Chapter 4 - What Does it Take to Kill a God?
Kamijou Touma felt a metallic taste in his mouth, strong and pungent. Confined in a pressurized chamber, the space was just large enough for him to lie down with his arms folded over his body. In other words, he could barely move a muscle.
He hated Mondays.
It wasn't that Mondays were inherently worse than any other day, every day felt equally bleak in that pure white facility dominated by the worst scum the city had to offer. Or so he thought. After all, he was just an elementary school kid with a limited worldview. His choices were shaped by innocence and naivety, inherent in someone who hadn't lived long enough to comprehend the lengths to which human beings would go for seemingly inconsequential gains.
"Kamijou-kun, are you awake?" said a distorted male voice through a speaker in the chamber.
"I am," was all the boy replied. He was past the point of running out of steam, which meant he just didn't want to talk any more than he had to.
"Good. Before we release you, can you attempt to inform us if you observed anything unusual? Anything out of the ordinary?"
Kamijou didn't need a moment to ponder; his response remained consistent.
"Nothing. There was nothing, as always."
The chamber opened after he gave his answer, causing his eyes to water from the stark contrast between the intense white light and the chamber's interior.
He put on the pristine attire provided by two scientists donning simple masks crafted from synthetic material. Afterward, he commenced a stretching routine, relishing the sensation of his muscles engaging once more. There were occasions when the aftermath of a session in that chamber left him so numb that the prospect of never moving again seemed plausible.
"Your thought patterns remain the same, Kamijou-kun," remarked one of the scientists, a clipboard in hand—likely a woman, although her distorted voice made it challenging to discern. "If a soul exists, we could confidently assert its connection to the brain."
"I don't understand what one thing has to do with the other."
"It's all experimental, so we can't provide definitive explanations. Maybe one day, when you've been dead long enough, some revelations will emerge."
Kamijou was released, the familiar refrain ringing in his ears. Stumbling slightly in the vacant corridors, he grappled with the mild dizziness that lingered after exiting the chamber. Tomorrow heralded a Tuesday, so he had to face an electrocution session first thing in the morning. It was still bad, but at least it was better than being suffocated to death without being able to move.
"What's on the menu for lunch today?" he mused, attempting a slight smile to dispel his underlying emotions.
It was silly, but he liked that you could never guess what was going to be for lunch that day. There was no discernible pattern, despite their attempts to maintain optimal nutrition with minimal ingredients. The drawback was the frequent blandness of the food, resembling glue more often than not. But trying futilely to guess what was coming was interesting.
The boy often found himself contemplating the concept of fate. Was there a god orchestrating the world according to his whims? If so, would if the past were revisited in a week, would the sequence of meals in the cafeteria be the same?
If such a god existed, was there really a way to have a real life? Or was he nothing more than a cog in the giant machine that would continue to function even after he died permanently?
It was a weighty matter for a boy not yet ten years old to contemplate frequently.
"Look who we found."
As Kamijou entered the cafeteria, a swarm of bothersome, mindless kids closed in around him. His immaculate white attire mirrored the pristine environment surrounding him – from the spotless ceiling and walls to the tables and utensils.
Once again, his thoughts drifted.
Was all of this unfolding according to a grand design crafted by a higher being, manipulating the world like a puppeteer? Or, on the contrary, were these circumstances merely the outcomes of choices made by that boy?
Regardless of the answer, it didn't change the fact that the boys he couldn't remember the names of even if he tried were about to kick his ass as usual. They'd get a tired sigh out of him too, as usual, but nothing more than that.
"Out of my way, you bunch of negative IQ primates," a new voice pierced the air within the cafeteria, distinct from any Kamijou had heard before. It belonged to a girl, he realized. "I'm getting tired of seeing the same shit over and over again."
The girl must have been older than him, but not by much, maybe a year. Her short blue hair was messy, as if she had just woken up or someone had desperately pulled it during a fight. Kamijou couldn't help but observe the sharpness of her teeth, more pronounced than usual, accentuating the angry grimace that accompanied her growled words.
For the first time, someone had stepped in on his behalf. Granted, he was referring to his fellow guinea pigs, the term he mentally ascribed to the others in this controlled environment. Occasionally, the adults intervened to halt the one-sided aggression directed at him, though 'sometimes' remained a key qualifier.
Kamijou didn't expect that of all the people here, a little girl who seemed so fragile would be the one to help him. Things aren't always what they seem.
Not a second after he thought this, the girl walked up to him and before he could understand what was happening, he felt a sharp pain in his nose. The little girl had simply hit him in the face with a headbutt.
The impact was potent enough to send him staggering backward, teetering on the verge of collapse. She hadn't held back, and while most guinea pigs in this environment might have succumbed to unconsciousness from such an ambush, Kamijou Touma was no ordinary individual.
Kamijou's hand clutched his broken nose, the rush of blood signaling yet another trip to the infirmary. It wasn't an unfamiliar routine.
The little girl, her eyes ablaze with anger, seized the collar of his shirt.
"Hey, pay attention," she demanded, shoving him before delivering a kick that sent him sprawling backward onto the floor, forcing the air out of his lungs. "I'm going to beat you up so badly today that you'll need to spend at least a week in the infirmary. Maybe then I'll get some peace. Now get up and fight back."
That had been the initial impression Shundan Kimi had left on Kamijou Touma.
Things got a lot worse after that.
x-2-x
"Warning: Chapter 7, Verse 7. Changing combat considerations. Beginning scan of the battlefield. Focusing on the most difficult enemy, Kamijou Touma."
Even though they were concentrating on Index, everyone turned to see Stiyl enter the place with bewilderment on his face at seeing that girl in such a state. He clicked his tongue after throwing away the cigarette he had chewed.
"What does that mean?" he asked, his irritated voice being redirected at Kamijou.
"We don't have time for infighting, magician," replied Kamijou.
Stiyl was about to say something, but was interrupted again by that robotic voice.
"Partial analysis complete. Changing combat methods to face the enemy." The girl's head moved slightly, her expressionless face unchanging, her eyes fixed on Kamijou. "Enemy has no obvious weaknesses, in order to better protect the library of grimoires a battle of attrition is appropriate. Adding spells..."
Her voice continued to ring out, but in the next instant, the girl was no longer there. This should normally reduce tension, but the opposite effect was clear on the faces of the people who began to look at each other.
Before they could understand what was happening, an intense light like fireworks came from outside. The apartment became the target of crimson arrows of light, launched from the direction of the balcony, shrouding everything in a haze of smoke and sulfur.
Kimi was the first to react, displaying no hesitation. With a sweeping motion of her right hand, the serpent connected to her manifested in its complete form. Giant draconic wings extended to shield everyone present, excluding Kamijou, who appeared unperturbed by the onslaught.
Despite the relentless barrage of light arrows striking the serpent's wings and body, there seemed to be no discernible damage inflicted upon the creature.
"Hmm... interesting," Kimi said when the assault ceased. "Angel-chan is telling me that this attack was the strongest she's been hit so far. Quite a statement, considering Meltdowner's beams are on that list. I did tell Index to fight back, but that's not quite what I had in mind."
Kamijou decided not to make any comment, instead he went to the destroyed balcony and sharpened his vision. There was Index, at least 200 meters away in one of the city's wide streets. Without thinking twice he jumped down and started walking towards her.
However, his advance abruptly halted as he laid eyes on Kanzaki standing beside him.
"Can you stop her?" she asked, her voice apprehensive, weak. The way she held the broken sword in her hands barely gave the impression of strength.
"Yes," he replied as confidently as he could. Keeping that girl's morale high was a priority. "But it would be great if you could lend me some of your power."
Kanzaki became serious. She certainly hadn't understood exactly what those words meant, but the way he spoke made her realize that this was no time to hesitate or act weakly.
"If there's something you want me to do, just tell me. Don't hold back, anything to save my friend."
He smiled at her, even in such a serious situation, the boy thought it was appropriate.
"Tell me," he said, "how can I stop this? Without hurting her, of course. I'm not a magician, so it's always good to have an expert's opinion."
"What you did activated those magic circles. See? Right in front of her eyes. Maybe if you can destroy them with your strange power."
"I see." Kamijou's gaze went back to the inexpressive girl. She had issued another warning, indicating an imminent attack. His gaze shifted to his right hand. "If that's the case, maybe this troublesome thing in my right hand will handle it best. The big guy over there isn't a fan of tasks requiring precision."
"Big guy?" Kanzaki looked puzzled, and her confusion added a touch of charm to her expression.
"Oh... right, I forgot to mention that detail."
The boy made a casual gesture with his right hand, something like someone pulling aside the thin curtains of a window. He heard no obvious noise, just a sudden change in pressure.
Something materialized right next to them.
Kanzaki's expression went blank as she noticed the entity before them. Its mouth agape, a tongue resembling a giant whip snaked out, its claws firmly embedded in the asphalt without causing any apparent damage. It was as if the world itself was compelled to make space, bending to accommodate its imposing presence.
"So that was the secret?" Kanzaki put on a serious expression, but her almost faltering voice betrayed her. "That girl has a serpent beast with her, but the magnitude of this is even greater. It's not just any ordinary dragon, it's beyond what a saint like me could handle. The science side is more dangerous than any rumor."
Kamijou preferred not to think about the implications. He took a step forward, seeing Kimi approaching from the right and Stiyl from the left, the latter with a twisted expression on his face as he looked at the thing standing next to the boy.
"This is indeed a city of monsters," commented Stiyl, lighting another cigarette as if to calm himself down.
"Okay, enough talk," said Kimi, standing side by side with Kamijou. "My 'almost boyfriend' and I are going to handle this. You can stay back and watch if you'd like."
"No," Kamijou countered, resolutely striding towards Index. "This isn't just our problem. I'll utilize everything at my disposal, and that includes you, flame magician." He pointed at Index in the distance. "What she used seemed like teleportation or rapid movement. I don't know the limitations, but it'll be an issue if she keeps evading. Can you two do something with magic to prevent that?"
"Maybe," said Kanzaki. "Stiyl, your runes could be useful. We don't know what kind of specific spell she's using, but we should be able to mark out a perimeter that will scramble the coordinates she uses."
"Some kind of mirage using my flames to confuse her if she needs to look at the stars?"
"I'll also use my wires to create a magic circle within a radius of 500 meters. That should do it."
They kept babbling magical jargon that Kamijou and Kimi had no idea what it was, so the two of them decided to let the experts get to work and move at once.
The city streets lay deserted. Kamijou had no way of knowing if it was because people had seen all those attacks and decided to flee, or if it was actually someone's doing. What he did know was that the night was remarkably beautiful, with the moon shining as a radiant orb in the ink-black sky. Index's silver hair, a stark contrast against the darkness, billowed in the wind like a cascade of liquid mercury. The moonlight lent an almost supernatural sheen to her usually vibrant locks, making her appear both fragile and resilient.
"Warning: Chapter 35, Verse 18. Five seconds until complete activation of 'Sulfur Rain will Scorch the Earth.'"
Orange arrow-like objects, searing with intense heat, rained down from above. Their numbers were not trifling; hundreds upon hundreds of luminous arrows painted the night sky, entirely eclipsing the stars above.
"Leave it to me," said Kimi, raising her right hand to the sky as if she wanted to grab those arrows.
The Angel Dragon moved and spread its majestic wings. Pallor clashed with luminescence, the air was pushed hard as small explosions were formed. The cacophony lasted for several seconds, while the two teenagers just watched Index from a distance. They preferred not to try to approach until they knew the girl wouldn't run away.
"We're done!" shouted Kanzaki, running up to the two of them.
"Good. Now the fight begins for real." Kamijou grasped Kimi's waist, who was sure to smile silly at the sudden closeness. "Hold on tight, blueberry."
"Woah... why are you giving me a reward? Can I keep holding on until the fight is over?"
One of them wasn't treating the situation with the gravity it deserved, but Kamijou couldn't blame her, especially after being so cold. This wasn't the time to dwell on guilt, so he brushed those thoughts aside and took a decisive step forward.
In an instant, it felt as if the space around them was bending, the world warping, and even gravity itself behaving oddly. The next moment, they had traversed more than 100 meters in a single step. They could have gone further, but Kamijou chose to keep it at that.
It wasn't strictly a matter of speed. By bending space, the boy could take a step forward, "after the bend", and then force space to straighten out again using his powers, which made it seem as if he had moved great distances. It was almost like tunneling through a mountain instead of going around it, arriving at the same place but with much less effort.
Index, realizing how close he was, began to retreat as she floated, the magic circles in front of her eyes glowing brightly as she recited something. Now it was that girl who seemed to have messed with gravity. Vehicles parked on the street, along with garbage cans, lampposts, and electricity wires, began to levitate. The surroundings formed a chaotic vortex, swirling and hurtling toward the two teenagers in a destructive onslaught.
The first response came from Kamijou. With a silent gesture, he ordered the Dragon King to move. The creature's claws cleaved through a truck, splitting it in two. The reptilian tongue snatched one of the cars, using it like a makeshift hammer to swat away poles hurtling their way. The posts lodged in the car, but the translucent creature swung it like a colossal morning star, deflecting debris that vanished into thin air before colliding with nearby buildings.
"You're having all the fun," Kimi complained.
Amidst the chaos, a skyscraper's wall was torn away by Index's whirlwind of destruction. However, before it could reach them, a blinding light, as white as it was toxic, erupted from the cross on the Angel Dragon's head. Within moments, the entire wall of the 50-story building transmuted into a mountain of salt.
"I hope you don't mind if I use this," said Kamijou, giving another order to the Dragon King.
Huge wings appeared on the beast and began to flap. A rush of scorching wind lifted the accumulated salt above their heads, transforming it into a shower of projectiles resembling a hailstorm. A deafening noise, akin to ice colliding with glass windows, reverberated through the street as rubble projectiles clashed with the salt barrage. Logic might dictate that Index would have the upper hand because of the superior "ammunition", but the sheer speed of the salt rain compensated for much in the ongoing battle.
"Let's move on." In order not to lose concentration, he preferred to move normally, which left Kimi pouting as she expected him to grab her again.
"Resuming analysis," Index's robotic voice sounded once again. "Analysis complete. Seeking appropriate divine punishment. Warning: Chapter 37, Verse 13. Five seconds until complete activation of 'He brings the clouds to punish people'."
Now it was actually a storm that was brewing. A thick cloud appeared dozens of meters from Index's head. The cloud quickly grew exponentially, covering the entire Academy City sky in mere seconds. Lurid rays, bearing a toxic hue resembling oil, emanated from the cloud. Portions of buildings were disintegrated under a luminosity more intense than that emitted from a weld, merely grazed by these shadow-like rays.
"Not good!" said Kanzaki, appearing next to Kamijou. He also saw Stiyl standing nearby. "Punishment by lightning is one of the most common curses, but also one of the most effective. If we get hit by that, it's over for us."
"Can you prepare a shield with the magic circle you made?" Stiyl asked, his tone marked by genuine concern. The situation was undeniably grave.
"That won't be necessary," said Kamijou confidently.
His right hand was pointed at the sky, straight at that abnormal cloud. The Dragon King flapped its wings once more, and the air surrounding them thinned with a single powerful motion. The atmospheric pressure itself changed after that vigorous gesture.
The toxic rays descended upon the quartet, slicing through the air with a deafening roar, completely enveloping them.
But no lightning struck them.
The divine punishment was diverted, the rays seemed to bounce off when they hit something invisible, completely changing their trajectory and then being erased from existence when they touched anything else.
"What's going on?" asked Stiyl in confusion, holding up a runic card as if it would calm him down.
"Is he deflecting the lightning?" said Kanzaki, watching the light show bend in mid-air.
"Not exactly," Kimi replied, bored, as if it were the most obvious thing on the face of the earth. "It's more about conducting them, or guiding them. Look." She gestured toward the lights surrounding them, where additional bluish-white rays had appeared. "He's manipulating the atmospheric pressure, giving him control over the weather. By electrifying the zone around us, he can conduct the electricity out and ensure that nothing penetrates. It's akin to the principle of a 'Faraday cage'."
Even if those two weren't scientific people, you could tell that it wasn't a simple thing to accomplish. Kimi's explanation was casual, but in fact the feat was on a level that bordered on the divine. No, it really was divine from the magicians' point of view.
The dark rays suddenly stopped. A faint yet striking sensation coursed down Kamijou's spine, setting his senses on edge once more. He barely noticed the reappearance of the same dark cracks in front of Index.
"Damn it, she's activating the Dragon Breath again!" shouted Kanzaki.
"Haha... you never learn, do you?"
Kamijou suddenly started laughing again when that euphoria returned, but he felt something soft envelop his hand. He looked away, noticing that Kimi had held his hand in the gentlest way he had ever felt.
"Hey," she said, locking eyes with him. "Remember, I'm still here. Now concentrate, okay?"
With her words, that unsettling sensation abruptly dissipated. The shadow at Kamijou's feet appeared blurred now, but that was the extent of it. The boy lifted his head, offering a smile to his "girlfriend" who stood by him, then clenched his right fist tightly.
"I'm going," said Kamijou Touma. The Dragon King gave a growl as he looked at the boy attached to him. It was as if the bond between them was stronger now, but the beast's influence was much less than before. "This is the moment, magicians. If you want to save her, then use what little power you have. Be the heroes you've dreamed of being all this time."
As soon as he said that, the Dragon King disappeared... as did Kamijou Touma. It was instantaneous, one moment he was standing there with a relaxed posture, and then, empty.
The beam of light that was shot through the gaps cut through everything in its path and came straight to the trio that was left after the boy disappeared. Stiyl gritted his teeth at that moment.
"Innoccentius!"
A spiral of flames appeared, taking the form of a giant person, with a body dripping like fuel oil at its core and a huge flaming cross in its hand. The flame giant opened his arms to protect the group. The light and flames continued to erode each other in a prolonged conflict of destruction and regeneration.
"Warning: Chapter 22, Verse 1. Analysis of the flame magic spell has succeeded. It is confirmed to be a distorted Christian motif described with runes. Adding in anti-Christian spells...Spell 1, Spell 2, Spell 3. Twelve seconds until the complete activation of the spell named 'Eli Eli Lema Sabachthani'."
The pillar of light's color turned from pure white to crimson. Innocentius's regeneration speed visibly slowed and the pillar of light pushed forward.
"That doesn't look so good," Kimi commented as she witnessed the flame giant beginning to wither away. "Need a hand there, wizard?"
"Quiet!" Stiyl snapped, scanning the surroundings. "Where's that bastard?"
"Right here!"
Kamijou emerged out of thin air. He was now only a few meters away from Index, just a few more steps and it would all be over. But the girl turned her face towards him and the beam of light followed.
On instinct, the boy raised his right hand. It wasn't the Dragon King who had blocked that attack, that mere right hand of flesh and blood possessed a power. It only went as far as his wrist, and it was the kind of power that wouldn't help him improve his grades, wouldn't make him popular with the girls, and wouldn't defeat a single delinquent either. But power was something that could be measured in many ways, and even if it was small, depending on the person wielding it, it would make a big difference.
The pressure on Kamijou's wrist increased. The attack was successfully negated, but the boy was forced to stop midway, surprised to realize that the attack was much stronger than expected. This was the first time he had witnessed the Imagine Breaker having trouble negating something. It was as if that attack was eating away at his right hand, forcing him to move away.
"Nanasen!"
Metal wires flew up and cut the asphalt below Index. This caused her to stagger, adjusting her aim. However, the movement of her head led the beam of light to strike the side of one of the buildings, cutting it diagonally. The more concerning issue was that the beam continued in a straight line through the night sky. There was a possibility that she had struck a satellite before being able to correct the course of the attack.
That was all Kanzaki could do, but an opening was an opening. Kamijou could now put out his right hand and end it all.
Kamijou Touma smiled. He did so while spreading the fingers of his right hand as if he wanted to grasp the very world around him.
"Hey, God," he said, less than two meters from Index, "you didn't really think this story was going to turn out exactly as you planned, did you?" That smile spread wider and wider across his face. "Now, watch powerlessly as I destroy your weak illusion!"
Kamijou swung his right hand down. He swung it down on the black cracks and the magic circles that had produced those cracks. Kamijou's right hand easily tore them apart. It was so easy that in a way it even made him stop smiling, as if his interest was waning.
"That's it, Index... it's over."
The boy held the silver-haired girl gently in his arms, who fell limply towards him like a marionette with its strings cut.
Something was floating around them. White, angelic feathers fell like snow.
Distant voices echoed, Kanzaki was screaming at the top of her lungs. It seemed that the danger hadn't gone away yet, but the boy continued calmly, not caring, cradling the girl comfortably in his arms.
A low noise echoed through the night. It came from Kamijou Touma. The gesture he made was simple, he just snapped his fingers, causing something like plastic breaking to sound from his right arm.
In less than an instant, all those feathers were erased from existence. The Dragon King's jaws warded off that threat, the boy didn't even have to look back or move, it was clear how much he trusted that proud beast who was always by his side.
Finally, he stared at the moon shining in the sky, and then spoke as if he were addressing the words to someone up there.
"Like I said... it's over."
x-3-x
It was very late at night, but a group of three people decided it was okay to play ball in a deserted park. They were having fun, just like in the past, before all this tragedy had taken that away from them.
"Aren't you going to join them?" Kimi asked Kamijou. The two of them were just watching, standing with their hands resting on a bench in the park.
"I see no reason to go."
"Are you looking for reasons to do something now? What kind of weird character development is that?"
The girl's unfunny "joke" got a chuckle out of him. The truth was that he preferred to be with her, since he could always feel comfortable there, without caring about appearances, just being what he wanted to be. His true nature was similar to that girl, but that was a double-edged sword. And a very sharp one.
"I think I understand now," said Kimi, smoothing down the blue hair that the night wind had blown into her face. She turned away from the seat, crossed her arms, and gazed at the moon. "You're a complete idiot."
"I'd rather believe I'm not." He shrugged, mimicking her gesture. "So, you realize?"
"Of course. Not that it would be difficult. At least make an effort to be less obvious." She turned her face to him and continued in a mocking tone, "'It would be great if you could lend me some of your power, you hot little saint that I beat up the other day.' Come on, you could have finished this fight in ten seconds if you'd wanted to."
"Hmm... I think ten seconds is too long for something so simple."
Now it was her turn to stifle a giggle at that casual comment.
The truth was, there was no point if he simply went there and resolved everything on his own. It wasn't his battle. In the end, Kamijou Touma was just a high school boy, thrust into a position to save someone by chance and the irony of fate.
It didn't make sense for him to assume the role of a hero for those people there, enjoying their time with their friend. After all was said and done, he entrusted Index to Kanzaki's care. Once she awoke, he intended to emphasize how diligently those two magicians had fought to break the curse.
"Everyone's smiling at the end," he said, putting his hands in his pockets and sighing contentedly as he listened to the ball game behind him. "Including me. What more could I ask for?"
"For someone who was supposed to be a monster, you're too soft. Pathetic."
"You've always been a damn hypocrite, you know that, Shundan Kimi?"
"As much as you."
Her head tilted towards him, coming to rest on the shoulder of the boy with his hands in his pockets. As if driven by instinct, he gently ran his hand over her shoulders. This was a scene they had shared many times before.
Kimi was once a cold person, and that demeanor didn't undergo an abrupt transformation after a passionate speech. The experiments she endured, the losses she suffered, and the sacrifices she made were all contributing factors to her becoming a bitter individual who scarcely cared about life and its consequences. And it was also a set of factors that shaped her into the kind person she is today.
"Hey, Touma-kun," she said, giving him a shiver because her voice was so close. "I love you, you know that?"
"Yeah, I know."
"Idiot." She turned away from him and suddenly became serious, but it wasn't irritation, it was something else. "I'm really sorry." Kimi wanted to look him in the eye when she said that, so she pulled away. "Our relationship was never normal, but I think it was silly to think that I could just get you back just because I want to."
"You don't need to do that. Things between us don't have to be like this."
"Maybe they should be from now on."
Kamijou had never seen her so serious. Not even in those years that are so far away now, when the two of them used to fight non-stop in that facility that left a scar on them. She really was serious.
"You wouldn't have told me to go to a damn therapist if you didn't want it to be like this," said Kimi, her fists now clenched. She took a deep breath before continuing, "I was a selfish idiot who decided everything with me in mind and nothing else... that's not how relationships have to be… that's not enough. Sometimes I think I forced all this dating stuff on you, because I knew you wouldn't reject me because of what we'd built up so far, even if you didn't feel the same way, you wouldn't want things to get awkward between us. That's why I was so casual that day. Why get nervous when the answer is so obvious?"
Kamijou was about to say something, but Kimi raised a trembling hand, which made him hesitate.
"I lied to you," she said, as if conjuring a curse on herself. "There is no therapist."
The boy's eyes narrowed, his frown deepened, but he remained silent.
"There is no such person who got past my defenses and convinced me to break up with you." Finally, she looked away, a sigh escaping her lips as if a weight was being lifted from her shoulders. "It was just me. But I guess you already knew that, didn't you?"
Yes, he already knew. Maybe not at first, but things were always obvious between those two, it was only a matter of time.
It wasn't a question of arrogance or anything like that, but if there was one person who could truly understand her, it was him. When he proposed that she should open up to someone other than him, he didn't anticipate this outcome. His intention was simple: he wanted her to feel more at ease with others, to recognize that she didn't have to depend solely on him. There were people out there willing to support her, undoubtedly some capable of providing assistance far superior to what he could offer.
Kimi moved her pale lips and hesitated for a brief moment before looking him in the eye once more.
"I still want to be your girlfriend," she said, her gaze moving away and back to his, nervousness clear in her voice. "Even if it's selfish of me, even after all this talk, that's what I want, and nothing will change that. But I also don't want to force you to accept a crazy girl like me... so... it's okay if I've gone too far this time. I'm still here, aren't I?"
"Yes... as you promised."
That's all he said, which wasn't enough to satisfy the girl who didn't know how to deal with everything she was feeling.
Kimi turned on her back, her hands nervously at her sides as she walked down the dimly lit street. She needed to let it sink in, get away from all the feelings that made her heart squeeze so much.
Maybe it would be better if that emptiness from before came back.
Things were never easy between them. And they'd certainly prefer it that way. But that's not to say that deep down, they didn't wish their relationship could be more than that, more than two broken people trying to fix each other, and in the end, hurting each other even more.
Then, on her uncomfortable walk, she felt a warmth surround her body. And then, a shy whisper graced her ear.
"It turns out that I love you too." Kamijou hugged her around the waist as he suddenly whispered that.
And he said no more.
Only this time, the girl was satisfied. That heat, that flame burning slowly inside her, had discovered the fuel it needed. It was a simple statement, not intended to have such a profound effect, but...
As it turned out, that was the first time he said he loved her.
x-4-x
In the center of District 7, there was a building unlike any other. There were no doors or windows, and it was famous for being virtually indestructible. Even a nuclear-level attack wouldn't leave a scratch, and the only known way of getting in was via teleportation.
At the top of that building, there was a room full of monitors and scientific apparatus. In the middle of everything was a giant cylinder. Four meters in diameter, and more than ten in height, the cylindrical container was made of tempered glass and filled with red fluid.
"Everything was resolved in record time," said that person floating upside down in that tube. "Excellent."
His name was Aleister Crowley. He was someone who looked like both a man and a woman, young and old, a saint and a sinner. He was someone who was once given the title of the greatest magician in history. Ironic for someone who hated magic with such a burning passion that he divided the world into two sides.
The inexpressive face of that "human" changed only slightly as he stared at a particular monitor. His eyes quickly focused on a point, not on the monitors, but on the room that had no source of light.
"You look pretty busy."
A voice sounded there, in the direction the "human" was looking. Few would have noticed, but at that moment, Aleister Crowley had raised his guard.
His visitor was just a normal high school boy.
"What is it this time?" asked Kamijou Touma, walking casually into the room with his hands in his pockets and glancing at the monitors. "Gee, I have no idea what all those fancy words mean. Is that what you do every day, all the time? Wait, are those cameras? I hope there aren't any hidden in my dorm, that would be weird."
The "human" remained silent. He was recognized as someone who always had an answer, with plans that adapted as needed, relying on precise calculations to determine the best course of action. However, he found himself without a response to the existence in front of him.
"What are you doing here, #0?" asked Aleister at last. His calm voice showed no trace of intimidation. "If you have something you want from me, just say so, I'm busy as you can see."
"Relax, I just came to talk. I like that you won't even ask how I got in here."
"I don't waste my time on things that are so obvious or superfluous."
As if to annoy him, the boy shrugged and began to walk around the large room. This was his way of saying that he would take as long as he wanted, and that the pace of the conversation was dictated by him and not the other way around.
"You know," said Kamijou, "they say you're always prepared for anything. I bet you must have a response ready for all those Level 5s strutting around like they own the town, which makes me wonder." He casually approached the cylinder and then extended his hand toward Aleister. The 'human's' face twitched ever so slightly at that gesture. "Do you have a contingency plan against me?"
Heavy silence dominated the place, overshadowing all the beeps and sounds of the machinery around them.
Aleister Crowley was primarily, and perhaps solely, responsible for Kamijou Touma becoming what he is today. That boy's successes and failures were all predetermined by the intricate algorithm he used for his plan. However, that doesn't mean that he could control him forever. Yes, there was indeed a contingency plan, but its effectiveness was questionable on the best of days. In the past, he would say that there was about a 42 percent chance that he could stop that boy if he needed to, but that figure dropped to 3 percent about a year ago. Nowadays...
"You know the answer, " Aleister finally replied. The room had started to make its noises again, as if the place had held its breath and only allowed itself to breathe now. "If that's all—"
He was interrupted when the boy's hand entered that tube. There was no sound of breaking, not even a single crack in that glass. It was as if that reinforced cylinder was made of jelly, and the boy's hand simply sank into that red liquid without causing any damage to the reinforced glass.
This building had far superior parameters to an ordinary nuclear shelter, but that wouldn't protect it from damage from someone who didn't even need to cause damage to get in. That's why the "human" didn't even bother to ask or was surprised to see the boy there.
"What's this thing?" Kamijou asked, removing his hand from the cylinder, which was wet with that red solution. The cylinder fixed itself, leaving no mark. "If I rub it on my face will I be able to live for another 100 years?"
"Is there a point to everything you're doing here?" Aleister was clearly impatient.
"Today I discovered that I kind of hate magic."
Hearing such a sudden statement, Aleister Crowley almost smiled.
"Which begs the question," continued Kamijou, still staring at the liquid in his hand as if fascinated by it. "Did Index fall on my balcony by pure chance, or did someone want it that way?"
"You know that answer too."
"How much of what happened did you foresee?"
"Most of it."
Kamijou Touma seemed satisfied with that answer. He suddenly stopped his walk around the room and looked straight into the human's eyes.
"Right," said Kamijou, his hands now in his pockets, his pose relaxed but still intimidating. "If that's the case, let's do things my way then. Tell me your side of the story. I want to know why you want me so badly to believe that the magic side is our enemy."
That was a far cry from the predictions of that "human".
Author's notes: Hey! There's a lot in this chapter, right?
Here we see a little more of Kamijou's past in this alternative universe. Including his first impression of Kimi. It wasn't the best. Are you enjoying this "dual narrative" between past and present?
The fight against Index is extended here. Of course, as said in the chapter, Kamijou could have ended it all in seconds if he'd wanted to. But here he already has that mentality that Kamachi points out in the afterword to NT12, namely that he doesn't need to do everything himself and steal all the spotlight.
The fight here focuses more on defense than offense, a difference from the fight against Kanzaki where Kamijou is throwing her around like a rag doll. I focused on showing some of the versatility that comes with my interpretations of how his powers in Dragon Lord form work.
And of course, we're barely four chapters in and I've already thrown in a good dose of drama. I can't help it, lol. I don't try to hide how problematic the two protagonists' relationship is. They're both screwed up in the head, literally and figuratively. But I also make it clear that no feeling here is one-sided.
In the first chapter, I already described their dynamic, and how they like to throw crap at each other without ever caring if it's going to impact the other or their relationship. And also that they are madly in love with each other. But strangely, Kamijou had never sincerely said out loud that he loved Kimi, and here in this chapter it was the first time. So you can imagine how insecure she was. It's kind of the balance I'm putting into the relationship that makes it work, but just barely.
Okay, enough about relationships. Aleister is here. This is a big change I'm planning around the situation where Kamijou is taking a dangerous path. Here he hasn't lost his memories, and added to his past, this gives him a reason to try to find answers. You can't defy fate if you're not a very active person, right?
I'll answer the reviews now:
kamenriderzio218: Thank you very much.
Nicko2545: Lol, I hope the fight was interesting at least. Yeah, Misaki will be appearing here a bit more, but I won't say when. Thanks for reading.
Guest: Good to hear that you're starting to like her character. Kimi is a bit crazy, but she's a good person here. Thank you.
mr gg: Glad you liked it, I appreciate the compliments. Kanzaki will appear again in the Angel Fall arc. About the WN, it's fun. Kamachi is certainly enjoying writing it.
Joshua: Yeah, I try to make the story more than just an OP Kamijou showing off, but I hope the story isn't too serious because of that, since I prefer a lighter tone. I'm glad you like the way I write about Kamijou and Kimi here and also about their relationship. Eventually, these two will get back together again, but our protagonist is still upset. Thanks for reading and I hope you're doing well too.
Amad0: I appreciate how much you're enjoying it, it means a lot. The reason Kamijou isn't fighting back will be revealed in the next chapter *Checking next chapter's notes* probably. People really enjoyed Shokuhou's appearance. It makes me want to write more about her. Thanks for the compliment. It's nice that we get a hint of Shokuhou's powers so soon, isn't it? That's right, these two are indeed similar. Being special is often a curse here in Index's world. "Sometimes the greatest gift is not being gifted at all" Can I use that quote in the future? Thank you for taking the time to read.
5queso: Yes, he remembers the golden girl. And I even intend to do a flashback to that summer, starting with the events of Biohacker. You seem to be enjoying Kamijou's displays of power, did you like the fight here too? I'm glad you're enjoying their chemistry. They're kind of at odds right now, but the idea is that they'll gradually reconcile. Many thanks.
Cainabel201X: Thank you so much!
Guest: Is it good? Looking forward to the next one?
Aiman031122: Glad you liked it. He didn't lose his memories this time, did you like the change?
Until next time!
And that's the end of the first arc. What did you think of the journey so far? We have an OP Kamijou here, so things aren't exactly unpredictable. Oh, for those of you who follow my other stories, know that I'm working on "Quest for a Miracle" as you read this, the next chapter should be ready next week if all goes well. That's all for now. The Moon is hiding behind the clouds.