please forgive me for today. I don't even have a change of clothes.

– About that matter, I can prepare something right away masuwayo.

– No, I'm sorry…

– … don't go with that masenwane. It is fine if you have just a bit of fun.

As he said so, Haname saw the President pouting his lips, he was different than usual, as that's something that normal boys do anywhere.


Although there were unexpected surprises, Haname safely left behind the holiday house of the Harvey family and arrived in front of the women's dorm with the hired car.

In the end, she didn't enter the pool, she turned down the invitation of Clark.

Her body was strangely tired even though she hardly walked, it may be because she wasn't accustomed to get in cars a lot of times.

– I'm back.

Despite being evening, the lobby of the women's dorm was completely silent.

Usually there are people at this time, but there's nobody today.

She guessed that surely everyone went to visit the Zwei Islands.

– The first thing to do is to take a bath…

In this dorm, the bath is scheduled to grow hot at 5pm every day.

The time has just passed that hour right now.

(By any chance, will I be taking a bath before everybody…?)

Haname, the first one to take a bath, returned to her room with excitement and headed for the underground bathhouse with a change of clothes.

– … hmm?

Haname arrived in front of the bathhouse and stopped her feet, standing upright.

It was because the sign of 『Under Cleaning』 was standing in front of the door.

Except for the days of cleaning the water accumulated in the bath by the contractor during the week, the students also do simple cleaning.

Apparently, today's cleaning isn't over yet.

Maybe they were delayed in cleaning, visiting the Zwei Islands.

(Who are the people in charge today?)

Haname looks at the duty table on the wall.

What was written there was the name of Ellie.

(That boy, were you doing it all by yourself today?)

In any case, thinking of asking when the cleaning will end, Haname handled the door while ignoring the 『Under Cleaning』 sign.

– Huh…?

The door won't open.

It seems that it's locked.

When touching the sensor with her finger, the letters 『LOCK』 emerged.

(But, Ellie is inside, isn't it?)

At any rate, there's a 『Under Cleaning』 sign standing there.

This time, she held the PDA against the sensor, and the door opened.

(I knew it, it's Ellie…)

Haname and Ellie were originally in the same room, so the security keys of the doors are the same.

She was thinking that maybe he changed it because he's in a different room now, but it's still the same, Haname doesn't know how he did it.

Haname stepped into the dressing room and proceeded to the door of the bathhouse, which turned into a frosted glass.

– Ellie, are you here?

While calling him out, Haname opened the door.

– ――Haname!?

She heard a surprised voice that echoed.

At the same time, what was reflected in Haname's eyes is the figure of Ellie Crossfode cleaning――which it wasn't, it was the figure of Elliot Hermit who was naked and submerged in the hot water…

– Wha, why, you…

It's been a while since she saw Elliot leaving the figure of his hair tied-up, and because it was wet with the water, it was very sexy.

– Ho-, how, how did Haname come in!?

His face was dyed red and hurriedly hid his crotch with his hands and sunk into the bathtub as much as leaving the upper half of his face outside of it.

– Well, I was thinking to ask when the cleaning was going to end――and, why are you in the women's bath!?

– Because, I was interested somehow in what hot springs are.

Elliot buried half of his face in the water, and when he answered, bubbles were rising to the surface.

– 'Interested', you really…. What would you do if it was exposed that you are a man!?

– That's why I put out the "Under Cleaning" sign and locked the door, you know? How did Haname unlock the security?

– You and I have the same security key. That's why I could open it.

– Oh, right… Now that you mention it, that's true.

– So, why haven't you changed the key?

– If I do so, then I won't be able to enter Haname's room.

Noticing that Elliot was inflating his cheeks as his shoulders were coming out from the hot water surface, the line of his nape was clearly visible.

If she casts her gaze down as she was, she can see the middle of the bulge on his chest.

And barely there, she could see the tip of the scar on his chest.

– Umm, let me know when you get out of the bath.

Haname tried to turn back while her heart was going *DOKI* *DOKI* when a voice raised on her back.

– It's fine like this.

– It's fine like this you say, what do you…

While turning her head, Haname asked.

– That means that I want to take a bath with Haname. If I'm submerged, you won't see my body.

– See? I won't see, but I don't think that's the problem here…

– But in Yamato is a common thing for men and women to enter a hot spring together, right? Previously, after Haname told me about the hot springs, I studied and investigated a lot from them. And I get to know about the mixed bathing.

Elliot looked very proud saying that.

– Certainly, there are mixed bathing…

– Right!? So it's not an issue to take a bath like this. I also wanted to taste the feeling of mixed bathing with Haname. So come on, let's take it together.

While Elliot is immersed in the bathtub, he rapidly stretched both hands.

… "mixed bathing", should she say that such a thing doesn't exist in Yamato?

(Well, if Elliot is okay with it, then I guess it's fine to do it together?)

It's rare to have an opportunity to submerge in a bathtub with a man.

– Come on Haname, hurry up!

– Err, first of all, I have to leave for a moment. I can't take a bath with my clothes on.

– Oh, you are right. Then, bring me my bath towel too.

Haname went to the dressing room and took off her clothes, and hid the important things of a woman that shouldn't be seen with a towel on her waist and entered the bathhouse for a second time.

Of course, she was carrying the bath towel of Elliot as she was told.

– Welcome back, Haname.

When she opened the sliding doors and entered the bathhouse while being nervous, *Splash*, the sound of submerging in the hot water echoed on the walls.

She was already submerged in the bathtub in the same way as him just now, but after a brief moment, she went outside of it again.

– Here, this.

For now, Haname handed over the folded bath towel to Elliot, then looked to the wooden structure that is piled up near the entrance, and moved to the place where the showers on one area of the bathhouse are lined up.

There are 10 faucets and showers in the bathhouse.

She placed a chair in front of one of them, sat on it and began to wash her body with a body soap placed in front of her eyes.

When she peeked at the state of Elliot, she noticed that he was watching her from inside the bathtub with a friendly grin.

– Haname, would you like me to wash your head?

– I'm fine!

He was saying something outrageous. Haname rapidly took shampoo in the palm of her hand and began to foam her head.

And then, when she ended foaming it.

She stood up with the lower body hidden with a towel and turned her eyes towards the bathtub, where the figure of Ellie submerged in hot water was still there.

– Won't you be dizzy by if you are submerged for a long time in the bathtub? In your country Britannia, there's no cultural practice of being submerged in a bathtub like this, right?

– What is 'dizziness for being submerged for a long time'?

It seems that he didn't even know that.

– Your head is dazed and your moves are unsteady.

– I certainly feel like that now that you told me, but if it's a bit more, I think I can handle it somehow. Besides, I'm still not having a mixed bathing with Haname.

It seems that Ellie wants to be submerged in a bathtub with Haname no matter what.

Of course, Haname is already familiar with his personality.

If he keeps Elliot waiting, he will surely continue being submerged in hot water until he faints.

Besides, there's a possibility that someone will come to the bathhouse.

Although the door is locked, it will be troublesome.

Since she was able to declare so, it's an inevitable situation even if dangerous rumors are raised such as female bonding.

– Come on, Haname. Enter fast.

– In that case, please turn to the back for a couple of seconds.

Otherwise, if she removed the towel of her body, he'll see her important places.

Elliot seemed to notice that as well.

– Ye-, yeah… understood…

He turned his back, while he was answering and blushing in pink color.

In that gap, Haname submerged in the bathtub.

– Ehehe, a mixed bath.

Elliot looked back happily saying so.

Of course, his back was towards her. he just turned his neck.

– Water and men, huh…

Muttering so with a small voice, Haname sighed.

– Water and men? What does that mean?

– The truth is, I was talking about fortune telling with Kaoru on the phone this morning. He told me to be careful with water and men.

– What in the earth does that mean? Is it because you don't like to be in a mixed bathing like this with me? Besides, why in plural…? Something else happened? By any chance, were you having a mixed bath with Kirishima Satoru…?

– That's not the reason…

– Is that true?

Elliot turned only his neck and stared at Haname with half-opened eyes.

– It's true.

That was her answer, but his doubt didn't clear up.

And without a change, he kept glaring at her.

– More importantly, I have something that I want to tell you.

– Haname, now you are trying to dodge the issue.

– That's not it. I have to tell you something really important.

– Then I guess I'll hear you. What would be that important matter?

– Do you know if there are any sites where you can watch videos on the cybernet?

– I know them but… why are you asking about them?

– Some videos of us were uploaded in them. Satoru showed me a video of the time of the latest resistance.

– Eh,,,?

Elliot showed a momentary surprise, but he immediately knitted his brows in doubt and glared once again at Haname.

– I'm very worried about that but, before that, I have something I'd like to ask.

– …hmm, what is it?

– Now, instead of Kirishima Satoru, you just plainly called him as Satoru. Aren't you being a little more than familiar as the companion of the escort target person?

Oh no! Haname thought.

Following the time with the president, she did it again.

– Well, Kirishima Satoru told me to call him like that…

– Fuun, it seems suspicious to me.

– Suspicious you say, why do you say so…?

– Man's intuition.

Saying it with clarity, Elliot continued.

– Haname, do you have something with Kirishima Satoru?

– Nothing.

– …really?

– It's true.

– *stares*…

– Well, even if you stare at me that much….

There's no way that she can say that he told him to marry him and to have children with him, even if he was just teasing her.

– More importantly, let's return to the conversation of our video. I was glad that they didn't get to know that your armed figure wasn't of a man.

– Hmph, Haname is trying to dodge the subject…

– You are wrong…. Leaving that aside, were you aware of this video?

– Nope, it's unknown to me. The video of the Savage was supposed to be uploaded to sites with international law, don't pay too much attention to it.

– On that subject, Satoru said the same.

– Haname, you said Satoru again!

Elliot stares at her again with a sullen expression.

– A-, anyway, if Elliot isn't worried, then that's fine.

– That they didn't get to know that I'm a man, right? Then, I think that's fine too but…. Just in case, I'll check it afterwards. If it turns out to be grave, then we can't stay here doing nothing. With that said, should we return to the conversation of Haname and Kirishima Satoru?

– Let's do not. Besides that, why don't we go together to Zwei Island tomorrow?

– Eh…

Elliot, who suddenly received the invitation of Haname, had an astonished expression.

– There are no bodyguard duties to do tomorrow?

– Because he will be writing songs in his hotel room until noon, I have to do them in the afternoon. The hotel seems to have other guards in it.

– Hooray!

Elliot spread his hands and jumped over, as he couldn't control his joy.

– Wai-, you!

– Uwaa!?

Haname rapidly avoided the situation there, Elliot thrusted into the hot water from his face.

*Splash*, a sound like a balloon exploding echoed in the bathhouse.

– What are you doing…

– Those should be my words!

Haname answered, turning her face away.

– Oh, Haname. Are you getting red?

Elliot brought near his body while showing a smile and grinning.

– …!

As Haname felt the feeling of soft skin, she had trouble breathing, and her whole body became numb.

– Hey, stop!

In a hurry, Haname tried to get away from Elliot, pushing his body with both hands.

– Eh…

– Eh…?

Haname froze, feeling the pointy sensation in both hands.

-. Is this…

When she turned her line of sight to the end of her arms, she realized that both hands were grasping the bulge on the crotch of Elliot.

– U, uwaah!

Panicking, she separated both hands from his crotch and turned her back to Elliot.

Elliot did the same, he turned his back to Haname.

(What the hell did I just do…)

This is the second time including the event of today, and even though she ended up rubbing the one of the President, this is the first time that she rubbed crotches directly.

(That were very hard…)

It was like a sausage.

– U-, umm…

Elliot's voice reached her back, he was kind of bewildered.

– I guess I should leave soon. My head is spinning.

– Is, is that so? I think you should leave soon.

– Yu-, yup… I'll do that.

Elliot obediently agrees, but she can't hear the sound when coming out of the bathtub.

On the contrary, she couldn't even hear the sound of him rising.

– … you aren't coming out yet?

– Well, I'm really dizzy.

*Ahaha*, he laughed.

That wasn't a joke, he was really feeling dizzy.

*TAP* *TAP* she heard footsteps.

It took a while before Elliot left the bath.


After coming out of the bath, Haname ate a light dinner.

Today there are many people who ended up eating outside, there are quite few people eating in the dining room.

Today it's a national holiday, originally there was no dinner, but if you made an order in the kitchen then they would make it, so Haname asked for a sandwich and went to get it.

By the way, Ellie, wasn't coming to the cafeteria, as he was feeling bad, he felt dizzy and said that dinner wasn't necessary.

Haname returned to her room after a while to lay down on the bed and decided to take the PDA and access the search sign of the internet.

It's what she thought when trying to find the video that Satoru showed him.

However, she couldn't find anything regarding her…

Instead, she found Tokyo Hotel's live video distribution site, where there were a number of song titles and thumbnails lined up.

Apparently, with 3 dollars you can buy a video――enough money to buy 2 juice PET bottles. Because the PDA will do the payment, the only thing that Haname has to do is to enter the password.

– Let's try this.

She chose the one with the thumbnail of Satoru that had the same costume as today and she downloaded it.

The download was completed in about a minute, and tried to play the video.

– Incredible…

Haname muttered at the same time that the video was played on full screen in the PDA.

The stage using the Variable Stone, it looks very beautiful and fantastic.

The figure of Kirishima Satoru as a fairy that stands in the center of the dark stage…

Together with the intro of the song, the stage changed in an instant into a forest of a different world with trees shining faintly.

At the center of it, Kirishima Satoru is singing while rocking out.

(Err, come to think of it, I forgot to get a sign…)

While listening to the song and watching the video, she remembered the promise with Kaoru.

However, there are three more days of bodyguarding. There will be a lot of opportunities to get one after this.

(For now, I'm going to sleep…)

At the same time as the song ended, Haname installed the PDA in the charger at the bedside, turned off the lights in the room and fell into sleep.


Under a nearly perfect moon floating in the night sky.

In the wilderness around a kilometer from the venue, there was a young girl with a thing like a spear with a blade attached on both ends and two boys were standing with him.

The three of them had dark brown skin, were wearing black Variable Suits that blend in the night and were staring at a certain point.

– … as expected, the security seems to be tough this time.

The one who murmured was the aloof girl who has ruffled up hair and lightly ties a portion of it behind her neck.

Their line of sight was directed to the live venue of Tokyo Hotel.

Under her feet, there's a corpse of a Savage――

It's almost the same size and appearance of a normal type that Haname and the others have defeated in the resistance one month ago.

– …are we giving up the Variable Stone?

Asking the girl is a boy with a black eyepatch with the same shape of her weapon and who also has his hair ruffled up.

– Nii-chan, we won't give up anything, it's time to begin. We'll carry our plan after the live concert.

It was a boy with a short ponytails who had two circles rings in his hands that clicked his tongue when listening to those words.

All the weapons of the three people are of course――Hundred.

– It's fine if we do it now, isn't it? The Slayers of Little Garden are small fries, don't ya think? We can windswept 5, 6 people in that place. It's easy.

The eyes of the boy with the rings were directed to the Slayers who were defending the live concert location.

– What are you saying, huh? If we steal now, the live concert will be cancelled, you know.

– What's the problem with that? Are ya a fan of Tokyo Hotel or something?

– I'm not interested in them nor their songs not their shitty lead singer, Kirishima Satoru. But, the inhabitants of this island are looking forward to the live concert. Then, it'll be good to snatch away the Variable Stone. When we came to see what kind of situation was, we even encountered a harvest.

The woman pierced the corpse of the Savage under her feet with one blade of the weapon she was holding.

*Whoosh*, the scattering fluorescent color of liquid adhered to her face, it shines eerily with the moonlight illuminating.

– Fine. I guess I can endure it with this girl.

– That's how it is.

She nodded in regard to the boy with two rings and replied while looking at the Savage's corpse with her mouth looking like a crescent moon.

– Because at any rate we, we are the allies of the human beings.

End of Chapter 2


Chapter 3
Elliot/Date/How the Divo was Born

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*, with the sound of the PDA ringing at this side, Haname opened her eyelids.

(It's morning huh…)

She woke up and got out of bed and left the room to go for breakfast as she was and,

– ――Uwaah!?

Ellie standing in front of the door raised a loud voice.

It seems that he was trying to open the door by putting over the PDA on the sensor.

– Ahaha, you woke up. And I just thought to go and wake you up.

– Wake me up you say, I said that you shouldn't enter my room as you please, isn't it…?

– But then, you said that you were going to reset your security code, right?

– Since that's something I can't do, you said you were going to change the one of your room. Because this is similar to the thing of yesterday…

The thing of yesterday was, of course, the large bathhouse.

– But, it's the same because if Haname wants to enter my room, you'll be able to get in. Doesn't that make you a little happy?

– No, I'm not going…

– Haname was happy that we could have a mixed bath together yesterday, right?

Haname was happy.

– …!

Recalling the nude body of Elliot that she saw in the bath yesterday, her face got red.

– Ahahaha, Haname is getting red.

Looking at Ellie innocently laughing, Haname breathed with a big sigh.

If other people were watching this exchange of words, they would receive a weird misunderstanding from that.

But nobody is in the corridor.

– Let's go get some food soon.

Abruptly turning her face away, Haname started to walk.

– Yeah, free time is limited after all. Let's start with eating a meal quickly.

– No, that's not what I mean…

– Okay then, what do you mean?

– Hmm, err,,,

Today's free time is until noon. She has decided to go out with Ellie during the morning.

– Mm, Haname's weird.

Anyway, she should be glad that she escaped from a dangerous situation.

After that, they had breakfast and then took a bus near the dorm.

Since they docked in the Zwei Islands and until the checkpoint established between the island and the ship, the route is going to be extended.

Nonetheless, there was no need for Haname and Elliot to receive an inspection at the checkpoint, and were able to disembark on the Zwei Islands, so it was almost a free pass.

It seems to be a special measure since they are Slayers――and also, members of the elite forces under direct control of the Student Council, known as Selections.

(Now that I remember, I passed by in the car yesterday…)

And, Haname remembered, and as far as she could see, that the travelling of the residents of Little Garden to the Zwei Islands, whether they were ordinary people or not, it seems to be just the personal authentication on the PDA.

Therefore, unlike the checkpoint of the people entering Little Garden from the Zwei Islands, it is quite open.

However, the machines that were lined up in a corner, from which you can withdraw money from a bank account and can be used in the Zwei Islands were quite congested.

Since PDAs have electronic money functions and credit card functions, they don't have much cash to pay in the Zwei Islands.

However, unlike Little Garden, which basically doesn't use cash, transactions with coins and bills is still the most used, and there are many stores that doesn't support this type of device, so that's why a lot of people stop there to have physical money.

Of course, it's possible to convert rates in the PDA and use banks and ATMs in the Zwei Islands to withdraw coins and paper money, but that's a bother and it looks problematic to operate, so Haname and Elliot will exchange money here.

They were around 10 minutes standing in the line.

– Did you bring your wallet, Haname?

– Yeah, it was the one I was using in Yamato.

– To be honest I forgot mine. Can I leave it to Haname?

He goes steadily on foot and crossed the gate, stepping into the Zwei Islands.

Outside the checkpoint there's a bus terminal, from which buses leave from here to everywhere in the Zwei Islands.

– Where do you want to go?

Haname asked, she thought that she hasn't asked the important destination yet.

– We'll have fun when we get with the bus there.

In other words, it seems that the destination isn't Fisherman's Wharf, which is nearby.

On the contrary, the bus she got on accompanied by Ellie was heading towards Eastland's Old Town.

– The place you wanted to go was Eastland, no?

– It's rare to go out from Little Garden, and I want to spend time with Haname feeling different from usual.

– What does that mean…

– Arriving there, we'll have a lot of fun. We still have time, so it's fine, right?

It was the Old Town of Eastland when they got off the bus.

There are many old buildings, and somehow, a sight that reminds them the city of Gudenburg is spread in front of them.

– The store that I want to visit is in this direction, follow me.

Following Ellie who started to walk first, Haname started to walk too.

– Umm, here it is…

Ellie stopped his feet in front of a massive giant building made of stone that noticeably stands out in the middle of the Old Town.

– With here you mean this clothing shop?

The building in front of them was built with old architecture, but the walls on the first floor were mostly glassed, reaching the point where the interior is visible.

They could see the signboard of the brands that even Haname knew about.

– Yeah, it's for both sexes, there are various clothes and accessory brand shops, it holds a lot of them, and I haven't done much shopping since I came here, so I wanted to come to buy something that I want. This, even among the Zwei Islands, it's pretty much a popular fashion building.

– It really looks very spacious and that they sell a lot of things.

The lot area is huge except for the parking lot where hundreds of vehicles next to the building are likely to park.

– Let's enter for the time being.

Haname also continued after Ellie who stepped inside the fashion building.

(The store interior is spacious, just like I thought)

In most of the space on the floor, the brand shops looked crowded, but places like tea shops and light food shops were not so.

– Haname, wait around here for a minute.

Ellie suddenly said that and entered the building.

Her line of sight is directed towards a two-seat bench, where several of them are placed side by side.

It seems like she'll be sitting there.

– Well then, I'll be right back in 10 minutes.

– Ah, hey… wait!

Even though she called him out, Ellie ran up the stairs dashingly.

(What is wrong with him?)

In blank amazement, she followed the back of Ellie with her eyes.

After his figure disappeared, she thought that she should sit down and wait in a bench, but she noticed that all of them were occupied.

Haname, who lost her place, decided to take a look to what kind of shops and signboards where there and looked into the nearby shops.

What caught her attention was the accessories and small articles department near her.

There's a wallet in the items on sale.

(Come to think of it, he didn't bring his wallet…)

She thought about buying one for him, but what Ellie likes is unknown to him, and even though the variety was scarce, she wavered.

At any rate, Ellie's original appearance is of a man.

(Although he's dressing as a woman, I guess it might be better to forget about a masculine wallet.)

Thinking that sort of thing, a voice on her back called her out.

– Thank you for waiting, Haname.

– …

Haname who looked back with that masculine voice got speechless.

– What's wrong, Haname? Maybe these clothes don't suit me?

– N-, no, that's not the problem. Why are you in your male appearance!?

He not only tied up his hair.

Elliot was wearing a white t-shirt, a green button-up plad shirt over it, blue jeans, and brown sneakers, like what an Boc-chan wears.

Because of that, she was strangely conscious that he's a man, and the proximity made her heart beat fast.

– Well, it's the long-awaited date, I thought that this is better for it.

He laughed with *Ahaha* while rubbing the back of his head.

Even the facial expression of his seems to be more masculine than usual.

– I wonder if Haname also thought that it'd be better in this way?

– Even if you tell me that… What would you do if you were to be seen by someone of the martial arts department….

– Relax. We don't have many acquaintances who would come to this place, and because it's morning, the possibilities aren't that much to encounter them. Anyway, it takes almost an hour to get here from Little Garden. And everyone ended up shopping in Westland.

– That may be true.

– That's why it's precious, so let's have a proper date between a man and a woman.

– I wonder if this is really fine…

Certainly, when looking around there's no one wearing the uniform of Little Garden.

– Haname is worrying too much. If Haname changes her clothes, we'll be good to go. We won't be exposed at all.

– I also have to change clothes?

– The dress of Slayer stands out too much as one would expect.

– I certainly think that it's obvious but still.

– Why don't you try sunglasses as well if you like?

– I guess but going that far is…

She was feeling too conscious and embarrassed.

– Apart from that, Haname, what were you looking?

Saying that, Elliot peered in the shelf behind Haname.

– A wallet. You don't have one, right? So, I thought I'd buy one for you.

– If I'm not mistaken, Haname will buy me one?

– I thought to do so but…. Which one do you like?

– Well, let me see… this one.

After hesitating a little, Elliot took a cool, black wallet, the one used by men, in his hands.

– Err, it will be difficult to use that when crossdressing…

– In any case I'm not going to show it in Little Garden, it's so I can use it here today. Besides, it would be pointless to not use something that it's usable. But I'm happy that Haname is buying this for me.

– Are you sure about that?

– Yeah, I'm sure. Then, let's see over there.

– Over there…?

Ahead the line of sight of Elliot is an accessory department where rings and necklaces are being sold.

– I wonder what I want to put on in this precious situation. They'll be my memories with Haname.

– Then, should we go and take a look?

– Yup!

Elliot moved to the accessory department, he was an ordinary boy now.

– That looks nice.

– Ah, that's beautiful too, don't you think?

His eyes were sparkling as if they were jewels. Particularly, his favorite seems to be a silver necklace. He looked into the showcase with the intention to bite into it.

– Would you like to give it a try and put it on?

– Is that ok?

– Sure, please go ahead.

Elliot, who was called out by a young male shop assistant who approached them, decided to try on the necklace.

– What do you think Haname, does it suit me?

– Umm, yeah… I think it suits you.

Haname turned her eyes to the necklace on his neck. She thought that it matched the color of his hair, it really suited him.

– Whee, Haname saying that to me makes me very happy.

– It really really suits you.

The shop assistant looked at Haname with a friendly grin as if he chose that timing to do it.

(Either way, I was going pay for it so…)

She had a hunch that it was inevitable. Anyway, it's a date.

– Then, let's buy it?

– Are you sure?

– Ye-, yeah…

– Hooray!

Elliot was showing it joyfully jumping up and down, he was showing the best smile on his face today.

Eventually Haname decided to buy the necklace with cash including the wallet of earlier.

It's been really a while since she went shopping with cash.

She was worried how much would it be since she didn't see the prices, but when she saw the cash register, she was relieved because it wasn't so expensive.

Elliot was very pleased.

– Ehehe, I did it. I got a present from Haname.

And, tampering with the fingers to put the necklace on his neck, he showed a smile.

If he's pleased with only this much, then that makes her happy too.

– Here's the other one.

Next, Haname handed over the wallet and the cash that she had in her wallet to Elliot and bought them together.

This is the end of their first shopping.

– Well then, shall we go shopping for Haname's clothes?

Haname and Elliot walked towards the women's department as it was on the first floor.

– Come to think of it, what kind of clothes does Haname like?

Upon arriving at the women's department, Elliot asked.

– Even if you tell me what kind, I don't really understand such thing.

– There's nothing you like in particular?

– When I was in Yamato, what I wore were presents. There was no money. The matching was left to my little brother.

– Then, can I choose Haname's clothes today?

– Yes please, my thanks for that.

– Hooray!

Elliot makes a triumphant pose with one hand in happiness.

– On that subject, how are my clothes? Are these to the liking of Haname?

Following the question, and for a second time, Haname stared at the figure of Elliot.

– Hmm, I think they are fine, I guess? I think they suit you.

– Are you serious? You think they suit me, huh. If you are unable to stomach my clothes, then Haname may choose them for me. I'll buy them too. I'll wear what Haname likes.

– Even if you told me what I like…

She looked at Elliot's clothes once again.

The overall exposure of the white t-shirt, green button-up shirt, blue jeans, and brown sneakers are minimum.

Compared to the casual clothes of Satoru that was together with her yesterday, and when looking at him like this, Elliot is a very hot boy.

Even if people of the school see him at a glance, she thinks that they won't probably notice that he's Ellie.

– What's wrong, Haname?

– No, umm… I don't know anything about clothes and the like, so I guess you are fine as you are now. This, the appearance you have, I think you look cool…

– Than-, thank you…. What you have told me makes me very happy.

Embarrassed, Elliot scratched the back of his head.

– But you could perfectly buy those clothes when crossdressing, right? Didn't the shop assistant see your figure with his own eyes?

– Not necessarily? I asked for a present.

– Oh, I get it…

– Well then, shall we choose Haname's clothes?

Speaking of Haname, and after that, she put on clothes that turned her into a doll.

It's the result of Elliot bringing clothes to her so she could change in the locker room over and over again.

Although Haname gave a bitter smile and sometimes Elliot gave a big laugh, in the end they went for simple clothes.

It's a casual coordination: a lovely brown dress with lots of frills.

Haname bought them and changed clothes.

– Yup, it definitely suits you. Haname is cool.

When he saw Haname who changed to the clothes she bought, Elliot had a very satisfying expression.

By the way, she decided to keep the gun, the N Tranquilizer, in the inner pocket of the dress that she's wearing from the top.

That is because he felt that it was dangerous to put it in the bag together with the uniform.

– …hmm, those…

At that moment, Haname doubted her eyes due to the figures of two people she saw on the other side of the transparent glass behind Elliot.

(Why are they in this place!?)

Without a doubt they were Fiona and Laetitia, but they aren't wearing the uniform of the martial arts department, and were getting out of the red sports car at the parking lot.

– This is bad, let's hide!

– Huh?

– I'm telling you, come this way.

Haname took Elliot's arms and pushed him into the dressing room where she just changed clothes now.

Haname followed him and also entered in it, then closed the curtain.

– What's going on Haname, what are you doing so suddenly!? Don't tell me that we are going to do something amazing in such a place…

Elliot doesn't grasp the state of emergency, his face turned red and is showing confusion.

– Let's be quiet for the time being. I'm going to take a look at them.

– At them…?

Haname opened the curtain a little with her fingertips, and there are the figures of Fiona and Laetitia who just got out the red sports car.

– Impossible…. Why today, they both had to come here. How unfortunate.

Regarding Elliot's misunderstanding, Haname knitted her brows spontaneously.

– It is possible that you have told them that we are here?

– No. Actually, Fiona told me about this store. When I told her that I wanted to do something once we docked in Zwei Island, she said if I wanted to go buy clothes, she'll give me the info of a famous shop, although it's quite far.

– … still, aren't you being way too careless, having the appearance of a man?

– This is the only opportunity to have a date with Haname while dressing as a man. But what is with this perfect timing, this isn't something that happens so often.

– That might be but…

– More than that, there's something that has been worrying me for a while.

– What is it?

– It's pretty tight for two people to be here.

– It can't be helped, since there wasn't another place to hide immediately, so don't move too much.

– But if I don't move, I won't see the situation of those two.

– I obviously see them. When you move strangely, um, it touches me.

Elliot is now in his original figure of a man. Since it was natural for him to not being wrapped in sarashi, whenever he moves his body, the swellings of his crotch touches her buttocks, Haname was worried about that from a while ago.

– It touches me…?

At last, when Elliot seemed to notice that it was his crotch, his cheeks reddened.

– Haname, did your heart go crazy?

– It can't be helped, because I'm a woman.

– Ehehe, I'm a little happy.

– What thing?

– It's a secret.

– Huuh…

Sighing amazed, Haname turned her eyes once again to the parking lot.

Both Fiona and Laetitia are approaching the entrance of this fashion building.

– Come to think of it, Fiona possesses a driving license? If I'm not mistaken, she has the same age than us. And what's the deal with that car, I wonder?

– The age to obtain a driving license is according to your country. In Yamato is from 18 years old. Certainly, in Liberia seems to be lower than that, and the car is probably a rented one.

– Oh, I see…

It seems that she was thinking too much about how things were in her country. She had the conviction that she was grown accustomed a lot, but the culture gap is considerable.

– Ah, they came in the store.

The two entered on the first floor of the fashion building and went to the stairs turning towards the gentlemens' department of the second floor.

– There was something that I still wanted to buy, but it's better to leave the store now.

– I agree, let's go.

They left the fashion building, got on a bus and decided to move to the neighboring town now.

According to Elliot, if they go there, the chances of seeing Fiona and Laetitia will decrease.

– Besides, I think there's a shop where you can eat delicious lunch in the neighboring town. And the scenery of Westland can also be seen across the ocean, it's very beautiful.

Elliot talked with excitement but uneasiness was passing Haname's mind.

– … you didn't ask Fiona about that shop, right?

She decided to ask him for caution's sake.

If so, there's a possibility that Fiona will come to the store.

– I looked up the store on the cybernet, so it will be fine.

– That's a relief…

Being that the case, Haname let Elliot lead the way to the store.

They finally reached it, it's a shop of François cuisine, which seems to be quite expensive from the gate design.

The exterior is fairly stylish, and if the person is Haname, then unmistakably will hesitate to enter the shop.

But without worrying about it, Haname followed Elliot who put his hand on the door of the shop and stepped into the shop while her heart was beating hard.

Naturally, even when sitting on the chair she couldn't calm down, it was natural since it was her first time entering a store like this.

She couldn't understand the menu well, so she decided to leave the order to Elliot.

– I don't know much about François cuisine though.

Despite saying that, Elliot called the lady of the floor staff and ordered the recommended lunch course of the day.

Even if she listens to the conversation, to Haname it's an unintelligible language.

– Because the Zwei Islands are only islands, its fish-based cooking is famous. That's why their specialty are fish dishes. The people on the net also left written recommendations about it.

That seems to be a safe choice.

Soon, three kinds of assorted dishes a la carte local specialties of the Zwei Islands' appetizers amuse-bouche and a pumpkin cold soup were brought.

A la carte is a marinade of shrimps, terrine of Japanese scallop, fried garlic butter with escargot and all sorts of seafood.

Each piece was placed in a long rectangular dish with small portions next to it.

– I know the fried garlic butter, but what are marinade and terrine?

It doesn't become clear well even if she sees them, so Haname decided to ask Elliot.

– As you can see, marinades are those in which raw fish and vegetables are soaked in vinegar or lemon juice and speaking of terrine, it's like the kamaboko in Yamato. Does Haname know what a kamaboko is?

– Of course I do. They are certainly similar if you ask me.

Haname pierced the terrine with a fork and put it into her mouth.

– Oh, it's delicious…. But it has a strong flavor than the kamaboko….

– Right? Unlike kamaboko, terrine has minced meat and mashed liver in it as well.

And, while eating the appetizers, Haname recalled what she was planning to ask yesterday at night and decided to begin to talk about it.

– Which reminds me, what we talked yesterday, about the video of us――

– I tried searching it after returning to my room, but it was deleted.

– Oh, that happened to me too. I also searched it, but I couldn't find it.

– Perhaps the administrators of the cyberspace took it down. Such a thing happens every day.

– Then, we don't need to worry anymore about it?

– Probably. At the moment there's no one else than Kirishima Satoru who pointed you out, so I guess we are fine. Of course, we have to be careful to not let something like that happen in the future.

The floor staff came to pick up the empty appetizers and soup dishes, so Haname and Elliot stopped the conversation.

Immediately following, the main dish of the fish dishes――a light steamed salmon with zucchini, eggplants and onions were carried.

Then both used a knife and a fork and put their hands on them.

– Yeah, as it was rumored, it's indeed delicious. François cuisine is good. Although it's close to our country, it's very different from Britannia.

Haname remembered old memories.

Certainly, as Elliot said, Britannia's dishes weren't that tasty.

Kaoru didn't eat properly, and reached the point where his physical condition deteriorated.

– I thought that I was being served good food, but once I came to Little Garden I understood. But still, it was fairly exquisite.

Elliot distorted his expression while taking out his tongue.

– As expected of an Boc-chan of Britannia.

– Boc-chan, huh…

The expression of Elliot got cloudy.

– What's the matter?

– No, I just remembered my home for a bit.

*Ahaha*, Elliot laughed to gloss it over.

– And why?

– It's fine, let's change the topic. Come to think of it, Yamato has a lot of delicious things. Sushi, tempura, negima, lightly deep-fried tofu and so on!

– Apart from the first two, you know things that only a maniac would know about…

– I studied the birthplace of Haname. I know a lot of other things too, Mt. Fuji, Hōryū-ji, the Sky Tower of the Imperial Capital and more!

The eyes of Elliot that were emphasized holding a fork and a knife in both hands were shining brightly.

– I got it, you have a lot of knowledge. Now calm down a bit…

– Ehehe, in case there's a time when Little Garden comes near Yamato, will Haname show me around? That's right, I'd like to see the shrines too! It's said that shrine maidens live there!

– That will be fine, I guess. I know places like that.

– Hooray!

And just like that, Haname and Elliot completely ate up the main dish and only the dessert remained.

The thing that came to the top of the table 『Pêche Melba―― white peach's compote with vanilla ice cream』.

Haname knows about the 『white peach』 and the 『vanilla ice cream』 of it, but unfortunately, she doesn't really understand what 『compote』 is like.

When she thought about asking Elliot about it, 「I'll be back in a minute」 and left his seat.

– Did something happen?

– Why are you asking such a thing? Come on Haname, you don't have delicacy.

Saying that amazed, Elliot started to walk.

Haname finally understood after seeing the retreating figure. It seems like he's going to the toilet.

(Which reminds me, Elliot goes to the women's toilet at school…)

She saw Elliot entering the boys' toilet and noticed that.

She thought that it was natural since he was crossdressing, but maybe he has a lot of difficulties doing that.

– …hmm what is it?

The PDA suddenly made a sound.

It's not the sound of a mail, but the one of a call request.

(This is, surely a…)

When looking at the screen, it was displayed as an emergency call.

(…no way, Savage appeared?)

She heard this sound before, when Elliot and Lloyd were fighting in the courtyard.

It was the news that the Savage appeared in the Zwei Islands.

Besides, because she heard from Clark that the Savage may be lurking, it's natural to think so.

『Do you hear me, Kisaragi Haname?』

Clark's voice was heard from the PDA without the need to press the call button.

– President, has something happened?

『To be frank, I am quite troubled.』

– I knew it, the Savage appeared…

『That is not the case.』

– Eh…?

『Kirishima Satoru has disappeared from the hotel.』

It was a reply that she didn't expect, it was without a doubt a state of emergency.

『… though, there is a possibility that he just sneaked away. It seems that he has done that a couple of times so far, and naturally the GPS function of the PDA has been turned off desu. And it looks like a note was left behind…』

His voice as exasperated, and mixed with sighs.

– Then that means that the possibility of kidnapping is low, correct?

『Yes, more or less, I have made ring the emergency alert, but it is as you say desu. I will also search for him, but would you please inform me if you got any information masuka? Depending on the situation, you will also join the search masu. Or rather, I would like you to join the search for him right now.』

– President, I can hear that your voice is angry…

『What are you saying, Kisaragi Haname. What would be the reason for me to be angry just because you are eating alone with Ellie Crossfode at a Françoise restaurant in Eastland desu?』

– …

Apparently, the location information seems to be leaked perfectly to the President.

『By the way, I have not eaten lunch yet masenwa. I have been pressed to deal with Kirishima Satoru desu.』

– Umm, I'm sorry…

「If you want to apologize, then go out with me and have lunch together next time.」

– Ah, yes. I don't have a problem with that but…

『Is it true desuno?』

– Err, I guess so.

『We-, well, I am looking forward to it masuwa. Well then, if you have any information, please let us know masu.』

The phone call ended.

She felt bad for the President, but honestly, Haname was relieved.

The thing is, if the date ends here, there's no mistake that Elliot's mood will get worse.

However, she was able to be relieved for a brief space of time.

– I finally found you, Haname.

– …huh?

A voice suddenly appeared.

Immediately after that, he sat down on the chair in front of her, a boy wearing a hat and sunglasses.

No matter how you look at him, it's suspicious.

Perhaps he planned to disguise himself, but the cool attire with a lot of exposure, the hat that covered his head, and of course the aura being emitted from the whole body of the punk boy couldn't be hidden, so she knew who he was.

– Hey, "Satoru has disappeared from the hotel", and now, I got a call from the President…

– Ahaha, Soffiane has already returned to the room. I sneaked away by moving behind the back of the bodyguards standing by in the surroundings of the hotel and in the gap of it I went out of there.

– I snuck away you say, why did you do such a…

– Won't you answer my question first? Who was sitting in this seat? A man? Or a woman?

– Err…

– Don't err me. Answer my question.

It seems he hadn't seen Elliot.

She wonders if he came to this shop after Elliot entered the toilet.

– Well, it's a classmate…

Haname hesitated to say it, and answered while mumbling.

– Then that means it is a he? This is suspicious…

– … I'm going to call the President right now.

– Wait a minute!

– He-, hey!

Satoru snatched the PDA that Haname took out of her pocket.

– This is why Haname, I wanted to see you.

– You were searching for me… so, why did you know my whereabouts?

– Yesterday at the hotel, I gently stuck a hidden small transmitter on your uniform jacket.

– Why did you do such a thing….

– Because there's a place I want to go with Haname.

– Where's that?

– It's a se-cret.

He put up an index finger in front of his mouth and said in a cute way.

– …hey umm, I'm worried about Soffiane-san, you even caused trouble to the President. Listen and return the PDA. I will inform them that I joined you.

– Nope. If you want me to return it, then follow me right now. It's truly a nice place. Besides, isn't Haname's job to be my personal bodyguard?

– Hmm….

In other words, it's going to be nothing but throwing away the date with Elliot.

– What, you won't come? In the end a man was sitting here? If you are a woman, you should email him later.

– Fine, I'll do it.

As this situation can't be helped, Haname left her seat.

Satoru is watching the video of the previous resistance.

There's a possibility that he will realize that the other Slayer fighting in that video is Elliot. It would be better to avoid these two boys to meet if possible. Even Elliot should think so.

Therefore, Haname breathed with a sigh and continued speaking.

– Okay, I'll go, I don't care where but take me with you.

– Yay!

Haname left the shop with Satoru and both got on the back seat of a taxi.

– Please return the PDA. To email him.

She will have to tell Elliot that she apologizes for leaving that place suddenly and that the reason was that whe was found by Kirishima Satoru.

(Oh right, I left my uniform there and I didn't pay the charges…)

She thinks she truly did a bad thing to Elliot.

Next time, she will have to apologize properly.

– Here you go, but it's prohibited to write anything about me.

That said, he handed out the PDA.

– Even if you tell me such a thing, the reason is necessary. Even Satoru must call properly. If not, I'll call the President and I'll bring you back.

– …fine, you win.

Sakura became sulky as he said so, and picked up his PDA and started calling.

『Satoru! Where on earth are you!?』

It's loud enough to be heard by Haname who's next to her, but that was natural. Thinking the worst, Soffiane should have been very worried.

– I'm in the southern part of Eastland now. Yup, I came together with Haname, so don't worry.

Etcetera, and Satoru who had been answering Soffiane, held out the PDA.

– Soffiane wants to speak with you.

Haname received the PDA and decided to answer the call.

– Hello, it's Kisaragi Haname.

『Kisaragi-san, I am sorry for having you to keep company with the selfish Satoru… I am sorry but, could you please stick together with the selfish Satoru?』

– Yes, of course. That's part of my job.

『It really helps me if you say so.』

– Job you say, why would you…. That's boring.

Haname handed over the PDA to Satoru who's pouting his lips.

– He wants to speak with you now.

– Not that it matters though…

– Anyway, this is the PDA of Satoru. Take it.

Then, after a little conversation, Satoru ended the phone call.

– I was told that I must definitely come to the venue by the time the rehearsal meeting begins. I know that and yet…

Satoru inflated his cheeks.

– Umm when is that?

– Six o'clock.

– If that's the case then we still have plenty of time, but…. On that subject, where is this taxi heading to?

Haname remembered that she hadn't heard it yet.

– To my secret place.

– …secret place?

– Yup, I will show Haname my secret place.


When they were on the taxi for around 20 minutes, the buildings gradually were disappearing from the surroundings. The view that can be seen is the vast plain itself. It wasn't destroyed by the Savage. Logically, it's that kind of place.

When they noticed, the highway didn't have speed limit. There were barely other cars traveling, and Haname, who was looking out the window, noticed particularly the sky gradually approaching.

As they advanced for a while through the mountain road where the road got worse without a pause, the altitude slowly increased.

– This is as far as we can go by car.

They both got out the taxi. Near them, they saw a big building and a parking lot. And in the signboard next to it was written 『Zwei Great Canyon. 500 meters left until the viewing platform. Vehicles are prohibited from here.』

This place is called the Zwei Great Canyon, it seems that this picturesque landscape made by large scale crustal deformation and erosion of river water, is similar to the great canyon in Liberia, 『Grand Canyon』 which is its selling point.

That can be understood from the picture in the sign.

It's also noted that it takes near 10 minutes to walk from here to the viewing platform where it can be seen.

– Let's go, Haname.

Following Satoru who started walking first, Haname started to ascend a dusty inclined reddish brown slope. It's quite a steep slope and at this time the temperature is still very high. Even for Haname, who has trained her body is difficult, and of course, it's difficult for Satoru too.

Sweat suspended on their foreheads, their gait is slow.

Still, without making any complaints, Satoru headed straight to the viewing platform.

His gaze seemed to be looking something important ahead.

– We arrived.

At the same time that Satoru said so, Haname is so moved that she let leak some words.

– Uwaa, it's amazing…

The sight that blew off the fatigue for walking till here, was the landscape spread from the viewing platform.

The unevenness ground that turned reddish-brown is beautiful and proud of its appearance, as if a high-profile sculptor from the Renaissance era shaved its fully open aesthetic sense.

And the sun, that looked bigger, was illuminating the color of the reddish-brown ground even more.

– This viewing platform in particular is quite a place for enthusiasts. That's why there aren't many people. And the walking distance is relatively long.

Certainly, there are few people on this viewing platform. A couple is around 100 meters away――and again a bit more ahead of them they can see another couple, but it's quiet enough to hear the sound of the wind blowing through the canyons-

In such a situation, they kept staring at the scene like if it was a beautiful treasure in front of them for a few minutes.

– This is Satoru's precious place…. As you said yesterday, was this the place you wanted to go?

– … yup.

Nodding, Satoru continued.

– Actually, this is the place of my precious memories because in the past, at the time when my mom was alive, she brought me here.

– Then it's fine to bring someone like me to this place?

Haname asked without thinking.

– Of course. In fact, I had the intention to come alone on the day after the previous live concert. But, I couldn't come due to the raid of the Savage…

– Oh, that was the reason…

– I was very nervous at that time. What do we do if this beautiful scenery is destroyed by the Savage? But it was Haname who protected it. So, Haname can come here. No, I wanted Haname to see it. This is one of my precious treasures that you protected.

– When you say that, it feels like I did something amazing.

– What are you talking about? Haname really did an amazing thing.

Saying that, Satoru turned his eyes to the canyon again, and started to sing a song.

(Surely, that…)

That song, Haname has heard it somewhere.

Because his little sister Kaoru sang often that song.

– hmm, Satoru, that song…

As Satoru finished singing, Haname asked.

– This song? My mom was a pianist, and she made this song for me only. It's a good song, right? In the past, my mom used to sing it like this――

– I, see…

– Haname… what's wrong?

– That song, my little sister Kaoru… he sings it perfectly.

– No, that can't be…

Satoru held his mouth with both hands.

Song and little sister.

Like Haname, it seems that those two keywords were linked in his head.

– By any chance, was Haname in Gudenburg at the time of the Second Attack?

Haname nodded.

– That means that Satoru was also there?

– Yes, I lost my mom then, then I was temporarily put in a protective institution. I met by chance a brother and his big sister. The name of the little brother was Kaoru――

– Kaoru is the name of my little sister.

– No way, to think that the girl at that time was Haname… I can't believe it.

– Even I can't believe it. But, it seems like there's no mistake.

At any rate, the song was an indication of it.

– Why did Haname call me out at that time?

– Because Kaoru, who lost our mother in front of him, was feeling depressed. And as that just happened when we were traveling, we didn't have any acquaintances…. Then, there was a boy of the same age as Kaoru, and since he was alone, I called him out. "I wonder if he can become a friend of Kaoru.

– Fufu, that's how it happened.

– Come to think of it, you remember the name of Kaoru, but you didn't remember my name. Your impression of me was that weak?

– You are wrong. At that time, Haname didn't tell me her name.

– Huh? I didn't say it?

– I always regretted that I should have asked at that time. Because that person is the one who changed my destiny.

– Changed your destiny…?

– At that time, Haname liked my song and I was praised by her. So, then I aimed to become a singer.

– … is that true?

– Yup. That's why, I'm grateful to Haname. Thanks to him liking my songs, I met Soffiane. And, in this way, I was able to become a singer. At that time, a lot of things happened.

Satoru muttered and turned his eyes to the canyon again.

– After all, even Haname knows about the Mechanical Divo Singaloid.

– Yeah, even I know her.

The Divo was created.

Although they were making fun of it, it's a singing character made by machine voice that boasts tremendous popularity among young people. Initially a sampling voice of a person was used, but it's said that even the source of its voice is now being made with machines.

– But, in reality Singaloid can't heal people's hearts. Only a human voice can sing along with people's feelings. That's why the songs of Tokyo Hotel are wonderful. Some of the things said when evaluating my songs is that they are transmitted deep inside the people's heart. But, that's not the truth, it's just a deception――

– A deception you say, what do you…

– The truth is that even I was created.

With those words, Haname unexpectedly caught her breath.

Then Satoru talked about after he parted with Haname and Kaoru.

After he became old enough to understand what's going on around himself, he was taken in charge of his father and started living in Rasiya Federation, the birthplace of his father.

Rasiya is a huge country to the northwest of Yamato. It's a cold region where permafrost is spreading all over the places, and it never melts to below ground all year round.

And while living there, he developed an illness.

It's the same illness that Kaoru has, where all the muscles won't move properly due to the influence of an unknown virus.

– At first, I was hospitalized in the hospital of the village where I lived. There I met Soffiane, a medical intern who had just graduated from the university. He, he was very kind to me.

Soffiane, now the president and manager of the management company of Tokyo Hotel, has been studying genetic engineering since his student days, and also was a researcher who repeatedly researched every day to save people from diseases caused by unknown viruses.

– Even if he tried everything, my condition didn't improve and far from that, the progress of the disease accelerated, and in a year approximately my voice didn't come out.

In other words, that meant that he couldn't even sing his favorite song.

– Under the pretext to take a medical treatment in a better place, my father did a hospital transfer to a laboratory. No, he actually sold me off as a test subject.

Satoru at that time didn't understand, but her father's financial standing wasn't good. After divorcing from his mother, he drowned in alcohol and didn't work properly either. Of course, it was impossible to pay the treatment expenses of Satoru, and eventually he sold him off.

– The destination was a laboratory operated by Warslan. There were many children who have been transferred with the same symptoms. And so we have a fluorescent color liquid――we were inoculated with a vaccine made and improved with the body fluids of the Savage.

The diseases affecting Satoru happened because the human body was incompatible with the unknown virus infecting the air.

However, the Savage adapted while being affected by the virus, and most of those patients who ingested its body fluids are dead, but some of them have strong force.

In other words, Viktor Tynyanov, the director of the laboratory, said that if you administrate Savage's body fluids in humans, then the unknown virus antibody could be――a vaccine.

– Then I had a high fever for a few days and wandered between life and death. The memories before and after that are vague, I can't remember them.

But, I survived――after that, my voice came out again and I could move. I was saved by Viktor.

Then Satoru, together with the inoculation, he was given several experiments with his recovered companions. They were said that that was a question of whether the Hundred reacts or not. However, all 5 of them at that place didn't react. Even when touching the Hundred, nothing happened.

– As a result, an inoculation for a second time was done.

– Why, such a thing…

If they healed, then they shouldn't need to inject the vaccine on them anymore.

– Because the purpose of Viktor wasn't to cure the disease. Viktor's true purpose was to make a normal human into a Slayer in a safe form by the absorption of improved body fluids of the Savage.

– Then, he was trying to do of Satoru and the others a Variant?

– Why does Haname know about the Variant?

Leaning forward, Satoru questioned her.

– Umm…

I did it again, Haname thought.

She was told by Elliot that it's no good to talk about it.

That's why Haname is in trouble.

– I'm sorry but, I can't say a word to anyone about that matter. That's why I'm sorry, but pretend that you didn't hear that now.

– No way! Please, tell me your story. Haname was also inoculated with the vaccine?

– Err, hmm…

– Because even I talked about my secret, don't you agree? We won't tell anyone what we heard here. Because that will be a secret only for the two of us… so, please. I'd like to know more about Haname.

At the same time he finished saying that, Satoru stared directly at Haname. From his eyes, his honest seriousness and strong will are felt.

– … okay.

He also spoke frankly about his secret.

Then she will respond to that sincerity.

Haname, while skillfully dodging Ellie Crossfode, that is, Elliot Hermit, she talked about what happened to herself.

– In other words, Haname accidentally turned into a Variant.

– Pretty much.

– But, I see. Haname is also a Variant… fufu.

– You are somewhat happy.

– A long time ago, the person who I met by coincidence and changed my life is a Variant, and I'm also a Variant… I thought that the two of us meeting again was really predestinated and now that we are here like this makes me happy.

– What's with that…

– Ehehe, this conversation.

– So, what's the continuation of the story? And then, what happened?

When Haname prompted him, the expression of Satoru became gloomy.

His voice also became dark.

– From here on, it's truly the worst story. The second hardest thing that happened in my life.

Of course, as she can guess, was the loss of his mother.

As an introduction, Satoru told her what happened after receiving the second inoculation.

– As a result of being inoculated a second time, some of us got to be able to deploy a Hundred. However, approximately the same percentage of people had side effects. It was still fine if it was only high fever. And among them, some persons acted violently without warning. It's the same phenomenon that happened to people who have absorbed the body fluids of the Savage.

Satoru had nightmares for a few days, but after that he hardly had one.

It might be the effect that the Hundred couldn't be deployed.

– But Latuni Iyaninov, a friend I made in the laboratory, had a very strong side effect instead of becoming able to deploy the Hundred. It was common for her to suddenly rage and scratch off her chest in pain.

Latuni told Satoru, while keeping the self somehow during the spasms.

――When you sing, it comforts us. So, keep singing.

– I sang. The song that my mother created for me. Then, Latuni became stable. And just like her, there were a lot of children that calmed down as I sang.

However, the behavior of the children with strong side effects has become ferocious day after day.

Rather than fighting, there was something that attacked them all.

– Every time I sang the song, I tried to calm them down. But, eventually it didn't work anymore. Some of them died while vomiting blood over and over again, or while injuring another person. My friend, the only one I had, also died. Even Latuni…

――Sing, Satoru.

– She said so while she was suffering, but I couldn't sing anymore. I could only see her going, while crying. I didn't want to sing anymore. There was only despair existing within me. At that time, Soffiane and Charlie-san came to the laboratory. It was like a spider's thread that came down to hell from heaven.

Soffiane thought that it was strange that Satoru was suddenly transferred without being told the place, so Soffiane investigated the whereabouts and found the laboratory of the Dr. Viktor Tynyanov who was affiliated with the military department of Warslan Company.

It was easy to rumor that Viktor was doing illegal medical treatment so far, and Soffiane, who's a researcher, understood immediately that his methods and true purpose were the creation of Artificial Variant.

After the Savage raid, the Hundred were put into practical use, having Slayers and the manufacturing technology of the Hundred, the power of the organizations that controlled those increased all at once, and the power balance that ruled this world was fragile and crumbled.

As a result, what has happened was the polarization of 「 The ones who have」 and 「The ones who have-not」.

In order to break through such a situation, even the people who took into consideration that 「The ones who have-not」 will become 「 The ones who have 」has reached the point where they were born.

Warslan Company, to which Viktor belongs, is a company that has made further progress with 「 The ones who have 」. That's why Viktor though that it was important to get ahead the technology to increase the 「 The ones who have 」 in order to keep standing on 「The ones who have-not」.

「Completion of the specific medicine of incurable illness」 and 「Technology of Artificial Variant」.

With these two in hand, he would improve his position as a researcher within the company in addition to make Warslan's position even more solid――that were the objectives of Viktor.

At any rate Viktor was snatched away the position of the chief researcher of Warslan headquarters by a young genius named Charlie Dimandias, so immediately after that he moved to the research establishment of Rasiya, his birthplace.

Then, based on Warslan Company's creation technique of Hundred, the research of Slayers and the foundation the results of scientific investigations of the virus in possession of the Savage, he started to improve the body fluids of the Savage.

Nonetheless, regarding Soffiane, he never thought that he would succeed at that point. It's dangerous to be ingested by people, even if it's a refined Savage's body fluid. Although surely there's a possibility of making a wonder drug for this incurable illness, human experiments at this stage aren't permitted for not being a humane solution.

It's just a bad gambling.

So, after studying together in their school days, he got a job at Warslan and visited Charlie Dimandias, who was a little over than a year in position of chief researcher, the one Viktor assumed, and requested earnestly that he wanted to investigate what was being done at the laboratory of Viktor.

And so the existence of many victims was revealed and Warslan Company condemned Viktor Tynyanov for all of the evil investigations that he did without permission in order to, naturally, rise his position.

Viktor was arrested and it had been decided that he would be imprisoned by the Rasiya Federal Government.

– Then I received treatment by the side of Charlie together with the children who barely survived and received a suitable examination of the Hundred again. At that time, the Hundred was able to react. But I couldn't deploy the armament.

Then Charlie told Satoru.

– It's probably because it rejected the ability you got. What would you like to do with that power?

– Respect to that question, I was thinking about it. Of course, because this is the strength that I gained at great pains, I want to save someone by using it. But I don't want to fight. I don't like that. I had enough of that.

Maybe is the trauma and the effects of what happened in the laboratory.

The words of Latuni came to his mind there.

――Sing, Satoru.

– That's why I, I tried to use my power for singing. Charlie and of course Soffiane cooperated until I quit my job.

As a result, Satoru says that he has built his position as a singer using the ability of the Hundred.

– Mom, Haname, Soffiane, Latuni and Charlie-san. And many others. Because everyone helped me when I was suffering, I was given wonderful words that saved me. So to return the favor, I'll continue singing. Even if the body fluids of the Savage are mixed in my body. Even though I'm not a human being. Even though the reason why everybody likes my songs is because I'm a Variant.

– Err, what do you…

– There's something I discovered from the investigation of Charlie. As an artificial Variant, my songs are a large owner of the virus, that work through the songs to the virus that most of the human beings are infected with at present.

Although it's only a possibility, it's possible that the songs of Kirishima Satoru received by many people is the influence of that virus.

– It's a bit sad, and it's also a frustrating thing, but I'm fine with it. Even if it's for an instant, everyone forgets about their difficulties and enjoys my songs.

– I don't think so.

– Eh…

– I think the songs of Satoru are normal. I thought so even when I met Satoru before he was an artificial Variant.

– Really?

– Surely, the virus or another thing is the reason that the songs of Satoru are received, but I think that there's also the charm of Satoru's own songs in them.

– Haname is kind…. I've come to like Haname even more. If it's now, I think I don't mind continuing the thing of that time.

– The thing of that time…?

– That's of course――

And there *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*… the PDA of Satoru began to ring with an electronic sound.

– Shit, it's from Soffiane…

While pouting his lips, Satoru accepted the call request.

– Hello, what is it?

『It's near one hour before the scheduled time. Are you prepared to come here?』

– I'm on it, so don't disturb me. Even though we were on a good thing now!

Saying that, he hung up and Satoru turned his eyes to Haname again.

– Anyway, thank you Haname. I'll do my best at the concert of the day after tomorrow. Because my songs will blow away the pain and the anguish of everyone on this island.


– Hey, we are going to attack after the live concert, right? Then why the hell did we have to come here today?

It was at the time when the sun was trying to conceal its face on the ridgeline and the sky was dyed in a madder red color.

It's a boy with a somewhat short dark brown ponytail who was wearing a jet black Variable Suit who said that, pouting his lips as if he was bored.

– Coz' there's a chance that the Savage will be sorting out around this area, okay?

That's what a girl who wore the same suit and had the same dark brown hair color.

Furthermore, there's a boy whose height is higher than the ponytail boy, has bigger pecs and has a black eyepatch.

– Do you know the proverb "If you run after two hares you will catch neither"? This is troublesome, I want to play in town. As soon as work is done, I'll leave this island in no time.

– But up to now, you've played a lot, or not?

The girl said, exasperated, but the boy did a rebuttal.

– But, that's not enough. I want to play more and more. I'll be getting back everything up to now.

– A little more, and I'll be able to like it as well. First, let's finish the work. For the sake of obtaining our freedom.

– … yeah. Nakri also understands that, right?

Speaking in a small voice, the tallest boy said that to another person to persuade him.

– I knew Nesat would say so. Then, where are the Slayers? We won't have difficulties if we know it. In any case, let's search around for a bit more. They might suddenly appear from anywhere.

The three of them dressed in jet black jackets jumped off the hill and began exploring the wilderness while searching signs of the Savage that feel weakly.

End of Volume Chapter 3


Chapter 4
Regenerator/The Voice of Sakura/Poachers

Haname and Satoru, who returned to the cabin in the place where they got off from the taxi from the viewing platform were at a loss.

Even though there was a taxi rank, there wasn't a single taxi waiting there.

– If that was the case, then that taxi should have been waiting for us.

That taxi is the one they were using until now.

Satoru mutters like it's not a big deal for him the amount of money for being waiting for them.

When he looked at the watch, his manager Soffiane said he must come back before 18' o clock—he has one hour left.

Even after waiting for 5 minutes, the taxis didn't come, not even a single car passed by.

The sky is already dark. He's troubling about what to do.

– Should I look for a taxi company on the cybernet or call Soffiane and get a car arranged?

When Satoru takes out the PDA, a bus comes and stops nearby.

As they approached the bus stop and looked at the route map, they found that it stops near the live venue.

It requires 30 minutes to get there.

Even if they call a taxi, it will take quite a while to get to such a remote place.

And if he asks Soffiane, that won't change the fact that Haname will have to ask the President no matter what.

On the other hand, the bus leaves in about 5 minutes.

Therefore, Haname and Satoru decided to board it. They thought that this method was more reliable.

They sat on a two-seat chair side by side.

The passengers who were only two at the beginning also increased slightly at the time of departure.

But none of them noticed that Kirishima Satoru was there, because he disguised himself by wearing sunglasses and a thick hat.

Whether it was to avoid chaos the moment his identity was exposed, Satoru didn't exchange words with her.

– Hmm…?

It was around the time when the bus started moving.

There was a weight on Haname's shoulder.

Satoru is leaning on it.

The sweet aroma unique of the boys came floating, the fragrance of his hair tickles her nose.

– Hey, don't get so close.

Even when saying so, there's no reaction.

Haname noticed that Satoru was breathing particularly when a person is sleeping.

– Nn…

While sleeping, Satoru approaches his head even more.

(This is embarrassing, what do I do…?)

There's a rehearsal, that means he has to sing after this.

He's going to use his Hundred too.

His body got tired from going and returning through the slope that took more than enough, so now, there's no mistaking it that it's better to take a rest.

But, to be honest, this situation is pretty exciting.

It's mentally too bad as they seem like a pair of lovers.

But, concluding that it would be better to leave it as it is, Haname closed her eyes.

Trying as much as possible to not care about Satoru, aiming to… shake off wicked thoughts.

Before she became aware of it, the bus was approaching precisely in the middle of the live concert and the big canyon.

– Uwaa!?

Suddenly, a violent explosion sounded, the bus shook heavily up and down.

Haname's butt floats around 10 centimeters, screams are escaping from the surroundings.

Satoru, who was sleeping next to Haname, as a matter of course he also awoke, screaming 「Kyaa!?」 and asked a question.

– What on earth happened?

– I don't know, but—

She felt something unpleasant.

In the middle of that, the bus stopped, and the shaking ceased—immediately after, an explosion sounds again.

The air shakes violently, the bus shakes with *rattle* *rattle*.

(As I thought, it's a Savage, huh?)

Haname is hanging out from the window of the bus and tries to check the situation of the surroundings.

Dark wilderness it's visible to her eyes.

She saw a dim light there.

Fluorescent colors that move together.

There's no doubt, it's a Savage.

Looking from the bus, it's diagonally ahead to the right.

Its size was around the same as the normal type that fought before.

With the light which started to gather at the head that was just opened, its full-length portrait is exposed.

Of course Haname knew that it was the signal of a bombardment.

– Everyone, get down!

Haname puts her body back in the bus and shouts to the passengers.

At the same time, a violent explosion occurred, and the bus rolled over.

Echoing in the interior of the bus are numerous screams resounding, and the sounds of glasses breaking.

– … are you okay?

*Cough*, *Cough*, although she coughed violently due to the cloud of dust that arose, Haname asked Satoru.

– Yeah, I'm okay but, the bus is…

Looking ahead of his line of sight, there's a big hole in a part of the bus when it rolled over.

That part was probably melted by the heat of the beam of the Savage.

They were very lucky that they were touched lightly this much, because if that was a direct hit, then the people in the bus, including themselves, might not have been saved.

They were lucky to barely escape from death.

– Haname, what are we going to do?

– … first of all, we will be contacted.

When a Savage appears in the vicinity, all members of Selections in a battle-ready state are obliged to enter a standby state even if they are in the middle of their vacation.

In that case, an emergency alarm should sound from their PDAs.

But still, her PDA isn't sounding.

That means that Little Garden doesn't seem to grasp information on the appearance of the Savage.

And that also means that this Savage didn't come from space.

Because Haname was taught that air traffic control is unlikely to miss.

(In other words, this is a surviving Savage…)

Haname took out the PDA from her pocket and decided to contact the Student Council room.

However, the phone is in a transfer call state.

Now, the members of the Student Council aren't in that room.

Maybe they are in the usual holiday house.

『Kisaragi Haname, why are you calling desuno?』

Finally, she was connected to the president.

The transfer destination seems to be his PDA.

– A Savage suddenly appeared in the wilderness, the bus that we were riding rolled over—

『What did you say? Report it calmly, Kisaragi Haname. Where is the place, and who is with you desu!?』

– South area… of East Island.

Calming down this time properly as Clark told him, Haname replied.

– I was attacked by a Savage on the way back from the Zwei Great Canyon to the live venue by bus. The fellow travelers are the escort target person Kirishima Satoru, the bus driver—and around ten bus passengers.

『The information that you found the escort target person has been included from Soffiane Clearrail, so that means that… Christa, check the exact coordinates of Kisaragi Haname right now.』

Following Christa's reply from the PDA, and then a few footsteps—the voice of Eric is heard from the other side of the PDA.

『Clark-sama, it seems that the Savage have appeared in the southeast part of the Zwei Islands. Right now, emergency calls are—』

『Eric, please wait. We have already recognized the matter of the Savage masu. Kisaragi Haname is already in contact with the Savage and the escort target person now desu.』

『Wha…』

『What did you say!?』

The surprised voices of Lloyd and Eric reached the ears of Haname.

The footsteps earlier were those two people. Following them, Christa informs.

『The location of Haname-sama is now identified. As Haname-sama said moments ago, they are in the southern part of the east island of the Zwei Islands—that is, 15 kilometers southeast away from the venue where the live concert will be held the day after tomorrow.』

『Kisaragi Haname, first be sure to evacuate the escort target person Kirishima Satoru, and the civilians to a safe place. Meanwhile, we will contact the Slayers nearby and send a relief request masuwa. Until they come, please gain time try to reduce the damage as much as possible. Of course, armament deployment is permitted masu.』

– … Roger. Will you be calling the Slayers from the venue?

『I can't do that masenwa. Depending on the situation, there is the possibility that the Variable Stone will be pillaged again arimasu.』

It was robbed at the time of the previous Savage raid, so they guessed that there is a possibility that it will happen again this time.

『Kisaragi Haname. I will be praying for the safety of you, the escort target person—and everyone else masuwa. No, if its you, you will surely cut your way through desu. No, you are going to cut your way through, OK desuwane? Then, I will hang up for a moment masuwayo.』

– Roger.

When Haname did a solid reply, Clark disconnected the call.

If it comes to this, then she has no choice but to decide herself.

(First of all, evacuate everyone, right…?)

Haname ruminates the instructions from Clark in her head, and tells the driver and the ten passengers in the bus.

– Everyone, please go and hide on the other side of that cliff!

There was a cliff about 2 meters high at the point indicated by her line of sight.

If they go down there and hide as if sticking to the cliff, they must be safe even if the Savage bombarded.

Even so, no one tried to move.

—Is it really okay with that?

—Isn't it safe to hide in the shade of the bus?

She can hear such voices appearing out of nowhere.

If they don't move properly, they probably think that they will be targeted by the Savage.

Because of that reaction, Haname was taken aback.

Now, she noticed that she wasn't wearing the uniform of Little Garden.

It seems that it can't be helped since they are thinking that this is nothing else but a prank of a child.

The panicking Haname also has a student proof, and when she tries to take out the PDA, the voice of Satoru sounded.

– Haname, that!

The head of the Savage, indicated by his fingertips, just opened and light began to gather on it.

Judging from that direction, there's a high possibility that bombardment will hit this place.

(Kuh… what do I do?)

From the amassing view, it seems that the bombardment isn't going to be in a straight line, but it will be released like a laser for a few seconds over a wide range instead.

If so, even if she deployed her armament quickly and put up an E-Barrier, she may not be able to protect everyone here.

– … however, there's no time to escape.

(At any rate, I'll have to take the chance and do it…)

To begin with, if she doesn't deploy the Hundred, then it's no use.

It was then that Haname laid her hands on the red-brown ore on her chest.

– Leave this to me.

Satoru took a step towards the Savage, saying that full of confidence.

– Leave this to me you say? Satoru—you don't have the ability to fight, right?

– No, I don't. But my ability is the space control type—if it's something like the bombardment of a Savage, then I can drown out it with a Barrier, a created defense barrier.

He grasped tightly the Hundred that took out from his chest and shouted with his right hand pushed up his head.

– 《Deploying Barrier》 HUNDRED ON!

Immediately afterwards, four emerald green wings appear on his back.

Subsequently, a gigantic magic square, covering the entire bus, was deployed on the ground and shone in emerald green.

– This is…

– An N-Barrier—a wide area defense barrier by neutral barrier. With this one, you should be able to protect the bus.

– How can you do such a thing….?

– Charlie taught me a long time ago. In case something happened. However, when I use it, fears appear…

Saying that, the Savage fired the bombardment as Satoru put up one of his fingers, feeling embarrassed.

If it comes to this, she has no choice but to trust him.

And, as Haname imagined, the bombardment of the Savage is similar to a drawing folding fan with the head as its origin.

The front of her eyes turn white, the earth shakes like an earthquake and a cloud of dust rolls up furiously.

However, Haname and the others weren't struck with the beam on their bodies, nor did they suffer damage in their eyes with the cloud of dust.

Satoru's wide-area defense barrier played a brilliant role as a Barrier.

Shouts of joy are raised from the passengers.

Satoru, who undid the barrier and was taking a breath with a *Fuu*, threw away the hat, and removed the sunglasses, then turned around to the passengers.

– … Kirishima, Satoru?

One of the male passengers raised his voice.

– He's really Kirishima Satoru.

The woman who stood next to him also raised her voice.

– Everyone, don't listen to my words, listen to his words properly.

Saying so to the noisy passengers, Satoru pointed out Haname with his index finger of his right hand.

– She's one of the Slayers who saved us—and Zwei Islands in the event of the previous Savage raid. There's no mistake in what she says. So, as she indicated before, please run away below that cliff!

Haname muttered unintentionally, looking at the passengers running towards below the cliff in response to the words of Satoru.

– As one would expect, of someone who's a popular idol…

The effectiveness of those words is outstanding.

– You saved me, thank you.

– This much is nothing. More than that, Haname, deploy your Hundred quickly. Even though I can defend, I don't have the ability to attack, you know.

– Yes, you are right.

Depending on the situation, there's a possibility that the bombardment of the Savage will reach the town that is faintly seen in the distance or the live venue.

And, to be honest, they weren't in a situation where they could wait for reinforcements, and the president also said that they should avoid making damage as much as possible… but, there was one concern.

– What is it Haname, deploy it quickly.

Satoru hurries Haname, who's holding the Hundred taken from her chest in her right hand.

– Actually, I have never deployed the Hundred without my Variable Suit. Even Satoru seems to be able to do it normally, seeing the wide area defense barrier that you spread some time ago.

– Wait a moment, I've been using the Hundred for years, but everyone has experiences like this only once or twice, you know.

– It has only been a little over a month since I got the Hundred.

– No way, so the fight like before…?

It was Satoru who had an unbelievable expression on his face, but he quickly consented, then laughing with a *Fu",

– As expected of a Variant.

– Well, that may be the case…

– If it's Haname, then you'll surely should be able to manage it somehow. Whether you are wearing the jacket or not, but when deploying it, it's not related at all.

– I see, then I'll give it a try.

Haname grasped tightly the Hundred in her right hand.

– Hundred On.

A red light begins to overflow from the skin of the fingers, and eventually creates a one large black sword—Hien, in her right hand.

However, there's no armor attaching to her arm as usual, And also, in case of Haname's Chevalier type, it's a basic attack type.

Without wearing a Variable Suit, the power of the E-Barrier should also be weaker than usual.

(If it becomes, then I can't just be running from place to place, I have no choice but to hit it.)

It would be best if she could defeat it before reinforcements came.

While Haname injects energy into Hien while staring at the core which shines in the fluorescent shelter, the engraved pattern emits a glow with a red light on the blade.

(Then, I just have to destroy it with this…)

Haname glared at the core of the Savage, but before that, there was something she had to tell Satoru.

– Satoru, run away. You can hide behind that cliff.

– I don't think so.

Replying instantly, Satoru continues.

– I'm going to stay by the side of Haname. I'm also a person who can use the same Hundred. Besides, you know that I can defend myself properly, Haname.

– But, if Satoru got hurt and couldn't do the live concert, then what are you going to do? The fans, even everyone on this island will be sad, you know.

– Well…

– If you understand that, then escape.

– But, Haname. It's impossible now. The Savage is about to fire a bombardment.

As Satoru said, the Savage that was only moving its antennas to the left and right until moments ago, was beginning to gather light again on its head.

Moreover, not only Haname and the others are included in the range, as it seems that they are being targeted.

(… what do I do?)

Frankly, she was in a pinch, but it was also a chance.

The Savage can't move right after a bombardment, in the same way as Fiona's bombardment in the sham battle last week.

So, there's a possibility that she can destroy the core of the Savage with one hit if she stabs it in that gap.

– Haname, I'll stop that one again, so…

– Understood. I'll entrust the defense to you. I'll try attacking the core, aiming at the gap that is made after the bombardment.

– Ah, that's right. If you want to make a chance, then I have a plan. I can create a number of illusions around me in the wide area barrier that I made.

Saying that, Satoru made a stuffed bear near the side of his right cheek.

– How about making lots of this and use them as a decoy? By the way, I can make something with the shape of Haname.

With a pop, he creates an illusion that looks like Haname.

– Shit, it's kind of disgusting… please make it disappear.

Saying so, Satoru immediately vanished it.

– I don't know if there'll be any effect, but we surely have to give it a try.

– If so, let's take our chances.

– Yeah, it looks like it's almost time.

– Yup, the strategy begins!

Nodding, Satoru pushed out his right hand that grasped the Hundred towards the direction of the Savage.

– 《Deploying Barrier》 HUNDRED ON!

The Hundred shines and feathers appear again on his back.

However, what he deployed before his eyes is different from the previous defense barrier. It may be because the bombardment of the Savage is pinpointing them.

The bombardment of the Savage collides with the 《magic square》 Barrier in front of them, scattering to all sides, then disappears.

Together with the hat of Satoru that flies high due to the welled-up wind, Haname started running.

She's not wearing her jacket now, so she can't accelerate nor do a high jump.

But—

– Now here I go! 《Deploying Wide Area Barrier》 HUNDRED ON!

She felt the surrounding air changed with the voice of Satoru reaching her ears.

She guesses that he deployed a wide area barrier.

– And then—create decoys!

Following those words, *POP*, *POP*, a lot of stuffed frogs and stuffed bears appear around the Savage.

(Thanks to Satoru, I was saved…)

She saw that the Savage, whose rigid state after the bombardment has finished, began to move and started attacking towards the decoys with its antennas and arms. If hadn't been for them, there's no doubt she would be targeted.

(The rest is up to me!)

Haname reached near the Savage and struck Hien loaded with energy against the ground.

The body of Haname rises high in the sky.

Using the reaction of the energy to jump high—that was the strategy of Haname, it was magnificent, and a success.

If this keeps like this, she can aim for the core of the Savage.

– This will decide it!

Haname struck Hien that was charged with energy towards the core.

– … kuh!

The reaction that fell into her hands is huge.

But without losing it, Haname puts more strength on her arms.

(A bit more, a bit more…!)

Hien destroyed the shelter and the tip of the blade touched the core. Haname injects energy as much as possible and tries to shake off her arm.

– Haaaaaaaaaaa—!

The core broke into pieces with the screaming, fluorescent color liquid flied off in all directions.

– Hooray!

Satoru gave a cheerful voice, looking at the appearance of the Savage that collapsed towards the ground with a muffled voice.

Then, rushed to Haname who breathes heavily at the side of the Savage that became a corpse, and clung tightly.

– As expected of Haname, my future oku-sama!

– Wait what!? Also, if they see us like this, they'll get a weird misunderstanding! I'm telling you, get away!

– I don't care if they misunderstand! Haname was really cool. I watched you so many times on the cybernet. I really fell in love with you again!

Immediately after Satoru said that.

*BOOM*! They felt that the sound of a bombardment sounded, and that exploded on the nearby ground, raising a cloud of dust.

– —!?

A Savage was in the place where they looked back.

Its size isn't large like the one of a Trenta, but its body is larger than the one of before.

– Now I get it, these are the Savage who have gone missing, and this is the other one…

Haname's cheeks became stiff.

The Savage has already begun gathering light on its head.

– I'll stop it!

In a hurry, Satoru tried to spread a defense membrane—a wide area barrier, but the head of the Savage wasn't aiming at Haname and Satoru for some reason.

It seems to be looking somewhere far.

– Don't tell me—

There's only one thing that can be seen beyond its line of sight.

The live venue of Tokyo Hotel.

– No way…

The eyes of Satoru became cloudy in hopelessness.

But, in this situation, he can't do anymore.

The bombardment of the Savage was almost in a horizontal direction.

A few seconds later, following the explosion that reaches the ears, sparks dye the night sky red, and black smoke starts to soar.

– That can't be…

Satoru collapses from the knees, his voice and body tremble.

Still, he cannot afford to be watching the situation motionlessly like this, he can't be dumbfounded.

Speaking of Savage's current state, it's only moving its antennas, but there's a possibility that it will open its head and bombard again.

If that happens, the damage will only spread further.

(What do I do…?)

At that time, the PDA sounded again.

It's an emergency call from the president.

『Kisaragi Haname, do you hear me masuka? What on earth is the situation there desu? There's an incoming information of a bombardment at the live venue masuwayo!』

The shout of the president is heard from the PDA.

– Actually, I defeated one, but then another Savage was appearing, so the bombardment is—

『What did you say!?』

– Is the live venue okay!?

『Although it seems that there was damage in some dressing rooms and the like according to the information just now, the good news is that the stage is safe and it looks like there are people with only minor injuries desuwa.』

– I'm glad…

Satoru mutters as if he was relieved.

『Now, the report desu. Now we are sending 5 Slayers from Little Garden as reinforcements. And—』

– President, please wait a moment. The Savage will bombard again!

『What did you say!?』

– But, please be relieved, as it's aiming at us. Satoru, can you manage it?

– Yes, I'll spread a wide area barrier again!

Satoru turns the hand that grasped the Hundred towards the Savage.

She was wondering if the exchange was being heard by Clark.

『Kisaragi Haname, don't tell me that you are letting Kirishima Satoru fight desuka!?』

Such a loud voice came back.

– Umm, I'll talk about that later!

The Savage is going to fire the bombardment at any time.

This is not the moment to give an explanation.

– 《Deploying ba—》 HUNDRED—

There, Satoru stopped shouting.

*BOOM*, a bombardment sounded, and an explosion occurred on the head of the Savage.

– Eh…?

– What…?

Satoru and Haname turn their eyes to the point where the bombardment was sent from. The distance is around 100 meters, but the familiar figure of a man was there.

– Fiona!

Without thinking, Haname shouts the name of the man.

Even though she is in her civilian clothes, she can see that she deployed her armament and the Long Shooter type rifle in her arms.

– What's up, Haname. I'm glad that you are okay.

Fiona smiled and winked.

Behind her, there was a sports car.

The one she saw with Elliot in the fashion building.

It seems she has come as a reinforcement.

So that means—

– Of course I'm here too!

The next thing she heard is the voice of Laetitia.

There, Haname notices that he's at the feet of the Savage.

Even though he was in civilian clothes and with simple armament like Fiona, Laetitia had deployed his Martial Arts type Hundred on his hands and feet.

The Savage recovered from the damage without a moment's delay and set him as its objective, swinging downward its big arm.

– Uh-oh!

And Laetitia, who dodged it by leaping horizontally, kicked the ground with a *tap* at the same time as he landed; his hair sways like a flickering fire and runs up onto the arm of the Savage while raising a loud voice, running up to the head in one go.

– If I can destroy the core with this, then I'm also a full-fledged Slayer!

He lowered his eyebrows in frustration and moved away from the moving Savage as he landed on the ground.

Laetitia glared at the arm of the Savage approaching him with an upward glance,

– As if I were to be hit by that!

And, he hit the ground.

Then the ground shook like a wave and the Savage seemed to have lost the balance of its body since it didn't attack with its arms.

What was resonating there is the voice of the childhood friend who can trust in Haname, and the one who came running in assistance.

– Laetitia, thank you for making a gap!

The owner of that voice stands on the hill—looking at the figure of Ellie, Haname was truly relieved.

Unlike the date, he held his hair down and is wearing his uniform, and around his body, of course, the Innocence type of ever-changing appearance of Hundred, Arms Shroud, is deployed.

Ellie changed one of the deploying Hundred into a short, yet sharp-edged sword like a Falcion, and jumped towards the Savage.

– Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!

Shouting, the remnant line drawn by the swung downward sword drops one of the arms of the Savage onto the ground.

– One more!

Ellie, who landed on the ground, threw the sword and extinguished it.

And then, he made a huge scissor-like thing with Arms Shroud, similar to the one he was using in the previous battle, and rushed over to the Savage.

– Laetitia, what's left is the thing we discussed a while ago!

– Got it!

Shouting, Laetitia head towards below the objective, then stood up and launched a kick towards the body of the Savage who was ready to attack.

The Savage, as a matter of course, was unperturbed, and although can fight back with the remaining arm, Laetitia evades that, and as a proof that he's doing according to plan, he, with his mouth,

– Now, Ellie!

– Okay!

Putting the arm of the remaining Savage between the two widely opened blades, *Shing*, the arm falls.

While a fluorescent liquid disperses, the enemy raises something like a screaming and begins to act violently as if it was raging.

But there are no arms to raise overhead anymore.

Like having been waiting for this moment, Fiona aimed at the shelter and released a mass of energy from the rifle of her right arm.

– Eat this!

It hits the shelter splendidly, and creates a big dent on it,

– Yes!

And, Fiona revealed a satisfying smile. Then,

– The next is to destroy it for sure!

Followed by Laetitia who began to go after the Savage.

He flew high using sense energy, concentrating the sense energy on his right foot, trying to fall down with all the weight of his body while aiming at the core.

– How about this, huh!?

As a result, his leg went through the shelter, making a fierce destructive sound, but it didn't lead to the destruction of the core.

– Tch, I couldn't destroy it, even with a direct attack!

Laetitia spat out in frustration, then distorted his facial expression in an unpleasant way and separated himself from the Savage.

However, that doesn't mean that the series of attacks have ended.

– Then I'll deliver the final blow!

The shouting Ellie had no longer a scissors in his hands. He was grasping a white bow instead.

Of course, it was created by Arms Shroud.

For the bow being held in the left hand, he tensions the blue bowstring with energy and creates a blue arrow in the right hand, deciding to aim at the Savage.

However, an unusual phenomenon occurred there, and the first one who noticed that was Laetitia, who was near him.

– Wait a moment, Ellie!

With the voice that shouted instinctively, Haname also notices something unusual.

The core of the Savage began to emit a red light in the dark, repeating the illumination in a short and repeated way.

– … is it going to bombard?

At first they thought so, but it didn't show any behavior of opening the head.

(What the heck does that mean?)

Of course Elliot also noticed the unusual phenomenon, but he didn't know what's happening.

But there's no doubt that something is going to happen.

(I hope I can set aim quickly to not let it shoot…)

He was feeling impatient, and that disturbs his concentration.
His arms tremble, the center of the sighting device is hardly set at core.

Even so—the aim was finally fixed.

– Teeeeeeh!

Ellie fires the blue arrow.

The trajectory seized the core with the gap of the shelter being destroyed.

All developed exactly as planned.

However, there was a situation that they hadn't predicted there.

– Wha…

Elliot, who just lowered the bow, is amazed.

– That's a lie, right…?

Haname and the others are the same.

While the arrows are about to approach, the severed arms were regenerated in an instant, so their reaction was comprehensible.

– Impossible, right…?

Haname muttered, since she saw something unbelievable.

At any rate, when thinking that a lot of insect-like things are squirming on the severed part and extend a thread-like thing in an instant, and just like the silkworms make cocoons, the Savage created an arm with the form of pincers.

The arrows of light are repelled by the arms and vanishes.

– Perhaps that's a regenerator?

With a trembling voice, Laetitia mutters.

– That seems to be the case, since it has the regeneration ability.

Haname has already been given knowledge of the Savage in lessons of classroom lecture. The self-repair function type Savage—aka regenerator.

As its name suggests, it's the type that regenerates the parts that have been cut, like the tail of a lizard.

– But surely, if we destroy the core, then it won't demonstrate that ability, right…?

– That's right, because the core is accelerating the regeneration ability. Other than that, it has no difference from a normal type.

Following Laetitia who replied, Elliot continued.

– Then I'll try to drop its arms once again as I did a while ago. Even though the shelter is slowly regenerating, Haname should be able to destroy it.

– In short, Haname's going to finish it off?

– I want to emphasize certainty here. Laetitia, can you disturb the Savage as you did before? Aiming at that gap, I'll cut off both its arms again.

– Got it.

Laetitia nods.

– Haname can you? Do it too?

– Umm…

Haname points her eyes to Satoru.

Going to attack means that she has to leave him by himself.

– Haname, I'll take care of Kirishima-san. Because I'm not suitable for close combat, I won't move from here. And although the armor is thin because of these clothes, E-Barrier can be stretched, and if something happens, I'll protect him even if it costs my life. So, you do what you ought to do.

– Exactly. Because I'll be handing over the best thing.

What she must do is to defeat the Savage.

And the best thing is, to give the finishing blow.

– Got it.

Haname, who received the thoughts of those two, had no choice but to nod.

– Are you okay with that, Satoru?

– Mu….. Haname, did something happen with Kirishima-san?

– Why are you saying that?

– I feel that your mood is strange.

– This is not the moment to be saying that, you know. I understood the strategy, so let's start right away, okay? We don't know what that Savage will do.

– Muuu, you are right but…

– Okay guys, cheer up coz' here I go!

While laughing at the interaction of Haname and Ellie, Fiona directed the rifle of her right arm to the Savage.

– You ready?

– Of course.

– Yeah.

– … okay.

Haname and Laetitia, and even though he looked disappointed, Elliot nodded in succession.

– So, let's go!

Fiona fired a shot, then another one, aiming at the shelter with her rifle.

Along with that, Laetitia started to move.

Following him, Ellie also starts to move.

Speaking of the collaboration, it's fruitful and perfect than before, as Ellie was quickly cutting through the arms of the Savage with scissors again created by Arms Shroud.

– Haname, we'll leave the rest to you!

– Sure!

Haname responded vigorously to Ellie, runs in the same way as she did with the first one, and jumps with Hien loaded with sense energy.

All she has to do is to destroy the core.

Haname injects sense energy into the raised overhead Hien.

The red shining blade and its decorations—up to now everything goes as planned, but the fact that there are no illusions of Satoru also had its influence.

The Savage aimed at Haname, and opened its head.

The heart of Haname, which recognized that it was a bombardment, beat fast in a big way.

(This is—)

The usual thing that occurs when she has been on the verge of a critical situation.

She could do it even in the sham battle with Fiona, so if the ability of the Variant awakens, she'll probably not lose her consciousness now.

If that's the case, and when the N-Barrier automatically deploys, it doesn't mean that the bombardment—won't do nothing.

Because she's not wearing her Variable Jacket now.

And it looks like it's impossible to go full armament like she did until now, so Haname couldn't make a decision as to whether she could deploy a N-Barrier under such conditions.

If she remembers correctly, the President was saying that such thing wasn't programmed in the Hundred.

So even if full armament is impossible, the N-Barrier may be deployed…. Although, of course, there's no confirmation of it.

Having said that, this is not a situation to dodge the attacks of the Savage.

Now, the only thing that she can do—the moment Haname resolved herself to swing Hien downwards, she kept her self in order to not lose the consciousness due to the ability of the Variant.

– Stop!

At the same time as the sorrowful cry of Satoru jumped into her ears, an incredible thing happened.

The Savage undid its bombarding stance, and started to turn its head towards the direction of Satoru.

(It reacted to the voice of Satoru…?)

At that moment, she suddenly remembered what she was talking about to Satoru at the canyon.

The fact that the children who got inoculated with the body fluids of the Savage responded to the songs of the Variant Satoru. In addition, Satoru said the songs convey people's feelings.

That is to say, his cry, saying 「Stop!」 was supposed to have the intention of 「Don't bombard!」 regarding the Savage.

Perhaps, the thought might have be understood by the Savage, or maybe it just reacted to the voice of Satoru.

Of course Haname doesn't know the true meaning of it.

For a moment, she thought that the eyes of Satoru were shining in golden color.

But this is not the place to think about minor details.

She can't miss this opportunity.

– Uooooooooooooooo—!

Deciding to destroy the core of the Savage in this gap, Haname brandishes Hien in a big way.

In an instant—

A girl appears from behind the Savage.

Black hair and dark brown skin.

That girl is wearing a jet-black Variable Suit that melts in the darkness and has something like a spear in her hands.

(Who's this girl…?)

What the girl has is, of course, not just a spear.

There are blades on both ends of it, she's holding a thing like a handle in the middle, and what she's holding from the middle is—what is called, a twin sword weapon.

– I thought that a Savage appeared, but I was able to see interesting things—

The mysterious girl moves her mouth and jumps high, kicking the head of the Savage.

That meant she used sense energy

– I'm sorry Nee-chan, but I'm gonna make it our prey!

– Wha—

In one go, the girl who approached the front of the eyes of Haname hit with the twin blade the abdomen of Haname who swung Hien.

– Kuhaa…!

The body of Haname collapsed in the air.

– Guh!

With another blow from overhead, Haname's body was beaten down on the ground.

– Haname!

A cloud of dust soars violently.

Satoru rushes to the side of Haname who collapsed on the ground in a prone position and stopped moving.

– Haname, are you okay, Haname!?

Satoru keeps calling her in tears, believing in the safety of Haname who's exactly as she fell.

His feelings were transmitted—with a twitch, the hand of Haname moved.

– Haname!

– I'm fine… and more importantly…

Haname stood up, raising her body and taking Hien that rolled near, then looks towards the Savage.

– Eh…

There was a boy with similar skin and hair color of the girl just now.

He doesn't have a weapon in his hands, but he's wearing a Variable Suit whose fluorescent color emerges in jet-black like the girl.

And the right eye of the boy who looked back was covered with a black eyepatch…

As he looked towards Haname, it opened automatically all the way.

– … 《Deploying Copy》 Hundred On.

The eye that came in sight from the other side of the eyepatch releases a shining golden color—

Subsequently, when the boy looked up at the night sky, a pillar of light extended, and a big black sword appeared, resembling Hien of Haname.

The boy stares at the Savage, taking it in one of his hands and raising it overhead with his arm.

Without a moment's the Savage strikes with the pincers, but the boy who dodged it quickly leaping horizontally, then bending over and jumping like a spring, flew high in the sky.

And, pierces the core of the Savage with the tip of the sword in his hands, facing downward.

It was superb, he destroyed again the shelter that was in process of regeneration, but it didn't reach the core.

The tip of the sword stopped at the surface of the core and couldn't go further.

However, the boy didn't give up there—on the contrary, he didn't even distort hs facial expression.

The boy just muttered two words, with a consistent lack of expression.

– … 《Ability Unleash》 Limit Out.

One of the eyes of the boy shone noticeably intense.

Then, the blade of the sword in his hand also glows in the same golden color, the tip is penetrating into and through the core.

Fluorescent color liquid gushes out of the core, its brightness disappeared.

The Savage fell in the sandy soil while raising a muffled voice.

– You guys, what do you think you are doing…?

Haname asks the boy standing on the corpse of the Savage.

However, the boy never answered, and after he glanced at Haname, he moved his eyes to the body of the Savage and swung up the sword grasped tightly in his hands.

*STAB*, The tip of the sword sticks into a position slightly out of the core.

Haname thought that he removed it, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Because the boy never showed a worried attitude due to the lack of expression, he stabs the edge of the core of the Savage with the pointed end of the sword again.

*STAB*. *STAB*. *STAB*. *STAB*.

Like tracing the circumference of the core, the boy keeps stabbing the pointed end of the sword.

*STAB*. *STAB*. *STAB* *STAB*

– Huh? What is he doing…?

Satoru, who was looking at the creepy scene, muttered while trembling.

– I don't know…

Haname answers.

Elliot and the others are also perplexed.

Everyone was looking at the girl who was stabbing the sword against the corpse with surprised eyes.

*STAB*. *STAB*.

Every time he stabs the sword, Savage's body fluids scatter and dye his body in a fluorescent color.

– Hey, stop it! If you get covered in a lot of body fluids, you'll get infected with the virus and you'll go crazy!

– …

As the voice reached him, the boy stopped moving, and tilts his head, looking with curiosity at Laetitia.

What are you talking about? Asks his gesture.

But he doesn't speak.

On the contrary, the boy turned his eyes to his hand, then gazed motionlessly at the sticking fluorescent color liquid—*Licks*, he licks it with his tongue.

– Wha…

Looking at the disgusting scene, Laetitia becomes speechless, but as the boy doesn't care about them, the boy starts to stab the sword again in the Savage.

*STAB*. *STAB*.

– Dammit! I'm telling you to stop!

If he doesn't listen, then he has no choice but to make use of force.

Laetitia kicked the ground and tried to approach the location of the boy, but something got in the way.

– Hey, you. Don't disturb Nesat!

Along with that voice, another boy is approaching from the front with a large ring in his hands.

Of course, that's not his normal speed.

He's using acceleration by energy.

Moreover, the boy threw one of the rings held in his hands towards Laetitia, and knocked his body against the ground.

– Kuh, what the hell are you guys…!

Laetitia stands up and stares at the figure of the dark brown boy who caught the ring that came back like a boomerang.

The color of the hair holding the band on the back is a little brighter compared to the girl who set an attack on Haname and the boy who killed the Savage, but wears the same jet-black Variable Suit.

– Don't get in the way of Nesat. That's the only thing I'll say to you.

The boy with the rings declares, turning his eyes to the boy who stabs the sword in the Savage.

– Answer my question!

– What are you going to do if I say no?

Making fun of Laetitia, the boy laughs.

– In that case, I'll get information out of you by sheer strength!

Laetitia accelerated by kicking up the ground, then launched a hit to the boy of the ring.

– Ha, bring it on! With that, I'll let you say nothing, and I'll tell you nothing! And you'll be in trouble if you try to disturb Nesat again!

The boy also kicks the ground in the same way, and uses the rings to attack.

Of course the ring has an advantage, as the reach of the boy is longer.

Although he was struggling with that much, Laetitia continued to wait for an opportunity to come while continuously dodging the attacks with the rings, using his characteristic nimbleness.

– Aa dammit, you dare to have the nerve to move non-stop like that!?

While the boy shouts looking irritated, he greatly brandishes the rings, slashing at him.

A big gap with that much.

Laetitia, who jumped and dodged the attack, launches a kick to the body of the boy as he is, falling on his backside.

– Damn, I won't be defeated by the half-baked armament of yours!

As he grasps the grit of the ground while standing up in frustration, the boy picks up the ring that fell near and throws it towards Laetitia.

– … uh-oh!

In an instant, Laetitia evaded the ring that was approaching while rotating furiously. However, when using the ring on the other hand, the boy cut at him vigorously.

– Die, you moron!

After rapidly getting closer using acceleration, the ring is approaching with a momentum that cuts the air horizontally.

Laetitia jumps high and attempts to dodge it while doing a backward somersault,

– … ngah!

Immediately after kicking the ground, dull pain was running on his back, crumbling down to his knees as he was.

Because the other ring that came back hit his back.

– Ha, stupid bitch. I was aiming for that from the beginning.

Looking at Laetitia who falls towards the sandy soil, the boy of the ring was showing an accomplished expression to the boy.

Then approached the side of Laetitia who's lying face down on the ground, and kicks his body.

– … s-stop!

Fiona shouted looking as a demon and turned the muzzle to the boy of the ring who's trying to kick the body of Laetitia again.

– Too slow!

And, the boy throws the ring.

It hits magnificently the body of Fiona, she couldn't fire the bombardment.

– Dammit, but, one more time…!

However, Fiona wasn't collapsing. Once again, she tried to load energy into the rifle of the arm and,

– As if I'll let you do as you like!

– Wha—

The boy, who accelerated and got closer, cut at the body of Fiona with the ring he had in his hand.

– Guah!

As her clothes are cut off from the front, Fiona is falling from the knees.

Ellie, who was looking at her state, moves.

– … Haname, I'll deal with that boy!

She can't see the scissors he had in his hands until a while ago.

With two daggers created with Arms Shroud, Ellie accelerates to the position of the boy.

The opposing boy of the ring readied the weapons of both hands, looking towards Ellie.

– You are the next, huh? Do you think those small daggers can be a match to my 《Pair of ringed weapons》 Dio Varga!?

The rings manipulated by the boy and Ellie's daggers collide with each other, letting a high-pitched metallic sound be heard many times.

– The best thing that the lowly losers of Little Garden can do is to stop the blows like this!?

As the boy says so, in the eyes of Haname, Ellie was desperately trying to block the rings.

Her body still hurts a little, but there's no mistake that this is a critical situation.

But now both Laetitia and Fiona have collapsed.

There's no one who can protect Satoru.

(What should I do…?)

When thinking about it, she figured out a possibility.

Haname takes out the 《N Tranquilizer》 of her coat pocket and aims at the boy of the rings.

(If I shoot at the boy with this—)

She heard that the bullets loaded in this gun have the ability to neutralize and pierce E-Barriers and to destroy the balance of energy.

In that case, she may be able to stop his movement.

– I won't let you shoot Nakri!

– Kuh!

Haname reacted to the voice on her back, and turns her line of sight towards the body.

What is visible to him is the figure of the girl who's setting an attack with a twin blade in her hand.

Haname, who's becoming disconcerted, pulled the trigger, pointing the muzzle of the 《N Tranquilizer》 to the girl.

– Don't you dare to think that I'll receive that thing so easily!

The girl stops the bullet with the twin blade and sets off an attack as she is.

– Damn!

Haname shoots 《N Tranquilizer》 again, but the result is the same.

For a moment, the twin blade bent its shape, but it didn't lead to its destruction.

It looks like the maneuverability of is energy is that high.

If that's the case, she can't rely on the gun.

There was no choice but to stop the blows of the twin blade with Hien.

*CLINK*, fierce metallic sounds resound.

– Ha—I'm surprised that a girl like you can stop my 《Double Edge of Rebellion》 Ohrthrus Liberio.

It was Haname who stop the blow of the twin blade, but the girl smiles calmly.

– … kh, what's your objective? Were you the guys who stole the Variable Stone from the live venue before!?

– If so, then what? See if you can catch us, dog of Little Garden!

The young girl shouts, bringing down the twin blade once again.

Haname parries it again with Hien, but her body shakes due to the heavy attack.

(… kh, damn!)

Two times, three times in succession, the girl brings down the twin blade.

The best that Haname can do is to parry it.

– Haname…

Satoru is leaning in close to her, raising an uneasy voice,

– I'm sorry, I'll come down.

Immediately after he was saying so, he kept his body away.

– Hmm, pretending to be the princess, huh…? But, you are unlucky. Even if you were normally armed, a simple armament of that degree would be at its limit, you know? At any rate, I still haven't poured sense energy into my Orthrus Liberio yet!

*Shudders*, chill runs through the body of Haname.

Her black eyes shone golden and the blades of the weapon also shone in the same golden color.

(Don't tell me, that…)

Haname remembered the story she heard from the president about a month ago while trying to parry the attack unfolded from the arm raised overhead. At the time of the duel with the president, her eyes shone in golden color.

The same phenomenon is happening right now—

(Impossible, this girl is also a Variant…?)

If so, then no matter how you look at it, the situation is even worse.

– …kh!

Haname loaded Hien with sense energy similar to Orthrus Liberio, and parries the twin blade.

Her body shakes violently.

Haname intends to put strength on her two legs and endure it, but the woman immediately launched a kick there.

– Guuh!

Ellie shouted, after seeing the body of Haname flying backwards.

– Haname!

– Don't look away!

The boy brings his hand forward to attack Ellie once more.

– … kuh!

Ellie caught the attack of the boy at the last moment, but he was pushed by his power, and the daggers fall from his hands.

– That happens when you don't concentrate on the battle, you stupid!

Then the boy tried to flick off the body of Ellie with the other ring.

Ellie grinned and loosened his mouth there.

– You are the one who's looking away!

The falling dagger changed its shape to a floating battery and mercilessly shot a beam to the boy of the ring, as instructed by the brain wave of Ellie.

– Wha!

The body of the boy shakes violently.

– It looks like a dagger, but it's originally a battery.

Ellie vanished and threw away the dagger that he was holding in the other hand and rapidly changed to something like a stick with Arms Shroud, sending the body of the boy flying, then turns the pointed end of the stick towards the girl who was exchanging blows with Haname.

– And—this one was a rifle, you know.

– … unh.

She may have noticed the signs of light bullets that Ellie fired.

The girl stretches her right hand and deploys an E-Barrier, making the approaching light bullets disappear, then glares at Ellie in detail.

– … the form of your Hundred changed? It looks like your ability seems to be special, to the point it couldn't beat my little brother.

– What are you looking for!? Why are you attacking us!?

Ellie asked, but the girl ignored him and turned her eyes towards the boy standing to the side of the corpse of the Savage.

Then, the color of her eyes return to the original black.

– Looks like nii-chan has already finished extracting the core.

– …

The boy nodded as he was, in silence.

When they noticed it, the eyepatch shone in a golden color, and the sword he had disappeared from his hand.

Instead of that, he had a thing of 50cm. diameter in one hand and another of 80cm. diameter in the other hand—he was carrying two cores of the Savage.

– Okay, it's time to flee.

– Hey, wait a moment! Nesat has already finished the work. If it's the three of us, then we can destroy them in a matter of minutes and steal their Hundred. Besides, that man has a strange voice—

The boy of the ring raises his voice towards the girl.

– Calm down, Nakri. When you do that, you'll find that reinforcements from Little Garden are getting closer.

The boy called Nakri closed his eyes—and opened them wide in surprise.

– … … what Krovahn is saying is completely true. A lump of energy is coming this way.

Saying that there's no choice if that's the case, the boy clicks his tongue.

– Alright, I'll do as Krovahn says. We were able to get two cores. And Viktor'll get mad if we get caught here.

– Viktor you say…?

Satoru reacts to the name Nakri mentioned. Haname is the same.

That name is the name of the doctor who made Satoru an artificial Variant.

– Hey, you. You know Viktor?

Nakri wrinkles up his eyebrows and stares at Satoru.

– Nakri, take it easy. Remember that we have to flee.

– Ye-yeah…

– Nii-chan, give me one of the cores.

The girl said so to the eyepatch boy, stretching her hand to Nesat.

Then he threw the bigger core to the girl.

As she caught it, Krovahn, the girl, jumped high and moved to the top of the cliff.

Nesat, who carried the other core, left in silence, following her.

– Haa, you better think that you barely escaped from death in this place today!

Nakri said so, and went after Nesat who moved to the top of the cliff.

– Hey, why are you carrying the cores!?

It was Laetitia who shouted. Then, Nakri looked back in midair and answered as if to despise them.

– … you really seem to not know anything, losers of Little Garden.

Leaving those words with them, the three people who wore black Variable Suits disappeared beyond the cliffs.

– … what do we do, do we go after them?

Fiona asks while looking at the cliff where nobody is there.

– No, let them go.

It's Ellie who answered, shaking his head.

– There's no point going after them, besides we are exhausted with this much.

– You are right.

Fiona is not the only one who nods, since even the uniform that Ellie is wearing is dusty and with cuts here and there.

– Haname too, even though you finally bought your own clothes.

Ellie's bashful, regretting it.

– Then we have go shopping again. At that moment, you'll be choosing them.

– … okay

Nodding, Ellie continued.

– About this matter, I'll discuss with the Prez about the rest. Even if it's about chasing them, let's leave it to the reinforcements from Little Garden.


After the battle, Haname and the others were protected by the staff of Warslan who came to pick them up and returned to Little Garden in a large medical treatment bus.

However, only for Satoru it was different.

He joined the guard of the members of Selections who came as reinforcements, and went to the live venue.

Although he consumed energy deploying barriers, he insisted that he wasn't hurt and that it wasn't a problem for him.

It's because he wanted to quickly ascertain the condition of the live venue.

He got information from Clark indicating that the venue didn't suffer that much damage and that it might be repaired by the day of the live show.

Then, in the Student Council room were Haname and the others, Clark and the members of the Student Council, Christa, Charlie, and Man Man.

– Which reminds me, why were you guys the reinforcements?

Having finished reporting to the point where they defeated the first Savage, she remembered that she hasn't asked that yet, so Haname asked that to Ellie.

– Actually, I immediately contacted Fiona after the emergency alert rang. We caught sight of it and stayed nearby, but Haname knew that already, right?

– Yeah, I saw you with them.

In other words, Ellie got in touch with Fiona and Lastitia then he joined them and asked them to drive to where Haname and Saktoru are by car.

Clark sighs when hearing the conversation.

– It was the greatest miscalculation that the member of Selections closes to Kisaragi Haname was Ellie Crossfode deshitawa. After she listened to the emergency alert, despite the fact that we didn't issue any orders, she confirmed the data without permission and finally, involving classmates to head to the site—

– But, thanks to that, the damage of the Savage was kept to a minimal, so I did well, didn't I?

– That's not the only problem, since there are a lot of problems arimasuwa. Next is, about the three people that appeared after you joined masuka. It's inevitable to keep worrying about that matter desu.

The facial expression of Clark becomes severe.

Clark seems to be very interested about the three people.

After that, Haname and the others started talking about the mysterious three Slayers.

– They're probably 《Poachers》 Hunters desuwane.

As Haname and company finished talking, Clark mutters with a worried expression.

Hunters? What's that?

Fiona only offered doubts, and Haname didn't know anything about the hunters.

That also applied to Ellie and Laetitia.

The four people were eagerly waiting for the reply of Clark and the others.

– Unlike the Slayers that belong to a country or a Private Military Company like Warslan Company, they belong to those organizations that aren't approved by the United Nations or are a group of unaffiliated guys.

It's Eric who answered.

– What's left is, I remembered, I was telling to Kisaragi Haname that in fact there were three Savage who had been missing during the previous raid. The rest of them have been discovered earlier in the wilderness as corpses. And they looked like the cores were gouged out-

– That means that those guys did it?

– If they are the poachers, then that possibility is high, don't you think?

Eric replied to the question of Laetitia, correcting the glasses that slid with his fingertips.

– But, why steal the cores? I can understand if those guys are members of an organization that isn't approved by the UN or are unaffiliated Slayers that went after our Variable Stones but…

– That's right, Ellie. Because the cores of the Savage have almost the same shape of the molecular structure of the Variable Stones.

– Wait, Charlie. This conversation isn't for general students—

– But, if it becomes like that, the conversation will be inevitable. All members that are here are already involved in this, you know? Or do you say that this isn't related to children, just like your father or elder sister?

– That's…

Clark falters.

– Then, I will let you continue.

– Umm, that means that the core of the Savage can be processed as a Hundred?

It was Fiona who presented a question before others.

– Yes, you are correct. The technology has already been established. Therefore, the fight for them is actually taking place among member nations as well.

– Wait a moment. Why does scrambles for it happen then? I thought the Hundred are for the sake of subjugating Savage. If the member nations are between themselves, shouldn't then the UN manage and distribute them properly like they do with the Variable Stones?

– Without a doubt, the Hundred were created for the sake of the subjugation of the Savage. However, we can understand when seeing Kirishima Satoru that the technology isn't used for that purpose now.

That is to say, like in Tokyo Hotel's live concert, that the Variable Stone is used for purposes other than armaments—except for the Savage subjugation.

– Its usage method will be expanded from now on and there's a great possibility that it will penetrate daily life. Therefore, hereafter, the monetary value of Savage's core will rise and there's a possibility that it will be treated as gold or platinum. Even if it has been decided that the UN will manage it, there are many countries and organizations that want to secure as much as possible now. If the Savage are exterminated from the universe, and there's not even one of them on the earth, then there's also the possibility that it will become a rare material, which will make it harder to acquire than it is now.

– Just because the core of the Savage might be used in our everyday lives…

It's somewhat disgusting…

Laetitia was showing an expression on his face as if he wants to give his opinion.

– What are you saying? Even the dyes of the clothes you are wearing are taken from insects, and the fur is taken from the animals, you know? The petroleum as well, since is by nature, the corpse of an animal. It's no different from that.

– I guess you are right…

Nevertheless, Laetitia is showing an unsatisfied expression on his face.

Haname also has the same feeling.

– Anyway, if mankind can achieve further evolution using the core of the Savage or Variable Stones, just like mankind uses the fire, then mankind will make use of it, and their monetary value will increase as well. At any rate, if you think what you can make, then you can make Hundred as well.

– Then does that mean that our Hundred are made of the core of the Savage?

– Please relieve, all of your Hundred are original, okay?

– Is that so…?

When listening to Charlie's answer, Laetitia shows a relieved look.

– One last thing. I believe that of course you know this as well but, the Hundred technology progresses every day, and the power of one Slayer has become more like an aircraft rather than a tank. This will also change the power balance of the countries.

– … basically, the Hundred and the Slayers will become tools of war between people.

Her eyes narrowed, Fiona spilled with a serious look.

– In the past, there were periods when mankind was thinking that if common enemies appeared, then the world should become one. However, that didn't happen in reality, the disputes between nations, including the disputes over who has the hegemony after the annihilation of the Savage, aimed at the collapse of the power balance.

– In any case, this conversation is still confidential. Anyway, it is good to know that everyone was fine desuwa.

At the same time Clark says so, his facial expression became affable.

– One more thing, Kisaragi Haname. You don't have to keep doing the escort duty of Kirishima Satoru.

– … yes.

She anticipated that order.

Even though there are two more days till the live concert, but because Haname's sense energy was considerably consumed due to the resistance of today, he thought that it wouldn't be possible to guard him when something happened.

Besides, there's the thing about Kirishima Satoru's 『voice』.

The three people seemed to be interested in the 『voice』 of Satoru who stopped the movement of the Savage.

There may be a possibility of planning to kidnap Satoru, and also probably aiming at the Variable Stone of the live venue.

Because she can't deal with those situations in this state.

And, about the 『voice』 of Satoru, it was decided that Charlie will investigate it with Man Man and Soffiane Clearrail.

The same goes for the identity of the three individuals.

Regarding the two points, since neither Satoru nor Soffiane are there, the conversation didn't turn into a deep one.

The relation between the fact that Satoru is a Variant and his 『voice』 and the relation between the three individuals and Dr. Viktor are worrisome to Haname, but there's no way she can speak of those things in front of everyone, so she kept silent.

That would be the same for Charlie.

– Well then, we are breaking up for today desuwa. It was nonsensical for an operation, but everyone was safe desu. However, Fiona Glanz, Laetitia Saint-Émillion. Despite being incited by Ellie Crossfode, having entered the battlefield without permission is an equivalent act of abandoning your life desu. We were worried, so reflect on it.

– Ugh…

For a moment, it was Laetitia who makes his eyes shine when his name is called by Clark, but as soon as he heard those words, he felt dispirited.

Looking at them, Clark unintentionally smiled,

– However, since it was a response of a state of emergency, there won't be punishment.

– Thank you very much.

Following Fiona who bowed her head when saying so, Laetitia also bowed his head.

– … thank you very much.

– Following them, Ellie Crossfode will receive 30% less salary as a member of Selections for the period of one month masu.

– Huh? Why only me!?

– Because you did something on your own accord, and because there was also the possibility that the lives of two people could be lost desu. Reflect on that.

– Okay…

And then Ellie gazed at Laetitia, who was sighing towards the carpet on the floor and asked him a question.

– Aren't you glad that there's no punishment for you?

– After all, he was expecting to be invited to Selections. That's why he tried hard on combating with the Savage.

Fiona said while smiling, and placed her hand on the head of Laetitia.

– Shut up!

And, Laetitia flares up at Fiona, baring his teeth vigorously.

Looking at the situation, Clark smiled as if he was amazed,

– As for your entry to Selections, I will consider them at a later date masuwa.

– Eh…

Laetitia stopped moving, he had a sort of taken aback facial expression.

– Of course, I know that your reactions are high, as well as the results of your recent sham battles masu. On top of that, you fought the Savage with simple armament. That should be praised desuwa. Depending on the decision of 《LAZER》, it's a safe bet that before long, you will join Selections, don't you agree? OF course, you will be granted a dedicated, and also customizable Hundred masuwa.

The expression of Laetitia who heard those words turned bright in the twinkling of an eye.

– Awesome!

Even if Fiona is stroking his head again, he doesn't flare up at her like he did a few seconds ago.

On the contrary, while showing a really happy face, 『Yeah』, he nodded, showing an exceptional smile.

End of Chapter 4


Chapter 5
Live/Reunion/Parting

Two days passed since the night of the second Savage raid on the Zwei Islands, and the day of the live event finally came.

Although the damage of the second raid was minor if seen throughout the island, the live stage suffered considerable damage by the bombardment of the Savage, and due to the several barriers deployed, the energy of Kirishima Satoru decreased considerably.

When thinking about it, the usual would be to take a whole week to recover.

Although the current situation of holding the live concert itself is worrying to that extent, 「We will absolutely satisfy the people who came and the live concert won't be outdone by the things so far, and we will do the live concert even if we have to change the production and the program」 and as result of the striking fervent speech of Satoru, no one including the fans make an objection, and if Satoru says that he's going to do it, it's thanks to Soffiane and each one of the people involved who worked hard from the beginning to make the live concert able to reach the holding.

Meaning that, on the evening of the very same day, and two hours before the starting time of the live concert, Kisaragi Haname, along with Ellie, were visiting the hospital where her little brother was hospitalized.

– Take care, Kaoru-kun. It's fine that you can enjoy yourself to the utmost today, but don't push yourself too much. I understand that it's a difficult request but, can you do it?

The man is a little older than Haname and Elliot, and wore white nursing clothes to see off a boy in a wheelchair at the exit and entrance of the hospital.

She's Kashiwagi Minato, the nurse in charge of Kisaragi Kaoru, the little brother of Haname.

Haname thought that he was going to the live with Kaoru too, but since today is his night shift, he seems to be doing care-taking. In all honesty, it's a shame because that's a place where she can be charmed by his broad-mindedness and manly chest, and by that sexy dark mole on his cheek.

– I won't cause trouble to Nee-san.

Kaoru replies, and Minato shows a satisfying smile,

– If you understand, then that's fine. Take care.

– Because I will enjoy myself for Minato too.

Kaoru operates the wheelchair himself and moves to the bus stop in front of the hospital.

Looking at that figure, 「He really understood, yes?」Minato whispered into Haname's ear, who had a wry smile.

– In case anything happened to Kaoru-kun, please contact me immediately.

– Yes, of course.

The contact address of the hospital and the phone number of the PDA of Minato have already been registered.

– What is Nee-san talking about to Minato? The bus is arriving already.

– Yeah, now I go.

Answering, Haname lowered her head to Minato.

– Well then, I'm going.

– Yes, please have a great time too, Onee-san.

– Haname is always flirting…

– … wha!

Ellie walked towards the bus, following Haname who walks towards the bus stop, and trampled down her feet firmly as he whispered in a dark voice.

– Uwaa, this is the first time for Kaoru seeing such a vast wilderness!

Haname, Ellie and Kaoru who got on the bus from the hospital, got off the bus in the middle of the bridge connecting Little Garden and Westland of the Zwei Islands, walked through the inspection and changed to a bus to head to the live venue in the east area.

Because this was a special temporary bus, the interior of the bus is full.

By the way there is no stipulation for general citizens, but the Slayers belonging to Warslan Company and the martial arts department students have been notified from the Student Council yesterday to participate wearing their uniforms.

Although they are performing a perfect security, and aside from the gang of three, they don't know what will happen, so they are doing this in case they have to cope with an emergency.

It may not be a Variable Suit per se, but it has fibers mixed with Variable Stone, though it's small for a uniform.

Therefore, it's possible to see here and there people wearing their uniforms in the bus.

Both Haname and Ellie, of course, wore uniforms designated by the martial arts department.

– Oh, there's something like a dog-chan over there!

Kaoru, who was watching outside from the bus window shouted with vigor, like rising up from the wheelchair. Haname and Elliot also turn their eyes to outside of the window.

– That's not a dog, it's a dingo. It's a kind of wolf.

– Hee, is that so? Kaoru has just become smarter.

In this way, seeing Ellie and Kaoru talking, Haname was at ease, and feeling a little glad.

It may be because there will be only a little of time for the two people after this.

And then, the bus arrived at the live venue.

According to the guide person, Haname moves Kaoru's wheelchair to the seat prepared for them.

– Wow, it's really close to the stage.

The seat they had prepared wasn't in the front, it was in the front row that is to the left-hand corner as seen from the stands.

On the contrary, the man-day guide says that the space is only for acquaintances and people concerned of Satoru, such as Haname, Elliot and Kaoru and the members of the Student Council.

It was divided from other spectators by cords and was taken into consideration that they wouldn't end colliding from behind.

I will have to thank Satoru and Soffiane-san afterwards.

(Hmm, I'll have to go to the dressing room now isn't it…?)

Last night, she had an e-mail from Satoru, saying that she has to come to the dressing room alone before the live concert.

– Ellie, can I entrust Kaoru to you for a moment?

– Yeah, I don't mind but, what is it?

Following such Ellie, Kaoru looked up at Haname with an uneasy aspect.

– Nee-san, are you going somewhere?

– There's a place I have go to for a couple of minutes. I'll be back soon, so stay here for a bit together with Ellie, okay?

Saying that, and stroking the hair of Kaoru, Haname left the spot.


– I guess it's here.

Haname goes through a number of security checks and arrives in front of a door with a label where 『Guest: Satoru Kirishima』 was written on it.

– Err, it's Kisaragi Haname.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*, what came visible to the eyes of Haname when she opened the door while knocking, was the figure of Satoru who was changing to his Variable Suit and the figure of Soffiane Clearrail helping him with that.

Moreover, Satoru has just taken off his coat, and he's in a state where white skin and two bulges on his chest and pink protrusions at their tips can be confirmed.

– I- I'm sorry!

Becoming flustered, Haname closed the door and jumped out of the room.

(No way, he was changing clothes…)

The excitement of her heart won't stop with that excessive development.

These days have been nothing but this—and as she was keenly aware of her unluckiness, the door opened.

It's Soffiane Clearrail who shows his face from there.

– I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, the change of clothes has ended.

Responding to those words, Haname steps into the dressing room again.

What met her eyes is the appearance of Satoru wearing his Variable Suit.

It's slightly different from the one she saw on the cybernet before, so it's surely a special order for this live concert.

– I'm sorry, I was wrong for suddenly opening the door a few moments ago.

The first thing that Haname does is apologize.

– It's me who called you, so don't worry about it. And it's my fault since I didn't close it with the key.

Satoru who was bashful and had his cheeks dyed red, and was looking to the floor, raised his head and continued his words.

– More importantly, do you feel better?

– Holy shit! The healing of my injuries is fast. My energy is substantially recovered too.

– I see, as expected of a Variant.

– How about the side of Satoru? I heard that you consumed a lot of energy

– Although I'm not perfect, since I'm an artificial, I'm a Variant too. So I'm almost recovered. The live concert became slightly different from the original plan, but the stage was repaired in time thanks to the people who did their best, so I'll be singing with my best effort today and return the favor to them.

Saying that, Satoru smiled.

– … umm, now that you mention it, thank you for our space. It's a pretty easy-to-see place and it looks like you also considered our safety, that really helped us.

– That was originally prepared as a space for VIP, so it's nothing. Don't you agree, Soffiane?

– Yes, so please don't worry about it.

– It helps us if you say so. What's left is, the matter of an autograph shikishi but—

– Ah, I'll do that later.

– Is something wrong?

– I'd like to talk with Kaoru-kun for a while and I considered that I'd like to hand it with my hand if I can. So, let's meet again after the live concert concludes. That moment can be at the airport of Zwei Island…

– Are you leaving this island before the day is over from that airport?

– There's a recording of a music program that also serves as a promotion for my new songs in Liberia, so I can't miss that chance no matter what. In the live concert this time, I cause trouble to Soffiane on the financial side, so I'm not in a condition where it's possible to say "let's cancel it". Actually, I wanted to talk a lot with Haname and Kaoru-kun until the morning of tomorrow when Little Garden will be leaving the dock, but this is all I can do.

– Then it will be at the airport. I think that Kaoru will surely be pleased.

– It's fine if that's the case…. Finally, thanks for coming back. I was able to calm my nervousness a lot seeing Haname.

– You sure? You don't look like that.

– Shut up, even I get nervous before the live concert! And it's my first time doing it in front of 100.000 spectators, and it has changed slightly from what I was preparing…

– Ah, I'm sorry. I guess you are right. Then, do your best. I'm sorry for troubling you, so I'll go back. Kaoru is waiting for me.

– Haname.

His voice was hanging on the back of Haname as she put her hand on the door, trying to leave the dressing room.

– … what is it?

– It's just that there's a present for Haname at the encore of the live concert, so I'm looking forward to it


When she arrived at the live venue the sky which was still a madder red was already dark when she left the dressing room.

– Oh, if it isn't Haname.

On the way back to the place of Kaoru and Ellie, a voice called her out, and Haname noticed Fiona. Naturally, Laetitia is also there, next to him. Of course, both of them are in their uniforms.

– You guys are also in the VIP space, right?

– Yeah, that's what I heard of.

– If so, come here.

Thus, Laetitia and Fiona also took up positions near Haname and the others.

– Oh, he's the little brother of Haname. He's very cute, unlike you, don't you agree?

When Fiona arrived at the VIP space she tried to stroke the head of Kaoru while cracking a joke, but *Hiii!*, he got frightened and his body, as a matter of course, paralyzes.

– Hey, don't scare him, you idiot!

– Laetitia trampled down the feet of Fiona to discipline her, and 「Ouch!」 Fiona sprung.

– What are you doing? It's part of the human nature to stroke cute things when looking at them, right…?

– Good grief, are you a little girl…?

Laetitia sighs visibly disgusted.

Then, when Haname introduces the two to Kaoru, the important points before the performance begin to play from the speaker.

5 minutes till the starting of the live concert.

– Oh, that's right, I forgot something important.

That said, Kaoru picked out heart-shaped lights while searching with rustling sounds inside of the bag beside his knee.

– Oh! Of course, we also have them.

After that, Laetitia took out two lights of the same shape from the bag and handed one of them to Fiona.

– Why do you also have something like that?

– They were being sold outside the venue, so I bought them. Speaking of the live concert of Tokyo Hotel, these are appropriate, you know.

As they were being told so, certainly everyone have heart-shaped lights.

– Nee-san is really ignorant of the ways of the world, don't you agree…?

Because Kaoru sighed as if he was amazed, Haname also received a light.

– Ellie-san, take one please.

– Ah, thank you.

Ellie also receives a light from Kaoru.

– Where on earth did you buy these things…?

Haname turned ON the light switch, and a pink light turned on.

– These were bought by Minato yesterday. And you can change the color with the switch next to it.

As he said, when pressing the switch next to it, the color of the light changes to green, yellow and white.

– Oh, it's true.

– Well, during the live concert, the colors will change automatically according to the songs.

Fiona says that it seems to be able to operate with the radio waves flying on the venue.

– Hee, is that so…?

Haname says, being impressed.

Speaking of that, she remembered everyone in the live video she watched the other day were waving the same color light.

– Ah, it looks like it's beginning.

The sound of the buzzer to announce the starting sounds, and the illumination of the stage starts to fade.

Kaoru turned his eyes full of expectations towards the stage.

The ones who came there were the members of the Student Council, commencing with Clark, along with Christa, Charlie and Man Man.

– Just right in time deshitawane.

As he said so, the group of Clark takes up positions alongside the group of Haname, and a cheerful melody began to sound from the speakers installed on both ends of the stage, blowing away the sadness of the collapsed city in one go.

A great cheer rises from the audience seating.

Kirishima Satoru made his entry while the floor of the stage opened and the audience seats shone with colorful heart-shaped lights.

– 《Arrival of the Diva》 HUNDRED ON!

He raised his red ore high, and deployed his own Hundred—《Spinning Story of the Fairy》 Fairy Fairy Tale.

Beautiful emerald green wings appear on his back that continue releasing dazzling particles.

Next, the illumination and the lights of Haname and the others turn green and the top of the stage moves to a different world, like the depths of a tranquil forest in the west.

– Now, let's go everyone! We are going to have fun today!

In the middle of the even more excited cheering, Satoru jumps towards the audience seating and starts singing.

(He really seems to be okay…)

To tell the truth, she was pretty worried, but the singing Satoru is a lively and cute fairy, flying above the heads of the spectators.

He wasn't pretending to be tough when he said he was fine, but his physical condition is really coming back.

Kaoru, who was sitting next to her in the wheelchair, was chasing with a gaze of envy the appearance of such Satoru.

– Amazing, Nee-san. Satoru-san is incredibly cool!

As the first song finishes, Kaoru claps his hands, mixed with excitement.

And after that, naturally, the live concert continues.

He understood that something had occurred there.

The stage of Tokyo Hotel is now the door to shift from 『not here, somewhere』 which is mankind confronting the crisis that continues every day to 『now, here』.

He's pulling the spectators to another world with the power of singing and the ability of the Hundred.

And yet, in his songs, there seems to be affirmations of what is living 『now, here』, and the strength to think they can live in this 『now, here』 from now on.

It's some kind of religious miracle.

That's the reason why he's called Oriental Wizard Divo and his Hundred is called 《Spinning Story of the Fairy》 Fairy Fairy Tale.

Two hours have passed since the live concert started, during which Satoru has been singing enthusiastically over 20 songs.

– Well then, the next is the last song—

When Sakura began to talk and went back to the Variable Suit state, there's a great number of voices that want to hear more songs.

However, he fade-out as the prelude of the song was played.

It began to echo the melody and sounds similar to the ethnic music of Empire Yamato.

– 《Arrival of the Divo》 Hundred On

At the same time he murmurs, the stage changes to the spring scenery of Empire Yamato, and the costume of Satoru changes to a shrine maiden.

Satoru began singing his own song while being adorned with many petals of cherry blossoms that fell as if dancing, with a big cherry tree behind him.

And finally, the demise of the live concert makes its visit.

As the song finished, the stage became dark and Satoru disappeared. However, the spectators begin to raise the voice of encore, they want to taste this happy time more and more. Kaoru was shouting, just like the spectators.

– Come on, everybody-san, raise your voice!

– O-okay…

Kaoru encouraging her, while being shy, Haname started to encore too.

Not only Ellie, but Fiona and Laetitia were also raising their voices.

Around two minutes later…

The lights of the stage turned on, Satoru remained unchanged in his rockstar costume, and the hall was enveloped again by great cheers.

– Everyone, thank you for the encore. But, can you keep quiet for a moment please?

The venue that received those words got quiet in an instant. Everyone is listening to the words that Oriental Wizard is saying.

– I will sing an encore now, a song that today is the first time I am going to sing it live—on the contrary, it's a song I just made yesterday. So, it's not in the best shape…

Ooh! The spectators got excited.

However, when Satoru continued talking, they went quiet again.

– This is probably going to be the last song of the next album. I was continuously thinking about the song and its composition. I was very, very worried. But, I finally did it yesterday.

Saying so, Satoru takes a breath, turns towards the VIP seats, looking at the eyes of Haname and the others.

– The raid of the Savage that occurred a month ago in this island. And the raid two days ago. I am dedicating this song to those who fought at that time and protected us.

– … the people who protected us he said? Nee-san, is he talking about you?

Kaoru noticed Satoru's line of sight, and asks the question to Haname.

– I guess, so…

Kaoru was taken aback hearing that reply.

– Perhaps Nee-san was fighting in the raid of the day before yesterday—

– Ah, I'm sorry for that…

She apologized because she promised before that she would inform him properly before entering a resistance.

– But, how should I put it, I went out and I got involved with it. A lot of things happened. And it was so fast…

– I'm going to listen to that story carefully afterwards…

Kaoru partly puffed up his cheeks, and turns towards him with a pointed gaze.

– Well then, I will sing—

The lyrics put together by his singing voice and that were being carried by a gentle melody flew out, soaking deeply into the chest of Haname and the other Slayers—as well as their lovers, family members and friends.

(I get it… this is… the present that Satoru was saying, huh…)

Haname was listening to the lyrics, and realized that there was a Haname there.

(Hmm? Wait a moment… this is…)

No matter how one looks at it, this song is a love song. While Haname was bewildered, with lots of tears running down, doing big claps—and together with excited cheering, the live welcomed its real end.


After the live concert, Haname, Kaoru, and Ellie, Fiona and Laetitia, the members of the Student Council, and lastly, Charlie and Man Man, headed in four cars respectively to the airport in the Zwei Islands.

A car stopped by Haname and company who arrived earlier and waited for the arrival of Satoru. The one being transported in it is Kirishima Satoru, who changed clothes and finished greetings to the people involved at the venue.

– Haname, what do you think about the last present?

– … I was surprised that you could create that song in a day.

Haname decided to answer that for now.

– Yup, it was a good song, don't you think?

– Yeah, when I was listening to it, I felt very relaxed somehow, or rather, it deeply moved me emotionally, but it was amazing.

While smiling, she answers.

– I- I see… thank you. I'm really happy when Haname tells me that.

Satoru smiles back at her, he was shy.

– Oh, that's right. Apart from that, I have to fulfill my promise properly. Soffiane, the shikishi and a pen please.

– Yeah, yeah.

Satoru received the shikishi and the pen from Soffiane who got off from the car, then goes towards the front of Kaoru who's sitting on the wheelchair and starts running the pen on the shikishi.

– Please take it, Kaoru-kun. I properly wrote 《To Kisaragi Kaoru-kun》.

– Tha-thank you very much, Satoru-san!

Kaoru took a look at the received autographed shikishi, and then at the same time, he stared in wonder.

There, was written 『for the night of the reunion of a long time ago』—in addition to the letters "To Kisaragi Kaoru-kun" , the autograph of Kirishima Satoru.

– What's this? What does…

Kaoru murmurs, while looking up at Satoru.

– This is the answer to that.

Satoru starts singing that song.

The song that they sang together around 10 years ago.

Kaoru is often singing it, it's his favorite song.

– Satoru-san, why are you singing…?

– This song was created by my mom. And, it was me who taught you this song.

– Eh? You are lying…

Kaoru's eyes become rounder.

– It's not a lie

Satoru smiled and continued his words.

– I was surprised too when I realized while talking about it with Haname. But, this song is the proof, isn't it? I met Haname and Kaoru-kun and we spent a night. And, thanks to that night, I knew the enjoyment of singing. Thanks to that, I became the singer I'm now. I appreciate that.

Saying that, Satoru presented his right hand to Kaoru.

– It's been a while, and thank you, Kaoru-kun.

– Ah, yes… thank you.

Kaoru grabs his hand with his right hand like Satoru and shake hands.

– If you like, would you sing this song with me again?

– Eh, that's…. For me, to be singing together with Satoru-san…

– You were quite skillful at that time, you know. I thought you had a very beautiful voice. So, let's do it together, what do you say?

And Satoru starts to sing.

Although confused, Kaoru started to sing, following after him.

– Hey, Haname. What does he mean with 10 years ago?

Standing next to her, Ellie asks a question.

– I'll tell you about it later.

– Honestly, I'm very bothered by it but…. At the time of the encore, Kirishima-san was singing something…

Ellie mutters and complains.

And then, the song ended.

– You are the same as that time, Kaoru-kun. Your voice is pretty and skillful as expected.

– … yo- you think so?

– Yup, unlike Haname.

When hearing the words of Satoru, the memory of 10 years ago is brought back.

The two of them completely made fun of Haname.

– Hey, it's not worth to worry about me, you know? In the first place, I'm not singing now.

– Then Haname will sing the next too?

– That's right, Ne-san will also sing.

– No, I pass…

In any case, she decided to not sing.

– You see? You can't sing properly after all.

Of course, Haname couldn't deny that thing about her.

Kaoru is laughing, looking at her.

(Well, if I can see Kaoru laugh in front of other people like this, then it's fine…)

Haname thought so.

– Well, it's almost time.

Soffiane muttered, looking at the clock, and walked towards the location of Clark.

– Clark-san. For the security of today and everything else, thank you very much.

– Likewise, thank you very much for inviting us to the live concert masu. The residents of Little Garden, and us the Slayers, are very pleased mashitawa. I thank you from the bottom of my heart as the Student Council President of Little Garden masu.

Saying that, Clark continues giving his thanks.

– It is I who should say so, and I am sorry for the various inconveniences. From now on and together with Warslan Company, we look forward to working with you masuwa.

Yes, the guard of Satoru will be done by the Slayers belonging to Warslan Company in the future. There's also the matter where his voice affected the Savage, so he judged that there was a possibility that the gang of three could be after Satoru and the staff.

– What's left, is…

– Hmm? Do you need something from me?

Soffiane starts to walk to the side of Charlie.

– Charlie, I'll leave to you the matter of the investigation of the three guys.

– …. I know. I will also perform a perfect and proper analysis of his voice.

– I'm sorry for causing you trouble again.

– Huuh? I can't help but think this is also destiny. In the first place, I chose that road. Besides, I'm happy.

– Eh…?

– I was watching the live concert, and I felt the accomplishment that the technology that we created and cultivated together were useful for mankind. Honestly, I was so moved that I got goosebumps.

– … impossible, to be told such a thing from you.

Tears spilled from the eyes of Soffiane who heard those words.

– You can't endure the happiness, right?

– Yes, as you said.

Soffiane and Charlie shake hands.

Apparently, the helicopter had its preparations ready.

The pilot calls out Soffiane.

– Satoru, I know you are reluctant to part, but let's go.

– Wait a little more.

Satoru said that to Soffiane, who walks towards the helicopter, and took out the PDA from his pocket in front of Kaoru.

– Kaoru-kun, let's exchange contacts.

– … eh, it's that alright?

Kaoru blinks continuously her eyelids, being surprised*.

– Yup, I'll be happy if we could get along from now on. Besides, I want to ask you a lot of things.

– Things you want me to ask?

– Yeah, that's right. I want to ask things.

Saying that, Satoru turns his eyes to Haname.

– … don't blow unnecessary things into Kaoru.

– I know .

And Satoru, who exchanged contact address with Kaoru, changes the direction of his body to Haname.

– Well then, Haname. It was a short time but, thank you.

Satoru presents his hand towards Haname.

– Yeah, likewise—

And, Satoru grasps the hand that Haname presented and draws her towards himself in one go.

– Eh…?

Haname's body approaches Satoru in an instant.

To her cheek, Satoru gave it a *chuu*, a kiss.

– Wha…!

– You!

Both Ellie and Clark are opening their eyes wide, and raise their voices.

– Eh, eeeh!… Satoru-san, a ki-kiss, to Nee-san…?

Understanding can't catch up with what happened in front of her eyes.

Kaoru was showing a perplexed expression on his face, wondering what was that.

Immediately after that, Satoru who separated his lips, slipping out a smile, started running towards the helicopter with a light step.

In response to Haname who was dumbfounded seeing off his figure, Satoru, who ran up the ramp, was waving his hands and looking back just before getting on the helicopter,

Bye bye, Haname! Let's meet again. Nope, I'm absolutely sure that I'll see you again soon!

End of Chapter 5


Epilogue

– Haname, Haname…

A voice reaches her ears, making her regain her consciousness from sleep.

At the same time, she felt a soft weight that is warm on her body.

– Again, doing as you please, Elliot!

– Kyaah!?

Raising up her body with a jump, a small scream came up.

That voice doesn't belong to Elliot…

– Eh…?

Reflected in her eyes is the figure of Kirishima Satoru who was staring in wonder, possibly surprised, on the bed.

Exposing his shoulders in the same way he did when he met Haname for the first time, he's wearing rock star clothes.

– Why is Satoru here…?

Haname said while rubbing her eyes.

There's no doubt that this place is in the military section of Little Garden, and that this is her room of the female dorm, and yet, Kirishima Satoru is in front of her eyes….

– Maybe I'm in a dream?

She's pinching her cheek.

– … ouch.

Looking that figure, Satoru breathed with a sigh, as if he was exasperated.

– What are you doing, geez…

– Because it's strange that Kirishima Satoru is here in Little Garden.

Moreover, it isn't currently docking in the island, shore nor anywhere.

Little Garden left the dock from the Zwei Islands already and is cruising in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

– For your information, it's not weird at all. Because I'm Oriental Wizard Kirishima Satoru, the man who makes the impossible possible .

Saying it cutely, Satoru puffed up with pride.

– That means you came to Little Garden without permission, isn't it?

– …*shock*!

– I hit the mark, right?

Saying that, Haname stares at Satoru.

– Y-you know that you can't land in Little Garden without permission. I sent a message wirelessly to the air traffic controller. I said "if you let me land, I'll give your younger sister an autograph"….

– Is it fine for the ATC of this ship to…

Nonetheless, precisely because Haname is weak to his brother, she understands the feelings of that person.

– … err, wait a moment. You don't have permission from Soffiane-san nor the President, hmm? Then how did you get in this room—

– Glanz-san opened it for me.

– Fiona? How, the key of my room…?

And when she was saying that, she remembered that the security key of this room is the same data that she made.

(I have to change it soon, I haven't had privacy at all…)

Haname sighs deeply.

– Other than that, Haname, who's that Elliot?

– Huh…?

– You were saying "Elliot" just now. So, I guess that's the name of a boy but…

Being told that, Haname spies out her memories.

Certainly, she feels that she put out that name.

(Hmm, what to do…?)

Of course, she can't talk about Ellie Crossfode, alias Elliot Hermit.

– It's the name of the boy who was living with me at the institution. Like Satoru was doing a while ago, he frequently woke me up by getting on top of me.

– … that's not a lie?

Although she was trying to mislead him while smiling. Satoru turns a doubtful look at her.

– It's true!

Haname asserted and continued.

– I answered the question of Satoru, so I'll ask questions to Satoru this time. The first is, why is it you came to Little Garden?

– Haname, it seems you are dodging the subject.

– Never mind that and answer.

– … I came to see Haname. That's the reason why I came to Little Garden.

Satoru answers, though he doesn't appear to be convinced.

– To me, you say…?

*BA-THUMP*, her heart beat fast.

– You just came expressly here to see me?

– Yeah, that's right. Until yesterday, I had to shut myself in the studio of Liberia, and when I finally finished work, I called the pilot of the private jet and requested to ask Little Garden. There's a gift for Haname too.

– … a gift?

– Yup, where's the PDA of Haname?

– While saying so, Satoru takes out his PDA from his pocket.

– It's there but…

When looking at the PDA connected to the electrical power connector on the headboard of the bed, Satoru crawled over the bed and handed it to Haname.

– Then, I'll send you a data now.

Saying that, he starts to operate his PDA.

– And… it's done. When the reception screen opens, insert a four-digit authentication code. The number is 『9312』.

Immediately, 『Data received from Satoru-san』 is displayed on the terminal screen.

This is the reception screen.

There was also a numeric entry form in it.

– 『9312』 and…

When she enters the numbers with the software keyboard displayed on the screen exactly as she was said, the reception of the file starts.

And 10 seconds later.

*PIRORIN*, a sound sounds, and the screen displayed the letters 『Transfer completed』 and the OK button was displayed.

– That's my gift. Open it.

– This is…

When she pushed the OK button, a picture of Satoru appeared on the display, her facial expression was tinged with anxiety.

The background is from the hills of Zwei Island.

– That's the thumbnail image of my new song.

– Wow!

When Haname noticed that Satoru, who was moving his body on her bed, and approached his face from the side and looked into the PDA, she was surprised that she took distance trying to jump up.

– … what's with that reaction?

– Well, I was surprised because the distance was close…

– Hurry up and touch the thumbnail with your finger.

She touches it with her fingertip as she was told.

– No way… lewd Haname…

– Wh-why is that…?

Haname is confused, being glared at with scornful eyes.

– You just touched my crotch.

– No, Satoru told me to touch it, isn't it!?

– But I haven't told you to touch my crotch. You did it because you wanted it…

– No, not at all!

– If you want to touch it, then do it directly.

Satoru pouted his lips.

– No, because a thing like that, hmm…

A melody slowly starts to play from the PDA, and the singing voice of Satoru can be heard.

That song sounded familiar to Haname.

– This…

– That's the song I sang at the encore. It was just recorded last week, having a fresh mix just completed yesterday. I wanted this to be listened by Haname as soon as possible, so I've done this.

– Still, you could've done this with an e-mail…

– But I said that I wanted to see Haname, isn't it!? More than that, listen to the song calmly. At that time, it had only one chorus, but this time it's a full song. I wrote the lyrics and put my body and soul into it.

Haname, for a second time, listens to the music without moving.

– After a short time, Satoru opened her mouth.

– …during the live concert, I said that I created this song inspired by the Slayers who protected us, but I really created it when thinking about Haname, I wanted you to understand that.

There's no way she could say that she didn't understand him.

She remembers being told that it was a gift for her clearly in the dressing room before the live concert.

Furthermore, unlike the most, the second lyric is a clear love song towards a man.

While noticing it, Haname's chest was astir.

– Say, Haname…. Since I got separated from Haname, I continued flying around the world thanks to work. During that time, every minute of every day, I was always thinking about Haname. Holding and settling the PDA on the bed, Satoru approaches her again and looks up at her face.

– Hey, not too close…

– Nope.

Haname's suggestion was discarded with a single word, and Satoru continued.

– When I first asked Haname to get married, I wasn't serious enough. But now I'm serious. I'm an Idol of everyone, but I think it's nice to become me when I'm only with Haname, on private. I want to give the half of me to Haname.

– Well, that's a good joke but…

– I'm not joking. I'll show you the proof.

Satoru said that with a serious expression and pushed the body of Haname onto the bed as she was.

– Uwaa!?

Haname screamed and fell to the bed.

It's in a state where Satoru is on top of her.

– Haname, this is my seriousness.

The distance between their lips approaches until it was 5 centimeters.

And then, the door of the room is suddenly opened.

– So this is where you are, trespasser! Wha, what are you guys doing…!?

Who came into the room was Clark Harvey, the president of Little Garden.

Speaking of which, she remembers this kind of thing happened before.

The situation that this has become resembled the one with Elliot.

– Why is the President in my room with such a timing…?

– Kyaah!?

Haname stands up with enough momentum to shake off Satoru who's on top of her body and asks Clark.

– It's because I received a message from Soffiane Clearrail that Kirishima Satoru could have headed to Little Garden desuwa!

Resolutely saying so, Clark pointed with his right index finger to Satoru.

– Kirishima Satoru, even if you are a client of the Warslan Company, your selfish invasion into Little Garden is a felony desu. I will have to restrain you immediately masuwa.

– No, it's not illegal. I got permission from the administration department properly.

– After all, I'm sure you inveigled them by giving them an autograph, yes?

– WHA, how did you know that!?

– I can imagine you doing that masu. Whatever, if you don't get my approval, then it's illegal. I will be getting you out and away masuwayo.

– If that's the case, Clark Harvey. Make me a student of the martial arts department.

– … what?

Naturally, Clark showed a taken aback-like expression on his face.

– Didn't you hear me, Clark Harvey? Incorporate me into the martial arts department of Little Garden. I have already got permission from Warslan HQ and I have submitted the necessary documents. Only thing that remains is your signature.

– Wait a moment, why are you going with this masunoyo!?

– So I can stay here without problems, don't you think? And this won't be trespassing as well.

– Even though you are a Slayer, you can't generate things like weapons in the first place, am I correct? That's why I can't permit it as well as to take the examination for the martial arts department masenwayo.

– But, "my voice" has some kind of effect to the Savage, isn't it? And I think it's like a very effective weapon.

– Kuh…

He assessed that perhaps he was completely right.

Clark warps his facial expression in frustration.

– Besides, although I'm a student, I know that there are some students in the martial arts department who have already worked internships on site. Then, I can continue my singer activities and I believe that if I spend my vacation in Little Garden, then the guard labor of Warslan will be reduced, right? And if that doesn't work, then please make Haname my exclusive bodyguard.

– What are you talking about? Kisaragi Haname is still a first-year student. Intern starts from third year and she has plenty of things to learn here yet masuwa! Therefore, I won't allow it masen. That also goes for your admission desuwa!

– It can't be helped. If that's the case, then have Haname quit the martial arts department and have him become my exclusive bodyguard.

– Why am I going to do that!?

– Why would I do that desuka!?

Haname and Clark's voice overlapped.

– Why you say? So I can hire Haname directly. I'll pay 10 times more salary than Warslan. On the contrary, I'll take care of her for the rest of our lives. What do you think, Haname?

– Even if you tell me what do I think…

Although she's not worried about money, because of the treatment of her little brother, there's the thing with Elliot, and she feels that she wants to save a lot of people by fighting the Savage with her own abilities.

Because of that, Haname was about to attempt to refuse that.

When the door of the room opened again.

– Huh? Why is the Prez here….? Moreover Haname, what's with that appearance…?

Ellie glares at Haname with half-opened eyes.

At any rate, Haname who was getting up as she is, with an appearance of no more than undershirt and underpants, it was expected for her to be like that since Clark and Satoru, who originally shouldn't be here, are in the room.

– I- I was chasing after Kirishima Satoru who trespassed into Little Garden and crept in the room of Kisaragi Haname—ah…

Saying that much, Clark noticed something.

– More importantly, why do you have the key of this room…? Huh? You haven't rewritten the data yet masennone!?

– Ah, you got me.

Ahaha, Ellie laughs.

– Ellie Crossfode, you broke the promise masuwayo!

– Leaving that aside, the problem now is Kirishima-san. Haname, since you are like that, what kind of things did you do with Kirishima-san?

– No, there's profound reason for this…

– Yeah, the reason is a secret, it's something between Haname and me, and you are not allo〜wed to know it.

Saying so, Satoru came back to the bed and stuck to the body of Haname perfectly.

– Hey, stop it! This kind of situation it's not a laughing matter, you know!?

– Hee, a secret, huh… So, I wonder if you could tell me too. I'm very interested…

Ellie's words were without intonation.

It looks like he's doing that to suppress his anger.

Haname's back muscles shivers with cold, because of the eerie fear contained in those words.

– Because it's a secret, it's a secret. Right, Haname?

Satoru laughs with an *Ehe*, gluing his body even more.

Because of that, the facial expression of Ellie stiffened more and more.

– Ahaha, I see….. Yeah, Haname. We are women of the same age. So, I really want to get into the secret of boys. Then, for the sake of reference for the future, let me listen to it with full details… aha, aha, hahahaha…

Ellie who has a right about-face while saying so, tries to go out and away from the room.

If he stayed here any longer, he judged that he couldn't bear that he's a woman.

A hardened smile was sticking to his face.

Thereupon, Clark opened his mouth.

– Anyway Kirishima Satoru, hurry up and get away from Kisaragi Haname!

Clark, who approached Satoru, pulled his clothes and tried to separate him from Haname.

– Wait, what are you doing!

– What, you say? In the first place, this dorm is the female dorm desuwayo. In other words, no male admission. That's why hurry up and get out masuwayo!

– Yeah, that's right. It's bullshit for men to enter this dorm!

Ellie suddenly turns around his body towards Clark and Satoru.

– So Prez, quickly leave this women's dorm together with that man. If the two of you keep fighting over this, there would be strange rumors about Haname and it will be difficult for her to keep living in Little Garden.

– How dare you to set yourself aside from this situation…!

– What's that about my situation?

*FUFUN*, Ellie behaves like a spoiled child.

It seems that Clark is trying to say that he's a man in front of Satoru, but in this situation, he doesn't know who's going to step on a land mine.

With that much, Haname proposes while her cheeks have a cramp.

– Umm, for the time being, why don't all of you leave from my room?

– No way!

– Nope.

– No desuwa!

The voices of the three people gathered.

– Listen up you guys, all of you, leave!


Early afternoon of Sunday.

A little more than a month after leaving the Zwei Islands, Little Garden was sailing over the Pacific Ocean near Mauna Kea Island, located 20 degrees north and 155 degrees west, and that is part of the Liberian territory.

There are no clouds in the sky, it's blue and clear.

Most of the students and residents of such a day will be enjoying it doing shopping, doing exercise as the sweat floats on their foreheads, etcetera, while receiving the sunshine that shines and dazzles from above their heads.

However, the captain, the king, Clark Harvey, was walking in a narrow corridor having only a width of about one person, that relies on small lightning installed near underfoot.

What he finally reached and that is in front of him was a tightly closed thick door, where a plate is place on it and has 《STAFF ONLY, DO NOT ENTER》 KEEP OUT written on it.

When he put the PDA on the scanner device installed near him, the numbers from 0 to 9, the OK button—and the ERASE button are suspended.

Without hesitation, Clark hit a ten-digit code with his fingertips and pressed the OK button.

The letters 『Authentication OK』 appear on the display of the scanner device, and the doors opens…

The dark room that spreads in front of him is the same as the hallway.

Still, it seems that it has a circular hole-like shape in the center, there are many cables coming out from the wall that are connected to a large cylindrical shape similar to a capsule filled with something like a fluorescent shining water.

Inside of it, the figure of a boy similar to an elementary school student that held his knees can be seen.

Blonde hair and white skin—a boy whose characteristics resembled Clark.

– Lazer…

Clark put his hand on the capsule, shut his eyes, and called for the boy who doesn't move. Then the walls and ceiling of the room shone gently red, but Clark didn't show surprise.

He continued staring at him with lovely eyes, and yet, like clinging to the capsule.

Then, the opening sound of the door resounded.

– —who is it!?

Clark turned back and instantly removed the safety device of the gun—《N Tranquilizer》 that pulled out from his chest, and putting the finger on the trigger, he pointed towards the door.

– I'm sorry for getting in the way of the private moment of the brothers.

As he said so, Clark lowers the muzzle, looking at the figure of a white coat that held a candy with a stick in his mouth, raising his hands wholeheartedly.

– Fuck! Charlie Dimandias, what are you doing here—

– I was looking for you. I wanted to tell you a secret. Just the two of us—no, let's have a talk, the three of us, okay?

End of Volume 2


Cast:

Elliot Gudenburg: Megumi Ogata (Japanese); Spike Spencer (English)

Krovanh Olfred: Kana Hanazawa (Japanese); ? (English)

Lazer Harvey: ? (Japanese); ? (English)

Nakri Olfred: ? (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn (English)

Nesat Olfred: Akio Otsuka (Japanese); Steve Kramer (English)


Well that's it for "Hundred" again. Next month, it's back to "Freezing" and then a return to a certain series on hiatus; speaking of "hiatus", this series will sadly be given the same tretment, but I might come back to it sometime later.

Later