Chapter 7 - A Solution Beyond the Walls
The white beam of light that flew narrowly missed Maidono's cheek as she raised the ground beneath her to catapult herself aside. She hastily wiped the sweat from her face, her breathing growing increasingly erratic. This wasn't a fight she expected to win, but she was trying to at least come out of it in one piece.
As her opponent, positioned on the other side of the ruined battleground, raised her solitary hand, Maidono mirrored the action, causing the air around her to surge to level 5. This disrupted Mugino's timing, eliciting a frustrated remark from her.
"How annoying," said Mugino. She didn't even bother shooting, nonchalantly placing her one hand on her hip, taking a small step to the left. "You're not even trying to win here, come on, give me some fun."
"And give you an opening to blow my arm off? Do you think I didn't notice?"
Yes, the reason Maidono was managing to dodge all of Mugino's attacks was because she wasn't aiming at vital points. Every time she took extra time to aim carefully, usually firing at Maidono's left side. This predictable pattern allowed Maidono room to react and counterattack, sowing hesitation in her adversary.
"At least you understand that if I wanted to, you'd already be dead," said Mugino, emphasizing her words with an exaggerated wave, almost mockingly. "Come on, give me another one of your flashy attacks. Or did you lose your nerve after your little boyfriend left?"
Although she preferred not to be provoked, she had to take advantage of this opening. A level 5 shouldn't be underestimated; she had learned that lesson the hard way in the past, but this time would be different.
Using both hands, she "gripped" a demolished wall to her right and tore it apart mid-air. The fragments hurtled toward the other girl at an alarming speed, but she simply grinned evilly and activated her ability, directing it downwards. In an instant, Mugino was no longer on the ground; she landed gracefully on an iron railing one floor above, evading the attack entirely. However...
Maidono was just getting started.
Seizing the railing with her skill, Maidono manipulated it as if shaking out wet clothes. When Mugino lost her balance slightly, Maidono employed her other hand to hurl a sizable chunk of concrete out of the ground. The chunk crashed into a display window of a high-end boutique, showering the mannequins with debris.
Not a single hit.
Not on the first attempt, nor the second, nor the subsequent three attacks. The level 5 girl leaped to the side, pressed against a sleek storefront, and then executed a mid-air spin. She utilized the polished glass display cases as mirrors, tracking Maidono's movements with precision. Upon landing, she deployed her skill once again, propelling herself into the air and ascending another floor like a rocket.
Maidono, undeterred, surveyed her surroundings. The fight had now moved into a high-end electronics store, the glow of futuristic screens illuminating the clash between the two espers. Splintered glass and sparks from damaged gadgets added to the chaotic beauty taking place, while Mugino, with balletic grace, navigated through the remnants of shattered electronics, sidestepping a cascade of wires and narrowly avoiding the explosive feedback from a malfunctioning holographic display.
"My God, will you stop it?" complained Maidono, tailing her to the next floor and manipulating the ground beneath her. "You're so showy with all those spins. What the hell are you? A circus monkey?"
"Better than being a clown, Mai-san," she said, nonchalantly straightening her clothes. "Think of it as you helping me exercise; I needed it."
"I'm glad to be the one making you move your lazy ass, but I'd rather you stayed still, especially considering that your skirt isn't suitable for this kind of acrobatics. Do you do this against male opponents too? Now I understand why you like see-through panties so much, you exhibitionist."
More attacks were exchanged from both sides. Maidono now dominated practically the entire floor, causing it to shift and break in specific spots. The place resembled a labyrinth, its structure being reshaped by the bright beams of light fired in rapid succession.
"It would be better if you stopped criticizing my fashion tastes," said Mugino, casually melting a wall thrown at her. "I mean, what the fuck are you wearing anyway? All this time with me and you've learned nothing."
"What's wrong with my clothes?"
"It would be quicker to say what's not wrong. Seriously, that's awful. Is that your strategy for this fight? Are you trying to give me a lethal dose of shame?"
Another attack flew towards Maidono, but this time there was something different. The beam struck the ceiling of the destroyed store they were in, causing something like liquid magma to gush towards her. If she hadn't moved as soon as she saw the frightening glow, she would have been badly burned.
It seemed that Mugino was starting to take things more seriously. That attack couldn't be considered totally lethal, but being hit by it could end the fight instantly. What's worse, the attacks didn't stop. Several Meltdowner beams were fired, hitting walls, shop windows, the ceiling, and the floor. Something burnt kept oozing out of the thick concrete walls, and electricity cables began to crackle around Maidono.
But she still had the courage to speak out.
"That's kind of stupid," she remarked, pulling the cables away from her with her powers. "All this can hit you too, you know."
"I'm an electric esper; it would be a shame if I were afraid of a bit of electricity. And the heat never bothered me anyway." Mugino shook her head and gave an evil smile. "And I can just do this too."
Mugino made a quick escape by throwing herself into the huge hole in the ceiling, utilizing her Meltdowner after balancing on some rubble. It seemed her strategy was to exit the immediate scene and continue causing enough collateral damage to overwhelm Maidono. However, she wasn't foolish enough to fall for such a simple trick.
Using her skill, she seized one of the pieces of rubble left there, employing it as a kind of glider that lifted her up, following the other girl beyond the hole with glowing edges.
Then Mugino's voice echoed as soon as she had crossed that makeshift exit.
"Now I've got you."
Maidono's eyes widened at the sight of the Meltdowner beam being charged. The big problem there was that she wasn't on firm ground yet, and since Mugino had arrived earlier, she barely knew her current location. It was too late to disrupt Mugino's timing by moving the platform in the air.
Maidono failed badly in reading her opponent's strategy.
She would be intercepted in mid-air. That was checkmate approaching.
But... even so... Maidono remained calm. She dropped the platform beneath her and brought her index fingers together in front of her body. As if a light had hit a mirror, the Meltdowner's beam curved in front of Maidono and was redirected in a strange direction.
Mugino was perplexed.
"What the fuck?" She even grimaced, her eyebrow raised in confusion. "You grabbed the beam? It's plausible, but I doubt you'll get it that easily."
"Actually, I just redirected it by creating a pressure point with my ability. Your power is unique, but it is still subject to several rules."
"Hmm... so it's like that time with that bitch. Did you study my past or something? Fucking stalker."
Maidono landed in the corridor leading to several department stores, keeping her guard up for any attack, but her attention was diverted to something in her pocket. Her communication device had started vibrating to alert her to a message, but she decided to ignore it. Or rather, she pretended to ignore it. A thin smile appeared on her face as she straightened her posture, relaxing.
"Why the smile?" asked Mugino, her hand on her waist and her face serious.
"Nothing much." She shrugged. "By the way, you've been rather careless lately. "
"It's not like I'm taking this fight seriously"
"I'm not talking about our fight, I'm talking about your decisions." Maidono crossed her arms and began to walk in semicircles down the wide, well-lit corridor. "Why are you picking fights with practically everyone? Even the Garden Guardians. I know you like a good fight, but this is crazy."
"Oh, are you trying to pretend you understand me? I think you've proved you can't."
"Yes, I really don't know how you work. I'm not Takitsubo after all." Maidono tilted her head when she saw Mugino start to grit her teeth upon hearing that name. But she wasn't finished. "I mean, I don't even think she knew in the end... if she had, she wouldn't have asked you to do that."
A Meltdowner beam quickly flew towards her, but it was deflected with the same trick she had used before.
"Do you really want me to kill you?" asked Mugino, her words oozing aggression. Maidono had hit a nerve. "Because we both know that this trick of yours isn't enough to stop me, so keep trying your luck."
"Yeah, I know. You can throw a lot of Meltdowner beams, more than enough to overwhelm me, but you chose not to. What are you trying to prove?" She put her hand to her chin and smiled once more. "Haven't you lost enough fights because you were proud to the end?"
"Your provocation won't work, you know it's not about that anymore."
"Do I? And how can I really know anything about you?"
"If you had stopped to listen to me instead of trying to judge me at every turn…"
Mugino looked so tired as she said it. The way she ran her hand through her hair lacked its previous lightness and softness; her serious expression was on the verge of crumbling. The sigh that escaped her and the subsequent shake of her head almost induced a pang of guilt in Maidono for making her remember the past like that, but that illusionist had to distract her somehow.
"It doesn't matter anymore," said Maidono. She slowly pointed with her index finger at the ceiling above Mugino's head. "We'd better finish this soon, my allies must need my help."
"Huh?" Level 5's expression suddenly changed to one of confusion and boredom. "What do you want? Nothing you throw at me will work, even if you try to cloud my thoughts with your dirty tricks."
"You think?" asked Maidono, twirling her index finger. The ceiling above them shook and began to crack. "Then I just need to use someone else's tricks."
It was as if the entire surrounding environment began to shake. The multi-storey shopping center would collapse if that monster girl wanted it to, but her attack focused only on the ceiling of that floor. With a simple, careless movement of her hand, she guided just the necessary piece of the ceiling a few meters above Mugino, causing that part of the floor to collapse on top of the girl.
A roar of destruction followed.
Obviously, that attack could barely be considered a threat to that level 5. She just raised her only hand and repeated practically the same scene as earlier with the escalator, a blinding cloak like welding appeared above her head, like an umbrella protecting someone from the rain.
And Maidono smiled as that impenetrable defense disappeared in an instant.
"What?" Mugino made the most surprised face of her life.
A noise of breaking glass had sounded, just after a right hand had fearlessly touched that cloak. Mugino turned around and saw that spiky-haired boy standing there next to her, and her mind seemed to have been completely stunned, so much so that she forgot about the ceiling collapsing on top of her.
Her, and also that boy.
x-2-x
Kamijou Touma started coughing due to the cloud of dust rising from the rubble, and also a bit from the nervousness that hit him when the roof almost came crashing down. The attack was potent enough to break the concrete floor, causing him to fall to the level below. Unfortunately, that poor girl had been crushed by it.
"Hey, did I hurt you?" asked Maidono. She was floating from standing on rubble controlled by her powers. "I did my best to cordon off the area around you, but it all happened so fast."
Maidono walked over to him and, out of nowhere, started examining him from various angles. She then used one hand to wipe the dust off his clothes. A concerned expression crossed her face as she noticed the wound on his shoulder. Kamijou briefly looked away, feeling a slight embarrassment, which prompted another cough.
"Glad you saw my message," he said. "Good job there covering up the sound of my footsteps with the sound of breaking things."
"Thanks, but I didn't actually see your message." She took the retro device out of her pocket and smiled as she looked at the screen. "'Time for the element of surprise'." A cute giggle escaped her lips. "I imagined it was something like that. I didn't risk looking in the middle of the fight, but I knew it was you."
"Really? How?"
"Women's intuition." Maidono cracked a smile. Perhaps this was the first time he had seen her smile like this, so pure and sincere. "So you chose not to use your power during the whole fight to increase the chances of her letting her guard down? It amazes me how quickly you think during fights. Thanks for your help, you're the best fighting partner I could ask for, we should do this more often."
"Please don't, this Kamijou-san—"
He was interrupted. Just like that pleasant atmosphere, it was suddenly taken away when the place lit up. The beam of sinister light tore through everything in its path, but Kamijou slapped it with the back of his hand, extinguishing it immediately.
"What the hell are you, kid?" The angry voice came from where the beam had been fired.
That girl was really tough. Kamijou wasn't sure if she had avoided lethal damage by using her powers at the last moment or if she had simply endured her injuries. But the fact remained. She was alive. The dust had cleared, revealing her lying on the ground, holding her leg at an awkward angle, a trickle of blood running down her temple.
"You didn't deflect my Meltdowner," she said, a sphere of energy hovering near her raised hand. "You destroyed it, as well as my shield up there. Is that why Kinuhata was so afraid? What kind of monster am I dealing with here?"
Barely able to fight, she still appeared ready to throw a punch if necessary, even though she couldn't stand up on her own. Once again, the sphere next to her lit up, almost obscuring Kamijou's vision. But an instant later, the angry girl put on a rigid face and clicked her tongue.
It wasn't even clear when it happened, but just then, a large knife was floating in the air near Mugino's left eye. Kamijou knew someone who used to carry this kind of equipment; he had already felt the danger of it in his own body.
"The fight is over," said Maidono, taking a step towards Mugino while keeping her finger pointed in the direction of the knife. "Now, what am I supposed to do with you? You said I was a vindictive girl, and you weren't wrong."
"Maidono—"
"Thanks again for your help, Kamijou, but now it's between me and her. Leave us alone, please."
"What do you want?"
"I'm going to finish this... once and for all."
The way she said it seemed very personal, so much anger contained in those words, a dangerous combination, not just for that girl sitting there on the dirty floor.
"It looks like it's the end of the line for me," said Mugino, her stoic expression never faltering for a moment. "But if I'm going down, I'm going down shooting."
That blinding glare appeared once again, the girl's intention clear. She knew she was lost, and attempting one last attack would only serve to try and take her opponent with her, since that knife was too close to her face, and a mere movement of Maidono's hand would put an end to it. And then it happened. The knife close to her face moved the instant after she activated her ability, causing her face to change expression for a mere instant. Meltdowner's beam was not fired.
"That's enough," said Kamijou.
The knife had moved, but not because of Maidono. The boy moved as soon as he saw the situation unfolding, grabbing the handle of the knife with his right hand and then putting it in his other hand. Mugino looked a little perplexed when he did this, but it didn't last long, confusion spreading soon afterward as the boy extended his right hand to her, a friendly gesture that was unexpected for her.
"Huh?" Mugino tilted her head just a little and looked at his outstretched hand. "What does that mean?"
That girl was speaking in a confused tone, as if she were watching a movie she had seen dozens of times, but for some reason, one scene wasn't exactly as she remembered it.
"I'm not sure what else happened between you and Maidono for her to be so angry, but I won't accept it ending like this." Kamijou cast a quick glance in Maidono's direction, who couldn't stand the intensity and looked away. "I'm not going to watch while you destroy yourselves for no reason."
"Hmm..." Mugino returned to her stoic expression, still staring at the boy's outstretched hand. "Looks like we have a hero here. I'm sorry, but you were too late to save me."
"Something tells me you don't need saving, at least not anymore." The rigid tone he was using was rather unnatural. "You know, my friends have told me a few things about you, and from what I've heard, I came here expecting to meet an irredeemable monster."
"Your friends told you the truth then."
"Not all of it." He barely allowed her to finish. "The other fight between you and her, you won, didn't you?"
His allies only had one theory, one that he believed to be true, but at that moment, in the fight against Kinuhata, she seemed confused when he said that Maidono would win again, and she also seemed totally confident that her ally would win.
"Of course. Don't tell me that Mai-san was embarrassed to tell you the result?" replied Mugino, her voice sounding slightly mocking.
"I see," said Kamijou; he almost let a smile slip. "If that's the case, then not everything I heard was true. You had a choice. Kill an enemy, or fight against yourself. You chose the harder fight in the end, and won all the same. I have enough contact with people from the dark side to know that killing is usually the first option for you, so maybe I'm not dealing with an irredeemable monster after all."
Kamijou watched her as she narrowed her eyes at him. It was impossible for him to know what was going through her head, but in that instant, he noticed the muscles in her face relaxing little by little, as if she had enjoyed at least a bit of what she had heard. Her gaze suddenly shifted, like someone who was embarrassed after being caught staring at someone else. She ran her hand nervously through her dirty hair.
"It was just a whim," said Mugino, her tone different from the rigid one she usually used. "It made no difference to me whether she lived or not." She once again looked at his outstretched hand, and then with a quick gesture, she took that hand, letting herself be pulled up, standing once again, right next to him. "I think that makes us even, Mai-san." Her gaze was still on him. "Or almost, since technically, if it hadn't been for this annoying guy, you would have killed me."
"That wasn't my intention. I just wanted to pierce your eye really, then we'd be even," replied Maidono, sighing. "Anyway, it looks like we're done here. I've wreaked havoc on your base and kicked your ass in the process, I'll take this victory and go home with a smile on my face."
"Kicked my ass?" Mugino laughed, standing unsteadily on her injured foot. "Bitch, are you high? You only 'won' because you had help. As if I was going to lose to someone who only knows how to throw random shit and dresses like a beggar."
"Says the person who only knows how to shoot lasers and has a stupid esper name. Seriously, what the hell is 'Meltdowner' supposed to mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? Aren't your English classes up to date?"
"It's clearly a made-up word."
"All words are 'made-up', what's your fucking point?"
Their discussion ended when Kamijou suddenly started laughing out loud, which caused them both to stare at him with blank expressions.
"Sorry," he said, still smiling and scratching his head nervously. "It's just that you two reminded me of my classmates' stupid arguments. You sound like good old friends."
"Don't even joke about it," said Maidono. "Now come on, we have to tell the others that the fight is over. Are you coming with us?"
Mugino shook her head and looked at her foot starting to swell.
"I'm going to the infirmary, this thing is starting to hurt. We've got loudspeakers here, I can send out a warning for everyone to stop killing themselves if you want to."
"Good. Do it, Mugino-san," said Kamijou casually, he even put a hand in his pocket. "I'm worried about the others, they seemed trapped there."
Without responding verbally, the girl waved as she limped down the rubble-strewn corridor. Kamijou almost considered offering to assist her, but an instinct held him back, suggesting that such a gesture might be unwelcome, given the apparent pride emanating from the girl.
But at that moment, Kamijou remembered something.
"Mugino-san," he called out, approaching her. "Wait—"
"I don't need any help," she retorted coldly, dismissing his offer with a curt hand gesture. "I can manage on my own."
"Eh? Yes, I know, it's not that. I just wanted to ask you something."
"Make it quick."
"Hamazura, he's here, isn't he? Can I talk to him?"
The girl froze at the mention of that name, halting in the corridor and fixating on emptiness. She sighed deeply, and her shoulders slumped slightly. The atmosphere shifted so abruptly that Kamijou sensed an unusual tension coursing through his body. This wasn't the first time such a reaction had occurred when that delinquent boy's name was brought up.
"Unfortunately, you can't talk to him," she replied, resuming her challenging walk. Kamijou's apprehensions surged at that moment. "He's in the infirmary, resting."
And then he breathed a sigh of relief, he hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath. It hadn't been long since he'd been in this world, but everything he'd seen so far had certainly shaken his optimistic future thoughts.
"Good to know he's not dead," he said, a near-smile gracing his face as he adopted a more relaxed posture, hands comfortably nestled in his pockets.
"What's the story with you two?" Mugino asked, her tone carrying a hint of interest as she struggled to maintain pace with him in the dilapidated corridor.
Now that was a question he had to think about answering.
"We kind of beat each other up and then we came to a consensus."
He should have thought about it a little more. But for some reason, Mugino seemed to like the answer, albeit with a trace of confusion.
"You know," said Mugino, "I shouldn't do that but... fuck it." She sighed and then faced him. "Come with me to the infirmary, I'll ask them to fix my foot and then you can have a look at your 'friend'."
"How generous of you," quipped Maidono, positioning herself to Kamijou's left, effectively placing Kamijou between the two.
"Would you shut up?" spat Mugino.
Those two needed to be locked in a room until they made up or killed each other, but Kamijou wouldn't say that out loud.
x-3-x
After Mugino broadcast a warning over the loudspeakers, things calmed down in the mall. Luckily, the fighting had only progressed through an almost empty wing of the place, so the destruction hadn't spread to the more important facilities like the infirmary or supply depot. Mugino had probably thought of this when he took them to that secluded room.
The trio of Kamijou, Maidono, and Mugino strolled through the mall until they came to a place that had clearly been rebuilt almost from scratch. If Kamijou's memory served him right, this was the former sports items wing, boasting expansive spaces that once housed an official-sized tennis court. However, the place had been completely transformed.
It was a very large medical ward, filled with the constant hum of high-tech machines and the scent of top-tier disinfectant, mingling with a hint of freshly filtered air. The unmistakable metallic tang of blood lingered in the atmosphere. Replacing the once marble-covered floor, a non-stick material provided a secure surface for maneuvering heavy equipment. Surgical tables, high-resolution monitors and X-ray machines were distributed throughout the ward. You could build an entire field hospital with this. At that moment, he wondered if his own base had similar resources, or if this was a perk reserved only for the big factions.
"Mugino-sama, what happened?"asked a girl attired in something akin to a nurse's uniform as soon as they entered the area, replete with beds adorned with pristine white sheets.
"A ceiling fell on me, I plummeted a whole floor and twisted my ankle. I'm going to need a boot."
Kamijou found it slightly amusing that she had said it in the most casual way, sporting the most stoic expression he had ever seen. He imagined her as someone accustomed to the most absurd scenarios, assigning a mere 5/10 on the bizarreness scale to anything that would prompt a normal person to freak out.
"And as for you, you seem to have lost a lot of blood," said the nurse in white, looking at the wound on his shoulder. "I've never seen you before, so are you a new member?"
"Actually, he's one of the people responsible for me being in this state." Mugino sat down on one of the beds and checked her foot. Her gaze wandered to the beds occupied by seriously injured members of her faction. "What a mess. Looks like your famous 'Kami no Shinigami' had a good time tonight. You're lucky I'm a calm and reasonable person, Mai-san."
"Hehe, of course, of course," said Maidono, hiding her mouth as she laughed. "Not in a million years."
Guided by one of the nurses, Kamijou was directed to a bed where he was asked to remove his shirt for the wound on his shoulder to be cleaned. The persistent throb of pain in his shoulder was momentarily intensified by the familiar sensation of the needle, thin and sharp, penetrating his skin, stitching the damaged tissue with precision. It was a scene so routine for him that it strangely brought him a sense of relaxation.
A few minutes later he had a well-done bandage and a weak dose of painkiller. Kind of them. It even made him feel bad for being part of the faction that destroyed a large part of this base.
Then a familiar female voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"So you're super here too."
It was the girl with the bob haircut from earlier. She approached with a serious expression, and her fist extended, momentarily startling Kamijou.
However, it was a friendly greeting.
"You got me there," she said, still serious, her fist outstretched. "It's been a long time since I lost to someone. Super Impressive."
"Um... thanks?" Kamijou cautiously reciprocated, meeting her fist. He noticed a curious look in her eyes as their skin made contact.
"You have a super strange power."
Mugino, from her bed, interrupted with a touch of impatience.
"Have you finished flirting, Kinuhata? We're going underground. Are you coming with us?"
Kinuhata's expression shifted slightly upon hearing their destination.
"Are you super sure?" she inquired, her gaze still fixed on Kamijou.
"Yes. I think he wanted it that way."
Mugino got out of bed, wearing an orthopedic boot on her left foot, which she tested by kicking the floor. She signaled for everyone to follow her and pressed the button for an elevator at the back of the white-walled place.
"Why are we going underground?" asked Kamijou, trying not to let confusion show in his voice as he entered the elevator.
"Super Hamazura has a room set up just for him," responded Kinuhata, her tone carrying a sense of seriousness bordering on alarm.
"Is Hamazura getting special treatment here?"
"You could say that," said Mugino in a neutral tone of voice, but she didn't want to elaborate. She pressed the button at the bottom of the panel.
"What's down there? A movie studio, free drinks, or something?" Kamijou intended to add more but halted when the two former adversaries fixed their gaze on him. "Alright, no free drinks."
"But I've got a movie theater set up in my super room," Kinuhata mentioned casually.
"Although the quality of the films leaves a lot to be desired," added Mugino.
"You have super bad taste." The girl with the bob cut even appeared offended by the remark. "And since when did you start judging my tastes like that?"
"I'm getting old." Mugino shrugged without looking at her. "Complaining is all I know how to do these days."
Kamijou didn't know the girl well, not at all, but the way she expressed herself sounded like someone who was too fatigued to care about anything, yet cared nonetheless. From what Kinuhata said, it sounded like a recent change. Perhaps the things she had said that were important in the conversation earlier were putting a huge weight on her back. He couldn't imagine being the leader of such a large faction, the responsibilities were clearly taking their toll on this girl.
"What kind of movies do you like, Kinuhata?" asked Kamijou, trying to lighten the mood a little in that cramped box. It was a bit strange talking casually to the person he had punched not even an hour ago. Actually, it wasn't strange for him. It was him who was strange.
"Low-budget movies. Lately, I've been watching B movies, but I have a preference for C or super 'worse' movies."
"Oh, it's nice to meet someone making a bit of effort to appreciate some raw gems. Lately the film industry has started to get boring."
"I agree. Only remakes and old westerns come out every year. Nobody has a decent or at least original idea."
"Not to mention the fact that apparently everything has to turn multiverse for no reason. What the hell was that 'Deadly Phight' ending?"
"You two won't stop complaining, my God," said Mugino, rolling her eyes.
"And there's the super hypocrisy," Kinuhata retorted, moving closer to Kamijou. "Ignore her, Kamijou-san. By the way, what are your favorite low-budget films?"
Now that was a question that made him think. He often watched B movies, but he never thought of a "favorite". "Quantum Piranhas from Nowhere" was a timeless classic, but he wasn't much of a fan. Luckily he didn't have to answer anything.
"We're here," said Mugino, stepping out of the elevator as soon as the door opened with all the haste of a late employee. "Shall we? Or do you two need a moment alone? Is 30 minutes enough, Kinuhata?"
"I'm a super romantic girl, this isn't even an appetizer. Do you agree, Kamijou-san?"
It was better that he didn't comment; he would undoubtedly risk blushing in the process. Instead, he crafted the sharpest poker face in history and silently shrugged as he exited the elevator. Being a gentleman was difficult, no doubt about it.
The place they were now in was a narrow room with light gray walls, with no decoration in sight but soft lighting that was pleasing to the eye. There were enigmatic machines lined up on the walls, with flashing screens and complex wires intertwining, emitting subtle hums. Most of them were an enigma to Kamijou, their functions hidden by a myriad of buttons and controls, and his mind was distracted too quickly for him to notice the rest that he was familiar with from his many trips to the hospital.
What caught his attention so quickly was that "other room" inside the room. He only referred to it as such in his mind, reluctant to label it a "cell." Yet, that's precisely what it resembled. Made of transparent reinforced glass, pulsating metal tubes pumped something inside, a huge bed at the center, and there, lying on that bed, was a pale figure with an oxygen mask covering his face.
The pleasant atmosphere of before seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye, replaced by an oppressive feeling that hung in the air.
"Hamazura," said Kamijou, his voice almost failing at that moment, coming out in an almost inaudible whisper.
His stomach churned as he realized the seriousness of the situation. It was obvious what was happening there. He didn't have a special room because he was someone special, that was necessary. All those machines and tubes were connected to his body, injecting or removing something, whether from his bloodstream or something else he didn't want to think about at the moment.
Even if his mind wanted to refuse, the fact that the boy's appearance resembled someone teetering on the brink of death wouldn't change it.
"What happened?" asked Kamijou, he felt that if he didn't steady himself, his body would tremble with all the knots forming in his stomach. "A fight? An accident?"
"No," Mugino replied, shaking her head. Her usually stoic expression wavered briefly as she gazed towards the glass prison, the corners of her mouth downturned. "He's... he's sick."
"Sick?" Maidono asked before Kamijou could react appropriately. "I have a feeling I know what's going on. Stories often echo each other, after all."
Out of the corner of his eye, the boy saw when Mugino paled when Maidono said those words, but that rigid jaw showed the fury contained there. It took her several seconds to regain composure, her breathing irregular, a frustrated nip at her lip.
"All of this has been arranged to halt the progression of the 'disease'," explained Mugino, taking a few steps towards the glass room, perhaps positioning herself with her back to everyone to conceal her expression. "A significant portion of the faction's resources is being expended to buy us some time."
So, that was the situation. Kamijou recalled hearing, on that day in the furnace, that the 'vulture' had mentioned New ITEM's severe shortage of medicine and their attempts to barter weapons for resources from other factions.
"I see," Maidono said. She was in tune with Kamijou, her hand tenderly resting on his shoulder. "So all the fights you've been picking over the last few weeks were for this reason?"
"Yes," Mugino replied, evidently struggling to maintain a steady voice, barely succeeding. "You know me, Mai-san, I'm not the kind of person who relies only on what's good, but I at least try to give meaning to everything I do. It's not like I'm just going to draw attention to myself for no reason, putting everyone's life at risk for nothing."
"So that day, when we fought at one of my outposts..."
"I needed those resources," Mugino interrupted, her one hand formed into a fist. "I'm not going to apologize for what I did... or for what I did today."
"Wait... you shot up my supply depot... don't tell me that..."
When they arrived here, Kinuhata broke the news that several of them had left. There was a good chance that the hole that girl had opened in the building would be used by a future group from that faction as an easy way in and out, now that their best fighters had been lured here. Kamijou had to shake his head in Maidono's direction when he felt the girl begin to bubble with anger.
"Maidono, not now," he said calmly. He needed to focus on something more important. There was still something strange about this story. "What illness are we talking about here?"
The question wasn't for anyone in particular, and Mugino didn't seem to want to answer it.
"We don't know," Kinuhata replied instead. "Even the super best doctor in this city can't do anything to help him."
"Even him?"
Kamijou couldn't help but be astonished. Heaven Canceller was undoubtedly a legend, there was nothing in the realm of medicine that wasn't in the arsenal of that kind doctor who had saved his life so many times.
"According to him," continued Kinuhata, "this is beyond his 'area of expertise'. It's as if the super disease can't be explained by science."
"Huh?"
Something that could not be explained by science... could be...
"You said you were trying to buy time, " said Maidono. "For what exactly? If that doctor can't do anything, that means—"
"It means we need someone with a broader 'area of expertise'," Mugino interrupted her, as if she didn't want to hear the rest of that sentence.
"Of course, why didn't I think of that before?" Maidono said sarcastically.
"Maidono, this is no time for that," said Kamijou in disapproval, which made the girl sigh and look away with a hint of embarrassment. "Do you know anyone else in this city who surpasses that doctor's talents? That sounds crazy."
"It really is," said Mugino. She raised her head to stare at the ceiling, her expression still hidden. "But... if we can't find the solution here in this city, then we can only go beyond its walls."
The expression that crossed Maidono's face upon hearing this was unlike anything Kamijou had ever witnessed; she appeared on the verge of a breakdown. She turned away from him and practically sprinted towards Mugino, locking eyes with her.
"Have you lost your mind?!" Maidono nearly shouted, her face contorting as her arms gestured emphatically in disbelief. "Tell me your plan isn't to escape from here and chase after fantasies! Are you trying to doom us all?"
"My plan is a little more complex than that."
Kamijou knew almost nothing about this world, so that conversation left him completely confused. Naru had said something about this place having become a quarantine zone, and as far as he could discern, the external world still maintained its functionality. That, at least, was a silver lining.
When the boy lifted his face after pondering, Maidono cast a brief glance at him before redirecting her attention to Mugino.
"They're going to bomb you and this whole place the minute you set foot out of here, you know that," said Maidono in an alarmed tone of voice.
"Not if I have help from the adults."
This statement seemed to carry a shock factor, judging by the peculiar expression on Maidono's face. Mugino's slightly hesitant tone indicated her displeasure at having to negotiate with "the adults," yet it appeared as just another bothersome task among the many she was compelled to undertake.
"Do you actually plan to seek their assistance?" asked Maidono, her expression almost amused, as if she found the notion absurd. "Neoka won't even give you the time of day after everything you've pulled off in the last few weeks."
"I've already struck a deal, actually."
"What?!" Maidono's head swiveled from side to side, her mouth agape in disbelief.
"Kinuhata kidnapped some 'vultures' a few days ago. Luckily they were kind enough to put us on a direct line with the leader of the Coalescence. How could they refuse anyway?" With a nonchalant shrug, she turned her face towards the glass. Her reflection wore an air of weariness. "I found it strange that they gave in so quickly, it was as if they had expected it to happen."
"Some kind of set-up on their part?"
"I don't know... what matters is that the leader of the adults gave me a task. He gave me his word that he would help me with anything as long as I did everything perfectly. That bastard..."
Her eyes suddenly filled with anger, and with slow steps, she approached the glass and watched the boy sleeping there, almost hypnotized, bringing a silence full of unspoken emotions.
"I don't understand," said Kamijou, edging a little closer to Mugino. "Even if you go out there, there's no guarantee that you'll find someone who can help you. I suppose you have something in mind."
She squinted at him, a tired sigh escaping her well-drawn lips.
"There's someone out there who can help us," she revealed, then gestured with her chin in Hamazura's direction. "Or at least that's what he said." She paused for a long moment, as if pondering how much she wanted to reveal. "Her name is Dion Fortune... she seems to deal with occult drivel or some shit... I can't believe I'm betting everything on this, I'm really desperate."
The last part only came out in a quick, almost inaudible whisper, her eyes closed now. But they promptly reopened when Kamijou began to speak.
"Dion Fortune? So I guess I was on the right train of thought here." He put his hand on his chin, while Mugino looked at him with eyes full of expectation.
"Wait, you know this woman?" There was a glimmer of hope in her voice, and she turned quickly to gaze at him intently. "Can you tell me if there's anything in all this madness that makes sense?"
"Um... Mugino-san, how much did Hamazura tell you?"
"What do you mean?"
"About magic." He ignored the blank face she made. "I mean, he was barely paying attention to Birdway's lecture, but he must have absorbed something from there. Anyway, if we're dealing with some kind of special curse that's constantly being reapplied or something like St. Germain, I think having the help of a professional magician is better than mine."
Kamijou stared at his right hand momentarily, while Mugino and the others in the room surrounded him, sharp, confused looks being thrown their way.
"I'll pretend that what you said made sense," said Mugino, shaking her head as if to dispel unwanted thoughts. "If this Dion Fortune can help him, I don't care if she's a mage, a magical girl, or a demon lord. All I have to do is fulfill the task given to me."
"That's the super difficult part," said Kinuhata. "Something tells me that the leader of the adults doesn't expect us to succeed."
"At this point, I'm sure he wants us to die in the process," Mugino cut in, her voice laced with a hint of irritation. "But giving up isn't an option."
"Strange," said Maidono. "What kind of task did he give you that even a level 5 with the help of an entire faction would find difficult?"
"I thought it was obvious," replied Mugino.
Straightening her posture, Level 5 cast another glance in Hamazura's direction before returning her attention to Maidono. She appeared to weigh the decision of whether to disclose the adults' intentions but before long, she spoke.
"We have to slay a queen."
And there it was once again. A monster among monsters, a predator deemed unbeatable by many. Kamijou knew that there was apparently a queen prowling around in District 7, and that it was the tea-colored-haired girl standing there looking at them with a serious expression who was to blame.
"It's official," said Maidono. She didn't even bother to freak out this time, her voice was already tired. "You've lost your mind." She rubbed her temple to try and come to her senses. "So that's why there's a damn queen out there? And here I thought you were just screwing with us on a whim."
"I have no interest in senseless revenge. As I said, I don't do that kind of thing anymore. My team lured that queen away so that we could find a way to kill it. And we're working on it."
Once again, Kamijou saw the girl bite her lip slightly in frustration. Her face was now haggard, and her tired movements dragged her close to that glass prison once more. This time, she leaned over, gazing at her reflection and simultaneously at the person trapped within.
"It doesn't matter if it seems impossible," she said, her tone determined yet tinged with dejection and fatigue. Her hand grazed the glassy surface, and her eyes closed in contemplation. "I'm going to do it. I'll save him, or I'll die trying. In the end... it's always like this with me."
These were the words of a desperate girl.
It felt strangely familiar.
In desperate situations, people often resort to actions they might not consider under normal circumstances. Getting into pointless fights, giving their all even though the situation seems hopeless. That's what the struggle to save someone looked like. Kamijou understood this better than most. Observers lacking the full context might pass harsh judgments, adopting a self-righteous stance, but Kamijou Touma wasn't that type of person.
That boy had a different idea.
"If that's the case," said Kamijou. He took a deep breath and shook his head, then approached where Mugino was leaning with her hands on the glass prison. His hand was resting there too, right next to hers. "I'll help you."
Kamijou was sure he heard Maidono sigh behind him, and Kinuhata felt uneasy when she heard that, but didn't say anything.
The look Mugino gave him was more one of curiosity than disbelief. Her face, which she was trying so hard not to let show unnecessary emotion, twitched, but it was too fast, and soon her mouth was in a tight line, her eyes leaving his as quickly as they had come.
"To be honest," said Mugino, running her hand nervously through those tea-colored strands. "I'm in no position to simply refuse help, especially from someone who's at least as strong as Kinuhata. But the way you talk, makes it sound like you don't understand what we're doing here. To put it bluntly... this is a suicide mission."
"Yes, I was listening." He didn't even have to think, and this lack of concern made her eyes rest on him for just an instant.
"Are you sure you want to go that far? You barely know me and—"
"Look into my eyes, Mugino Shizuri," he interrupted her, his voice rigid, his face serious. It sounded almost like an order. "Do you see any hesitation?"
A verbal response wasn't necessary. When that boy decided he was going to do something, he did it, and there wasn't a single person in the world capable of stopping him when he was following his will.
He paid little attention to the intense gaze she fixed upon him at that moment, continuing with his fist now clenched.
"I know it may sound silly, since we rarely see each other, but Hamazura is my friend." His gaze traveled to his friend and then stopped at the brown eyes in front of him. "I want to do something for him... suicide mission or not is irrelevant to me. So yes. I'm sure. Believe me, it can't even be considered 'going that far' for me. Simply turning my back and walking away isn't an option, I wouldn't be able to sleep well at night after betraying a friend like that."
Mugino listened to it all in silence. Occasionally, her gaze widened just a tad, and when he finally finished, she nodded, her face no longer as stern as before. For a brief moment, he observed the corner of her lip lifting.
"I like that," she said. Her tone had shifted, lacking the previous harshness and now carrying a pleasant calm. "You're completely insane... even by this world's standards. I'd invite you into my faction, but something tells me you're too loyal to Mai-san to accept... a shame."
One last glance was directed towards the boy sleeping there, and Kamijou followed her careful, anxious gaze. Her palm touched the glass, her fingers turning white, as if she were silently pledging something to herself.
"We'd better go," she said, finally turning away from the glassy cell and walking slowly towards the elevator. Mugino stopped suddenly, her back turned to everyone there. "Mai-san... does that agreement still stand? I'm willing to compensate you for the damage caused, if you accept a new clause."
A tiny smile played on Maidono's lips when she heard those hesitant words.
"I can make sure that my people don't get in the way of yours," replied the blonde girl, arms crossed in a somewhat defensive manner. "But if you're thinking of asking me to support you in your endeavor, it's not happening. I can't stop Kamijou-senpai from doing what he wants, it's not like he's really my subordinate anyway, but I'm not willing to bring my faction to ruin for any reason."
"I didn't mean to," said Mugino, still without turning towards her. Apparently, she didn't want anyone to analyze her expression. Nonetheless, she gave a slight shrug. "But it would be great if I had my fake arm back. Reading with one hand is inconvenient."
"I'll think about it." Maidono looked at Kamijou and made one of those signs of hers that he barely understood what it meant, but kept pretending he did. "Time to go. Mugino-san will find a way to contact us when she's ready to kill herself."
"Strange fucking way of putting it," spat Mugino. Finally she turned around, only to look straight at the spiky-haired boy. "I was hoping you'd stay here until we actually got ready."
"Oh, that would be super awesome," cut in Kinuhata, excitedly as she slammed her fist into her palm. "We could have a movie night together."
"I'm sorry," said Kamijou, shaking his head in denial. "I have some personal matters to attend to at the moment."
"I see." Was that a twinge of disappointment in Mugino's voice? "Well... anyway, we'll need two or three days to gather any important information about that thing. Will you be ready by then?"
"The only requirement for me to be ready for something is to be alive, Mugino-san." He put his hands in his pockets and walked past her, raising his hand in farewell.
No matter what the world, Kamijou Touma would always find more misfortune, his own or others', to deal with. This was just one more item on his list.
x-4-x
The next day, the spiky-haired boy woke up after another session of confused dreams. Even with all the mess, he hadn't forgotten his goal. His eyes stared into the void as he packed a backpack with some food and first aid equipment, his nimble fingers checking that he hadn't forgotten anything, not a complicated task considering he didn't need much.
After a night as eventful as the previous one, he was already prepared to continue pursuing the few leads he had. His gaze shifted briefly to his right hand. Unfortunately, not everything could be resolved using only what was there. While at the New ITEM base, Kamijou recalled trying to "heal" Hamazura. Mugino looked at him strangely but didn't protest. Unfortunately, even touching common curse points like near the heart or the head yielded no results. It was better for him to avoid dwelling on it for now. They had a plan, after all.
The corridors of the faction base were devoid of activity. Having overslept, Kamijou found himself in a situation where, with the exception of the non-combatants, everyone else had already received their daily assignments. He had learned that most of the people here only did simple reconnaissance work, using cables to keep themselves safe on the tops of buildings and using binoculars to check out movement in the area. Others worked in tandem with them, scouting for resources and transporting them either to outposts or directly back to the base.
Kamijou's group, however, stood apart. Positioned as the elite, they occasionally engaged in simpler missions but were entrusted with more crucial and perilous tasks. This distinction came with certain privileges, such as having rooms to themselves instead of having to share them with dozens of people crammed together in the garbage.
And he was standing in front of one of those rooms.
A smile couldn't help but creep across his lips as he looked at the dark, rusty metal sign with a skull carved into it. There was a message on it: Girl zone. Keep away.
It was written in English, so that didn't stop him.
Carefully, he knocked a few times on the wooden door. He had thought long and hard before coming here. His goal today was to continue his search for his friend, and to do that, he had to get back to his dormitory. Initially considering going alone, a nagging feeling prompted him to seek Naru's assistance, suspecting that she would disapprove if he didn't at least ask for her help. Plus, a bit of extra firepower wouldn't hurt.
The door suddenly swung open, emitting a metallic creak from its worn hinges.
"Kamijou?" The girl on the other side scrutinized him through the partially open door. "What do ya need?"
"Eh? Yakumaru?"
"Yes, people call me that sometimes."
The sarcastic girl widened the door to survey the corridor. She was attired differently than usual, in something undoubtedly more comfortable, a set of fluffy golden pajamas adorned with prints of stars and moons in all phases. Her hair, typically concealed under a cap, now cascaded loosely. In his opinion, she looked significantly better this way.
"Will you stop looking at me like that at some point?" she asked, crossing her arms in front of her breasts, which, on second inspection, were reasonably 'voluminous'.
"Oh, I'm sorry... I..."
"Don't get all nervous, it momentarily takes away your creepy charm and that strange aura of mystery you have. It's like watching a wild lion blushing or something."
"Can lions blush?"
"I don't know... and that's the point." She shrugged and sighed. "Anyway, if you're looking for my dear Naru, she's already gone out with the others. You'll have to wait until the end of the night to resume your flirting marathon."
"This Kamijou-san wouldn't be able to flirt with a girl in a decent way even if someone handed him an entire doctoral thesis on the subject with everything the girl finds interesting attached, so I don't know what you're talking about."
Yakumaru looked away, shaking her head, a thin smile appearing. She leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed again, a peculiar expression on her face.
"Frankly, you're a piece of work," she said, her index finger drumming rhythmically on her arm. "Did ya know that you were the main subject of our sleepover the day before?"
Well, that explained her presence in Naru's room, but what on earth was she talking about? How could he be the focus of something like this? Better not to dwell on it, his head was full of... thoughts. Yes, that's the word.
"And that backpack there," she asked, pointing to his back. "Planning to have a romantic picnic with her on a rooftop? Then the two of you were going to kill some PB together, and then bathe in the blood of your enemies while the soft cloak of silver moonlight served as the pigment for this macabre and strangely sensual scene?"
"Nice fanfiction right there, but... what?" He scratched his head and twisted his face. "And I'm pretty sure PBs doesn't bleed."
"Some do. By the way, it's so strange to know that you still know almost nothing about this world but can go around casually defeating New ITEM's number 2 and then making an alliance with their leader to kill a goddamn queen. Seriously, how many problems can you make for yourself in a single week? That's how monsters work, I guess."
Kamijou sighed and adjusted his backpack. If he continued talking to her, he would only waste precious time tonight, so he turned and paced down the wide corridor.
"Good chat, Yakumaru-san. See you later."
"Hey, hey, hey... don't go running off like that." She appeared in front of him, still with her arms crossed. "You didn't mean to ask Naru out, did you?"
"Clever girl. What gave me away?"
"Trying to give me a dose of my own medicine, eh? I already get enough of that from Seike-kun, it won't work. Where are you going?"
"Does it really matter to you?"
"Of course. Depending on where you're going I'll need different equipment."
Her tone had suddenly changed to one of seriousness, and the way she said it caught his attention.
"Wait... you intend to go with me?" he asked skeptically.
"Unless you have a good excuse to go alone, yes, I intend to. We're a team after all, we help each other, just as you helped her at the time."
Yes, she really did seem quite different from usual now. His opinion of the girl was somewhat neutral. She seemed to be a friendly person, much like Naru, but she still treated him coldly when it had nothing to do with their 'work.' It was as if she didn't want him invading her bubble, her personal space. Not that this had changed, but the way she said it had a gentler ring to it, even if just a little. Or it might have been just a slight impression.
"It's not far from here," said Kamijou, still dazed and a little hesitant. "I need to go to my old dorm, it's near that square with the infamous money-eating vending machine."
"Ah, I know that area." She looked thoughtful, placing a delicate hand on her chin. "I believe it's turned into a no-man's land... but I don't think I need anything more than my standard equipment. Why do ya want to go there? Something to do with your friend? No, forget it, I'm asking too many questions. Just wait here, I'll change and then we'll set off together."
Yakumaru didn't give him room to complain, she quickly entered the room and slammed the door behind her.
There seemed to be no way out, he would be stuck with that girl for the time being on this adventure to the place where it all began... where he had met Index. Even if he didn't remember that detail himself.
Hey, my dear readers! I think we had a lot going on in this chapter. I preferred that the fight didn't take too long, since we had a large part of the other chapter dedicated to action scenes. I hope it wasn't too hard to visualize some scenes.
We find out what's going on with Hamazura, and why New ITEM was doing all this. I've been careful to drop a few hints here and there but not to give anything away. By the way, as you've noticed, this story is told in such a way that several things happen at the same time, but everything is interconnected... or almost.
The idea is that Kamijou is always solving his own problems, but others' problems get in the way. In the next chapters, we'll see him trying to solve the main issue that currently bothers him.
Let's move on to the reviews:
CrimsonDivision: We'll find out what Accel is up to, but it'll take a while. I dropped some hints about it, by the way. As for Hamazura, this chapter addresses his situation.
Onilink500: I'm glad you enjoyed the fight. I had heard that detail from the voice actors; I'm even thinking about making a reference to it in the future. We'll have some reactions from people who thought he was dead afterward.
5had0wHand: Thank you so much for all the compliments. I'm working hard to make the fights interesting and to keep the characterization as close to the original as possible, while also adding my own touch.
ImagineBreaker2206: It's good to know you enjoyed this chapter so much. We'll have Kamijou and Maidono fighting together in the future, more than once, actually. I'm glad you found the interaction between Kinuhata and Kamijou good; we had a continuation of that here. These two will still have more similar moments, not fighting against each other, of course, mainly because they kind of share a common interest.
Emzt20x: Thank you. Interestingly, in the original draft, I had changed points of view more frequently, but I decided to alter that in the final version.
KHVSFF: Thank you very much for reading. We had more Mugino here; I hope you enjoyed it. Mugino and her comments... it's OT19 all over again xD. I think this question was kind of answered in this new chapter. These two will have more interactions, no doubt. I can't wait for your reaction to everything.
Uzunami1/uzuhyu. sena : I'm glad the wait was worth it. This chapter was a bit longer than the previous one. I could probably make the chapters longer, but it would take me longer to write, so it's good to know that the word count was suitable. I should thank you for reading. Stay safe.
Until next time!
By the way, this chapter had a good dose of references to many things, more than usual. The next chapter will be a bit calmer than the last ones... probably. I think that's it for now. Moon leaving.