"Looks like someone is putting on a show over there."
Rampage Dress: "That is Suzume. That performance had been recorded and is uploaded onto multiple sites."
Jin gave a low whistle at that.
From next to him he could hear Yūma give a hum and Hyuse grunting.
"Don't be like that, Hyuse. You never know when you will have to deal with that."
"What would there be to deal with? Doing some dance for a fight means nothing if you are taken out."
"Oh, so you do you think won? Her opponent was an A-Rank agent who is on par with our #6 Attacker."
Hyuse turned to glare at him, but he waved that off while he waited for his answer.
"The performer lost."
"The performer won."
His response to the answer was immediate.
Hyuse's glare became more harsh at this.
"Jin-san, did she win because she used her 'Summit Dance'?"
"Oh, you still remember that? Good job." He gave a few claps and continued to stare in the direction of the inner park. "I wasn't there at the time, but everyone told me that you had tried to fight her. How do you feel about that now?"
"It wasn't up to me at the time, but I can see that everyone was making her hold back so she wouldn't show everything to me."
Rampage Dress: "It's more like she had less freedom back then. Now that she is completely unrestrained, she can show off as much as she wants."
"And this is the end result..." Hyuse said.
Jin grinned from his spot as he lifted up his phone. The screen displayed the performance and the way both fighters had moved. It was exciting to see it, but he had wished he saw it up close.
This dance was one that really did reach the summit, as opposed to the ones he had seen before. Those had always been within the range of everyone else, but this was her way of expressing how far she would be going for her former captain.
"So, Hyuse and Yūma, do you think you could reach the summit?"
Both were silent at his question.
Out of the four people making up Tamakoma-2, these two were the most battle oriented. Their thoughts mattered more here since they were the ones directly on the frontlines.
So he waited.
.
He knew of what Kanzaki was capable of, but she had not been able to reach the summit.
She was only allowed passage to view it. And because of that...
2.7 Maime: "Your side gained something important, Mei."
Rampage Dress: "That's right. We now have Kanzaki on our side. The others will need someone at Ikoma's level or higher to deal with her one-on-one."
He grinned at that.
2.7 maime: "By the way, I've been meaning to ask. What are you doing right now?"
Rampage Dress: "Why does it matter to you?"
2.7 Maime: "I just want to make sure you are okay."
Rampage Dress: "Then you should know that I am perfectly fine. Now what do you want? You aren't a part of this mess, so that means you have something else in mind."
...I can't just worry about you?
It hurt to see that kind fo thing coming from her, but he knew that it was a good sign.
She was now fine enough to speak like that to him.
He gave a bitter smile at the message he was seeing. Even if it was a good thing, it did not mean he did not want something to change.
But I lost to him. Now this mess has started and she is in the middle of it.
2.7 Maime: "...Okay. I really just wanted to make sure to steer clear of the area. In case anything happens~"
Rampage Dress: "I figured. But do't worry, that should not be happening today. I am at my house, waiting for Minoru."
It hurt to think that she believed that was his reasoning, but he let it go.
There was something more important than that.
2.7 Maime: "Oh? You two are back to speaking with each other?"
Rampage Dress: "We were never not speaking to each other. We just didn't have time for it. It's still hard to do right now, but I want to settle things before having to go and meet up with Yuki."
That makes sense. Although, I think you're missing the more important part here.
He had seen her gain something important when they had left the city, but there were still things she could not understand until she had them right in front of her.
Her family was one of those things.
2.7 Maime: "That's good to know. Just make sure things go well for you, and don't hold anything back. You're at your best when you're going full force."
Rampage Dress: "I won't be fighting him, but I appreciate the thought. And Jin..."
Yes?
Rampage Dress: "Thank you for your help."
The message on his screen was followed with her connection going dead.
Locking his phone, Jin grinned as he turned towards the two boys next to him.
He had asked them a question and waited for their answer. To fill up that time he had decided to speak with Mei a bit.
Now he was coming out of that conversation with a warm feeling and reassurance that she would be fine without either him or that boy he had already lost to.
"Ara ara~ If it isn't Yūichi-kun. It is so nice to see you here. Did you manage to catch my daughter's performance?"
.
Yūma looked over to the voice that he called out to Jin. It had been from an older women with a small girl at her side.
He had been thinking over the question that Jin had asked him and Hyuse, but found that he could not find an answer just yet. There were too many uncertainties in that question that going either way could lead to a dead end. But...
If she is someone we need to get passed, we will make sure to do so.
The expression Hyuse wore on the other side of Jin told him that he was thinking similar. It was not a matter of "if they can" and was instead a matter of "needing to do so". Even if they could not find the answer it only meant that they would need to do so if the time came for it.
"Are these two boys your friends?"
"They are my kōhai from Tamakoma, Seihana-san. This is Kuga Yūma and Hyuse."
"Hey, hey, hey! That's the guy Futo told us about! He's seriously the one! Yūichi-chan, that's the guy, right?"
"Now, now, Mitsubachi, there is no need for that. You will begin to truly startled these boys."
"But I really, really, really wanted to see his horns!"
Yūma moved with a start.
Hyuse prepared to also shift into a fighting stance.
The two of them looked over to the small girl who smiled up at her mother before turning to Jin. She had not been fazed by their movements and only looked on with a smile.
"Hey now, that's supposed to be a secret, Mitsu-chan."
"I apologize for that. Mitsubachi, apologize to these boys. That was truly rude of you to say such a thing."
"It's fine. But this means I need to explain some things."
Even as Jin said that, the small girl turned to Hyuse and bowed her head for a quick apology. She bounced back up easily and smiled at him before turning her smiling face to Yūma. That smile was nothing but a true.
It could have been the innocence of the girl or her own ignorance, but she smiled at the two of them knowing that one of them was a Neighbor. If she knew that much then it stood to reasons she she knew he was as well.
And she smiled.
People at Border and kids like Yōtarō were fine with knowing that they were Neighbors, but this was different. This little girl had seemingly no connection to Neighbors and knew that Hyuse even had horns. But that smile never left her face.
So he made a choice.
"Hyuse looks like a goat. Well, according to Maki-senpai at least."
That seemed to be enough to lighten the tense atmosphere.
"Goat, goat, goat! Hyuse-chan is seriously a goat!"
"Mitsubachi, truly be nice to these boys."
"Okay~"
"Hahaha! It's fine. Hyuse has his own kid to watch out for. Maybe even a second one, from what we've seen over at the branch office."
Jin gave a discreet thumbs up toward him. He had made the right move by loosening the tension around them. It was likely due to the woman that Jin didn't want there to be an ill will between them all.
So he followed along with that as best he could.
...She seems very kind, so I don't know what it would take to get on her bad side.
The woman - Seihana - noticed him staring at her and he saw her eyes widen for a moment. A larger smile spread on her face and she clapped before repeating the process with Hyuse.
She must have realized something.
"Oh, are these two the boys that Osmau-kun had spoken about?"
"You know Osamu?" Hyuse asked. His answer came in the form of a nod.
"I do. He helps us at our family's shop from time-to-time. He is truly a major help when he need it, or when a big rush comes in."
From there, Jin took over.
"This is Misaki Seihana-san and Misaki Mitsubachi-chan. They are Suzume-chan's mother and younger sister respectively. They have a flower shop owned by them that some of us at the branch visit regularly. They sell all kinds of plants there, so if you ever need any, go to them. I can vouch for the great service."
"Oh my, you speak too highly of me, Yūichi-kun. I am only doing my job. Besides, it is not just Osamu-kun who helps."
"Who else helps you?" he questioned. It had come out without him knowing, but Seihana only smiled at him while lowering her hands in front of her.
"Kyōsuke-kun works part time there while Yūichi-kun assists when he is in the area. Whenever Reiji-kun comes by he is always ready to move things around when they are too heavy for the rest of us."
"Konami and Shiori usually just help arrange things while they gossip with Suzume-chan and Seihana-san."
Seihana gave a laugh, but did not deny any of it. She was a truthful woman who did not seem to hide anything from other.
Not once had Yūma's Side Effect said that she was being false.
He appreciated that.
But there was something off about this conversation. It was hard to tell with the truthful smiles and casual movements, but Yūma could tell that there was something going on behind all of that. Something that he would likely find out.
And as if to read his mind, Jin spoke up again. This time his smile was bitter as he looked toward Yūma directly.
"Seihana-san helps us a lot with just her flowers. When there are people who we want to go visit, she always gives us flowers to go see them. ...She knows what is needed whenever things like that come up."
Oh. That was what it was.
What he had not known about, but understood was there, had been this.
...They are telling me to go there when I'm thinking about what I've lost.
She was someone who understood loss in some form and had helped the other Tamakoma Branch members when it mattered for them. Maybe them helping at her shop was their way of repaying her. In that case...
I'll go and help out when I can.
But for now, he would wave off their worries, push some thoughts back, and allow himself that time later on.
"Well, moving away from such dour topics, I do hope that you three had managed to catch my daughter's performance in the park."
.
"Sorry, we only saw it on our screens. If I had known that she would be performing then I would have rushed over."
"There is no need to apologize. I am sure she will be happy to know that there were others truly watching her." Seihana smiled towards Jin as Mitsubachi nodded along. "This one in particular had so much held in it that it has put me in a good mood."
"Oh, what was in it, if you don't mind me asking."
Seihana gave another laugh as Mitsubachi grinned from her side.
As the three Tamakoma boys waited for the response, a gust of wind blew through the trees. It was nice and cooling while they stood underneath one of the trees in the park.
"I could truly felt her want to help someone. To help those around her. And to help the one who has not been helped in a long time."
"Yeah, that sounds about right," Jin said bitterly.
Seihana nodded, aware of what he meant.
Kuga and Hyuse looked between the two of them while Mitsubachi tilted her body from one side to another.
She had seen the bitterness in his smile and hear dit in his voice. It had not just been the older ones to notice it.
"Hey, hey, hey! Yūichi-chan, don't you think Nee-chan was great!? You said you saw it on your screens, but even you got to see how great she was, right?"
"Yeah, I did. She really was great. Her Summit Dance is still amazing as ever."
"Right!? But that's not why I asked." She shook her head, waving her hair back-and-forth. "Do you know seriously know the rest of the song's lyrics!?"
"No, I don't. She ended on the start of the second loop, right?"
Seihana hid her laugh this time as Mitsubachi bounced more from where she stood. The mother-daughter duo must have figured out why he was asking and took it as a sign that there was something he should have paid more attention to.
From next to him, Kuga and Hyuse gave varying looks of confusion as well.
"Heh heh. There is no need to worry, Yūichi-kun. But if you wish to know what the rest of the lyrics are, stop by to meet a certain mother. She has been looking forward to speaking with you for some time now. You have been holding back from speaking with her for a long time, and while I will not force you into anything, I truly believe that it is time for you to speak to her."
She gave a nod in his direction.
"Yes. Speak to my daughter about those lyrics. Then speak to the golden fox about what you have both lost."
He could only nod in return.
..They said they weren't going to listen in, but I know they're going to try something.
That thought passed through Minoru's mind as he entered his cousin's room.
The room had originally been a living room.
This was where he had eaten his meals and spent his time before his family had been gone. His aunt and uncle had bought the house back then and he had heard that his cousin's growing up had been taken into account when the room divisions had been made.
That was why there was a wall between the two rooms.
He did go in here from time to time. They usually ate in the kitchen, but when his cousin was busy, he would bring her food here and he would help with her work here too.
It functioned as both a work room and his cousin's private room. Which had led to something else.
"Fuji, you really don't let things pile up in here, do you?"
"Hm? Hmm, I have been compiling some old documents and converting some information into a dictionary, so you might be talking about the candidates for that. I am talking about these ones in magazine format to my right, but there used to be more."
His cousin looked back in a simple outfit. She was more vibrant and wore a black object around her wrist. Her short hair was pushed back, so Jinsei and the others said she had "the cool kind of liberal arts look". She claimed she had always been enough, but with Jinsei and others like him around, anyone would look to not be enough in comparison. She was willing to talk about her past with them and did not sound at all bitter, so they must have gotten along well.
But her room was full of information.
There were two or even three rows of large boards positioned along the wall and smaller ones filled in the corners and continued on in toward the center of the room like outstretched arms.
There was a single sunken kotatsu in the center of the room. Only the basic table was installed now since it was around that time, but she said the pleasant cooler temperature from below the floor would seep through to the sunken parts.
The sliding door to the outside was shut since she was doing business, but...
"Sit still for so long and you'll get out of shape," he warned lightly.
Not that you need me to tell you something like that...
"Good point. Once I finish with this, I'll be heading to the mall. That should fix this. Thank you for that, Minoru."
But she was not just working on personal business.
"I set a bad example for others when I get too caught up in something, don't I?"
She was trying to find an answer.
Instead of already knowing what to do, she was looking through what she had, organized it, and went over it again to make sure she had the correct answer.
Which may have been why...
"I feel bad saying this to all of you, but today's battles taught me a lot. Like how you can be on both sides of something while still showing your feelings for something else."
She smiled quietly, but then...
"Oh, right. That gives me an excuse to call Suzume over. I can get her to sing in a way that shows how each of their Rhythms were. While we're at it, why not have her do a public performance or digitize the music and sell it as a limited release? Yes, that would be a good way of doing this."
"Fuji, you can get excited over the things you like now. And don't forget that there have been a few fights that have already happened."
"That is right. Oh, but I suppose that makes sense. The people working for Border tend to be on the extreme side once they realize what they can do and what they are allowed to do. I am glad you're their friend, Minoru. Can I brag about this to the others? Can I tell them my Minoru is friends with such crazy people who make others seem more sane?"
"Fuji, you're clearly sleep deprived, so please calm down."
Kagami had said all-nighters were a type of sport and it did seem like sleep deprivation put you in a state similar to a runner's high, but...
"Have you even see those fights yet?"
"Eh? Are they up yet?"
...Why does this excite her so much?
She seemed quite interested in them. She would probably provide an amusing reaction if he asked them to come over at some point and he got the feeling she would take a strong liking to what she heard. That was a relief since he was not living with her.
But he had different business with her today.
"Um, Fuji?"
On his way here, he had mentally simulated how to broach this subject and segue into it, so...
...Okay.
He was prepared to get started, but his cousin turned around and spoke before he could.
"Minoru, if you ever don't like anything there, you can always come back home."
.
How had she known what he was going to say?
He gasped in slight surprise, but she must not have expected that reaction because he immediately said more.
"Now, when I say to come back home, I don't mean permanently. Once you're satisfied, you should go back there again. Got that?"
"...Yes."
She knows me better than I thought, he thought with a mental sigh.
He could not help but worry about her. Even if he returned here to make sure she was fine, he was sure to worry over her. So his cousin was telling him not to put a lid over those feelings and to head on back without her like he really wanted to do.
She then opened a folder sitting off to the side and held that up.
"Then again, I should probably tell you it's okay if you never do come back home. Since you're here to because I wanted to ease your worries a bit, that means you're even more worried about this than you were before, doesn't it?"
"Um, well, uh..."
She had read him like a book. So...
"Why?"
He meant a number of different things with that question.
"Here's the thing, Minoru. I say this while looking back on my own mistakes and on others' mistakes too." She averted her gaze from him as she spoke. "With Yuki and me, I was the one who was lacking in understanding, but he was the one who decided to have me rely on him. And do you know how others felt about that? Well, it's partially because of how Yuki is, but while they make sure he gets scolded for his flaws, they never did for me."
"Yes, um, I have heard about that situation from them..."
"I thought as much," she said. "Yuki is the type of person to put what he views as important before himself. He got a little better about that when Tsukiko Squad formed, but looking back at the way he helped Takeshi, Toby, and Suzume with everything involved with them...well, he was a good faker, but that same lesser view of his shines through far too much."
"Yes, well, I have been thinking about that nature of his recently."
"And another thing."
...Th-there's more!?
"Hmm," she groaned before scratching her head. "I have a tendency to not rely on many people because of my Side Effect."
"I had noticed."
"Now, Yuki and myself both spent little time trying to hide it, but when we got fed up with that, we really went all out with it."
"I see."
He nodded and she looked him in the eye.
"My point is that the both of us...were dependent on each other."
"I see."
He just about asked "what's your point", but then it hit him.
...Huh?
"Do you get it now, Minoru?"
He did. Or rather, he realized something anew.
He showed some dependent tendencies when it came to certain topics that moved around him, so...
...I can't criticize them when this matters a lot to them.
While he sat there in shock, his cousin continued.
"So right now, I think you're in the 'wanting to be dependable' mindset that precedes this kind of relationship."
.
Minoru hung his head in speechlessness as his cousin's voice reached him.
"Anyway, as your cousin, I'm pleased you are finally with someone who can depend on you while also being someone you can depend on. If you're willing to accept how these things work out, I welcome it. Besides, your relationship in this matter is a strong one, something unlike mine with Yuki."
He was unsure if he should agree with that or not. But he did feel an odd sort of sweat. Whether it was from relief or exasperation though, he could not say.
...I can't believe this.
However, he did have a question about something she had just said.
"Um, Fuji? Does this mean that you forgive Masataka for what had happened before?"
"Of course not. You are my cousin - like a younger brother to me - so I will always keep an eye out in case he tries anything like that again."
"Okay, but what does that have to do with anything then?"
"Who said I was only speaking about him?" She smiled bitterly. "There are many people who you can rely on now."
And you know what?
"Each one of them needs to have you around as well. You are a kind person who others can rely on without worry, fully knowing that you would not betray them or their trust in you. That is a lot different than how I am with Yuki. I see that now."
"W-wait, Fuji, you don't have to turn this in a praise session for me."
"I'm just saying this bring some relief into my life as well."
"I see," was all he could say. And...
"Minoru, if that feels like the right place for you, then follow that feeling. But even if you aren't returning here or come to me in worry for me with Mirai, you still have a place to rest from everyone else, so make sure you visit when necessary, okay? It would be safest if I asked my parents to simply sell this house so you don't have to worry too much."
"Worry too much?"
"It won't work for everything, but I at least need to make sure you are also safe while away."
He would definitely appreciate that since he would no longer have to choose between coming here or settling for a simplified living space.
But then she asked another question.
"Minoru?"
"Yes?"
"Why?"
He knew what she was asking. He had asked that same question to himself countless times already.
And that answer was simple enough.
"He still makes you happy."
And...
"I realized I was okay with it if you were safe."
.
"I see," said his cousin.
She nodded a few times before continuing.
"You do know I can't rely on you like I do him, right?"
"It's the clear different between having a wall for support and having a pillar."
"A pillar is nice to have around, that is why I have decided to have multiple of them around. But with that being said, a wall as a support means it can cover more than any pillar."
"Wait...are you saying that you won't rely on him anymore?" He felt bad for asking that. "So you decided to get rid of him as your support now?"
"Not in the slightest." His cousin relaxed her shoulders. "I decided that the way I will rely on him will be different than anyone else. That way I can generally rely on others more. Especially someone like you."
So...
"I want to make him realize that you doesn't have to have others rely on him and that he can rely on others as well. But I am not the one who can reach him like that, so I have to wait alongside everyone else."
But...
"The people he helps can grow weary and so can he just like anyone does with their work. Kageura can probably blow away everyone's weariness and Murakami can probably sweep aside everyone's unease, so you make sure you take advantage of that. While also helping out yourself too, of course."
"Um, yes, but I'm not good at asking for that kind of help..."
He reached up to his arm and touched his arm that had been patched up for him. That proved his comment for himself.
But his cousin had more to say.
"But you've managed to do it, haven't you? There is someone who will now help you no matter what, if you've found some people you're willing to rely on even just for moral support, and if they are willing to provide that, then I have nothing to worry about."
"R-really?"
"Because it means you have made some absolute allies beyond just me."
...Oh, that is actually a male's way of looking at it.
"Now, Minoru...one more thing."
"Hm?"
He tilted his head and she responded with her eyes still wandering through empty air.
"Maybe I am being overly-conscious here, but our parents were very, uh, madly in love with their spouses, so when I think about Yuki and Ninomiya being the targets of that kind of love now...well, I'm a little worried about their stamina."
"W-wait! Um, Fuji!? It's not like..."
"That's right. You usually have fun with him. So this only applies to me."
What in the world is this conversation? he wondered, but he expected this would be a rarity in his life. He set up a filter inside himself and then spoke with his right index finger raised.
"Well, I would rather you wait until you are both ready for whatever happens afterwards, but with the two of you...let's just say we need to be prepared for some sort of issue to come up."
"Have you managed to calm down when it comes to him?"
His cousin began adding some things into the folder she had prepared earlier. He was confident they were something that Suzume and Kunichika would make endless jokes about if they found out about this, but he knew his cousin was only trying to be nice.
...Have I calmed down for him?
No, that was not it. He had simmered down, but he still could not find it in himself to care about that boy anymore. Even while his cousin added more into the folder while muttering dangerous comments, he thought that it was far more than what that boy deserved. But then she looked up and addressed him again.
"Starting today?"
"Eh? I'm supposed to be looking for him to bring him in, so I'll probably be staying with Taka tonight. Well, I mean closely."
"That is fine. If you catch him, that means he is the one who lost. If he escape, that means he is ready to lose. So stop by tomorrow then. I'll have everything ready for you. I'll also make sure that there won't be a lid on my feeling anymore, so don't worry.
This was progressing a lot faster than he had expected. But…
"Fuji, I know you will be okay, but..."
"It worries me more to think you might be using me as an excuse to suppress how you feel. Knowing you, you won't take a big step like this very often. You need to be aware of that. And…"
She looked to the door into the hallway.
"I am not the only one who is worried about you. ...That's right. This is how things are supposed to be with family. We worry about each other while having them worry about us."
So...
"Whether I like it or not, I have to see that man as family now. He is the one who is always most worried about you."
.
Mei smiled in her heart.
She was finally able to speak like this. Speak about emotions, with emotions. It was something even a child could do, but this was one of the first times she had been able to do so with someone she cared about so much.
And now...
I can do it. I can rely on others. But more than that, I can show Minoru how much I love him. How much he means to me. And how much I want him around.
She didn't need him. No, there were hardly any people she needed.
But he was someone she wanted around.
And just the same as that, there was someone she wanted to be with.
...That's right. The last time I was intoxicated, so I need to tell him properly.
She would get embarrassed and likely cause a ruckus, but he would be fine with that. He would accept that side of her like he had many times already.
So she wanted to tell Minoru as much.
"Minoru."
"Is there more?"
"Not like before."
She could see the confusion on his face and so she continued.
"I will tell Yuki that I love him."
That's right.
"My feelings for him are not covered up, and last time had been a fluke, so I will do it properly this time. I will tell him that I love him. That I want to be with him. That I want him to be with me. I want to confirm his feelings and make sure that he loves me back."
So...
"I will beat him to a pulp, drag him to you, then you can talk."
She did not say what they could do afterwards. That was not for her to decide and it was not something she wanted her calculations touching.
Her life with others would no longer be one based on her calculations.
She was free from that.
"Does that sound fine with you?"
"...What then?" He stared desperately at her to the point of it causing her some pain in her chest. "If we can't find any common ground anymore, what will you do? Will you still be with him? Will you go back to relying only on him?"
She saw the first few tears begin to fall from his eyes.
There was soon a similar wetness on her face.
Lifting her hand to her cheek, she felt the water on her hand.
...So I'm crying too.
It felt nice to do so.
So she cried with a smile on her face.
"I will be relying on so many of you from now on."
And one more thing.
"I will still love the both of you, no matter what happens."
She had already made up her mind.
She waited for his response.
And that response came in the form of arms wrapping around her.
Smiling into the embrace, she lifted her own arms to return the hug.
Both were crying, but things were fine now.
They were fine.
Murakami walked down the road with little care for himself.
A hunt was being conducted under the guise of a festival but his mind was not on that right now.
There was something else on his mind as he walked down the street filled with festival stands and other people mingling along the street.
Kage: "So you're really going there ahead of the idiot?"
Black Wolf: "I am. If Senpai gets there before Yuki does, I'll have some time to talk with her. I know that she has been doing better, from what others have said, but I want to see for myself."
Pokari: "He's hoping to get some head pats for being a good kōhai. That is pretty clear."
"That's not it at all," he sighed with his phone in front of him.
He had been worried for his senpai and his idiotic friend for some time now. There had been things going on with them, but he had not been directly told about any of it.
That much was to be expected when it came to his senpai, but not being told anything by his idiotic friend was what had worried him the most.
There had been some others who had thought something similar.
He frowned as he switched with chat he focused on and went back to the conversation that had already occurred.
Gambler: "That stupid #3 is holding things from you, isn't he?"
WorTri: "That much is obvious. He's refusing to tell Kō something and it's caused this massive problem."
Kuma: "This issue is really because Yuk-san didn't say anything?"
WorTri: "Not directly. But he is adding fuel to the fire by not following through on his part of things. Kō is also to blame for not dragging it out of him, but it would be too irritating to force him to do that. It's better if something is done naturally about the problem."
Gambler: "We are refusing to take part in any of this, so that leaves Yūko and Kō to deal with anything that comes up. We would only be able to get involved if it was a general problem that doesn't involve that #3."
Black Wolf: "You two weren't the ones to ask Kurosaki-san and Mogami-san for help?"
WorTri: "Akashi had asked Mogami for help and Kanzaki had met Shin along the way. Both Denji and I knew of these incidents, of course, but we played no part in it. We didn't even mention it when it was brought up, so we maintained our neutral stance here."
Kuma: "I don't know if that's reassuring or not..."
Gambler: "If we go out there, it won't end well. Besides, there's still someone who is roaming around that even we are cautious to get involved with. She is just as dangerous as the two of us, so we can't move around carelessly."
Murakami had lowered his eyes and felt a bit of pain build up at that.
He knew exactly who Denji had been talking about.
There was only one person he could thing of that could cause both Sekai and Denji to worry about doing much of anything.
Black Wolf: "...Kushikage-san."
Gambler: "Be careful there. If you call her name, she might just appear."
He felt like he had at least some level of protection from the woman due to him being friends with her brother and watching out for her sister, but even he could not be too sure.
That woman was too much of a wild card.
.
Murakami thought about that family. The parents, to the sisters, to the brothers. Each one of them was unique in the way they cared for their family.
Once his mind had focused on the older brother he let out a sigh and shook his head.
He had gone over everything with his squad before and had been happy to know that he would not be held back here in any way.
"We can maintain feigned ignorance, so they might just see you acting out on your own," Kuruma had said with a bitter smile.
He had been fine with that.
"Don't worry. Even if they separate your actions from ours, we will still come to help you. Don't take things on your shoulders alone just because it's Yuki that is involved. And...let him know the same thing."
That's right.
There was no reason to hold back when he had others to rely on and could trust.
It was something he had wanted to tell Yuki for some time now, but he had never been able to bring himself to say anything.
There was just too much in the way of him expressing his words.
...Oh. Is this what Sekai-san has been talking about?
He was stopping himself from saying anything to his friend and he was the only one to blame for that.
But...
"What am I supposed to tell him?"
There were so many things he felt that he should say, but none of them were things that he would view favorably. Each thing was a criticism for Yuki. Saying any of those things to him now would only have Yuki give him a bitter smile while agreeing with him.
That was just how it was.
Happiness and hatred were things that seemed simple in concept but were more complex than anyone would expect. Murakami felt like those two were easy to understand because of their complexity.
But what Yuki had was something different. It was something that seemed complex in concept, but it was something so simple that Murakami had stumbled on it a few times already.
...His want to exist is reliant on how useful he can be.
...If others can't rely on him, he has no need to exist. Once people stop relying on him, he can leave.
...He has decided that it should be that way.
It was a cruel way to view oneself.
And Murakami knew that things were only getting worse in that situation.
Yuki had tried to help multiple time in recent events, but they had all ended up becoming even bigger problems that others had to solve.
The current situation was the end result of that.
Something was going on around them that involved Yuki, but no one really knew what it was about.
Yuki himself had decided to forego asking for any help, so those around him had decided to force their way into the problem.
Now he was injured.
He could not use his Trigger.
His real body would continue to destroy itself.
There were so many things wrong that Murakami felt a pressure starting to build up. Something that seemed like it could be fixed had gained weight to it and was now covering them like a tarp.
He could go to others and ask for their help if he thought that it would not ruin his standing with Yuki. However...
"We all understand what kind of person Yuki really is."
He was not sure what to do about this.
He had just wanted to make sure his friend and senpai were fine.
...But how can I do that when I can't even confront one of them like how I should?
He decided to view the two issues as entirely different things and do what he could here.
They would probably do the same.
They were not going to hold back just because he was here. Besides, there was a good chance it would be everyone else that are assisting that would resolve this problem.
"Ah."
He realized something as he continued his walk through the festival stalls.
He had only had time to message some others and begin his walk before leaving the school, but shouldn't he have spoken more with his classmates who were involved with Border?
But once on the road, he saw all of the people of the city rushing back and forth.
...How will all of this go down?
He could think of different outcomes and plan for certain ones, but that would simply be going off of past experiences.
If he tried to do that with the current situation, what he knew of others, and what he thought would happen, he would only get so far before reaching a dead end.
He had not put in this much thought on current situation without having his squad or one of those terrible people with him.
"What am I supposed to do?"
As he looked uncertainly around, a familiar voice called out to him from the left.
"What are you doing, Kō? If you are just going to wander around, then you should go take a bath and get some sleep."
It was Ōji.
.
People equipped for the festival and repairs walked every which way through the street's main section.
Within all that, Murakami faced Ōji with some people walking around behind him.
He knew Ōji.
In the past, he had found out about what this boy had been like while he mingled with the delinquent boy Murakami knew back then and, unless he had misheard or had been mistaken in some way, he had also been seen as a sort of delinquent.
He knew that there was some connection between his friend and Ōji.
Ōji's class was a few doors down from his own class and often times their groups would come together for lunch or head to Red Lighting after school.
They were now facing each other below the sun's rays. The crowd was moving almost entirely one way to their right and the other way to their left. Someone would occasionally carry a long table out from somewhere, so they made sure to be on the lookout for that as they spoke.
"Kō, are you going to be meeting up with that fox?"
"What about you? Are you trying to hunt him down?"
"Of course I am. That damn fox has caused such a mess this time that Border has a whole has to move because of it. ...But if I manage to take him in, I would have gain a victory over him."
"How can you be so against him if I've heard that you two were once friends?"
"Because I can be." Ōji placed his chin between his index finger and thumb. "And that is none of your concern. You may have entered Border before him, but he had been here before you were. And we have our own things to think about."
"Wouldn't it be him who is against you instead then?"
"Shut up." He sharply narrowed his eyes. "What had happened between me and him is someone that people like you should not know about. You are the one who had come in and replaced me like nothing, and you can even keep up with him properly while I can only seem to follow him. The difference between the two of us is easy to see, so it's no wonder he prefers to keep you around."
"Is that so?" said Murakami. "But I heard that he still thinks of you as a friend."
"Um, Pokari? Do you know if Ōji Squad is trying to hunt me down? I'm hoping not since those guys can be dangerous against someone like me."
"Oh, Kurauchi said he's going to try and stay out of the way, but Ōji is looking for you."
"Tsukiko, if you're headed out, keep in mind that others might rat you out at the first chance they get."
"Don't worry, I know. ...But that's fine. Anyway, I would rather not fight Kauzaki, so I think I'll try and stay clear of him."
"You still consider him that kind of person."
"That's right. Even if he doesn't like me, he's still someone who I like having around."
"Do you like him, Yuki?"
"I guess I do. But in the same way I like you, Pokari."
"I'll keep that from Kagami."
"That just makes matters worse. I don't care for him at all, so he is just forcing his thoughts onto me and trying to still view me as someone he trusts. I would rather not be on his side at all, so that would mean the two of us are also on opposing sides."
"I don't get that..."
Just as Murakami said that, someone behind Ōji called out to him.
He was a man taller than the both of them. Murakami was unsure if he knew Ōji as someone friendly or as something else. He could see that the man had a sense of danger to him.
But that aside...
"Kazuaki! Is that this guy!? The one you're talking to now!?"
"He is."
He really wished he would not turn around and create his own little world talking about him. Besides...
"Who exactly are you?"
"You don't even remember me, so that pisses me off a bit. Especially since I already had to fight one dog a few days ago."
"Why were you fighting dogs? Do I need to call the guard?"
"That won't be necessary," said Ōji with a bitter smile.
The man behind him moved forward to get a better look.
...He's actually pretty tall.
In his high school class, he was far from the tallest, but he was still average.
But this man was older than him and Ōji and his shoes gave him extra height.
He felt like the man was looming over him.
"Kazuaki. This kid doesn't look like much from last time. You sure it's him?"
"He had barely started hanging out with us during that time, so he had not been fighting during that time. He has filled out more since then, so I guess he would be able to fight you."
"He might be able to fight, but that doesn't mean he can win."
That's right, thought Murakami with a slight glare. Please let this end soon. And then...
"He's a brat."
.
Ōji thought to himself while watching his acquaintance try to intimidate Murakami.
...I guess he doesn't know that the older sister favors him.
He had a few different ideas circling through his head and he always tried to choose the best one.
He had seen some of that behavior before, but now he was certain of it.
When he was being faced with someone like this, he would normally keep things polite and keep a distance.
It probably helped that this man already had a certain aura to him, but once he realized what the man was doing, he had decided to step back instead.
He looked to the past when considering what he should do and he also knew when to change his plans.
Among Ōji's friends, Kurauchi was the type to look to the future and both Mizukami and Kageura were a little too good at changing their plans on the fly. Arafune and Hokari struck a nice balance between the two, but it did not seem as refreshing with them since he knew they worked together. And it was kind of pathetic how obvious they made it that they had fun doing so.
Striking a nice balance while being polite was a good thing for third years like them.
Ōji watched Murakami while realizing that he would fit right in as "one of those guys" once he put down his extra wall. He looked to the past and his experiences and knew when to change plans, but...
...He still needs to look towards the future a bit more.
But, he thought.
If he looks into the past so much, why does stick around with that damn fox?
.
It makes no sense, decided Ōji.
He could not think of anything he stood to gain by continuing to be around that fox as he was now.
Well, he might be thinking that he is doing us some good by keeping that guy in check as he run around and makes a mess.
He had known the fox for over a year now, so most people would assume he is just being a good friend. But he knew the fox better than that.
He would not allow something like that with such ease.
Even if he did get it in his head to let others in that close, he had no experience and would not have known how to maintain that relationship.
So why had that fox let Murakami get so close to him like that?
...Then again, maybe that explains it.
According to what others have said, there had been an incident concerning the fox and Ninomiya. He did not know what the incident was about, but it was something they had to remember whenever those two were around.
It was possible Murakami had learned about what happened. And...
"Kō, why do you continue to be that fox's friend?"
He tried asking.
He honestly did not like being weirdly bitter about this kind of thing. Something having to do with others once he had given up on it was the job of someone else, so if he did not have to worry about it, there would be no problem. That meant he could ask without worrying.
Murakami turned toward him with a big frown on his face.
"Huh? Why do I keep being his friend? Because we can be friends."
"And why exactly are you able to do so?"
"We both got to know each other."
He felt like that line held some kind of meaning.
He did not think he was lying. He was speaking to him, but his tone had fallen.
Instead of trying to dodge the issue, he was simply disappointed.
...I don't get it.
After all, it was partially his fault he had not maintained a good relationship with the fox.
So he addressed that.
"I couldn't keep being his friends after he changed."
He immediately replied while looking weakly at him.
"Yeah, well, you couldn't help that. Don't worry about it."
He did not seem to be lying.
He only sensed disappointment and regret in his voice. It was obvious things had not gone the way both of them had hoped for.
But he did have a question about Murakami's response.
...Hm?
According to him, they had remained friends simply because they could.
It was possible that he could have managed that same friendship with the fox whenever he wanted. That was why he had mentioned the change.
And he had responded with disappointment and regret.
That was all sensible enough. He had managed something Ōji couldn't.
However, that was all based on the changes that had been made by the fox.
But Murakami was the type to look back before acting.
Was it really worth looking to the past and then feeling disappointed over something he had nothing to do with?
Of course not.
If he had truly just gotten carried away back then, Murakami would have noticed how things normally ended up through the lens of several previous patterns and he would have learned his lesson.
He would have said that they could not be friends anymore, so would he really feel disappointed?
...No.
That meant he had been looking back at something that was worth feeling disappointed over when he became friends with the fox.
Murakami had looked back to the past and decided to become friends with the fox, but he had not been able to maintain that thought process.
Why had that boy befriended the fox?
Had he been trying to replace something missing like he had briefly suspected?
No. He was not someone who went after positions like that. Even if he was looking to the past, he lacked the knowledge of what had happened for looking ahead. Trying to take a spot like that would be rash.
Then he must have been focused on something more immediate.
"—"
Could it be? wondered Ōji.
"Is it the Shitokei incidents?"
.
Murakami noticed a change in the surrounding atmosphere.
But he was not the first to notice. The man quickly turned toward Ōji.
"Kazuaki?"
When he heard his questioning tone, he realized Ōji had put up his guard.
...Well, it's not like I had a chance.
He was inexperienced when compared to Ōji's forward thinking. He must have made a mistake somewhere between their conversation. Plus, Ōji was quick to catch onto someone else's weakness.
He could not like to him and it was pointless to try.
And that have been why he asked him a question.
"Kō?"
"Yeah?"
"I expected it from the fox, but are you trying to handle that on your own?"
Ōji described a trap that diligent people tended to fall into.
He could not be starting a personality pop quiz right now. He was sure what Ōji would think when he heard his answer, but if he said anything inconvenient for him, he could just say he was being overly suspicious.
So he was going to say he was right. But...
...That's not accurate.
He could not handle this situation alone. He did not even know how to start.
That was why Kuruma had told him to rely on them for this.
He could not do everything on his own.
He could not lie to Ōji, so he answered him truthfully.
"Not really."
"Oh, how mature," said the man standing in front of him.
His tone was unusually light for this scene, but...
"So you've changed, have you?"
Ōji smiled bitterly.
.
That's just how it is, I guess, thought Ōji.
He felt like he understood now.
Murakami must have tried to do something about his senpai and been told not to do so alone.
Then, he had decided that he really could do nothing alone.
As a result, he was going to meet with the fox.
Others would take care of his senpai.
He and everyone else would be focusing on the fox more than anything.
It was all how it was supposed to be.
…Then I can't get after him over it.
Whatever might happen in the future, it was all in the future. Making a fuss or acting suspicious now would accomplish nothing.
He had lost his friendship with the fox once already.
...Kō, didn't you get in a fight with him before too?
He did not know what had happened.
But he knew something had happened. So...
"Kō, I'll look away this time. This will be the battle to determine how invested you are with this friendship."
"Yeah. I know."
"Do you? You know what, Kō?"
"What?"
"Once you're comfortable with where you are, make sure you see everything through to the end."
He took things seriously, so he knew he would do that. And after that...
"Once you've done that, you can do whatever it is you want."
As he was about to walk away, he heard that boy speak out.
"Ōji."
"You have something to ask me now?"
"I do," he said. After hearing him take a breath, Murakami spoke up. "If you even want to be friends with Yuki again, well... Tell me what's going on, my friend."
Ōji's eyes went wide for a moment before he slowly narrowed them and glared at the ground.
With that, he snapped his fingers and turned toward the other man.
"Okay, I'll be leaving now. What are you going to do, Seikai-san?"
"I'll be busy with other things. So I'll see you around."
They chose to walk away, right into the flow of traffic to their right.
.
...He's way too clever.
Murakami sighed in the center of the street.
Ōji looked like a proper person, but he could be a delinquent some times. Just like he had said, he had once been friends with Yuki. While others claimed to be the same things, Ōji had been the one to know the boy much more than everyone else had. And after a certain incident concerning Ninomiya, Yuki had changed, causing Ōji to lose his spot there of his own free will. Murakami had been the one to fill that spot once he had properly met the delinquent boy.
It was probably that side of him that allowed him to form his own squad for Border in so little of a time after leaving his former one.
He was pretty sure he had figured out everything he was trying to do.
But even so...
...It's not worth getting scared over.
He had told him to do what he was supposed to do.
It would not be an issue as long as he did that. He needed to hold onto the information he had already gotten and he had to head over to meet with Yuki and his senpai.
"This will be my first time confronting them properly..."
For now, he sighed and walked down the street that contained festival stands on both sides.
Yuki glared into the air as he hid in an alleyway.
The festival going on around the city was easy for him to merge into without a problem. Someone like him could easily blend into the mass of people that filled the street without making it obvious he had done so.
With his steps light and there being no need to stay in one place, even if he would be seen by others, he would leave quickly enough that it would be hard to say for sure if he had been there at all. It was the type of movement he had decided to go with when he thought about how his older sister would act.
...Yeah, she would walk around with no problem and fight anyone who saw her.
Their younger siblings would have their own way of doing this, but she would be the most extreme here.
Now because of his way of doing things he was stuck here. There was now little room for him to move and not enough for him to escape.
After leaving the school, he had been followed by Hokari. Mizukami and Akashi had said they would be doing other things so he had left them behind while making his way to the mall. That would be where he met up with Mei and Murakami and discuss what to do with the current situation.
He had planned on going by himself when Hokari had said that he would be coming along as well.
"A babysitter is what you need, so I'll be the one to go for that," he had said with an idiotic pose.
Yuki could feel himself twitch at the memory.
That idiot. I thought he would keep up with me!
He was glad to have separated from Hokari since it gave him more freedom to move, but he knew that he needed to having that sort of backup if something did come up. He would be the one to enter a fight first and have Hokari support from behind. It became an issue when he had accidentally lost Hokari in the sea of people while he was busy moving through them easily.
Using the Trigger he had found at his family's house would have alerted Border to his location, so he had been moving while in his real body. The pain that came to his body had been worse than usual due to the damage he had sustained from Minoru's kick earlier in the day.
...I need to stay quiet though. People are already worry enough that this would only make things worse. Besides...I've already felt this kind of pain before. Dealing with it again isn't a problem.
With a deteriorating body, he understood how much pain he could take before he would pass out. This level of pain was excruciating, but not so much so that he wouldn't be able to move.
But even that was not the reason for him being in an alleyway.
No. There was a much simpler reason for that.
Damn him!
There was someone walking down the same road as him.
The crowd of people had been easy to move through, but seeing past them all would be hard for him to do. His height was already a bad factor for him, but the way they all moved was too sporadic to see if anyone particular was there until they were right in front of him. This applied to everyone.
Everyone but a single person.
Damn that airhead!
He cursed again as he looked around for the person he hated the most in the world.
He could not see the man anywhere on the crowded street, but he knew he was there.
The two had always been able to tell when the other was around. A feeling of anger and annoyance would build up until they had passed by or were directly in front of each other. It was an unexplainable thing that caused others to worry for the both of them, yet no one said a thing. Everyone had accepted it as another part of their relationship.
That was why, once the feeling came up, he had shifted through the sea of people and made his way into the alley.
But that had now left with him no way to escape.
Moving back into the crowd would put him in eyesight of anyone walking in the opposite direction and anyone who had taken to the roofs of the buildings. The other end of the alleyway was the same. In the alleyway itself, he would be seen from anyone looking directly at it from the roofs since there was nothing to hide behind in the narrow space.
If I had noticed Pokari wasn't nearby earlier, this could have been avoided. Satoshi and Ichiya had already shown which side they are on, but Pokari hasn't. As far as Border is concerned, he and Kage are still neutral.
But the situation did not involve them now.
He was on his own and knew that Ninomiya was feeling the same way he was at the moment.
The only thing now was to see if they would notice each other.
"...And here I am, without Idōgetsu."
As he prepared to turn and run using the Trigger he had found at his family's house, he felt a hand land on his shoulder and a voice to come from behind him.
"Hah. Be more thoughtful of your situation next time."
Ninomiya glared from his spot on the roof of a building.
The terrible feeling he got when near his enemy had flared up. His attention was drawn to the area where a sea of people flooded the street. The festival stalls that lined the sides created a pathway for the people to walk, yet it still seemed as if they wanted to mirror crashing waves with the way they all moved.
He had taken to the rooftop so that he would not get caught in the sea of people and end up drowning in it.
"Oshiro, let's go to this one next!"
"Um, Sumiharu, aren't you supposed to be with Ninomiya-san? Look, he's up there glaring at everything. I am sure he wants you there to so you can look for Yuki-onii."
"It's fine, it's fine~ He can glare as much as he wants. I had asked him if I could leave to spend some time with you!"
"Eh? He gave you permission for that!?"
"Well, I left before he could answer... But I'm sure he'll be fine with it!"
He could feel his irritation rise as he heard Inukai down below. The boy had rushed down once he found the Hogo Squad captain and only stayed long enough to ask fi he could go down there.
Looking over to where those voices came from, he saw the Hogo Squad captain waving slightly to him while holding Inukai's hand. Inukai had taken to leading the way so that the Hogo Squad captain would not have to worry about getting dragged away.
Nino: "Inukai, I expect you to come back in ten minutes."
Inu: "Can we make that twenty? I just found a stall that sells sweets and want to feed Oshiro some macaroons. These ones are decorated ones and I want to make sure to get a picture of him eating them."
Nino: "You have fifteen minutes."
He glared over to where he could see Inukai giving him a thumbs up and the Hogo Squad captain bowing his head in thanks. He had probably been told about the time Inukai had and was thanking him for even that much. The light blush on his face told him that any more might enough end up with Inukai not coming back.
"Now to get back to finding that damn faker."
.
There was no doubt that the faker was nearby when Ninomiya always trusted the anger and annoyance that built up whenever the faker was around. It was something he could always trust, no matter how much he tried to ignore it.
As he looked over the sea of people once more he thought about the situation.
The faker was someone who could no longer live an honest life and continue to go through his current one tricking others. Be they friend or foe, he could only continue his lie of a life.
"Tch."
And he was partially to blame.
His own carelessness had helped to cause an incident that resulted in the faker inhaling something he shouldn't have. Once the entire incident had been resolved, he had learned that the boy's body was naturally weak to illness and he would often catch a cold or other minor illnesses. What had happened in the incident had gone together with his body's terrible immune system, causing his body to continually destroy itself from having no way of getting any toxins out.
Upon learning of what became of the boy, Ninomiya had decided to go and at least see the boy.
Once he had gotten to the room the boy had been placed in he had overhead another voice speaking.
It had been Murakami.
The faker - at the time just a boy - had been giving Murakami a rundown of what had happened. Everything that he had said was what Ninomiya had been feeling about the situation. That both of them were to blame for not being able to get over their issues with each other.
Once everything had come out to Murakami, the Attacker had kept quiet about the entire thing.
Now that I think about it, why had he told Murakami at all? After everything that had happened we had come to an unspoken agreement that we would not tell anyone who didn't already know about what happened. So why...
He had not thought about it at the time, but now he realized that it was strange for the boy to have said anything at all.
But Murakami had not appeared to have told anyone else, so he decided that he would leave the Attacker alone about the matter.
And of course I have to overhear the rest of their conversation as I was going to walk in...
It had been an accident. He had meant to walk in to let them know that he was there, but the boy had continue to speak.
He had given his answer to everything that had happened.
"I think it's about time I died," he had said.
Ninomiya had stopped at those words.
And that boy had continued.
"I'll probably go by a different name and change how I am. My usual personality is a terrible one, and it helped to cause this in the first place. So I think it would be best if this delinquent boy died and someone better took his place."
"...I see."
"So with that being said... Kō? Will you continue to stay by my side to help with this lie?"
There had been a moment of silence before he had heard Murakami shift in his spot.
"If you have really decided to do this, then I'll help you in this lie. I will still see you in whatever way I want, but this lie will be what I talk about."
"Thanks. ...Sorry. I guess I should say 'thank you'."
There was no longer a boy who he needed to see on that day. The one he had seen inhale what he shouldn't have had died to others as another boy had taken his place.
Ninomiya had walked away from that room with only one thought in his mind.
Faker.
That boy was now a faker who had dragged someone else into his lie.
From then on he would only lie to others.
He would lie with a smile.
He would lie with a frown.
He would lie while walking.
He would lie with his eyes.
Even his fighting style had become a lie on its own. One that relied on copying others, using feints and tricks, then striking when the opponent wasn't aware of what was happening.
He could not fault the faker for fight the way he did, but how he went about all of it with his deceitful nature had always been the reason Ninomiya was the first to go against him.
Even now, he was going all out in order to find that faker and bring him in.
But...
He wouldn't do something like the rumors have said.
He is a damn faker, but he wouldn't go against Border like that. His new persona had been made for the benefit of others, so putting them in harms way would go against even his false identity.
So then why was there evidence that said otherwise?
Why had Ninomiya been shown what street cameras caught of the faker trying to hand out Triggers to civilians?
"Tch!"
Ninomiya clenched his fists as he continued to look around at the sea of people.
It's not like last time. Neither one of them...
No, this is different from that. This faker is even worse with how he does things.
No matter what happens, I need to keep them separated in my mind.
But that only made the situation even more troublesome to think about.
If everything was true, it meant that the faker was doing everyone on his own. That he had a reason for what he was doing.
His parents had fought Border for the right to have Triggers in case another invasion happened.
They had lost, but what had their children thought about it?
...That's not right either. Those people are the only ones he hates as much he does me.
That meant there was no real reason for him to be doing any of this.
So I'll bring him in and he can explain himself.
He can lie to a lie detector all he wants, but we can just wait things out to see what happens next.
That's right. I'll drag him back so we can see that he's too stupid for something like this and is just a faker with fake rumors surrounding him.
His anger began to build up once more as he thought about it all.
Then his eyes had landed on something.
An alleyway.
.
Ninomiya narrowed his eyes at what he saw.
A body was pressed up against the wall of the alleyway as a second person was pushed up against the first. The second person had a hand raised to the first's cheeks and seemed to be wanting to devour the first person. They shifted in their spot, slowly covering the first person.
The size of the second person was a bit taller than normal while the first person was relatively small. Ninomiya knew some people would enjoy that sort of thing, but he felt that the two of them were being too obvious with what they were doing.
The kissing couple was within the shade of the two buildings and would not be seen by the sea of people, but he had managed to see them. His position on the roof of the building gave him the best vantage point to see the two of them kissing.
"...Some people are too careless with how they go about things."
Even while in a trion-made body, he could feel himself warm up inside at the thought of doing such things with Minoru. Compared to what they have already done, kissing in an alleyway was nothing much. But the thought of doing so close to a sea of people was not something he wanted to think about.
Clicking his tongue again, he turned his back on the kissing couple and began to move once more.
"Was it a false feeling? ...Just like earlier."
Yuki held still as he felt the hand hold his cheek and a shallow breath hit his forehead.
Standing in front of him was a man he had always admired and someone who understood his own feelings as an Unneeded.
"Hah. Do you still feel like he's around?"
"...No. I'm a lot less angry right now, so I guess he left."
The man nodded as he moved back. His red hair swayed with the wind while he slouched where he stood. The next sigh that came from his mouth made Yuki want to do the same, but he held back.
"Sorry for the trouble, Sekai-san. And thank you for helping me like that."
"...I wasn't helping you, so don't think of it like that." He gave another sigh as he scratched the back of his head. "I was too tired to keep moving so I ended up leaning against the wall. You just happened to be stuck in the middle."
"I'll make sure that's the story I tell others."
"Who would you even tell?"
He had a point. There would be no one for him to tell about this to begin with. So there should have been no reason to make up an excuse to begin with.
He kept that opinion to himself, though. If it came down to it, it would be something he could tell Denji, if asked. When everything settled, if this had been found out, he would also need to tell the directors that this was what had happened.
Nodding his head with a knowing look, Yuki watched as Sekai turned to the opening he had came from.
Sekai had likely noticed him in the alleyway and decided to do something about it. The end result had been what Yuki needed to make sure he would not accidentally come face-to-face with Ninomiya. For that, he was thankful.
"Hah. I'll be leaving now. I had told my squad to do whatever they want with the situation, but I decided to stay out of it all. So don't expect me to help you any, got it?"
"I'll remember that."
After a pause, Sekai turned to look at him from over his shoulder.
He gave Yuki a knowing and bitter look before turning back around.
"Hey, You."
"Yeah?"
Sekai went quiet, but he was sure that he heard the man mutter something close to "...Don't answer when I call you like that, idiot". It was overshadowed by his next set of words.
"Even if you are Unneeded, don't think you have to do everything on your own. What you are unneeded for isn't something as pathetic as me or Denji. So make sure you properly speak with that person. He's been waiting for you this entire time, so don't make him wait any longer. After all..."
After all.
"Hah. You and Denji still have a chance to gain something you've lost."
Before he could say anything, Sekai had been swept away by the sea of people.
With eyes wide, Yuki thought over what he had heard.
Since it had been Sekai who had spoken to him like that there was meaning behind his words.
There would never be a time when that man spoke to him without wanting him to know something. To know that he was still inexperienced but would be helped in understanding what he didn't know in the first place.
It was something he was very happy to know about the man.
So he took those words to heart.
"..."
Finally letting out a sigh of his own, he turned back around and focused on the sea of people.
"...I need to find Pokari now."