"EEK! JIN!"
Said brunette only flashed a carefree grin. "Sawamura-chan. Pretty as always."
"YOU'RE THE WORST! SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS A CRIME! YOU KNEW MY HANDS WERE FULL!"
"Now, now."
Jin took the box from her hands. "Here, I'll carry it for you. You're going upstairs too, aren't you?"
Sawamura Kyoko only shot the S-rank an irritated look before kicking his legs.
"Not good enough!"
"Ow! Ha ha ha."
-0-
"Yuichi Jin! Reporting as directed!" Jin called cheerily, raising his hand for a lazy salute. Rindou was the only one that gave him a wave from the back.
He turned around, observing everyone in the room.
All of the directors were tense and staring expectantly at Sawamura, Kitora was standing off to the side with the slightly embarrassed expression, Miwa was standing behind Kido, sending a glare over to Kitora, and there was a black haired girl sitting in the chair closest to him… and honestly?
She looked like she wanted to sink into the chair and disappear forever.
"…And you are?" Jin asked her politely, because, manners.
"Mikumo Mori." She mumbled dejectedly, not even raising her head to acknowledge him aside from her introduction.
"…We're all here. Let's get started." Kido began, sharp voice cutting through the silence. "Regarding counter-measures for the abnormal gates that have been opening around the city since yesterday."
"Wait a moment." Shinoda interrupted. "Sawamura, did you find what we asked you to look into?"
The woman sighed and took a seat beside him, plucking a file off of the box Jin had helped her carry to the room.
"It matches. From the school, an ambulance picked up one student, 'Rou Kobayashi', and with a quick check of our systems… He's confirmed to be one of our more recent C-rankers, dated back a few months. I also checked for Mikumo, just in case there were any holes in her story… and nothing, she's not even in the system. She'a undoubtably a civilian."
There was a drawn out silence in the room as they all sent glances towards the trainee Trigger sitting innocently in the middle of the table.
"She still used a Border Trigger without permission. There must be a punishment for that." Kitora protested weakly.
"Technically, we can't. No one else knows of the situation that occurred at the school, and she isn't an agent that we can punish." Netsuki muttered, before speaking louder so he could be heard easier. "She can only be given a fine according to the law… however, there is no concrete proof that she 'stole' a Border Trigger, with it back in our possession, and there are no surveillance camera's stationed by the school that weren't damaged. And with her being underage…?"
"There's technically nothing we can do in this scenario, other than a slap on the wrist and a warning," Kinuta added. "However, even with no one else aware, that doesn't change the fact that a civilian has used a Trigger without permission. As it is now, we're at a stalemate."
"I apologize," Mori muttered, only loud enough for Jin to hear. "I apologize for my worthless life, I apologize for my moronic actions, can we please just move on from this topic?"
"There is one option." Shinoda offered. "According to Arashiyama squad's reports… if she truly was the one that used the Trigger, than Mikumo defeated the Neighbours at the school single-handedly. She violated the rules, yes. But someone who can perform so well in an emergency is valuable."
"What are you trying to say?!" Kinuta demanded. "That we hire her? A troublemaker that steals our technology when it helps herself?!"
"It would be more beneficial," Shinoda argued. "We can punish the C-ranker currently in the hospital for his negligence in keeping his Trigger, as well as rushing into danger with a trainee Trigger. However, Mikumo has talent that would be a waste to ignore."
Kido's eyes sharpened. "There is some truth in what director Shinoda says. But… there is no place in my organization for someone who can't obey Border rules."
Shinoda stared at him with slight shock.
"Mikumo. If the same thing happened again, what would you do?"
Mori jumped at being suddenly addressed.
"Well… I think I… it depends on the situation, really."
"See, she hasn't learned anything from this conversation!" Kinuta yelled, irritated.
"Explain the 'situation' that it would have to be for you to go either way." Karasawa interjected.
Mori shrugged. "Before… at the school— I was under the impression that the abnormal gates were a mistake. Something that Border was not aware of, seeing as how none of the civilians were notified." Karasawa nodded along with the logic. "So, it would have been a situation… probably something closest to the large-scale invasion years ago. The people that can't defend themselves need all the help that they can get. That's the circumstances for when I would do it again."
Shinoda nodded. "The sudden abnormal gates has thrown the public into a panic. Especially considering that Border hadn't notified them beforehand."
I continued. "But now that I know you guys are working on it… I probably wouldn't use the Trigger again. As long as Border is aware of what's happening, it's likely a countermeasure is being created, and... I really don't have any business to stick my neck into that."
Kido stared at her for a moment, eyes narrowed.
"I see no fault in your logic, although there are more productive ways to spend your time than to steal a Trigger and run at a Neighbour, swinging around a weapon as if you're qualified to use it."
Mori dropped further into her seat.
"Moreover, moving onto the next matter. The abnormal gates."
Kinuta grimaced. "You don't need to remind me. The Trion barrier is blocking all gates for now… but it'll only last for 48 more hours. We have to figure it out before then…"
"I see, I see," Jin mumbled uncaringly, scrolling through something on his phone.
"So that's why you were summoned." Rindou grinned slightly. "Can you do it, Jin?"
Jin gave them a laid back smile, finally looking up from his device. "Of course. I'm an elite agent, after all." Jin replied.
"You can?!" Kinuta and Netsuki yelled disbelievingly.
"Sure. We just need to find the cause, right? So that's why…"
Jin set a hand down on the shoulder of a blank-faced Mori.
"…I'd vote towards her joining Border too."
"Where'd that come from?!" Kinuta demanded, startled at the sudden change of topic. "What does she have to do with the abnormal gates?!"
"….Are you saying that she's involved in finding the source?" Kido interrupted calmly.
"Yes. That's what my side effect tells me."
Mori quirked an eyebrow behind her glasses confusedly. 'Side effect...?'
Kido stared at Jin in silence, before nodding.
"Very well. It can be arranged."
"Commander Kido?!"
"Shinoda and Jin have valid points. There is a benefit in having her join the organization. We can enlist her—"
"Wait." Mori finally snapped out of her daze. "I don't want to join. Don't I get a say in this?"
There was a beat of silence.
"You… You don't want to join Border…?" Shinoda asked confusedly.
"Why would I want to?" Mori responded, sounding just as confused as he was.
"Oh, I seem to recall…." Jin lifted up his phone for Mori to see. "…A certain someone going around, calling themselves a Border agent in the city?"
The screen was showing a clip with a ruined city in the background, and the audio could be heard by everyone in the room.
"There was a girl in glasses that saved us. She was part of Border, wasn't she?"
"We were buried in rubble. A Border agent saved us… Yeah, the kid in glasses."
"She was awesome! Lifted up the rocks like it was nothing!"
"Many at the shelter claim to have been saved by a teenager in glasses, presumed to be from Border."
"I didn't mean for that to happen!" Mori snapped heatedly. "They were just assuming, and you guys should be happy that's what happened anyway! If it was seen that no Border agents were helping the civilians out during a crisis like this, people would have rioted!"
"Well, there's not much I can say to that!" Jin said casually with a chuckle, pocketing his phone despite the tension that had skyrocketed in the room.
"Anyways, I'm not planning on joining Border anytime soon!" She got back on topic. "I only used that Trigger once so that I could save your idiot C-ranker and myself, I don't wan—I'm not doing it again!"
Jin appeared to be smug. "Really~? 'Cause that's not what my side effect is telling me."
"What the hell is a side effect?!" Mori hissed through clenched teeth, Jin aggravating personality already affecting her.
"Jin." Kido interrupted. "If she has no intention to join, stop pestering people during a meeting."
He turned back to everyone sitting down, lifting a hand. "Dismissed. The next meeting will be tomorrow at 21:00."
Mori stood up and was about to leave the room after everyone else, but a voice caught her attention.
"Mikumo."
She turned warily, seeing Miwa, who had been standing beside Kitora. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Um. Sure."
"The large Neighbour destroyed in the emergence area yesterday. Was that C-ranker also there?"
"Uh," Mori repeated, mind flashing to the large Bamster as her ribs throbbed in response.
"The students we found there were classmates of both you and the C-rank." Miwa continued, unfazed by her lame response. "And there weren't any other agents around that were listed. It would make sense if the C-Rank had done it. Do you know?"
Mori fought to keep her expression calm.
"I… Yes. The two of us were there. He took it down."
Miwa waved a hand. "I see. Mystery solved. Thanks."
The door shut with a click.
-0-
"Commander. Let my squad keep an eye on Mikumo. I suspect Mikumo has made contact with a Neighbour."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"The Marmod we recovered at the school today… was defeated with a Border Trigger. But the Bamster yesterday held evidence of a Trigger not belonging to Border. In other words, a Neighbour's Trigger."
"Hm… Why do you suspect her, instead of the C-rank?"
"During the conversation when she told us what happened at the school… She showed no sign that she was friends with the C-rank. In fact, she struggled to remember his name."
"Yet she claims the two of them were at the scene of the crime together… I see."
"We'll find proof. She'll slip up soon enough."
"Take care of it."
"And if a Neighbour is actually involved?"
"What else? Dispose of it. Neighbours are our enemy."
-0-
"In rare cases… People who have high Trion levels experience additional effect on the brain and the senses. This manifests as extra-sensory perception. Also called 'side effects'."
"I see," I mutter distractedly, staring at the mini-Replica hovering in front of me. "Like extreme senses… of sorts."
"Nothing supernatural like breathing fire or flying." Replica amended. "Merely extensions of human ability."
"Some people can hear things nearby insanely well. Or hear things far away." Yuma added, a black blob branching off of Replica and making an expression that fit my white-haired friend better than the Trion soldier.
"Whoa… Jin seems so cocky because… he has some sort of overpowered side effect?" I said, leaking a bit of spite into my tone.
'He seemed to know that I really did want to join Border, and basically told everyone. That made me mad, and his personality aggravated me.'
"I'm not sure that side effects can be that amazing." Yuma corrected. "You'll see him tomorrow, right? Ask him then."
I heard I small 'tink'-ing noise from Replica.
"Yuma, what's that sound? Where are you right now?"
"Right now? At school."
"School?" I whispered tiredly. "Why this late?"
"Replica and I had an Idea about the abnormal gates... So I'm checking things out."
"...Yuma, I'm coming over to keep you company."
I heard a startlingly loud clatter of rocks as if he dropped something before his strained voice came from the mini-Replica. "Please don't."
"Why not?" I asked confusedly, pausing in the slightly painful motion to get up.
"It's been a busy day for you. You should get as much rest as possible, and let your ribs rest for a bit." Replica interrupted.
"Really…?" I wondered. "…If you insist."
"I insist. You're such a daredevil when it comes to yourself, Mori."
"...I'm…not the brightest…." I slurred at the end, eyes finally beginning to shut in exhaustion.
-0-
I shut the gate to my house tiredly.
'I got more sleep last night than usual, but yesterday still tired me out more than usual… Ah, can't I just stay at home all day?'
"Hi, four-eyes."
I felt my eye twitch at the sound of Jin's voice, but I forced down a smart-ass remark. "Morning."
Jin was unfazed by my clipped response. "So, up ahead… there's someone that knows the cause of the abnormal gates."
"Someone you know?" I asked warily. 'Border agents really are everywhere.'
"Nope. Not at all."
"Wha—?!"
"But I think you know him."
"Me…?" I murmured back, just as we reached a sign and a fence of barbed wire.
'Emergence area…? This is where…'
"Oh."
-0-
We walked for a few minutes, before reaching a shattered area of bricks and tiles, a familiar white-haired teen kneeling by the crater.
"Hm?"
"Hi, Yuma." I greeted pleasantly.
"Oh! So you do know him!" Jin said with a smile.
Yuma nodded to me. "Hey, Mori. And… you are?"
"I'm Yuichi jin! Nice to meet you!"
"You must be the famous Jin," Yuma responded with a carefree smile. "You've aggravated my friend a great deal."
"You're puny!" Jin ignored Yuma's last comment. "How old are you?"
"I'm Yuma Kuga. I may be short, but I'm fifteen."
"Yuma, you said?" Jin's eyes widened. "Did you…. come from the other side?"
My eyes widened, and my hand twitched violently.
"Now hold on. Don't take it the wrong way." Jin stuck out an arm. "I'm not trying to trap you. I've been there multiple times… I know there are good guys among the Neighbours. My side effect tells me so… that's why I brought it up."
Yuma made an inquiring noise, while I stared at him in confusion. "What is your side effect?"
"I can see the future of the person I'm looking at," Jin replied bluntly. "Just a little bit of it."
"The future…? Isn't that too overpowered?!" I asked disbelievingly.
"When I saw you yesterday… I saw you meeting someone here today. And that this someone would tell us the mystery behind the abnormal gates. It's probably this guy." He ruffled Yuma's fluffy hair.
"…So, did you find the cause, Yuma?" I asked him tiredly.
Yuma nodded. "Yeah, just now." He lifted a comparatively smaller, bug-like Trion soldier. "There are the culprits."
"What the heck is that thing?! What kind of Trion soldier—?!"
"Allow me to explain." Replica interrupted, before forming out of Yuma's ring. "Nice to meet you, Jin. I'm Replica. Yuma's chaperone."
"Whoa, nice to meet you."
"This Trion soldier is a Rad, a small reconnaissance drone. It's been modified with a gate generator. They must have been stored in the Bamster's abdomen… we examined the recent scenes of attack, then dug up one and analyzed its program." Yuma shook the Rad for emphasis. "They operate from the Bamster and hide underground. When everyone's gone, the go on the move and spread out. They gravitate to areas where there are lots of people, gathering Trion a little at a time from the passerby until there's enough to form a gate. These gates often opened near Border agents… because they had more Trion to give."
"So…. if we just get rid of them all…?" I trailed off.
"Yeah, no. That's gonna be rough." Yuma said with a lax expression, although his voice was strained and a bead of sweat was going down his cheek at the thought of the effort it would take.
"Rads can't attack, but… there are many. We've detected many around the city. It will take, minimum, a few weeks to clear them all out." Replica added emotionlessly.
"Oh jeez…!" I muttered, pushing my glasses up to massage my temple.
Jin plucked the Rad from Yuma's hands with a smile. "This is a big help. Border can take care of the rest."
-0-
Replica hovered in the air for a few more moments.
"The readings are all gone. That should be the last of the Rads."
Jin pressed a hand to the communicator in his ear with a grin. "All right, mission complete! Good job everyone. Well done!"
"So there shouldn't be any more abnormal gates?" I asked tiredly, eyes struggling to stay open as I stood beside Yuma and Jin.
"Yup, back to normal operations starting today." Jin stretched out his arm behind his back and yawned loudly.
"I didn't think we'd make it in time." Yuma bent over the bag of dead Rads. "Having so much manpower is awesome."
"What are you saying? We made it thanks to you and professor Replica." Jin ruffled Yuma's hair again. "Shame you're not a Border agent, you'd get a medal."
"Eh? Then… give it to Mori. Or something, I don't know how this works."
I blinked blearily at his outstretched finger pointed at me.
"What?"
"Oh, good idea. Maybe we could convince Netsuki-san and Kinuta-san to brush the 'unauthorized Trigger use' issue under the carpet then, even if she doesn't want to formally receive a medal. Plus, they'd let her join without nearly as much complaining from them."
"What?" I repeated tiredly. "I don't want a medal from Border. And I didn't do anything!"
"You were a key figure for me to meet Kuga and professor Replica."
"That's a stretch." I bluntly shot back. "I don't want a medal. I don't want to join Border. I don't want it."
"Are you sure about that, four eyes?" Jin said slyly, a hint of knowingness in his eyes that made my skin crawl.
"After all, isn't there still a part of you that wants to join Border…. For someone else's sake?"
The discord and echoing of denial in my head cut off and dived into a conflicted silence.
-0-
"I want to join... so that I can protect her no matter what, and to fulfil my dream. But... I can't."
A sob.
"I can't stand to leave her alone if there's even a moment... when I can't protect myself. I don't want to be the next person to make her cry, no matter what."
-0-
A small girl glanced around uncertainly, the clock on her phone reading as '10:41'.
'...I guess I got here too early…'
A loud 'CRASH' echoed from behind her, causing her to jump frightfully and let out a small yelp, before turning around slowly.
Yuma had fallen face first, a bike tipped over not too far from him.
"Hm… A tough adversary…"
The girl stepped over, voice shaking slightly. "A-are you ok?"
"Hm? Fine. Totally fine." Yuma reassured, brushing the dust off of his sweater. "I'm not hurt."
'He's about my height…' The girl thought. 'He must be in grade school.'
"Are you learning how to ride a bike?" She asked.
"I'm waiting for a friend," Yuma added pleasantly. "So just trying to kill the time."
"Oh yeah? I'm waiting for a friend too."
"What a coincidence. Say…. can you ride a bike?" Yuma asked.
"Huh? Yeah…"
"You hot-shot…" Yuma mumbled, and for a moment, it was as if there was a sparkle beside his eye.
She rubbed the back of her neck with a small blush. "You think so?"
"I just can't figure out… How anyone can ride straight on this thing that looks so unstable. Turns out there's no gimmick after all! The shocking truth comes out…!" Yuma glanced down at the vehicle held up by his hands. "How do you ride it without falling over…? Do Japanese people get special training on it?"
'Is he from overseas…?'
A phone alarm rang out from the girl's bag, and she let out a small 'oh', before pulling it out and holding it up to her ear.
"Hello?….Yeah….Yeah."
Yuma could be seen riding in a wobbly line in the background.
"Okay, I'll wait….. See you."
He crashed down not even a moment later.
"Whoa! Are you ok?!"
"I'm fine."
-0-
"Ooh? WHOA!"
The girl began to push the bike from behind, both gloved hands clamped down on the back tire cover, as Yuma peddled as quickly as he could.
"Wow! I'm doing it! I'm actually riding a bike! AHA! I'm getting the hang of this! I'M—GWAH!"
His excited words were cut off as the girl accidentally let go, and the bike tumbled and turned into the nearby river.
-0-
"That was close." Yuma twisted his sweater, wringing out his sweater as water dripped to the ground. "I just bought that bike and I almost lost it in the river. But I made progress. Thanks to you." He turned to her. "Um… What's your name?"
"I'm… Chika. Chika Amatori."
"Hi, Chika. I'm Yuma. Yuma Kuga."
The was a beat of silence as a figure wearing a scarf stepped up behind them.
"Ah, so you guys already introduced yourselves."
Chika and Yuma jumped, startled, as a familiar voice spoke out from behind them.
"Mori!"
Mori rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm late. Stayed up late last night, so I overslept."
"It's okay," Chika reassured quickly.
"You shouldn't do that," Yuma advised bluntly.
Mori shrugged. "Habit. Anyways... Yuma, I called you here to meet Chika, and 'cause I kind of need your help… if that's okay?"
"No problem." Yuma waved his hand dismissively. "Should I get Replica?"
Mori saw Chika twitch out if the corner of her eye, just before the latter's head swung around in the direction towards the emergence area.
"Maybe later," She replied nonchalantly as she clamped a hand down on Chika's shoulder, stopping her from running away as the Neighbour alarm rang out loudly, alerting everyone to the opening gate. "Let's just find a quiet spot to talk, for now."
Yuma quirked a brow at his friend's hand confusedly.
-0-
"So…. this is Chika Amatori. She's in eighth grade at our school. She's my former tutor's little sister."
"Nice to meet you…" Chika shyly greeted.
"This is Yuma Kuga, he transferred into my classroom recently. He grew up abroad, so he's new to Japan."
"Hi there." Yuma waved with a smile.
Chika jumped. "You're in the same grade as Mori? You're older than me? I'm sorry, I thought you were younger…"
"Age matters not." Yuma dismissed.
"Anyways." I coughed pointedly. "Chika has a tendency to… have Neighbours come after her."
"Chika... attracts Neighbours?"
I nodded along, keeping a comforting hand on Chika's back as she grew silent.
"It's been happening since she was very young, I wanted to know why... in case there's something I could do." I summarized.
"Um..." Chika softly interrupted. "Is... Yuma part of Border? Is that why you asked him?"
"Uh." Yuma and I tilted our hands in a vague side to side motion, myself noticeably more nervous than him. "He's a Neighbour expert. Of sorts."
"Of sorts." He placed a hand on his chin, expression quickly sobering up. "And there's only one reason that I can think of... and that'd be Trion."
"Trion? Is it that important…?" I murmured worriedly, hand brushing silently against Chika's jacket.
"Yeah, since… Neighbours that come over to this world are… generally after Trion." Yuma faced us, eyes focusing on me for a moment before he looked back at Chika. "People with high Trion levels are captured alive. If people with low levels are captured… only their Trion glands are harvested." He motioned side to side with both hands, fingers curled as if he was holding something. "These soldiers and the Trion from here are used in the war over there."
My eyes narrowed. "Since there's a war over there, there's probably more people over here to kidnap, huh….?"
"Exactly." He sent me a serious glance. "Neighbours want people with higher Trion. If they keep coming after Chika… she must have an awful lot of Trion."
"…Trion?" Chika tilted her head confusedly.
"It's something everyone has, like a special power, that can be used to power Border and Neighbour technology." I filled in for Chika.
Yuma lifted his ring. "Should we measure it? Replica?" Replica formed from the ring, a black blob forming his shape.
"Might as well. Then we will know for certain."
"Whoa!" Chika instinctively moved back a bit.
"Nice to meet you, Chika." Replica greeted pleasantly. "My name is Replica. I am Yuma's chaperone."
"N-nice to meet you."
"Hi, Replica." I waved to him with a slightly tired smile.
"Hello, Mori." Replica opened his mouth and something that appeared a grip formed at the tip of his tongue. "This Gauge can measure your Trion."
"Go ahead." Yuma offered reassuringly, holding out the wire.
Chika's shoulders tensed. "O-okay… I'm a little scared…"
I stepped in front of her, gripping the gauge with no hesitation and a slightly bored expression.
"I'll go first, I guess. I'm kind of curious myself."
"Roger."
There was a tense moment when Yuma sent me a glance I couldn't decipher, and Replica paused.
"Measurement complete."
A cube that radiated light appeared from above Replica's head, the size making me step back in surprise.
"Whoa!"
"Oh!" Yuma stared at the cube with a hand on his chin. "This actually isn't bad! It'd have to be… just a little bigger for Neighbours to come after you."
"I don't want that." I deadpanned to Yuma.
"It's also big enough to have a side effect. Huh, that's pretty cool, Mori." He continued, unperturbed.
'…Side effect…?'
I shook my head before holding out the gauge to Chika. "You can have them measure you, it's all right. There's no reason to be scared, Yuma and Replica are good people."
Chika reached out with a notably less shaky hand and offered me a small smile. "Okay… if you say so."
"It might take some time. Would you like to take a seat?" Replica advised politely.
Chika nodded, and the two of them moved to sit down on a nearby bench.
Yuma on the other hand, turned to me with a smug grin as soon as they were out of range.
"You seem awfully protective of her."
I felt warmth rise up to my ears, and I let my fist drop down on his head with a quiet 'thud'. "Shut it. She's only my former tutor's sister, that's how I know her."
"Hm. Ok." He replied, clearly not believing me. "But… if Neighbours are coming after her, why not get the help of Border?"
I hesitated. "….Well…. Chika… doesn't want others involved." I settled for the short answer.
"Hm?" Yuma silently asked for elaboration.
"She'd rather…" I coughed. "She'd rather run away from the Neighbours by herself. I guess it's hard to understand, even for me."
"Hm…" He neither shrugged, nodded, nor shook his head. "But it's okay for me to get involved?"
"You're a Neighbour, and I'm technically covering for you." I poked him in the middle of his forehead. "So if you get into danger, it's all on me."
He frowned at my response. "Fine. But I'm surprised she can keep avoiding them, without a Trigger even."
My thoughts wandered again. "She can tell when danger is nearby. I was sceptical at first… but now, I'm pretty sure it's a side effect."
"You'd be correct." He nodded. "But about Jin… he said you still wanted to join Border. Is it because of her?"
"...Maybe at first, that's what I wanted." I muttered, just loud enough for him to hear. "But right after I took the test... I pulled out. If I died, Chika would be all alone... I don't think she could take that." I paused, audibly gulping. "I can't join Border. I can't risk dying, as conceited as it sounds from me."
Yuma stayed silent, and for a brief moment, I was afraid I had come off as a coward and lost all chance of having someone that considered me an equal, a friend.
"There's nothing wrong with that." He finally murmured to me, and the rush of relief I felt flow through my veins was immeasurable. "Nothing wrong with that at all."
-0-
"Measurement complete." Replica stated, voice cutting through the silence like a knife.
I stepped closer to get closer to them before faltering with a startled squawk as a glowing Trion cube appeared in front of me and above Replica's head.
"Whoa…!"
Even Yuma seemed surprised, as the representation of Chika's Trion loomed over us menacingly. "It's huge!"
"That's…. around 5 times bigger than mine! No, maybe even more!" I gawked, having troubles shutting my jaw.
"Quite extraordinary. I don't recall seeing many such Trion glands. You have great aptitude." Replica commented, sucking the gauge back into his mouth.
Yuma laughed nervously. "Wow. No wonder they're after you."
I kicked him in the back of the knees. "Shut it! We need to find out how to prevent that, no time to be impressed!"
He bent over, clutching his legs dramatically. "How cruel. And didn't you also compare it to your own, now quite puny amount of tri—"
"Shut. It." I hissed viciously. "We have to—"
"The most practical solution," Replica interrupted in an exasperatedly fond tone. "Is to ask Border for help."
"But Chika doesn't want that, right?" Yuma commented shortly.
"No…" Chika shook her head and stared at the ground sadly. "I don't want other people to get hurt. I've escaped on my own so far… I'm sure I can keep doing it."
She glanced up at me with an expression full of forced hope, and my heart shattered as her violet eyes stared at my own.
'…I'm useless, again. I can't do a damn thing.'
I shut my eyes in frustration, just as Yuma twitched and glanced over to the side.
"Don't move. We're Border agents."
The sharp voice cut through the air like paper, and my eyes snapped open and my head swung to the side.
There he was, striding towards us leisurely with a teammate beside him, and a phone held up to his ear.
The agent standing beside Border Commander Kido.
"It's certain. We caught them in the act."
'Miwa Shuji.'
My pulse rushed through my ears.
"That's a Trigger outside of Border management. We've confirmed contact with a Neighbour. We'll begin processing."
'Yuma.' I thought bleakly as my breath came in short. 'Replica.'
"Trigger…. on."
-0-
"So…" Miwa's teammate began. "Which one's the Neighbour?"
'They saw Replica…!' I positioned myself in front of both Yuma and Chika, shielding them with my body.
"The one using the Trigger…. was the girl," Miwa answered darkly.
'What.' My thoughts cut off. 'Chika— no, Chika's not a Neighbour! Shit, this is all my fault, I should've brought them to a safer area—!'
"Huh…?" Chika made a distressed noise, and I instinctively moved closer to her and hid more of her behind me.
"My first humanoid Neighbour, a girl? Kinda ruins the fun."
"Don't let your guard down. No matter what they look like… Neighbours are humanity's enemy." Miwa warned his teammate.
I grit my teeth. 'Shit, shit, shit, this entire situation is just absolute shit—!'
"No, You guys have got it wrong." Yuma's voice cut through the air protectively. "I'm the Neighbour."
A shocked, tense silence blanketed over the train station as I glanced at Yuma warily. '…Yuma…?'
"A Neighbour?" I heard Chika softly mutter but didn't dwell on it as Miwa spoke again.
"You're the Neighbour….?"
"Yeah," Yuma confirmed.
"Are you sure about that?"
"I'm sure," Yuma said with a tone of finality, and Miwa raised his gun.
Several 'blam's' of bullets hitting something rung out in the air, as Yuma fell backwards from the impact as my eyes widened.
'…I could see it…?! 3 bullets, I saw Yuma put a shield up too! I don't think that normal humans are supposed to see bullets move, no matter what universe we live in!'
"Hey now. What if I happened to be a civilian?" Yuma asked nonchalantly, moving his shield to the side as if to flaunt to Miwa and his teammate.
"Really, Yuma?" I mutter exasperatedly.
"Whoa!" Mina's teammate gaped. "Blocked at this range?!"
Yuma casually brushed the dust off of his pants and stood up. "Say. There's a Border agent called Jin right? I kinda know him. Can you ask him about me?"
I stayed silent, keeping Chika behind me as I watched the interaction.
"…Jin, you say?"
Miwa glared darkly off to the side, the sheer anger and hate sending a shiver up my spine.
"I knew he was involved in this… Those traitors at the Tamakoma Branch…!"
"Traitors…?!" I whispered confusedly, trying to push down the stress of the moment finally getting to me.
"Leave, Mikumo. We're under Commander Kido's orders. If you interfere, we'll have to remove you."
Miwa's teammate sent him an unsure glance for that statement, and it took me a few seconds to realize why.
'Is he…. allowed to do that…? I'm a civilian here..!'
His dark glare made me feel as if he didn't care if I was part of Border or not, so I grabbed Chika by the shoulders and started to guide her off to the side.
"Let's not get mixed up in this…."
Yuma pouted, turning his head to blatantly disregard Miwa, much to the agent's ire. "Aw, not even going to offer any help? A few tips, a ranking for these guys? Give Replica back, maybe?"
I shrugged, playfully nudging Replica to follow us. "I told you not to get caught, and that's what you did. No help can be offered from over here… especially not when I'm injured."
"Oh, come on, you spent an hour lifting rocks when it was WAY worse—"
He was cut off as his head swung backwards, a bullet grazing the edges of his hair.
"—Whoa, rude." Yuma turned back to me nonchalantly. "But anyways, thanks for staying back, Mori. They have business with me, after all. I can deal with them myself."
He waved a hand to Chika nervously from behind me, expression apologetic. "Sorry, Chika. Didn't mean to get you involved."
She sat down where I led her, staring at Yuma, shocked.
"Wow, he looks tough! Shuji, lemme fight him one-on-one!" Miwa's teammate said excitedly, already leaning forward in preparation.
"Knock it off. This isn't a game." Miwa scolded. "If the two of us fight him, he'll be taken down for sure."
Yuma's eyes darkened, the way they would whenever someone was telling a lie, and he smirked. "'The two of us'…? Well, that's a stupid lie."
My breath hitched slightly.
'Of course, there are more of them, you moron! Squads come in three's or four's, there's probably a sniper hiding somewhere around here!'
Miwa's teammate whistled. "Dang… He's no run-of-the-mill twerp. I guess everyone… has to watch out for you."
My eyes twitched violently towards his weapon, as his hands moved and thrust the spear right towards Yuma's face, who had moved to the side.
'I could see it again…?'
Yuma took a small step, posture lax. "That surprise attack lacked surprise."
My eyes caught a small slit near his neck, and I gasped.
"Your neck—!"
My voice cut off as the cut opened noticeably, finally becoming visible to everyone else as Trion gushed from the wound. Yuma's hand came up to clamp around the cut, and his eyes widened.
The spear guy sent me a clipped glance but looked back to Yuma quick enough that I thought I imagined it.
"Aw, too shallow. Going for the neck right off the bat was too ambitious. I guess I should go for the legs first."
Yuma tiled his head to the side questioningly. "How did you do that…?"
I tried to loosen my tense grip on Chika's shoulders, my panic won't solving anything.
'If you can't help, why don't you get someone that can?'
I snapped my phone out.
-0-
"Hello?" Jin's voice rung out pleasantly. "Elite agent Jin speaking. What's up, four-eyes?"
"Jin." Mori tensely greeted over the phone. "Yuma's being attacked by Border agents. Call them off, 'elite agent' Jin."
He chuckled, tone relaxed. "I can see you guys. Miwa squad, right?"
"...You knew this was going to happen." It was a statement rather than a question, and Jin grinned lightly at the aggravated tone.
"Don't worry about it too much, four-eyes, you should watch. Miwa squad is good, but…. they won't be able to beat him. Yuma is really something special."
-0-
"Just like I said, right?"
Mori's eye twitched violently, and Chika gazed at her with worried eyes as she turned to the three that had joined the group standing by the train tracks.
"Jin." Her voice was icy, and yet he only laughed cheerfully.
"I met up with professor Replica on the rooftop, so I came on down."
Jin glanced to Chika with a small grin but faltered slightly when Mori's glare intensified tenfold.
"Hello."
Chika nodded, confused and wary. "H-huh? N-nice to meet you."
Jin turned back to the direction of the fight with his hand held above his eyes. "What the heck, Yuma? You're in sorry shape."
Mori's glare turned back to Jin, and a shiver went down his spine. "Maybe this could've all been avoided if you didn't insist on being a manipulative asshole."
Jin ignored her statement with a bead of sweat dripping down his temple. "You get careless..?"
Yuma shook his head amusedly. "No. They were pretty tough."
"He got you good, huh…?" Kodera mumbled, and Yoneya covered his face with his free hand.
"Ugh, so embarrassing."
Jin looked to Miwa. "See, Shuji? I told you not to do this."
Miwa grit his teeth angrily. "Did you come just to mock us?!"
"No. You see, it makes sense that he trashed you. After all, his Trigger…"
Jin stepped up and placed a hand on Jin's head.
"…Is a black Trigger."
Mina's eyes widened in shock, and Yoneya gaped from where he was lying on the ground. "For real?!"
Mori stared questioningly at Yuma's ring. 'A… black Trigger?'
"You guys pretty well, considering. Even if he wasn't trying to kill you. No wonder you guys are A-rank." Jin casually stated, voice not wavering from the lax tone.
"Replica… what's a black Trigger?" Mori whispered confusedly.
"Hm. A black Trigger is a special Trigger created by someone with high Trion levels… to be left as a legacy after their death. A black Trigger is created when someone pours their life and entire Trion reserve into something." Replica paused for a moment as if remembering something. "It reflects the person's personality, therefore, a drawback is that it can only be activated by a compatible user. But it is far more powerful than a normal Trigger."
'"This is my dad's Trigger. My late dad"...So that's what he meant…'
"We're having problems with regular Neighbours as it is. We don't need a black Trigger as our enemy too." Jin continued. "There's nothing to gain from hounding this kid. Go back and tell that to Kido-san."
Narasaka paused for a moment before pointing at Yuma calmly. "What guarantee do we have that the black Trigger isn't allied with the Neighbours that attack the city?"
Mori seethed silently in anger, her expression darkening only enough for Chika to see.
'You all are heartless assholes—!'
"I guarantee it," Jin stated certainly. "I'd stake my job and life savings on it."
The confidence in his voice calmed Mori, and she silently gained a bit of respect for him.
'Only a little.' She grumbled in her mind, still slightly bitter about him letting Miwa squad attack Yuma.
"'Nothing to gain'…?! That's not what this is about!" Miwa's voice rose to a shout, causing Chika to take a frightened step back.
"ALL NEIGHBOURS… ARE OUR ENEMIES!"
A flash of light, a crackle of Trion, and Miwa was gone.
-0-
"Whoa, he flew," Yuma observed.
"'Bail out'. Border agent Triggers…automatically return to base when the agent's Trion body is destroyed." Jin explained, the two of them staring upwards where the flash has disappeared off to.
"So agents can escape even when they lose." Yuma summarized. "That's useful."
Yoneya cancelled his Trion body from where he was lying down. "Man, I lost! And he wasn't even trying?" He fell backwards with a dramatic 'bleah'. "Do what you want! I tried to kill you, I can't complain if you kill me."
"It's okay. You probably can't kill me anyway." Yuma bluntly stated.
"Seriously?! Okay, that was harsh!" Yoneya sat up suddenly. "Let's duke it out next time—not for work or anything. Just one-on-one!"
Yuma hummed thoughtfully. "Don't you hate Neighbours?"
"Nothing bad's happened to me because of them," Yoneya commented. "So I don't have a grudge or anything, but… The other two had their houses destroyed. They gotta resent Neighbours. As for Shuji, who just flew off…"
Yoneya slid off of the platform he was sitting on. "Neighbours killed his older sister. He'll probably never forgive them for it."
"…I see." Yuma mumbled.
"Youske, we're leaving!"
"I hear ya'." He called back, starting to walk towards them, before waving to Yuma. "See ya! Don't go easy on me next time!"
Yuma nodded absentmindedly while deactivating his Trigger.
"Now then… Miwa squad will make a biased report. I better go back to base and give mine too." Jin rubbed the back of his neck.
"Alright... I should take Chika home—"
"About that." Jin cut off Mori. "So, since you were hiding Yuma from them, they'll probably try to punish you or something. You should just come with me right now so you can defend yourself."
Her eye twitched violently, and Chika worriedly stared up at her before gripping her hand.
Much to Jin and Yuma's surprise, Mori's tense form relaxed instantaneously, and she gave Chika a small, warm smile.
"Alright, I guess I'm kind of busy… Here, Yuma can stay with you until we're done."
"I can?" Yuma muttered questioningly, and Mori ignored him.
"Yuma's also really clueless when it comes to Japanese traditions. I need you to look after him, or he'll get lost and cause trouble. Are you alright with that?"
Chika nodded with a small smile to her, the two of them ignoring the grumbling Yuma and snickering Jin in the background.
"Okay you two," Mori gave the two of them one last pat on the head before turning to face Jin without breaking contact with them. "See you guys later."
-0-
"I see… thank you for your report."
Kido's blank stare drilled into my skull, and I cried a little on the inside.
Kinuta shook his head at me. "Good grief, you're a real troublemaker, aren't you?"
Netsuki rested his hand against his temple. "A black Trigger… why were you hiding something that important? This is going to reflect poorly on Border."
"I didn't even know what a black Trigger was until half an hour ago." I weakly protested, fighting to keep my voice from wavering.
"Mikumo is correct, we don't inform the civilians about anything like this, she's not completely in the wrong here. Also, according to Jin, Mikumo has kept this black Trigger under control up to now." Shinoda defended me.
"Still, she was hiding a Neighbour! She could have mentioned this the last time she was here!" Kinuta yelled.
Jin raised a hand carefully. "Now, now. Let's think about this another way…. what if the black Trigger can be our ally?" He proposed.
Honestly, I was completely content with letting him talk everything out.
Jin continued. "Four-eyes has gained this Neighbour's trust. She can pull the Neighbour to our side. We'll gain awesome firepower without having to fight for it."
Netsuki frowned. "Mikumo isn't part of Border. Having her bring him over here would be too suspicious, and it'd put her in harm's way if the situation were to get violent. It's too unlikely to work."
I kept may mouth shut. 'Yuma would never hurt me.'
"About that, what about the issue from last time?" Netsuki added after a long pause. "The press is getting upset about a C-rank going to the hospital despite the 'no-Triggers' rule for C-ranks, and the longer I withhold the details, the messier the situation will get. Mikumo also deserves a punishment, although there are few ways to get through that matter without any legal issues."
"Didn't we discuss her joining Border last time…?" Rindou mumbled distractedly.
Kinuta shrugged. "She refused."
"And then there was what Jin said afterwards..." Shinoda glanced at the two of us, and I seethed at Jin in my mind.
'Did he need to basically tell them that I want to join Border with his damn side effect last time?!'
"It would be simpler if she joined…" Netsuki commented. "We could fire the C-Rank for using their Trigger, and it'd be possible to give her a proper punishment if she were an agent… and we'd get whatever... 'talent' Shinoda and Jin thought they recognized in her. It'd be a win-win situation."
'Would it really though?'
"I think that can be cleared up at another date since Jin said that she'd join eventually," Rindou commented, and I gave Jin a frustrated kick underneath the table.
"So, about the Neighbour…" Kinuta trailed off.
Kido nodded. "The most efficient way to deal with the Neighbour… disposing of him and recovering the black Trigger."
My hand clenched harshly at the thought, but I kept my mouth shut.
"Hm… that would clean up the issue." Netsuki pondered, and I bit the inside of my lip in frustration. "Plus a black Trigger is too valuable to pass up."
"The top three A-rank squads are away. But surely we can manage is we can use everyone else." Kinuta suggested calmly as if it weren't the death of my friend he was talking about. A fire was growing my chest at the topic, my eyes burning with rage.
"This is outrageous… It's thievery! And what about our defences in the meantime!?" Shinoda argued.
'Yuma… he really doesn't matter at all to these people.' I thought sickly, flashes of the boy running through my mind.
"There's no need to shuffle units around," Kido stated, voice clear and sharp in the conference room. "To capture a black Trigger… we will use a black Trigger of our own. Jin."
I paled drastically.
"I order you to capture that black Trigger."
'Jin… has a black Trigger…?!'
-0-
"Ohh. Nice place!"
Chika rubbed the back of her head with a small blush. "You think so?"
Yuma took a glance around while Chika stepped over to the small shrine. "Nobody comes here, and it's convenient. I use it as a hideout sometimes, and Mori comes to keep me company when I get lonely."
"You have good taste. We can have lunch while we wait for her, huh?" Yuma lifted up the bag with an easygoing expression.
Chika nodded with a smile. "Okay."
"Yuma, you're… really a Neighbour, huh?"
"Yeff."
Yuma swallowed the burger in his mouth before continuing, more clearly this time. "But I have absolutely nothing to do with the ones that attack the city."
Chika nodded. "Yeah, Mori told me." She hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth again. "Um… I have a question…"
Yuma gave a hum of acknowledgement.
"You said people kidnapped are used in their wars. How do they get used exactly?"
Yuma put his food down. "Hm. Well… It depends which country they get taken to."
"Country…?"
"Yeah." Yuma looked at her, a bit more seriously. "There're lots of countries over there, each country with their own style of doing things. The Neighbours that come over here look similar, but they're all from different places. So it depends on that countries circumstances… 'Are they winning, or losing?'…'Can they afford the time to train new soldiers?'…'Is their commander competent or not?'…The unique situation in each individual country affects everything." Yuma picked up his burger again. "People with high Trion are valuable there, so most of them should be well taken care of, as assets. They'd love you."
Chika gripped her drink. "You mean… the kidnapped people are alive over there?"
"I'd think so."
She looked down, relieved. "Okay… I see."
"What? Was someone you know kidnapped?" Yuma asked curiously.
Chika waved dismissively. "Not really… I was just wondering."
Yuma shut his eyes to hide the slight darkening that accompanied the use of his side effect as to not scare the girl. "Chika… That's a stupid lie."
She jumped. "Huh?"
"You make me share, but you don't return the favour." Yuma only sighed and shook his head. "Well, I can ask Mori later."
"What?! Wait, I'm sorry!" Chika took a deep breath and looked forward, slightly upwards from where she was sitting. "Um… You're right. I do know people who were kidnapped. My friend from elementary school, and my older brother." Her eyes grew sad. "It's my fault they were taken. I told them my secret, and got both of them involved."
Yuma nodded, opening his eyes again. "I see... That's why you don't want anyone's help. Not even Border's."
"Yeah... I'd just end up causing problems."
Yuma leaned back, stretching his arms out and backwards. "I sorta get how you feel. I got you and Mori involved today… Because I asked her to help me out, she might never get a chance to join Border. I'd feel bad if that happened."
Chika shook her head. "Don't worry. Mori-nee— Mori doesn't really get worried about things like that."
Chika raised both hands to cup them into vague square-like shapes around her eyes. "'I did it because I wanted to. Don't get ahead of yourself'… I bet that's what she'd say."
"Hm, that sounds just like her." Yuma agreed solemnly, momentarily ignoring the slight slip-up.
"Mori was more worried about you than herself. Or rather… she seems to care about you a lot. Didn't you guys only meet not too long ago?" Chika asked curiously.
"She should get her priorities straightened out. And as for how long we've known each other… It's been a week at most." He threw the last of his burger into his mouth. "She gets attached really easily. On the day we met, she almost got beaten up because she was worried about me."
Yuma pause, a thought coming to mind. "…She's like a mother hen."
"Isn't she?" Chika laughed lightly. "She's always been like that, caring too much about those close to her… I never understood why nobody likes her."
"Hm?" Yuma glanced at her. "What do you mean? I noticed no one really talks to her at school, and the group of boys pick on her cause she gets in their way a lot, but she doesn't even have any friends outside of school?"
Chika shook her head sadly. "Ever since I remember… Mori's never really talked with others. She's blunt and comes off as harsh sometimes, she gets panicked and nervous at all the wrong times, and staying calm and composed when she shouldn't... and has troubles talking to strangers…." Chika glanced down at her hands folded in her lap. "She's only even had her family, me, and my brother. But now he's gone too, so she goes out of her way to hang out with me more often ever since."
Yuma was silent. "…Really?" He pursed his lips as Kitora's scoffing expression came to mind. "She's also kind of sensitive to insults."
"Sometimes." Chika agreed. "She doesn't like being underestimated… but it happens so often. Sometimes I wish I were in the same grade as her."
"To help her, huh?" Yuma asked rhetorically. "Speaking of help, she doesn't really need to help me. Or worry."
"Huh? But aren't Border agents coming after you?" Chika asked.
"Doesn't matter how many there are, if I fight for real…." Yuma fidgeted with the crumpled ball of wrapping in his hands. "…There's nobody who can beat Replica and I." He hesitated. "….Maybe… there might be one person."
Chika tilted her head questioningly. "The guy with sunglasses on his head…?"
"Jin… He's tough. I don't know if I can win against him until I try." Yuma glanced up at the sky.
"Then what if he comes after you?" Chika worriedly asked.
Yuma shook his head. "Nah. That won't happen."
-0-
"So… why did you come to this world, Yuma?"
Yuma kicked up a few leaves. "My dad died."
"What? I-I'm sorry." Chika stuttered, startled by his apparent bluntness.
"It's okay," Yuma reassured quickly. "When I was little, my dad and I travelled to different countries. He died when I was eleven."
He paused for a moment, crossing his arms. "'If I die, go to Japan. My friend is in an agency called Border'. That's what he used to tell me, so I came here. My dad said Border… was supposed to be a bridge between our worlds. But when I got here, Mori started to protect me, telling me that Border hated Neighbours, and Neighbours are attacking people left and right. Totally different." He rested his fingers on his chin.
"Oh yeah?" Chika lifted her head. "What was your dad like?"
"He was weird." Yuma laughed. "Let's see… like, when I was six, he told me his 'three lessons'."
Yuma lifted his pointing finger. "One: 'protect your own hide. Parents can't protect you forever, deal with thing's yourself. Use your head, train, do whatever you need to do. And if you can't handle something yourself, stay away from it. Use your imagination to avoid danger'."
Chika appeared puzzled.
Yuma lifted his middle finger. "Two: 'there's always more than one right answer, there are often many solutions. Sometimes there are none. Don't get hung up if you can only think of one'."
Finally, he raised one last finger, making it three total. "And… three: 'parents aren't always right'."
Chika nearly fell forwards in surprise, and Yuma chuckled. "I know. He was weird, right?"
Chika nodded wearily, and Yuma glanced up in thought. "Well, considering the way he was… I wasn't too surprised when the world wasn't at all like he told me. The issue is… whether his friend is still in Border…. or not."
-0-
"…Why'd you make me come with you anyway?" I asked tensely.
Jin rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, seemingly carelessly. "Well, they did talk about you a bit. And they were talking about Yuma, figured you'd wanna be a part of that, huh?"
"I didn't say a damn thing anyway." I bit back. "And they were only talking about how to kill him most efficiently." My tone was icy.
"Well, now you know what's coming." His expression melted into something more serious, and his hands reached out for mine. "Here, give me that."
He lifted up my hand, and there was a poisonous remark on the tip of my tongue that fizzled out as soon as I got a good glance at my hands.
I had them clenched so tightly that it broke the skin, and a small amount of blood was sluggishly dripping from the crescent shapes.
"See? You're too tense." He pulled out a roll of bandages from his pocket and began wrapping my hands. "No reason to start getting all mad, we have a clear view of what's in the future now."
I stared embarrassedly at my hands, miffed that I lost control of my emotions in front of him. "They're obviously not going to give up on this… black Triggers sound too valuable for them to do that."
"Oh yeah, no." He agreed bluntly, easy going smile sliding back into place as we began walking again. "Kido-san's faction hates Neighbours far too much to give up on it, but I've got an idea of how we're going to do this now."
"Faction?" I asked, trying to hide the curiosity from my voice.
"Yeah," He gestured meaninglessly in the air. "It's kind of obvious, but Border is split into three factions right now. Kido-san's 'never forgive Neighbours' faction. Shinoda-san's 'the town's peace is the most important' faction. And…."
He pointed at himself. "'The Neighbours can be good guys, so let's be friends' faction, us in Tamakoma branch. Since we and Kido-san have opposite points of view… we don't get along very well."
I thought back to Miwa's poisonous glare. "…I see… So Yuma would be welcome with you guys?"
He nodded. "Well, Kido-san's faction is the biggest faction. So far, they've let us do as we please because we're so small. But if Yuma does join forces with us… the balance of power will tip. They don't want that, so they'll probably try to take it first."
'Black Triggers are that important…?!' I saved that piece of information for later. "Jin-san—"
"Oh, there's a '-san' now!"
"—This might be a bit private for Yuma… but I don't think that Border can use Yuma's black Trigger." I said dully, and his eyes glanced over at me curiously. "Yuma told me… That it's his fathers. And… If it's just been him and his father for that long… there's a possibility that Yuma's Trigger will only accept him… or something."
He chuckled. "Good observation. For a civilian, you're pretty good at figuring this stuff out."
I set aside the 'for a civilian' part and took it as a compliment. "So…?"
"That might be what happens, it might not be." Jin tilted his head side to side. "If Yuma's father really was friends with Kido-san, Shinoda-san, and Rindou-san, than maybe he's more agreeable than you think. Besides, it's not always people that the person knew when they were alive…" His hand slid back to the Trigger in his belt. "…Sometimes, it's just people that they would have gotten along with if they ever met. Black Triggers are fickle like that, you know."
Sensing a tinge of sadness in the air, I dropped the conversation.
-0-
"There they are. It's Mori and Jin."
Jin waved casually at Yuma and Chika.
"Hey there!" Yuma waved back, and I buried my face into my scarf to stop anyone from seeing the small smile from seeing the two of them.
"Did you get chewed out, Mori?" Yuma asked curiously.
I shrugged. "They're still trying to figure out what to do from the last time I was a moron…" I hesitated, sending a quick glance to Chika that only Jin and Yuma caught. "But it really hinges right now on if I join Border or not."
Yuma nodded. "I don't really get what the issue is, maybe you can explain it later."
"Later," I conceded. "But there's still the issue that Border will come after you. And did you two eat? I know neither of us had breakfast, you better have at least had lunch."
Yuma stood still for a moment, before turning to Chika with a smug grin. "You see? Mother hen."
Chika nodded sheepishly, and my mind blanks out. "What."
"Oh, yeah, I can see it." Jin nodded with a smirk.
"WHAT."
"Anyways…." Jin turned away quickly. "Back to the black Trigger issue… I've thought it over, and I think the simplest way is best."
I gave him a curious expression, and he turned to the rest of us.
"Yuma, want to join Border?"
'Too simple!' I screamed in my head, feeling my jaw unhinge as I gaped openly.
"Me?!" Yuma exclaimed, for once appearing surprised.
"Yuma… can actually join Border?! Don't you need permission from HQ to do that?" I warily questioned.
"Maybe if he wants to be an official agent," Jin responded. "But for now, he can join our branch pretty easily. A bunch of us have been to the Neighbour's world, nobody will care if you're from there. Why don't you come to check it out at least?"
Yuma hummed thoughtfully.
"I'll come if Mori and Chika do too." He responded, much to my surprise.
Jin only grinned. "Then, let's go."
-0-
"Here we are." Jin walked us across a bridge towards a giant, slightly worn building that was suspended over the river. An unfamiliar Border logo was stamped on the front, right above the door. "Welcome… to Border's Tamakoma branch office."
I stared over the bridge in wonder, listening to the rushing water as it pushed up against the supports relentlessly.
"Whoa…!" Yuma stepped up from behind me, glancing over the edge as well.
"The facility was originally built to study the river, Border bought it and made it into a base. Nice, huh?" Jin explained, and the shred of amusement in his voice made me step away from the edge with a slight blush.
'I got excited way too easily.'
"The agents seem to be out," He commented, eyes flickering down to his phone. "But somebody should be here."
'Are all of Jin's colleagues as laid-back as him?' I thought absentmindedly with a dazed expression.
Jin swung the door open with a large grin. "Hello!"
Yuma, Chika, and I peeked out from behind Jin, before nearly face faulting.
A child sitting on a… dog? was waiting by the door, eyes staring judgingly at the four of us.
"Hey, Yotaro. Anyone here?" Jin greeted with such a fond smile on his face, I nearly did a double-take.
Yotaro only stared at the three of us, Me, Chika, and Yuma, before his eyes narrowed non-threateningly. "….Oh, some newbs?"
Jin chopped him on the head somewhat gently on the head, fond smile melting into something more easygoing. "Mind your manners."
"Hey, Jin!"
We all turned our heads up, eyes catching the gaze of a spectacled girl carrying a box from the upper level. "Huh? What's this? Do we have actual visitors?" She asked sheepishly. "Uh-oh! Do we have snacks?! Hold on! Lemme check!" I saw her dash off, as her voice faded away from around corners.
-0-
The girl gave us an excited smile and gestured to the plates set down in front of us. "We only have dorayaki… but this is the good stuff, Go on! I'm Shiori Usami, Nice to meet you!"
'Is this the real life?' I thought dazedly, nodding as an uncertain 'thanks' tumbled out of my mouth.
"Thank you for sharing such a fine delicacy…" Yuma murmured, hands reaching out to grab the treat.
Before his hands could even touch it, Yotaro snuck his fingers around the pastry and lifted, starting to bring it towards himself.
"Hey, Yotaro! You already had yours!" Shiori scolded, pointing at him accusingly.
Yotaro only smirked. "Oh, Shiori. One is never enough."
Yuma whacked him on top of his head, and I felt a shiver of dread go down my spine as the motion reminded me eerily of Jin.
"Sorry kiddo," Yuma said, non-apologetically. "But I'm intrigued by this… 'dorayaki'."
"Aw… my dorayaki…." Yotaro began to tear up, and for a moment I felt a rise of panic that always comes whenever a child is crying near me before it was quieted by a certain kind voice.
"You can have mine… if you'd like." Chika offered, holding out her plate with a soft smile.
'Chika… you're an angel….'
Apparently, Yotaro thought so too, because as he began to much on the red bean snack, he gazed at Chika with a small blush on his cheeks. "You're cute. Let's get married."
"Aaaaaand that's where I draw the line." I cut in threateningly(No, it was not 'over-protectively' no matter what Yuma says in the future), looping an arm around Chika's shoulders and sliding my plate of dorayaki over to her subtly as I glared lightly at Yotaro.
"What?! But if she marries me, she can pet Raijinmaru's tummy! I swear, it feels nice!"
I didn't give up my glare, and Yuma and Chika shot each other a knowing glance behind my back that I didn't catch.
Yotaro walked over to the dog(?), finished the snack at last. "See. You tip him over—"
He pushed on Raijinmaru's side, before pausing as the animal gave no indication of budging.
"—Roll…"
He pushed harder this time before stepped away and panting from exertion.
"….She can pet him all she wants if she marries me." He finally mumbled pitifully to me.
"Chika's not marrying anyone," I said irritatedly, retracting my arm from around Chika's shoulder to cross them across my chest, and leaning back into my side of the couch.
Chika finally glanced down to see my plate of dorayaki in front of her, just as Yuma stood up with an amused expression and rolled Raijinmaru over with no effort.
I looked away pointedly as Chika turned to me with a curious expression, and she only gave me a thankful smile before turning to eat the snack.
"This place is… very different from HQ." I coughed embarrassedly.
"Well, we do only have ten people on staff, in total," Shiori commented casually, hands cupping a mug of tea as she stared at our group with a small smile. "But… We're a mighty bunch."
I tuned in more to this part, listening carefully as I sipped on my tea quietly.
"We only have three field agents besides Jin, but they're all A-rank. The Tamakoma branch is for the talented, elite few!"
'All A-rank?!' I fought to keep myself from spitting out any tea, before abandoning hope to do so and put down my cup.
"You wanna join?" She asked bluntly, facing me. "Glasses Unite!"
"Um…." Chika raised her hand slightly. "I'm only asking because Jin brought it up, but… have you gone to the other world, Miss Usami?"
Shiori nodded, suddenly less hyper and more kind as she responded to Chika. "I have, just once."
"Then… how do you decide who goes to the other side?"
I felt myself stiffen and sent a quick glance at Chika that she didn't see. 'Does she want to... go to the Neighbourhood?'
"Well… There's a selection test among the A-rank agents. The whole team gets to go, so I was able to tag along."
Chika glanced down gloomily. "A-rank agents… wow, they must be amazing…"
"They are above the 400 C-rank and 100 B-rank people," Shiori commented offhandedly. "Of course they're exceptional."
'…And all of the field agents here are at that level…' I sent a quick glance down to my hands, before losing myself in my thoughts. '…And for even a moment, I thought I could get to that level. Kitora's opinion wasn't baseless after all, I shouldn't even waste my time try—'
"Hey, you three." I felt a hand on the top of my head, as Jin's voice broke me out of my (admittedly self-deprecating) thoughts.
"Call your parents, and spend the night." The hand on my head moved side to side wildly, messing up my hair. I gave a small grumble of protest but knew better than to waste my energy trying to stop him. "The people from HQ won't come after you here, plus there's plenty of room."
Jin's hand lifted up, and I sent him a small glare through my ruined bangs, although silently grateful for the distraction.
"Yuma, four eyes, come with me. Our boss wants to see you."
'Me too?'
-0-
"Excuse me~" Jin's hand raised up for a lazy salute. "I brought them over."
"I see you came." Rindou nodded in greeting, fingers curled around a cigarette. "So you… are Kuga-san's son. Nice to meet you."
Yuma nodded back with a laid back expression. "Likewise."
"Jin and Mikumo told me about you," Rindou explained. "We don't want to capture you, but tell me one thing. You came to see your dad's friend, right? Do you know their name?"
I looked at Yuma quickly.
"...Soichi Mogami… was the name of my dad's friend." Yuma finally answered.
Rindou jolted slightly, before pulling the cancer stick from his mouth and sighing heavily. "I see… so it was Mogami-san…"
I sent a confused glance around the room that no one caught in their distraction, and Rindou pressed his cigarette into the ashtray.
"He was one of Border's founding members… Soichi Mogami was your dad's rival. And… Jin's mentor."
'Why'd Rindou-san and Jin call me here for such a private conversation…?' I thought uncomfortably, catching the use of past-tense.
Jin stepped up to the desk, before unlatching the Trigger from his belt and setting it down gently.
"Jin's black Trigger… is Mogami-san."
Yuma and I jolted slightly. "Then he's…?" I muttered quietly.
"Mogami-san died 5 years ago," Rindou confirmed. "He left this behind."
Yuma stepped close, touching the Trigger with his ringed hand gently, eyes downcast. "I see… this Trigger…"
'Yuma…'
"If he were alive, he would've shielded you from HQ. Kuga-san took care of me when I was a rookie… I'd like to repay that favour. If you join, I could openly protect you, and confront HQ's actions." He looked directly at Yuma. "What do you say…? Will you join Tamakoma branch?"
Yuma glanced down in thought for a moment, before glancing up.
His eyes were resolute, determined, firm and unwavering.
"Well…"
-0-
"Why'd he refuse?" I asked quietly, lying back and staring at the ceiling blankly.
The mini Replica bobbed in the air beside me, silent for the moment.
"Mori… I should tell you. The real reason… why Yuma came to this world."
"Wasn't it to see Mogami-san?" I questioned. "Did he have a reason to lie… or something?"
Replica paused meaningfully. "….Four years ago… Yuma and his father, Yugo… were fighting in the Neighbour wars. Yugo was old friends with that particular country's defensive commander. Out of appreciation for the things the commander had done in the part, Yugo and Yuma were helping out."
Replica floated down to rest on the pillow beside my head, as if wearily despite his lack of facial features to show emotions. "Things went well. Until the day… Yugo died. That day, he said, 'Yuma. Keep out of the fighting for a while, and stay inside the fort.' Yuma complied, but once the fighting began… the two of us had noticed that our side was losing, the other side had too many Trigger users. Yuma left the fort, but there was… a black Trigger user there. An assassin, hired by the other country."
There was a dark silence, and a pit had formed in my stomach out of heartache for my friend.
"…Yuma's life ended there."
I shut my eyes, trying to keep myself from tearing up.
"….Or… It should have. Yugo arrived not soon after and… He created a black Trigger to save Yuma. He sealed his dying body inside the Trigger, and created a new Trion body… to save Yuma's life. Yugo used every last bit of his power… crumbled into dust, and died."
"….Does Yuma blame himself?" I hoped that Replica would never tell a soul how badly my voice had cracked.
"…Behind closed doors and shut curtains." He replied cryptically. "The other leaders at the fort had planned to use Yuma and his black Trigger, to win the war. They had wished Yugo had lived instead, but continued to encourage Yuma to continue fighting, to help them win the war and do what Yugo would have wanted…"
I felt disgust rise in my throat in the form of bile, hatred growing for the people that had forced a child to fight in a war that wasn't his.
"However, there had no way of knowing… that along with the black Trigger, Yuma inherited Yugo's side effect— the ability to detect lies."
'Side effect… Yuma had one all along. So that's why his eyes would darken…'
"Yuma fought for the next three years, years that gave him experience and skill. Faced with stubborn resistance, the enemy eventually abandoned the invasion, and the war ended with reconciliation. His allies won, but Yuma didn't feel any accomplishment. Yuma's travels… eventually brought him to this world."
"So that's why he's so small and doesn't need to sleep." I mused distractedly, trying futilely to quell the rising negative emotions.
"A Trion body doesn't grow," Replica elaborated politely. "Yuma's body hasn't changed since he was 11."
"Is he immortal then?"
"No." Replica quickly shot down. "Even with all of Yugo's power… that would be impossible. Yuma's real body, sealed inside the ring, is slowly dying. When his body dies, the Trion body will cease to exist as well."
I breathed out heavily. "So… he came to Border to… fix it?"
"That was… my intent. But not Yuma's." Replica stated quietly, much to my shock. "Yuma was hoping to resurrect his father from the black Trigger he poured everything into. But… when he heard Soichi Mogami's fate… he realized it was not possible, even at Border."
My eyes widened slowly.
"Yuma… no longer has a reason to live."
And that was the heart of the matter, wasn't it?
-0-
"I'm… going to go back to my world. I don't have any reason to be here anymore… I'd just cause more problems for Mori if I stayed… and she's got enough on her plate. But, these past few days have been very interesting. More fun than I've had in a while."
Jin smiled at Yuma. "That's good. You have lots more fun things to look forward to, you know. You have your whole life ahead of you."
Jin glanced up at the sky before his eyes flickered back to Yuma as if just remembering something. "And as for Mori… she's going to need some help, a lot. She struggles to have confidence in herself, and obviously doesn't have too many friends yet."
Jin's lips twitched upwards softly at the sight of Yuma's confused expression. "You mean more to her than just a bunch of problems, you know."
-0-
"You… You want to join Border?!"
Chika nodded morosely, thinking Mori to be disappointed in her. "Yeah…"
"An agent— Chika, that's dangerous!"
"I know." She replied meekly.
"Sorry about this." Shiori only offered sheepishly. "I thought Jin scouted Chika too, so… I gave her the whole spiel, and she got really into it. I'm all for it, but I thought you should know."
'The one who was recruited refused… and the one who wasn't, wants to enlist…?!'
Mori sighed heavily. "Chika… what will you do if you join Border?"
Chika glanced up and forward, finally looking determined. "Yuma said, my friend… and my brother could still be alive on the other side."
They both tried to ignore the way Mori's eye twitched at the mention of Rinji.
"I've thought about it, and decided… I don't want to leave it to others. I have to look for them myself."
I sighed enough frustration seeping into my tone that made us wince. "Chika, to go to the other world, you have to be—"
-0-
"Mom, I think… I want to join Border."
"…Is that so?"
"Yeah. I've started martial arts lessons like I said, and I'm asking to be taught how to wield a sword. It'll take a lot 'till I'm up to that level, but—"
"Mori…"
"—I want to, mom. This is… beyond important. I don't want to lose anyone, I want to protect the city… I want to protect Chika. I have to—"
"Mori. I'm… I could never stop you. Not from doing this, you look much too determined. Please don't feel as if I'm an obstacle in between you, and any dreams you have."
"…I love you. I just hope that you come home safe everyday, you know? Or else I'll have to beat up whoever it was that hurt you with a stick."
-0-
"—You have to be A-rank!" I forcefully pushed the memory from my head. "Do you know how hard that is?"
Chika looked down sadly again.
"Uh, even if you're picked to go… You can't choose where you go." Shiori cut in. "You might not end up in the country they were taken to."
"I know… It might be pointless for me to do anything." Chika's hands curled around each other in her lap. "But I can't sit by and do nothing. If there's a small possibility, I…"
Mori jolted in shock. 'Chi—Chika's never been so… persistent. Huh, maybe if I had just hung onto my dream that mu—'
"I get it." Shiori tilted my head, voice snapping me out of my thoughts. "Well… what should we do? Like I said, our team only has elite agents… there's no room for newbies. If you really want to be A-rank, you might be better off going to HQ and joining a team there… I want you to join us of course, but…"
After a moment of silence, Mori's eyes snapped upward all of a sudden, and she looked to Chika quickly.
"Chika… can we talk quickly?"
-0-
"Yuma."
Yuma's head rose, and he turned to the door behind him. "Oh, Mori. What's up?"
Mori gulped, and took a seat beside him, facing the opposite direction.
"Chika… wants to join Border."
"Oh?" Yuma sounded faintly curious at that.
"She wants to find her kidnapped brother and friend." She elaborated, stumbling over the word 'brother'.
"Oh, makes sense." Yuma agreed. "What about you? If she joins… there's nothing stopping you, huh?"
"I… I don't know." Mori settled. "But I thought about discouraging Chika, but… she's never been so determined. I can't change her mind, no matter what. But…"
Mori met eyes with Yuma, crimson red clashing with navy green.
"…The three of us would make a complete team, you know."
Yuma felt as if he should jolt in shock, maybe gape, but kept his expression carefully blank.
"There's no point in me lying, Replica told me why you really came here, and about your dad." She added.
"Yeah," Yuma got up and rubbed the back of his head. "It was a wild goose chase, unfortunately. I don't have anything to do here anymore."
"Then, please help Chika." Mori pressed, a tinge of desperation clinging to her voice that the two of them tried to ignore. "We need a skilled leader, and two don't make a team. We need you there."
(I need you there)
"We can't make it to A-rank on our own..."
(I'm sorry I'm not good enough I wish I could have been strong for once)
"Chika won't be able to make it where she needs to be with only someone like me."
(I'm so useless on my own I'm so sorry please don't leave me)
"…She needs you to help her. Just me… is not enough."
(I need you to stay with us please you're my only friend)
"Please."
Yuma looked at Mori blankly, thoughts swirling through his head as every single stray concept of uselessness Mori thought up, was received by Yuma, word for word.
"You're still a demon of helpfulness. Then again, Chika does seem to be like family… for you." He sighed, laidback. "No… you'd be like that for anyone, wouldn't you? And half-kill yourself."
"Hey— where'd you get that idea from—?!" Mori snapped back, eyes narrowing slightly.
"When my dad died..."
Mori's jaw snapped shut with a click.
Yuma stared up at the sky. "…He was smiling for some reason, and I didn't understand why. I almost died because I didn't listen to his warning, he shouldn't have had to die for me. So why was he smiling….? I've always wanted to ask him."
He met Mori's eyes good-naturedly. "I think you're a bit like him, taking care of others with no regard for yourself." He continued, taking no heed to her embarrassed sputtering. "Why do you risk your life to help other people? Is it that you just can't ignore people in need?"
Mori looked down, pink fading from her cheeks quickly. "… I'm not really a good person. But… if I ran away from what I think I should do, even once, then don't you think I might end up running away… when it matters most?"
She looked up at last, jabbing her finger into his chest grumpily. "I do it for my own selfish reasons. Nobody else can make me do what I don't want to."
Yuma nodded good-naturedly. "Yup, sounds like you. But you better run when you're in danger. That's a skill too, or you'll die before I will."
"No one's dying without my permission." Mori scolded, bumping a fist against his head.
"All right…" He pushed himself off of the brick edge. "I guess I should help out, huh? After all—"
"Really?!" Mori clarified excitedly.
"—If I don't, you'll get Chika and yourself killed."
Mori scowled. "….really?"
Yuma chuckled.
Mori coughed embarrassedly. "But still, don't die without telling me. I've got a mini Replica with me all the time for a reason, if you're in danger, you call me so you can get permission to die peacefully."
(Please don't leave, you're my only friend)
Yuma snickered, the both of them walking to the door together. "That sounds so dark, Mori. You could just ask me to not die, you know."
(I won't leave.)
(You're not useless.)
(I'll be here for as long as I can.)
(Don't ever say you're not strong.)
(…I don't want you to ever belittle yourself like that.)
Yuma chuckled, his thoughts on Mori finally snapping into place, and cemented into the spot in his mind with an immeasurable amount of trust and respect.
It wasn't unlike Mori's own opinion on Yuma, in her own head.
'So… this is a "best friend", huh…?'
-0-
Chika waited patiently at the bottom of the stairs, before getting up just after the click of a door was heard.
"Mori… Yuma."
Yuma waved to her casually, trying to not let her know the heaviness of some of the earlier conversations. "Mori invited me to join, so count me in. I got time. Besides, you still have to teach me how to ride a bike."
Chika nodded with a soft and excited smile. "Thanks!"
"But…" He continued.
"Mori's gonna be our leader." He finished with a grin, slight smugness leaking through as her face paled drastically. "Or I'm not doing it."
"Wha— What are you saying?! You're the leader!" She exclaimed irritatedly. "I've got no real battle experience, minimal knowledge in fighting, and my Trion levels are—"
"Not actually that bad for what we're aiming for." Yuma cut in with a sparkle.
"—Why would I be the leader?!"
Yuma glanced at her blankly for a moment, before grinning at her with a fire in his eyes.
"Because… that's the way I think it should be."
Mori froze.
"I agree," Chika added directly after. "I think Mori should be the leader."
Mori blushed lightly while glancing at the two of them, for once speechless.
"That settles it." Yuma smugly stated, patting her shellshocked form on the back. "Let's go see Rindou-san… it's kind of embarrassing since I've already refused…"
-0-
"Took you long enough!"
The three of us jolted as Rindou's voice cut through the tension like a knife.
"Registration forms and transfer papers."
Yuma looked up at Jin questioningly. "Jin… did you see this future?"
He only smiled at us. "I told you, 'you have lots more fun things to look forward to'."
I wanted to scowl at him for manipulating us again but at this point, I was just too stunned.
"There… The formal induction will be after I get the forms from your legal guardians… but as a director, I welcome you to the Border Tamakoma branch."
He clapped the papers against the desk.
"Starting now... You are a squad. With this squad, you will work towards A-rank promotion, and selection for an away squad mission!"
'Mom… can I really make it to A-rank?'