Chapter 75

Thursday 16 March 2023.

"Senji! We've got a problem, Suzune's being attacked, a Darwin's Game duel is on!" As I was practicing my magic circuits in my shed, I received a message from Rain.

"Roger, it's at the hospital isn't it? On my way." I answer briefly, before standing up and getting ready quickly.

"Wait, Ryuji's coming to pick you up, he'll be with Sui, watch out for yourselves." She warns me.

I don't have to wait long, because as soon as I leave the house, I hear the car pull up and stop right in front of me.

"Hi chief, sorry to intervene so late, I hope we didn't wake you up?" Ryuji asks me.

"No worries, I was still standing." I enter the car, greeting Sui. "No time to lose, off to the hospital."

"Roger!" He storms off, making the tires squeal.

"Oh no... the tire tracks right in front of your house Senji-senpai..." Sui looks behind us.

"Yeah... I'll pull that out when I get back..." I sigh.

The trip is pretty fast, Ryuji doesn't respect the speed limit at all, and the fact that there's no one around at this hour helps a lot. We can see the hospital ahead, when I get a call from Rain.

"Okay everyone, I'm going to put you where the duel is happening right now, intervene as soon as possible, Suzune is losing." Rain connects to the screen in the vehicle and shows the location of the duel in the hospital.

"Can you tell us who she's up against?" I ask.

"Red Viper, poison specialist. She's part of the Olive Tree clan last I heard, so be careful." She explains.

"There are masks." Ryuji points to the spot next to him, showing a box filled with gas masks.

"I don't need it, though..." I take one, and put it gently on Sui's face, who complies.

"Okay we're on our way, I hope you've fastened your seatbelts!" Ryuji exclaims, entering the parking lot.

"Wait, you're not going in there?!" I ask, checking that Sui is securely strapped in.

"No time to walk there, let's go!" He turns the steering wheel suddenly, causing the vehicle to slide.

He smashes through wall and window, stopping right between Suzune and her adversary. At the same time, she throws a molotov cocktail, which explodes against the car, but does no damage.

"What the...?" Red Viper exclaims.

Ryuji puts on a mask, picks up his gun and exits the vehicle, nodding at us.

"Ryuji of the Sunset Dragons, at your service!" He introduces himself, loading his weapon.

I turn my gaze to Suzune, who now has cat ears on her head, and powerful arms covered in fur and long claws, she rubs her eyes, looking like she's hurting.

"You're Red Viper, the poison specialist from the Olive Tree clan, right? I never would have guessed you were a doctor!" Ryuji points at her.

Indeed, she's a skinny woman with short, black eyes and hair, wearing a white doctor's coat.

"Why are the Sunset Dragons getting involved in this fight? Your territory is Fuyuki, I believe!" She exclaims, a cold sweat rolling down her cheek.

"It just so happens that we owe a debt to this kid's father, and seeing her dragged into a fight, by a breeder no less, we had no choice but to intervene!" Ryuji explains. "Sui, will you put out that fire by the car for me? I don't want my baby damaged!"

"O...ok!" She timidly pokes her head through the opening in the roof. "Here we go..."

She takes a jerry can filled with water, floats it up to the flame and suddenly freezes, stopping the fire instantly, leaving spikes of ice on the ground, which seems to surprise Red Viper.

"Well, what do we do boss?" Ryuji asks me.

I come out on Suzune's side and approach her, inspecting her.

"Suzune, how are you feeling?" I ask, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Senji-senpai?" She gasps, surprised to hear me. "My eyes hurt, she threw some product at me and since then I can't see a thing..."

"Okay, stay where you are, I'll take care of the rest, you're safe now." I stroke her head, before getting up and standing in front of Ryuji.

"You got this?" Ryuji asks. "Do you want a hand?"

"Stay with the little one, and protect her, I'll take care of the doctor." I say, bringing out my Boosted Gear.

"Damn it, the clan leader?!" She exclaims before running off.

"Well, she's already run for her life!" Ryuji scoffs.

"Wait Senji-senpai! Hadn't we better go back with the girl right away?" Sui asks.

"No, Suzune is a patient of this hospital, it would be too dangerous to let that Red Viper go while she's working here. Besides, we need to know if she has any local allies." I explain. "On that note, I'm counting on you."

"Got it! Be careful Senji-senpai!" Sui exclaims.

"Show her not to mess with our clan!" Ryuji raises his fist to the sky.

I nodded and leapt forward, strengthening my legs. I scan the hospital walls, seeing that she's passed through these corridors.

(She heads for the exit... I don't know if she wants to run away or take me somewhere that suits her.)

"Sui, can you locate her?" I press the earpiece, arriving outside.

"hardly at this distance..." A few seconds pass. "But I can perceive someone running... Ah! she's stopped, she's 150 meters ahead of you!"

"Okay, thanks." I cut the connection.

I run, heading for the hospital exit, to see her on the road, a big smile on her face.

(The advantage, eh?)

She picks up a syringe and pricks her arm, then picks up the small glass container and lunges to throw it at me.

(A lot of strength, but you'll have to find something else.)

I move my body to the side, letting the tube pass beside me, which explodes on contact with the ground. I jump to dodge the explosion, then project a bow and arrow and fire at her.

"Ha ha ha ha!" She quickly dodges all my arrows, laughing.

(She can dodge reinforced projectiles?)

"Yaah!" She throws another tube, which explodes the car right next to me.

"I thought she'd have nothing in her, with such a skinny physique, but I guess it's just a facade. Her movements clearly show training and experience, she must be playing the game for sport..." I analyze the situation, feeling the fourth boost invade my body.

"It's a good fight to get back into, partner." Says Ddraig.

"Hmmm," I nod, then press my earpiece. "Sui, I've lost sight of her! Can you guide me or is it too far?" I ask.

"Sorry it's too, far, Ryuji's getting out of the hospital to get closer to you... and we've got another problem, Suzune's gone to join you!" She said in an apologetic voice.

"I see, okay, I'll get it over with as quickly as possible." I turn off the headset and jump into the ditch, leading into a forest.

I walk discreetly, scanning my surroundings with my magic circuits. I start to string my bow, then see her perched on the branches of a tree, having broken off a large branch with her bare hands.

(How dangerous is that, reinforcement? No, it doesn't seem so...)

I make an arrow appear, aim her and fire. She dodges by coming down from her tree, which I destroy with the power of the arrow.

"How could you see me?! It's completely dark!" She exclaims, annoyed.

I don't answer her, firing another arrow at her, which she barely dodges. I take advantage of the fact that she has turned her attention to the arrows to run towards her, projecting a sword into my hand.

But I don't have time to get there before Suzune pounces on her, and with a horn on her head, she tackles her to the ground, preventing her from moving.

"What... Even with care, you shouldn't see clearly for a good 20 minutes! How did you spot me!?" Red Viper exclaims.

"I felt your presence through my horn! This time, you're trapped!" Suzune exclaims.

(Is this horn a sensory organ? What kind of power did she get from Darwin's Game?)

"Raaaaah!" Red Viper shouts and throws Suzune towards a tree, then falls on a rock that knocks her out. "I managed to knock her out... She'll have given me a run for my money!"

"And it's not over for you." I place the tip of my sword in her neck, deep enough to draw a small drop of blood, I also project 5 swords at her, ready to propel to impale her. "Hold it right there. I'll let you live on two conditions: you throw in the towel and answer my questions."

I see her glare at me, then lift her head to see the swords floating above her, her lips trembling, before she clenches her teeth, defeated.

"Okay boss, we can get started." Ryuji says to me, approaching with a glock in hand.

We moved closer to the road, putting Red Viper up against the wall, while Sui looked after Suzune.

"Well, let's start the interrogation. The rule is simple, if you try to trick me, my colleague will directly know and I'll impale you on the spot, got it?" I explain dryly.

"G...Got it..."

"First question, do you have any allies who know about this fight?" I ask.

"No, Olive Tree brings together solo players who just want to enjoy the benefits associated with clans, there's no camaraderie between us!"

I turn to Ryuji, who nods.

"Second question, are there any players other than you and Suzune in this hospital?"

"Not that I know of!" Ryuji nods.

"Third question, why did you take it out on the kid? For money?"

"I make enough money from my job! It's the game that interests me!" Ryuji nods.

"Tss, you're talking about a doctor..." I spew, cringing.

"It's not a kid who's going to make me feel bad..." I don't give her time to finish as a sword plunges into the wall a few centimetres from her face, which suddenly turns pale.

"Well we're wasting our time here boss, I'd like to go to bed, we're done aren't we?" Ryuji complains.

I stare at her, seeing the fear on her face gradually change.

"Hmm, okay, that's good. You can go." I say, without letting my guard down.

"Thank you!" Hearing this, I see a smirk on her face, she's up to something.

"Wait a minute." My blades approach her, startling her.

"W-What?"

"Your look, I don't like it." I frown. "You don't have the eyes of a loser about to bolt, tail between her legs, but those of a viper ready to bite." Her face turns into a grimace, exposed.

"Do you even know what you're talking about, kid? You look pretty young to have the confidence to say things like that..."

"I've traveled enough and confronted people of the same ilk as you."

"...What the hell are you thinking?! I surrendered, I lost the game! What more do you want?!" She's getting impatient.

"Let's see, you'll swear to never play Darwin's Game again."

"I promise!" She answers immediately, without hesitation. "I swear it! With this defeat, I've had it with this game! Fighting to the death is over for me! I swear it on my honor! I swear before God! I swear it on my life..."

A shot rang out right next to me and Red Viper was shot in the forehead. She falls lifeless to the ground, a look of surprise on her face.

"Your word isn't worth much, for you honor, God and life are good to throw in the garbage!" Ryuji snarls, pistol smoking and pointed at her.

"Here." I walk over to her and take a full flask out of her breast pocket.

"A deadly poison, for sure..." I stand up and contact Rain. "Rain? Mission accomplished."

"Good work everyone, what are we going to do with Suzune, it's too dangerous to leave her at the hospital, do we take her with us?" Rain asks.

"She needs to be treated, so we'll take her to Danjo's club, and then we'll advise." I answer.

"Okay, I'll let them know you're coming." Rain cuts the call.

"Here we go, last ride before bed!" Ryuji exclaims.

Friday, March 17, 2023.

"Thanks again for your help Emiya." Feilong said to me, vaping his pipe. "Here, here's your payment." He hands me a check.

"Thank you Feilong-sama." I take it and stow it in my bag, preparing to leave.

"I must say, you really are a fine cook, especially for your age. Is it a passion, or just pure talent?" He asks me.

"Nothing of the sort, at the time, my adoptive father didn't know how to cook at all, I wanted to make myself useful so I had to teach myself." I explain.

"I see, that's very sweet of you, especially at your young age." He nods. "Otherwise, have you heard from Sword?"

"No, it's been a while. Is he on something?" I ask, curious.

"He and Luke are investigating disappearances that have been going on for several weeks now, apparently involving Eldorado."

"..." My eyes widen before frowning. "'We really mustn't tell Sophie about this."

"Oh, I think she already knows you know, she keeps following him around like a duckling. Anyway, all that to say keep an eye out, I know you're a capable young man, so I'm counting on you to let us know if you know anything."

"Of course, I'll be sure to think about it. " I bow.

"On that note, I'll let you go. Have a nice evening."

"Yes, thank you too. Bye guys." I wave to the cooks.

"Until next time Senji!"

"See you next time Senji!"

"See you Senji!"

"You're a hit with the colleagues, I see. I must say, your presence helps them enormously." On my way out, I pass Meifang, having finished cleaning the outside tables.

"That's what I'm here for, isn't it?" I ask.

"Oh absolutely, it's just that we expected less for a 15-year-old, but we were wrong." She pats my shoulder. "You've got a great future ahead of you, handsome. Have a good evening!"

"Good evening..." She entered the restaurant directly. "Well... see you next time."

I get on my bike and head for my next destination. The journey takes a little while, but I'm there at last. The orphanage. I get off my bike and ring the main doorbell. I wait a few seconds, before the door opens, showing the Sister looking after the children.

"Senji!" She exclaims, taking me in her arms. "How happy I am to see you. Come on in, let's not leave your bike outside, we'll put it in the hall."

"Good evening Catherine, thank you." I walk in and drop my bike against the wall.

"The kids are already eating, we'll eat right after them so a little more patience, and then don't worry, I've planned ahead, I'll never forget that black hole you've got in the place of your stomach. I'm still wondering how you managed to eat so much." She says humorously. "It's still the case isn't it?"

"That's still the case yes, my guardian even tells me I'm eating even more than before."

"Hmmm, that's pretty logical, you're growing, you're growing..." She feels my muscles. "Hm, Hm, you've got an athletic body, you've got to give energy to all those muscles after all."

She opens the door to the canteen, revealing the children eating and chatting. All eyes suddenly turn to us, surprised to see me.

"Children, Senji is spending the evening with us, say hello to him." Catherine presents me.

"Good evening Senji-senpai!" They all say together.

"Good evening, children, enjoy your meal." I greet them.

"Thank you!"

"Hyouhou! Senji!" I see Sophie in the background making big signs.

"*Sigh*... She really doesn't know how to behave..." Catherine sighs.

"I'll be right back." I tell her, heading for Sophie's table.

"Do so, if it'll calm her down, I'll be in the kitchen."

As I walk towards it, I'm approached by children, who ask me questions, want to tell me something in particular, some want me to help them open cheese bags. I also took the jug of water and filled all the glasses.

"Here I am at last Sophie, sorry, so how are you." I say, finally sitting down next to her.

" I'm fine, I'm fine. Hey, say it, you're on a date with Sister aren't you?" She asks with a smirk.

"...You brought me here just for this?" I ask, deadpan.

"Oh I'm just kidding, relax!" She laughs.

"Excuse her Senji-senpai, she's been in a bad mood all day." Her roommate explains.

"I understand better, you got flunked by you know who didn't you?" I ask.

"Worse, I haven't been able to find him, all day! It's been days now! He's getting on my nerves, why does he disappear like that all of a sudden!" She fiddles with her fork over her mashed potatoes.

"Probably to protect you." I reply.

"Raah! But if I'm not there, there's nothing left to protect!"

"...That's not how it works, Sophie..." I sigh. "Well listen, it'll do you both good not to see each other. You'll have a clear head at least the next time you meet."

"...If you say so... You wouldn't happen to know anything, would you?" She asks, making big googly eyes at me.

"Nothing at all, sorry, we see each other from time to time when I'm working at the restaurant but that's it." I explain.

"This sucks... At this rate, I'll never find my brother..." She sighs.

"Um... I haven't said anything since earlier but... what are you actually talking about?" asks her roommate.

"Hm? She'll explain." I stand up. "Well, I'm off, anyway we'll see you after dinner."

"Okay, see you senpai!"

"See ya..." Sophie murmured, demoralized.

I enter the kitchen to see Catherine at the stove, preparing our two plates.

"Are you in charge of the canteen?" I ask.

"No, two cooks come to take care of it. They're just on a break and will resume to clean the children's plates, before leaving." She explains. "So it's up to us to take care of our own plates."

"Okay, that's fine with me. So what's for dinner?" I look over.

"Carbonara pasta. Something simple but effective for foodies like you." She said, preparing the sauce by energetically whisking the egg yolks.

"Would you like me to give you a hand?"

"But no, Senji, you're my guest, there's no question of you helping me." She adds the pasta cooking water to the bowl to loosen the egg yolks. "Otherwise, how's it going for you? It's already the second semester at school for you and Sophie isn't it?"

"That's right. Come to think of it, time has passed... Slowly." I stare into space.

"Really? I would have said the opposite..." She heaves a sigh, before taking on a serious air. "I didn't want to talk about it, but you know I'm really worried about you. When I saw on TV what happened at the port and the fact that you were apparently seriously injured... I still blame myself for not visiting you in hospital..."

"Catherine, everything's fine. It's all behind us. I'm back in shape, you seem to have noticed." I reassure her.

"You still lost a friend in this story, you who were afraid to make them, now this..."

"It's true, and I could never forgive my helplessness, if only I could have taken his place..."

"Don't ever say that again." She points her utensil very close to my face. "Fighting for others and saving them is one thing, it's honorable and everyone should be inspired by it. But to die for and in the place of others? That's out of the question, is that clear? There's always another way."

"Yes... Sorry."

"...Even if..." She sighs. "It's easier said than done unfortunately."

"That's why this event is behind us. I'll become strong enough to protect everyone." I assure, clenching my fists.

"I prefer that. Although I prefer to warn you, power-seeking is a good thing, but should be done in moderation. By wanting too much, people can change completely. So be careful, okay?"

"I will be, I promise."

"I hope so." She stops and looks at the clock. "The kids have probably finished eating, I'll take care of them and then we can eat." She takes off her apron and goes to the children.

After the children are out of the canteen, we finally have dinner, soothing my stomach, and talk about the past and present, telling me about the children's peripheries and nonsense. After eating, we rejoin the children and play board games for a few hours, before Catherine puts them to bed.

I watch the fire in the fireplace dance and crackle, warming the whole orphanage, my gaze hypnotized, following the changing colors of the flames, I feel the heat, intensifying more and more, the flames spread, cries can be heard in the distance...

"Senji... Senji? Are you all right?" Catherine calls out to me.

I'm surprised and blink a few times, seeing that the orphanage is fine, and that the fire has stayed in the chimney. I sigh and turn to Catherine.

"Yes everything's fine, I was just lost in thought." I massage my temples.

"...It's getting quite late, but there's one last thing I'd like to do, before I let you go home." Catherine looks at the fire, then at the clock.

"Ah yes I didn't see the time, I guess you have to go to bed now too." I notice the late hour.

"Indeed, I have to go to bed early enough to get up earlier than the kids. But I still want to do one last activity with you Senji. Follow me." She steps forward.

I follow her, remembering where we're going. She opens a door into a dojo with a huge tatami mat.

"You know why I brought you here, don't you?" She asks, taking off her glasses.

"Do you want us to confront each other? It does bring back memories. I remember I was the only one who wanted to practice martial arts." I take off my shoes, walking barefoot on this old tatami mat.

"And it's Sophie who took over." She walks over to a cupboard and rummages around inside, glancing at me from time to time. "You've grown a bit but... it should fit you just the same." She gives me a judo kimono

"Thank you." I take it, checking that I can carry it. "I'm going to be a little tight, but that's okay."

"Go get changed and get ready, I won't have mercy on you." She said with a smile, before going to the dressing room.

I take off my vest and am about to throw it on a bench, but I stop, thinking and folding my vest before laying it down gently, put on the kimino and wait for Catherine, looking at her many trophies laid out on the wall. I hear the door slide open and turn to see her coming out with a serious face.

"All right, we can get started." She moves to the center of the tatami, inviting me to do the same. "The rule is simple, the first of us to take the other down five times wins."

"Very good. I'm ready." I get into position.

She does the same, we stare into each other's eyes without moving for a few seconds, then she starts the fight, stamping her foot forward. She lunges forward and reaches for my kimono. I block her hand and push her aside. I pass my arm under hers and grab her kimono, pulling her down. Surprised, she recovers and blocks me, preventing her from falling. So I step forward and push her backwards, unable to do anything, she falls but I hold her back so that she falls without hurting herself.

"1-0. You'll have to do better than that Catherine." I tell her, lifting her up.

"..." She seems surprised, at the ease with which I've directed and lifted her, as if she were as light as a child. "Sorry, I'll get down to it seriously."

The look on her face changes completely, scaring me slightly. She lunges again, clearly more aggressive, leaving me little opening to catch her.

The fight goes on for a while, each round getting shorter and shorter, but I win 5-1. She gets up and we bow out of respect.

"It's a well-deserved victory Senji, you're incredible." She said, a glint of pride in her eyes.

"Thank you Catherine. I realize that your trophies are not just decoration. You can really be terrifying." I scratch my head, feeling slight pain in my body.

"That's true, but I've never faced a monster or anything like that, compared to you. Your fighting style is completely unpredictable, which is probably the main reason I lost." She puts both hands on my shoulders. "I'm proud of you Senji, you've grown so much stronger, I'm more reassured now."

"That's good to hear."

"But don't think I wouldn't stop worrying about you, after all, I could never stop worrying about my children." Catherine smiled warmly.

"I know, stubborn as you are." I tell her, causing her to laugh.

"It's true, we're a lot alike in that respect!"

"Sorry to throw you out Senji, but it's getting late and then your guardian must be starting to worry." She said, accompanying me to the entrance.

"Everything's fine, I just talked to her, she's already home and getting ready for bed, so hey, not that worried." I explain.

"I see..." She sighs. "Senji, thanks again for spending the evening with us, the children are delighted."

"Thanks for inviting me, it was really nice, and then they're really nice, if a little invasive, hard to blame them." I say, scratching my head.

"Sorry about that, we don't have many visitors so they let loose when they do." She smiles, "You're always welcome to drop by anytime."

"Now that I've gotten used to the rhythm of school and work, I'll find slots to drop in and see you."

"Work? Ah yes, the restaurant, in fact I'll have to taste your cooking some day."

"That's a promise." I assure her, smiling.

"..." She says nothing, surprised, then puts her hand on my cheek. "That's what I wanted to see, a smile and I've got it at last. You have a beautiful smile Senji, you should show it more often."

"Sorry, it's complicated..."

"I know... But come to think of it, since you're already a very handsome boy, then if you flash a smile like that, all the girls will fall head over heels for you." She says. "By the way, if you were thinking of avoiding that question, well, you didn't. Girlfriend?" She asks, pointing at me.

"Is it really appropriate to ask that when you're a Sister...?" I ask but she cuts me off.

"Don't avoid the question. Besides, it's my right to know, I've looked after you as if you were my own child."

"..." I take a deep breath. "Well, yes I have a girlfriend." I feel my cheeks warming.

"I thought so. What's her name? How are things between you two? And... Does she know?"

"Her name is Chiyo and indeed she knows, at least she guessed most of it. She's great, she's so patient with me that sometimes I feel bad. She supports me and helps me to... heal, little by little." I don't recognize myself, talking so much, with a soft warmth in my chest.

"..." Catherine just smiles as she listens. "You look confused Senji. But that's what love is." She puts her hand on my chest. "This warmth, this feeling of no longer being alone, of being loved and loving. It's a perfectly normal sensation, I can feel that you're afraid of it, but there's no need. Accept it and make it your own and you'll see that everything will get better. So I guess nothing happened between you two, you know what I mean."

"Sorry?"

"Don't play innocent, I know very well that you young people are doing this earlier and earlier."

"Ah that... No indeed. To be honest, it scares me, I can't explain it but..."

"You're afraid she'll see the real you. And that's perfectly normal. Sleeping with the person you love isn't just about physical pleasure, satisfying your urges. It's also a contact, a big step towards the other, where all the love you have for each other becomes one. You feel all the affection your lover offers you, which can sound terrifying indeed, especially for someone who has known very little affection, let's call it normal. But it's only a passage, an insignificant moment compared to the rest, you'll see."

"I... I think I understand." I smile again. "I didn't think I'd get that kind of advice from you Catherine."

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself. All this to say that in love, it's all about the feeling, you'll know when the time for you to take the big step comes, and when it does..." She pats my chest. "Use protection, it's important and above all, avoid breaking her heart, in any way, even if I'm not too worried about that."

"I'll... I'll see to it..."

"I'm really surprised by your maturity. I thought you'd be more embarrassed to talk about this, especially for a teenager."

"Really?" I see her yawn. "Well, I'll let you go to bed, I'm going. Good night Catherine, see you next time.

"I'm sorry, but I can barely stand up, I guess our little match really tired me out, good night to you Senji, see you next time, and be careful on the road."

I wave goodbye and head for home, my heart warm and light.

Vol. 13 End.