Writer's Note: Urgh, I apologize to everyone for the delay this time around. Things have been... busy as of late. Anyways, here's the latest chapter, and I've also posted Hecate's swimsuit fanart on my profile page. Go check it out. Thank you for your patience.
ColinatorGX: Thank you. I'm glad that you find it funny. As to what Tanaka wants from Yuji... it may not necessarily be a physical object.
CapoExecutor: Well, I thought it would be more appropriate for Hecate to make the first move. She's not exactly timid like Kazumi.
JohnPeacekeeper: Well, it IS a reversed parody after all. Huh, if you're saying that Ogata is still pretty much like Ogata, then it seems that I succeeded in getting the characterization down. As for Tanaka's goals... it's not quite so focused on something "tangible", if you catch my drift.
Blue Bragon: Thank you. I apologize for the delay in this particular update, but things... happened.
The Light Hidden in the Shadow: Haha. Hecate might have something to say (or do) about that. But yes, I do like seeing Shana and Yuji together. They're a cute couple.
Sociopathic-Antichrist: I'm pleased that you found it amusing. I doubt that more guava juice will be spilled, though. The Writer of Questionable Stories already has enough problems on his hands as it is.
"Hey, there's a letter here for you."
The Writer of Questionable Stories looked up from his glass of guava juice.
"...Who's it from?"
"Uh... I dunno how to explain it, but... ah heck, just read it."
Tearing open the envelope, the Writer of Questionable Stories unfolded the letter inside and quickly let his eyes run over the writing that covered one side in scrawling lines. After a moment of perusal, the Writer of Questionable Stories rolled his eyes and tossed the letter to one side on his desk.
"So who's it from?"
"...The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter."
"Huh? Him?"
The Writer of Questionable Stories shook his head.
"No. HER."
"What. The. HECK...!?"
"Just what I thought as well when I first read her little written rant. Apparently, she's demanding that I give her displaced variant a frenching scene with Yuji too, since Hecate got one first."
"...Damn."
"No shit, Sherlock."
SHAKUGAN NO YUJI?
Chapter 212: Weeds Sprout In The Coffin
Well, things have certainly been lousy lately. Stupid Yuji! Couldn't he have resisted that damned prayer-freak more!? And that... that... THAT LITTLE MISS CONVENT! Stealing a march on me and taking... what was... should have been... Argh! The very thought of her having been Yuji's first is so aggravating, and I'm not exactly sure why! Wait... why am I so concerned about who Yuji kisses first!? Grrgh...
Hecate stirred restlessly within her bedroom, adorned with various pieces of classical Greek architecture and statuary.
"...Hirai-kun..."
The teal-haired girl had been having a hard time getting to sleep. Much of the cause had to do with a certain dark-haired boy with steely blue-grey eyes. Closing her eyes, Hecate's mind wandered back to the lunch hour at school when she'd frenched Yuji.
The ghost of the sensation still hovered on her lips. A stray finger rested on her mouth as she recalled Yuji's warmth.
Warm... So warm...
By now, Hecate had no doubt in her mind whatsoever that she'd basically fallen, and fallen hard, for the young boy.
I have feelings for Hirai-kun... but... does he have feelings for me?
An unwelcome feeling welled up within Hecate's chest as her mind turned to her unspoken rival.
Shana. Does Hirai-kun have feelings for Shana?
Shaking her head and shutting her eyes tight, Hecate slowly rose from her bed and looked out the bedroom window. She realized, much to her own dismay, that any further attempts at getting to sleep that night would be futile.
Slowly getting to her feet, Hecate changed into a woolen sweatsuit and walked out the front door.
"All right, you idiot pervert of a stalker, you've dragged me out here this early in the morning, robbed me of my sleep... so what is it that you're trying to do right now? Molest me?"
Yuji turned around with a crimson blush on his cheeks as he continued to jog up the hilly path that led to the banks of the Mana River, which ran through the middle of the city.
"N-no! Just... just keep following me, all right?"
Shana grumbled sleepily.
"Hurry it up already, idiot..."
Suddenly, Yuji stopped as he reached the top of the embankment.
"It's here."
Shana, caught off-guard by the Flame Haze's abruptness, looked around in mild bewilderment for a moment before she suddenly found herself staring at the view before her.
The stars, left undimmed by a lack of nearby light pollution, glimmered and sparkled in the night sky, leaving a similar reflection of glittering starfall on the river's unspoiled waters of azure. Shana blinked at the sight.
"It's so... beautiful."
Yuji nodded as he quietly smiled.
"It's my favorite spot in the entire city."
Shana's words were whispered in wonderment.
"To think that I'd been in Misaki all this time... and never knew of such a sight..."
The young Mystes looked up at Yuji.
"...But why did you show this to me...?"
The Flame Haze smiled down at her and scratched at the back of his head in mild embarrassment.
"To be honest... I... don't really know. I just... wanted to show you, I guess."
Shana blushed. Quickly looking away to hide the crimson on her cheeks, the female Mystes grumbled to hide her embarrassment.
"W-what are you saying... idiot..."
Yuji's smile only grew wider, but he said nothing as the two continued to stare at the view before them.
Hecate's steps slowed to a halt as she found herself staring up at the two figures standing on the embankment, gazing out at the river and the star-studded sky. Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing as she slowly turned away and headed back for home.
"So there you are. I was wondering where you were, after seeing your bed empty and vacant."
Keisaku looked up from his seat at the kitchen table. Grunting in a monosyllable, the Chanter of Elegies then turned his attention back to the trashy pulp fiction novel in his hands and the bowl of cornflakes placed before him. Margery raised an eyebrow at his taciturn behavior as she took a seat next to him.
"Hey... by the by, I have a question."
"...?"
"Tell me honestly. Just why did you hold back from attacking those Denizens we met on the street yesterday in the shopping district? Was it for my sake?"
Keisaku's face tightened slightly, but he remained stubbornly silent. Margery sat next to him for a moment longer, but soon gave up and got up to prepare for work.
"Hmph. Men..."
Hecate found herself staring out the window of her home classroom at Misaki High. Down below, her idle eyes suddenly caught a view of Yuji and Shana walking into the campus grounds, side-by-side.
Her eyes narrowed once more. Her hand, resting on the casement of the classroom window, slowly clenched into a tense fist.
Shana... Hirai-kun...
Suddenly, a gruff voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Well, you're certainly looking a bit... off, today."
Spinning around, Hecate found herself staring at Sydonay, standing in the open doorway of the classroom. The teal-haired girl stared at the Misaki High gym teacher for a moment longer, then turned her gaze back to the classroom window.
"...It's... nothing."
Sydonay sighed and scratched at the back of his head.
"Nothing? Hmph. You haven't been praying lately, you've recently been daydreaming a lot in gym class, you've been staring out that window this whole morning... Did something happen?"
Hecate hesitated for a moment, but then began to speak.
The bell rang, signalling the end of morning classes and the beginning of the lunch period. Yuji stepped outside the classroom, intent upon getting to the food carts outside for his lunch. Even as he stepped outside the doorway, however, he found himself staring up at Sydonay, standing just outside the classroom door.
"...Hirai-kun."
Yuji bowed politely.
"Sydonay-sensei."
The expression on Sydonay's face was unreadable as he continued with the conversation.
"Do you mind if we could talk privately for a moment?"
Blinking in puzzlement, Yuji nodded.
The two soon found themselves standing up on the school rooftop. Sydonay lit a cigarette as he stared down at the athletics track below. Taking a drag from the cancer stick, the gym teacher breathed out a plume of smoke from his nostrils as he looked over at Yuji.
"So... I hear that Hecate-chan has shown an interest in you."
Yuji blinked.
"S-something like that, yes."
His expression unreadable, Sydonay pushed the point home without warning.
"What are your feelings for her? How do you view yourself in relation to Hecate-chan?"
Yuji was silent for a long moment. When the Flame Haze finally did speak, it was in an unsure, hesitant tone.
"I... I'm not sure."
Sydonay chuckled, but the look that was now on his face was anything but amused.
"Hmph. Not sure, eh? Not sure about what? You seemed sure about playing two girls at once. After all, you took that little misfit Shana out on an early morning date to the Mana River. So what are you so unsure about in regards to Hecate-chan? How to kiss her? How to take advantage of her? Or how about getting her to put out in a threeso-"
Yuji's face paled, but before he could think anything to say in reply, an angry female voice interrupted Sydonay's tirade.
"SYDONAY-SENSEI!"
Looking as if he'd been stung, Sydonay whirled around. Standing in the doorway to the school rooftop was a girl possessed of teal hair.
Hecate.
The look on her face was fearsome to behold. Glaring up at Sydonay, the girl slowly walked out onto the rooftop, advancing on the gym teacher like a stalking tiger. Stammering, the Misaki High gym teacher instinctively backed away a step as Hecate opened her mouth to speak.
"When I told you about what happened early this morning, sensei... I was not asking you to intervene in any way. I was simply telling you what was on my mind. I was not asking you to handle it for me. I was not asking you to talk to Hirai-kun for me."
"H-Hecate-chan..."
Her eyes looked like twin flames of azure fire. Still advancing on the hapless gym teacher, Hecate's voice was like frosted steel as she continued.
"I had spoken with the assumption that you would properly exercise your sense of discretion. It appears that I was sadly mistaken."
Sydonay gulped as she finished.
"...I am very disappointed in you, Sydonay-sensei."
Even though Hecate hadn't once raised her voice, the words seemed to send Sydonay reeling in painful agony. Without another word, the teal-haired girl then whirled around and left. Sydonay could only stare after her departing figure in speechless dismay and consternation.
"H-Hecate-chan..."
Yuji cluelessly blinked after the departing gym teacher, but soon shrugged and left to resume his interrupted lunch hour. In the confused jumble of angry words, declarations, and accusations, nobody seemed to take notice of the diminutive figure of Shana, crouched wordlessly in the shadows of the rooftop entryway. Her slim fingers were tightly clenched around the skirt of her school uniform.
Ike looked down at the device on the outdoor cafe table with some askance. The shades of yellow that hung around the area gave the electronic device a sickly pall.
"So... you want me to guard... THIS?"
The MP3 player seemed to wink up at the mercenary Denizen. Ogata sighed and nodded in reluctant assent.
"Yeah. I know, I know... it sounds stupid, but you'll need to do so while that idiot Tanaka carries out whatever wild idea he's got brewing inside that empty head of his."
Ike shrugged as he grabbed up the MP3 player and pocketed it.
"Very well then. As for other matters... As your employee, I am obliged to mention the fact that we should have dealt with the Chanter of Elegies when we'd first encountered him."
Ogata shrugged back.
"What hasn't been done already is too late to remedy, in this situation. In any case, we shouldn't worry too much. The Chanter of Elegies was looking rather... unmotivated, in regards to his long-standing reputation."
Ike shook his head in mild disapproval.
"Well, it's your decision, but I would like to point out the fact that it's unwise to let down your guard around the Chanter of Elegies, regardless of his current status. And if he should happen to join forces with the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter..."
The bespectacled Denizen looked over at Tanaka, who was busily absorbing another human victim, before finishing.
"...Even you two might have difficulties."
Ogata sighed.
"Flame Haze don't 'team up'. Their egos don't allow for it. And in any case, even if that should happen, that's what the Coffin Stadium is for, isn't it? As long as it's up, then we shouldn't have too much to worry about. But it will only stay up as long as you do your job... And that's to protect the music player. If something should happen to it..."
Ike reluctantly nodded.
"Fine. I'll take good care of it. Just make sure you keep that self-confidence-challenged boyfriend of yours from taking too long. The longer this drags out, the harder it'll be to keep complications from accumulating."
"Whatever. Just make sure you do your job."
Ike raised an eyebrow in wry humor.
"Do you... doubt my abilities?"
Ogata leaned back in her chair and snorted.
"Always, 'Thousand Strategies'. Always."
Sydonay sighed as he puffed on another cigarette. A pile of previously smoked-out butts lay at his feet.
"...Huh. I really upset her this time."
At that moment, a youthful, boyish voice interrupted his musings.
"...Sydonay-sensei?"
The Misaki High gym teacher looked over to see Yuji, standing a few feet away. Sydonay exhaled a plume of cigarette smoke through his nostrils as he added another smoked-out butt to the pile at his feet.
"Oh... it's just you."
"Sydonay-sensei... I... I'm really sorry if I upset you in some way, but I... I wasn't really sure what you were talking about there."
Sydonay glanced over at Yuji for a long moment, then looked up at the sky above.
"Don't worry yourself about it. You really didn't do anything wrong."
Yuji smiled.
"Is that so? That's a relief..."
Sydonay looked back over at Yuji and chuckled.
"...Hmm? Is something wrong, Sydonay-sensei?"
"No, no... It's just... I think I really am a foolish old man at times. Here I am, getting worked up over high school relationships, just because I have a soft spot for a certain student of mine."
Yuji looked up at Sydonay and blinked.
"...Do you like Hecate-san?"
"Huh? Uhm, y-yes... but not in the way that you might think. It's just... I've known Hecate ever since she was a kid. Her late parents were friends of mine. She was always quiet, never associated with anybody... and she never smiled. Always praying by herself. In short, she was an unrepentant loner."
Sydonay looked back over at Yuji.
"I've been working so hard, just to get her to talk, just to get her to smile, even if it was just for one moment. But she never did. And yet... the moment that you came into her life, she slowly started to change."
Sydonay paused, reached into his coat, and pulled out another cigarette.
"Have you noticed? She's actually started talking to other classmates. She's been hanging out with other people. She's... I've even seen her smiling, once or twice. I even think she's been starting to make friends. I've seen her hanging around with Shana a lot lately."
Sydonay looked back over at Yuji as he lit the cigarette in his hands.
"...How did you do it?"
Shana paused as she reached the bottom of the staircase. Turning around, her suspicions were confirmed as she came face-to-face with her unspoken rival. Hecate stared back.
The Mystes' eyes narrowed as she coldly regarded the teal-haired girl standing before her.
"...So you had to go open your big mouth to that dirty old lolicon of a gym teacher, did you? Upset at the idea that Yuji was spending time with me?"
Hecate's response was soft, but the edge in its words was clear.
"Why should I be? After all, he hasn't said... or shown that he has feelings for you yet."
Shana took a step forwards. The air itself seemed to bristle with electricity.
"...Oh? Then has he told you, yet? Has he... kissed you back?"
"Not yet. But he will, soon."
Shana smirked.
"You're being awfully cocky today, Miss Convent."
"My self-confidence is not without reason. After all, how could I possibly lose when my opponent is a coward who cannot tell him her own feelings?"
"...!"
Shana took a step back, glaring at Hecate, as she realized that the gauntlet had now been officially thrown.
"F-fine! I'll tell him! I'll tell him how I feel! We'll let Yuji choose! And the outcome will be clear. Yuji will... YUJI WILL CHOOSE ME!"
Even as Shana spoke those words, however... time froze in shades of sickly yellow.
Yuji blinked as the flow of time came to a crashing halt. Sydonay still stood there, the lighter in one hand, the lit cigarette in the other.
The Flame Haze looked up at the sky.
"...An Unrestricted Method...!?"
Shana turned to leave. Even as she was about to do so, however, she turned back and faced the frozen figure of Hecate. A fierce scowl graced Shana's features.
"...You... I will NOT lose to you! NEVER! Yuji will choose me! We share far more than you ever could! We have a lot more going on! And... and... AND YOUR CHEST IS FLATTER THAN MINE!
"So, this is it?"
"Uh-huh. I've finally found him."
Ogata raised an eyebrow.
"Huh...? Found who?"
"...The only way I'll be able to prove my own strength. The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter."
Yuji stood near the railing of the school rooftop, assessing the situation with a glance.
"...Well, this is definitely not a normal situation."
Alastor's voice slid in.
"No, it definitely isn't. For a Seal of this size and magnitude, one would require even more Power of Existence than what's present in this city. Could it be...?"
Yuji shook his head.
"There's quite a few ways to make it possible. A Treasure, a Rinne... or even a network of them. In any case, we can't just sit by and ignore this."
At that, Yuji prepared to launch himself off into the air when a voice suddenly broke his concentration.
"Yuji...!"
The Flame Haze looked over to see Shana running up. Yuji nodded briefly as he turned his attention back to the city.
"Shana. So you noticed it too. Alastor and I are going to scout out the source of the Unrestricted Method."
Noticing what Yuji had been about to do, Shana quickly grabbed his shirt sleeve.
"Wait! Let me come along too!"
Yuji shook his head.
"No, Shana. This is too dangerous. Even with your skills, right now, you won't be able to handle this directly. For someone to utilize an Unrestricted Method of this size and strength... You currently don't have the proper defenses necessary to withstand an attack from a Denizen of this sort. You'd be destroyed in second. Azure's only good against flames, you know. What if they use an attack that Azure can't block?"
Shana slowly and reluctantly relinquished her grip on Yuji's sleeve.
"B-but I..."
"Look, Shana... Right now, if you want to help, don't get in the middle of this fight. I would, however, like someone to investigate something for me?"
Shana blinked.
"...Investigate?"
Yuji nodded.
"Right. Alastor and I noticed that this sort of Seal is just too big for a place like this. It's using far more Power of Existence than what this whole city would contain. Therefore, it seems likely that a network of some sort is being used to maintain this Unrestricted Method."
"A network?"
"Right. It could be a network of Rinne or Treasures. Perhaps even both. I'd like you to find out what's causing the Unrestricted Method. Try and sabotage it too, if you can."
Shana looked over at the city, then turned and looked back at Yuji as she nodded.
"All right. I'll do it."
"Thank you, Shana."
The female Mystes snorted and turned away, blushing up a storm as she spoke.
"Hmph! Don't get me wrong, I-I'm not doing it for you, idiot!"
Yuji simply continued to smile as he began to turn to leave. After a moment's thought, he then turned back to Shana.
"Shana, work hard, all right? If you do well, I just might give you a reward!"
Shana blinked.
"A... reward?"
Unbidden, an image of her passionately making out with Yuji sprang into her mind. Shana felt her whole face overheat.
"...W-what are you talking about, IDIOT!"
Yuji blinked in clueless bewilderment.
"Huh? B-but I-"
"Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP! JUST GO!"
Keisaku snorted.
"Hmph. Looks like those two indecisive brats have finally made their move."
Marcosius gave a muttering reply.
"Hey, hey... Do you really think it's all right that we should just leave things like this? Shouldn't we at least check out the situation?"
The Chanter of Elegies snorted again as he leaned back in his chair.
"Forget it. What use would I be, anyway? Just let that Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed two-timing rascal take care of it. It's not like those indecisive brats are after me, anyway."
BOFF!
Keisaku winced as he suddenly felt a thin, but incredibly strong backhand make impact with the back of his head. Looking up, Keisaku found himself looking up at Margery. A rather pissed-off expression was on her face.
"Hey hey... I spent all this time getting back here to tell you once I noticed that the Seal had appeared... and you're just sitting around on your teapot doing nothing?"
Keisaku grumbled as he gingerly rubbed at the lump on his cranium.
"W-why should you care, anyway? It's got nothing to do with me..."
The English teacher frowned, then walked over to the front door and threw it open.
"Then get out."
The Chanter of Elegies blinked.
"...Huh!?"
"You heard me. Get out. Don't come back until you handle the job. I'm sick and tired of watching you just sit around the house and act like an emo all the time. That isn't you, kid. Get off your ass and do something! Anything!"
Keisaku wordlessly blinked at Margery in shocked astonishment. Marcosius' voice held a hint of amusement as he spoke.
"Hey, I think the lady's taken a liking to ya- Oof!"
Margery grumbled as she threw a bottle of beer at the Grimoire.
"Shut up, stupid Marco."
Keisaku continued to stare silently at Margery for a few more moments, then loudly exhaled as he dragged himself off his feet.
"Fine, fine... I'll go. Geez, you're such a pain..."
Margery grinned as she watched him leave.
"Fine by me. Whatever it takes, just as long as you just DO something. Besides, I think this angry, vexed expression of yours suits you better."
Keisaku snorted.
"Hmph. Don't speak such stupid things."
"...So he's here."
"Finally. I'm getting hungry, you know..."
"Ah, s-sorry, Oga-chan. I'll get you some curry udon after this is all over."
"Hmph. You better."
Yuji landed lightly on top of a nearby streetlamp. Facing the two Denizens, the Flame Haze spoke.
"Greetings. I am the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter, Yuji. And you two might be...?"
Tanaka raised his hand in greeting.
"Ah... Tanaka Eita, the 'One Engulfed in Self-Doubt'."
Ogata nodded to Yuji as well.
"So you're the one that idiot Tanaka's after. Are you really the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter? You don't look like it at all. I'm Matake Ogata, the 'One Engulfed in Doubting Others'."
Alastor's voice was grim.
"So, the 'Doubting Couple'. I'm not surprised. And just why would you two youngsters be up and about in this city, anyway?"
Tanaka scratched at the back of his head in embarrassment.
"S-sorry... but the reason we came all the way here... was to kill you."
Yuji's eyes widened.
"...Eh!?"
Tanaka suddenly raised his hand higher. Immediately, long metal rods, each one the size of a telephone pole, burst forth from the cement and asphalt.
Attached to the rods were several humanoid figures, each one wearing a stylized soccer uniform.
Yuji blinked in silent astonishment.
"Wha... what the...!?"
THUD!
One of the metal rods had popped up right behind Yuji. Spinning rapidly, it had sent its attached humanoid figurine into a stylized circular kick. The impact of the attack sent Yuji flying into a crumpled heap.
Yuji slowly got to his feet and stretched out a hand, sending a wave of flames lunging towards the two Denizens.
Several more metal rods burst forth from the cement in front of the Doubting Couple, blocking the flames' advance. Tanaka's expression was a curious mixture of regret and determination.
"I'm sorry... But this is something that I have to do. Before you arrived, I took the liberty of setting up this large-area Unrestricted Method, the 'Coffin Stadium'. It turns the entire area into a gigantic foosball field. All of the players here are impervious to fire."
As if to emphasize the point, several more foosball playing rods burst forth around Yuji in a square boundary. Within moments, the rods of metal had the Flame Haze caged within.
"...Ugh...!!"
Yuji snapped his fingers, attempting to burn his way out to no effect. Tanaka sighed.
"I told you... it's useless. Now then..."
With another gesture, a huge, two-handed sword burst forth from the ground in front of Tanaka. Ogata looked over at the weapon.
"Man, such an inelegant weapon... Tanaka, why are you still holding onto that stupid Blutsauger? It's not like you can even wield the damned thing. And I hear it makes such a mess every time it's used..."
Tanaka looked over at Ogata.
"Oga-chan... I'm doing this... because I want you to stop doubting me. And because I want to stop doubting myself."
The One Engulfed in Self-Doubt then looked over to Yuji.
"It's true, I can't lift Blutsauger. I'm too weak at the moment. But... if I had enough strength... If I had strength like that of the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter... then perhaps..."
Suddenly, the metal foosball rods surrounding Yuji began to glow with an ominous yellow light. The Flame Haze grunted in surprise as he felt pain spike through his chest.
"Wha...!?"
Alastor's voice yelled out in alarm.
"This Unrestricted Method... NO!"
Tanaka bowed.
"I'm sorry, Flame Haze... but for the sake of extinguishing my doubts... please die and become my own strength!"
The Writer of Questionable Stories sighed as he tapped a pencil against one of the documents he'd been editing.
"...Well, this is bad. Everything's completely off-track now. I'm starting to think that this unintended displacement has actually created a brand-new alternate universe. If that's the case... re-alignment, correction, and restoration may very well be impossible."
"So what are you going to do now?"
The Writer of Questionable Stories slammed his forehead against the table.
"...I have no freakin' clue."
To Be Continued...?