There was a large crop field below the sun.
It was a vast area. A forest created a dark shadow beyond the distant horizon and mountains rose from beyond even that.
The field contained so very much crop.
The shadows of waterways occasionally cut across its green surface.
It was a rather safe area away from the main bustle of the city.
Away from the Gates.
The black holes containing some electricity were not seen in this area.
There was a clear line that separated the area from a nearby industrial area.
Occasionally, some silhouettes could be seen moving around the two areas.
"Those are the workers for the two areas. I guess they get along pretty well."
A voice spoke in the center of the crop field.
A solidly-built figure stood in that expanse of green. He was a man with a tattoo on his face. He was...
"Gya gya gya gya gya. That damn boss lady using me because my name is said the same way as her brother's. 'Seikai Kiyoshi' is written so different than that 'pure' crap he used." He pulled out a meh I always object before muttering something under his breath. "But stealing me this thing is worth it. None of could join Border because that fox guy kept tabs on all new recruits."
He nodded.
"Yeah, we pick on their friends just a bit and all hell breaks loose. They weren't even a gang."
With that, he looked ahead.
There was a giant black ball there.
It was not nearby. It was a long way away, but its size threw off his sense of distance.
"To me it appears so small. But to the assholes at Border, it looks so damn close."
The black ball had been what was known as a Gate.
There were more than a few of them appearing per day. They came in many sizes and sometimes dropped a good number of Neighbors off.
This was was different.
It was small and looked like whatever came out would be taken out right away.
Seikai placed a hand on his forehead as he viewed them.
"But I guess I can't use them to stir things up. Damn. And boss lady is going to literally kill me if I don't mess around a bit."
"Y-you don't have to laugh at me. ...Oh yeah, I forgot that we need to work on your communication skills."
Minoru felt heat rising in his cheeks as he clenched his fists and protested.
Toby held his right hand to his mouth and raised his left hand to say "wait".
"N-no, Mino, I'm just not sure what you mean by that..."
"I'm asking you because I don't understand it myself."
"So you did that because you really don't understand?"
That seemed to really tickle his funny bone. He turned his back for a while, but eventually turned back around and took a breath.
"My bad. I'm really sorry about that. I'm sure you only did that because you are worried for me."
"Yes, yes. That's right, that's right. That's the entire point of this, Toby."
Minoru knew he was glaring and Toby cleared his throat.
"Hm. I really have to apologize because I don't remember that at all."
"...It isn't something you were practicing?"
"Not intentionally, no."
Toby took two steps closer and then took Minoru's arm.
"Was it...like this?"
He took the appropriate stance with Minoru's arm as the metal beam.
They were facing each other with Minoru posed like he was elbowing the other boy.
But he figured this would help explain it, so he did so.
"Yes. And you seemed to pass right through this arm..."
"Hm," said Toby as he moved forward without warning. He was leaning forward a bit and he took a step forward while holding up Minoru's arm.
"Oh?"
His face ended up on Minoru's chest.
Everyone working in the area turned back at once.
.
Kitora: "I hear there is a commotion in the industrial area. ...Hatohara-senpai and Awdry, any idea why?"
Deer Prince: "...Uhhh, not a clue. No."
UMA: "Hey, this is the right connection. Wa-..."
Red Picture: "...Hm? Did he get cut off? Well, whatever. Am I connected?"
Werewolf: "Ohh, you finally in the chat, Yūma? Welcome. But your connection does seem unstable, Kirie."
Kitora: "Just do your work..."
.
Kitora just scolded us, thought Minoru.
...But I really messed up my positioning this time.
It was only natural for that to happen if they were facing each other head on.
Toby looked up at her.
"Minoru, that would have been a disaster if you were a girl and had activated the Giant Breasts Defense."
"I'm not too sure if that is Suzume-chan's influence or your own words..."
Minoru moved alongside Toby and held his left arm out in front of the other boy's face as if throwing a backhand blow.
"Getting back to what happened before...I think it was like this."
"I see. So the metal beam moved in from the front...and I moved forward."
Toby must have been pondering his previous mistake because he did not move himself.
Instead, Minoru moved his arm toward Toby's forehead.
"The beam moved like this..."
He moved his arm right up to Toby's forehead.
It made contact.
He held it there for a few seconds and noticed the sweat on their skin.
"Well?"
He removed his arm and saw Toby's wrinkled brow below it. The boy tilted his head.
"—"
Toby did not seem to understand, but Minoru did not understand either.
"Do you have any ideas?"
"...Eh? Oh, Minoru, can you do it one more time? Maybe it was just my Side Effect."
"Okay. ...Like this?"
"No, um, with more force this time."
Wouldn't that be dangerous? he thought as he swung his arm. Even with your Side Effect.
He stopped at the last second.
He had made an accelerated swing of his arm with the hand relaxed. But Toby stared unblinkingly at it as it stopped before his eyes.
He was highly focused.
After a while he nodded. And...
"Minoru, please swing all the way through with that same force. That kind of speed is hard for me to catch without trying."
"Okay. ...Like this, right?"
He plans to really do it, he realized while swinging his arm.
He intended to swing his arm all the way through.
So he went for it.
And he indeed swung all the way through.
...Eh!?
He heard the sound of bone being struck and felt an impact in his elbow.
The hit caused Toby's knees to give out below him.
"Ow."
The problem was that Minoru had not expected to actually hit. The nerves of his elbow seemed to short-circuit because a powerful tingling raced up his arm and through his shoulder.
They both crouched down and held their forehead or elbow for a few seconds.
"M-Minoru, you really are skilled in martial arts. I can confirm that."
"Y-you should know that already."
"Umm, what are you two doing?"
Kashio walked up.
.
Kashio had been going for a run.
He lived a primarily indoor life, but the past few days had taught him it was important to build up some strength. After all...
...I can't keep falling behind...!
He knew a few days was not going to make a huge difference, but he hoped doing this long term would help him grow taller and stronger.
By the time he had grown tall and built up some muscle, he expected the state of Mikado City would be even better. Then he could go to the Yagura Branch happily with his squad.
...Or that was my plan anyway.
"What are you doing?"
The two boys here had much more experience training their bodies, but they were crouched down on the ground.
The two of them were use to fighting intense battles like today, so he wondered what had happened.
"Are you two doing special training?"
"N-no, that's not it at all."
Minoru stood up and rotated his arm so he could see. Beyond him, Toby also stood up and fixed his collar. And...
"Yutaka, are you out on a run?"
"Yes. I had some things to think about and I thought I could start training my body better."
"Oh, are you planning to try and keep up with the Yagura Branch?"
Kashio thought about that one.
...I have to get to the point where I can say I am.
A boy needs to be able to show off, he thought as he answered Minoru. But not as much as Awdry does.
"That is right. I am thinking about keeping up with them if we do end up accepting the offer to join them."
As soon as he said that, a wave of chatter spread through their surroundings. The voices quickly spread outwards in a game of telephone.
"Hey! Kashio-san says he's going to keep up with those guys!"
"Ehh!? Kashio-san is coming to our side of Mikado City!?"
"Yeah! Kashio-san is coming to the side!"
That exchange and cries of surprise made a full circuit of the area around the industrial area.
After a while, the wave of voices arrived back from the other side.
JK: "Kashio-kun? What is this I'm hearing about you 'coming thrice and covering Mikumo-kun with lassi'? Some weird sex thing? Wait, who even is Mikumo-kun?"
Kasio: "No! How did it end up like that!?"
"Now, now." Minoru smiled bitterly and waved his right hand back and forth. "This just means everyone is worried about you, Kashio-kun."
"I want to be the kind of guy that won't be holding people back!"
"Got it." Minoru nodded and opened a chat. "Nakagami? Kashio-kun apparently wants to go to the Yagura Branch really badly."
"Yay, super high damage!" replied Nakagami in the chat.
...Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?
This was the first he had heard of this. Or rather, he had not said anything that definitive.
And what was Nakagami's response about?
"W-wait just a second! What's this about me and super high damage!?"
"Eh?" said Nakagami. "You promise you won't run away if I tell you?"
...I don't like the sound of that...!
But someone else spoke up to bring an end to that conversation.
It was Toby and he took a breath first.
"Even if Yutaka is showing some fighting spirit, isn't sending him to the Yagura Branch alone going a little too far?"
"...R-right!? That is going a bit too far, isn't it!?"
"Right," agreed Toby. He then placed a hand on his chin and looked at Kashio. "So try not to push yourself too hard and work to accomplish only what you can, Yutaka."
"But I'm still going?"
"Oh? You aren't going?"
Minoru looked and sounded truly surprised.
Then he lowered the ends of his eyebrows.
"Um, sorry. Was I mistaken when I said you would be going to the Yagura Branch alone?"
Every part of Kashio's body and soul begged him to say "of course", but...
...Kh.
He held back.
Because he had to be manly.
A real man could not fall back from such a thing just because Minoru was worried.
Yes, there were times when he had to make himself do something. That was his duty if he was to meet others' expectations like he wanted them to do for him.
So I need to fill my heart with the power of insanity.
...There it is, there it is, there it is! It's rising from my imagination!
Okay, he thought while clenching his right fist in his heart.
"No, you were not mistaken. ...I will go to the Yagura Branch on my own!"
"Are you serious, Yutaka!?"
"I am!"
"We had thought they would have a hard time with a boy and girl that Mr. Akasora has trouble with, so none of us were planning on going near there unless we had a lot of A-Rank agents with us. ...But you will be going there by yourself!"
...Ehhhhhhhhhhhh!?
Not only is this the first I have heard of that, but you are not even playing fair here! he thought to no one in particular.
JK: "Ohh... I think this is going to be even more brutal than I expected."
Kasio: "Please stop making this sound even worse than it is!"
TetsuG: "Then let's look at just the facts: without Yuki around soon, you would have a high chance of dealing with the Taiyōko Older Sister and the Taiyōko Younger Brother."
Just the facts was bad enough.
But he did have a thought about what he had heard.
Kasio: "Is the situation really that bad? And who are those two?"
Kitora: "Are you dumb?"
Werewolf: "Ai! Don't say that about Kashio! His brain has been producing tons of anxiety-inducing chemicals!"
Kasio: "Do I have no rights as a human being!?"
But Minoru took a breath and spoke.
Deer Prince: "Don't worry. My age group tends to attack each other on a daily basis. Something like this really isn't something to get worked up about."
It was awful through and through.
But there was nothing they could do about it, so Kashio decided to end the conversation for now and let Nakagami think about whatever she wanted. However...
"Achoo!"
He had apparently grown chilled in the tall building shadow.
He wanted to be manly, but his sneeze sounded awfully childish to him.
...I need to pull myself together.
As he thought that, he saw Minoru smile.
"You should probably hurry into the sun. There is something we would like to test out here."
"What you were doing before?"
"You could say that, yes."
"I am getting used to all this and that is worrying me..." said Kashio.
It isn't pleasant at all, he thought as he took a breath and resumed running.
"I will go on ahead! After completing a circuit, I think I will return to the base to see if I can have some solo matches."
.
Minoru lightly stretched his arms and his whole body.
He filled his lungs with the afternoon air in the tall building's shadow.
"Okay, Toby. We never solved that mystery, but let's finish our run for now. Kashio-kun already went on ahead."
"Right. My next match isn't for a while, so we have to keep at it."
My, my, thought Minoru.
...But you were distracted because you were too focused.
However, he left that unsaid.
The boy was not aware of it, so telling him would only make him hesitate further.
So Minoru remained silent and nodded back. Toby calmly lined up alongside him.
"—"
And they began to run. They stepped forward to run next to the materials being transported.
Their first few steps were slow, but they soon picked up speed to match the length of their paces.
They passed through the people's shadows once more and then Toby spoke.
"Minoru?"
"Yeah. What is it?"
"Later, you will be using Border's pool for some training that was suggested, won't you?"
"That was the plan. After Loki told me about some tricks he does, I do things like create a platform on the water and balance on top of it."
"Right. I would like to spar with you then. ...Lately, I have felt somewhat lacking in speed."
Minoru smiled a bit that Toby had chosen now to reveal that he had lost confidence in himself after his sudden drop in speed. Because while they ran, Minoru was the only one he could tell.
Of course, Minoru was also the only one with the skill to train properly with Toby. However...
"I move in a more systematic way than you, so I'm not actually sure how a simple spar can help as much as a fight. It's a bit unconventional than fighting others."
"That's fine, Mino. You already know that I am really unconventional myself. My way of fighting is just really wild."
They argued over who was more unconventional until they reached the edge of the area.
There they entered the sunlight. Their bodies warmed up as they ran alongside the materials being transported.
"Alright. Let's spar after I finish up what I need to for Border. So in a few days."
"Right. I look forward to it. Then we can take a break at the stall nearby."
Just as Toby said that, Minoru noticed something.
...Oh?
A cart carrying materials was moving alongside them. But...
...That's strange.
They had made their way around the area
The area was near another area of Mikado City that species in growing crops. Since it was close to the industrial area, there had been some protection for it. A nearby river could be seen, but these materials should have been going toward the industrial area.
So why had these followed them all the way around the next area?
.
...Is there any reason the materials are being sent needlessly around like that?
Minoru looked at the cart of materials.
He recognized the person in the driver's seat.
It was a familiar face.
But it had been so long that he could not recall the person's name. And he was afraid to be mistaken, so he asked the others in his age group.
Deer Prince: "Um, everyone? Do you remember that weird group that, um, we fought a year back?"
Pokari: "Himeji's Yakiniku Three Musketeers?"
Deer Prince: "No, those were ad campaign characters for a yakiniku shop. Kageura-san soloed them all and there were only 3 of them."
TetsuG: "Then do you mean Nagahama's Eight Fish Legions?"
Deer Prince: "I remember a tired Zoe...-san saying 'Eh? The Eight Wish Legions?' and challenging them, but I don't think that's who I mean. Besides, that was an eating contest and not a fight."
Pokari: "Those were so hard to tell apart since their names were all 'Fish-sama', 'Fish-shi', 'Fish-san', and so on."
Black Wolf: "I think it was just that we defeated them before we could hope to learn which was which..."
Zoe: "Umm, then was it the Eight Swordsmen of Weird History?"
Deer Prince: "Their catchphrase was 'we are dying to discover the best parts of history', but they were discovered as history otaku patients in some hospitals on the first day of the fighting which made their catchphrase literally true. That one was also a debate and not a fight."
TetsuG: "Yeah, I doubt they meant it like that..."
Manager: "You guys really like to think that everything is fight, don't you?"
That third one had even had an appropriate connection to weirdness, but that was not what Minoru was looking for here. Also, they seemed to deal with numbered groups a lot. Of course, that was because each time a friend had been getting picked on.
White Fox: "Was I considered one of you at that time? Because if it was someone we fought, then wouldn't it be the gang that had been annoying Yuka and the girls?"
Deer Prince: "Yeah! That's it. Thank you very much. ...I couldn't think of it since Loki was still someone most of us were not use to having around."
White Fox: "You're welcome. But, Mino, what about them?"
Deer Prince: "Toby and I are by the transfer point between the industrial area and where the crops are growing. Well, Seikai Kiyoshi is right here next to us. You know, the one who thought he was cool by trying to take three of us on at once. Yeah, he looks like he's in a trion body. But I don't remember ever seeing him around Border."
Almost Everyone: "...Then he's using the Trigger illegally!"
Eh? thought Minoru.
Deer Prince: "U-um, couldn't it be that he joined Border and we just don't know?"
White Fox: "I have no record of that happening. Remember that I started keeping track of new recruits after that fight. Please kick his ass for me. I hate that we had the same name, just written differently."
TetsuG: "Why is he there?"
"Then," said Toby outside the chat but looking over Minoru's shoulder. "Why not ask him?"
"Good idea..."
Minoru tried asking as he ran.
"Um, Seikai Kiyoshi?"
When he called out to him, he turned around in the driver's seat.
"Yeah. ...What do you want?"
.
It really is him. Thank goodness, thought Minoru as she got right to the point.
"Why are you here? And apparently using a Trigger?"
"...That would be a long story."
"Could you sum it up for me?"
"Fine then." He nodded. "I came here to find two guys confirming their mutual friendship with a run. I caught the scent of youth and decided to bask in that lively atmosphere."
Hearing that, Minoru nodded once.
Then he breathed in and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Thief!"
.
Minoru saw Seikai Kiyoshi frantically wave his hands side to side.
"H-hold on! You're jumping to conclusions!"
He seemed to have something to say for himself.
...I guess there could be a reason for this kind of thing...
Minoru sighed and asked another question while still running.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Right. Because of some connections from my past, I'm working for a crazy bitch and stopped here to check things out for her. Sort of like making sure she can win."
"Thief!"
"H-hold on! You're jumping to conclusions!"
He seemed to have something to say for himself.
"For one thing, an actual fight hasn't broken out yet between her and your sponsors!"
So it is Loki's older sister.
That was true. They were of course still enemies in a technical sense, but it was worth considering how to handle this situation.
Minoru sighed and asked another question while still running.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Right. Since she'll eventually be fighting everyone she wants, I came here to check things out and found some guys confirming their mutual friendship with a run. I caught the scent of youth and-..."
"Thief!"
"H-hold on! You're jumping to conclusions! And why do you keep saying 'thief'!? What have I stolen!? Oh wait... That fox guy keeps track of these things, doesn't he?"
"Thief!"
"Hold on, you idiot! If you do, I'm sure you will understand how pure my heart is! I'm being forced to do this! Even if I did take the Trigger from some idiot who wasn't paying attention!"
"Mino, how about we beat him up now?"
"Yeah!" he agreed while Seikai turned his cart.
The cart quickly accelerated from the slanted position.
"Ah. You're trying to get away, aren't you?"
"If my words can't convince you, I don't have a choice!"
Seikai stood up in the accelerated cart's driver's handles and swung his arm. He swung it toward the boys as they quickly picked up speed.
"See you assholes later!"
"W-wait! That cart is stolen!"
"Ha ha ha. Can't catch me!"
A metal beam sticking out from a pile of materials hit Seikai on the back of the head.
With a solid sound, his body flipped through the air and over the materials loaded on his own cart.
He fell off.
But Minoru and Toby had only just picked up speed as they turned their Triggers on.
Minoru took note that Toby's attire was different. Unlike the usual gray outfit of Kotowari Squad, it was a white one resembling that of a C-Rank agent.
"Crap! I forgot that I took that training Trigger from Mei! What Trigger did she put in here!?"
They had to slam on the brakes when their enemy met this unexpected fate.
But by the time they stopped, they had already passed him by and were even further away from him than before.
"Oh, no...!"
The surrounding people were not fighters, so they could not capture Seikai Kiyoshi.
So Minoru turned around and ran. Toby was right there alongside him.
"Kh...!"
And he accelerated.
This was a familiar Trigger. And currently the only one Toby currently had on him.
"Kiyome...!"
.
Toby used Kiyome for a short dash that quickly filled the gap between him and Seikai Kiyoshi.
He was not too familiar with the Trigger, only seeing two other people use it, but he had to work with what he had.
Seikai Kiyoshi hit the ground rolling, stood back up, and began running once he noticed him.
...He is surprisingly fast!
He was older.
Toby was fifteen years older. Based in their age and height, he would be faster on his feet than Toby due to their strides. So if he was to catch up...
"..."
He had to use Kiyome.
If it was Teleport then this wouldn't be a problem!
He needed to catch up in a hurry. If he could delay him by just a bit, Minoru could arrive in time.
...Of course, it's good that we can fight him as a pair.
After all, he had no offensive Triggers.
Seikai Kiyoshi, on the other hand, did. He appeared unarmed, but...
...Here it comes!
He swung his arm toward them as he ran.
That thick arm was being used to aim. No blade would come out and no gun would be made, meaning it was a Shooter Trigger.
"Sermon Cannon!"
"That's Meteora, you idiot!"
Green light raced along his arm and left his hand as a glowing projectile.
In response...
...Right!
Toby dodged. As the bullet passed him by, he deflected it to the left.
It hit some materials being transported and exploded.
The bursting light and the blast itself were weak, but it made a lot of noise and the surrounding people finally noticed what was happening.
"...An attack!?"
The workers were only citizens being used to transport materials.
Most of those who could actually fight were not a part of Border and so did not have a Trigger.
...So we have to do something here.
Toby had a sudden thought.
Werewolf: "Ai, were you the one who was scaring people away because you thought they couldn't handle Neighbors?"
Kitora: "Oh! So you noticed my excellent job, did you? Is there some kind of problem?"
Deer Prince: "You made some niche situations even harder...!"
...That is very true!
But the situation was what it was.
Everyone had reflexively come to a stop.
They were unsure if there was any danger nearby them.
If they had been trained, they would be able to make a few different decisions. They would immediately decide whether to fall back to safety or to defend against the danger.
But if they had not received combat training...
...After hesitating, someone will be unable to bear the pressure and they will run.
That would be dangerous. Everyone would think "me too", seek that "uncertain safety", and begin moving every which way.
So before that happened...
"...!"
Toby accelerated between the stopped people.
His eyes were focused on his enemy.
Everyone had stopped and become obstacles, but the older boy was slipping his large body between them.
It was like water.
The more obstacles there were, the faster he seemed to move.
And as Toby pursued him...
"Kh..."
He was hurrying, but...
...My movements are rough!
He grazed people and dug up the dirt beneath him.
Part of him thought that was fine. That was just how this acceleration worked. After all...
"Not Teleport! But Kiyome...!"
It had its origins in a purifying way that most Shinto people would know.
For him it seemed different.
With the way I run, it is more like a headfirst fall. In that case it could be like Japan's Minamoto no Yoshitsune's surprise attack.
Yoshitsune had appeared on a cliff behind the enemy formation and, as everyone else thought about taking a detour around, he had jumped down from the cliff. It was a technique for relying on your horse to descend a cliff. So if Toby was using that to accelerate...
...Of course it is going to be rough. But I like the sound of Headfirst Fall more than Purification.
It was a wild Trigger.
But, he thought. Because of my running style, it provides a falling acceleration focused on speed, so I guess it should be used by the person in the lead.
It was not something for use in a crowded area. So...
"...Now, then."
Toby looked to reach "the lead".
.
Minoru saw something as he ran: Toby jumped as he ran out ahead.
...Okay then.
It was a great leap. The boy in a white Border uniform soared up onto some materials being transported.
And Toby placed his left foot on those materials.
A moment later, he disappeared.
...Kiyome!
He had poured almost all of his strength into acceleration.
As if to prove it, he appeared atop some materials a short distance away and then vanished again.
He next appeared on the back of a car and then on the roof of a materials storehouse.
"—"
I can't keep up with him, thought Minoru.
Even something like Grasshopper had a set limit to its speed, so it would simply not be enough.
Kiyome was a Trigger that continually got stronger the faster the user truly was.
He was clearly following "after" Toby, not following "along with" him.
This of course meant Toby would catch up to the enemy, but also...
Deer Prince: "Toby! You're moving too far out ahead!"
He called out to him, but...
"—"
There was no response.
...Not again!
Yes again.
Toby was focused just like during their run earlier.
He must have been thinking about something because he was failing to monitor his situation.
This time, he was probably focused on pursuing the enemy.
During training, taking time to think was important.
But at the moment...
"...!"
A stir ran through the surrounding people as they noticed Seikai and Toby.
They began to move. Some cried out in surprise and others in confusion.
"—!"
The frightened and panicked crowd got in Minoru's way.
.
Toby realized he had caught up to the enemy.
He really was using Grasshopper.
It had been the only way for him to keep his lead.
They were on a waterway. It was a small artificial river that passed through the crop field.
It was about 5 meters wide and about a meter lower than the crop field on either side.
The water was less than 10 centimeters deep and small stones were lined up below the water.
This was probably the "path" Seikai Kiyoshi had used to approach the open part of the two areas. He kicked up the water as he ran about 10 meters ahead of him.
He heard something from the area behind him while he kept up the pursuit.
"—"
Everyone was raising their voices after finally noticing the chase.
Toby initially interpreted their distance from the area as distancing him from the work site.
That meant the enemy could no longer do damage to the others or to the city.
He was also well aware that leaving the area increased the risk to him. After all, he had no offensive Triggers and he was lightly equipped. He was also short on support.
He told himself he had to give up the chase after Seikai had made it a certain distance away.
...As long as I keep that in mind, I should be fine.
He would not pursue him too far.
Of course, he had achieved impressive results by continuing the fight during the battles against the other B-Rank and A-Rank agents during solo matches. So he decided he had to pursue and approach him to a certain extent.
So he did so. And...
"—"
Seikai Kiyoshi accelerated.
He looked back Toby's way and his narrowed eyes definitely focused in on him.
He knew why he had looked back: The waterway bent to the left up ahead.
The waterway was a level lower than the surrounding crop field.
The crops growing there hid the waterway from view after its leftward curve.
If he was careless, Seikai could use the terrain to ambush him.
He likely intended to make clever use of this. His feet audibly kicked up the water as he turned his body around and...
"Sermon Cannon!"
"That is still just Meteora!"
He fired a shot at lower hips height. And it was not a rapid shot.
It was a slow trion projectile that was more released than fired.
.
Toby realized the enemy was luring him in.
The speed and position of the shot was all the proof he needed.
Seikai had targeted his hips which were essentially his center of gravity while running.
If he was hit or if he blocked it, the blow to his center of gravity would bring him to a stop.
And it was slow.
A faster shot would have more force behind it, but then the bullet would reach him sooner.
Since he was trying to buy enough time to escape, it was better for him if the bullet took its time reaching Toby.
And the slower bullet allowed for more accurate aiming. So dodging it was his only option.
However, the direction in which he dodged was the problem. There was water below him, so crouching would slow him down.
If he jumped above it, he would expose his entire body to projectiles. Even with Kiyome, he could not change direction while in the air with no footing.
At times like these, his Side Effect would kick in and dodge for him. The issue was that since there was multiple ways to dodge these attacks, it was supposed to Toby's mind to choose which one would be the better option.
So it had to be left or right.
But dodging to the left would be dangerous.
The curve up ahead was to the left. If he dodged left, he would be hugging the inside of the corner, but the higher ground and crops on the left would be in the way. As soon as he entered the corner without being able to see ahead, Seikai could hit him with a counterattack.
Right would be safer. However...
...That would delay me around the left corner!
That would mean widening the gap between him and the enemy.
Toby noticed Seikai Kiyoshi's calm. He had fired one shot as if placing it in the air behind him, but that had given him several different advantages. He had likely been trained for this. Meanwhile...
...If only I had my actual Trigger...!
Then he could have used some Scorpion blades to take the hits or use Teleport and continue forward without losing any speed.
The enemy shot approached.
He had to make a decision. So...
Yeah, I like the sound of this better.
"Headfirst Fall...!"
He accelerated.
.
Seikai pulled something out from under his clothes.
The object reflected what was behind him as he fixed the angle to make sure he could properly first things he saw were the water and the rocks in it. The way it carved gave him for of an angle.
The wide angle of the reflection showed him a wide area behind him.
He saw something odd in the center of that mirror.
Toby disappeared in an instant.
...Is that the teleporting Trigger boss lady told me about...!?
He viewed it as something normal for any member of Border, but he did not slow his running legs.
The enemy had not actually disappeared.
He indeed saw a movement in the mirror he checked in a hurry.
It was down below.
Due to the curve of the odd mirror, it was hard to follow movement toward the bottom.
On top of that, Toby had taken an unexpected action.
He had leaned over to duck below the Meteora shot he had fired.
In Seikai's view, ducking below it had been the 2nd best answer.
The best had been to dodge to the right and take the outer corner. Even if he was delayed by that, he would be safe and he could make up for the delay later.
He could not dodge to the left or above because that would expose him to danger.
Below had been the second best option, but...
...Ducking down reduces his speed!
However, the enemy had not ducked down. He had leaned to the side as if collapsing into the water. And...
"He accelerated!?"
He had launched his leaning body forward to maintain his speed.
...I see!
This enemy's acceleration Trigger did not strengthen his body. It accelerated him from his footing to the direction his feet took him.
He was not running; he was falling.
So what mattered was the indicated direction, not his stance. He could fall headfirst or back-first.
And the enemy made his leap. His forward "fall" took him below the bullet and, just as he finished passing below it, he righted his body and accelerated himself forward.
There was no hesitation in any stage of his triple fall.
"Damn, kid! That was cool!"
Seikai swung his left arm. By shifting his arm, he prepared a new set of attacks to use here. The trion bullets seemed to wrap around his left arm and moved from there to his body like large rosary beads.
"Sermon Cannon Machinegun!"
"That's just a barrage of Asteroid!"
He fired them in quick succession.
.
The glowing bullets punched into the nearby wall.
The fist-sized shots were fast and fired in rapid succession.
Their firing sounded more like blowing wind than a roar and it was joined by the loud noise of footsteps.
In the lead, Seikai ran while facing backwards and kicked up the water.
In pursuit, Toby ran while leaning forward and kicked up the water.
Seikai was the first to make his way around the left corner.
He hugged the inside of the corner to make the most of his lead.
And while the nearby wall provided cover, he fired trion bullets so they would pass through the other side. And he sprayed them up to down.
For Toby, this created a horizontally-sweeping barrage that covered the inside of the corner to the outside of the corner.
"How about that!?"
Seikai shouted that while falling back and that was when Toby made his approach.
He took a center route. It was the same route as the one on which he had ducked below the previous shot.
He had not changed his route in response to the random vertical spray of bullets from Seikai. He simply ran, and...
"...!"
He removed his jacket. A moment later, he grabbed the ends of the sleeves, scooped up water like the jacket was a basket, and swung it in front of him.
"...Take this!"
He released his jacket toward the barrage cutting across at just below chest height.
The water had not had time to soak in, but the jacket struck the barrage with the weight of the water it surrounded.
Even if it was not officially meant for combat, the uniforms of Border members tended to have some general protection. That and the weight of the water was consumed by the enemy bullets.
Of course, the destructive trion bullets would not be stopped by something like that.
A few shots hit it, tore through the water and jacket material, and pierced through.
This was not completely bulletproof.
But the bullets that hit the jacket and water were slowed just a tad. And Toby took aim for the gap that created.
"Headfirst Fall...!"
He used his acceleration to throw himself sideways through the air.
He led with his right shoulder, twisted his body, and shifted into a flop.
He kicked off the water's surface and moved quickly enough that the water only splashed up after the fact.
But not even that was enough. He had launched himself face-up in the air, but the later bullets were going to reach him.
That was why he turned himself around.
He began a midair spin to shift from face-up to face-down. He pointed his belly down and moved his right leg to kick at the water's surface.
"—"
His toes breached the water's surface and reached the stones below.
He had his footing. And just then...
"...!"
He used his acceleration not to pass through the barrage but to pull himself out of it.
Even so, a few of the bullets still had the speed and trajectory needed to reach him. Because he had twisted his body starting from the feet, his face was furthest away and it had not quite left the barrage.
But he had seen them. And he could instantly grasp the trajectories of just a few.
So he could dodge them.
He cleared the barrage using his twirling and accelerating body along with physical strength centered on his head.
A few strands of hair were taken by the barrage of trion bullets.
But that was all.
He had cleared it. The next acceleration was already entering his body.
Behind him, the abandoned jacket and water belatedly burst.
That spray could not keep up with Toby as he moved forward.
He fell forward.
.
Seikai watched the enemy's movements.
He was catching up. The enemy approached with enough speed to do that.
Seikai thought while moving at a speed so great that the kicked-up water looked slow.
...Triggers really are amazing. Boss lady showed me how to only use some of them and I'm doing great against this kid. Even if he is a C-Rank and a kid.
He instinctually arranged the scene into something that made him look better, but he really did wish he lived in a world like that.
Needless to say, reality was cruel. Reality was nothing like his own, so he was instead being pursued by an accelerating boy who blasted water explosively into the air.
Yeah, maybe mixing in Meteora was not the best choice here.
That was a problem.
The enemy's charge would not stop. He had done an incredible job of forcing his way through the barrage.
Seikai was impressed how he had combined his jacket and the water to escape that tight spot. However...
...Why!? Why would you remove your jacket while behind cover!?
An athletic boy had removed his jacket in a stream below the sun.
He hardly felt much if the sun's rays while using this false body. But there was still a bit of feeling hitting him from the realism put to make sure the user would not end up in their own little worlds.
The accelerating boy must have also felt something like that.
"You damn beast!"
Seikai scattered gunfire. He fired close-range at the enemy who was rounding the corner. He spread his three fingers and fired the trion bullets along them.
It had been easy to control the direction using such methods.
"Take this!"
He launched the 3-way trion bullets.
.
Toby saw the enemy's 3-way scattershot. And he shifted his position.
He chose to dodge Seikai Kiyoshi's attack.
The attack fired at him was a simple attack by using Meteora or Asteroid for their damage output then released carefully instead of using trion just to miss.
He seemed to launch the trion bullets as if pushing them with his palm.
It was a large palm and looking at it told you the angle at which he would fire.
But the palm was pointed downward when he fired this scattershot along his fingers.
If fired in the direction of his palm, it should have flown downward. But that was not what these bullets did.
They followed his fingers and were pushed out from the tips.
In that case, thought Toby.
...This guy's scattershot must be controlled by the spreading of his fingers!
When targeting someone using his fingertips, it was difficult to intentionally "divert" the shots.
Seikai Kiyoshi had the middle of his three fingers aimed at him.
So Toby leaped into the gap between his middle and outer finger.
"Headfirst Fall!"
He made it.
But Seikai Kiyoshi reacted by swinging his right arm as he fell back.
He added a winding motion to the bullets.
The rapid-fire Asteroid bullets formed a horizontal wave and drew something like a whip with their trajectories. They flew past Toby, collided with the nearby wall or the water's surface, and filled the air with clumps of dirt and spraying water.
But Toby immediately responded to the motion of the enemy's bullets.
He followed suit.
...I can do this!
The bullets had speed and density, but they came in a wide 3-way spread. This was much easier to dodge than a blade or spear tip aimed at him.
Before this, he had fought opponents whose every attack was meant to be lethal.
Compared to that...
"—!"
He crouched low and jumped forward.
Just then, two things happened before his eyes.
First, Seikai Kiyoshi leaped backwards.
Second, he closed his fingers.
He greatly compressed the density of the barrage and fired all three shots toward his face while he stayed low.
The distance between them had not shrunk. Seikai had matched his jump to his.
...He predicted my action!?
He wondered how but found no answer. He simply dodged the barrage.
"Oh...!"
He lowered his body and plunged his head into the water.
He let his stance collapse as much as possible to dodge the bullets.
His head, shoulders, and chest struck the water and bathed in the scent of algae.
But he had dodged them.
The sweeping air passed overhead. Or rather, over-hips since that was the last part of him to drop down. That was proof that the enemy bullets had passed him by.
He had made it through.
But he was in a dangerous position now.
Plunging to the bottom of the river while accelerating would only lead to self-destruction.
So he first thrust his hands forward below the water. He grasped the bottom of the river as if trying to plunge his hand into the stones there.
At the same time, he slammed his forehead against the riverbed.
Water splashed up as his forehead broke through the water and collided with the stones at the bottom.
But that provided three points of support: his hands and his forehead.
It was a lot like the preparation for a handstand, but that would only make him a target.
He needed to force his hips to the left, spread his legs, and...
...Spin them to the side...!
A handstand would have swung his legs straight up, but he swung them around to the left instead.
With a forceful twisting of his arms, he took a face-up position while twirling around.
His skyward vision saw the enemy.
Seikai was aiming his three fingers at him while falling back.
He continued to fire and Toby was still being pursued by his winding bullets.
So he removed his arms. He released his hold on the riverbed and used his legs to launch himself.
His left-swung legs pulled his body over.
His hands and head left the riverbed.
"—"
He now stood on the left wall of the waterway.
He was standing, but his body still had its momentum. So he used that as his initial speed.
"Headfirst Fall...!"
He accelerated and shook the water from his body as spray.
.
Toby chose to run starting with his knee.
After all, he was accelerating from a wall. He first had to right his horizontal body.
But landing vertically in the waterway would create a dangerous time lag as he stood back up.
So he fell knee-first. He was nearly horizontal and he sent his knee into the water.
"...!"
At the last second, he kicked his toes into the water.
When his lower leg hit the riverbed, it could provide acceleration.
So that was what he did.
He began a forced falling acceleration while in something resembling a crouch.
He released it while positioned low and nearly horizontal to the water's surface.
"...Oh!"
He pulled his opposite knee close to his chest to make the next stride.
With each step, he accelerated.
And as he moved forward, he lifted his hips.
To run along the river, he slammed each step backwards and accelerated.
He lifted his hips, fixed them there, and did not raise his upper body.
If his body shook from the force of stepping on the riverbed, he would lose the force needed for his run. If he was to build up his speed, he had to keep his hips high and swing his upper body to match the rhythm of his legs.
...Here I go!
The enemy had predicted his previous action.
So this time, he included a motion that crisscrossed his legs as he ran in an arc. And...
"—"
Toby grabbed a handy stone from the riverbed and threw it.
He threw it outside the path of the shots that Seikai Kiyoshi fired while swinging his arm around. It flew in a high arc.
He had thrown it so it would hit before he arrived. And with this timing...
...It will obscure his view!
In the end, Seikai Kiyoshi moved to avoid having the falling stone obscure his view.
"..."
The enemy took a large step back.
From Toby's perspective, he somewhat increased the distance between them. That step was added to the shrinking distance between them, so they were about a step and a half apart now.
But Toby had made him jump back.
It was now Toby's turn to match his timing.
He made a crouching jump that matched the position and timing of his landing.
He would be aligned with the center of his chest when he landed.
"Headfirst Fall...!"
He spun around backwards in midair.
I'm getting pretty use to this thing, aren't I?
He launched a spinning axe kick that carried the acceleration of Kiyome.
His falling acceleration gave it the same force as landing from a great height. He supported himself with his left leg which scraped and slid along the riverbed.
He was sending his full bodyweight toward the enemy.
Even if the attack was not as effective as hoped, turning his back protected the front of his body and he could use the rebound of the kick to jump the other way and put some distance between them.
And even if the enemy stopped his three-finger rapid-fire and instead fired from his palm...
...His palm is pointed downwards!
That was why he had not jumped in from below despite his crouching stance.
If he was below, Seikai could intercept him from his palm.
But by staying low to the ground, the enemy was forced to continually attack downwards. That meant he could not raise his hand.
That allowed Toby to make this axe kick with any possible counterattack suppressed.
...Also...
Toby thought, Given our distance from the industrial area, I have to settle this here.
So he made his attack. He leaped to the inside of the right arm he swung around.
"...!"
He launched his accelerated right heel.
In that instant, he heard a voice. It was Seikai Kiyoshi's.
"Seriously? Fine. I'll play this way."
.
Toby saw Seikai take a certain action after those words.
He slightly spread his three fingers once more.
It was a small movement, but it was enough for the trion bullets to stop traveling down his fingers.
The new trion bullet moved to his downward-facing palm.
It was loaded into the center of his right hand, but he would have a hard time sending it toward Toby. Toby was already moving past his hand as he launched a backwards axe kick.
His counterattack would not arrive in time. The palm blast was meaningless, but he released it regardless.
He clenched his hand.
His large palm and three fingers squeezed the attack while his wrist turned.
A moment later, the trion bullet exploded in his hand.
With a loud noise, cracks ran through his solid hand and the force opened his three fingers once more.
"Oops."
Toby saw the recoil launch his hand forcefully upwards.
But moving upwards brought his fingers to a certain location:
"Straight ahead."
He had turned his wrist because he had predicted this.
He had used the recoil of the misfire to rapidly pull his right hand upwards. He had accepted damage for this movement.
"Here goes."
Toby's axe kick dropped down on Seiaki's hand.
The next trion bullet would be loaded in his right hand at almost the same moment that Toby!/ heel would strike that same hand.
...Am I going to hit!?
If he did, that bullet would misfire too.
As someone using a trion body, Seikai would not actually be harmed, but the previous misfire had still damaged his hand. If someone using a training Trigger like Toby was exposed to that, it could easily take off his foot.
He made up his mind in a split second.
Yet his Side Effect of reflexes had also made a choice.
While spinning his body, he twisted the leg supporting him. He turned his toes in the opposite direction of his movement.
"Crap! Headfirst Fall!"
.
Seikai saw the trion bullet fly out of his raised right hand and into the sky.
And Toby had been launched into the air.
He whipped up the wind as he flew to a height of about 7 meters, but it was more of an explosion than a jump that had launched him.
He had not been hit. His acceleration Trigger had malfunctioned.
He had not just crashed into a wall of speed. The next burst of acceleration had reached his body in a broken form and sent him in an uncontrollable direction.
It was a lot like receiving a physical blow.
He was launched without any consideration for how he would land, his entire body was doubled over, and he was twisted to the left.
At this rate, he would fall into the crop field to the right without his speed dropping much at all.
The effects of the malfunctioning acceleration Trigger must have remained with him as he flew in a large arc, but all he did was stab into the waves of crops.
It was over.
The crop field groaned and the wind swayed back, but there was no sign of the enemy moving within the crop.
...Should I say that I won?
Seikai looked to his right hand.
The raised palm had large lacerations in it.
Meanwhile, his opponent would have taken damage from the speed crashing into him, but his fall had been cushioned by the crops.
Something did seem odd though.
The boy had no longer in a jacket less outfit and instead had ended his fall in normal clothes.
I guess that really does count as a win.
Even so...
"I doubt he got any lasting injuries."
He compared their injuries and compared that to the result of the battle.
...Now, then.
He clenched and lowered his hand as it began leaking trion.
He heard a voice in the distance.
"Toby...!"
It was Hatohara Minoru.
The height of his voice suggested he was running down a path between sections of the crop field.
A raven haired boy was running through the sun in search of his friend who had collapsed into the crop field.
"...I guess this is kinda payback."
He wanted to see it for himself, but that would put his chances at risk. He had confirmed the state of some things, so withdrawing was most important now.
"But I feel bad since that C-Rank kid had nothing to do with that fight. ...Can't go back now."
Now, then.
"How will boss lady view the results here and what will she do about it all? Whatever. I just better get my pay for this crap."