"I get what it means...but are they serious!?"
Minoru voiced his opinion of Shiraishi's decision relayed to him by Border.
The Shiraishi family was matching Ruri's mixed and lost memories by rewinding their view of Border to just before Shuryō's capture while also viewing it at a more modern time. But...
...Does Shiraishi really understand what that means!?
"Anyone with half a brain could tell what kind of trouble and grudges that will create!"
The Sniper lowered the ends of her eyebrows and raised her right hand.
"Um, sorry, Minoru-senpai, but I can't tell. Could you maybe explain...?"
Minoru groaned and fell silent as the gambler whispered into the Sniper's ear.
"You must not become a short-tempered girl like that, jeez. You have nothing to feel bad about."
"See how stress-free life is with Denji around?" added Yoshiko.
Dammit, am I the bad guy here!? thought Minoru with a clenched fist in his heart, but Yoshiko looked toward the distant festival instead of him.
Yoshiko was apparently leaving the explanation to Minoru, so Minoru turned to the puzzled Sniper.
"Um... Well, there's nothing wrong with a normal person not getting it. It's a political issue."
"R-really?"
"He's lying. He is merely trying to smooth things over, jeez."
I'm going to beat you, he thought while glaring at the gambler who promptly pretended to hide behind the Sniper.
Well, as long as I can't see his face, he concluded while scratching his head.
"Mogami Shuryō was taken four years ago, but an incident happened rather recently. What happens if Border's state is rewound to a combination of both?"
"I don't know about four years ago, but that other one was when he had just gotten done with the invasion on Mikado City, right?"
"Yes. Border had won, but there were still casualties. So it would be easy for someone with her circumstances to mix the two together and assume that Shuryō had been taken as a part of those casualties. What's more, remember the type of backlash Border received due to things that happened due to that invasion? There is a lot going on there."
Meaning...
"We have to go through the process we did concerning Megane-kun and everything else. It may even be worse since the Yagura Branch is technically not even something that exist in this state."
...This isn't good.
Yuki felt a cold sweat. Border had planned to reassure everyone about Neighbors. But if they were viewed as they had been awhile ago...
...They might reject everything by saying they doubt we could protect everyone next time.
That would be troublesome. They would have to offer a great number of privileges to overturn all of those rejections and Shiraishi might make substitute demands. Also...
Pokari: "This is bad. I mean, this won't just be Shiraishi..."
That was right. Yuki looked to Saitou and the Kurosaki Committee Heads.
"Excuse us," said Saitou before beginning a discussion around Shin. Yuki could read their lips, so he could pick up on some of what they were saying.
...As I thought, they're trying to apply Shiraishi's conditions to themselves because this is a three business meeting...
If just one company had an advantage, it would create a gap between them and the other two. So...
Still Young Girl: "That sounds like fun, so we will be doing it as well."
That was fast! thought Yuki as his cold sweat grew.
What would happen at this rate?
...None if the companies will fully admit to Border's true value against Neighbors, but we will have to negotiate on the assumption that we want their assistance in properly fortifying ourselves.
He clicked his tongue under his breath.
This also makes my position even worse. The Yagura Branch will basically be a nonexist thing and my name as "Tsukiko" drops in favorite of "Taiyōko". As a personal thing that hurts, but... Yeah. I will be viewed as an enemy in that case.
The others may have realized that as well since Murakami seemed to move closer to him while Kuruma looked down at him in worry.
If it was only Shiraishi, it might be possible to get through it by offering privileges and accepting substitute demands, but Mogami had already requested to use the same conditions as Shiraishi and Kurosaki would likely follow.
...This is...
But then he heard a voice.
It was Kon. She relaxed her standing pose and once more was handed a teacup from somewhere.
"So Shiraishi had laid a trap. They pretended to be cooperative while laying the groundwork, but they chose conditions advantageous to their own company during the meeting proper. Normally, this would be the time to leave the negotiation table...but to Border, the cooperation of citizens and businesses is something we would like if at all possible. No, make that three somethings. I have determined we are being given the polar opposite of a good deal."
She nodded and took a sip of tea.
...Wow. Dealing with Taichi for so long really has an effect, doesn't it?
"Yes, this has been an excellent lesson."
Musashi: "I appreciate hearing Suzunari's Operator say that."
Shobu listened to Musashi's voice over the transmission.
...He sounds...pained...?
There was a somewhat guilty tone to his voice that was almost reminiscent of anger. It was low and still, but...
Musashi: "Our policy is to match everything to Ruri and her lost/mixed memories. But don't pity us or see it as a farce. This is a gamble on Shiraishi's part. After all, we have to side with Border in the end. But...the question is when we start doing that. Ruri's initial memories stop when Shuryō was taken four years ago and clips of the time after are pieced on her mind. That means at about the time after that last invasion being mixed together with the original one. So please think about this."
Think about...
Musashi: "You have just fought back an invasion, but there were casualties and questions that need answers, so how are you going to get Ruri on your side? We informed her of the previous conference by telling her Border was creating a new branch, so she understands your motivation and intent. But the situation around her as an individual has not changed and there is no one recognizable as 'Tsukiko' involved. Keep that in mind during these talks."
Shobu felt that was a very difficult thing to do. After all...
Shōgi Boy: "If we can't use Border's victory in that invasion while negotiatin', how're we s'pposed to talk 'bout a future where we defend everyone?"
White Fox: "It's more than that, Satoshi. Remember what was said at the first conference. Director Netsuki has said the recent invasion had 1/40th the amount of casualties as the first one. But if the two invasion are mixed together in this case..."
Exactly. Furthermore, this meeting was with three companies at once, but those companies were in a position to share their benefits and losses. So...
Kura-uchi: "Right. ...Here it is. Kurosaki just sent a message to Kimura via their committees. It says they would like the same conditions as Shiraishi and Kobayashi. It's even signed by someone named Saitou."
That settled it.
From here on, they could not use the Border's victory in battle as a bargaining chip.
...That means...
The three companies would not trust them to be able to fight Neighbors without casualties always happening.
...And after we all worked so hard...
A lot of agents had spend time staying out in the Forbidden Zone for extra protection, to ward off any unwanted people, he'll look for something, or just to make sure everything was fine. Some had longer shifts, but they had been working really hard.
It was made even more strenuous with the idea of the Yagura Branch. Money had come straight out of some of the director's pockets as well as some agents who wanted to help more.
They had all spoken to each other during those times and Shobu had head a lot of what everyone has to say. It saddened him that he could not use all of that here, but...
...Ah...
Shobu realized Border lacking the true victory to the fight created a certain change to the negotiations.
Shobu: "...Border can't...get into fights..."
Kuni: "Yeah! Even Shobu has caught on to the deepest secrets of Border's decision making process! Excellent! I'll make sure Suzume-chan can give you a nice groping later to celebrate! With an Ootsubaki spell, it'll probably grow quite a bit!"
Umi: "What do you mean probably? But it is true this restricts Kimura from going to fighting. I know that has to be a disappointment, but let's do our best here, Kimura."
Guest: "This is the organization I wanted to join...?"
Manager: "Dammit! Is anyone on my side!? Anyone at all!?"
.
Kimura sighed in her heart.
...So Shiraishi set us up.
She had known about Ruri's situation, but during their previous exchanges of information and laying of groundwork...
...They never said anything about returning everything to the time of Shuryō's capture and the recent invasion!
There was no point in complaining now. When performing their checks, her father and the rest of the directors had used the people most familiar with the respective companies. To have that suddenly overturned meant the trap had been targeted at someone who knew them well.
She understood all too well what Shiraishi was trying to do.
"They're putting up a greedy resistance to ensure their future stability."
For them, this would almost entirely settle the influence issues that came from being an outside party to Mikado City. These were the people who had never succumbed to the powerful and always continued resisting, so it was Border's failure for not understanding what that unknown past would lead them to do.
They had likely gone for as big a victory as possible.
Also...
Secretary: "We can't force Shiraishi to discuss their Falcon problem here."
Manager: "Right. They have set up this three business meeting so it's impossible for the three businesses to lose. Even if Shiraishi wanted to nullify the meeting, they could not back out on their own. All three companies would have to back out at once...so the best move for them is to get us to back out instead."
It was a matter of pride.
Kurosaki, Kobayashi, and Shiraishi were companies who were looking for solutions. If the negotiation was nullified due to any one of them, that one would be placed in an inferior position among the three.
They were taking advantage of Border's position, but they made no attempt to hide it and had gone all out with it.
...So they won't accept Border's victory in the invasion, hm?
Then how was she supposed to gain the cooperation of the three companies?
Backing out of the negotiations would only push them toward Taiyōko. At best, Mogami and Kobayashi would stay with them, but Mogami herself would most certain do something afterwards.
Kobayashi's backing would only be viewed as a shaky thing.
...So...
Kimura thought about what to do.
.
The three business meeting should have been about the power to win on Border's side and cooperation. That was why Kimura had corrected all of the problems and confirmed that they could do so much more with the continued support.
But their opponents had rejected all power Border had.
And unless she accepted that rejection, the meeting could not continue.
...Dammit.
They refused to accept anything Border had done or was doing. No matter what she said, that refusal was their condition for discussing this in the first place.
She wished she was ignorant enough of politics to call this unfair. After all, her opponents had their own profits and losses and had their own ways of benefitting and finding relief.
She knew that perfectly well, but...
...I...have a choice.
She could give the three businesses every possible privilege and serve them in every way possible to gain their cooperation.
That would mean lowering the possibilities for Border and what they could accomplish with the other sponsors, but it would save Mikado City and stop the Neighbors. But...
"...No."
She could not sacrifice anyone to save something.
Yes. That was what they had decided. And it was the lesson they had learned after everything.
They had to save everyone while smiling.
...Then...
Kimura thought about what they had to do here if they were to save everyone while smiling.
She was unsure whether or not she could just ask the idiot who had been left with that wish.
And then...
Life: "Hey. Can I say something real quick?"
The idiot spoke to her.
.
Life: "Can you all listen for a moment? I just asked Yuki and it sounds like we're in a bit of a tricky situation."
Manager: "Sorry. I made a bit of a mistake. I'll fix it."
Life: "Eh? Oh, that's not what I meant. That doesn't matter."
Hey...
Life: "Why do we do this?"
And...
Life: "I thought about this a bit back during the invasion and I thought I had an idea of the answer. I thought about it more after the invasion, we met the Wanderers, I asked the older members about it...and a lot happened because of joining. Oh, and a lot's still happening now."
So...
Life:"Kawa."
Manager: "What?"
Life: "You're there, aren't you? You haven't gone away?"
Manager: "Yes, I'm here."
Life: "Then Kanzaki?"
Kiyome: "Sorry. I fell asleep for a bit there."
Life: "Oh, so you're there. Okay. Yuki...is here I guess... Yeah, he's here..."
White Fox: "Wh-why are you trailing off like that!?"
Life: "Don't worry about it. Don't worry about it. ...I guess there's not much point, especially since there are some who are older and younger than us, but Kuruma."
Kuru-ma: "Yes. Thank you for all the help you provide."
Life: "Wow... I'm not sure what to say when someone takes things so seriously... Okay, Iko."
Iko: "Yeah. I'm doin' fine."
Life: "I'm not gonna lose to you! ...So are you there, Demon Girl?"
Demon Child: "Hm? You need something? I'm watching something right now."
Life: "Oh, don't spoil a movie for us. ...What about Rin-chin?"
Artist: "Yes. ...I am here."
Life: "Sure. Smuggle me some more doujinshi sometime, okay? ...Are you there, Sato?"
Shōgi Boy: "I'm trying to work on somethin'. ...But I'm here."
Life: "You can act like a real old man sometimes and it's scary. ...What about Sumimi and Shiro-chan?"
Haru: "We are. Shiro-chan and me both. And it's all thanks to you."
Life: "A Gunner's thanks is a scary thing. ...Ichiya?"
Secretary: "What is it? Oh, we haven't spoken since I was a wallflower, have we? It's good to be back."
Life: "Sure. And lend me some porn once I'm back, okay? ...Um, Shobu-san."
Shobu: "...Eh...!? ...Oh, y-yes... ...I am...here...?"
Life: "Yeah, sorry, sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. Take care of things there. ...Is SenSen there?"
SenSen: "You know I am, so you don't need to ask."
Life: "Yeah, but you know I'm gonna ask anyway... Okay, Akane-kun."
Mad Hatter: "Oh, yes, yes. Yeah. What is it?"
Life: "Well, now that your team is going places, show off for me sometime. ...Minoru."
Deer Prince: "Hm? What do you want?"
Life: "This will probably be a pain, but take care of things okay? ...Prince Boy."
Ōji: "Oh, yes. Kurauchi is here too. He says good luck."
Life: "Your shtick sure has changed... Okay, Zoe."
Zoe: "Right. Leave things here to me!"
Life: "You aren't at some dangerous spot, are you? ...Kage?"
Kage: "What? You want an order now?"
Life: "Deliver some to my house. I'll make something out of it. ...Now Tetsu."
TetsuG: "Yeah, yeah. Good to hear from you too. It hasn't been long enough."
Life: "So rude! But I think it has been too long, so I'll pay you a crossdresser visit. You there too, Pokari?"
Pokari: "Yeah. You guys have been doing a lot recently, haven't you? That's fine, we've gotten together in a single call."
Life: "You still talk funny, Pokari. ...Now Isacchi."
Isa: "... "
Almost Everyone: "Stop being lazy just because it's text!"
Life: "I don't think my heart could take it if he just started talking on and on. ...You there, Kuni?"
Kuni: "Yup, yup. I am, material man. But you won't get anything from me just for calling me up for no reason!"
Life: "At least give me a snack. ...Okay, Kō. Even if you are right in front of me."
Black Wolf: "Right. ...No matter the reason, we know the same things and can't let that down."
Life: "Good to see you haven't changed. And don't you ever change. ...Are you there, Umi?"
Umi: "Eh!? Wh-what do you want all of a sudden!?"
Life: "Well, you always help us out so much and we don't say it as much as we should, so...we all look forward to the help you will give in the future!"
Umi: "That's where you would normally say thank you! And don't speak for everyone!"
Life: "Now this crazy Sniper is making demands... Oh, but, um, Yuka."
Mi-Kon: "This whole thing sounds an awful lot like one long death flag to me."
Life: "She said it! She just said what I was thinking but had enough sense not to say!"
Mi-Kon: "Anyway, what do you want? Why are you hogging the network like this?"
"Well," said Jinsei.
Life: "This is a troublesome situation, right? A really troublesome one."
No, he had feeling their situation had been troublesome for a while now. But...
Life: "Now that I think about it, things have been trouble for everyone since the invasion."
Black Wolf: "Um, Jinsei? It has not been that much trouble for us..."
Life: "Yeah, yeah. That's because you all can handle it. But...you have spent a lot of time lost in thought, haven't you? When you're coming up with strategies for the BRW, when you're in class, when you're eating, you're always lost in thought of discussing things with each other at length. It's been a while now. Ever since that invasion."
Hey.
Life: "Is that really necessary?"
Umi: "Well..."
Life: "If anything, it's necessary to protect the city. You're doing it for what was started during the first invasion and are being brought along."
Then...
Life: "What am I doing now? No...I've been thinking that ever invasion. What does it mean for me to continue being a part of Border? People like Denji say it is to do whatever you want, Shinoda Faction shows through their actions that it's to guide and protect everything, and some branches are more the Denji type but while putting up as much resistance as they can. My nameless captain chooses a method I don't like so he can tell us not to be like him. And he tells us to smile. And Akasora-sensei told me that, if I wanted to protect everyone, I had to protect myself as much as possible."
But...
Life: "I feel like it's fine as long as all of are protected. I still don't really know why I stay with them, but there is one thing I can say."
That was...
Life: "If you're getting all depressed and find you can't act on Border's behalf, you're getting it all backwards. That kind of foundation is there to make sure that doesn't happen. The people there will support you to make sure you can make Mikado City a safe place from Neighbors and to make sure no one is defeated before that haplens. So...how should I put this? Things are getting pretty tough and you might be feeling down. But don't you forget. Don't you ever forget, okay?"
He said it.
Life: "We carry each other's impossibilities. Don't forget that. We can take charge of each other's impossibilities, so don't you ever give up. Don't you ever let it get to you. If things are looking bad, just tell yourself you can leave it with someone else and pay them a visit. ...That's the kind of organization we can be right now."
So...
Life: "Since I can definitely do that, I'm higher up right now. I've been a new type of person since the invasion."
Listen.
Life: "Kō."
Black Wolf: "Yes!"
Life: "You're the closest person to Yuki, so you know what to leave with him, right? Even if everyone's starting to look down, tell them things aren't bad. Yuki, you take care of that too, Unneeded-san."
White Fox: "Tch. What a hopeless guy."
Life: "Yeah, I can be pretty careless. ...Um, Umi, with that, well, keep looking out for me. My contract with Border is important for staying there, but I'm as frail as a rabbit, so protect me and make sure I don't die before it's up."
Umi: "..."
Umi: "You don't make it easy to respond to you, Jinsei. ...Understood. I will protect you as much as I can. Even if my sis gets angry and that idiotic secretary throws a fit."
Life: "That'll be a huge help. And if anything's impossible for you, leave it with someone. I feel like that's setting up a bit of a feedback loop, but thanks. ...And Yuka."
Mi-Kon: "What is the meaning of this liquidation sale on death flags?"
Life: "Well, it might only be this way in my head, but this feels like as big a moment as the invasion. So Yuka, I'll prove it to you. I'll prove that you don't need to worry anymore and hold out. I'll make sure you are out on the same level as everyone while I catch up."
Mi-Kon: "If I'm put on the level of everyone, you will catch up?"
Life: "Yeah. Then I can stand alongside you all and everything will begin. At the very least, we can't get anywhere without doing that much."
So...
Life: "The identity of my reasoning must lie beyond that."
Listen.
Life: "Kawa, everyone, this is probably getting to be a lot of trouble, but I'll be moving out ahead of you a little this time. So you get to following me and surpassing me. If you don't, I'll die pretty quickly. ...Got that?"
Everyone: "Right!"
Life: "Oh. That's good."
Then...
Life: "Sorry, everyone. I'll be going on ahead. And I'll have something to say afterwards."
.
"Hey, I know we're in the middle of a meeting here, but could you listen for a second?"
Yuki heard a voice within the icy atmosphere.
It was Jinsei. He crossed his arms and looked to Shin.
"Hey, you seem like a cool guy. Will you listen to what I have to say?"
Shin did not respond. He simply looked to his screen. Instead, Saitou blatantly wrinkled his brow and took a step forward.
And just as Saitou prepared to speak, the screen must have finished gathering the necessary information. Shin nodded and held out a hand to stop Saitou.
"Wait... We have gathered here for a meeting. Preventing him from speaking would be folly..."
"But Boss!"
"Do you intend to make me look a coward...? You must be as exhausted as Nagao after heading out to battle... If necessary, I can provide you with plenty of my pressure attacks. How about it...?"
Saitou immediately bowed and stepped back. Shin laughed and looked toward the Border group again.
"Now, what do you wish to say, Border representative...?"
"Oh, right, right. Looks like you're surrounded by trouble too. I've been thinking lately, and being someone who keeps things running really is tough. For Border, Kawa and the others do a lot of the work, but with you, it looks like a lot of the burden falls on you."
Yuki mentally nodded at Jinsei's comment.
This companies leader Shin had also inherited the title of CEO, who was viewed as a sort of tyrant leader due to his predecessors. They did not hesitate to carry out corporate takeover, they had their own personal connections under everything, they would ruin powerful people they did not like, and they had taken a lot of private land as "business land".
When the employees had betrayed the former boss, he had been temporarily driven from the company, but everything had gone poorly afterwards.
...So with the support of the people who only wanted a stable income, he had been put in charge.
This company required a powerful person. Even as a harsh leader, everyone obeyed and followed a boss who had forced them along to ensure their business was not destroyed.
It was nearly the opposite of Border. The one at the top made all decisions and corrected everything.
Yuki did not know whether or not Jinsei knew this, but the boy could likely guess what kind of boss Kurosaki had based on the interactions with Nagao and Saitou. So...
"I have one thing to say. And I want the people who went to the other companies to listen up too." Jinsei gave his usual smile as he opened his mouth. "I can't do anything. But my friends can do anything. They'll do anything for Border. And they will protect what can be protected from Neighbors. ...Kawa confirmed that earlier, right? So..."
So...
"We won't use Border's previous victory for these negotiations. After all, we're always gonna win. If our victory is already assured, why use that for negotiations? Right? We won't lose. We've already decided that, so we don't need to worry about any enemies."
Listen.
"Kawa made her point pretty clearly, so I'll make my point pretty clearly too."
"And what is that?" asked Shin.
Border's representative answered clearly.
"We won't lose to anyone."
He gestured toward Yuki and Murakami who stood in front of him.
"They won't let us lose and we won't let them lose. So Border will always be like that. No matter what might happen, Border will remain, Border will resist, and Border won't give up. So what we're about to do isn't resisting. After all, you are regular organizations built on Earth."
It was what came after resisting.
"We're making ourselves completely known to you guys who want to give up on us."
.
Murakami listened to someone else who knew.
"Listen. ...Let's base all our upcoming talks on that assumption. If we don't, I won't understand what we're talking about. Just like I trust myself..."
He turned toward him and the others.
"You all do the same."
...Right.
Murakami nodded at his fellow knower's words. He felt this in his heart, so he nodded in his heart.
...Good.
How long had it been? How long had it been since this knower had so clearly relied on and trusted in others? He knew what he would say if he asked him:
"It's always been like that."
And that was true. Otherwise, he would not have influenced others so much since middle school. But that had just been him telling them everything was fine.
That was why he had taken the lead alone when it mattered.
He had relied on and trusted everyone, but he had gone ahead when going out.
As if to say he did not want to get anyone else involved in something so dangerous...
...He did not call out to anyone.
He had almost certainly not understood what he was doing. He had known it was "doable" because Kimura had told him so, but he had almost certainly not understood why he could do that. But...
"..."
Yes, realized Murakami. That really was the beginning.
He still remembered it.
He remembered the moment of going after him everyone else.
He remembered the instant when they had gathered together because he had shown concern for others.
And he remembered the situation in which even he had cared so much for his companions that he tried to keep his distance.
...But he never said anything.
He knew of the promise that Kon made with him in middle school, but her decision to go help as well as his own had been unrelated to that.
His fellow knower could not do anything, so they had all decided to do everything they could to help him.
So when they had all decided they could not leave that boy alone, he had likely understood that he would not be left alone and there was no need to be alone.
And now, he was finally aware of it.
After suffering defeats and seeing the gloom hanging over everyone, he had grown aware of everything he had learned by moving out ahead.
There were probably all sorts of things he still did not understand about being a member of Border, but that understanding had definitely begun.
When it came to helping people, fighting, and everything else, he had started down his own path as a member of Border. Murakami felt he had just heard that first footstep.
As long as the people closest to them remained unneeded, he would be his helper. So...
"Right."
Murakami listened to his fellow knower speak the words that would once more pull everyone after him.
"Listen carefully, everyone."
He listened.
.
"Let's go protect the world. Come at us, everyone. We won't be losing to the Neighbors, so we won't be losing to you. Keep that in mind when you face us."
The idiot spoke to everyone from this closed space.
"Let's go make everything safe, everyone."
Kimura realized her lips had loosened into a smile. ...Oops.
The situation surrounding her had just undergone a radical change.
She felt like the people and things behind them and next to them had all been bound together.
It was support.
Someone was supporting them. Someone would always trust in and support them no matter what happened.
After the invasion, after a teammate had abandoned them, she had let that support control her a little. He had said it was not like her. He had told her to enjoy it like normal.
She now realized just how right he had been. She wondered why she had been so worried back then.
The idiot supporting her was willing to smile at any world as he made them his enemy. He showed no fear even when facing people with far too much authority, might, and personal ability.
What did she have to fear or worry about with that kind of idiot supporting her?
"...That's right."
That idiot was no longer worried about her. Not even with an idiotic sort of worry. And just like during and after the invasion...
"We will pave the way no matter what might happen."
This is what they call a royal road. Did you know that, idiot? And we will leave it for Border. The place we could gather at. So...
Manager: "Out of the way there. ...I'm moving out front."
Life: "Oh, Kawa, are you feeling it now? ...Are you smiling?"
Manager: "Let's just say my expression is exactly what you are imagining. And..."
Kimura spoke.
Manager: "Let's resume the meeting."
.
"As Border's director's representative, I have something to tell the three companies."
Kimura inhaled and made a clear statement.
"We will accept the Shiraishi family's suggested basis for judging Border. We agree to not consider Border's recent victory in the coming negotiations."
.
In White Rock's great hall, Musashi stood with the Committee Heads along the wall as he listened to Border's representative speak.
He frequently paused to breathe and spoke slowly, but what he said was clear.
"...Sh-she says...we will not...consider Border's...most recent...victory..."
He straightened up before continuing.
"It's...a promise."
Border had said they would not accept their own value in victory as a topic for negotiation.
They've destroyed themselves, thought Musashi. You made the wrong choice again, Takeshi. Just like always. ...Don't worry, I'll go get you to fix your mistake.
The ability to protect one's own territory was a necessary part of being that kind of organization. If they could not use that in this negotiation, they could not even be accepted as a proper fighting force.
They would be nothing more than a pacifist building.
Then was there something else Border could do?
...It can't be...
Once a possibility occurred to him, he looked to Border's representative.
"—"
He was smiling.
He was smiling toward Ruri as if telling her to look forward to what was coming.
A moment later, a tab opened. It was from Border and it contained the words of their director's representative.
Manager: "Border has a proposal."
She showed how they would negotiate without relying on their ability to win.
Manager: "Shiraishi, Kobayashi, Kurosaki, and the minor companies of Mikado City and elsewhere. We will send you direct information for when a Gate has opened and the agents who would best be able to deal with them and who would be closest to them.
And...
Manager: "To earn friendship and cooperation of Shiraishi, Kobayashi, and Kurosaki, Border will create a network using the branch offices to keep up information trade between those involved. He organizations will be showed what their money is going to and you will have a secure route in case something happens. If something major were to come up, Border will have Takato Mei of Border HQ and Jin Yūichi of the Tamakoma Branch will inform you ahead of time so proper precautions can be taken. Border will not be demanding money and will not be forcing anyone to give any, as a way of kindness to those who wish to continue sponsoring us. Meaning..."
Meaning...
Manager: "Mikado City can become even closer so that a 1/40th reduction from a previous event can be cut down even more. We propose a peaceful community that can be brought about by information sharing. And this is unrelated to anyone's own abilities, so it can be implemented quickly. After all, this would be impossible without the cooperation of all three big companies and it just be acted in immediately if it is a reaction to any upcoming actions."
"...So this is why Kimura-san had suddenly asked me about my late family."
Kakizaki watched the younger boy scroll through the text that came up on his screen.
He himself could not tell what was being said, but Takeshi had been allowed special permission to read what was going on. It was due to a certain name coming up before and his thoughts on the matter.
He can't join in and this has to be erased right after their meeting. But...
Kakizaki raised his hand to pat the boy's head.
He did not kind the questioning look her was receiving as a response.
"You seem to be taking this well enough. ...Kotowari Musashi is your brother, right? Kimura had asked you about him because they had found out he was alive and so wanted to know about his personality."
"He is a...good person... At least when it comes to casual things. ...A bit strange, but he was loved by people and would always come back to praise from our parents. My other brothers would look up to him while looking down on me. At the time, it was fine..."
But now...
"Now I see the issues that were there. Musashi himself was nice to me, tried to help me, but... I can see what he meant each time he spoke to me."
Kakizaki could feel his blood start to boil a bit from this.
After getting to know the boy a little bit more he had come to an understanding that everything before the time he decided to get some assistance had been a blank area for him. He could remember it all, but it never had felt real to him.
Kakizaki could remember when the younger boy had said such a thing to him. It was strange so he tried not to bring it up again. Not because it was strange, but rather because the younger boy seemed to still be besting himself up for not knowing that he was in the wrong.
But from what he was saying it sounded very different from what he thought originally.
Is almost sounds like... No, I shou do conform it first.
"What did he say?"
He was surprised when Takeshi looked up from his phone to give him a sad smile.
The younger boy still found it hard to smile at others, yet this sad and self-depreciating smile seemed to come far too naturally to him. It hurt to look at, but he did not back down. He was determined to help this boy now that he had learned about the older brother.
He would not let Takeshi go back. Not after the steps he took to go forward.
"I was wrong... I am always wrong... I make the wrong choices... It would look like help to everyone, it was his kindness and consideration for his youngest brother that drove him to help no matter what. But from the perspective of that youngest brother..."
A small orb of trion came to life between the two before popping.
The looks that came after that made Kakizaki hurt again. He pushed that aside for the moment to continue listening to the Shooter.
"He was trying to fix something that was always wrong and would never be right."
A bitter laugh came from the younger boy as he looked back down at his screen.
"But he may have thought he was being a good brother... So I guess he was in the right that whole time. And I am in the wrong for thinking otherwise."
I was right...
Kakizaki could feel his fists start to clench.
Those words were exactly what he had expected to hear. Everything Takeshi had done had been wrong in the eyes of everyone. To his family; he was wrong. To people who knew him and his family; he was wrong. To anyone who looked towards his actions; he was wrong. To Takeshi himself; he was absolutely wrong and would never be right.
So that was why...
That had been the reason Yuki had taken in this boy.
That had been the reason Takeshi had taken to following that boy.
He saw Yuki has "right" and strived to get to that point. Meanwhile, Yuki could not see what was "wrong" with Kotowari, so he tried to bring out the "right" for him.
Now that he understood what was going on, Kakizaki began to open his mouth to speak against those words. To erase them from the boy's mind and stop them from coming again. But before he could, the younger boy continued.
"But..."
But.
"Would it be wrong for me to want Kimura-san and the others to win here?"
"I see..."
Yoshiko covered her mouth with her fan as she spoke.
"So Border HQ's representative is telling us we are not to give up on them, but we need not believe in Border either. ...We are to side with our own futures and act on it now.
Interesting, thought Yoshiko. One common factor shared by everyone not involved with Border was information. That was partially due to their belief of safety, but it was also due to no one extending a hand out to them.
All three companies had open connections, but they would often need to pay for information that did not come their own employees. Due to the nature of of their jobs, some would get away without that, but instead have to pay for something else.
But Border was different.
They also had to pay for what they needed and undergo inspections, but they could get far more. And due to the threat of Neighbors, their own buildings were less strictly inspected in order to avoid trouble with other organizations.
"But...if you share information like that...what are you planning to do next?"
Hearing that question, Minoru opened a tab, typed on the touch screen, and responded after a few seconds.
"According to Netsuki-san, get information on more hidden places of Mikado City and - if possible - slightly expand the Forbidden Zone. What do you think about that?"
"They are focusing a lot on territory here. But it is not a bad idea. After all, allowing for more room to move when fighting those Neighbors provides you with a better change if keeping the main city safe. The information for those hidden slit also prevents any unwanted Gates from opening without anyone knowing."
Meaning...
"Border is offering us information trade that can spread out. They will build a network themselves do urge us to take part as a single community. The entire city will profit as long as Border remain active, but even if we do not cooperate, Border will likely bring this same deal to other companies. If that happens, we will fall behind the rest of the city on the preparation front..."
Their lack of fighting power did not matter here.
This is a politician's idea, thought Yoshiko as she considered the Border HQ's representative's plan. A PR director would not come up with this plan based on their own calculations.
After all, developing the information network would require an investment of money, personnel, and time.
But it was well worth that investment.
"Border has members who are from other sponsors like the one at Kurosaki right now and even my bosses' child, so they will always have a means of trading information with the companies and the other ones. ...They will make back their initial investment in no time at all. And they can likely add to their plan by using any extra recovery money as collateral..."
This plan had been built up by the Border HQ Representative, but something else had built the foundation.
...Their conferences with the reporters...
They were explaining a retrieval of the citizens who had gone missing during the two invasions. The second had been for the new branch as a way to show that they would still be looking out for Mikado City. But if Border built a network that relied on a large amount of cooperation, it would not longer be a community of just the businesses.
...Her name is Kimura Kawaguchi, I believe...
After accepting the conflict that came from people who did not understand, was she still attempting to create something great that encompassed the entire city?
And had she chosen to begin with the ones that had once wanted resisted and never let go of that resistance?
"Heh..."
"Is she being naïve?"
Minoru had hit the bulls-eye, so Yoshiko could only nod.
"That idealistic vision is so very naïve, but that is exactly what makes it so attractive."
"Eh? That mean it's actually a bad idea, doesn't it?"
Hearing the Sniper's question, Denji tilted his entire body.
"Is it a bad idea? Would it never work? Sometimes I feel like swimming in another river, jeez. But is that a bad idea?"
"I end up being far too kind with you around, Denji."
But there was something Yoshiko had to say.
"That plan will not last long. It is a pipe dream. ...Minoru, you understand, don't you?"
"Do you mean you leaving and losing status? Or Kurosaki's influence reduction by Taiyōkos from two generations?"
"I mean both. Talk all you want about a city-wide network to be created here, but by the time that happens, I will have already dropped everything and Kurosaki will have lost a good portion of their influence. Only Shirashi will survive by preserving enough strength to be called high level, so only they will benefit from this network. Even if I leave and it continues on with the true Kobayashi family, it will just become a cycle of wondering when they will need to rebuild Mikado City."
So...
"I cannot agree to this network idea. The same will go for Kurosaki. And Kurosaki should make a much more obvious display of their opposition."
"Eh? A much more obvious display of their opposition? What do you mean?"
This Sniper was a nice person, so Yoshiko decided to answer her kindly. She pulled a rice snack from her sleeve, handed it to the Sniper, and waited until the girl had started munching on it.
"Are you listening? Kurosaki is facing your troublesome group."
So Kurosaki would adopt a certain method.
"En – em – ies."
"Don't think too badly of us. This is only the natural response for a negotiation between organizations."
Murakami took a defensive stance and saw Sekai activate his Trigger before placing a hand on the sword at his hip.
Kurosaki had not true warriors, but Sekai alone acted like one by having the other surround them. It was a triple ring of human walls.
Something had been set up as they were targeted from the vents near the hall's ceiling.
The non-fighter warriors would fire some initial shots from above, they would face up to defend against it, and the rest of the workers would use that opening to rush in from the sides. It was an obvious but effective strategy.
Truly a group that had gone to fight against the ones with the name Taiyōko.
"Border group," said Sekai. "This space has limited entrances. You will find nothing even if you break through the walls. We hold the exits, so you have nowhere to run. So..."
"So we should stop holding a meeting that won't benefit Kurosaki?"
"Yes. That is correct. ...The network your HQ Representative suggested holds no future benefit for us. Border is simply holding some delicious-looking bait just out of reach in order to gain our immediate cooperation. ...Am I wrong?"
Someone nodded. It was Saitou who stood at the front of the dais to protect Shin. His arms hung relaxed at his side and he held his hands somewhat opened.
"Border's nudist and crossdresser who brought their spirits up as well as the Suzunari Operstor should make excellent hostages, it will also give us influence over the other two companies."
"Don't you find this to be underhanded? Especially for such a major company?"
"The victors write history and decide what is justified. That is exactly what nations did during the past."
Sekai responded to Saitou's words by lowering his body. He was not targeting Murakami; he was targeting the boy behind Murakami.
So Murakami took a step forward. If he was going to treat his own teammate rudely, it was another knower's duty to be a shield and sword. The surrounding people deepened their combat stances, but Murakami felt no fear in his heart. After all...
"Hey, you guys surrounding us? You need to be careful."
He heard the knower's voice behind him.
"Our buddy here is Border's #4 Attacker and a lone wolf type who can tear things up."
"J-Jinsei, do you have to compliment me in such weird ways...?"
"I do. And when he is treated kindly, he gets real excited, starts rubbing into an upperclassman who pats him and does some crazy stuff."
"That really is weird and it isn't even a compliment!"
...Ah, the people look a little disturbed!
In a way, this may have been the right thing to do, he realized.
"I really think you should stop this," said someone else. "...But what do you think?"
It was Kuruma.
.
Kuruma finally understood why Kimura had placed him in this group.
"I am Kuruma Tatsuya, currently my family sponsors Border via the Suzunari Branch and where I am captain of Suzunari-1."
He inhaled and gently tensed his chest.
"According to the record in our library, Kurosaki viewed Kuruma as a possible group if they had to go into hiding and the two family engaged in pleasantries. The families around Kurosaki even sent Kuruma a letter asking us to cease these things with Kurosaki, and one of your bosses once asked to marry an employee but was rejected because the leader 'could not bear to send her somewhere so cold'. ...That is apparently the relationship between our two companies."
His meaning had to have gotten through to them.
And Saitou proved it as he stood in front of the dais.
"So you are the son of the Kuruma family..."
"Yes. ...A good friend is here too."
Just in case, he did not restrict his movements by taking his hand. Instead he held his hand out toward him but not enough to reach him.
...Nh.
But he reached out and lowered his hand anyway.
"—"
He sensed why in his stringer than normal grip and he wondered if it was wrong that that made him feel happy. But instead of swatting the hand away, he gently lowered it so as not to seem rude.
"Well done," he said so only he could hear. "I hate that family so much and will never forgive them, but it helped me meet a great captain. And since you are able to use that properly..."
He lowered his hand even more.
"I can feel proud that you are with Kō and are preventing me from regretting my actions later, Kuruma-san."
"...Thank you very much."
That was true. Just a few months earlier, Kuruma never would have thought of "using" his name. But now he felt no aversion to doing so if it meant preventing Yuki from using his own name as a reason to fight, something he would come to regret otherwise. This was due to how he felt about seeing the friendship between his squad's ace and Yuki, experiencing a bit of what he hid under his white fox mask, and being thanked for it with only honesty.
...I appreciate all of that.
Nothing made him happier than being able to witness the people he cared about be happy and have people speak to him honestly instead of falsely for his name.
So he wanted to protect the people who did so and the place they wanted to be. And...
"Please remember that Kuruma is watching Kurosaki."
"Then..."
Saitou moved. He raised his right hand to have the surrounding people move back, but then he spoke.
"Stand back, future of Kuruma and friend to that future. Do so and we will not touch you. I would also like for you to not assist them with your own Triggers. ...This is Kurosaki's way of showing our friendship with Kuruma."
After saying that, he audibly descended a step.
At that moment, a burst of motion exploded in front of him. Sekai kicked off the dais's bottom step to accelerate forward while holding his sword low - the sword known as Kōgetsu.