Chapter 297 - The True Meaning of the Message Even a Sage Would Avoid
(1)
"Good morning, Toya-kun! It's morning~"
There's no reply from Toya-kun.
Oh, right, today is Saturday.
I go to the kitchen and start preparing breakfast.
By the time I'm done, Maya-san and the others wake up.
The three of us eat together.
That's when Maya-san said.
"While Toya's away, why don't you go home and visit?"
Was there something lacking in me?
"Am I... a bother?"
"That's not it. I just thought you could show Rie-san your healthy face while Toya isn't here."
"If I went home now, she'd definitely scold me. She'd say, 'I can't permit such selfish behavior as leaving the house while your husband is away~'"
"That's true, but... then promise me, Auntie. At least around New Year's, bring Toya and go greet her."
I'm sure Toya-kun is thinking about that too.
"Okaaay~"
But lately, I've been seeing Papa-san a lot.
I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
I wonder if Rie-chan is doing okay~?
Leaving the cleaning to Maya-san, I take a café au lait and go back to Toya-kun's room alone.
I turn on the TV, and a weekend program is on.
While watching it, I check my SNS on my laptop.
Then a message comes in.
"What's everyone doing now?"
It's from Ai.
"I'm free~"
"Getting ready for my part-time job~"
"Going to work now~"
"I'm in the middle of housework."
Everyone's having a tough time.
Still, it seems everyone will have free time in the afternoon.
"Then, how about we meet up at Blue Bird in the afternoon?"
Meet up?
"Kosei said it, right? That thinking that villa is safe now might be dangerous."
He did say that.
"I found another villa. I'm confident it absolutely won't be breached. Unless someone brings a bunker buster, destruction is impossible too."
If an individual had something like that, I think it would be a big enough problem.
"We're all going there?"
"That's the plan. I want to at least check it out and ask for your judgment."
Akira says.
"Sorry! I have a part-time job this afternoon!"
Haruto-kun says.
"I think I should go. I'd also like to meet Emperor and the others."
Kosei-kun says.
After discussing it, it was decided that me, Emi, Akira, Watanabe-kun, Makoto-kun, Kosei-kun, Naru-chan, and Sakai-kun would go.
"That many should be fine."
Watanabe-kun says.
"I'll send Shinjo to Airi-chan's house. We'll go pick up Kosei and the others."
Emi says.
"Then, meet at Blue Bird at 1 PM."
With that, everyone agreed.
"Today and tomorrow are the last ones, right? The league matches."
"Yeah, they said if it goes well, tomorrow is the promotion match."
"I hope it goes well."
"Yeah."
Spending a peaceful morning like that, I made lunch, ate, and was cleaning up when Shinjo-san came to pick me up, so I said "I'm off" and left the house.
Gathering at Blue Bird, we all lightly go over the plan.
The villa is apparently in Beppu after all.
We can't make the travel time too long. It would be meaningless if we got attacked during that time.
And it has to be a sturdy building.
Apparently, they bought a villa that meets those location conditions.
What were they planning to do if they didn't use it?
It was decided that I would travel from Blue Bird to the villa in Watanabe-kun's car.
Even though Mika-san isn't here, riding in another man's passenger seat feels a bit awkward.
I feel bad for Mika-san.
"What's wrong? Are you anxious because Toya isn't in the seat next to you?"
Watanabe-kun talks to me.
"It's not that, but I feel bad for Mika-san."
"I told Mika about it properly. She said, 'Don't you do anything weird,' though."
Watanabe-kun says that and laughs.
"Don't men feel anything about having a woman in the passenger seat?"
"To be precise, I don't really think about it if it's anyone other than my girlfriend? They'll be someone to talk to, so the seat next to me is more convenient, right?"
I see~.
"Do women think about it?"
"I guess I think about things like, 'What if someone I don't even like holds my hand?'"
"I see... I'm not stupid either. I already have a wife. I won't do anything like making a move on another woman."
Watanabe-kun says that and laughs.
Watanabe-kun is an honest person. That's why I thought it was okay to sit next to him.
But what would Toya-kun think if he found out?
Even now, I feel anxious about it.
But Toya-kun also drove with Kanna in the passenger seat.
Am I overthinking it?
"Isn't it fine? You two aren't married yet. I think you both need that kind of consideration for each other."
I see~.
Just then, Emi's phone rings.
"Hello, Emi?"
"Airi-chan, change of plans. Head to the villa where Emperor and the others are. An emergency has occurred."
Emergency?
I relay that to Watanabe-kun.
Watanabe-kun says he understands.
When we arrive at the villa, we gasp at the gruesome sight.
The fire department is desperately working to extinguish the fire.
Akira, the owner of the villa, is being questioned by the police and firefighters.
There are no injured people.
It was supposedly an empty house.
Soon, a patrol car arrives.
It's Papa-san.
He's arguing with the Beppu police.
Eventually, under the pretext of "I have been entrusted with this matter," the search is conducted under Papa-san's command.
Papa-san asks us.
"...Were you hiding Emperor and the others here?"
"Yes, we were just about to move them to a new place today because we thought this place was dangerous too."
"...I see. This might be used for some kind of negotiation. Has there been any progress on the case?"
"We've identified the enemy's main body."
"Can I hear that story at my house? There are no listening devices."
"Understood. I'll visit tonight."
Papa-san, Emi-san, and Akira-san are having that conversation.
Sakai-kun is looking around the scene.
A police officer tried to stop him, but when Papa-san said, "They're special, just let them do what they want," the Beppu police said, "If anything happens, it's the local station's responsibility."
"Zen-kun, did you find something?"
When Akira-san asks, he yells, "Don't come here!"
We're not the type to back down just because of that.
But later, I regretted that it would have been better to back down.
There were charred corpses lying around.
I desperately hold back the bile rising in my throat.
"Will the police handle the autopsy for these?"
"Well, that's how it'll be."
"But, didn't the police just say 'Zero victims, it was an empty house'?"
"Ah..."
Akira-san seemed to notice. Of course, I noticed too.
Several similar charred corpses are scattered around.
It must have burned quite spectacularly.
I ask Papa-san if we can look inside the building.
Papa-san gives instructions to the Beppu police officer, who says, "Don't go messing around with things on your own."
We enter the villa.
Sakai-kun frantically examines the walls.
Then he stops dead in his tracks.
"As I thought, there it is..."
What was there were bullet marks carved into the charred log wall.
And on the opposite side, a large hole opened in the wall.
Part of the floor had a big hole, as if from an explosion, and the roof was blown off.
"No doubt about it. This is the work of Death."
Sakai-kun asserts.
"As I suspected..."
Watanabe-kun's expression turns grim.
"What about the safety of the four?"
Akira asks.
"The four are probably safe. Their mission should have been to retrieve them."
"You can't say that for sure, can you? There's the possibility they were all disposed of together."
"That's not it."
Sakai-kun states definitively.
"Why can you say that for sure?"
Akira asks.
"The charred corpses around the hut. They make it look like death by burning, but actually, it's not. They all have traces of having their throats cut with a blade. It's likely the work of a professional. And considering why such a professional would go out of their way to come here, the probability that the four were taken away is higher."
"Then, who blew up the hut?"
"Probably to conceal evidence. They might make contact sometime tonight."
"Has the destruction of evidence already been carried out?"
"Yeah, at the very least, it seems the Beppu police have already been bought off."
As Akira and Sakai-kun are talking, the Beppu police officer says, "Come out already. You won't find anything anyway!"
"Could you ask Superintendent Tosaka? I'd like photos of the scene."
"There's no way I can permit that!!"
"...No, permit it."
"Superintendent Tosaka!? They're amateurs!?"
"...I'll take responsibility."
"Fine. Don't come crying to me if there's trouble!?"br>"Well, there you have it. Take as many as you like."
"Thank you very much."
After Papa-san and Sakai-kun talk, Papa-san returns to his command.
Sakai-kun takes several photos.
Emi also starts taking photos.
After a while, the detective from earlier says, "Isn't that enough!?"
"Oh, sorry. We'll be leaving soon."
Sakai-kun smiles brightly, and we leave the place.
"So, who's going to Tosaka-san's house today?"
Assuming Emi, Akira, and Sakai-kun are coming...
"Shouldn't Watanabe-kun come too? It involves the future activities of Unity."
"Then, I guess I'll join you. Everyone else, act on your own. But refrain from rash actions. The enemy seems serious too."
When Watanabe-kun says this, everyone nods.
"It seems a new Death has appeared."
Kosei-kun says.
"Why can you say that for sure?"
"Because they don't fit any of the Death types everyone was talking about. At least we know one is an expert in special forces skilled in stealth operations, and the other is someone who handles powerful firearms."
When I ask, Kosei-kun answers like that.
"They seem just as dangerous, no matter what."
Makoto-kun says.
"We have no choice but to take a defensive stance here. If we prioritize the lives of the four."
Naru-chan says.
"Makoto, can you find any clues from the images you just took?"
When Watanabe-kun says this, Makoto-kun replies, "I'm not a forensics expert, you know."
"Shouldn't everyone go home for now?"
Emi says.
"Huh, but we still don't have any leads..."
"It's just a fire accident, right? No problem. Let's leave the rest to the police and fire department."
Huh? But you just said it wasn't a fire accident...
"It'll be troublesome if the police get more suspicious of us. Being on their guard is also annoying. I want to send our forensics team here secretly later, so I need to buy time for that. To do that, we need to leave for now."
Emi whispers to me.
What does Emi's family do for a living?
For now, I decide to go along with Emi's story.
"It's a shame it was just a small fire! I was hoping we could all come play here again. Will the fire insurance pay out?"
"I think it'll be fine. We'll just build a new villa."
Saying that, we return to Blue Bird.
"The enemy probably thinks they've won..."
Watanabe-kun says.
"Maybe not necessarily."
Sakai-kun says.
"There's still a tendency to underestimate our abilities. Their post-incident cleanup is too sloppy. It could also be interpreted as a simple threat."
They left too much evidence. Thinking conversely, it means there's something they need to go that far for.
"What is it?"
When Watanabe-kun asks, Sakai-kun answers.
"I'm not Katagiri-kun, so I can't say for sure. But they've probably touched on that Sonnenritter."
"Don't be stupid!? I didn't leave any traces!"
Makoto-kun shouts.
"But traces that someone entered by cracking the password would remain, right? Even if their identity isn't known."
"So they figured it was us?"
When Watanabe-kun says this, Sakai-kun nods.
"Traces of copying probably remain too, so I'm not sure about that part."
"I'm not a professional either," Sakai-kun says with a self-deprecating laugh.
"I think it's like how even without fingerprints, firing a gun leaves the smell of gunpowder. Only Unity would do something like that."
"I see. Even without leaving traces, if there's something, it's our doing... So that's how they suspect us."
Makoto-kun understands.
"The enemy doesn't seem like an easy opponent either, Makoto-kun."
When Watanabe-kun says this, Makoto-kun nods.
"It's okay. I won't make a blunder like before. On the contrary, I'll smoke them out. That so-called magician."
"It's good to be eager, but don't overdo it."
Watanabe-kun warns him.
"For now, it's after we talk with Superintendent Tosaka tonight."
When Watanabe-kun says this, everyone nods.
I wish Toya-kun were here at times like this.
But it's just until tomorrow.
Let's hold out until tomorrow.
Then Toya-kun will surely find a way to counterattack.
(2)
"Eris, what's your status?"
"I'm ready anytime, Viper."
"Then, commencing the mission."br>Wrapped in optical camouflage, I quietly approach the enemy, circle behind them, grab their arm, and cut their throat.
The half-crazed enemy, unable to see me, fires their gun wildly, but I silence them.
After roughly dealing with the enemies around the villa, I quietly approach the front door.
And knock on the door.
There's no response.
Giving up, I attach plastic explosives and blow the door.
Confirming the explosion, I charge inside and snipe the guards.
"This is Viper. Interior is clear."
"This is Eris, copy. Standby OK."
Deactivating the optical camouflage, I order the four survivors.
"You know who we are, right?"
"Are you going to kill us here?"br>"I could do that, but the higher-ups have other plans. I need you to come with me. Of course, refusal is not permitted."
The four obediently come out from inside.
If they resist, I'll kill them.
I had threatened them like that.
Confirming everyone has left the building, I contact Eris.
"Eris, ready anytime."
"Copy."
Eris, who had climbed to the top of the cliff, is holding something like a lance.
There is a gap in the lance-like object from the tip to around the handle, and lightning is emitted from the entire lance.
Bashu!
The bullet fired at high speed pierces the wall and explodes.
Leaving the burning villa behind, I load the four into a wagon.
Putting Eris in the passenger seat, I start the car.
"Where do you intend to take us?"
Emperor says.
"A place that could become paradise or hell, depending on your attitude."
Either way, they're going to die.
The faces of Emperor and the others turn pale.
"But I don't understand why they sent us for such weak guards."
"Mistakes are not permitted. That's probably what it was about?"
"This client must be pretty desperate too. Maybe it's about time to call it quits?"
"Maybe."
We don't have a fixed master.
We're a group that gathers where the money is.
Azrael and Sariel are no exceptions.
If there is one master, it would be me.
Stopping the car, I tell Emperor and the others to walk.
After walking for a while, there's a hut.
I instruct them to go inside, and they do.
"Didn't we need to block their means of communication?"
Eris asks.
"This place is out of range. They can't intercept. And besides..."
"Besides?"
"Even so, if an enemy manages to get here, it'll be worth our while, right?"
"I see. How exciting."
Eris laughs.
Just then, the radio goes off.
"What's up?"
"I'm ordered to come down to a place where I can make a phone call."
"Understood."
Leaving this place to Eris, I descend the mountain.
Then my phone rings.
"How's it going?"
"Smoothly. I might not have even needed to come out."
"Well, I was just being extra cautious. And I want to give you another mission."
"I'll take on anything."
"I want you to kidnap a woman."
"Is that simple a mission good enough?"
"I hope it goes simply."
"Understood. So, where is she?"
"That is..."
Finishing the call, I radio Eris.
"Can I leave this place to you alone? I'll send Steel Lady just in case."
"I'll be fine alone."
"...I'm sending Steel Lady."
"Can she climb up here?"
"I'd be in trouble if she couldn't do at least that much."
"That's true too. Well then, leave this place to the two of us."
"I'm counting on you."
"Take care, Viper."
"Yeah."
I hang up and get into the car that arrived to pick me up while I was on the phone.
To think I'd be used just to kidnap a single college student...
How far I've fallen.
Well, I'll do any mission as long as it pays.
But I have no use for a fallen organization.
This organization is already done for. I had that intuition.
I'd better start looking for the next host.
(3)
"It's rare for you to come home at this time of year, isn't it? And you... Sakura-san, was it?"
"N-nice to see you again."br>Sakura, who is at my house for the first time, is nervous.
"My husband is waiting. Come on in."
Mom says that and leads us to Dad's room.
When we enter Dad's room, he is sitting in a chair at the desk in the back, waiting.
"It looks like you're both here. Come on, have a seat over there."
When we sit on the sofa, Mom and Dad also sit on the sofa.
A servant brings tea and then leaves.
Dad starts talking.
"Coming here together... have you already talked to her parents?"
I knew he'd say that...
"Since Haruki is going to take over the bank, I have no complaints... Dad."
Mom seems to think I came to report my marriage too.
"Have you already decided on a date?"
When Dad says this, I reply.
"Unfortunately, that's not what this is about today."
Dad's eyebrow twitches.br>"'Not today' means you do have plans for it, right?"
Mom urges the conversation on.
"What's the business that requires the two of you to come here? Is there another reason you both had to come?"
"Because she's a member of Unity. Does that help you understand?"
"So that's what this is about... Mom, could you excuse us?"
"...I understand."
Watching Mom leave the room, I ask Dad directly.
"The Order of the Sun Knights... Does that ring a bell?"
"So Unity has gotten that far..."
Dad lets out a deep sigh. Then he starts talking.
"How much do you know about our bank?"
"About as much as the average person."br>Despite how I look, I graduated from the Faculty of International Business and Management.
"My title is Chairman and Representative Director. But there's a President and Representative Director under me. The bank is run by the board of directors, but unfortunately, since I don't own 100% of the shares, I can't move the bank on my own will alone. Furthermore, joining the Order of the Sun Knights was the decision of the previous chairman. There are tons of directors who are loyal to that previous chairman. There's nothing I can do."
I understand what he's trying to say.
In short, something other than Dad's will is moving the bank regarding its membership in the Order of the Sun Knights.
"Haruki, don't do anything stupid. You're becoming an employee next year. If you provoke the board of directors now, I won't be able to protect you."
"What kind of existence is the Order of the Sun Knights?"
"If you graduated from business school, you must at least read the financial section. The close relationship between money and politics. That's what it is."br>They buy information obtained through administrative channels at high prices and suck up the profits. Something like that.
How pathetic. As I thought, it's a world that makes me want to vomit.
But that doesn't mean I can run away now.
I'll show my resistance in my own way.
"Can I ask one more thing?"
"Yeah, ask as much as you like."
If it'll stop you from doing something stupid, he adds.
"How involved is the Shiratori Company?"
"The Shiratori Company is not involved with the Order of the Sun Knights. Rather, it's a growing company that was about to be crushed."
Due to the local nature of the area. They don't accept newcomers or outsiders.
He says that kind of old-guard mentality holds the power.
"I understand. Thank you. I'll head home for today. I'll come to greet you again around New Year's."
"Please do. Your mother worries too much."
We leave the house and start the car.
"This is a difficult problem, isn't it~"
Sakura sighs.
I listen in silence.
"Are you okay with this, Haruki~? If things go on like this, you'll end up on the streets~?"
"Unity has my back."
"Huh?"
Sakura asks back.
"Did you forget? That Sakai Corporation owns 40% of the local bank's shares."
"Ah~!"
Sakura seems to understand.
At the very least, they'll veto Dad's resignation as chairman.
At worst, I'll probably just get the president fired.
Coming all the way home today wasn't to interrogate Dad.
Unity knows this much. Prepare to escape the coming trouble now.
I came just to let him know that.
"Sakura, is there anything you want to eat?"
"Huh?"
"We went out together, just the two of us. We haven't had time for a proper date lately."
"Whatever you like is fine, Haruki~"
"Got it."
I drive the car towards our hometown.br>As headlights and taillights stream by, we merge into them and enter the city of night lights.
(4)
"The Order of the Sun Knights..."
Dad said in a hoarse voice.
Suspicion and fear.
If you doubt, start with your own family first.
Thinking that, I returned to my parents' house and asked Dad.
"Where did you hear that word... It's useless to ask, I suppose."
"...Just as you imagine."
After thinking for a while, Dad took some documents out of the safe.
He copied them and handed the documents to me.
They were decisive evidence proving that the public works projects my dad's subsidiary failed to win contracts for, land acquisitions, and various other things were due to political pressure.
"Haruna, looking at that, you'll understand, but they are a trident. Just like three overlapping arrows are hard to break, they can't be easily toppled."
"...In other words, we have to either apply more force than them or break them one by one?"
Unity would unhesitatingly choose the former, though.
"You've gained the strength to say that."
Dad is smiling.
"These documents should be an important foothold when fighting the Order of the Sun Knights. Give them to someone you can trust."
"Understood."
"Isn't that guy Haruto coming today?"
"Haruto has a part-time job today."
"I see. It's tough for everyone."
"Dad, have you accepted my relationship with Haruto?"
"It was a promise, after all."
"Then, I'll ask you one more time. I want you to accept my relationship with Haruto. Not because of a promise, but as a parent."br>"He's a man who can make you say that much. I trust him."
"...Thank you."
I put the documents in my bag. Just as I opened the door to leave the room.
There's a scream in the hallway.
"Don't leave the room now. It's dangerous... Guh!"
"Haruna!!"
Ignoring Dad's warning, I open the door.
A lanky man is looking this way.
The enemy attacks.
He seems skilled in close combat.
I'm more of a close-combat specialist too.
He comes at me with two knives.
I do a backflip to evade, then kick up with both feet, striking his elbow.
A kick strong enough to shatter both elbows at best.
But that didn't seem to be enough.
The man grins and lets his arms hang limply, looking at me.
Analgesia?
But the man's expression isn't one of pain, but of someone drowning in pleasure.
Abnormal.
The man's arms rapidly regenerate.
Immortality?
I'd heard that for this type of opponent, you have to crush their head.
I'll finish this before the man's arms finish regenerating.
"Guaa!"
I hear Dad's scream.
Returning to the room, Dad is being attacked by a minor enemy.
Their target is Dad's important documents.
I won't let them escape.
I aim the gun I had pointed at the man at the enemy attacking Dad and fire without hesitation.
The bullet hits the enemy's right thigh.
The man writhes in pain, clutching his leg.
"Haruna, behind you!!"
Warned by Dad, I look behind me to see the man whose arms have finished regenerating throwing a knife at me.
I dodge the knife by a hair's breadth.
Seeing this, the man grins.
"You're my target too."
Target?
That means I'm included too.
I can't let someone like you run loose.
I aim my gun at the man's forehead and fire.
The man blocks with both arms.
A handgun doesn't seem to be enough.
Just as I was about to use my trump card.
A flash.
A flashbang was thrown.
Even for a moment, my vision and hearing are taken away.
I notice the man's figure fleeing.
I can't leave here because I have to protect Dad too.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, more importantly, who was that just now?"
"An assassin from the Order of the Sun Knights."
"I see. You have it tough too."
"Was anything stolen?"
"Nothing. I owe you one again."br>Listening to Dad's words, I contact Unity.
A support unit arrives immediately and handles the scene.
The Order of the Sun Knights is important, but first, it's Urbanity.
I thought Katagiri-san was right.
Urbanity. An existence I can never forgive. I will never let them escape.
(5)
"...So, that Order of the Sun Knights is the real mastermind?"
I explain to Papa-san.
"Yes, the attacks have intensified since we obtained that information."
"...I see. Then we'll need to make appropriate preparations too..."
Preparations? Is there something Papa-san can do?
Papa-san takes out several badges from his pocket.
"What are these...?"
Watanabe-kun asks.
"...I want everyone to wear these from now on. They're a kind of license. A permit directly from the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, not from me."
A permit!?
"It means the National Police Agency will take care of all the trouble you face when confronting violent crimes."br>Th-the National Police Agency!?
"At the same time I give these to you, you've become an unofficial agency of the National Police Agency."
"Papa-san, is it okay for you to do something like this?"
I was worried. Am I causing trouble for Papa-san?
"I'm putting my precious only daughter in danger. I'll support you as much as I can. But please understand that no matter what danger you face, the police cannot fully protect you."
"In other words, we have to protect ourselves."
When Watanabe-kun says this, he nods.
"And this is also an unofficial deal, but you are permitted to carry firearms. Please handle them carefully."
"Thank you very much."
Watanabe-kun bows his head.
"...Please take care of my daughter."
"Leave that to us. Right, Akira?"
"Right, we were asked by Katagiri-kun too."
Just then, my phone rings.
I step out of the room and answer it.
It's from Kiritani-kun.
"Is Ai over there?"
"She said she wasn't coming today. Isn't she at her part-time job?"
"Well, her part-time job ended hours ago, but she hasn't come home."
"Maybe she's out shopping or something?"br>"She finished two hours ago! I can usually get in touch with her, but today of all days, I can't."
"Did you tell Makoto-kun?"
"No, I heard everyone was at Tosaka-san's house, so I thought I'd call you first."
"I'll explain to Watanabe-kun. Kiritani-kun, you contact Makoto-kun."
"Got it."
Ending the call, I tell Watanabe-kun about it.
Watanabe-kun's expression changes instantly.
He immediately calls Ai's phone.
"Hello?"
It sounded like a man's voice.
Watanabe-kun switches to speakerphone.
"Who the hell are you!?"
"You can remember me as the Devil."
"The Devil!?"
The Devil... the overseer of Death.
"How about a deal? The information on the Order of the Sun Knights you have for the life of Kiritani Ai. Not a bad deal, right?"
"That's not something I can decide on my own!"
"That's a pretty cold opinion. Or am I being underestimated?"
Then Ai's scream is heard.
"What did you do to Ai!?"
"I just showed you how serious I am."
"No organization that has done this to us has come out unscathed!"
"How brave. But that's not the answer I want to hear."
Ai's scream is heard again.
"Let me talk to Ai!"
"'Let me talk,' you say? ...You still don't understand your position, do you?"
"W-wait!! Please, let me talk to her!"
"I'm glad you're a reasonable child. However, I can't guarantee she's in a state to talk."
"Ai, can you hear me!? It's me!?"
"Everyone... don't agree to this deal! Kyaa!!"
"Ai!?"
"Will you agree to the deal?"
"...Fine. I'll agree."
"Then I'll contact you again with the details."
The call ended there.
Watanabe-kun relays this to Kiritani-kun.
Kiritani-kun was lamenting.
"Calm down! Let's all meet tomorrow! This is an emergency assembly!"
"So they've already started their retaliation..."
Papa-san says.
"Well, everyone has a big day tomorrow, right? Be careful going home. Airi, you're going back to the Katagiri residence, right?"
"Yeah..."
"Well then, see you tomorrow."
With that, everyone went home.
I also went back to Toya-kun's house and called him.
He answered immediately.
"I thought you might call, so I was waiting."
"Hue?"
Apparently, the man calling himself the Devil had also called Toya-kun.
The deal conditions were the same. The difference was the content of the conversation.
As a result, the enemy seemed to be panicking.
And then Watanabe-kun apparently called.
Was the timing bad?
"No, it's fine. That is, if there's a guarantee that the enemy will actually bring the hostage."
"Huh?"
"Would you easily hand over a hostage, of which there is only one, for a file that can be copied?"
Then, Ai won't be saved?
"Judging by the enemy's attitude, it looks like the deal will be tomorrow or later, right?"
"Yeah, probably."
"I'll contact Watanabe-kun. Tell him not to take any rash actions until I get back."
"I'll tell him too."
"I heard Emperor and the others were taken too?"
"Yeah."
I'm sorry for causing so much trouble while you're away, Toya-kun.
"I couldn't predict the attack either. Don't worry about it."
"Okay."
"This goes for Watanabe-kun too, but you can't misunderstand your position, okay?"
"Huh?"
"You can't think that you're in a disadvantageous position."
"But Ai was kidnapped?"
Surely Toya-kun isn't planning to abandon Ai?
"Like I said before, a hostage is only meaningful if they're safe. Taking a hostage means you need that much resolve."
"Uu..."
"I will definitely save Ai-san, so don't worry."
"Okay."
"Well then, see you tomorrow."
"Okaaay~"
It'll be okay, right?
Since Toya-kun said he'll definitely save her, she'll be saved, right?
No matter how cold the night, the night Toya-kun lights is warm.