Something seemed off to Yuki as soon as he stepped inside.
...Mh?
Thanks to his skills he learned from his parents, he did not even need to enter a room. The heat, vibrations, and air current coming from a door told him the situation inside and whether or not there were people inside. The door was open in this case, so he could immediately grasp the situation within. But...
"...?"
He could see a dimly lit space beyond the door, but that was all. There was no heat or vibrations coming from the air inside. It was like walking through a wall.
Is this, he wondered, the a specialized room?
He realized Kuruma was moving closer to him and Murakami. He could have seen this setup before. This was a public space, so he did not pat their shoulders or push their backs, but approaching them just have been his way of reassuring them as someone who knew what this was.
So they took his hand. Not to hold it but to pull him forward.
"Can we escort you?"
When they asked, Kuruma gave a brief look of surprise but then smiled.
"Please do."
After that, Yuki did not hesitate to head in. He endured the feeling of running into a wall and stepped inside.
After a sensation much like passing through a curtain, the view grew brighter.
...Oh.
He found himself in a large stone hall.
And he immediately heard the heavy sound of a pipe organ. It came from directly ahead, behind, and above.
"...!"
.
Murakami felt sound wash over him.
But even as loud as it was, it was not mere noise. As proof, small bodies that came by began dancing around Kuruma.
Those were insects. Butterflies to be exact.
Drawn out by the music, butterflies around them were growing active. They seemed to think a person like Kuruma would look after them. And when he simply smiled, the joyous butterflies fluttered their wings.
It was the same around Murakami.
Murakami, like another certain Attacker, had been compared to a wolf. His demeanor could feel scarily calm at times. That may have been why the butterflies flew gently while keeping their distance from him or trying to obey him.
Animals are really instinctual...
He realized they surrounded the crossdresser as well. In his case, they were reacting to the sweet smell of the Red Lightning and forming several lines that floated in the air around him.
Kon stood on his other side and her gaze met Murakami's as they both looked at his back. Kon must have been bothered by the lines because she tried to sweep them away with a hand, but they would not go away.
No one could tell where those lines led.
That's right, thought Murakami. We joined Border, fought our battles, and endured an invasion, but now we have come to a new place.
"—"
Murakami took a step forward. Standing out front was a his duty.
...Yes. We can't hesitate to visit those who are watching us.
The committee representatives they had negotiated with and some other employees stood along the left and right walls.
And someone sat in a large chair located atop a red carpeted dais up ahead.
...That's Kurosaki Shin.
He was a slender 180cm. He had left and right tattoos, pale skin, black eyes, and black hair.
He was the CEO who ruled this cold business.
But Murakami did not fear him. He did not flinch within the sound washing over him. He was the Yagura Branch Director's student, the ace of the Suzunari Branch, and a friend of some of Border's best agents.
"As the guard of Border's best representatives and agents and as the ace if the Suzunari Branch Office, I will greet you first."
After confirming that those behind him had come to a stop, he placed a hand on his chest and lowered his upper body at a perfect 90 degree angle,.
His bow was answered with silence. The pipe organ had stopped playing.
Then Kurosaki moved. He looked to the employee standing next to him and to Sekai who stood diagonally in front of Murakami. Then he nodded.
"Yes. Very well."
It was a deep voice that seemed born of the air itself. Then a flood of monitors and screens appeared around him.
Awash with the light of the screens, he grabbed his iron staff with his right hand, lightly tapped his own shoulder, and spoke.
"At ease, Border representatives. Kurosaki CEO Kurosaki Shin will speak with you directly..."
"Oh? Oh? So the meeting has begun at Kurosaki, has it?" asked Yoshiko. "Since Shiraishi is cleaning up their party hall, we should probably get started soon too."
Hiura stood below the there with Yoshiko, Minoru, and...
"Denji here! If you would like something to eat, I will take your order!"
"Umm, I'll have the white round rice bread slices, the caesar salad, the pork shoulder, and...oh, this mayon sauce is mayonnaise, right? If you can make it Far Eastern style, that would be great. Oh, and a chicken stew too."
"That's too much to remember, jeez!"
Hiura had no choice but to write her order on a pad and hand it to Denji. Then she looked around.
Her surroundings were light and dark.
It was a location between the cities Mikado and Hasunobe yet away from the middle school between the two cities.
This place was always just plain, wasn't it? thought Hiura. But now it had other colors for the festival.
Most of the nearby Mikado City population was there and that city near the Mogami estate was not the only one in attendance. People from Hasunobe City had come by and circled halfway around the area. They had lit fires, their dancing silhouettes could be seen around the fires, and they were eating and singing.
Hiura and the others were on top of a platform built up a level higher than everything else. A single diplomatic car was positioned below them and they looked out to the festival's from the insulating carpet laid out from there.
"Their dancing is forming circles around the wooden festival towers, but they aren't moving around them. It's more like they are moving in and out from the center of the circle."
"You noticed? Well, you should be able to tell what that is about."
"What? It's a building dance, isn't it?" asked Minoru while viewing the festival stands and the people moving through the gathering places. "Don't the towers represent Mikado City's original eastern location and their dance represents the people going there and returning? But..."
Minoru pointed to a few parts of the hole. There were some pits in the pale shadows of the dirt.
"Do the largescale tunnels still exist, but now you're using them to produce materials?"
"We will use whatever we can. Even ruins of ill fortune."
"...Of ill fortune?"
The vixen smiled when Hiura asked that.
SenSen: "That does not sit right with me. Exploiting tunnels and tearing through them like that is just not right."
Life: "Is that suppose to be sexual? It sounds really sexual!"
Kura-uchi: "Senshi, if you are mad, just say so. It saves us the trouble of having to deal with that guy."
Poor SenSen-san.
"Do you know why Kobayashi and Shiraishi, the families with access to these tunnels, were able to build up larger reputations in Mikado City? And why Kobayashi was able to build these sturdy homes and universities?"
"So..." Hiura tilted her head. "Was it thanks to the ability to produce lots of food and access to materials here."
"I suppose a Bkrder member wouldn't have noticed since you have the powerful support of Triggers."
Yoshiko laughed, but there was nothing Hiura could say since it was true. We are still pretty sheltered, she realized.
Then Minoru placed a hand on his chin and looked to eastern Mikado's original location. The current Forbidden Zone.
"So it wasn't just materials... Was it pathways you found in this area?"
"Yes, that's right. But I suppose that is another extension of my being involved with Kobayashi. Shiraishi does the same, so combining thoughts and processes makes us rather well off, you know?"
"I see," said Hiura. "A ravaged land will be more likely to need to know the location. Even if it is still a part of Mikado City, it's hard to get there out of fear of Gates underground. So that's how much the businesses have-..."
At that point, Hiura realized something.
...Huh?
Something seemed odd to her. Curious, she looked to Yoshiko who covered her mouth with her fan and narrowed her eyes.
"Minoru-senpai..."
When he looked to Yoshiko, the boy brought a hand to his mouth and glanced over at Yoshiko. The look in his eyes was a powerful one.
Minoru had realized something too. Was that something the same as Hiura's something? Hiura did not know, but she still asked.
"Um, can I ask you something? This original site of East Mikado is...pretty different now, isn't it? And you said you were busy before joining Kobayashi, right?"
Then...
"How come you mine so much materials if the invasion and subsequent attacks were fought above ground? ...I could understand if it was near the surface, but you're going through the tunnel system. It's almost like something was done using the materials even further down than the tunnels."
"I think it would be more accurate to say something was 'dealt with' there."
Deer Prince: "Magnet, do you know anything about that tunnel system?"
SenSen: "Sadly, I don't. I have never once been allowed down there. Even my boss, uh, for the other one, not Border. Well, even they tried to get down there but weren't allowed. I feel like I am missing out on something big whenever the topic is brought up."
Yoshiko laughed and waved her fan to turn on several screens. And...
"Well, just wait a little longer. Do that and you should see the mystery for yourself.
"Mystery?"
"Yes. What happened during that invasion four years ago and where did it lead? Afterwards, I will show you what could be called this city's hidden festival."
Now.
"Until then, let us eat and hold our meeting. ...Representatives and Border, are you listening? Shiraishi and Kurosaki will be the same. And Kurosaki will likely have the most trouble of all."
A chilly air filled Kurosaki's meeting room and CEO's chamber.
Near the center, Sekai felt a cold sweat after bringing the Border group in.
...I hope this will turn out all right.
He more or less stood between the Border group and Shin. He opened a tab in his tablet, tilted it so only he could see, and turned to face Shin.
Shin took a deep, white breath and looked back at him, so he used his body as a shield to keep the Border group from noticing the gesture he made with his left hand.
He gestured back his way.
He was telling him to pass the conversation this way. When he saw it, he opened his mouth.
"Would you like to say something, Sekai?"
"Yes. CEO, I believe it would be faster to start by asking them for their suggestions."
"Hm... You have a point... V-very well. What are your demands...?"
Don't stutter! thought Sekai with a mental sigh, but there was no helping that. The other leaders and committee heads tensed somewhat, but the Border group did not react. They did not seem to have noticed anything out of the ordinary. Which meant...
...Is it going well?
Yes, it was going well. The room's atmosphere and Shin's speaking likely matched their impression of Kurosaki Shin as "CEO".
This was working. It was working. After all, their CEO, Kurosaki Shin, was...
...A rare sort of businessman who wouldn't hurt a fly!
.
Shin desperately worked to restrain his racing heart.
...Wh-what am I supposed to do!? What am I supposed to do!?
He had never wanted to be Kurosaki's boss or their CEO. He had come from a good family, he had known the next CEOs of the other families, his name had been the same as a future Kurosaki CEO, he had had the necessary abilities, and he had gotten along well with people. But...
...Why did they have to nominate me for CEO just because of that!? My brothers would have been just as fine!
No, it had not been so bad back when he had been nominated. Mikado City businesses had generally settled all issues through discussions. They had built a generally peaceful relationship with foreign businesses and everything had been going well.
So by inheriting the title of CEO, he had intended to live a human life of tranquility. He had intended to provide leadership, work for the citizens who lived life without Border, and maintain stability through discussions with the other businesses. As hobbies, he had intended to continue his education, cook, and grow a garden. If possible, he had wanted to happily fall in love, get married, and have around three children. He had also wanted as many friends as possible. His dream was to manage a farm after growing old.
However, those plans had changed after the recent invasion...no, once Mogami had heard of a fatal tragedy years ago. It had been told by some strange people and he felt bad for her, but it seemed that she wanted certain things to change.
The next thing he had known, he could no longer step down from his position. So...
...I-if! If everyone helps me out, I-I'll do my very best!
He was aware he had the ability. He simply disliked conflict and lacked courage, so...
"...Hm."
He spoke with a deep voice. He desperately hoped the Border group would fear him as he opened a window on one if the screens and spoke to those who were ready for the meeting.
"Now, state your demands..."
.
The Border group was holding a lively conversation with their Triggers.
White Fox: "H-he seems to be in a good mood, but I get the feeling the slightest thing could set him off! Damn! No wonder those shitty parents were constantly fighting with this group!"
Umi: "By the way, I'm detecting an incredible reaction from there. Is Kuruma-san going all out!"
Kuru-ma: "Hee hee. You mean like when Yuki confirmed his friendship with Kō?"
Victim: "Hmm. I'll report to his family that he's perfectly happy."
Secretary: "W-wait! Those decisions in business could put Tsukiko-kun's life at risk!"
Black Wolf: "Anyway, he's asked for our demands, so what should we tell him?"
Manager: "Ohh, sorry! I have my hands a little full with all these preparations!"
Life: "Huh? What? You're taking a bathroom break now!?"
Artist: "Eh? ...Oh, you're still at the top of the base. And I was hoping to make a quick sketch."
Almost Everyone: "What did you think was happening!?"
Mi-Kon: "Well, that leaves us with no choice. As Border's representative, I have determined I should take the lead. Now, Jinsei, get down on one knee."
Life: "You aren't plotting some way of going over my head, are you? ...Huh?"
.
Murakami sensed a smell.
...Blood?
It was the smell of human blood. And it came from the hallway behind the line of committee heads to their right. And...
"Shin-kuuun!"
A tall man ran in from the hallway. He had modified a Kurosaki uniform into a T-short, shorts, socks, and athletic shoes. The emblem on his chest and helmet formed the word "love".
Oh. ...Why does he remind me so much of someone?
He was also covered in blood. But...
"Hello! Border! Nice to meet you! I am Kurosaki Secretary and Personal Security Nagao Kanetsugu! I am known as the energetic 'Man of Love and Attachment'! In Far Eastern, 'Love and Attachment' is Aizen, which sounds just like iron in German! But this might as well be Russia, so that's entirely irrelevant!"
White Fox: "Ding ding ding! Good job, Suzunari! I think we found a friend for Taichi."
Oops: "Yeah! I feel an atmosphere I could get along with quite well!"
SenSen: "Kh. Maybe we should have gone to Kurosaki after all."
Wouldn't you freeze? wondered Murakami, but he held his tongue. He knew who this bloody pulp reminded him of.
However, the refreshing bloody pulp gave a carefree smile as he spun out in front of the committee heads and made a flip. Then he spread his arms.
"I was pursuing the citizens who were unsure about what to do! I thought we might be able to settle this through discussions, but they made a serious attack and gave me a very bad day! I was making short work of them with my love attacks, but when you're pinning one of them down on the battlefield in the north-south position, isn't it just awful when some of the others surround you and refuse to read the atmosphere!?" said the bloody pulp of love. "Anyway, Shin-kuuun!? I lost and came running back, so you're going to scold me, aren't you!?"
"You...bastaaaaaaaaaaaard!"
The CEO stood up with his iron staff in hand.
"Why would you appear before me so badly injured...!? Don't think I can just overlook this...!"
.
Shin sensed his own desperation.
...Kanetsugu-kun!
That man was a rare person in Kurosaki who was human yet had strength rivalling an animal. He also had a wonderful personality, understood Shin's timidity, and helped assist him.
So Shim could not overlook the man's injuries. He should have received treatment from the Health Committee before coming here, but he had likely wanted to personally report on the battle as soon as possible.
Shin had to heal him and healing were one of his greatest specialties. After all, he had learned all about how to help a human body.
"You bastard...!"
Everyone thinks bastard is such a dirty word, thought Shin. But it merely refers to the marital status of one's parents and shows my understanding of his past.
"Kanetsugu, you bastard...!"
He raised his metal staff while place anesthetics inside.
He used pressure. Specifically, pinpoint pressure.
At Kurosaki, all fatigue and lain had long been blamed on tense bodies. So...
"Ohhhh...!"
The anesthetic-filled iron of healing caught Kanetsugu on the side of the face.
It was a solid blow. The pressure had definitely reached the core of his body.
The anesthetics were an excellent tool. It numbed the recipient before the healing blow landed, so there was no pain and the pressure spread the loosening around their body. The pressure loosened their muscles and showed what he was doing.
After receiving the pressure attack, Kanetsugu bounced along the stone floor, but the strike would have numbed his entire body and provided first aid. However...
...This isn't enough!
Shin had to drive the "tenseness" of the injuries out of his entire body. That was Kurosaki-style healing.
Begone, tension! willed Shin as he struck Kanetsugu.
"You are..."
These injuries were serious to him, so he had to use even filthier words to insult them and drive them out. So...
"...nothing more than a dung beetle...!"
Shin delivered one pressure strike after another.
"So take this...!"
Be healed!
"Is this still not enough to kill you...!?"
I need to rid him of this pain as soon as possible!
"No one wants the likes of you around...!"
.
The hall was filled with reflecting light and a deep rumbling after each pressure blow. Kanetsugu had lost consciousness as he bounced again and again only to be struck by a new blow each time.
Light reflected off on the metal cane, so the entire hall became a place of moving light and impacts.
Artist: "Ehh!? W-wait, shouldn't you stop him!?"
White Fox: "Th-this truly is a business that can rival those shitty parents! He doesn't allow even the slightest failure!"
Black Wolf: "And, um, can we really hold a meeting after this?"
Mi-Kon: "Oh. I am learning a lot."
Everyone had to ask "About what?" as Kon was handed a teacup from somewhere and took a breath. But in the meantime, Shin stopped moving.
The staff struck, the final pressure strike burst, and the reflective light vanished into the air.
It was over.
Shin placed his staff on Kanetsugu's limp form and worked to catch his breath.
"I will leave it at that for now... Health Committee Head, you must carry him out of here immediately. Heh heh... And treat him with care. Yes, do not misinterpret me here. I want you to treat him with the utmost care..."
And...
"Yes, treat him with great care to express my...happiness that he returned alive after such a devastating loss. Heh heh heh... And make sure to give him the best of food to eat. I'm sure you know what I mean. Hah hah...!"
Zoe: "Th-the hidden implications there are pretty amazing! He's one hell of a businessman!"
Secretary: "Dammit! I should have gone there instead of becoming a wallflower recently! Kurosaki-san is so cool! He's the ideal businessman!"
Umi: "Not again... If you love him so much, why not become one of his employees? It would save our team some trouble."
Meanwhile, Shine returned to his chair and looked to Sekai.
"Well? How was that, Sekai...?"
.
Shin saw Sekai nod.
"I believe that was a most suitable treatment for someone returning from a defeat..."
WorTri: "Don't ask me that! You caught me off guard! Why are you always like this, Boss!?"
Kuro-Shi: "Eh!? Ehh? B-but if I don't ask...I-I don't know if I screwed up. Um, but, uh, Seki-kun? Wh-what, um, do you mean by 'like this'?"
WorTri: "Just get this meeting over with before you let anything slip!"
Tonbo: "Um, Sekai-kun? I don't think you should be so rude."
Sekai glanced at an elderly human who stood down the hallway. He was the direct second-in-command Saitou Tonbo and he lowered his head when he looked his way.
Tonbo: "We will give Kanetsugu a special dining hall coupon and some top quality sake and vodka. He was investigating other businesses as well as pacifying civilians, after all. Um, and when should we let him take a bath?"
Kuro-Shi: "Eh? Can't you do that tonight? All of his injuries and pain should be gone. Oh, but he must be exhausted, so make sure he doesn't fall asleep in the bath. And give him three days' worth of medicine just in case..."
Also...
Kuro-Shi: "This may not be the best time, but is there any way we can make the expansions to the botanical garden and zoo like I mentioned before...? We should be prepared soon, right? So, um, it may not be the time, but I'm sure the children in our territory will be worried. If we can put out information on a daily basis about how that kind of enjoyable places are being built, that can help support them and it should really help their parents too... So can't we do it? Or would it be going too soft?"
Notani: "No, I think it is an excellent idea that can also lessen our employees' concerns for their children."
The committee heads also nodded and spoke in unison.
"Such superb judgment!"
Good, thought Shin while feeling himself grow timid.
And he knew it was childish, but he still instructed them to announce this decision in a public forum right away.
It only took a few seconds for this decision he was so fond of to be uploaded to a Kurosaki site as a real promise. This was his authority as Kurosaki CEO. So...
...I'm glad.
I love this side of things.
We are currently worried about Neighbor and I am considerately telling others to hold out, but my heart can't seem to focus on that side of things. I enjoy training in combat and it delights me when my skills can help them in some way, but I can't help but love "these things" so much. And it makes me grow timid when my heart isn't in the same place as theirs.
The more I help them, the more I realize my desires are different and the more timid I grow. But...
"Hm..."
Shin asked a question so he could respond to everyone's efforts.
"Allow me to ask again: What are your demands, members of Border...?"