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1On the rooftop of a building, drenched black by the rain that had
2carried through from the evening, two men stood opposed without
3so much as an umbrella.
4A man in black, a man in white. The one in black was a tall, firmly
5built young man. He hung his black overcoat directly over his bare
6skin. Age-wise, he looked to be in his early twenties. The long hair
7that grew to his hips had reached a glistening damp, yet his broad
8shoulders that would never have him mistaken as a woman exuded
9a peculiar sensuality. An intrepid beauty in his visage that would
10turn the head of anyone he walked passed was now clad in a sharp,
11cold murderous intent.
12In contrast, the white adorned a man built like a rock. While he was
13not tall by traditional convention, not an inch of his body was
14spared from his muscles that swelled to an armor-esque degree.
15Through the ferocious fighting spirit dwelling within, that brought
16to mind a large, carnivorous beast, his brawny body pushing up
17through his clothing must have been one tempered through real
18combat.
19With a few meters open between the two sides, neither showed the
20slightest twitch. For more than the past few minutes, they had stood
21frozen like this.
22The petty yells of street thugs resonated from the night shopping
23district below. Those threatening complaints to intimidate another,
24when heard from a roof shrouded in true bloodlust, failed to reach
25the level of a child’s quarrel. Evidently, both sides had taken up
26their weapon to murder the other, after all. What caught the eye
27was by no means a small firearm, nor a knife nor any other
28household blade.
29A katana and an axe.
30The man in black with a long-sword, seemingly taller than he was;
31the white-dressed man poised with a thick, sturdy axe in each hand.
32It was easy to imagine from their stalwart stances that they had
33both reached a considerable mastery of their craft. 
342
35While these were anachronistic props straight out of a medieval
36battlefield, that didn’t give the leisure to blow the atmosphere away
37with a laugh. Each one of these three weapons were an article an
38average joe would struggle to properly lift up. The force unleashed
39from these masses of heavy metal could more than easily destroy
40the human form.
41“Nngg…!” At the end of this drawn-on staring contest, the man in
42white groaned. Deep resentment spat out from his mouth topped by
43a mustache. “Maryuin, I shall slay thee here and now… I must finish
44things once and for all!”
45The black-dressed man called Maryuin made no attempt to
46respond. He glared unerringly at his foe without moving a muscle.
47The hilt of his longsword gripped in two hands, he maintained its
48point held at shoulder height before him, its blade level to the
49ground. When a blade reached this length, its weight became
50considerable. The simple fact he could hold a stance with it
51outstretched spoke volumes to his abnormal physical prowess—
52albeit, from a strength standpoint, he would have to raise the white
53flag to his white-clad foe.
54“As a holy knight in service to the Divine Dragon Astaloy! Nay… as a
55single patriot with love for his country, I shall… lay you to rest!”
56Without expecting an answer, the man continued his one-sided
57dialogue.
58“……”
59His body swelled a size larger. His was building up his power. The
60twin axes he had crossed in front of his chest rubbed to a dull
61grating sound.
62“Accursed traitor! Take this, Magic Beast’s Roaring Fang!”
63Alongside his scream, the man’s lower body bent as he released the
64power he had stored.
65The step he took in spread cracks along the concrete floor. Hefty
66leg-strength accelerated his slow-looking bulk off like a bullet.
67Charging the greatest power he could muster, with his axes crossed,
68this was a grand-scale technique to pulverize his opponent defenses
69and all. A means to stop such a charge full-on didn’t exist in any
70branch of martial arts. Either avoid it, or prevent it before it could 
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72be unleashed. A special move like a waterfall. But the holy knight’s
73foe, even with a whirlwind of killing intent right before him,
74Maryuin’s face showed not the slightest sign of fluster.
75Muttering, “Hidden sword, Nanashiki,” he lowered his hips. The
76blade of his sword let off a faint flash. And—
77“…Inconceivable,” the man soundlessly mouthed.
78A few seconds later, the one to fall was the man in white. He fell
79onto his back, the stagnant rainclouds above filling his field of
80vision. He felt no pain. Strangely enough, his prior tensions and the
81force of his charge, like a memory from years past, grew distant
82from his five senses. Even if he was struck down, if he received a
83counterattack exceeding his charge, it was inconceivable that he felt
84no impact.
85Why, he thought as he searched out his old foe. His head wouldn’t
86move. His sensations had died out in their entirety. Moving only his
87eyes, he directed a glance at the man standing nearby. At his feet lay
88a body all dressed in white.
89“I see.”
90In that instant, he understood everything. That the sensations
91themselves had been severed in one stroke. Meaning—
92“He took my head.”
93The man who had become nothing more than a head thought.
94Maryuin’s abnormally long katana was made to sever a foe while
95cleanly evading a charge. To think, come so far, he had forgotten
96the special traits of the swordsman who had once accompanied him
97across the battlefield. What a farce that at the same time, even his
98anger was fading away. Did his will to fight and his desires lie not in
99his head but his limbs? Most surprising was Maryuin’s technique.
100The cut was so clean, he could still think after his head was
101severed—what a reliable swordsman. Whenever they fought
102together, he had always played second fiddle. At the bar, he would
103share a laugh with the brat who was ten years his junior, but inside,
104he always directed a deep-seated respect.
105“… That’s right. You always were the… stronger one.” He smiled. As
106if to say there were no grudges to be had in loss, he directed gentle 
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108eyes at his bitter foe. “Maryuin, why did you betray us?” The man
109mouthed, upon which he abruptly went still. With its oxygen cut off,
110the brain had died.
111The emotionless eyes of the man called Maryuin surveyed the
112empty husk. Raindrops seeped through his bangs, falling past the
113sides of his eyes. As if he was shedding a flood of tears.
114“Holy knight Balzac… I make no apologies. But one day, once it’s all
115over, the time will come for me to join you.”
116An immense amount of blood discharged onto the rooftop. Only the
117blood sticking to the blade was washed clean by the rain. Without
118swinging off the excess liquid, Maryuin returned the sword blade to
119its sheath, his black overcoat trailing as he turned.
120“Until the day I… kill the Divine Dragon Astaroy. Until then,
121farewell, old friend.”
122Once the victor had left, the remaining husk spontaneously burst
123into flames. A blue flame. Without raising smoke, it burned through
124flesh and bone. So as not to leave a single drop of blood. This was
125the Oath of the Flame. A magical pact of the ‘Mirror World,’ any
126knight setting off was obligated to make. No trace of the loser would
127remain. It was for this reason that only a small few would come to
128know of the harsh wars that unfolded right underneath the reality
129of modern Japanese society—
130– Excerpt from the Legend of Maryuin, Volume 9
1315
132My high school debut was a success.
133I had earned it as compensation for devoting practically all of my
134unsparing time from graduation to commencement. Hard work will
135be rewarded. I don’t think that’s universally true, but this time
136alone, I fell right in the center of that platitude.
137I was overjoyed. Goodbye to the unpopular me. Welcome new me,
138Nouvelle Moi.
139Without standing out any more than necessary, without being
140miserably hidden away or ignored, a normal high school boy was
141what I was aiming for. Point being, while belatedly, I had laid hands
142on a normality fitting of Satou Ichirou: the ubiquitous name gracing
143the entry box on my registry at city hall.
144Even so, a high school debut is quite an interesting concept. Late to
145every trend, I coincidentally stumbled upon the term online. For
146someone who had only just escaped the living hell of middle school,
147it was akin to a revelation of salvation.
148High school is a fresh start.
149Thrust to motion by extraordinary passion, I spent the entirety of
150my break carrying out self-reformation. I fixed my bad habit of my
151eyes going bloodshot whenever I talked by conversing with myself
152in the mirror, and when it came to conversations, I resolved my
153tendency of droning on by obligating myself to take a silent breath
154here and there. Faults are the sort of things that keep coming out
155the more you look for them. Thanks to that, my dedication had
156reached tens upon tens of entries. Stand with your back straight. Be
157careful not to speak in a strange voice. Properly look at the person
158you’re talking to. Don’t scatter saliva. Wear decent clothing (God
159bless Uniqlo). Don’t keep your mouth half-open. No humming in
160class. Absolutely no monologuing. No faking phone calls. No matter
161what. Don’t live in high tensions. Showing overreactions is a crime.
162Strange faces, a life sentence. On top of that, I properly went to a
163salon and changed my hairstyle. 
1646
165When there was only a day left of vacation, I saw a tentative
166completion in my reforms. The last remnants were spent
167thoroughly cleaning my room. It took an entire day to sort out
168everything that would prove unnecessary in my life to come, box
169them, and put them out, but my room had become a great deal
170tidier.
171It hurt my chest to look at the empty bookshelves. But that was all.
172It’s often said a bookshelf is a portion of the heart. Going by that
173logic, a new me would need a new heart installed. I knew I could
174just use my time to fill in the gap left behind.
175Once I slept that night and got up, it was the day of the entrance
176ceremony. I challenged my high school life as a new me.
177“Mornin’ Issan.” “Hey, barely made it I see.”
178Kawai and Kobayashi were valuable dear friends I had gained in my
179first week of high school. I had to wonder if my debut was as much
180of a success as these two. Quite likely. I evidently started out from a
181lower point, after all.
182“Were you watching yesterday?” “For real?” “Read anything good?”
183Arbitrarily chiming in, I looked over the classroom. Someone who
184had already joined a club, worn out from morning practice.
185Someone eating sweet bread. Someone reading a book alone. There
186were various sorts. As there was still time to class, a little over ten
187were present. With how little time had passed from
188commencement, a majority were still isolated. But one must always
189be vigilant. The starting dash of one’s first year is vital. Whether one
190joined some group or remained all alone would be decided by their
191impression and conduct during this period. Normal was a
192considerably difficult trait to pull off.
193It went without saying, but an unseen disparity existed within the
194class.
195As groups formed, a stern power relation would inevitably surface
196in between each unit. It was difficult to join a group with power
197after time spent in isolation. Whoever started alone would end up
198plastered with the ‘loner character’ label. These real-life experiences
199were the highest form of study one could achieve in school. At the 
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201same time, as we were learning in the field, the pain of failure was
202just as real.
203Given the current climate, from the first day, I concentrated on
204selecting people to talk to. It was before seat changes, so the desks
205were simply lined by attendance number. The order was boygirlboy-girl;
206unless I consciously moved, it would be difficult to find
207friends of the same gender.
208Talks of seat changes would come before long.
209I had to finalize a group already so I could secure the best spot in
210the back by the window. I needed to demonstrate my group’s power
211while I still had time. Through middle school, I was always in the
212frontmost row in front of the teacher’s desk. I didn’t have the right
213to choose where I sat. Now I did. And how delightful it was. By
214converting my minuses into zeros, my high school debut plan was a
215splendid success. My end goal was normal, so from the start, I had
216no plot to eagerly climb up the class hierarchy.
217My position in center field was one I would defend to the death.
218“Come to think of it, what are you guys doing for clubs?” The
219free talk shifted to school.
220After I stated there wasn’t anywhere in particular I wanted to enter,
221both Kawai and Kobayashi said they wanted to join a sports club.
222We wouldn’t be able to hang out in that case. I was right in the
223mood to change the subject.
224“If you join a club, there’s no time to play.”
225“That’s the thing.” “I get you.”
226My trouble-diverting statement called forth unforeseen approval. I
227had finally become normal, so learning how to have fun like a high
228school student wasn’t a bad idea. Karaoke, window shopping and
229the like.
230“Hey, hey, who’s playing?”
231Casually entering the conversation was Saitou, a boy with short
232hair. Our class was full of all sorts of common names like Satous
233and Saitous, so it may be hard to tell who’s who, but I hardly
234interacted with these sorts, so I wasn’t going to remember each 
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236Tom, Dick and Clancy that came up. If anything, I just had to
237commit my memory to the Takahashi Group soon to arrive.
238“Saitou, you play around?” asked Kawai.
239“Nah, back when I was a middler(middle schooler) I played quite a
240bit.”
241He made a sociable smile. Appearance-wise, he gave off quite a
242stern look, but it seemed he wasn’t too scary of a character. If we
243got to know one another, would he become a part of my
244normalizing plan? Or so I pondered as the front sliding door
245slammed open. At the head of the gathering boldly sauntering into
246the classroom, a good-height, good-looks man unveiled his
247unfaltering clear voice. “Morning all. Say hello to today’s
248Takahashi” I light laugh rose around the classroom.
249“Sup, pleasure to be here.”
250Approximately equal to Takahashi in height, weight, and looks, yet
251falling just a little short in charisma, the adjutant-like existence
252Yamamoto picked up after him in cool, low spirits. Rumor had it he
253was already performing in the soccer club.
254Following behind those two greetings came a slender delicate
255youth, moreover, a set of three girls who went beyond pretty. A
256group of three boys, three girls. Each one pretty in their own
257right.
258Not subpar or normal, those belonging to the special course. The
259Nobles. The MVPs. Any onlooker could tell they were the charisma
260of the class. Their brilliance was something else. Their aura was
261something else.
262… Right, what separated the light from the dark was always aura. It
263was something anyone could see… though putting it that way may
264make me sound like a spiritual counselor. The ability to read one’s
265atmosphere was a skill essentially everyone came equipped with.
266Take, for instance, a delinquent, an otaku, a playboy, their auras
267were easy enough to classify.
268Each and every member of the Takahashi Group was on the level of
269a standard celebrity. The men cool and tasteful, the women cute
270and stylish. Even their aura on another level. The Phantom Troupe
271of this class was undisputedly these guys. 
2729
273I could get if there was one or two in a class, but we ended up with
274six. And they started hanging out in the blink of an eye. Right,
275groups were generally constructed of those of the same rank. As a
276matter of fact, the instant those Takahashis came in, the attention
277in class was sucked in their direction.
278Kawai and Kobayashi awkwardly averted their eyes. I understood
279the sentiment; Up to a moment ago, we were speaking heart to
280heart, but that was derailed in an instant. Furthermore,
281“Takahashi-kun, a-yo!”
282Saitou, who’d been discussing play with us changed direction as if a
283switch had been flipped, turning face to greet high lord Takahashi.
284“Hey now,” Kawai lightly retorted.
285“Oh, umm… sorry, was it Nakamura?”
286I almost did a spit take. Nakamura was the average looking seat
287number fifteen. Takahashi was fourteen, cool Yamamoto was
288sixteen. Meaning, seat-wise, he sat between Takahashi and
289Yamamoto. Not remembering Saitou was one thing, but to forget
290Nakamura, who’d been sandwiched between his group for a week,
291as expected of a bloody noble, I guess.
292… Still, I guess that’s what you expect from a difference in status.
293“So mean. I’m Saitou, remember?” his smile was stiff.
294“Aah, sorry, sorry! Everyone in this class has a common name, see…
295real sorry!”
296Looks like he was thinking something similar. I sympathized ever so
297slightly. It did seem that today’s hotty was the sort of guy who
298would properly put his hands together and lower his head to a
299plebian. The most painful part had to be how the other nobles
300didn’t participate in the conversation in the slightest. As if they
301couldn’t put up with this, or rather, I ended up impressed that
302Saitou was able to speak so nonchalantly.
303“Don’t worry about it, just try to remember. In exchange, you have
304my support if it comes down to it.”
305“For real? Well I’d love you guys’ backing, Saitou. That’s seriously
306the best.” 
30710
308Mutual agreement. As I kept the corner of my eye on that grand
309exchange among ranks, Kobayashi made a quiet proposal. “…
310And wait, can’t we go with the three of us? Playing?” “One vote
311for that,” came Kawai.
312Both sides worked out. Saitou’s patronizing attitude, and Kawai and
313Kobayashi’s sullenness, I could understand both sides. Regardless,
314for now, it was wiser to go along with the two of them.
315“I’ll wait and see. If that happens, we’ll go with that.”
316Weasels happened to be my favorite animals; I had no hesitation to
317use weasel words.
318Just a sliver of silence descended among our dampened spirits, and
319when it was about time for the talk to wrap up, a single shadow that
320had slipped out of the royal family to wander around the classroom
321approached.
322“Good morning, Kawai-kun, Kobayashi-kun, Satou-kun.”
323“… Morning, Kobato-san.”
324The only one to expect it, I was the only one who could immediately
325reply. A little delayed, “Y-yeah,” “Morning,” Kawai and Kobayashi
326groaned out some responses.
327“I always see you three together~.”
328Her bouncing, sweetly swaying intonation filled the surroundings
329with a soothing wave. The wave carried a floral scent.
330“We formed a trio, after all.”
331“Oh~, I see. Congratulations.” Clap clap clap, some unironic
332applause.
333Kobato Shinako. One of the three noble girls. The type easy to
334develop a crush on, but rather plain was her first impression,
335though in truth she was a tad absentminded. A glimpse of that
336could be seen in how she went around in the morning greeting all
337her classmates individually.
338“You formed a sextet yourself, didn’t you?”
339When I replied, she came to a complete stop, her smile fixed on her
340face.
341For someone as sociable as Kobato-san, it was rare for her to
342abstain from throwing back the conversational ball. Rather, she 
34311
344looked to be at a loss for worse. Her smile that had turned into a
345still photo reddened before my eyes.
346A red-tinted face tilted somewhat. “S…
347e… x…?”
348Leaked a mechanical voice.
349Oh, I almost cried out. I figured out the reason she petrified.
350How could it be? It did seem she was a considerably naïve person.
351She was part of the classes’ starting lineup, so I was certain she
352already had that under control, but apparently, she boasted a
353maiden-ness appropriate for her age. It came around to my turn for
354a confused refutation.
355“Ah, no! That’s not what it means. You’re misunderstanding,
356misconstruing, completely wrong.”
357“S… sex… tit…s?”
358“Wrong, I say!” So she heard it that way after all. “It means a group
359of six. Trio, quartet, quintet, sextet, right?”
360“O-oh I see. I didn’t know the last one… phew, that was a surprise.”
361She made a gesture of holding her head. “My mind went straight to
362the gutter. I should have known better.” “Don’t worry about it,
363Kobato-san.”
364“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll do my best. Thanks.”
365Kobato-san lightly waved a hand in front of her chest as she turned
366towards the other students. I saw her off with a mirrored gesture as
367I mused over how amazing I was to talk normally with such a cute
368girl—a part of me considering it someone else’s business.
369I already felt soothed to my soul.
370Among the noble houses, it looked like Takahashi and Kobato-san
371gave off favorable-enough impressions. I immediately brought
372them up in the conversation.
373“Kobato-san’s a good kid.”
374“… Well, she’s kinda cute, I guess.” “A bit plain.”
375To my frank impression, almighty Kawai and Kobayashi dashed on
376some impudent utterances.
377“You think so? I think it’s nice how she’s not all caked up.”
378“Sure, cakey’s a no go, but she could be a bit more graceful.” 
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380“Right, it’s got to be the queen.”
381The two plainly showed off the difference in our tastes.
382The queen was the leader of the noble gathering’s three girls. She
383went by Ooshima Yumina. At first, I wondered what sort of name
384was that, but she didn’t lose out to it. At the very least, among the
385three girls, there was no doubt she was the most conspicuous type
386of beauty. Unfortunately, neither did her personality fall short of
387her name, and the regal way she carried herself stood out. Plainly
388put, she sat on a high horse. Not the sort I could get along with.
389“… We’ve got some risktakers here.”
390As this and that was going on, students filtered in one after the net.
391When the teacher came in timed precisely with the bell, almost
392everyone was in their seat.
393“Good morning everyone,” the tall, bespectacled male teacher
394vibrantly proclaimed. “… Will whoever’s on day duty… oh, we
395haven’t decided that yet. Umm, then seat number fifteen, take us
396away.”
397“Boy or girl?” asked the class noble Takahashi.
398“Oh right, then a female student please.”
399Seat number fifteen. A girl called Hino stood up. She immediately
400slumped onto the floor.
401“Hino-san, what’s wrong?”
402“… Not enough… blood… and the… sun is up, so…”
403Painfully wheezing, she leaned her forehead against her desk, her
404entire body shaking. The homeroom teacher approached her.
405“Do you need to go to the infirmary?”
406“Urgh… if only I had some… I’d be fine.”
407Hino muttered. If only I had _____, I heard. What fit in the _____
408was most likely—
409I shook my head. Nothing to do with me. I don’t know her. She’s not
410my friend, and we’d never exchanged words.
411“Let’s go to the infirmary. Our infirmary has an exclusive goddess of
412nursing to look after you.”
413Saying some incomprehensible things, the homeroom teacher
414continued muttering as he led Hino off. Thanks to that, a dubious 
41513
416amount of time was freed up in class, so I absentmindedly surveyed
417the room. The desks were lined six by six. My seat number was
418twelve, the very back of the second boys’ row. Box seats.
419My eyes were first drawn to an area ahead and to the left of me. The
420zone where plain-looking Nakamura was sandwiched between two
421class nobles. Takahashi and his right-hand Yamamoto had already
422begun talking across poor Nakamura’s desk.
423It seemed Nakamura was not part of the conversation, as he seemed
424rather restless. I can’t say I didn’t feel for him, but such are the
425ways of the world. He would have to give up.
426Takahashi Yuuta. It was a delightful miscalculation on my part that
427the strongest character had such a cheery personality.
428His partner Yamamoto’s bad-boy aura was something anyone could
429see. The work put into his hair, his daily changing accessories, the
430way he perfectly pulled off the rough way he wore his uniform. Full
431marks on his sturdy impression, he was like the contrastive shadow
432to Takahashi. If both of them were shadows, there would probably
433be bullying in the class by now. It was because Takahashi treated
434even those below his second fiddles so favorably that Yamamoto
435had no choice but to keep quiet.
436Meanwhile, on the girls’ side, Queen Ooshima Yumina had all the
437traits necessary for a bully. Her side two looked peaceful enough,
438but there was no telling how that front would develop. Personally
439speaking, I could only wish for Kobato-san’s healing effect to spread
440over the entirety of humanity.
441Whatever the case, nobles, and second fiddles, and plebeians, it all
442does sound so cynical, and I’ll admit they are detestable terms. But
443there existed those who couldn’t fall into such categories and for a
444clear distinction, those concerned will simply have to accept their
445descriptors.
446By the way, Kobato-san sat three seats ahead of me on the left. She
447was reading a paperback she had produced from her bag. What
448kind of book could she have been reading? I felt a soaring in my
449chest as I fixed my gaze on the brief glimpses I caught of the cover.
450I threw my head back. 
45114
452If you’ll let me use an original word, the cover was buried in the
453drawing of an animeified female. The title was ‘Shakugan no—’ I
454rested my head on the table.
455I couldn’t properly sort out the conflicted emotions swirling in my
456heart. The current me was unable to look at such contents with
457straight sincerity. A psychological battering, it would be. Screwing
458my head to take my eyes off of Kobato-san, I gazed two seats behind
459her.
460An empty chair. No one had sat there for the past week. By that
461point, I would have loved to hear any sort of question; yet in
462regards to that ever-absent female student, there wasn’t much to
463ask. Only a single question properly filled my mind:
464Just when exactly was she going to attend school?
465When classes ended and we were discussing going somewhere to
466hang out, he who was knighted face-change man (by me), Saitou
467came over (despite Kawai’s unpleasant face) and proposed this.
468“Let’s go look at accessories.”
469Dim on the subject, I took a peek at how the other two were going to
470move, but they both seemed just as troubled to answer. It seemed
471that all three of us were lacking in experience points. Saitou
472conceitedly supplemented his statement.
473“If you don’t know ‘bout them, I’ll teach ‘ya. I’m an expert.” While
474I didn’t like how he put it, getting irritated over such a thing
475wasn’t constructive. This was the all-important first term of high
476school. I was better off riding these waves.
477“Well why not. Teach away.”
478When I answered so, Saitou nodded in satisfaction.
479“But just guys sounds stuffy, right? Why don’t we invite some girls?”
480“I don’t know any yet,” Kawai said in a sullen tone. As if that was
481the switch, Saitou turned to the classroom as a whole.
482“I’m going to go look at accessories, but are there any girls who
483want to tag along?” 
48415
485The girls preparing to go home simultaneously looked at Saitou.
486This guy’s got balls, was my honest impression. Even if I did
487something similar, it would seem like an awkward outburst. Even
488so, I might have to build up some sort of resistance. He may turn
489out to be an important figure.
490Now then, as for the girls’ reactions.
491“… H-huh? No one?”
492Not a single sociable lass who would readily raise their name. It had
493been on my mind since school began, but the class was full of
494weirdos. There were loners who didn’t make friends or talk to
495anyone in any class, but men and women together, there were
496around fifteen in ours. No matter how I considered it, this was a
497peculiar deployment. When those sorts of students should be
498dispersed among each class, it was as if the management didn’t get
499it at all.
500“Last chance! With this special offer, I’ll even treat you to drinks at
501a diner!”
502Saitou made double sure. It wasn’t very effective. The man didn’t
503even seem to notice the girls’ reaction was something different from
504a simple cold shoulder.
505“… How cold.” The isolation was painful. At this rate, I would be
506enlisted in the class clowns. I wanted to run away. The looks from
507the loner girls resembled that of the female vengeful spirits from
508horror movies.
509By the window, Queen Bee Ooshima Yumina was laughing over
510something. She was with Kobato and one more. It was clear as day
511we were being laughed at. How embarrassing.
512“… None. Now what to do.”
513“Then let me have a go. Since we’ve got nothing to lose, might as
514well aim high.”
515Within the frigid cold fronts of Antarctica, for some reason, Kawai
516was uplifted. By my diagnosis, he was afflicted by Saitou’s show of
517heroism. He started his way towards the window. Don’t tell me
518he…?
519A chill pierced through my spine. Kawai was already standing in
520front of ‘that girl’. 
52116
522“Ooshima Yumina-san, come and play with us! Aight! Nice to meet
523you!”
524His high tensions and fruitless endeavors attained a nightmarish
525collaboration. In regards to a girl his age, he gave a bow with his
526hand outstretched for a handshake. Just what era did he come
527from? Kawai Shuutaro, sixteen, Spontaneously Combusts. If this
528scene was a piece of art, that would undoubtedly be the title.
529Ooshima grandly burst into laughter.
530“How about no?” just as expected. Living normally is difficult.
531Exceedingly difficult. Get a little in over your head, and this is what
532you get.
533“Play with your bunch? You must be joking. Do you even see
534yourself in the mirror every day?”
535Listening to her rejection akin to an icicle through the crown, I
536reached the dazed-out phase far sooner than any among us four.
537To that point, I lived a life full of shame. Who’s to say it ever ended?
538“Maaan, so in the end, it’s four dudes.”
539“Boil it down, and that’s your fault.”
540Clad in a negative aura, Kawai relentlessly retorted to Saitou’s
541lament.
542“The hell. You were marching in enemy territory too. Singling out
543the queen is plain retarded.”
544In the end, we went out with four boys. The mood of defeat still
545lingering. To whoever thought up the phrase ‘nothing ventured,
546nothing gained,’ I’d like to have a word in that back alley. They
547could never have known the modern world.
548“Well, whatever. Always a next time.”
549Not if I have any say in it. I decided to hammer in the point. “I
550think it’ll be a hard stretch in our class. The cute girls have
551already formed their groups.”
552“That’s just Takahashi-kun’s women, right?” Well, that’s one way to
553put it. “Then do you want to play pickup? You think you’re
554capable?” 
55517
556Our directionless sighs overlapped.
557One train stop away led to a moderate business district. The
558destination was an accessory shop only Saitou knew about. Even if
559his dignity had crumbled, he would live by his word. The word
560accessories just wasn’t hitting home. Gemstones? Armbands? I
561grew anxious over what to do if we entered some full-blown jewelry
562store.
563“We’re here.”
564He came to a stop in front of a booth.
565A stand at around waist-height, lined with small metallic ornaments
566glistening like the night sky. Necklaces, bracelets, rings. While few
567in numbers, some leather bands too. The tall and lean presumed
568shopkeeper sat on a pipe chair by the side, reading a magazine. An
569oriental pattern-embroidered long T-shirt, skinny jeans, and a
570strangely formal-ish black cap suited him to an unnatural extent.
571Hmm, so hats count as accessories, I mused.
572“Kume-saaaan,” as Saitou called out, the shopkeeper raised his face.
573“Welcome, umm… you’re…?” Saitou
574was forgotten again.
575“How mean. It’s me, Saitou,” his smile was stiff.
576“Oh, Saitou, is it? Saitou-kun… sorry, sorry.”
577“These here are my classmates, ‘n I brought them to see your stuff.”
578He introduced us all together.
579“Well then have a good look. Take your time… nah, I don’t have too
580much to look at, but do have a look.”
581A bit bashful, Kume-san lightly lowered his head. He was, perhaps a
582little over twenty. I wouldn’t call him a peerless looker, but he had a
583good vibe around him and an amiable face. A good aura.
584We silently bent down to pour our attention on the stand. I thought
585it was nothing but skull rings, and cross and angel wing necklaces,
586but those flashy items only made up a small portion. The rest were
587all simple but tasteful pieces. The price wasn’t anything crazy
588either. Regardless of whether or not I was confident I could
589properly wear them, I was fascinated.
590“Are these produced by you, Kume-san?” I asked. 
59118
592“Yeah, that’s right. Ah, but those ones are a consignment from a
593friend.”
594He pointed out a corner full of skull rings and blood-stained
595crosses.
596“I thought so. They were giving off a different sort of feeling.”
597“Ahaha. I wouldn’t doubt it. They’re made in a different style and
598all.”
599“I’ve never worn this sort of stuff before… so I don’t know where to
600start.”
601“Hmm. You’ll rarely be able to wear most accessories at school. But
602how about,” He pointed towards the leather straps.
603“Something like that? That one’s to hang on a cell phone. This over
604here’s a wristwatch. Though I’ll admit, the clock mechanism was
605cheap.”
606Both of them pulled at my heartstrings. The watch was especially
607night. A slender piece as if melded with a stylish wristband, and I
608took to it at a glance. One look at the price, and it was well within
609my range.
610In the end, I was the only one to make a purchase before we left the
611stall. When I thought the day was going to end on a terrible note,
612my mood recovered with an unexpectedly nice purchase. I sure am
613cheap.
614“Come to think of it,” In a diner booth, leaning in like a melting
615snowman, Saitou changed the topic. “About the girls, there’s still
616one we haven’t seen yet, right?”
617“You’re talking about Satou, right?”
618“Hello, need something?” I lightly barged in. Kawai next to me
619amiably pat me on the shoulder.
620“Wrong one. I mean the Satou front left of you. Ladies’ Satou.” The
621female Satou had yet to attend school once. No one knew what she
622looked like.
623“There’s a chance she’s some super beauty,” posed Saitou.
624“Like hell, numbskull.” “Drop dead,” he was unanimously hit down.
625Whoever she was, if she hadn’t come to school for a weak, it was
626possible she would never come again. Something must have come
627up. She might quietly drop out or transfer somewhere else. It wasn’t 
62819
629too rare. It was pointless to think up a reason. Any number of
630changes can come to a teenage spirit. … I was a prime example.
631When I returned home, my mother quickly came to greet me.
632“I’m home.”
633“W-welcome back. How was school?”
634“Same old. I hung out with friends, and bought a cheap watch.” My
635mother looked relieved.
636“I see. That’s good, really good, that. I’m happy for you.”
637“Yeah. Sorry.”
638“It’s fine. Perfectly fine. Do you have enough money?” She took out
639her wallet.
640“I’m fine. I don’t need any more than my monthly allowance. That’s
641the rule.”
642I shook my hand. Lately, I rarely found an opportunity to use
643money. What I had left was plenty.
644“If anything’s wrong, you can talk to me.”
645“I know.”
646I made for my room on the second floor to end the conversation.
647This time, my sister popped her head out from the back room.
648“… Welcome back.”
649“Y-yeah, I’m home.”
650My conversations with her were still mentally strenuous.
651“… School.”
652“Yes?”
653“… How was it?”
654“Mn, well, I think I’m doing good for myself. Probably…”
655“… I see, yes, in that case… good.”
656Like a cutout in a poorly produced anime, her face stiffly retracted.
657Our family was unsettled. It was all my fault so I couldn’t complain.
658After entering my room, I finally managed to relax.
659I changed into my loungewear and inspected my purchase. Inside
660the cloth bag was the watch packed in vinyl, and a business card in
661place of a store advertisement. 
66220
663My delight welled up. I didn’t feel like throwing the wrapping or
664card.
665I tried equipping the watch. A small timepiece interwoven between
666bundled leather bands. The sort of purchase I had never made
667before. Just like this, step by step, I just had to change my feelings.
668With my family, and with myself.
669After dinner, I studied to around nine.
670By my experience, the easiest and most efficient method consists
671eighty percent of just concentrating hard in class. The remaining
672twenty is to just review what you learned that day. Do that, and you
673won’t have to panic before an exam anymore. Conversely, if you feel
674like you’re drifting away during class, it will become an
675extraordinary liability on the exam. It’s one of those tabs you build
676up.
677“Geh, this is bad.”
678I went and forgot my textbook at school.
679What’s more, math class gave problems that had to be submitted
680the next day. I needed it now. While I had no choice but to go get it,
681it was hard to think the school was open at this hour. I wanted to
682avoid forgetting homework on the first week. At the end of my
683mulling, I decided to just go and see how far that got me. If it was
684no good, I could just turn back.
685“… Let’s give it a go.”
686Thanks to my good purchase, perhaps I was feeling optimistic.
687Thankfully, school was within bikable distance.
688Just around ten minutes. The light had long since left the staff room
689and front office, the night school returning to a silent stillness. Even
690so, there were supposed to be night guards so I couldn’t be
691negligent.
692Outside the premises, I parked my bike quite a distance away and
693made for the school building on foot. Keeping mindful of witnesses,
694it went smoothly up to the point I climbed over a low fence. All of a 
69521
696sudden, my fear burst to the surface. At this point, wasn’t I
697committing a crime?
698Thinking about it calmly, it all reeked of criminal activity.
699Expelled… well probably not, but if I was found, wouldn’t I at least
700be suspended?
701Perish the thought, or so I cheered myself on. Come so far, I
702couldn’t return with no harvest. Additionally, I did have a lead on a
703route to infiltrate the school building. The molding on the first-floor
704boys’ bathroom window was considerably worn down, and if you
705lifted up, you could easily remove the entire window. I quickly
706realized that while on toilet-cleaning duties.
707When I made it to the destination point, the window had already
708been removed.
709“What’s this?”
710Did whoever was on cleaning duty today leave it undone? The
711window glass leaned against the wall by my feet.
712“Well, whatever… here we go.”
713After slipping in through the boys’ lavatory, the scent of crime
714finally grew thick. I was struck by a bleak chill the moment I poked
715my face out into the corridor. It was the first time I ever saw the
716true face only a night’s uninhabited construct could show. Unlike
717daytime, a space like a different world unfolded before me. “To
718think just having no people would make such a difference…” Dark.
719While starlight streamed in from the windows, my sight wouldn’t
720make it all the way across. That being the case, if I walked with a
721light, I felt like I’d be caught in no time. I made for the classroom
722with one hand on the wall. The first year classes were on the third
723floor. Second years on the second, and thirds on the first. When I
724was just walking normally, it was almost as if I was making my
725steps deliberately louder. I naturally shifted into the gait of a
726burglar.
727I cleared the landing to the second floor, made it up, and
728immediately reached my tip toes towards the third-floor stairwell. A
729coward’s heart was already beating full throttle from such a paltry
730adventure. Making a slip up out of nervousness seemed idiotic, and 
73122
732speeding up would shorten my lifespan. I stopped, I took a few deep
733breaths. The night’s cold air carried a very different taste from the
734day’s.
735“… Okay.”
736My heart rate calmed to one point five resting pace. I walked again.
737Raising my head, I looked up at the third-floor landing. My heart—
738stopped.
739The cold light of the moon poured in through the high-stationed
740window of the landing. It was because the window faced the moon,
741but having such direct exposure required a combination of time and
742angle. If I had to say, I had been caught up in a single instant of
743coincidence, but that wasn’t the problem.
744The school had shown me a different side under the cloak of the
745night; a special time, a special angle, the mystique of the third-floor
746landing, the light of the moon that had carried magic from the tales
747of yore. Perhaps in a moment caught by such mysterious
748coincidence, it was permitted for such beings beyond human
749knowledge to exist.
750For there in the landing stood the witch in blue—
751I stood stock still, as if I’d been struck.
752I had no words. The moon diagonally spotlighting the landing; I
753started at that bewitching stage from a few steps below. I could only
754stare. I couldn’t move a single finger.
755In contrast, the witch wasn’t looking at me. The face peering out
756from her hood, remained locked diagonally upwards, meaning she
757stared fixedly into the darkness of the school’s third floor.
758Beautiful.
759Not pretty or cute, beautiful was the correct term.
760A blue robe that concealed her down to her feet, the cloth stained
761the deep blue of the sea, her shapely face shining through as a pale
762accent. Lowering my eyes, I caught sight of a shimmering, metallic
763knot hanging at her chest. Her mechanical, overly tall staff was
764fastened to her bosom by the slight protrusion of fingers. The 
76523
766crystallization of moonlight clad in the blue of the night. Like an
767existence that had slipped out of a fog-covered kingdom of
768illusions.
769My old wounds twitched in pain. Now this is shady as hell, they
770cried out. But the overwhelming detail standing before my eyes held
771it all down. Having encountered such an opponent, I had no idea
772how to cope.
773On the contrary, if the other side noticed me, how would she react?
774① She attacks → I run →The misunderstanding is cleared up,
775we reconcile and start working together, love may follow.
776② “Run away!” she says as she fights the monster after her → I
777protect her →my quick wit fends off the monster, after which love.
778③ She kisses me → The kiss is translation magic → the witch has
779to live at my house, there are some battles, after which love. â‘£ She
780collapses → I take her home and nurse her → the witch has to live
781at my house, there are some battles, after which love.
782Hmm, the plot of number four was pretty much the same as three.
783Considering patterns and all, the modern trend would have me get
784straight up murdered for her to revive me with some high-level
785magic, but that requires a compensation and… no, I doubt this was
786the time for that.
787Whatever the case. I swallowed my spit. Still searching for words, I
788opened my mouth.
789“U-umm…?”
790The girl’s sight slowly lowered to look at me.
791As expected, the witch’s eyes were cold. Her piercing glare passed
792straight through me like an x-ray. That was a look, not at me as a
793person. A look as if she was doing little more than analyzing my
794physical information.
795“What are you doing in a place like this?”
796Moving my parched tongue, I somehow managed to pose the
797question.
798The girl didn’t answer. She maintained a close watch over me. Just
799as my anxiety was reaching a limit, all of a sudden, the staff 
80024
801emitted an electronic sound. The diode bulb-like portion on the
802tip that looked like it could serve as a blunt weapon blinked for
803just an instant. I didn’t really get it, but amazing.
804The girl returned her eyes to the third floor.
805“…… It’s here.”
806“Huh? What is?”
807Flustered as I was, an exaltation greater than ever before was born
808within me. I see, something’s coming. Pattern two. Then how
809should I handle this?
810Too timid to ascend to the landing, I turned just my head to follow
811the witch’s field of vision. A vague, whitish substance swayed
812irregularly in space.
813“… What’s that?”
814While I could see something like haze, I couldn’t make it out. I
815could only tell that the substance was squirming on its own as if
816searching for food. Ectoplasm? No way. My heart was still racing.
817‘Researcher Confirmation Complete. Cross Check Conducted:
81899.8% Match. While Minor Abnormality has been Detected Due to
819Influence From the Phenomenal Realm, it has been Identified as an
820Informational Entity. Henceforth, The Appropriate Information
821Shall be Recorded Under SumTotal Model Information Body
822Σ01145782-227-4567897’
823A third party’s voice resounded low and somber. I was surprised.
824Unlike the witch, the voice belonged to an older man.
825“… Who? What? Where?”
826There wasn’t anyone around besides the witch and myself. Despite
827that, the voice continued uninterrupted.
828‘Physical Interference Level 3. Plenipotentiary Power Holder
829Requests for The Researcher to take Immediate Action.’
830“… Understood. Shifting to Immediate Action” The
831witch held up her staff.
832“What sort of action? What are you going to do? Are you fighting? Is
833this a battle? It’s a battle, right?”
834“……” 
83525
836I was ignored.
837“Your… magic… err, what can it…?”
838What exactly was I expecting? With some strange switch flipped,
839even I couldn’t say myself.
840“Ferula. Shamanic Field Driver, Stand By”
841As if in response, the mechanical staff’s lamp lit up. Was this staff
842Ferula? Nonsense. A part of me knew it was nonsense. But that
843didn’t mean I suddenly understood what I was supposed to do so
844with my foot sewn halfway up a step, I continued to spectate.
845The witch, on the other hand, was quick to move.
846Clambering a few steps higher than the landing, she stuck out her
847staff towards the spiritual body (the mysterious voice called it an
848informational entity) squirming in the third-floor corridor.
849“I see!” I understood then and there.
850She planned to shoot some absurd magic projectile from the head of
851that stick. It’s that voice. She’s a magical girl.
852I hurriedly leapt my way up to the landing and cautioned the witch.
853I got the feeling something bad would happen if I didn’t.
854“H-hey! If you fire off something so dangerous here…!”
855The school would fall apart, but… there I was, my heart racing at the
856prospect of an end to my normal life.
857“Hey, witch!”
858“… If you value your life, stand down, resident of the Phenomenal
859Realm.”
860Those were the first words the witch ever said to me.
861“Phenomenal Realm?”
862“Informational bodies create physical influence by cracking into the
863logical rules of their target. A resident of the Phenomenal Realm
864with no protection has no way to defend against it.”
865“I don’t get a single thing you’re saying.”
866Truth be told, I had a general grasp. But understanding too fast felt
867a bit off, so I was acting just a little flustered.
868“Spell-based attacks utilize the mutual deviation’s permeating effect
869to convert pure heat into parsable information. There will be no
870physical influence.” 
87126
872Another mechanical beep from the staff. Could that be the signal it
873was done charging?
874Adjusting the angle of her staff, she fixed it in the center of the
875drifting haze.
876“Commence attack—”
877I immediately protected my face with both hands. The blast wave I
878expected never came. I was sure there would be flames, or some
879wind, or at least a bit of a light show.
880No physical influence. Word for word, there wasn’t a single visible
881phenomenon.
882The haze remained zigzagging as healthily as ever.
883“Hey… are you done yet? It’s kinda still there… that informational
884entity of yours.”
885“Mission failed.” She haphazardly threw out.
886“Say what?”
887‘Researcher, SumTotal Model Information Body Σ01145782-
8882274567897’s State has been Confirmed as Irregular. Stimulation
889through Spell Offense has Raised Physical Interference Level to
890Seven. Plenipotentiary Power Holder Advises for Immediate
891Evacuation.’
892That exceedingly somber voice came out with some exceedingly
893dangerous-sounding lines.
894“H-hey, I just heard retreat. Isn’t that kinda bad?” The
895witch looked at me head-on.
896“Resident of the Phenomenal Realm, you will be coming with me.”
897“Come or not, I’ve got some stuff to… fine, got it.”
898“… This way.”
899The witch grabbed my arm and dragged me down the stairs. I was
900back on the second floor, en route to the first— “Halt,
901resident of the Phenomenal Realm.”
902“I’ve got a name, and it’s Satou Ichirou,”
903I quickly shut my mouth. From the side of the first floor, a separate
904haze—informational body was approaching.
905“Then here.” 
90627
907She pulled me down the second-floor corridor. The school building
908had two sets of stairs. It was possible to escape from the other side.
909We ran side by side a while. The haze in question showed no signs
910of pursuit. Her feet came to a stop. The corridor was just a tad too
911long to cross full speed, and she leaned her weight against her
912staff as she got her breathing in order. Her face was touched by a
913tint of red, making the impression she gave off somewhat younger.
914“We must get moving. Stay close.” This time, we were walking.
915“Say… if I get caught by that informational entity, what happens?”
916“Your original form and nature will be lost.”
917“Y-you mean…”
918Then I was totally in a life-threatening situation. This was far more
919serious than I thought.
920“This is totally the right time for me to get angry and say, don’t drag
921me into anything crazy.”
922“The Researcher had no part in your involvement. That is the fault
923of your lack of crisis-aversion abilities and foresight.”
924“How could anyone be expected to foresee a witch in the school at
925night? In the first place, who are you?” “……” She chose silence.
926“Normally, a security guard’s all you should expect here.” On
927that train of thought, there was one point I did notice.
928“Say. By the way, were you fine getting through the school’s security
929sensors?”
930It wouldn’t be strange for there to be some mechanical security. If
931such abnormality was disclosed to the general public… we’d be right
932at the clima… no, I mean, it would make for a huge ruckus. “Not
933only in the front entranceway, there are also sensors stationed on
934every first-floor window. Additional sensors have been confirmed
935stationed around a portion of important sections.” “The first
936floor…? I came in through the first-floor boys’ toilet.” My blood ran
937cold at a realistic danger.
938“Then be at ease.” The witch nonchalantly said. “The researcher did
939too.”
940“So you’re the one who pulled out the window!”
941“That is why the security system did not activate.”
942“Whadaya mean?”
94328
944“All electronic security systems in this building have been seized.
945That is why the existence of a resident of the phenomenal realm
946failed to trip up any sensors.”
947“You seized them? How?”
948She lightly held up her mechanical staff.
949“With spellcraft,”
950So it was a collaboration of magic and machinery.
951“it is simple to seize control of a purely mechanical primitive
952sensor.”
953“… I understand what you’re saying, but… that explanation won’t
954work on anyone else.”
955I could only accept it so easily being who I was.
956“This matter shall never come to the notice of any residents of the
957phenomenal realm. In this realm where no mana converters, let
958alone magical powers exist, no one is able to achieve visual
959confirmation of The Researcher.”
960“I can see you just fine.” The
961witch’s face drew close.
962Her face, pretty like a masterpiece of glass, felt so perfectly crafted
963that when she closed in expressionlessly, it packed a perfect punch.
964“W-what’s your problem?”
965“Those eyes.”
966“My eyes? What about them? Are you going to say I have mystic
967eyes or something?”
968“……” She left about two seconds of pause. “Why do you know about
969the mystic eyes?”
970“No, I was just making stuff up.”
971“I am convinced. I have heard that magecraft once existed in the
972phenomenal realm. The Researcher shall henceforth regard
973Phenomenal Realm Resident A as a possessor of mystic eyes.” She
974regarded me. It did seem I was a chosen human somewhat
975different from the others, and that was just swell.
976“That’s all well and good, but… I have a name, and it’s Satou
977Ichirou. Quit it with the Phenomenal Realm stuff. It makes me feel
978all itchy.” 
97929
980“Understood. Phenomenal Realm Resident A shall receive the
981designation of Satou Ichirou.”
982“… You can just call me Satou or Ichirou.”
983“Ichirou.”
984“Y-yeah.”
985Called Ichirou without warning, my heart skipped a beat. When was
986the last time a girl called me by name……
987“Ichirou, we will descend the stairs and escape from the first flor
988boys’ bathroom. Understood?”
989“Got it… ah, but I came here to get my textbook.”
990“Your textbook and your life, choose which one you value more.”
991“… Well my life, of course, but,”
992“Then follow.”
993The witch briskly descended the stairs.
994Just who in the world was she, anyway? The staff and getup looked
995authentic, and I could tell she wasn’t acting on a whim. There were
996few out there who would pull such an elaborate prank. She wasn’t
997fake. And if she was real, that would mean—
998“Hey… are you really from another world.”
999“Classified.”
1000Could’ve seen that one coming. She was acting covertly, after all.
1001“That aside, you saved me back there, didn’t you?”
1002“… I am obligated to prevent phenomenal realm casualties as long
1003as it is within the realm of possibilities.”
1004“I see. Whatever the case, thank you. I just thought I’d say that.” “It
1005matters not. Looking at the result, I have come upon the beneficial
1006phenomenon of an encounter with a possessor of mystic eyes. If I
1007am to gain your assistance, searching for the dragon terminal will
1008become easier.”
1009“Yet another piece of grand-sounding jargon. Could you tell me
1010what—?”
1011‘Researcher. Warning from Plenipotentiary Power Holder.
1012Disclosure of Information to a Resident of the Phenomenal Realm
1013is punishable by Disciplinary Action.’
1014The shapeless middle-aged voice.
1015“Whoa, there it is again!” 
101630
1017“Offering Explanation to Plenipotentiary Power Holder. There is a
1018high possibility the resident of the phenomenal realm in question is
1019an essential factor. I request a special exception to investigate and
1020settle this case.”
1021‘Request Denied. This Search is Fully Possible for The Researcher to
1022Execute Alone.’
1023“Until the reason prior informational entity was able to nullify our
1024attack is identified, it is appropriate to think that the situation has
1025changed. Taking the management of the irregular into
1026consideration, gaining the cooperation of a bearer of mystic eyes
1027will stabilize the success rate of any strategy.” A
1028long silence.
1029‘…… As a Temporary Measure, the Plenipotentiary Power Holder
1030permits The Researcher’s Interference with the Phenomenal Realm.
1031However, Interference Level Must be Kept at Level Three.’
1032“Understood.” The enigmatic conversation ended.
1033“I was wondering where that was coming from, but is it that?” I
1034looked at the witch’s chest. On the inside of her robe, hung at her
1035far-too original inner collar, a large silvery-metallic pendant. The
1036voice was coming from there.
1037“This is ‘Plenipotentiary Power Holder Credétat’. In order to
1038execute this mission alone, a pseudo-intelligence and transmission
1039interface granted all authority in regards to the operation by the
1040‘Central Assembly’.”
1041“Hmm, so it’s like an AI voice.”
1042And as that went on, we arrived at the boys’ bathroom.
1043“The Researcher orders for Ichirou to halt.” The witch pointed with
1044a grave face. “The window has been replaced.” I
1045took a peek too. It was firmly in place.
1046“It wasn’t there when I came in.”
1047Meaning the security guard put it back? The moment I thought that,
1048a single guard exited one of the bathroom stalls, his hand tightening
1049his undone belt.
1050“Hm? W-who’s there’!? A thief!?” A
1051flashlight was shined our way. 
105231
1053The witch was quick to move. Stuffing a hand into her bosom, she
1054took out a small spherical object and threw it into the room. The
1055orb burst into a large mass of smoke. A smoke bomb.
1056“What!? Dammit!”
1057In no time at all, the room was buried in the smoke. The effects
1058were only amplified in a sealed space. Shutting the door to the
1059restroom, the witch yanked my arm and burst into a sprint. A shrill
1060noise shriek echoed from the fire alarm. At this point, it was finally
1061a huge ruckus.
1062“Crap, that was a guard!”
1063“The first floor is dangerous. I advise an escape from the second
1064floor.”
1065“Why the second!?”
1066“There are no security mechanisms on the second floor, making
1067escape a simple task.”
1068Oh really? Well, if a witch is saying it… what bothered me most was
1069what terrible thing might happen if the security guard came into
1070conflict with that monster from before. When I asked the witch,
1071“The guardian or your life, choose which one you value most,” it
1072foreseeably came to.
1073Well, I’m human after all. Sorry guard.
1074Our plan of escape from the second floor immediately collapsed.
1075“That’s right, the classrooms are kept… locked.”
1076We couldn’t enter any classroom, they were all firmly locked shut.
1077While we took a look at the second-floor toilets as well, for some
1078reason, the windows were a different style from the first floor and
1079not a size any human could pass through.
1080“They took bloody safety measures…!”
1081Consideration for the sensitive teen who might try jumping out a
1082secluded window. If they were going to kill themselves, they might
1083as well use the roof or a classroom, and I’m pretty sure a teenager
1084would avoid the bathroom, and this really was such a
1085boardroomdecided motion. 
108632
1087“What now, witch?”
1088There wasn’t any time. The guard from the first-floor bathroom
1089would be on our tail in no time. Either run to the third floor, or get
1090to the other side of the second.
1091“Hey! Are you these so-called thieves!”
1092The option of going down the corridor disappeared. From a distant
1093classroom, a guard different from the one who ate the smoke bomb
1094jumped out. Our encounter rate was set too high.
1095“It’s a different guard! Kinda seems even higher leveled than the
1096previous one! When we still have that monster to worry about!” “…
1097Unlocked.” The witch coldly pointed out.
1098“Huh?” she pointed at the classroom the guard
1099had exited.
1100“We can enter that classroom. Escape is possible.”
1101Well, I’m sure it was a possibility, but… a guard, an entity
1102embodying the very notion of suspension was coming from
1103precisely that direction.
1104“The Researcher requests Satou Ichirou’s assistance.”
1105The witch spread out her two hands like folding fans. Appearing like
1106a parlor trick in the gaps between her fingers, another eight of those
1107smoke bombs from before. I accepted a handful, four of them.
1108So she wanted my help. She even handed me a lighter.
1109“Ignite,” as ordered, I set fire to the fuses. We simultaneously threw
1110them toward the guard running at us. Eight orbs’ worth of smoke
1111explosively filled the corridor. There were primary colored smokes
1112of red, blue, and yellow mixed in, completely cutting off my field of
1113vision. The form of the guard coiled by smoke left my vision.
1114Beep, the mechanical staff emitted an electronic noise.
1115“Subject Guardian rendered powerless. Commence movement.”
1116“G-got it.”
1117In a dash, we plunged towards the guard… meaning into the smoke.
1118None of this was sane by any measure. But with a sermon from
1119some pseudo-intelligence, that nauseous prismatic cloud, an
1120information monster, a guardian, and the witch in blue, my
1121rationality had taken off somewhere. After we’d made it past the 
112233
1123smoke, there was no indication of the guard chasing us. It seems he
1124didn’t even notice us passing by his sides.
1125Upon entering the classroom, the witch immediately threw the
1126window open.
1127“Escape route secured. All hands promptly prepare for descent.” All
1128hands, she said, despite there being only me.
1129“Hey, don’t you think this height is pushing it?”
1130The witch nonchalantly pulled a rope ladder from the folds of her
1131robe. I was honestly impressed.
1132“So that’s a fourth-dimensional robe you’ve got on. It’s got
1133everything in it.”
1134Pulling the hood of her robe over her eyes, she gave a small nod.
1135“… Right.”
1136I climbed down first. It was the first time I had ever used a rope
1137ladder, and the considerable sway frightened me, but I somehow
1138managed to plant my feet on the ground. The witch seemed more
1139accustomed, descending with far more certainty.
1140“Withdraw.”
1141“What about the ladder?”
1142“That is a consumable ration of this realm, and will be abandoned
1143as such.”
1144Well, the guard already knew someone was there.
1145The two of us left the grounds, chose a rarely used road, and quickly
1146sped off.
1147“Ichirou, this way.”
1148Yanked into the darkness, on the grounds of presumably a
1149tenement building under construction, she forcefully crammed our
1150two bodies in the shadows of the carelessly piled building materials.
1151“Lay low here until the guardian retreats.”
1152“Y-yeah…”
1153It was a narrow space. I would be spotted standing, so my knees
1154were bent, but we were altogether stuck together. One of my knees
1155entered the gap between the witch’s two legs, while one of hers had
1156torn into the gap between mine. We were pushed fast together, hip
1157to knee joint. 
115834
1159Awkward.
1160The witch’s heat was conveyed across my thin undershirt. I couldn’t
1161think properly in regards to where that was touching.
1162“S-sorry.”
1163“Instigation of apology unknown.”
1164“Well…”
1165A silence descended. I could feel a minute go by as an hour. The soft
1166and warm contours pushed against me. The sweet fragrance wafting
1167from her hair made it so blatant she was of the opposite sex I
1168couldn’t ignore it. A girl was here. I was pressed against a girl.
1169Press. Girl. Girl. Press. My own lack of experience points was
1170hammered in.
1171It was impossible to see the state of the school from where we were.
1172It seemed the sounds were our only way to measure the changes.
1173And within that silent moment, my attention couldn’t help but rift
1174towards the witch.
1175“Come to think of it,” I hadn’t checked one fundamental thing.
1176“What’s your name?”
1177“Researcher.”
1178“Is that a name? Kinda sounds like a code name.”
1179“More precisely, an individual belonging to the class of ‘Researcher’.
1180A carbon-based active body affiliated with the ‘Central Assembly’.”
1181“Carbon-based…? Doesn’t that just mean human?”
1182“Only the structure is the same, The Researcher is not a human of
1183this realm. While each unit is numbered for the sake of distinction
1184and that serves as an individual designation, that designation is
1185highly classified and improper to disclose.”
1186“So a human from another world.”
1187My heart was already racing, I was at the edge of my seat.
1188“The Researcher was dispatched to this world to recover the
1189‘Dragon Terminal’.”
1190“Dragon Terminal!” The irrational sensor still nesting within me
1191went off like crazy. “What’s that?”
1192“There are records that dragons once existed in this world as well.
1193However, in the present era, they are largely believed to be extinct.” 
119435
1195“Are you talking about dinosaurs?”
1196“Different from so-called birds and reptiles, it refers to a general
1197higher-dimensional being boasting intelligence. Wandering from
1198dimension to dimension, they can adapt to any environment, but in
1199rare instance one settles and develops an immunity to a certain
1200plane, their existence is assimilated and affixed in the form of
1201matter. Within a material dragon dwells near infinite energy and
1202highly condensed logic information; they can be used as a
1203multipurpose device to output stable results given special inputs.”
1204“So in short, it’s some crazy computational device.”
1205“That is an exceedingly rudimentary understanding, but as an
1206irrational existence of the phenomenal realm, it is an adequate way
1207to conceptualize it.”
1208“You’re searching for a dragon’s corpse.”
1209“The notion of a corpse is inadequate. The ability to develop
1210immunity is by no means a rare quality of a carbon-based active
1211body. Even in the phenomenal realm, there are those who possess
1212forms and functions to endure the most extreme of environments
1213for extended durations and reproduce once the environment has
1214improved. Therefore, in this instance, it should be expressed that its
1215activity level has reached a dormant state and—”
1216“Yeah, got it, fine, I get it. I used the wrong term, cut me some slack
1217here.”
1218“It is already known that the thought patterns of residents of the
1219phenomenal realm are ruled by illogical trend. It is untrue that the
1220researcher raised any objection to Ichirou’s inappropriate
1221understanding, an explanation was merely offered upon sensing the
1222necessity to prevent a conversation from moving forward under
1223false pretenses.”
1224“Yeah, fine, it’s alright. Don’t worry about it. It’s just a figure of
1225speech.”
1226I always found myself in a fluster when faced with those large,
1227almost circular eyes.
1228“How about you just pick out all the important stuff, and describe it
1229vaguely so even a resident of the phenomenal realm can
1230understand?” 
123136
1232“Understood. Henceforth, the general gist of the main topics shall
1233be extracted and the conversation will be attempted with
1234terminology appropriate for a phenomenal being.”
1235“Well thanks, I guess.”
1236Just what sort of girl did I run into, anyway?
1237“Forget all that, what am I supposed to call you? It would be nice if
1238you had some nickname.”
1239“A carbon-based active body affiliated with the ‘Central Assembly’
1240does not require a pet name.”
1241“But I require one. Do you have anything in mind?” The
1242witch stared at me.
1243“… Nothing, The Researcher lacks the ability of extraction. It is
1244impossible to self-supply a pet name.”
1245“Then I’ll give you one.”
1246Let’s see. She’s a solemn mage, so… Soma? Yeah, how about Soma?
1247And when it comes to Soma, there’s that famous Vedic ritual elixir—
1248“Wait, that reeks of pretentious!”
1249“What’s wrong, Ichirou? Have your cognitive functions been
1250damaged?”
1251“No, I just reaffirmed how my very existence reeked of
1252pretentiousness…”
1253The witch touched her nose to my neck.
1254“It has been determined that Ichirou does not smell.”
1255“……”
1256I was frozen solid for around three seconds.
1257“I-I don’t mean I actually smell, I mean, there’s this psychological
1258self-loathing that…”
1259“The Researcher is unable to comprehend such vague philosophical
1260notions.”
1261I found the notion of sniffing the member of the opposite sex you
1262were stuck to to be far more incomprehensible.
1263“It’s just a pet name, but why not keep it simple and go with Risa?
1264Risa the Researcher.”
1265I figured something terrible would happen if I thought too hard
1266about it, so I decided to bring a conclusion from somewhere close. 
126737
1268It was a name, for what it’s worth. Shortened form of Marissa.
1269“It does not matter. The only one who will use the name is Ichirou.”
1270“Sounds lonely if you put it like that… but, well, Risa it is.”
1271“Understood. Risa has been registered as a simple identification
1272name.”
1273A while of silence continued after that. My bottom was finally
1274starting to hurt when the witch abruptly stood to her feet.
1275“… Eep!”
1276With an unexpectedly cute yelp, she tripped and fell over me. It
1277appeared something had caught the edge of her outfit.
1278“Are you okay? You can put your hands on my shoulders.”
1279“… Proposal accepted.”
1280With both hands firmly on my shoulders, Risa leaned her weight
1281onto me. With that alone, I was led to feel just a little happy. I sure
1282am simple, aren’t I.
1283“We should get moving. Disable your suspension mode.”
1284“Do I look like I have one…”
1285The area was quiet. There wasn’t any particular clamor from the
1286school’s direction.
1287An intruder was spotted and a smoke bomb was even thrown. It
1288must have made for considerable turmoil. And yet, it had sunk back
1289to an uncanny level of silence.
1290The two of us arbitrarily walked out onto the road.
1291“What are we going to do now?”
1292“We are going to part ways.”
1293“Huh? But wasn’t I… the possessor of something or another?” “In
1294order to avoid the lowering of the mission’s efficiency by
1295intervention, the holder of plenipotentiary power did nothing more
1296than temporarily place the one known as Satou Ichirou under
1297jurisdiction.”
1298“Is that how it works?”
1299“That necessity has disappeared. Ichirou will now return to his life
1300in the phenomenal realm.”
1301“… I see.” 
130238
1303It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel disappointed. Having my mood
1304forcibly dampened was harsh. Risa turned her back upon informing
1305me of our parting. The moment I saw that small back, I thought I
1306had to protect her.
1307“Ah, I’ll help out.”
1308Those receding feet stopped.
1309“I have some sort of power, don’t I? That means I should be of use
1310somewhere.”
1311“You have witnessed the risk that comes with searching for dragon
1312terminals. That decision is exceedingly ill-advised.”
1313“I know that… but I,” The feelings I’d sealed away raised some
1314alarm bells.
1315“I’m still struggling to accept what you called my life in the
1316phenomenal realm.”
1317“There is no need for acceptance in mere existence.”
1318“Or you could call it reality.”
1319“Reality. The term that opposes fiction. Ichirou, do you long for
1320fiction and fantasy?”
1321The knife of words stabbed into my chest. Not that she had such
1322intent.
1323“T-that’s not all it is. The way I see it, reality’s got to be bigger than
1324the world I know. That’s why I wasn’t so flustered when I saw
1325someone like you. I could accept it.”
1326“Accept. Does Ichirou accept The Researcher?”
1327“That’s right. I didn’t reject you, did I? You helped me out and told
1328me I had power, and, and then…”
1329I wanted to raise any reason I could. Yet not enough came out to
1330make a pile. All I could do was mouth the most pathetic reason of
1331all.
1332“… If there’s a mystery out there, I want to see it. If there’s an
1333extraordinary out there that’ll get my heart racing… I want to see
1334it.”
1335The witch thought behind her emotionless eyes.
1336“Is that not enough?” 
133739
1338Risa silently turned; her sleeves flapping, she made off in a hurry.
1339I… wasn’t even able to chase her. Fastened firmly to the spit, after
1340watching the blue silhouette vanish from my field of view, I was
1341assailed by an overly bloated despondence. As if I was too late, I
1342had gone on too long not using my power… my own patheticness
1343remained, turning to a lingering unease.
1344“… Tsk.”
1345I stuffed both hands into my jacket pocket. My left hand came
1346against something hard.
1347When I pulled it out, I found the medal Risa was wearing. The chain
1348had been broken.
1349Right, thinking back, at the construction material sight, Risa had
1350collapsed when something got caught up.
1351On closer inspection, I could see the frayed thread of one of my
1352jacket buttons, on the verge of coming off. So the chain had caught
1353on the button. Did it fall in back then? I stared at the medal on my
1354palm.
1355In the center of numerous concentric circles, a rosebud had been
1356inlaid in a different material.
1357What did she call it again? Right, it was the plenipotentiary power
1358holder. A necessity for a witch. An item she should never lose. A
1359valuable she would have no choice but to come back for. Strangely
1360enough, my heart was jumping for joy.
1361The world wasn’t some boring blur. Karaoke, and fashionable
1362clothes, and class hierarchies weren’t everything. Unknown to the
1363adults, a miracle the kids were on the verge of forgetting definitely
1364existed. No matter how I denied it, the medal silently handed down
1365judgment. That’s right. Nessy wasn’t some cheap setup. Skyfish
1366aren’t some trick of the light. The Mongolian death worm (this
1367season’s cryptid) is still up and kicking somewhere in the Gobi. And
1368more than anything—witches really exist. Clenching the medal in
1369my hand, I desperately stifled my own delight.
1370As per usual, the morning classroom was presided over by an
1371enervated air. It set my heart at ease. Not only did we take on a 
137240
1373security guard, I thought leaving physical evidence would be cause
1374for concern, but that all melted away.
1375“Morning Saitou-kun.”
1376I found the man sitting on my desk, having a nice little chat with the
1377girl who sat to my right, so I gave his back a friendly, “I don’t really
1378care if you sit there, but start hauling when the seat owner is right
1379in front of you,” pat with all my might.
1380“That smarts. Satou… my bad.”
1381Saitou dismounted the desk, his back curling up. A small laugh
1382came from the neighboring girl (if I recall, her name was Ozaki).
1383“So what were you so fired up over?”
1384“Hey, nothin’ much, just talking about how fun it was to go
1385shopping yesterday…”
1386“Didn’t you end up like a snowman melting out of abject despair?”
1387“Hey, just thought Ozaki-san might be a bit interested, and a bit
1388interested in me taking her there.”
1389So he was hitting on someone with his buttocks spread over my
1390desk.
1391“That’s all well and good, but if you want to take a girl, you should
1392really go through the right steps. That shop guy from yesterday
1393halfforgot who you were. It was embarrassing as heck for the rest of
1394us.” Ozaki-san laughed again.
1395On the other hand, Saitou made a sullen face.
1396“Hey, you’re wrong, I tells ‘ya. We really do know one another.”
1397“Is hey the only way you can start a sentence?”
1398As Ozaki-san burst into laughter, Saitou was put at a loss for words.
1399I sent a greeting glance at Kawai and Kobayashi who were present
1400but spacing out. Kawai gave me a two-handed thumbs up, making
1401sure Saitou couldn’t see. Looks like my Saitou teasing was being
1402endorsed. The reason: he was getting too full of himself. Oh, pitiful
1403Saitou. You have a smidgen of my sympathy.
1404“… Satou, my dude, you’re nasty.”
1405Something was just added to my name that wasn’t there yesterday. 
140641
1407He sure is weak to pressure. While Saitou fidgeted awhile, he
1408eventually moved over to a different group. “Satou-kun, did
1409you end up buying anything?” Ozaki-san asked me.
1410“This,” I flashed my watch.
1411“Ah, that’s lovely. How much was it?” I
1412listed the price.
1413“Oh, that’s cheap. I might just drop by.”
1414“The guy who runs the shop is nice.”
1415“Hmm. I’ll definitely check it out.”
1416Or so as the conversation bounced, “Oh, you bought a watch,
1417Satoukun.” On her customary rounds, Kobato-san came at the right
1418time to join in.
1419“Good morning. I got it at a street stall yesterday, how’s it look?”
1420“Morning. Nice, that’s nice. I think it’s very nice indeed. Nice and
1421casual, right Ozaki-san?”
1422“Yeah. I think so too. It was dirt cheap to boot.”
1423“Wow, an upright vendor. Satou-kun, when you’ve got that
1424equipped, your looks go up by two points.”
1425“That’s a dubious increase.” I returned with a laugh. “Not at
1426all~, I think two points is a big improvement. It’s this
1427spring’s must-have accessory.”
1428“Must have, huh.”
1429The true must-have was something else. Of course, I couldn’t tell
1430Kobato-san about it, but I kept it on my person. That medal. A rare
1431accessory that uplifted my mood. While I didn’t equip it, I had it
1432hidden away in my inner pocket. To put it in her terms, it was at
1433least a five-point increase in spirit.
1434As long as I carried it, I would reunite with that witch one day. Of
1435course, it carried with it my desire to one day plunge into the world
1436of the abnormal.
1437By the way, ever since I picked it up, the medal showed no
1438intentions of speaking.
1439“Hey, are you talking about Kume-san’s store?”
1440Royal Takahashi called over. Now that’s a rare event.
1441“Yeah, I dropped by with Saitou and the others yesterday.” 
144242
1443“Hmm, so Saitou-kun’s already spreading the news.”
1444“By the sound of it, you’re the source material.”
1445“Yeah, Kume-san’s an alumnus of our art club. I ran into his street
1446stall by chance. Hmm, that’s a nice piece. Wasn’t there last time I
1447checked up on it.”
1448“It’s nice, right? Good sense and all,” Kobato-san eagerly nodded.
1449“That Kume-san guy recommended it.”
1450“Yeah, you’ve made a good purchase there. Lucky, Kume-san’s
1451goods are usually one-of-a-kind.”
1452“But if they weren’t one-of-a-kind, I’m sure it’ll be hard on our
1453mister popular. It won’t start a trend.”
1454“Sure enough. Looks like you get it.” Takahashi’s expression
1455brightened up.
1456“What’s this? What are you talking about?”
1457“The male psyche. I wouldn’t want to double up.”
1458“Mnn?”
1459As Kobato-san tilted her head, soothing nutrients spilled into the
1460classroom, filling me with happiness. My luck went up five points.
1461“Rather, don’t girls feel that way too?”
1462“Yeah, I’m pretty sure they do.”
1463“Mnnnn, I don’t really get it!”
1464Kobato-san was puffing her cheeks so I answered with a wry smile.
1465“If everyone wears the same things, won’t it feel awkward? Is how it
1466goes.”
1467“Oh, character overlap, right~. Yeah, yeah, I totally get you.”
1468I’m pretty sure that meant something completely different but…
1469“But when you think about our uniforms, it feels nice that
1470everyone’s wearing the same thing. I was in the literary club in
1471middle school, so I never experienced the feeling. I always wanted
1472to try it out~.”
1473There was something I should have noticed by that point.
1474“I’m sorry, I’ll be off for a bit.”
1475With the conversation growing harder to enter, Ozaki-san stood
1476from her seat and ended up leaving the classroom. I should have
1477directed the talks toward her. That was my bad. Judging by
1478Takahashi’s good-natured response, he evidently felt no guilt. To 
147943
1480add to that, Kobato-san similarly simply fluffily waved her hand.
1481Those blessed with human relations are unable to understand the
1482urge to get away. Indeed, truly royal.
1483“Satou-kun, you know, we were planning to go stopping by the
1484station today, but want to come with?”
1485“Huh?”
1486Now that was a surprise. Contrary to how he treated everyone with
1487courtesy, when it came to hanging out, Takahashi only ever acted
1488with close friends. If such a man called out to me, that meant he
1489might eventually invite me to his group.
1490How could this be? It’s head hunting.
1491“Well… is it really okay if I go?”
1492“Of course, totally okay.”
1493“Then I think I’ll do just that.”
1494“Welcome to the team, Satou-kun. It’s the first time we’ll ever hang
1495out~.”
1496“Y-you’re right.”
1497Just what was it, this supernatural luck I was having today. I got the
1498feeling my life was suddenly taking a fun turn.
1499“The teacher’s going to get here soon. Could you give me your
1500number later?” “See you later~.”
1501Takahashi and Kobato-san returned to their seats. It was a few
1502minutes before class, but before the sense of being new students
1503wore off, it was the default for everyone to wait on standby at their
1504own station. Only Ladies’ Satou one chair forward and to the left
1505remained missing.
1506Despite the fact the homeroom teacher hadn’t arrived, the
1507classroom had sunk to silence. This atmosphere would definitely
1508crumble away within the next month. And by the time it collapsed,
1509the class’s human interrelation diagram would be largely
1510completed. A little more than a week from commencement, I was
1511blessed with the chance to join the vanguard. Upon conversing with
1512me, apparently Takahashi came under the impression that I was a
1513quick wit. Depending on how things rolled, perhaps Saitou would
1514be pushed aside and I would enter the circle to fill the vacancy. I felt 
151544
1516a sense of accomplishment. But that wasn’t the real me. It was
1517wonderful to be able to play with Kobato-san, my apprehensions of
1518the distant future foresaw a retribution for rushing through the
1519political game, weighing down heavily on me. If I interacted with
1520the vanguard, I would exist as an unfavorable comparison, and
1521would constantly have to keep mind of my surroundings. I would
1522also have to take good care of my relationship with Kawai and
1523Kobayashi. It was no easy task.
1524Maaan, if only I was handsome. No, the more important thing was
1525charisma. If only I had the aura to draw people to me, even without
1526self-interest, I could live a fun life.
1527By the way, aura comes from the Latin for wind. The English word
1528originally meant a gentle breeze, but now indicates the spiritual
1529energy emitted from one’s character. Of course, it isn’t something
1530that actually exists. It’s generally used as a substitute for charisma
1531and the feeling one gives off. While it’s invisible to the eye, there’s
1532nothing out there that can influence people more.
1533Someone who could become the leader of the class would have to
1534emit a strong aura. Take Takahashi, for instance.
1535But when it came to the greatest I had ever seen—I gripped the
1536medal in my pocket— the witch from last night was the greatest.
1537That was something else.
1538I wanted to meet her again. Perhaps my wish would be granted in
1539the near future, I held a faint hope.
1540The front door of the silent classroom slid open as the witch in a
1541blue robe brazenly strut in. If I had been drinking milk at the
1542moment, I’d have undoubtedly done a spit take.
1543Who’d have thought it would come true a second after I thought it.
1544The witch had infiltrated the classroom that morning.
1545Everyone’s reaction was a shade of surprise.
1546Without any exaggeration, all eyes were gathered upon her. Wholly
1547undeterred by those looks, the witch systematically surveyed the
1548room. Here eye alignment locked perfectly onto me. 
154945
1550“Hold on a second…”
1551I did wish to meet her. I carried the medal in remembrance. But at
1552that very moment, my mind was compromised of nothing but
1553danger signals.
1554“Satou Ichirou. The data was correct in that you were stationed in
1555this platoon.”
1556This time, the attention was on me. The curtain rose with my name
1557as the opening credit. My heart rebounded explosively.
1558“No, my name is… Satou… but… I’m not… really… sure about that
1559right now.”
1560I tried standing to explain myself, but all that came out was
1561incomprehensible groans.
1562The witch approached. I wanted to flee. I couldn’t move. She
1563stopped before my eyes. It was undoubtedly the blue witch. My
1564head sporadically boiled over. My thoughts wouldn’t organize. My
1565arms dubiously shook. It was a stiffness befitting the rising star of
1566the creeper industry (as if), and even I could clearly tell I was
1567repeating comical motions. I felt the contours of my face might fall
1568limp. Of all else, with my own power, I couldn’t control the
1569spontaneous shaking of my lip. In that very moment, I was an
1570anime that had run out of production budget. The very incarnation
1571of shoddy animation.
1572“What’s all this then?” “What is she wearing?” “Who?” “You know
1573her, Satou?” “Your girlfriend?” “Wow~, amazing! That’s so coool~!”
1574“Nuts.” “Cosplay?” “A joke?”
1575… I must have imagined Kobato-san’s innocuous voice mixed
1576among the wild flight of speculation. But a large majority of my
1577classmates were weirded out. Cringing, as they call it.
1578What? Why? Did I do something? The medal, a part of my brain
1579whispered softly. The witch came to get it back. Then as long as I
1580returned it, so too would peace return. I immediately put that plan
1581in action, thrusting the artifact out towards the witch.
1582“A-are you looking for this!?”
1583But with one glance at the medal,
1584“… Plenipotentiary Power Holder, report on investigation into 
158546
1586Satou Ichirou.”
1587That mysterious voice resounded across the classroom.
1588‘Investigation Report: It has been Made Clear that Satou Ichirou
1589Boasts an Adequate Nature to Serve as a Collaborator’ The
1590classroom returned to silence once more.
1591“… The heck was that?” a lone cold response output. The danger
1592signals had already reached max. At this rate, my normal life was
1593set to collapse. Of all things, why did it have to be school in the
1594middle of the day? Why couldn’t she measure out a time where
1595we could be alone?
1596Her form that had been so bewitching last night had become so
1597painful to look at in broad daylight. What a peculiar reversal. My
1598classmates had identified Risa as a rampant cosplayer. And I was an
1599acquaintance of this cosplayer. If I was wrapped up in such an
1600incident, there would be no conceivable way to spend my time free
1601of rumor.
1602Only one, I noticed there was a single way to return alive.
1603Right, if I could prove this witch was the ‘real thing’. If I could
1604demonstrate this plenipotentiary power holder was a mechanical
1605intelligence from another world. If I could establish the existence of
1606monsters called informational entities. The minuses should convert
1607to plusses.
1608“Umm, everyone please look at this!” I held it high for the class to
1609see.
1610“The truth is—”
1611My fingers strongly gripping the medal pressed up against what
1612seemed to be a button.
1613“Huh?”
1614I almost dropped the medal that had suddenly begun to change in
1615my hand. Barely catching it by the chain, the piece leisurely spun in
1616the air.
1617With such timing, the medal spoke.
1618‘Miracle, dress uuuuuuuuup!’
1619Not bearing the slightest resemblance to that somber adult voice, an
1620outrageously anime-esque exclamation. The rosebud inlay bloomed 
162147
1622into a large flower revealing a glimmering dome portion smack dab
1623in the center.
1624Piroriropiroriro♪
1625A synthetic chip-tune discharged.
1626‘Dress Chaaaaaaange, Evening Styyyyyle!’
1627Along with that exclamation, the glistening heart of the flower lit up
1628in seven colors. If there was any requiem played on the road down
1629to hell, I had always believed it would be a stately, classical tune. I
1630had never doubted that fact. Yet now, all my beliefs had been
1631smashed to smithereens. My soul was being dragged to Sheol by the
1632radiant beats of an anime at full throttle.
1633A while passed before the uproar died down and the medal reverted
1634to its original form. The back kindly featured the logo of the
1635production and distribution company.
1636“It’s freaking BANDAI!!”
1637A superdreadnought class toy maker of the real world whose name
1638required no introduction. It was quite a surprise to learn that
1639BANDAI was actually the god of death.
1640“… That’s the magic medallion from the female-targeted anime,
1641‘Dress Idol Yuna,’ airing on Sundays from eight thirty to nine… I
1642watched it when I was a kid… Don’t tell me Satou was an otaku?” I
1643don’t know who, but someone offered an explanation. An expert
1644explanation at that.
1645Meaning. The fact it was a toy meant— would that make it all a lie?
1646Where did the lies end and the truth begin? I wasn’t optimistic
1647enough to think the medal was the only lie about it. Presumably all
1648of it. The witch, and the other world, and the monster, it was all
1649lies.
1650“It’s over.”
1651My school life. My high school debut. My peace. It was all
1652demolished. My premonitions of a school life were thrown into a
1653cross-cutting shredder, torn into such tiny pieces that not even a
1654first-rate stalker would be able to steal a read.
1655“Unit Identification Satou Ichirou has been designated the position
1656of slave to serve in the mission of searching for the dragon terminal.
165748
1658The will of the network is transmitted to every activity body, and
1659the will of all activity bodies become one dispersed across the
1660network. We pray that you will be a good tool.”
1661Holding up a staff like Moses as he parted the red seas, the witch
1662grandly declared. I was no longer able to offer any reaction. My soul
1663had long since sunk into a deep darkness.
1664From what I heard later, it seems I had fainted on my feet.
1665“Ahahah, wait for me, witch!”
1666“Ichirou, over here, over here~.”
1667The witch and I, at the school at night (for some reason, the hallway
1668had become a field of flowers), our hands were linked as we were in
1669the midst of fleeing from the guardian. A beautiful meeting straight
1670out of a painting, an adventure to set one’s heart on edge, a
1671dramatic escape… and who could forget the wonderful memory of
1672that cosplay witch destroying my life the next morning!
1673“AAaaaah!”
1674Unable to endure the recapitulation of my fear, I opened my eyes
1675with a violent convulsion. The relief only lasted an instant, the
1676sadness following soon behind.
1677“… Urgh… dammit… dammit all…”
1678Burying my face in the pillow, I sobbed sorrowfully in shame. How
1679pathetic, how embarrassing.
1680In the time it took for the peculiar scent to alert me I wasn’t at
1681home but the infirmary, I wept some more. “The infirmary… I
1682see… was it all a dream?”
1683“Nah, all real.”
1684So spoke the large two chesticles resting on the edge of the bed.
1685“What a surreal reality.”
1686No, that’s wrong. The one who spoke was the owner of that chest. A
1687woman in a lab coat. By my estimation, somewhere in her early
1688twenties. Her fluffy-looking short perm was dyed a clean blonde.
1689Glasses that were supposed to be a symbol of intellect for some
1690reason granted her a mischievous impression. 
169149
1692“What are you doing here?”
1693“Seeing how you hold up. I’m the nurse.”
1694Standing on her knees, she leaning her body forward so her weight
1695rested on the bed. The bottom half of the frame formed by her
1696folded arms was filled with bust. Almost like a relief. I could declare
1697with certainty that there was no conceivable way those puppies
1698were any lower than a ninety. The impact of seeing them up close
1699could practically be considered violence. To the extent of what I
1700could glean from the silhouette, not a trace of brassiere. While she
1701must have had on a camisole or something, the trouble came in the
1702fact that her chest held a fierce impetus to be freed from its
1703oppression.
1704“You were watching? The whole time?”
1705“Yeah, had nothing better to do. I had to wipe your drool too.” I
1706hurriedly wiped my mouth.
1707“Don’t you have a job to do?”
1708“Yes, and I’m doing it. I was examining a student who suddenly
1709fainted.”
1710“Did I… faint?”
1711Admittedly, I did have a vague understanding I wasn’t dreaming. “I
1712heard you fell unconscious in class. You were carried over here, and
1713it’s around fifth period right now. They said you didn’t hit anything,
1714so I let you get some rest. Do you want me to contact your parents?”
1715“No, I’m not hurting anywhere… fifth period?” I was out way too
1716long.
1717“Did you stay up late last night or something?”
1718“Ah, right…”
1719I was feeling so exhilarated last night, I couldn’t get to sleep.
1720“If you can stand, come over here for a bit.” The school
1721nurse called me over to a steel desk.
1722It did seem she had to write something up in regards to any student
1723brought in. My name, my class, I gave a simple explanation of the
1724circumstances.
1725I tried to play off the witch issue, but she bit on.
1726“… I don’t get how a girl you know coming to see you put you in a
1727state of shock. I do recall an incident where an outsider marched 
172850
1729into school this morning, but why did that knock you out?” If I
1730seriously was a quick wit, I’d have been able to redirect the
1731conversation, but in the end, it was a false front. Unable to think
1732of any clever excuse, I covered up only the events of last night, and
1733honestly divulged the rest.
1734“Hmm. So in short, she came all dressed in cosplay.”
1735“Yes. When everyone learned that I knew her… I knew they might
1736think we’re one and the same, err…” I was infected.
1737“I get you, I get you. This is an important time for you. Of course,
1738you’d like to avoid anything crazy.”
1739“Yes, that’s it.”
1740“Yeaaah, got it. I’ll process it so it doesn’t become too big of a deal,
1741okay? You can get back to class. If you start feeling ill, you can take
1742off in the middle of lessons, just come and talk to me.”
1743Just as I’d given my thanks and was about to vacate the infirmary,
1744the sleeve of my uniform caught on a small seal case on the table,
1745dropping it onto the floor. The lid came off spilling its contents.
1746“Sorry, I’ll get that.”
1747“Could you?”
1748When I burrowed under the desk, the corner of my eye caught a
1749glance up her skirt. The forbidden glimpse just beyond the indecent
1750huddled flesh of her inner thighs deformed by her sitting posture.
1751The chamber of secrets (don’t sue me). Why was she barefoot,
1752anyway? Seriously, why was she barefoot? Would you call this
1753feeling love… heck no, it’s just lust. It did seem I was becoming a
1754nervous wreck.
1755Severing all worldly desires, I devoted my undivided attention to
1756the search.
1757“Found it. What is this anyway?”
1758“You can’t have it.”
1759“… I never said I wanted it.”
1760To explain it in short, it was a metallic stick. Around the size of a
1761human finger. While it was decorated, yearly wear had shallowed
1762out the engravings and I couldn’t make out what it was supposed to
1763be. 
176451
1765“It’s used as a good luck charm. They’re famous around these partsfor
1766girls, specifically. I got it from a kid who frequents the
1767infirmary.”
1768“Hmmm.”
1769A good luck charm was a sort of spell, so along that vein it was a
1770ritual ornament, in a sense. A real one.
1771“Then I’ll be getting back. I’ve got to at least attend sixth period.”
1772The bell for sixth period chimed.
1773“Nyahaha, now that’s unfortunate.”
1774Her intonation made it out as completely someone else’s business. I
1775lost all motivation to get back to class.
1776I returned after class. I ate some leftovers from the nurse’s lunch
1777and killed some time. Homeroom had already ended to give way to
1778blank nothingness.
1779As I approached the classroom, my anxiety multiplied.
1780Just what sort of evaluation had they handed down upon me? There
1781was no way my shocking drama with the cosplay woman hadn’t
1782become a subject of conversation.
1783Settling my resolve, I stepped into the classroom. The remaining
1784students looked at me at once.
1785Two girls I’d never spoken to before, also around six boys. Kawai
1786and Kobayashi were there as well, talking with poor sandwich
1787Nakamura. All eyes looking at me seemed to want to say something,
1788but no one actually spoke up. The class’s sole delinquent alone
1789played it apathetic, reading some magazine to himself.
1790Takahashi‘s group was nowhere to be seen.
1791Considering the circumstances, that was to be expected.
1792For now, I just wanted to know what happened after that. When I
1793turned towards Kawai and the others, they awkwardly took their
1794eyes off of me. With transparent bearing, their conversation
1795restarted. Mn, was a barrier just erected?
1796“Still, Nakamura, you really have it hard.” 
179752
1798“Right, right, can’t help but laugh sometimes. Got to look forward to
1799the next seating change.”
1800“You guys are still better off. I’m right by the teacher’s desk.”
1801Regardless of the fact I was nearby, the talk continued as if I wasn’t
1802there. The chill spreading from my spin across my body numbed me
1803to the tips of my finger.
1804No doubt about it. These three were emitting a ‘don’t talk to me’
1805aura.
1806But why? I didn’t even have to think about it. There was only one
1807possible reason. I got that part, but why was the perpetrator of this
1808mess nowhere to be seen? At the end of my mulling, I decided it
1809was better than doing nothing, and tried talking to Kawai.
1810“Hey, about that woman from this morning. Do you know where
1811she—”
1812“Satou, the teacher said he wanted you to go to the counseling room
1813when you got back.”
1814Kobayashi’s response could be expressed as flat-out rejection. I
1815could no longer follow up my words. Should I ask “Why so cold,
1816aren’t we friends”? The answer is no. That’s what you should never
1817do ay any costs.
1818That exchange was plenty to tell there was no present possibility of
1819reconciliation. While my unsteady footing seemed hopeless, if I
1820clung on any further, I would be forcing them to come out with the
1821definitive words.
1822Those definitive words would be my end. That was the sort of space
1823school was. That’s why whatever could be left ambiguous should be
1824kept ambiguous. The power to read the mood is indispensable.
1825“Got it, thanks.”
1826A swift retreat. I could just barely hear, “We’ve grown a little
1827distant, but we can still talk some.” I successfully maintained the
1828front lines. I felt like crying.
1829Just as I’d prepared to be off and was leaving the classroom, I
1830crashed into one of my classmates.
1831Well maintained hair, straight and long. He was tall, and a looker as
1832far as I could tell. But for some reason, he was a weirdo who 
183353
1834insisted to be the only one wearing a white uniform: I had
1835thoroughly avoided all conversation with him.
1836“Sorry.”
1837I quickly apologized to be on my way, but for once in a blue moon,
1838he actually spoke up to me.
1839“Satou Ichirou.”
1840“Me?”
1841“A storm is coming.”
1842“… You think it’s going to rain.”
1843“Fufufu, the day you understand is not long to come.
1844Fwahahahahah!”
1845He entered the classroom with a grand laugh. That theatrical
1846attitude, it grate against my old wounds.
1847The counseling room was a space set aside for counseling and secret
1848discussions. The fact we employed a full-time counselor was one of
1849our school’s selling points, but I’d never had the chance to use
1850them.
1851“It’s Satou. I’m coming in.”
1852“This is Dorisen. Go right ahead.”
1853Dorisen. Our homeroom teacher’s nickname. Our generation had
1854nothing to do with it, it was our seniors a year up who gave it to
1855him. Originally, his tendency to be a heavily doting husband had
1856him teased as Lovebird: oshidori fuufu; that eventually became
1857Oshidori Sensei which was shortened to Dorisen, apparently. But
1858who in the world would actually use a nickname their students
1859gave them on themselves?
1860“Pardon me.”
1861Imagining something like an interrogation room, I timidly stepped
1862in. There was no cold feeling. An expensive-looking carpet and
1863green curtains. A low table and sofa set. Alongside a television and
1864playback device, there was even a coffee maker. I had never
1865imagined such a space on school grounds. 
186654
1867A table across from me, Dorisen had taken a firm seat in the center
1868of a sofa for three.
1869“Well, have a seat. You don’t have to be so stiff.” “I
1870see,” I sat on his urgings.
1871“I heard you passed out, but are you doing alright?” Dorisen poured
1872some coffee into a cup.
1873“No problems to report. I hear you’re the one who carried me, I
1874have to apologize for that.”
1875“It’s love, Satou.”
1876“Hah?”
1877“My love as an educator. So you don’t have to worry about it. It is
1878my pleasure to race through adolescence with you.”
1879“……… Uh-huh.”
1880I was beginning to get the feeling his name also included the
1881implication of Dreamer Sensei.
1882“So anyways. About why I called you here. Do you have any
1883guesses?”
1884“It’s not about me fainting this morning?”
1885“There’s that, and a little bit of something else.” I
1886tried thinking but wasn’t hitting on anything.
1887“I don’t know.”
1888“Alright, then I’ll be a man and come right out with it. But you
1889should keep this in mind. No matter what happens, I’m on your
1890side. Me and you, we’re tied by the tight bonds of education!”
1891“……… Uh-huh.”
1892In all my life, that was the first time I ever had to repeat the one and
1893only peerless interjection for when one couldn’t receive the
1894conversation, “Uh-huh” over such a short interval. T-this man
1895knows his stuff! … Was the air he gave off.
1896“There was an intruder in school yesterday, and it turns out it was
1897you, Satou~, well I’ll be.”
1898I did a spit take with my half-finished coffee.
1899“Am I really that obvious!?”
1900“I mean, you showed up right on camera.”
1901So there was a security camera… 
190255
1903“You’ve got it wrong, I just came to get my textbook… so I snuck
1904into the school.”
1905“I thought it would be something like that. Now about the other
1906intruder.”
1907“That unrepentant cosplayer?”
1908“Right, her. That girl, you see, she’s one of our students. She’s in our
1909class, and her name’s Satou just like you. You remember how we
1910have a student who’s been absent since day one?”
1911“Y-you’re kidding me.”
1912Satou? Ladies’ Satou of the empty seat? That cosplay woman?
1913“From one Satou to another, have you known one another long?”
1914“You’re wrong! I first met her that night at school.”
1915“It seems you used fireworks to cause some trouble with our guards,
1916and as both culprits were students of my class, the matter was left
1917in my hands.”
1918“I’m sorry.” I obediently lowered my head.
1919“Alright. And so, I’ll overlook it this time. I’ll believe in your
1920sincerity that you’ll never repeat the mistake. However, in
1921exchange, there’s something I want you to do.”
1922“A request?” If it was the price to look the other way, there was no
1923way I could deny it.
1924“It’s about your accomplice, the other Satou.”
1925“Come to think of it, where did she go off to? Has she been carted
1926off to juvi yet?”
1927“She disappeared just like that. She’s always been like that. When I
1928went to pay a home visit, she was gone the moment I took my eyes
1929off of her. It’s almost in the realm of paranormal.”
1930“That’s a skill that sounds convenient for crime. So what’s your
1931request.”
1932Dorisen gave me his finest smile.
1933“I want you to become friends with that girl—Satou Ryouko.”
1934“I refuse. Does my suspension start tomorrow?”
1935“Eeh? Why!?”
1936“The plea bargain has been rejected, end of story.”
1937“It’s not a bargain, it’s a favor, Satou. Mens’ Satou and Ladies’
1938Satou, you should get along perfectly.” 
193956
1940“Give me a break! Do you even know what sort of woman she is?”
1941“Her cosplay may be a bit much, but… if she makes a friend, I think
1942she’ll come to school. As a matter of fact, she did.”
1943“But if I become friends with her, I’m quite sure I won’t be able to
1944be friends with anyone else.”
1945I realized that was a terrible way to look at it, but it was the reality.
1946“… Yeaaah. Then how about this.” Dorisen made his most radiant
1947smile of all. “I, Dorisen will be your friend.”
1948“You really are a dreamer sensei!”
1949“I’m an educator, so I think I have at least five students’ worth of
1950friendship power.”
1951“Even with those incomprehensible calculations.”
1952“You don’t come by these education chances often. Satou Ryouko is
1953obstinate in her inattendance. Yet when it was in order to meet
1954Satou Ichirou, she came just like that. The conclusion I must draw
1955is…”
1956“Is?”
1957“That crest of the Satou drew you to one another.”
1958“What’s that even mean?”
1959“… I thought you were at an age where you would like that sort of
1960thing.”
1961“What even is the crest of the Satou? Whatever the case, anyone but
1962her.”
1963“Mmmm, if a request won’t work, I can make it an order. I can
1964appoint Mens’ Satou in charge of Ladies’ Satou.”
1965“You’ll go that far…”
1966“Did it work?”
1967“Definitely not. I don’t want to. She hurts to look at. I hate that sort
1968of LARPing more than anything.”
1969“Why’s that? Did you have a bad experience with it? Middle school,
1970perhaps?”
1971With a clang, my head felt it had been smacked with a morning star.
1972“Nn-n-nwaught eth ll! Y-yo-you’re wro!” My creeper genes came out
1973full throttle. “I definitely didn’t LARP and get bullied in middle
1974school.” 
197557
1976“As I thought. I didn’t think you’d be the sort. But it’s because
1977you’re like that, that I want you to understand how she feels.” It
1978bothered me how he put it, but I didn’t want this to continue.
1979“I’d rather not. In the first place, I don’t want to get close to her.”
1980“I’d get it if she was violent, but could you at least try not rejecting
1981her on her attitude?”
1982“No, if she comes close, I’m sure I’ll reject her the heck of it.”
1983“Hmmm,” Dorisen offhandedly tossed a document onto the table.
1984“Ah, sorry, I dropped something.”
1985With how shamelessly he acted, I hazarded a glance to find the
1986words ‘Record Enclosed: Satou Ichirou’ on the cover. I opened my
1987eyes wide. My student record. At the end, there was a separate entry
1988compiled of a special report.
1989“Oh my, there’s no way I could ever leak the contents of that
1990document to the other students. If I ever did something like that,
1991my dear, dear student might just be picked on.”
1992A blatant threat. When he was so bold about it, I didn’t even have
1993the willpower to curse him. “You’ll accept, won’t you?” There was
1994no way I could refuse.
1995The sigh faucet had broken, leaving a constant stream. While I
1996understood it was unbecoming, for now alone, I couldn’t lie to my
1997own feelings.
1998“Haha…”
1999Some dry self-derision. Today had shifted from a day of delight to a
2000day to be kicked and tread on.
2001The classroom was deserted. I sat in my own seat and threw my
2002body over my desk. I didn’t have the motivation to head home, and
2003my playdate arrangements fell through. To add to that, my hopes
2004for high school had fallen away, banging against every step on the
2005way down. Thinking back, Dorisen’s threat was pretty meaningless.
2006My fate had already been sealed. My unfortunate meeting with that
2007sham mage would drop me back down to the very bottom, most
2008likely. 
200958
2010Thirty minutes were required to wring out the insignificant
2011willpower to be on my way.
2012“… I should go home.”
2013The wind was blowing, spreading the curtain wide into the room.
2014The refreshing spring wind mixed in with the sweet scent of hair. I
2015blankly turned an eye. The blue witch sat on the windowsill.
2016“Y-you!”
2017I kicked back my chair. I had journeyed three long years, searching
2018out my sworn foe and here she stood before me— was the feeling I
2019was getting.
2020“Dragon wave detected,” she unerringly, brazenly leaked. “One of
2021the terminals really must be in this building.” “Cut the lies. Your
2022mask’s already peeled off.”
2023“Numerous precognitive tests have undoubtedly observed the
2024existence of the dragon terminal.”
2025“You don’t have to do that anymore. In the first place, where have
2026you been all this time?”
2027“Searching independently.”
2028“So you were searching for something that doesn’t exist.” I sneered.
2029“… A remarkable deterioration has been detected in Ichirou’s
2030behavior.”
2031“Whose fault do you think that is!?”
2032Satou Ryouko looked the same as ever. A robe and a staff. It was
2033anyone’s best guess how she operated covertly, dressed like that.
2034No, no, she was definitely sighted. It’s just, no one wanted to get
2035involved, they were too afraid.
2036“I’ll say it right out. You’re not a witch from another world. You’re
2037just a high school student, the sort of boring plebian you could find
2038anywhere: Satou Ryouko, and no one else!”
2039With my finger pointed at Ryouko (she didn’t deserve an honorific),
2040I awaited her mental breakdown.
2041“… Ichirou, it seems you have been subject to wavelength
2042conversion.”
2043“You’ve got your jargon bases covered. If you think lining up
2044appropriate-sounding words will shut me up, you’re way off.” “To
2045put it in this realm’s terminology, wavelength conversion is akin to 
204659
2047brainwashing. A technique to interfere with the brain waves of a
2048carbon-based activity body to influence their thought pattern.”
2049“Yeah, yeah, again with that nonsense.”
2050“If The Researcher reinitializes Ichirou’s brain waves, the problem
2051will be resolved.”
2052“Hmm. Then if that doesn’t resolve it, you’ll have to admit you’re
2053just some delusional crazy.”
2054“Negative. The Central Assembly exists, and it is an irrefutable fact
2055that The Researcher is affiliated with the organization.”
2056This girl, could it be she wasn’t posing, but was actually seriously
2057invested in her delusion?
2058“Commencing treatment. Sit in this chair and close your eyes.” She
2059pulled out the end-row chair and put it against the wall.
2060“No way. You’re wasting your time, and I’m going home.” “…
2061If after the treatment, there is absolutely no change to your
2062mental state, then accepting your argument is a conceivable
2063possibility.”
2064“There, you said it. If you accept it, you’ll have to quit it with that
2065crazy cosplay of yours.”
2066“Very well.”
2067“And no arguing your way out if I haven’t changed at all.”
2068“Indeed.”
2069“Got it.” I sat in the chair and closed my eyes. “Just you try it. That
2070reinitialization of yours.”
2071It was more than absolute confidence. It was an undeniable fact
2072that this witch was Satou Ryouko. That point alone eliminated any
2073deviation. I had already won the war. After I made her quit
2074cosplaying, how was I going to punish Ryouko? There was Dorisen’s
2075plan to consider, so I was best off making her wear a uniform and
2076go to school. Admittedly, even if she did wear a uniform, it would be
2077impossible for her to make any friends. Right, if you fail your debut,
2078it’s over. I was over as well. But if I could take the assailant down
2079with me, it could serve as some consolation.
2080“Don’t move.”
2081Ryouko’s hands locked onto both sides of my face. As she lightly
2082pushed back with them, my head touched against the wall. I grew 
208360
2084anxious. Be that as it may, it was already too late. The ritual had
2085begun.
2086“…!?”
2087Just as I thought I could hear her breathing up close, in the next
2088instant, it had already been done.
2089What, you ask? Why of course, a kiss.
2090“Gnn————!”
2091I was kissed. Satou Ryouko kissed me. What was that supposed to
2092mean? Why was she kissing me? What were we even talking about
2093before? Something about brainwashing? If the issue at hand was
2094resolved by the lack of evidence, the answer was a kiss.
2095Incomprehensible.
2096“Nma, mh…”
2097My escape route was sealed from the start. The two hands holding
2098my face. And the wall right behind my head. Today’s trivia: if the
2099back of their head is against a wall and only a finger is pressed
2100against their forehead, a human is unable to stand.
2101Leaving behind an excessively erotic breath, Ryouko parted from
2102me.
2103“……”
2104I stared dumbstruck a while.
2105Like hell I’d let her look down on me, I stood. Overlapping myself
2106with the majestic form of Takeda Shingen in my heart, I was going
2107to give it to her harsh.
2108“Toobabubabubu!”
2109That was the first time in my life I ever bit my tongue so
2110consecutively.
2111By the way, “Too bad for you. I haven’t changed in the slightest,”
2112was the plan. No vestige of the original quote was left. My
2113sourcetext was bastardized. Like a wilting flower arrangement, I
2114crumbled down into the chair. At that moment, my existence was
2115lower than the decorative chrysanthemum placed over a hot bowl of
2116noodles. “You are currently facing a temporary loss of language
2117function due to reinitialization. You may see it as proof that the
2118treatment was a success.” 
2119“… Kuh”
2120‘Hehe, boss, your heart pump can’t handle this beat,’ or so my
2121throbbing chest kindly informed me. A novice like myself was
2122immediately set racing. My face was idiotically hot. In contrast,
2123Ryouko showed not the slightest tint of red. She maintained a
2124perfect poker face.
2125“… That’s playing dirty.”
2126She used a woman’s weapons. All’s fair in love and war, but
2127seriously.
2128“In the search for the Dragon Terminal, The Researcher has been
2129set as the master, and Ichirou as the slave. Now that the oath has
2130been completed, Ichirou is obligated to listen to The Researcher’s
2131orders.”
2132“… Orders again.”
2133“Be at ease. The Researcher shall not make light of your life. In the
2134event of the mission’s completion, you have a guarantee that you
2135will be promptly released. Additionally, the organization intends
2136to compensate you in local currency.” She was going to pay me,
2137this girl?
2138“You’ll go so far in a kid’s play pretend to pay someone money?”
2139The problem was approaching another dimension. My anger
2140became something of some other dimension.
2141“As a result of considering the phenomenal world’s emphasis on
2142individual work, the reward has been deemed appropriate.”
2143“Are you stupid? You’re stupid.”
2144Why could she throw aside what other humans held valuable so
2145easily?
2146“That insult holds no logical validity. The researcher’s mode of
2147operation is determined by the Central Assembly, and as long as the
2148intrinsic differences among individual units are finely regulated, the
2149insult of idiot is inapplicable. While this may run contrary to the
2150decision of the local collaborator enlisted for the mission of finding
2151the Dragon Terminal, as long as Ichirou cannot comprehend the
2152organization’s circumstance leading to the dragon terminal’s
2153necessity, it should be impossible for him to deliver an
2154allencompassing verdict.” 
215562
2156“More than possible. If you stick money onto it, that’s all it’ll ever
2157mean to me.”
2158“The Researcher is unable to identify the target of the
2159demonstrative pronoun of ‘that’. The output of Ferula fails to
2160decipher the complex mental state of phenomenal residents. Please
2161designate the scope of ‘that’.”
2162“Don’t screw with me… so thoughtlessly… the money, and the
2163kiss…”
2164The recompense for foolishness is always paid after the fact. This
2165girl was far too oblivious. When I looked at her, my old wounds
2166ached. It was so painful I couldn’t stand to look any longer.
2167“You’re going to destroy yourself. If you end up like that.”
2168“It is a common occurrence for an affiliated activity body to sacrifice
2169their life to further the mission. The same applies to Ichirou.” “Why
2170do I have to lay down my life for your freaking delusions?” “Ichirou,
2171you know too much. If you were not placed under my patronage,
2172there is a possibility the organization would erase you.” “None at
2173all, the organization itself ain’t anywhere. The eliminaters aren’t
2174coming.”
2175“There are times the Plenipotentiary Holder issues such orders to a
2176Researcher as well.”
2177“So what? You’re going to be following me around forever?”
2178“Affirmative.”
2179Dorisen’s threat. Ryouko’s stalker declaration. My naïve notion that
2180the morning’s events weren’t yet fatal. They all mixed together to
2181form a single solution.
2182“For the time being… if I find this dragon terminal of yours, my
2183mission is over, right?”
2184I was going to be alone anyway. I was going to be ostracized
2185regardless.
2186“That is correct. It will end.”
2187“Dragon terminal, eh. I won’t accept some punchline like it doesn’t
2188actually exist. Even if it is a delusion, it might have some other
2189object serving at its core. Can you tell me with absolute certainty
2190that some item corresponding with this dragon terminal of yours
2191actually exists?” 
219263
2193“The Researcher doesn’t know what name the residents of the
2194phenomenal realm have given the dragon terminal. However, if you
2195desire a sample of a real article, I can present it on our next
2196meeting.”
2197If she would go as far as present it, the target itself would have to
2198exist somewhere. There was an end. If I put my reasons to go with it
2199and my reasons to deny it on the scale, the latter was the winner,
2200but… with all the supports below me crumbling away, in the end, I
2201would find myself in practically the same place: rock bottom. It
2202would be an insignificant profit margin falling short of the decimal
2203point.
2204“Fine. I’ll help out.”
2205“Then accept your reward.”
2206Ryouko fiddled with her staff. In the handle portion, one of those
2207coin dispensers they sold at the bargain store was built in. The
2208small stack of coins became a mound on the palm of her hand.
2209That was what she held out to me.
2210“Payment.”
2211A sum fitting of a childish game. How should I put it, it felt like I got
2212angry over nothing.
2213“… I don’t need your small change.”
2214I got home at six.
2215When I reached my room and sunk into the bed, I felt like I might
2216pass out again.
2217“… Harsh.”
2218Ryouko spared no time to drag me around school on a search. It
2219was a hellish time.
2220This was too large to call a blind spot, but even after school, there
2221were plenty of students in the middle of club activities. The sight of
2222me being dragged around by an open cosplayer was witnessed by
2223plenty of students. Far too quickly, I was cursing my own decision.
2224Of course, we didn’t find that dragon terminal thing of hers, making
2225for nothing but embarrassment for me, the innocent dragged in. 
222664
2227There was definitely something wrong with the world. Would we
2228even find the dragon terminal anytime soon? I felt anxious. If we
2229didn’t find it, it seemed likely I’d be on the road of shame a while
2230longer.
2231“Ichirou, phone,” a call from downstairs.
2232“Phone?”
2233Scrambling down, I took the receiver from my mother. I’d only just
2234begun carrying a cell phone so only Kawai and Kobayashi knew my
2235number on it. Neither of them my friends, evidently. Crap, I’m
2236friendless.
2237“Hello?”
2238‘Hey it’s me, it’s me, I need you to deposit an exorbitant sum into
2239my bank account.’
2240I only knew one person who’d say that.
2241“I’m hanging up, Shimizu.”
2242‘Joking, joking. That’s no good, Ichirou-kun, didn’t I teach you not
2243to snap in normal conversation?’
2244“… Hah? When did I do that? You’ve just got terrible timing today.”
2245In the darkness of my middle school era, if I were to name a single
2246friend, it would have to be Shimizu. He was a student in another
2247class, and the sole person who properly spoke with me even upon
2248knowing I was being bullied. Albeit, he never went as far as to
2249publicly help me (hey what do you think’s going to happen if I help?
2250we wouldn’t want two bullied students on our hands, he boldly
2251declared), but hidden at it was, he properly associated with me.
2252That alone was cause for celebration.
2253Without that sufficiency, perhaps I’d never even considered a high
2254school debut. It wasn’t enough to say he had a large influence.
2255‘Are you busy?’
2256“No, just lying in the mud on the verge of death, contemplating my
2257life choices.”
2258‘That sounds fun. How about you tell me about it.’
2259Shimizu’s voice bounced. He was enjoying this. He was the sort of
2260hedonist who used the misfortune of others as fuel. I gave him a
2261sum up. Once he’d heard it all, Shimizu sounded satisfied.
2262‘… Well now, that’s quite the crazy you’ve got on your hands.’ 
226365
2264“Her aura’s amazing. She’s got to be nen user.” ‘They
2265do say nen’s the only way to counteract nen, pff.’ He
2266laughed at his own gag. The bastard.
2267“I’m not even in a pinch, it’s already over. My classmates all think
2268I’m one of those.”
2269‘It’s too early in the year. The dubious equilibrium is easy to
2270collapse.’
2271“I must be facing retribution for trying to join the vanguard without
2272learning my place.”
2273“Well, don’t be so down. Aight, how about some advice from the
2274great and powerful me?”
2275Shimizu’s advice admittedly helped me quite a bit in middle school.
2276“No, I’m pretty sure even you couldn’t work your way out of this
2277one.”
2278‘Well say what you want. How about you start by telling me how
2279your class is made up?’
2280Perhaps talking would be enough to take a load off my mind. Sitting
2281right on the floor of the hall with the telephone, I picked out my
2282words.
2283“Well first, there’s one group of nobles and…”
2284The morning classroom was in the process of changing into another
2285world.
2286The moment I entered, the room’s idle chatter quelled down. It
2287wasn’t that they were drawing back. It was ridicule.
2288“Yesterday.” “Creepy” “Cosplay” “Too creepy” “Satous in arms”
2289“Secret creep” “Weirded out” “One of those creepers” the numerous
2290short snippets I had picked up. While a majority of the
2291bombardment came from the main legion, I would have
2292appreciated it if that Ooshima Yumina girl learned to talk a little
2293quieter, or at least stopped repeating the same word over and over.
2294Feeling like I was crossing a river of needles, I took my seat.
2295Confirming Satou Ryouko’s vacant station, I was hit by a pang of 
229666
2297relief. Operating with her usually came with heavy stress. I had no
2298complaints if she opted not to come at all.
2299Still, I was astonished to see the girl to my right, Ozaki-san’s desk
2300had been pushed around ten centimeters away from where it had
2301been the day before. Once they get adverse, girls sure are blatant
2302about it.
2303When it wasn’t like everyone was slamming me, it felt like I had
2304made an enemy of the entire class.
2305Suffocating. Embarrassing. Pathetic.
2306At a time like this, I felt like clenching the back of my right hand. I
2307frantically held it in. I’d already promised myself, I wasn’t going to
2308contain my hand again. There were five minutes to homeroom. Get
2309on with it already, Dorisen.
2310A shadow stood before me.
2311It was a shocker, to be honest. Did Takahashi or Ooshima or
2312Yamamoto or Saitou come to deliver the death penalty so soon?
2313“Satou-kuuun.”
2314“K-Kobato-san!”
2315For real? I almost groaned. For her, the existence embodying world
2316peace, to have come to deliver my requiem. If in her usual smile,
2317she told me, “Satou-kun, wouldn’t you be better off dead~?” I knew
2318my heart technician would go, “Sorry boss, this is where I say
2319goodbye. ‘Cya.” and run off.
2320Aah, her small lips opened with the premonition of catastrophe.
2321“Good morning, you’re a little late today,” her bouncing intonation.
2322Oh?
2323“Y-yeah. Right.”
2324“I’m sorry about yesterday. We waited around five minutes after
2325homeroom ended, but you didn’t come back so we left ahead.”
2326“Y-yeah. Right.”
2327“We should get together some other time.”
2328“Y-yeah. Right.”
2329Mass producing copied and pasted lines, I was properly moved.
2330Kobato-san existed outside the ring of malice. She didn’t touch up
2331on Ryouko, and she didn’t seem to despise me. She was a woman of 
233267
2333character. To think her virtue would be so high, she could be put to
2334work in national defense. The country will have to start paying her a
2335full yearly salary.
2336That does it. I’m building a Kobato shrine in my heart. I shall search
2337for my salvation in religion.
2338“… Muh.”
2339My eyes met with Ooshima Yumina. A disgusted face. She must not
2340have liked the fact that Kobato-san could calmly talk with someone
2341like me. I remembered well. A few days ago, when Kobato-san
2342asked her how to do makeup, “That sorta thing doesn’t suit you,
2343Kobato,” she ignored her at lightning speed. Ooshima Yumina
2344feared the notion of Kobato-san raising her appeal. Queen bee she
2345may be, but she sure was a petty one. Unfortunately, Kobato-san
2346had already reached her maximum sweetness in her base form.
2347Suck on that.
2348As my body swelled up with her healing power, another shadow
2349came to stand beside me. A boy.
2350“I’ve finally found you.” He said in a feigned solemn voice.
2351“Hewley.”
2352I ended up twitching in surprise. At the point I timidly turned my
2353head up to look, there he stood.
2354Seat number thirteen. A short, stout boy with a sports cut. As I
2355recall, his name was Suzuki Osamu. “… Do you need
2356something?”
2357“You don’t remember me, Hewley?”
2358“Who’s this Hewley?” I didn’t want to get involved, but there was
2359nothing else to retort at.
2360“I’m talking about you. Who else do you see?”
2361“No, my name’s Satou. Don’t you have the wrong guy? I’ve never
2362even talked to you before.”
2363With a swift attack, I brought the conversation to a close. “Hmph,
2364you can’t fool me.” Suzuki’s bearing brimming with confidence. A
2365voice that resounded across the classroom, and only in that
2366proclamation did he burst into cringy jargon. “Not the magic of
2367these odd eyes, the ‘Thousand Mile Stare’!” 
236868
2369Odd eye. Heterochromia. Where the left eye and right eye are
2370different colors.
2371“Dude, your eyes are both brown.”
2372“Hmph. This is but a temporary vessel. I see why you cannot
2373recognize me.”
2374“And I never wanted to, now go take your seat. Homeroom’s about
2375to start.”
2376“A large crisis has befallen the multiverse of Zeusheim! The descent
2377of that accursed malign deity has dispersed we twelve knights
2378across the realms.”
2379I got goosebumps.
2380“J-just take a seat… okay?”
2381“We must search out the lost knights and return to Zeusheim. And
2382we will slay the evil god Ephesosmea.”
2383My goosebumps were going to sprout feathers at this rate. “It
2384seems thou hath lost thine memory. Wait right there. I will use
2385mine Psychodive to burrow into thy consciousness to ascertain
2386the cause.”
2387Did he just refer to me with thy?
2388Suzuki brandished his hand over my head. Before I even had the
2389time to swipe it away, his body lurched back as if he’d been struck.
2390What a speedy development.
2391“Gwoooh! What a strong magic barrier! For my Psychodive to be
2392reflected!”
2393I detested the word ‘Creepy,’ a term used to tread over human life.
2394“Suzuki, you’re kinda acting creepy.” But when I actually tried using
2395it, it carried quite a reassuring toxicity to it. It had my vote. “Hmph.
2396It looks like you have been placed under a curse. This is going to be a
2397long battle. But do not forget in your heart, thou art a
2398proud dark holy swordsman, a Zwei Bander!”
2399“Let alone forget, I never even asked!”
2400“Cease and desist, Suzuki Osamu!”
2401The intruding third party wore the only white uniform in class.
2402“You’re Kinoshita of the white cloth!” Instead of backing off, Suzuki
2403bit right on. 
240469
2405“Do you understand why we wear this white uniform, Satou… nay,
2406Hewley!”
2407“It’s Satou!”
2408Going off my inductive reasoning grounded in experience, any high
2409school student who refers to themselves with the royal we is bad
2410news.
2411“Fwahahah! If you want to know so badly, I’ll tell you.” Seriously,
2412wait.
2413“This white cloth is the proof of a sage who carries great wisdom. All
2414I can tell you is that it is deeply tied to the World Congress, the
2415higher ranking organization unifying each nation’s shadow
2416government (Umbra Imperium).”
2417“What, so you’re the rumored…!” Suzuki purposefully cried out.
2418“Our conscious domain, the Akasha Fragment details bits and
2419pieces of everything in history from past to present. Indeed, I,
2420Kinoshita, am the man who will someday rule over the world,
2421fwahahahah!”
2422His laugh kinda sounded like he was properly enunciating every
2423syllable of “Fwahaha”. Just try and imagine the creepiness and
2424cringe delivered to me.
2425“Muh! Akasha Fragments, I’ve heard of them before! They say it
2426contains bits and pieces of all history past to present!”
2427“You just freaking repeated his explanation!”
2428When it seemed to be a conversation, no side was actually
2429interacting. This was the fearsome egotistical clash of two cold
2430fronts.
2431“Hewley, this Kinoshita will have to borrow your power someday.”
2432“Halt, sage. That man is a direct knight of Zeusheim (The Heavenly
2433Palace). He has no time to be bothered with earthly affairs. Indeed,
2434there is not a moment to lose!”
2435“Why did you even come to school then? Isn’t your room enough for
2436your life?”
2437“Hold it right there, the both of you.”
2438I almost raised a scream. While things were growing complicated,
2439the third one came. 
244070
2441“… Andou Tatsuoka. This discussion has no place for a bystander.
2442Stand back.” Suzuki swept his arm in an overblown gesture. Cold.
2443Bleak.
2444“Pfft, bystander, you say? What nonsense! Can you say that after
2445you’ve looked at this!?”
2446Andou Tatsuoka’s buttons snapped off as he ripped open his jacket.
2447Burst buttons might sound cool on paper, but looking at it up close,
2448I was dumbfounded by how pathetic it was. So anyway, what Andou
2449went as far as to put on a production to emphasize was the
2450Tokusatsu Hero-esque short sleeve shirt he had on underneath it.
2451My vision went dark.
2452You too, eh. You too. You have the same aura.
2453“Andou Tatsuoka is no more than a temporary form to blend in with
2454the world,” he hoisted one arm in a brisk motion. A wristwatch that
2455looked seven times cheaper than a G Shock peeked out from his
2456sleeve.
2457“My true identity is… oh my! I almost went and outed myself. We
2458can’t be having that!”
2459“Yeah, yeah, so you’re deluded to think you’re one of those metal
2460heroes or something, right? You wear glimmering armor and fight
2461monsters. That toy watch of yours is merch from some tokusatsu
2462show, with the target age somewhere from three to five. Do your
2463powers come from being a modified human? A space detective? Are
2464you a transforming rider?”
2465“W-what are you talking about Satou! By no means am I anything of
2466the sort! I merely had to attest I am no bystander! And this Blaze
2467Core is but an ordinary watch.”
2468With Andou’s deliberate-looking fluster, I used up 500mp to
2469shower him with a gaze colder than any blizzard, but it was as if it
2470did no damage. I had completely forgotten the blizzard eye only
2471worked on bystanders who were in on the gag.
2472“I am here to teach justice to the people. If a reluctant Satou is to be
2473forcefully dragged into the conspiracy, I shall not stand for it!” “I
2474appreciate your concern, but you should start picking up those
2475buttons.”
2476“Andou Tatsuo. Not a soul may escape from our premonitions. 
247771
2478Akasha Fragments, give me a vision! Access!”
2479“You’re too loud. Can you talk without exclamation points!?” My
2480good neighbor Ozaki-san was even covering her ears from all the
2481cringe.
2482“Mrrgh… guh… t-this is!”
2483Kinoshita ruffled his hair into a mess as he writhed. His
2484exclamation blew a cold wind down my spine.
2485“Andou… Tatsuo… it was faint, but I saw it… you… you’re…!”
2486“Fufu, if that cat’s out, then so be it. I’ll let you in on the secret. I am
2487not of this overworld. I came from ‘Underquake’ the country at the
2488depths of the earth… For I am the Armored Quake Soldier
2489Igknight!”
2490He firmly gripped his fist in front of his chest as if to show off his
2491watch. As firm and practiced as a stock pose. “The underground
2492huh… no wonder… fufufu.” I was at the end of my patience.
2493“Stop it!” When I put anger into my voice, the skit of the three came
2494to a sudden, complete halt. “Why do you have to let your delusions
2495explode right next to me today of all days? It’s right time I
2496snapped.”
2497“Why, you ask? That goes without saying.”
2498“You are a rare existence who holds a point of contact with that blue
2499witch.”
2500“Indeed. My Blaze core also detected the high magical energy that
2501girl possesses.”
2502Suzuki, Kinoshita, Andou, they each picked up after one another.
2503“Witch… you mean Satou Ryouko.”
2504The collapse of one’s life is always brought forth by the smallest of
2505things. In my case, perhaps it was my meeting with Ryouko. Thanks
2506to her coming to school in (especially well-made) cosplay, there was
2507no doubt these folks who possessed the same sort of aura received a
2508call to arms.
2509“Mn, that means…”
2510In horror, I glanced around the room.
2511I never did explain how many ‘folks’ of sturdy delusion existed in
2512our class, did I. Now listen and be amazed. Roughly half of them. 
251372
2514The fact was that around half of thirty-five students were lacking in
2515sanity.
2516Why were so many of the same sort collected into the small world of
2517class 1-A? I couldn’t tell you. All I could say for certain was that the
2518general fabric of human relations at any other school was reduced
2519to half the scale in our class.
2520And what would you call these people who went on about Dark
2521Holy Swordsmen Zwei Bander and World Chairmen and Armored
2522Quake Soldier Igknight? There are various theories, but I referred
2523to them as such.
2524These men and women were—dream soldiers.
2525A general term to denote anyone who had submerged themself too
2526far into the worlds of anime, games and novels, and ended up
2527creating some cool background setting for themself.
2528In olden days, it was called Soldier Syndrome. Their activities were
2529centered on the reader’s column of the Twilight Zone and Mu (Both
2530of them Occult Magazines). In modern days, the internet was the
2531perfect exchange board for them, but back then many of them
2532posted to recruit pen friends and spread the disease. A quick search
2533might come up with something like this.
2534The waves of darkness are upon us. Warriors of light, please lend
2535me your strength. 14(Girl)
2536Searching for comrades from my past life. Anyone who recalls the
2537names Alisveil, Riphiter, Nastasha, please contact me. The enemy is
2538near. I appreciate your correspondence. 21(Girl)
2539Sakuya, where are you? I was Arata in my past life. I’ll be waiting by
2540the sacred tree on the river banks. 17(Boy)
2541The Spirit King is waking from his slumber. To any angels of
2542atonement who feel an affinity to the word prana, now is the time to
2543awaken! Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the
2544address below! 15(Boy)
2545Anyone who holds the divine dragon’s seven-star crest from their
2546past life, please contact me. 12(Girl) 
254773
2548Anyone here born in the third solar system? Anyone who
2549remembers the great lunar war, I await your reply! 17(Boy)
2550The key words are ‘past life’, ‘reincarnation’ and ‘warrior’. They
2551convince themselves they’re some sort of chosen warrior and search
2552out comrades. Their current life is a lie, it’s their past life that truly
2553mattered, they believed without doubt. This wasn’t a matter of
2554having too-strong dreaming tendencies.
2555As evidence, around the time of the past life boom, there was an
2556incident where female middle school students attempted a mass
2557suicide. Something about how that would return them to their past
2558lives. The most fearsome part of all was how they testified it was to
2559meet the souls of their comrades.
2560That one happened around 1990. While the circumstances had
2561changed somewhat from back then, the dream soldiers still existed
2562in the modern age.
2563Why am I so knowledgeable? As smart as you are, haven’t you
2564worked it out by now? Well, even if you’ve noticed, please just don’t
2565touch that one. I’d rather not reheat the past.
2566Anyways, about the people in our class. As expected, or rather, it
2567seems around half of the students had their eyes captured by my
2568conduct. I recalled Shimizu’s advice.
2569“Your only real option is to make an ally of the dream soldiers” is
2570what he told me. Don’t screw with me. First and foremost, carrying
2571a conversation with them was impossible.
2572“Suzuki, Kinoshita, Andou. Disperse. It’s time for homeroom. Take
2573your seats.”
2574“That won’t do. I have no time!”
2575“The world’s choice is near. But if you join hands with us, it will be
2576possible to stand against it.”
2577“I only want to protect the peace of the people!”
2578“Disperse, I say.”
2579If Ryouko had been there, it would have become something crazy.
2580“Ichirou.”
2581Ryouko muttered from thirty centimeters behind me.
2582“Waaah!” I cried out like a little girl. “W-when did you get here!?” 
258374
2584“Seven forty-two a.m. before any students arrived.”
2585“Don’t lie to me…”
2586Ryouko alone was someone the rest of the class couldn’t ignore.
2587There were already whispers. With all eyes gathered on her being,
2588Ryouko’s even still composed form was like that of a saint.
2589“… Why did you come here?”
2590“That statement is contradictory. The Researcher and Ichirou have
2591both been charged with a mission of searching for the Dragon
2592Terminal. Time is to be used most effectively and efficiently. To
2593begin with, the person who demanded that The Researcher attend
2594class yesterday was Ichirou.”
2595“Do you plan to attend class dressed like that?”
2596“Protocol prevents The Researcher from removing her official
2597equipment when on the job.”
2598“That’s going to be a problem!”
2599“Fret not,” Ryouko said before carrying on with something
2600impossible. “The Researcher is concealed with optic camouflage
2601and no ordinary student is able to perceive her.”
2602“No, they’re totally looking at you. They’re staring daggers into you.
2603Isn’t your setting a bit too out there?”
2604“Before any specimen who does not boast Ichirou’s special decree of
2605perception, The Researcher is invisible.”
2606“Is that why you can calmly appear like that before people?” Just
2607how much was she pushing it with that setting?
2608“Wear your uniform! You can go home and get it, I’ll cover for you!”
2609“The Researcher rejects Ichirou’s proposal.”
2610“I’m telling you to read the atmosphere!”
2611“The act of reading the atmosphere does not compute. In their daily
2612lives, is it essential that residents of the phenomenal realm carry
2613with them precise sensory means to analyze the components in the
2614air surrounding them?”
2615“Aaah, god!”
2616Ryouko was serious to no end.
2617The way I see it, dream soldiers can be placed into two categories:
2618serious and for show. The former are those that truly believe they 
261975
2620come from another world. Those reincarnation warriors from
2621before are the tip of the iceberg for that one. The later, take for
2622instance Suzuki, Kinoshita and Andou, are probably well aware that
2623they’re just high school students. Their shared theatrics likely come
2624from their desire to be the center of attention.
2625Ryouko reeked of the former. They were the most trouble.
2626“Good morning, everyone.”
2627Dorisen came at the worst possible time. The other dream soldiers
2628returned to their seats. At a time like this, they would obediently
2629turn into inconspicuous presences. Their trances were only
2630temporary. When it came to Kinoshita of the white cloth, during
2631class he would change into a normal uniform, so he really wanted
2632the best of both worlds.
2633“Oh my, if it isn’t Satou-san. I see you finally came to school.”
2634“……”
2635“Satou-san?”
2636“Ichirou, an adult male is calling your name.”
2637“He’s talking to you!”
2638“The Researcher does not have a name like Satou.” My
2639salvation-seeking eyes turned to Dorisen.
2640“Alright, well let’s just count our blessings that you at least came
2641today. Luckily, I’m in charge of the first class after homeroom so we
2642can totally make this work.”
2643“Eh? You’re going to let her take classes in cosplay?”
2644“It’s perfectly alright!” his face brimming with confidence. “It is the
2645desire to learn that makes the student!” As
2646expected, an appeal to emotions. “Well, as
2647long as you’re fine with that…” But would
2648the others accept it?
2649“Ichirou, we must go search. There is no time for primitive
2650education.”
2651“I refuse. I’m not moving a single step until class is over.” “Mm…”
2652Ryouko faltered for the first time.
2653“Satou-san, then won’t you take your seat? You don’t have a
2654textbook, do you? Then let’s see… Sawara-san, can you trade desks
2655with her just for today?” 
265676
2657The skinny girl who sat to my left, Sawara silently stood and got her
2658belongings together.
2659As Sawara’s seat—next to mine—was opened up, Ryouko obediently
2660lowered herself into it.
2661“Then Satou, please let Satou-san look at your textbook. From one
2662Satou to another, you should look after one another.”
2663… I’m glad I was in the back row. If I had anyone staring at me from
2664behind, I would have felt pathetic.
2665“Desk,” reluctantly, a voice called over. “A form of furniture
2666possessed by residents of the phenomenal realm Used for various
2667tasks, their sizes are also varied. The material ranges from wood to
2668metal, a property determined by its use. A portion of them may be
2669treated as a symbol of wealth.”
2670“Who asked you to define it? Just push your desk over so you can sit
2671next to me. I’ll let you look at my book.” Ryouko
2672silently pushed her desk over.
2673“Take off your hood in class.”
2674“Lowering defense is inadvisable.”
2675On the contrary she pulled it down lower, so I forcefully pulled it
2676off.
2677Her black hair that glistened as if it was damp came out. The
2678bottled up scent of a young girl scattered, taking me by shock. I
2679recalled what had happened in the classroom yesterday. It was that
2680smell. While I felt the sort of awkwardness as if I had burst a bottle
2681of perfume in a train, it didn’t seem anyone else paid it any
2682attention.
2683“… Now stay like that for the rest of class.”
2684“It is unavoidable. Ichirou’s request is accepted.”
2685She actually listened from time to time. I couldn’t comprehend her
2686standard.
2687I opened the textbook on my desk. She closed her face in to about
2688five centimeters above it. Was she nearsighted or something?
2689“What are you doing?”
2690“… Reading.” 
269177
2692“I can’t see. Read it from a bit of a distance. You’re creeping me
2693out.”
2694Ryouko nodded
2695“… Distance is important in battle,” God is she irritating. “Then
2696since you’re here, Satou-san, could you read from the
2697textbook?”
2698Dorisen’s faint hopes were crushed.
2699“……” As expected, Ryouko continued to ignore him.
2700“Satou-san, if you will.”
2701“……”
2702“Yeah, then could you try asking, Mens’ Satou? Also tell her the
2703page number.”
2704Each situation I was placed in stabbed in more painfully than the
2705last. Could it be the world was crafted solely to bully me? I knew the
2706world was unfair, but this is terrible.
2707“… Ryouko.”
2708“Do you require something?”
2709“Read the textbook. From here.”
2710Ryouko picked up her mechanical staff.
2711“With the support functions of the multipurpose device Ferula,
2712reading compr—”
2713I snatched multipurpose device Ferula and gently placed it on the
2714ground.
2715“Please return, Please return, Please return.”
2716“Oh shut it. You can have it back after class is over. Additionally,
2717after you read that. Make sure you stand up while you read.”
2718“Ichirou’s demands are unreasonable and irrational, but abiding by
2719them is the only option.”
2720My hostage was effective, Ryouko picked up the textbook and stood.
2721Perpendicular to her desk’s facing direction… meaning she turned
2722to me and began reading.
2723“… Are you reading to me? Face the front.”
2724She was like that with everything. I ended up taking class feeling
2725like my stomach was twisting in knots. 
272678
2727Ozaki-san to my right had her ears shut the whole time. Isn’t that a
2728bit terrible? But I could read her feelings like the palm of my hand.
2729I was the one who wanted to shut my eyes.
2730When first period was over, Dorisen immediately summoned me to
2731the hall. It was a hall meeting on what to do with Ryouko second
2732period and beyond
2733“I’ll put in a word to the other teachers.”
2734“… So you’re not punishing her for refusing to wear a uniform?” “I
2735get what you’re trying to say. But while I’m young and it’s only
2736been two years since I was put in charge of a class, for some
2737reason I’ve got some authority in the staff room. Even the
2738principal won’t go against me so easily.”
2739Just what was this man saying?
2740“So peace out,” he said with a peace sign.
2741“Please order her as a teacher to wear a uniform.”
2742If I was going to be forced to accompany her, that was where I had
2743to start.
2744“She’s been like that for a while now; she won’t answer to anything I
2745tell her. It’s like she’s treating me like I’m not there.”
2746“Her setting goes that she has optic camouflage concealing her from
2747her surroundings or something.”
2748“Oh, I see, so that’s how it is. No wonder she ignores me even if I
2749talk to her.”
2750“I’m not sure that’s something you should be accepting like that.”
2751“But she listens to you if no one else.” I was at a loss for words.
2752“… It just worked out like that.”
2753“She seems quite attached to you, that girl.”
2754“Say what you will, but that doesn’t make me happy or anything.”
2755“And why’s that, Satou? You don’t want to be like me with a
2756dropdead gorgeous wife to flirt with?”
2757“I want to think about that after I’ve finished a safe, peaceful school
2758life.”
2759“Hmm,” Dorisen let his glasses cloud over. 
276079
2761“Also Sensei,”
2762“Mn?”
2763“… It’s never good to give someone special treatment. Nothing good
2764ever comes of it.”
2765“I told you, you can peace out about the teachers, Satou.”
2766“You’re wrong,” for a homeroom teacher, he had quite a vital screw
2767loose. “I’m talking about the students.”
2768“Yeah?”
2769He didn’t seem convinced. Just I was about to add onto that,
2770“Ichirou,” a call came my way. At the classroom’s back door, clad in
2771a somehow scornful aura, Ryouko was peeking out around half of
2772her face.
2773“… Have you forgotten your agreement to help with the search?
2774This is a breach of contract.”
2775“Next time, please make it next break. Also, don’t come into the
2776hallway dressed like that.”
2777I waved my hand at her as if driving off a cat.
2778“Oh, she actually went back. She really does listen to you.” “Guh…”
2779crap.
2780“I didn’t make any mistake in my personnel selection. Satou, at
2781least just for today, she’s in your hands.”
2782With a soft poke of two fingers into my temple, Dorisen was off.
2783Right after, the bell for second period rung loud and clear.
2784Huh? Did he even have any time to talk to the next teacher?
2785My prediction hit the mark and it was a huge ruckus. The second
2786period was run by a math teacher who carried the thought process
2787of, “Before being a single human being, a student is but a single
2788minor to be corralled”. Naturally, he wouldn’t permit a student’s
2789cosplay.
2790“What’s with that appearance!? Satou, oy, Satou!”
2791“Y-yes sir!”
2792“Not you, the girl one!”
2793“……” 
279480
2795“Don’t ignore me! What’s with that attitude! Are you looking down
2796on me or the field of mathematics!?”
2797“S-sensei, there’s a deep reason to this!”
2798“Satou, you shut up! Your teacher’s talking to Satou!”
2799“Umm, this was our homeroom teacher’s idea and…!”
2800“R-really? Dorisen-kun’s?”
2801Even his fellow teachers call him that?
2802“… I see… then let’s continue the lesson. Umm, how far did we get
2803yesterday?”
2804What amazing authority! Just who was Dorisen supposed to be?
2805While the reason was anyone’s best guess, I managed to safely clear
2806the class.
2807Ryouko was stooped over to an unnatural extent, gazing at the
2808textbook as if chowing down on it (thanks to that, I wasn’t able to
2809read it). Why was it that every little thing she attempted came off as
2810downright suspicious behavior? It wasn’t only once or twice that I
2811felt compelled to slam her face into the book with all my might. She
2812should be thanking my generosity.
2813While I wouldn’t call it compensation for my endurance, I got to
2814speak my mind to the girl.
2815During break time, before the students from the other classes had
2816come out, I pulled Ryouko into the hallway first thing. The stairs
2817leading from the third floor to the roof, people rarely ever ventured
2818to its landing. I had her apprehended.
2819“Stop acting like no one else can see you.”
2820“There is no acting, only fact.”
2821“Fine, you can be like that with our classmates. I doubt they’ll give
2822you the time of day either. But at least interact with the teachers.
2823I’m begging you.”
2824“If the concealment barrier is dispelled, the informational body
2825lingering in the school currently in day-sleep may experience an
2826unwanted awakening. An informational body is highly susceptible
2827to a Researcher who boasts the same magical wavelength—” “Okay,
2828cheers to a splendid setting! Now won’t you bend the rules a bit
2829and talk to just the teachers? Please?” 
283081
2831“The Researcher is unable to take any action that will harm the
2832search for the Dragon Terminal.”
2833“Do you not have the functionality to remove a specified target from
2834the scope of your spellcraft?”
2835“That is possible.”
2836“Then if you don’t do that, I’m not helping out with your search.
2837Will that be enough for my side of the negotiations?”
2838“… Understood. The teachers will be removed from the targets of
2839the ritual.”
2840“Listen close, keep your interactions set to soft. If anyone starts
2841nagging you on your uniform, just say I’m sorry, my mistake. I’ll
2842handle it after that. Also, let’s see, next is…” Ryouko
2843was beginning to fidget.
2844“What’s wrong?”
2845“……”
2846“… You’re a strange girl, you know that? Hey, so about when we go
2847outside, I’d like to avoid places where that appearance will draw
2848attention. I understand that invisible setting of yours, but how
2849about a disguise or something? You can put a little more thought
2850into it. I’ve been thinking, but if we’re searching, isn’t it better if we
2851split up to search…?”
2852Looking left and right, rubbing the top of her foot against her calf,
2853as if she couldn’t settle down.
2854“… That’s about it for now. It’s about time we returned to the
2855classroom.”
2856There was around a minute of break left. The hints of idle chatter in
2857the halls fading out, we could likely get back to class without any
2858strange looks.
2859As I climbed down the stairs, Ryouko made off in a different
2860direction (The hall of classrooms was stuck onto a shorter hallway
2861with club rooms and such, making the entire building into an L
2862shape).
2863“Hey now, where are you going?” I
2864grabbed her wrist to stop her.
2865“… To search.” 
286682
2867“Not on my watch. Class isn’t over yet.”
2868I pulled her towards the classroom, but for some reason the
2869resistance was harsher this time.
2870“Don’t struggle!”
2871“U-uurgh… nguh, gah.”
2872The usual mechanical character Ryouko was becoming like a wild
2873animal.
2874“What’s with you, adding something new to your story? Tacking
2875stuff on after the fact is the most embarrassing thing you can do.”
2876“Nom.”
2877She bit my finger.
2878“Ouch!”
2879Now free, Ryouko briskly bounded into the women’s’ restroom.
2880… Oh, I see.
2881A while after the bell had rung. Ryouko exited the bathroom with an
2882air of composure.
2883“Investigation Result: The Dragon Terminal is not in the Girls’
2884Restroom.”
2885“I won’t say anything about it. ‘n wait, if you need to go, just tell
2886me.”
2887“The Researcher is always demanding for Ichirou to participate in
2888the investigation. A reaction beyond your means was directed this
2889time, so as an exceptional measure, The Researcher looked into it
2890on her own.”
2891“Yeah, yeah, I get it, so go wash your hands.”
2892I pushed her back into the bathroom. She later came out wiping her
2893hands on her robe. Did she have no love for her cosplay? “You
2894should at least equip a handkerchief in that multipurpose
2895something of yours.”
2896“Memory indicates we were to return to the classroom. Has the
2897mission been canceled?” “… No, we’re returning.” Ryouko held
2898out her hand.
2899“You want me to lead you by the hand? As long as you don’t run
2900away, I don’t particularly see any need…” 
290183
2902A cold, wet hand— its delicate make stole my eyes. A feebleness I
2903could even call abnormal. While it shouldn’t have been strange for
2904me to retort, “Who wants to hold your hand?” I didn’t want to select
2905an adverse response.
2906“… You’ve got small hands… they must have gotten the scale
2907wrong.”
2908She was short and her face was small. She was small-built all
2909around.
2910“It’s kinda like in a 1:100 scale model, you were the only part cast in
29111:144. Are you feeling alright? Eating properly?”
2912“A small build is advantageous to investigative work.”
2913And yet her eyes alone were normal size, making it so her facial
2914features overly emphasized her pupils. The conditions for a beauty
2915that draws looks might be surprisingly unbalanced.
2916“Make a fake smile, and you’d stand out even without the cosplay,
2917you know?”
2918“Apology. The Researcher was unable to pick up that last remark.”
2919“… Nah. Nothing. We’re late, but let’s get back to the classroom.”
2920Her reason wasn’t that she wanted to stand out. She was different
2921from the folks in class.
2922For that alone, well, I wouldn’t mind giving her credit.
2923“I’ll be taking that credit back.”
2924“Ichirou’s thought process is incomprehensible. It must be
2925interpreted as a resident of the phenomenal realm’s characteristic
2926to jump to conclusions.”
2927“You’re the one jumping around, smashing down my hopes just
2928after I decided to give you a chance.”
2929Ryouko and I stood in an empty hallway. After school? I wish.
2930Classes were going on. The other students were all studying. Only
2931Ryouko and I stood in the hall with no objective.
2932“Why did it come to this?”
2933While I struggled to accept my circumstance, she calmly dealt the
2934finishing blow. 
293584
2936“It is evident. The Researcher caused a dispute with the teacher in
2937charge of fourth period.”
2938“That’s right. If you’re not serious about this, then get out, he said.”
2939While Dorisen’s authority got us across third period, it didn’t work
2940on the fourth teacher. “I can’t make an exception for Dorisen-kun’s
2941class alone!” the educator put his displeasure on show, taking an
2942obstinate stand against teaching anyone in that getup. Well, that
2943was the natural reaction.
2944“As the Researcher has no emotion corresponding with the term
2945‘serious’, she followed his advice and left the classroom,” Ryouko’s
2946voice carried not the slightest hint of guilt. “No problems to report.”
2947“Huge problems, dear Ryouko.” I informed her with a thug face
2948brimming with hostility. “When you’re the one who was kicked out,
2949why do I have to go with you?” She looked at me dubiously.
2950“If The Researcher and Ichirou are to search for the Dragon
2951Terminal, is this not the appropriate situation? If the students must
2952stay in the classrooms, we have a secured a far greater degree of
2953freedom.”
2954“I just want to attend class.”
2955“But the one who petitioned to exclude teachers from concealment
2956protocol was Ichirou. This event came forth as a direct result, so it
2957should have been foreseeable to you.”
2958“Now wait right there. He didn’t tell me to leave. I’m here because
2959you dragged me along on the way out.”
2960“……?”
2961She tilted her head as if, to the depths of her heart, she truly didn’t
2962understand.
2963“… Whatever. I was an idiot to expect anything. I’ll join your search
2964for now.”
2965I couldn’t shake off the feeling I was getting in with the wrong
2966crowd.
2967“Oh, is this the place?”
2968Ryouko had led me to a location half a stairway up from the
2969thirdfloor landing. The stairwell that led to the roof. One might call
2970it a penthouse. That would technically make it the fourth floor, but
2971if you didn’t actually walk out to the roof, it was little more than a 
297285
2973small shed where dust-covered colored traffic cones were stacked
2974on top of one another.
2975As it was for many schools, our roof barred unsupervised entry, so
2976people rarely ventured there. From what I’d heard, over the course
2977of the school’s history, the garbage that cost a pretty penny to get
2978rid of was usually just left hanging on the roof. Desks, chairs, and
2979the like, there were a few hundred of them altogether.
2980“The door is locked. It won’t open.”
2981“The place is off limits. For suicide prevention.”
2982“Negative, there is a mistake in that information.”
2983“Is something there?”
2984“Beyond this door, exceedingly high-level Genius Loci have been
2985detected. That indicates this is a place suited for the construction of
2986a temple.”
2987“Again with the incomprehensible babble… a temple? You want to
2988pray to some god?”
2989“The Central Assembly holds no concept of religion. For a matter of
2990convenience, a temple is deemed necessary as a location to borrow
2991the power of specific high-order intelligences to exercise them in
2992spellcraft.”
2993What a needlessly detailed setting. If you put in too much, it’ll be a
2994real pain cleaning up inconsistencies.
2995“So you’re saying the roof’s one of them?”
2996With a terribly serious face (though that was the only expression
2997she ever made), she nodded.
2998“But if it’s off limits, there’s nothing you can do about it. Either put
2999up with it or think up some other setting.”
3000“As this space is unnecessary for regular duties, it will bring no
3001hindrance to the mission. However, once the mission is over, it may
3002prove necessary to return to the other world.”
3003So it was a place she definitely wanted to check up on sometime
3004later.
3005“… But if you go out without permission, the teachers will be angry.
3006We don’t have the key regardless.”
3007“No problem.” 
300886
3009After she operated her staff, the twang of a released spring proceded
3010a metal ear cleaner-looking item shooting out of the tip.
3011“What’s that?”
3012“Magical Lockpick.”
3013“Hey!”
3014I caught the scent of crime. No, that’s all I could smell. “By
3015using this pick to apply tension on the inner cylinder and
3016pouring in magic, it is possible to bypass this lock.”
3017“Where’s the magic!? That’s a criminal technique! Nope, no way,
3018confiscated!”
3019I collected the evidence.
3020“It is an essential piece of equipment, especially in residential
3021districts…”
3022“Wah, if you start picking there, it won’t end with a laugh! Do you
3023really not get it? Even if you’re playing around, if someone catches
3024you, you’re ruined. We live under the fear of the media, you hear!”
3025“Bystanders are unable to perceive the researcher, so that premise
3026is meaningless. Requesting return.”
3027“I’ll be keeping this for now.”
3028“……”
3029Despite her poker face, she exuded quite a displeased aura.
3030“I’ll be the one troubled if you get taken in… try to understand.” I’ll
3031admit, as a kid, I always wanted to equip my bike and such with all
3032sorts of cool gadgets. But this girl had crossed the line. Once again,
3033I was left thinking. There’s something wrong with Satou Ryouko.
3034When lunch was near, even a witch succumbed to hunger. Her
3035stomach was rumbling something awful, but her face was
3036unchanging. “Magic will be converted into energy, so it poses no
3037problem,” she said, bringing me serious concern.
3038The main challenge was not being seen.
3039No matter what she did, Ryouko’s outfit stood out in school. With
3040that being the case, if I was with her, I’d be caught in the crossfire
3041and struck by shame. I only accompanied her because there were 
304287
3043few people around, and lunch was the time frame where students
3044were most free to strut around campus. Personally speaking, I
3045wanted to remain in the classroom as much as possible.
3046The cafeteria was naturally a danger zone.
3047However, a look at my watch told me there were ten minutes to
3048lunch, so I chose to quickly eat and get back.
3049There wasn’t yet a single student in the vast cafeteria. This was our
3050chance.
3051“Two tanuki soba.”
3052Ignoring the lunch lady’s suspicious look, I brought a plastic bowl of
3053noodles over to Ryouko.
3054“Hurry and eat. We’ll get cold looks when the other students get
3055here.”
3056“Energy replenishment.”
3057Muttering something incomprehensible, she sipped at the soba.
3058“Hey, the way you hold chopsticks is all over the place.”
3059She had both stick strangled in a firm underhand grip, like how a
3060toddler holds a fork.
3061“… Some practice is required to utilize this cylindrical implement.
3062The Researcher’s days in the Phenomenal Realm are too scarce.”
3063“Hah? Why implement?”
3064“To consume is akin to replenishing energy, a necessary process in
3065the maintenance of a carbon-based activity body.”
3066“Otherworld or not, you eat to live. Don’t you think that setting’s
3067too forceful? I’d even call it bizarre.”
3068“……”
3069I was ignored. It seemed she found retorts at her setting to be
3070particularly irritating, and even I was ignored for those. “Hey,
3071you seriously can’t use chopsticks? You’re not acting?” “In most
3072cases, energy replenishment in our world is carried out with
3073magic paste and…”
3074“Got it, got it. Watch me, you hold it like this.”
3075“… Unnecessary. This method accomplishes the task at hand.” “If
3076you keep saying that, you’ll never be able to use them. If your
3077investigation drags on, you’ll have more opportunities to use them, 
307888
3079so you’re better off mastering the skill.”
3080Why did I have to interact with my classmate as if I was her
3081mother?
3082“Like this?”
3083“Your fingers are wrong. Here, and here… good, you’ve got it. Now
3084you put things between them and pinch.”
3085Ryouko’s chopsticks failed to grasp a noodle. It fell through en route
3086to her mouth. On her fifth attempt, “Ggnnn” she finally groaned
3087out. It was one of those human emotions she displayed from time to
3088time. Those terribly infantile ones.
3089“The length of this cylindrical implement is not rational. To
3090adequately transmit the strength of the fingers, a far shorter version
3091would be better for the task. This product is defective.”
3092“But then your hands would get dirty.”
3093“Without the cultural idiosyncrasy to avoid any foreign substance
3094on the hands in any task, that explanation would lack any force of
3095persuasion. If the need arises, a resident of the phenomenal realm
3096may take the initiative and dirty their hands. There is no
3097consistency in this sense of values.”
3098“Food can be hot. Who wants to get burned with short chopsticks?”
3099“Danger prevention… then the form of this implement is acceptable.”
3100She really was incessant.
3101“Aaah, no, don’t bend over it, don’t slurp like a dog. Uwah, you’re
3102getting soup everywhere. Hey, don’t use your hands.”
3103It really was like I was looking after a child’s meal. When soba was
3104supposed to be a meal one could finish in five minutes, she had
3105taken fifteen, and still had a long way to go.
3106Eventually, the starving students raised a subterranean tremor
3107advancing upon us in large numbers, but we were unable to move
3108from the edge of the table.
3109Were we frowned upon? Hah, of course. What’s more, it was by all
3110years this time.
3111While, “Oh, who’s that~!” “How cute~!” a portion of the older girls
3112received a favorable opinion, as expected, “Creepy”s and “Whoah”s
3113and “Do you know them?”s made up the majority of the whole. A 
311489
3115single, “The boy’s cute” comment in a deep throaty voice sent a chill
3116down my spine.
3117My cold sweat wouldn’t stop under the unbearable air. I opted to
3118cast my special plan to mitigate Ryouko’s idiosyncrasies to the
3119absolute minimum (and fast).
3120“Hey, seriously! We’re going to be using that in the next play, so be
3121careful not to dirty that costume! This is a matter tied to our drama
3122club’s good name! Lunch is valuable practice time, chop chop!” I
3123felt a psychological aversion to getting too much into that role, so I
3124couldn’t help but be monotonous, or rather give a dull and
3125intentional-sounding reading.
3126But how about that? Was that acting too much? I tried observing
3127the surrounding reactions.
3128“So they’re drama club.” “They must’ve put a lot into that costume.”
3129“Looks like the drama club’s got one up on us for the culture
3130festival.” “There’s still half a year to October, the girl’s got guts.”
3131“Our first years are going to get an earful of this.” “He’s got a nice
3132rump.”
3133What a nice, broadminded school we have!
3134… Though a single throaty comment did bother me.
3135Whatever the case, I managed to overcome. In the corner of the
3136cafeteria, only the three crows, Kawai, Kobayashi and Nakamura
3137looked at us and grinned.
3138“Ah…”
3139With a grasp on the situation, their stance was derisive, and while I
3140detested the fact our class had already been divided into the highs
3141and the lows, I realized that the highs were aware of their standing
3142as well.
3143Even the closest of friends will stop getting involved with you the
3144moment you’re a target of bullying; it’s a common occurrence. I’d
3145experienced it before, so I knew the feeling well. A noble is unable
3146to interact with a commoner on equal terms. Love is just as
3147impossible.
3148“… Nothing I can do about it.” 
314990
3150I had no friends, and I was looking after some weirdo. My human
3151relations bargaining was coming undone. What was supposed to be
3152a carefree position was terribly heavy on my heart.
3153I had to attend afternoon classes. That was my final fortress as a
3154student.
3155The incident happened as I was struggling to persuade Ryouko on
3156the way back to the classroom. It was set to happen sometime.
3157“Hey you! What do you think you’re doing, dressed like that!?” The
3158towering male student counselor approached as if to show off his
3159barrel of a body. While on first glance, he looked fat, it was in
3160actuality an armor of pure muscle.
3161He was like a military commander who had transcended human
3162knowledge straight out of a Three Kingdoms-based action
3163game. “G-general! I mean sensei! There’s a reason to all this!”
3164“You stay out of this! You, whippersnapper, state your class and
3165your name!”
3166“……”
3167The all-too-familiar ignoring. While her invisible setting now
3168excluded teachers, she must really dislike his type. “Gnn! You’re
3169going to ignore me, Inomata, your guidance counselor!? No matter
3170what strange things you wear, you’re still a student of this school,
3171aren’t you!?”
3172Inomata-sensei yelled with such force I could picture him spinning
3173an iron hammer or spear overhead. If we were in the Showa area,
3174he would definitely be carrying around some super heavy
3175armament to scold his students.
3176“Please wait, sensei! There’s a deep reason to all this, and it has to
3177do with Dorisen!”
3178“… Dorisen, you say?” his attitude blatantly changed. “That whelp…
3179he’s letting it get to his head. But even if she is Dorisen’s protégé,
3180failure to wear a uniform goes against regulation! I can’t overlook
3181it!”
3182“I know, right,” I completely agreed with him. 
318391
3184“Off to the counseling room with you! Come on! You’re coming with
3185me! Boy, you get to class!”
3186“……”
3187Ryouko looked at me. I guess the term stink eye was meant for
3188times like this.
3189“… Don’t look at me. Go with him. I’m sure Dorisen will make some
3190arrangements, so wait for him to bail you out. And while you’re at
3191it, brush up a bit on how the world works.”
3192“Afternoon search?”
3193“You should be able to tell that’s impossible. I already treated you to
3194a bowl of soba, just quietly bend to authority for a bit.”
3195“……”
3196“Lassy, hurry up!”
3197Suddenly hunching over, she followed behind Inomata with
3198bothersome feet. An altogether rebellious attitude.
3199“……!”
3200A few steps in, she turned and sent a dazzling glance signaling out
3201her distress with all her might.
3202“I told you, you’re on your own.”
3203Fifth period was peaceful to an intoxicating degree.
3204I was able to concentrate to my heart’s content, and I achieved a
3205splendid understanding. It’s not like I liked studying, but in order to
3206maintain my grades with the least possible effort, I wanted to take
3207my classes free of obstacles.
3208The source of my headaches, Ryouko… didn’t come back. She was
3209taken off to the counseling room, and that was the end of it. I
3210thought she’d finally crumble after about an hour of interrogation
3211and lecture, but even when sixth period came and went, followed by
3212the end-of-the-day homeroom, she didn’t return. It was heaven’s
3213blessing. My after school was all mine; but in order to do that, I
3214caught Dorisen right after he’d sent us off to confirm it.
3215“Sensei, Ryouko was taken to the student counseling room. Did you
3216hear?” 
321792
3218“Ooh, Satou, well about that. Inomata-sensei sure made a
3219troublesome catch.”
3220He gave a truly delightful laugh. Was this person alright?
3221“So what happened?”
3222“I did pop in to explain the situation. I think she’ll be acquitted
3223soon.”
3224“Is that so. But if she doesn’t wear her uniform, won’t the cycle
3225repeat?”
3226“Yeaaah, well let’s see. She doesn’t seem to have any intentions of
3227complying. Why don’t you try persuading her?”
3228“When it comes to her clothes, even my words don’t work.”
3229“Yeah, those clothes are a hard one to swallow.”
3230“Isn’t that normally enough for a suspension, that one?” “Do
3231you really think a suspension will accomplish anything with
3232her?”
3233… Well, he was right.
3234The punishment was a measure to urge a student to reflect and
3235better themselves. A punishment with no effect was no more than
3236busy work. There was no way such a penalty would cause Ryouko to
3237rethink anything.
3238“So how about counseling?”
3239“We tried it once, but… no cigar, hahaha. Counseling, see, it’s
3240powerless if the one subject to it doesn’t intend to speak or listen.”
3241Well at least someone’s having fun.
3242“Personally speaking, I’ve got my hopes on that penetrating power
3243of yours, Satou.”
3244“What sort of power am I supposed to have?”
3245“This is just my intuition, but you have a good vibe around you. A
3246depth a little different from normal, or rather… my teenage sensor’s
3247all rusted up, so I can’t really explain it.”
3248“… An I’m not seeing it. To summarize, you had your eye on me.”
3249“As the only person she’ll actively come into contact with, you’re my
3250only hope~.”
3251Dorisen had authority. He was versatile. But when it came to
3252Ryouko’s type, I got the feeling he wouldn’t be of any direct help. I 
325393
3254found myself a bit bewildered by the fact the adults were
3255surprisingly inept.
3256“For now, how about you go pick up Satou? Could you look after her
3257tomorrow too?”
3258“I’ll let her look at my textbook… anything more than that is a bit…”
3259“Hmmm, I think you’ve got a talent for it.”
3260Don’t joke with me. I never asked for nor wanted some strange
3261talent to look after weirdos. I had a bad premonition. With the
3262curse-like details writhing around my consciousness keeping me
3263ostracized from the class, I would have to discern my means of
3264escape in the ranks of the dream soldiers. This was more than
3265fleeing the capital, my life was in freefall.
3266Satou Ryouko was, to me, the incarnation of degradation.
3267Did I really have any obligation to pick up the seeds of my own fall?
3268Of course, I did not.
3269Once I stuffed my textbook into my bag and turned to leave, a
3270shadow was cast on my route of advance.
3271“Urrgh,”
3272The shadow suddenly clasped its throat as it cried out in pain.
3273Aaaargh, raising a beastlike voice, it fell to its knees and threw its
3274body onto the floor. Regardless of the dirt getting on her uniform,
3275she continued squirming left and right. That wasn’t the Usual sort
3276of writhing. Pale legs peeked out from her skirt as she continued
3277with an intensity that would eventually lay bare her undergarments.
3278‘Are you okay!? Pull yourself together! I’ll get you to the infirmary
3279right away! There’s no way I’ll ever abandon one of my precious
3280classmates!’
3281… Is something I would never say.
3282If I responded here, I would be falling for the trap.
3283With the movements of a cockroach using the last of its life after
3284being hit with pesticide, she cried out with kehees and gyaaas. If she
3285shut her mouth and sat still, she might come off as a well-raised 
328694
3287young woman, but those eccentricities completely reversed any
3288good impression she might give off.
3289“… Believer… you continue to burn me still… anti-cross… if only I
3290had…”
3291Hino over here was the girl Dorisen had carted off to the infirmary
3292not too long ago. Up to now, I’d witness a number of classmates
3293caught up in her stalling tactic. But everyone had opted to ignore it.
3294Strangely, Hino would never do this to other dream soldiers. Her
3295targets were strictly restricted to bystanders.
3296So the day finally came when I was subject to this shady ritual.
3297“The relic of the dark saint…!”
3298I straddled over her to pass. It was the best option.
3299Next it was Suzuki Osamu who stood before me.
3300“A message came from Zeusheim. It looks like things have been
3301blown sky high.”
3302I pushed past him.
3303“Let me through. I’m going home. I’ve got no friends, so I’m going
3304alone.”
3305“Fuhahahah! Write it as ally, read it as friend. Satou, you are never
3306alone. As two who weep for the world, let us link hands and
3307intervene in the world’s decision.” I
3308pushed past Kinoshita.
3309“I don’t really know about that. Sorry, I’ve got to get going.”
3310“Satou, there’s something you have to hear. Do you know of the
3311Death Time-Space in the empire of Gaizonic? In that space, the
3312spacers are able to exhibit their powers to their very limit.” “Home.
3313I’ve got to get home. I’m going home. To that warm lost land of so
3314long ago…”
3315Feeling like I was in a disaster movie, I pushed past Andou. I
3316crossed the valley of the weirdos; I returned alive to win first prize
3317at Cannes.
3318“Oy, stop right there, you impudent wretch.”
3319It came in a clear, dignified voice. Even I had to stop at that one. I
3320should have ignored it. Insolent wretch wasn’t a term any normal
3321person would use. 
332295
3323“Eh?”
3324“You, you said your name was Satou.”
3325“… Who?”
3326She had her body (intentionally) covered by the curtain. Answering
3327the call, she flamboyantly brushed the cloth aside to reveal her
3328stunning form. What a flashy entrance. If it all happened naturally,
3329it might be somewhat cool, but the fact it was set up made it painful
3330to watch. I’m pretty sure the only people this cringe doesn’t reach
3331would have to be dream soldiers and the elderly.
3332The female student I’d never spoken to before was named Oda, if I
3333recalled correctly.
3334Her style could be explained in two compound words.
3335Eyepatch swordswoman.
3336She wore a black eyepatch like a pirate. A Japanese katana… was
3337impossible, so she carried around a wooden sword overly prettied
3338up like a gal’s cellular phone. Incomprehensible. She kept her long
3339hair bound at a high point in a ponytail. From time to time, she clad
3340herself in a Nobunaga mantle (or at least that’s what I called it).
3341Among the female dream soldiers, excluding Ryouko, she ranked in
3342the top three, and I glared at her. Oda returned a harsh look. “To
3343think you would abandon a suffering maiden. You must be a
3344wretched good for nothing.”
3345“I’ll be right there, home.”
3346I could tell my own voice was growing mechanical.
3347“You can’t see that Hino is seeking help? Is that the attitude a man
3348should take?”
3349“Then why don’t you do something?” Unable to take it, I finally
3350whipped back. Oda furrowed her brow. I must have struck
3351somewhere painful.
3352“… What’s important is that you lack that spirit of a man, of a
3353samurai.”
3354“That sorta thing hasn’t existed for a hundred years!”
3355“It lives on within me.” She held up her wooden sword. “And in my
3356Kokarasumaru.”
3357A chipped scream almost spilled out from my throat. 
335896
3359Kokarasumaru? I mean, c’mon.
3360The wandering vampire setting (presumably) Hino unsteadily stood
3361to her feet to join them.
3362Suzuki, Kinoshita, Andou, Oda, Hino. I was encircled by the fivestar
3363constellation of nightmares.
3364Dorisen’s words flashed across my mind.
3365“You’ve got a talent for it,” “You have a good vibe around you,”
3366“He’s got a nice rump.”
3367Wait, wait, wait, wait, don’t screw with me.
3368“Is it because I fell out? Because I made a mistake? Is that why?”
3369“Zeusheim” “Akasha Fragment” “Underquake” “Kokarasumaru”
3370“Anti-cross”
3371“Wah” I screamed and ran off. Creepy, creepy, creepy.
3372I leapt into the hall in a trance, my feet set on a straight course for
3373the front door. The front door was where the blue witch lay in wait.
3374“Search.”
3375“Eek.”
3376I couldn’t run this time. I tripped, fell, and lost my strength. Fate’s
3377little pranks, or rather fate’s bullying was in perfect form today.
3378“The teachers’ surveillance is harsh, the conclusion has been
3379reached that searching inside the school will prove difficult.” “Say
3380what? So you finally understand that?” The thought came with a
3381small hope.
3382“Therefore, today, we will conduct a search in town.” An
3383even greater hell came upon me.
3384Ryouko walked down the congested road in front of the station
3385paying no mind to the laughs or disdain. At this point, the looks and
3386pain were difficult to even describe, and as one accompanying her, I
3387was also subject to ill-natured inquiries.
3388When Ryouko visited the classroom, I felt like dying.
3389In the cafeteria today, I felt like dying several times over.
3390And now, with the stage even larger, the audience had immediately
3391expanded to several hundred fold. The term shame was lacking. 
339297
3393Disgrace wasn’t able to express it in its entirety. humiliation,
3394chagrin, remorse, a living disgrace, indignity, torture, contempt; all
3395of them put together, they had come to torment me.
3396“Somewhere! S-somewhere where no one’s looking! A blind alley, a
3397dead end, please!”
3398“Investigation will begin at the station and department store.” They
3399were both places with enough passersby to make an industry out of
3400them. I tried angling an ear to the voices of town.
3401“Pfff, what’s that?” “They filmin’?” “Ain’t it just cosplay?” “For
3402real?” “Hey, those two are a riot.” “You young folk these days…
3403*mumble*, *mumble*.” “Wow, that’s embarrassing!” “Hey, lookie
3404what we ‘ave here, ‘er’s somethin’ interestin’ ‘n fron’ a da station.”
3405“High level otaku right there.” “You think we’re on TV?” “Bweh,
3406gross.” “Are they in high school?” “Someone try talking to them!
3407Let’s go have some fun!”
3408The harsh voices of society grew near. I wanted to run in a dash.
3409Ryouko was indifferent whether someone was there or not. Even
3410now, she was casually surveying the area.
3411All of a sudden, she got on all fours and peered under a car parked
3412at the bend. The passersby looked down at her with shock on their
3413faces.
3414“Quit it! Stand up!”
3415So invested in her search, it appeared my voice was a long shot from
3416reaching.
3417Next, her attention shifted to the street light.
3418“Don’t tell me,” I pulled at the hem of her robe. “Please stop,
3419anything but that.”
3420Ryouko began nimbly climbing her way up the street light.
3421“It’s not there, you won’t find anything up there!”
3422I was already at my limit so I forcefully dragged her to some
3423unpopulated side street. While a few people passed, it wasn’t as
3424much as the main road.
3425“Not only does Ichirou have no intent to help with the search, he is
3426actively impeding it.”
3427“You can’t go out in public looking like that!” 
342898
3429“No one is able to see the Researcher.”
3430That setting truly was a pain! The public eyes weren’t functional as
3431a tool of persuasion.
3432“You’ll be in trouble if the police get here. Hey, I won’t tell you to
3433read the mood, but you should at least listen when I’m seriously at
3434my wit’s end. You may find it nosy, but I’m offering you information
3435that will prove exceedingly beneficial for your future.”
3436I ended up talking like some salesman trying to lead someone into a
3437scam.
3438Her emotionless eyes wide open like the full moon, she stared at
3439me. Could it be this girl really was a robot human? She had
3440enough intensity to make me reconsider. “So police are bad.”
3441“If the police get wind of this,”
3442There was no doubt I grew louder when I brought up the police.
3443“Hey, you two, what’s this about the police? Mn, what’s with your
3444getup? Could you show some identification?”
3445A real police officer peeked in from down the street.
3446My confusion at the time couldn’t be expressed in words. With my
3447mind in a panic, I lost the aptitude for normal decision making. I
3448have to act, that instant’s impulse alone swirled within me. The
3449result: I grabbed Ryouko’s hand and ran off.
3450“Ah, hey! Why are you running!?”
3451Psychologically, once you start running, it’s impossible to stop.
3452That’s why, once you’re in motion, even if only ruin awaits you, you
3453must keep running on. If I had to bring up any good fortune, we
3454managed to shake off the police officer that time. Turning randomly
3455down several streets, keeping low in shadows, illegally crossing
3456properties in the residential district, by the time I noticed it, we
3457were in a dark alley.
3458“… My memory along the way… is pretty hazy.”
3459To run so far, to feel so afraid, it was the first in my life for both of
3460them. My feeble heart raised a complaint. “Boss, when’ll ya ever
3461learn, we heart folks, we don’t get no rest. If you exploit us like
3462that… we might just have ta walk out on ya someday,” why don’t
3463you just stop right here, right now. Kill me and give me peace.
3464“Are you okay, Ryouko?” 
346599
3466For a while now, even Ryouko had her hands full catching her
3467breath.
3468“How about that? If a policeman finds you, that’s what happens.
3469Painful, right?”
3470“… Then what do I do?”
3471“You wear a uniform!” I emphasized.
3472“Rejected. Defense will be lowered.”
3473“Defense, you know… and all that sort of stuff, see…” It seems she
3474had no intent to wear one no matter what. … Rather than
3475wandering around town, wasn’t restricting it to school the easier
3476choice? Being seen by my peers scared me enough to make
3477mincemeat of my heart, but it was better than the police… no, but
3478still… my anguish wouldn’t stop.
3479“Ichirou.”
3480“What?”
3481“It has become evident that searching the town during day hours is
3482horribly inefficient.”
3483“… That so.”
3484The pain in my head was acting up again.
3485My phone rang that night.
3486It was quite rare for my cellular phone to get a call. I was still
3487somewhat perplexed on how to answer it. The number displayed
3488wasn’t one that I knew. An unregistered one.
3489“Hello?”
3490‘It’s Dorisen.’ It
3491was Dorisen.
3492“Why do you know my number?”
3493I didn’t remember giving it to him.
3494‘Yeah, yours truly, Dorisen-sensei used his connections to look into
3495it. It’s urgent, after all.’
3496So even Dorisen sticks another sensei to the end of that. Hmm, I’m
3497learning so much.
3498“Urgent?” 
3499100
3500‘The police placed a call to the school. They said Satou and Satou
3501were running around town.’
3502“The police are amazing!”
3503In less than the span of the day, they even had me identified. ‘You
3504think? Any good boy in blue should be familiar with the local
3505uniforms, and if they managed to narrow down the suspect pool to
3506a first-year male leading around a weirdo, I’m sure they could pin
3507you down quite easily.’
3508Boy in blue, he says.
3509“Umm, I haven’t committed any crime.”
3510‘Ah, yeah, well, you’re free to do whatever you want after you
3511graduate, but,’ free to do what, exactly? ‘there won’t be any further
3512measures taken this time, so rest at ease. It’s just, I’d like something
3513done about Ladies’ Satou operating freely in town.’
3514Was he implying he wanted me to do something about it? After
3515hanging up, I thought over it carefully. But no matter how I
3516thought, I couldn’t find any good ideas. Searching for something
3517that didn’t exist is a difficult task indeed. The Dragon Terminal, for
3518instance.
3519“Satoouuuuuuu!” “Yesssssss…”
3520“Menssssssssss!” “Yesssssss…”
3521“You dirty little…!” “I can explain…”
3522As for what the stream of conversations referred to, that would be
3523the illustration of teachers enraged by Ryouko’s conduct or rather
3524creepduct, as I put my best efforts towards soothing them. By the
3525way, Mens was my nickname. While it was a double plural, I was
3526doing the work of ten people or more, so that wasn’t strange.
3527Without rest, Ryouko continued coming to school every day. She
3528disrupted any and all classes she attended. Teachers flew into
3529rage one after the next, until it came to pass that she was
3530disregarded while in class. It did seem that Dorisen and the other
3531teachers had come to the decision.
3532During break times, she would stick fast to me, even attempting to
3533drag me into town should the opportunity present itself. My 
3534101
3535experience in town had become a nightmare, become a trauma that
3536remained behind in my heart. The city is hell.
3537Then did that mean I was fine being openly scorned at school? Well,
3538not in the slightest.
3539But time is a cruel mistress.
3540Just by operating as a set with Ryouko for a week, I was stuck with
3541the label of ‘Creepette’s Boyfriend’. While I did think Creepette was
3542the perfect term to describe Ryouko, the problem was the boyfriend
3543portion. I was so unwilling it reached the realm of insulting. I mean
3544yeah, I wanted a girlfriend. But I didn’t need one enlisted in the
3545dream soldier battalion. I’m not even acting tough. Each time I was
3546force fed a dream soldier’s Avant Garde setting, goosebumps would
3547rise on my arm. You can’t fall in love with someone you have a
3548physiological revulsion towards, can you?
3549There was one more surprise to take note of.
3550Ryouko, that girl, she was surprisingly popular with the
3551upperclassmen. Hard to believe, right?
3552Her favor with the third year girls was especially abnormal, and
3553they would often call out to her, pat her head, touch her costume,
3554and give her candy. At times like those, her silent, expressionless
3555character wouldn’t crumble, and without saying thanks, she acted
3556in a way that shouldn’t be endearing in any way shape or form. That
3557was the best part, apparently.
3558… I don’t get it, the world of big sisters.
3559Considering how girls of her own age found her creepy, it made me
3560wonder where that gap came from. Perhaps rather than age,
3561because she was from a different generation, even if it was painful
3562to look at, they could treat it like someone else’s problem.
3563I was also a side recipient of their favor.
3564“Mr. Boyfriend, you better look after her.” “You can’t do pervy stuff
3565with her yet.” “In exchange, I’ll push my chest against you a bit,
3566how about that.” “If anything’s bothering you, you can talk to me,
3567okay?” When surrounded and adhered to a flock of large
3568mammaries, my memory grew terribly fragmented. The sheer bliss
3569was blowing time itself away. While I was well aware I was being 
3570102
3571treated as a pet, as someone treated like a gross insect by all the
3572decent girls from my own class… what do you want from me?
3573In the complicated and mysterious situation surrounding us,
3574Dorisen was also full of mystery. That authority and manipulation
3575skill was abnormal from a single young teacher.
3576There were times when I thought he must have some dirt on the
3577other teachers, but there weren’t any teachers who seemed to
3578dislike him. He had his fervent supporters. When it came to
3579Ryouko’s mental state, his lack of delicacy made him painfully
3580powerless, but he was reliable on other fronts.
3581The backing of a teacher and the third year girls was quite a
3582blessing to we, the ostracized few. It imparted the courage to come
3583to school every day.
3584But there also exist allies one wouldn’t feel blessed to have.
3585Numerically speaking, over fifteen of them, without question the
3586largest power within class 1-A. The scary part was that… for them…
3587it wasn’t Ryouko— But me they had taken to.
3588That day, when I entered the classroom, they immediately closed in.
3589“Oh, Hewley! According to the latest message from Zeusheim,
3590they,”
3591“… Move, Suzuki Osamu.”
3592As I pushed him aside and attempted to make for my desk, he
3593formed an astonished face.
3594“The name is Kira. Suzuki I am not.”
3595There it is, Kira. The man in question would insist that was the true
3596him (his real name, even).
3597“Have you forgotten, Hewley!? The Dark Holy Swordmen Zwei
3598Bander that only we of the odd-eye fairy tribe born in the
3599Multiverse of Zeusheim can become. Serving directly under the
3600heavenly palace, only twelve of which can exist in the world, a
3601proud and noble—”
3602“Shut it, one hundred percent mongoloid.”
3603Nothing happens if you cut one down, Suzuki was only the
3604beginning. My classmates came up one after another. 
3605103
3606“Satou! The time has come to speak of the great secret of the
3607Akasha Fragments!”
3608“Satou, to think you were a pagan knight… but friend or not, if you
3609are my foe, I, Armored Quake Soldier Igknight will strike you
3610down!”
3611“Even if you are a practitioner of the Tosotsu Ittou Style, you can’t
3612defeat me, the successor to the Oda Style Demon Lord of the Sixth
3613Heaven’s blade.”
3614“Satou-kun, it throbs. Not enough blood. Please share your blood
3615with me.”
3616“Just leave me alone!”
3617I brushed past the twisted concoctions. The next woman
3618immediately stood before me.
3619“Kukukuh.”
3620The basis behind a dream soldier’s delusional explosion lay in
3621entrapment and false invitation. First, you put on a show, and if
3622someone gets wrapped up on it, you fiercely force your original
3623setting down their throat. That’s why ignoring them is highly
3624effective.
3625Despite that, it did seem there was one immoral soul who would go
3626as far as to destroy the pattern to speak of their world. Upon being
3627ignored, she changed strategy and swiftly spewed it out. “Ah,
3628Satou-kun, I’m sorry. I have multiple personality order, I’m sorry.
3629That was personality number one seven two, Cathy, but
3630you’re really better off not getting her angry…” There’s
3631something wrong.
3632“Okay, then can you keep her away from me?”
3633There’s something wrong with each and every student in this class!
3634“Guh!” Just by passing next to him, a certain boy suppressed one
3635eye in pain.
3636“What the heck is this, this prana of darkness!? D-don’t tell me…
3637Satou… he was the prince of darkness!?” Ignore. Ignore.
3638“Satou-kun?” a female voice called over.
3639“You don’t have to worry about our class. I’ll… protect them. Even if
3640it costs me my life…” 
3641104
3642“How about you take a seat?”
3643“Fufufu, Satou, what splendid weather we have today,” Holding a
3644rose in his mouth, a man small but wide called over. “How about
3645some fencing after school? What do you think?”
3646“I think you should take a page out of the flower’s book, and wither
3647away.”
3648I ran into a girl. It was Mori, who was renowned for walking around
3649with her eyes closed. She was also a harsh one.
3650“Ah, I’m sorry… this smell is Satou-kun? I’m sorry, I can’t see, so…
3651but my sense of smell has increased to compensate so I can
3652differentiate who I’m talking to, fufu.”
3653Mori had perfect 20/20 vision in both eyes, you got that? She just
3654thought girls who couldn’t see were all the rage so she was just
3655playing the part.
3656After ignoring her, I managed to reach my desk. Every morning
3657lately, I’d be forced to deal with multiple people before I sat down.
3658Thanks to that, my opportunities to exchange greetings with
3659Kobato-san had gone down. That was the hardest thing to endure.
3660While I had finally reached my seat for the day, the frenzy had yet
3661to stop.
3662They would cry out to save me, to defeat me, to join forces with me,
3663to warn me.
3664“Kuh, the fay’s arm is…! Who is it, the holder of such immense
3665spiritual power! (←Apparently me)”
3666“To think there was someone who could pierce through my Maya
3667Illusionism (←Apparently me)”
3668“Three months until the dark dakshina activates. Will I be able to
3669find that person (←Apparently me) before then?”
3670I was surrounded with settings thrown at me left and right.
3671“Scatter.”
3672Words weren’t enough to make them falter. To start with, they
3673didn’t have the power to listen to what other people had to say.
3674They merely excreted their own thoughtless words. They crowded
3675up to throw that excrement at me. Do people have a name for
3676goosebumps that rise without you realizing it? 
3677105
3678By the way, when Ryouko arrived, they would briskly retreat. My
3679theory was that as a dream soldier, she outranked the lot of them.
3680Just as a woman might hesitate to stand next to a peerless beauty, a
3681dream soldier would avoid become compared to a higher-end
3682product. That also meant she was the most painful person in class.
3683And when it came to who was in the most pain in our class, that
3684would be yours truly. Pathetic, right?
3685I’m looking for some empathy here.
3686“Ephesosmea is a fearsome foe. Even with all twelve knights
3687together.”
3688“The Akashic record has already ceased to exist. It was shattered
3689and scattered. What I’m trying to say is,”
3690“She was the greatest scientist under the earth, a genius no doubt…
3691she’s the one who drew the blueprint for my armor.”
3692“If you call yourself a samurai,”
3693“Blood,”
3694“Number one zero eight five, Eddy is a pro in intelligence gathering
3695and,”
3696“In an organization called the Krishna secret society,” Before
3697the fierce surging waves, all I could do was keep up an
3698indifferent resistance.
3699“Scatter, you bunch of bull.”
3700The final block of the day, sixth period’s LHR (long homeroom) was
3701a time slot every student restlessly looked forward to. That’s why,
3702had the topic of discussion not been ‘seat changes’, the air would
3703never have gotten so tense.
3704Seat changes. Once they were decided, it wasn’t so easy to change.
3705An event that could become the critical junction in one’s high
3706school career.
3707While the teachers seemed to view it lightly, they were all way off.
3708From a student’s point of view, you couldn’t ask for a more
3709important event. Everyone wanted to secure a good seat, and
3710looking at it the other way, they all wanted to sit away from who 
3711106
3712they didn’t want to deal with. A ‘good seat’ had more to do with who
3713was around you rather than what was around you. If someone who
3714picked on you was stationed nearby, you wouldn’t be able to get a
3715moment’s rest, right? Anyone would want to hang with the people
3716they got along with. Anyone.
3717Therefore, a discussion on seat changes became a fearsome,
3718passionate whirl of time.
3719“We’ve reached an impasse. I’d like to respect everyone’s opinion!”
3720The teacher with authority but no leadership skills, Dorisen grandly
3721declared.
3722“I’ve got a proposal,” Lord Takahashi stood up. “I’m sure everyone
3723wants to sit with their friends, so how about we arrange seating in
3724group units?”
3725He didn’t particularly raise his voice, but dream soldiers excluded,
3726everyone took to it fabulously. From everyone’s eyes, it was a
3727proper idea.
3728“Looks like there’s no objections. Then we’ll go with that.
3729Takahashi-kun, will you act as chairman?”
3730In Dorisen’s place, Takahashi stood at the podium. He was mature
3731and dignified, and if he’d only been wearing a suit, I’m sure he
3732could pass as a newly hired teacher.
3733“Then we should first start by listing out the groups. I’d like a
3734secretary. Yuumin, think you can do it?”
3735“In your dreams,” Yuumin, Ooshima Yumina curtly refused.
3736Takahashi could only give a bitter smile. She was a queen, even
3737among friends.
3738“Koba, why don’t you go for it?”
3739“Yeah, I don’t mind.”
3740“Hmm, then I might want to give it a go.”
3741With a line from each of the three noble ladies, in the end, the one
3742who came out was Imawano Aki, a mixed-race girl. While she was
3743also an outrageous beauty, I was a little scared of her elusive
3744personality. She gave off the impression of quite the experienced
3745gal, the type that would see right through you if you looked at her
3746face to face. Putting a pause on the file grating against her nail, she 
3747107
3748let the loosely-done hair bundle of hers sway as she rose to the
3749platform.
3750“I’d rather not touch chalk. Yuuta, tissue please.”
3751“I don’t have one. Should I ask around?”
3752“Fine then. I’ll open a new one.”
3753Imawano promptly ripped one of her own personal pink pocket
3754tissue packets open.
3755“Alright then—”
3756“Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.”
3757Was it an extra thrown in with some brand-name item or
3758something?
3759With a tissue wrapped around a piece of chalk, “Go ahead,” she
3760turned.
3761“Then, starting with our group,”
3762On the blackboard, Takahashi, Yamamoto, Itou, Ooshima, Kobato,
3763Imawano, six names were listed out. “Next up… Kawai’s, perhaps?”
3764“We’re…”
3765Kawai, Kobayashi, Nakamura, Saitou, Watanabe, five names were
3766grouped all together. A group formed as if all the normal boys in
3767class were gathered up. In the end, Saitou was part of them too. I’d
3768been a member, up to a little while ago.
3769“Oota, are you good being paired with Kosakai?” The ones
3770Takahashi called out to were the so-called open otaku combo. Not
3771in words, the two affirmed with a nod of the head.
3772“Yoshizawa, any requests?”
3773“Outside rim. Near the back.”
3774A silent outlaw with no allegiance to anywhere, Yoshizawa
3775answered with as few words as possible. If anyone in our class was
3776going to kick or punch someone first, it would probably be him or
3777Yamamoto. Takahashi did have an eye on him, and because
3778Yoshizawa didn’t talk with anyone, having him on the outer rim was
3779a relief to everyone concerned.
3780Now then, here’s the problem. You’ll have to touch what you’ve kept
3781at a safe distance, what will you do, chairman? That being the case,
3782I had a vague premonition of the development to come. 
3783108
3784“Then the rest are… Satou’s group, does that work out?” As
3785expected. You can’t defy fate. I gave just one solemn nod.
3786Conclusion, the group was a large family including myself
3787and seven dream soldier boys.
3788“Next, the girls’ groups.”
3789That was also an exceedingly simply result. Apart from the three
3790noble ladies, the normal girls were all put together. Ozaki-san was
3791part of that one.
3792“Umm, now about the remaining girls… any suggestions?”
3793Takahashi asked gingerly.
3794“It might be the Double-Satou group,” I’m reluctant to admit it, but
3795you’re right, Imawano.
3796“Eh? For reals? All of them?”
3797And with that, female names were also tacked onto my group. All
3798the nine female dream soldiers, Ryouko included. Add on the boys,
3799and you’ve got sixteen.
3800The blackboard spelled out the fact half of the class fell under a
3801single group. The creeper division was the largest power in class.
3802The pressure of numbers, once listed, had a perfect impact.
3803“Waaah,” Takahashi whispered a groan.
3804“What are we going to do about this? The Satou Group is way too
3805large.”
3806“Whatever you want. Put it anywhere,” Said I.
3807The seat change had long since become meaningless to me. Que
3808sera sera, they say.
3809“R-really? I’ll try to put you guys together as much as possible…”
3810Going around taking requests from each group, Takahashi and
3811Yamamoto began making a seating chart on paper. From time to
3812time, Ooshima would interject. Kobato-san didn’t join the
3813conversation. When I thought she was hanging her head
3814despondently, I noticed the copy of ‘MariMite’ she was covertly
3815reading in her lap. She had quite some nerve. She was definitely
3816going to make it big someday.
3817“Aki-chan, could you write this one down?” 
3818109
3819The notebook seating chart was copied onto the blackboard. As
3820expected, we were fortified and isolated at the front. There were so
3821many people, it was inevitable we had a large border, giving way to
3822many dream soldiers with bystanders as their neighbors. At once, a
3823few screams rose across the classroom.
3824“Oh god no!”
3825The one who cried out in tears was my neighbor Ozaki-san. She was
3826set right next to Ryouko.
3827“I can’t do it, I told you, I just can’t.”
3828“But Ozaki-san, you said you wanted to be in the back. There’s
3829really no other configuration that works.”
3830“If I have to be next to her, I might as well move to the front!” Oota
3831raised a hand, pleading in a fine voice that ran counter to his bulky
3832build.
3833“… My eyes are bad. I have to be near the front…”
3834“Eh? You should’ve said so earlier, Oota.”
3835“Didn’t I say back outer rim?” Yoshizawa opened his mouth.
3836Feuding and feuding, how fearsome the seat change. Everyone
3837refused to come in contact with dream soldiers, as the discussion
3838ran into stormy waters. It was rewritten and rewritten, a few cried,
3839a number did snap.
3840In the end, it came out looking like this:
3841 ６６６１
3842５５５６６６
3843５５■■■Ｓ
3844４４■■■Ｓ
3845４４■■■■
3846ï¼’ï¼’â– â– â– â– 
3847With the front of the room being to the left, and group names
3848indicated how many people they consisted of. The â– s were dream
3849soldiers. The S stood for double-Satou. As there would be smoke no 
3850110
3851matter where Ryouko and I were stationed, we weren’t moved
3852anywhere.
3853As you can see, the dream soldiers sat in the region usually reserved
3854for those in power, with a monopoly over the back-window area.
3855This was largely due to the queen bee asserting, “Too much
3856sunlight, I don’t want the window”. Unable to ignore Yoshizawa’s
3857request, the noble group had a slight skew in their deployment. It
3858was quite a rare pattern for the nobles to be losing out.
3859With more calm deliberation, there was surely a better arrangement
3860to isolate us, but this is a good example of how confusion and
3861conflicting opinions can paralyze rational judgment. Upon receiving
3862their territory, each group was free to decide how they would sit.
3863With desk and chair in hand, the move had begun. In that rattling,
3864boisterous time, Ryouko and I, the only ones who didn’t have to
3865move seemed to be in the eye of the storm.
3866“I’ll ask just in case, but you’re fine with where you’re sitting, right?”
3867“As long as the positioning is adjacent to Ichirou, the location
3868doesn’t matter.”
3869“… I see.”
3870If it was in any way romantic, that would be a wonderful line, but
3871that was a declaration of stalking, it was.
3872“Ah, a cellphone. Didn’t think you’d have such a social item on
3873hand.”
3874When I thought she was fiddling with her staff more than usual, I
3875noticed a cellular phone portion that wasn’t there before embedded
3876into the top.
3877“It is different from the primitive cellphones of this world. An
3878allpurpose device utilized in the Terminal Zone.”
3879“Yeah, let’s just go with that.”
3880“Ichirou must submit his contact information.”
3881“Oh, you want to exchange numbers?” I really didn’t want to. “It
3882is necessary for emergency contact, and an order for the
3883exchange has already been issued.”
3884“By whom?” 
3885111
3886“Plenipotentiary Power Holder Credétat.” She
3887hoisted up the medal, chain and all.
3888“And there it is. What does that magic girl toy want with me?”
3889‘The Plenipotentiary Power Holder Petitions Satou Ichirou. Assist
3890in the Construction of the Hotline.’
3891“I can see your mouth moving, Ryouko.”
3892“……”
3893“You’re good at ventriloquism, you know that? You really had me
3894fooled… at first.”
3895“……”
3896Tsk, she was ignoring me to my face.
3897“Satou-kuuun, Satou-kuuun.”
3898I noticed I was being called for. By the time I realized it, Kobato-san
3899was sitting one seat forward and to the right.
3900“Huh? That’s where you ended up?”
3901“That’s right. It just naturally worked out. I’ll be in your care~.”
3902“… Likewise.” My voice rung false. Clearly, fate had a clever mastery
3903of the carrot and the stick. With a slightly nervous face, Kobato-san
3904greeted the mystery sitting to the left of me as well.
3905“I’d love to get to know the other Satou-san too.”
3906“……”
3907Kobato-san was the sole girl to ever strike up conversation with
3908Ryouko. Not that Ryouko ever answered.
3909“We’ll have to go play somewhere with everyone to commemorate
3910the event~.”
3911The innocent Kobato-san laughed. Even if it was no more than
3912social courtesy, what a reassuring conversation. That was perhaps
3913the first time in my life I found joy in a seating change. That’s why
3914the stick had to come next. With how delicious that carrot was, just
3915what sort of sublime tragedy awaited me?
3916The sticking was carried out the next weekend. 
3917112
3918As of late, the destiny going that one extra mile to bully me—Mr.
3919Fate was becoming truly merciless, and he had finally reached the
3920point where his splendid programming would destroy my day off,
3921the final paradise I had left.
3922The tragedy began with a single phone call.
3923‘Is this Satou? It’s Dorisen. Can you come to the station right now?’
3924“… I’m pretending that I can’t.”
3925‘Today’s meeting should prove beneficial for you to spend the rest of
3926your days in peace.’
3927I hopped right aboard that cajolery, fortifying my body with Jeans
3928Mate, Lord Uniqlo, and Compass, kicking my bike into maximum
3929overdrive all the way to the station.
3930“Sensei? Where are you?”
3931The moment I arrived at the meeting point plaza, the sort of
3932beadyeyed vengeful spirit straight out of a Shimizu Takashi horror
3933attacked me in the form of Ryouko.
3934“Gyaaaah!”
3935My heart really did stop for a few seconds. My technician took off.
3936“You——!”
3937Fear shifted to anger. Grabbing Ryouko’s small head in my right
3938hand, I shook her front back, left and right.
3939“Nom.”
3940“Oww!” She bit me again.
3941“It’s your fault for scaring me!”
3942When Ryouko showed her selves, the eyes of the people who were
3943only just enjoying their day off pierced into us in one fell motion.
3944Especially since I had raised a scream this time.
3945“W-what about Dorisen? I got a call, but… why are you here,
3946anyway?”
3947“The researcher was the one who made the call.”
3948“Hah! That’s a lie. I heard the real Dorisen’s voice.”
3949‘It’s love, Mens. We’re on the search for love.’
3950“Your mimicry is at a genius level, I see!”
3951“A simple task with the voice changing functionality of the
3952multipurpose device.” 
3953113
3954“No, this has nothing to do with machines. It’s imitation. I’ll hand it
3955to you, you’re on an ungodly level.” So it was a trap to lure me out.
3956“Wait, how did you get my number? I never told you.”
3957“Hacking.”
3958“Liar.”
3959“Social Hacking. Call to Dorisen. Solution obtained.” That
3960really was a fundamental technique of cracking.
3961Even in the hardest of times, what a wonderful homeroom teacher I
3962had, who’d so easily leak my personal information.
3963“That’s foul play, Ryouko. You’ve hurt me deep inside. I refuse to
3964search with you in town.”
3965“As Ichirou actively sabotages search attempts, The Researcher has
3966continued the search on her own. Efficiency is exceedingly poor.
3967The Special First Order Advisor Ichirou should promptly rejoin the
3968search and provide backup for his master unit. Habeo imperium.
3969Habeo imperium.”
3970“… Isn’t searching school enough? Huh?”
3971“While a Dragon Terminal definitely exists in school, there have
3972been readings confirmed in town as well, so no way.”
3973“Ah, the way you just said no way was really human-like. Spotted a
3974seam in your acting. Hooray, hooray.”
3975“……”
3976Ryouko continuously nudged her shoulder into me. It was a means
3977of protest.
3978“Hey, don’t push me, that’s dangerous, whoah.” I
3979was this close to falling into the fountain.
3980Tearing Ryouko’s body away, I reinitiated negotiations. “Then
3981where is it in town? You’re always just rambling around places
3982filled with people. If you put so much into this setting, then that
3983dragon terminal of yours is something you made yourself and hid
3984somewhere, right? Let’s head straight for it.”
3985“Ichirou’s misunderstanding is remarkable. The Dragon Terminal is
3986something that has always existed. Not something that has been
3987made. They are the defensive form a dragon that has lived over a
3988thousand years takes upon a change to its environment. Therefore,
3989their rarity and value are high.” 
3990114
3991“I’ve had it with that setting… Zeusheim, and Igknight and the like.
3992It’s bullcrap.”
3993How was I supposed to be released from this nightmarish chain?
3994“For starters, that robe… well, it does kinda look like a baggy trench
3995coat, so how about you properly button up the front, and play the
3996part of a bystander?”
3997‘The Spell-based Concealment ritual a Researcher Utilizes Targets
3998Not Only Residents of the Phenomenal Realm but All Forms of
3999Informational Entities as Well. The Plenipotentiary Power Holder
4000Concludes Satou Ichirou’s Proposal Carries With it No Practicality.’
4001“… I’m putting a ban on that ventriloquism too.”
4002The medal was yet another suspicious item. Making sure not to
4003touch it, I tucked it into the inner folds of her robe.
4004“And hide the staff. Your secret robe will hide it all.”
4005And with that, she barely managed to play a person who was just
4006wearing slightly baggy clothing… or not! Not at all! It was
4007impossible! Suspicious, she was way too suspicious. An accident
4008waiting to happen! Admittedly, I knew it was impossible from the
4009start!
4010“Even Boogiepop-senpai usually hides his outfit in his sports bag!
4011Take a page outta his book!”
4012Even as that went on, the sniggers of passersby were incessant. I
4013had to run without a moment to spare. From the curious looks, the
4014wry laughs, the condescending glares, the cold sneers, the
4015numerous emotions I didn’t want to be smeared in again, and more
4016than anything, from my detestable past.
4017Ryouko’s stomach rung out right on the dot.
4018While she quite likely had a tendency to neglect her health, her
4019body worked properly and would properly signal out its hunger at
4020noon.
4021“Ryouko, I think we should start with replenishing energy.”
4022“You may have approval for that request.”
4023Oh, how high and mighty. But this was a chance to move out of the
4024public eye. 
4025115
4026The station’s east entrance was populated with department stores
4027and such making it considerably bustling, but out the west entrance
4028and around five minutes away, the plating of the business district
4029was immediately stripped away. We were only a step up from the
4030stix, it was all to be expected. When you entered the district with
4031nothing but empty lots they planned to erect housing in, the sights
4032immediately changed for the better. People rarely passed by.
4033“Any convenience stores around?”
4034Only a small soba shop more like a concrete container for a stall
4035operated by the side of the road. It had the same make as the soba
4036shop in the station.
4037I entered with Ryouko. While the couple in their fifties sent her a
4038curious look, that was all. Did they interpret it as some
4039incomprehensible fashion that came with the generational gap?
4040“Eat quietly.”
4041It wasn’t like Ryouko could choose from a menu. When I was about
4042to place to orders, she pointed out an entry pictured on the back
4043side of the sheet. It was an awfully, awfully rare action.
4044“What is this?”
4045“Mn? It’s just assorted tempura soba. Aah, the shrimp’s huge. And
4046pricy. Twelve hundred yen.”
4047“The shape resembles a dragon.”
4048Does it now? I get that shrimp can look a bit monster-like, but…
4049don’t tell me that’s the dragon terminal? … can’t be. If I ordered two
4050of them, it would come out to twenty-four hundred yen. I drove my
4051thoughts towards the contents of my wallet only to notice I had no
4052further plans to use any of it. I barely bought books for my own
4053amusement anymore, I had no hobbies, and I wasn’t going
4054anywhere with friends.
4055“… Two assorted tempura soba.”
4056Eventually, two orders on trays arrived. Obstructing Ryouko’s hand
4057that reflexively burst out, I furnished it with chopsticks.
4058“Irrational implement.”
4059“Oh shut it. Everyone worked hard to get used to it.” 
4060116
4061In the midst of a hard battle, without laying an eye on the noodles,
4062Ryouko bit into a shrimp tempura. The plate of assorted tempura
4063had two shrimp in the center, with the sides made of up breaded
4064kisu, pumpkin and shiso leaf. In no time at all, the two shrimp had
4065disappeared into the witch’s stomach. She seemed satisfied as she
4066wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
4067“You’ve never eaten shrimp tempura before?”
4068“The food of the phenomenal realm is irrational in its—”
4069“Yeah, yeah, I remember.”
4070With the harshness of a producer axing an unpopular anime, I
4071forcefully severed the conversation.
4072“More importantly, how about you try something else.. The kis,”
4073saying that one aloud took a bit of courage. “The kish fish tempura’s
4074good too,” of course, I bit my tongue.
4075While it was a seedy-looking store, the taste was surprising.
4076Handmade noodles were boiled in store, giving a resilience one
4077could never find in dry preserved stock, all topped with a seemingly
4078endless stream of finely minced green onion and sesame. The
4079dancing consistency made for an all-around enjoyable experience.
4080If you brought a tempura to your mouth in the interval between
4081slurps, the crisp, dry coating shattered to a weightless texture. Even
4082Ryouko whose only interests went out to the shrimp, upon seeing
4083the joy spread across my face, painstakingly brought a noodle to her
4084mouth. Her eyes opened wide. The movements of her hand sped up.
4085Even the supporting cast, the shiso leaf was appetizing enough to
4086down a bowl of rice to. Ryouko nibbled her tempura in small bits
4087like a squirrel. Creepy-cute, I’d say. If I saw that on TV, I might
4088laugh.
4089The old woman laid out two vermillion-lacquered containers.
4090Ryouko didn’t let it escape her. She drew her eyes point blank to
4091investigate the object from top to bottom.
4092“It’s just occurred to me, but your acting kinda rips off a person
4093from that Hit and Run manga.”
4094“Necessity to investigate this article accepted.” 
4095117
4096As a dream soldier boasts high mental defense values, low-offense
4097retorts inflict no damage.
4098“… It’s soba water. The water used to boil the noodles.”
4099“Industrial waste.”
4100“You wanna get thrown out?” Though if it was just her, I wouldn’t
4101mind.
4102“After you’ve eaten all the noodles, you mix in as much broth as you
4103like, and sip it. It’s like tea after a meal.”
4104Ryouko carelessly tilted the container and spilled its contents.
4105“…! …!”
4106“Stupid,” the area quickly formed a breakwater for it.
4107“Don’t play with your water, idiot!”
4108The old woman looked troublesomely at us.
4109I’d taken a liking to the store so I wanted to eat here again, but I
4110decided I’d be coming alone next time.
4111As I was paying the bill, I noticed an item I’d seen somewhere
4112before in the ‘lost and found corner’ by the register. A metal stick.
4113The engravings on it had been worn down shallow, it was in tatters.
4114Where had I seen it again?
4115The infirmary. A light lit up overhead.
4116“If you like it, you can take it,” the old man said as he typed out our
4117total.
4118“Really? It’s not like I’m the one who lost it.”
4119“That’s been here forever. I’m pretty sure it’s a toy. Go ahead.” With
4120a wry smile, I tried returning it to the box when Ryouko jumped at
4121it. She grew violent.
4122“Hey! Customer! Eep, human? Ghost? The grudge!?”
4123Her means of attack was completely like a vengeful spirit, so I could
4124understand his confusion. By the way, The Grudge is a movie of
4125unfortunate events involving an endlessly replicating curse. It’s one
4126of Director Shimizu Takashi’s works.
4127“Eeeh! Police, you have to call the poliiiice!”
4128“You can! You’ll just spread the curse! Like the Mamiya Couple
4129from Sweet Home, you have to exorcize her with emotion… you
4130have to make her reach nirvana!” 
4131118
4132Was the store owner some horror movie buff?
4133“Just what are you!?” Snapping, I cried out as well.
4134“Ah ah ah ah ah!”
4135While she was always crazy, today was a full boost. As if she had
4136awakened.
4137In a crisis, a protagonist or heroine surrounded in mystery would
4138generally go berserk and awaken. And annihilate the enemy. It was
4139the golden pattern to liven up a story. If it actually occurred in the
4140real world, there was nothing more painful to watch.
4141Ryouko tore the stick out of my hands, slammed her shoulder into
4142the door, and took off in a straight dash, the glass bell ringing all
4143the way.
4144Once he’d calmed down, the old man (it seemed his suspicious of
4145evil spirits had cleared up) handed over my change as he spoke out.
4146“… Could you two please not come again?” “…
4147Got it.”
4148Chasing Ryouko in a mad dash, I came onto her.
4149“Vile witch! Did someone put you up to it!?”
4150While it hadn’t gone far enough to lay a hand on her, if I didn’t put
4151the stick back, I’d never be able to move on. It became a violent
4152scramble.
4153“Gnnnnnnn!” “Ngaaaah!”
4154It developed into a truly small-scale close combat of grabbing each
4155other’s’ hair and cheeks. On brand new road piercing through a
4156tranquil vacant lot, our street fight remained too petty to require
4157anything like a 10-something shiki: yamibarai special move.
4158Really, I’m sorry I can’t provide a cool light novel battle scene. Vrm,
4159rm, rm, rmrm, from a sports car letting off motor noises as it passed
4160by, a flashy couple pointed at us and laughed.
4161The man yelled out his encouragement.
4162“Go get her, Otaku!” Go get in an
4163accident.
4164When I’m with Ryouko, it seems even I’m seen as an otaku. My high
4165school debut was meaningless. 
4166119
4167Eventually out of breath, the battle ended with no real end. Leaning
4168against one of the stakes surrounding the lot, I became a lifeform
4169that existed only to ingest oxygen. I couldn’t regain the stick. “God,
4170what’s with you. You’re really irritating. What even is that rod?”
4171“Dragon Terminal.”
4172“Say what?”
4173That stick? That? You’re saying that’s the item we were desperately
4174searching for?
4175“Let me see it a second.”
4176“…… You’ll take it so no.”
4177“I won’t take it, I’ll give it back, just let me see. We’re comrades,
4178right?”
4179Perhaps the comrades part worked; Ryouko held it out to me.
4180Dragon Terminal. Now that she mentioned it, it did seem to have
4181the shape of a dragon. Rather than a western dragon, it was closer
4182to the eastern serpent-like beast. It could also look like a worm or
4183something of the sort. It didn’t seem to have wings.
4184“Alright, have it back.”
4185She carefully tucked it into a storage space in her staff. How
4186baffling. Even if the dragon corpse part was a lie, I was
4187surprised to find it actually existed. Why were there multiple of
4188them? How many were there in total? The key had to be in the
4189infirmary.
4190I stopped by the infirmary the following lunch break.
4191The nurse with a fluffy, short, blonde perm sat in her swivel chair,
4192her toes stretched out, kicking back as she washed down some
4193konjac jelly with the working woman’s water of choice, Contrex, all
4194the while indulging in a volume of ‘The Story of Saiunkoku’. I held
4195down my swelling negative aura. An adult her age… no, I remember
4196reading on the net that older women read Saiunkoku too. That’s
4197beside the point.
4198“Feeling sick?”
4199“No, I’m here for something else.” 
4200120
4201I gazed over the room, searching out the item in question. It was
4202still on the desk, resting in a milky white pen tray. The seal case.
4203“About that metal stick from last time, could you please tell me
4204about it?”
4205“I don’t think I can help you with that anymore.”
4206“Stuff happened. If possible, I want you to give that to me.” I
4207pointed at the case.
4208“Now I can’t do that.”
4209“Umm, right now, I’m kinda helping out a girl who’s looking for it,
4210and to be blunt, I need it.”
4211“That’s a crime, pretty sure.”
4212“Say what?” That wasn’t my intent. “I highly doubt that.” The
4213nurse reached out and took the seal case in her hand. “You can
4214do anything as long as you have this. It might be able to grant
4215any wish you may have.”
4216“Sensei, are you for real? You’re a teacher and you still believe in
4217that stuff?”
4218“Of course. I believe. In the incredible potential this carries… the
4219golden force.”
4220“Golden force.”
4221Another outrageous setting came out.
4222It wasn’t just Ryouko, it had even reached a third party. Though she
4223said it was a charm, so it’s probably got to do with that. Was this a
4224far deeper incident than I was thinking?
4225“For example, let’s say you want some money. Your wish will be
4226granted.”
4227“No way,” that’s like trying to reach for the clouds.
4228“For example, let’s say you want to ruin a certain someone’s life. It
4229can grant that wish too.”
4230“… So it’s a curse.”
4231“That’s right, you can’t make light of the power this carries. If you
4232use it for evil, someone will definitely come out the worse.” “Then
4233why do you keep it with you? If it’s that dangerous, you should go
4234through the proper process.”
4235The last trace of emotion disappeared from the nurse’s face.
4236“… I, see, I want a car. I want a Nissan Bluebird Sylphy.” 
4237121
4238“No, sensei, don’t tell me… you’re going to use that dragon terminal
4239to…?”
4240“Now you’re getting it! I intend to use the magic wand. And I’ll lay
4241hands on my Sylphy-chan. That’s why I can’t give it to you.”
4242Unfitting of the acting nurse, that’s a grim look, is it not? To think I
4243would find such great evil lurking here.
4244“I can’t overlook this. I’ll need to take charge of it. Please hand it
4245over.”
4246“Definitely not. You can’t have it.”
4247With childish gestures, she hid it behind her back.
4248“If an educator like yourself is going to abuse a curse… I’ll leak you
4249to Mu and Dragon Magazine.” Though when I was the one who said
4250it, “This is stupid,” I thought.
4251“To start with, the Sylphy’s a granny car… even a Mark X would…”
4252The nurse suddenly made the face of the demon’s bride.
4253“You take that back! Sylphy-chan is nice on all the ladies! So what if
4254I just like the name!? By the way, Sylphy is the spirit of the wind.
4255There’s Undine of the water and Dryad of the forest too, and then
4256there’s the high-level spirit Ifrit, right? They help out the elves!”
4257“The likes of Sylphy is just barroom trivia. Everyone knows that.”
4258This person was definitely reading The War of Lodoss or
4259something.
4260By the way, I’ve accidentally bought the Siege of Rhodes (by Shiono
4261Nanami) instead before. While it wasn’t what I was looking for, it
4262was interesting enough to get my nose running. Albeit, it was a
4263novel based in actual history, so it didn’t have any spirits.
4264“You can’t have it. You can’t have it,” holding the case close, she fled
4265onto the bed.
4266“If it’s corrupted you to such a degree, I can’t ignore my civic duty
4267as a citizen of Japan. I’m confiscating that.”
4268I leaped at the nurse. As I struggled, my face buried deep into her
4269chest, and from the gap in her shirt, I took in a large whiff of an
4270older woman’s perfume. While the inside of my head was covered
4271up in pink impulse, I used sheer willpower to prioritize my goal.
4272“Please give it to me.”
4273“Not in a million years.” 
4274122
4275“Yo doc, I wanna cut class and nap, please lend me a bed!” The
4276flashy-haired second-year student who came in took one look at
4277us grappling on the bed, “Wahey, it’s just like those spicy fanfics!
4278Hey everyone, get a load ‘a this!” she cried as she raced down the
4279hallway. “Chance!”
4280“Ah, he got it.”
4281In that moment’s opportunity, I took back the case and shot back
4282from the bed.
4283“Now look here, I’m starting to think you’re misunderstanding
4284something.”
4285“As for what’s inside… wait, what?” The
4286case contained a real seal stamp.
4287“Right? You misunderstand, right? That’s my real official seal.”
4288“Then what about when I saw it last time?”
4289“The cases just happen to look a little similar, it’s something
4290completely different. I already told you, I can’t help. By the way, I’m
4291buying a car after this. Sylphy. The contract needs my seal.” “What
4292about the curse? The golden force? Someone’s going to end up for
4293the worse if it’s misused?”
4294“Curse → The seal’s undeniable ability to serve as evidence. Golden
4295force→ the legally binding force of monetary contract. Misuse → It
4296points to me, if you use it in crime, I’m ruined.”
4297“Are you being purposely misleading!? Then where did that stick
4298go?”
4299“I gave it to a female student.”
4300“Who and why?”
4301“It’s just that sort of charm, you’re supposed to pass it on. I gave it
4302to a girl who looked like she needed it. She’s a first year, so I haven’t
4303learned her name yet.”
4304So it was passed to one of the first year girls. A somber mood took
4305me.
4306“Are there any more like that one?”
4307“I don’t know the specifics. But it seems there’ve been charms like
4308that around town for a while now.”
4309I see, so Ryouko assimilated some trendy good luck charm into her
4310delusion. I’m starting to see it. 
4311123
4312“Were you in need of some luck?”
4313“Not particularly, but I have my reasons.”
4314“What sort?”
4315This girl who wanted to become one of those people from manga
4316and novels who fight on the underside of daily life so much that she
4317convinced herself she’s a witch is interested in it, ahahahah. There
4318was no way I could give that explanation. With an ambiguous smile,
4319I made my escape from the infirmary.
4320End of the day homeroom. As per usual, Dorisen waltzed in with a
4321full smile on his face.
4322Lately, I’d gotten to noticing his smile was either faked, or
4323something close to that. The strong aura he emitted on rare
4324occasion told me of a deeper truth.
4325The amount of a person’s aura is roughly proportional to their
4326human power.
4327Human power is a word to indicate a human’s humanish humanity
4328to other humans.
4329For example, for someone with high human power, even with a
4330mountain of evidence against them for the murder they committed,
4331“No, I don’t know anything. Really, cut me some slack. Yeaah, I’m
4332just not seeing it.” It was possible for them to continue insisting as
4333such. Even in a harsh situation, a strong will to conceal one’s true
4334nature, and (in a sense) a noble spirit unbound by the fetters of
4335logic. Therefore, a bearer of strong human power could by no
4336means divulge their true thoughts to others. As was the case with
4337Dorisen.
4338While the pro soccer manager Yamamoto said something similar,
4339the nuances were different.
4340With all his authority, as expected, Dorisen boasted high human
4341power. In political maneuvers, it would prove to be an
4342indispensable force.
4343“And that’s the end of it. I’ll see you all tomorrow.” 
4344124
4345Once the standing and the bowing was over, I would escape the
4346classroom with all due haste. Otherwise, the dream soldiers would
4347grow concerned over whatever so crisis the world was in today.
4348Gathering around me as if it were set in law.
4349By leaving the classroom during breaks, fleeing to the cafeteria or
4350library during lunch, and swiftly returning after school, I’d
4351succeeded in living a peaceful day to day as of late. The only
4352measures I lacked was for the morning.
4353Since I didn’t have friends, killing time over lunch was a difficult
4354task, but I’d started managing these days.
4355I’ll make it home today, just you watch. As I got full of myself,
4356Dorisen kindly informed me.
4357“Ah, double-Satou, please stay behind. Then, today’s day duty,
4358please do your thing.”
4359“… What is this?”
4360After the class had broken up, I remained in attendance with
4361Ryouko.
4362Because I remained, approximately half of the class remained at
4363attention in their seats. Those waiting for us. My popularity didn’t
4364make me happy in the slightest. Once I finished talking with
4365Dorisen, if I didn’t make a straight dash for the front door, I could
4366feel it in the air I’d be quickly apprehended.
4367“You’ve been pretty flaky lately, haven’t you?”
4368“Flaky? With who?”
4369“Ladies’ Satou and your other friends.”
4370“Other what?” after activating my repeat function, I finally got it.
4371“Other friends? Did I have anyone like that? You and Ryouko are
4372the only people recorded in my cellphone.”
4373“Oh, so you actually do have her in your phone. That’s great news,
4374great news. But just two entries sounds too lonely. How about it,
4375Mens. Do you want to try increasing that count by fourteen?”
4376“Fwihhic!”
4377I think that was supposed to be an uncanny laugh. Fourteen. To me,
4378it was a value far more sinister than the beast’s sign of 666.
4379“I firmly refuse. If anything, I’d like it to drop to 0.” 
4380125
4381“They’re all comrades of the same Satou Group. What’s not to like?”
4382“This group’s just what’s been made of the class’s rubbish bin.”
4383“Hahaha, now that’s a terrible thing to say.”
4384“It’s because they had no intent to properly associate with their
4385classmates. I can only say they reaped what they sowed.”
4386All they wanted was to smash whatever proud setting they came up
4387with onto some understanding sap. They were convinced that was
4388cool. They thought acting like some warrior from another world was
4389akin to wearing fashionable clothing. Nothing more than a
4390distorted, infantile lust for the limelight.
4391“So you don’t intend to get along with them?”
4392“I don’t,” I declared plain and loud so those behind me could hear.
4393“Mens’ Satou, do you know this proverb? One rotten apple spoils
4394the bunch.”
4395“I’ve at least heard it.”
4396“Truth be told, there are some suspicions of obscene acts in the
4397infirmary surrounding a student in my class.” He
4398took me by surprise.
4399“It was a love scene right out of a spicy fanfic, I heard.”
4400“……”
4401“If we really had such a student, there’s no way they’d be able to
4402escape suspension. Just one push, and even expulsion isn’t a stretch
4403of the imagination. Oh no, what’s wrong, Satou? Your complexion’s
4404going stale.”
4405“… Err, am I being threatened?” My tone shot all over the place.
4406“Nah. It’s just abuse of power.”
4407“Oh, so that’s it… hahah… you’re quite a joker, sensei, man…
4408hahahah.”
4409I could perceive Dorisen’s aura expanding. Being bullied to high
4410heavens had tempered my ability to read the atmosphere, if nothing
4411else. Ability name: Air Reader. If I had to, I could even express it
4412numerically. Currently, Dorisen’s aura was roughly 120Hu (Human
4413units). A normal adult male has a human power of around 3040Hu,
4414so Dorisen’s was already several times over normal. “Instead of
4415running away, can you deal with Ladies’ Satou and the others
4416upfront?” 
4417126
4418“…… Got it.”
4419All of a sudden, countless hands reached out and grabbed me from
4420behind, pulling me into the midst of the legion. With sights such a
4421vivid reminder of a zombie movie, Dorisen alone with his special
4422box seat up close, appreciated the film with a smile.
4423And my after-school time—was violated by delusions.
4424When the break-time bell rung, I immediately stood to go out to the
4425hall. That alone was something I wouldn’t concede even if
4426threatened, and investigating the charm was tied to Ryouko’s case
4427regardless. Thankfully, I managed to escape today. I set about my
4428independent investigation.
4429The first year had five classes, ranging from A to E. I stretched my
4430feet to Class E, directly opposite to the A classroom. It was to strike
4431up a conversation with whatever girl I found randomly having a
4432snack.
4433Hey, would you look at that? A bullied kid (and now a loner) is
4434talking to a girl. It’s like I’m a pickup artist or something. Class E
4435was distant, so the rumors about me hadn’t even reached yet. If I
4436played my cards right, they’d even talk to me normally. There was
4437no need to be discouraged if I was turned down, I could just talk to
4438another girl. I never had these sorts of social interactions before.
4439Humans can change if they really put their mind to it, right? Albeit,
4440if anything, my precedent proves, even if you change, that doesn’t
4441mean you’ll succeed.
4442“Hey, I’m looking into good luck charms. Do you know anything?”
4443“… Good luck charms?”
4444While I was usually rejected, there were times I’d get an answer. As
4445long as one out of five people said something back, I knew I was in
4446luck. If I kept polishing the skill, I might actually be capable of
4447pickups someday. I can search for a girlfriend outside of school with
4448no qualms. Isn’t that wonderful? My motivation was on the up and
4449up.
4450“One that uses a silver metal stick, you ever heard of it?” 
4451127
4452“Stick? I don’t think I have.”
4453“It was apparently kept in a seal case.”
4454“Sorry, I really don’t know.”
4455Even if conversation was established, it usually yielded zero results.
4456It was only classes D and E that my ill repute had failed to reach,
4457and around class C, they had started pointing at me with some
4458choice words. Speaking to efficiency, these two classes were best for
4459gathering information.
4460“I see, sorry for holding you up. Thank you.”
4461How many times did that make it? If I didn’t find the dragon
4462terminal, I’d be Ryouko’s toy forever. My head hurt just thinking
4463about it.
4464Break time between classes was a brief ten minutes. Talking to
4465more than a few people would already put me in overtime. I could
4466likely only reach out to one more this time around. My eyes raced to
4467find who the last person I’d talk to would be.
4468My eyes locked onto a girl acting out a flower on the wall as she
4469fiddled with her phone. I’d seen her face a few times before. She
4470was always alone.
4471“Do you have a minute?” If it was just starting a conversation, it
4472barely took any courage anymore.
4473“… Me?”
4474While she looked surprised, she promptly folded her phone and
4475turned towards me. From the mild gratitude I picked up from her
4476expression, she must have been looking for something to spend her
4477free time on.
4478“I’m looking into good luck charms. One that uses a silver rod.”
4479“Charms. Silver rod.”
4480“It’s apparently trendy with girls. My sister’s researching local
4481trends for a college report, and she told me to go gather some data
4482at school.”
4483I nonchalantly threw out a lie. It looks like my human power’s risen
4484from middle school.
4485“Do you mean…” she tapped away at her phone again before
4486showing it to me. “This?” 
4487128
4488She was connected to the net, so I thought she’d searched up an
4489occult site or something, but judging by the letters lining the black
4490background of the small screen, this was one of those so-called
4491internet message boards.
4492“Our school’s underground site. It’s pretty new.”
4493“So we had something like that… an underground site.”
4494“We used to have another one, but it was spammed with porn and
4495taken down.”
4496Her intonation was bounding. I know this is a rude notion, but I’m
4497pretty sure this was her first conversation in a while, and she was in
4498high spirits. It made me feel like I was using her, making my chest a
4499little tight.
4500Making friends takes nerve, but if you fail, you end up feeling like
4501this girl.
4502Is it bad that it’s embarrassing to be alone? While it had to do with
4503the school I was still attending, I couldn’t see any solution to the
4504societal problem. All I could tell was that what the adults were up to
4505was always ‘a little off’. If only those powerful people like Takahashi
4506could just get together and resolve it. But I guess that’s not
4507happening.
4508“Look. It came out in completely irrelevant gossip, right?” I
4509immediately found the post.
4510‘Hey, has anyone here done that dragon’s nail legend? The one that
4511curses you.’
4512“Dragon’s nail?”
4513“Right. It’s mentioned here and there,” the girl seemed to want to
4514talk more and more.
4515“Umm, it’s like this town’s specific variation of Kokkuri-san. You’ll
4516find pretty much the same legends all over schools in this area, and
4517the topic came up on other schools’ underground sites as well.”
4518She’s checking the underground sites of other schools. She must
4519have a lot of time on her hands.
4520“So it’s a charm for our town alone.” 
4521129
4522“And what’s used is the dragon’s nail. It’s an essential item. To put
4523it simply—”
4524There are multiple dragons nails, either in someone’s possession, or
4525hidden in various places across town. Someone who wants good
4526luck should do their best to get a nail. The nail has the power to
4527grant wishes, and just carrying it with you will have an effect. No
4528need for any troublesome rituals. No initiation fee or annual
4529payments. Spells these days have really upped the game in usability.
4530When your wish is granted, or you see signs that it’s working, you
4531have to relinquish the nail. Otherwise, you’ll receive its curse. And
4532so once again, the important item slips back into town. “Hmmm.
4533Does the nail have any rules for relinquishing it? So it doesn’t get
4534tossed?”
4535“You’re sharp. There are. You can’t just throw it away, it has to be in
4536a spot where someone will definitely find it someday. And it has to
4537be within the scope of this town. You can’t take it out.”
4538“Otherwise a curse?”
4539“Yep. You’re cursed. When you have it in hand, it works on its own,
4540but the risks are high.”
4541So it’s one of those charms with a fluid nature. The dragon stake
4542would continue granting wishes as it circulated around town.
4543Whether it was handed off or hidden somewhere wasn’t set in
4544stone.
4545“What sort of places are they usually hidden in?”
4546“Now that’s something that doesn’t come out on the boards too
4547often. You can’t use the same place twice, after all. Though they
4548sometimes say I hid it in so and so.”
4549“Heheheh.” The information just keeps coming. Loner girls are the
4550best. Adorable.
4551“Now about the nails, there are quite a few of them.” “Hmhmm,”
4552I did witness two separate articles.
4553“If you’re researching them, I’m sure you’d like to see a real one, but
4554they’re cursed, so perhaps you shouldn’t stick a hand in too
4555carelessly.” 
4556130
4557“But you know, hypothetically, even if they do grant wishes, if you
4558hide it in the wrong place, someone who doesn’t know anything
4559might find it and throw it out.”
4560“That’s also a cause to be cursed; so lately, a lot of people post on
4561the net if they’ve hidden one.”
4562“I see. So I’ll have to monitor the site in real time if I want one.”
4563“Ah, but. If you just want to see it,” The more I talked with this girl,
4564the more information she gave me.
4565“The dragon nails are still just metal, so they can wear down from
4566time to time. When that happens, you’re supposed to offer it to the
4567shrine.”
4568“And then what happens?”
4569“Who knows… I’m not really… but it’s a dragon and all, so once its
4570role is over, won’t it ascend to the heavens? Also, it’s a shrine, so the
4571god might look after it and replenish its power or something?”
4572“Hahah, I see.”
4573Perhaps there really is mystery in the world. I was getting
4574incorrigibly restless.
4575“Do you know where the shrine is?”
4576“Yeaaaaaah,” The girl’s expression turned dark. “Sorry, I don’t know
4577yet.”
4578“By yet, you mean you might figure it out eventually?”
4579The girl thought to herself. The warning bell rung. During our break
4580time, the bell would ring a minute before classes begin. “… I might.
4581I check the site quite faithfully.” I put my hands together and
4582lowered my head.
4583“Please, if you do find out, could you tell me?”
4584“Sure, how can I contact you?”
4585“Could you send it to my phone?”
4586“No problem. Let’s exchange numbers.”
4587Well, would you look at that? That was the fair and proper way to
4588exchange cell phone numbers. I rock.
4589I gave my thanks and returned to class.
4590The investigation was proceeding favorably. But another problem
4591was emerging where I least expected it. Right at the moment I was
4592away. 
4593131
4594The moment my hand reached the classroom door, my body winced
4595back at the shrill shriek that escaped the room.
4596Someone was yelling out, angrily. It was a familiar fear. The space
4597known as the classroom could, at times, turn terribly cruel. All sorts
4598of ill intent could easily and completely change the everyday life one
4599had lived to that day. In a sense, it was an actual other world
4600brought forth by the human heart.
4601Open the door, and I’d be involved. I wanted to run. I seriously
4602considered waiting here for the teacher, waiting for him to tell me,
4603“Satou, what are you standing around there for?” As far as I could
4604see, it was the best decision.
4605But strange—
4606The ominous sensation permeated through the door. This wasn’t
4607any normal bullying. It wasn’t just some fight. With angry roars
4608overlapping with one another, I couldn’t make anything out. While
4609there was no mistake things were stormy inside, I couldn’t imagine
4610what I’d see. Enter, and I couldn’t play dumb anymore. There was
4611no mistake, this had to be trouble tied to the dream soldiers. I
4612should ignore it. Waiting for the teacher was correct.
4613When I was sure my mind thought so, as if my heart and body were
4614acting separately, they took the opposite action. The door slid open.
4615For a moment, I wondered if it was some sort of automatic door,
4616but what opened it was my own hand. What a shocking betrayal.
4617A large harmonious aura became a squall to blow over me. The
4618emotional discharge was definitely there. Students of class 1-A
4619were split right down the middle into two camps, facing one
4620another across an invisible wall. Barely anyone was sitting. A
4621number of desks had been knocked over, chairs lining the floor as
4622well. The one furthest on the outside looked at me. It was Kawai.
4623“Kawai, what’s this?”
4624“… Don’t ask me.”
4625Only the ruins of a lost friendly relation escaped his mouth. I wasn’t
4626going to get down over it this late in the game. I tried measuring the
4627situation with my own power. 
4628132
4629Ryouko stood at the center of the dispute. While those around her
4630raised a ruckus, she alone gazed into space, detached from it all.
4631When I saw that her costume was a little disheveled, some
4632unknown emotion inflated within me. Her hair was frayed. Her
4633prided staff had been broken in two.
4634As if to sandwich her, the dream soldier brigade and the
4635commonfolk faced one another.
4636“And I’m telling you you’re creepy! Try saying something that isn’t
4637nonsense!”
4638The shrill voice belonged to Ooshima Yumina. She was halfsnapped
4639in a way unimaginable from her usual calm and egotistical state.
4640There was Yamamoto to her side, his anger also bared, “Think
4641you’re hot stuff? Lookin’ down on me? Takin’ us for fools?” or so he
4642repeated.
4643Of the bystander camp, those two were the only ones raising their
4644voice. Takahashi was in the center as well, but he kept to himself
4645with a sullen face.
4646The dream soldiers had gathered on the opposite shore. As you’re
4647aware, they held not the power to stand against the common man.
4648They stood up in silence, their eyes alone wandering about. What a
4649bizarre scene. The only one standing by Ryouko’s side was the
4650eyepatched swordswoman Oda. It was hard to say she was sticking
4651up for her. Even as she took a harsh attitude with me as she played
4652the stern warrior character, as with the others, she lacked the
4653communication ability to keep any normal person company. With
4654tears in her eyes, she cathed her being in the jeers of
4655Ooshima’s flock. From time to time,
4656“Nay,” “We art not at fault,” “It is you who,” but each time she tried
4657to say something, the corners of Ooshima’s eyes would lift up. “I’m
4658telling you to talk normally. Nay, art, stop screwing around,
4659seriously!”
4660So that’s it. The details aside, I was starting to see a faint picture of
4661how it got to this.
4662“Satou-kun!” With a pale face, Kobato-san came over.
4663“It blew up.”
4664“What started it?” 
4665133
4666“At first, Yuumin cautioned her that she should wear her uniform,
4667but Satou-san ignored her. When she laid a hand on her staff,
4668Satou-san really hated it, and…”
4669The staff currently contained the dragon terminal. Even if I was the
4670one who did it, Ryouko would have shown an excessive reaction.
4671“And Ooshima got in a bad mood?”
4672“Yeah. And then, from not wearing a uniform, it went to not being
4673able to talk properly, and she kept on prodding and prodding at that
4674sort of thing… until it wasn’t just to Satou-san, it was to everyone…
4675eventually, Oda-san stepped between them, and then
4676Yamamotokun suddenly snapped and…”
4677I’m sure it was just some trivial teasing.
4678Just by knowing their own status, a noble will talk down to a
4679majority of people. Those who don’t submit become a target of
4680criticism for that alone. Not only that, when it came to Ryouko and
4681the others’ attitudes, there was no higher tier of arrogance. Trouble
4682was inevitable, a natural reprise. At the very least, had I been there,
4683“And take that silly blindfold off,” Ooshima said with her pressure
4684at full throttle.
4685“… I mustn’t.”
4686“Why not? You can see fine, right?”
4687“… This is… a… seal…”
4688“Aah? What? Are you saying that because you’re an idiot? Or is it
4689because you think I’m an idiot?”
4690Oda lost her words, she could only hand her head.
4691“Oy, Oda, look at me. Why are you averting your eyes, wench? You
4692were ordered to remove your blindfold.”
4693Yamamoto pursued the matter. That pressure must have been hard
4694on a girl. As she hung her head, silent droplets fell from the corner
4695of her eye. Of course, from beneath the blindfold as well.
4696“Don’t ignore me!”
4697“……”
4698“Take it off!”
4699“……”
4700“… Remove it.” 
4701134
4702Yamamoto’s voice went low and cold. Once you raise a fist too high,
4703you reach a point where you would have to lower it somewhere. The
4704same went for a fist full of emotion. Would Yamamoto hit even a
4705woman? And if he could, and then what?
4706I was presumably the leader of the dream soldier brigade. It was an
4707unwilling station Dorisen stuck me in. A job far harsher than class
4708representative. I dealt with Ryouko who wasn’t even my friend. I’d
4709offered up more than enough of my free time.
4710That’s why, I had absolutely no obligation to help anyone, and
4711jumping out in front of an angry Yamamoto was none too
4712appealing. Even if I completely ignored it, I was in a position where
4713that was forgivable. I mean, from the start, I hated people like them
4714too.
4715“How about you calm down, both of you?”
4716Kobato-san left my side, letting out a scratchy voice.
4717“… Kobato, you’ve got nothing to do with this. Stay out. I’m not
4718satisfied yet.”
4719“But…”
4720“You can’t follow along with your friends, Koba? Aki’s staying back,
4721right? Everyone who’s not got a complaint is keeping away. Can’t
4722you see that?”
4723“Well away,” Imawano Aki frivolously raised her hand. Rather, she
4724was the only one sitting in her seat. Kobato-san struggled to find
4725the right words. Ooshima gently rephrased herself.
4726“This isn’t really bullying. They’re not wearing their uniforms, so I
4727courteously issued a warning. These two are the only ones who
4728aren’t reflecting on their behavior. Koba, there’s no need for you to
4729get in a tizzy. Go over to Aki. You can sit in my seat.”
4730It looks like Ooshima doted on Kobato-san quite a bit. She amicably
4731gave her detailed instructions, causing her to lower her shoulders
4732with no room left to refute. Ooshima tossed her voice over to the
4733opposite side.
4734“For now, all of you, everyone who’s breaking school regulation,
4735everyone who’s brought in illegal stuff, get rid of it all. Don’t you
4736think it’s unfair that you’re the only ones who can do whatever you
4737want?” 
4738135
4739The warriors kept silent. Hey, fight.
4740“Oda, you’re up first. Take off that eyepatch.”
4741Oda remained frozen. What happened to the Oda Style Demon Lord
4742of the Sixth Heaven Blade?
4743“… Oda-san, I think you’re better off doing what she says.”
4744Determining he wouldn’t be able to look good to all side, Takahashi
4745started taking Yamamoto’s side.
4746“I’ll get rid of that for you,” Yamamoto grabbed Oda’s ponytail and
4747pulled up her face. Upon seeing her teary expression, he laughed.
4748“What are you crying for? This is stupid.”
4749His hand touched the eyepatch. Oda let loose an ear-piercing
4750scream.
4751“Stop that at once, Yamamoto-kun!” Finally, a single dream soldier
4752stood. It was Kinoshita of the white cloth.
4753“It’s unbecoming for a man to use brute force on a woman! You
4754needn’t let it bother you, by our prediction, the cause of this quarrel
4755spans dimensions to—”
4756Around the dimensional spanning part, my spine froze over. That’s
4757why. That’s why I just couldn’t sympathize. While I hated Ooshima,
4758her request was just. The ones at fault were the cosplayers. I wasn’t
4759some shrewd lawyer who could make the impossible possible. More
4760so, I was the opposite. A dream soldier’s… enemy, right? That
4761wasn’t the convoluted statement of a tsundere. I’m being serious.
4762I despise it. That childish desire to be noticed, that immature spirit,
4763those careless statements. That foolish lack of defenses. Everyone
4764put in the effort to become ‘normal’. There was no salvation for
4765those who abandoned the very notion of effort, who contracted this
4766get-out-of-jail-free notion of ‘heroism’. They should just be
4767destroyed.
4768That’s why, when Yamamoto’s fist buried into Kinoshita’s stomach,
4769I wasn’t moved in the slightest. The man who would one day reign
4770over the world congress let out a shameful moan as he crouched
4771down. I even felt a pleasant rush to see warriors were all the same
4772in the face of violence. With the powerful kick of a soccer club star,
4773Kinoshita was on his back like a pathetic turtle.
4774Ozaki-san’s quiet “Get him” approval sounded especially loud. 
4775136
4776“And that’s one small fry down.”
4777Once again, his hand reached for Oda. As I expected, Yamamoto
4778was the type who’d really do it. Oda shrunk her body in fear. That
4779was for the best. Some part of me felt relieved. Give up any
4780pointless resistance; don’t instigate him, just let it end quickly.
4781From experience, I could say that no matter what sort of bullying,
4782as long as you don’t resist, it’ll be over by the time you’re stripped
4783naked. If they wanted to be warriors so bad, they could’ve gathered
4784at their own homes. They could have exchanged texts.
4785Yamamoto’s hand reached for a powerless Oda. After they’d seen
4786Kinoshita’s ship sunk in two shots, not a single dream soldier could
4787stand anymore. No signs of anyone helping. Not a peep from me
4788either.
4789“Ow!”
4790The cry belonged to Yamamoto. Holding his hand that had been
4791smacked down, he took a few steps back. The hero who saved Oda
4792was—Ryouko.
4793While the shaft had broken, the staff’s crown was a mass of metal
4794parts, making for a splendid blunt weapon. She had intercepted the
4795hand with it. With the same tempo as ever, Ryouko said this.
4796“… Reboot successful.”
4797Perhaps because I was still a child, I was sometimes possessed by
4798emotions I couldn’t identify. For example, the goosebumps racing
4799down my body at that moment, were they the same physiological
4800revulsions as usual… or perhaps…?
4801“Woman… don’t mess with me. I’ll kill you.”
4802Yamamoto snapped. Would Ryouko be struck? Would that small
4803frame of hers be able to accept the violence of a man? I doubt she’d
4804get off safe.
4805To Kobato-san who had returned nearby, I tried asking my final
4806question I didn’t have to ask.
4807“How did they treat Ryouko at first?”
4808They tried to take off her clothes, her robe… and she started
4809struggling… so Yamamoto-kun got angry and grabbed her hair, and
4810snapped her staff.
4811Ah, dammit, it went and established itself. A reason to defend her. 
4812137
4813You freaking started this, Retardmoto.
4814“Tsunderes aren’t really my thing.”
4815“Eh?”
4816Pushing my way through, I stepped between Yamamoto and
4817Ryouko. Touching aggressively pushing my body against him, I
4818enraged him further. Yamamoto must not have been used to being
4819attacked, he gazed at me with a blank look on his face.
4820“… You, Sayou! What’s that? Huh? Wanna go at it? Wanna go two
4821on one!?”
4822Yamamoto immediately grabbed my collar. When he threatened me
4823up close, I could easily discern his bullying prowess. Yamamoto’s
4824build was overly slim. It didn’t seem he had too much power. If I
4825had to rank him, he’d barely nudge in at number ten, at most. With
4826all my experience, my punch resistance alone was high, pathetically
4827enough.
4828I coldly informed Yamamoto’s dark red face.
4829“You’re the small fry. Know your place.”
4830“……?”
4831What chemical reaction occurred in the depths of his brain? His
4832expression went limp. I couldn’t tell whether he was laughing or
4833angry, this was the look of a person who had lost control. I was
4834rising to cloud nine. I managed to say what I never could in my
4835middle school days. I wanted to say more.
4836“Did you just,”
4837I placed emphasis on the approaching face.
4838“Your breath stinks, Yamamoto.”
4839And like that, I was auspiciously punched in the stomach. It wasn’t
4840my solar plexus, and I was bracing myself, so I endured it. While
4841my breathing stopped, as long as you know it’s coming, you can
4842keep pain out of your mind. That being the case, I was rendered
4843unable to speak, so looking him right in the eye, I made my best
4844smile of the year (sadly, a cynical one).
4845“The, ya—!”
4846Raising his voice so much I could no longer tell what he was saying,
4847he punched my face. A nostalgic sensation permeated my cheek. 
4848138
4849When you’re being hit, truth is, the scariest part is the leadup. After
4850that, it might hurt, but as your mind is often stunned, you usually
4851get off easy.
4852Yamamoto’s punches with as big of a windup as he could muster
4853visited me in rapid succession. While I took a few hits, I grew
4854accustomed along the way, managing to avoid and block a few of
4855them. The man crying out as he struck me, and then there was me
4856silently being struck. What even is this, this guy isn’t used to
4857punching at all. His face punches aren’t even breaking my teeth, at
4858this rate, his rank ten is going to be suspect.
4859Now then, what next? Waiting for the teacher was the ironclad rule,
4860but it would be interesting to get just one blow in myself. It would
4861be irritating if it was determined both sides were to blame. Whether
4862it would go well or not, I measured my timing and tried just once. I
4863pretended to collapse as I braced my knees, kicking the floor, and
4864plunging my head in. A tackle.
4865My headbutt flew in a lower trajectory than expected, sinking me
4866into Yamamoto’s stomach. While I took a considerable impact to
4867the neck, I could fell the sensation of hitting right into his center of
4868balance. Gephew, I heard his lungs gasping. Yamamoto’s body
4869collapsed back as he smacked into the wall below the blackboard.
4870Perhaps because I had timed it with his own advance, I managed
4871quite a clean hit. Just like that, I feigned a dying breath as I curled
4872up.
4873Yamamoto mounted my body, he started lowering a punch at my
4874back. But he didn’t have any power left. It was an exhausted punch.
4875Inside of my armadillo crouch, I laughed.
4876I did it. Now punch me all you want. The teacher will be here soon.
4877“What are you doing!? Get off of him!”
4878Yep, and there it is. Good work everyone. I appreciate your service.
4879“Yama, stupid, hey stop it!” Takahashi pulled Yamamoto back in a
4880Nelson.
4881“This is terrible… hey, are you conscious? Alright, I’ll call the nurse.
4882You’re going straight to the counseling room. Someone get
4883Dorisenkun here!” 
4884139
4885What a wonderful development. It was as if I’d just reclaimed all my
4886bad fortune.
4887“What is… this…”
4888Ooshima Yumina’s desolate voice now rung a soothing tune to me.
4889Within the day, Yamamoto was suspended, and I was sent to a
4890doctor by way of the infirmary. While I had taken a few blows, I
4891didn’t suffer any conspicuous injuries. My parents who came to get
4892me went and made their own ruckus of, “My son’s not to blame
4893anymore,” in tears, and more than anything else, it was awkward.
4894I took just a day off from school to be safe.
4895Surfing the net at home, indulging in depravity was the best.
4896The next day, when I popped by the dining table, it seemed a family
4897meeting had just ended. My parents and sister. Three grave faces
4898forced their smiles upon me. My father spoke as a representative.
4899“Do you want to transfer schools?” He said with the sort of light
4900tone one asked, ‘Do you want to try shedding some sweat in the
4901little leagues?’
4902“No, I’m fine. I’m not having any problems.”
4903“You don’t have to hold it in, you know?” said my mother, “Your
4904father can finish up the paperwork in a jiffy.”
4905“I’m not particularly stressed, I’m fine.”
4906I reached a hand towards the food on the table.
4907“Ichirou.” My sister’s eyes were straightforward. “At least tell me
4908who did you in. And their address.”
4909That was the look of someone about to unleash a secret technique. I
4910shivered.
4911“No way… you’re scaring me…”
4912My sister shut her mouth, looking genuinely shocked.
4913“Ichirou, if it’s painful, talk to me anytime.”
4914“I will…”
4915The three of them kept a close watch of my conduct the whole time;
4916I couldn’t really tell how the food tasted. 
4917140
4918After a day of rest, the mindset that I was enjoying myself when
4919everyone else was going to school started doing its work, increasing
4920my stress when I did attend. Even more so after that ruckus. I
4921entered the classroom all the while wondering what fate had in
4922store for me.
4923“Good morning,” For some reason, Kobato-san came to greet me
4924first thing. With a cordial tone, “And good work on your break.”
4925“M-morning. It’s a break, I wasn’t doing any work…”
4926Perhaps the day before yesterday was doing its work, as there was
4927no mad charge from the dream soldier battalion. In place of the
4928regular event, even as she was taking notes out of the textbook,
4929Kobato-san had both her table and chair turned in my direction at
4930the ready. Usually, after greeting me, she’d aimlessly wander off
4931somewhere.
4932“Is something wrong?”
4933“No, it’s nothing in particular.”
4934Why did she sound so formal? What was I supposed to do if this
4935was some new way of bullying?
4936“Have you heard about Yamamoto-kun?”
4937“Suspension, right?”
4938“Yeah.”
4939What did Kobato-san think about one of the mainstays of her own
4940group being suspended? If she actually detested me and in her
4941sinless smile told me, “Satou-kun, you’re lower than a
4942grasshopper~,” or something, the shock would hopper me right
4943through the window glass. To ensure that didn’t happen, I started
4944out with an apology.
4945“… I’m sorry. I’m reflecting.”
4946“Eh? Why? That was Yamamoto-kun’s fault. You’re not supposed to
4947reflect.”
4948From the way she blinked at my apology, that didn’t seem to be a
4949lie.
4950“No, there’s this and that politically. With the status difference and
4951all. Highs and lows, they say. Like I’m acting impertinent for a mere 
4952141
4953Nobita-kun, or something. I can’t really phrase it, but I do think I
4954didn’t act perfectly.”
4955With a hard-to-measure face, she slowly tilted her head around ten
4956degrees.
4957“I’m the one who should be sorry. I knew I had to stop it, but I
4958couldn’t take any action. I’m sorry”
4959“Nah, I think you’re better off like that. It’s quite often that forcing
4960your way in just makes things worse, and you might just become the
4961new target. At times like those, you’re probably better off watching
4962along, and lending a helping hand later on.”
4963“R-really? But just watching makes me uneasy with guilt.” “Stick
4964up for someone there, and the grudges don’t go away. But just
4965knowing you have an ally in a group you thought was nothing but
4966enemies makes it possible to endure.”
4967“I see.”
4968“I happen to be an expert on the subject.”
4969Kobato-san made a face as if she had just had an epiphany. Crap. I
4970ended up speaking heatedly about my bullying problem. I’ve got to
4971take care.
4972“… Satou-kun, are you some bigshot in a special organization?” I
4973did a double take.
4974“Huh? Why?”
4975“You’re popular, and you take hits like it’s nothing.”
4976“Popular? Eh? Pardon? Me? Where? With who? What fictional
4977community?”
4978“Around half of the class is head over heels for you.” by
4979the time she said half, I already got the punchline.
4980“… Before being human, they are soldiers first and foremost and
4981must be excluded from the count.”
4982“Ah, everyone in our class does love playing around, don’t they~.”
4983That statement made me wonder if she was actually an extremely
4984strange person.
4985“I think this goes beyond play pretend, and there are some people
4986you just find a little hard to get along with, right? I’m sure that’s the
4987case with your group’s Yamamoto too. ” “Yamamoto-kun’s
4988stock’s plummeted~.” 
4989142
4990That was the first time I ever heard Kobato-san badmouth
4991someone. While I felt conflicted, I was deeply moved by the fact she
4992was indeed human just like me. The sort of pleasure of teaching bad
4993things to a pure, innocent soul.
4994With that sequence of events, I was once again seeing a change in
4995my surrounding circumstance. Unlike the dramatic shift when my
4996debut failed, this was an inconspicuous yet definitive change. To
4997start with, Takahashi and Ooshima were blatantly avoiding me.
4998Even if we never really talked to begin with, now it was complete
4999zero, full ignore.
5000To put it in simple terms, this was shunning, rejecting,
5001ostracization. If our class hadn’t been filled with soldiers, it was
5002likely that their conduct would serve as a trigger for a great many to
5003follow suit. That being the case, we still consisted of half normal
5004people, and while hesitant, they did abide by Takahashi’s policy. In
5005short, half the class had turned the other way. Oh, if it’s just
5006ignoring, that’s nothing. Whichever the case, back when I was
5007trying to force human interaction, I was essentially alone anyways.
5008But within all of that, there stood at the pinnacle a strong warrior
5009who would fail to read the mood and talk to me regardless. It was
5010Kobato-san.
5011She struck up conversation so often I had to wonder If something
5012was up. By that flow, I had more opportunities to talk to the
5013handsome Itou who sat directly next to me. He always gave off a
5014docile impression among the nobles, but once I’d talked to him, I
5015found he was quite a good-natured fellow. Just a normal high
5016school student who liked video games and manga. The two of them
5017weren’t influenced by Ooshima or Takahashi’s compulsion. But If I
5018relied on them too much, then it would be their positions that took
5019the fall net, so I took precautions on my end to not converse for
5020prolonged periods. How do you like that, this tact? Isn’t it
5021extraordinary? My nen isn’t Air Reader for nothing.
5022Now then, about the warriors. 
5023143
5024Looking at the result, I protected them and bore the full brunt of the
5025assault (apparently).
5026Akashic Kinoshita started calling me SP, while Hero Andou called
5027me The Director. Only Zeus Suzuki continued calling me Hewley.
5028Even if they changed what they referred to me as, it was nothing
5029more than a qualitative change in annoyance.
5030Moved by how she’d been saved, Oda started acting like she was
5031Ryouko’s underling. The incident’s influence could be seen from
5032how she had changed her black eyepatch to a white medical one.
5033Her wooden sword was taken into school custody and in its place,
5034she equipped an arm guard she said was to block sword (that thing
5035the female ninjas in manga often wear). Perhaps parting from her
5036sword had lowered her warrior spirit, as she added homosexual
5037onto her character page. The target was Ryouko.
5038When she called her, “My Lord,” I couldn’t contain the chills. She
5039was thankful to me too, for what it’s worth, but after I mocked her
5040with, “Your character’s a mess, your character’s a mess,” she was
5041back to detesting me. As long as the person she was actually
5042following around didn’t pay it any mind, my personal take was that
5043she could do whatever she wanted.
5044“Ichirou, search.”
5045Ryouko alone was unchanged. Dragging me all over the place,
5046aimlessly searching for the dragon terminal day after day. In days of
5047wasted effort and punishment, I was on the verge of forgetting my
5048shame. I stopped feeling anything when people pointed at us. At
5049this rate, I feared I’d stop picking up auras as well. Satou Ichirou
5050fervently requests Mr. Fate to bring a swift resolution to this
5051situation.
5052The result of that preamble was that today’s lunch group consisted
5053of Mens’ Satou, Ladies’ Satou, Kobato, Itou and Oda, the five of
5054us. It started with Kobato-san’s proposition, “Tomorrow lunch, we
5055should deepen our bonds as seat neighbors. Let’s eat together.”
5056The five of us pushed desks together in the classroom. “… I’m fine
5057with that. But what about you?” “Something wrong?” asked
5058Kobato-san.
5059“Didn’t you always eat with Ooshima?” 
5060144
5061Ooshima was pecking at her lunch, her table pushed against Gal
5062Imawano’s, but now and again, she would send annoyed glances
5063our way. How scary. I was fine, I had nothing left to lose, but I
5064worried for Kobato-san.
5065“Yeah, we eat together a lot. But I’ll eat here today.”
5066“You too, Itou, you sure you don’t have to eat with Takahashi? Since
5067Yamamoto’s not here, isn’t he alone?”
5068“He invited me, but I turned him down.”
5069These people were valuable airheads. Someone brimming with good
5070will, look after them with are.
5071“Oda-san, why don’t you bring your desk over too? It’s a little
5072narrow with four.”
5073“… I’m fine with this.”
5074Oda brought over only her chair, nestling herself close next to
5075Ryouko. The only ones she could properly hold conversations with
5076were varients off dream soldiers.
5077“Wow, Satou-kun, your lunch is amazing.”
5078“Embarrassing, you mean.”
5079When I asked for a boxed lunch, my mother put in time and effort.
5080The concept was, “A lunch that won’t get me mocked at school,”
5081with the implication being, “”A lunch that won’t drag down my
5082school life”. As bento boxes were heavy to lug around, I usually
5083carried bread or ate at the cafeteria. I mean, how could you expect
5084me to polish off a three-level-stacked lunch?
5085“Satou-san, where’s your meal?”
5086Ryouko silently pulled multiple Weider Vitamin jelly drinks from
5087the inside of her robe and stacked them on the table. I see, that
5088future-food-esque article really did seem to align with her tastes.
5089“T-that’s your lunch?” Itou immediate pulled back. When even Oda
5090carried a proper meal with her, this girl alone went her own path.
5091“To eat is to replenish one’s energy reserves, a single step in the
5092process of maintaining a carbon-based activity body. Therefore,
5093ingestion is most efficiently done in paste form, in fact, in the
5094Terminal Zone, energy replenishment is—”
5095“Okay, okay, okay, okay! Let’s eat!” 
5096145
5097With so many guests, I couldn’t let her express her cringy setting.
5098“Then do you want to eat part of mine? Take whatever you like?”
5099Kobato-san held her small elliptical bento box across the table.
5100Ryouko stared fixedly at its contents. “……”
5101“……”
5102A momentary silent confrontation. Between the two of them, the
5103tensions of the last shootout scene in Kurosawa’s film Sanjuro
5104lingered. Eventually, Ryouko’s face closed in on the box. Her moth
5105directly pilfered a small hamburger steak. Ryouko swallowed it
5106without chewing.
5107“… Was it good?”
5108“As the researcher’s biological upgrade has removed any
5109unnecessary processing allocated to the sense of taste, it is
5110impossible to detect flavor.”
5111“You just made that up on the spot, didn’t you? That one’s definitely
5112going to come back and bite you later.”
5113“……”
5114Yeah, ignore me. Ignore me all you want.
5115“You got something nice, so how about thanking her? Maybe give
5116her one of your jellies?”
5117“The Researcher will succumb to nutritional deficiency.” “Then
5118I’ll give you the top layer of my bento. You can thank her now,
5119can’t you?”
5120It’s not like I could eat three levels anyways. I gave the first one to
5121Ryouko. With how excessive it was, just one layer was plenty to fill a
5122single girl’s worth of stomach.
5123“……”
5124Ryouko offhandedly chucked a pack of Weider at Kobato-san. I was
5125naïve.
5126“Hey! Why do you always have to be like that!”
5127“It’s fine, it’s fine. Satou-kun, don’t worry about it. Thank you,
5128Satou-san. I’ll happily take it.”
5129“I always thought you were something, but you really are an
5130amazing person, Satou-san.”
5131“I’m sorry…”
5132Feeling ashamed was always my role. 
5133146
5134“Satou-kun, you’re like Satou-san’s mother.”
5135I’d thought something similar before. I’m sure my smile was stiff.
5136“But with Satou-kun and Satou-san, it’s hard to understand, so can
5137I call you Ryouko-chan?”
5138“Go ahead,” I permitted it in her place.
5139Ryouko still ignored almost everyone apart from me.
5140“Then since we’re at it, Satou-kun, could you tell me your first
5141name?”
5142“Ah, that’s a good idea~.”
5143“Eh? The first name of someone as worthless as myself?” “Y-you’re
5144not worthless… and Mens and Ladies make you sound like
5145restrooms. No good?”
5146“Nah, it’s fine. The name’s Ichirou.”
5147“Oh, Ichirou in the outfield. Ten billion yen a year.”
5148“Hahahah… I do apologize that trash like me has the same name as
5149a national hero.”
5150“I-I’m telling you, that’s not it… anyways, I’ll call you Ichirou-kun.”
5151“Then me too.”
5152What’s with this young and lustrous, fun daily conversation
5153brimming with hope? Do things really change this much just by
5154having two decent human beings around? And for Kobato-san to
5155actually say my first name… I can stick my head up with pride.
5156“… Lewd fiend,” Oda quietly cursed me.
5157“Oy, I heard that, Oda.”
5158“Ah, but if you don’t want me to, that’s fine.”
5159I’m perfectly fine with it. No problem at all. It’s wonderful. “So
5160it’s wonderful,” Itou lightly laughed. “Satou-san, did you have
5161any nicknames from middle school or something?
5162Naturally, Ryouko didn’t speak, so I interpreted.
5163“Hey, or, You, don’t you think an interjection is good enough?”
5164“Hey, that’s a bit much,” Itou’s shoulders were shaking.
5165“Hmph, and Lecher is good enough for you, Ichirou.”
5166“Oda, get out back. A duel it is.” 
5167147
5168Whether or not she was even listening to our conversation, Ryouko
5169alone ill-temperedly devoured my lunch. Awkwardly using
5170chopsticks.
5171After that, I often got to eating lunch with Kobato-san and Itou.
5172We ended up forming a group.
5173Yamamoto’s return didn’t change that, and the class nobles were
5174reduced to four. I had always felt a wall between me and people
5175like Takahashi and Ooshima, but now it almost didn’t matter at all.
5176In times of peace, people lose their sense of crisis. And they receive
5177their recompense.
5178The aberration started from something trivial. That’s always how it
5179happened.
5180Even TV specials that promote healthy lifestyles and sickness
5181prevention every week emphasize, “His tragedy started because he
5182ignored the small danger signals his body was sending him” on
5183repeat.
5184It may have been fine if I kept a close observation of the class, but in
5185the days where the tabs for the soldiers’ eccentricities were sent my
5186way without fail, I wasn’t given the time to spectate.
5187So I was late to notice.
5188Change number one.
5189The onset of a phenomenon where the items I surely put in my desk
5190drawer when I got to school were gone.
5191“Ryouko, let me see your textbook.”
5192Waiting for her response to every little thing was a pain, so after I’d
5193said that short sentence, I immediately pushed my desk up to her’s.
5194With the spine resting in the rift between stations, the textbook was
5195folded open.
5196“To misplace your equipment is a disgrace for a soldier.”
5197“It’s not equipment, I’m not a soldier.”
5198I noticed some traces of actual study in Ryouko’s book. Postits,
5199highlighter lines, notes in the margins… from her textbook alone, I
5200might even get an illusion she was an honor student. 
5201148
5202“So you are studying.”
5203“Growing familiar with this world is beneficial to the mission.”
5204“That so,” it was a bit of a shock.
5205“Did you forget it at your residence?”
5206“I don’t know. I don’t remember forgetting it.”
5207Change number two.
5208In PE, we’d been playing basketball for a while now.
5209Not in matches, we were practicing the basics all over the court.
5210Once, there was a time where a ball was thrown at my back. At first,
5211I thought it was a coincidence, but in that class alone, the same
5212thing happened thrice. There were no apologies, in the first place, it
5213was uncertain who threw it. But in the direction it came from,
5214Takahashi, Yamamoto, Kawai, Kobayashi or Saitou, one of them
5215would always be around.
5216Change number three.
5217No matter how adverse I may be, I would always be apprehended
5218and tortured out to town once a week. Dejected as I was, I changed
5219my shoes and went outside, but Ryouko who would always take the
5220initiative to leap at me was having a staring contest with her shoe
5221cubby. She showed no signs of coming out.
5222“Heey, let’s hurry and get this over with.”
5223When I returned to take a peek, Ryouko’s high-quality cosplay
5224shoes were gone. I checked her feet to find she was still in her
5225indoor shoes.
5226“What happened to your shoes?”
5227“Unknown.”
5228“Were you wearing them when you got here this morning”
5229“Affirmative.”
5230In school, Ryouko was at least obligated to wear indoor shoes.
5231“… Do you think they’ve been stolen?”
5232“While it is impossible to determine, it seems appropriate to
5233consider a theft has occurred.”
5234“Rather, this is totally theft.” 
5235149
5236Three small changes in sequence had become a conviction. I
5237had a vague sense, but when it became so blatant it seems they
5238had no further intent to hide it.
5239Ryouko didn’t move.
5240“… Don’t worry about it. You’re not alone. You’re alright.” Right,
5241we were the combo leading the largest group in class. For
5242argument’s sake. Ryouko turned only her head.
5243“The Researcher has undergone special training and adjustments to
5244accomplish her mission alone.”
5245“I know. But you don’t have to force yourself.”
5246“Force… even when conducting action under a highly cumbersome
5247environment—”
5248I got it, I got it, I turned both hands to stop her.
5249“Now listen close, I’ll teach you something. You should carry your
5250shoes with you. All the way to the classroom. Leaving your
5251belongings in your clubroom locker and checking up on it every
5252break time is best, but you’re not in any club. Do you want to try
5253joining student council? If you say you’re an otaku, they might
5254sympathize with you. Guess that’s not happening… can’t see you
5255being elected… no, but if it’s general affairs, you can get in without
5256elections but… no good… you’ll fail the interview.”
5257Whenever something was dragging Ryouko’s feet, it was always
5258Ryouko herself.
5259“Hmmm,”
5260“Ichirou, it is no issue.”
5261She said without her usual attitude crumbling. But this time alone,
5262on the contrary, it came off as unnatural. Even Ryouko had to be
5263hiding how she really felt in the depths of her heart.
5264“Well, if you ever feel troubled, come and discuss it with me,”
5265immediately realizing I was being too kind, I added on, “It’s better
5266than holding it all in and bringing about some serious trouble.”
5267“……”
5268“W-what is it?”
5269“There is something that must be discussed at once.”
5270“Oh, so there is. Go ahead.” 
5271150
5272“The Researcher requires a ritual catalyst. Requesting that Ichirou
5273offers it.”
5274“What, so even now, you’re going to show off your setting? As long
5275as you’re fine with that.” While I was let down, even for someone
5276like her, I felt bad that her shoes were taken. For now, I’d do
5277whatever I could for her. “So what do you need? “Lower body
5278hair.”
5279“I’ll be doing my best to kill you in some way that doesn’t involve
5280violence.”
5281That was the first time in my life I ever mouthed genuine
5282murderous intent.
5283“That murder declaration has been recorded by the Plenipotentiary
5284Power Holder. It will serve as material evidence.” She held out her
5285medallion like a badge.
5286“That’s just a toy, ain’t it!? It doesn’t have any recording features!”
5287‘I’ll be doing my best to kill you, you, you (echo).’
5288“You really rock at impersonations, seriously!” This
5289girl had a high aptitude for crime.
5290“And yet, it is an ancient and noble catalyst.”
5291“I hate such low brow dirty humor!”
5292“… Understood. The catalyst may be obtained at a later date.”
5293“Not on my life.”
5294When a girl dumped a dirty joke on me, I kinda felt like I’d lost. “So,
5295real talk here, what are you going to do? Want me to buy some
5296random pair? At the hundred-yen shop, I’m pretty sure they have
5297shoes for three hundred…”
5298“Unnecessary.”
5299Ryouko stuffed her inside shoes into the cubby, and in her strange
5300stocking-like undergarments (practically barefoot), she was about
5301to go out.
5302“Stop right there. It hurts to watch. To put it in your terms, if you
5303want to take psychological influence into account, the use of
5304footwear is indispensable.”
5305“It has been perceived that Ichirou is beginning to develop the
5306correct train of thought. As an activity body affiliated with the Central Assembly, The Researcher graciously approves your
5307acquisition of a brown belt.”
5308“It’s on a belt system? There’s something off with that one.”
5309“……”
5310“Tsk! Tsk!”
5311Really, only when she ignored me did she get really irritating. I was
5312even trying to sympathize with her there.
5313“Anyway, I’ll at least get you some shoes. When you’re being
5314bullied, the tried and true method is to come to school in cheap
5315shoes. There’s nothing to be lost in getting a few pairs together,
5316spares included. How much money do you have?”
5317“In dollars?”
5318“… Yen. Don’t play dumb.” “In
5319yen, about this much.
5320Ryouko produced an otherworldly-looking wallet from her breast
5321pocket.
5322“That looks like a remote.”
5323“It is a remote.” It was a
5324remote.
5325Once she’d operated that, a portion of her mechanical staff popped
5326open, making me jump back a bit.
5327“… T-that took me by surprise.”
5328I was a coward so I really wanted her to cut me some slack.
5329“This is the amount of money currently possessed.”
5330I peered into the open space. My eyes jumped out of their sockets.
5331Going off-hand, a few hundred thousand.
5332“How defenseless can you…!”
5333“The small change is here.”
5334That old coin case was still embedded in the same place as usual.
5335“Don’t carry that much money with you! You’ll get robbed!”
5336“It is possible to cover various things with money,”
5337“Don’t put it like that. With that much, I can buy you dozens of
5338shoes. Give me a thousand yen, I’ll get something.”
5339“The Researcher will accompany.”
5340“Why?” 
5341152
5342“Conduct search on store interior.”
5343“Nope, no, definitely not. You’ll dirty your feet. I don’t want to have
5344to see that.”
5345Honestly, I didn’t want to show up with Ryouko at the hundred yen
5346shop I frequented. The DIY store, Daiso and the Hundred yen Shop
5347were the greatest healing spots to me. I loved reasonably priced
5348items so much I didn’t know what to do with myself. More than
5349anything, that have-everything aura was irresistible.
5350Ryouko jumped at me from behind. Wrapping her arms around my
5351neck, and her legs around my hips. She was embracing me. And yet,
5352there wasn’t a hint of sexiness to it. It didn’t make me happy in the
5353slightest.
5354“Dwaaaaah!”
5355“They will not get dirty like this.”
5356“You want me to walk like this!?” While the hundred-yen shop was
5357in walking distance, Ryouko wasn’t light enough to carry and
5358move… huh? She was.
5359“I’m getting this terrible sense you’re bound to die early.” “The
5360matter is of no concern. The Researcher has conquered the fear
5361of death.”
5362“Liar.”
5363I already had a painful reputation in school. How about I put one
5364foot forward and shame myself more? I started off with her on my
5365back.
5366“By the way, I do have my guesses as to who the culprit is, but are
5367you interested?”
5368“By the Researcher’s observations, there is a high probability that
5369the culprit is a member of the Takahashi, Yamato, Itou, Ooshima,
5370Imawano, Kobato group.”
5371“Hmm, so you’re actually aware of that. I thought you didn’t
5372discriminate between the people around you. But it can’t be Itou or
5373Kobato-san, right? They’ve been eating with us lately.”
5374“Both possibilities should be taken into consideration. If you are to
5375neglect due diligence and lower your own operating capabilities,
5376even as a possessor of the mystic eyes, your continued existence
5377may hang in the balance.” 
5378153
5379“But Kobato-san ain’t happening, that one’s impossible.”
5380Associating Kobato-san’s luxuriant smile with the words,
5381“Satoukun’s things are my things so I can throw them away
5382however I want~” was harsh.
5383“The way I see it, it’s either Ooshima or Takahashi.”
5384“The Researcher also thinks that identification is appropriate.”
5385“Maybe my textbook went the same way. Well, as with the shoes,
5386it’s probably not coming back.” “Precisely, they will not return.”
5387Ryouko pulled out her remote, turned it to the school building and
5388fiddled with it.
5389“For a self-destruct signal has just been dispatched to maintain
5390confidentiality.”
5391“Pull the other one,” I laughed.
5392Right after, from somewhere, the babababang of presumably
5393firecrackers went off, overlapping with the shrill shriek of a woman.
5394“…… For real?”
5395“Indeed.”
5396So even her shoes were rigged.
5397What’s more, that scream was very Ooshima. Perhaps she was right
5398about to dispose of the shoes she’d taken.
5399“I’m starting to pity Ooshima. Hey, do you…”
5400“…… Sss.”
5401She raised a sleeper’s breath from my back.
5402“Fast, You fall asleep too fast.”
5403To have an instantaneous suspend, she really was a robot-like
5404character. The delusional little girl on my back, her breathing alone
5405was appropriate of a girl her age.
5406Her breath fluctuated. The softness I could feel across our thin
5407inner garments generated improper thought across my cranial
5408nerves. But if so, then so what?
5409I’m sure someone somewhere said this, but high school boys are the
5410stupidest lifeform on the planet. Naturally, I wouldn’t be moved to
5411affection. Someone who fell asleep when I carried them out of sheer
5412goodwill was just as guilty as someone who falls asleep in a movie
5413theater. The moment I was about to drop her, as was my natural 
5414154
5415right, she was already letting off delta waves, whispering this in her
5416sleep.
5417“Mn…… ichi… rou……”
5418She didn’t use that manufactured tone, that machine-like
5419intonation she was always forcing. The syllables spilled out one by
5420one in a pathetic, chipped call. A compassionate inflection, the
5421sweet murmur of my first name. I wanted to believe it was some
5422mistake.
5423My surprise stretched out.
5424When I was just called normally, to think such soft emotions would
5425encroach on my chest. To think I’d receive a stronger impact than
5426when Kobato-san called me…
5427More than anything, to think a hole would open so easily in such a
5428solid wall of delusion—
5429“… You’re way too defenseless… good grief.”
5430The small-scale harassment continued for both me and Ryouko.
5431Items lost, balls thrown, blatant laughs, bad rumors. They were all
5432part of a path I had tread before, there was nothing novel about
5433them. I didn’t find it particularly disconcerting, and Ryouko was
5434calm to no end.
5435I did manage to convince her to leave her savings at home, and now
5436that her body was solidified with cheap goods, a little loss wouldn’t
5437amount to anything.
5438It happened on a certain day that I got to school on the early side, to
5439find Akashic Kinoshita erasing some obscene doodles on the
5440blackboard. While it immediately hit me who the doodles were
5441directed at, more importantly, it was Kinoshita’s conduct that
5442surprised me.
5443“Hey, you don’t have to do that. You’ll get dragged in.” “What
5444are you saying, Satou!? You’re the one protecting our life every
5445day, this isn’t even enough to return the favor.” “I’m not
5446protecting anything. Not in the slightest, you hear. “And as one 
5447155
5448who will one day rule over the world, we cannot overlook any
5449injustice.”
5450“… I see.”
5451While I appreciated his kindness, I couldn’t honestly rejoice over it.
5452Doodles on the blackboard meant that the attacks had received an
5453upgrade. It would no longer be covert, it would be laid bare for all to
5454see. Unsatisfied with personal attacks and minor violent contact
5455that showed not the slightest effect, the offending group had come
5456to a resolute decision.
5457Foreseeing further intensification, I wanted to deal with the
5458problem beforehand, but it wasn’t as if I was a pro at bully
5459countermeasures. I was just a pro at getting bullied.
5460All that came to mind was relying on Dorisen.
5461I doubted it would get too terrible. Perhaps I was underestimating
5462it. As I folded my arms and did nothing, the net of malice was
5463gradually closing in on us.
5464It was the next day that magic marker had turned Ryouko’s desk
5465into Hoichi the Earless.
5466“This is terrible.”
5467As dull to ill-intent as she was, that was the first time I ever saw
5468Kobato-san show her anger. That was just how terrible the
5469scribbling was.
5470Ryouko gazed absentmindedly at her desk with no reaction. I
5471thought it was just her normal attitude, but something was a little
5472off.
5473“Are you feeling alright? Want to trade desks? It’ll just be
5474temporary.”
5475“…… No issue. Carry on……”
5476Her attitude vaguely different from usual gave me a chill. Even I
5477didn’t know where her human boundary line was drawn. Ryouko
5478wouldn’t show me her weakness in the right stages to judge.
5479“It is an issue. We have to bring this to a class committee.”
5480“… Yeah, I don’t know about that.” 
5481156
5482There’s no greater loss of dignity one can experience than the
5483moment their bullying becomes a topic for everyone to discuss. In
5484the first place, it would only resolve the matter through spur-ofthemoment
5485means.
5486“Ichirou-kun, that’s cold. When they’re being so terrible,”
5487The fact Ryouko was a woman gave way to quite a few sexual lines.
5488Rather, that was the majority of them. There were quite a few
5489gruesome bits of text mixed in. I could tell by instinct the culprit
5490was female. How should I put it, this was a woman’s malice.
5491“… This is unforgivable.”
5492Kobato-san wiped her tears. The perpetrators were the Takahashi
5493Group Kobato-san had close ties with. Though it seemed the two
5494former nobles had yet to realize it. I wanted to avoid getting the two
5495of them involved.
5496“For now, we should at least wipe it off.”
5497When Itou made the proposal, I couldn’t remain stationary. “This
5498one won’t go away without paint thinner,” my experience spoke.
5499“Paint thinner? Where can we find that? The art room?” Said
5500Kobato-san.
5501“I can run to the DIY store and—”
5502“If you’re fine with the modeling stuff, I’ve got some here.”
5503The one who called over was the Yankee who sat to Itou’s right,
5504Yoshizawa. He tossed a bottle of lacquer thinner over to me.
5505“… I’m in your debt.”
5506I knew Yoshizawa from P.E., where I’d been grouped with him from
5507the start of the year.
5508From the bottom of my heart, I detested the P.E. Teacher’s orders
5509to “Pair up with whoever you want”. That’s got to be a
5510teachersanctioned torture. On the first P.E. class of high school, as a
5511countermeasure, I took the initiative to pair up with Yoshizawa
5512(who everyone was keeping distance from). When it came to these
5513types, I knew from experience you could have a relatively decent
5514interaction if you dealt with them one-on-one. As time proved, that
5515was true.
5516“Then I’ll be borrowing this.” 
5517157
5518I had to get it done before too many people arrived. I pushed the
5519desk up by the window, venting it as I roughly erased the scribbles.
5520Without offering any help, Ryouko observed from right beside me
5521with deep intrigue.
5522“Thinner stinks, but you have to put up with it.”
5523“No problem.”
5524I gave Yoshizawa my thanks and returned the paint thinner. It was
5525fresh to interact with him outside of P.E.; but what was he going to
5526use the thinner for? Perhaps curious about the look I gave,
5527Yoshizawa pulled around half of a plastic model box (a tank) out of
5528his bag.
5529“What, you want to join the model club?”
5530“No, sorry for doubting you.”
5531So he was in the model club. That’s a surprise.
5532“Muh! This smell is… the lingering fragrance of Orgone Energy!
5533Don’t tell me, a monster?”
5534Upon entering the classroom, Hero Andou swiftly threw his body
5535against the teacher’s desk. Let’s just leave him be. He was followed
5536by Ozaki, and Ogino, and the other unfriendly girls who
5537complained, “It smells. What’s this?” “I might get a headache” as
5538they came in. This all started with that Ooshima gal you all worship,
5539okay? I contained the urge to inform them and left them be.
5540“… It should be dry, let’s take a seat.”
5541“A seat shall be taken.”
5542“Are you a princess or something?”
5543The witch’s dignity crumbled the moment she sat in the chair.
5544Ryouko let out a short scream as her hips sprung up.
5545“What’s wrong!?”
5546“… Urgh,”
5547Groaning like a while beast, she stroked her own bottom and
5548carefully plucked out a single thumbtack painted the same color as
5549the chair’s wood.
5550“… Well now.”
5551That was in bad taste. The ill will had suddenly multiplied. There
5552hadn’t been any writing on the chair. In hindsight, that was quite 
5553158
5554an intentional oversight. The scribbles were bait. No, they were
5555an attack while simultaneously serving as bait.
5556This wasn’t light harassment anymore. I could only think it was
5557edging on serious bullying. Even yours truly who was more pitiful
5558than anyone felt too irritated to write the tack off with a groan.
5559But I immediately hit the brakes.
5560A cynical voice in my head whispered, so Ryouko’s being bullied, so
5561what? Save her? When she doesn’t intend to change in the
5562slightest? The fact that Ryouko doesn’t intend to wear a uniform,
5563even if she does have Dorisen’s permission is evidently rubbing a
5564portion of the girls’ nerves the wrong way. The one who needs to
5565compromise is Ryouko, you don’t even have to think about it. While
5566these means of bullying are in bad taste, it was hard to say this was
5567a just enough cause to defend to my last breath.
5568I looked at Ryouko.
5569Her large, spherical eyes were fixed motionlessly on me. I felt she
5570was seeing through me all the way to my heart.
5571Her expression pleasantly cool as if it had been immortalized in a
5572painting. She lacked the heat of emotions. Even now, I couldn’t
5573peek into what this cosplay witch was really thinking deep down.
5574There were no two ways about it. From Ryouko to me, it was an
5575unmeshing one-way street.
5576“… What are the damages?”
5577“Exceedingly light.”
5578Perhaps Ryouko wanted to be protected by me.
5579Perhaps she was silently making her plea.
5580But had she forgotten? I was the sort of person who couldn’t permit
5581deviation. A weakling who feigned normal to protect himself. I
5582wasn’t a warrior. I couldn’t fight. I ran, escaped and avoided. With
5583all of my power, I finally managed to barely be able to manage that.
5584I had no human power at all. For example, the fact Ozaki-san’s
5585attitude change didn’t irritate me. I felt the same way. No one
5586wanted to sit next to someone they found creepy.
5587That’s why, while one side of me was enraged that the thumbtack
5588had gone too far, it coexisted with a part that saw it as inevitable. 
5589159
5590“What’s wrong?”
5591Kobato-san and Itou returned with a wet rag.
5592I hesitated whether to tell them or not. Taking my eyes off of
5593Ryouko, I had them escape to a point in space where they wouldn’t
5594have to collide with anyone. I hid the pin I’d received in the palm of
5595my hand.
5596“No, it’s nothing.”
5597That’s right, she’s an otherworldly witch whose mind doesn’t stop
5598on the petty quarrels of mankind.
5599“Good morning. Please get in your seats.”
5600The mad existence in a pink cardigan, Dorisen arrived. The
5601students chatting returned to their seats at once.
5602“Sit down.”
5603I directed the voice at no one in particular. Ryouko stroked the
5604chair surface before quietly taking her seat.
5605For some reason, I was unable to ascertain her face. When I knew
5606without looking, without anger or despair, it would be the same
5607poker face as ever.
5608While classes quietly went on, it was around third period’s break
5609time that Ryouko wandered away. Even a soldier among soldiers
5610couldn’t lie to her biological phenomena. It was only at times like
5611these that without dragging me along she would act on her own,
5612making them easy to pick out.
5613That’s why I wasn’t wary in the slightest, and I wasn’t worried
5614either.
5615She didn’t return after fourth period began.
5616“Ladies’ Satou! … Hah, she’s still not here? Seriously, why can a
5617student like that get by without any penalty? Hey, Mens, are you
5618sure you don’t have to do your overseer duty today” That
5619last part was close to cynicism.
5620“But we’ve got quite a few absences… Hm? Weren’t Ozaki,
5621Enomoto, and Ogino here last period? Oy, where are they now?”
5622“The bathroom, I’d say.” 
5623160
5624Ooshima answered without delay. A warning bell rang in a corner of
5625my mind. If only it had grown duller. I cursed my only half-baked
5626perception. Should I go, or should I stay? While the inner conflict
5627couldn’t be canceled out by slight hesitation, I could at least go
5628check on her. It was my job, I told myself.
5629“Sensei, my apologies, but my celialgia is acting up, and I must bid
5630you a good day!”
5631“What era are you from, kid?”
5632“And a good day to you too.” I
5633left the classroom.
5634“Hey, you,” I heard behind me as I walked straight towards the
5635girls’ bathroom.
5636Along the way, I passed by three smiling girls on the way back.
5637Their laughs came to a complete stop. The three with Ozaki at the
5638lead glared at me with alien-like eyes. A nasty look.
5639Instead of returning the glare, I entered the boys’ room with an
5640oblivious face. Without finishing my business, I waited for the three
5641presences to vanish before reinfiltrating the girls’ bathroom. Even
5642though I wasn’t witnessed, it was a nerve-wracking moment. Unlike
5643the boys’ lavatory, the girls’ side contained a sweet scent, and a faint
5644presence.
5645Three stalls. The front two were empty. The back one had a mop
5646wedged under the handle so it wouldn’t open. It was clearly to
5647prevent exit from the inside.
5648I removed the rod and opened it to find a crumpled up blue
5649blanked. Or so I thought, only to realize it was Ryouko, rolled in her
5650robe, crouching over the toilet seat.
5651It seemed a garbage bin had been thrown in from above, covering
5652her prided robe with trash. On top of that, they must have poured
5653water over her as she was drenched.
5654A part around my stomach flipped inside out. It was a bad habit.
5655Humans always want to become heroes of justice at the drop of a
5656hat. But when it came to Ryouko, those standard senses of values
5657are meaningless… and yet,
5658“Ryouko.” 
5659161
5660The robe dangled limply as Ryouko peeked out her face. The usual
5661expressionlessness. While she might have looked pale, it was surely
5662my imagination.
5663“They finally went and did it.”
5664Come to think of it, wasn’t this the first time she received a direct
5665attack.
5666“They sealed you in and attacked with items from above. It’s a
5667classic. That way, you can’t see the faces of whoever did you in.”
5668That would solve the somewhat surprising detail of Ozaki’s group
5669being the ones who carried it out. A noble’s influence really is
5670amazing. If you didn’t include dream soldiers in the count, even in a
5671divided class, they could move the smallest units to carry out
5672bullying.
5673“I doubt you’d want to return to class when you’re that dirty.”
5674Huddling her knees to her body over the toilet seat, she looked at
5675me. As feeble as a little girl wrapped round and round in a blanket.
5676“Do you want to cut class and go on a search or something?
5677Personally, I’d be thankful if I could walk you home and get back.”
5678Ryouko moved in a flash. She jumped into my chest. With enough
5679force to push me back, she nuzzled her head into me. When she
5680stuck to me, soaked to the skin, the moisture pierced all the way
5681through my shirt. But more surprising than anything was the action
5682of clinging to me in itself.
5683“Hey…”
5684Why are you getting hurt like a normal person?
5685Aren’t you supposed to make a prim face and say, “No problem
5686detected”?
5687I couldn’t tell whether there were any tears mixed in with her
5688soaked face or not. She simply pushed in her face and froze like
5689that. Why was it decided that a soldier couldn’t feel pain? I knew
5690better than anyone, even without tears or sobs, lament is something
5691that, once established—
5692162
5693I tried taking her to the infirmary, but Ryouko wanted to get out of
5694school. Leaving the campus was fine at all, but the air she gave off
5695wasn’t one for a search, and despite my offer to walk her home, she
5696wouldn’t tell me where she lived. She remained silent and hazy.
5697There was only one place I knew where I could in any way manage a
5698soaked person: my house.
5699“Hey, you can at least use a shower in your setting, right? You’d
5700better properly do it yourself. I can’t look after you that far.” A
5701while after I shoved her into the washroom, I heard the sounds of
5702water from the faucet, putting me at ease.
5703“I’ll give your clothes a quick water rinse and put them through the
5704dryer.”
5705Retrieving the clothes that had been discarded over the bathmat, I
5706stuffed them into the washing machine. In the midst, the terrifying
5707fact that this girl didn’t wear undergarments came to light (though
5708she did wear a leotard instead), but as my heart was already
5709running at full capacity, so I managed to go without my mind
5710stopping on it.
5711I put the washed on a quick timed rinse and shoved them into the
5712dryer. It would take forty minutes minimum.
5713“There are a few towels around, if it’s not dry when you’re done, feel
5714free to use them.”
5715After sending in only my voice, I left the dressing room.
5716“Now what.”
5717What should I do. What was I supposed to do? Flustered by the lack
5718of things to do, I looked around restlessly. Perhaps I’m actually a
5719small animal.
5720“… What are you doing?”
5721As I was lingering, I turned to find my older sister.
5722“Uwaaah.”
5723“… Sorry.”
5724“I’m fine… no, I mean, why are you at the house at this hour? What
5725about the salon?”
5726It was still before noon.
5727“… I’m on break, for lunch.” 
5728163
5729I see, it’s a service industry, so they have their breaks staggered. I
5730felt like ice water was injected through a tube pierced into my spine.
5731Prominent fear is a form of cold. If my sister saw Ryouko, I’d be in a
5732pinch. Would I? Quite probably.
5733“You’re going to eat out, right?”
5734“… I don’t have the sort of money, I want to eat at home.”
5735Right, my sister was an economist and a miser, she even commuted
5736to her technical school four stations away by bike.
5737“Then you’re going to be finished eating in five minutes, right?”
5738“… There’s no way I would be. I was just about to start making it.”
5739Standing in front of the sink, she began prepping mushrooms. They
5740were one of her favorites.
5741Standing with nothing to do, I set the kitchen table for two. The
5742menu consisted of a mushroom-plentiful risotto, certainly a healthy
5743meal. “For you.”
5744“Ah, thanks.”
5745We ate mushrooms, the two of us.
5746“… Taste?”
5747“Ah, right. It tastes like mushroom.”
5748Truth be told, I couldn’t tell how it tasted. At that moment, a naked
5749Ryouko was lurking in the house. If she was found, we were done
5750for. It was dangerous if I didn’t take measures, yet I couldn’t find
5751anything to do. Thirty minutes had passed since she started her
5752shower. Was there any way to keep her hidden and take her out?
5753After the meal, my sister made for the hallway. I immediately
5754trailed behind.
5755“… What?”
5756“Ummm, are you going out?”
5757“Bathroom,” My sister entered the bathroom. I got there first. “…
5758You’re using the toilet? It’ll be embarrassing if you go right after
5759me.”
5760“No, it’s not the toilet,”
5761With a serious face, my sister’s hand touched the sliding door of the
5762dressing room.
5763“You’re taking a shower!?” 
5764164
5765“… I am.” World-class bullying is harsh. My sister gave a
5766mischievous laugh and added on. “Ichirou, wanna join me?” While
5767I got the feeling she said something considerably amazing, it
5768didn’t seep into my brain.
5769My sister’s hand opened the door. A naked Ryouko was clung fast to
5770the round glass window of the rattling drying machine.
5771Her small bottom pointed towards me glistened excessively white.
5772My memory of the next ten minutes disappeared.
5773Ten minutes later, I was being interviewed in the living room. A
5774heated interview at that. My sister’s phone on the counter was
5775flipped open on standby to contact my parents at any moment. She
5776hadn’t called yet. She was taking down the last fort.
5777“… So to put it all together,” My sister’s voice sounded like it was
5778rumbling from the depths of the earth.
5779“That young lady is just a classmate, and you’re looking after her on
5780your homeroom teacher’s orders?”
5781While I didn’t have any memory of explaining, she was precisely
5782right so I nodded.
5783“That’s hard to believe. She was even using our shower.”
5784“But it’s true…”
5785“You sure you didn’t skip school to get it on?” Urp,
5786that’s a lively way to put it.
5787“You’re wrong. Definitely not… I don’t see her as a member of the
5788opposite sex.”
5789“And wait, what’s up with that? What she’s wearing?”
5790“It’s cosplay… or rather… it’s the you know what.”
5791“That?”
5792“That…”
5793My sister looked up to the heavens. Her hand picked up the phone.
5794I squeezed myself smaller.
5795“Ichirou, that’s what does it for you? Are you still dragging it on?”
5796“You’re wrong, I’m not dragging anything.”
5797“But you did her. You must have some lingering affection.” 
5798165
5799“I didn’t do anything!”
5800“Call her in.”
5801“Fine…”
5802I went out to the hallway, and beckoned in Ryouko, who’d changed
5803into her costume. I tried to swap out with her, but, “Ichirou, you
5804stay,” sis called me back. It became a joint interview.
5805“… Girl, look, what are you to my brother?”
5806“……”
5807By the magic of invisibility, Ryouko was invisible to bystanders– in
5808her head.
5809“Again. What’s with you. Picking a fight? I’ll smack you.” The
5810demon in my sister that had gotten her expelled from high
5811school for violence was already awakening.
5812“……”
5813“Lookin’ down me? Yeah, making fun of me, huh?” I
5814kept her down with both hands as she tried to stand.
5815“She’s sick, please cut her some slack.”
5816“Ichirou, I don’t want to say it, but betraying your family alone is
5817the one thing I wouldn’t want to see you do.”
5818“Yes, we’ve already… I have the same feelings smoldering within
5819me…”
5820“Just smoldering?”
5821“No, I… feel the same. I honest to goodness feel the same.” “Now
5822girl, I’ll let you off this time. But break up with Ichirou. Now get
5823out.”
5824While she didn’t answer in words, Ryouko shifted her eyes to me.
5825“Umm…” While I was at a loss for words, she briskly made her way
5826out. “Ah, wait.”
5827“Leave her be. If you want a girlfriend, I’ll introduce someone, so
5828give up on that one. What are you going to do if you’re dragged in
5829and bullied again?”
5830“Bullied?” I got just a little angry, “You sure you’re the person to say
5831that?”
5832For a moment, my sister’s eyes wavered.
5833“Once I’ve cleaned up her case… I plan to properly recuperate. But
5834that’s something I understand without anyone telling me.” 
5835166
5836“… I just don’t want you to…”
5837Seeing sis’ face, I immediately couldn’t sit still.
5838“I’m chasing after her… it’s my job, for what it’s worth.”
5839Leaving my sister standing absentmindedly, I left the living room,
5840yet she didn’t try to stop me.
5841On the road in front of the gate, Ryouko leaned on her staff as a
5842cane as she walked alone. I caught up in no time.
5843“… I’m sorry.”
5844“Ichirou was not at fault.”
5845From her short words, compared to the usual, her acting was just a
5846little fainter.
5847“Was she family?”
5848“Yeah… my big sis…”
5849“Question, why speak formal?”
5850“Eh? Oh, you mean to my sister… yeah, it kinda just comes out like
5851that.”
5852It was hard to talk about my own circumstances, but I did feel guilty
5853so my mouth was looser than usual.
5854“Back in middle school… I was bullied some… I made my family
5855worry.”
5856“……”
5857“My sister despised me, she would smack me around quite a bit.
5858And wait, it was like I was bullied even at home. Then one day, she
5859smacked me in the ear and that was that… ever since then, I’ve been
5860talking to her like this.”
5861“Injured?”
5862I thought just a bit.
5863“My eardrum was punctured… though it’s healed up fine. I was real
5864scared back then. My ear couldn’t hear anything, see. In the back of
5865it, it was this stinging pain so harsh I didn’t know what was going
5866on around me. Eardrums can heal up, you know? Just like skin. But
5867even after it healed, whenever I went out in front of my sis, I
5868couldn’t talk to her like I used to.” 
5869167
5870I don’t really like bringing up injuries so I don’t, but I was sure this
5871girl didn’t care too much.
5872She gripped my hand. Hers was frightfully cold. Taken by surprise,
5873I twitched all the way down to my heart.
5874“Then let us go.”
5875She lifted up my hand. Her fingers like silverwork glimmered as if
5876there was a bracelet around my wrist.
5877“Go, go where?”
5878“The other side.”
5879A stillness descended. There was only one thing that fit the bill
5880when Ryouko said the other side. The other world in her heart.
5881To return there.
5882As her story went, she would return there after she gathered the
5883dragon’s nails. What nonsense. It tired me out.
5884“Haha… you think I can go there too?”
5885“I can bring those who are the same as me. This world no longer has
5886value. Let us go.”
5887That was probably the first time I heart her identify herself as ‘me’.
5888“If you find your nail… and it’s time for you to go… if…”
5889If you can’t return, then—
5890My feet naturally stopped. As if my vitality had drained away, my
5891entire body felt sluggish. It was because I had no hope. If I had
5892conviction I could go somewhere and that’s where the entrance
5893would be, I could press forward forever. As long as I didn’t collide
5894with the cold wall of reality. No, let’s just concede that colliding was
5895just the start. It was whether or not there was even a gap above it to
5896overcome. If that wall made it all the way to the ceiling, there wasn’t
5897even any place to put in the effort.
5898Ryouko took a few steps forward and turned.
5899If as she wished, she found every dragon terminal… nothing would
5900be resolved. I mean, it was nothing more than a good luck charm.
5901Her destination was empty. What conclusion would I end up seeing
5902off?
5903“Ichirou.” 
5904168
5905I didn’t think my anguish would affect her, but she spoke up with
5906strangely sharp timing.
5907“It seems you are not in your best condition today. Another time.” “I
5908see… see you then.”
5909With swift feet, she left down the other side of the road. Her
5910lonesome back was pitifully small.
5911My desire to chase and help her, and my desire not to get involved
5912in a story with no salvation were at odds with one another. That’s
5913why I couldn’t move a single step, or so I made an excuse to
5914myself.
5915Despite the fact classes were going on, an eraser scrap passed in
5916front of my eyes. From right to left. While I couldn’t tell who did it
5917at first, as the action was repeated, I eventually witnessed the scene
5918of Ooshima taking the shot.
5919The target seemed to be Ryouko.
5920Ooshima’s throwing boasted remarkable accuracy rate. Even if she
5921missed, in the end, Ryouko’s surroundings were filled with the
5922same sort, so she could fire them without any restraint.
5923It would be easy if I could pretend not to say, but that wasn’t quite
5924the case.
5925I had an old eraser that was about to be used out in my pencil case,
5926so I chucked it right at Ooshima. It looks like my Nobita-kun
5927attributes were added on as it collided square with her head. Just by
5928having what she’d been doing done to her, she was already out
5929looking for the culprit half-anxious, half-snapped. Since she was the
5930queen bee, I thought she would devote herself to a strong front, but
5931it is fragile human nature to fail to do so. The slightest accident may
5932cause someone’s fall or turn them into a demon. I’d witnessed it
5933time and again.
5934Shortly thereafter, Ooshima looked directly at me. Her expression
5935vanished.
5936We were in class, so she didn’t particularly charge me, but I ended
5937up nurturing the buds of hatred. A sigh. 
5938169
5939“Satou, do you get what you’ve done?”
5940During break time, Ooshima approached with a frightfully
5941threatening air. Her proud good looks dark red in anger, she was
5942seriously scaring me. Where she was normally supposed to be
5943colder and more conniving, here and there, her pitch shot up, her
5944tone sped up, she bit her tongue, she gave glimpses of the high level
5945of murderous intent beyond the fence, which was scary after all.
5946“You’re the one who started it,” can’t really blame someone for
5947fighting back
5948“Shut it! It’s got nothing to do with you!”
5949At her far-too-infantile phrasing, I got a bit bolder.
5950“It’s got everything to do with me. The teacher ordered me to look
5951after Ryouko, you know? If you do that where I can see, it’s only
5952natural that I do something about it. I’ll be screwed if I let it slide.
5953And wait, you know I can report this to the teacher, right? You
5954wanna try suspension? Want to enjoy the sights of your own
5955home?”
5956Ooshima’s face froze up.
5957“… You’re pissing me off.”
5958“I’m the one who’s pissed. If you’re going to ignore me, do it to the
5959end. Any more, and I’ll definitely pay you back in kind.”
5960Ooshima was shaking, she lightly kicked the foot of my desk. Just
5961like that, with her silent glare, she squared up her shoulders and
5962pranced out into the hall.
5963“… Good grief.”
5964When I try my best living normally so I don’t stand out, this is what
5965I get. Not only did she have her eye on me, I ended up confronting
5966her in a way to which there was no turning back. Aaah, what to do,
5967what to do.
5968The target, Ryouko’s hair was layered in small eraser scraps like
5969dandruff.
5970“It’s up to you whether or not you put up a resistance… but at least
5971brush them off.”
5972“…?”
5973“What are you supposed to be… a child?” 
5974170
5975I used my hand to comb through her hair and remove the rubber.
5976Some were being absorbed, so it took an unexpectedly long time.
5977While engrossed in detailed work, I abruptly became aware of a
5978dreg-like deposit of fatigue in my heart.
5979“I can’t guarantee I’ll be there to help you out forever.”
5980“……”
5981“Ryouko?”
5982“… Something the matter?”
5983“Don’t space out.”
5984“At present, The Researcher is in lackluster condition…”
5985“Are you feeling bad?”
5986“Fatigue is accumulating. Therefore, today’s search must be put on
5987hold.”
5988“Well, thanks for that. You can get used to it, but it’s still
5989embarrassing.”
5990Just as she said, Ryouko seemed inexplicably down. I wondered if,
5991like a body blow, the bullying was exhibiting its effect. No matter
5992how different she was, bullying was a pressure that ate into the
5993heart. Even if her delusions were too intense for her to realize it, the
5994distortions were definitely accumulating.
5995“That’s the last of them.”
5996“… Ichirou.”
5997Ryouko said without looking at me.
5998“Mn?”
5999“… The Researcher offers her gratitude.”
6000“Thanks are all well and good, but how about some reflection or
6001introspection or growth, that’s what I’m counting on.”
6002When I returned to my seat, Kobato-san talked to me in a pose like
6003the Mother Mary in prayer.
6004“What’s wrong? Did something happen to Ryouko-chan?” So she
6005didn’t notice the eraser engagement? That was proof of just how
6006earnestly she was listening to the lesson. There was no need to
6007worry her. “No, it’s fine.”
6008“Really?” 
6009171
6010“Her hair was dirty, so I just told her to get a grip.” Seriously,
6011she needed to get a grip.
6012Evening, as I lay in my bed in the hours after dinner, a call came in
6013from Shimizu.
6014‘Ichirou-kun, what happened after that? Smooth sailing?’ “Ah,
6015my bad. I didn’t report. I can’t call it smooth sailing, but it’s like
6016I’ve settled down where I’ve found some peace.”
6017As thanks for his advice, I told him of all that had come to pass. ‘So
6018without aiming for it, you took your place as commander of the
6019delusion-armed forces. Sixteen is amazing. That’s got to be the
6020largest group.’
6021“You’re not wrong about that, but its not like they’re united. In the
6022first place, I can’t stand to look at the cringe…” Shimizu
6023was guffawing over across the line.
6024‘You just can’t run away from karma, I guess.’
6025“You hit it where it hurts. I’m about to lose my will to live here.”
6026From his point of view, it was at most someone else’s business, so
6027half for fun, he calmly put out comments that would seriously drag
6028me through the dumps.
6029‘Ah, more importantly, I’ve got something else to discuss,’ before I
6030could groan, whether he sensed it or was a natural, Shimizu
6031changed the subject. ‘Someone’s looking for you.’
6032“Hah?” I was bewildered by this information I had yet to say, hear,
6033or think about.
6034‘It’s kinda like the network was suddenly on it. It seems there’s
6035someone who wants to know about a Satou Ichirou from N High.
6036That’s you, right? It’s circulating around the girls, you know.’
6037“Well who could… seriously, who?”
6038‘I don’t know the origin, but it came to my place from Mishima.
6039Mishima Shouko, you remember her?’
6040“I’d like to forget her, if I could.”
6041Mishima was a classmate from middle school. Excluding Shimizu,
6042there wasn’t a single person in middle school I could call a friend.
6043Either enemy or potential enemy. 
6044172
6045‘Relying on hearsay to pry into people is something only a person
6046with a wide social circle can pull off. Do you know anyone like that
6047near you?’
6048“… Social circle, a girl…”
6049There was only one person who fit the bill. The queen bee,
6050Ooshima.
6051Though if you wanted to surprise me, maybe even Kobato. But if
6052Kobato-san was the ringleader, and the motive was, “Satoukun,
6053your personal information is only good to threaten and oppress
6054you, right~?” I might just kill myself. After immortalizing my
6055despair against modern society on a message board or blog as my
6056will and testament.
6057‘Well, they’re already looking into you, so there’s nothing you can
6058do about it, but you’d better keep your guard up. Sounds nice, it’s
6059like raw school politics at work. A little interesting.’
6060While Shimizu’s voice was bouncing oh so amusingly, my feelings
6061were the reverse, falling lower and lower.
6062‘What, if it really gets too painful, you always have the option of
6063EXPULSION~ Subtitle: The Flight to Freedom~. It’ll totally work
6064out.’
6065“Even if you bring it up as a joke, expulsion’s a game over! No way!”
6066‘But you can play to your heart’s content.’
6067“I want to study!”
6068I snapped, half serious. “In the first place, I don’t even have any
6069friends to play with!”
6070‘Hahahah. Well, just be careful. I went out of my way to leak this
6071information.’
6072“What does leaking it accomplish?”
6073‘Think about that on your side. How about solidifying your defenses
6074or something?’
6075He makes it sound easy. Even if you know it’s coming, not being
6076able to avoid it is the essence of bullying and harassment. Shimizu’s
6077grades and athletics weren’t up to snuff, but he knew his way
6078around. From an advanced player’s point of view, my troubles must
6079have been simply charming. Without any way to put his 
6080173
6081information to good use, it came to pass that the inevitable made a
6082direct impact a few days later.
6083“… Satou, got a minute?”
6084Over break time, the representative of the normal girls, Ozaki-san
6085called me out. I faltered somewhat with someone I thought I’d
6086never have another conversation with talking to me. Granted, she
6087seemed to be talking somewhat reluctantly.
6088That was the second time I visited the landing between the third
6089floor, and the fourth-floor penthouse.
6090As the roof was sealed off, this place was a dead end. A place no one
6091would come without a destination in mind, but the time Ozaki-san
6092led me, that’s where Ooshima was.
6093What a peculiar lineup, I felt at first.
6094That was because, as of late, Ooshima was often paired up with
6095Imawano, showing no signs of acting in a larger group. Yet now, the
6096queen bee with her back against the wall was with Enomoto, Ogino,
6097and Kano (Four people, including Ozaki). Apart from Ooshima,
6098they were all normal girls.
6099My half-dead intuition immediately worked out that rather than the
6100“Close to equal existence and too free-spirited to anticipate”
6101Imawano, she had chosen the group that “Respected the heck out of
6102her and were easy to use”.
6103While being called out by the queen was a bit of an enthralling
6104experience, a dark feeling swiftly filled my body to the brim. The
6105triumphant face Ooshima carried from the very beginning was a
6106source of anxiety.
6107I was about to run for the hills, but unless this conversation would
6108be forceful enough to lead to Plan EXPULSION, I knew that
6109wouldn’t resolve anything. A hopeless do or die.
6110Ooshima’s hand carried a cell-phone left open like a deceased
6111shellfish. Crap, I inferred. This isn’t going to go well. It was rare for
6112a mere object to emit an aura of its own.
6113“Satou, I’m sure you have no idea why I called you here.”
6114“How could I?” 
6115174
6116Extreme mental strain brought a rush to my words. Perhaps my
6117intonation had been interesting, as it warranted some giggles from
6118the girls.
6119“I’m not here to complain to you, you can be sure about that.”
6120Ooshima said in a strangely gentle voice. Oh, I see, I could breathe a
6121sigh of… despair, my degree of wariness only spiked in strength.
6122“But you think they’re creepy, don’t you?”
6123“Pardon?”
6124“The crazy folks in our class. You know who I’m talking about.” “…
6125That’s why you quarantined them all in one place during seat
6126changes, right?”
6127“I mean, they’re impossible to hold a conversation with. Not only
6128are they unpleasant, they’re impossible to deal with. It’s not even a
6129difference of opinion, it’s not like our side did anything wrong. The
6130other side’s just off in la-la land.”
6131In essence, I shared her opinion, so I couldn’t say anything clever
6132back. I almost found myself nodding, “my thoughts exactly”.
6133Whether she had seen through my intentions or not, Ooshima
6134continued on.
6135“But you’re different, Mens. As far as I’ve seen you’ve got a proper
6136brain.”
6137“Well, I sure hope so. That’s why, if you bully me, you should expect
6138some proper countermeasures. You’re barking up the wrong tree
6139here, could you find a better use of your time?”
6140Oh perish the thought, Ooshima shook her hand.
6141“The thing is, there’s something I wanted that supposedly-decent
6142Satou to see.”
6143She turned her cellphone towards me. The scent of death lingered
6144around that dead-clam-like husk. It was at that moment that my
6145impulse to run reached its max. Something severe was about to
6146happen.
6147The crystal display depicted a photo.
6148I let out a scream words failed to describe. She
6149immediately closed the phone.
6150“Did you see? Did you understand?”
6151“… That…!” 
6152175
6153“I asked a friend to search out someone who went to the same
6154middle school,” Shimizu’s warning echoed coinciding with a
6155hallucination of the ground below me collapsing.
6156“And I heard it aaaall. Once I knew, I searched for a good girl who
6157had the right picture. Amazing, right? This?”
6158I couldn’t move at all. The shock that had struck my heart was far
6159too great even my body was shot. For how much I had always feared
6160this moment. For all the scrupulous caution I had paid. For how
6161deeply I understood how much dust would fly if they struck me. I
6162was finally outed.
6163The carelessness, the bad luck, the malice, no matter how many
6164curses flew, it wouldn’t be enough.
6165“If this gets out, I’m sure there are some people around you who
6166would leave.” She wasn’t just looking down on me; those were the
6167eyes of a tyrant with my continued existence on the palm of her
6168hand. “Like Kobato.”
6169I was startled. I’d been seen through. I hadn’t interacted with her
6170enough to assert with confidence that would never be the case.
6171Rather, I didn’t want to know in the first place. Didn’t want to try
6172considering it.
6173Ooshima casually circled behind me, lowering the tone of her voice.
6174It was a whisper of the devil.
6175“… Don’t get in the way of what I do. You got that?”
6176The conditions she lay rung lighter than anticipated. I didn’t really
6177have any interest in Ooshima to begin with.
6178“… I couldn’t care less what you do, as long as it doesn’t involve
6179Ryouko…”
6180“Are you an idiot?” The destructive force of a blunt weapon
6181returned to her voice. “I’m telling you not to follow through for her
6182in any way, shape or form.
6183“Ah…”
6184“In the first place, quit it with the double-Satou. Don’t cover for her.
6185Go to the teacher, and get dismissed from your position.”
6186“There’s no way I’d comply.”
6187“Then I’ll just spread this?”
6188What if I stole her cellular phone and smashed it? 
6189176
6190Of course, that was a no-go. She could just buy a new one, and she
6191could reclaim the data from that friend of hers however many times
6192she wanted. I’m sure someone in her friend group had it saved on a
6193computer.
6194“Let’s see. Stop hanging around with her. Get in a fight or
6195something, and go your separate ways.”
6196“Do you… really hate Ryouko that much……” “It is
6197only natural for Satou Ryouko to be done in.”
6198Ooshima’s voice came with the snap of a whip.
6199“It’s stranger for someone to cover for her. That cosplay… it’s crazy
6200her private clothes are permitted. She’s the only one allowed to
6201break a rule everyone has to oblige. It’s unfair, and you know as well
6202as I do that no one accepts it. Outside of that loony bin of yours. Are
6203you telling me I won’t be punished if I took out a cigarette and
6204smoked it? You think that’d happen? You screwin’ with me?”
6205I’d made several suggestions to Ryouko about her uniform as well.
6206But never once did she lend an ear. As long as her appearance
6207changed, no matter how cringy she was inside, I’d be able to
6208tentatively play it off. But Ryouko would never give any ground on
6209the most important part of all.
6210And her searching. I spent so much time with her and completely
6211failed to sprout mutual understanding. We were unmeshing gears.
6212Hey, what do you think about me, anyway? Do you ever feel like
6213actually ‘conversing’ with me? I don’t know how many times I felt
6214like asking.
6215That’s why, in the truest sense, I couldn’t stand by her side. We had
6216no common language.
6217“If you don’t get in our way, I won’t spread the pic. Your choice.”
6218“……”
6219“You one of those guys who’s fine with being shunned?” “Not
6220really.
6221“I’m not telling you to bully her. I’m just telling you to stay out.” I
6222did a search of what was in my heart. Whether there was just
6223enough cause to protect Ryouko, even if it meant my secret getting
6224out… there wasn’t. The search came up with zero results. Nothing of
6225the sort existed, not even a fragment. I couldn’t sympathize, I 
6226177
6227couldn’t concede, I couldn’t fall back to ethics. Ryouko had done
6228whatever she wanted, and she hadn’t paid her dues. That was the
6229injustice.
6230I had to pay them. I received the recompense of folly. Over the
6231course of three years.
6232Wasn’t Ryouko obligated to pay them once? At the moment that
6233logic established itself, something was collapsing inside of me.
6234What had frozen solid by Dorisen’s order dissolved, a sense of loss,
6235and a sense of release, a sense of guilt and resignation surfaced.
6236That’s why, Ooshima had the finest of timing.
6237“You got that, Koga-kun?”
6238The moment she emphasized that, “… Yeah,” I pathetically replied. I
6239even held a sense I had been saved.
6240“Ichirou, it is time to search.”
6241The same day, after school. Ryouko stood by my desk.
6242I couldn’t look her properly in the face anymore.
6243Stuffing a textbook into my bag, I exerted myself to reply in a
6244forcedly level voice.
6245“I can’t. I’ve got business to attend to.”
6246“… Significant breach of contract”
6247“It’s not happening.”
6248When my desk was empty, I continued changing the order of the
6249books in the bag. I couldn’t settle down with that positioning. It
6250would be difficult to carry if I didn’t get it right. Tacking on some
6251false reason, I immersed myself in the act.
6252I wanted my cold attitude to rid me of her already.
6253But once she’d latched onto something, Ryouko wouldn’t change
6254her thoughts so easily. No one knew that better than me. My only
6255option was to forcefully shake her off.
6256If I complied– as I raised my face, Ooshima entered my field of
6257view. She was watching. Wicked women are generally moderately
6258proficient. With a smile of ice on her face, her long legs folded, she
6259sat elegantly with her back leaned against the wall. If say, Sharon 
6260178
6261Stone’s human power was 100Hu, Ooshima quite likely read in at
626270. She was way too strong.
6263“But if the Dragon Terminals are not found and secured, the world
6264will fall into an unprecedented crisis. Those articles are too
6265dangerous for the phenomenal realm; the two of us must contain
6266them no matter the cost.”
6267“Sorry.”
6268It was impossible to thrust her away with conversation. Standing
6269from my seat, I could only leave by physical means.
6270Ryouko, left by the wayside, looked far too lonely for a witch who
6271had slipped in alone from another world. What cowardly
6272selfpreservation. I knew full well I was pathetic. If you want to
6273blame me for not sacrificing myself to save someone, be my guest. I
6274didn’t have the slightest expectations for that sort of justice in the
6275world. There are only two things that can save you, coincidence or
6276wisdom. At home, after a dinner I couldn’t make out the flavor of, I
6277made a call. It took three calls before someone picked up. A juvenile
6278breath informed me Ryouko was across the line.
6279‘……’
6280“Ryouko? Sorry, but there’s something I want to talk about. Can you
6281listen?”
6282That Ryouko was being bullied. That I was being targeted. That if
6283we didn’t stop hanging out, I would be dragged in. I covered up only
6284Ooshima’s name and told her.
6285“You might hate me for it, but I’m prioritizing self-preservation.
6286That’s why in class and in school, I can’t work together with you for
6287the time being. Please try not to talk to me. Even if you do, I can’t
6288properly interact at school.”
6289‘… You promised to search.’
6290“I did. I won’t go back on my word. However,” urged on by guilt, I
6291naturally sped up.
6292“We’ll be acting separately.”
6293‘Define separately.’
6294“Exactly what it sounds like. I’ll search by myself. You handle your
6295side.”
6296I had a faint sense she was hard of breath. 
6297179
6298‘… Ichirou is being mean.’
6299“That’s right. But I’m not the only mean one here, you’re better off
6300knowing that.”
6301Without crying sour grapes or making any excuse, I genuinely
6302thought so. Ryouko was far too defenseless. Basking in her
6303oddities was pretty much spreading the word, “You can attack me.”
6304“If you can’t endure it anymore,” and I gave her some advice. The
6305greatest support I was capable of. “Throw away your costume and
6306wear a uniform.”
6307‘… Ignoring the fact that proposition would lower defense values,
6308The Researcher is hidden by a spell of concealment making it
6309impossible for residents of the phenomenal realm to detect her by
6310visual means. There is no necessity to wear—’
6311I felt like crying when I heard that unproductive explanation for the
6312umpteenth time. “Why are you like that?” I yelled in a teary voice.
6313“Why can’t you even put in the minimum effort to protect yourself!?
6314Is it that important to show off you’re different from normal? Give
6315me a break already! I don’t want to deal with that anymore! It’s
6316because I realized it was pathetic, because I became aware of it, that
6317I can never go back there again!”
6318While the phone waves could give hints, they wouldn’t convert her
6319true thoughts into signals for me. Even if I had to make my best
6320guess, when it really came down to it, dream soldiers were childish
6321attention whores.
6322While they wanted to bathe in that spectacular attention, they knew
6323they weren’t special, so they tried to make themselves cool with the
6324flip of a switch. For those with otaku tendencies, it was easy for
6325their sense of values to tilt away from reality. They’d become
6326fictional operatives or bandmembers or develop multiple
6327personalities or special powers. Showing off those settings at every
6328opportunity for all to see came because they wanted to be respected
6329and praised. Ryouko was the same.
6330“… Do you hate normal so much? Is the thought of being a normal
6331person that far beneath you? If you want to be noticed, then put in
6332enough effort for people to want to look at you. Put in the time.
6333Become something real. Don’t skip over all the process and 
6334180
6335suddenly demand results. I detest that sorta thing. It’s only natural
6336you get bullied. Why can’t you guys make me genuinely want to
6337help you…”
6338If she was actually trying to help herself, I’d help out all I could. But
6339for someone without any such intent, why? How? That would just
6340be spoiling them.
6341‘Ichirou’s restraints are…’ Ryouko was at a rare loss for words.
6342“What’s this about restraints? Are you saying the problem is with
6343me? That is the logic you always used, isn’t it. No, this isn’t even on
6344the level of logic. You’re just rejecting me.”
6345Alongside a dizziness, I was assailed by a mud-like fatigue. It
6346became irksome even to put my stormy emotions to words. I put a
6347lid over my heart.
6348“If I find a nail, I’ll deliver it to you. Could you not talk to me at
6349school? I don’t really care if you hate me.”
6350I hung up without waiting for an answer. I immediately cut the
6351power after that.
6352In the end, carrying a long battle to distance Ryouko with attitude
6353alone was impossible for me. A coward in a corner. Evidenced by
6354the fact the high stress was churning my stomach in circles.
6355When midterms were only two weeks away, a message came to my
6356phone that rarely ever made a peep. The girl who taught me about
6357the good luck charm.
6358She informed she found out the location of the dragon’s nail—or
6359perhaps the dragon terminal.
6360Alongside the girls who carried them, the nails passed from hiding
6361place to hiding place, rarely disappearing from circulation. The
6362hiding place changed every time, and while they were grounded in
6363certain rules, the location was decided by whoever hid it. Once their
6364problems were solved, if they didn’t pass the baton to the next
6365hand, there was a curse (so they say) and information wasn’t so
6366easy to gather.
6367But in such a well-kept system, there was just a single hole. 
6368181
6369“Worn down nails are supposed to be offered up, but a lot of people
6370don’t know about that. There are a lot of kids worried when theirs is
6371damaged or breaks, so the posts come around now and again.”
6372The mail sent to me had a screenshot of a post attached.
6373A certain OP posed the question, “What do I do if the nail breaks?”
6374From the message body, it seemed considerably serious, and I could
6375tell it was a real question not out of pure curiosity.
6376The response came in no time. “You just have to offer it to the
6377shrine,” it even identified the shrine’s location. If the OP was
6378serious, they would surely make for the shrine within the next day,
6379she deduced.
6380So after school, I pedaled my bike and made for the shrine in
6381question. Even if it was in the same town, I got considerably lost,
6382barely managing to find it before the darkness set in.
6383“Heh…. This?”
6384I compared the shrine before me to the map on my phone. No doubt
6385about it.
6386The shrine was terribly small. With the image of a standard temple
6387in my head, I felt rather let down.
6388The grounds were only around four meters across. There was no
6389main office building, with the lined Tori gates all puny ones. The
6390front gate and hall of prayer were one and the same, with the two
6391Japanese gargoyles no larger than cats. The easily countable trees
6392in the grove around it surrounded the main sanctum like a folding
6393screen.
6394“And you’re supposed to hide it here.”
6395In the foundation supporting the main shrine, there was a portion
6396where the stone was put together in a lattice pattern, with a crevice
6397opened up in a blind spot. When I timidly reached my hand in, my
6398finger brushed up against the texture of a seal case.
6399“It’s really there…”
6400I pulled it out and investigated it: the same item I’d seen at the
6401infirmary and soba shop was contained. It was undoubtedly real. If
6402I handed it to Ryouko, I’d have fulfilled my duty for the time being.
6403But what sort of wish did that girl have to collect all of these? 
6404182
6405Ever since that phone call, Ryouko had taken off from school. My
6406secret hadn’t been publicized yet. But that didn’t mean the
6407situation was one to be relieved about, and as long as my secrets
6408were being held, my stress continued perpetually.
6409“… Crap, I’m in a dead end no matter what.”
6410I gazed at the nail, my conscious muddled with whatever
6411unsatisfying conclusion I might reach. “Hey you! Hold it
6412right there!”
6413The abrupt call severed my thoughts.
6414The individual who called out to me wore clothes that didn’t fit the
6415place that, while small, was still a shrine. I casual hunting cap, a
6416three-quarter-sleeve T, skinny jeans. His refined impression came
6417from the ornaments covering up his neck and wrists just drab
6418enough not to come off as flashy. He looked like he’d fit in more
6419playing around the business district than visiting a shrine, but more
6420than that off-sense, the stronger sensation was one of déjà vu.
6421“Haven’t I seen you before?” “You run the accessory store, don’t
6422you?”
6423Our voices overlapped in timing and intent.
6424“I see… so you’re also chasing the charms.”
6425“Yep.”
6426When a trace of night wind began to hang in the fall air, not a single
6427child’s shadow graced the playground equipment of the park, where
6428Kume-san and I occupied a bench meant for three. I meekly sipped
6429at the canned coffee he treated me to as I explained my
6430circumstance, covering up the deeper portions.
6431After he’d heard out my situation, Kume-san groaned a hmmmm, to
6432himself as he thought.
6433“… While I’m sorry about your absent girlfriend, I’ll have to retrieve
6434this one.”
6435The nail was in Kume-san’s hands. He had requested I hand over
6436the one I’d obtained.
6437“Kume-san, how are you related to these charms?” 
6438183
6439“Looks like I can’t keep silent after all you’ve told me…”
6440“Is it complicated?”
6441“No, it’s just, as a side job, I take care of maintaining these good
6442luck charms.”
6443“Maintaining charms? That’s something you don’t hear about
6444often.”
6445When Kume-san laughed, he seemed just a little younger. “You’re
6446right. Though it’s half just a hobby. A few years ago, I was on the
6447internet when I stumbled upon a story that the nails were
6448enshrined… when I tried looking into it, they really were here.”
6449“And maintenance?”
6450“That’s what I do. After that, I can give it to someone, or hide it
6451somewhere and post about it on the net.”
6452That really is a trendy charm system. To think it even has a
6453maintenance feature, what a mystery. “Do you know who
6454started all of this?”
6455“Couldn’t tell ya. But that’s how it goes with urban legends, don’t
6456you think.”
6457“Hmm, then do you know how many nails there are in total?” “I
6458don’t know that either. I’m pretty sure there are more than ten.
6459From time to time I see one at the shrine and know it’s one I’ve
6460worked on before… but only occasionally.”
6461Then there was a long, long way to go to collect them all. Not that I
6462knew how many Ryouko needed.
6463Kume-san took a glance at my wrist.
6464“I see you’re still wearing the watch I made.”
6465“Yep, I’ve taken a liking to it. My previous one was a ninehundredyen
6466cheapo, so it’s a nice upgrade.”
6467Kume-san’s looks crumbled. He was the honest sword who smiled
6468when praised.
6469“Thank you. It makes me happy to see what I’ve made be put to
6470actual use.”
6471“You’re quite the creator.”
6472“I wouldn’t say that,” Kume-san flapped his hand. He shied back.
6473“I’m not that great. At most, a guy who does some crafts.” His
6474reactions were so interesting I almost laughed myself. 
6475184
6476“So not even a craftsman yet?”
6477“There’s a long way ahead of me. I’d like to try some large job
6478someday.”
6479“I’m cheering you on.”
6480“Ah, right. Thanks,” Kume-san scratched his head.
6481“Then I should get going. I’ll try looking for another nail.” Kumesan
6482turned to a serious face. Rubbing his chin, he spent a while in
6483deep thought.
6484“… I feel a bit sorry. You’re the one who acted on the info first, but
6485you’re not getting any return.”
6486“It’s fine. I’m sure it’s in need of some maintenance. Those charms
6487are interesting. You should keep them going.”
6488When I told him how I felt with no fabrication, Kume-san stared at
6489my face.
6490“… Satou-kun, could you keep what I’m about to tell you a secret
6491from the girls?”
6492“Sure?”
6493The story Kume-san told me in exchange for the nail brought me
6494the sort of shocker I got from reading a special feature in ‘Mu’.
6495The place Kume-san directed me to was a region filled with
6496apartment complexes a little ways away from the station. Away
6497from the main road, where only futon shops, cleaning stores,
6498Izakayas, stores appealing to the direct local crowd dotted the place.
6499The lack of prosperity wasn’t much different from a residential
6500district in the middle of the day. So when I stood before the
6501indicated complex and spotted the antique bookstore occupying the
6502first floor, I was confused in spite of being informed of it
6503beforehand.
6504How was an old bookstore surviving in a place like this— One
6505look was enough to tell the store was a clutter.
6506It was the sort of bookstore you might see in Kanda-Jinbocho, the
6507sort wit books piled up the edges of the eves. The dustiness could be
6508conveyed outside, and entering the shop required some courage. By 
6509185
6510the way, to the right of it was a Ramen store with the shutters down,
6511to the left, a western apparel store catering to old women (judging
6512by the impression).
6513“So this is… the origin of the legend.”
6514The store’s interior was narrow. What’s more, because the
6515bookshelves were huddled together to the very limit, it became even
6516more cramped. So cramped, it would be impossible to slip passed
6517another person between the shelves. On the floor, book bundles
6518bound in vinyl threads, were mercilessly stacked up with too much
6519empty space like a shoddily-played game of Tetris.
6520There was evidentially no intention to display products in any tidy
6521manner. Neither was there any mind to maintain hygienics in the
6522store. The paper taped to the glass of the entrance sliding door had
6523nothing but ‘Shoplift!’ written on it in red, quite a perplexing
6524statement. Usually, Don’t shoplift, or Shoplifters will be arrested
6525was the norm. Meaning, this store was far from a normal store, and
6526its shadiness was also fitting of the land that birthed a legend. After
6527venturing further and further into the narrow store buried in old
6528books, “Whoa,” the sight of a beauty in a red kimono sitting behind
6529a cramped fifty-centimeter-ish counter almost made me jump
6530back.
6531The manuscript I was looking for—I recalled Kume-san’s words—
6532was in the furthest reaches of the old bookstore, it was hidden in the
6533read-only, not-for-sale corner.
6534Countless bookshelves had changed what was once an open space
6535into a complicated maze. The back passage passed the counter had
6536a placed with a single curtain draped over it. Whether I was allowed
6537to pass beyond it or not… I looked at the shopkeeper, hesitating
6538whether to ask or not, when the pretty lady raised her face, turned
6539me a modest smile and told me, “The adult section,” I immediately
6540straightened my back, but shortly “… is not in that direction so
6541please proceed at your leisure” she added on. If nothing else, I had a
6542vague sense I was being teased. I was running into a lot of weirdos
6543these days. Dammit.
6544After regrouping, I marched on.
6545It was blatantly the adult section. 
6546186
6547“You lied to me!”
6548But at the end of the adult section was the not-for-sale corner I was
6549looking for.
6550“Kuh…”
6551I hate this store.
6552The manuscript I was looking for—came Kume-san’s secretive
6553whisper— is sandwiched in the pages of a local history book. It was
6554a small corner. It didn’t take long to find.
6555Locally history was a topic that wouldn’t sell to a particularly wide
6556demographic. I’d seen the same book stacked in small bookstores
6557around the shopping district, they gave off the sense they hadn’t
6558sold in ten years.
6559An antique local history was at an even greater disadvantage. While
6560the price printed on the back cover listed it as a faded one thousand
6561yen, the tag identified it was not for sale. What could be bought for
6562a discount at the shopping district. It was a mystery for what reason
6563it was being kept.
6564That’s just how perfect the camouflage is— I recalled the look in
6565Kume-san’s eyes, as if he was boasting of the treasure he’d found. I
6566tried skimming. The sour scent of old paper stung the air. Perfectly
6567in the center, a colorful scrap of paper was sandwiched with the
6568vividness of a pressed flower. The manuscript.
6569“Well I’ll be…”
6570The mysterious work known as the Voynich Manuscript was
6571famous, and it was something similar. The manuscript was covered
6572up in what looked like ancient writing. While they looked vaguely
6573Japanese, there wasn’t a single character there I had ever seen
6574before. That foreign language with a touch of Japanese was almost
6575like a code.
6576There were a few colored illustrations, rendering the manuscript
6577vibrant like a picture book. That’s what gave it a playful impression.
6578The illustrations were of maps, of vegetation, of rocks, of brambly
6579landscapes, of mysterious animals. There was no uniformity to
6580them, on the contrary giving it a broader meaning. While it looked 
6581187
6582like a natural history magazine to me, according to Kume-san, it
6583was a ‘Research document on spells,’ apparently.
6584The manuscript had fallen apart. Each page was preserved in a
6585different interval of the history book. What was originally a notforsale
6586volume, with all sorts of curious onlookers passing by and
6587flipping through (it was apparently a famous manuscript in the
6588area), it was dismantled, however, unable to take it out, it was
6589preserved like this. If it was sandwiched in an unneeded book,
6590perhaps those hopefuls would look forward to a chance they might
6591be able to secretly buy it off (at a discount no less).
6592“It’s detailed, I’m surprised they got so much in by hand…” It was
6593apparently a complete unknown what hand had filled in the
6594crowded codes and schema that covered it. This sort of thing
6595couldn’t have been completed without a hint of dementia.
6596As I was flipping through the manuscript in the pages of the history
6597book, I came across a drawing perfectly resembling the dragon’s
6598nail.
6599“Here it is!”
6600There was no doubt whoever made the nail reproduced it from this.
6601Some guy from the distant past. It hurt that I couldn’t read the
6602letters. If I showed this to Ryouko, would her delusions clear up? Or
6603could it be, she’d make up something new? Whatever the case, it
6604was a large discovery, so reporting to Ryouko was a necessity. I was
6605better not using my phone in the store. I took eight minutes to tap
6606out the text, ‘Drgon info get, address ______ complex, thirst floor,
6607love to brook store.’ And send it. I didn’t really what was happening
6608after I hit space. When I looked back, for some reason, move had
6609become love (seriously, why?).
6610The reply came in forty seconds.
6611‘This is Researcher. Emergency Signal Received. Transferring to
6612point in 10sec.’ Ten seconds?
6613“Arrived.”
6614“Dwah.”
6615Ryouko was standing right next to me. Her other world costume the
6616same as ever. 
6617188
6618“W-when did you get here?”
6619“One moment ago.”
6620From the still-flapping curtain, even if the transfer part was a lie,
6621that would mean she just happened to be somewhere nearby.
6622“Don’t tell me… you were tailing me?”
6623“Negative. Teleport. The truth.”
6624I let out a small cry. That was the face of a liar. She was tailing,
6625stalking, a crime.
6626“Why were you tailing me!”
6627“Transfer is the only method to encounter Ichirou after school.” I
6628was at a loss for words.
6629“Then why weren’t you at school…?”
6630“Apart from speaking with Ichirou, it is impossible to discern any
6631meaning in going, therefore school commute has been suspended.”
6632“… Is that so.”
6633“Report findings.”
6634While there was a lot I wanted to say, I had to finish my business
6635first.
6636“Have a look at this. It’s not for sale, so you can’t bring it out in
6637excitement.”
6638Ryouko took the book closely observing the page with the dragon
6639terminal illustration. Her face with the glisten of silver plating was
6640visibly pierced with the red of excitement.
6641“I-Ichirou. This discovery is exceedingly beneficial.”
6642“I know, right? But you can’t take it with you.”
6643“… Will attempt negotiation.”
6644“I doubt it’ll get you anywhere. I’m sure countless people have tried
6645before you.”
6646To add to that, even if we took it, we wouldn’t be able to decrypt it.
6647“……”
6648“This is the identity of the item you call the dragon terminal. That’s
6649all I wanted to tell you. I couldn’t obtain a real article, but I think
6650this is the best information I’m capable of offering.” That’s
6651why, this is the end.
6652“……” 
6653189
6654Ryouko was already entranced in the manuscript. Like an old
6655typewriter, I could follow her eyes moving left and right in a
6656systematic manner. Her eyes scanned through the other pages as
6657well. I called to her from my side.
6658“Then I’ll be off, you can investigate until you’re satisfied. I can’t do
6659anything about you coming to school, but just checking in for
6660attendance is an option, so if you’re not sick, you’re better off
6661attending. It’s better than getting counseled… I’m washing my
6662hands with it. I’ll be protecting myself in the classroom, but I’ll at
6663least consult over the phone. If possible, I’d be happy if you wanted
6664to discuss rehabilitation.”
6665“……”
6666She wasn’t listening after all.
6667Something was bogging me down. But the search ended here.
6668“Goodbye!”
6669“?”
6670While she turned for only a moment to my angered cry, her
6671attention immediately returned to her hands. She wouldn’t try to
6672understand a single part of my irritation. As she stooped over,
6673bringing her eyes right up to the book, she looked far younger than
6674she really was.
6675My heart froze over. Drenching yourself in delusion is no different
6676from putting up walls. A childish delusion was no different from
6677garbage. It’s not something you can blame anyone for. Nor is it
6678something you can hoist up with pride.
6679I was made the leader of the oddball group, trying to live each day
6680as it came, but she never even considered opening her heart to me. I
6681don’t care if I’m narrow-minded. I don’t mind if you insult me, call
6682me cold. I just want to be a normal human being. I want to say good
6683riddance to my past self.
6684I was only twelve when I enlisted.
6685I joined the dream legion. 
6686190
6687While I wasn’t the one to cast judgment, I think I was a first-rate
6688soldier.
6689The symptoms began in a first year’s head. It lasted close to three
6690years.
6691Games, light novels, comics, I remember being hooked on them
6692from around fifth grade. Up to then, it was the normal soccer,
6693games, manga, TV. My parents wouldn’t buy me many manga or
6694games, they carefully restrained me from overdose, but for some
6695reason, light novels alone slipped under my parents’ radar. I’m sure
6696it was because they were novels. If their fifth-grade son was hooked
6697on reading, any parent would loosen the strings on their wallet.
6698After junior novels, I’m sure they wanted me to shift into Natsume
6699Souseki or Ishikawa Takuboku or Izuki Kyouko, but that never
6700happened. With the support of an environment that would
6701endlessly fuel my novel fever, like a flaming crop, it continued to
6702burn and spread.
6703I was hooked on ‘Mu’ on the side. ‘Mu’ was a mystery magazine that
6704supported a young man’s dreams. With its claim to be an academic
6705publication, I also got it through my parents’ checks. Along with the
6706Mu columnist, I prayed for the existence of the Mongolian
6707deathworm.
6708I read, I festered, I yearned—
6709I read of warriors with settings that were far too cool.
6710Like freely manipulating katanas that were taller than they were,
6711emitting all sorts of destructive energies, concealing special
6712abilities, modern magic, various powers awakening in the midst of
6713battle, wearing a coat right over bare skin.
6714It was inevitable that I longed for the day one would be reborn, slip
6715into, escape to, lose their memory in, or charge recklessly onto the
6716stage of modern Japan.
6717Just like that, in the spring of my first year of middle school, the
6718delusion of the strongest swordsman from another world was born.
6719Bearing a harsh past, he held the power to (I remember the
6720exaltation I felt when I wrote the line) annihilate an entire army.
6721Both his sword arm and his magic were super first rate. He had a
6722deep familial love for his sickly younger sister. 
6723191
6724… I produced the settings in bulk. I put them together in notebooks.
6725Ten volumes in total. I wrote out chronologies, I determined
6726enemies, I let my feelings rage on for a distant lover. I mulled over a
6727little sister’s forbidden love. When I was nothing more than some
6728scraggly-haired middle schooler.
6729At first, I was just supposed to be imagining.
6730And yet, it didn’t take too long for delusions to overtake reality.
6731Maryuin Koga—
6732The ‘true name’ I had given myself.
6733Right, an otherworldly soldier’s name was always something like
6734Mushanokouki Furea or Ootori Raisen or Hazama Kira. My
6735mentality to give the character I created the greatest name ever
6736spurred on such an overblown designation.
6737If it was just the name, that would be fine.
6738In various aspects of my school life, I began acting like a
6739swordsman.
6740Like Suzuki Osamu and the others.
6741For example, I could never neglect a knight’s duty to report to the
6742prestigious Maryuiin house. When the regulation time came, even if
6743I was in class, I would speak to the magic stone embedded in my
6744right arm (so the story went) to establish contact with the other
6745world. The magic stone was a translator, a transmitter, it could even
6746dispel the enemy’s brainwashing magic, Gildiem.
6747“Is this the main house? This is Light Fang. As of the present time, I
6748have failed to detect the divine dragon’s aura.”
6749That Light Fang which resounded colder than a Siberian blizzard
6750was a code name. If anyone out there has a time machine, please go
6751right ahead and kill that version of me. Take a load off my
6752shoulders.
6753My teachers yelled at me, my classmates were creeped out. But I
6754wasn’t moved. I never thought it was bad. I was drunk on delusion.
6755The reactions I could easily imagine now, I could never anticipate
6756back then. More so, I even thought that displaying true-to-life
6757soldier pride would elicit respect from my surroundings. I would
6758cut down unseen enemies with my aura blade, protecting my 
6759192
6760classmates from invisible attacks, at times even suffering serious
6761injury. I interacted with the soul of the evergreen growing in the
6762schoolyard. In morning assemble, there was even a time I held a
6763hand over a girl in my class and said, “You’ve been brainwashed.
6764Rest at ease. I’ll dispel that Gildiem right now.” She cried. I was hit.
6765I was called (to the staff room). By the way, I liked that girl.
6766Constantly repeating such acts where everyone could see, I was a
6767complete outside existence.
6768Even so, there were still people who would hang out with me. The
6769class naughties.
6770They would kick me down, strip me naked, grab me by the ankles,
6771drag me down the hall (while naked), and finally throw me into the
6772toilet. Good, do it more. Just end me. Even in the midst of that, “I
6773can’t use my powers on a student!” I would ceaselessly spew in
6774place of a scream. What a nostalgic memory. I was so homesick, I
6775thought I might flip the suicide switch.
6776For three long years, I lived a soldier’s life, but naturally, the end
6777had to come.
6778The chosen one hailing from another world, having disguised
6779himself as a modern person, I harbored a tragic past of my true
6780parents being killed by the Divine Dragon Astaloy. My transient
6781parents were no more than a false family. My ties to them only
6782superficial. The day came when- compelled by my deep sorrow- I
6783placed those thoughts down on paper addressed to my beloved
6784Princess Erina, who had remained in the other world. And that
6785letter.
6786I placed in the post.
6787By the setting listed out in volume seven, to deliver a letter to the
6788other world, you merely have to write a nonexistent address and
6789drop it into a rift in time. But I submitted a real envelope marked
6790with the Maryu Seal (a ward so people couldn’t arbitrarily open it),
6791in a real post box.
6792The letter returned due to unknown destination. My parents read it
6793without delay. Both my father and mother hit me and cried. In the
6794end, we reached the stage where I was to undergo a brain scan, and 
6795193
6796I was sobbing too as I was made to confess to the garbage delusions
6797birthed by my own hubris. The shock remedy forced me to escape
6798from my fantasist spiral. The Gildiem was dispelled.
6799And just ike that, I managed to return from Maryuin Koga back to
6800Satou Ichirou. Satou Ichirou, a plain name. I didn’t have any
6801verbose middle name like ‘Fenrir’ or ‘Odin’, or any cool moniker
6802like ‘of the lightning’ or ‘heaven enforcer’. Just Satou, normal
6803Ichirou. Three cheers.
6804There was much lost in my life as a soldier.
6805The sense of distance to my family wouldn’t go away. Even now, I
6806was like a tumor in the house. While our relations were peaceful
6807on the surface, both my father and mother handled me gingerly.
6808My relationship with the big sister I’d gotten along so well with in
6809elementary school was thoroughly destroyed. While I was a dream
6810soldier, she directed terrible abuse. I was kicked, I was punched, I
6811was threatened. My eardrum was ruptured right after the letter
6812incident. After the devil had left me, my sister started taking
6813distance. I could only talk to her cordially.
6814Delusions break reality. Even if I’d completely recovered from the
6815sickness, my past folly wouldn’t go away. Many of my classmates
6816would use me as the butt of the joke, they would scoff, they would
6817pull out their phones. I’d feel all special and show myself off to all
6818the folks with their newest model cell phones. Whenever the lights
6819flashed, the flowers of laughter would bloom from all over. What a
6820convenient app. The Maryuin Koga photo collection.
6821And some way or another, Ooshima Yumina had obtained it.
6822Ryouko stopped coming to school.
6823“What do you think happened to Ryouko-chan?”
6824Pretending to immerse myself in the homework that had just been
6825issued the class before, I let Kobato-san’s voice slip by. Granted, my
6826mechanical pencil didn’t seem to be doing any moving for all the
6827work I was supposed to be engrossed in.
6828Air. An existence that doesn’t stand out. Assimilate with the
6829classroom surroundings as much as possible. 
6830194
6831“Ichirou-kun, did you hear anything?” Itou asked me.
6832“… Nothing.
6833“Did you try calling?”
6834“She’s keeping her phone off.”
6835In order to feign uninvolvement, I ended up telling yet another
6836small lie. I didn’t make any calls, nor did I receive any.
6837This was the peace I had gone as far as to thrust out divorce papers
6838to obtain.
6839… And yet, I was still in the dumps. Thanks to the unease Ryouko
6840left behind, I wasn’t talking much with Kobato-san or Itou
6841anymore. With the hindrance eliminated, we should have been able
6842to spend a fun and wacky time together. And yet we couldn’t. If I
6843was going to be alone in the end anyway, I didn’t have to subjugate
6844myself to Ooshima’s threads but did I really have to go so far to earn
6845the right to submerse myself in a world of Ryouko’s wildest
6846dreams? Even I had to say it was pathetic to cling to a daily life that
6847had already fallen apart.
6848The break time ended without my homework progressing a single
6849line. When Dorisen came, we stood and bowed. Classes began. I
6850couldn’t put my heart into it.
6851“… Dammit.”
6852At this rate, midterms were going to be a catastrophe. What was
6853I supposed to do? Was there another clear shortcut I could
6854take?
6855“Satou, have you heard anything about what happened with
6856Ladies?”
6857That break time, Dorisen interrogated me.
6858“I don’t know… she suddenly stopped coming.”
6859“She was searching for something, wasn’t she? Could she be busy
6860with that?”
6861“I’m sorry, I don’t know… umm, I have to use the restroom so…”
6862“Ah, Satou…”
6863It would be next to impossible to fool Dorisen. I fled to the
6864bathroom and returned without using its facilities. While it seemed
6865Dorisen had withdrawn to the faculty room, Ryouko was there,
6866waiting in his place. 
6867195
6868“Geh.”
6869There was only one reason she would come to the classroom.
6870“Ichirou, upon considering the particulars of the document in
6871question, it has become clear that it details the production process
6872of the Dragon Terminal. By the plenipotentiary power holder’s
6873expectations, the profit this discovery will bring to the Central
6874Assembly is tremendous. Therefore, The Researcher is currently
6875considering temporarily placing all missions on ice to return to the
6876organization at once.”
6877“I-I see…”
6878“Construction of the temple has already proceeded in secret. Very
6879little time is required until its completion.”
6880“A temple, eh…”
6881This is bad. If I talk with Ryouko too much, it could cost me my life.
6882As luck would have it, Ooshima was in the classroom. The
6883sharpsighted queen bee had no reservations to stare straight at us.
6884Perhaps my wariness of her was transmitted, as she purposely
6885opened her phone and waved it around for me to see.
6886I tensed up. It was precisely because I had experienced hell that the
6887fear brought my body to cower.
6888I couldn’t let it get out by any means. This wasn’t logic, it was
6889primordial instinct. So I plainly told her.
6890“I can’t help you.”
6891Since I couldn’t expect a proper response from Ryouko, I took a
6892page out of her book and went ahead with my own schedule.
6893I one-sidedly said only what I wanted to say.
6894“I can’t help you anymore. Not in the search nor in the construction
6895of your temple. I do think I’ve fulfilled my obligation, and while I’m
6896sorry, this is as far as I go. You can handle the rest on your own.”
6897You’re the only one who needs to be wrapped up in your delusions.
6898I took my seat without waiting for an answer. From the front, “Oh,
6899it’s a lover’s tiff,” someone in the front jeered. I ignored them,
6900naturally. With sluggish gestures, I prepared for class. Ryouko
6901stood beside me.
6902“The site to erect a temple has already been decided. All that
6903remains is to build it. Simple and convenient. As the structure need 
6904196
6905not be deemed habitable, many essential steps can be skipped in
6906construction with no issue. It can even be an Aneha-class
6907fabrication.”
6908“……”
6909Opposite the usual, I was the one ignoring Ryouko.
6910“What the temple construction requires is the accurate deployment
6911of resonance to bring about a ritual effect, and that calculation will
6912make use of the numerological system known in this world as
6913gematria. To implement operation, a third party’s mutual
6914observation-type direct social link must be distributed to varying
6915degrees, but as The Researcher will become defenseless in that
6916timeframe alone, a cooperator with high scanning abilities will
6917prove necessary—”
6918Just give it up. I sluggishly pulled out my textbook as I waited for
6919the pressure to leave.
6920“And when the temple is completed, by imputing the desired special
6921coordinates through numerological disassembly, the gate, an
6922exceedingly ambiguous domain between two worlds will be
6923generated.”
6924When my preparations were over, I stretched my back and closed
6925my eyes. Even as I put on an inorganic disguise, the incessantly
6926bounding voice continued dancing in my ear with no end. A
6927neverending nightmare. I prayed silently it had to end someday.
6928When I suspended my thoughts, a sense of guilt began oozing in.
6929Please. Just give up. Do something to protect yourself.
6930It was painful enough to want to cry out. Was this my recompense?
6931Was my recompense for spending three years in folly not over yet? I
6932broke my family apart, lost myself, and spread pictures to how
6933many hundreds… are you saying I still have to atone?
6934The voice ceased. Did she finally leave?
6935I thoughtlessly turned my head to immediately regret it. Ryouko
6936was still stood right before me.
6937“Ichirou, understood.”
6938“Understood what?”
6939She was suddenly sounding admirable. 
6940197
6941“Consideration has definitely been lacking. Apology.”
6942“That’s a bit late… I’m not particularly angry, you don’t have to
6943apologize.”
6944“The Researcher does bear a minor understanding of a resident of
6945the phenomenal realm’s sense of values.”
6946From the gap in her robe, she stuck out the top of her staff. Her
6947fingertip flipped open one of its multiple lids. As the inner pressure
6948released, the crude stacks of bills sloppily saw the light of day.
6949“Your reward was never paid.”
6950Money—
6951Cash, notes, bills. A large mass of ten-thousand-yen notes. The
6952easily few hundred thousand I’d witnessed once before were
6953scooped out in their entirety and held out to me.
6954“Huh? What?”
6955“This is all Ichirou’s. So…” as if that would resolve the matter.
6956“Please help again.”
6957The chill I felt at that moment surpassed any I had experienced
6958before.
6959“… Are you serious?”
6960“It is possible to procure local currency. Although it isn’t
6961unlimited… with this much, if you still require more… it will be
6962provided. Immediate is impossible, but in the near future.” “Wait,”
6963who was giving her money? “That’s your parent’s money, right?”
6964“The Researcher does not possess parents.”
6965“Stop. Don’t even joke about that.”
6966“It is a fact. No blood relatives exist in this world. While there are
6967provisional parents in place… they are, in the end, no more than a
6968mimesis.”
6969Why do we have to be so similar, I wanted to cry out. I tasted the
6970feeling of finding my own faults amplified. If she was a man, I’d
6971have smacked her. “Are you an idiot?”
6972I unconsciously stood. Pointing at the door, I put out a voice
6973imbued with anger from the heart.
6974“Get out. Don’t ever talk to me again.”
6975“… Ah…” 
6976198
6977Words can never perfectly convey the message.
6978What you feel in your heart will never perfectly reach. Even between
6979those who understood one another. It was never as easy as sending
6980an image.
6981But at that time alone, I felt the sensation of my anger being
6982delivered in full. It came with the discomfort of a blade embedding
6983into flesh.
6984Ryouko’s eyes dropped to around the tips of her toes, “… Meaning,”
6985she muttered before leaving the classroom in a sprint. The power
6986suddenly left my body, I sunk into my seat.
6987“W-why? What happened?”
6988From the seat one up and two the right, Kobato-san directed a
6989perplexed face.
6990Yeah, I wonder why. There’s no way I could answer that.
6991That same day, over lunch break as I returned from the cafeteria, I
6992found a folded notebook paper placed on my desk. These sorts of
6993secretive measures were reserved for women, and I immediately
6994identified the paper that had been arbitrarily ripped out of a book
6995with the edge left a mess as a message from Ooshima.
6996‘Dear Koga-kun,
6997I’ve got a little present to reward you for fighting the good fight!
6998You should hurry and check you know where! Chop-chop, before
6999someone finds it!’
7000She was making fun of me. But I couldn’t leave it alone.
7001You know where… she meant the landing. She was informing me
7002she had left something there. Quite likely, a lethal blast from the
7003past.
7004I made for it at once. I climbed two steps at a time. There was
7005nothing on the landing. When I went even further to the penthouse
7006portion, a large paper bag that hadn’t been there before had been
7007left there.
7008Timidly, I peeked inside.
7009“……!” 
7010199
7011I found something far worse than what I’d been expecting. It would
7012have easily dropped me to the depths of the earth. She didn’t even
7013have to prepare a dead cat or a swarm of bugs. All she had to do was
7014ask around her friends to pin down the location of the must-have
7015item that would not only get a laugh, but also that Satou Ichirou
7016had to suppress.
7017I had always hidden that at school. What had- by some trick of fatedisappeared
7018before graduation was undoubtedly retrieved and
7019preserved by someone will ill intent. In the transition between
7020schools, there was one time I was called out. I had ignored it, but if
7021I participated, I was certain it would have been implemented for
7022some grand send-off harassment.
7023I had to dispose of it. Before anyone saw. I couldn’t bring it to the
7024classroom. Because I didn’t think Ooshima would let sleeping dogs
7025lie. My only option was to ditch school. I’d take it home, cut it up,
7026and burn it.
7027I draped the paper bag over my shoulder. I had to escape without
7028any teachers seeing.
7029As expected… the escape was successful.
7030I went out of my way to collect my shoes and break out through the
7031boys’ lavatory. It made it all the easier to leave the premise without
7032being seen. That point of infiltration from that night proved useful.
7033All that was left was to be careful of disciplinary action later. While
7034I was pulling my bike away from the schoolhouse, it entered my
7035eye by chance.
7036“T-the heck is that…!”
7037Something outrageous had been brazenly erected over the off-limits
7038roof.
7039“Are those… desks?”
7040A giant piece of arts put together from student desks.
7041Only a single small shadow was vigorously at work. There was no
7042mistaking that blue robe.
7043The roof. Temple. Construction. A number of curious words had
7044entered my ears that morning.
7045Ryouko had her eyes on the roof from the beginning. 
7046200
7047Presumably, no one noticed. Not the students nor the teachers.
7048Only I was able to spot it by sheer coincidence. I had a bad feeling.
7049Was it because I had thrust Ryouko away?
7050I should have noticed.
7051Her eccentric tendencies. Once her switch was flipped, she’d be
7052buried in her own world with no turning back. She was the sort of
7053human who could sink with just a wish. And her work was precise
7054down to the last detail.
7055I simply had to recall what happened when I first saw her outfit by
7056the light of the moon. What became of me when I had already had
7057my fill of delusions.
7058Temple. What linked another world to the phenomenal realm. The
7059grandest of worlds to come out of Ryouko’s hands. I had to go. I
7060couldn’t overlook it. I had to ascertain it with my own eyes.
7061Leaving my bike toppled on its side, I returned to school. The
7062incident would surely be over soon.
7063I shoved the paper bag into the bathroom tool closet. That was a
7064cursed item. I doubted it would be found if it was just for a short
7065while.
7066En route to the penthouse, I crossed the hallway lined with
7067firstfloor classrooms. A great many students had exited to the hall.
7068Even teachers were standing around, gazing absentmindedly at the
7069stairwell that led up.
7070“Hey, first years, get back to your classrooms!”
7071A teacher for another class cried out to no avail. Barely anyone was
7072even listening. The closer I got to the stairs, the more the boisterous
7073atmosphere grew. I approached Class A. The stairs to the roof had
7074been sealed off by teachers so no students could use it.
7075“Ichirou-kun!”
7076“Kobato-san?”
7077Almost all of Class A’s students were in the hall.
7078“Big trouble! Ryouko-chan… she holed herself up on the roof!”
7079“I saw from outside. She’s locked herself in?” 
7080201
7081“I don’t know! The teachers are having a look now!”
7082“So they already found her.”
7083“Ichirou-kun, don’t tell me, back there…”
7084Her hands locked in front of her chest were lightly shaking.
7085“… Yeah, probably.”
7086That exchange that couldn’t escalate to a dispute ended up being
7087the last trigger. Was it my responsibility? You could call it that.
7088“You think Ryouko-chan’s going to maintain a siege?”
7089“It might be worse than that.”
7090“Is there any way we can save her?”
7091I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t tell what sort of saving Ryouko actually
7092wanted.
7093“Satou! You’re back!” As Dorisen came down the stairs, he quickly
7094singled me out. “That’s wonderful, I panicked when I couldn’t sense
7095your aura on campus. Come with me.”
7096Accompanying the teacher who read his students’ auras, I was
7097allowed down the stairs to the penthouse.
7098“The one on the roof’s Ryouko, right?”
7099“So it seems. She must have broken the lock the school installed to
7100get on the roof.” “What about the police?”
7101“That’ll have to happen after we get in touch with the principal, but
7102we haven’t reached him yet. His phone’s off. But if possible, I don’t
7103want to make a police matter of it.”
7104“I doubt this is the time to worry about appearances.” Dorisen
7105spoke in a terribly serious face.
7106“… If it becomes a police matter, she won’t be able to come to school
7107anymore.”
7108“So you want me to do something about it?”
7109I’m beat. I threw up both hands like it was a hold-up.
7110“… I want you to look at the situation and decide what should be
7111done. You’re the person who understands her best.”
7112Dorisen took the lead, pushing out the sealed-off door ever so
7113slightly. The gap was around thirty centimeters. If I squeezed
7114through horizontally, I’d barely be able to make it.
7115“This is as far as it opens. Have a look.” 
7116202
7117I stuck out my head to find a large, looming iron grid.
7118“What?”
7119What I had thought was a grill had been made from the locked legs
7120of desks protruding up, down, left and right. Countless desks had
7121been stacked like blocks in various orientations, fixed with wire into
7122a sturdy grid barricade. The height was just around three meters.
7123“Inomata-sensei forcefully slammed into it, and somehow or
7124another, we got a small gap. But we won’t be able to enter with our
7125builds. How about it, Satou, won’t you go see how things are going
7126over there?”
7127If I squeezed out the door and climbed up the desks, I might be able
7128to make it to the other side.
7129“I can’t see through. The wooden desktops are blocking off too
7130many points…”
7131There was no telling what was happening there unless I made the
7132trip. That’s what it meant. “Satou, can I leave it to you?”
7133“… That’s an order, isn’t it.”
7134For a moment, Dorisen made a pained face, but soon he had
7135regained his usual brazen smile.
7136“I’m really sorry, but that’s right. You’re my best choice. I don’t
7137want to choose the other options.”
7138A man who doesn’t run is cool. But I’m sure that was also part of his
7139calculations.
7140“… I’ll give it a go.”
7141“Then could you equip this?” Dorisen stuck a small pin into my
7142chest pocket. “And this is?”
7143“A pin mike. I want to hear the conversation.”
7144“… Sensei, I think you’d be well suited for an occupation of
7145deceiving people.”
7146“Isn’t teacher precisely that job?”
7147“Eeh!?”
7148I crammed my body into the gap. It was far too narrow, I felt
7149pressure on both side of my body. Squeezing only my left
7150shoulder through, I groped around to find a hold and pulled the
7151rest of me though. Taking care not to get caught on the doorknob, 
7152203
7153I climbed up the gap between the pend house wall and barricade.
7154With friction constantly rubbing against my back, as long as I
7155brought my arms and legs to the right place, it wasn’t particularly
7156hard. I clambered to the top. The barricade was three desks in
7157breadth; I wasn’t in any danger even standing right on top of it.
7158From that height, I gazed out over the roof in its entirety.
7159“… For real?”
7160I swallowed my breath. Like the instant a vivid painting entered my
7161eye, my heart hit out just one large pulse.
7162Ryouko called it a temple.
7163when one hears the word temple, just what vision would them
7164embrace? The Parthenon? Or could it be the temple city of the
7165Mayan Civilization?
7166Ryouko’s temple held a different aspect from either of them. It
7167was just a vague resemblance, but hers had something that
7168harkened back to Cheval’s ideal. The Le Palais Ideal, or Ideal
7169Palace, was a stone structure built up by a man called Cheval
7170who, without any knowledge of stonemasonry, stacked up the
7171rocks he picked up on the side of the road while working as a
7172postman. It was a palace he made in his own garden. Worthy of
7173an illusion drawn straight from a human’s heart, it boasted a
7174hair-raising figure.
7175What Cheval had done in stone, Ryouko had accomplished with
7176desk and chair.
7177“How am I supposed to believe this…”
7178The roof was now a rectangle cut straight out of another world. A
7179stagnant crystal sprouting like fungus straight up from the green
7180rubber-like floor. A bizarre, surreal landscape put together with
7181nothing but mundane office supplies.
7182If you kept the image of a perfect palace in mind and focused your
7183eyes, it began to resemble the feeling of Lego. Detailed yet uncanny.
7184Ryouko had focused solely on stacking isomorphic blocks of desks,
7185erecting steeples, casting bridges, sprouting pincushions, a
7186trapezoidal structure resting in the center. I was filled with an urge
7187to look away, and yet my eyes were fixed in place. 
7188204
7189I couldn’t believe this was prepared in only a few hours.
7190She must have spent ages preparing all of this. For a long time now.
7191On top of the main alter positioned as if protected by the flood of
7192steeples, there stood Ryouko.
7193“Oy, Ryouko!”
7194Her robe fluttering, She turned, every motion brimming with
7195dignity.
7196“The temple is complete.”
7197“Did you make this because of what I said!?”
7198“……”
7199“There’s a huge ruckus going on below!”
7200“Irrelevant. They are unable to perceive our side.”
7201“It’s exceedingly relevant!”
7202I searched out a path to Ryouko. The roof’s original flooring only
7203remained on the outmost edge.
7204With paths and bridges prepared to every important point, it was
7205somewhat like a maze, but with how jumbled it all was, I couldn’t
7206see a route on first glance. At the foot of t eh barrier, overturned
7207desk and chair legs were spread over like a bed of spikes. The
7208broken desks had parts where their legs were snapped or twisted,
7209making for plenty of places that would impale me if I fell. The
7210usable routes were limited.
7211“I’ll be on my way!”
7212“Don’t come. Don’t enter the barrier.”
7213“You think I can listen to that? Let’s talk a bit.”
7214I descended to the other side of the barrier. I stepped on the only
7215place where desktops formed an overpass.
7216“Don’t come,” Ryouko mechanically repeated. “Don’t come.” “…
7217I’m sorry about before. I said too much. But that doesn’t mean
7218you had to do all this, right? I’ll help out. I can still help, so how
7219about we slow down for a minute and have a good talk?”
7220The path led to the altar. While largely meandering, it was properly
7221laid out.
7222With each turning corner, a new layer was added on.
7223“Hey, why did you do this?” 
7224205
7225The witch standing up high no longer paid me any mind. She stood
7226alone atop the temple, the highest structure on the roof.
7227“Hey, got you so upset? Haven’t you always only done whatever you
7228wanted to? Why did you have to make it this overblown?”
7229“Explanation has been provided numerous times. A temple is
7230necessary to return to the original world.”
7231“If you’re up to listen, I’ll tell you everything that’s going on with
7232me. It’s not like we’re done for good. But this one is bad, I tell you.
7233Even our teacher won’t be able to cover for you.”
7234“There is no need to be covered for.”
7235“Why?”
7236All of a sudden, I was faced with stairs leading down. There was
7237only one road, so I could only move forward. With both sides
7238sandwiched between desk-lattice walls, I descended into a deep,
7239deep darkness. Ryouko left my sight.
7240She had even made a tunnel. Just how much passion and
7241concentration were required to create this labyrinth… just thinking
7242about it made me dizzy. Without the inexhaustible energy one
7243under a delusion occasionally exhibited, it could never have been
7244actualized.
7245”So this… is your ideal world…”
7246The tunnel gradually narrowed out. If any one of the higher desks
7247collapsed, I wouldn’t be getting out unharmed. I couldn’t imagine
7248Ryouko had any knowledge pertaining to construction. It was even
7249less likely she drew up a blueprint. Growing increasingly anxious, I
7250pressed on through the darkness.
7251I exited out into a shaft. A ladder had been formed by meshing
7252chairs together.
7253I climbed.
7254I reached a place where the sunlight poured down. The top part of
7255the temple.
7256“When Ichirou refuses to return with The Researcher, he ventured
7257so far…”
7258One level higher than the terrace-like place I stood, there was
7259Ryouko. Checkmate. 
7260206
7261A meter apart. There was nothing left to separate us. As I would
7262climb onto the stage in the gym, I pushed both my hands down
7263against it, built some momentum—
7264“Don’t come, Ichirou!”
7265The scream rampant with emotion stiffened my limbs. I suddenly
7266sensed the boundary line. It was there, right beneath hands.
7267Meaning, that single step up. I could tell it was dangerous to cross
7268that line. I figured it out with some thought. If this temple was the
7269landscape in Ryouko’s mind, then it might just be her heart itself.
7270“Don’t come.”
7271Ryouko took a step back.
7272The highest point of the temple consisted of sixteen desks. I recalled
7273cleaning the classroom, when we pushed the desks against the back
7274for floor access. She had made a foothold of three by three, with the
7275remaining seven leading to the depths in a straight line, Ryouko
7276was headed for that back path. While I felt something was off, I
7277couldn’t tell why. For the time being, I tried out conversation.
7278“What is it? Why are you running away?”
7279“… Because Ichirou became a person of that side.”
7280Her sunken voice quivered here and there, sounding terribly
7281unreliable. Ryouko was tired, she was nearing her limit. “That’s
7282right. I’m from this side. You knew that from the start.” “That’s
7283wrong. Ichirou was different. Another Ichirou was hiding. I could
7284see it, that’s why,” Another step, she retreated back, “I wanted to
7285return with you. I wanted you to see.”
7286“What did you want me to see?”
7287“My world.”
7288I noticed, this wasn’t a line from the delusional setting’s Researcher.
7289Ryouko’s own words were not coming down to me. A rapid
7290chemical reaction kicked off in my brain. Joy, anger, surprise,
7291happiness, irritation.
7292“… The temple was a facility to return, was it?”
7293“Correct.”
7294“This is definitely something. It’s on an epic scale. I knew you put
7295work into your costume, but this is something else. You’ve got me. 
7296207
7297I’ll praise you. I’ll acknowledge you’re amazing. But… where do
7298you intend to return with this?” “To the world I used to be.”
7299“It doesn’t exist. You know that too, don’t you?”
7300Ryouko silently took another step back. A warning signal began
7301ringing in my heart. It was dangerous to continue this conversation,
7302my instincts shrilly cried out. But why?
7303“You’ll perform a ritual and return… I get it up to that point. But
7304what if you can’t return? What if, after the ceremony, there’s
7305nothing but a boring reality waiting for you? What will you do?”
7306Will you be able to endure that?
7307“After the ceremony, reality will disappear.”
7308Ryouko retreated back another desk’s worth down the passage. She
7309was growing further and further away.
7310“Hm?”
7311Without crossing the boundary, I slid my right hand to the side.
7312While I didn’t have a perfect view, I probed out what portion of the
7313roof Ryouko was standing over. And my leisure vanished all at once.
7314“Are you an idiot!?
7315The green fence surrounding the roof ran right below her. I
7316understood. The temple had been built along the fence. And
7317the passage—this was the identity of that off feeling—
7318protruded out beyond it. Like a diving board into a pool.
7319Naturally, if she fell from that passage, her landing point would no
7320longer be the roof.
7321The height of the school added on to the temple was roughly twenty
7322meters. It was amply high enough to destroy the human body. My
7323lips shook. An emotion interwoven out of irritation and confusion
7324almost made me empty my bowels. “What’s with that!? Why does it
7325have to be that way!?” There’s no way, I thought.
7326When it came to this girl, I never thought she was the sort to run to
7327death.
7328“So you wanted to die…?”
7329“It is not death,” said the usual tone that spoke of her absurd
7330delusions. “In order to return, it is necessary to convert any
7331individual differences adapted to this side. Freefall is the most 
7332208
7333adequate state to perform that ritual. The transfer will be complete
7334before collision with the ground.”
7335“Do you believe that? Seriously, that nonsense?”
7336No matter what delusions she held, she must know in the depths of
7337her heart they were a downright lie. To actually jump was an
7338impossible option unless she really was depressed enough to die.
7339Then did Ryouko seriously believe in another world? That there
7340really was a place different from here, that she could reach it? That
7341a place born naught but from imagination, the strange scenery
7342taking root in her heart actually existed? There was no possible
7343way—I thought, then remembered.
7344There was.
7345The suicide scandal of soldier syndrome. Unable to recognize death
7346and death, there really were those who lightly tested it out as a
7347means to separate their souls.
7348Looking back, when I sent the letter to my princess, despite
7349understanding somewhere, “It probably won’t reach,” wasn’t I
7350immersing myself in a foolish hope, “But it might”?
7351When a dream far too strong boards a feeble heart, the boundary
7352line grows endlessly ambiguous. Past life and present one, reality
7353and fantasy, life and death become lenient. In all her panic, Ryouko
7354had unhanded what faint rationality she had, crossing over the
7355boundary of life and death, that which was to never be lost sight of.
7356A formidable foe.
7357Satou Ryouko… no, the Carbon-Based Activity-Body from another
7358world, the Blue Witch, The Researcher was a powerful foe the
7359current me had no means of crossing blades with.
7360“Give up on returning! Can’t you just spend the rest of your life
7361here?”
7362“Ichirou, I ask, do you honestly think this world is enjoyable?”
7363“That’s,” she threw me a question I couldn’t lie to. “… You’re right.
7364I’m a human who can never adapt to what it means to be a normal
7365high school student. But I’m doing my best, can’t you see!?”
7366“I can’t do my best.” 
7367209
7368“Why not!?”
7369“Because it’s narrowminded.”
7370“Who is?”
7371“The world.”
7372Yeah, well— unfortunately, I had to hand it to her on that one. She
7373was right. We were all competing in our own narrowmindedness. If
7374we weren’t narrowminded, we would be scared, far too scared to
7375bear. We wanted to feel at ease with everything fit in its mold. If you
7376stand out, you get stuck with the label of creepy.
7377But all I, all we really. For god, for magic, for monsters, for
7378mysteries, for miracles, for legends, for the end— something to
7379reassure us to live on. No one wants to go to karaoke when we know
7380we’ll never enjoy it, or spend a fortune on fashion, or wag our tails
7381at people we don’t even like.
7382“In the end, Ichirou never showed me. I was sure we were the same
7383inside.”
7384Touching a hand to her chest, she scooped out the lake of her heart.
7385She was sure to scoop out some rusted filth. Yet what her palm
7386wrapped around radiated a transparent glimmer.
7387“The warrior in Ichirou is long gone. In that case… I… I…” I
7388never knew. Her heart’s jewel wouldn’t rust. It was even like a
7389curse to her.
7390And Ryouko cried out.
7391“Alone—there is nothing left but to return alone!”
7392Ryouko brushed various parts of her body as she recited her chant.
7393“To return… return… to the world it should be… Ateh Malkuth
7394VeGeburah… couldn’t have been wrong… there’s no way I was
7395wrong… Ichirou was definitely supposed to be on this side… so
7396why…” Swinging her staff, she mumbled, she muttered.
7397The warning signals were ringing again. It was a bad idea to
7398instigate her now. But even if I didn’t instigate her, Ryouko would
7399jump. Should I contain her by force? Impossible. She could jump
7400from the diving board far faster than anything I tried.
7401Even so, there was just one method to deliver words to her heart.
7402But, choosing that would be the end, I was already—
7403210
7404“… Hah.”
7405It was too late for that. Looks like you can’t run from fate.
7406In that case, to the end—No, don’t intend to let it get to that.
7407Just once.
7408One single last time. Why not have a battle.
7409“Ryouko, can you wait there for a bit? I’ll be right back.”
7410“To return… return… mission over… return… once she is back, the
7411Researcher will have her memories wiped at the biological
7412enhancement center, and she won’t feel anything anymore… it
7413won’t hurt anymore…”
7414“I’ll be right back! Just five minutes! You got that, wait five
7415minutes!”
7416I retraced the way I came. My buttons flew as my shirt was caught
7417up by desk legs. Protruding splintered wood grazed my face,
7418forming a wide abrasion. Blood trickled bit by bit, dying the top of
7419my shoulder.
7420It took one minute to return to the penthouse.
7421Dorisen pulled me aside.
7422“Satou, should I call the police?”
7423“Please give me just a little more time. I’ll be right back! Don’t let
7424anyone else in!”
7425I ran. I sprinted at full force.
7426I raced past the classroom. Without calling out to Kobato-san on
7427the verge of tears, I made for that boy’s lavatory. For the first time
7428in my life, I felt grateful to Ooshima. To think she would procure it
7429for me today of all days. Her strong malice had established but a
7430single small miracle.
7431Treatment came with some pain. But that was none of my business.
7432I’ll just have to give Dorisen and myself, and Ryouko and the
7433school, everyone some painful memories to cringe over. Suck on
7434that.
7435And I—was ready for battle.
7436I raced down the long hallway from Class E to Class A. 
7437211
7438The looks from the students in the halls pierced in painfully. That
7439charm-watcher girl from before was staring in mute amazement.
7440Sorry for tricking you. This is who I am.
7441Everyone backed off to form a path. Rather, on my approach,
7442everyone shrieked and avoided me.
7443Naturally, there was no one who wouldn’t pull back after seeing my
7444form.
7445“The heck is that!?” “Giga creep!” “We’ve got a loon!” “Hey, hey!”
7446The numerous inappropriate laughed I never wanted to hear, even
7447as I listened to that negative encouragement, I was invincible. In
7448middle school, no matter what anyone said, I believed I was a cool
7449swordsman. There was never a doubt in my mind. Nothing in the
7450world could harm me. It was the sort of absurdity that could only
7451come from denseness, it was being oblivious, and being painful, but
7452it was undoubtedly invincible.
7453I’m wrong. Yeah, of course I’m wrong. Of course I’m stupid. But I
7454can say this with certainty. The power of heart had once bestowed
7455limitless toughness and self-confidence unto a mid-built scragglyhaired
7456middle school boy. Just you watch. Do you think anyone
7457could do the same as me after learning the shame? Those
7458challengers that press forward no matter what shame awaits them
7459are what the internet calls Heroes. Doesn’t that refer to me? I,
7460Satou Ichirou, am a miracle embodied.
7461Inexperienced as I was, that was all I could use at the moment. But
7462this power that, if used well, could convert at least one impossible
7463into possible, was what I recognized as magic.
7464Protect me, my magic barrier! It can just be for a moment, support
7465up someone as feeble as me! Give a coward some courage! Enchant
7466me with the strength to be honest!
7467In my left hand, the Dragonslaying blade— One-Eyed Dragon
7468Masamune. In my right hand, the Magic Stone of Thanatos. My
7469body was clad in a tight jet-black long coat, opened in a V shape at
7470the chest with armored shoulders. 
7471212
7472The wig for cosplay purposes was inevitably silver long hair. The
7473strongest swordsman of the Mirror World—that was me, Maryuin
7474Koga.
7475I wasn’t in my early twenties, I didn’t have glistening hair growing
7476to my hips, and if I walked down the streets, my looks weren’t
7477dashing enough for everyone to turn an eye, I was just an
7478unpopular high school buy. But I was Maryuin Koga and no one
7479else. I took up the blade I had once discarded, stepping onto the
7480battlefield once more.
7481This was Maryuin Koga’s last battle—!
7482“Whoah, look who’s here!” “Take a pic!” “For real!” “Kyaah!”
7483“Bweh!” “What the heck is is going on!?”
7484Go ahead, take them. Take however many you want! For I am he
7485unmatched in the mirror world, the peerless black-winged
7486swordsman! For Satou Ichirou was but the guise for the young
7487patriot called Maryuin Koga! Come closer and revere my
7488transcendent foooooorrrm!
7489I ran past them without slowing, passing by Kobato-san’s side
7490again. For some reason, in an expression of tears and smiles, she
7491stuck up her thumb.
7492“You’re looking cool! Go get her!”
7493Cool? Not in a million years. There’s something wrong with
7494Kobatosan. But… for some reason, a heated juvenile power was
7495poured into me by the gallon. I returned the thumb to return the
7496favor. “Is that Mens!?” “Whoah, It is Koga-dono, the lost!”
7497“Maryuin, take care of it!” “What a powerful wave of energy! So this
7498is his true power!” “May the lord guide his plight!” “Impossible! Is
7499he equipped for a final battle!?” “Your blood flows through my
7500veins, I won’t allow you to die off so easily!”
7501For today alone, I’ll happily accept the soldier’s encreepagement.
7502“Sensei! I’m ready to go!”
7503“Oh, you’re back! My best choice!”
7504“Mens-chan, break a leg~.”
7505In the time I was changing, Dorisen and— for some reason— the
7506nurse were pushing against the barricade. You have my gratitude.
7507The gap was now around fifty centimeters. Easy picking! 
7508213
7509“I’ll take all responsibility. Satou, give it all you’ve got!”
7510“Understood!”
7511Borrowing momentum from my full-force sprint, feeling the very
7512speed of a Miyazaki Anime (subject to personal interpretation), I
7513clambered up the barricade. And… I confirmed Ryouko’s survival
7514on the sky alter ten meters away. Rudely enough, she wouldn’t look
7515at me anymore. Her heart was already growing distant. I
7516unsheathed One-Eyed Dragon Masamune.
7517Long, long ago, an otaku college student made a replica katana to
7518commemorate their graduation and bequeathed it to me.
7519Unfortunately, it wasn’t taller than I was, as the setting went, but it
7520should be enough to break away those hindering protrusions.
7521“ORYAAAAAAH! Hidden mooooove! Demon Blade Nanashiki!”
7522Or was it Hidden Sword Nanashiki? … Well, whatever. Anyway, I
7523jumped down from the pass to the pit of spikes. Pipe legs smacked
7524against my lower body. It hurt. I endured the pain. I’d be fine even
7525if I bled. I was protected by the defensive effect of the Maryu seal.
7526Bending beyond repair, the false katana snapped the rusted leg off
7527of a desk in my way. And— I launched an attack on the temple from
7528the shortest possible distance.
7529“Ryooouuuuuukooooooo!”
7530I put all my thoughts into my lungs.
7531“You’re lonely, aren’t you!”
7532The fake katana was almost bent a full ninety degrees. But I pushed
7533straight on. I stumbled again and again, smacking my chest, my
7534stomach, my shoulders, my forehead into the pipe legs. Kuh. Had I
7535been in my golden age, my Maryu sense would have perfectly
7536fended of all these petty attacks!
7537“Open your ears, Ryouko!”
7538Tattered as I became, I clumsily clung to the temple. How about
7539that, aren’t I cool? (Yes, that was sarcasm).
7540“I am… the strongest swordsman who hails from the mirror world,
7541Maryuin Koga! Despite carrying with me the trait of evil, I placed
7542my allegiance with the absolute good that was the Divine Dragon,
7543the greatest, most badass, dark hero of all!” 
7544214
7545Having come so far, my fatigue started coming out, but no time to
7546rest. I redirected every ounce of power in my body to driving my
7547limbs. While my consciousness grew faint, my body and soul kept
7548their sights on the top.
7549“The strongest blade of the Twenty-Four Generals who worshiped
7550and served the Divine Dragon Astaloy! But… betrayed by none
7551other than Astaloy, the lord who I served, I lost my comrades and
7552my family!
7553“For a time, I found myself on the brink of death, the core of my
7554power, my dragon soul crushed, my magic immediately brought all
7555the way down to Rank D; yet even still, as a single avenger, I set out
7556on a journey to slay Astaloy!
7557“Over my long and lonely journey, all manner of misfortune befell
7558me. Old friends became foes, the little sister I thought was dead was
7559being abused as a source of magical power, and even my birthplace
7560was razed by the accursed Astaloy, but…”
7561Even I couldn’t tell the state of things at this point.
7562I just spewed out what I had to say one after the next. I didn’t think
7563anything would come of speaking out delusions, but the early
7564danger detection system within me stayed silent, as if to tell me this
7565was how it should be.
7566“I encountered princess Erina, who had become queen of this
7567ruined land, we were gradually drawn to one another… the long
7568journey for revenge had worn my heart far too thin.”
7569Huh? Did I have a setting like that? I didn’t remember it? Did I just
7570come up with it now?
7571“Before I knew it… I began dreaming of a place without conflict, a
7572life I could live with my heart at ease. A world Princess Erina and
7573the remaining wanderers could live without all the senseless
7574killing… there, there would be a world with no war, where humans
7575would have the right to live as humans, where all children would be
7576able to go to school, and where lovers would be able to speak of
7577their love with no reserve. Princess Erina’s divination was able to
7578find such a world.
7579“That was this realm… it was this world!” 
7580215
7581One hand touched the top stratum of the temple. But it wouldn’t
7582move any longer. It would no longer lift my body another
7583centimeter. Had I run out of mana? I became an ornament of the
7584temple. I would eventually run out of power completely and fall. So
7585I threw out my final words.
7586“Astaloy’s next attack robbed me of my life. It wasn’t only me that
7587died. The mirror world itself was shattered, it fell to ruin. But in
7588exchange for her own life, Princess Erina made it so my soul was
7589reincarnated into the transient realm. There was but one
7590miscalculation, Astaloy’s army that happened to be present were
7591transferred to the same realm along with me. In order to protect
7592this world, I fought them. They followed me to middle school. They
7593were reincarnated as bullies. I fought them for three years, and I
7594came out the victor. I survived. The battle was over… and now, I live
7595as but a mere high school student.”
7596What is with these sudden developments… quite pathetic, if I do say
7597so myself. Are these really the best delusions my mind can come up
7598with?
7599“That’s right. Ryouko… those Dragon Terminals your collecting…
7600those are fragments of the dragon Astaloy. They should never be
7601carried out to another world by any means. That’s why, if you plan
7602to take them back with you… Ryouko, are you listening? If you plan
7603on taking them away…”
7604My body wouldn’t move. Only my voice came out.
7605“I’ll stop you, even if it costs me my life!!”
7606And as if God had grabbed me by the scruff of the neck, my body
7607was hoisted up to the temple.
7608It wasn’t by my own strength. Naturally, it wasn’t a miracle. When I
7609raised my face, I caught a glimpse of the culprit, clinging to me as
7610she pulled me up. “The heck is that?” She was crying.
7611From her large eyes, large drops of tears spilled out. Crying her
7612heart out, Ryouko rested my head on her lap. How water droplets
7613fell on my face.
7614“Ryouko, the place you want to go… I also… there was a time I tried
7615going there too.”
7616“Ichirou too…?” 
7617216
7618“Yeah. I fought as a dream soldier for three years. I was bulled the
7619whole time, and whenever it got painful, I would delude myself
7620more… in the end, I got into a feud with my family, and tried to run
7621off to my own world. So I know.”
7622Ryouko caringly stroked my face.
7623“It’s a dead end. The road you’re aiming for. It doesn’t go
7624anywhere.”
7625“But I hate staying in this world.”
7626“I get you. It’s stupid, ain’t it? School and stuff, it’s all really stupid.
7627There are good things… but the bad outweighs it several times. But
7628try thinking about it. This world might not have magic or monsters,
7629but at least it’s got enemies. You can fight to your heart’s content…
7630granted, they’re all invisible enemies.”
7631“… It’s impossible, I can’t fight something like that…”
7632“Sure you can” At that moment, I saw a path for Ryouko to escape.
7633“I mean, you’ve fought those invisible enemies all the way here.”
7634Twice the tears as before fell on me all at once.
7635“… Even in this world… heroes, and warriors, and witches can
7636exist… so you can’t take the dead end. You’ve got to go beyond the
7637third-floor landing. If you think there’s a way out there, it’s just an
7638illusion.”
7639“Then… what am I supposed to do?”
7640“I don’t know. All I could do was restart from scratch… but, if it’s
7641you… you might be able to do it.”
7642You might not have noticed it, but Ryouko, you’re amazing. You
7643can tell just by looking at this labyrinth of art. I’m sure you
7644have a special path ahead of you.
7645“I can’t do it. I can’t do it alone.”
7646“You can. Just level up, and you can do anything.”
7647“I can’t. I’ll be crushed before that.”
7648“You won’t be crushed if I’m with you.”
7649My eyes grew hazy. The fatigue on my heart and body was heavy.
7650This was the price one paid for using berserk. I reached out my
7651hand. Ryouko grasped it without a moment’s delay. With her hand
7652small and fragile like a child’s, she gripped it with a surprising 
7653217
7654amount of force. I gripped back. With my right hand, the magic
7655stone inlayed.
7656“There, I’ve caught you. I’ve finally undone your Gildiem. Now that
7657you’ve woken from your dream, you can’t return again. You’ve got
7658no choice left but to live in pain in this world… just like me.”
7659“… That’s terrible. You’re bullying me.”
7660“I’m a dark hero, after all. But I’ll at least provide aftercare. I’ll take
7661you on adventures in this world as well.”
7662“You can’t, there aren’t any adventures in…”
7663“There are.”
7664“Where?”
7665I couldn’t see her face anymore. Only the teardrops warmed by her
7666body heat came down my face like rain. How very comfortable. The
7667pipe of emotion was connected, finally, between me and her. I must
7668be a terrible person to enjoy her tears. I really do possess the evil
7669attribute.
7670“Like at the DIY Store. Maybe Daiso.”
7671“That’s not an adventure.”
7672“You’re making light of DIY. You’re insulting the do it yourself
7673spirit. You know, Vis even sells carnivorous plants, and the
7674DIYstore and Daiso are labyrinths revived in the modern day. Just
7675step in, and you might even run into the DIY Demon Lord. Hey,
7676appearance-wise, he’s just a normal old man, but his arms are
7677amazing. What I’m trying to say is, make light of DIY, and you DIE.
7678I’ll teach you all the tricks.”
7679I’m sure you’ll need some new techniques from here on, anyway.
7680“The heck is that… how stupid, stupid.”
7681Perhaps overcome with emotion, Ryouko let out one last sob. And…
7682when she raised her voice next, it was a laugh. Her teary voice
7683mingled in, and the finish was like an emotional dud, but… that was
7684the first laugh I’d ever heard from her.
7685An overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
7686I laughed too. Mine was powerless, I could only emit a chipped
7687voice.
7688Eventually, Ryouko whispered in a gentle tone. 
7689218
7690“… The ritual failed. It’s all your fault.”
7691Turning my last strength into a grin, my switch was flipped off.
7692I heard quite a bit happened after that, but let’s speed things up a
7693bit.
7694To start off, Ryouko and I were taken to the infirmary, and after
7695undergoing first aid, I was sent to the hospital. I just had a few
7696scrapes, nothing major. This being my second time, the doctor was
7697grinning. I was released in the evening, I returned home.
7698The objet d’art on the roof brought with it large repercussions.
7699The ill deeds of a student. Unforgivable—
7700While there was immediately a rallying cry to take it down, the art
7701teacher was vehemently against it. Her resistance was so intense,
7702that it just so happened she went as far as to lock herself away
7703beyond the barricade in Ryouko’s place, shifting the problem to
7704something completely different.
7705Our art teacher was a member of a certain famous art association,
7706her art-related social circle far wider-reaching than could be
7707anticipated from her gloomy looks. A great many art experts, people
7708with exaggerated titles dropped by the school in hopes of inspecting
7709the temple on the roof. Our principal who had turned off his phone
7710at such an urgent time to make merry with anime pachinko
7711machines would have much of his time occupied dealing with such
7712visitors.
7713Our art teacher’s faith in the arts, our other teachers’ feelings, the
7714school’s speculations, and the self-interest of the art experts. As a
7715result of all the intermingled intentions, by stated reason of, ‘it
7716seemed like such a good idea’, the fantasy temple at the center of
7717the ruckus really did end up as a sacred inviolable holy land.
7718(Ryouko’s amazing.)
7719Teachers are those who are supposed to condemn students for
7720unconventional action, and this time was the same. No matter what
7721artistic value it may hold, our school wouldn’t accept it. It should be
7722removed. As truth would have it, that was the narrative being 
7723219
7724pushed up to just before the decision. The reason it didn’t come to
7725that hinged on the principal’s final verdict.
7726By the rumors, our negligent principal who had just barely avoided
7727dismissal by ‘some sort of’ political maneuvering had a certain
7728pressure placed on him to not support the remove faction a large
7729majority of our educators sided with. Conclusion: for a while to
7730come, the atmosphere was tense and uneasy among our faculty.
7731Dorisen alone was living his every day to the fullest.
7732Through all the gloom, repeated inspection recognized the artistic
7733value of the temple, and with demands from the art organization
7734coming in one after the next, those feelings were soon to lift like the
7735mist. The teachers changed their hand; they had suddenly class
7736changed to Guardians who protected a student’s individual
7737expression. The heck is up with that? We were in a ‘What’s this!? I
7738can feel the teachers’ human power increasing!? This cannot be!’
7739sort of state. Adults are amazing. Ly dirty.
7740At present verbose debates were being held over whether to leave it
7741on the roof, or move it to some open plot of land.
7742It all happened somewhere that was off limits to begin with. Every
7743single student knew that the ruckus that went on right above their
7744heads was someone else’s business.
7745Inquiries to Ryouko increased. Every time, I would be dragged
7746along. She wasn’t able to talk to adults she didn’t know, and even
7747when she opened her mouth, it was incomprehensible, so an
7748interpreter was necessary. What questions were alright? How far
7749should her answers be editorialized? The decision was often left up
7750to me. It was as if I was Ryouko’s manager.
7751In any case, it took a few months for the noise to die down, and
7752there’s a continuation to the story of the day of the incident, so I’d
7753like to end this matter with that.
7754Now as for what happened that evening when I returned home—
7755First, the three members of my family were waiting at the ready. Oh
7756god, a family meeting. 
7757220
7758That was an event that made me the most pitiful. What’s more, for
7759that time, for some reason, Ryouko was to join me, delivered
7760directly from the hospital in the nurse’s new car christened
7761Sylphyria.
7762While I had changed into my uniform, Ryouko was in the same old
7763cosplay.
7764Naturally, there were quarrels.
7765My family held an abnormal trauma of me reverting back into a
7766dream soldier. I was finally forced to discard the face of an obedient
7767son in rehab, choosing the command of covering for Ryouko. We
7768argued two hours until finally, my sister took my side. Once that
7769happened, it was anyone’s game.
7770Those concerned were kicked out, a discussion began between my
7771sister and parents as we were given a loaf of plain white bread,
7772some jam, and driven up to my room. The two of us wearily nibbled
7773on the bread. From the floor below, “Instead of a person who
7774committed a mistake, why can’t you see him as a kid who
7775successfully recovered!? You’re his parents, aren’t you!?” I heard
7776my sister’s impassioned shout in my defense and put my hands
7777together in my heart.
7778I didn’t know what to talk about with Ryouko.
7779I loaded up an on-rails shooter on my Wii. We played together. In
7780silence.
7781“Bathroom.”
7782When I did my business and returned, Ryouko was brazenly
7783rummaging through the accursed land in which I had sealed my
7784trauma. My closet.
7785“Gyobaah!”
7786I wrapped my arms around her from behind, putting her in a
7787wrestling lift as I hoisted her up. All of a sudden, she was wildly
7788flailing her legs.
7789“Ouch, owww, hit my heel… owww!”
7790A direct impact to my bruise had me collapsed in agony.
7791“Ichirou, discovery.”
7792“Mn… aah… that…” 
7793221
7794What Ryouko held was a single light novel volume.
7795“Did you not detest these?”
7796“Rather than detest… I used to like them. But by the time I noticed
7797it, I wasn’t reading them at all anymore. I couldn’t look them in the
7798face. When I liked them so much, I started finding them scary. On
7799the last day of break, I gave myself one final push, and got rid of a
7800lot of them.”
7801On that day, when I looked at the empty bookshelf, I felt as if I’d
7802discarded my own heart along with it.
7803“What you have there are the remnants. I left a few adequate ones
7804behind out of a bit of respect.”
7805“They’re all volume ones.”
7806“Indeed.”
7807“… Ichirou. Why didn’t you discard them?”
7808“Eh? Well, I don’t know myself, but,”
7809“But?”
7810There was a seriousness to Ryouko’s question. I thought. Flipping
7811open a volume, I put my words together.
7812“… I intended to become a strong person, probably. Right now, with
7813all the trauma, I can’t look at them straight, but if I get strong, I
7814should settle down. There should come a day when I can give a nice
7815and clear laugh and say, I really was an idiot back then. And then,
7816I’ll buy the continuation all at once. When I’ve become a fine adult,
7817that’s what I’ll do. I want to read light novels with a pleasant look
7818on my face.”
7819By the time I noticed it, Ryouko was sitting right next to me. As if
7820there were beams radiating from both her eyes, I started heating up
7821from my face.
7822“I’m sure it’s not the books’ fault. I was just weak. Before you can
7823become cool, I think you need the effort to become normal. I think
7824everyone’s doing their best to act normal. There’s nothing cool
7825about bragging about being a warrior from another world. I
7826probably just hated who I was. Even so, I’d like to be someone
7827decent. Someday.”
7828I looked straight in Ryouko’s eyes and told her.
7829“I want to become a decent me. One step at a time.” 
7830222
7831Would she have any opposition? Would Ryouko hate that? It wasn’t
7832either.
7833“… In order to do that?”
7834“Umm, in order to do that… I’ll fight against reality, how about
7835that?”
7836“Those words,” came a showy sigh, “I’m tired of hearing them.”
7837“What else is there to say?”
7838“… Your swordsman clothes.”
7839“Those? It’s a complete rip-off of a character called Sephiroth from
7840an old game.”
7841What’s more, compared to Ryouko’s cosplay, the detail was
7842remarkably inferior. Not that I was jealous.
7843By the way, the origin of whoever said Zwei Bander was probably
7844the same. I can tell. The awkwardness of doubling up source
7845material is immense, so I’ll be assertively avoiding that guy alone in
7846times to come.
7847“In those clothes,”
7848“Yeah,”
7849“Spend a few days.”
7850“That would kill me.”
7851“Maryuin Koga ~ A New Enemy~.”
7852“That’s wrong. It’s Maryuin Koga’s Last Battle. The Last Battle part
7853isn’t a subtitle, it’s a part of the main title. Like to say, that’s the end
7854of it.”
7855“Maryuin Koga’s Last Battle ~ A New Enemy~.”
7856“Oh, now we’re getting all Final Fantasy, are we? What even is X-2
7857supposed to mean?”
7858“I’m also curious about this Shimizu I never got to meet.”
7859“Do you have me bugged!?”
7860“… Boring.”
7861Losing her interest, Ryouko returned to the game console.
7862“Ah, hey, that attitude again… turn this way. Listen, what I’m trying
7863to say is…”
7864I put my hands on her shoulders. Contrary to my expectations, her
7865upper body easily rotated. As if that had been her intent from the 
7866223
7867start, her face approached, only a breath away. Aah, this is— The
7868moment before contact, I definitely heard.
7869“The swordsman was cool.”
7870You liar, I tried to say, and failed. There was nothing I could do
7871when my lips were sealed. It was a soothing, sweet—or not, it hurt
7872considerably. My teeth.
7873Ryouko’s punishment was suspension. Suspension of
7874indeterminant length, they said. Quite heavy, if I do say so myself. I
7875guess Dorisen determined that was better than pushing the matter
7876and making it worse. I felt the same.
7877“Do your best to fulfill your duty.”
7878“Yes. Understood.”
7879With gauze near her mouth (I had it too), Ryouko accepted her
7880suspension like it was nothing. Before she entered that period, we
7881went to return the dragons’ nails to Kume-san. At any rate, multiple
7882nails had become a dead stock in her clutches. With some
7883apologies, I brought her with me.
7884“Is that girl your girlfriend? That’s amazing! You did it! Good
7885work!”
7886Kume-san offered us a warm reception. Completely unfazed by
7887Ryouko’s outfit, Kume-san was definitely a bigshot. Granted, he did
7888pull back a bit at her suspicious behavior involving glaring at his
7889accessories from ten centimeters away.
7890When I explained the situation, “So that’s what happened. It’s fine,
7891perfectly fine. I feel honored, even,” He quite easily forgave us. And
7892from here on was the surprise.
7893“Honored? Whatever for?”
7894“I mean, I’m the one who made these charms to begin with.” My
7895eyes became dots.
7896“I mean… didn’t you say you just happened to stumble by them on
7897the net?”
7898“Sorry. Told a lie. I, see, I’ve always been thinking. Why didn’t
7899youkai, demons, that sort of thing exist? I couldn’t accept it. In that 
7900224
7901case, why not give it a go and make one myself? The idea struck me
7902when I was looking at the red sumo guy on the Sagawa Express
7903delivery truck. I had this secret notebook I’d been drawing in since I
7904was a kid, see.”
7905“D-don’t tell me, that note is…?”
7906“Yeah. In the used bookstore… that one.”
7907“Uwah, so you’re the one who drew that?”
7908“What can I say? The curses that came to mind, the demon tribe
7909that once inhabited the earth, the vegetation that was affected by
7910mana. I was good at art. I’d been drawing at least ten years by then.
7911I know I’m not the right man to say it, but I think my last volume
7912was finally looking kinda legit.”
7913“Uwaaaaah,” so they all did something like that.
7914“I used some sites limited to this town, made up some adequate
7915legend, and prepared a gimmick. And what do you know?”
7916“It went and established itself?”
7917“That it did. It was a real joy to see.”
7918“You sure invested a lot into what wouldn’t make you a single yen.”
7919“I know, right? But I did have a profit. I created mystery in the
7920world with my own hands. Though it’s limited to this town. This
7921charm is my work. It’s like a local landmark.”
7922“You’re a charm smith?”
7923“Oh, that’s nice. I’ll be taking it. Oh, snap, I can’t put it on my
7924business card. Satou-kun, with such a wonderful girlfriend with
7925you, do you agree? It’s fine for there to be some mystery in the
7926world.”
7927“I get it.”
7928“For real.”
7929As two men, we exchanged a passionate gaze.
7930“It would never have hit me before, but I get it now. I mean, I’m a
7931swordsman.”
7932“Hahaah, a swordsman, eh. And your girlfriend’s a magician… that
7933staff’s quite a tasteful piece… what should I go with?”
7934“Craftsman?”
7935“Alchemist.”
7936“Merchant.” 
7937225
7938“… I wouldn’t want them picking up on my marketing factor.” After
7939a short laugh, Kume-san held his hand out to me.
7940“I kinda like you. How about we go see some ruins or a large factory
7941next time. We can form a party.”
7942Looks like I really do have an affinity for drawing weirdos.
7943Even with judgment day come and gone, my life continued.
7944Having challenged his last battle with the resolve for death,
7945Maryuin Koga, AKA Satou Ichirou AKA yours truly was still battling
7946against the lethargy filling every last crevice of my body and soul in
7947that unchanging space called the classroom.
7948I absentmindedly gazed to my left. For yet another day, Ryouko’s
7949seat was vacant. The suspension was supposed to have ended
7950yesterday, but she didn’t come to school. The one glance
7951immediately withered any joy in my heart.
7952That morning, on my commute, people I didn’t know pointed at me.
7953They laughed at me.
7954While I had resolved myself for it, it’s still rather harsh, to say the
7955least.
7956I’m sure history must have had them. Just like me, those who
7957unveiled some play so grand they could no longer look Lord Society
7958in the face. There must have been tens of thousands, nay, hundreds
7959of millions of rampage events. Just how did they live their lives
7960after that, I wonder.
7961There must have been some trailblazer. I want to know. I want them
7962to tell me. I’d learn that over school lessons any day.
7963“You seem bothered, Mens. I can tell from your aura.”
7964Perhaps because I was dazing out in class, I never noticed Dorisen
7965sneaking up behind me. Unable to give any proper reply, I curled up
7966like a fish drying in the sun.
7967“Mens, your teacher understands your troubles well.”
7968In that case, I wanted him to understand my mentality to not hold a
7969heavy talk where everyone was listening.
7970“I had plenty of setbacks in my youth. But even those pains will 
7971226
7972become good memories someday.”
7973“… One can only hope.”
7974“They will, I mean,” Dorisen’s eyes opened wide. “That’s precisely
7975why I too, can embrace the undying flame of my mission.”
7976“…… Hah?”
7977“You’ve moved me, Satou. I had to lower my head to the heated
7978cries of your concealed past. The tried and true words of a hero
7979resurrected my sealed soul. Ten years in obscurity. Taking on the
7980transient post of teacher, there was worth in waiting it out.”
7981“Yes? Pardon?”
7982Dorisen was acting strangely. Everyone in class turned as they
7983realized the change.
7984“Everyone, listen to this. I have something to confess. The truth is,
7985I, Dorisen… am a Radiant Soldier!”
7986The classroom sunk into silence. A while later, “Eh? What?” “What’s
7987that mean?” “Was that supposed to be a joke?” I started hearing
7988whispering.
7989“When we were choosing members for this class, I happily took on
7990all the soldier syndrome sufferers from the other classes! There
7991were a lot of them this year! It got all the other teachers in my debt,
7992that’s two birds with one stone.”
7993The class was silent once more. Before long, “Haaaaaaaaaah!?” a
7994single person furiously yelled out. Yep, that was me.
7995“That was your doing!?”
7996“Naturally!”
7997“And why!?”
7998“I thought if it were me, I could lead a soldier just as well as any
7999other student… well, in any case, perhaps I’d find some of my True
8000Radiant Comrades among them.”
8001“Gyaaaaaaaaaaah!” The
8002nightmare, again.
8003“You suffer from soldier syndrome!?”
8004“No, because mine is real.”
8005“You haven’t recovered. Sensei, you’re still very sick” 
8006227
8007“You weren’t a Radiant Comrade, but I’m happy I found a real one
8008like you, Mens.”
8009“Give me a break already!”
8010“And me too. One Radiant Soldier right here!”
8011The door suddenly slid open as the intruding nurse in a lab coat
8012cried out.
8013“Midori-san! No… Esmeralda!”
8014“Rurio-chan! Nay… Saphir!”
8015Dorisen and the nurse embraced and kooked… I mean smooched.
8016While that in itself weirded me out, the part I needed to poke at
8017wasn’t the Oshidori Fuufu joke. “What the heck was that!?”
8018“We’re married, don’t you know.”
8019“Right, we’re all lovey-dovey.”
8020“Not that part! That part about radiant and stuff, what in God’s
8021name!?”
8022“I’ve been hiding it, but the two of us got to know one another on a
8023reincarnation board back in middle school… we’re war buddies
8024from our past lives! In the battle where the Radiant Camp fought off
8025the lord of the dark forces, Zalaam–” “Eeeeeeeek!”
8026It was a nightmare.
8027“This is an insult to your authority!” I fled all the way to the wall.
8028“You’re a failure as a teacher! In the first place, what’s with the lack
8029of uniformity in all those terms!? Esmeralda is emerald in Spanish,
8030but Saphir is sapphire in French, and Zalaam only means darkness
8031in freaking Arabic! You’re way too indulgent with your setting! If
8032you’re going to make something, at least base it on a unified
8033backdrop!”
8034“… As expected of a first-rate soldier, to know your trivia to an
8035annoying degree, Mens. There really was no error in my judgment.”
8036“I’m sure Mens-chan will lead us all, Rurio-chan!”
8037“Stop mucking around, you can’t ask me to look after adults.”
8038“Fufufu, we’re not the only ones you’ve led, Mens. For they too.”
8039Dorisen spread out his arms. With that as the signal, around half of
8040the students restlessly stood to their feet. Them. Riled up by a
8041supposed-to-be-good-role-model’s delusions, they were already on
8042the verge of explosion. 
8043228
8044“Is that true, Satou!? No, Koga!?” “Mm, as expected of the greatest
8045genius swordsman of the Maryuin.” “If I drink the blood of the
8046dragon tribe… my thirst will finally be quenched,” “I knew all along,
8047Hewley, no, I should call you Koga now. I knew you reincarnated
8048into another world and became a dark dragon swordsman.” “The
8049will of space is shaking? Don’t tell me the stars quiver at a dragon’s
8050might?” “I must get an eyeful of the Maryu technique not even the
8051Oda Style Demon Lord of the Sixth Heaven’s blade cannot pierce
8052through,” “I’ve solved it! The key to collapsing fate lost from the
8053Akasha Fragments! It was Satou all along, no Koga! It was you!”
8054Their surging delusions became an unstoppable tide, crashing down
8055on me with the force of a raging tsunami. A highest-level storm the
8056likes of which I had never experienced before. I was jostled up in an
8057instant. My heart and my boy were drowning.
8058“Stop! Just leave me be! I’m Satou Ichirou, not Koga!”
8059But they never had to ears to listen. I pushed my way through the
8060sea of people with a crawl, tore off the zombies and escaped the
8061game of push and shove. I flopped on the floor chin-first.
8062“Owww… dammit… someone!
8063I pleaded for help with the remaining half of class. If she would save
8064me, even Ooshima would do.
8065Someone stood right before me.
8066A girl. From inside the skirt that hung over my head, a tepid body
8067head, and gentle, mysterious fragrance radiated. She was standing
8068considerably close, and if I looked up, I would reliably catch sight of
8069undergarments. Who was it? The slender legs concealing a lively
8070purity, for some reason, gave off a resolve as they stood gallant and
8071imposing. Who, seriously, who?
8072Curiosity straddled ethics. Of course, I can’t say I didn’t have any
8073indecent intent.
8074I looked up. My eyes looked up the short skirt, catching a hint of
8075light-blue cloth as they made their way higher and higher. And at
8076the zenith, I worshiped Kobato-san’s noble countenance.
8077“Ichirou-kun.” 
8078229
8079Kobato-san was excited. Hah, hah, her breath was rough. Like a dog
8080waiting for a treat. That was the first I was seeing such a lewd
8081Kobato-san.
8082“W-what ever could it be?”
8083“M-me too! Do you think I have a cool past life too!?”
8084“Gyah.” I cried out. “It’s contagious!”
8085“I wouldn’t be surprised if I did.”
8086The fact that over half the class were residents of the delusional
8087realm. That pressure imparted an influence even residents of the
8088phenomenal realm couldn’t ignore. Delusions beget delusions. “A
8089vaccine!” By this point, I was praying to the divine. “Someone get
8090her a vaccine! It’s too late for me! But please, some wonderful real
8091immunization that will overcome her delusion!”
8092“Ichirou-kun!” Itou helped me to my feet. “Can I call you Kogakun?”
8093“Of course, you can’t!”
8094The normal students were already standing as well. Their
8095dumbfounded faces gradually changed to more serious looks. One
8096of them made their resolve and came over my way.
8097I wanted to cry out and curl into a ball. T-this familiar aura was…?
8098“Satou… the truth is, I,” he confessed, “I’ve got spiritual sense.
8099There’s this beautiful girl ghost in the classroom and…”
8100“Yes?”
8101“Satou, I’m sorry for ignoring you… the truth is, I’m a
8102psychrometer.” Came the next.
8103“I can see peoples’ lifespans…” the people who were supposed to be
8104decent,
8105“I might be yamanba, but I’ve actually been secretly training how to
8106fight with wire since I was a kid… I think it’s at a level that can be
8107used in combat…” not happening, I say.
8108“I was keeping quiet about it, but I’m a descendent of Himiko.”
8109Your parents are lying to you.
8110All of a sudden, the folks in class began confessing. What had
8111started as confessions to me instantly became speeches to appeal to
8112everyone around.
8113“What even is this?” 
8114230
8115There was everyone. Every soul was crying out. The technique
8116names and secret organizations flying about, the special
8117constitutions and missions of absolute confidentiality, the tragic
8118pasts and turns of fate, future and past and present life and past
8119life, the curse placed in a concealed power.
8120The class itself became another world. Just who was proper, who
8121was a dream soldier, and who was just shouting out for the heck of
8122it, the distinction was impossible. Before I knew it, everyone was
8123sick. There was Kobato-san and Itou, and Suzuki, and Kawai and
8124Takahashi and Yamamoto. Everyone happily waved around the
8125memories sealed deep in their hearts as if it was the ticket to take
8126part in the festivities.
8127The only calm person left apart from me had to be Ooshima. When
8128it came to her, she simply spectated with a terribly stiff smile on her
8129face. The powerless queen bee. I considered forgiving her at that
8130point.
8131“Hahah.”
8132I ended up laughing. What. What’s this? Looks like everyone’s
8133pretty cringy in their own right.
8134I could never have imagined it. This cringe—even if it was only a
8135temporary flight of fancy—that I would ever be able to enjoy it. The
8136classroom that had held class up to ten minutes ago had come
8137crashing down as the binding came off. I couldn’t believe it. The
8138power to believe wouldn’t actualize a delusion in a touch. But when
8139so many people got to believing, perhaps a sense of values was
8140infinitely malleable. For a group with a curse on it to continue
8141functioning as a civilization, perhaps it’s possible even one’s
8142delusions can serve as a form of individual merit. Perhaps the day
8143would come when I learned how to use my own. And when that
8144time came, we would grow into true soldiers. Surely.
8145The banquet would surely be over soon.
8146There was no telling when the neighboring classroom would catch
8147wind and the teacher would rush over. But that was precisely where
8148the value lay, for it was only as a moment’s radiance that it could
8149remain so vivid in its strength, creepiness, and beauty. And yet, 
8150231
8151Ryouko wasn’t there. When she was the one who belonged there the
8152most.
8153“At a time like this… she’s an idiot. Where did she go off to?” I
8154took out my phone. At the very least, I wanted to convey the
8155voices, that atmosphere. Piety spins together history. The power
8156to believe is the power of mystery. Bringing out the slightest show
8157of courage was a trivial task.
8158After a few rings, she picked up.
8159“… Ryouko? Can you hear me? Where are you right now?”
8160‘This is The Researcher. Transferring to point in ten seconds.’ Her
8161unchanging voice spewed an unchanging line.
8162Strangely enough, it didn’t irritate me. But, I jeered with a smile.
8163“Yeah, right.”
8164Mn? Transfer in ten seconds? I get the feeling that pattern
8165happened before.
8166Faster than I could recall, the door slid open again.
8167Don’t tell me. Don’t tell me with this timing? No way?
8168I made for the door. If the one who appeared was Ryouko—I might
8169end up believing in fate. And once that happened, I’d be swung
8170around by it for the rest of my life. I’d be subject to my fill of shame.
8171Now fate, which path will you choose?
8172“Ichirou?” A familiar face abruptly stuck out.
8173“… Oh my, sis?”
8174The visitor who unexpectedly popped in was my sister.
8175“… Ah, there you are. What’s going on here? Not that I care.”
8176“W-what’s up? Why are you at school? What about your job?”
8177“… I’m working. I came to deliver something.”
8178My sister yanked out her parcel from behind and thrust it out
8179before me.
8180It fell right into my chest. I ended up catching it in my arms. With
8181all the parts scaled down from human size, I didn’t feel much
8182weight, so at first, I thought it was a manakin in a school uniform.
8183In my arms, the small head looked up at me.
8184Something excessively beautiful was there.
8185“Eh? You… huh?” 
8186232
8187“… I-Ichirou…”
8188“You’re Ryouko, right?”
8189The lifeform cowering like a small animal was undoubtedly Ryouko.
8190The simple fact she was wearing a uniform was a surprise, but the
8191impression her face gave off was completely different from usual.
8192“Is it the hair? It looks a bit more orderly than usual.”
8193“… That girl,” my sister pointed at Ryouko. “Said she wanted to look
8194proper, so I helped her out.”
8195“You did?”
8196“… Also, I did some all-around maintenance. I don’t know school
8197regulations, so I didn’t use foundation or anything. Well, she’s
8198young, and her skin’s superhuman, so she doesn’t need it.” What
8199do you mean superhuman? Was that a standard only woman
8200understood?
8201Ah, but she was radiant.
8202When it wasn’t like she was in the direct line of any light source, my
8203eyes felt itchy, causing me to squint. When I wanted to look, it was
8204hard to see. When I wanted to look, she was blinding. A radiance
8205brought by the would. At this sensation I was feeling for the first
8206time in my life, I was unable to put up any resistance.
8207“I see. Soo you can… wear normal clothes…”
8208“… Yeah.”
8209Whoa! Honest to boot! A blitz of lightning raced through my
8210medulla oblongata. This ain’t good. Not good, not at all. But
8211amazing. Ryouko’s amazing.
8212I noticed her face up close seemed to have the details raised from
8213before.
8214“Don’t tell me you’re wearing makeup too?”
8215“… She did it.”
8216Her gently curled eyelashes, her slightly more shapely eyebrows,
8217her faintly colored lips.
8218Her striking eyes that would make me believe it if someone told me,
8219“Boss, I chiseled those out of the finest agate” were so large, they
8220gave her a foreign beauty to startle any who saw her, but the 
8221233
8222detailing around her eyes had skillfully compensated for that,
8223bringing forth a more natural impression.
8224“… For her uniform, even the smallest one on the market was too
8225big, so I had to custom it. Somehow managed to get it done by this
8226morning. That’s why she was late, and I had to explain it and get
8227her an exemption. That’s the masterpiece I poured my all into,
8228you’d better treat it well.”
8229“Me?”
8230“Who else is there? Rather, how long are you going to hold her?
8231You’re not in that sort of relationship yet, are you?”
8232“Dwah.”I took off both hands as if held at gunpoint. Even so,
8233Ryouko didn’t move from her perch stuck fast to me.
8234“For the time being, normal clothing… was attempted… how is it?”
8235“Y-yeah. It fits you perfectly. You’re going to get hit on, like that.”
8236“Unnecessary…” Ryouko anxiously twisted her body.
8237“I see, so you’ve finally graduated from your delusions.”
8238“What do I do, Ichirou, what do I do?”
8239“You’ll be fine. There’s nothing strange about you. I’ll guarantee it.
8240Let’s do our best together!” Wrong, she shook her head.
8241“Then what are you so nervous about?” Her
8242eyes teary, Ryouko pleaded to me.
8243“On top of lowering all defensive values to 0, this equipment is
8244incapable of optical concealment…”
8245“You’re not healed at all!” So
8246it’s just the looks, hey?
8247“Sis, do up her insides too! Lay it on down the strong side!”
8248“… Don’t be crazy. And wait, that’s your job…”
8249“That was dangerous! I was this close to letting everything be water
8250under the bridge and respecting you.” “I do not hate being
8251respected.”
8252“I won’t. I only respect normal people.”
8253In no time, the ruckus died down as attention concentrated on a
8254single point. It was confusion and shock and envy that filled all eye.
8255That was simply the fore Ryoukos transformation carried.
8256“Koga-kun.”
8257As a representative of the class, Kobato-san took one step forward. 
8258234
8259Huh? What did she just call me?
8260“Would this alluring individual happen to be Satou Ryouko-chan?”
8261“So it seems.”
8262“Amazing… you’re like a Dollfie, Ryouko-chan! We’re friends, aren’t
8263we?”
8264In an instant, Kobato-san’s soul was drawn to Ryouko.
8265“Way to go, Ladies.” “She transformed, that girl,” “What do you call
8266this sorta debut?” “Mens looks tasty,” “Who’s the one who said to
8267ignore her?” “Fufu, so the witch returns to a single young girl. Oh
8268don’t worry, just leave the rest to me,” “A new battle is close upon
8269us, don’t drop your guard, Kogao.” “I must report this to the Dark
8270Prison World,” “Very well, Maryuin. Grow intoxicated with your
8271victory. Just you wait.” “It is all as the predictions foretold. But
8272Koga’s true worth will be assessed in times to come,”
8273Along with the idiots’ comments, Ooshima’s shaking voice mixed in.
8274“… That’s not fair.”
8275No doubt she heard the sound of her stronghold falling apart. And
8276finally, “Heeey! What is this noise! Any outbursts should prepare
8277to face the wrath of Inomata!” the banquet was over. Desks and
8278chairs fell over as everyone scrambled to be the first back in their
8279seats, with everyone colliding into one another in one last burst of
8280chaos towards frigid order.
8281Within that big bang, Ryouko and I held hands without either side
8282initiating it.
8283“Ichirou.”
8284“Yes?”
8285Mixed in with the chaos, she softly whispered into my ear. “Can
8286you teach me ‘Normal’?” 
8287235
8288236
8289This is Romeo Tanaka (Human Power 2Hu)
8290This time, I tried challenging the most basic of the basics in genre, a
8291school romcom. As it does seem you have picked up this book, you
8292have my sincerest of thanks. Before being a writer, as a single
8293businessman, I’ll have to give you some (slimy…) warm gratitude.
8294Now as an author, I’d be happier if you enjoyed the contents too.
8295This novel was serialized in the monthly magazine PC Angel neo (As
8296it contains highly sexual material, I can’t recommend any readers
8297under the age of eighteen check it out) under a column of the same
8298name, and it has been published here in a form that expanded upon
8299that. It’s not like I didn’t have anything to go off of, I just reused
8300whatever I’d submitted there to make my life a… with the thought
8301of delivering everyone the purest of dreams in mind, I got
8302permission to withdraw it.
8303From my heart, my thanks go out to the PC Angel neo editing
8304department that readily gave consent.
8305In the end, I couldn’t take it too easy and I ended up going over the
8306expected schedule, forcing me to activate the special power I had
8307sealed off, the Terminal Flash Writing. This is a loveless technique
8308consisting of realizing your writing speed is dropping along the way,
8309so you end up writing the ending first, and spend the rest of it
8310mechanically filling up the center. If any normal person utilizes it,
8311their motivation towards creating the work declines, but my special
8312ability allows me to write on without losing motivation. The reason
8313being, my love is absolute. To all writers who are confident in their
8314love, please try it out by all means.
8315Now then, I went and wrote a novel like this, and I’m sure there are
8316those of you out there wondering if the writer also had a past rife 
8317237
8318with delusions, but unfortunately, not in the slightest. I’m a slave to
8319common sense, and when it came to my old-fashioned old man, he
8320was a stick in the mud who wouldn’t endorse the slightest bit of
8321mischief. After growing into a fine adult, there were times I found
8322myself actually saying “I am but an observer of history, so I can’t
8323stand on center stage”… that is… all… (blush). And that statement
8324was a complete rip-off of Paptimus-sama… you know… (super
8325blush).
8326If I’m not talking about myself, then up to now, I have encountered
8327those with the superpowers of ‘Endless Relative’ and ‘The Forgetful
8328Curse’. The former allowed one to draw upon unlimited authority
8329from their relatives, giving them an absolute advantage that would,
8330in essence, let them rule the country. The later was an accursed
8331existence would suddenly come out with strange cries or curses but
8332would forget all about them afterward. My elementary school self
8333believed both of them wholeheartedly. I’ve decided to think it was
8334thanks to that sincerity that I’m here right now.
8335This time’s illustrations were done by mebae-san. As you can see,
8336his artistic style gives way to a true abundance of expression. The
8337way his rough illustrations contained all the slightest of gestures
8338and tones I had commented on proved to be a wonderful reference
8339when I was writing. I truly am thankful. While it was the first time
8340he ever illustrated for a novel, there really are some amazing people
8341in the world. When he said, “I don’t want to write an afterward in
8342this book. “My art speaks enough,” surprised as I was, I felt like
8343saying, “I-I agree…”. Aah… I’ll do my best.
8344It might be my nature as a writer, but there are times I have an
8345excessive urge to write romcom. If there’s a demand, I think I’ll
8346have another chance, and if that does tickle someone’s fancy, I’m
8347sure everyone will deliver their verdict to me through the special
8348ability ‘Wireless Run’. The good thing about telepathy is that the
8349service comes free of charge. Or you could send in surveys instead. 
8350238
8351Now then, any flashes of unnatural sentences you may see in this
8352text must have come from our editors at Shougakukan.
8353Have a nice day.