Chapter 2

Chance

The day has dawned, and I yawn drowsily once back again on the same train I took home last night. The difference is I am now lifelessly heading to school… As I expected, I did not get much sleep last night, despite my resolution of not hesitating anymore.

After getting to my house, I found myself whipping up some dinner and then crawling around on my bed, finding little hope of getting some rest. Despite of my inspirational, high and mighty monologue inside the train, I cannot even get myself to sleep when I want to. In the end, I spent most of the night fooling around the internet to kill time until I could continue no more.

"Morning, Shu!"

Ah, Hare is here.

"What's that big yawn for?"

I keep my eyes on my phone's screen, wondering what to say. In its screen is the interface of a search engine, with the words 'firefight by GHQ headquarters' written on it. I had attempted to find if the incident had been already reported, yet found no results. Apparently, everything has been covered up.

"Well…"

I think twice before answering, wondering if making her worry is a necessary evil.

"Were you surfing the net or something?"

She's looking at my phone curiously.

"Or playing a game?"

Should I let her know?

"Reading?"

Nah, I think not. Hare is too gentle to be troubled with these matters… I know having terrorists around is dangerous, but if things come to it, I'll be there for Hare to help her. For now I'll let her ignorance be bliss.

"Something like that, I guess."

I reply vaguely, not showing much interest to the contents of my phone's screen.

"Huh. Fine, then."

She must think I'm a very indifferent individual. She's right on spot, though… it's been a while since I have last cared much about the world around me publicly. Though last night I decided to change, I'm having some difficulty in actually making it happen. I'll take it slow for now, I guess… forcing the pace may be overdoing it.

"There's many of them outside today."

Hare again. She's referring to the numerous soldiers and military vehicles stationed outside… it seems they are still mobilized in case the terrorists are around, or perhaps they did not get all of them last night.

"Yes, there's usually less of them by this area. Perhaps they're looking for someone? They seem to be quite alert. Hare… what did you do this time?"

I ask her jokingly, poking fun of her excessively passive nature.

"Me? Meanie, you know I'm a good girl…"

I crack a smile, just a bit. Hare is the one person who never fails to cheer me up, partly because we have been together for quite long. We live in the same department complex, go to the same school, and even sit nearby in the same classroom. We have known each other since junior high school, and grew somewhat close after learning we are practically neighbors. It is only natural, it seems to me, that we would develop a close friendship.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding… you would never harm anyone."

Hare smiles back at me happily.

"Right?"

The ride to school continues. We eventually drop off on the nearest station and walk the rest of the way to our destination. Ah, school… the place of opportunities and intellect. Already, I can feel my high spirits from last night vanishing into thin air.

Once inside the classroom, I sit down on my chair and wait for homeroom to start.

"Hey, Shu!"

That one calling me is Souta, one of my quasi-friends. He started talking to me by the beginning of the year for some reason, and I merely tagged along with what he said. I've never known how to deal with people very well, and I am not the type to approach others. My shyness resulted in this – superficial friendships formed with those who came close to me. Though I have made a few quasi-friends this year, it is Hare who is happier about it. She never ceases to worry about me… Really, she is more than I deserve.

"Shu?"

Stop halting my train of thought, Souta… I already know what you want to ask.

"I'm sorry; I'm not done yet with that video for the competition."

He looks at me angrily. He asked me to do it two weeks ago, yet I encountered one critical problem I have been unable to fix just yet that prevents me from finishing the production: though I already have the images and their overall arrangement, I have no idea which song I should use… that's why I was out last night, wondering if the night sky would give me an answer. I got a bullets concerto instead.

"I didn't come to harp on you about it…"

Huh? That's not what he wanted to ask? I thought people only came looking for favors…

"What did you want, then?"

I ask him honestly, trying not to sound aggressive, but he still looks at me in displeasure.

"I'll get it done by the deadline, Souta, don't worry."

Ah, shit. He said that wasn't it, didn't he?

"Now look, Shu, I – "

Yahiro, my second quasi-friend, stops Souta's arm as he attempted to grab my shoulder.

"Let it go, Souta. He says he can do it, after all."

Waving his hand at me as he drags Souta away with him, Yahiro adds.

"Okay, we're counting on you!"

What on Earth was this all about? Really, I –

"I feel bad for Souta."

Hare again, eavesdropping on us.

"Why? I think I'm trying hard to be socially perceptive here."

I ask her, stating the truth.

"You're not succeeding."

Harsh girl…

"Oh…"

I sulk, looking away. I was thinking of having lunch with her today, in hopes of getting us to be a little closer. It seems Haruka's pressure is starting to make effect on me, as I have slowly started seeing Hare less like a friend and more like a potential girlfriend. Yet here she is now, pointing her finger at my social awkwardness.

"You're way too dense."

Damn it, Hare, stop punching my psyche when I'm thinking good about you.

"Rise!"

Kanon, the class representative and close friend of Hare's interrupts our conversation, announcing the class will begin. Heeding her call, we all stand up to start the school day.

Morning classes pass uneventfully, and I am now heading to what has served as my feeding grounds and hiding place – an abandoned university warehouse near the school grounds. I did ask Hare if she wanted to grab a bite with me, but she said she already had plans with Kanon. Not wanting to intrude, I decided to wait for a later chance.

I have my laptop with me, so perhaps I'll search a little for a song that might go along with Souta's video… better do something productive when I have the chance.

I open the door and enter, careful not to do much noise. I have never liked drawing attention to this place; I like it best if it is left untouched by third parties.

"Oh wild flower… "

I guess I'm actually in the mood of looking for the damned song; I can even picture a girl in the floor, with her naked back towards me, singing inside the warehou–

"Ah…could you please tell me… "

…

"… why people hurt each other… "

I can't believe it.

"… and fight each other? "

Someone IS inside the room… but… her voice!

"Oh dignified flower, "

For the first time in years, I –

"… what can you see from there? "

I'm speechless…

"And why can't people… "

Its beauty is unparalleled, unlike anything I had ever heard before.

"…forgive each other? "

Enthralled, I fix my eyes upon the girl before me… she is not someone I know, but in an instant she has blown my mind away. I take a step forward, to be closer to her –

She stops singing. I accidentally hit a can with my foot, and its noise revealed my presence to her. The girl gasps, still in the floor, and turns to face me.

A mechanic noise fills the room as the two of us react to each other. There's a small four-legged robot rushing aggressively towards me – I attempt to jump away, but the little machine shoots a thick string at me and lands a hit on my leg.

The string whirls around it and constricts it with pressure, then pulls away and brings me down. Damned little robot, I can't believe it… My bento falls and hits the floor, and the box's lid opens in the process, spilling its contents.

The girl looks at me fearfully, slowly crawling away while holding her clothes to her chest.

"Wait, you've got the wrong idea! I totally didn't want to –"

I rush to get up, despite the little robot's efforts to keep me from doing so, and hastily explain I am not a pervert trying to peek on her while she was partially unclothed - I just happened to walk in!

The girl does not seem to be very convinced, though, and hastily distances herself from me… but bumps hard against the desk behind her. She curls up and rubs the back of her head in pain, using her right hand while keeping her clothes in place with the left one.

Now that she has moved, I see there is blood in the floor where she was sitting a few moments ago. Looking back at her, I notice she has a bloodied bandage wrapped around her left arm. Her clothes look burned and torn in several places, and her overall image is one of a battle survivor – she looks quite roughened up.

I crouch down to match our faces' altitude and look at her timidly. The robot is still pestering me, but if I lean my weight to my restrained leg I am able to bear its pull.

The girl slowly calms down, seeing I mean her no harm, and looks back at me.

"Are you alright?"

She doesn't answer, but the robot seems to show less hostility towards me.

I look down in the space between us and notice a first aid kit open in the floor. Now I remember, there was one of those left here… I see she made use of it to treat her arm.

"I'll call an ambulance for you, let me – "

"No!"

She halts my words desperately. I look at her, perplexed… why would she not want medical attention? She looks terrible... almost as if – oh shit. I'll ask.

"Are you… is someone chasing you?"

The little robot is making a weird noise. Now that I see it up close, I realize it has a bullet hole on its upper section, and one of its legs is badly damaged. I see… this is only an assumption, but I believe this girl was involved in the gunfight last night.

"Funell…"

The robot reacts and fires a second string at me, aiming for my face. I duck down and evade it, just barely. It seems I was right – the girl is acting too defensively.

"Wait, wait! I'm not turning you over or anything, I just want to help! Please!"

The girl breathes out and lowers her shoulders, slightly lessening her tension.

"Let him, Funell."

The robot stops its third attack, as it had already drawn the string that missed my face back to its place and was ready to fire again at me.

The girl's red eyes meet my own, and both of us look at each other in silence, discretely analyzing the other's body language to understand our intentions. Only the robot, Funell, does any noise as it lowers its stance to jump at me – it still suspects me.

"You were in the firefight yesterday, weren't you? The whole army is looking for you."

She glares at me and digs her free hand into her clothes… and draws a gun. She points it at me, ready to fire. Yep, I hit a nerve… I should've been more subtle.

"Whoa, whoa! Hold on! They're looking for you, right? If you fire, they'll come here right away – that thing does not have a silencer, and the windows are wide open, see?"

She looks to the side and confirms that, indeed, most windows are either open or broken – firing would immediately reveal her location; even if the Anti-Bodies do not hear the sound, the school definitely will and won't hesitate to call them.

"Geez, calm down… I said I'm not turning you in. Can you please point that somewhere else? Let me at least talk a little."

The girl reluctantly lowers her gun and looks away, sighing.

"Sorry."

Hey, she's even apologizing. Would this be the Stockholm Syndrome? I'm starting to believe she isn't really a bad girl, despite having been close to killing me. Wait, what?

Mother of Jesus, I am going insane. How am I even keeping my cool in the first place? Hold on, no – don't question it. For fuck's sake, Shu, if you are calm, keep it that way. There is no gun pointed at you anymore, just a bleeding girl and an angry robot… keep acting as you have so far, and stick your attention to the lady in need.

She's awkwardly looking away from me. Funell releases the string gripping my leg and clumsily moves towards her – it can barely move because of its ruined leg. I slowly move closer to her as well, careful not to appear menacing.

"Don't worry about it, it's fine… Uh… do they have you cornered?"

She looks at me suspiciously, but doesn't react adversely. She's still resistant towards speaking to me, yet appears to be accepting the fact she can't really do away with me unless I willingly walk away.

I must smooth things over, make my intentions clear to her.

"I'm willing to help you, uh…"

Her name…

"Inori…"

She introduces herself, though reluctantly and only in name. Her voice is cute, even when she's merely speaking. Well, I at least made some progress… I got her to talk.

"I won't let them catch you, Inori. I know this is very sudden… but would you trust me?"

Ah, God… what am I doing? Did I even taste my words before I said them?

"… why would I?"

Yep, that's the question. She has no reason to believe in me. I should be desisting by now, since she's the one with a gun. But you know what? Fuck this! I'm getting shit done, and I'm doing it now. Saint Michael, guide me.

"I am your best chance of escaping. The area around the headquarters is full of cameras, and even if they didn't catch your appearance, your clothes will give you away in an instant – they are bloodied and burned everywhere, it's impossible for you to move in the open without raising suspicion.

Therefore, you can either continue wandering around the way you are, or you can take a gamble and accept my assistance. What will you do?"

She fixes her eyes on me, carefully examining the situation and considering her best possible course of action. However, I am confident in what I said… by the looks of her, I think she can barely even walk – if she treated her wounded arm with the first aid kit here, she must have lost a lot of blood before she made it from the headquarters to our location.

"I don't have any other option… please… take care of me."

She humbly pleas for my protection. Who am I to deny?

"Wait for me here, I'll be back in a moment… I need to get something before we leave. Some of my lunch is still clean, feel free to eat it while I'm gone, it won't be long."

I walk out of the warehouse, leaving Inori behind. I wonder how she feels now… she might already doubt me as I left immediately after she asked for my help. However, I absolutely needed to leave so I can draw the ace I have under my sleeve: the largest obstacle to allowing Inori's escape is her outfit… and I have just the ideal disguise.

Forgive me, Hare… I'm opening your locker now. It is very fortunate she keeps a spare uniform inside in case something happens to the one she's wearing… and it is also very fortunate the password lock she's using was originally mine, but I gave it to her when she lost her own at home.

I feel bad for taking her stuff, but she did turn me down for lunch, so I'll call it even with this. Besides, Inori needs it urgently, so I cannot leisurely ponder about any other options.

Nobody sees me as I stuff it inside my bag… with the uniform concealed, I can return to Inori and have her change before we go away from school… I need to find a safe location for her so she can rest at least until she recovers.

The warehouse is now in sight, so I only need to –

Well, fuck. Those were gunshots just now… from inside the room.

I run frantically and poke my head inside to see what's happening. There are four soldiers in the ground, all of them bleeding profusely before Inori. The pink-haired girl in a vivid red outfit (with an otherworldly cleavage, I must add) is staring at them while Funell unleashes electric discharges on their bodies, one after another.

"God… Inori-san, are you hurt?"

She points the gun at me. I hastily pull my head back, and a bullet hits on the other side of the wall where I'm standing.

"You betrayed me!"

Did I? Man, she got it all wrong… the soldiers found her by themselves.

"Calm down, girl! I went to get this for you, now change quickly and get ready, we're moving out of here pronto!"

I take Hare's spare uniform out my bag and wave it around by the door's opening, so Inori can see I am serious about helping her. Thankfully, she realizes the soldiers' arrival was a misunderstanding and does not blow a hole through my hand.

She says something from the other side, weakly, but I can't hear her so I press her on.

"Come, pick the uniform and get changed fast!"

She hesitates before replying.

"I can't."

What?

"Inori-san?"

I call her name questioningly.

"I can barely move… I can't change by myself."

Oh God… please don't let the next line be… no, wait… please LET the next line be…!

"Can you… help me?"

… how did it come to this?

I'm inside the warehouse, having accepted Inori's request to remove her ruined clothes and to equip the disguise I prepared for her.

My nose is bleeding. Jesus, Allah and Buddha have bestowed their blessings upon me, granting me the privilege any healthy male would kill for. No, wait, what am I saying… I'm merely helping the damsel in mistress… yes, yes… I have no other option.

Get a hold of yourself, Shu… this is not the time for this – the military will barge in at any moment! I can hear the commotion from school even now… it has been less than a minute since Inori killed the soldiers, and I am dearly hoping nobody will come and see where the noise came from… but it is a given that more Anti-Bodies will come.

Inori is changed and ready to leave now, after I did the enjoyable job in a record time of one minute. We should still have one minute or two left before more any reinforcements get here… we must leave immediately.

The two of us make it for the street, with Inori holding on to my arm for support. She has lost too much blood – as she said, she can barely walk because of the dizziness and general weakness of her muscles.

I stop a taxi and ask the driver to take us to a park near my home. It has been three minutes since Inori killed the soldiers; I have made sure not to waste too much time – if the Anti-Bodies get here and surround the area, we are done for.

Inori casually leans on my shoulder as if we were a couple. The driver asks if she is sick, to which I comply – I tell him she felt ill at school, and asked me to take her for a walk to the park for fresh air.

The cab we're in passes by an Anti-Bodies convoy headed to our school… our escape was in the nick of time. Inori's clothes, as well as Funell, are stuffed and hidden inside my bag – I now thank the Gods I bought an unnecessarily large one this year.

Our journey home proceeds without issues, somehow, and the cab leaves us in the park. After paying the driver and seeing him off, I wait for the few passersby to walk away before I crouch in front of Inori.

"Get up, I'll carry you."

She lets her body upon my back without complains. She's really at her limit…

I walk the rest of the way to my house, careful not to be seen by any neighbors. Fortunately, almost everyone is either at school or at work, so there's hardly anyone I need to avoid. We eventually arrive to the department complex, take the elevator up and find ourselves in front of my door.

Heh… here's a nuisance. I have to use the hand scanner on the door to open it… and the GHQ undoubtedly has access to this information. If they suspect me of being related with the shooting incident near school and decide to look for me because I suddenly did not return to classes, they can easily find I am at home… I need to find a way around it.

"What's wrong?"

Inori asks, seeing I am hesitating on using the door.

"The Anti-Bodies will know I'm at home if I we walk in… if they relate my absence at school with my assistance on your escape, they'll track us down in no time."

I explain the situation to her, still wondering what to do.

"Take Funell out… he can keep the system silent."

Whoa, he can hack into it? Now, that's convenient.

"Really? This little bugger is useful after all..."

As I take the quadruped robot out of my bag, it attempts to reach to my face with its front legs, baring four metal claws in each, all sparkling with electricity. Did it get mad with me for calling it a bugger? This thing sure is smart… its AI seems to be very elaborate.

I place Funell close to the digital panel. The round robot reaches with one if its legs, then its tip opens and reveals numerous plugs and cables popping out of it. One of them fits into one of the panels' slots, and the little machine in my hand begins its hacking work.

Surprisingly, the door opens without having the panel activating… the little bugger really did it! My, my… I shouldn't judge a book by its cover anymore.

I put Funell down on the floor and enter the department.

I head for my room and lay Inori down on my bed, finally allowing her the rest she so needs. Now that I see her closely, I realize she is terribly beautiful… I can hardly imagine anyone daring to point a gun at her; her sheer innocent-looking appearance would be enough to make me hesitate if I were her opponent.

I have heard from Haruka how ruthless the Anti-Bodies are… if she is found and captured, she will be submitted to torture and interrogation, to then be cold-bloodedly executed without facing trial – she'd be falsely said to be a stage IV infected and would be killed. The virus would simply be injected after her death… they have done this before; Haruka has warned me about their underhanded methods.

Anyone who opposes the GHQ's power is killed without mercy… this is the harsh reality we face now in Japan. Somehow, without us being able to do anything about it, we lost our own country to a foreign military organization because of the Apocalypse Virus pandemic ten years ago.

Inori falls asleep quickly, and Funell places itself between me and her. The little bugger still has little trust on me. Looking at the girl breathing peacefully before me, I decide to head to the kitchen and prepare some food for her – she needs to resupply the blood she has lost, and also has to heal the wounds she has suffered.

I am aware I truly know nothing about her – she never explained her circumstances to me; it was I who formulated assumptions and acted according to them. All I am sure of is she is in danger, and that her survival is entirely up to me.

So, I will not abandon her – I will live up to my own words, and I will make a change in myself. A few days ago, I would have run away… but not anymore. Saving a girl's life is hardly the worst thing in the world, and so, I will dirty my hands if needed be for her… despite something about her making me wonder if I am doing this for her sake or my own.