Chapter 298 - When the Tower Crumbles
(1)
"Toya-kun, welcome back~"
Around sunset, when the area was getting dark, the bus carrying Toya-kun and the others returned.
When Toya-kun got off, I immediately jumped on him.
The people around us teased us, but I didn't care about that.
"Airi, you're in everyone's way here," Toya-kun said, hugging me a little away from the bus.
"Are you hurt?"
"Yeah, but..."
The blunder of having Emperor-san and the others taken, and even Ai being kidnapped.
All the plans Toya-kun had thought so hard about were ruined.
"Good work, Toya."
Watanabe-kun, the Ishiharas, and the Sakaies came to greet him.
"Congratulations on your promotion to Section 3."
"Thanks, but the fact that everyone's gathered means..."
As Toya-kun started to say, Watanabe-kun shook his head.
"There's been no progress. That's why we wanted to borrow your wisdom."
"Then, at the usual family restaurant."
"Yeah, sounds good."
Even though you just got back and must be tired, I'm sorry, Toya-kun.
Everyone gathered at the family restaurant was dispirited.
Amidst that, Toya-kun ordered his usual menu.
"I'd heard about it, but you really do things at your own pace no matter what, huh."
Kosei-kun was surprised.
"Yeah, you can't come up with good ideas on an empty stomach, right?"
"That's true too."
"This isn't the time to be eating so carefree, Toya!"
When Kanna said that, everyone started making a fuss.
It couldn't be helped. They'd said they'd negotiate, but nothing had happened all day.
Even when Watanabe-kun explained that, Toya-kun was calm.
"But we didn't just do nothing, right? Makoto. You at least found out where Ai-san and Emperor and the others are, right?"
"Yeah, we've got that nailed. Those guys thought they were out of range and left their phones on. They don't realize the GPS is still working."
"So, where?"
"Both of them are up in the mountains of Beppu."
"So they're not that far apart, huh."
"Is that their hideout?"
"There's no way it's that simple."
Toya-kun said while drinking his corn potage.
"Sorry, I'm going to get a refill on the soup."
Saying that, Toya-kun stood up.
"He's the same as always, which is kind of scary," Kosei said.
"But when he snaps, you never know what he'll do," Kanna replied.
Toya-kun came back.
"So, Toya, what do you think? How do you think the other side will start the negotiations from here?"
Toya-kun thought.
"Won't we find out soon?"
Just as Toya-kun said that, his smartphone rang.
"See, here it comes."
Toya-kun answered the phone and put it on speaker.
"Good evening."
It was Devil-san.
"Good evening."
Toya-kun replied while gesturing to Makoto.
Makoto-kun connected Toya-kun's smartphone to his laptop and started working.
"Did you manage to meet up with everyone?"
Had he read our movements?
"I'm having dinner with everyone right now."
"That's good. The matter is about yesterday's business..."
"What is it? You heard we'd agree to negotiate, right?"
"The terms of that negotiation are this: which will you choose, the lives of Emperor and the other four, or Ai-san's life?"
Everyone tried to say something, but Toya-kun stopped them.
"I don't get what you mean."
"You guys only have one card: the information on the Sun Knight Order. That's unfair, isn't it?"
"The original deal was supposed to be just the information on the Sun Knight Order for Ai-san's life, right? I'm wondering why Emperor and the other four are suddenly in the mix."
"You're surprisingly cold-hearted, contrary to the rumors, aren't you? If Ai-san's life is safe, you don't care what happens to the other four?"
"I'm saying I don't understand your motive for suddenly mixing in the four of them."
"Won't you come to the negotiating table unless you hear the four of them scream?"
"Are you stupid? Hostages only have value if they're alive. I think I said that yesterday too."
"...I see. So these four still aren't worth more than Ai-san's single life? Your bonds seem strong."
"There's no light or heavy in lives. They're all equal."
"Then which do you desire?"
"Don't you get it yet? The Warlock was much more understanding, you know?"
"What do you mean?"
"No matter what form the deal takes, if the lives of the five people are endangered, we will resort to force. Didn't you hear from Watanabe-kun? That it wouldn't be worth it to mess with us."
That's crazy.
No matter how much we've pinpointed their location, I can't think of a plan to rescue all five safely. Or does Toya-kun have a scheme?
"Our condition is the return of the five. What are your terms?"
Toya-kun went all in. I don't know if he has a winning chance.
"How about Ai-san's life for the deletion of the Sun Knight Order's information, and the lives of the four for the information on the Sun Knight Order that the Shiratori Company has?"
"How will you prove it's been deleted?"
"We'll have you do the work right in front of us. You've probably got it on a server, right? We'll have you and Makoto-kun come."
"That request is impossible. You're planning to take us hostage too, aren't you?"
Toya-kun was strangely aggressive. Was it a bluff?
At that moment, gunshots rang out, and the screams of the four were heard.
"That was your final notice. Make it clear whether you accept these terms or not."
"Threatening me is useless. Ai-san is your trump card. Don't come crying to me if you waste your precious trump card and get in trouble with your superiors."
"...Don't push your luck with me, you brat!"
"I'd like you to stop underestimating me too. If you take a kid too lightly, you'll get hurt."
"Come to the Hizuru-dai square tomorrow night, just the two of you. If you don't comply, I'll kill them all."
"Try killing even one, and I won't guarantee your life either."
"What did you say?"
Toya-kun looked at Makoto-kun. Makoto-kun gave Toya-kun a thumbs up.
"Don't regret this... brat!"
With that, the call ended.
"Hey, Katagiri-kun, what do you mean by that!? Did you never intend to negotiate from the start!?"
"That's right."
Toya-kun said it casually.
"Toya, we've got it nailed. We've fully captured the other guy's phone!"
"Then, shall we counterattack?"
When Makoto-kun said that, Toya-kun replied.
"There's something I'd like to ask Emi-san."
"What!? Ai-chan's life is at stake, I'll do anything!"
"By tomorrow morning, I want you to identify the owner of the phone Makoto traced and find the license plates of the cars they own."
"Is that all you need?"
"I think Akira-san would be better for what comes after that."
"Just tell me anything."
"One of the cars with those plates is sure to pass through here, so I want you to detain them."
"Got it."
Akira and Emi nodded.
"Don't forget that the enemy is the one who wiped out our unit. Be careful in your actions."
"If it's that kind of opponent, I'll prepare an appropriate unit and equipment. You don't need me to hold back, right?"
"I don't think they're the kind of opponent you should hold back against."
That was when I finally understood.
Toya-kun was pretending to be calm, but he was already angry.
Proof of that was that Toya-kun hadn't touched his hamburger steak at all.
There was only one thing I could do.
"Toya-kun, your hamburger steak is getting cold."
"Oh, you're right. Thanks, Airi."
"Hey, Airi-chan, this isn't the time for hamburger steaks..."
"It's fine, it's okay. More importantly, Akira-san, can you hurry up with the unit deployment? We need to be prepared to watch every single car that passes."
"Got it!"
Akira-san was giving instructions on her smartphone while checking positions on her tablet.
"Toya, bingo! The guy's name is Shido Yamamura. He's an executive of Urbanity."
"Devil finally showed his tail. Now that we have a name, Emi-san..."
"I know. Leave the rest to me... I won't let him get away."
Emi was also giving instructions on her smartphone.
Meanwhile, Toya-kun finished eating his hamburger steak.
"Well then..."
"A large serving of french fries, right?"
"Is that okay?"
"Today is special!"
"Then, I think I'll order some ice cream too."
"You're hopeless~"
After ordering, Toya-kun went to get a drink.
While he was gone, Watanabe-kun and Sakai-kun asked me, "Is he really okay?"
"He's desperately trying to stay calm like that. One wrong move and all five of them will be sacrificed. He's playing a game that close to the edge."
"A game..."
"This isn't child's play..."
When Emi and Akira said that, Kosei-kun laughed.
"That's why kids are better at this kind of match. They can treat anything like a game and come up with free ideas. Proof of that is that everyone's forgotten. In this match, we have the advantage."
"What do you mean?"
Emi asked.
"The enemy is using five of their cards just to get one of ours. That's a sign they have no leeway."
Naru-chan answered.
"Urbanity is probably falling apart. That's why Devil, who had been hiding all this time, showed his face. If we keep them on edge, the Hierophant and the Dragon will probably show up too. No, Katagiri-san intends to drag them out."
Shiratori-san said.
"The time has come for the tower to crumble. The opportunity is ripe. In shogi, when you're about to be checkmated, you use your own trump cards to buy time or shake things up, right? So we just need to calmly parry and close in one move at a time."
Naru-chan said.
While we were talking like that, Toya-kun came back.
"Isn't everyone going to eat anything?"
"I think I'll have something."
"You can't fight on an empty stomach, right."
"First, we need the leeway to get a meal in, right?"
With that, everyone ordered.
Timing it when everyone had finished eating, Toya-kun spoke up.
"Is the preparation ready?"
I knew that meant combat preparation.
"I'm ready on my end."
Akira said.
"I'm ready too. I'm sending the info to Akira now."
"Everyone's quick to prepare."
Toya-kun laughed.
"What are we going to do now?"
I asked Toya-kun.
"Well, Watanabe-kun, could you call Emperor's phone?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, and tell him we'll accept their demands. I'm the representative of Unity. Say I made the decision."
"...To shake things up, huh."
"That's right."
Watanabe-kun called Emperor.
"Hello..."
It was Emperor who answered.
Toya-kun used the memo on his smartphone to send instructions to Watanabe-kun.
"The one you were with was Devil, right?"
"Yeah, both Death and Devil are here now."
"Can you put Devil on?"
"Got it."
"Hello... What's this? Had a change of heart?"
"Sorry about earlier. That guy was acting on his own. I'm the representative of Unity. I have the authority to decide."
"You seem to be more reasonable. So, what's it going to be?"
"We'll move as you demand. I'll convince that guy."
"Call me when you've convinced him. I'll set a time."
"Got it."
The call ended there.
"Was that okay?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
"Perfect. Well then, I'm going home for a bit. I want to wash off the sweat and have Airi pamper me."
"You idiot!! Do you understand the situation right now!?"
Toya-kun was scolded by Kanna.
"Ahaha, you're really amazing, Katagiri-kun. Should we go home and sleep too, Naru? We have school tomorrow, so I want to finish this early."
"Kosei, what are you saying too!?"
"It's obviously homework, right? Or should I get my hopes up?"
"...Idiot!"
"Haruto, I need to get going too."
"Y-yes, ma'am. I'll see you home."
"Should we go home too, Nozomi?"
"I'm exhausted, Emi."
"I'll take good care of you when we get home."
"Zen-kun, should we go home too?"
"Y-yes, let's."
"Kanna, we're going too."
"Is it really okay to leave it like this?"
"If we leave it to Toya, there's no problem."
"Well, everyone, I'll contact you if anything else comes up."
With that, everyone went home.
Meanwhile, Toya-kun had eaten all the fries.
Toya-kun didn't try to leave his seat.
"What's wrong?"
"No, I haven't eaten my dessert ice cream yet."
Bonk
"Which is more important, me or the ice cream?"
"That's obviously you, Airi."
"I want to be pampered today, you know."
"Isn't it okay to eat something sweet first?"
"Ugh..."
"I-I already ordered it, it'd be a waste! See, here it comes!"
The waitress brought the ice cream.
"We're going home after you eat that, okay."
"I know."
Toya-kun was eating the ice cream deliciously until the very end.
I wonder if it's really okay to leave everything to Toya-kun?
(2)
A little past 10 PM.
A call came to my smartphone.
Devil instructed me to answer it.
"Hello..."
"Ai-san! Are you okay!!"
"Yes, for now."
"We'll rescue you soon. Put Devil on."
"Got it."
I handed the smartphone to Devil.
"What is it?... I see... Then tomorrow at noon. Don't forget the promise."
With that, he hung up and returned the smartphone to me.
"That guy named Watanabe seems to be a pretty reasonable fellow."
He convinced Toya-kun?
Probably a lie.
He's plotting something.
All we can do is not let this man catch on.
Oh no, my phone battery is about to die.
"Devil-san, I want to charge my phone."
"What?"
"If we lose our only means of communication, that would be a loss for you too, wouldn't it?"
"Fine, do you have a charger?"
"I have one in my bag."
"Then use that outlet over there!"
"Thank you."
I plugged the charger into the outlet and started charging.
"Hey, I'm going down the mountain for a bit. You guys keep a good watch."
"Got it. Don't worry, go take care of your business."
With that, Devil went outside.
The man with dyed brown hair and a long black bandana who remained in the room was smoking a cigarette.
He had a robust physique for his age.
He was cleaning his favorite pistol.
"What's going to happen to us now?"
Emperor spoke to me in a hoarse voice.
"Weren't you listening? 'We'll rescue you soon.' We're going to be saved."
"Just because they agreed to the deal doesn't mean our lives are guaranteed."
I looked at the bandana man.
He must have been listening, right? The man glanced at me and then looked at his gun.
"I was just told to watch you so you don't leave this room. Do whatever you want otherwise."
I sent a message to Emperor on my smartphone.
"They've probably figured out this location."
"Then we're!?"
"They'll probably come to rescue us."
"But how? The man in front of us is definitely skilled."
"Dealing with that is Unity's job."
Besides, Katagiri-kun's plans are always simple but sure to succeed.
No matter how many preemptive moves the enemy makes, Katagiri-kun is thinking several steps ahead.
Now that Katagiri-kun is back, there's nothing to be afraid of.
What I can do now. Rest as much as possible so I can act immediately.
Thinking that, I sat on the floor and fell asleep.
"You sure are calm, this woman..."
I heard the man's laugh.
Tomorrow morning, it'll be you who won't have any leeway.
(3)
I was driving the car with Emi in it.
The Sakaies were following behind us.
"Emi, what's the target?"
"He's coming down the mountain now."
The meeting point was the Kyushu Transversal Road, huh.
After getting off at Beppu IC, at the entrance to the Self-Defense Force base, Shinjo-san took over the driving, and I sat in the passenger seat.
"The car in the left front lane is the target!"
We seemed to have caught up.
How do you stop a car in a situation like this?
If I shot the tires, even though it's late at night, I might involve an innocent person's car.
Then what do I do?
First, I shoot the driver's side mirror.
Then, he'll definitely do one thing.
Open the driver's window to check behind him.
That open moment is the chance.
I won't do something like aim for the driver.
Because that would cause an accident.
There's a time when he'll definitely want to stop the car himself. That is...
I fired two shots in succession.
The two bullets hit the windshield, causing cracks.
A driver whose vision is blocked will inevitably hit the brakes.
Eventually, I stopped the car in front of his stopped car, and Shinjo-san and I got out.
The other side also opened the door to check on us, but I shot the door glass. It cracked, blocking their view.
I quickly charged towards the open door of the other car.
Even with the headlights on, you can't just shoot wildly and hit anything on a night like this.
Praying that stray bullets wouldn't hit the car... I still have a loan on it.
Shinjo-san and I jumped over the door, did a forward roll, and pointed our guns at the opponent.
"Stop your useless resistance. Drop your guns!"
The men in the driver's and passenger's seats dropped their guns and surrendered obediently.
There was no time to restrain them.
I kicked the side of the head of the crouching man.
It was enough force to cause a mild concussion.
Next, I pointed my gun at the back seat.
"Do you intend to stay still like that? We're not that patient either. As you can see, we're in a hurry. I'll shoot, you know?"
When I clicked open the back door, the ones who came out were a man in black and a man in a white suit.
His hair was long and red.
It was slicked back.
He was wearing sunglasses.
"You're Devil, aren't you!?"
The man in the white suit said to Shinjo-san.
"So what if I am? If I don't come back, your comrades will die, you know?"
I put handcuffs on the man in the white suit, put Shinjo-san and Devil in the back seat, and Emi in the passenger seat, then started the car.
The remaining men and the car would probably be treated as a collision accident.
I made a U-turn and went back the way we came.
Our destination was the men's base. The place where Ai-san and the others were being held.
"What are you planning to do? You know our methods, don't you?"
"To put it in your terms, is this a negotiation?"
"A negotiation?"
Prompted by Emi, Emi called Katagiri-kun, told him to put Devil on the line, and handed the smartphone to Shinjo-san.
"Hello."
"Good evening."
"You don't think the five of them are safe after pulling a stunt like this, do you?"
"I told you, right? Hostages only have value if they're alive."
"What are you going to do with me?"
"You're bait."
"Bait?"
"I'm going to use you as a decoy to lure out the Hierophant and the Dragon."
"Do you think they'll fall for a threat like that?"
"That kid is surprisingly casual about breaking people's joints, you know?"
"...So, what do you want me to do?"
"Nothing. The arrangements are already made on this end."
While Katagiri-kun and Devil were talking, we arrived at the destination.
It was noisy.
It seemed Sakai-kun was engaged in combat.
Leaving this place to Shinjo-san, I also went to support Sakai-kun.
"I'm telling you, every one of the Deaths is a real mercenary. Amateurs are no match for them!"
Devil shouted.
"We'll see soon enough whether they're amateurs or not."
Katagiri-kun replied.
To live up to Katagiri-kun's expectations, I ran through the dark night.
(4)
There's nothing more troublesome than a blade hidden in the twilight. I kept dodging, relying only on instinct.
My only salvation was that the annoying sound of the chainsaw told me its location.
In the pitch-black darkness without even moonlight, I waited for a chance to counterattack while dodging the chainsaw.
A woman with a huge build, wearing such heavy-looking armor... I thought, "How did that even fit her?"
Normally, she'd get tired eventually. You'd think that, right?
But this woman didn't even show a drop of sweat. A woman who attacked with a chainsaw, screaming wildly without even getting out of breath.
And it wasn't just this one woman I had to deal with.
Ziiing...
See, I heard it.
I reflexively jumped to the side.
The spot I was in exploded with a loud bang, leaving a hole.
If I saw that pale blue flash, I could tell the position in advance.
But no matter how many bullets I shot or knives I threw, they didn't hit at all.
The bullets and knives drew strange trajectories and veered off.
You know? That's what they call cheating, right?
If these two had coordinated, my body would be in pieces by now.
Was it because it was night that they couldn't coordinate, or did they have no intention of coordinating from the start?
...Should I test it?
I lined up the cheaty person and the also cheaty giant woman in a straight line.
I stopped moving.
Ziiing...
I heard it.
The giant woman also screamed and swung her chainsaw.
Now!
I jumped to the side, and at the same time, the cheaty person released a flash of light.
That light hit the giant woman directly in the back.
"Hey, that hurt a little!! What are you thinking, you useless piece of trash!"
"It's because you got in the way. How about trying to dodge instead of just charging in all the time?"
"I hate women with a good figure like you! Eris!"
"And I hate ugly pigs like you. Natsuko."
No matter how you looked at it, she was firing a railgun, and the giant woman took it square in the back and just said, "That hurt a little," which terrified me.
While the two were having a falling out, I approached the hut alone.
Then I heard gunshots.
Ah, Ishihara-kun finished his mission and came to reinforce me, huh?
But from another perspective, you're stealing the spotlight, you know?
Why don't you try facing those two yourself? You'd feel nothing but terror.
I peered inside from outside the window.
The bandana man and Ishihara-kun were engaged in a fierce battle.
Perhaps concerned about hitting the hostages, they weren't using guns but were fighting hand-to-hand.
Throwing and being thrown. An exchange of blows while dodging each other's attacks.
Physically, Ishihara-kun was at a disadvantage, but he dodged with movements quicker and more agile than the man's, while landing attacks.
However, the man also felt like a veteran warrior, using skill to counter the quick attacks.
The fight was evenly matched. It seemed like it would go on forever.
But...
Beeeeeep...
The radio the man with the bandana was holding rang.
The man pointed his pistol at the hostages, stopped Ishihara-kun's movement, and answered the radio.
"What?... I see... Got it..."
I didn't know what kind of exchange happened, but the man lowered his gun.
"Hedgehog, huh. You're a warrior with good moves, just like the rumors said. I'd like to enjoy the continuation, but the schedule has changed. Let's save it for another time."
The man went out through the entrance.
"Eris. Steel Lady! Change of plans! We're pulling out!"
"Hey! I'm not done here yet... Huh? Where did that skinny guy disappear to!?"
She finally noticed.
"...As 'Boss' commands."
With that, the three of them withdrew.
But the man called Boss stopped in his tracks.
"You were also good at hiding your presence. But you still seem inexperienced. If you can be detected by your wariness, you still have a long way to go, young 'Death'."
Without paying any heed to my protest, the three of them disappeared into the twilight.
"Zen-kun, are you okay!?"
Akira-chan came up with a flashlight in her hand.
"Ai! Where's Ai!?"
I heard Kiritani-kun's voice.
"Eita!"
In the twilight, the two had a moving reunion.
They hugged each other, rejoicing in each other's safety.
"Good work, Zen-kun."
Akira-chan supported me, who was about to collapse.
I was really tired.
"Good work to you too, Nozomi."
"...It's humiliating. I still felt like they were holding back. Like I was being given a lesson..."
He said, "It won't be like this next time," but I really don't want there to be a next time. At least, I don't want to face those two again.
(5)
At noon at the Hizuru-dai square.
Me and Makoto had prepared.
In front of us was Devil, all alone.
Behind me were Airi, Ai, and the others, including Watanabe-kun.
"This isn't what we agreed on, is it?"
"Same to you."
Devil said that and grinned.
Was he still planning something?
"I'll give you a choice."
With that, he held a gun in each hand, pointing one at me and the other at his own temple.
"My life or your life. Which one will you take?"
"That's obviously Toya-kun's life!"
"Airi, stay back."
I stopped Airi, who was stepping forward.
"Yeah. The answer is decided..."
The man grinned.
"Neither."
At the same time as I shouted, the guns in Devil's hands were shot down by Sakai-kun and Ishihara-kun sniping his hands.
"I told you, right? There's no such thing as a light life."
I approached the man clutching his hands and said, looking down at him.
"No matter who you are, as long as you're in the country called Japan, you have the obligation to receive equal judgment under the law."
But Devil got up and pushed me away.
I was pushed to the ground, and Devil, who had pushed me, took a bullet to the chest and fell on top of me.
Gun smoke was clearly visible on the cliff above.
Ishihara-kun and the others spotted the sniper, but he escaped on a motorcycle.
"Stay with me!!"
Ai-san checked on him.
"Can you hear me! Please hold on! I'll call an ambulance right away! Katagiri-kun, press on the wound with this."
Ai-san handed me a handkerchief, and I pressed on the wound as instructed.
"You're a strange bunch... Helping an enemy..."
"I don't care what you think. This is our way."
"Then I'll give you one piece of advice... Urbanity is over... The stage is moving to the next... cough"
"Don't talk too much. Your lungs will drown in blood."
Ai-san said.
"...Your opponents are the Patriots. A unit directly under the Sun Knight Order."
Patriots? That sounds like something I've heard in some game. I hope they don't start saying "Mamimumemo" or something, right?
"From now on, you will face even harsher trials. ...No matter what happens, don't forget how you feel right now."
Feelings?
"No matter what others think, stick to your own way..."
The man breathed his last there.
Ai-san, who was checking his pulse, shook her head.
I heard the sound of a helicopter.
Miyuki-san, who arrived by helicopter, checked his condition.
Miyuki-san also shook her head.
"Toya-kun..."
Airi hugged me from behind.
Thus, the tower crumbled.
Urbanity was effectively destroyed.
But the Dragon and the Hierophant were safe.
They had bitten off their own tail and escaped.
We won the battle.
Yet, for some reason, my heart felt empty.
What were we fighting for?
(6)
"I see... So Devil fell too..."
The old man on the top floor of the high-rise building stood looking out the window at the scenery.
"It seems the tower has crumbled as well."
"Our hand of cards has become quite sparse..."
"On top of that, they've even grasped the existence of the Sun Knight Order."
"Hmm..."
"What do you intend to do, Gozen?"
I called the old man Gozen.
Anyone in this building would probably call him that.
"It seems they are no longer an opponent to be underestimated as mere children."
"Then is it finally our turn?"
The one who appeared saying that was a middle-aged man wearing an optical camouflage suit.
He had a black bandana wrapped around his head.
"Let's observe the situation for now. We need to let them let their guard down, don't we? They're not an opponent we can force our way through when they're on high alert like this."
"Then, first..."
"As planned, leak the information to the media and cover it up. Perhaps some of the big shots might lose their lives, right?"
"As you command."
"Viper, you monitor Unity for a while. Be especially careful of Katagiri and Tosaka."
"You're my new master. I'll follow you."
"I'm counting on you, all of you..."
I couldn't understand what Gozen was thinking.
He said to leave them alone, but then told me to be careful.
More importantly, Urbanity had collapsed.
What are we going to do?
...Thinking about it, it was only natural.
Until Judgment Day comes, that would probably be the best move.
And until the time we seize the world, there must be no deviations from the plan.
Until that day, called the Midwinter Deal, arrives.
(7)
"Ugh..."
Airi was groaning.
I beckoned to Airi, saying "Come here."
Airi happily jumped on me.
"What's wrong, my cute wife?"
"Because Toya-kun was brooding again. You're still thinking about Devil-san's death, aren't you?"
Even Airi had read me, huh.
"Well, yeah."
"You can't do that! No one is thinking, 'I wish I had died instead'!"
"I know. I can't go off and die leaving my cute wife behind."
"That's right~"
Airi was busy worrying, getting angry, and being happy.
Mostly it's my fault, though.
She must be thinking about various things in her own way.
Even now, she's desperately trying to steer the conversation in a brighter direction.
"Oh, that's right."
See, here it comes.
"Emi said it. From now on, we women will definitely be the ones targeted."
"Maybe."
"So she said we might need some equipment too."
"Wouldn't Airi's dad not allow that?"
"I don't think I can handle a gun easily either."
Is there something even Airi, who mastered self-defense just by reading a book, can't do?
For now, according to Airi, it seems to be, "Even if you have a gun, you'll get hurt if you're sniped."
"So, what does Emi-san plan to do?"
"She said maybe we should prepare body armor."
Huh?
It seems they're developing a bulletproof and explosion-proof bodysuit.
I should probably stop it with all my might.
"Airi. Even if we had that, there's something you guys lack."
"Huh?"
"What do you think the difference is between Airi and Ishihara-kun and the others?"
"Is there something?"
"The resolve to use that power."
What does it mean to hurt someone?
With that much power, you could end up killing someone.
Can Airi have that kind of resolve?
Even I'm hesitating.
In Watanabe's squad, only Ishihara-kun and Sakai-kun have that resolve.
"First of all, Airi's dad wouldn't allow it."
"Ugh..."
I patted the troubled Airi on the head.
"What's important is to act so you don't face such a crisis."
I'll stay by Airi's side as much as possible too, so let's avoid danger together.
"Yeah."
Airi replied with a smile.
But I remained silent.
For when a situation arises that can't be helped no matter what.
If Airi can't have the resolve, then I have to make up my mind.
Do I have the resolve to dirty these hands?
I kept putting off that answer.