Chapter 289 - To Give Power to Justice
(1)
"Good morning, Toya-kun, it's time~"
I wake up to Airi's voice.It's earlier than usual.
"School starts today~. I have to hurry and finish my daily routine."
That's right. The second semester starts today.I change clothes and quickly finish my routine.After finishing my routine, I take a shower and eat breakfast.After that, I make coffee and take it to my room.I watch TV while waiting for Airi.As always, the topics seem endless, and they were covering the conflict between Unity and Urbanity.Though they didn't cover the destruction of Urbanity's facilities at all, which was the main point.We've already destroyed three facilities.But it seems there are still countless more.We targeted places where people weren't gathered.It was easy to figure out because Makoto-kun's special virus uses GPS functions to identify where Urbanity's affiliates are gathering.There's no sign of any movement to recapture the Urbanity soldiers we caught.That confuses us.It's as if they're acting like they're saying, "Please take as much information as you want."They seem to belong to a unit called "Wand."According to the talk, they are indeed divided into four units.
The four units: Pentacle, Cup, Sword, and Wand.
And there are apparently several ranks above them?The structure was just as I imagined.What's unexpected is that they haven't made a move against us.If it weren't for the Kudo-san incident, this matter probably wouldn't have developed either.Still, they do make moves against Kosei and the others.Kosei and the others seem to have some very important clues.It's not that I doubt Kosei and the others at this point, but I'm still curious about the information Kosei holds.I have a rough idea, though.Kosei's matter wasn't brought up on TV.It's all articles about Unity unilaterally attacking Urbanity.Are they deliberately trying to tarnish Unity's reputation?Thinking about it, the Sudo Group's influence over the media must be enormous.Are they running some kind of entertainment production company too?That thought also came to mind.Well, Makoto and Kosei will probably figure it out.Airi came back.I hurriedly close the browser tab.
"What were you looking at~?"
Airi peers into the laptop screen.The scent of shampoo wafts from Airi's damp hair.
"It's your birthday this weekend, right, Airi? I was wondering what to buy you."
I show her the page for the present I had prepared in advance.
"Hmm. I'd be happy with anything you chose for me, Toya-kun. But if I say that, you'll be troubled, right?"
Airi started thinking too.
"Well then, let's look together again? I'm fine with that. Let's look for something nice at the department store or somewhere."
"Is that okay?"
"Yeah."
Airi nodded with a full smile.
"As I've said before, I enjoy just strolling around town on dates with you, Toya-kun. We haven't been able to date much lately because of basketball and the circle conflict."
"Sorry."
"It's not your fault, so don't worry about it."
Saying that, Airi starts changing clothes and then starts putting on makeup.I watch her while drinking my coffee, killing time.When Airi finishes her café au lait, she puts away her mug and enjoys our time together.Airi complains, "My clothes will get wrinkled, you know~" and "I went to all the trouble of setting my hair~" but still enjoys the physical contact with me.
That time passes in a flash, and when we leave the house to go to school, we're surrounded by an unusual situation.Amidst a crowd of many news cameramen, the soldiers Emi-san lent us clear a path.
"Don't violate our freedom of the press!" the people who violate others' privacy shout. We get into the car.
"They really are persistent, aren't they!" Airi complains.
"They make a living from it, so it can't be helped," I soothe Airi.
We arrive at school, attend classes, and gather in the cafeteria during lunch break.The Unity members all came to school energetically today too.It seems the media had also swarmed everyone's places.Mika-san was seriously pissed off, and it was hard to calm her down, Watanabe-kun laughed.
"They're worse than small fry—remoras."
As always, a scathing evaluation from Emi-san.
"Speaking of small fry, Saki, the small fry have decreased, haven't they?"
Akira-san said.
"Well, when I say I have a husband, everyone gets disillusioned, right?"
Saki-san laughed.
"But you don't feel bad about it, do you?"
Emi-san said.
"That's right. As long as my husband is watching over me, that's enough. I can be happy with just that. I think I can understand that now."
Saki-san answered like that.Saki-san has changed too.
"Huh? Really!? Got it. I'll try contacting him too."
Nakajima-kun, who just finished his call, looks pale.
"Nakajima-kun, what's wrong?"
Sakai-kun asked Nakajima-kun.
"Honoka apparently hasn't come to school."
"Huh?"
It was Airi who reacted to Nakajima-kun's words.
"She was fine until yesterday..."
No way, was she kidnapped again?That shouldn't be possible.Because Emi-san should have assigned soldiers to her properly.Nakajima-kun calls Honoka.
"Hello, Honoka!? Where are you now!? Huh!? The hospital!?"
It seems he managed to get in touch with Honoka-san.I flinched at the word "hospital," though.Was she attacked after all?The answer was half right.
"Honoka's old man was attacked by someone and was apparently rushed to Nishimatsu Hospital last night. She said she's been taking care of him ever since, and he hasn't regained consciousness since last night."
Nakajima-kun clenched his fist.
"To think they'd target Ichinose-san's father..."
Watanabe-kun was also clearly showing his anger.Urbanity's... Sudo Group's retaliation?
"Want to go visit him on the way back, Toya?"
"Yeah, there are things I want to ask too..."
I agree.As a result of our discussion, we decided that six of us would go: me and Airi, Watanabe-kun and Nakajima-kun, and Emi-san and Akira-san.I thought any more than that would be more of a nuisance.
(2)
Since that day, we've been feeling increasingly alienated.The conflict with the biker gang.It made us targets to be avoided even by the teachers.Being treated like a hot potato.I can still handle it. The problem is Naru.I was stunned when I saw "Don't you guys come to school anymore!" written on the classroom blackboard.The next thing that welled up was anger.But all I could do was watch Naru, biting her fingernails, desperately erasing the graffiti on the blackboard.It would be easier to just vent my anger.But that could end up giving Naru an even harder trial.
"Everyone will get bored once time passes."
Naru believes that and endures desperately.But one day, Naru said she wasn't feeling well."I don't want to go to school today"...
After consulting with the Eguchi family, we decided to let her rest today.But the next day, Naru said she wasn't feeling well again.I knew it was just a pretext.I tried to tell Naru to go to the hospital just in case, but she refused.That's when the president of the Eguchi Group, Emi's father, visited Naru's room.
"Get dressed. I'll be waiting outside. Let's go to school," Emi's father said.
Naru silently shook her head.Naru's body was trembling slightly.
"If nothing's wrong with you, I have to make you go to school. That's a 'parent's' duty," Emi's father said.
"I don't have a father."
"I know. So from now on, your uncle will be your father."
Emi's father said with a laugh.
"The strongest thing in this world is evil. No one can resist the power of great evil. But even so, I believe that love and justice will always win in the end. Do you know why?"
Naru shook her head.
"It's because, no matter how much adversity they face, no matter how much they're trampled or hurt, they never give up until the very end. I believe that. Someday, a time will come when Naru can smile too. We have to fight, believing in that."
"Fight?"
"Yes, Emi and Kosei are fighting too. Justice is given the power to rise up even when crushed by a great evil, the negative emotions of humans. It's not something for just one person. It's something everyone can share."
"...I agree with you too, Uncle. You can't run away. You have to fight. If Naru looks like she's losing, I'll help you. I'll be the first one to rush to your side."
"Kosei... Uncle... I'm... sorry..."
Uncle soothes the crying Naru.When Naru calms down, Uncle leaves the room.
"Thank you, Uncle."
"Don't worry. My daughter was the same. I became a burden to her and she was bullied because of it. I taught her the same thing."
Saying that, Uncle laughed.
"I won't say you haven't done anything wrong. Now is the time to settle that past. A time will surely come when the light shines. The stars, the moon, and the sun will give you light too."
Saying that, Uncle left.Naru, having changed clothes, came out of the room.
"Kosei... I'm sorry. Let's go to school?"
"Yeah."
We head to school.Naru's body is trembling. But I'll hold her hand properly.School must be a huge wall for Naru.But I'll smash that wall for you.Justice will surely prevail.I believe that.
(3)
The six of us went to Nishimatsu Hospital.Inside were Ichinose-san, who was taking care of him, Ichinose-san's mother, and Miyuki-san.
"The damage is severe, but his life is not in danger. He's long past the critical point."
Miyuki-san explained.
"What exactly happened?"
Outside the hospital room, I asked Miyuki-san.
"He apparently fell from scaffolding while working at height."
Why wasn't he wearing a safety harness?Why does he have bruises all over his body?There are several unnatural points for a simple slip of the foot.Miyuki-san explained that.
"Also, the police were talking, and they said there were several suspicious black vehicles."
"So it's safe to assume it was Urbanity's doing?"
"The site is managed by Urbanity's... the Sudo Group's parent general contractor company."
Then, a man in a salaryman-style suit bowed to us and went inside.Let's get back to the topic.
"So it is Urbanity's retaliation... I didn't think they'd come with this kind of method."
"What are you going to do, Watanabe-kun? Even if we were the ones who made the first move, we shouldn't have to just sit back and take it anymore, right?"
"Yeah..."
Watanabe-kun ponders.At this point, it's not impossible to provide the information to the police and have them conduct a mass crackdown on Urbanity.
"Well, that would be boring. It's not in my nature to just take it lying down."
"I agree with Emi. I won't be satisfied until we crush these kinds of people."
Emi-san and Akira-san said.
"Please stop it! Are you saying my husband is at fault!? Look at what happened to him!"
Ichinose-san's mother was shouting.Wondering what was going on, we all entered the hospital room.
"Mom, calm down. There are other patients too."
"Doctor, please listen to these people..."
Ichinose-san's mother recounted.Suspicious cars were coming and going at the site, making the atmosphere unsettled.It was interfering with the work.There were complaints from the parent company too.So, could he please take a long vacation?Also, it would be troublesome if the Labor Standards Office got involved over the accident, so please keep it quiet.They'll pay for the treatment and compensation.It's a sickening story.
"I'm sorry, but our employees' livelihoods are at stake. If we get cut off by the prime contractor here, the company will go bankrupt. Please bear with it."
"I can't accept that! The ones at fault are those suspicious cars, aren't they!? My husband did nothing wrong!"
Akira-san soothes Ichinose-san's mother, who is crying out in anguish.
"Excuse me, but what is your husband's occupation?"
"He's a painter. He's dedicated decades to the company."
"Then there's no need to worry. There's a company among my father's partner companies that's looking for an experienced painter. It's a very good company. I recommend changing jobs. There's no need to stick with such a heartless company, right? It's a company that will 'go bankrupt within a few years' anyway."
"Ah, who exactly are you...?"
"Pardon my late introduction. My name is Sakai Akira. I'm married now; my maiden name was Shimizu."
"Sh-Shimizu!? No way."
The salaryman-type man was flustered.Ignoring him, Akira-san continued.
"Excuse me, but what is the name of the company you currently work for?"
"Yazawa Kenko."
"Ah, I see. I'll be sure to remember that."
By the time Akira-san had memorized the company name, the salaryman-type man had left the room.
"Th-That story just now, is it true?"
Ichinose-san's father, who had been sleeping in the bed, sat up.
"Dad!"
"Honey! Are you okay!?"
"The commotion just now woke me up... More importantly, who are these people?"
"They're my friends."
Ichinose-san explained.
"Thank you for always looking after my daughter..."
Ichinose-san's father bowed once.
"Don't worry about it. If anything, we're the ones responsible for this. We'll clean up the mess properly."
"H-Hey, Akira-san..."
Watanabe-kun tried to say something, but Emi-san cut him off and continued.
"Watanabe-kun, that's not like you. Haven't we been doing this all along? Didn't you say it yourself? That it's Unity's way to strike back when struck."
"Unity's power isn't so weak that we'd bow to this kind of force. The ones standing victorious at the end will be us. Isn't that right?"
"...Yeah. We can't afford to lose."
Watanabe-kun's resolve seemed firm.A plainclothes police officer arrived. He must have heard that Ichinose-san's father's condition had improved.
"Sorry, but could everyone except those involved please leave?"
We left the room.
"We can ask Miyuki-san about the details of the questioning later."
I patted Watanabe-kun on the shoulder.
"Toya, you've been keeping quiet all this time. What are you thinking?"
"To give power to justice... isn't that an answer?"
I said that and smiled.
"We have justice on our side in this fight. Let's win for sure!"
Watanabe-kun said that.
"First, where should we start?"
"Well, we can't exactly assign soldiers to everyone involved."
"It's not impossible, but it's not efficient."
Akira-san said.Stirring a bush might drive out a snake.But we can't predict how that snake will come out. What should we do?There's only one thing to do...Wait and see until Makoto tracks down the Emperor's location?That might be too lukewarm...Then we should make a move from our side.If we can't keep up by reacting, we strike first.Yeah, that seems good.
"Toya, what's wrong?"
Watanabe-kun speaks to me as I'm lost in thought.
"Watanabe-kun, why don't we leave him alone at times like this? Toya-kun is in the zone right now."
"Ah, I see."
As Airi and the others were talking, I opened my mouth.
"Emi-san, can you look into all the companies related to the Sudo Group?"
"If it's something like that, leave it to me."
"Alright, I'm counting on you."
Next is...
"Airi, I have a favor to ask. I want to make a deal with Airi's dad."
"I think it'll probably be fine, but what kind of deal?"
"Well..."
"Are you really serious about this!?"
"To minimize the damage, it can't be helped."
"I think the opponent is too tough, though..."
"You strike back when you're struck, right?"
We finally have a snake that's come out. Let's just pin it down by force.
(4)
That day was my birthday date with Toya-kun.Shopping at the station building with Toya-kun.Choosing a birthday present together.Toya-kun tried to pick accessories, but I've already gotten so many that I don't know which one to wear.I look around various shops with Toya-kun.Toya-kun, who usually gets easily lured by food stalls, chose seriously for me on this day.Even though for me, this time spent shopping is the best gift of all.Even if I said that, Toya-kun probably wouldn't agree.Then, my eyes caught something.A stylish tote bag.I could carry this around anytime, I was thinking it was about time to replace my old one, and the price was reasonable.I've always wanted to try this~
"Toya-kun, buy me this~♪"
I pull on Toya-kun's arm and beg.
"Is something like this okay?"
Toya-kun seemed hesitant, but when I insisted, "I want this~♪," he bought it for me.For dinner, Toya-kun had reserved a restaurant.A somewhat stylish place.I couldn't drink last year, but this year I can drink without worry.The fun time with Toya-kun isn't over yet.We stay overnight at a reserved hotel.I was told to stay at a hotel on special days, you know. Ehehe~.I spend the night in a happy mood.On this day alone, he thinks only of me.My world inside Toya-kun.It's so warm and feels good.The greatest gift Toya-kun gave me on this day. It's you...Toya-kun's world envelops me.If you give me so many things, I'll have trouble returning the favor~.I spent my birthday night in such a happy mood.
"Airi, good morning."
I wake up to Toya-kun's kiss.I still feel like I'm in a dream.We change clothes, eat breakfast, and check out of the hotel.After that, we have a town stroll date, since it's today.We look around various miscellaneous goods shops and clothing stores.Then we go home.Knowing Toya-kun, he'll probably be kind to me even when we get home.Since Toya-kun is always the one who has trouble when I do housework, I'll just rely on him today.So don't get absorbed in games or anything, okay?Look at me.When we stop the car, Toya-kun heads towards my house.
"What's wrong?"
"No, I was just worried about the deal..."
"I see~"
"I'll pay attention to you once that's done."
"Thank you♪"
Toya-kun rings the doorbell at my house.Rie-chan comes out.
"Welcome back..."
Rie-chan seems strange.
"Come in for now."
I wonder what's wrong?When I go to the living room, Dad is sitting on the sofa.When Toya-kun and I sit on the sofa opposite Dad, he looks at Toya-kun with a stern expression.It seems the tension has communicated itself to Toya-kun too.Toya-kun is probably reading Dad's true intentions.Toya-kun hands over the USB memory stick he got from Makoto-kun.
"All the evidence is on this."
"...Hmm."
Dad receives it and hands a manila envelope to Toya-kun.
"The documents you asked for are inside..."
"Thank you very much."
Toya-kun puts it in his bag.
"...Toya-kun, have you been home yet?"
"No, I thought I'd come here first..."
"You should go home. As quickly as possible."
"Did something happen?"
"W-Well..."
Is that why Dad seems strange?I and Toya-kun immediately head to Toya-kun's house.In the living room is Toya-kun's father, looking haggard.
"Dad, what happened?"
"...Maya was taken."
I was so surprised I dropped the paper bag.
"Ah, Airi-chan, could you go back to Toya's room?"
Toya-kun's father said that, but I refused.
"I'm going to tell Airi anyway, so it's fine. Can you tell us the details?"
Saying that, Toya-kun made me sit on the sofa and sat down himself.Toya-kun's father also sat down and began to speak.Maya-san went shopping and didn't come back for a long time.Thinking she might have been in an accident, he called, but she didn't answer.About two hours later, when he was starting to get worried that something might have happened, he got a call from Maya-san.Toya-kun's father answered in a panic.But the voice that answered was an unknown man's.
"Are you Masato Katagiri?"
"Who the hell are you!?"
"I think it would be better for your wife if you didn't pry too much into our affairs."
"I have something to discuss regarding your son."
"Toya?"
"We are suffering because of your son's mischief. Could you please talk some sense into him?"
"Did you think I'd listen to someone who won't even reveal their identity?"
"Can you still say that after hearing this?"
"You!"
"Maya!"
"There are two demands: the dissolution of Unity, and the handing over of Kosei Shinra and Naru Kazaki... As for the meeting place, we'll confirm the dissolution of Unity first."
"I can't accept such demands!"
"If you don't accept, we can't guarantee your wife's safety. I'll call again."
With that, the call ended.Toya-kun listens quietly.
"Maya must have been prepared for the danger of this happening from the day she became my wife. You shouldn't be shaken either."
Toya-kun's father said that, but his face was gaunt.My heart is beating fast too.What are you going to do, Toya-kun?
"I understand... Don't worry."
"Toya-kun!?"
Maya-san's life is at stake, you know!?How can you be so calm!?
"Well, we'll go back to my room..."
Saying that, Toya-kun goes back to his room.
"Toya-kun, aren't you worried about Maya-san!? Maya-san's life is in danger, you know?"
Aren't you scared?But Toya-kun silently makes a phone call.
"Hello, Makoto? Can you trace the phone number I'm about to give you? I think it's probably infected with your virus... Yeah, I'll tell you now..."
What are you planning to do, Toya-kun?
"Airi, sorry to bother you when you're tired, but could you make lunch? I think Dad is hungry too."
I can do that much, but is this really the time to be saying that?
"Also, tell Dad this for me. 'I will agree to the deal'..."
Huh? Are you going to dissolve Unity?
"...Are you going to dissolve it?"
"It'll take time, though."
Aren't you frustrated, Toya-kun? Giving in to such a despicable trick.
"What we need now is to buy time. Not to reveal our hand."
I see! You don't actually intend to agree to the deal, do you, Toya-kun!
"...Is regular instant ramen okay?"
"Yeah, put an egg in it."
"Okaaay~"
Saying that, I leave Toya-kun's room.Despicable Urbanity...I will never forgive them!